The Shuck Cigarillo:

In impoverished colonies of Mexico tobacco was customarily smoked as a shuck cigarillo, not in a pipe as the Americans at that time preferred, or the paper rolled cigarettes of Old Mexico.  Lewis Garrard (Reference) visited Taos in 1847 and described rolling and lighting shuck cigarillos as follows:   "After breakfast, the ladies [these particular ladies were the daughters of Ceran St. Vrain with whom Garrard was lodging] rolled up several shuck cigarillos, which they presented with smiles and a persuasive “Senior?”  I did not refuse.  The shucks are dried and cut in slips, one and a half inches broad by three in length; then moistened, to prevent splitting, by putting it in the mouth, and drawing out with compressed lips.  The tobacco of the country-bland and fragrant-is sprinkled on one edge, and, with a sleight-o’-hand motion of the fingers, rolled up.  The ends are pinched, to retain the contents.  In the pocket is carried a roll of raw cotton the size of a common goosequill, bound with calico, which, with the flint and steel in every one’s possession, is produced, and, with a dexterous blow, fire imparted from which the cigarillo is lit.  A tin tube thee inches long, is fitted to the cotton, and when the shuck lights, the burning roll is drawn in the tube; and, by placing a finger on the end to preclude the air, the fire is extinguished, leaving a cinder to which the steel spark imparts its fire.  Some use a silver, or even a gold tube; while the poor pelados have to content themselves with a tin one, or nothing." 

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