22 TOBACCO IN AMEBIC A. 



also indulged in. The pipe was therefore sacred, and 

 smoking partook of the character of a moral, if not a 

 religious act. We quote as much as relates to the 

 herb (the first detailed English narrative) published by 

 him in 1588 in A Briefe and True Report of the New 

 Found Land of Virginia, the truth of which is attested 

 by Rafe Lane, the governor. 



He thus writes : — " There is an herbe which is 

 sowed apart by itselfe, and is called by the inhabitants 

 uppowoc. In the West Indies it hath divers names, 

 according to the severall places and countries 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 smoke 

 thereof by sucking it through pipes made of clay into 

 their stomacke and heade, from whence it purgeth 

 superfluous fleame and other grosse humors ; openeth 

 all the pores and passages of the body ; by which 

 means the use thereof not only preserveth the body 

 from obstructions, but also if any be so that they 

 have not beene of too long continuance, in short time 

 breaketh them ; whereby their bodies are notably pre- 

 served in health, and know not many grievous diseases 

 wherewithal! we in England are oftentimes affected. 



" This uppowoc is of so precious estimation amongest 

 them that they thinke their gods are marvellously 

 delighted therewith ; whereupon sometime they make 

 halowed fires, and cast some of the powder therein for 

 a sacrifice. Being in a storme uppon the waters, to 

 pacifie their gods, they cast some up into the aire and 



