270 TOBACCO. 



at the mercy of the clandestine manufacturer and retailer, 

 who, in order to make the most he can of his vile industry, 

 adulterates his snuff to such an extent that it can be safely 

 said that his products contain on an average from 60 

 to 70 per cent, of inferior Persian tobacco (tumbeki), 

 fragments of country tobacco leaf, and tobacco of cigar- 

 ettes picked up in the streets by beggars, the 30 to 40 per 

 cent, consisting of walnut sawdust, terra umbra, fine sifted 

 sand, and scum of lead (lead oxide), covered with inferior 

 black writing-ink. 



The snuff is manufactured in Smyrna, as follows : 



The conscientious manufacturer uses Persian hookah 

 tobacco (tumbeki) and the fragments of country tobacco 

 leaf coloured with black ink. These tobaccos, ground as 

 fine as possible and mixed with grape molasses, are put in 

 a covered barrel to ferment. Two or three days later the 

 snuff is taken out and spread in the sun to dry partly, and 

 then rubbed with the hands and passed through iron wire 

 sieves to be granulated. 



The product is afterwards scented with powdered orris 

 root, tonka beans, and geranium oil ; the superior qualities 

 are scented with essences of roses and jessamine and put 

 up in packages. 



The adulterated article is manufactured in the same 

 manner with the addition of the above-named substances. 



The only persons using genuine snuff in this city are 

 the Catholic priests, who import it directly from France, 

 Italy, Spain and Holland, and enjoy the privilege of paying 

 no custom-house duties. 



