Evening star., 1922-04-21

sN
into a large music room in her
apartment. There were several
people there already. They were
seated In easy chairs about the room.
One of the ladies was playing on
the piano as we entered. 1t was
curious composition--veEy rhythmic
with peculiar thread of monotonous
melody running through 1t.
The playing ceased. and all eyes
were fixed on us. Kennedy kept very
close TO Torreon. apparently for the
purpose of frustrating any attempt
at a whispered conversation with the
sonora.
The guests rose, and with courtly
politeness bowed as Sonora Mendez
presented two friends of Senior Tor
reou, Senor Kennedy and Senior
Jameson. We were introduced in
turn to Senior Alvardo. Senior Con
zales, Senorita Reyes and the player,
Sonora Barrios.
1t was a peculiar situation, and for
want of something better to say l
commented on the curious character
of the music we had overheard as
We entered.
The sonora smiled and was about
bearing a tray full of little cups with
IL steaming liquid. and in silver dish
some curious, round, brown, disc
like buttons, about an inch in diame-
ter and perhaps a quarter of an inch
thick Torreon motioned frantically
TO the servant to withdraw. but Ken
nedy was too quick for him. Inter-
posing himself between Torreon and
the servant. he made way for her to
enter.
e -i.'
replied Sonora Mendez to me- in rich
full tones. .Yes. it is very curious.
IL is a song of the Kiowa Indians of
New Mexico, which Sonora Barrios
has endeavored to set to music so
that it can be rendered on the plano.
Sonora Barrios and myself fled from
Nespuccia to Mexico at the start of
our revolution. and when the Mexican
government ordered US to leave on
account of our political activity we
merely crossed the line to the United
States, in New Mexico. 1t was there
that we ran across this very curious
discovery. The monotonous beat of
that melody>you heard Is supposed to
represent the beating of the tomtoms
of the Indians during their mescal
rites. We are having mescal even
ing here. willing away the hours OF
exile from our native Vespuccia."
''Mescal?" 1 repeated blankly at
first, then feeling nudge from Ken
nedy. I added hastily: "Oh. yes. to
be sure. think ! have heard Of It:
It's a Mexican drink. is it not? l
have never had the pleasure of tast-
ing it or of tasting that other drink.
pulque-poolkay-d I get the ac-
cent right
felt another. sharper nudge from
Kennedy. and knew that l had only
made matters worse. MIR. Jameson"
he hastened to remark. 'confounds
this mescal of the Indians with the
drink Of the same name that is COM
mon in Mexico"
lief, but this mescal is something
quite different. The Mexican drink
lnescal is made from the maguey
plant and is frightfully horrid thing
that sends the peon out of his senses
and makes him violent MescaI as /
n religion"
yes" assented Kennedy, "discov-
cred by those same Kiowa Indians,
was it not?''
"Perhaps" she admitted, raising
her beautiful shoulders in polite dep
recation. THE mescal religion. we
found. has spread very largely in New
Mexico and Arizoua among the In
dians, and with the removal of the
Kiowas to the Indian reservation it
has been adopted by other tribes
even. | have heard. as far north as
the Canadian border.
is that so?" asked Kennedy. "T
understood that the United States
government had forbidden the inn
portation of the mescal plant and it's
sale to the Indians under severe pen
alties.'
1T has, sir" interposer Alvardo.
who had joined us. but still the
mescal cult grows secretly. For my
part, think it might be more wise
for your authorities to look to the
whisky and beer that interruptions
persons are selling. Senior Jameson"
he added, turning to me, will you
Join us in little cup Of this artificial
writers-Havelock Ellis. / think
has appropriately called it?"
glanced obviously at Kennedy as
Sonora Mendez took one of the little
buttons out of the silver tray. Care
fully pairing the fuzzy tuft of hairs
off the top of tit looked to me very
much like the tip of cactus plant.
which. indeed. it was-she rolled 1T
into a little pellet and placed 1t in
her mouth, chewing it slowly Ike
piece of chicle.
watch me: do just as 7 do" whis-
pered Kennedy to me at a moment
when no one was looking
The servant advanced towards us
with the tray.
vardo, pointing at the little discs.
l"grows precisely like these little but
, tons which you see here. 1t is a
species of cactus which rises only
half an inch or SO from the ground.
The stem is surrounded by clump
of blunt leaves which give 1t its but
. ton shape. and on the top you Will
see still the tuft Of f1laments, like a
cactus 1t grows in the rocky soil
in many places in the state OF Jalisco.
though only recently has 1t become
known to science. The Indians. when
they go out to gather IT. simply iop
off these little ends as they peep
above. the earth. dry them. keep what
they wish for their own use. and sell
tho rest for what is to them a fabu-
lous sum. Some people chew the but,
tons. while a few have lately tried
making an infusion or tea out OF
them. Perhaps to n beginner | had
better recommend the infusion"
had scarcely swallowed the bit
ter. almost nauscous. decoction than
began to feel my heart action
slowing up and my pulse beating
fuller and stronger. The pupils OF
my eyes expanded as with a. dose OF
beIladonna: at least. / could see that
Kepnedy's did, and so mine must
have done the same.
I seemed to feel an elated sense of
superiority-really / almost began to
feel that it was I. not Kennedy, who
counted most in this investigation
7 have since learned that this Is the
common experience of mescal users,
This sense of elation; but the feeling
OF physical energy and Intellectual
power soon wore off. and u found
.,y,oIt ~1oA N reclinA in my easy