THE TOBACCO RACE

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DRIED TOBACCO LEAVES

From the outer islands of Yap, whose islanders always had historic connections with the Marianas, comes this interesting tale that involves Guam and Saipan.

Back in Spanish times, the Chamorros of Guam and Saipan grew their own tobacco.  It was a luxury item for the islanders south of us.  Islands like Ifaluk, Satawal, Woleai and the others who knew the sea routes to the Marianas and who used to trade with the Marianas.

One night, a husband overheard his wife sing a song that said that "her man" was going to Saipan to bring her back tobacco.

The man knew she couldn't have meant him, because they had never discussed this.  So, he figured, she must be talking about another man - a lover besides him.  So the man gets his male relatives and says, "Get out the canoe.  We're leaving island."

"Where?" the relatives ask. 

"You'll find out," the man says.

The man and his relatives sailed straight to Guam and traded for tobacco, beating his wife's lover who sailed farther north to Saipan for the tobacco.  Returning home first, he gave his wife the tobacco and said, "Here's your tobacco.  Tomorrow, wait for your boyfriend.  You and I are finished!"