286 7 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Solaneve. 
tasted in his life.” One of the first brokers in the City says, ‘‘ the sample of leaf 
Tobacco is certainly of a very fine quality, and appears to have been produced from 
some peculiar seed, and a greatly improved cultivation and cure.” By many manufac- 
turers “it was supposed to be from the seed of Havannah or St. Domingo Tobacco.” 
For smoking, it is compared with Maryland Tobacco, having the same qualities, “‘ except 
the flavour, which is better, and more like Havannah.” The colour and leaf are more- 
over pronounced excellent for cigar-making ; ‘‘ but if any thing is against it for that 
putpose, it is the largeness of the principal stalk, and coarseness of the small fibres in 
the leaf.” The commercial gentleman by whom the Tobacco was transmitted to the 
brokers, pronounces it very superior, and the leaf as very fine, adding, that the price of 
6d. or 8d. might readily be obtained, perhaps more, with the improvements suggested. 
As it is interesting, if possible, to ascertain the peculiarities of climate and country 
where so superior an article is grown, we have a communication from Mr. R. Hunter, 
the gentleman who brought the Tobacco from Arracan, who states that ‘‘ the Sandoune 
Tobacco grows on the sloping banks of rivers not overflowed while the crop is on the 
ground, but inundated during the rains. The best is that grown above the influence of 
the tides, about thirty miles from the mouth of the river. The ground receives appa- 
' rently great attention in cleaning and in breaking the clods. The Tobacco is all trans- 
planted about November, and the crops are cut about March.” Here we see the coldest 
season is selected for the cultivation: with respect to climate, it may be inferred from 
the province of Arracan extending along the western side of the Bay of Bengal, and 
included’ between the coast and a range of mountains, that it must have alternations of 
temperature, and of land and sea breezes; and that though Arracan Proper is low, 
inundated, and shut in by low hills, at Bassein the climate is described as neither 
oppressive nor unhealthy from November to May (Encl. Met. Pegu), and Sandoway 
as mountainous; and not subject to inundations, enjoying a cool sea breeze, and 
temperate nights nearly through the year. It is however, probable, that the superiority 
of the Tobacco is owing to careful cultivation and cure. This was probably taught by 
Europeans; as Arracan was the seat of a Roman Catholic mission in the beginning of 
the seventeenth century. It is pleasing to find here, as in the vicinity of Ormuz, the 
arts continuing to benefit a country long after the conquests of those who introduced 
them have passed away. 
Of other Tobaccos which have some repute in India, Dr. Ainslie states, that ‘‘ the 
finest kinds in India, and perhaps in the world, is grown near the village of Woodanum, 
in the Northern Circars,” ‘‘and in some of those low sandy islands formed at the mouth 
of the river Krishna (from which is made the famous Masulipatam snuff); also in the 
Delta of the Godavery, where the soil is peculiarly rich and fertile.” Dr.Wallich, in his 
evidence before the Committee of the House of Commons, states’ that some excellent 
Tobaceo was grown at Boglipore, from Havannah seed, and that some very esteemed 
kind is grown in Bundeleund. The Tobacco of Chtnar is'celebrated in India, as is 
more especially that of Bhilsa; of which a great portion I am informed by Dr. Moor®, 
. 
is 
