From where comes that Old West image of the American Indian holding cigars?

zbeckabee

Tobacco is native to the Americas, and the practice of inhaling the smoke of the dried plant material was first documented in the Mayan Indian culture more than 2,000 years ago. The Mayans moved Northward from Central America through the Aztec Empire and eventually took their customs to North American Indian tribes. The origin of the wooden Indian dates back to England in 1617, when small wooden figures called "Virginie Men" were placed on countertops to represent tobacco companies. These "Virginians" (the local English renditions of Indians) were depicted as black men wearing headdresses and kilts made of tobacco leaves. http://www.cigarstoreindianstatue.com/ Nov 30 08, 7:30 PM