Snuff containers are still used by diviners, as tobacco is a tool for communicating with the ancestors. It is used in divination to put the diviner in contact with the spirits.
The tobacco snuff was often mixed with
ashes of other plants, minerals, & animal fats. This
intense mixture was taken rapidly to induce intoxication.
While it may be a personal pastime for
some, tobacco in Africa is widely associated with
public ceremonies, social etiquette, & the recognition of rank differences.
Some early reports say they may even have held poison.
From left to right, they measure Height: 4 ¾" - 4 ¾" - 5 ¼"
Width: 2 ¼" - 2 ¼" - 2 ⅝"
Diameter: 1 ⅞" - 1 ⅞" - 2 ⅞"