"_Garcias ab Orta_ informs us, that the Juice of a certain Plant called _Bangue_, mixed with some other Juices, produces Alienation of Mind, excites Dreams, and frees the Mind from all Anxiety and Uneasiness: The like Effects are brought about by _Opium_, which is much used by the _East-Indians_, and concerning which _Garcias_ has treated very largely.
"The _Indians_ also, when fatigued by carrying Burdens, or by any other violent Exercise, smoak _Tobacco_, by which Means they become as it were stupid, and fall asleep; but when they awake, they find themselves refreshed, and their Strength repaired. The _Ethiopians_ brought thither as Slaves, following the Example of the Natives, smoak _Tobacco_ too frequently, for which their Masters chastise them severely, and burn their _Tobacco_, in order to deprive them of an Opportunity of using it, which, however, they continue to do secretly and in private.
"_Tobacco_ is also used by the _Indians_ in order to allay Hunger and Thirst; for they calcine some Shells of River-Snails, and by Trituration reduce them to a fine Powder, of which, and _Tobacco_ Leaves, they take equal Parts, and chew them together till they are reduced to a Kind of Mass, which they form into Pills, larger than a Pea: These they dry in a Shade, and preserve for Use. When they intend to travel through Desarts, where they expect neither Meat nor Drink, they take a sufficient Quantity of these Pills along with them, put one between their Under-Lip and Teeth, and constantly suck the Liquor from it; so that when one is consumed, they supply its Place with another, and thus they perform a three, and sometimes a four Days Jour-ney; during which Time, they say, they neither feel the Effects of Hunger nor Thirst: The Reason of this probably is, that as they continually suck these Pills, they draw the pituitous Humours from the Brain, which being swallowed, moisten the Stomach, and allay its natural Heat, but are at last consumed by it for Want of other Aliments. Instances of a similar Nature may be observed in many Animals, which, during the whole _Winter_, confine themselves to their Holes without any Food; because the natural Heat of the Stomach is employed in digesting and consuming the Fat which they had gathered in the _Winter_."