ITS FIKST INTRODUCTION. 45 



piecelt, or cohiba, according to the varied language of 

 the different tribes who inhabited the great continent. * 

 "About 1560" is the date generally awarded to the 

 introduction of Tobacco to Europe, and a Spanish 

 physician, Franceso Hernandez, is believed to have 

 brought some plants to Spain for the inspection of his 

 "Most Catholic" Majesty Philip the Second, who had 

 commissioned him to visit Mexico and note its natural 

 productions. Almost at the same period France and 

 Italy were made acquainted therewith, chiefly by 

 the aid of members of the church. Jean Nicot, Lord 

 of Villemain, and master of the Bequests of the 

 French King's household, was sent as ambassador to 

 the Portuguese Court in 1559, and purchased while at 

 Lisbon some tobacco seed from a Flemish merchant 

 who had obtained it in Florida, f He sent it to the 

 Grand Prior of France, and the herb was originally 

 known as Herbs clu Grand Prieur. When Nicot 

 returned to France in 1561 he presented the Queen, 

 Catharine de Medicis, with some of the plants, and its 

 name was then altered in compliment to her to Herbe 

 de la Reine, and Herbe Medicee. The native name of 

 petun was, however, occasionally used; but all were 

 allowed to fall into disuse for one constructed in hon- 

 our of the original importer ; thus Nicotiana became its 

 recognised name, a term still preserved to us in Nico- 



* These, and other native terms noted by early voyagers to America, 

 will be found in the previous chapter. 



+ In the castle of Belem is still preserved a letter in which he tells of 

 his first acquaintance with this ' ' herb of a peculiarly pleasant taste, good 

 medicinally in fevers and other diseases. " 



