REIKEVIG BAY. 
11 
that we gave them, with a most voracious ap¬ 
petite, and, by means of their excellent sets of 
teeth, our hardest biscuits were soon reduced to 
a digestible shape. With our snuff and tobacco # 
* This passion for snuff and tobacco is prevalent among 
all the northern nations. I had frequent opportunities of 
observing it, during my tours in the Highlands of Scotland; 
and Linnaeus has some curious remarks on the subject, in 
his Flora Lapponica , where he says, p 310, “ Cetertim apud 
*• innocentibsimos Lappos innotuit pessimus mos pulvere 
<( Nicotianae nares saturandi, ut nec vir nec femina nec 
“ puer sit, cui non in bursa adsit pyxis pro pulvere olfac- 
“ torio tabaci, pro tabaco conscisso ad suffumigium, pro 
tt comminuto ad morsulas. Sed notes velim condimenta ; non 
(t enim simplex pulvis Nicotianae sternutatorius suffieit naso 
“ ditiorum, sed pulvere Castorei saturatus erit, quo vehemen- 
“ tius, gratius, salubrius spiret, licet nullam in Lapponi& 
te hystericam viderim ; hinc in loco natali venditur commu- 
“ nitbr integer folliculus Castorei tribus fiorenis, vel, quod 
“ idem, unico rhenone.” This custom, however, is not 
confined solely to northern countries ; for, in the town of 
Leetakoo, in Africa, in latitude 26° 30" south, (according 
to the account written by some travellers who penetrated 
into that country, and published by Mr. Barrow,) the prac¬ 
tice of snuff-taking is said to be peculiarly agreeable to the 
natives. “ This article is composed of a variety of stimu- 
“ lant plants, dried and rubbed into dust, which is usually 
“ mixed with wood ashes; of this mixture they take a 
“ quantity in the palm of their hand, and draw it into their 
t( nostrils through a quill, or reed, till the tears trickle 
tf down their cheeks. Children even, of four or five years 
“ of age, may be observed taking snuff in this manner." 
Voyage to Cochinchina, p. 395. 
