[Aztlan] Stupefing Snakes With Tobacco

[Elaine Day Schele]

Hello Listeros,
I recently came across an interesting passage from Sahagun's Florentine Codex that give us very helpful information about snakes and tobacco I wanted to see if anyone has anything to contribute to this idea.  Apparently tobacco is extremely toxic to snakes and it can be used to kill and/or calm them, depending upon the dosage.  Also, I have been corresponding with a herpetologist friend who tells me that all modern snake handlers know that they should not handle snakes after smoking, especially baby ones. Here is what the passage from the codex says.  The narrator is talking about the yellow "ajaw kan" (his words).

"..And when it is taken, in order to be caught, it is beaten with a stick, a willow.  And to be speedy, it is caught with fine tobacco.  He who wishes to take it rubs fine tobacco in his hands; then also he throws it at [the serpent].  Especially if the fine tobacco enters his [the serpent] mouth, this serpent then stretches out stupefied; it moves no more.  Thus he [a person] simply takes it up with his hands.  This happens with all serpents; they are stupefied by fine tobacco."
 
Even though the part about calming the snake by throwing the tobacco may seem absurd (and cowardly, no doubt), apparently, snakes are so sensitive to it that they can absorb it through their skin or possibly through their forked tongues, which pick up tiny particles in the air.  I would suggest that tobacco was used on snakes to calm them when Mesoamericans were performing special snake ceremonies.
 
I am aware of the Aztlan discussions about the images of the snake lady and her tobacco skirt, so there is no need to rehash that part of the topic, unless someone has something new to relate to us.  I would love to hear from anyone who know more about this subject such as how early Mesoamericans started using tobacco.  Did the Olmec grow and use it? Are there any folktales about snakes and tobacco? Perhaps ancient Mesoamericans found dead snakes near their tobacco stashes and figured out that they could tame  or "stupefy" snakes with it.

Thanks!
Elaine