TOBACCO. 



285 



We have shown/ in the history of Eenipj that the practice 

 of inhaling the smoke of plants for the excitement or stupor 

 thereby caused^ did not originate with tobacco ; for although 

 Humboldt has produced sufiicient evidence to prove that 

 the natives of Orinoko cultivated and used tobacco from 

 time immemorial, there is equally strong historic proof that 

 various herbs were used by the ancients of the Old World 

 for the same purpose. Though only known to Europeans 

 in 1492, when Columbus and his companions first saw the 

 natives of Cuba smoking cigars, it has rapidly spread over 

 the whole world, and civilized men have adopted as a luxury 

 what in all probabiKty w^as originally used as a necessity 

 in the lowest states of savage life. It is impossible to say 

 what accident first led to the use of this weed, but it is not 

 improbable that its leaves were first chewed by some starv- 

 ing savage in the desperation of hunger : its remarkable 

 effects in allaying the cravings of the stomach would be in- 

 stantly appreciated ; other modes of using it would soon be 

 developed by accidental causes, and it would not be wonder- 

 ful if the untutored savage should highly value properties 

 to him so useful and extraordinary. 



Tobacco was introduced to this country by Sir Francis 

 Drake in 1586, and was immediately adopted by some of 



