Nargile: Hookah History #2

(reprinted from the Turkish Daily News 3/3/97)

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One of the oldest and deep rooted traditions in Turkey is the nargile
(hookah), with both men and women finding great pleasure in smoking this
water pipe. The nargile started a whole new culture which endured for many, many years.

The original nargile came from India, but it was rather primitive as it was
made out of coconut shell. Its popularity spread to Iran and then to the
rest of the Arab world. But it was in Turkey that the nargile completed its
revolution, and did not change its style for the last few hundred years.

The practice became a very important part of the coffee shop culture, finding its popularity in Turkey around the time of Murat the IV'th, 1623-40. The joy that the smokers received from this very simple yet beautiful smoking apparatus was unbelievable. Rules were created even for lighting the pipe, and if a professional smoker saw anyone lighting it the incorrect way, the culprit would be told in no uncertain term " Do yourself and the sacred nargile a favor and put out the coals by blowing into it."

The pipe itself consists of 4 pieces which are as follows: Agizlik
(mouthpiece), Lüle (the top of the nargile), Marpuç (the tube) and the Gövde (the body of the pipe which is filled with water). All pieces of the pipe were produced by special craftsmen, who were named after the pece they produced. Even today, the areas where these craftsmen used to concentrate are called by these names, such as "Marpuççular."

Not all tobaccos qualified for usage in the nargile, and only the dark
tobacco imported from Iran found favor with the nargile user. This toabcco
was washed several times before use as it was extremely strong. Only oak charcoal was used to be placed on the top of the tobacco. Some professional nargile smokers used certain fruit, like sour cherries or grapes in their govde just to enjoy the motion it created in the water. Other people enjoyed adding pomegranate juice or rose oil to their water for added flavor.

The nargile was so popular and fashionable with the elite ladies of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, that it became the in thing to be photographed with a nargile. If you wanted to be the hostess with the
mostest the nargile was a must for popular afternoon tea and intellectual
gatherings.

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