ORIGIN OF ITS NAME. 15 



that that name is not given to the herb, or to the 

 stupor it produces, as some persons have erroneously 

 supposed. With similar inaccuracy the island of 

 Tobago is said to have given name to the plant; 

 but the author of " Tobago : or a Geographical 

 description, natural and civil history, together with 

 a full representation of the produce, and other 

 advantages arising from the fertility, excellent har- 

 bours, and happy situation of that famous Island," 

 2 ed. p. 74, says : — " I do not recollect any author 

 who has given a clear account of this name, and as 

 many have expressed a doubt whether the island was 

 so called from the herb, or the herb from the island ; 

 I hope the curious and inquisitive reader will be well 

 pleased to see that matter set in its true light. For 

 the fact is that neither the island received its name 

 from the herb, nor the herb from the island. The 

 appellation is indeed Indian, and yet was bestowed by 

 the Spaniards. The thing happened thus : the Car- 

 ribees were extremely fond of tobacco, which in their 

 language they called Kohiha, and fancied when they 

 were drunk with the fumes of it, the dreams they had 

 were in some sort inspired. Now their method of 

 taking it was this ; they first made a fire of wood, and 

 when it was burnt out they scattered upon the living 

 embers the leaves of the plant, and received the smoke 

 of it by the help of an instrument that was hollow, 

 made exactly in the shape of the letter Y, putting the 

 larger tube into smoke, and thrusting the shorter tubes 

 up their nostrils. This instrument they called Tobago, 



