Tobacco’s Role as the Primary Product

Tobacco’s Role as the Primary Product

Dem Spanish took the tabacci weed a-to da Europeans way back n in 1528 n’ it didn’t ‘zacly make ‘em rich back then. Shoot, ‘em injuns’uz z usin’ da stuff fer generations when da white folk a got here! Tabacci wuttent used er’y day by dem though, day used it fer ceremony or ta seal a deal wit da folk they wuttent too sure bout! I reasons dem Europeans wuz jus more prone ta bad habits. Both of ems like da pleasure ‘n found it and relaxin’. Dem Injuns also used da tabacci weed fer medicine afore da Europeans took on da way –a-thinkin’ in da 16th Century. Injuns’uz always a-carryin’ bunches a tabacci in pouches. Shi’, day wuz acceptin it like money a ways afore da whites in Ginny wuz. They smoked it but we’za were chewing it more en smokin’ it heres in America. Yous know, peace pipes n’all wuz da ways they’uz smokin’ it. Ya has ta chops it ‘n roles it inta biggers leaves ta smokes it cuz we did't 'av’ dat many pipes early on til pipe makin’ acame a wayz a-life.

Fer us English-types it all gotza started wit Raleigh! His colony off da Caroline coast wuz a failure ya knows, jus cuddent make it! …Roanoke Island off da coast ‘n da mid 1580s. He’uz a loosin’ his fortune in da ventures, but dem colonists wuz smart and takes some tabacci ta England early-on, introduced it ta da English wuz da thing ta do! It proved real pop’ler clear ‘cross Europe after that. Dem European tabacci plantations jus couldn’t keeps’up wit da demand.

So Tabacci’uz reals important to America! It’uz da primary product during da colonization in Gini. T’was used by the big plantation owners in Gini az-a form of money like I’uz a sayin’ ta barter fer services ‘n fer da necessities. Severance of indentures wuz real frequent a-settled in rewards a-bunches a tabacci, …usually dem dried leaves. The tabacci’uz used by dem freed servants az-a-usin’ it az money day wuz!

John Rolfe in da Gini Colony a-took ta da concept ‘n made ‘imself some real money! In 1612, ‘e planted a field a-tabacci which’uz a yieldin’ a real fine crop. Afore long tabacci’uz a-cummin’ a-most ‘portant barterin’ product there’us ‘n da colony ‘n da colony gotz real rich wit it. Tabacci leaves wuz so valuable they replaced da money fer aw-whilz, men’uz frequently paid wit da weed fer their work. As time a-went on though, it was a-comin’ realz hard ta find dem field workers as dem colonists’uz steel realz lazy ‘n wuzn’t so willin’ ta duz dat kind a work.

Dat’s when da slaves come ta Gini a-durin da Great Year. As da tabacci trade’uz a increasin’, it a-came realz hard ta find people who’ould work in da fields. Hates a sayz it aginz but not many a dem English’ere willin’ ta do dat kind a work. Da Injuns weren’t a-willing ta help the English nowayz neither. Da Dutch ship sailed inta da harbor a Jamestown a-carryin’ a bunch-a dem Negra slaves; 20 of ‘em wuz purchased by the plantation owners! Such a shame!!! As it’uz realized wha’ excellent workers these folk wuz, hundreds more’uz bought. As time went on, slavery spread spread like-a wild fire ‘cross da colonies. I hates da thought but we’za never made it wit out a-forcin’ da salvery ta ‘appen.

A 16th Century Spanish Historian described how Columbus sent scouts into the interior of present day Cuba:

…men with half-burned wood in their hands and certain herbs to take their smokes, which are some dry herbs put in a certain leaf, also dry, like those the boys make on the day of the Passover of the Holy Ghost; and having lighted one part of it, by the other they suck, absorb, or receive that smoke inside with the breath, by which they become benumbed and almost drunk, and so it is said they do not feel fatigue. These, muskets as we will call them, they call tabacos. I knew Spaniards on this island of Española who were accustomed to take it, and being reprimanded for it, by telling them it was a vice, they replied they were unable to cease using it. I do not know what relish or benefit they found in it…

Bartolomé de las Casas, a 16th Century Spanish Historian; History of Tobacco, Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia; 2014