So, with a bit of googling - turns out this strangely named powder is like smoking but without the er, smoke! and all the coughing and spluttering that goes with it. Also turns out there is quite a bit of 'ceremony' attatched to the art of 'taking snuff'
as follows:
THE ETIQUETTE OF SNUFF - you couldn't make it up!
Rule 1 - Traditionally gentlemen do not take snuff when ladies are present. However if you are in a situation where modern interaction would usually allow both sexes to smoke, for example a public house, then it is acceptable. Formal etiquette dictates that women abstain from tobacco until at least fifty years of age. (Had Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, heeded this advice she might have avoided the nickname 'Snuffy Charlotte')
Rule 2 - Your snuffbox should be chosen for the occasion. For example a silver, ivory or mother-of-pearl snuffbox is appropriate for a formal event, and a brass or teak snuffbox is appropriate for watching rugger. A snuff-pouch is not considered a suitable container because the snuff will often become too moist. Pewter is a definite no-no as the metal is too soft. Napoleon was once given a fragile mother-of-pearl snuffbox by Empress Josephine. When it broke through overuse Napoleon was distraught until Josephine gave him another one.
Rule 3 - Take the snuffbox from your pocket and pass it into your left hand. Your inner left jacket pocket should be used to store all tobacco products.
Rule 4 - Tap the snuffbox with your middle and forefinger so that the powdered tobacco gathers at one side. This will also alert your acquaintances that snuff is about to be passed around.
Rule 5 - Open the snuffbox and inspect the contents. Check that the tobacco is not damp and that it is finely powdered. If it is unusable, or if there is insufficient snuff to provide for the group, there is no shame in returning the snuffbox at this point.
Rule 6 - Present the snuffbox to the surrounding company with a courteous bow. The snuffbox travels clockwise and should only be held in the left hand. This is reminiscent of the way port is passed.
Rule 7 - Receive the snuffbox back with the left hand. Gather the snuff by striking the side with the middle and forefinger.
Rule 8 - Take a pinch with the right hand, between thumb and forefinger.
Rule 9 - Hold the snuff for a second or two between the fingers before taking. Apart from allowing sufficient time to pass the snuffbox forward without keeping people waiting, this is also to display that you are not greedily hoarding the snuffbox.
Rule 10 - Carry the pinch to the nose. Never lean towards your hand. If anything, snuff should be taken with your head tilted slightly backwards. Snuff can also be taken from an indentation formed at the base of the thumb. If you place your hand flat on the table with your fingers spread. Then as you raise the thumb this will reveal what is known as 'The Anatomical Snuffbox 'or colloquially 'The Poorman's Snuffbox'. This method is not recommended because the valuable snuff is far more likely to spill.
Rule 11 - Snuff with precision by both nostrils and without grimaces or distortion of the features. This is a very important point of differentiation between British and European snuff-takers. On the continent it is acceptable to let out a large sneeze after taking, however in Britain that is considered quite rude. It is also very important that you sniff but do not snort. The snuff should not enter deeply into the sinuses. Contrary to this advice in 1820 the double barrelled snuff pistol was invented; it was capable of packing a day's worth of snuff into the nose using an explosive charge. This kind of behaviour would be considered vulgar by anyone's standards.
Rule 12 - Close snuffbox with a flourish. Return the snuffbox to your jacket pocket.
Rule 13 - Wipe nose and collar with a handkerchief. Specialist handkerchiefs are available, which are usually colourful, patterned and silken. They are made to be thrown away because they will rapidly become soiled dark brown whenever the nose runs.
Rule 14 - Never sneeze in public without a handkerchief as the resulting snot will be dark in color and you might look a right
.Now you know!
