In India a hookah, in Persia a nargilly, in Egypt a sheesha, in Turkey
a chibouque, in Germany a meerschaum, in Holland a pipe, in Spain a
cigar--I have tried them all. The art of smoking is carried by the
Orientals to perfection. Considering the contemptuous suspicion with
which the Ottomans ever regard novelty, I have sometimes been tempted to
believe that the eastern nations must have been acquainted with tobacco
before the discovery of Raleigh introduced it to the occident; but a
passage I fell upon in old Sandys intimates the reverse. That famous
traveller complains of the badness of the tobacco in the Levant, which,
he says, is occasioned by Turkey being supplied only with the dregs of
the European markets. Yet the choicest tobacco in the world now grows
upon the coasts of Syria.
What did they do in the East before they smoked? From the many-robed
Pacha, with his amber-mouthed and jewelled chibouque, longer than a
lancer's spear, to the Arab clothed only in a blue rag, and puffing
through a short piece of hollowed date-wood, there is, from Stamboul
to Grand Cairo, only one source of physical solace. If you pay a visit
in the East, a pipe is brought to you with the same regularity that a
servant in England places you a seat. The procession of the pipe, in
great houses, is striking: slaves in showy dresses advancing in order,
with the lighted chibouques to their mouths waving them to and fro;
others bearing vases of many-coloured sherbets, and surrounding a
superior domestic, who carries the strong and burning coffee in small
cups of porcelain supported in frames of silver fillagree, all placed
upon a gorgeous waiter covered with a mantle of white satin, stiff and
shining with golden embroidery.
In public audiences all this is an affair of form. "The honour of the
pipe" proves the consideration awarded to you. You touch it with your
lips, return it, sip a half-filled cup of coffee, rise, and retire. The
next day a swarm of household functionaries call upon you for their
fees. But in private visits, the luxury of the pipe is more appreciated.
A host prides himself upon the number and beauty of his chibouques, the
size and clearness of the amber mouth-piece, rich and spotless as a ripe
Syrian lemon, the rare flavour of his tobaccos, the frequency of his
coffee offerings, and the delicate dexterity with which the rose water
is blended with the fruity sherbets. In summer, too, the chibouque of
cherry-wood, brought from the Balkan, is exchanged for the lighter
jessamine tube of Damascus or Aleppo, covered with fawn-coloured silk
and fringed with silver.
The hills of Laodicea celebrated by Strabo for their wines, now
produce, under the name of Latakia, the choicest tobacco in the world.
Unfortunately this delicious product will not bear a voyage, and loses
its flavour even in the markets of Alexandria. Latakia may be compared
to Chateau Margaux; Gibel, the product of a neighbouring range of
hills, similar, although stronger in flavour, is a rich Port, and will
occasionally reach England without injury. This is the favourite tobacco
of Mehemet Ali, the Pacha of Egypt. No one understands the art of
smoking better than his Highness. His richly carved silver sheesha borne
by a glossy Nubian eunuch, in a scarlet and golden dress, was a picture
for Stephanoff. The Chibouquejee of the Viceroy never took less than
five minutes in filling the Viceregal pipe. The skilful votary is well
aware how much the pleasure of the practice depends upon the skill with
which the bowl is filled. For myself, notwithstanding the high authority
of the Pacha, I give the preference to Beirout, a tobacco from the
ancient Berytus, lower down on the coast, and which reminded me always
of Burgundy. It sparkles when it burns, emitting a bright blue flame.
All these tobaccos are of a very dark colour.
In Turkey there is one very fine tobacco, which comes from Salonichi,
in ancient Thrace. It is of a light yellow colour, and may be compared
to very good Madeira. These are the choicest tobaccos in the world.
The finest Kanaster has a poor, flat taste after them.
The sheesha nearly resembles the hookah. In both a composition is
inhaled, instead of the genuine weed. The nargilly is also used with
the serpent, but the tube is of glass. In all three, you inhale through
rose-water.
The scientific votary after due experience, will prefer the Turkish
chibouque. He should possess many, never use the same for two days
running, change his bowl with each pipe-full, and let the chibouque be
cleaned every day, and thoroughly washed with orange flower water. All
this requires great attention, and the paucity and cost of service in
Europe will ever prevent any one but a man of large fortune from smoking
in the Oriental fashion with perfect satisfaction to himself.--_New
Monthly Magazine._
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