PENTANDRIA. 



63 



year 15/0 the plant was cultivated in England, as ap- 

 pears from Lobel; and before the year 1574, when 

 Dr. Monardus published his book, he had seen the 

 effects of smoking in Spain upon some African slaves, 

 who had learned the practice from the natives of 

 the West Indies: of which he gives this account. — 



" The Indians of our Occidental Indies use the 

 tobacco to take away weariness, and to make light- 

 someness in their labour, for in their dances they are 

 so much wearied, and remain so tired, that they can 

 scarcely stir; and that they may labour the next day 

 and return to their foolish exercises, they receive, at 

 the mouth and nose, the smoke of the Tobacco, and 

 remain as if they were dead ; and being so, they are 

 refreshed in such sort, that when they are awakened 

 out of their sleep, they remain without weariness., 

 and are able to return to their labour as before; and 

 so they do always when they have need of it: for 

 with that sleep they receive their strength and be 

 much the lustier. 



"The black people who have gone from these 

 parts to the Indies have practised the same custom, 

 and use the tobacco as the Indians do ; for, when 

 they feel themselves weary they take it at the nose 

 and mouth, and it happeneth to them as unto our 

 Indians ; lying as though they were dread three or 

 four hours; and after, they remain lightened without 

 weariness, to labour again; and they do this with 

 great pleasure : and although they be not weary yet 

 they are very desirous to practise it, and the habit is 



