She of Many Questions

[patriotblade]

I am not a smoker of anything. I'm asthmatic and the smoke from anything aggravates my lungs, but my grandfather smoked pipe. I saved one of his fancier ones as a memento and sometimes I'll catch a whiff of something off of an older man's clothes and I think of him, so I assume they also smoke a pipe and use the same tobacco blend.
Back story done, I will get to the heart of why I joined and am posting. I'm a writer, and I need some help. My grandfather is long passed and I don't know anyone who smokes pipe to ask, so I started doing internet searches, which lead me here... One of my characters smokes, so I need to be able to write it accurately but know nothing about it. The story setting is thirteenth century England. My heroine is Robin Hood's daughter. My Robin Hood is the pipe smoker. He was a crusader, so while in the Middle East, he developed a preference for "exotic" blends. After so many of his adventures, he goes into complete hiding for three years, but when he returns, finds that everyone thinks he's dead. His daughter remembers very little about him, but recognizes the smell of his pipe.
So my initial questions are: Can anyone give me some blends that he could have used/descriptions of possible smells? And what are some basic pipe use/care actions you would look for for authenticity? Thank you ahead of time, for any help/advice. I truly appreciate your patience and input.

 

[daimyo]

Tobacco was not introduced to Europe in any large fashion until the 1500's and Persians around the same time. I'm afraid that use of pipe smoking would not be period correct.

 

[fadingdaylight]

Wow, I wish I could contribute a mountain to this, because I think your idea is awesome and I think it's great that you are asking pipe smokers, looking for solid info.
I, however, know very little about the ancient history of tobacco, but I am sure someone around here can help you find the info your looking for. In the meantime, more power to you for an awesome idea.

 

[daimyo]

My apologies, my wife the historian corrected me, the 1600's. He might have returned from the crusades with a hash pipe but they did not have tobacco in the region yet.
Edit: She subsequently informed me that the Norse people were smoking angelikrot (likely Angelica root now) in pipes from around 1000 on but no other reference to pipes in Europe at the time that she is aware of.

 

[ravkesef]

Columbus brought back some tobacco on his first voyage. That's nearly 300 years after Robin Hood. Let's try another tack. Make him a hash smoker. That wouldn't be quite so anachronistic.

 

[patriotblade]

From what I had been able to find on my own historically, you're right, pipe smoking wasn't huge then, but I have once or twice seen illustrations of Robin Hood and some of his merry men with pipes, usually long stemmed with small bowls.
And what would the hash smoke smell like to a kid?

 

[daimyo]

The pictures are romanticized depictions of the character made when pipe smoking was common. Much like the TV/Movie depictions of cowboys in America. Pipe smoking wasn't rare in the proposed time in Europe, it didn't exist in that world at all. Only Spanish aristocracy had access to it upon Columbus' return and didn't introduce it to the rest of Europe until 1528. I would imagine hash would stink to a child, unfortunately for the proposed story line.
Edit: Sorry, not trying to be a buzz kill but if you are looking for accurate data the dates are quite clear. If you don't mind a bit of poetic license then create away.

 

[patriotblade]

Hmmmmm..... Okay. More to mull over for a bit. Thank you!
No! I asked. I wanted to know.
Now, considering that after his return from the Middle East, if he picked up the habit of the hash pipe, he would eventually run out of hash, what might he start smoking in it instead, that he would have found in England? I will also consult my Herbal books for ideas.

 

[patriotblade]

After some more research, I may be able to figure out something for him to smoke later, in England. I have researched hallucinogens before for another story, so... This should work out, eventually. ;-)

 

[conlejm]

Perhaps Robin Hood smoked camel dung in the Middle East like our Iranian friend:
Amou Haji, 80-Year-Old Iranian Man, Smokes Animal Poop, Says He Hasn't Bathed In 60 Years

 

[patriotblade]

Um..... Think I'll pass on this idea. ;-)

 

[kcvet67]

You might try researching the Druids, it's possible there might be some connection with smoking herbs.

 

[ssjones]

What the heck, give Robin a small clay bowl and some heavily latakia tobacco. Will anyone really spot the mistake?

 

[patriotblade]

The general reader may not spot the mistake, SSJ, but you cannot promote something as "historical fiction" if you haven't done your homework. I want it accurate, even if that means scrapping an idea that I LOVE!
KC, I have at other times and I don't recall anything specifically, but I will look into it again. I know they burnt herbs for ceremonies, rather like incense.

 

[cortezattic]

Gene Borio's Tobacco Timeline will reveal the disappointing fact that tobacco was a New World phenomenon during the period for which you're writing.

 

[patriotblade]

The thing is, I understand about no tobacco, but I write people, I understand people. And people have been consuming (via any number of ways) narcotics, for the entire history of mankind. I find it hard to believe that cave men and Druids used them, then suddenly, no one's using anything for close to a thousand years. It's just a matter of researching until I find out what was being smoked and with what methods. Challenge accepted! :-D

 

[settersbrace]

Just an off the wall suggestion to you if you are looking for an olfactory connection between family members in your story.
Robin Hood was a fabled bowman, an archer and game poacher who's accuracy with the English longbow was unmatched. Any archer of that caliber made his own arrows and in that time period the smell of burnt turkey feathers, molten pitch pine and yew tree shavings would be noticeable to anyone who spent time with a character like that and all those odors would be connected to a bowyer.

 

[weezell]

And what would the hash smoke smell like to a kid?

MMMMmmmmmmmmmmm :wink:

 

[patriotblade]

The art of fletching/bow making are also already a planned part of my tale. ;-)
From my research, it appears that Marijuana, or as it is known in Latin, Cannabis (hemp), was widely used across Europe for rope, cloth (particularly for sails), as well as medicinally, so his access to it after picking up the habit in the Middle East, is a non issue. I'm just debating the wisdom of following this subplot in the story. Also, I wanted a good smell, so he may change to a combination of European herbs after his return.

 

[settersbrace]

The art of fletching/bow making are also already a planned part of my tale.
From my research, it appears that Marijuana, or as it is known in Latin, Cannabis (hemp), was widely used across Europe for rope, cloth (particularly for sails), as well as medicinally, so his access to it after picking up the habit in the Middle East, is a non issue. I'm just debating the wisdom of following this subplot in the story. Also, I wanted a good smell, so he may change to a combination of European herbs after his return.
POSTED 10 HOURS AGO #
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