Browse:CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE (Volume 3, entries 3110–3699)/Part 5
CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE
Volume 3, entries 3110–3699. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 3430
Yo' uses dog livah. Ketch a dog an' git 'is livah. Dey does dat to ketch a man an' a woman tied up.
(How do they do that?)
Kill de dog an' git de livah an' feed de man on it, an' he go an' have [con- nection] wit a woman, why den dey git tied up. So when dey git tied, why den dey'll be shown out to de world - evahbody will see 'em. Ah've seen dat.
Entry 3431
[I say] dat yo' could use dog livah tuh ketch a man wit a woman. De same if a man wus gwine wit mah wife an' ah wanted tuh ketch 'im an' he wus too slick fo' me tuh ketch 'im. Ah would go somewhere an' kill a dog, an' bring 'is livah home an' let 'er cook de livah. An' by her not knowin' an' she eat it, why - ah would nevah have anythin' tuh do wit 'er, see [see No.3425]. Jes' let 'er go on an' eat de livah, an' if she go out tuh have 'er man, why dey would hang up tugethah de same as two dogs. [Here, having heard this rite so often, I turned off recording, but turned on machine again so that I could repeat his final statement as a question.] (YOU HAVE TO KILL ONE OF THEM TO GET THEM APART. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY OF GETTING THEM APART?) No sir.
Entry 3432
He kin take de livah of a dog an' tie a man an' a woman togethah.
(How do they do that?)
It jes' lak if yo' got a wife an' yo' know yore wlfe got anothah man on, an yo' got two or three dogs yo' see, yo' won't min' partin' wit one dem dogs, yo see. Yo' know wimmins lak livah, yo' see. Well, yo' kin jes' take dem dog out lak yo' goin' huntin' someway [somewhere] an' kill one see, an' fix de livah up nice an' bring it back home to her, an' let 'er cook it an' eat a good suppah out it, an' if dat man evah touch 'er any mo' dat settle her.
(They get stuck together?)
Yes sir.
Entry 3433
Well, jes' lak yo' Want - if yore wife is a run-aroun' woman an' yo' Wanta ketch 'er wit someone, an' she all de time tellin' yo' dat she don't do dat.[ Well, all yo' gotta do is git yo' a dog - steal de dog an' carry 'im off an' kill 'im, see, an' git 'is livah. An' den when yo' git de livah, yo' jes' go on an' buy yo' a dime or so of de othah livah, yo' know, an' mix in it an' carry it to her dat night, dat aftahnoon, an' tell 'er to cook it fer supper, "I be home fer SUppah." See. AN' DEN SHE GO ON AN' COOKS IT. WELL, IT'S A KNOWN FACT DAT SHE BE WAITIN', WAITIN', WAITIN', AN' DON'T SEE YO' COMIN', SHE GOIN' GIT MAD AN' EAT HERS, yo' undahstan'. She goin' eat part of 'ers an- MAYBE IF SHE DON'T, WHENEVAH YO' COME IN, YO' JES' MAKE OUT LAK YO' GOT A PAIN IN DE STOMICK or yo' sick OR YO' DON'T FEEL LAK NUTHIN, yo' see. An' den she'll go on an' eat 'ers. See, an' 24 hours aftah she eat 'ers, why de nex' day or so if she go off, any time dat Week, any tIme - CO'SE YO' CAN'T EVEN HAVE NUTHIN TO DO WIT HER, see. [For other examples of this belief see Nos.3425 and 3431.] If she go out why yo'll find it out. See, yo' undahstan', she goin' git stuck. See, dat dog's livah make her, when she have connection wit de othah man, dat will draw de both of 'em togethah. Dey can't git away. See, he'll swell up an' she would too.
Entry 3434
It jes' lak dis: if yo' were a man - is yo' a man an goin' wit anothah man's wife. Now, lemme see if dat right. Yes. Aw - no. If yo' wuz goin' wit anothah woman an' yore wife found it out, an' she killed a puppy an' cooked dat puppy livah an' give it to yo', why yo' an' 'er [other woman] when yo' have connection yo' would git hitched [= tied]. Yo'd git hitched, an' yo' know it take doctors [M.D.'s] dat know dere business to unhitch yo'.
Entry 3435
Yo' could kill a dog, a puppy don't yo' know, an' take his livah out don't chew know an' fry dat. Put it wit some ole livah don't chew know from de sto' when yo' fry dat. Give it to yore ole man. He shore [sure] eat dat wit de dog livah. An' jes' whatsomevah woman he runnin' roun' wit, foolin' wit, well when dey ties up togethah, dey'll jes' hook up togethah, yo' undahstan' me. Dat's whut it take to make dem two, yo' know, git hook up togethah an' yo' can't git 'em loose - yo' undahstan'.
Entry 3436
Ah heard of dat. Dey tell me dat chew kin kill a feis' dog [a small dog] an' any way dat chew kin git any of de blood offa de livah of dat feis' dog [a feist] in any- thing at all to eat fo' him. Well, if he has anything to do wit anothah woman, it's natural he git stuck, yo' see.
Entry 3437
Jes' lak a woman's husban' runnin' roun' an' she wants tuh ketch 'im, why den she kin take - lak a fellah dat eat livah or somepin lak dat, why dey kin ketch a black dog, jes' a real black dog. Kill 'im an' take his livah. Jes' lak she would buy livah fo' suppah. Take dis livah an' give it tuh 'im dis evening. If he has intahco'se wit a woman, he git caught jes' lak a dog.
(Then they can catch him.)
Entry 3438
Dog livah will tie yo' up.
(Just how do they do that?)
Yo' gits dat dog livah. Cut dat dog while he live an' take de livah from 'im, an' dey'll take dat dog livah an' put it in whiskey or in de tea or anything, an' - if dey kin git to yo' - yo'll nevah do nuthin. (You say it will tie you up. How do you mean?) If yo' connect wit a woman - if a man connect wit a woman, git fastened.
Entry 3439
[Gyp or gip has been a common term in the United States for a bitch, the word deriving from gypsy or gipsy (chiefly British) and originally meaning a gypsy-like dog - a wanderer. Here, as so often in the United States, the female is accused of a trait not exclusively hers. Dogs - the males - as I know from experience can be male tramps. Finally, Gyp or Gip is - used to be at least - a favorite name for male or female dogs.] Yo' kin take a dog's livah now, if yo' wife is havin' intahco'se wit any othah man an' yo' wanta ketch up wit 'er. Well, yo' kin kill a gyp dog an' yo' kin care [carry] her two slices of dat livah an' let 'er eat it, an' de very nex' time, if it's de nex' day or de day aftah, she have intahco'se wit dis othah man, why dey git hung jes' lak dat gyp dog would.
(A GYP DOG? WHAT KIND OF A DOG IS THAT?)
A SHE DOG.
(THEY CALL THEM GYP DOGS DOWN HERE.)
Entry 3440
A man kin kill a proudin' gyp an' take dat livah an' cook it an' let 'is wife eat it, an' if she went out near anothah man, dat's where she'd be found. [My following comment is not a gratuitous remark of mine. I am merely re- peating what informant had added after I had turned off recording machine. Other examples of these brief additions will be found in the text.]
(There's no way of getting them apart.)
Entry 3441
Well, if a man got a wife an' she's runnin' roun' an' he wanta ketch 'er, an' he can't ketch 'er, well, he kills a dog dat's proudin' an' take de livah. An' jes' lak yo'll go uptown an' buy hog livah or cow livah, an' take it home an' let 'er cook it an' eat, an' de man dat she have connection wit, dey'll tie up jes' lak two dogs.
Entry 3442
Dog livah, dey claim dat yo' kin git a dog livah whilst a dog is proudin', if yo' kin git dat dog livah, an' if yo' husban' is goin' wit a woman - a man an' woman is goin' togethah, an' if yo kin git dat dog livah an' give it to dem to eat, dat dey would git hung.
Entry 3443
Dey ketch a dog whilst she's in heat an' takes de livah an' fix it up intuh a man. A woman give it tuh a man if she wanta ketch 'im - jes' lak if dis man is goin' out wit othah wimmin. Whenevah dis man go tuh be wit dis othah woman, dey find 'im fast.
Entry 3444
Yo' know de colored people laks livah, laks tuh eat livah yo' know - beef livah, calf livah. Well, quite natchel [natural] dey cooks de dog livah. Well, now, quite natchel, he laks livah, yo' see. But now, yo' wouldn't prepare dis livah fo' me, if yo' didn't care nuthin about me. Dese wimmins genly [generally] use dat on dere husban'. Dey usin' dat to tie him; if he goes out anywhere, why he'll git hung jes' lak a dog would. Dat's whut dey do wit dog livah.
(That's to shame him or something if he's caught.)
Oh! he git caught. Dere ain't no doubt about it. He'll swell up. An' de only thing dat kin unswell 'im - co'se de doctor [M.D.] kin do it, but quite natchel he might not he'p 'em [be able to help them] if dey settin' down a couple of days. He put a piece of ice right dere, an' dat ice gotta have at least three minutes, an' it will untie 'em. If she haven't got no ice, no good ice watah where yo' kin bathe 'im back down [my root doctor informant is now talking about his own professional abilityl, or bathe her down where it swellin', den he'll git fastened dat much tightah an' de doctor [M.D.] have tuh unloosen dem. Give 'im somepin tuh cool 'im down an' throw de swellin' down. Dat's why some use it - dem dat's mean enough - use dog's livah fo' dat. Dat's whut dey do wit it.
Entry 3445
Jes' lak we were talkin' 'bout back heah while ago, if a person git hook up lak dis, yo' give 'em dog livah an' dat will relief 'em. Dey tell me dat will relief 'em, give 'em dog livah. (If the man and woman are stuck together, you give them dog liver to eat. That'll unfasten them?) [This is an example of like cures like, see margin title, p.394.] Yes, dog livah will unfasten dem.
Entry 3446
[The following belief indicates that there is something strong and powerful about dog liver, even for the dog itself:] Yo' kin take a dog livah, if de woman's mad wit chew an' at 'er. Git de dog livah an' some kinda othah livah an' cook it, an' don' yo' eat none of it. Give dat to de dog an' he'll run away an' won't nevah come back. Take de two livah an' fry it togethah see, an' she won' know it.
Entry 3447
Dat's simple. Dat's a real trick, dat is. Yo' go to work an' ketch a dog dat's nevah has been mated. An' she begin tuh start tuh mate, yo' kin always tell, yol see. Den yo' go to work den an' take dis dog an' spear[?] her an' git de proud bag.
(After you get what?)
After yo' spread[?] de dog an' take out 'er proudin' bag an' den bang dat up an' let it git dry lak a bladdah den, where yo' kin pound it up. [The preceding word spear or spread is probably spade, the obsolete fon of spay, though spade is not quite as obsolete as the lexicographer thinks, I having heard it frequently through the years. No matter what the word, the bitch's ovaries are: extirpated.] Well, now, all a man's gotta do when he make a connection, he jes' put some of dat dust on 'im, yo' see, den dat gives a woman's womb an' [the] nature of a dog, don' yo' see, cuz de dog wus in heat but yet she had nevah mated. An' dat gives de woman - it grasps de dog to her, yo' see. Den when a man has connec- tion wit 'er, de head of his [penis] will swell an' de womb [vagina] will shet [shut] down on 'i. An' den when it shets down on it, dat will cause it tuh swell, an' dat's whut hangs 'em up tuhgethah.
Entry 3448
Well, dey say yo' kin take a dog an' kill de dog an' take 'is livah. An' dey say, when a man go to have intahco'se wit a woman, an' yo' kin git de chance to git it [the liver] on 'im some Way or 'nothah [they will be- come tied]. An' dey [cannot] git unloosed unless de doctor [M.D.] come to 'em. If dey's 'fraid of anything lak dat whenevah dey goin' out fo' dat, why dey kin jes' take a red onion, yo' know, an' jes' kinda lightly rub it on dereself, an' dey say nuthin lak dat would happen.
Entry 3449
Jes' lak yo' go tuh work an' wanta ketch someone, yo' see. Jes' lak yo' wanta ketch somebody wit chure sweetheart or sompin of de kind. Yo' go tuh work, yo' see, lak two dogs hitched togethah. Yo' know, when dogs proudin' yo' see 'em hitched yo' know. Den yo' go dere an' yo' ketch a lil' of dat come, yo' know. Yo' ketch a li'le bit of dat, yo' see, an' wipe dat on a han'schuff. Yo' git de idea. If yo'.have connection wit dis woman - yo' go an' have connection wit 'er an' yo' take dat han'schuff, when yo' git through wit 'er yo' know, yo' take dat han'schuff an' dust dat dust of dat come from dat dog. When he go dere he fastened jes' lak dat dog is. Ah hear tell of dat.
Entry 3450
Ah don' know of anything but yo' know ah've heard of diff'ren' things. When a bitch is gwine wit a dog yo' know, if a woman would ketch dat drooling8 from dat dog - de dreenings [drainings] - an' rub 'em on 'er husban' place, an' he go back dere [to that other woman] ag'in, it'll be de cause of he bein' lined up wit 'er jes' lak dem dogs.
(With this other woman?)
Yes.
Entry 3451
Well, now, in case - fo' instance now, if a man gits - lak if ah tell yo' or yo' tell me, says, "Listen, Doc [Doctor Dawson], ah want yo' stay 'way from mah woman." An' ah say, "Well, ah ain't bothahin' yo' woman." Yo' says, "Yes, yo' is bothahin' 'er. Ef ah ketch yo' dere 'gin, de worl' will know it. [FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON MY TRANSCRIBER AT THIS POINT LEAVES ABOUT THREE INCHES OF MASSED DOTS. THIS INNOCUOUS BUT IMPORTANT MATERIAL SHE OMITTED I ADDED BY PENCIL WHEN I CHECKED THE CYLINDER AGAINST TRANSCRIPTION. DOCtOr Dawson, as well as other informants knew that I was collecting material to write a boOk. HERE ARE THE DELETED WORDS:] FOR GOD'S SAKE! WILL DAT THING BE PRINTED HERE? DESE WHITE FOLKS WILL HANG ME! Well, ah say, "Ah ain' bothahin' wit yo woman. Yo' [a woman] say, "Hell, yes yo' is." Well, den ah'm slippin' roun' dere, yo' see. An' ah think dat chew [woman] don't know how tuh ketch me. Well, yo' walk out in de woods dere an' yo' go an' git a dog, a dog dat's proudin' bad, an' she's proudin' an' she'll swelled up right dere behin'. All right, yo' ketch dat dog an' yo' take yo' pocket han'scuff lak when - yo' undah- stan' - when a dog gits through wit 'er, yo' take dat pocket han'scuff an' wipe dat dog's contraption good wit dat pocket han'scuff. All right. Well, yo' roll dat up tight den. Yo' roll dat up den an' when yo' go home at night, an' yo' go home, an' when she lay down to sleep, yo' take dat rag an' rub 'er. Rub all up inside her thing good wit dat rag. Yo' say, "Well now, de son-of-a-bitch, if he gits on 'er now de worl' will know it." Well, den ah'll come in dere, ah'll be hot chew know, wouldn't be thinkin' nuthin. Well, den ah'll go jump on 'er. Ah'll say, "Come on, lady, gimme me [HERE AGAIN MY TRANSCRIBER RESORTS TO DOTS AND HERE IS WHAT SHE OMITTED;] a little bit of it. Well I'll then aroun', jump on dat woman. Well, when ah git through wit dat woman....ah can't pull mah thing out to save mah life. Ah'm hooked dere.
Entry 3452
A woman had a bad husband an' she wanta bring a shame on 'im to de public. She can't keep 'im at home. Git a dog when he proudin', when kin anothah dog be hung to her. Ketch dis dog aftah a dog got loose from 'er. Take yo' a rag an' ketch de dog, wipe him lak dataway wit de rag in de back, carry it on de house an' put dat rag down. It will eithah do one or de othah of 'em - it will hang a man to a woman or break dem up. Won't have no mo' trouble outa him wit dat part, or hang 'im dere. Or she'll come to be sick, yo' know, an' jes' fall away to nuthin.
(The other woman will?)
De othah woman will.
Entry 3453
Why when yo' go to fool wit 'er, git dat livah an' rub on 'er.
(What kind of liver?)
Dog livah. Rub on her an' anybody go to fool wit 'er, why she hang lak dat. Or yo' eithah take some dog slime an' put.on 'er an' she'll hang lak dat.
(Dog what?)
When a dog come yo' know, take de dog - git some an' put right in 'er, put on an' rub ovah 'er. I seen em jes' hang up togethah.
(Just put that stuff on her, this nature from the dog?)
Yes, jes' take a rag an' wipe her up dere wit it - make no diff'rence if - jes' take an' rub it on 'er, why he'll, jes' soon as he be dere it will stick 'im soon he go in dere. When he git wet, why it jes' stick 'im, see.
Entry 3454
Well, dey goes an' gits somepin from one dese heah whelp dogs [= a dog that brings forth young = female dog], yo' know. It's sompin she change de same as woman do's at a certain time of month. Cook it in some of yore food an' give it to yo' an' yo' come in contact wit dis man, de wife will, an' dey'll lock togethah.
(They put something in her food.)
Entry 3455
If yo' be fortunate 'nuff fo' two dogs tuh make connection lak dat an' jes' lak one be yore dog, an' yo' take a piece of cloth an' go right dere an' she watah [nature, not urine is meant] on hit, an' yo' take an' go to de man an' yo' wipe dat man down wit dat cloth. When he go tuh de othah woman, dey'll be jes' lak dem dogs.
Entry 3456
Yo' go ketch a dog when a she dog an' he dog, then dey mtie", ab°git some of 'is nature from de dog an' put it on de woman, dey say. Aa' yo'croao - yo' make one straight up an' one across lak dat. [The sign of the cos 1s marked over the vouan's valva adth che dog's semen.] Yo' don't let 'a bo it, choo know - jis' azboo [as yoa] playin' wit 'er. An' [they] tell me if any othah man have anything to do dlt 'er outside of yo', he'll stay dere jis' lak a dog when he goes in a bitch. Yo' boo how long dey stay togethah.
Entry 3457
Well, ah got a girl fren' or wife an' she's runnin' wit some.an an' ah reckon ah wanta ketch 'er, go tuh where two bulldogs tied up. An' take a pockt han'ke'chuf or eithah a new piece of vhite boe spun cloth an' vipe dose dogs off wit it, an' yo' ties it up. Yo' ties it in a knot, a hard knot, an' yo' totes it; an' whenevah yo' have connection wit dis woman, yo' wipes 'er wit it. Yo' totes it in yore pocket.
(What does that do?)
Dat makes yo' ketch 'er.
(What will that do to that woman then?)
It will make her an' a man git tied up.
(If she goes with another man.)
Entry 3458
Take a dog an' ketch 'i, a boy dog, an' ketch 'im an' cut his balls out an' cook 'em, cook 'em right soft an' den crumble 'em up in 'is [a man's] food. Dat's if 'is wife wanta ketch 'im. An' put it [in] somepin tuh eat an' den if he goes wit any woman, she'll find out who it is he goin' wit. When he go tuh be wit dis woman dey'll git hung up... [Three dots show that I turned off recording machine and restarted it in time to catch: Yo' have tuh kill one of 'em.
(To get them apart.)
[The testes of roosters and other male animals have been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac.]
Entry 3459
Yo' kill a dog an' take his tools - yo' know, dem little bags whut he got. Dey tell me yo' kin take dem an' powdah 'em up an' yo' kin give it to a man in 'is whiskey or eithah in 'is coffee, an' dey tell me dat make him tie up wit a woman jes' lak a dog tie up wit anothah dog. If yo' wanta ketch - dat's how yo do when yo' wanta ketch 'em, dey tell me.
Entry 3460
An' people pay to go see it. Yo' know how dey do it. Yo' ketch a dog in heat, see. Yo' know a dog proudin' aroun'. An' kill it an' git 'is [her] livah outa him [her]. Carry it on home - wrap it up in a piece of papah jes' lak de othah livah. Fool 'er, yo' know. Slice it up. An' don' chew eat none of it, let 'er eat it. An' when she eat dat if she go [demonstrates] dat's what will happen to her.
[Informant's demonstration was probably interlocked fingers.]
(She will get stuck to the other fellow?)
Yes, sir, git stuck together. DEY HAVE TO KILL ONE OUT TO DE HOSPITAL TUH SAVE DE OTHAH.
Entry 3461
Othah words, if yo' can't git to her dat way, yo' kin to [with] de undahwear. Take it an' go somewhere an' git choo a male dog. An' whenevah dey [the dog] git in a hard, yo' know, an' den wipe it off. Git choo nine shingle nails - nine little wire nails - an' care [carry] it to a tree. Dig de root, dig down to [into] de ground where yo' find 'em forked roots. Nail it up in dere - tack it up in dere - put dem nine nails in dere an' covah it ovah. Well, dere he's stuck ag'in, he can't git away. But if yo' have sympathy fer 'em an' go an' take it up yore ownself, dey'll come loose; an' if not, YO' GOT TO KILL 'EM BŌF OR KILL ONE OF 'EM to git 'em loose.
Entry 3462
Ah know of a woman an' a man dat been goin' togethah an' dis man wife wanted to make dis man 'shamed an' dis woman, an' let 'em be caught an' let de public see 'em. An' so she'd taken an' got sompin from a dog, an' fixed dis man. Whut ah mean she taken an' gits a dog discharge. [She] do wit 'im lak dey wuz goin' have one an' afterward - or if she wuzn't goin' have one - she would take dis an' put it on 'im. An' den he'll - an' [if he] have anyone, an' dey git hung lak dogs.
(Is there any way of getting them apart?)
Yes, ah know a way yo' kin git 'em apart, an' ah know a way dat dey didn't git 'em apart? DEY HAVE TUH KILL ONE AN' SAVE DE OTHAH ONE.
(How did they get them apart?)
Ah know in one case, see, de party dat do it kin git 'em apart.
(How do they do that?)
Wit watah, yes. Put in on 'em, jes' lak yo' do a dog.
Entry 3463
Dey said dat if a man is goin' wit anothah man's wife or girl frien', or whosomevah dey wants dat does not belong to dem, an' dat individual gits a dog an' dey feed dat individual on de livah of de dog - say fer instance, if a man got a wife an' he ketches 'im a dog unbeknowst to her, an' dey kill dat dog an' dey gits de dog's livah an' dey feed dat wumman den on de dog livah, but [she] suppose dat it come from de market. Well, she eats dat livah an' den any man goes wit 'er aftah den, why will git lined to her.
(Is there any way that they get them apart?)
Unlined? Dat. dey lose one or de othah. ONE OR DE OTHAH HAS TO BE KILLED. I've seen one or two cases lak dat, but DE WOMAN WAS LOST BUT DE MAN WAS SAVED. DEY MORE ( OR LESS TAKE DE WOMAN.
Entry 3464
If dey wan'a person to stop slidin', well dey said yo' take two dogs in de spring when dey havin' intahco'se an' dey're hung. An' yo' take a han'ke'- chef an' ketch some of dere nature. Keep it. An' den if yore boy frien' slides [cheats] on yo' to de extent dat choo wan'a stop 'im forevah, aftah yo've had a intahco'se wit 'im, dry 'im wit dis han'ke'chef. IT'LL LAST A WEEK. De first woman he goes wit he'll git hung wit 'er.
(It'll last a week?)
It'll last on 'im a week. HE CANNOT WASH IT OFF. Den if he goes wit anothah woman wit'in dat length of time, de first woman he goes [with] he'll git hung wit 'er an' yo' cannot git 'em apart. YO' HAVE TO TAKE 'EM TO A HOSPITAL AN' DE RE- SULTS IS DE WOMAN WILL HAVE TO BE KILT, becuz de longah he stay in 'er de largah he swells. YO' HAVE TO KILL DE WOMAN OR DE MAN, SO DEY USUALLY KILL DE WOMAN AN' CUT 'IM OUT. An' dat ends dat slidin'.
Entry 3465
Yo' jes' kill a li'le dog, any kinda dog, an' take his livah. Take it an' flour it an' fry it, fix it, an' he eat a piece of it, an' den de firs' woman dat he go tuh have, dey git stuck togethah dat way. [This was the logical place to stop recording, but informant immediately con- tinuing forced me to repeat his last statement in the form of a question.]
(They have to kill the woman?)
DAT OUTA HER, CUZ IF DEY GO TUH CUT IT OUT SHE GOIN' DIE. [FayettevIlle, N. Car.,
(1450), 2335:4.]
[We are concerned here with the simple knot, one of the oldest and most Fl portant inventions of man. What would he have done without it? No wonder the tying of a knot soon became and has remained for the untutored mind a great magic rite, one of confining the spirit, making it submissive to the tier's will.]
Entry 3466
Now a man connect wit 'is wife or woman, whatsomevah it is. He git a bran'-new piece of yellah cotton, unbleached dey call dat. Don' chew discharge, yolet im discharge anketch, yo see. An' yo' take hit an' use a cose [coarse] stran' of black thread, an' yo' tie dat. Yo' fol' dat piece an yo' tie it. Yo' tie it, yo' tie it till evah piece is offa dat spool of thread. Now yo' lie dat right on de side dat he sleep on an' dat keep 'im home. An' dat keep 'im dat he don' want nobody but chew.
(How do you wrap that thread? Away from you like that?)
[My preceding words are an attempt to avoid a leading question.]
No, yo' wrap it to yo', an' tight as beeswax, until evah stran' is offa de spool. An' den yo' put it straightways, 'cuz it's gonna be stiff aftah it's wound tight, an' right on de side dat chew sleep on. An' dat man don' ca' [care] fo' nobody but chew.
Entry 3467
Git holt of a man's pocket han'ke'chuf an' tie it up - lak yo' wish 'im tuh have trouble in two or three places, lak yo' runnin' a business ovah yondah an' want yo' tuh lose, runnin' a farm an' want chew to lose yore farm an' yo' stock. Tie knots to evah - cuss de devil an' God an' tie a knot fo' evah- thin' yo' want done. An' take dat han'ke'chuf an' burn it up, an' dat'll make yo' have hard luck.
Entry 3468
If he's goin' wit 'er, she kin take de measure of 'is a - 'hawk. (What?) His 'hawk, his tomahawk. If it's seven or eight inches, den she t take a string see, an' she measure dat; an' if eight inches, why she tie eight knots in dat an' wears dat in 'er purse.
(What if it's seven inches?)
Jis' tie seven knots. Yes, she kin fix 'im so dat he can't have anything to do wit any othah woman but 'er. [There are 1 or 2 other examples of tomahawk in HOODOO.]
Entry 3469
Yo' take a piece of string, any kin'a string, a cord string mo' spec- ially. An' de length of de string, yo' see, evah inch - if it's nine inches, evah one of dose inches yo' tie a knot to each one of dose inches, yo' see. Git de measure an' den evah inch, tie a knot in it. Well, den dey sav dey could take dat an', yo' know, dey could take it an' tie it on 'em an' carry it wit 'em. An' dat would have yo' to de place dat yo' wouldn't have no feelin's fo' no othah woman, jes' dat one pahtic'lah woman, de one dat do yo' dat way.
Entry 3470
She kin measure him down dere, take an' measure hisself when he 'sleep. An' she kin take a ribbon an' put jes' how long it is, she kin put dat many knots in it an' wear it aroun' 'er lef' laig. An' he cain't do nuthin but wit dat woman.
Entry 3471
Dere's two ways a woman kin fix a man so he couldn't have nobody but 'er. Take a cord string an' measure 'im in 'is sleep an' git de many inches as he is long down dere, yo' see. She take an' tie dem many knots in dere, walk to de side of de house an' WRAP IT AROUN' A NAIL. Well, he kin git ready fo' a woman, but when he git up on 'er - well, he gits down.
(That nail is in the side of the house?)
Yessuh.
Entry 3472
If yo' kin git de measure of a lady or eithah a man, take dat measure an' see how many inches it is an' tie dat many knots in it. An' put it in yore pocket an' she cain't go wit nobody else but 'im, or he couldn't go wit nobody but 'er. (Well, how do they measure a woman?) Dat's very easy. Jes' lak she's layin' down, but git 'sfur [as far] as it'll go up heah, not de hair, where de place start at an' on down where it stops at. Dat's de correct measure. Yo' kin take dat an' bury it, an' she'll follah 'im [you] an' love him [you].
(Bury that hair from below?)
Sho'.
[No, bury the measurement.]
(The man would do that to the woman?)
Man de same - it works both ways. [The measurement of women appears to be fairly rare in hoodoo.]
Entry 3473
When he go tuh sleep a woman take a string an' measure de length of 'i [his body] from de haid to de foot, an' tie jis' as many knots in it as yo' are tall, see, an' tie it aroun' 'er waist. Den she measure yo' othahwise, straight down, jis' de length dat [penis] is. She tie it in a knot an' tie it roun' 'er ankle an' wear it. One roun' one ankle an' one roun' de othah one - den dat roun' 'er waist. [This ambiguous statement sounds like 3 places the cause of my close questioning that soon follows.] Yo' cain't have no nature fo' no othah woman. (With THE FIRST STRING SHE MEASURES FROM THE HEAD TO THE FOOT? And tie as many knots?) As yo' [he] is high - de height of 'em, see. Yo' kin take dat string an' measure his height by dat string.
(You have to put a knot at each foot?)
No, yo' jis' take de string jis' how many foot yo' is an' put dem little knots in dere. Don't make no diff'rence whereabouts yo' put 'em, jis' yo' tie 'em in dere.
(Where does she wear that string then?)
She wear it roun' 'er waist.
(WHAT DOES SHE DO WITH THE OTHER STRING?)
Take de othah string an' measure othahwise, yo' undahstan' - de privates, yes- suh.
(The second piece of string, and she only ties one knot in that?)
"Cordin' tuh how long he is, jis' de length of it.
(For how long?)
Ah dunno, jis' as many knots - yo' see jis' lak if it's seven inches lak dat, yo' puts seven knots in it.
(Where does she wear that?)
Aroun' 'er ankle, eithah one. Or she have tuh put it roun' both 'er ankles, one on each foot.
(SHE'S GOT THESE TWO STRINGS THEN?)
Yessuh.
(She only uses the string for measurements?)
Yessuh. (You say the man can do the same thing to the woman.)
Entry 3474
Ah ties 'er against 'em.
(You what?)
Against de othahs.
(What do they say about that?)
Well, it's - lots of 'em will take an' use a cord string. If yo' can't git a good cord string, yo' kin some stuff dey call catgut - see, if yo' kin make it long enough. An' yo' dresses dat stuff wit 'er when yo' have intahco'se wit 'er. An' if ah wanta be away from dere four weeks, ah put four knots in dere an' I keep dem knots tied [around my waist - see later].
(What will that do?)
Jes' lak evah day, why yo' take a man he step off sometime, lak he wanta uri- nate or somepin. Yo' go, why yo' jes' take dis han', yo' know, sometime, an' urinate in 'is han' an' kin'a keep dat string aroun"is waist livened up. Jes' lak, [you are] goin' away, befo' yo' put it [string or catgut] on yo', jes' lak fo' instance, ah have dis night-glass [empty glass jar] or somepin settin' behin' on dis floor. Well, he not supposed to use dat, if he wanta dress dat string. He takes hisself an' let 'er use an' he wets dat in dere, takes it out an' puts it on 'im. Well, he ties dem knots in it first. An' aftah tyin' dem knots in it - well, dat will keep 'er straight prob'ly till he gits back.
(And how many knots do you tie in that string?)
Well, now, yo' have - it's accordin' if yo' goin' to be gone six weeks, well yo' put six knots in dat. If yo' be gone four weeks, yo' put four knots in it.
Entry 3475
They tie knots in a string. If they get a new cord, you see, and tie that, and that's for to make a man or a woman come under their control. They wear that around the waist. You doesn't buy a new ball [of string] for that. Just like you go to the grocery store or some store, you see, and you take it and just break you off a piece the length that you want. And each knot that you tie you make your wish, vbatever that you wish 'em to do. If you wish 'em to get the money, or wish for them to stay away from a certain home, or you wish for 'em to come to your home all the time, each knot that you tie you make a wish. And then the last knot that chew tie, if yo' want 'em to come under your control, you wish then for them to come under your control, to be controlled by you and you alone. And then you tie that around your waist, you see, and wear it. You do that on the last quar- ter of the moon.
Entry 3476
A woman kin git a man's seap [penis] an' measure it. Don't measure yo' roun' but measure disaway [lengthwise], an' war [wear]. Put a hole in a silvah dime an' put dis string [used in measuring] through dis silvah dime, an' war dat cord aroun' 'er leg [left ankle]. An' as long as she war dat cord dis man would nevah have no dealin's wit dat [any other] woman - no feelin's fuh 'er.
Entry 3477
Men and women?
(Yes.)
A woman dat anothah man - dat she got a husban' an' anothah woman wants dis man. Well, she can persuade, she kin make him lose his nature fer 'is wife an' have all de nature fer her by buyin' a square of yellah domestic-lak. De yellah domestic is de only kin' dat'll do. An' when she has connec- tions wit dis man she lets 'im use dat yellah domestic. An' she ties it in a knot jes' as tight as she kin tie it where the spots are. An' she puts it undah de side of de bed dat she lies on, an' sleeps right on dat knot, an' she has 'im tied up where 'is wife can't git any service outa 'im at all. He can't do any- thing at home. De only time he kin do anything is when he come an' lie on de side of de bed where dat piece of domestic is. She lies right on dat when she has dealings wit 'im an' he can't git up any courage fer anybody but 'er. He naturally mistakes dat fer love an' leaves 'is wife an' comes to her.
Entry 3478
Yo' take a string an' measure de man while he's 'sleep an' measure de length of 'im, if he's a normal man. Yo' tie dat to de springs to yore bed. He nevah kin stretch out unless'n he's in dat bed.
Entry 3479
Even if she want 'im an' don't want 'im tuh mess wit no othah wimmins de cloth whut dey connect wit, she ties dat on de springs of 'er bed, throw 'er mattress ovah it, an' he can't go wit nobody but 'er.
Entry 3480
Jes' lak yo' a man an' yo' wife wuz runnin' aroun' - jes' lak a man would run aroun'. Well, when he sleep, de woman could take a cord string an' measure de end of 'is thing an' tie it on de slat undah de bed slat, an' he couldn't mess wit nobody but 'er.
Entry 3481
Takes yo' a piece of string an' measure de root from de end up to yore stomach, an' take it an' tie it aroun' a li'le bottle an' set it up ovah yo' do. An' hit'll - a man can't have no othah woman but 'is ole lady.
(The woman would do this?)
Yes sir.
Entry 3482
She kin have him follahin' 'er. Take de seat of 'is underwear an' take an' cut 'er a di'mond out of dat - jes' cut a little place in de seat dat's in de shape of a di'mond. She'll have a connection wit 'i an' git some of 'is discharge an' roll it real tight in dat di'mond dat she cut. Take a little piece of 'is hair an' bind it aroun' dere, take a new thread an' bind it - jes' wrap it aroun' dere an' place it in 'er shoe. She tear de linin' in 'er shoe to git in dere. An' he'll stick aroun' 'er lak baby sticks aroun' 'is mothah when he wants a tit. He won't leave 'er. Sometime I believe my ole lady got me dat way. Yes siree, he ain't goin' aftah nobody an' she can't drive him away.
Entry 3483
If he an' 'er could have dealings, den she would take a rag an' she would let 'im wipe wit it mostly. Den she take an' tie it up, or seal it in some kin'a sealed bag, an' put it up ovah de do' dat goes into her room so he kin walk undah it, walk in undah it, an' den dat would fix 'im where he couldn't do nuthin wit nobody but 'er. When he go to go wit othah women, why it would fall.
Entry 3484
Jes' lak now if yo' wanta keep 'im an' yo' have a intahco'se wit 'im, jes' lak yo' mess up wit 'im, why yo' git chure han'scheff yo' know an' git dat [semen] an' tie it in de cornah of de han'- sheff an' bury dat undah yore do'step. An' see, dey can't leave but so fur, dey can't go outa town or nuthin, until yo' git ready tuh go yoreself, ah reckon.
Entry 3485
If a man leaves yo' an' yo' wants 'im back, de thing about it, yo'll have tuh git in wit 'im an' go tuh bed wit 'im, undahstan'. Well, if yo' go tuh bed wit 'im one time, yo' could buy a halfa yard of yellah homespun cloth an' aftah yo'all finish whut chure doin', yo' kin jes' stick dat yellah home- spun, dat halfa yard of yellah homespun an' wipe him down wit it three times. Yo' undahstand me, wipe him down three times an' git a thin [well-worn] dime from 'im. An' take yore time, take dat yellah homespun cloth to de cornah an' double it. Evah time yo' fold it, fold it towards yo'. An' git a piece of thread an' tie dat an' bury it at chure do'steps. He come right on, straight on back tuh yo'.
(You put that little dime in the corner of this cloth and keep folding it up.)
Towards yo' evah time. [This woman spoke in a whisper all through interview.]
Entry 3486
Dere's several diff'ren' ways about dat. Dere's such a thing as a woman takin' a gartah dat she wears 'erself, an' if she kin measure de man wit it, she will tie it in a knot; an' as long as dat knot is tied in 'er gartah an' she keeps it anywhere on 'er body, all de nature dat he has for any person is gone. (I see. You said they just take either garter?) Eithah one of 'em, jes' so it's somepin she person'ly wears. An' as long as she keeps dat gartah wit dat knot in dere, she kin trust 'im any- where in de world.
Entry 3487
Jes' lak yo' have a sweetheart an' yo' wanta hold 'im, well yo' take some bran'-new pins dat nevah been used, an' yo' fix dem haid an' haid [tail], but dey must be even, see. (You mean one goes this way [I demonstrate] and one goes that way - they alternate.)
[Informant misunderstands alternate, a word I should not have used.]
Yes sir, dat's right. Yo' have a connection wit chure frien'.
(How many of those pins do you use?)
Yo' make a gartah of dose. An' yo' fix 'em de haid an' haid - lak de stuck right on de haid - dey can't stick yo', see. An' yo' take dis string an' yo' measure him while he's asleep an' yo take dat. Well, when he have connection wit chew, YO' DON'T HAVE NO 'MUNICATE [COMMUNICATION] WIT 'IM BUT HE JES' HAVE ONE WIT CHEW. Well yo'wrap dat roun' an' yo' ketch dat. Well, now yo' nuse [use] dat fo' a gartah, tie it roun' yore laig. He can't have nobody else but chew.
(What do you put those pins in?)
In dat gartah. (In this piece of cloth that you make the garter with, you put those pins in there after you wipe him? And then you make that garter and you wear it?) Yes.
Entry 3488
I've heard that a woman could measure a man while he's asleep and tie that string around her leg and wear it for three weeks; then take the same string and burn it, and take the chars from the string and put them in an envelope, and seal it and write his name on it, and put it under her pillow. And he wouldn't have any use for any other girl.
Entry 3489
Take a little grain of hair off 'im an' put a little bit of dat stuff wit it - a little bit of dat stuff, yo' know lak yo' mate togethah, an' tie it up an' make him come back. (You tie it up. What do you do with it then?) Put it roun' yore waist.
Entry 3490
Well, usely [usually] when a man don't want 'is wife to be in service to anothah man, or a woman don't want 'er husban' to be of service to anothah woman, well usely when dey go in an' have a intahco'se, she'll take a han'ke'chuf. De han'ke'chuf dat she use, why she'll tie a knot in it, an' when she ties dat knot in dere, if he don't know about it - ah don't care who he goes wit, why it won't do him any good.
(What does she do with that handkerchief after she ties the knot?)
She don't do anythin' wit it, jes' tied it an' let it stay in dere. Long as dat knot stays in dere, why he's no good - no one but [to] her.
Entry 3491
De way yo' do tuh stop 'im is to have intahco'se wit each othah an' take a bran'-new pocket han'ke'chuf an' yo' use it fo' yo' dry cloth. Dey say yo' take dat an' yo' tie it up in a knot, an' yo' kin hide it anywhere about chure home an' dat will keep yo' [him]. Or, eithah - some people say yo' kin take a dishrag an' dat would keep 'im from havin' intahco'se wit anybody else except yo'self.
Entry 3492
He kin 'eep 'er from havin' any man in de world while he's gone.
(How does he do that?)
He take, go to bed wit 'er - see, intahco'se wit 'er. Jes' go an' git a bran'-new white linen han'ke'chuf an' don't let 'er use no towel lak she been or'nary [ordinary] usin'. She say, "Well, Baby," say, "I ain't got nuthin in de bed." Yo' say, "Well, here mah Pocket han'ke'chuf." Yo' take dat pocket han'kechuf, see, an' use hit. Yo' see. Don't let 'er use it on yo'. She use it on 'erself. All right. An' den yo' take dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' yo' go to de north cornah of de house, an' yo' dig a hole eight inches in de groun'. An' yo' git some of dat last dirt yo' got out dere an' tie hit up in dat pocket han'ke'chuf. An' yo' bring dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' yo' put it undah de doorstep befo' yo' leave, an' let 'er walk over it two days, two nights. An' dat last night dat yo' stay wit 'er, yo' take it an' put it undah 'er head. An' she sleep on it but she don't know it. An' den when yo' git up dat mawnin' when yo' leavin', yo' take dat pocket han'ke'- chuf - yo' take dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' carry it on wit chah. An' evah man dat she - yo' see, she might try to have some man but she can't have 'em. She'll turn wrong side out wit 'em, yo' see. She can't [take] dat man, she'll turn out. Dat ties 'er. Dat ties 'er, she can't intahco'se, yo' see.
(But what happens to her?)
Yo' see, dat makes 'er turn out - yo' see.
(Turm out?)
Turn out. Evah time a man start foolin', it hurt 'er yo' see. She'll tell 'em, say, "Gee [something]." See, ah'm got her fixed, yo' see. She can't stan fo' nobody to mess wit 'er. She can't stand it. She can't stand it to have no Dan, yo' see. Dat's got 'er fixed where she can't - she tied up. She ain't got Do int'rest fo' no man. Yo' see, won't have none. She don't want nobody but choo, yo' see.
Entry 3493
Ah've heard dat chew kin take a cord string an' measure de man an' tie a lnot in de centah, an' de woman could tell aftah he had gone out. She could tell aftah he'd leaver [leave her] where he wuz tryin' to have a connection wit dis woman. Dey said dis knot, why she could tie it as tight as she could, but it would loosen. She could tell if he tried, bat he couldn't have dis woman.
(That is, if he were trying, this knot would get loose in the string?)
Git loose in de string. See, she would keep de string dat she measure. She beasured de length of 'im an' den she'd tie a knot in de centah of de string. An' if he goes, wherevah he goes, de minute dat he'd try to have de woman, why dis knot would loosen. An' dat's why - or how she could tell whut he wuz doin'.
Entry 3494
When he's layin' asleep take an' measure his privates wit a cord. Take de length of it an' take de roun' of it. An' take it an' tie a knot dere on it an' wear it aroun' 'er below 'er knee. An' dat will stop 'im from runnin' aftah othah women.
Entry 3495
Ah tried dis mahself, yo' know. Now, havin' a intahco'se, yo' takes string, any- ching dat be's long enough an' measure hisself to de...
(You measure him?)
Yeah, wit de string. An' yo' take dis string an' wear it up above yore knee, an' he kin not have anothah person, no othah one but yo'.
Entry 3496
If yo' wanted 'im ag'in, yo' could take a piece of new yellah domestic an' use de intahco'se, use it nine times, an' take an' cut out a piece about as big as a quarter [25 cent piece] an' put it in yore left-foot shoe an' wear it in dere, an' yo'll come tuh conker 'im lak yo' want 'im, if yo' wanted 'im. Yo' could take, say fo' in- stance - yo' could take a piece of cloth an' nuse [use] it an' tie a love knot in it. Take a teaspoon fulla sugan an' put in dere an' tie a love knot an' put it in yore mattress, an' dat'll make him be closer to yo' an' no one else.
(What kind of cloth do you take did you say?)
Yallah domestic - new, dat nevah been nused. An' yo' nuse dat nine times, an' when yo' have it, YO' NOT SUPPOSED TUH HAVE NO INTAHCO'SE WIT 'IM YO'SELF, YO' KETCH HIS'N. An' den yo' take an' put hit undah yore bed in yore mattress where yo' sleep on it. An' dat'll make him close to yo'. De man kin do it if he wants a woman. He kin take his new pocket han'ke'chuf an' nuse dat, han'ke'chuf dat ain't nevah been used, an' take it an' nuse it all de time an' tote it in 'is pocket, an' dat woman, she cain't have nuthin tuh do wit nobody but 'im.
(How does he use that handkerchief?)
He jes' nuse it in wipin' 'isself. See, it's a bran'-new han'ke'chuf, a white linen han'ke'chuf dat ain't nevah been nused. An' he take dat han'ke'chuf, see she jes' ain't payin' no 'tenshun, he jes' take, yo' know, an' dry hisself off. An' den he take an' put it in 'is pocket an' wear it.
Entry 3497
Now, it's somepin how to make a person cold towards de othah one, cold towards evahone. Yo' go git chew a piece of new cloth, linen cloth, white cloth, 18 x 18 inches, an' yo'hem dat. An dis pahtic'lah person dat chure inter- sted in, yo' wan'a use dem - yo' use dat, yo' see. Yo' put it out an' let it dry an' den yo' tie dat as ah tole yo' about de dishrag. "Membah me tellin' yo' 'bout de dishrag? [Informant's material had been badly recorded several days before, she is now repeating.]
(Yes, but you better tell it over.)
Well, but dis doesn't go wit dat, dis is diff'ren' thing. Yo' use dat as yo' did dat, an' yo' tie de knot in it aftah yo' dry it, an' yo' stick dese points in lak yo' make a love knot, yo' know. Do it at twelve 'clock at night, if yo' have some person or frien' dat chew know is dead, yo go to dat grave of someone dat chew know dat have kept secrets fer yo'. Yo' stick yore han' down in dis grave wit a new dime. Yo' say, "Yo' have always been a friend to me, indeed an' yo' have always kept mah secrets. Now dis is one thing ah want chew to keep always, an' ah want chew to keep dis person evah near me an' no one else." An' yo' bury dis wit dat there person.
(The handkerchief you bury there?)
Dat's right, an' dis person will remain cold to evahone except yo'. Dat new dime, yo' pay 'em fer keepin' de secret.
(Where do you put that new dime?)
Right where, yo' know, where yo' dig de place to bury dat - de silvah, an' not two nickels but a dime.
Entry 3498
All right, dey tell me dat when yo' have intahco'se wit 'er, dat she could take a piece of new cloth of any kind an' use it an' let chew use it, den could take it an' tie it in a little knot, ball it up an' put it undah de mattress right undah yore haid, dat chew will nevah go out any mo'.
(With other women?)
Yes sir.
Entry 3499
Tuh make yore man love yo', ah tell yo' whut chew do. Yo' go tuh bed wit 'im an' yo' git chew a bran'-new white pocket han'ke'chuf dat has nevah been used. Well, yo' have a intahco'se wit 'im, yo' know. Well, yo' git up an' yo' have yo' a bottle of olive oil an' yo' git chew a bottle of oil of cin- namon. Yo' take it - yo' know, don't let 'em see yo' - drop 15 drops of oil of cinnamon in dat nasty spot, an' yo' drop 15 drops of oil of olive oil. Den yo' take dat an' yo' tie it aroun' yore laig, an' yo' wear it aroun' yore laig three days, an' if he hasn't been comin', he will come an' cain't quit comin'. He cain't quit comin' an' he'll bring all 'is money home, an' he'll give it to yo'. He'll be good to yo' when yo' do dat.
(You tie that around either leg?)
No, one laig, de right laig.
Entry 3500
She be wit 'im an' she jis' takes, yo' know, his discharge [on a cloth] an' she folds it up or ties it up [which makes the 1 knot] an' wears it in 'er right-foot shoe; an' [or] she'll take some of 'er, yo' know, her period, an' she feeds 'im dat; or eithah some of 'er water an' give him dat. Dat breaks 'em up.
(That breaks him up with this other girl, you say.)
An' [or] take some of 'is hair an' put it in a bottle an' keep it wit 'er. Dat breaks 'em up.
Entry 3501
He have a intahco'se wit 'er an' she take a piece of new cloth an' take bis come on dat an' tie it in dat new cloth an' den she bury it undah de steps, an' when he steps ovah it three times, she take an' carry it to de cemetery an' bury it in de cemetery, an' den he be tied to her an' he Can't have anothah woman tuh save his life. IF SHE'D DIE AN' LEAVE HIM LAK DAT, BE CAN'T HAVE ANOTHAH WOMAN [see 1039, p.396]. Ah've seen dat done.
Entry 3502
Ah know dat chew kin take a rag when yo' have intahco'se wit 'em, an ulpe 'im an' bring it towards yo', an' tie it up an' put it in de middle of yore bed undah de mattress, an' dey can't go wit nobody else but chew. (What do you mean by bringing the rag toward you?) Yo' wipe it, his thing, towards yo' an' den ball it up dght in a hard knot, an' den put it in de middle of de mattress up undah de bed, an' he can't go wit nobody else. [The middle of the mattress and its 4 corners are the 5 points of a quincunx, see p.710 and many places in HOODOO.]
Entry 3503
Gittin' a woman down - ah mean down in mah part of de country, down dis side [southeastern Atlantic coast] down heah, ah'm goin' tell yo' whut dey does. See, go to yo'self an' want action an' all, don't tell 'em 'bout no othah man atall. Jes' look 'em in de eyes an' tell 'em, an' ah tell yo', if she'd make a date wit chew, yo' take a bran'-new pocket han'ke'ch'ef an' use dat fo' de rag. De man will carry de han'- ke'ch'ef off, he carry de han'ke'- ch'ef off 'er an' tie it roun' in a knot, turn it in a knot an' put it up ovah de do', anywhere ovah de do'. Or tie it in a green tree. Dat be all de got'a do. Be wit nobody but chew. De man do dat, yes sir.
(Over the door or where?)
Ovah de do' or tie it on a green tree. If yo' git to a little green tree dat's slindah enough in de woods, kin draw it roun' dere, draw it in tight dis way. Git a new pocket han'ke'ch'ef, one ain't not been used.
Entry 3504
Ah heard dat once it wuz a man, yo' know he'd run about, he wouldn't stay home wit 'is wife aftah dey ma-ied [married]. He run all about at' [after] othah 'umens [women], yo' know. He'd come in twelve a'clock, one a'clock, two a'clock, three a'clock, an' sometime de nex' mawnin'. So dis 'uman ['oman = woman] she git tied [tired] of it. An' so she didn't wan'a, yo' know, kill she 'usban', so she jis' wait till she an' he vent [went] tuh baid, yo' see. An' den, aftah dey vent tuh baid an' he git on dis lady, yo' see, an' he vent tuh doin' somepin wit 'er, yo undahstan' me, vy [why] she jis' take de thing dat, choo know - if I wan'a say a - she take 'is dick, yo' see, an' wipe it on huh undahcoat - undahcloz [under- clothes] yo' see, so he couldn't, yo' know, git up any courage fuh nobody else den but huh. An' so dat [remedy] wuz tole huh he'd haf to stay home, see. She jis' put it on huh undahcoat, joo see. An' den, aftah ven [when] he gone off, he gone tuh verk sometäme [sometime], an' she jis' take it de undahcoat, an' jis' cut dat piece off, yo' see, bǒl [ball] it up an' put it on a long string, an' put it aroun' she waist. It res' [rested], yo' know, on she [her] necked [naked] meat, hangin' down on de right side.
Entry 3505
Ah know dis is true. Yo' kin go tuh work an' yo' kin fix dat man in a way dat he cain't have no dealings wit no othah woman. Jis' git chew a string an' measure him an' tie it aroun' yore waist [this is tying 1 knot in string] an he kin go on any othah woman he wan'a, but he cain't have no dealin's wit 'er. Come back home an' he's all right wit 'er [his wife or woman.]
Entry 3506
(What will she do?)
Take de cloth dat she use an' be sure dat she gits it. She goin' to cut it out, de piece of it out while it's damp, an' she know what she got. An' she'll put it on a belt or somepin an' jis' wear it aroun' 'er waist. Dat tie him to her. Evah time he go to go wit any othah woman, as long as she get dat piece on 'er, he can't. If he's ready, why he soon become unready befo' he kin do any- thing.
Entry 3507
" If yo' wanta person tuh love yo', yo' kin git 'em. Yo' kin buy yo' a piece of white cloth [therefore it is new] an' jes' lak if yo' have a dat wit dis person, whenevah yo' git through wiping wit it, an' take it an' wear it. Tie it aroun' yore waist an' wear it. Dat'll make 'em love yo'. [The tying about waist is the one knot.]
Entry 3508
All right, chew take a white had- ke'chuf an' jes' lak a man an' a woman is - urinate togethah [see later], well yo' take de urinate an' tie it in de middle of de han'ke'chuf, tie it in a hard knot an' den yo' wet it evah mawnin' fo' nine - wit watah fo' nine mawnin' an' keep it in de hot sun.
(What will that do?)
Dat makes [them] love yo' an' dey can't git rid of yo'.
[URINATE USUALLY MEANS URINE BUT NOT ALWAYS.]
(You don't use their urine, do you?)
Yes suh, dat's whut ah mean.
(How do you mean that?)
Jes' lak if dey go wid yo', yo' jes' take dere urinate an' jes' tie it in de middle of a han'ke'chuf. (WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THEIR URINATE? DO YOU MEAN THEIR PEE WATER OR WHAT?) No sir, dey come. (You mean the other stuff [semen from man] that comes out.)
Entry 3509
Well, if it's a man - if a woman wanta trick a man where he can't have anyone else. Well, she have intahco'se wit 'im an' den she use a cloth, she dries 'im. She takes de cloth an' she folds it see, an' ties it an' she wear dat as she would a sanitary piece, see. An' quite natch'l [natural] he'll come in an' he'll raise, until he git ready tuh git in de baid. When he git in de baid an' git tuh crawl on dis woman, it will fall. [Sumter, S. Car. (1364), 2405:8.]