144 SMOKING IN PERU. 



chewing of tobacco is universally repudiated, being regarded 

 as the height of vulgarity. The Turkish tobacco is of fine 

 flavor, and commands high prices. It is very much in appear- 

 ance like the fine cut chewing tobacco so extensively used at 

 home." 



The cigars made by the Austrian Government, which are 

 the only description to be had are very inferior, and it is not 

 to be wondered that the cigarette is so generally used in 

 preference. 



The smoking of cigarettes by the ladies is quite common, 

 especially among the higher classes. In no part of the world 

 is smoking so common as in South America ; here all classes 

 and all ages use the weed. Smoking is encouraged in the 

 family and the children are early taught the custom. A 

 traveler who has observed this custom more particularly than 

 any other, says of the use of tobacco in Peru : 



" Scarcely in any regions of the world is smoking so com- 

 mon as in Peru. The rich as well as the poor, the old man 

 as well as the boy, the master as well as the servant, the lady 

 as well as the negroes who wait on her, the young maiden as 

 well as the mother all smoke and never cease smoking, 

 except when eating, or sleeping, or in church. Social distinc- 

 tions are as numerous and as marked in Peru as anywhere 

 else, and there is the most exclusive pride of color and of 

 blood. But differences of color and of rank are wholly dis- 

 regarded when a light for a cigar is requested, a favor which 

 it is not considered a liberty to ask, and which it would be 

 deemed a gross act of incivility to refuse. It is chiefly 

 cigarritos which are smoked. 



" The cigarrito, as is well known, is tobacco cut fine and 

 dexterously wrapped in moist maize leaves, in paper, or in 

 straw. Only the laborers on the plantations smoke small 

 clay pipes. Dearer than the cigarritos are the cigars, which 

 are not inferior to the best Havanna. Everywhere are met 

 the cigarrito-twisters. Cleverly though they manipulate, 

 cleanliness is not their besetting weakness. But in Peru, 

 and in other parts of South America, cleanliness is not held 

 in more esteem than in Portugal and Spain." 



The Turks have long been noted as among the largest con- 

 sumers of tobacco as well as using the most magnificent of 

 smoking implements. The hookah is in all respects the mosfc 

 expensive and elaborate machine (for so it may be called) 



