Browse:Black Beards and Earrings (Volume 1, entries 855–856)
Black Beards and Earrings
Volume 1, entries 855–856. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → THE DOCTORS THEMSELVES: BIRTH TO DEATH: DESCRIBED BY LAYMEN. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 855
Well, Doctor Jackson told me to go out to the fork of the road - go out to any road that got a fork to it - running south and east, and go to the fork of this road and take the south road and kneel down and pray - say my prayers, three times, and look up at the sun and make the Sign of the Cross and walk back - walk back to where the fork is divided at, you know, the same as a Y - walk back to that fork and make a cross down there - make a cross down there and spit in it - right in the middle of this cross. And after I spit in the middle of that cross, I go ahead on back to my house. He say that'll uncross me - like somebody got me crossed. You understand what I mean?
(I see. Find a road which has one going to the south and one to the east.)
One to the south and one to the east, you see. That east road - you go to the east side and you say your prayers. After you say your prayers, why you -
(In which road do you kneel down and say your prayers?)
On the east side.
(East side - and then you say you walk back to that Y?)
Right to that Y.
(And then you turn around and walk back to it?)
Yes sir, and spit in there.
(In that cross?)
In that cross.
(Do you make a cross or just spit there?)
You spit right in that cross - right in that Y, you see.
(Oh, you spit there. I see.)
You spit right there.
(Who is Doctor Jackson?)
Well, he's supposed to be a hoodoo doctor.
(Where does he live?)
He was staying right there on Ramport Street, right between this street and the next street, but he ain't there no more. He gone. Him an' 'nother fellah who was working together - they called him Bill. They wears long black beards and two earrings in 'em.
(I see.)
Entry 856
Around Charlestown, South Carolina, the cunjure man blesses these big earrings and they're supposed to wear them all the time. It brings good luck to them. Sometimes they have pearls in them.