PULQUE THE BEVERAGE OF MEXICO.
The century plant is our most familiar plant of the Agave tribe. In the dry air of the high lands of Mexico these fleshy-leaved, robust plants seem to draw water from unknown sources, and store it in their bodies. The Mexican digs a hollow in the central stem, usually by cutting off the flower stalk, and goes away. He returns soon to dip out the accumulation of sweet sap, which he calls "agua miel," sweet water. This is good to
drink. But after it ferments he likes it better. It is then the bad-smelling, good-tasting pulque the universal beverage of the people. Foreigners object to the odor of spoiling meat. But even this _does not long keep them from tasting, and really liking, the drink, which can be had in various stages of fermentation.