A retrospective study involving 78 cases of oral carcinoma was conducted to investigate their association with the habit of taking snuff orally known as 'snuff-dipping' and locally termed 'saffa'. It was found that 50 (81%) of the 62 questioned patients used snuff in the form of saffa. It was also found that carcinomatous changes usually developed in the area of the mouth where the snuff was habitually placed. It was concluded that the association between saffa and development of oral carcinoma is likely to be causal.