The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-18
SCIENTIST SAYS TIE AzTECS USED PIPES Claims Tobacco Was Part of
 Their Incense HISTORY OF PIPES Cigarette Is Form of Incense Off, fering Found in Pueblo Re-
 gion-Used With Cot
 ton Cord

From the Washington Post.
 During the course of some special studies on the utilization of fire. conduct ed by Dr. Walter. Tough. of the United States National museum. his attention was drawn to the collection of aboriginal incense burners in. the museum, and even tually he undertook special study of this collection. He. has described the coilee- tion in paper recently published by the museum.
 The use of censers began in the prebis- toric times. he says. which, at a certain stage, were employed to express feelings and reverence So. when the smoke of the aboriginal wave fire rose from the earth and disappeared into the. air, it apparently ascended to the heavens, car rying his prayer or protestation to the Supreme Being above.
 Discoveries Made in Mexico Tn the great temple compound of Mex leo 1t is said that there were GOO masonry braziers both of round and square de- sign arranged before shrines and other sacrificial places, where perpetual fires were maintained and offerings consumed. These were not incense burners in the strict sense but the victims were some times scorched before the fires. There
 braziers were the source from which live coals were taken for igniting the incense
 burners and censers. They apparently represented the perpetuation of the prim- tive communal fire. The braZiers were usually shaped like an hour glass Near ly all represented the human body in some way.
 Large pottery vases of hour-glass shape. which form another class of sta tionary braziers, have been discovered in large numbers in and about the City of Mexico, and at many other places. They are undoubtedly characteristic of the Central American censer brazier, and are remarkable example of pottery both as regards size and decoration. More artistic and detailed work is found in the class of pottery braziers due. no doubt. to the fact that the makers were enabled to work easier in pottery than in hard stone.
 Development of the Pipe
 The history of the development of pipes is fascinating and forms an important part in the history of censers. It Is be- lieved that the pipe ahtedates the use of tobacco. although the importance of 
 wholly due to it's supposed medical prop critics
 The offering of incense made by the Aztecs to the Spanish conquerors resen- bles in many respects the familiar peace pipe customs of the American Indians and the pipes themselves are similar to those found everywhere between southern Mexico and Canada. The custom of smoking probably did not originate ba arin If 70 sf of the smoke, but arose in connection with the development of the fire cult, In which it had a sacred significance. At first offerings were made from a campfire or fire place. Then as progress was made in the arts. the braziers were used and finally the natives came to use port able appliances. which gave use to a great variety of forms, including handled pots and censers- The European swing ing censers are evidently a development of the stationary vase form. as is also the pipe.
 Cigarettes of the Pueblo Region Another form of incense offering found rather generally In the Pueblo region especially in the southern portion Is the cigarette, made from a section of cane tube filled with vegetable incense The cigarette tube is packed with a mixture of herbs. which when burned produces a pleasing odor. The specimens collected. as rule. appear not to have been lighted but apparently were offered by simplica- ton Tn some cases however. they seem to have been ignited at tne time of offer ing This is the case In certain shrines located In the caves or the Blue River Arizona. where large cane cigarettes have been collected.
 Usually the cigarettes are girdled with strands of white and dyed cotton cord and sometimes miniature blankets. heads and feathers are attached. carrying out the original idea that the sacrifice was animate. and symboicallv represented the human body. The girdle decoration
 Is found on censers and bra7iers as well
 Many varieties of gum and herbs were used for incense. among which was to- bacco pr Hough says that tobacco was sacred herb and It's smoke was unqros- tionably incense
 Tobacco Used as an Incense
 The wild tobacco plant was incorpo- rated in l.4e mixture used as incense by the Hopi and some otier American tribes. and 1t is stated that tcoacco played pre- cisely the same part among priests and medicine men of ancient Mexico as if has from the remotest times down to the present day among the various savage tribes of North and South America
 It was powdered ans mixed with in- cense and formed into pellets, which were carried in pouch by officiating priests.