EARLY CULTIVATION. 41 
communication with the spirit world; and Dr, Daniel Wilson 
suggests that “the practice of smoking originated in the use 
of the intoxicating fumes for purposes of divination, and 
other superstitious rites.” 
When an Indian goes on an expedition, whether of peace 
or war, his pipe is his constant companion; it is to him what 
salt is among Arabs: the pledge of fidelity and the seal of 
treaties. In the words of a Review: 
“ Tobacco supplies one of the few comforts by which men 
who live by their hands, solace themselves under incessant 
hardship.” 
While the presence, and use of tobacco by the natives of 
America are among the most interesting features connected 
with its history, it can hardly be more so than is its early 
cultivation by the Spaniards, English and Dutch, and after- 
ward by the French. The cultivation of the plant began in 
the West India Islands and South America early in the Six- 
teenth Century. In Cuba its culture commenced in 1580, and 
from this and the other islands large quantities were shipped 
to Europe. It was also cultivated near Varina in Columbia, 
while Amazonian tobacco had acquired an enviable reputation 
as well as Varinian, long before its cultivation began in Vir- 
ginia by the English. At this period of its culture in 
America the entire product was sent to Spain and Portugal, 
and from thence to France and Great Britain and other 
countries of Europe. The plant and its use attracted at 
once the attention as well as aroused the cupidity of the 
Spaniards, who prized it as one of their greatest discoveries. 
As soon as Tobacco was introduced into Europe by the 
Spaniards, and its use became a general custom, its sale 
increased as extensively as its cultivation. . At this period it 
brought enormous prices, the finest selling at from fifteen to 
eighteen shillings per pound. Its cultivation by the 
Spaniards in various portions of the New World proved to 
them not only its real value as an article of commerce, but 
also that several varieties of the plant existed; as on 
removal from one island or province to another it changed in 
size and quality of leaf. Varinas tobacco at this time was 
