S TOBACCO AND ITS HISTORY. 



Fiom tlio stiitciuents of tlioso atitliors, and others that, mii^lit 

 bo (juotod, the iiiferenec- is that Tof,„rro was a weH-kiiown t«Tm 

 amonpt tlie liKlians, and tliat ("nrtiei- knew its primitive 

 meaning whoji he named tlie ishuul of Orleans at Quebec, wliere 

 the savages held ln"gh carnival when un.der tlie inihw-nce of the 

 Meed, "the Jsh; of P.acchtis." 



Whatever opinions ni;iy l.e hehl ivpudin- the origin and dis- 

 covery of the plant it ise\ident that the 



kxo'.vij:ii(;i: ok toijacco anjj its isks 

 m tlie iornis of smoking, snufllng and cheving came to ns 

 through the savage natives of America. 



AVhen Oul)a was discoveivd l.y Coluudms, in 1492, the 

 inhabitants were found smoking the weetl in rude cigars. TIi(> 

 habit of snulF-taking was obserNc.l hy a Krancisr,., named 

 liannjii IVme, whilst accompanying CoJund.us on his S( cond 

 voyage, in 1104 (I ; and the Hi)aniards saw the j-raciice of 

 chewing indulged in hy the natives of South America in loO^. 

 ^vs other portions of the Continent becan)e known, it was 

 apparent that the [.ractice of Tol)acco-using, especially l.y smok- 

 ing, was a habit which liad long been bound up with the 

 natives " in the bundle of life " ; and was not only a universal 

 luxurious usage, but had significant connection with their 

 solemn tribal ceremonies, and all their important transactions. 

 It was also learned that the Cnhnnet, or Indian Pipe of Peace, 

 was essential to the ratification of their treaties, and that social 

 suioking with them, had significance of the most cemented 

 friendship. 



Wilson's Prehistork Man assures us that, in the belief of the 

 ancient Indian worshipper, the Great Spirit smelled a sweet 

 savor as the smoke of the sacred plant ascended to the skies ; 

 and that the Calumet in his hand was considered a sacred 

 censer, from which the hallowed vap-or arose with as fitting 

 proi)itiatoiy odors as that which perfumed the awfid precincts 

 of the Jewish altar, amid the ancient mysteries of the church's 

 liigh and holy days. 



