“But the statement of M. Zanni that tumbeki contains more alkaloid than tobacco, and that of Professor Hausknecht that tumbeki is the produce of N. rustica, seemed to conflict with the statements in books that N. rustica is less active than N. Tabacum.
“In the ‘Commercial Report,’ No. 25, 1883, p. 1056, under ‘Smyrna,’ Consul Dennis confirms M. Zanni’s statement concerning tumbeki. He says:—‘It is much stronger than ordinary tobacco, and cannot be smoked in the usual way, therefore it is exclusively used for the narghili.’ He also adds that a large quantity is consumed in the district of Smyrna, but much is also re-exported to Egypt and other parts of Turkey. It is imported from Persia, both through Trebizonde and Bushire on the Persian Gulf.
“Mr. J. B. Fraser, in his work on Persia (1826), remarks, ‘The tobacco smoked in the kalian is called tumbaku in distinction to tootoon, or that smoked in pipes or cigarettes. It is sold in the leaf, which is packed dry in layers, and is preserved in bags sewn up in raw hide. It improves by age, but is quite unsmokable the first year. The best comes from Jaroum, south of Shiraz.’
“In an interesting article in ‘Harper’s Magazine’ (January 1886, p. 224) on the ‘Domestic and Court Customs of Persia,’ the writer remarks concerning tumbeki:—‘The kaliân or water pipe differs from the Turkish narghileh by having a short straight stem. In it is smoked the tobacco called tumbakee—a species grown only in Persia. That of Shiraz is very delicate in flavour and is the best. The tumbakee must be first soaked in water and squeezed like a sponge or it will cause vertigo. A live coal, made from the root of the vine, is placed on the tobacco, and the smoke is drawn through the water with a gentle inhaling, depositing the oil in its passage through the water.’
“In De Candolle’s ‘Prodromus,’ vol. xii., pt. 1, p. 567, it is stated under Nicotiana persica, that it yields the celebrated tobacco of Shiraz. This species closely resembles N. Tabacum in the form of its leaves, which are, however, rather acute than acuminate; but the flowers are different both in shape and colour. In N. Tabacum the stem leaves are sessile, and the corolla is funnel-shaped or inflated below the limb, and is of a pinkish-red colour; in N. persica, the tube of the corolla is club-shaped and the limb more spreading; the colour is white inside and greenish outside. When in blossom, therefore, the two plants are easily distinguished. N. rustica, on the other hand, has stalked cordate leaves and a short yellowish corolla, with the tube and limb both short.
“The leaves of tumbeki which I have received from Trebizonde and Constantinople both correspond with N. persica in character, but not with N. rustica, since they have no trace of a petiole. So far as it is possible to ascertain therefore, in the absence of flowers, the weight of evidence is in favour of tumbeki being the produce of N. persica. In order to ascertain the correctness of the statement that tumbeki is stronger than tobacco, I handed some specimen to Messrs. E. J. Eastes and W. H. Ince for chemical examination, which they kindly undertook at my request.”
[A]. The oke equals ten kilogrames; a piastre, 2½d.
[B]. So called from its resemblance in shape to a narghil or coconut.
[C]. A full and interesting account of the forms and uses of the varieties of the kalian and narghileh is given in the ‘Land of the Lion and the Sun,’ p. 29.