258 RISE AND PROGRESS OF SNUFF-TAKING. 
of snuff, mutually preeing the contents of their mulls, while 
their colleys, (dogs) after a fashion of their own, take a 
reciprocal snifof each other. Cuba is the favorite of the 
gentlemen of the stock exchange; the tradesman’s box 
usually contains rappee ; high dried Irish is grateful to those 
who love to feel the taste of snuff in their throat. Sea-faring 
men seldom take snuff: a sailor with a snuff-bex is as rarely 
to be met with as a sailor without a knife. 
The history of the rise and progress of snuff-taking abounds 
in incidents and anecdotes, among the most curious of all 
that relate to the various modes of using the weed. Though 
once the most popular and fashionable manner of using 
tobacco it now falls far behind the other and more common 
and more popular forms of indulging in the herb. In France 
and Spain the introduction of tobacco ushered in this form of 
using it, and to inhale a few grains of the pungent dust was 
the delight of polished and favored courtiers who regardless 
of the forms royalty patronized and gave sanction to the 
custom. Thus its use in a short time became popular all 
over Europe and gave unlimited scope for the ‘satirist and 
dramatist to ridicule the habit. In spite, however, of frown 
and ridicule this ancient custom though not now as popular 
or as fashionable, still claims many sincere votaries and 
doubtless will as long as the plant is cultivated or used in any 
form. 
