THE STUFF CALLED 'SNUFF'

 

THE   STUFF CALLED ‘SNUFF’

Of the varied addictions known for men, the use of snuff by the addicts is both interesting and irritating to be honest. Yes, it is an ‘irritation-invited’ by the user. They enjoy the abrupt punch in the cerebellum following a feed of a pinch of snuff.  Snuff is a derivative of tobacco leaves and it never leaves the addict. Properly dried and cured leaves of tobacco are ground to fine powder and marketed. It is a silent revenue source and has not been banned from public places. In fact, the snuff addicts do not hesitate to stuff themselves with the stuff in any place – be it office, Seminars, temple, hospital premises and even while on work. Unlike the smoker seeking a hide-out, the ‘snuffer’ has freedom to indulge in his hobby at any place and time. They truly defy ‘time and space’.  So, they must be divine ‘avatars’ as they defy time and space.  

Snuff - where is it?

Unless a regular user, we may not know where to procure it from. But, the snuffers would ‘sniff out’ the outlets marketing the item. Snuff cannot be bought across the counter from every shop. Yes, there are tiny kiosk-like or box like small shops where snuff is the prime commodity. These shops may not even market cigarettes which are just the cousins of snuff, being themselves fine shreds of tobacco leaves. Like all typical trades, snuff selling /buying has some market practices of quantity specification. Such snuff- selling shops are generally in the inner town, near markets or temples and some cinema hall enclaves.  Even an out-station snuffer quickly foists a bondage with the snuff –seller and vice versa. They enter intimate conversation with absolute ease that any on-looker would presume them to be long time friends. They use a language relating to brand names and the pricing pattern per unit. These units are exclusive to the stuff called snuff. Obviously, they are ‘spoon‘ measures. These spoons are quite tiny and are kept clean and tidy, to avoid ‘snuff brands getting inter-contaminated’. It means the seller uses the same measure for all varieties or brands.

The measuring device:

Though I have named it a spoon, it is a true double ended tool. Yes, both ends have small cup like wells –one end with a larger well and the other with a smaller one and the shaft is more a rod than a flattened handle. It is a treat to watch the shopkeeper dispensing snuff quantities in to recipient containers by abruptly changing ends to add the right quantity or number of large and small measures. For each delivery the rod of the spoon is gently hit on the rim of the larger container to dislodge the snuff powder from the well. The rhythm there of by the ‘tingle’ sound of the spoon is quite orderly and systematic.

The buyer

Snuff buyers are invariably men of middle age, while some labour–class youngsters also buy snuff. Normally shops- only dispense snuff and do not provide containers. Occasionally companies market snuff in containers. Otherwise, the buyer gets new snuff in old container. Beginning with banana sheath folds, the containers are varied in form and shape with flat cattle horn containers, also flat silver container, similar stainless holders and flat aristocratic silver containers.   Of late, tubular tin containers are used too. All of them hold a small quantity of snuff. The addicts prefer new stuff as it is more pungent as against the old insipid powder.  Snuff addicts have a typical approach to the way they inhale the virulent powder and enjoy the tentative dislocation thereof.

The art of ‘snuffing’

Smokers seldom attract attention; but the snuffer is watched as if awaiting an explosion- especially by boys 7 – 10 in age. Unobtrusively they stand in the vicinity of the snuffer and keep watching him –as to how the man inhales the explosive powder. The snuffer though undaunted by the on-lookers, keeps them guessing for fairly long time to nearly frustrate them. One or two boys disperse but some boys stay anchored and determined to frustrate the snuffer.

To Continue             Prof. K. Raman