Popular Series (Volume 1-18)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922. Excerpt: ... Field Museum Of Natural History DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY Chicago, 1924 Leaflet Nuhbek 18 Tobacco and Its Use in Asia In this sketch conditions, as they prevailed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the use of tobacco, as it grew out of native customs, are briefly set forth, but modern conditions, as created by international commerce and colonial enterprise, are disregarded. The earliest datable reference to the use of tobacco in the Far East occurs in an entry under August 7th, 1615, in the diary of Captain Richard Cocks, who was chief of the English Factory of Hirado in Japan from 1613 to 1621. "Gonosco Dono came to the English house, and amongst other talk told me that the King that is, the Daimyo of Hirado had sent him word to burn all the tobacco, and to suffer none to be drunk in his government, it being the Emperor's pleasure it should be so; and the like order given throughout all Japon. And that he, for to begin, had burned four piculls or hundredweight this day, and had given orders to all others to do the like, and to pluck up all which was planted. It is strange to see how these Japons, men, women, and children, are besotted in drinking that herb; and, not ten years since it was in use first." "Four tobaka pipes purchased at Kyoto" are entered in the Log-book of William Adams (1614-19). Tobacco, accordingly, was smoked from pipes by the Japanese at that early date. It follows from Cocks' contemporaneous notice that tobacco was introduced into Japan about the year 1605 and that it was planted and eagerly indulged in by all classes of the population within a decade after its introduction. On the whole, this inference agrees with Japanese records. We are informed by these that the tobacco plant is not a native of Japan and that toba...