On 2 November 1492, Christopher
Columbus, the captain of the Santa Maria,
came across the island of Cuba. Columbus sent two men in a small boat
to explore the island. When they arrived back they told the strange
story of people with burning sticks in their mouths.
During the next few years
European explorers discovered that people all over the Americas smoked
tobacco. These Indians believed that chewing
or smoking tobacco protected them from a variety of different diseases.
Some European explorers,
frightened that they might catch these local diseases, also began
to smoke tobacco. When these men went home they took large supplies
of tobacco with them.
There are several reports
of large crowds forming
in London to watch men smoking tobacco.
At first people thought it was extremely funny that anyone should
want to smoke tobacco. However, attitudes began to change in the late
1580s. The man blamed for this was Walter
Raleigh. In 1586,
a friend of Raleigh's who had been living in America, gave him a day
pipe and a large supply of tobacco, and Raleigh soon became addicted
to smoking. Raleigh was a much admired figure in
England and soon large numbers of people were
following his example.
James
I was strongly opposed to people smoking. Whereas Elizabeth
I only imposed a two pence a pound tax on tobacco, James changed
this to six shillings and eight pence. He also tried to persuade English
colonists in America to stop growing tobacco. James even wrote a pamphlet
pointing out the dangers of smoking. However, all these measures failed
to stop large numbers of people taking up the habit.
Woodcut of
a Tudor Tavern
(1)
Jacques Carrier explored Canada between 1534 and 1536.
They grow a certain kind
of herb... they make powder of it and put it in a pipe... they set
light to it at one end... and at the other end suck so long that they
fill their bodies full of smoke... till it comes out of their mouth
and nostrils... They say it keeps them in good health.
(2)
Sir John Hawkins visited Florida in America in 1565.
The Floridians
have a kind of dried herb that they smoke... they say the smoke satisfies
their hunger, and they can live for four or five days without meat
or drink.
(3)
In 1598 Paul Hentzner, a German lawyer visited England.
At these
spectacles (plays and bear-baiting), and everywhere else, the English
are constantly smoking the nicotine weed, which in America is called
tobacco.
(4)
James
I, Counterblast to Tobacco
(1616)
Why should we imitate the
barbarous and beastly manners of the wild and godless Indians? Why
do we not as well imitate them in walking naked as they do? Why do
we not deny God and adore the Devil, as they do?... Smoking is...
hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain and dangerous to the lungs.
(4)
Bamaby Rich, The Honesty of this
Age
(1614)
It is reported that 7,000
houses live by the trade of tobacco-selling... the sum total amounts
to £399,375 a year... They say it is good for a cold... for
aches... and for all manner of diseases... but those that do smoke,
are as much (or more) subject to these illnesses... than those that
have nothing to do with it.
(5)
Thomas Harriot visited America in 1585. When in America Harriot became
addicted to tobacco. It is believed that Harriot was the first man
from England to die of lung cancer because of smoking tobacco.
You will observe sailors
and all others who come back from the New World smoking tobacco...
By this they say their strength is restored and their spirits refreshed...
We have discovered nothing from the New World that is more valuable
than this plant... it is a remedy for sores, wounds, infections of
the throat and chest and the plague.
(6)
In 1698 Celia
Fiennes visited
Cornwall. In her journal she recorded having a meal in St Austell.
I was very pleased with
my supper though not with the custom of universal smoking. Both men,
women and children have their pipes of tobacco in their mouth and
sit round the fire smoking. This was not delightful to me and so I
left the room.
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