Yes, back before pencils used graphite, lead was used, hence the term 'pencil lead.' Back then, people would lick the lead to make it mark/write darker than it would otherwise.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
