88 TOBACCO : ITS HISTORY. 



peculiarly painful. Each pufF the novice draws- 

 is a bitter dose attended with sardonic contor- 

 tions of the mouth and face. He spits abundantly. 

 From time to time he coughs hectically. Perhaps 

 he swears intemperately. Many have stopped at 

 this stage, among the rest the Great Napoleon. 



Napoleon once took a fancy to smoke, for the 

 purpose of trying a very fine Oriental pipe, pre- 

 sented to him by a Turkish or Persian ambas- 

 sador. Preparation having been made — the 

 match being ready — nothing remained but to 

 apply it to the tobacco ; but that could never be 

 effected in the way taken by his Majesty for that 

 purpose. He contented himself with opening 

 and shutting his mouth alternately, without in 

 the least drawing his breath. *' The devil !" he 

 cried ; " why, there's no result ! " 



"I made him observe," says Constant, "that he made 

 the attempt badly, and showed him the proper method of 

 doing it ; but the emperor still reverted to his kind of 

 yawning. Wearied by his vain attempts, he at last desired 

 me to light the pipe. I obeyed, and returned it to him in 

 order. Scarcely had he drawn in a mouthful, when the 

 smoke, which he knew not how to expel from his mouth,, 

 turned back upon his palate, penetrated his throat, and 

 came out by his nose and blinded him. As soon as he- 



