90 ST NICOTINE 



Rifle Brigade, writing from the ranks tells of his experiences 

 on the march, and says, ' The climate about Cape Coast 

 Castle is bad, and the stenches we came upon almost 

 knocked us over. But the General had pipes and tobacco 

 served out to us with orders to smoke for protection. I 

 was then no smoker, but I soon managed to learn the art.' 

 And Corporal J. C. Ives, of the Buffs, bears pathetic testi- 

 mony to the soldiers' love of a pipe of tobacco during some 

 hard service, fighting the Zulus. After describing a fierce 

 encounter with the enemy he concludes with this lament : 

 ' The worst of all was we had no tobacco, the last having 

 been already issued. We did not know we had so little in 

 our possession when we sold some to the Kaflirs in charge 

 of the track oxen. When we found all was gone we would 

 have given double the value of it, but it was too late, and we 

 were induced to try experiments with dry tea-leaves, grass, 

 and coffee grounds. Some of the men found a herb which 

 they smoked, but this had the effect of making their heads 

 swell to such an extent that they had to be attended by the 

 doctor.' On another occasion when the 91st Highlanders 

 came within sight, and greeting cheers had resounded on 

 the still night air, he says, ' When our friends arrived the 

 first question from the Ekowe garrison was, " Have you any 

 tobacco ? " Oh, that smoke ! The same night we were 

 served out with a tot of rum, white biscuits and a small 

 piece of tobacco, luxuries subscribed for by the inhabitants 

 of Port Natal.' 



With innumerable experiences such as these before them 

 it is difficult to understand the action of the Home 

 authorities in dealing with contraband tobacco seized by 

 Custom-house officers. Some years ago a ton of tobacco 

 and cigars was seized at Portsmouth, the whole of which was 

 buried in order to get rid of it. A protest was made, and 



