58 TOBACCO : ITS HISTORY. 



At present the two kinds known by these names 

 are manufactured from either German, Dutch, 

 or Havannah leaf. 



" Pigtail " tobacco is a rope or cord about the 

 thickness of a pig's tail, and of any length re- 

 quired, coiled round into a heap like cordage ; 

 and it is spun into that shape in a similar manner 

 to rope by the simultaneous action of a man and 

 two boys, requiring very great dexterity. A 

 spinning-wheel is kept in motion by one of 

 the boys : the other boy spreads out the leaves. 

 The man follows him, and rolls up these leaves 

 into the shape of a cord by a very pecuHar mo- 

 tion of both hands. The length of *'tail" is 

 kept constantly rotating by the wheel, and the 

 man, adding leaf after leaf to it with the left 

 hand, presses and rolls it with a palm of leather 

 or wood held in his right. The manoeuvre is so 

 quick and dexterous that a spectator can hardly 

 see where or how the leaf becomes absorbed into 

 the tail and made part of its substance. The 

 black colour of the heap or ball is given to it by 

 steeping in tobacco-water.* 



* Dodd. ubi supra. 



