Browse:"CHANNEL DE WORLD" (Volume 5, entries 10604–13458)/Part 34
"CHANNEL DE WORLD"
Volume 5, entries 10604–13458. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
1 listed entry is unavailable here.
Entries
Entry 13245
Yo' kin take sugah an' put it in de FO' CORNERS OF YORE HOUSE. Dat'll keep de man at home too. [Memphis 2715:5.]
Entry 13246
Sweetens a person up. If a person keep a little sugar around them, why it sweeten you up. Everybody most like you. [Washington, D. C. 805:7.]
Entry 13247
Sprinkle sugar...will bring peace and happiness to your home.
[Mobile 909:3.]
Entry 13248
She [hoodoo - rootworker - fortuneteller] told me whenever ah take a bath, take two tablespoonsful of sugar into my bathwater and don't dry mah- self. Let it dry into me. That give you luck and a good trade. [Mobile 947:3.]
Entry 13249
If yo' an' yore wife's together, an' yo' git on bad terms between - yo' know sometimes somebody do try tuh doublecross yo'. Well, ah tell yo' whut yo' kin do. It's a little simple thing dat yo' git from de drug store. Jes' lak yo' has a wood stove fo' cooking, all right, two clock in afternoon or two any time, jes' so it's two clock - two clock in de morning or two clock in de afternoon - yo' kin take - aw jes' about a tablespoonful of sul- phur, an' whilst yo' got a fire in yore stove, yo' kin take a tablespoonful of dat sulphur or anythin' an' put in yore stove, but yo' jes' gonna put it on top. An' jes' lak she's here in town, jes' lak now, say dis is 22nd [Street]. All right, ovah in Methodist Town, which yo' might say called tuh be about 6 or 7 blocks from heah, an' whilst yo' be burnin' dat sulphur, in de next 5 hours she'll come back home. Dis [place where we are talking] is 22nd Street [6 or 7 blocks from[ Methodist Town. All dat's colored section. Wal [well] dis heah [place where we are talking] dey call 22nd Street, a suburb [of METHODIST TOWN].
Entry 13250
I stayed at a place up north. Every morning when I kindled de fire- I gen'a'ly made de fire - they had a package of sulphur there on that stove. When it was hot, they would sprinkle de sulphur on it, to fumigate de house with sulphur. They said that kept off the evil spirits and give it luck. (Every morning?) Every morning they'd sat- urate dat stove, when ft. got hot, you know, so that sulphur Would burn, they would sprinkle some of that sulphur on the stove. Said that kept off the evil spirits and give them luck. Druv [drove] the evil spirits out of the house, which, you know yourself, that there are more evil spirits than there are good ones. We are told by the Bible that many's the soul to walks this earth, visible or invisible. What they meant visible ones is the ones that we want to get rid of, don't want to be bothered with 'em. Well, now, we'll go back to de sulphur question. When you go to dig money, you make a circle around, all de way around de place yo' goin' to dig. Now a fellah tole me this to be a fact. Ah never seen it. An' sprinkle sulphur all around it [circle], an' yo' dig inside de ring of sulphur. When de evil spirit comes up there, he can't get inside that ring over that sulphur.
Entry 13251
Well, ah heard dat chew burn sulphur in yore house dat wus luck tuh yore enemies and den it wus bad luck tuh yore neighbors, because it's 'cordin' tuh de way yo' burn dat. Yo' burn dat sulphur certain hours in de night fo' luck fo' yo' friends, an' den yo' burn it certain hours fo' luck fo' yo' enemies. Dat means dat yo' enemies whut chew burn fo' dem will cause dem tuh be in hard luck. An' whut chew burn fo' yore friends dat'll be good luck, but it be certain hours of de night - from 12 to 4 in de mawnin'. Yo' burn sulphur in de night about 12 a'clock. When yo' burn dat sulphur why yo' burn dat sulphur fo' yo' friend providin' if her enemy tryin' tuh harm her an' tuh keep her enemy from harmin' 'er. Well, 4 'clock in de mawnin' yo' burn de sulphur fo' de enemies. See.
Entry 13252
Ah've heard of dem using sulphur. Dey kin burn sulphur in a house fo' good luck. An' den, if dey uses de bluestone long wit de sulphur, an' take it to people's house, dey take it an' burn it in front of dey doorstep at night. Dat will bring dem all kind of bad luck.
Entry 13253
De way ah heard it wuz done, dey take an' go round dat house at de front do' an' at de back do' an' make a straight mahk [a shallow trench with stick]. (All around the outside of the house?) Yessuh, right down dere by de edge of de do'step de way dey have tuh come in an' out. An' yo' take dat when yo' make dat mahk down dere, yo' puts sul- phur an' gunpowder in dat mahk an' when dey do dat yo' take den an' yo' stick fiah in next tuh de do'step, an' when yo' do dat, why it blows out - blows it out, an' ah heard dat in three days aftah yo' do dat it will blow 'em cleah - dat will blow 'em cleah intuh de distance. Dey won't have no mind tuh stay dere. (It runs them out of that house. You mean you make a straight mark in front of each door?) Yessuh.
(Like a trench?)
Yessuh, jes' a lil' trench. (You dig a little trench for that stuff and then light it and let it go
[blow] on out?)
Yes.
Entry 13254
You kin take gunpowder and sulphur, and if you kin get close enough to dem when dey go to sleep or lay down - yo' know where de' goin' to lay down - take and dust it. See, jis like de shett up, and dust de mattress and put it back where de' sleep - goin' lay down over it. And dat thing get in dere bones, see, and dey won't live 6 months.
Entry 13255
You take sulphur, they tell me and mix it together in pure lard and rub with it. You kin move it [poison or cunjure] 股中 away. Sulphur and pure lard, cream it together and rub with it. They say that choo kin get it out choo by that. And [in addition] you take so much sulphur, don' choo understand, with brown sugar. You take it [inwardly]. Well, that purges you, you know, and git all dat bad stuff out.
Entry 13256
Ah heard dat too. Lak if yo' a big bootleggah an' dere's several people dat chew want tuh come tuh yore house, an' yo' wanta keep de law away from yore house or somepin lak dat. Yo' take [and] burn dis sulphur an' ole shoes dat will stink, an' whilst yo' take an' burn dat sulphur an' dem shoes - git up first thin' in de mawnin' - take an' burn dis sulphur an' dem shoes an' aftah yo' burnin' dis stuff, yo' git up an' take a bath round about 'leven a'clock [at night].'Fore yo' take a bath, yo' take dis stuff an' put it in de watah dat chew take a bath in. Yo' take dis stuff an' put it in yore watah an' yo' set dere [until] ah reckon round twelve or one 'clock at night. Well, yo' git up an' yo' burn dis stuff ag'in - dis sulphur an' dis ole shoes an' sprinkle sulphur lak dat. Yo' git up an' den yo' put dis back in de same watah where de sulphur is. When yo' git up jes' about sunrise, jes' as de sun in peepin' up above de trees, an' yo' take dis tub of watah an' yo' go an' po' it out on de opposite of de sun - opposite where de sun rises, but de same side where de sun rise on. Yo' take dis watah jes' 'bout sunrise, dis tub of watah, an' yo' take an' dash it out on de opposite side of de sunrise. An' dis watah will jes' run right on down - dat drive 'em 'way lak dat.
(You do this early in the morning?)
Yessuh, early in de mawnin' jes' about sunrise. (Do you pour this water out on the side where the sun is rising up or where the sun sets down?) Where de sun rise - de same side de sun rise on, de same side yo' po' dis watah out.
(That brings in trade.)
Entry 13257
All yo' have tuh do is tuh git chew some sulphur an burn an' all. Yo' ketch his [policeman's] eyes whensomevah he come in an' look after him, an' let him walk across it, see. (This burnt sulpbur?) Yes sir, burnt sulpbur, an' when he come in yo be lookin' after 'in. Try tuh ketch his eyes. An' he nevah come tuh yore house no mo'. Or yo' could jes' take some - if yo' sellin' whiskey, each maslin' befo' yo' open yore do', befo' anyone come in, yo' jes' take jes' a certain aomt of it [whiskey] an' jes' throw it ovah yore do', both doors, as de customers comes in an' out, see. An' then yo' be fixed - de law will nevah bother yo'.
(You mean you throw the salt and sulphur over the door?)
No, yo' kin take some of yore whiskey.
(Oh, the whiskey. That's to keep the law away, too.)
See, when yo' burn dis sulphur, den yo' throw de whiskey ovah de head - yo' know whut ah mean, jes' throw some ovah de head of de do' up there an' dey won't nevah bother yo'.
Entry 13258
If they run me out, then I will fix that house so no one kin live in there.
(I see. How is that done?)
Well, when I move out, you understand, I would sweep up all my trash. I don't wanta leave none of my dirt. I'd take up all my rugs and carpets and things, and I'd sweep the floors. I will get sulphur, you understand - I will get sulphur. I will get de oil of cin- namon. Yo' know what de oil of cinnamon is. I will get cayenne pepper and I will put it in de four cor- ners of dat room, and I will light it and I will fasten de windows down and de doors down and let it burn - with a curse. No one never will move in there. As they move in, they move out. And if they do move in there - there wouldn't a soul move in there what wouldn't have death in the family. [In former days the cursing of a house like this Was a serious business and most people moving in would have had it uncursed by a doctor.]
Entry 13259
(What is goofer dust?) Well, whut dey call goofer dust is - dey takes sulphur, red pepper an' a red onion an' sew it up in a red piece of flannel an' dat's whut chew call goofer dust. [Normally of course this is a hand.]
(What do you do with that then?)
Take it an' wear it in yore pocket, jes' wear it all de time in yore pocket.
(What is it supposed to do for you?)
Well, it'll make yo' lucky an' successful. [This of course is not normal goofer dust, a dust; but if it is for informant, it is.]
Entry 13260
Yo' take red peppah, cayenne peppah, hot, an' table salt. Let it all be new. Take table salt jes' new an' dis sulphur brand-new, nevah been opened befo' yo' know. Well, yo' take it an' mix it up, an' yo' jes' throw it all round yore house, an' dat's good tuh keep de law from comin' in annoyin' yo'. An' den if a person is comin' tuh yore house an' yo' don't want dem tuh go dere, yo' kin jes' throw dat out behin' dem in de chair where dey sit at in de room. Den when dey git ready tuh git up an' go out, den yo' kin take it an' go on out an' jes' throw it de way dey went, an' cuss 'em, an' dey'll not come back any mo'. Dey won't come back any mo'. If dey do', dey'll come right in an' dey cain't stay dere no time. Yo' gotta git out an' sweep behin' dem.
Entry 13261
Carry it there and mix it up together and burn it, sulphur and gun- powder, and make enemies in the home jis' like you and your wife, somebody want to git between you, they say they kin carry it there and burn it and git be- tween you.
Entry 13262
(How can you get those live things out of a person?)
Now yo' kin take jes' lak ah tole yo' 'bout somepin jes' now. Yo' kin take sulphur, three dips, an' let 'em drink it [in water or a liquid] an' dat'll bring 'em up.
(Bring those live things out?)
Dat's right. [Florence 2293:1.]
Entry 13263
If yo' wanted tuh bring in customers, at six a'clock in de mawnin' burn yo' a little sulphur - 'bout a teaspoonful fo' nine mawnin's, an' stop nine, an' jes' keep aburnin' it lak dat, an' yore customers will come in jes' plentyful. [Savannah 2174:7.]
Entry 13264
Yo' burns dat in yore house every mawnin' IN DE FO' CORNERS OF A ROOM, de sulphur, in de fo' corner of a room every mawnin' at six an' every afternoon at six. That's luck an' draws business. That's really good.
Entry 13265
Takes a box of sulphur an' burn it ever' mawnin' fo' 'bout 6 mawn- in's, an' he can't come in.
(Keep the law away.)
Entry 13266
Dey builds han's wit sulphur an' gunpowder. Sew it up in a piece of flannen, yo' know, an' have a...keep it damp [feed it] every mawning yo' wake up wit Hearts Cologne...dat's de han' dey builds fo' luck.
Entry 13267
(To keep these spirits away what do you do?)
Use sulphur an' gunpowder, jes' rub ovah yo' an' burn it in de house, dey shore wouldn't come in. After yo' do dat yo' git chew a... [I turn on machine again to catch cussin'.]
(What about cussing them?)
Yo' have tuh cuss 'em all right tuh keep 'em away.
Entry 13268
Sompin to make somebody stay outa dis house, if ah move out dis house. Dey say. dat dey take sulphur an' burns it at each one of de room. Close it up an' burn it in each one of de room, an' nobody won't rent dis house any mo'.
(Keep them from renting the house?)
Yes sir. [Brunswick 2108:15.]
Entry 13269
Dey say if anybody have done anything to yo', yo' kin take sulphur an' sprinkle it all around yore house an' bury some of it under de doorstep, an' den take some of it an' put it in a rag an' wear it round yore waist. Say dat'll kill it.
Entry 13270
Burn sulphur in your house, don' shoo know, an' keep away, don' chew know, de devil, dey tell me. Jis' burn it, let de scent go all over de house. Yo' kin drive de devil out dataway. [Richmond 390:2.]
Entry 13271
(How do they use the sulphur?)
Take sulphur and a little lard and spread 'cross your door - doorstep every morning, and it'll harm you.
(I see. You mean, if somebody did that to my door or - something to harm me?)
Yes. [Richmond 375:3.]
Entry 13272
Dey say yo' kin burn sulphur an' dat will keep dem away.
(Keep the law away.)
Entry 13273
(To keep them out of the house, from stealing anything, jes' sprinkle sulphur around the house.) Yes. [Fayetteville 2494:4.]
Entry 13274
Yo' kin wear sulphur in yore shoes an' den nobody can't harm yo'.
[Waycross 1841:10.]
Entry 13275
Sulphur worn in clothes or shoes or rubbed on hands that might touch conjured articles is a protection against them. [Wilmington 189:6.]
Entry 13276
Sprinkle sulphur at door to keep out unwelcome visitor. [Wilmington 181:1+85.]
Entry 13277
Sulphur sprinkled in person's departing tracks will keep that person away. [Wilmington 156:2+85.]
Entry 13278
If somebody's interferin' [with] yo' aroun' yore home, ev'ry mawnin' yo' git up yo' go tuh de do' an' yo' make yore wishes an' bow tuh de sun 3 times, an' ask de Lord tuh re- move de evil spirits - tuh move away evil spir- its. An' do that three times an' do that fo 'bout 9 mawnin's. Walk tuh de do' an' make a bow tuh de sun. Yo' know de sun is a whole lot in success, yo' know. Yo' bow tuh de sun 3 times. An' aftah yo' bow tuh de sun an' [then] yo' axe Him ["De Lord"] tuh move away evil spirits.
(You do that three times for nine mornings.)
Entry 13279
Where anyone off [away from home]: befo' sunrisin' yo's facin' de sun, facin' de sun, "In de Name of de Father and de Holy Ghost, ' jes' lak, 'Willie yo come home at once an' hasty." Well, now he'd be home in 9 days.
(You just go out there once and say that?)
Jes' once. Say it befo' sunup.
Entry 13280
Ah went in de woods in de spring of de year - it been about three years ago now. If yo' know a swallah [swallow] bird - do yo' know a swallah bird? Well, yo' kin take one of de eggs outa dere nest an' bring it home anl boil it. An' den put it back in dat nest. Well, when dat bird come back, she know dat egg ain't jes' lak she left it. Well, she goes somewhere in de woods an' get a root an' bring it dere an' put it in dat nest. Dat suppose to make dat egg right. An' yo' kin git dat an' jes' keep it in yore pocket an' yo' more den apt to keep a dollah all de time, 'long as yo' keep it.
(You'll get the root out of the nest then?)
Yes sir. She puts de root in de nest. (Then you go and take the root out of the nest. Did you try that? Did it work?) Yes sir, it worked. Fact ah kept money, ah reckon it musta been somepin'.
Entry 13281
Ah hear tell if yo' know where de swallow hatching at - de little birds hatchin' - an' yo' kin git his aig while he off his nest, an' bring it in an' boil it, an' carry it back an' put it to de nest, dat yo' kin conquer anything in de world on it. But ah ain't been able tuh find dat swallow. Ah been try- in' tuh find dat nest but ah ain't nevah found it. Dey say it be somewhere by de chimley somewhere - de' claim. [Somewhere in text I have a note about confus- ion between chimney swift and swallow.] Say dat bird is a shore fact. Say if yo' git dat aig from dat bird, dat bird he'll come an' bring yo' three roots in de place of dem aigs, after yo' take dem aigs out an' boil 'em. Yo' take de aigs an' dat bird'll come back an' bring yo' three roots an' say he'll take dem roots an' do as he wants tuh do.
Entry 13282
Well, yo' kin take a swallow's aig. Go to a swallow's nest. Yo' know in dat swallow's nest yo'll find a little stone. They always have a little stone in dere nest. An' yo' kin take dat stone - dere always be a stone in a swallow's nest - an' yo' kin go to a swallow's nest an' take out one dose aigs an' keep it out. Say a day or two days - long as yo' wanta an' return it back there. An' when yo' return it back dere, yo' git dat stone an' yo' tote that stone with yo', an' dat 'cumulate all kinda money. Dat's good fo' money matters.
Entry 13283
Ah have heard a story of where a lady take a biscuit, yo' know, an' wear it undah her arm, jes' fo' de night ovah [overnight] an' take it an' crumb it up in a platter. Den put it in a buscuit dough an' feed her husban' with dat. Make him stay home.
(Wear it under the arm?)
Unah her arm.
(Under her left arm?)
[This is not a leading question. I merely restart maching to add a statement. Many examples in HOODOO.]
(And she will mix it into what?)
Mix it into othah flour dough, lak when she git ready to make her biscuit... (Just take an old cold biscuit and wear it under her arm...)
Entry 13284
If yo' girl fren' happen to leave yo' lak dat, yo' jest follow her fo' a couple of days - follow her up, den yo' go to de drug store an' git chew some of dis heah Beechnut Gum [trade name chewing-gum]. Get some Beechnut Gum an' take it. Yo' take dat gum an' roll it up in yore hand jest lak dis heah [demonstrates]. Roll it up an' wear it to yo' - close to yore skin. Wear it dere an' jest sometime yo' be talkin' - talk- in' 'long wit her. Well yo' say, "Well, have some of dis heah." Break it off a piece an' jest give her a piece of it. An' den yo' natchly [naturally] goin' tuh co't her an' yo' git her back in a minute.
Entry 13285
Den if he leaves, dat is, if he's tryin' tuh leave yo' - if he's talkin' about leavin' yo', he's already talkin' about leavin' yo'. Yo' kin take yore towel whut chew wash yore face with an' keep dat towel wet all de time an' wipe be- aeen yore laigs an' keep him washin' his face with dat towel all de time. Dat sill keep him from leavin' yo'.
Entry 13286
Person wipes off sweat with white cloth, ties it up tight - airtight it - put witch hazel on, hide package in bed, usually in mattress and under sleeping partner. This is to hold him or her. [Wilmington 133:2+85.]
Entry 13287
Wipe person's sweat on piece of new homespun, ball it up, and hide fn toe of your old shoe. [Wilmington 111:2+85.]
Entry 13288
Woman puts her armpit sweat in his food to hold him. [Wilmington 166:3+85.]
The brief statement presents holding him as the purpose of putting armpit sweat in food; no achieved result is reported.
Entry 13289
A root doctor told me that. He said you git choo a bucket of watah a'a broom, an' as they goes on out de doah, he says - like aftah dey gone out, h say - he jis' go back from w'ere they's settin' at, an' gits his broom an' dip it in that bucket nine time an' jis' sweep with it. An', every time yo's make [each of] dem nine [dips], sweep it [from the visitor's chair] right on out [of the house] and make you a wish: "I hope yo'll go an' nevah come no more." He said they'll nevah come back to your house no more [mō']. [That allitera- tion go and mo occurs several times in HOODOO, it appearing to be an uncon- scious folk expression.]
Entry 13290
Don't care what chew do - if you commit murder, don't make any dif- ference. If yo' kin stay out of the way of the law, until yo' get where yo' goin', why it's all over. You won't be harmed and they won't do any harm either. Yo' go to de woods and cut a sycamore sprig and you begin at the top and strip it right down. You know, it has a bark that will strip down jes' like as if it was buckhide. Strip it right down to the ground [this shows sprig is a sapling, not branch of tree] and tie a knot in that tight right close to the ground, and then lay the other part [side] down. Pull the other side down and tie a knot-like right close to the ground. Get right up and walk right on off about your business. You kin come right back and be ready for another [ex- perience]. You needn't worry.
(That will keep the law back?)
If the law's after you, they ain't goin' bother you any more. They ain't goin' to prosecute you any more. It will be over. And you'll find nobody else won't bother you. (That is, you take this stick [sapling] on one side and then on the other side, and just split it [bark].) Yes sir. [Doctor Glover of Charleston is speaking, the man who makes the headboard of a grave rock - Pp.2258-2259, v.3. In the present rite he returns to it later as follows:] And person [your client] get found out and you git to him, why you don't have to worry. You jes' get that sycamore sprig. See, go right to that sycamore sprig and strip it down, one side first and tie it up, and the other [side] next and tie a knot into it, and go right on off. (That will clear them.) [Charleston, S. Car., (514 Doctor Glover), first part of material 596:2; second part 598:1.]
Entry 13291
If yo' got a man an' he's runnin' aroun' an' yo' wanta stop him, dey say yo' feed him offa de fo' corners of de table. Scrape de fo' corners of de table. Git dat stuff, yo' know, off de fo' corners of de table an' put dat in his food, an' dat'll make him stay home. [A dog rite transferred to man!]
Entry 13292
De jackdaw on top de house, you wanta git: 'way from him. Jes' like he make his bed up yonder [on top of house or nearby tree]. Well, you run him out from dere - you don't want him. You run him out from dere and git what he make up dere, and take dat and bring it down and put it in your pocketbook, and you got luck de balance of yore days.
(Luck the balance of your days.)
All you gotta do, wear dat in yore pocketbook. Don't let nobody put dere hand in dere but chew. [This is one of the great rules of hoodoo, never let anyone touch your luckpiece.]
Entry 13293
De second way yo' use dat turpin [terrapin] yo' wanta git at it by a woman. Dere's a woman now and she in love with yo'. Now dis is de way what a woman love yuh [wil] dol. She'll ketch dat turpin and she'll come and throw it in yo' house, come and throw it in yo' yard. And she done tote it in yo' yard, yo' may ketch him an' yo' might could- n't find dat turpin. Well, yo' say, "Well, ah kill dis thing cause it been dat second time ah see him in my yard." But if yo' kill dat turpin, yo' done kill yo' spirit, yo' jes' kill your spirit and yo' gotta go to her.
(How do you mean you killed your spirit?)
Yo' done killed yore spirit fer nobody but her.
Entry 13294
Ah hear a lady say she taken a turtle aig an' dry it up an' put it - jes' beat it up, jes' grind it up jes' lak she wus goin' tuh make somepin out of it, a powder of some kind. An' she taken dis turtle aig an' she put it in a turtle. She cooked de turtle fo' a lady - a sick lady - about dis lady's hus- about dis lady's hus- band. She cooked de aig in de turtle an' when de lady eat de turtle she loved de turtle. Whenevah she eat dis turtle - she et it every dat - it wus a certain time on de moon dat de turtle would come in her right breast over her heart. An' ever' time it would come out it would draw her [breast?] right down to her knees. It looked jes' lak rubber - jes' lak she stretch rubber. Dey take it an' stretch it down to her knees!
(What time of the moon?)
On de growin' of de moon.
Entry 13295
Yeah, jes' lak if yo' wanted tuh poison anybody. Jes' lak now, it lak dis, if yo' wanted tuh poison anybody yo' kin put 9 turtles in 'em. Yo' git 9 drops of dis turtle blood - or even 9 drops of snake's blood - of dis tur- tle befo' it die; after yo' kill it yo' know, whilst it warm. An' yo' put dat in whiskey - in a half pint of whiskey an' dey drink it. Dey'll [be] 9 of dem [live turtles in them] in 9 day's time.
Entry 13296
Dese ole oak trees an' dey burn 'em into ashes, coals. Den yo' ketch a terrapin an' put him in dese ashes, coals. An' put dis ole terrapin in dere an' let him roast. An' dey eat him, hull shell, entrails an' all. [Hull shell could be con- fusing. Victim does not eat hull and shell and entrails. The shell is hulled, cleaned out, and meat and entrails eaten. While collecting folkore on Deal Island in Chesapeake Bay in 1936 I learned that oysters and clams are shucked a word I had always associated with Indian corn. Even so, by hull, informant may mean WHOLE shell, entrails and all.] Dat will cure dat.
(What will that cure?)
Cure de consumption [tuberculosis]. Cure it on anybody. Ah don't care who dey is.
Entry 13298
Woman had a cooter in her. [Cooter is any of several turtles or tor- toises in the U. S. A.] [Wilmington 1173+85.]
Entry 13299
Catch a terrapin, raise his shell, put person's name under, return tc water, and that person will go there and drown. [Norfolk 537:3.]
Entry 13300
John de Conkah, you git dat, an' dragon's blood an' a little piece of lodestone [3 ingredients] an' wrap dat in a piece of flannen an' make a [hand and feed] Hearts Cologne or Good Riding Scent [the only appearance of this perfume] an' jes' rub dat ovah yuh face after having a couple of days of good work, yo' know. An' jes' rub dat ovah yuh an' not only de boss - nobody can't turn yuh down. [I hope the reader did not miss the poignancy of after having a couple of days of good work. This desire for work - the many rites for getting and holding jobs - is everywhere in HOODOO. That hoodoo drugstore perfume Good Riding Scent is unique.]
Entry 13301
(What would I do to keep the law out?) Well, yo' kin use Jockey Club perfume, sweet oil and [oil of cloves - see later].
(What are these things you take, now?)
Oil of cloves, Jockey Club perfume and sweet oil.
(What do you do with those?)
You just take them and just get you a bottle of Jockey Club perfume and keep your hands on it [have it handy], keep it in your pocket. See, when they [the law] gets too fast, why you dampen some on your hands [demonstrates] that oil of cloves, Jockey Club and sweet oil.
Entry 13302
Well, even you could take, just like across the street. That's a man, he's got plenty of customers com- ing in his place. Your place is over on this side. You ain't got much customers. You don't know what's the matter. Every time you look around, you could see officers there. Well, this man over there, he hadn't oughta be there. You take some of this sinamint [cinnamon] and sugar and you take and get actual bat dust.
(Bat dust?)
Bat dust.
(Like a bat that flies around in the air.)
Yeah, that be's up in the fire-hearth [chimney]. Well, you git it and you take his heart and you burn it as a powder - down to a powder. You get any kind of fowl, duck or chicken and kill 'em. And you take that gizzard from a chicken, and you take that skin from off his gizzard, and you take it and you burn that down. You take the gill of a fish and you burns it down to ashes. You takes a piece of somepin like a bar, a piece of barring; you know, bar what you put on the bed for to keep the mosquitos [away].
(Mosquito bar?)
[I had never heard the word barring!]
Yeah, just like that curtain is there.
(Mosquito bar, something like cheesecloth.)
Yeah.
(All right.)
You take that and if you can't get over to that place, you send somebody in there with that all mixed up in there as a powder; you see, that bat-heart dust, that gizzard dust, and that fish-gill dust - with sinemint [cinnamon] and sugar. Hell, now, you take it and you send somebody over to that place. You got some com water. You get war water and he have it in his pocket - just like if you got [carrying] something to drink. You understand. And you take that fish-gill dust and for to keep the odor down, open that war water. He goes to the lava- tory - anywhere, you see - and sprinkle it down in there. And when you leave out of there, pretend just like there be something happen to his shoes, or pants leg or something of the kind like that. He got this here stuff wrapped up and he got a handkerchief in hand and he sprinkle it all the way there, back into your place. And you couldn't turn [round] for the people being in your place. And every morning, you take this stuff and from the end of your property where you at, just come back where you is and sprinkle it - sprinkle your sugar and Sprinkle you sinemint [cinnamon] and do it just after - but don't use no war uater at your place, that will make confusion at your place. You see. But that ear water going to make confusion over to the next place, then that bring the custiment [customers or custum] over at your place. (I see. Well, now do you sprinkle that stuff from his place over to your place?) Yes, just. You ain't got to put it all the way - just like you got...
(He wrapped it up in this cloth, this mosquito bar?)
Yes, just as it come through that. (You sprinkle this war water over his lavatory to cause trouble and then you sprinkle this sweet stuff all the way over to your place?) Yes, just every now and then you coming across the street, just [demonstrates].
(Shake it.)
Shake it and right into your house [place of business]. When you get to your hoase, you turn backwards and [back] into your door. That make a confusion - that war water going to make a confusion over there and that going to make peace Bne in your place. People leaving from there coming following that luck right orer in your place.
Entry 13303
3 RooTS: blackberry, make tea, drink 3 days; go to dogwood tree, din bark from north side, pulling it upward, make tea, drink 3 days; bamboo Eier [like a fishing pole], make tea, drink 3 days. Then take a dose of castor oil and live things in you will come out.
Entry 13304
3 INGREDIENTS: Copperas [green vitriol or ferrous sulfate], salt- peter, and scrape a piece of silver money, drink and bathe in fish-brine salt [salt from any salted fish] "it kill it in you any kind of poison like that."
[Memphis 1552:6.]
Bathing is named in the account. The poison-removal statement is a source claim; how the listed substances relate is not resolved here.
Entry 13305
I'd go to the graveyard where a sin- nerman' buried, and get me some graveyard dust and some coffee grinds and put it in a bottle with some war water. And whilst the people be asleep, I'd take the war water and sprinkle all over the front step and they couldn't be in there 12 days.
(You put all these things in that bottle, in the same bottle?)
In the same bottle.
Entry 13306
Then you can fix what you call a scaft [scapular] to wear upon you to protect yourself.
(A what?)
A scafle.
(What kind? How do they fix that?)
You get frankincense, frankincense.
(What kind? Frankincense. All right.)
Yes. And myris [myrrh].
(And what? Muritch. All right.)
Muritch. And you puts it in white linen. See, you make a scaple [scapular] out of it to wear around your neck. And you feeds it with a oil of labena [verbena]. (Lavena?) Yes, you pours that upon it. That's to protect yourself. See that's what I knows about that.
(Now, what do you call this vanovitch?)
Muritch.
(What does it look like?)
It's a rock.
(A rock?)
Yes, it look just like that, but you can beat it up and make a powder out of it. (I see, muritch Yes, muritch and frankincense, they both look the same, but the frankincense is light looking and myrrh is brown. But they both is rocks, just come in pieces like that and larger pieces.
(Muritch or myrrh?)
Muritch 'er - ah myrrh.
(Is it myrrh?)
Yes, sir. That's it, myrrhs.
(I see. I got it.)
Entry 13307
Well, if a woman wants tuh git rid of a man an' don't want him tuh come tuh her house no mo', de first thing she'll do, she'll go uptown to de drugsto' an' she git her some rock candy, an' she git her some whiskey. Git dis rock candy an' whiskey an' mix it tuhgether, an' she po's some vinegar in. An'when he come dere, she'll prob'ly have him tuh sit down. An' when he sit down, she prob'ly - yo' know a man doesn't pay much attention tuh a woman an when he go tuh sleep dere, an' she sprinkle dat ovah him. An' after she sprinkle dat ovah him he goin' leave her alone. He won't come back to her house no mo'. (What do you mean a man doesn't pay much atten- tion to a woman? What do you mean by that?) Well, some mens doesn't pay much attention tuh a woman when dey come tuh dere house. Dey jes' know dere [they are] at home. Yo' know, think dat dey [not] goin' do anything to harm 'em.
Entry 13308
Well, you take the hair off the cat's back and you take any dirty piece that woman's got and wrench it [rinse] out in some clear water. Take that cat hair and that water and war water and throw it in the river. She keep no job nowhere, she can keeps no husband no time.
Entry 13309
Use de thresher [thrasher] feet.
(The feet from a thrasher, the bird. What do you do with those?)
Yo' take an' put that in a bottle. Yo' bottle dat wit chure hair, an' put milk in it, an' yo' put love powders in dere, an' put sulphur in it, an' put red peppah in it, an' yo' work it up airtight, an' dat'll do de work den. Dat will run 'em away. (What do you do with that bottle?) Yo' take dat bottle an' put it in de no'th or de east corner of de garden. Yeah, dat'll make him leave, or if yo' wanta run him crazy, that will run him away.
Entry 13310
Dey kin take yo' bath water - like you washes, yo' know. Dey take dat. Like dey have to have somepin from yo', dey kin take dat and take a pair of socks of yours. And dey have to throw it in de tide going out. When it comin' up it ain't no good, when it goin' back down ev'ry time it come up, you'll be all right, but when it goin' back down, yo' mind goin' jes' dataway. I see all dat happen. I see dat an' know dat's a fact.
Entry 13311
Take an' write de 42nd Psalms on a tin plate an' sleep with it under her haid, or his haid, an' dey will return.
(That is to bring a man back or a woman back.)
Yes. [Waycross 1778:2.]
Entry 13312
A felon, yo' take de live toadfrog an' split him open an' stick yore finger right in him, an' it will cure it.
Entry 13313
Git choo some chewin' tobaccah an' jis' break off fo' corners of dat 'baccah an' chew it - dem fo' corners yo' chew it. Then put de otber piece In your pocket, an' go down there wheresomever you Suppose to git a job an' he'll purtty near give yo' one. [Years ago the old plug tobacco Was cut into oblong pieces as purchased. This is an unusual four corner rite, my only example of it.]
Entry 13314
You knows tobacco. Well, yo' kin pull de 'bacco off de stems an' git a bunch of stems an' whup [whip] 'em [a child who wets the bed] jes' whup 'em with it 9 times.
Entry 13315
To get a job, chew tobacco and spit some of it into the back of the boss's automobile. [Presumably a part of you, saliva, rides with him constantly as a reminder. This sort of thing I have considered individual rather than gen- erally used rites.]
Entry 13316
Take tobaccah an' put it in a pint of whiskey an' let it stay in dere till dat pint of whiskey eat up dat tobaccah. Den take it down tuh give to 'em, dey'll stop.
(To stop somebody from drinking [alcohol].)
Entry 13317
De cigar ashes - de same as ah walk in tuh take a drink. Ah'm used tuh drinkin' heavy. Why dey'd take de cigar ashes an' empty it into de stuff [alcohol] an' it would make me sick. An' if ah git ovah dat ah wouldn't have no taste for any ag'in, because it supposed tuh have double de power after yo' put dat cigar ashes into it. [This is believed everywhere.]
Entry 13318
They smoke cigars and put de cigar ashes in de whiskey, and if you drink enough of it, that'll run you crazy. [This in some form is believed everywhere.]
Entry 13319
Knock it in de whiskey.
(The ashes from the cigar?)
Yes, knock it in de whiskey. Shake it up good an' let de whiskey - it will eat de ashes up an' yo' cain't tell it wuz in dere. An' den yo' give her a drink of it. An' ah don't care how much - right den an' dere dat's de end of her. [Memphis (1530), 2737:11.]
Entry 13320
[Put it in a toby, you know, somepin like that.
(What's a toby?)
It somepin make up with a lot of different things, I don't know. [This was the first time I had heard the word toby used, something evidently a synonym for a hand. What did a small jug or mug in the shape of a stout old man wearing a three-cornered hat have to do with a magic object carried or kept for a special purpose? I had not heard this word on the East Coast of the Southern States. Though I suspected and soon knew the meaning of the word, it was a long time be- fore I learned the word was of African origin and had no connection with the well-known English toby. I was so interested in toby, I forgot to explain that second word it! What it, evidently an ingredient, was put in the toby?]
Entry 13321
Well, you go an' get a dog teeth [tooth] an' tie it on a string, an' tie it around it's [the teething baby's neck] an' then you take an' go to the store an' get some sweet spirits of nitre an' jes' rubs all on the [baby's] gum.
Entry 13322
Take a teeth [tooth] and dey bore a hole through it and dey wear it around dere waist. And dey could take yo' and jes' tell you to do somepin and whether you wanta do it or not, [they] could tell you to do it, and you do it.
(They take this person's tooth, whom they want to use like that.)
Dey could wear it on dere left side, if it was a woman; and if it was a man dey would wear it on dere right side.[ Choppy recording.]
Entry 13323
In dem times dey used to bury lotsa money. Dey takes a person 'long an' dey say, "Well, we goin' away." Dat person whut chew carry 'long say, "Well, dat's fine." So, "Well, we goin' away. Would joo watch dis money fo' 中 us?" An' jest soon yo' say, "Yes, ah'll watch it, '' somebody have a sword, sompin lak dat concealed, an' cut chure haid right off. See, time yo' says, "Yes, ah'll watch it, " dey cuts chure haid right off an' put it down in dere wit dat money. Dat's so nobody would go an' git it.
Entry 13324
In de ole days dere nevah wuz nobody, as ah really evah know of, dat put money down unless dey have somebody take keer of it. Well, dey always - yo' know, not in our days anytime. Dey don't do dat now. But ah wuz learned dat dey have tuh kill someone an' de blood of dat individual have tuh be somewhere neah roun' dat money tuh take care of it.