Solanee.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 285 
moisture, will, in this, as in other plants to which it is not fatal, produce great extension 
of the parts of vegetation with coarseness of fibre, perhaps also of flavour. 
Tobacco has been introduced into the Old World, and produced of such excellent 
quality, over so wide an extent of latitude, as to prove that in properly selected sites, 
and with the care bestowed on it in America, it may be grown of as fine quality in many 
parts of the Old Continent. Thus we find it cultivated in the islands of the Indian 
Archipelago and in Java. Manilla has long been celebrated for its Tobacco; Niebuhr 
describes it as very fine; many smokers prefer Manilla cheroots to any other. Here the 
climate, though the Philippines are situated under the Line, is described as excellent, 
in consequence of the height of the mountains, and the regularity of the sea breezes. 
. The next Tobacco which has obtained a European reputation, is that of Darabjird 
in Fars: of this locality it is sufficient to state, that it is in the neighbourhood of Shiraz, 
in 30° of N. latitude, and situated on the table land of Persia; that the climate, 
though hot, is' dry, and as celebrated for its Wine as for its Tobacco. This has been 
ascertained by Dr. Lindley to be the produce of his NV: persica (Bot. Mag. t. 1592); but 
whether it be a native of Persia is less certain, as the Persians have no other name for 
it than twmbakoo; and the careful culture and cure make one suspect that it was intro- 
duced by the Portuguese when in possession of Ormuz. Still further north, the Tobacco, 
commonly called Turkish, produced by NV. rustica, and grown on the coasts of the 
Mediterranean, is highly valued. But the Dutch, which is compared to the Maryland, 
and like it grown in the highest latitudes, is also much esteemed, chiefly owing to its 
careful culture and preparation ; for the Tobacco of the south of France is intrinsically 
better, but less carefully prepared (Loudon). It is lamentable to exclude India entirely 
from this enumeration ; but whether this be owing to a defect of climate or of culture, 
is not yet apparent ; or whether in consequence of the large consumption of what is good, 
the inferior kinds only find their way to the export market: but there is no doubt that 
East-India Tobacco holds the lowest place in the English market, and is described as 
being too high dried, or as all stalk and powder, fit only for the inferior kinds of snuff, 
or for re-exportation. Theinconveniences of this are not so much experienced in India 
as elsewhere, for both natives and Europeans use the Tobacco for their —— only 
when beat up with molasses, conserves, and spices. © 
That it is not owing to any inherent defect in the climate of the British possessions 
in India, that the Tobacco is of such inferior quality, I am happy to be able to prove 
by extracts from official documents, with which, owing to his kindness and anxiety 
to assist in improving the resources of India, I have been favoured by Mr. William 
Johnson, of the East-India House. First, with respect to that which obtained consi- 
derable repute. under the name of Martaban Tobacco, Dr.Wallich states, that ‘‘ the 
sort is from Arracan and not from Martaban ;” and describes it as having ‘‘ a fine silky 
leaf: tried by many people, it had been pronounced the very best they had ever 
tasted, equal to, nay, surpassing the finest imported from Turkey and Persia.” An 
éktensive tobacconist says, ‘‘ a finer and better flavoured Tobacco he never saw or 
si tasted 
