Browse:FOOT TRACK (Volume 4, entries 5301–5797)/Part 2
FOOT TRACK
Volume 4, entries 5301–5797. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 5381
Dey kin do dat, take dat foot track, if yo' git de toe comin' intuh de house of de right foot, whut ah have heard, an' if yo' take it an' yo' know put it in a cloth or somepin. Jes' lak if yo' could bank it undah one of dem bricks [in fireplace] or anywheres in de house, dey will nevah leave heah. Dey always have dere mind on dis pahtic'lah place.
(What do you mean? Get the dirt from the toe, you say?)
Yes sir, from de right toe.
(Just pick it right out of the toe?)
Yeah, jes' pick up de toe, or jes' say, yo' know, anywheres about de -front of de foot.
Entry 5382
Den yo' kin take a person track an' pick it up comin' tuh yo'.
(Either track or both?)
Both of them. An' yo' put it where yo' kin keep it warm an' dey'll follah yo'.
The informant describes picking up a person's track and predicts that the person will follow. Footprints is a contextual reading; the action and effect are unverified.
Entry 5383
He watch cheh, yuh comin', an' he take up yore foot track comin' tuh yuh. An' den supposin' yuh wanta drive him away frum yuh, yuh turn de foot: gwine an' den dey follah dat. Keep de fellah lak ah foretole yuh. Dat man go 'way. Dat man give anythin' if he go way from dere. If he wan' chew come tuh 'im dis Way, he take de track comin' tuh 'im. He got chah den comin' dis way.
(When he picks up the track coming to him, then he kills that track?)
No, he gotcha, [got you] comin' 'is way. But he want chah go away from 'im, he pick it up an' throw it where yuh gwine. Yuh throw it from yuh, throw it de way yuh wanta, but chew won't see him when he done do it.
The informant describes taking a foot track with different directions for coming toward or going away, and rejects the interviewer's suggestion of 'killing' the track.
Entry 5384
Ah've heard dat chew kin take de track, de lef'-foot track, an' read de 23rd chaptah of Psalms wit dat lef'-foot track. An' yo' take dat track an' yo' put it in front of yo'. See, put it on a piece of papah, a piece of brown papah. An' yo' stan' ovah dat track an' yo' read de 23rd chaptah of Psalms, see. An' in de direction, de way dat person go, at seven a'clock, yo' throw dat dirt lak dat. Dey gone. Den yo' read dat chap- tah ag'in de nex' mawnin' at seven a'clock, yo' see, an' yo' read it at noon. Yo' read it at seven at night de nex' evenin', afternoon [12 noon], yo' see. Dat's tuh drive yore enemies away from yo', if anybody's a enemy tuh yo' or any- thin' of de kind lak dat.
(Do you take that foot track up in any special way?)
Start at de toe an' git chew a shovel or some kinda sompin an' scoop it up lak dat, but take it all up [demonstrates].
(From the toe back to the heel.)
Yes. (After they have come to your house. Then after they have left, take up one of those tracks?) Yeah, take up one of those tracks. Or if dey'd apt tuh passin' or somepin othah - jes' anywhere dey have tuh walk in de dirt.
Entry 5385
Jes' lak if yore wife would leave yo' or sompin othah. Yo' wanted 'er tuh come back. Yo' notice when she's leavin', don't bothah 'er atall. Don' try tuh hurt 'er or somepin othah. Jes' go an' git - watch 'er track. Git 'er right track. Pick it up an' yo' tie dat 'ere [there] dirt up in a rag, an' put it up ovah yore do' an' she'll come back.
Entry 5386
Dey tell me dey kin take yore footprint, de dirt from de palm of yore foot, an' put it ovah de do' an' compel yo' tuh stay. [The hollah [hollow] of the foot is occasionaly called the palm of the foot.]
(Do they take either foot or both?)
De left foot.
Entry 5387
An' den yo' kin take - an' take yore lef' track. Yo' kin take a man's lef' track, if he don' wan'a stay wit chew - yo' an' 'im busted up. Yo' kin take it an' take an' put it in a new piece of cloth or eithah jes' put it in a li'le bag of some kind, li'le new bag. Make a li'le bag. An' lay it up ovah de do', see. An' he'll come back home.
Entry 5388
Now, dis is whut ah heard from nobody now - fo' mahself, see. Dat yo kin take a man's right foot of 'is stockin', [I mean] socks. Yo' kin go out an pick up 'is track, see. An' take dat an' put it intuh 'is sock, if yo' want dis man, see. An' bring it back an' put it ovah yore front do' or ovah yore kitchen do', an' let it remain dere, see. An' as long as dat stay, he will stay dere.
(What if you want to make that man leave, what do you do?)
Well, ah don' know about makin' 'im leave. Ah guess if yo' wan'a make him leave, why yo' jes' turn 'im loose. Take de stuff off whut chew have up dere. (You take his right foot sock and his track. Which track did you take did you say?) Well, it make no mattah which track. Yo' jes' pick up evah one [any one] of 'is track.
Entry 5389
Dey kin take dat up an' yo' know, take up de right-foot track an' put it in a sack, or eithah undah a do'step or somepin lak dat, yo' see. An' dey tell me dat dey kin trick yo' wit yore track, yo' know, cuz yo' tuh be stiff- legged or somepin.
Entry 5390
Now, when he go tuh yore house yo' know, lak when he go tuh leave, git some dirt out of 'is lef' track. An' pick up de dirt, take it up tuh yo', an' bury it undah de steps.
(What will that do then?)
Draw 'im back.
(When you pick up those tracks, you bring the dirt back toward you.)
Yessuh.
(These tracks he made as he was leaving your house.)
Yes, de lef' track.
Entry 5391
Dey say if yo' kin have a foot track - a person kin have a footprint. Yo' kin take de footprint of a person. Well, ah think dey say it's yure right foot. An' jes' take de print up jes' lak yo' would take up a print an' carry it home an' bury it undah yure do'steps. If it's yure enemy, he'll come tuh yo' fo' bread. Dat's whut ah heard.
Entry 5392
Well, now if dey picked chure track up goin' de same direction dat chew goin', an' take it an' 'vide [divide] it up in a li'le vial, wrap it right nice in some cloth, an' take it tuh runnin' watah an' throw it ovah dey shouldah, an' let it run on - an' dat watah runnin' east - why yo'll keep a-goin'. But if dey git in front de track an' snap it back tuhwards de heel, an' brings it back an' preserves it, tighten it up tight an' bury it undah de steps, why dat'll bring yo' back an' yo'll stay dere. (This water must be running east, you say, and you throw it over either shoulder?) Yassuh, throw it ovah yore right shouldah.
Entry 5393
Ah heard ole lady say once, if someone wus comin' tuh see yo' as a boy frien' an' yo' wanted 'im tuh continue, tuh take up 'is foot tracks. Yo' take up 'is right track an' put chure right track before it, is whut she tole EAvES me. Jis' lak if ah an' yo' settin' parlel [parallel] [= side by side], yo' put chure right foot down, ah put mah right foot in front. Den ah'll scoop up both tracks. Tie it in a piece of new homespun an' put it [only a small part of the combined tracks] in a snuffbox, an' lay a piece of cloth ovah it, an' put it where de rain drops from de eaves of de house. An' she said he'd continue tuh always come an' see yo'.
New homespun is explicit; the small-part quantity is an editorial insertion.
Entry 5394
Ah heard dat yo' kin, if yo' wanta drive a person away, yo' kin git in fron' of dere track an' pull it tuh yo'. Take it up outa de hollah of dey feet, an' carry it home an' put it in a li'le bag, an' wear it on yo' so many days, an' den take it off an' lay it undah de eve [eaves] of yore house. Dat will bring 'im back tuh yo'. If yo' wanta drive him away, yo' git in fron' of de track an' pull it disaway [demonstrates].
(From the heel to the toe.)
Tuh de toe. An' see, if yo' wanta bring 'im back, why yo' git jis' - lak if yo' goin' dataway an' ah'm comin' on behin' yo', ah jis' gits behin' dat track an' sta't [start] from de toe an' pull it back tuh de heel. Well, see, dat turns 'im aroun'. Dat'll change yore min' [mind]. Dat'll make yo' come back. Do wit dat dirt from undah de bottom of yore feet, yo' do wit de same way yo' do, if yo' wuz drivin' 'em away. Yo' wear it somewhare close 'bout chure body. Well, yo' wear it jis' about three days. Den yo' take it an' lay it undah yore do'steps. Put it whare cain't nobody see it, undah de sill of de house or de do'steps, an' dey'll come back.
Entry 5395
Take dere track don't chew know an' stick it - an' put all of it in a bottle. An' den aftah yo' git it in a bottle, yo' stop it up an' take a aig an' write de name - de individual's name on de aig an' bury it in de groun' an' call dem three times. An' take a bah [bar] of Octagon Soap [trade name] an' take off de top wrappah an' de othah [inner] wrappah. An' take yo' a nail an' write de name on de bah of Octagon Soap, an' wrap up dat slick thin' on it [rewrap soap in slick thin', inner wrap- per], don't chew know, an' throw it in runnin' watah an' dat will mun 'em.
(You do all these things together?)
Yes sir, dose tuhgethah.
(You throw all these things at once into running water?)
No sir. Yo' take de aig an' bury de aig roun' yore do'step. An' den git de bah Octagon Soap, don't chew know, an' take de top slip off an' den dat [presum- ably inner wrapper, but I interrupt].
(What do you do with that soap then?)
Take dat soap an' git chew a nail. Write de name of dat individual dat chew wanta run. An' den put dat slick thin' back on dere an' throw it intuh runnin' watah.
(And what do you do with the foot track?)
Take hit an' stick it in a bottle an' throw it in de watah too.
(You do all these things together?)
Yes sir. Hit concludes tuhgethah.
(What do you bury that egg for?)
Bury dat egg tuh make 'em go. [To bury the preceding egg in the ground to send a person away looks more like a rite to hold the person. Yet similar burial rites with the same purpose will be found in Hoodoo. As always, intention is everything. Here the egg belongs to a tripartite rite; the other two parts being definitely send away rites. Is the egg a possible recall rite? If the sender away regrets the sending away, the egg stands ready to bring back the person. We must also note the egg has a double dressing; the name written on it, and the name called 3 times.]
Entry 5396
Dey say yo' kin take dat track - jes' lak dey wanta run yo' away - dey'll pull de track from de heel tuh de toe. An' take dat track an' take a aig, an' bo' a li'le hole in de aig an' dreen de contents of de aig out. An' put dat track in dat shell an' put a li'le bit of papah ovah it. An' go tuh a rivah, a stream or somepin dat's runnin', an' turn dat back an' throw it ovah de shouldah an' use three words dey say. Dey says, "In de Name of de Father, Son an' Holy Ghost, let dis evil one leave." But de 'Father, Son an' HolyGhost' is de word de' speak. An' throw it ovah de shouldah an' walk away an' not look back. An' dey say long as dat aig float, yo'll continue tuh go.
(Do they take either foot track?)
Eithah one or both.
(If they want to bring you to them?)
Dey git in fron' of yore track, yo' see. Let see, yes, an' pull it from de toe tuh de heel. Well, den dey don' throw dat in no rivah. Dey take dat an' fill it full of de track, de aig, an' put sompin aroun' tuh keep it from break- in' - real tight. An' dey bury dat egg undah yore steps or put it in de middle of a loose mattress where yo' sleep. An' yo' can't leave dere. Yo'll go but yo'll come right back.
Entry 5397
Ah tell yo' whut she could do. She could even take dat track an' git a aig an' she could take dat track an' put some sugah in it an' push it down in a aig an' carry it an say three words to it - curse it [with three words] an' throw dat aig on dat sun- rise. An' yo'll go. She'll git rid of yo' jis' lak dat. Ah mean not sunrise, tuh sundown, in some runnin'.watah. Dat's right in runnin' watah. An' she goin' git rid of yo'.
(She can take any track you say?)
No suh, got'a take yore lef' track, de one nex' of yore heart - yo' know on de lef' side. An' put dat track intuh a aig... (Well, does she take that track up when I am leaving her house or coming or what?) Goin' from 'er. She'll rake dat track from 'er. An' den she'll walk on tuh it an' pick it up.
Entry 5398
Dey say yo' take yore foot track an' pull it, if yo' wan' de person tuh go 'way from yo' - wan'a run 'em. Yo' drive 'em away from yo'. See, yo' take it from de heel an' carry it back from yo'. Take it an' put it in a box of some kin' - lak a li'le snuffbox. Or some people say yo' kin put it in a aigshell an' carry it tuh de rivah an' name dat person. When yo' put it in dat box [or eggshell] yo' name de person. Den yo' carry it tuh de rivah an' yo' stan' backwards tuh de rivah an' den yo' drive dis person from yo'. Tell 'em - throw it ovah yore shouldah an' don't look back. Tell 'em, "Go! Yo' devil, yo'. Go!"
Entry 5399
See, lak yo' walk out dere an' yore foot track, an' someone want chew leave heah - sompin lak dat. Dey jis' take a li'le sand out de hollah of yore foot an' put it in a eggshell, an' put some cayenne peppah in it. An' tie it up in a rag an' go tuh de watah an' do dis way [demonstrates] nine time ovah de lef' shouldah [see Later] an' throw it in de watah an' walk back. Walk on off an' don't look back. In nine days time dey be gone - walkin'. Say dey couldn't go back any mo'.
(What track? Where do they get this dirt?)
Outa one track - don't want it outa but one, de lef' track. (Now, SuPPOSe yOu Want this man to gO, YOU MAKE A MOTION AS IF YOU ARE THROWING IT.) YES, EIGHT TIME AN' DE NINTH TIME THROW IT OVAH.{ {THIS FEINTING 8 TIMES BEFORE THROWING AN OBJECT OVER THE SHOULDER IS A RARE RITE. For another feinting rite over the shoulder, also rare, see fourth margin title on p.2004.]
Entry 5400
Well, now ah've heard people say if yo' take dere right foot track, take it from de toe lak dat an' come back tuh de heel, an' take yo' a aig - take dat dirt an' put it in dat aig. (Just give me the whole thing again, I'll be sure I get it then. You get the dirt from your right foot track.) It comes from de toe back tuh de heel. See [demonstrates] lak dis is yore toe. Well, dip it from yore toe back tuh yore heel lak dat, yo' see. An' den yo' take dat aig...
(A raw egg?)
A raw egg. Yo' jis' pick a li'le hole in it. Dat's whut dey tell me yo' kin do, an' put dat dirt intuh dat. An' yo' put dis cayenne peppah intuh dat. Shake it well an' stop it up. An' carry it tuh de rivah, an' turn yore back, an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah as far ovah de runnin' watah as yo' kin.
(What will that do?)
Dey tell me dat will make yo' leave any place yo' are.
Entry 5401
Git chure track when yo' go outa dere house. Go out an' take yo' a aig an' bust it an' keep dat skin on de inside de shell. An' take dat 'ere [= dere = there] track, take dat dirt up an' put it in dere, an' carry it tuh a stream of runnin' watah an' throw dat in. Dat 'ere is tuh keep a person from yore house, too.
(What will that do to them if I throw that in running water?)
Dat jes' tuh keep 'em goin'.
(Which foot track do you take up, either one?)
Eithah one of 'em.
(And you put it into this eggshell?)
Yessuh, jes' keep dat shell all tuhgethah an' jes' git dat air [= dere = there] - yo' know, dat egg outa de shell. (You make a little hole in the egg and get all that stuff out inside. Then you put this foot track in the egg. Any kind of an egg? Chicken egg?) Yes.
Entry 5402
Say yo' could take any kinda chicken aig an' make 'em move. Ah heah yo' could take a black chicken aig an' sees where dey walk, an' git dere track an' crack de aig, an' put de track in dis aig an' carry it to de runnin' watah, an' throw it ovah in dere an' dey be goin' off.
Entry 5403
An' jis' lak if yo' wanta run somebody 'way from a place, if dey done yo' harm or somepin othah. Roun' - yo' don' wan' 'em roun' yo'. Jis' git dere lef' track an' put it in aigshell, in a black hen's aigshell, an' yo' drop it in runnin' watah; an' as long as dat aigshell go, dey'll go.
Entry 5404
Well, if a person wan'a harm yo' in a foot track, dey got diff'ren ways dey kin harm yo' in dat. Dey kin take fo' ninstance - dey kin take an' git eggs, dey kin harm yo' in dat. Dey kin use salt an' harm yo' in dat. (How do they harm you with the eggs with that?) All right. Dey take a egg. Dey kin take a egg an' break dat egg. Beat dat egg up - beat dat egg an' when dey beat dat egg, dey put sugah in it. Dey'd git what chew would call - de same thin' as ah jis' tole yo', spoke of; but yo' git de powdah, de war powdah. Yo' mixes dat tuhgethah, but when yo' mixes it, it will come as a paste, see. Well, yo' jis' mix dat tuhgethah an' yo' gits - lak DERE'S A DRUG STORE RIGHT HERE, A FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE, WE GOES TO. Yo' gO dere an' yo' git some of de steel dust, or else take a silvah dime an' scrape it. Yo' git de dus' off de dime. An' yo' stir dat up good, an' if yo' git dis person's tracks, yo' put jis' a li'le in each track. Well, yo' know dey's goin' tuh pass an' dey bound tuh put dere feet in it. Be sure yo' know dey goin' tuh put dere feet in it. Yo' ketch one track here an' yo' may ketch anothah one ovah dere. Yo' know some people make big steps. Yo' ketch de track an' yo' put some in dere, in each track of de party yo' doin' harm. See. An' dat be all of dat. Dere won't be nuthin done in dat - see, in tryin' tuh harm 'em.
(What will that do to a person then?)
Now, tuh keep a person from [I interrupt].
(What will that do to him if you put that in his track?)
Well, what will it do tuh yo'? Why, den it would maybe paralyze 'im, his foot. It could paralyze yo', make yo' go lame in one leg or maybe de whole side. See, if a person done harm yo'.
(I see. Then - what would they do then? Do you know how to prevent that?)
Entry 5405
Now, say if yo' got'a employah - sompin lak dat - an' he's gittin' bad wit chah an' yo' wan's tuh git 'em down. Wall, yo' kin - don' git 'is track goin' from yuh, git 'is track comin' tuh yuh. Jis' take yore fingah an' pick up 'is track dat way, de right-foot track an' put it in yore han'. Take some sulphuh an' sugah wit it an' sew it in a sack, an' 'noint dat track wit Hearts Cologne an' jes' tote it in yore pocket. An' he'll come calm.
(He becomes quiet.)
Yes.
(His mind changes toward you.)
Entry 5406
Take two of yore fingahs, or one be all right. Take two an' draw de dust back tuh yo' from de toe. Start at de toe an' draw it tuh yo' an' turn roun' an' lay dis up ovah de do'. Den yo' be boun' tuh stay dere.
(Which foot track do you do that with?)
Yore right.
Entry 5407
Dat is, if it's a woman an' yo' wan' 'er tuh visit dis place here, yo' see. Yo' kin always have her tuh come here by dat foot track, if it's any way dat de foot track, if it's been rainin' data- way, if de soil is soft enough fo' yo' tuh gathah some of dat up wit dese two fingahs. See, takin' de length of 'er feet dataway an' drawin' 'em slightly dis way [demonstrates].
(Take the thumb and the little finger.)
Dat's right, see.
(Of the left hand or right hand?)
Right hand, see. Drawin' 'em slightly dis way [demonstrates].
(You catch it up between those two fingers.)
Yes sir, an' aftah pickin' it up, yo' see, take dat an' bury it undah yore step where yo' live at, where yo' wan' 'er tuh follah.
(I see.)
An' she be accustomary woman come in dere - yo' understan' daily.
(I see. Just take that one pinch?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5408
Take yore foot track - see, yore right track, take dese two fingahs right chere [demonstrates].
(Which hand?)
De right hand.
(The thumb and the forefinger.)
An: dey go down in de middle of yore tracks an' git a pinch of dat dirt three time right in de middle of yore tracks. Put it in dat cologne bottle. Put it half fulla watah an' bury it undah yore do'. Evah mawnin' yo' be tuh 'er house. (The woman does this to a man, so that he will come to her house.)
Entry 5409
Yo' take yore fingahs lak dis an' draw back from de end of de toe, back tuh de heel an' git de track, if yo' kin git de right foot. An' tie it up an' take it tuh a runnin' stream of watah an' - a new piece of home- spun - an' make yore wishes an' throw it ovah yore right shoul- dah. An' walk away an' not look back aftah it. An' dat would make yo' be in love wit 'im right on, make him come back tuh yo'. If he quitted yo' or sompin lak dat, yo' could do dat. (You just get his foot track between your two fingers, your index finger and little finger. Of the right hand.) Yeah. Say dat would draw 'im back. If yo' wanted tuh run 'im or drive [him away], say yo'd take yore lef' han' an' make bad wishes.
Entry 5410
Well, ah've heard dis about dat. Ah've heard dat - co'se ah've tried dat. Yo' goes, jis' lak ah'm goin' dis road, walkin' disaway. All right, if yo' wants tuh win a person, jis' lak a game or sompin lak dat. If yo' wanta change de way she gwine, jis' go an' take yore fingah [demonstrates], jes' lak if mah track is turned lak dis, ah'm gwine disaway. Take de fingah an' put it right in de hollah of yore feet - in de hollah of de feet of de track - jis' lak dat, three fingahs. All right, den yo' take it up wit yore three fingahs an' take an' put it in a rag, an' tote it in yore pocket an' yo' have dem dataway.
(You'll have the other person.)
Entry 5411
Take dey ole lady's shoe track up, right up in heah. Dey take dat track up right in dere an' carry it tuh de fi'place an' lay it up in dere. Yo' know, in de fi'place up ovah dere, de whole track up dere. An' yo' could go wit 'er, 'cuz she'll lak yo'.
Entry 5412
Well, yo' take it up, if yo' Wanted 'em tuh stay wid chah. Take it up comin' tuh yuh, de lef' feet, an' tie it up in a rag. Take a brick up outa de hearth an' bury it in dere an' dey wouldn't leave yuh.
(And suppose they didn't want you to stay?)
Yo' could take it up goin' from yo' an' go off wit it. Go off lak yo'd go about a mile or sompin an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' say, "Go, God damn yo'!"
burial beneath a removed hearth brick in the retaining alternative. Do not assert the removed brick is the buried object or borrow a precise substance from adjacent entries. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 5413
Take de right track an' bury it in yore fiahplace or undah de bricks. In a few days dey'll be back an' can't go away.
Entry 5414
Yes, ah have heard of dat. De way ah heard dat, yo' kin take dat an', yo' know, pick it up jis' as nice as yo' kin wit'out breakin' de dirt. An' sweep yore fiahplace out real good. Co'se if yo' don' have no fiahplace ah dunno [don't know] whut chew did. But anyway, yo' place it down in dere, an' den yo' build a fiah on it. An' dey tell me dat gits 'em, gits 'em a-goin'. An' dey walks deyself tuh death. An' den take wit de hotfoot powdah... [I interrupt].
(Now, you get one track or both tracks?)
One, de right track.
(Well, why get the right, I wonder?)
Ah dunno.
Entry 5415
Take a man or a woman's track. Git three lef'-foot tracks an' some sugah. Ah heard dat chew take it an' throw it in de centah of de fiahplace, dat track an' de sugah, an' say tuh itwhut chew want done. Dat will keep 'im or 'er home.
Entry 5416
She always takes de lef' [foot track]. Yo' know dat's neahah tuh de heart. Yo' take it up wit a little piece of shingle, undahneat' lak dat. Take it from de front [toes] an' bring back [to heel and towards house]. Yo' gits yo some red peppah. Yo' put five sewin' needle. Put dat in dere wit it. An' wrap it up - bring [wrap] it back toward home all de time - yo' know, he comin' tuh yuh. Den wind it good an' tight. Go tuh de fiahplace, call de Lord's Name three times [the Three High- est Names?]. Put it down in dere. Place a brick down on top of it. [First, a hearth brick is taken up and then replaced on the 3 ingredients: track, needles and red pepper.] Dat brings 'im back.
Entry 5417
(What would you do now, if a woman wanted to bring a man back? What would she do?) She goes an' git 'is track, jis' lak dat.
(Either track?)
Yes, his track - eithah one of 'em [demonstrates]. (From the heel to the toe or the toe to the heel? How are you pulling that dirt back?) From 'is toe right back tuh 'is heel. Den she carries dat, she ties it up wit a little coal out de chimley [= fireplace]. Mix it tuhgethah an' beat it up. She ties it tuh 'er, puts it in nex' tuh 'er skin. Dat's whut chew call a jomoo [usually jomoh]. An' she carries it tuh 'er, an' she weah it roun' 'er wais'. An' [that's] why he'll hang aroun' 'er.
(You said she will put dead coals or live coals?)
She git de live coals an' pees on 'em 'fore she puts 'em out an' let 'em git cold. Den she beats it, irons all dat tuhgethah. Den she weahs it roun' 'er wais'.
Entry 5418
Yes, ah have heard dat chew could take de track of a' individual an' yo' put it in a papah. Always, if yo' wan' 'em tuh come tuh yo', fold it tuh yo'; an' if yo' wan' 'em tuh go, fold it from yo'. See. An' bury it. (What will that do then?) Says dat it will bring 'em back. Yo' take de lef'-foot track.
Entry 5419
Dey could take yore tracks an' bury it undah de steps, if dey wanted yo' tuh stay dere. Den yo' would stay. Dey'd take yore track comin', jis' lak yo's comin' in de house an' carry it back dis way [towards house]. An' den take it an' fold it an' put it undah de bottom of de steps. If dey wanted yo' tuh stay, dat chew would stay dere.
(You take both tracks?)
De right track.
Entry 5420
Heard people say dat yo' could go tuh de fo'ks of de road. Ah've heard dat about chure track too. Say, jis' lak yo'd go long dere, ah could go tuh de fo'ks of de road an' git chure track. Why dey'd use it de same way, jis' stop it up in somepin othah an' lay it up in yore house, anywhere; but long as yo' kept dat track, why yo' have de 'tention [attention] of de person.
Entry 5421
[They] go out tuh de fo'ks of de road an' git chure track. Git it from de heel, if dey wanta run yo' away; an' if dey want chew tuh come back, dey git it from de toe. An' dey sew it up in a bran'-new piece of cloth, an' dey tote it in dey pocket.
Entry 5422
Makes some crosses intuh a crossroads. Make a cross in three forms - see, kinda, ah couldn't explain dat to yo'. (Well, just make it right there. You sit down and make it there and I'll see it.) Jis' lak dis, see [demonstrates]. Now dis de crossroads, an' dey makes it in dis mannah. Right lak dat, kin' of a "Y" shaped. Undahstan' dis way?
(Yes, like a "Y".)
Well, right up - jis' lak [demonstrates] dey come in heah [at the crossroads]. Ah come disaway - dis is de way ah live. An' dis de way - say, dat's where yo' live.
(The two prongs of the "Y" - all right, comin' together, to a meeting.)
Comin' together. An' if dey jis' take yore track from dis place, an' tie it up in a pocket hank'scuff or rag or sompin lak dat, an' tie it in a knot an' put it down undah de cornah of de do'step, yo' have tuh go.
(Go where?)
Go 'way from de city, if yo' wus in de city. (Whose doorstep do you put it under? [Your doorstepl or under the other fel- low's? This track you pick up?) De one yo' got de track off.
Entry 5423
Ah've heard dat argued up home. Dat's de forks of de road. Yo' go tuh de forks of de road, if a person's a enemy to yo', see. An' if yo' kin git tuh de forks of de road an' git de tracks of dat person from de fork of dat road - see, it's two roads. See. Now de fork of de road dat means de road is prackly [practically] two ways. An' yo' kin take his tracks an' sprinkle de dust down in de left side of de road. (You go out to the forks of the road and you get this man's tracks out there. What do you do with those tracks?) One goes right an' one go lef', if yo' wanta run de man crazy. Ah've heard dat argued a good many times.
(You pick up how many tracks?)
Yo' pick it up outa de right-han' track. Take up de right'han' track an' sprinkle it down on de left side [of "Y" fork] - in de lef' way. Dat's de way dey runs so many people crazy. Ah have nevah done dat.
(You don't touch his left track at all then?)
Yo' takes it outa de right track yo' see an' sprinkle it on de left side [fork] of de road.
(You don't put anything in the other side of the road at all?)
Oh, not de right side, see. An' den yo', when yo' git through dat, den yo' walk down de right side [fork] of de road, unless [you do] dat yo' both will go crazy. Unless - see, if yo' go down de lef' side [fork] aftah yo' sprinkle de track, de dust down in de lef' side, den yo' go down de lef' side, both of yo' will go crazy.
(You have to go down the right fork?)
Yo' have tuh go down de right side of de road. Dat's old-time doin's.
Entry 5424
Yo' go down tuh de fo' fo'k of a road an' yo' git de lef' track of a person. Yo' take it from de toe back tuh de heel wit de lef' han' an' yo' keep dat wit yo', if it's some- one dat chew love an' try- in' tuh git back tuh yo'. (You wrap that up in some- thing?) Yes sir, yo' put dat in de piece of cloth - red flannen.
Entry 5425
Said dey'll take up de tracks. Yo' know, bring it tuh yo'.
(Weren't you going out to the forks of the road now?)
[My question shows that I was late turning on recording machine.]
Yo' mean de fo'ks of de road. Yo' mean three roads tuhgethah. Yo' pick up dose tracks an' bring 'em tuh yo', yo' undahstan', Yo' bring dose three tracks tuh yo'. Aftah yo' pick 'em up tuh yo', yo' takes 'em an' put 'em in a new piece of homespun, sew 'em up an' bury 'em undah de - jis' lak if yo' livin' tuh a place, if dere's someone dat chew wants tuh come in yore home, don' chew know - an' bury 'em undah yore do'steps.
(That will bring them to your house.)
Entry 5426
Dey goes tuh de fo'ks of a road an' gits de track of a person. Lak yo' pass by dere, dey git chure track, eithah of dose track. Dey'll git nine tracks, nine steps yo' make, an' dey'll git from de hollah [hollow] of yore feet tuh de toe goin' dat way. Dey'll bottle dat up an' throw it in de sea - in de swamp where it runnin' watah, an' dey shoot yo' right in behin' dat. Yo'll go right on behin' dat track, behin' dat bottle, an' yo'll nevah stop until dat bottle stops.
Entry 5427
Dey says dey kin take yore tracks - yo' know, jis' lak yo' git de dirt outa yore tracks, an' takes it tuh de fo'ks of a road. An' put it in de fo'ks of de road an' git chew tuh wandahin'. Dey put it right at de fo'ks of de road an' it put chew tuh wandahin' aroun'.
Entry 5428
Mah mothah says dat yo' could take a person's track, if yo' didn't wan' 'em roun' an' yo' wanted tuh run 'em away or somepin lak dat. Yo' could take his track an' take it tuh de fo'ks of dis road, an' throw it one way, an' directly de way yo' would throw dat track, why dey would go behin' dat track.
(You said you would take either track?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5429
Dey kin take yore track up an' carry it tuh two fo'ks of de road [a "Y" road], an' jis' as yo' git tuh de fo'k of de road, why yo' throws it ovah yore lef' shouldah. An' when yo' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah, don't look back. Dat makes yo' move an' put chew tuh travelin'. Yo' wants tuh move off.
(Which track do you take, you say?)
Yo' take yore lef' feet. (Well, now suppose I take your left-foot track and I walk out to this road, the forks of the road. Here [I demonstrate] are the two forks and I am walking this way. Now where would I stand and throw that, right in the middle?) Dat's right, right at de fo'k.
(I would throw that over my left shoulder. Then what do I do?)
Aftah yo' throw it, yo' walk right on straight ahead on de way yo' were goin'. Go right straight on from it.
(That would send you to traveling.)
Dat put de fellah tuh travelin', when yo' pick up 'is track.
Entry 5430
Take dat foot track an' two aigs an' carry it tuh de fo'k of a road an' yo' bury it tuh de fo'k of de road jis' befo' sunrise, an' dat will make anybody come from fah [far] an' neah [near]. (Come to you, if you want them to come.) Want dem tuh come. Even in New York or Alabama or anywheres, if yo' wan' 'em tuh come. (You take one foot track or both of them or what? And what do you do with those two eggs?) Take de lef'-foot track. Take de two aigs an' de foot track an' bury it tuh de fo'k of de road.
(The left foot track. Do you break these eggs or what?)
No, yo' leave 'em jis' whole.
Entry 5431
Dey say yo' kin take a shahp [sharp] stick an' put dat in yore track. Dey kin go tuh each fo'ks of de road - lak de road dat got fo' forks tuh it [a crossroad] an' yo' kin drive a stake down at each one of dem fo'ks of de road, an' dey saydat will hurt chah too. (They have to put one down in your foot track too. Then you go to the four forks of the road and put them there.) An' call yo' names.
(What is that supposed to do to you?)
Dat hurts chah.
Entry 5432
If yo' wanted tuh do away wit anybody, run 'em off from yo', anyways lak dat, yo' would take de dirt outa - undah 'is lef' feet an' put it in a box, a tin box. An' carry it tuh dat fo'ks of de road, an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah in dat road an' say, "Go, tuh come no mo'." Dey say dat is a true thing fo' it.
(To run you away?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5433
Dey do dat sometime in ordah whenevah dey wan's a person tuh leave aroun' 'em - a enemy.
(All right, tell me the whole story.)
Whenevah dey have a enemy an' dey wan's tuh git rid of dat enemy, dey go tuh de fo'ks of de road an' dey take dere track wit 'em. Dey git both tracks an' take out dere tuh de fo'ks of de road befo' day in de mawnin', see. Yo' know, befo' daylight - sunlight - 'tween two an' fo' a'clock lak dat. An' yo' take dat track out dere an' yo' turn yore face tuh de east, an' yo' say three, repeat three words, In de Name of de Father, Son an' Holy Ghost. [Say] whut chew want dese people tuh do, dey doin' yo' harm, an' yo' call dis person name an' den yo' throw it dat way.
(What way?)
Dere tuhwards de east.
(You throw this track toward the east?)
Yes, throw it tuhwards de east.
Entry 5434
Ah heard if yo' want someone tuh leave heah, yo' know yo' wan'a git rid of someone, an' dey way dey do, dey said dey'd git chure foot track from yore toes - git chure right-foot track from de toes an' bring it tuh yo'. An' yo' put it in a green gourd an' stop it up, an' go tuh runnin' watah, where dere's runnin' watah, an' throw it ovahbo'd. Throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah, ovahbo'd. An' dey say dat will shore run 'em away. Dey'll go somewheres.
Entry 5435
Take dat track an' yo' put it in a gourd. Yo' know, jis' cut de end of it, yo' know, off, an' yo' put dat track in de gourd, an' den yo' put a stop- pah in dere real tight an' throw it in de branch. Jis' lak dat gourd go, dat's dey way he'll go.
(That's the way this person will go?)
Dat's right.
Entry 5436
Well, people - jis' lak dey see yore feet track, yo' know an' know it's yore track. Dey kin pick yore track up yo' see an' put it in dere pocket or any- thin', an' go an' git 'em a gourd an' bo' 'em a hole in it. [Then put track in gourd and stop it up.] An' den throw dat gourd in de rivah or anywhere in run- nin' watah, yo' know, an' dey kin run yo' crazy lak dat an' make yo' hitch-hike all de time. Yo' know, yo' cain't stay in one place long as dat gourd keep goin' down de stream. [It is evident that track went into gourd, but I want a statement from infor- mant.]
(What do they do with that foot track, put it in the pocket?)
No, dey put it in de gourd an' throw it in de'rivah or anywhere dere runnin' watah.
(They take either foot track?)
Dey take yore foot track.
(Well, why do they put it in the gourd?)
Why dey put in de gourd? Dey have to put it in de gourd on account, yo' know, sompin dat will stay floatin' on top of de watah, yo' know.
Entry 5437
Dey git chore foot track. An' aftah dey git chore foot track, chore lef' one - git chore lef' foot track goin' from 'em. Dey git it goin' from 'em. Now, when dey pick it up, why yore track goin' dat way from 'em, why dey take an' pull it tuh 'em lak dat - pull it back tuh 'em lak dat. An' dey'll mix it wit sugah an' care [carry] it in de cemetery, an' put it right in de grave. Dig right down in de centah an' put it right down in de grave. An' dat daid [dead] spirit will jis' keep yore spirit, jis keep yuh worried up - jis' keep yuh wor- ried. Yuh heah tell of a whole lot of people dyin' in de baid? An' dat'll wor- ry 'em - DAT DAID SPIRIT'LL WORRY YORE SPIRIT UP. AN' MAYBE YORE SPIRIT'LL WAN- DAH OFF WIT DAT DAID SPIRIT, AWAY IN DE NIGHT AN' NEVAH GIT BACK; AN' YUH'LL FIND OUT DAT SOMEBODY IN DE BAID DAID.
Entry 5438
Dey take yore track, yore right track, an' carry it in de graveyard an' name it aftah yo'. Call yore name, yo' know, tuh some of dose whut dey known in de graveyard whut's dead. Put it down side de person grave an' tell 'em tuh take dis track an' take dat person away from heah. [Wilmington, N. Car., (243), 165:14 0r 240:10.]
Entry 5439
If yo' wan'a person tuh go yore way an' wan'a take all de money dat dey've got [they say] da' choo could take dere right track an' put it up in a li'le piece of papah wit some salt, an' stick it down tuh de haid of a baby's grave, an' dat'll cuz a man tuh do anythin' da' choo wan' 'im tuh do, or a woman'eithah, if a man treats 'er dat way.
Entry 5440
Ah have heard a person kin run yo' crazy. Dey kin take some of de dirt, git a part of yore track. Go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt. (Get the dirt from both tracks or just one?) Yore right feet - from yore right feet track, an' go tuh de grave of a gamblah an' git some of de dirt from de foot of 'is grave. Take it an' carry it home an' git chew some red flannel, table salt, an' take it an' put it right undah 'is steps, an' in seven days he'll be crazy or mindless. (You Wrap all this stuff up in that red flannel and bury it under his own step.) Undah 'is step.
Entry 5441
Dey tell me yo' have tuh go tuh de cemetery roun' about fo' a'clock in de mawnin' an' take an' put yore han' intuh de middle of a dead sinnah's grave. An' den yo' put, yo' know, a dime [in this hole] an' git dis dirt. An' yo' take dis dirt, choo see, an' yo' come on away. An' yo' would take de [victim's] foot track, yo' see, wit dis graveyard dirt. An' wherevah a person is da' choo don't wan' 'em, dey tell me da' choo kin take dis dirt - aftah yo' git it from dis graveyard about fo' a'clock in de mawnin' - an' take it an' throw it all ovah dis place where dis person is. An' dey say dey'll nevah will go back no mo'. Dey say dey'll jis' certainly drive 'em away from dere, or drive 'em outa town. Yo' ain't got'a do a thing but jis' take an' throw it right on de front porch an' walk away wit chore back turned. An' don't look back.
Entry 5442
Ah've heard of people even takin' up.dere track. Jis' lak yo' walk an dey take yore track an' carry it an' take it an' bury it in de graveyard. Well, yo' be no mo' good tuh yo'self. Jis' lak now, dey'll know yore track where yo' walk along, jis' go an' pick it up, an' take it an' carry it an' bury it in de graveyard. An' yo' won't be no mo' good tuh yo'self.
(Either track, it doesn't make any difference?)
Either track, right or left. Anywhere, jis' since dey know whose track it is.
Entry 5443
Jis' lak a person walkin' in dey foot track, dey pick up de whole track an' put it in a bottle an' bury it in de cemetery. An' dey say, as long as hit stay dat way, dat person can't walk a step:
(Either track or both of them?)
Jes' from de right foot.
Entry 5444
Dey kin take yore foot track up...throw it in de cemetery...dat will give yo' bad luck...put yo' tuh driftin'.
Entry 5445
Heard of 'em jis' takin' up yore track. Dey could take up yore track an' run yo' 'way from home. Dey take dat track an' dey carry it tuh - put it undah- neat' chure step. Go tuh de graveyard an' mix some graveyard dust wit 'em, den dey bury it undahneat' chure steps.
(That is supposed to run you away?)
Dey say dat 'sposed tuh run yo' 'way.
Entry 5446
Dey say if dey git chure lef' track an' put some graveyard dirt in wit dat, an' put it undah de step; dey say dat will cuz zooh tuh be LAME IN YORE LEG, OR MAKE YO' SLEEP A LOT. [Wilmington, N. Car., (205), 112:4+85.}
Entry 5447
Ketch de right foot [track] disaway [demonstrates], de lef'-foot [track] disaway. (You bring the right foot back, toe back to heel; the left foot, you catch from the heel up to the toe.) Put it in a piece of new homespun w'a' [what] ain't nevah been washed. Go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt an' mix wit it. Well, yo' see, dat'll make yo leave home. Take it an' put it back undah yore steps. Well, aftah dey put it undah yore steps, yo' see, yo'll leave home; yo' can't come back dere no mo'.
Entry 5448
She will git 'is track an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dirt an' put it in a piece of cloth, an' carry it tuh a rivah an' chunk it down de stream, an' tell 'im tuh go, an' he'll go.
Entry 5449
Take de foot track an' mix it wit sulphur an' put it in runnin' watah - an' graveyard dirt, an' dat will run 'em off.
(Either foot track?)
Well, it's best tuh git de lef', nex' tuh de heart.
Entry 5450
Ah knowed a fellah once said if yo' watch a gurl [girl] - he said if she stepped in de sand, he said take three fingahs, dip down in de sand li' cat [like that], jerk it back tuh yuh an' say de words 'ah got chah, '' he said. An'yo'ta'cat [take that] sand an' take it tuh de graveyard, an' git some graveyard dirt an' put it lit it. Den yo' take it an' tie it in a bag, an' bury it in de bottom of a dirt spring - a spring wit a sof' [soft] bottom tuh it - where dis gurl drinks outa, see. An'.yo'll have de gurl so da' she [that she] couldn't leave yuh. She'd have tuh stay wit chew all de time. [Baltimore, Md., (154).61:4.]
Entry 5451
Den dey say dey could take roun' yore track an' dey kin finely [final- ly] run yuh completely away from home. Dey take out of yore lef' track, take three outa de lef' [3 left tracksl. jis' outa de palm of de track [often called the holZah = hol- lowl. Den jerk it back. Take dat an' mix it wit graveyard dirt. Put some sul- phur an' lodestone. Tie it in a li'le [cloth]. Bury any place right aroun' de house.
Entry 5452
Ah would go an' ah would fin' de foot tracks, an' ah would pick up de dust of de foot track - where de foot track made a print. Ah would go tuh de graveyard an' ah would git some graveyard dust, an' ah would mix it all tuhgethah, see. Den ah would place it in mah shoe an' walk on it. Dat would make yo' come - jis' like yo' hate me, are an enemy against me, undahstan', dat will make yo' come tuh like me.
Entry 5453
De way ah heered dat, dey take yore left-hand track. Jis' lak yo' make a track, well dey take de centah from yore track, right from de bottom of yore foot, an' take dat dirt an' carry it. Go tuh a graveyard an' take dat [track] dirt an' mix it wit graveyard dirt. An' yo' take it den an' tie it up in a han'che'ch'ef, in de left-hand side of a han'ke'ch'ef, an' tie it roun' dere body an' tote it on dere body lak dat. Well, dey says if yo' take it an' tote it roun' yore body lak dat, dat take some kinda 'fect on party [whose track is used] an' keep 'em wit cheW, an' SHE WON' HAVE NO NATURE FO' NO OTHAH MAN BUT 'IM [this could also go under CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE, p.2341f.].
(Well, who would do that?)
Well, now de boy would do dat to de girl.
(He would wear it on his body?)
Yes sir, wear it roun' 'is bodv.
(And she wouldn't have any nature for anyone but him?)
No one but him. (He would take her foot track with this graveyard dirt and put it in the left side of the handkerchief?) De left side of de han'ke'ch'ef.
(Well, what is the left side of the handkerchief?)
Well, de left cornah dere.
[The upper-left corner as you face it.]
(And he wears it around his waist?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5454
Well, dey git some dust out of a graveyard an' mix it tuhgethah wit some peppah an' stuff like dat. See. Den aftah yo' mix it tuhgethah an' like dat, den dey will git lodestone. Dis black lodestone is a powdah-like, yo' see. An' mix it tuhgethah. Den dey will take yore track like dis. Take yore track an' where dey come an' take yore track up, den dey'll put de dust down de way yo' go - see, disaway. An' when yo' go from de home an' travelin' ovah dat place, dey sprinkle dat dust dat- away all de time. But when yo' travel ovah dat, den dat'll make yo' come away from dat house, make yo' be uncontented here. See, yo' will move, see.
(I see, I see.)
Yo' cain't be contented in dat place. Dat'll make yo' have tuh move.
(They don't pick up the track, the earth - just put stuff in the track?)
Jis' put de stuff in de track jis' where yo' go, an' den dat make yo' be...
(Just in the track.)
Entry 5455
Dey'll [evil doer will] go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt an' mix it wit salt an' peppah. Git dis red pod of peppah an' grind it up, an' put it right at dere [victim's] step by de do'. Den yo' [victim] step in it. He [evil doer] takes dis up, dis footprint, an' take it back tuh de graveyard an' bury it. An' den dey claim dis person [victim].will eithah become sick or dey be driven outa town.
Entry 5456
De left foot, gits it from dere where yo' make yore track. Jis' lak yo' make yore track dere in dat sand, well ah come back down dere an' ah see yore track. Den [I] come dere an' jis' git up one teaspoonful of dat dirt out chure track. An' den yo' take dat dirt an' sulphur, graveyard dirt, salt. Mix all dat tuhgethah. An' den take dat thing an' jis' whatevah dey wanta do wit yo', dey kin do it.
(What would they do with that?)
Well, dey could take dat an' if dey want chew tuh leave from dere, don' wan' chew roun', if yo's ahindahin' 'em any, jis' send yo' on off. Dey won't nevah have no mo' tuh do wit yo'. Dey ain't goin' be any way bothahed. Dat's fo' a hinimey [an enemy] of yourn.
(What would they do with that dirt in order to send me away?)
Why dat's whut dey do wit it. Jis' take an' mix all of dat tuhgethah whut ah tole yo'.
(But what do they do with that after they mix it together?)
Well, dey will take dat den an' carry it - dey kin bury it. An' when dey bury it, why dat jis' got chew upset. Yo' jes' got'a leave dere. Yo' can't do any- thing atall.
Entry 5457
Ah heard a lady dat ah knew, she wanted tuh do a person a very bad trick. She taken a bran'-new bucket, a tin bucket dat nevah been used. Put dat bucket dere an' put some graveyard dirt in it. An' put dat lady's name in whut she jis' didn't care much fo' in dere. An' walked tuh a place an' took 'er left foot, mashed it in de ground, so she could git de print of 'er foot. An' put dat in dat new bucket, an' bought a bran'-new looking glass - bran'-new ten-cent glass an' put dat in de bucket. An' den she buried dat. Dat's tuh turn them down against de world. She buried dat glass an' de left print of foot, an' de graveyard dirt, an' put it in dis new bucket an' buried it. She wuz buryin' 'er down. (She put this graveyard dirt in the bucket and then she puts this woman's name in the bucket.) De name on a papah. (Then suppose I'm doing this to you. Then I make my own footprint, put my own footprint on top.) Ah'm de one supposed tuh be puttin' mah prints on top of yo'. (You are putting your prints on me to keep me down. I understand.) [An old note of mine read, "Woman talks so fast."]
Entry 5458
[Deyl git mah track early in de mawnin'. Dey'd go tuh de sunrise, take it from de west, take it from de east. Put it in graveyard dirt [and sayl, "Go an' stay. Nevah come no mo'. Nevah be worried wit yo' no mo'." Take it an' throw it across mah left shouldah. Don't look back. Nevah be worried no mo'.
(Where do you throw it?)
Throw it across mah left shouldah tuhward de east. Nevah be worried no mo'
(How do you mean you take up this foot track from the east and from the west?)
Not throw it east an' west, take it up as yo' walk tuhward de sunrise. Undah- stan'? Jis' lak yo' walk out de do', undahstan', early 'fore de sunrise. Well ah will take yore track up. Ah would put yore track in a box. Undahstan', shet it up in dere. An' when - de stuff 'fore de sunrise, ah'm goin' throw it east an' west cross mah left shouldah in graveyard dirt. Well, ah'm goin' pray, 'Go an' stay. Don't nevah come back no mo'." Well, ah'll nevah see yo' no mo'. Undahstan'? All right.
Entry 5459
Tracks of yore foot - of yore right foot.
(How do they do that?)
Yo' kin jis' take - dey tells me dat yo' kin walk out dere. Wat chew [watch you] when yo' step Out. DEN DEY USED TUH HAVE GROUN', YO' KNOW, TUH WALK ON. Well, when yo' step down on dat dirt, right where yo' step, dey go dere an' takes dat track up, picks it up. Dey tell me dey ketch it right in de middle of where yo' put yore foot [the hollah (hollow) or palm of the foot].
(What will they do with that?)
Well, dey takes dat, dey say, an' mix it tuhgethah wit de buryin' groun' dirt an' put it in a bottle an' po' watah on it, some kinda watah, an' carry it an' bury it in de north cornah of a tree root. An' let it begin tuh drip, yo' undah- stan' me, an' de las' drip out de bottle, yo'll be gone.
(Do you know what kind of water they put in it?)
Rain watah. YO' COULD KETCH RAIN WATAH DOSE DAYS. [Richmond, Va., (?). 380:4.]
Entry 5460
Ah heard dat yo' could go tuh de graveyard fo' nine mawnin's an' each mawnin' dat chew go, yo' git chew jis' as much sand an' graveyard dirt as yo' kin hold in yore han', yo' see. An' yo' take dat on back home, an' yo' place dat nine points aroun' yore house, see. Den if it's somebody which yo' want tuh harm or sompin, if yo' git 'em tuh come dere, undahstan'. Well, aftah dey come dere, yo' pick up dey tracks yo' see, an' yo go tuh a tree an' pick yo' a hole in dere, an' take an' place dis graveyard dirt each mawnin'. Jis' lak yo' took it from de cemetery. Take it back an' stick it in dat hole, an' de last mawnin' yo' take an' close it up. Dey tell me dat run 'em crazy.
(Would you do anything with their tracks?)
Take dem tracks up, yo' see, an' put dat fo' nine mawnin's - see, yo' jis' put dat in dat hole whut yo picked in de tree. See. Den aftah yo' do dat, put dat graveyard dirt in dere an' stop it up. Say dat will run 'em crazy. (You put these tracks in the hole, then you pick up this graveyard dirt and you put that on top of the tracks?) On top of de tracks.