world's most determined smokers. Both had become ac- 

 customed to the "sweet-scented" leaf of Virginia. 



It was a hardship on these pioneers, therefore, to find 

 the tobacco of the newly occupied areas unpalatable. 

 The Dutch had a brief advantage over their English 

 rivals, for they had brought along a small supply of 

 "Virginia." After arrangements had been made for regu- 

 lar shipments of smokable tobacco from Virginia through 

 New Amsterdam to the Dutch, and from Virginia 

 through Plymouth Colony to the English, both settled 

 down in their Connecticut colonies to a watchful peace. 



Fc 



or men only 



The Indians of the area, as was general throughout 

 New England, regarded tobacco not only as a "virile" 

 plant but as a sacred one as well. Their squaws were, 

 in consequence of this primitive opinion, excluded from 

 any association with it; they were not permitted to grow 

 or care for it or smoke it. 



This could hardly have bothered the females of the 

 various Indian tribes of Connecticut. The native tobacco, 

 of ancient origin, was a small shrubby plant common to 

 eastern North America. Even the braves found its un- 

 cured leaves too pungent for use in its natural state. 



To their bitter-tasting tobacco, therefore, were added 

 the inner bark of trees (usually dogwood), sumac or other 

 leaves, various herbs, and oil to bind the mixture. The 

 formula varied with different tribes. Blending tobacco 

 for use in pipes was a common practice among north- 

 eastern American tribes. The Algonquians had a name 

 for it: "Kinnikinnick," meaning "that which is mixed." 



18 



