THE MASAI PLANT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 644, 18 February 1914, Page 7

THE MASAI PLANT.

One of i.l\t '".lost wonderful, useful, and interesting plants is the raagai plant of iMaxico. It is of the cactus species, and often grows to a height of eight or nine feet, with long leaves like the tentacles of an actopus.

From a large bulb-like cavity, which forms in the centre near the root, the Mexican gets his national drink—"pulque." His apparatus for extracting the >jsice consists of a bag of skin and two tubes, one of which he inserts in the cavity, and the other ill his mouth, and then draws with his breath ; but the tubes are so constructed that none of the liquid enters the mouth.

This fluid is allowed to ferment, and forms a strong intoxicant. In addition to his drink, he also gets a fibre from the leaves, with which lie weaves a coarse kind of cloth, and also makes ropes so strong that the cowboys will have no other lor their lassoes.

Both thDse processes are done by hand. On the edges of the leaves grow small, horny spikes, and with Ihese the ingenious Mexican makes his needles. In addition to all these things, the plant itself, whilst maturing, forms an excellent barrier lor his cattle.

It is easily cultivated. I have seen it growing between huge rocks on the mountain's side with a aub-r-oil of gravel.