230

SMOKING IN THE EAST.

CHAPTER XV.

Universality of Smoking in the East-Smoking in Persia-Story of the Young Widower and the Holy Man-Substitute recommended by the latter for a good Wife-When was Tobacco introduced into the East? Old Arabic MS. on Smoking- - Nimrod alleged to have been a Smoker-Mode of Smoking in Ceylon-Antiquity of the use of Tobacco in China-Sale on an alleged Prophecy by Mahomet that Tobacco would at some future time be smoked in the EastLegend of Mahomet and the Viper-Pipes used as Projectiles in War-Bhang and Hashish-Sultan Mahomet IV. prohibits Smoking -The Sultan and the Saphi-Modes of Smoking in the EastTobacco used-Water-pipe-Nargilleh-How made Their occasional Richness and Beauty of Manufacture-Persian Pipes.

IT is rare in the East to find a man or woman that does not smoke. Enter a house, and a smoking instrument is put into your hand as naturally as you are asked to sit down. Among the Persians it is had in greater luxury than elsewhere; particularly the water-pipe, for which Shiraz produces the best tobacco. There is a story, often heard at the dekkans (shops), which may not be out of place here. In the good old days when time was young, and all men had comforts, or plenty of money to buy them, there lived a young man good and virtuous, as young men

THE YOUNG WIDOWER AND THE HOLY MAN. 231

were then, and ought to be now.

He had many

treasures; but among them all, none he valued so much, or treated so well, as a virtuous and loving wife. Alas! alas! she fell sick and died.

Vainly he sought to bear up against the loss with brave resolution. He filled his harem with the choicest beauties, and married four beautiful virgins, as the Prophet allowed him. None, however, could fill the place of his lost, his precious jewel; and his heart died within him for grief. At this juncture, he resolved to visit a holy man of whom he had heard all men speak; a man whose youth had been passed in one long strict nizell fill hallowee. And to his dreary habitation in the desert he took his way.

* The Nizell fill Hallowee is even now often practised by devout Mussulmans. They leave their homes and take up their quarters either in the mosque itself, or in one of the numerous apartments round it, and within the holy precincts. Here they remain for a longer or a shorter period, according to the amount of their zeal; some in strict retirement, or only joining in the prayer; others receiving visits from their friends. At the end of the period, generally forty days, the devotee goes to the bath, receives from the public or the funds of the mosque a new suit of clothes; if wealthy, distributes charity to the poor, not forgetting the dogs, and is escorted home with music, and a large concourse of the faithful.

While residing at Latakia, a man in difficulties withdrew in this way, refused to see anybody, and strictly maintained his seclusion. He was a merchant, and thus avoided the inquiries of his creditors, who were Christians. By the time the retirement was over, his friends managed to set his affairs in such order as to be able to offer his creditors the option of getting nothing or giving him time. He was escorted home

232 WAS TOBACCO IMPORTED FROM AMERICA.

The holy man received him as a father receives the son he is proud of, and begged him to empty all his cares into his bosom. Having heard his cause of grief, he answered, "My son, go to thy wife's tomb; and there thou wilt find a weed: pluck it, place it in a reed, and inhale the smoke as you put fire on it. This will be to you wife, and mother, father, and brother; and, above all will be a wise counsellor, and teach thy soul wisdom, and thy spirit joy."

Without this legend it would be very difficult to trace how tobacco first came into use in the East. We can hardly suppose that it was imported hither from America. In making enquiries on the subject while at Mosul, an old Arabic MSS. was found, which is now being copied,-a lengthy process, as the original extended over one hundred closely written pages, and the owner a Bibliomanist, would by no means part with it,—it was divided into eight chapters:

1. On the origin of the different opinions for and against the use of tobacco.

with the usual ceremonies, nor could I find that the Islam at all considered the roguery of the step as injurious to its meritoriousness. In fact, I was rather put down for saying our duty towards God could not be well performed in opposition to our duty to our neighbour,—a big word, that means all human kind.

2. When this plant, called tobacco, was first used; how it was used, and the name of the instruments used in inhaling it.

3. On smoke in general; how it is begotten; its good and evil properties.

4. On the smoke of tobacco; its good and evil properties.

5. On the argument of such as forbid the use of tobacco, &c. &c.

The author, in his chapter on its first use, says that Nimrod smoked. Poor Sir Walter Ralegh's claim fades before that of the mighty hunter, clad in the garments of Adam. If the curious reader will go to the British Museum, he will there see an Assyrian cylinder, found at Mosul, and presented to the institution by Mr. Badger, whereon is represented a king smoking from a round vessel, attached to which is a long reed. We can hardly suppose that in the comparatively short space of

time since the continent of America was discovered by us, it would have spread through Europe to the

*

Russell, in his "Aleppo," (I quote from memory, not having seen the book for years), says, "Tobacco was unknown at Aleppo so late as the year 1603." And Sandys, in 1610, speaks of smoking tobacco as a custom recently introduced by the English at Constantinople. This is proof as far as Aleppo; but so far north, the weed can hardly be considered indigenous. Even allowing Sandys to be correct, till greater

234

ANTIQUITY OF SMOKING IN CHINA.

very utmost corners of Asia: that the Burman would smoke his cigar as he does, and the wild man of the forests of Ceylon would make his hand into a bowl, and smoke out of it.*

In China we find smoking a custom, of whose origin among them they are ignorant. In the tombs there opened during the expedition, a pipe was always found, placed as a necessary solace to the dead when he should awake from his dreamless rest. In Peru we find the bodies without this adjunct, showing that it was not so necessary to the American people; while we find bread and water, and the instruments of his trade stored by the dead man in the grave.

The universality of the habit of smoking may be pleaded in its favour; as, what all do, must be right. In Europe we have no record of it; which established the fact of its being unknown, at all events to the polished Romans, whose every act, art, and deed we have recounted by their

further proof is produced, we cannot concede to America the birth of such a prodigy.

These people, perfect wild beasts, double up the hand, curving the palm, and thus form a species of pipe; a green leaf protects the hand; within this the weed is placed, and thus they smoke. This is certainly the youth of smoking. Adam may have practised this method even in his days of innocence.