EARLY CULTIVATION. 41 



communication with the spirit world ; and Dr. Daniel "Wilson 

 suggests that " the practice of smoking originated in the use 

 of the intoxicating fumes for purposes of divination, and 

 other superstitious rites." 



When an Indian goes on an expedition, whether of peace 

 or war, his pipe is his constant companion ; it is to him what 

 salt is among Arabs : the pledge of fidelity and the seal of 

 treaties. In the words of ' a Review : 



" Tobacco supplies one of the few comforts by which men 

 who live by their hands, solace themselves under incessant 

 hardship." 



While the presence, and use of tobacco by the natives of 

 America are among the most interesting features connected 

 with its history, it can hardly be more so than is its early 

 cultivation by the Spaniards, English and Dutch, and after- 

 ward by the French. The cultivation of the plant began in 

 the West India Islands and South America early in the Six- 

 teenth Century. In Cuba its culture commenced in 1580, and 

 from this and the other islands large quantities were shipped 

 to Europe. It was also cultivated near Varina in Columbia, 

 while Amazonian tobacco had acquired an enviable reputation 

 as well as Varinian, long before its cultivation began in Vir- 

 ginia by the English. At this period of its culture in 

 America the entire product was sent to Spain and Portugal, 

 and from thence to France and Great Britain and other 

 countries of Europe. The plant and its use attracted at 

 once the attention as well as aroused the cupidity of the 

 Spaniards, who prized it as one of their greatest discoveries. 



As soon as Tobacco was introduced into Europe by the 

 Spaniards, and its use became a general custom, its sale 

 increased as extensively as its cultivation. At this period it 

 brought enormous prices, the finest selling at from fifteen to 

 eighteen shillings per pound. Its cultivation by the 

 Spaniards in various portions of the New World proved to 

 them not only its real value as an article of commerce, but 

 also that several varieties of the plant existed; as on 

 removal from one island or province to another it changed in 

 eize and quality of leaf. Yarinas tobacco at this time was 



