Chapter I: Natural History

"This plant was unknown in Europe until after the discovery of America by the Spaniards, and was first carried to England by Sir Francis Drake, A. D. 1560. The natives of this continent call it _petun_; those of the islands, _yoli_. The Spaniards, who gave it the name of _tobacco_, took that name from Tabaco, a province in Yucatan, where they first found it, and first learned its use. Some contend that it derives its name from Tobago, one of the Caribbee Islands, discovered by Columbus, in 1498."[A] It received the name _tobacco_ from Hernandez de Toledo, who first sent it to Spain and Portugal.

The botanic description of this plant may be found in most works on the science of botany: and therefore I shall not detain you with it at this time. The plant, while growing exhibits a very beautiful appearance, but is so extremely nauseous, that in all the variety of insects, only one is found to feed upon it. This is a worm "_sui generis_," the mode of its propagation being entirely unknown; and from its being the only living creature (man excepted) that will devour this plant,[B] it is called "_tobacco worm_."

[Footnote A: See Rees' Cyclopedia.]

[Footnote B: Dictionary of Arts and Sciences.]