Browse:DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD (Volume 4, entries 7516–8059)/Part 2
DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD
Volume 4, entries 7516–8059. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 7596
Hear'd 'em says graveyard dirt at fō' 'clock, if yo' go dere. Jes' lak yo' - now yo' [the boss] got a job an' ah wanta git mō' salary. Ah might ast fo mo': salary an' yo' make out lak yo' don' wanta give it tuh me. An' yo's de boss. An' if ah kin git - co'se ah do' [don't] nevah do dat - an' run yore arms down jes' as fur as yo' kin. It don' make any diff'r- ence - some folks say dey be gun folks [evil person who carried a gun}, but it doa' make any diff'rence. Yo' run yore han's down jes' as fur as yo' kin reach lak dat down in de middle of de grave, from de haid tuh 'bout de middle of de grave an' git it. An' git some of dat on 'im [the boss] somehow a [or] 'nothah, why den he mo' 'en apt tuh raise yo' pay an' yo' all be good friends.
Entry 7597
Dey kin do mos' anythin' wit it, such as hurtin' a person. Yuh kin take graveyard dirt an' yuh kin cuz a person tuh - if yuh don' wan' 'im tuh stay dere - yuh kin cuz 'im tuh move tuh diff'ren' othah places. But yuh mus' go tuh de graveyard soon in de morning befo' de risin' of de sun, an' git de dirt an' cast it in de direction dat de person lives. An' if yuh cast it in de direction dat de individual live, why - an' say some portion of de Bible, some po'tion [portion] of it. Den he will move immediately.
(Did you say any portion or any particular portion?)
Jes' any po'tion of de Bible - don' make any diff'rence, jis' any po'tion of de Bible tuh drive away mos' anythin' wit graveyard dirt.
Entry 7598
Dere's lotsa people always say dat if yuh go tuh de graveyard 'long about - well, 'fo' [before] day in de mawnin' an' dig down right about de heart of de person, right about de breast of de person, dig down way down deep intuh de grave an' git de graveyard dirt, no doubt, an' put it in yore shoes or wrap it in a rag an' tote it in yore pocket, dey always say - dat anothah sayin' - dat is good luck fo' gamblin' also.
Entry 7599
"Fore sunrise in de mawnin' yo' kin go. tuh de graveyard an' take a pen- ny an' put it in de centah of dat grave. An' run yore han' down dere an' take up some of dat dirt, In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost. An' yo' kin bring it back tuh dat person house dat chew wanta run away. an' sprinkle it all roun' dere house. In de Name of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost, an' dash it an' don't look back.
(That will run them away?)
Dat'll run 'em away.
Entry 7600
Dey say - some dey buy thin's tuh make yuh move. Some, dey go in de graveyard an' git thin's tuh make yuh move. Yuh supposed tuh go in de grave yard - now dis is one ah'm gona tell yuh. Yuh supposed tuh go in de graveyard at noon of de day, reach down intuh de bosom [of] any grave dat chew kin reach down, an' git a han'ful of dirt down tuh which yuh think would be tuh de body of dat person, or neahest [nearest] dere heart as yuh could git. Yuh take dat dirt out, den yuh put in two or three pennies. Tell dem dat chew didn't come tuh beg nor tuh borrah [bor- row] yore way, but chew payin' yore Way tuh make such an' such a party move - put 'em tuh movin'. Den yuh place dose pennies in dere an' shut dat hole up. Yuh take dat dirt an' take it home. Put some salt wit dat dirt an' de name of de party an' sprinkle it wherevah dat person is. Dey tell me dat dey can't stay dere.
Entry 7601
[Among the many graveyard-dirt rites in Hoodoo, here we have a rare and unusual one, my only example of it - see my comment at the end of rite.] When yuh go tuh de graveyard in de aftahnoon tuh git dis dirt, yuh have tuh go at sundown, see. An' when yuh go at sundown, yuh have tuh git middleways of dis person. Middleways is the center or fifth point of the four-pointed or four- cornered grave, which makes a quincunx.] Git dis dirt an' yuh put a nickel [or] dime down. An' when yuh put de nickel down dere yuh git de dirt, yuh payin"en fo' de dirt. An' if yuh vanta run anybody away, yuh git dis dirt an' walk on back tuh dere house. Sprinkle dis dirt all de way roum' dere house [the rite of circumambulation]. An' aftah yuh sprinkle dis dirt all de way roun' dere house, yuh turn off an' walk sideways an' walk on back tuh de street. [Somewhere in Hoodoo I have explained why a person walks sideways, if he has en- closed himself within a circle.] An' aftah yuh git tuh de street yuh go hone. An' den aftah yuh go home, den yuh throw some of dis dirt roun' yore do' an' dey'll leave. Dey can't stay roun'.
[Our informant says sprinkle dis dirt all de way roun' dere [[victim's]]
house. This means the graveyard-dirt sprinkler goes completely round the house. Here we have a rite of circumambulation, also a circle of graveyard dirt about the house. As soon as the dweller within passes over the graveyard dirt, he will be driven permanently from house and perhaps town. But the sprinkler himself has trouble. He is inside the graveyard-dirt circle! If he walks out of the circle, crossing the dirt, he breaks his spell against the dweller; moreover, the spell automatically turms back upon the sprinkler, who now will be chased by the spirit! Our sprinkler solves his problem with a magic rite I have never recorded or met before. He proceeds neither forwards nor backwards; he sidles sideways. If sprinkler moves forwards or backwards across the dirt, at some point of each step his legs and feet pass and are at the moment of passing in a straight line. In an instant the spirit pounces upon him! But if sprinkler slides his right foot sideways to the right, then his left foot sideways to the right, not letting left foot touch right, then legs and feet are never in a straight line. He always presents to the waiting spirit only one half of his body at each step. The spirit is tricked! Why does sprinkler on reaching home sprinkle some of the same graveyard dirt at his own door? Graveyard dirt is a protective device against a possible call from departing victim and chasing spirit.]
Entry 7602
Den it's de las' one ah know - pahtic'ly [particularly] good, yo' see. Ah wanta tell yo' sompin whut ah done experienced mahself. Now, if yo' goin' off anywhere an' yo' goin' wit some mean folks, befo' yo' go, yo' goes yo' knows people at de cemetery becuz mos' any cemetery - people dat lives in a city or anywhere dey come tuh know somebody dat buried in a cemetery. Yo' goes dere first dark an' yo' carry one penny wit chew. An' yo' goes right tuh de head of 'is grave an yo' call 'im three times, yo' say, "So-an'-so, So-an'-so, [So-an'-so], ah come fo' some of yore dust, an' ah goin' pay yo' fo' it." See, an' yo' take it right off 'is breast right heah [demonstrates]. (Right off the middle of his breast.). An' yo' stick dat penny down an' - stick dat penny way down fur as yo' kin git it. Den yo' take dat dirt an' put it in whut chew wanta put it in [the container unimportant here], an' covah dat grave back up.
(What do you do with that dirt after you get it?)
Yo' kin take dat dirt an' yo' jis' kin sew it up in a red flannen or any piece of brand-new - yo' gotta sew it up in a brand-new piece of cloth, not no cloth dat been used. Jis' go an' git a nickel worth of some kinda cloth, an' sew dat dirt up in dere good an' yo' totes it. [This becomes a hand.] An' about once a week, yo' take a little bit of dis ten-cent cologne, yo' know, an' yo' puts on it [you feed it], an' yo' totes it in yore pocket. An' yo' kin go anywhere in any crowd of mean people, dey won't say a word tuh yo', an' yo' git 'long jis' as good as yo' want tuh.
Entry 7603
Ah say yuh kin [go] tuh de grave- yard an' git some graveyard dirt an' gun- powdah an' sprinkle it roun' dere place. An' if dey git [dirt] comin' from de head, dat takes 'em from de house; but if dey git it comin' tuh de house, dat brings yuh dere.
(Get what coming from the head?)
De dirt.
(What dirt?)
Ah say, tuh make a person move sometime yuh goes out dere an' git dat dirt an' sprinkle it roun' wit gunpowdah. Dat makes a person restless an' give 'em a mind tuh go, not tuh stay.
(You said something about nine days, didn't you?)
Yes, nine days aftah de party's buried. Yeah, nine days yuh go dere an' git it right out de chest. Den yuh kin go dere an' git it an' put it in a pile of chips. Put it in a pile of [wood] chips an' [if your victim] go dere an' rake dem chips up an' put 'em in de fire, yuh [the victim] liable tuh ketch afire an' burn tuh death. (If someone wants to do you that harm, they sprinkle this in the chips and you are liable to burn.)
Entry 7604
Yuh kin [go] tuh de graveyard three or nine or fifteen days aftah any- body is dead, an' git some of dat graveyard dust, if yuh wanta harm anybody or kill 'em. Yuh dig a square hole [or oblong one, both a grave sym- bol] an' put dat dirt in it, an' take dis little bo'd an' covah dat hole up, an den put some othah dirt on top of dat, an' dey really got chah.
(Where do you put that dirt, this graveyard dirt?)
Well, yuh kin put neah tuh de do' - tuh de front do', or tuh de back do', or any de alley [gallery?], any place where dey gotta walk at, an' yuh know dey've gotta walk across it.
conditional intent to harm or kill in a described account. The source expresses conditional intended harm; no actual injury, target identity or perpetration is established. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 7605
An' den dey say, if yuh wanta run a person, tuh take some dirt out from undah dere steps, an' go tuh de cemetery an' go tuh a sinnah's grave. Dat's whut ah heard. Ah haven't tried dis one, 'twuz told. People have been to folks [doc- tors, fortunetellers, etc.] lak dat. Go tuh de cemetery an' go tuh a sinnah's grave, an' go tuh de breast an' run yore han' down in de grave, as far as yuh kin git chure han' down in dat grave. Take up a han'fulla dirt outa dere an' den yuh pay dat daid a penny. Put it down in dere, say, "Now, ah'm payin' yuh fo'dis." Take dat dirt an' bring it roun' de house an' dat dirt from undah de steps. Take dat dirt an' put it intuh a cloth an' sew it into somepin. Dis box an' dat dirt will drive dat person away from dere. (Do you put that graveyard dirt and this dirt from under the steps into the same box?) Intuh de same box.
(Then what do you do with that box?)
Yuh take dat box - yuh put it in a box or eithah sew it up. Wear it aroun' yuh. Dat drives a person away from yuh, too. Dat's whut ah was told. Ah've nevah tried dat.
Entry 7606
Well, yo' go tuh de graveyard roun' about twelve a'clock at night tuh some sinnah's grave or murdahah have been killed [or executed] an' on de side de heart's on yuh put a penny down dere an' git a handful of dat dirt. An' while yo' gittin' yo' usin' a oath. An' yo' bring it back tuh de house an' take it an' put chew salt an' peppah an' sulphur in it an' yuh keep it. Put it in a jar an' anybody dat chew don't like or wheresomevah yo' go at an' yo' wanta start I confusion, yo' Jes' take dat 'long wit chew an' jes' sprinkle it all aroun' as yo' go. Dat will certainly cuz confusion wit yore enemies.
Entry 7607
Take dat penny an' put it in de graveyard. Yuh go dere at twelve clock at night, yuh [dig] undah an' take dat penny an' put it in, bury it an' let it stay dere fo' 24 hours. Twelve clock yuh go dere an' git it up. An' den when yuh take de penny, whut chew wanna do wit de penny, whatevah way yuh wanta treat de person, if yuh wanta treat 'em good or treat 'em bad, why yuh turn dat penny tuh de east, ran de haid of it tuh de east, see. An' dat fellah will come tuh be successful. An' if yuh turn it to de west, he'll go down.
(Well, does it happen to know that you are getting the right fellow?)
Well, yuh know. Yuh know de fellah yuh aftah [intention]. Yuh already know de fellah yuh aftah. (After you go out there and get this penny: for good luck I turn this penny to the east, or for bad luck I turn it to the west.) Dat's right.
(Well, do I do that at any particular time of the day?)
No sir, twelve.clock at night. Yuh go dere an' put it down at twelve clock at night, an' den yuh go dere an' git it up at twelve clock at night [24 hours later].
Entry 7608
Whut dey do tuh keep de law away from de house is dis. Dey git dis dirt, see, de graveyard dirt, but dey git it from a wicked spirit, see. An' aftah dey git dis dirt, well den dey'll put de same ingredients tuh it, see. An' if dey sprinkle dat dirt aroun' de house from time tuh time, well den if amybody wants tuh come or somepin, well if dey step ovah it, well dey can't come in.
(I see. That keeps the law away?)
Yes.
(What do you mean they get this dirt from a wicked spirit?)
Well, dey git in - like if a person got killed. Yuh know, a wicked person git killed or somepin like dat an' den dey go tuh de grave an' dey pay 'em so much an' dey git dat dirt.
(What would they pay as a rule?)
Dey pay eithah one cent or two cents.
(Where do they put that?)
Dey put dat on de body of de person. Dey dig a hole an' dey git so much dirt from dat hole dat dey put dat penny in, an' dey tell dat person whut dey wan' 'im tuh do an' den dey go away.
(What ingredients do they put with -that dirt before they use it?)
Dey put de same red peppah see, an' dey put de gunpowdah too.
(Was there something else in that ingredient that you mentioned before?)
Dey use a spice if dey wan' chew tuh love 'em, or tuh keep 'em.
Entry 7609
You go into a graveyard and take two pennies, and dig in a grave and take the dirt out of the grave. And take these two pennies and put them down in the hole and close it. And they can walk behind you and take this dirt and throw it up and down your back. And they work the trick right on you. And you'll go off in bad health and you are going to come on back [as a corpse] to the graveyard. [Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 7610
Yuh takes yo' two pennies, jis' lak now. It's diff'rent thin's tuh make a person move. Lak yuh say, "Ah want So-an'-so tuh move." Well, ah go dere at night an' give dat dead dose two pennies an' jis' as fur as ah kin go in dat dirt. Well, ah goes back an' dress dat house. Dose people can't stay dere cuz dose spirit worryin' 'em. It'll make 'em move.
Entry 7611
Ah learn of it. If dey git some of yore hair or dey jis' only git dat dirt right out de centah of dere yard. Ah learned tuh hear whut ah'm talkin' 'bout. Yuh git de dirt right out de yard, but yuh says a few words yuh know In de Name of de Lord an' yuh'll take dat dirt up an' yuh'll wrap dat hair in it. An' when yuh wrap dat hair in it an' wear dat, yuh would put a little bit of eatin' salt in it, an' den yuh'll work dat. An' yuh git, no doubt- sometime ah hear 'em say yuh git graveyard dirt, but den yuh'll git a wicked per- son. An' yuh'll take jis' de least of dat dirt but yuh'll pay dat graveyard-man who dead. Yuh [must] know 'im. An' yuh'll take a little bit of it an' yuh'll give him two cents. An' yuh run yore han' in de body of it - yuh know, de grave. An' den yuh'll mix dem two thin's tuhgethah, an' den yuh'll wrop 'em tight an' tie 'em tight, an' den yuh bury it. Dat's whut ah learned about it.
(What will that do then?)
Well, yuh jis' only bury it an' yuh jis' tell it whut chew want it tuh do - jis' lak yuh's talkin' tuh me. Yuh'll tell it whut chew wan' it [to] do jis' befo' yuh bury it doWn. Dat's harmin' 'em. DAT DEAD PERSON WILL FOLLAH YUH AN' DAT GIVE YUH A AGONOUS [agOnizing] CONDITION. (You take some hair from a person's head and some of this dirt from the grave- yard?) Yessuh, an' a lil' bit [of dirt] out of yore yard. (Now for example, suppose I wanted to harm you, I would get some of your hair, but I would take the dirt out of my own yard?) Out yore own yard, and... (And then some dirt out of the graveyard. And then I would mix this stuff all up and talk with it, and then I would bury it some place?) Dat's right. Tie it tight wit a raw cotton thread.
(And that would harm you?)
Harm me.
(Well, what would it do to you?)
Well, lotsa time it's 'cordin' tuh whut chew say tuh it. It'll rum me crazy, it'll always keep me mindless, an' den it'll keep me ill all de tize.
Entry 7612
A man can use graveyard dirt in sprinklin' or fo' travelin'. Fo' in- stance if a person wus in de house an' ah want 'em tuh leave. Ah go tuh de graveyard an' ah carry three pennies, an' ah would dig down tuh Mah elbow an' say tuh de grave, "Ah will pay yuh fo' dis dirt when ah return, an' ah wan' chew take care of dis money until ah come back." An' whut chew wan'a do until yuh come back, dat spirit is always waitin' fo' yuh, fo' yuh promise tuh come back. An' wherevah yuh carry dat, why dat person is gotta move. Yuh jis' spread dat in de yard or on de steps or where dey carry it intuh de house. If anybody walk on it, why it's quite natchel [natural] some of it will be on dey feet.
Entry 7613
They take a little graveyard dirt, gather it just like I explained an' [I interrupt].
(With the three pennies, you mean?)
Yes sir, and a little cat manure and they mix that up together and you put it anywheres around in de yard - where the're [they are] bound to step into it, and they will be in one of the worst lucks they'll ever Wanta be in all their life. They will always be desti- tute for everything.
Entry 7614
Ah heard dat chew kin take graveyard dirt. Yo' must dig roun' about de length of yore arm. Yo' must drop three pennies in dere wit dat. See, an' leave it dere an' say de Lord's Prayah. An' whutsomevah yo' want. chew git it. (What do you do with that dirt?) Yo' brings a li'le up wit chew. All right, chew bring a li'le dirt up wit chew, but chew gotta say de Lord's Prayah when yo' bring dis dirt up. All right, yo' takes dat dirt, yo' puts it in a envelope an' yo' sends it tuh de guy dat chew wan' tuh have. If he's in state prison, he must be free.
Entry 7615
If it a lettah dat dey wrote, take it tuh de graveyard. An' yuh know de person dat whom is buried dere, an' talk tuh de daid. An' bury it in dere an' ast - put three pennies dere, pay 'em, says, "Take keer of dis in de situation of bringin' 'im home, "' or 'harmin' him." Eithah way, kin use it eithah way, see. Yuh kin talk to de daid an' tell it jis' whut chew want; eithah tuh harm 'em or to run yuh 'way or bring yuh home.
Entry 7616
Go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt. Change de haid an' footbo'ds from a graveyard. Put two pennies tuh de haid when yuh change it, an' two tuh de foot when yuh change it, an' take dat haidbo'd ap' stick it down where dose [pennies are] on a wicked man's grave. An git some of dat dirt an' bring it back an' sprinkle it roun' dere do'step. Or if yuh git a chance tuh git in de house - lak some people yuh claim as a frien' - put it in de house. An' dat will keep dose frien's of yores.
(What do you mean you put the footboard and the headboard?)
Change it. (Just change them around. And you put them back the same way they came out, stick them right straight down in; but you put the pennies underneath before you put them down?) Dat's right.
Entry 7617
Wal, ef yuh know dere names, yuh kin take an' go tuh de graveyard an' Write dere initials an' carry yo' fo' pennies an' pay de dead. Whosomevah 'tis died, yuh know dere names. Yuh call dere names an' tell dem yuh want 'em tuh bring dese person back an', "Ah'm payin' yuh fo' pennies." Well, in less time den two months wheresomevah dey be at, dey will come back. (Where do you write the name of this person that stole the thing? Where do you write that name? Do you write that name on a piece of paper?) On a piece of paper.
Entry 7618
Ah heard 'em say dat yuh kin go tuh de graveyard - lak dat, if ah Wants tuh change mah luck - dat ah kin go tuh de cemetery an' dig right up on de right-hand side of de grave jis' about where ah think de heart oughta lay, an' dig a hole down deep an' git me out two han'fulla dirt. Bring it out. An' when ah git dis dirt, ask fo' luck - jis' ask of de dead fo' luck, an' drop from five tuh eight pennies in dat hole an' plug it up. An' when ah rise up from off mah knees, tuh thank 'em [a rare courtesy!], an' walk away an' don't look back. Well, ah take dis dirt an' carry it tuh mah house an' sprinkle it roun' dere, an' dey say dat will give me luck.
(That is to change your luck. In anything?)
In anything.
Entry 7619
(What do you know about graveyard dirt?)
Well, ah tell yuh, yuh kin take graveyard dirt - now, yuh kin go tuh de grave- yard jis' lak if yuh wanted tuh do anybody any harm. Well, yuh kin go dere. Well, yuh kin carry - it's a cert'in 'mount of pennies fo' yuh tuh carry, see. Well, yuh kin carry dem eight pennies an' yuh go tuh de haid of de person, see. Well, yuh ast dem fo' some of de dirt, see; an' tell 'em dat chew'll pay dem fo' it, see. Well, yuh drop dese pennies intuh de dirt right tuh de haid of dem, see. Den yuh take some of de dirt. Git some of de dirt an' put it in a papah an' yuh kin bring it on back home, see. Well, yuh kin take dat dirt an' jis' lak yuh go tuh a person's house, or yuh kin git someone tuh do it fo' yo'. Yuh kin go in dere an' sprinkle dat dirt roun' in dere, see. Well, it will cause dat whole room tuh git upstarted, see. Dere'll be fussin' an' fightin' an' goin' on until dey [man and woman] be separated, see.
Entry 7620
Dey - yuh take graveyard dirt, it will run anybody. Dey goes out an gits some graveyard dirt out of a grave an' put a nickel in dere where dey done got de dirt from, dat whut dey call payin' fo' it. An' dey go back an' go tuh dis person's house, an' take a little pepper, an' mix wit it, an' go dere an' make lak yuh talkin' tuh 'em, yuh know, an' sprinkle it roun' in dere house. Three days aftah dat, dem folks is ready tuh leave dere.
Entry 7621
Wal, dey learnt me dat if yuh wants tuh do any harm wit graveyard dirt, dat chew take ten cents [dime] an' go tuh a graveyard early in de amin' jis' befo' day, an' run yore han' down in dere jis' as deep as yuh kin. Have de dine in yore han' an' drop de dine dosn in. If yuh gu dem person name, yuh call dem name an' tell 'em yuh wants tuh buy a dime's wor' of dust an' do so- an'-so wit it. An' dey say when yuh git dat han'ful of dust, leave de dime dere an' take dat dust an' care [carry] it an' strike it round yore [victims] house. Jis' throw it roun' dey place of business.
(What will that do?)
Dey say that will run dem out or kill 'em, jis' whatsomevah dat yuh tell 'em
[the dead] tuh do - yuh wants tuh do wit it.
Entry 7622
Take some dimes an' git chew a little graveyard dust an' bury it undah de front dō'steps an' dat finely [finally] make 'em leave. Yessuh, some dimes an' wrap 'em up right tight in a rag, an' put some of dat dust dere an' bury it undah dat do'step. (What is the idea of putting the dimes, I wonder?) Well, dem dimes - see, dey stay dere so long ah guess, an' dey cankers, see, an' yo' know anything dat cankers will gen'ly [generally] make anything go 'way. [Is this the reason? Or is the rare case of payment for the dirt being kept with the dirt?]
Entry 7623
Well, dey tell me jis' lak if yo' have lots of enemies an' dey say if a mean person wus tuh die, dat chew go dere, out tuh dis graveyard, no one but chew, an' git some of dis dirt out an' give 'em - put 15c down in dere, say, "Here's 15c yo' kin have." An' say yo' takes dis dirt an' stan' up an' throw it in de house. Dey say dat would conquah yore enemies down.
(Whose house do you throw that in, your own house or the enemy's house?)
Tuh yore enemy's house but not let no one see yuh. Throw it an' let none of 'em see yuh, an' dat will conquah dem down.
Entry 7624
Now, if yo' wanta go tuh a cemetery, somebody daid dat chew know, take 25 cents 'long wit chew, tuh de haid of de grave an' push yore arm down as fur as yo' kin git it. An' leave dat quartah down dere an' bring up yore three fingers of dirt, an' take dat long wit chew. Dat'll give yo' luck. [Instead of picking up a pinch of dirt with two-fingers, thumb and index fin- ger, a method mentioned elsewhere, some other informant says pick it up with three fingers: thumb, index finger, and middle finger.]
(What do you do with that after you get it?)
Wrap it up in a piece of paper or a piece of brown cloth an' put it in yore pocket an' keeps dat 'long wit chew. Well, dat's one way tuh git chureself luck.
The informant describes paying a quarter at the head of a known deceased person's grave, taking three fingers of dirt and carrying it in paper or brown cloth for reported luck. Hyatt compares two-finger and three-finger collection methods, referencing another informant; that comparison remains editorial.
Entry 7625
Now, if yo' know of a wicked pusson dat dies, an' yo' wanta create confusion in a home - dis pusson if yo' know where his haid lies in 'is grave, yo' know where de ahms fold...
(Where the arms fold over.)
Sure, yo' reach yuh right han' down de length of yuh ahm, as fah as yo' kin reach, an' git out - jis' squeeze yuh hand up wit de dirt, all de dirt yo' kin draW Out. Den yo' TAKE A GLASS OF WHISKEY AN' SET IT DOWN AN' PAY 'IM FER DE DIRT AN' TELL 'IM, SAYS, "NOW, AH'M PAY- IN' YUH FER DIS DIRT." An' yo' take dat dirt an' throw it in de yard or in de home of de pusson dat chew Wanta create a disturbance, an' dey'111 continue tuh have a confusion dere as long as dis dirt remains.
(Do you put that dirt at any special time?)
Yes, yo' put it eithah at de goin' down or de risin' of de sun.
(Do you get that dirt from the grave at any particular time?)
Gen'ly at midnight.
The informant describes taking dirt from a deceased person's grave, paying with whiskey and casting it into a yard or home for reported conflict while the dirt remains. Collection is generally at midnight; placement is at sunrise or sunset. The capitalized payment formula is prescribed speech, and the interviewer's clarifications remain separate.
Entry 7626
Stickbo'rd tuh de haid of graveyard [grave]...when yo' goes dere. Yo'll have tuh go dere at twelve 'clock at night. Durin' de time of goin' dere yo'll have tuh pay de graveyard-man three cents an' a half a pint of whis- key. (Where do you put that stuff?) Yo' have tuh dig in de haid of 'is breast, an' dig dat out an' set de whis- key down in de centah of it, an' step across 'im three times - backwards like dat [demonstrates] come across, go across - go across - go across - an' den go back an' talk tuh 'im in dat hole whut chew want 'im tuh do.
(What do you do with the pennies?)
Right in dat same hole where yo' put de whiskey, an' den call 'im up an' bring some of dat stuff away, out de hole, an' put it in a bottle. An' den he'll work fer yuh, do jis' whut chew want 'im tuh do.
Entry 7627
(Right from the beginning now.)
Well, right from de beginnin' of it is: Yo' takes it from anyone dat has died bad, yo' see, an' yo' goes tuh de grave an' yuh jis' tell 'em whut chew wan' 'em do fer yuh, yo' see, any troubles of any kin. (When do you go out there?) Well, yo'll have tuh go out at de nighttime, see. An' den yo' axe 'em dese questions, yo' know. YO'LL SEE 'EM SETTIN' UP ON DE GRAVE. AN' DEN YO' AXE HIM IF HE GOIN' DO DIS FER YO', yo' unnahstan'. WHUT WOULD HE DESIRE FER YO' TUH GIVE HIM. Well, IF HE'D WANT A CHICKEN, Well yo'd kill de chicken an' YO'D BRING TUH 'IM DE BLOOD, yo' know, INTAH A BOTTLE. Or if he wanted whiskey, why yo'...
[I interrupt.]
(What would you do with that blood then?)
Well, yo'd po' it right down on de grave.
(On the grave?)
Right tuh de foot of de grave. Yo'll jis'...
[I interrupt before I forget informant mentioned whiskey.]
(I see. And what if he wants whiskey?)
An' if he wanted whiskey, why yo' pour it in de same place.
(I see. And what else do you do then?)
Well, AFTAH YO' DONE DO DAT YO' UNNAHSTAND, JIS' WHEREVAH YO' GO YO' SEE, WHY HE'LL ALWAYS BE WIT CHEW. AN' YO'LL BE SO YO' KIN JIS' DISENTANGLE YUHSELF ANY TIME, INTUH ANYTHING DAT YO' WANTA BE. (I see. And didn't you say something about praying? What did you say about praying?) PRAYIN'? OH, YEAH! DAT'S RIGHT, AH DID. IT WILL BE UNUSEFUL FER YUH TUH PRAY ANY MORE, 'CUZ YUH DONE GIVED YUHSELF AWAY. [I now ask what he means without suggesting that he has sold himself to the devil.] (And is he supposed - is that supposed to be anybody special? Or just a dead man?) Anyone who died bad, especially if dey know yuh, yo' unnahstan'. Yo' KNOW INTUH A GRAVEYARD IS A VERY BAD PLACE TUH GO IF YUH NOT KNOWIN' ANYONE, YO' UNNAHSTAN'. If a [something? Evil spirit?] will come befo' yuh, yo' might make yo' a rich man yuhself. [There is just a suggestion here that you could sell yourself to an evil spirit.]
(I see.)
Entry 7628
Ah learnt dat yo' could git dirt out of a graveyard an' put it roun' a person's house an' run dem away. An' yo' could put it undah de house an' someone would burn de house down. (This graveyard dirt under the house?) Undah de house would burn de house down. An' if yo' sprinkle it roun' de house, why it would make de person move, dey couldn't stay dere. Ah heard dat when yo' git it, yo'd have tuh git it in a bag, put it in a paper bag, an' yo'd have tuh keep it separate from any othah dirt.
Entry 7629
Graveyard dirt in de mawnin' - 'long in de mawnin' jes' befo' day, yo' kin go out to de graveyard an' dig into a grave an' jes' at de end of dey foot wheresomevah a person is buried into dis grave, an' git three handsful of dat sand. An' put it into a red papah bag an' bury it. Keep it three or fo' weeks [first], [because] dis person dat chew love, it's [the length of burial time of dirt in red bag is] 'cordin' [according] to how colored dey are. Yo' kin make dem come back home in a certain length of time.
(What would they do with that dirt after they got it, could you tell me?)
[I wanted a detailed account of how time of keeping dirt depended upon the darkness or lightness of a person's shade of black or brown or lighter shades of a person's skin. My preceding question was a bad one because I ask for a repeti- tion of general information rather than the specific details about intensity of color. THERE ARE RITES IN HOODOO DEALING WITH COMPLEXION, especially those about candle colors.] Ah really don't know. Ah hear lots of 'em say how it's done. Dere so many Ways, ah would really not know exactly how it's done. Ah heered lots of 'em say it.
(Well, what do you get this dirt for?)
Yo' git dis dirt to make a person [come back home].
(You put this dirt in the red paper bag. Then what do you do with it?)
Yo' wrap it an' bury it jes' lak yo' would a package. Yo' know, Wrap up a package an' bury it undah de ground somewhere near about where yo' stay at.
Entry 7630
Yo' kin take graveyard dirt if yo' is a gambler, if yo's a bolito player or if yo's a poker player or somepin like dat. Yo' kin dig down an' git some graveyard dust an' tie it up in a red bag - see, understand, a red bag an' yo' carry dat in yore pocket. Now, we often wins wit dat, 'cuz dat's where we come from [from the dust of the earth]. An' tote it in yore right-hand pocket. If yo' won't git lucky from dat yo' won't git no luck.
Entry 7631
They git the dirt out of the graveyard and they stop that up in a bot- tle and they will come to yore house. If they don't like you, they come to yore house with that graveyard dirt. Mix it with a little salt and they sprinkles it underneath the steps. Then they stop the other one tight an' bury it. But chew not supposed to be home when dey do dat, and any time yo' go back to dat house why yore spirit is gone. Dat driv yore spirit away. Yo'd go to de house but chew can't stay.
Entry 7632
Yo' kin take de graveyard dirt an' boll it an' put it in a bottle dat kin broke easy. An' yo' an' a person come in contact, dey fixin' tuh fight [you], if yo' git a chance tuh break dat bottle ovah dere haid an' cut dem an' bring de blood out, why dey'll linger an' pine away an' die. (You do that if you think you are going to get into a fight, get into a fight with anyone?) Yes. See, see him comin', why crack dat bottle ovah his head an' bring a little bit of blood an' let de watah run down. [I suggest that the graveyard dirt is boiled to arouse the captured spirit of the graveyard dirt to fighting madness.]
Entry 7633
Dey could go an' git some graveyard dirt, an' dey have whut dey call a Way of dressin' A BOX LAK DIS THING [my Telediphone recorder on the table be- tween us], like puttin' it in a box, if dey wanted tuh do harm tuh yuh. If yuh were a woman or if yuh wus a man, eithah way, yuh take it vice-a-versy. Put it in a box an' - put dis graveyard dirt in it an' go tuh yuh home when dere wus not no one aroun'. An' lift up yuh bottom step, de firs' one dat yuh walk on, an' place it down in dere. Den dey will manage some way not tuh go back dere de same day, but dey will go back maybe in de evenin' tuh stir yuh aroun' an' maybe send yuh fer a drink of watah or somepin lak dat. An' den dey will dress yer whole house an' yuh won't stay dere. Dere is no Way fer yuh tuh stay dere.
(How will they dress the house?)
Well, dey dress it wit de same dirt dat dey have dat dey gits in de graveyard, but dey git it near [the] heart.
Entry 7634
Go tuh de graveyard an' git me some graveyard dirt. If dey bury hishaid lak dat toward de east, an' ah'll jis' straddle dat grave an' ah'll git dat dirt in a tin box. Well, ah'll git dat dirt in a tin box an' ah'll take dat dirt an' ah'll put it undah mah arm. Ah'm comin' on home. Ah'll fasten dat dirt up an' when ah git a chance ah throw it in dere house. Dat's whut ah do.
(What do you mean you straddle that grave?)
Jis' straddle it lak dat [demonstrates].
(Where do you dig the dirt from?)
Right off de grave, right on top of it. Ah'll go to a person dat died bad an' went tuh hell.
The informant describes straddling a grave, collecting surface dirt in a tin box, carrying it under an arm and throwing it into a house. Questions and a bracketed demonstration note are separate. The deceased person's fate is the informant's belief; the account does not establish it as fact.
Entry 7635
They say they take this graveyard dirt, choo understand, take it an' put it in a box. Take a piece of yuh underweah whut choo weah nex' tuh yuh skin [and put it in the box], an' jis' put it in a trunk an' let it stay there. An' as this dirt turns this piece of yuh underweah yel- lah, dat's jis' de way yuh'll turn. Yuh'll jis' fade right away. NO DOCTOR
[M.D.] KIN CURE YUH!
Entry 7636
Prob'ly if yo' [a doctor] got girl [patient] an' she's worried up 'bout some man 'nother, an' she cain't git 'im tuh act right, cain't git 'im tuh do right, an' he won't treat 'er right or sompin 'nothah lak dat, den yo' kin go tuh a graveyard at night. Yo' have tuh go dere certain time of night, go at twelve a'clock at night an' git a han'ful of dirt an' tie it up in a han'kerchief an' bring it back dat same night an' be sho' dat yo' know de room dat she sleeps in. Say, fo' ninstance, she sleepin' in dis room, an' yo' come tuh de windah dere an' yo' 'sposed take a li'l' de dirt an' sprinkle it up on de windah sill an' take de rest of de dirt an' sprinkle up on de walk, where dey walk comin' intuh de house. An' he'll nevah treat her wrong no mo'. He will always be nice tuh her den.
Entry 7637
Yo' kin take dat graveyard dirt an' throw it aroun' in yore house an' throw all alongside of de bed, an' rub it on down dere. An' yo' kin take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' kin make a man - ah mean work fo' yo' de balance of 'is life wit dat graveyard dirt. An' take a little of it an' tie it in de cornah of red silk han'ke'- chuf an' tote it on yo'. Jes' tote it on yo' enywhere an' he'll nevah be satis- fied till he back wit chew.... He git away from yo', he ain't satisfied until he git back where he wuz....
Entry 7638
Dirt from man's grave, at face part, pick up with silver spoon, go at just dark or just before day, sprinkle in 4 corners of house, or throw on top of house, to move.
Entry 7639
Jes' lak a man er [or] woman, anyone, say, if she really meant tuh kill dis man - wanta have him outa de way. She kin go tuh de graveyard - if he don't pertect [detect] it befo' she git too fah [far], see. She kin go tuh de grave- yard an' git dis dirt outa 'tween a grave. She gotta git from de grave doh [though], de head of de grave, de person head. Dey git dat dirt offa de head of de grave. Den she take dat dirt an' she take a small piece of cloth an' she sew dat up in dere, an' den she take dis cloth an' she weah it roun' her waist. Now, dis man, he Would contin'ly [continually] feel- in' bad an' weary an' stuff [similar feelings], but he don' know whut it come from. Now, dis woman she would weah dat an' weah dat until she git dis man tuh de place dat he would git puny, sickly an' jes' cain't he'p [help] hisself, an' den if someone don' tell 'im how tuh go out...says, "Well, bless me, yo' is lookin' very bad, yo' oughta go an' see de doctor. Why don' yo' go an' see a root doctor tuh see whut's de mattah wit chew?" Well, nachur'ly [naturally] dis man wouldn't believe it, becuz he don' think dat it nachur'l [natural] dat 'is wife or de girl dat 'e [he] goin' wit, er somepin, would do him any hahm [harm] lak dat. An' nachurly [naturally] he may, if he don't git tuh some of dose [hoo- doo] people, dis thing will finely [finally] kill 'im.
Entry 7640
Now, if yo' got a home happy an' someone wanta break yo' up, yo' [he] goes tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt off de left-han' head of a grave, an' take it an' sprinkle aroun' dose steps, an' yo' got a to'd [= tored = torn] up home.
Entry 7641
Dey go out tuh de fo'ks of de road, an' ah think dey speaks fo' times [recite an incantation of some sort] an' turns tuh de lef'. An' dey goes tuh de graveyard an' dey gits some graveyard dust from de left, from de head of de grave, an' put it in a li'le bag an' weah it in dey pocket- book. (What is that supposed to do?) Dat supposed tuh give yo' luck. (That will give you luck, I see. You go out to this crossroad and speak four times?) Yes, sir.
(What time do they go out there, any particular time or just any old time?)
Naw, five an' six o'clock in de mawnin' an' twelve o'clock at night, an prob'ly three o'clock in de mawnin'. [This means midnight or after, or before daybreak - the usual dark hour.]
(I see, and from the crossroads then they go to the cemetery.)
Yes, sir.
The informant thinks four utterances at road forks and a left turn precede taking dust from the left head of a grave and carrying it for luck. The account gives several possible hours; Hyatt summarizes a usual dark hour and interprets the utterances as an incantation. Keep the informant's uncertainty and times distinct from those editorial summaries.
Entry 7642
Well, dey takes a tombstone, from mah undahstandin', from a person dat dey knows is very evil an' lived a wretched life. Jis' lak if ah wanted tuh have disturbance in de home or anythin', well, ah take dat from dere an' ah put it anywhere aroun' yore house. (What do you take, the whole tomb- stone?) Take de whole tombstone - de dirt on it. (Oh, the dirt on it?) Yes, an' put it anywhere roun' yore house an' dat. Yo' ain't goin' tuh live in dat house. Yo' undahstan'?
(How do you get that dirt off this tombstone, how do you get it?)
Dig it.
(Oh, you dig it near the tombstone?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 7643
Well, yo' goes tuh de graveyard an' yo' gits some graveyard dust. Now yo' don't git it off de haid, yo' git it off de foot. Dat mean travelin', see. (When you get it off the foot, neans traveling.) Yo' git it off de foot of de person off de grave, see. All right, den yo' come back an' yo' mix dat up wit a li'le pot salt an' jis' go tuh 'er doah, yo' un'ahstan' [understand] an' yo' take dat jis' lak yo' would go in a field an' sow rice, peas or spring cotton or somepin lak dat, yo' know. Yo' jis' sprinkle it fronta her house, right on until all of it give out, an' she'll have tuh leave dere. She couldn't stay dere. She will be all mixed up; he or she, whosomevah it is. All mixed up, jis' couldn't stay dere.
Entry 7644
If yo' got somebody an' maybe yo' Wanta kill dat person or wanta harm dat person. Say now if yo' go up in de graveyard an' maybe it been some man dat have lived a rowdy life. Yo know some people live a very rowdy life, nevah attempt tuh be a Christian, a very rowdy person. Some people cuss tuh de last. Say yo' go tuh dat person an' go tuh de foot of 'is grave an' dig down one foot in de groun', she say. An' git chew a handful of dat dirt an' put it in a bag, an' bring it back home an' go round at dat man's back do', an' jes' take dat dirt an' throw it lak it wuz some flour or sompin. on de ground. Say, why dat man will come afflicted wit 'is laigs, or make his foot swell up, or he'll have some kind of ailment about 'is laigs account dat graveyard dirt bein' around de dō'.
Entry 7645
Way dey does it is dey take de dust from de footboard an' some of dem jes' tote it in dey pocket. Dat's tuh give dem good luck.
Entry 7646
Git some dirt. See, de grave is settin' dere lak dis. Well, yo' go right in de centah of dat grave an' run yore han' dat way an' git some of dat. An' carry it off an' put it on dey po'ch an' sprinkle it in dey yard.
(And the man will stay home.) [Wilson, N. Car. (1514), 2681:7.]
Entry 7647
Dey says dat yo' kin go tuh a graveyard an' take de dirt off de centah of de grave, an' put it intuh a box an' carry it a few days wit yo'; but put red peppah intuh dat box. An' yo' kin take dat same thing an' mix it up an' use it in de woman's mind tuh git 'er confused, an' she won't be satisfied wher- evah she goes.
Entry 7648
Whenevah dey's [there is] someone livin' at a place dat dey didn't Wan'em dere, wan'em tuh move or somepin. Dat dey'll go tuh a grave an' take de haidstone an' put it tuh de foot, an' take de foot- stone an' put it tuh de haid. An' reach down in de middle of de grave an' jis' as fah [far] a'zhoo [as you] kin reach - yeh ahm [arm] will go down - an' git some de dirt an' bring it up. An' mix it tuhgethah wit some cayenne peppah, an' sprinkle it aroun' de home where dey äh [are]; an' dey'll leave, dey won't come back.
Entry 7649
Ah heard 'em say, go tuh de graveyard an' git some de graveyard dust cleah [clear] out de man's breast an' bring it back an' put it undah 'is do'step. Dat'll run 'im away.
Entry 7650
Yo' dig down an' git some grave- yard dust an' yo' go down - git it from near de heart of de body of de person who might be layin' dere. An' keep dat in yore pocket an' yore bossman cain't hardly fire yo'. Dat's whut dat's kept fo'.
Entry 7651
Jes' reach dat deep in de grave right in de centah close tuh de heart. An' den yo' take it from de foot. An' yo' git dat graveyard dirt an' yo' take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' put black peppah in it. Yo' know dose [whole] black peppahs are very 'fective. An' yo' kin break up a person dat way.
(How?)
An' den aftah dey git dat graveyard dirt, dey put dat peppah in dere. An' dey take dat graveyard dirt in dere hand an' dey walk tuh yuh porch, an' throw it right at chure dō', where yo' goin' tuh walk out dere ovah it.
Entry 7652
Dey goes tuh de grave, dey go tuh de haid side, [I mean] on de heart side. So dey tell me. Ah've nevah done it but ah've heard of it. Dey go dere an' dey git dat dirt, come back, an' dey put dat dirt in a li'le bit of sack. An' dey take dat dirt an' mix some othah li'le stuff wit it, a li'le salt an' one t'ing or 'nothah; a li'le sulphur an' diff'ren' t'ings lak dat. Carry it wit yo' an' yo' kin take it an' put it in a place, a dwellin', an' dere's nobody kin git along in dere. An' dey take dat dirt an' dey go aroun' amongst people dat dey're neighbahs, an' see 'em gittin' along, an' throw datdirt all aroun' 'em, dere windah, where de windah's up, or in de do', when dey kin git a chance, or on de do'steps, or in front of de do's an' t'ings, dat choo'll have tuh walk ovah it. An' consequently it cuzes [causes] a confusion an' yo' can't git along wit yoreself or nobody else.
Entry 7653
Yo' could go tuh de graveyard at twelve a'clock at night an' go tuh somebody grave dat chew know dat wuz not very long buried dere - dat chew know 'em by der name personly [personally], see. An' jis' scratch chew a hole right on de lef' side of de grave tuh de haid part, right where yo' 'magine de heart would be, an' run yore han' down in dere tuh de elbow an' drop three pennies in dere. Git dat sand right on out an' come on back home. Put some cayenne peppah intuh dat graveyard dirt. An' on de side of de baid where he always lay, on de front or de back where he always lay, yo' jis' take dat sand an' sprinkle it on de mattress. An' make yo' bed back up an' let 'im lay on dat. Dat will run 'im right off from yore house.
(You will get rid of him then?)
Git rid of 'im.
Entry 7654
Well, ah hear'd dey say yo' kin take graveyard dirt - yo' kin take dat graveyard dirt - go down dere at night an' dig right ovah de heart of de grave. Den bring it back an' put it umdah de steps an' po' vhis- key on it fo' nine mawnin's. Den yo' go back dere an' yo' take dis dirt up an' put it in a piece of white flannel an' take de dirt an' bury it in de ground an' let it stay dere. After yo' take it up an' put whiskey on it an' put it undah de step in de groun'. An' if dere any- one [there] dat don' lak yo', dey can't stay dere. [Is whiskey on for 9 mornings a delayed payment for the graveyard dirt?]
Entry 7655
Ah hear 'em say dat dey takes some graveyard dirt, if yo' have any man in yore community an' yo' wanted tuh move 'em. Yo' take an' yo' go tuh a sinnah man's grave an' git some of de dirt from right off on 'is left side of 'is heart. Jis' go right down in de grave till yo reach clay, an' take it out, an' take dat clay an' mix it up wit some sulphur an' magic sand.
(Magic sand?) [A hoodoo store product.]
Yessuh, magic san'. An' some dragon blood an' brimstone, an' mix all dat tuh- gethah. An' go in dat house wit'out anybody knowin' dat chew in dere, an' sprin- kle it when all de folk gone from de house. See, in de rooms, an' walk out wit'- out nobody knowin' yo' dere. Yo' know dat chew in dere an' make yore wishes. An' dey say dat dey'll have tuh go 'way from dere.
Entry 7656
Dey take an' git, yo' know, it have tuh be a rank sinnah or a wicked person. Yo' don't git it off of a Christian. But chew take an' git dat grave- yard dirt off of a sinnah's grave an' off de left side. An' dey take dat an' sprin- kle it all roun' yore house. An' dey says it won't be long 'fo' [before]. some- body, yo' know, die or leavin'. Dey'll leave, anyway.
Entry 7657
Yo' kin take salt an' go tuh a graveyard an' git chew some real sinnah, a real sinnah dat chew know dat died. Yo' git some of de dirt off of 'is left side. Git it off 'is left side an' yo' go back tuh dis person house an' yo' git up early one mawnin' 'fore anybody stir. Don't let nobody see yo' do it, an' throw it ovah yo' shouldah three times [demonstrates].
(Over your left shoulder.)
De left shouldah. Take yore right hand and throw it ovah yo' shoulder three times.
(You mix the salt and the graveyard dirt together?)
YesSUh, SALT WILL RAISE 'STURBANCE. AH GUESS YO' KNOW DAT.
Entry 7658
Anyone dat's daid an' dere spirit worry yuh, why yo' go tuh dere grave an' git on de lef' side; an' git some of de dirt offa dere lef' side an' carry it on yore person, an' dey'll stop worryin' yo'.
Entry 7659
Go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dust from de sunrise [east] side an' put it in de left shoe of de person dat dey wanted tuh be made faithful, yo' undahstan'. If it's a woman dat's un- faithful or if it's a man dat unfaithful, put dat graveyard dust in dat left shoe an' dat will have de desired results. (That will make them stay at home. Take some old shoe that they won't know about?) Yes, some of de shoes dat dey weah, ah presume jes' de shoe dat dey weah. Jes' lak if it were mah left shoe an' mah wife could arrange tuh have somebody dat had dat craft [witchcraft] yo' know, tuh git dat [dirt] an' [I] wear it on me mos' evah day, why ah wouldn't run away. Ah have tuh be faithful. Git it from de east side, from de sunrise side of de grave.
(They go out there you say when?)
Sometime, yo' undahstan' about sundown.
Entry 7660
Git chew a li'le graveyard dirt, if yo' kin git on de east side of a grave. Git chew some white vaseline an' make yo' a salve [with this graveyard dirt]. Make dat salve an' yo' kin 'noint dat person unbeknown tuh 'im, an' he'll go lame. He'll nevah be no mo' good in dat foot as long as yo' 'noint 'im. But yo' have tuh 'noint 'im fer nine mawnin's wit dat graveyard dirt an' dis white vaseline an' de stuff dat chew scrape from undah 'is foot - kin'a dead skin-lak yo' gotta git from undah 'is foot. An' he'll nevah be no mo' good in dat foot.
(That foot is supposed to go lame. I see.)
Entry 7661
Well, ah don' know about keepin' 'em away but dere's somepin yo' kin do dat he won't bothah yo'. Go tuh de graveyard an' git chew some graveyard dirt, go as fur [far] on de east side as yo' kin git it. Take yo' a piece of bran'-new cotton an' sew yo' up a ball of it [graveyard dirt] intuh dis cotton an' leave yo' a tail [long piece of thread] tuh it dat yo' kin throw it. [Several rites in Hoodoo use tails for throwing.] Yo' come along, ah wan' cha tuh move. Ah'm goin' walk by yore house an' say, "Move, yo' devil, move, '' an' throw it acrost chure house [demonstrates].
(Throw it back over your shoulder, your left shoulder away over the house.)
It goes ovah any part, de low part; ovah yore porch or anythin'. Throw it ovah dere an' yo' nevah look back: 'Move, yo' devil, move.
(And they'll move out of the house?)
Yes, sir. [This is another one of those rare swinging in a circle about head and letting-go rites.]
Entry 7662
Go tuh de graveyard an' go tuh sundown part of de grave, an' git dat dirt an' carry tuh jes whoevah house yo' goin' carry it tuh. An' yo' sprinkle it all roun' de do'step where dey walks out, dey wouldn't [couldn'tl miss it. Put it down dere an' dey step in it, it wouldn't be ovah a veek 'fo' [before] dey die.
Entry 7663
( Git some graveyard dirt outa each end of de grave, yo' undahstan', an' den yo' kin take an' tie it up an' put it in de east end of de cornah of yore house. Dat fo' tuh bring luck. [Memphis, Tem.
(952), 1538:4.]
Entry 7664
Dey go tuh de cemetery, a person would, if dey try tuh do yo' mean. Jes' lak somebody's buried dis evenin', go dere an' git de dirt outa his grave. Go dere an' git it down nex' tuh 'is feet an' outa his stomach an' outa de haid. An' take it an' git chew a snakeshed an' put all dat - mix 'em tuhgethah an' cross 'em [throw dirt in form of a cross] an' yo' aim dat whare dey doin' yo' dirty. (Well, now you get this dirt from three places out of the grave, but it must be a grave that's been opened that day - must be a grave from that day. And you put this inside the snakeshed and you grind the snakeshed up like that. And then you mix the grave dirt with that. Show me what you do with this powder then.) Yo' take dis powdah an' put it, an' bury hit undah yore steps. If dat person come at night an' do anythin' dere, dat'll keep 'em away from dere. Dey'll jes' go an' travel an' travel, an' jes' come tuh be nuthin but skin an' bone. Always travel.
(What about the eyes going down?)
If yo' use snakeshed an' graveyard dirt. Yo' see, all dat jes' goes wit de body, yo' see. Dey ketches de same disease. De snake, yo' know, jes' lak he bit chew, see.
(Well how does it get into them? Does it get in through his eye or what?)
It will git intuh de eye, but people use it in diff'ren' kind [of ways]. Jes' lak yo's heah an' ah do's disaway. Well, when ah'm talkin' an' yore haid - take mah han' disaway, it will kill 'em [you]. (Which way are you going to do. After you get this snakeshed and graveyard dirt ground together, now what are you going to do with it? Are you going to throw it around that person or are you going to put it under your door. Which are you going to do with that? Or do you do both things?) Put it roun' yore home.
(And what is that supposed to do then?)
It 'sposed tuh break up whut dey wan' tuh do tuh yo'.
(And what will happen to them?)
Sompin happen tuh 'em, dey has bad luck.
Entry 7665
Dey kin take sulphur. Dey kin take sulphur an' dey run a row [trench] in front of dey do' wit some li'le stick an' sprinkle it aroun' lak seeds yo' know. An' den dey run a spade row in front of dat house an' turn it back, up de road or down de road, an' dey covah it up. Dey covah it up an' nobody pays po 'tenshun tuh it. Some claims dat will make dem move. (In digging this little ditch, they begin at the house with a stick and drag it right on out to the street.) Dey go right tuh de step an' take de stick, trim it sharp, yo' see, jes' lak mah knife, an' come clean across de do' dere. An' den dey come back in front of de do'step an' make a straight line tuh de edge of de street, an' turn it[trench] up or down [the street] an' sprinkle sulphur 'cross it dis way. An' turn it down one way or de othah. (They make a straight line right in front of the door, making the trench out from that straight line like the letter "T"? And at the end of that letter "T"
[the crossed part at the street] you go one way or the other?)
Make it "L" [instead of "T"] at de bottom, [then go] one way or de othah.
(That would move them out.)
Dere's a superior way, people says it's a surer way. Dey goes tuh de grave- yard where dey has relations buried an' dey git a pinch of dirt offa nine graves, jes' a pinch. An' put it in dat li'le box, a li'le pastebo'd box of some kind, or a jar or somepin. Den dey takes dis li'le pinch of dirt, git nine pinches of it, an' dey put three pinches on de step [demonstrates].
(In a row.)
In de centah an' at each end. An' dey puts six pinches - put three pinches in dis line an' two pinches in dis line, an' two pinches in de "L" line. An' dey call dat superior. Dere no Way he's gonna lose now.
(They use the same shape as that sulphur?)
De same way wit dat dirt as wit dat sulphur.
Entry 7666
If yo' want a person, tuh drive 'em away, yo' take de graveyard dirt. Take an' go tuh de centah of de graveyard an' git de graveyard dirt. If yo' wan'a person tuh drive 'em away, yo' name dem in de han's of God. Crawl halfway de dis- tance up undah de house. Bring de dirt tuh de front of de house an' cast it onto de front of de house. An' whatevah way dat chew go, yo' carry it right 'long wit chew an' name it as yo' go. An' de person will go de same distance. Dey will go, dey cain't stay.
(You carry that dirt and you scatter it as you go.)
Scattah it as yo' walk. Sow it jes' lak a person would sow oats.
(You crawl under the house first?)
Go undah de side of de house an' don't look back; jes' keep right on plowin' [crawling under housel, don' look back not atall.
(You crawl under the side of the house to the center?)
To de centah.
(And from the center where do you crawl?)
To de front, right on out tuh de front; right on out tuh de front, an' jes' keep right on. But don' look back.
Entry 7667
Dey said dey would take - jes' lak yo' kin go tuh de cemetery an' dey'd git dere a certain hour in de night, twelve a'clock in de night, an' git some dirt from a dead person grave. Dey moves de top of dat an' dig a hole about fo' inches deep, an' git some dirt den from dat, if dey wanted tuh make yo' sick or sompin. An' dey come tuh yore home an' be settin' down an' talkin' wit chew an' look undah yore desk or somewhere an' a pair of shoes or sompin othah dere. Dey jes' sprin- kle a li'le of dat dust, de dust of dat grave in yore shoe, an' it would cuz yore feet tuh become sore an' boily - break out in big sores.
Entry 7668
Yo' kin go tuh de graveyard at twelve a'clock in de night; not let it be ovah twelve a'clock an' yo' reach yore han' down in de grave - say it's no harm - jes' about six inches down an' git chew a han'fulla dirt an' hold it in yore hand, not slide it out, an' hold it in yore hand-an' walk on back, an' de girl dat yo' want, if yo' want 'er tuh love yo', yo' throw it up on 'er windah, eithah way up on 'er shade or windah, or anything, so it be's 'er room. An' if yo' do wan' tuh do her some damage, don' throw it up on de house. Den she'll be sick 'long as yo' stay in town, an' git dwindlin' an' quite natchal [natural] she'll soon finely [finally] die, if she stay roun' dere an' be passin dat - attah yo' do done [dat] chew know, if yo' go tuh de daid, an' sech as dat, becuz dat's de thing dat EVAH'BODY'S SCARED TUH GO TUH DE GRAVEYARD AN' GIT DIRT LAK DAT. But dat's so about dat 'cuz ah have did it mahself. Dose things ah'm talkin' 'bout ah done it mahself.
(That's all you have to do with that graveyard dirt, throw it on her window?)
Yeah, throw it on her windah.
(What will that do to her then?)
Dat will make her love yo', if yo' throw it on 'er windah.
Entry 7669
Yo' kin dig about six inches in de graveyard, an' yo' git some of dat fine dirt, dat dirt about six inches down. Take dat an' put it in a cup an' yo' git some lodestone an' put in it too. An' yo' shet it up. (What do you do that for?) Dat's fo' a woman, tuh make her stay wit chew, yo' got dat dust. See, yo' gotta take it, see, put dat undah yore house an' she'd stay dere. She ain't goin' leave.
Entry 7670
Well, yo' kin take graveyard dirt. Run yore arm down in de grave tuh yore elbow an' take graveyard dirt. Make yo' a li'le sack. It makes yo' lucky, yo' kin jes' weah it in yore pocket. Dat make yo' lucky.
Entry 7671
Yo' kin bring up confusion by goin' tuh de graveyard an' gittin' some graveyard dirt, but yo' have tuh run yore han' as fur down in dere as yo' poss'ly kin; but chew mus' carry three pennies, brass pen- nies. Dese pennies, yo' know, jes' carry dat 'long dit chew, when yo' go out dere. Den when yo' bring yore han' up dat pays off, a'yo' do's dat.
(What do you do with it then?)
Well, yo' kin jes' use it eithah way. Yo' kin make him stay home or yo' kin make him go wit de same dirt.
(Tell me how you would use it?)
Well, yo' could put some sulphur an' brimstone wit dat. Put dem three tuh- gethah. Yo' takes dat an' carry dat an' put it inside de house an' dat will cuz confusion.
Entry 7672
He [my contact man] wus askin' me about how would yo' git a woman away from yore home, if yo' didn't want 'er. Wal, ah tole him dat dey kin go tuh a graveyard where yo' know it's some evil person had.died, an' dig down dere about three feet an' git so much - 'bout three teaspoonsful of sand an' mix it in with some black peppah an' take an' mix some sulphur in it an' carry it an' throw it ovahbo'd in a bot- tle, an' curse dat at de present time, lak 'Go.' Curse at de present time three times an' holler "go" - "go" - "go."
Entry 7673
De bes' thing dat ah would do, ah would go to de cemetery twelve a'clock at night an' take [dig] six feet of dirt down to the bottom of de grave wit mah lef' han' an' sprinkle dat roun' yore front do'step befo' de sunrise. Well, dat house will become unearthly fo' yo', an' yo' gotta move out. [Informant, of course, does not dig down 6 feet. He digs down 6 inches, which symbolizes the 6 feet.]
Entry 7674
Dey say if yo' wanted luck, if yo' havin' bad luck, dat chew could go tuh de graveyard an' dig down wit chure hand a certain depth an' git some dust near where de corpse lay at. An' tie dat up in a bag an' carry it roun' wit yo', an' yo' kin lead anybody roun' wit yo' lak dat. Dey would believe in yo' most gener'ly [generally].
Entry 7675
Ef anyone in yore neighborhood is doin' yuh any harm an' yo' don' want 'em in yore neighborhood, why yo' jes' go tuh de graveyard an' take a penny an reach down dere an' git chew some dirt chew know. An' take a pinch of dat dirt an' bring dat dirt back an jes' throw it on de flo'. An' dey sweep it out, why de spirits will worry 'em so dey has tuh leave dere, dey cain't evah stay dere.
(Whose floor do you throw that graveyard dirt on?)
On dere flo.
(Of the people that you want to move?)
Yes sir, wants tuh move 'em outa dere.