The cuftom o f fmoking -this plant, which Hill, prevails, is of ancient date : PiiNY direfis the dried I J
and root of Coltsfoot to be* burned, and the fmoke drawn into the month through a reed and M ^ d ,
remedy for an obftinate cough ; the patient fipping feme raifin wine with each -draught of the fmoke : « ffj
■‘ aridJcum radice fumus, per Arundinem haujlus et dovoratus, veterem fa.na.re dzatur * ; jM « J \
gulaiidum eft." This is the only account amongft the ancients that we have hithertobj
able Sdifcover, which tends7 towards the praftice of fmoking; but we cannot acquiefce in the c o j
able 10 uiico . of tobacco, or at leaft fome kind of plant, was unknown in the old world,!
2P w a ’ t e r R a l e igh brought it from America. Is it probable that the inhabitants of Africa Ihould „ ri
have univerfally adopted a cSftom from Europe that was unknown two centimes ago ? Or that the AfJ
fo tenacious of their own manners, cuftoms, and habits, fhould m fo fmall a time, have agreed to extendi
uncouth kind' o f luxury, over a vaft continent, from the confines of Conjtmtmople to the extremities of C4 J
Countries thinly inhabited are much molefred with gnats. Travellers tell us, that the ■ Northern iJ
TuHar conftantly carry on theirarms, during the Summer, a pot o f burning touchwood fometimesnrepj
ftom S e root of this plant, to defend themfelves by the fmoke from the annoyance of thefe mfefk I,
Irobable one more ingenious than the reft contrived to keep this fire alive, by a communication wntl
breath and this expedient by degrees produced a tobacco-pipe. A propenfity to intoxication, fond
,o mankind would give a preference to tobacco before moft otter vegetable fubftances ; and thus at
tha^hi the beginning was taken up forfeit-defence, at laft might become a luxury.
The firft difeoverers of America probably found the natives fmoking tobacco; but might they notb|
«hh nraaice with them from the northern parts of Europe or Afia, which were never penetrated by theft!
arms; from whence it appears probable that America was peopled ?
A room or bed-chdmber may at any time be cleared from gnats, by retting the windows open, and ■
k ”„ f „ l tobacco from which the infeBs are obliged immediately to efcape. Thofe that are olel
Tv its mll^may fu b to te Sis plant in its (lead. But* cultivated and inhabited countries are in . I
by its linen, m. Y ;nrmDOrtafile fwarms of gnats, by a provifion of nature little attended to. 01
four Snds'of ftallows which frequent this ifland, wholefood confifts entirely of flying infeBs three of]
!°Sdomeft.c and could with difliculty find fuitable convemencies for building their mefts, without at,cl
thernftdveS to the habitations of men, around which they are perpetually hawking for their prey: heJ
is apparent why deferts particularly abound with gnats.
T h e n o e to b fe r v e s , th a t the martin o r ma rtle t, o ne fpec ies o f fw a llow , ch oofes a delipate air for its tefidl
•Who thPen c L f u l l e r i t s ne ft to b e difturbed a fte r r ea d in g the fo llow in g lin e s ? e fp e c ia lly Cnee this bad
fu ch a com p lim en t to th e fweetnefs o f the fituation.
__________“ This guejl offummer,
« The temple-haunting martlet, does approve,
ft By his Lov'd mafonry, that heavens breath
| | | Smells wooingly here: .no jutting fr ieze , -
££ Buttrfs, nor coigne of vantage, but this bird
££ Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle.
“ Where they mojl breed and haunt, I have obferv d
‘ *e The air is delicate
41.1. have wandered from our fubjea, the candid and humane will forgive our intercedinj
Although . 0f hofpitality, places unreferved confidence m us, and feems direttj
f e l t ^ S p m t f e A f e H mpft friendly and beneficial.