In the first place, all the best tobacco grows at the lower end of the island, and is therefore called "_Vuelta abajo_." An idea has found its way into England, that it is impossible to make cigars at home as well as at the Havana; and the reason given is, the tobacco is made up at Havana during its first damping, and that, having to be re-damped in England, it loses thereby its rich flavour and aroma.
Now, this is a most egregious mistake; for in some of the best houses here you will find tobacco two and even four years old, which is not yet worked up into cigars, and which, consequently, has to be re-damped for that purpose.

If this be so, perhaps you will ask how is it that British-made cigars are never so good as those from Havana?
There are two very good reasons for this--the one certain, the other probable.

The probable one is, that the best makers in Havana, whose brand is their fortune--such as Cabanos y Carvajal--will be jealous of sending the best tobacco out of the country, lest, being forced to use inferior tobacco, they might lose their good name; and the other reason is, that cigars improve in flavour considerably by a sea voyage.

So fully is this fact recognised here, that many merchants pay the duty of three shillings a thousand to embark their cigars in some of the West India steamers, and then have them carried about for a month or so, thereby involving a further payment for freight; and they all express themselves as amply repaid by the improvement thereby effected in their cigars.

Nevertheless, many old Cubans prefer smoking cigars the same week that they are made.