uppowoc. 171 



and is called by the inliabitants Uppowoc : in the West 

 Indies it hath divers names, according to the several 

 places and countreys where it groweth and is used : the 

 Spaniards generally call it tobacco. The leaves thereof 

 being dried, and brought into powder, they use to take 

 the fume or smoake thereof by sucking it thorow pipes 

 made of clay into their stomache and head ; from whence 

 it purgeth superfluous fleame, and openeth all the pores of 

 the body ; whereby their bodies are notably preserved in 

 health, and know not many grievous diseases wherewithal 

 we in England are oftentimes aflSicted. The Uppowoc is 

 of so precious estimation amongst them, that they thinke 

 their gods are marvelously delighted therewith : where- 

 upon some time they make hallowed fires, and cast some 

 of the powder therein for a sacrifice : being in a storm 

 upon the waters, to pacify their gods they cast some up 

 into the aire and into the water : to a weare for fish being 

 newly set up, they cast some therein, and into the aire : 

 also after an escape of danger they cast some into the aire 

 likewise : but all done with strange gestures, stamping 

 some time, dancing, clapping of hands, holding up hands, 

 and staring up into the heavens, uttering there-withal and 

 chattering strange words and noises. We ourselves, dur- 

 ing the time we were there, used to sucke it after their 

 manner, as also since our return, and have found many 

 rare and wonderful experiments of the virtues thereof : of 

 which the relation would require a volume by itselfe : the 

 use of it by so many of late, men and women of great 

 calling, as also by some learned physicians, is sufficient 

 witness." * 



* In the time of Shakspeare, "the amusements of the 

 audience previous to the commeucemeut of the play were 

 reading, playing at cards, smoking tobacco, drinking ale, 



