ITS GENERAL USE. 23 



into the water : so 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 dauncing, clapping of hands, holding up of hands, 

 and staring up into the heavens, uttering therewithal 

 and chattering strange wordes, and noises. 



" We ourselves during the time we were there used 

 to suck it after their manner, as also since our returne, 

 and have found many rare and wonderful experiments 

 of the vertues thereof; of which the relation would 

 require a volume by itselfe ; the use of it by so manie 

 of late, men and women, of great calling as else, and 

 some learned phisitions also, is sufficient witnes." 



We may here conveniently quote some other early 

 notices of the plant by English voyagers : — 



In the voyage of Sir Francis Drake * it is noted that 

 the natives of North America " brought a little basket 

 made of rushes, and filled with an herbe which they 

 called Tobah; ,i and he afterwards notes, they " came 

 now the second time to us, bringing with them as 

 before had been done, feathers and bags of Tobah for 

 presents, or rather indeed for sacrifices, upon this 

 persuasion that we were gods." 



In The Historic of Travaile into Virginia Bri~ 

 tannica, published by the Hakluyt Society from the 

 original MS. of William Strachey, first secretary to 



* The World Encompassed. Lond. 1628. The voyage commenced 

 1572, and ended August, 1573. 



