been cached for use on the return trip. 



The stores of tobacco proved to be of even greater 

 value than the satisfaction of personal needs. It was the 

 most important single article in barter with the Indians. 

 And hostile natives, on mischief bent, could always be 

 placated by a present of the most coveted of white man's 

 gifts. Those were the days when a leaf of tobacco painted 

 red sent by messenger from an Indian chief was a warning 

 of immediate war. But a portion of good, cured Missouri 

 leaf placed in the hands of a belligerent Indian meant 

 peace. It was not the first time that tobacco had served 

 to further friendship and soothe the tempers of angry 

 men. 



Spaniards in the territory, in the 18th century, were 

 chiefly cigar smokers. Cigars were coming into Louisiana 

 from Havana and later were being manufactured at New 

 Orleans. For snuffers and pipe smokers a fine new sort of 

 tobacco became available after the 1830's, the Perique 

 of Louisiana. 



lug comes out of a log 



The equipment required for both snuff and pipes was, 

 however, too burdensome to frontiersmen and pioneers 

 from other states. Tobacco pressed into small slabs could 

 be much more conveniently carried. As a practical mat- 

 ter, therefore, these early Missourians turned to "eating 

 tobacco," the comforting chew. 



Those were the days when a man could stand in his 

 front yard and spit twenty feet without trespassing on 

 his neighbors. As chewing tobacco grew in popularity 



