210 TOBACCO-PIPES, CIGARS, ETC. 



In smoking, the people of Egypt and of other countries 

 of the East draw in their breath freely; so that much 

 of the smoke descends into the lungs ; and the terms 

 which they use to express ' smoking tobacco ' signify 

 ' drinking smoke,' or ' drinking tobacco : ' for the 

 same word signifies both ' smoke ' and ' tobacco.' 

 Few of them spit while smoking : I have very seldom 

 seen any do so. 



" Some of the Egyptians use the Persian pipe, in 

 which the smoke passes through water. The pipe of 

 this kind most commonly used by persons of the 

 higher classes is called na'rgee'leh, because the vessel 

 that contains the water is a cocoa-nut, of which ' na'r- 

 gee'leh ' is an Arabic name. Another kind, which has 

 a glass vase, is called shee'sheh* Each has a very 

 long, flexible tube. A particular kind of tobacco, 

 called toomha'k, from Persia, is used in the water-pipe * 

 it is first washed several times, and put into the pipe- 

 bowl while damp; and two or three pieces of live 

 charcoal are placed on the top. Its flavour is mild 

 and very agreeable ; but the strong inhalation neces- 

 sary in this mode of smoking is injurious to persons of 

 delicate lungs.f In using the Persian pipe, the person 

 as freely draws the smoke into his lungs as he would 

 inhale pure air. The great prevalence of liver-com- 

 plaints in Arabia is attributed to the general use of 



* A Persian word, signifying " glass." 



+ It is, however, often recommended in the case of a cough. One of my 

 friends, the most celebrated of the poets of Cairo, who is much troubled by 

 asthma, uses the nargeeleh almost incessantly from morning till night. 



