The brown people are grave and silent in their sober state, but pulque stirs up their sluggish blood, and they get into a condition of positive enjoyment.

But very soon after this comes a state of furious intoxication, and a general scuffle is a common termination to a drinking-bout.

Fortunately, the Indians are not a bloodthirsty people; and, though every man carries a knife or machete, or--if he can get nothing better--a bit of hoop-iron tempered, sharpened, and fixed into a handle, yet nothing more serious than cuffs and scratches generally ensues.

Even if severe wounds are given, the Indian has many chances in his favor, for his organization is somewhat different from that of white men, and he recovers easily from wounds that would kill any European outright.
The lower orders of the half-breed population are also given to pulque-drinking, but with far more serious consequences.

Unlike the pure Indians, they are a hot-blooded and excitable race, and drunkenness with them is utter madness while it lasts.