Sketches From Oldest Afnerica 



flint and steel. The smoker is now ready to enjoy 

 himself; he takes a long pull and then tries to swal- 

 low the smoke, but lower down there is an objec- 

 tion; the stomach refuses to be considered a smoke 

 bag, and, puckering up, does all in its power to re- 

 pel the intrusion, while above the act of swallowing 

 is persisted in. At last the stomach gains the victory 

 and the smoke is expelled, the smoker coughs, 

 wipes his eyes and puts the pipe away. He has had 

 a good smoke. 



It was during the earlier days of the past century 

 that a small amount of the strong Russian tobacco 

 found its way through Siberia and across the Beh- 

 ring Straits. " Nanoona " was a great traveler for 

 those days, and had ventured as far south as what is 

 now known as the Seward Peninsula. Obtaining 

 some of the tobacco, he returned to his home, and 

 the news soon spread that "Nanoona" could actually 

 swallow fire and then belch forth smoke. The 

 thing seemed incredible; it even surpassed the 

 doings of the wonderful "Ongootkoot" who was 

 very successful in driving off eclipses, thereby sav- 

 ing the villagers from some terrible catastrophes. 

 At the appointed time the people gathered, filling 

 "Nanoona's" iglo; even the roof was packed. 

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