Browse:BUSINESS AND CUSTOMERS (Volume 1, entries 2398–2735)/Part 3
BUSINESS AND CUSTOMERS
Volume 1, entries 2398–2735. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 2558
[Lye, a protection against evil (p.459f.), is used by itself and in many combinations.] If yo' got a enemy anywhere roun', yo' gits a box of potash - jis' lak if ah wus fixin' it up fo' someone, ah have them tuh bring me a box of potash. If they thought they had a enemy round wus goin' do 'em any harm, anything, ah would have yo' bring me a box of potash an' ah would take this potash an' fix it up in a liquid an' den put so much of it in a bottle an' give it to yo'. Yo' would take dis home an' git up in de mawnin' befo' de sunrise an' yo' would sweep yore steps wit it - sweep yore steps an' repeat de Psalms about de Lord makin' me lie on green pastures. De mawnin' yo' git up an' sweep yore steps wit dis lye- Water, yo' put a little bit in a basin or somepin an' jes' dip yore broom in it an' sweep it an' say de Psalms. An' dat will keep anybody from doin' any harm to yo' - keep yo' havin'" good luck.
Entry 2559
To keep the law away, ah would get me some of van-van, get me some lye, some blueing water, and ah would go to mah banquette and ah would scrub it ev'r - just wherever around mah door, I would keep it - white - white - white - white as snow. And keep it - scrubbed - scrubbed - scrubbed - and they never come across the door. Any time he come there, throw your water each way ev'ry morning for nine mornings - throw your water thisaway - bucket of water this way - and that way - and he never come in your place.
(How - which way do you throw the water now?)
Right - if you living and your front door thisaway, you throw one this way, and you throw one that way, and one this way.
(You throw one out the front door, one to the right, and one to the left?)
That's right - for nine mornings. You keep it up.
(For nine mornings.)
(Just plain water?)
Just plain Water.
(Or just scrub water?)
Plain water.
(Just three buckets?)
Three buckets - thisaway and this way and.
(You just scrub with the other stuff?)
That's right - scrub with the other stuff.
(I see.)
Entry 2560
If yo' don't want de law tuh come to yore house, yo' use dis concen- trated lye an' burn incense. Dat concentrated lye goin' keep'away all evils - all kinda dirty acts an' doin's, jes' lak if somebody intendin' tuh sprinkle somepin fo' yo'. Why, if yo' don't want it done, or yo' heard tell of nobody do it, yo' scrubs yore house wit lye, or if yo' mop de front of yore po'ch wit lye, ain't no law comin' dere. Pract'lly, ain't nobody goin' do no harm because that lye drives away all evil things.
Entry 2561
Fo' luck aroun' mah home lak that, tuh keep the laws or anything lak that from botherin' me, if ah wus a-hustlin' or bootleggin', ah would take an git me some lye an' git me some sugah an' lay it undah mah do'step an' sprinkle it all roun' de house an' on de inside an' dat will keep de laws away.
Entry 2562
Keep that place scrubbed with that sugah, Red Seal Lye above all - a cup of sugah an' Red Seal Lye [and] don't evah let soap touch de flo' fo' cus- tomers. [Why? They could or would slip away.]
(If you want to get roomers you do the same thing?)
Yessuh, an' keep soap away.
Entry 2563
Like this [business] burns [flourishes] here and that one over there [burns] - well, if that burns out and the trade here - he ain't got no trade here. And I'll tell you I always seen it did, and I've did it myself during Prohibition. I'd scrub my place out - you see, sweep it out good. and scrub it. But as I said before [in another statement], I'd sweep in all the time, though - never sweep out. Sweep in. When you sweep, you take and get you nine buckets of water. You get you a box of lye, get a bottle of ammonia - get you a bottle of ammonia and a box of lye and use nine buckets of water. You put your lye - you take lye and you sprinkle it all around your floor first. See. You throw a bucket of water to your right, one to your left, but always throw it inside. Stand at your door and throw your water. Don't never let your water go out your door - throw that in your door, see. And when you starts scrubbing your place, you scrub to the back. Start right at the front of your door but be backing up all the time. Don't never walk - back up, see. As you scrubbin', back up. When you start sweepin', then you face your place - going in all the time, but don't use over nine buckets of water. And after you scrub your place good and you get it dried out, you puts you some cinnamon and sugar down. You get you - I think it costs ten or fifteen cents for a box of it, you get you some of that incense and you light that and you burn that in your place. Now, after you got all the inside of your place straightened out and scrubbed clean, you come to your banquette [sidewalk]. You get on the outside and you use nine more buckets of water on the outside. Now, vou sweep both ways there. All the time sweep to your door, you see. You sweep thisaway [to the right], you sweep to your door; you sweep thisaway [to the left], you sweep to your door. See. Now, sweep your water to your door - don't sweep it in the place, but sweep it to your door and let it run down to the ditch itself. And then you sprinkle your cinnamon and your sugar again. See. But you sprinkle it to your door and throw it from your door - throw it in, see. Well, that make that trade come across over there to here. And that'll make - you'll get all the business over here. And, if you see where you can't do no good there, just go over there and sprinkle you some salt after you done scrubbed your place - but you have to pay somebody [to do it]. Get them to go over there and throw some salt down, and it'll cause a big row over there. See, when they start to rumpus over there, everybody will run over here to this place here.
Entry 2564
To draw in customer, yo' git chew - lak dat chure front do' dere, yo' git chew a can of [Red] Devil Lye, potash, an' yo' git chew a handful of table salt an' put it right on top of dat can, an' yo' take a ice pick or somepin an' chunk hole all in de top of de can, an' jes' lay dat right on top, at twelve a'clock, an' bury it right in front under yore step or right in front of yore gate. An' one tuh de back. Dey'll be comin' in. Tell yo' whut chew do wit dat. Yo' take dat same potash an' yo' take three Cans - three cans. Take de cans an' open it an' put it in a boilin' pot of watah an' jes' boil it in dat watah an' jes' go all roun' yore house an' sprinkle it all roun' yore house - all in de dirt, all out in de front of yore do', right dere in de front of yore do'. An' yo' git chew a box of spice an' yo' git chew a package of sulphur an' yo' mix all that together an' table salt; an' ev'ry mawnin' befo' sunrise yo' jes' go on an' sprinkle it right out chure gate dere - throw it out dere, turn yore back an' don't look back an' walk on back in yore house. Dey'll nevah - dey'll come an' jes' be passin' by all de time.
(That is to keep the law away?)
Yes sir - keep de law away.
Entry 2565
Ah'm a bottlegger mahself - dat's how come I mos'ly knows some of them things. Yo' don't need nuthin but take yo' a can of potash an' a box of red pepper and digs yo' a hole right befo' yore steps - round hole jest enough to fit de can. And take it and take de red pepper and set it right on de lid of dat can, and set it down and bury it right dere befo' yore steps.
(You set this can of what?)
Potash.
(Up - upwards?)
Dat's it.
(And you take the red pepper and do what?)
Put it upside down on dat can.
(And cover it up. That keeps the law away.)
Entry 2566
Dey would git two cans of lye an' about midnight in de night, nobody sees yo', yo' digs a hole underneath each one of yo' steps an' put de can dere. But don't stop de can tight, let it be slant, an' yo' cover it up kinda lightly - you know, where dat scent and dat strength kin come out. An' dey tell me if dey'd come dere and start, dey wouldn't come no farther than that do'.
(That keeps the law away.)
An' he'll ask yo' questions.
Entry 2567
You take cinnamon, parsley and you get you some sugar, Jockey Club, Mary Garden perfume and oil of geranium, you put that in there too, and you put all that together and you put it over in the east side of the corner in two cups, and you mix all that up - together, chop it up and put it in a cup and set it in a corner, and they [law] ain't going to bother you."
Entry 2568
Your business get kinda dull, just open your half pint of whiskey or pint, or quart or whatever you want, and take some of your monthlies, clear it, and put two or three teaspoonfuls in it and whensomever they come in give 'em a drink and that'll draw your trade in.
Entry 2569
Ah heard 'em tell if yo' want people tuh come back to buy whiskey from yo' - if dey come dere tuh drink some whiskey, jes' befo', take an' put chew some urinate in dat whiskey, yo' understand, or either some of yore monthly discharge. If yo's a man, put some urinate; if yo's a woman, put some ministration in dere an' when dey come in dere drinkin', dey 11 come back. Dey jes' hang anto yo dey can't go nowhere else seem lak. Dey jes' come to yore place of business.
Entry 2570
Dey take dere monthly sickness an' put nine drops in some whiskey an' keep it saved back an' whenevah yo' sweetheart come or somepin lak dat yo' go out lak yo' goin' after de whiskey, an' yo' add some of that whut chew got - put in that fo' him.
(That's for love.)
Entry 2571
The seed of paradise. [See margin-title Paradise Seed.] Then you kin get codfish balls. That's what you get - dried codfish, that's right dried cod- fish. You put the seed of paradise and the codfish tdgether and that fast luck together, cinnamon and sugar. And yoù must get 15c of sugar, you must get 15c of codfish, and you - everything you buy you must get 15c. And you boil that. Then you take - you must scrub before six o'clock in the morning. What I mean by six, I don't mean that you go at three o'clock in the morning. I mean two or three minutes before six - and the bell be ringing, you be scrubbing there.
(I see.)
And you scrub and go out of your door. You take and you get you some whole grain rice and take and be walking there throwing, throwing it there any place like - in all four of your corners.
(How do you throw that rice?)
Just take it in your hand [demonstrates].
(Yes?)
You sprinkle it on the sidewalk and when you be coming in, you walks along - Walk backwards like this, and then you walks over in this corner and you take it and throw it over your left shoulder.
(You throw it over your left shoulder. Yes?)
And go in this corner and you throw it over this left shoulder, and throw it here over your left shoulder.
(You throw it in all four corners. I see.)
That's right. And once in a while - you know when you be cleaning up some of it going to come out, but you make sure the first morning, and the next morning put some more there.
(I see. What did you say about when you do this?)
It must be done before six o'clock in morning when some of the bells ring.
(All right. What then? When? What day?)
What day that must be done? On the first Monday in the month.
Entry 2572
The best thing you can do to keep the law away from your place - you sees what they call nutmeg. You use dry nutmeg after you scrub your place good: scrub it thoroughly, clean - and walk. Take you two whole balls of nutmeg and grind them and when you walk out of your place, sprinkle that stuff yourself; sprinkle one on the right side of the door and one on the left side of your door - out with nutmeg, out the door. After that is stayed down there all day, that night scrub; scrub out your building outside, scrub it outward. Don't scrub it in, scrub it out, and you'll have no trouble with no law. But if, if ever an officer come to your place - he ever come to your place that they - when they going to make that visit, take that nutmeg that you ground and sprinkle that behind him after he go out. Sprinkle it behind him and let that just be down there 'till morning. And scrub your building, but scrub it out - don't ever sweep it in.
Entry 2573
You are bootlegging and want customers. You go, you git some good - some sugar. Git you some cinnamon powder and you git you some luck - some van- van. See. You take it and put it in a bottle and you boil it - see, parsley. (Yes.) You take some parsley and you take all that [other ingredients] and you put it down in a pot and you boil it - let it boil about a solid hour before you take it out. And you take it out, you take you a whole quart - boil it first, boil it down to a quart. Then you take and you go to the alley gate - see, go to your gate or whatever it is and when you git there you start to sprinkle it backwards, you know, coming back to the house. See, just like you walking and you walk back [backwards]. Just have your mind on what you want and sprinkle it down, and you go right on the inside and you puts your bottle down. The next few minutes you see customers startin' comin' in.
Entry 2574
When I was in Washington [D. C.] about 1900, I played at a fast-house, I played a pyana [pie-ana] in de redlight district. Every morning the girls Would go to work and dump their ur-een together, you see, in one pot, and go to work and take it and wash de front [entrance] off real good every morning. And I use to ask them what dey do it fer and dey said dat was to draw trade. Well, I think it did, becus dag-gone-it dey crowded in there - senators.
(Was it a white fast-house?)
Yes sir. And in dem fast-houses dey wouldn't let you bring no peanuts in there. Not a peanut. No sir!
Entry 2575
Then you scrub your place. But you go to, say to a drug store, and the first thing you get - there's something that is commonly used that everybody know but very few use it. You see, the thing that we use is peroxide - that regular form of peroxide. Well, when it be's in a powder first from the salt [oxide], you take you a teaspoonful of peroxide in a bucket of water. You take a half tablespoonful of salt and a whole tablespoonful of sugar. [Three ingredients.] Mix that and dissolve it good and scrub all your place. But sweep inside - don't never sweep nothing out chure door. But get fresh water. Don't get no water that is - try to catch water that's rain water, don't get no water from the hydrant. Get you fresh rain water in that bucket and at night you scrub that place. Scrub it at night, don't scrub it in the day. Scrub it after sundown and scrub it inward in your building and sweep that water right on back through your building. And then if you got any mop, mop up after that dry. Then clear out your place, mop up - sweep with any other water you Wanta after that. But scrub that over and let that dry in your building. You take just a half a tablespoonful of salt and a tablespoonful of sugar and a half a teaspoonful of ordinary peroxide that you use from the drug store on the sore. And scrub in your building - not out chure building, in your building. That's the way you increase your business.
Entry 2576
Take some salt, a little pinch of salt, an' a drop of turpentine an' put it in each corner of de house an' put a drop of turpentine right in de middle of de flo'. [This of course is a quincunx - here a magic one.] Dat Will make de house lucky fo' yo' for anything yo' wanta do mos'. (If you want to sell anything?) Yes. [For quincunx, see No. 2550, p.704.]
Entry 2577
I tell you what you get. You get this yere - you get - you get some - you see that red, pure red, red brick. You got to go to the drug store to get that. It's powdered brick. Well, you get that pure red, red brick. (That's called redding?) Yeah. (All right.) You get that pure, red, red brick. You get you a bottle of essence of cinnamon from - from Crackerjack Drug Store. After you get that essence of cinnamon, you turn round and you get you a box of love powder and you. mix that with that, and you gets this here - what do they call that stuff? There's another powder you get too. It's van-van.
(Is it a powder?)
No, it's a liquid. Van-van is a liquid. You mix that together and you take nine buckets of water and you wash that place where your place of business at. And when you wash that place of business wash it with nine buckets of water, and then after you wash that place with nine buckets of water, don't say nothing to nobody when you wash that - don't even tell nobody good morning atall when you washing that place, and it going to smell very nice when you wash it, and people going just pouring in.
(You put this mixture in the water?)
In the water and wash it - wash that place with that. [See Red Brick Powder, p.470.]
Entry 2578
Well now, the way yuh have to do. You git de cap'un [captain of the police] of the presint [precinct] name, then you'll burn his name in this same stuff - honey an' cinamint [cinnamon]. Then you'll take honey, cinamint, an you'll scrub wit dat. An' when you git through, you'll take jis' plain cinamint- water wit dat, an' you sprinkle roun' your front doah wit it. You take you some brick - red brick - beat up fine. You done put verbena-water wit dat brick - red brick - an' sprinkle it aroun' your doah wit sugar, brown sugar. The law won't come.
Entry 2579
You is bootlegging or anything like that and you want customers. You get you some [sounds like red'nin' = reddening].
(Red ink?)
Looks red like grapes. You get you some red'nin' [reddening] and you get you some lucky perfume and you get you some van-van and scrub your house Wednesdays and Mondays and Fridays - three times a week, and you throw the water in the street. And you see by.you got all that in your water scrubbing with, that draw the crowd right into you. I've seen that did.
Entry 2580
Take cinnamon, brown sugah, reddenin' - it's jis' lak a powder but it's red, an' yo' scrubs with that. Yo' scrub with dat powders an' dat brings yo' luck. [Three ingredients.]
Entry 2581
Ah heard yo' burn red peppah in yore stove. (What would that do?) Say dat would keep de police away...when yo' doin' anything, burn it in de house dere an' let de smoke out in de street dere - keep de poleece 'way from yo'. Yassuh, if yo' sellin' anything. [See Red Pepper, p.470f., and red pepper in Salt and Combinations, p.473f.]
Entry 2582
Yo' kin dress de house, 'sposed tuh be wit rice - raw rice. House kin be dressed wit raw rice - whole grain rice, no breaked rice. Yo' kin go tuh work an' yo' kin take a teaspoonful of raw rice an' put it in each one of yore shoes an' wear it in dere 72 hours an' then yo' kin take an' sprinkle it all ovah yore flo'. Dat's one of de highest luck things dat ah evah used, an' ah'm goin' on 50 yeahs in it. (That's to bring in customers. Well, do you use that with this water or use it separately?) Well, dat's separately.
(That water is one way of bringing them in? And the rice is another way?)
Rice is one of de highest. Ah don't reckon yo' heard 'bout dat.
Entry 2583
Yo' take table salt an' yo' start with de right han' corner of yore house an' yo' put jes' a little pinch in each corner. An' if yo' tell - yo' say whut chew want to be done when yo' go roun' wit dis. Yo' go right on roun' an' keep to de right all de time. Everything will be all right.
(That will bring in trade if you are bootlegging?)
Yes. [Right-hand corner as you face the front of the house. This is a rever- sing rite - anti-clockwise circumambulation - reversing known bad luck or unknown spell cast upon house or business.]
Entry 2584
Wal, dey said dey - early in de mornin' befo' sunrise dey get a package of salt and dey'd go to de front do' and make a cross mark; one mark straight and 'nother acrost it, an' throw de salt in dose lines. And by doing dat why dey keep de law away. If de law come, why he'd come smiling and it won't be anything to it - won't 'res' 'im an' won't car' 'em down [to jail]. [For cross of salt, see No.1472, p.477; No. 2602, p.714.]
Entry 2585
An' if yo' sellin' likker, it's a simple thing an' it don't cost but a nickel - spill salt. Git chew a box of salt - S-A-L-T. An' yo' sprinkle from de corner of yore house or yore fence lak dat, chew know, round dat way an' cuss em - yo' know, call dem by dere names an' curse them out an' they cannot enter yore premises. Dey can't come dere.
(You begin to sprinkle that salt down where?)
Jes' lak, yo' see, where did lot run. Yo' sprinkle it from right in front of yore do' right straight on 'cross.
(Just in front of your property?)
An' cuss 'em out. Turn roun' lak dis yo' see [demonstrates], cuss 'em, "Don't come in mah house." Cuss 'em out - talk nasty to 'em. Jes' lak dat an' turn yore back an' don't look back. Keep talkin' to 'em, "An' don't come back. Don't come tuh mah house. ". See. An' dat's easy tuh be done.
Entry 2586
Yo' use salt an' sugah an' yo' mix that together. Dis heah ole-timey salt is de best salt - dis Bluebird Salt. An' yo' jis' throw it [salt and sugar] roun' yore house - jis' throw it out, all roun' yore house. A man dat used tuh live nex' do' tuh me he sold whiskey all de time an' dat's all he use.
Entry 2587
Now de way yo' do dat - yo' jest git chew some table salt an' stroll round yore do'steps an' mix it wit a little ashes an' strew it all round yore do'step. An' yo' git chew some saltpeter an' use yore chamber lye all round dat house. An' den yo' read - read de 23rd Psalms an' den yo' won't have no trouble. (You won't have any trouble with the law? And anybody can't do you harm if you are in business?) Shore - no, no. An' use dat stuff in yore shoes - dat pepper an' salt.
Entry 2588
Tuh make people tuh buy from yo' - yo' has a sto', yo' know, an' yo' want 'em tuh buy. Yo' kin jes' take an' use de same things, jes' around - yo' know in yore store, de same things. Take some salt. Salt is a man. Take some salt an' sulphah an' peppah [three ingredients] - that's whut chew goin' take an' just sprinkle dat round, den people jes' flock in.
(You said that salt is a man?)
Yessuh, ah did - is somethin', salt is somethin'.
(It's strong, powerful?)
Yes.
Entry 2589
(What did you do?)
For me to have customers when I was bootlegging? I didn't do nothing but something simple. I got me a quart jar and I made me up a jar of salt and sugar water.
(What kind of water?)
Jest table salt and pure sugar.
(You just take salt and sugar together?)
Yes, in that jar. And you take and you sprinkle it from ever what entrance they come in at, clean on into the other entrance, and back on and you say a verse. You say, "In the Name of the Father, of the Son and the Holy Ghost, give me luck, success and money." And anything that I call for I'll get it, and you be sprinkling that and saying that verse all the time. Well, you get plenty of customers when you do that. When I was bootlegging, when I would do that, I would have plenty of customers. That worked for me - yes, sir, that truly worked for me.
Entry 2590
If yo' wanta sell likker or do anything lak dat an' didn't want de police or sheriff or nuthin coming to yore house, git some table salt an' some sulphur an' mix it together an' throw it out chure back do' an' [or] throw it out chure front do' - whichevah do' dey'd come in yo' know. Jest do dat regular fo' about nine mornings. Whenevah dey come dere, if dey was lookin' fo' likker, dey wouldn't come no further den de do' an' talk to yo' an' turn round an' go on back. Dey would nevah search yore house.
Entry 2591
(So nobody will rent this house?)
Well, now, see tuh do that yo' use salt, ordinary table salt. Yo' know whut Epsom salts is, doesn't yo'? Well, yo' mix that together yo' see an' boil that jis' about two hours into jis' 'bout a quart of watah don't chew know. An' if yo' could git there, why yo'd sprinkle that jis' right aroun' the do'step, don't yo' see - jis' throw it roun' ord'nary, yo' understand.
(What do you put that on the steps for?)
Well, yo' said, "If yo' wanted git 'em 'way." Didn't that whut yo' said?
(Who away?)
The owner of the place.
(You mean that's to keep the landlord away?)
Yeah - keep de landlord away.
Entry 2592
Well, yo' kin git a box of salt, table salt - yo' kin git two boxes of hit an' yo' kin dig a hole up undah yore - yo' have to put de whole box in - yo' ain't gotta open it, see - jes' put de whole box of salt, table salt. Dig about three foot down up undah yore [front] step an' three foot down, yo' know, round de back [step] an' yo' bury dis salt, see. An' then hit stay there contin'lly because it's strong - dey say dat's strong, de salt yo' know. Say dat'll keep de law away from dere, an' dat'll keep customers in yore place.
The informant says one can dig a hole for the boxed salt. Depth, placement and the law/customer results remain source directions and claims.
Entry 2593
(What do you do to keep the law away?)
Use salt like you dig.
(Dig salt?)
Uh huh - bury a sack of salt at the gate on one side and lye on the other side, and they'll stay away.
(Who will stay away?)
The law.
(That's for bootlegging? That will keep them away?)
Uh huh. I was selling on Dry Street 'fore this good whiskey came out [after Prohibition]. I used to sell it and I kept 'em away.
Entry 2594
This man told me if I'd ever get in any trouble and wanta skit and get away from de law, he told me to take some salt and spice and black pepper and cayenne pepper, and mix it all together in a tin can, and take and put some under my doorsteps for nine morning, de back door and front door. Dey say regardless of how much sand you raise in your house or what choo take in your house, if any- body try to send de law to your house, dat dey wouldn't come no farther then de front steps.
Entry 2595
Yo' kin take salt an' throw it in de fire if anybody come in de house; yo'll run 'em if dey come dere fo' money.
Entry 2596
Ah'm goin' tell yo' right quick now what ah did. Ah was bootleggin' down in Taylor County [Florida] and de sheriff was comin' on me - and ah'd taken some salt, jes' table salt, and dis here same cayenne pepper - jes' wropped it up in something, you know, and put it back of de heater - in a little ole heater stove - right back in dere where it couldn't burn up right quick - [in a place where I] jes' stored de wood - it was in de wintertime enyway - and den made de fire upon it and den when it go to burn, it would burn slow and den the ashes from dat - de smoke of dat goes out, chew see, and den as dat goes out it accumu- lates in de air and nobody dat comes dere do yo' no harm - do yo' no harm. If dey come dere, dey'll come dere, shake hands with yuh. "How do yuh do, Ed." "Jest fine. How a'yo'?"
Entry 2597
Hit wus like burnin' sulphur and salt, and yo' do that - burn a little sulphur and sprinkle a little salt roun' de place, an' de law won't nevah come around. I know of places right chere in Jacksonville and I been knowin' dey's been bootleggin' fer a numbah of - don't know how long and de man hasn't nevah been dere. It's right what yo' might say on de highway an' de man have nevah been dere. [Jacksonville, Fla., (597), 769:7.] [Similarly].... Ev'ry mornin] when he'd get up he'd throw sulphur an' salt on his floor [to keep the law away].
[Jacksonville, Fla., (586), 752:1.]
Entry 2598
I've heard say then, you could take a salt when the law comes in your house. You kin take salt when he starts out an' throw it out behind him, an' they say he won't hardly come back to your house no more. They say if he comes back in, why he won't hardly arrest you for no whiskey. [Wilmington, N. Car., (298), 224:4&85.1
Entry 2599
Now say dis foot track - yo' could take a person if dey come to yore house an' yo' do not wants 'em no mo', take some of dat footsteps [foot tracks]. Well, yo' could take some salt an' pitch it behin' 'em an' curse 'em, wishin' 'em tuh stay away from yore home. Well, dey'll nevah return back any mo'...
[I was too quick turning off machine.]
(What is that?)
Hot footstep - immediately dey walk out. [Usually this is called hotfoot, a hotfoot powder being made for this purpose - see p.590.]
Entry 2600
Well, ah heard dat chew could take some table salt an' jest lak if dey could come heah, yo' be fixin' tuh go out an' dey go behin' yo' an' sprinkle dat salt behin' yo' till yo' git to de do' an' tell yo' tuh, "Go, God damn yo'." Yo'll go.
(That will make you move out of the house?)
Well, yo' can't stay.
(They would do that after you leave the house?)
No, sir, when yo'd be walkin' out jes' lak dey'd be talkin' to yo' an' yo'd on tuh de do', yo' see dat's de way dey do.
Entry 2601
Take a box of table salt an' don' let nobody use it, an' ever' time dat he come to her house, she take dat salt an' throw it behin' him, an' be shure when she throw it behin' him, that ever' time she throw it, she throw it in at least one of his tracks, right or de left, fo' nine times. An' after nine times, he wouldn't even wanta look after her. Dat's what she wanta stop. [To keep any- one away for any purpose.]
Entry 2602
Now, to keep the policeman away from your place, it's another thing. The first one come in to inspect your place, it doesn't mean any harm or nothing at all. Well, you do - they wants to see just how that place goes along. You didn't take nothing but salt after he gone - you knows, quite natural, you's the boss of the house, but you gotta represent yourself to him when he comes to talk with you. You just take salt - you go up to him and talk to him very nice and as soon as he turn his back, you just throw it at his back. Don't ever let him see it- - throw that salt three times behind him. Then at the door vou put that salt crossways right where he has been standing: [ For cross of salt, see No. 1472, p.477; No.2584, p.712.]
(You make a cross right there.)
You ain't going to see him at that place, I guarantee you, any more.
(I see, that will keep the law away.)
Yes.
Entry 2603
When the law officer come in yore house one time - when he come in there that one time, as he goes out of there, yo' mixes yo' some table salt, jest put yo' de least bit of black pepper in there, and yo' walk right on behind him to de door and when he walks out de door yo' throw that right in behin' him and turn an' don't nevah look back at him and tell him, say, "Yo' go, yo' scamp, yo' ain't got no business in heah no mo'." And dey say that he will nevah come back dere.
Entry 2604
If someone came to yore house an' yo' don't like fo' dem to be dere, whenevah dey leave, yo' jest git up behin' 'em, an' yo' kin either have yore salt an' peppah where dey can't see it. When dey walk out yo' jest throw it all 'long where dey walked at an' then chunk it towards 'em an' tell 'em, "Don't come back any mo'." Course dey don't have tuh hear yo'. Yo' won't be bothered with 'em.
Entry 2605
Dey say dat chew kin take table salt an' black pepper an' jest sprinkle it round in yore house an' jes', every time dey come dere, sprinkle it round in dere house an' in dere tracks, an' it'll git it so dat dey couldn't even stand when dey go by dere - dey come to hate de place.
(That keeps them away.)
Entry 2606
Now, if this person comes to your house and you don't want 'em to come no more, why you just take a little piece of rock salt and put it in your mouth; and if you get a chance, spit on her dress tail or on his coat tail and he'll leave and he won't come back no more.
Entry 2607
If they [unwelcome visitor] leave a handkerchief, put it in a cold tub of water with salt and that'll make them stay away from there.
Entry 2608
If dey don't want dem dere, yo' jes' sprinkle salt in de chair where he sit an' right from de chair on down de steps, an' say three bad words behin' him, an' tell him, '"Go, ah don't want chew tuh come back any mo'." Dat'll cer'inly keep 'im 'way from dere.
(You put the salt in the chair you say?)
Yes sir, in de chair an' sweep it on away.
(Sweep it off the seat?)
Off de chair, down de seat, right on down de walk, down de steps, an' say de bad words when yo' git to de gate.
Entry 2609
Ah got a boy, mah youngest boy. Ah cain't stan' de p'lice no how: Of co'se dey ain't doin' no hahm [harm] - jis' sometime, yuh know, people cain't har'ly stan' 'em. An' dis boy of mine would always be in trouble. Well, a ole white lady tole me to go an' git a box of salt, cut it half in tah [two]. She said [next time a policeman comes] po' it right down an' sweep it on out do' an' tell'im to, "Go, you ain't none of mah frien'." An' ah did it. An' 'at been fo' yeah nearly; ain't nevah been back to mah house since.
The informant reports advice to obtain salt and says the action was carried out. The nearly four-year nonreturn is not independently verified or shown to be caused by salt.
Entry 2610
Yo' have dat salt watah in heah, an' they come to their house an' they go out, well, they'll take that broom an' dip it in that salt watah an' jes' sweep it right out behin' 'em jes' lak dat.
(That keeps them away?)
Yes.
Entry 2611
If yo' wanta run somebody away - well, if yo' didn't want 'em dere, yo' could take red peppah [small piece], table salt an' cayenne peppah [powdered] an' take it when dey go out de do', throw it in dere steps an' take yore broom an' sweep it from yo', lak that [demonstrates], an' make yore wish, "Ah wish yo'd nevah return back heah no mo'," an' sweep it on out.
Entry 2612
Git peppah an' salt, if a person constantly comes to yore house an' prob'bly it a person dat chew don't lak an' yo' don't wanta insult dem or wants dem tuh stay away. Ah've heard dat chew take salt an' peppah an' sweep behin' dem an' yo' burn bluestone an' sulphur in de do' dat dey came heah. An' don't let 'em go out dat do' when dey leaves - send 'em out through anothah do', dat's in order dat dey go in 'cross yore house. An' yo' burn de sulphur an' bluestone in de do' dat dey came through an' yo' sweep an' yo' sprinkle salt an' peppah; whereas when dey go out down behin' 'em, sweep it out that way.
Entry 2613
Yo' take a snail - if he crawlin' along, yo' picks him up - jes' lak he crawlin' dis way, yo' pick him up an' carry him back. All right yo' take dis snail an' yo' carry him home, an' yo' put dis snail in a jar an' let him git good an' dry, an' yo' goes to someone house, or either is someone come tuh yore house an' yo' don't want 'em roun' yore house. Yo' take dis snail an' jes' a little bit dis salt when dey goes back out, an' sprinkle it from where dey wus settin out to de do' - sweep it on out. Dey can't come back dere no mo'.
(What do you do with that snail?)
De snail - yo' take de snail an' put him in a jar an' let him stay in it till he git dry up - see. Den yo' take de whole shell, hull an' all an' beat it up fine. Take de salt an' put in dere wit it, an' right where dey's settin', yo' jes' sprinkle from dere right on out de steps, an' yo' sweeps right on behin'. Dey cain't come back dere no mo' den. [Snail slows up unwelcome visitor's return - see Snail, p.648.]
Entry 2614
You take yer graveyard dirt in the morning - like a person you're dis- satisfied with or a man wan'a leave there, an' as these people come in, you take an' sprinkle it down behind 'em. An' then you take urinate water an' pepper or salt an' sweep. That's whut they call sweepin' behin' 'em. An' that person Wouldn't come roun' you no more. If you do that as much as three times, they'll never come roun' you no more.
Entry 2615
You git up in de morning at six o'clock and you go out front of yore door and sweep jest a little, go to de front and sweep de dirt to yuh - de dirt into de house, in. Take it up. When you sweeping, you says, "Ah'm sweeping - ah'm sweeping in de Name of Jesus - ah'm sweeping in success - ah'm sweeping in money." And you take dis dirt up and you wrap it up and put it in your business place and people dat nevah has come will come. Ah know dat from experience cus ah've done dat. When you sweep, you are sweeping in your luxuries, you are sweeping in trea- sures; and when you take de dirt you place it in your mind dat you are sweeping in money, you are sweeping in success. And when Deborah had lost her fortune, dat's de way ah think it was God prob'bly spoke to her and told her to go out and sweep. And when she went out and sweep, things were at 4 o'clock - poor like. When she went out and was sweeping she found her luxuries and found a fortune and den she called de people from de neighborhood to come in and rejoice over de fortune dat she had found sweeping [Luke 15:8-9], and dat's de meaning of what it will do by sweeping at six 'clock in de morning.
Entry 2616
Jis' lak if yo' bring in trade an' de jinx would git on yo'. Yo' take a dime an' git chew a box of saltpeter an' take yo' a bath in it - wash down good in it. All right, fo' two or three evenings. Den yo' see how yore luck, yo' know, changes - understan' [see No. 1492, p.480]. An' den take yore chamber lye yo' understand an' ever' night 'fore yo', yo' know, go tuh bed, yo' take yore mop - an' don't take nobody's chamber lye an jis' yore own chamber lye - an' take an' always mop it back in yore house. Don't evah mop it out. Mop it in - jis' lak if yo' stay upstairs, start tuh mopping down when ever'body got tuh sleep, plumb on up wit dat chamber lye. Dat'll bring it in. Don't evah mop it out though. Dat'll bring luck to yo'. [Here, first proprietor and then business is purified.]
Entry 2617
For hustlin' women - jis' like women hustlin' - well, you gits some chamber lye wit granulated sugar an' saltpeter an' put it [together]. In mornin' 'fore sunrise in de mornin' you git up, let chore right foot be de first one to hit de floor, an' go in de eas' cornah, de wes' cornah, an' nort' cornah an sout' cornah, an' sprinkle dat, you know, wit dat luck you done make up: An' go to de sun jis' 'fore it rise an' make yore wish. Well, ever'thing will go yore way dat day. You'll make nice money dat day.
Entry 2618
(What would you do to keep the law away?)
Well, then ah'd get me a can of - two of these five-cent metal cans [new cans must be used]. Ah put 'em both full of chamber lye and put one to de right and one to de left corner - ah'd put one in de front door, behind it, and put one in behind de back door. Then ah would get me some saltpeter and jes' go to de sun- rise [face east]. Ah'd take mah saltpeter and ah'd scatter it across de yard an' ah would say, "O, St. Peter - yo' hear me, St. Peter - yo' hears a sinner calling an' ah knows, St. Peter, you hears me. Well, ah wants to tell mah thoughts to yuh, cross mah yard both ways." Well, then ah won't be worried no more. Dat's 'fore de sunrise...ah'd set-up a five-cent metal can to mah front door full of chamber lye and ah'd set one to mah back do' full of chamber lye. Well, when de law comes dey won't touch mah house. Dey might touch next do'. Dey will talk to me and speak to me. Ah nevah be worried one bit.
Entry 2619
That's to draw in.
(In? You mean your rooming house?)
My rooming house.
(You mean to draw people?)
Yes, to draw.
(What do you use?)
Well, it's in the drug store here. There's a drug store here they call the Crackerjack. He has he and she saltpeter. See. You get those two together and you mix 'um and beat 'um together. Beat 'um up fine and you sprinkle 'um from - like you'd come this way and sprinkle it up - go up yore steps. Before you go up yore steps you sprinkle this way - back to yore door. And then you goes this way and come back to yore door and go all the way upstairs. Well, that's supposed to draw men and women to yore business. And that's the one thing I've ever used really to do my house any good. And hit's been successful with me and that's all I use. Lot of people say, "Well, I've had other junk, you know, but that's the one thing that's been successful with me."
(Just for renting rooms?)
For renting rooms - yes, sir. The he and the she saltpeter - one's long and one's round like a nutmeg [the usual he and she symbolism]. And you beat them together, mix them together, you know, and sprinkle them from the posts of your door up the stairway - if you live upstairs, or either around the house. Which I proves - proves very successful.
Entry 2620
You can take an' go to the drug store and you get this rock incent [incense], you get wintergreen and rose watah. And you mix it up all together in a bucket with rivah watah, [the amount] accordin' to how big the place is, and you wash it down with that and it'll draw customers. And then aftah that, go to the drug sto' and get you some he and she saltpeter, break it up in little pieces and sprinkle it all around the place.
Entry 2621
You can get High John de Conker or Eve-and-Adam [Adam- and-Eve] or Sampson snakeroot and keep chewing it and spit- ting round and make de wishes and they say that'll keep de law from them. [See No.1494, p.480.]
Entry 2622
Yo' take lak if yo' have a scissors layin' down there an' lak if yo' have a nice business, an' ah wanta stop yo' from havin' it, why ah steal yore scissors or yore fingernail file. An' ah'll take those right to mah home an' ah'll put - as ah told yo', take that there perfume an' ah'll put mah 'gredients in there which is the sulphur an' nine grains of red peppah seeds. Put that in there an' ah'll put de scissors lak if ah got dem fo' nine mawnin's an' ah take 'em an' junk 'em down in de ground. All yore luck is cut, yo' haven't got any mo' business.
(You use perfume you say?)
Yessuh, Heamt's Perfume.
Entry 2623
Yo' use dat urinate tuh dress a house with - it's fine fo' dressin' a house. An' if you're bootleggin' an' wan'a dress a house an' wan'a bring in yore trade, yo' have to use sea salt an' urinate. (Sea salt?) Dat's de stuff yo' take a bath with, sea salt. Sho' yo' bathe with it. Whut chew do, yo' urinate - only use yore urinate. Well, yo' take that sea salt - yo' have tuh heat dat urinate good, an' den when it gits cold yo' put dat in dat. See, dat resolves [dissolves those] little balls [crystals] in dere, aftah yo' heat it. Dat's de reason yo' have tuh heat it. An' den yo' jis' clean all roun' yore house with it. [Sea salt is bath salts, perhaps a local trade name. It should consist of crystals of sea salt, probably borax to soften the water, and aromatic substances for a pleasant odor.]
Entry 2624
If you wants to take a bath in water for success, you see, you put sea salt in there and oil of geranium - any kind of that you prefer for perfume you see - in that water. Sea salt. Wash yourself down and throw it at [toward] sun- rise. Well, that'll keep you in good luck.
Entry 2625
People they take a dime and some white lodestone and a needle broken in three parts and you know these little miniature dice - you want to gamble with dice - those little minature dice and sew it up in a little flannel bag. And you get that Seven-Eleven Perfume, there is a perfume Seven-Eleven, and you wet that little bag with that Seven-Eleven Perfume and you're supposed to throw mostly sevens and elevens with dice. And of course with cards you cut a diamond out of a card and put it in instead of the dice if you want to be lucky with cards.
Entry 2627
You use Seven-Eleven Holy Oil, ah guess.
(What would you do with that?)
You just sprinkle it around - dat keep de law away.
Entry 2628
That's Seven-Eleven.
(How would you handle that?)
You puts two drops behind each ear and five drops right chere in each shoe.
(In each shoe or just one shoe?)
Just one shoe.
(Which shoe do you put it in?)
Your right foot. But you put two drops behind each ear.
(What do you use that oil for?)
For luck.
(What kind of luck?)
Well just, you know - just like you selling something and you wan'a be suc- cessful with it. Whatever business you into.
(I see. That's all you have to do?)
Yes - just use Seven-Eleven.
Entry 2629
(What do you do to bring in customers? For bootlegging or something? Have you heard what they do to bring in the trade?) Certainly. (All right.) You'd take that place. For instance, this was the place right here. All right. You come to me and you say, "Well, my business is full and everybody pass and go to the next fellow." All right. You say, "Now, I wants you to straighten this place out for me so the people would come in, so I could draw customers." Well, the first thing is to do - is to go there before the sun- rise. Scrub that place out from the front to the back, 'cause you want luck to come in. Scrub it out with soap powder and Octogen soap: Some people use lye, but you don't want no lye nowhere near it. That's my method of using it. You scrub it out and after you scrub it out, you just.
(You scrub it with what?)
Octogen soap and plain white powder, plain white powder what they wash clothes with. But don't use no lye. Some people, they have: a tendency to use lye: But you must know whether there's anything been put down there or not. If there's something been put on there to offset this man - to keep his - to bear the people off from coming there, well it's very necessary to use lye to kill whatsomever they got down there. But you must know these things. You go on and you scrub it, mop it, and after you get through mopping it, you take clear water - seven buckets of clear water [nine is the usual number]. Now, if it's you, you must throw 'em over yourself, from back - make your wish - this is the front part, you throw it thataway and make your wish.
(You go from the front to the back?)
Yeah, yeah.
(You throw it out?)
Yeah, throw it out - throw it all out - then sweep it out. Then you go back with your mop and you let the place dry out. Now some - it takes you three days to do that sometimes. I've seen a woman's place and a fellow supposed to have done left - knew somebody in the family but he ain't in his right home. He's Open up a success for himself - bringing success. Now, the next day you go ahead back there, if you got three rooms in there, you take a saucer and you take rock incense - don't use no temple - rock incense and you burn it with lucky oil. They have oil they call lucky oil. You pour a little bit of that lucky oil on that incense and you set it up and you light it. Now, rock incense will make a fog, and you keep your shades down - just have a place in the back for the smoke to go out.
(The incense makes a mist - a fog?)
A fog - a fog. Now, you getting rid of all the evil influence. Now, you go on through with that. Well now, the third day you come on back there with you oil of reeve. [This is how word sounds. Could it be oil of relieve = relief? Oil of reve = dream? Or a nautical reeve = pouring oil on troubled waters?] Well, you might use oil of cinnamon. You might use some Van-van - it's not nec- essary. You might use some oil of cocoa. You might use seven oils into one. Well, you take those oils and you mix 'em into one with rain water. You put, say, about two teaspoons - by diff'rent drops and pour it down in there and fill that bottle up with rain water, and you just take that bottle and you cut holes in the stopper - three ways, so it will - and you shake it round in there, shake it round in there. Well, once every week when you are scrubbing, you do that. I'll say, that fellow have the biggest success in this town. I know some of 'em are doing it now.
(You say Seven-in-one oil. Is that one oil, or seven different oils in one?)
Seven diff'rent oils in one.
(Then you buy it prepared that way?)
Yeah, you can buy it that way. [See later, Three-Way Oil, and Three Oils.]
Entry 2630
Yo' kin git some bluestone an' a can of sulphur. Yo' take that blue- stone an' sulphur an' saltpeter, an' put it undah de front do'steps an' de back do'step an' as fur as dey kin go up undah de house - see, round inside the house. Now, yo' burn some sulphur an' put yo' some essence of pennyroyal on that sugah, wit garlic an' a red onion. Don't nevah throw a onion peelin' outa de house. Always keep onion an' garlic. Burn it in dat stove with sugah. It brings luck in the house. An' de law ain't goin' bother yo'. Mop dat front steps - it don't take but a little time. Put yo' some garlic, cut up some garlic, an' chamber lye an' mop that be- fo' seven every mawnin', befo' seven. Do dis befo' seven an"leven. Dat brings yo luck - seven an' 'leven. Do yo' burnin' 'fore seven an' 'leven.
Entry 2631
If a woman wants a whole lotta men comin' tuh de house an' gittin' money out of 'em, on Friday burn 'em an' on Saturday dey'd all come dere an'.
(What does she burn?) Burn de men folkses shoes - de ole shoes. Git de ole shoes an' burn 'em. (They have to be shoes from men though - they can't be women's shoes?)
No, no women's shoes - men's. She wanta go out an' git money out of 'em. An' he'll come dere in her house - can't git clear of men. She gits whut she wants, an' den Monday mawnin' come, everybody's gone.
Entry 2632
Well, ah heard of 'em burnin' men's shoes. Put sugah in 'em an' burn 'em on a Friday mawnin', burn 'em at seven a'clock an' 'leven. Dat's fo' luck. Dat's fo' good luck fo' yo' house or people comin' in fo' yo' makin' money - anything lak dat. Dat's whut dat fo'. [Memphis, Tenn., (1548), 2811:6.]]
Entry 2633
Dey say dat whut dat is fer - tuh make mens come to yore house.
(What what is for?)
Burnin' ole men's shoe. When dey lonesome an' ain't got no company, say, "Well, ah'm goin' do so-an'-so. Ah'm goin' have some company." Yo' see, take dem ole shoes an' make a fiah an' burn em in de fiah, an' then throw some salt on it an' let 'em burn. An' that bring men.
Entry 2634
Burn sulphur and one foot on de left shoes into a bucket from de front to the back. That would keep dem away. When dey get far as dat, dey will turn and go another way.
(That is to keep the law away if you are bootlegging?)
Yeah.
Entry 2635
Jis' lak if yo's a hustlin'woman, yo' know, an' want good business in yore home, yo' see, well yo' take ole shoes an' burn 'em. But 'fore yo' burn 'em yo' sprinkle sulphah an' salt on those shoes an' put 'em in yore cookstove an let 'em begin burnin'. An' den yo' take a shovel an' take 'em out on a shovel with this sulphah an' salt on 'em an' jis' care 'em all roun' in yore house - yo' see, in all de fo' corners of yore room an' jis' let 'em burn. An' let de odor - close yore house up an' let dat odor stay in dere. Den yo' take de ashes an' start at chore front do' an' sprinkle it from de front to de back an' dat draws trade. Den yo' take yore urinate an' put salt an' sugah in it an' jis' mop yore front po'ch an' out all on de street - out all on de sidewalk where peoples is passin', if yo's runnin' a assi'nation house, see. An' people when dey git dere dey'll jis' have tuh come in. Dat makes good business fo' yo'.
Entry 2636
Well, yo' take de shoe, de man's shoe, de right foot, an' yo' put some sulphur in it an' a piece of bluestone an' yo' burn it. Put it in de middle of de floor an' burn it, an' dat will give yo' luck in yore home. Draw the crowd.
(If you are selling liquor or something of that sort.)
Dat's right.
Entry 2637
All right. You got a place of business and you ain't had no luck. You get up in the morning before twelve or one o'clock and don't speak to nobody, if your wife or a friend in the house with you. When you get up don't say anything to them until after you get fixed. You take a left shoe of a woman and the left shoe of a man, two spoons of sugar, two spoons of camphor gum.
(Camphor gum.)
Camphor gum, and you mix that together. You burn that down till it's a ashes. You go to the back, you start at your back door - you start at your front gate coming in. You want 'em to come in, you don't wanta drive nobody away - you want 'em to come in. You sprinkle that, you sprinkle that all right on through. You start at your front gate or at the back - just where they got to come in and you go on through. All right. Take your bucket or whatever you burn that in and just shake the rest of it at the back door - that where they comes - through the house and on to the back door and lay it down. And you can go ahead on back to bed and sleep the rest of the night. And another man at the next place to you - you'll have plenty of trade and he don't know. He is wondering and studying how you doing it.
(What do you do with those shoes?)
You burn em.
(Oh, you burn them.)
You burn 'em till they are down to ash dust.
(That's before you mix up those other things?)
Yes, you put that other stuff right in there. (I see. I understand. Now, this other man. What does this other man do then when he sees you making out? Making all this business?) Well, he don't know how - he don't know what to do. Well, he gotta do the same thing.