"I do not know," he adds, "what savour or profit they found in them" (tabacos).

I cannot help thinking that there were several periods in his own life, when these strange fumigations would have afforded him singular soothing and comfort.

However that may be, there can be no doubt of the importance, financially and commercially speaking, of this discovery of tobacco; a discovery which, in the end, proved more productive to the Spanish Crown, than that of the gold mines of the Indies.
The excellent relations that existed between the expedition of Columbus and the inhabitants of Cuba may be seen from the fact that these two Christians, who were the first witnesses of tobacco smoking, and who travelled with only two Indian attendants, were everywhere well and reverently received.
GOLD ORNAMENT'S OBSERVED.
Resuming the thread of the history, it remains to be seen what more Columbus did and suffered in this voyage.

The first Indians he met with had some few gold ornaments about them--poor wretches, if they had possessed the slightest gift of prophecy, they would have thrown these baubles into the deepest sea;--and they were asked whence came this gold?
From a race, they said, living southwards, where there was a great king, who had much gold.

On another occasion, other Indians being asked the same question, answered, "Cubanacan, Cubanacan." They meant the middle of Cuba; but their word at once suggested to Columbus the idea that he was now upon the traces of his long-looked-for friend, Kublai Kaan, the Khan of Khans.
Indeed, it is almost ludicrous to see, throughout, how Columbus is possessed with the notions borrowed from his reading of Marco Polo and other travellers.