Its ok, I've found out who is responsible. Now all we need is to...

Its ok, I've found out who is responsible. Now all we need is to get the Spaniards and the Cubans over here to pick up the mess.


http://www.cigartrends.com/cigar_history.php

"The discovery of tobacco
In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World in the Santa Maria and landed in what is now known as Bahia de Gibara, Cuba. One must assume his Sat Nav. had broken, because he was a little off-course. In fact, he thought that they had landed in China. He was around 12,500 kilometers out, which is a long way to go for a take-away by anyone's standards.

Nevertheless, Columbus wanted to meet with the Chinese Emperor and so sent off two of his sailors, Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, to find him. They were also to report back with anything of interest - and they certainly did that.

De Jerez and De Torres happened upon some of the indigenous people of Cuba. They were drinking smoke from tobacco leaves wrapped in corn husks in the manner of a musket formed of paper. Rodrigo took a risk and tried it and became the first European to smoke.

The exciting new habit spread amongst the sailors who took it back to Spain and Portugal. Tobacco had begun its epic journey around Europe. Jean Nicot was the French ambassador to Portugal from 1559 to 1561. On his return to France, he brought tobacco and later indoctrinated the Queen Mother, Catherine de Medici. She became quite addicted and, as the habit became fashionable, Nicots fame grew.

He gave his name to Nicotine and to the tobacco plant - Nicotiana. Pipe smoking soon became popular in Italy and once Sir Walter Raleigh had brought tobacco back from America interest sparked in England."