The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1886-01-06
AFTER MANY YEARS.

! / I
| Of the fact.
4 AFTER MANY YEARS.
! Tobacco culture enters largely in
to the agricultural industry Of the
j United States, for the amount raised
this year will doubtless not fall short
of 5OO,O00,0OO pounds. As itis one
Of the leading money crops, and as
maAy Of otsr readers are inters
ested in it either directly or Indirect
ly, it may not be out Of place to give
a few points in regard to its early
history and its use in ancient times.
Tobacco derives its botanical name
! (aicotiana) from Jean Nicot, who in.
troduced it into France. It is some
what uncertain whether its use as a
narcotic was known in the East be-
fore the discovery Of America. When
Columbus first put foot on the soil Of
! the New World he found il extensi.
vely cultivated here, and its cultiva-
tion then extended far North of the
regions in which the plant appear to
be indigenous. Meyen, in his "Geo.
grapby Of Plants" expresses the
opinion that the smoking of tobacco
is Of great antiquity among the
Chinese, because on very old sculp-
ture he has observed the very same
pipes which are now in use." Mey-
ems authority, however, is greateras
a botanist than as an archaologist,
and cannot be received as decisive.
1t il not improbable that the smok.
ing Of tobacco has been long practiced
in China, but it is not certain. When
tobacco was introduced in Europe
from America 1t soon became ex-
tremely prevalent amongst all ori-
entail nations. The smoking Of to-
bacco was found by Columbus to be
practiced in the West Indies, where
the natives made it into cylindrical
rolls, wrapped in maize leaf. 1t has
been prevalent from unknown anti
quity amongst the American Indians
as far North as Canada. With them
ii even had religious character and
was connected with their worship and
with all their important Transitions /.
Thus the Calumet, or pipe Of peace,
was indispensable with them to the
ratification Of a treaty, and smoking
together has a greater significance Of
friendship with the Indians than eat,
ing together has among nations. On
this subject Wilson, in his "Prehis-
toric Man. says; in the belief Of
the ancient worshipers. the Great
Spirit smelled a sweet SAVIOUR as the
smoke Of the sacred plant ascended
to the heavens; and the homely i'm.
plement Of modern luxury was in
their hands sacred cause, from
which the hallowed vapor rose with as
fitting propitiatory odors as that
which perfumes the awful precincts
ofthc cathedral altar, amid the my
steries Of the church's high and holy
days.
Tobacco seed were first carried 10
Europe by Gonzalo Hernandes dc
0yiedo, who introduced it into Spain,
where il was first cultivated as an or.
namental plant, till Nocolo Menardes
cxtolled il as possessed Of medicinal
virtues. II was FIRST introduced in
Italy in 1860. There isno reference
TO the use OF tobacco In Shakespeare,
yet il 3 certain from other evidence
that il was well known in England
in his time. II was first recommended
for medicinal purposes and its virtues
we're greatly exaggerated, but il soon
became general article Of luxury,
The Popes Urban VIII. and limo
cent XI. Illuminated against IL tbC
ihunders Of the church the priesti
and sultans Of Turkey declared smok
ing crime, Sultan Amuret Nv. de
creeing punishment Of death to al
offenders. During the early part o
the 18th century there was q Law il
Russia to cut off the noses Of all whC
smoked. Ifsuch law was inforcet
. in America to-day this would be
nation Of noseless people. KIM
James I. OF England issued q "Coun'
terblastc tobacco" In which he de-
scribcd It's use as "a custom loath'
some TO the eye, hateful to the nose
, harmful TO the brain, dangerous b
the lungs, and in the black, stinkinI
fume thereof nearest resembling th
horrible Stygian smoke Of the pit tha
T is bottomless." All opposition, how
I ever, was In vain. Its use increase
, and has continued TO increase to th
present day, and il is now mole pr
yalent than at any former time, an
the luxury Of the rich aud the pooI
!, Of civilized nations and savage tribe
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