Browse:FOOT TRACK (Volume 4, entries 5301–5797)/Part 5
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 5621
Dey say if yo' goin' anywhere an' a person don' wan' choo dere, an' yo' leave, dey walks right back out on yore foot track; an' take de firs' two track, an' takes up one han'- ful of dirt from de lef' an' den throw some salt in de right one. Dey take de sand [from left track] on back to de house wit 'em an' put it in a bag: an' keep dat. An' dey say yo' can't come back to de house no more.
Entry 5622
Take up dere track an' put it in [put in it] some salt, cookin' salt, an' throw it in de runnin' watah - lak a rivah yo' know. Throw it in de runnin' - be sure an' throw it in de runnin' watah an' dat will run yo' 'way from yo' home.
Entry 5623
If yo' be walkin' down de dust [dusty road or field], well dey kin pull dat track back [from toes to heel] an' take up some of dat dust. An' take an' put salt in it. An' take it to de rivah an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah into de watah. An' dat'll run 'em.
Entry 5624
Dey git de dirt outa yo' track an' put salt in wit dat, an' go tuh rnnin' watah an' throw it ovahbo'd, an' yo'll move an' can't he'p yo'self. Dat uhut dey tell me. Said dey could run 'em wild - dat whut dey tell me - wit it. Said dey take dat an' tie it up in a new cloth, an' go tuh runnin' watah, throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' make a wish, say, "Go 'way." Yo' mind will go, sompin lak dat. (That track you got up thefirst time, you get it from the toe to the heel?) Uh-huh, an' yo' walk tuh de runnin' watah. An' put salt in it an' walk tuh de runnin' watah, an' throw it ovah yo' lef' shouldah an' don't look back, an' make yore wish an' leave on away. An' don' have nuthin tuh say.
Entry 5625
Take de dirt from undah a person's right feet an' put it in a rag, an' put red peppah an' salt intuh it an' put it in runnin' watah. Dat will cuz a person tuh bust - goes mos' anywhere yo' wan' 'em tuh go.
(That will send him away.)
Entry 5626
Pick up de lef' foot jis' in de centah, in de middle of de track, an' put it into a bag. An' put a little salt, a little [red] peppah an' throw it into de rivah. An' dey say dat will do yo~ harm - make yo' go away, don' chew know, run yo' outa town sompin lak dat.
Entry 5627
Yo' kin take a person track an' take red peppah an' salt an' put it in a halfa pint bottle, an' chunk it in runnin' watah de way yo' wan' de person tuh go an' dey'll leave. Dey won' evah come back.
Entry 5628
Take de foot tracks up an' put dat in abottle of water, an' put some cayenne peppah an' salt an' steel dust, an' throw it inde rivah. Dat will make yo' drift. Track of de left foot.
Entry 5629
Take dey track.
(Either track?)
No sir, de track outa de right foot. Take it up from yo', put it in a jah [jar]. Put chew some salt an' red peppah wit dat, stop it up tight. Go down tuh de rivah when de tide's goin' out an' stan' wit chure back lak dis [demon- stratesl, an' pitch it ovah yure lef' shouldah an' call dat person name. An' dey'll leave out jis' lak dat - dat bottle go down wit de ebb tide.
Entry 5630
Well, yo' take dat foot track goin' dis way an' - yo' take it goin' - an' den yo'. take it comin', see. Well, aftah yo' take dat track - gits both tracks - see, yo' git one goin' an' de othah one comin'. Yo' gits a piece of Lowe's, bran'-new Lowe's cloth. It's thick stuff whut dey make sacks outa, cotton sacks.
(What they call Louis?) [Lowe's.]
Yessuh. Yo' git a piece of Lowe's an' yo' sew it up [into a bag]. An' yo' go git chew a box of table salt. Yo' git chew a box of cayenne peppah. An' take dat track an' yo' compounds all dat up tuhgethah an' yo' put in dere [small bag nade from new Lowe's cloth] an' [put] dat [Lowe's-cloth bag into a bag of] red flannen. [A bag of any material holding the ingredients of a hand is often en- closed within red flannel for added power.] An' yo' goes tuh de rivah an' yo' turn backward dis way [demonstrates] an' chunk it ovah in de rivah. See, lak dat, ovah yore lef' shouldah.
(What will that do?)
Dat will run 'em away.
Entry 5631
Well, dey gits up de foot track an' dey prepare dat up an' tote it. We use red peppah an' black peppah - sech as dat. We sprinkle dat down an' we salt it. Salt is sup- posed tuh save things. We use salt wit de idea in view of de savin' powdah by dat. We put de salt in dere tuh save it. As long as de salt holds it strength, we got holt of de undahtakin' at de time. SALT IS A GREAT IHING BUT LOTTA PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT.
(Just what do you do with that track now?)
Well, We takes dat track - IT'S NOT BUT A VERY FEW PEOPLE IN DIS DAY'S TIME HANTS TUH KILL A PERSON, BUT DEY WANTS DEM TUH COME UNDAH DERE CONTROL AN' HOLI "EM, Yo' KNOW. When dey do dis, so den dey use dese means.
[Informant, professional worker, starts another rite.]
Put DUST IN YORE SHOES. PREPARE IT WIT THREE DIFFREN THINGS. An' dey uSe dat tuh sprinkle dat in yore shoes. Dere certain things yo' kin do tuh pertect yo'. Yo' kin walk ovah any kind whatsomevah it is. It melt away. Why.all yo' would do - use salt, nine drops of vinegah.
(How would they use that?)
Weah three needles in yore cap or hatband or whatsomevah yo' gwine tuh do. Stick it - conceal it away.
(What did you do with that salt and vinegar?)
Well we take de salt an' vinegar an' drop nine drops in each shoe. Jis' put a little pinch of salt in dis shoe an' one in dis one, an' we walk anywhere we vanta go.
(You can walk over anything?)
Walk ovah anything a man kin put down.
Entry 5632
Ah heard a ole man say if yo' had a bad enemy, ah mean neighbor an' he come tuh be a enemy, he said, dat yo' could take his track. Take a track of 'is. An' he said yo' could take some black peppah an dis pulverize - yo' know yo' take peppah an' make it outa tobacco [pepper out of tobacco equals snuff]. An' he said yo' git some of dat [also] an' tie up 'is track. Tie it up good in a rag. An' take dat rag an' dey said tie it aroun' dere good an' tight. An' den take a stick an' put it down in de watah - runnin' watah. An' he said, when yo' do dat - an' leave it dere In de Name of de Lawd. An' fix it so it will be weighted down an' watah run ovah it. DEY GOIN' DOWN DAID. Now, dat's whut ah heard about it - a enemy.
(They put black pepper with that?)
Scuse me. Dey put black peppah an' salt, a tablespoonful, an' dey take de red peppah already ground an' put it.
(Cayenne pepper?)
Yessuh. An' put it in dere. An' den aftah yo' do dat, po' de salt all ovah dat, an' take an' tie it up In de Name of de Lawd. An' put nine knots in dis rag. An' den aftah yo' put dose nine knots, yo' take an' drive down de rag through a stick - drive through de rag de stick to hold it down dere. Den yo' lay a rock or somepin ovah it an' let de watah run ovah it. An' dat'll make 'em move from dat place. Dat's whut ah heard.
Entry 5633
If someone gone away an' dey wuz persuaded away by some person dat's tryin' to do yo' harm in de family or somepin of de kin', an' dey git dis person out an' tell 'em to leave home, ah wouldn't stay dere; an' den, yo' 'see, dey're tryin' to do yo' harm. Dey would git dis person off, an' den dey would give 'em somepin to keep 'em away from yo'. Ah've heard dat.
(What do they give them?)
Dey say dey would fix up somepin in dere food, some kin', lak women have, an' put it in dere food. An' den to bring 'em back, a lady tol' me dis, she wuz a ole lady, she's daid now, she tol' me dis to bring 'em back. She said if yo' wan' 'em, desire dem back home an' couldn't git 'em back, said if dey did come to see yo', if dey happen to come to see yo', yo' git some salt an' red peppah an' some sulphur, an' sprinkle it in dere tracks when dey leave ag'in, so dey come back ag'in dey wouldn't go back any mo'. If dey leavin', dat'll bring 'em back.
Entry 5634
Dey say yo' kin take dere track an' put it wit some salt an' [red] peppah an' sulphur an' put it in a bottle, an' go to runnin' watah an' throw it in backwards, an' tell de person - call dere name - tell dem to go jis' lak dat track go down dere, down de rivah. An' long as dat watah runnin' carr'in' dat track, why dat person always wundahin' [wandering] roun' an' goin'.
(You use the dirt out of either foot?)
Either one.
Entry 5635
About de track, ah know about de track. De' [dey = they] takes nine pods of red peppah an' de' take nine pinches of sulphur. De' take nine pinches of salt an' git dat track, de right-foot track, when dey're leavin' home. An' mix all dat togethah. Ah seen 'em do it, mix all dat togethah yo' know. An' dey take it an' box it up, an' dey chunk it in de rivah. Den dey'll go. In nine days dey'll leave town an' nevah come back.
Entry 5636
When a person, yo' know, jis' walkin' along, an' dey could take sulphur an' salts an' spirits of turpentine an' mix it tuhgethah an' cuz yo' tuh have a foolish min'. [Spirits of turpentine is used occasionally instead of turpentine, the addi- tion of spirits giving to turpentine a spirit or other-world quality. An inform- ant somewhere in Hoodoo explains the spiritual essence of turpentine.] (Well, what do they do with that stuff after they get it? What do they do with that?) Takes it an' mix it tuhgethah an' as yo'd walk along, see dey po's dat in yore track as yo' go 'long. A certain numbah of tracks yo' know. Ah 'spect [suspect] yo' have tuh put it in de tracks, nine tracks nine mawnin's. An' dat vill cuz yo' tuh go crazy.
(This mixture, they just slip it into these tracks?)
Yes.
Entry 5637
Well, dey say dat if a person - if dey git de foot track right at de do'step, see. When dey git de foot track right at dis step right aftah dey Walked in an' out, dey could take some out of it an' put it in sompin an' put some salt, peppah, black peppah, two or three drops of vinegah, an' bury it up undah de back steps. Says, dey von' come back any mo'.
Entry 5638
Yore left track - if yo' goin' down 'er steps, she could rake yore left track to her an' jis' mix a little sugah an' salt wit it, an' yo' jis' keep yore min' on 'er all de time. (What would she do with that track?) Heah it, Weah it in a little bag, an' dat jis' keep yore min'.
Entry 5639
Dey go to work an' if dey git yo' an' if dey're goin' to hahm [harm] yo' dey take yore tracks an' bury on to dere steps. Well, now listen, dey put some saltpetah in yore tracks. See, now dat'll hahm yo'. If dey take yore tracks up from any- where dey'll hahm yo' if dey put saltpetah in it. [Somewhere either before recording began or along in here while recording machine stopped, informant mentions 5 foot tracks or footprints. I missed a notation at the time but will soon mention them.]
(On your own steps?)
Yes, on yore own steps.
(Yes, I see. On my own steps?)
On yore own steps.
(That is, five footprints of dirt on my own steps? Either foot track?)
Eithah foot, it don' make any diffrence.
Entry 5640
Well, yo' kin take de dirt up out dere foot track. Yo' take dat up m' put it in a cloth an' den dey take salt an' [red] peppah, an' it's eithah Samson [snake root] or blacksnake root. Yo' take dat up an' put it all togethah, an' den wrap dat up, see an' dey bury dat. Put it in a bottle an' stop it up right airtight, an' dey bury dat. Dat'll make yo' stay.
Entry 5641
Ah heard 'em say yo' could take some dirt out right in de bottom, right in de palm of de lef' feet, choo know. Take it an' put it in a bag an' fix yo' so yo' couldn't walk. Yo' jis' weah it in de bottom of yo' shoe.
Entry 5642
[This is a job-stealing rite! There are a number of them in Hoodoo. To obtain a job is an important rite in hoodoo thought.] Fo' instance, yo'd walk on out dere lak yo' attah [after] quittin' a job, a feller not wantin' a job. All right, yo' could take a shovel an' pick dis [other feller's] track up, de right track, an turn it roun'. An' den de nex' mawnin' yo' kin go dere an' ast dis man fo' de [other man's] job. See? Go dere fo' - well, 'bout three mawnin's, somepin lak dat. But on de third mawnin' yo' go, de man [boss] will give yo' de job. (He would take my job away from me and give it to you, if you turned my foot track around?) Yes.
(But you must get my foot track while I am going to the job?)
Dere yo' are [exactly]. Yore right foot track whilst yo' goin' to de job.
Entry 5643
Ah learnt dat if yo' wants tuh drive a person away wit dere track, git 'em - jis' like yo' see a person walkin' up de street, de firs' track he put down, keep yore eyes on 'em an' go an' pick de firs' track up. Git chew a siftah whut have nevah been used befo' an' sift it through dat. Take it in yore home an' at mawnin', jis' as early as yo' possibly kin git up, jis' take it an' walk out an' look right straight up, an' throw part of it to de east an' part to de no'th, part to de s'uth an' part to de west. Dat will keep 'im goin'.
(Sending you away with your track.)
Entry 5644
Take de foot tracks out from behin' somebody as dey be walkin' along, don' let 'em see yo'.
(Foot tracks?)
Both tracks, dat he [you] wanted to run away. An' take it to de rivah an' de early part of de mawnin', when yo' firs' wake up befo' yo' speak to anybody an' throw it in de rivah ovah yore lef' shoul- dah. An' walk away an' nevah look back at it an' dat'll run 'im away.
Entry 5645
Ah heard dat when dey take up yore foot track, yo' tie it up in a silk rag an' throws it in runnin' watah; run a man from his home or a lady. (Put it in silk rag - just wrap it up in there, and you must throw it in water running north?) De watah runnin' no'th... [I turned off recording machine too soon to catch the final words watah runnin' no'th, because informant was slow in adding them. This sudden addition is quite common while interviewing. That is why I comment or ask question hoping informant will repeat. Sometimes he does, other times he does not.]
Entry 5646
Dey kin go an' see yore track an' begin at de toe an' pick it up completely to de heel, right undah de middle. Don't let any of it fall off, evah bit of it. An' put it in a silk piece of cloth, a piece of silk ole or new. Don't make [no difference] jis' so long as it's silk. An' go to de rivah, drop in de middle of dat rivah. Don't say a word but jis' make yore wish, jis' like yo' say, "Go, yo' devil! Yo' go!" Turn yore back de moment yo' drop it an' don't look back. Come on away an' dey'll go.
Entry 5647
If yo' wan'a make love yo' take his right - if he's comin' towards yo', take de dirt out 'is right foot track when he comin' towards yo'. Put it in a bag wit sugah an' spice in dere, an': sleep wit it undah yore haid, undah yore mattress undah yore hair where yo' lies.
Entry 5648
If yo' have somebody nex' do' tuh yo' an' yo' wanted 'em tuh move. An' dey wuz 'sturbin' de neighborhood, yo' know, an' yo' wanted 'em tuh move. Why yo' jis' take some of de dirt outa dere right foot, an' put it in a snuffbox an' carry it tuh de rivah. An' throw it intuh de rivah 'not look back an' go on home. Dey'd move. [Waycross, Ga., (1121), 1802:5.] ap'
Entry 5649
Git dere foot track an' put it into a snuffbox an' put it ovah de do' an' drive dem.
(What do you mean driving?)
Dat drivin' yo' 'way from home.
Entry 5650
Well, ah'll tell yuh whut dey do. Dey takes dere track an' den dey pats some kinda stuff wit it, see. An' dey take dat track an' den dey take it an' dey'll throw it eithah ovahbo'd or dey buries it, see. Or dey put it in a dirty sock an' dey'll bury it, see. An' dat will prohibit yuh from goin' if yuh vanta go some place.
(Keep you from going where?)
Wherevah yuh wanta go. Jis' like providin' if yuh got somebody an' dey love yuh, see. An' dey kin prevent yuh from goin', why dey takes dat track, see. An' dey'll fix it an' dey bury it. An' dat will keep yuh from goin' away.
(What sort of powder did they put in that track, did you say?)
Dey puts some ingredients in it, see.
(What do they put in it?)
Dey puts spice, sugar, or salt, eithah one, an' dey bury it.
Entry 5651
Jis' lak de husban' er [or] somebody, he lvin' wit 'em an' leave 'em, an' dey wan' im tuh come back. Dey'll git de footprint, start at de haid, zhoo know, at de toe, an' pull it back tords de heel - de lef', de lef' always. An' Said [say to the dirt], "Yo' lef' me, but choo're comin' back." Yo' take dat [dirt] an' git a pair dere ole socks, if yo' have 'em, an' put it in dat [left sock] an' bur' [bury] at chore doah, an' dey'll be supposed tuh come back.
Entry 5652
Like dat yo' git mad wid a fellah like dat, yo' ketch 'im goin'. Ah think he mus' be goin' east, yeah. An' yo' gits nine pinches outa his right track, dey tells me, an' yo' takes it an' yo' puts it in a bottle or anything an' stop it up. An' yo' spit in it nine mawnin's. An' de en' de nine mawnin's so' carry it down to de rivah, see, an' throw it ovahbo'd. An' tell me dey'll go away from home an' won't nevah come back no mo'.
Entry 5653
Dey kin take yore foot track up. Jis' go out an' jis' lak yo' stan' in de sand, take it up wit a silvah spoon. Jis' take it up real lightly an put it in a bottle, an' stop it up an' throw it in runnin' watah an' it will carry yo' away.
(Either track?)
No suh, have tuh be yore lef' track.
Entry 5654
Dey take yore foot track up in a spoon an' put it in a sack an' den throw it ovahbo'd. Dat will hahm [harm] yo'.
(What will that do to me?)
Dat will drown yo'.
(Which track do they take up?)
Take up de lef' feet.
Entry 5655
Yes, take up yore track. Sho' [sure] take up yore track an' carry it to de rivah an' put it down 'side de rivahside an' yo' will leave. (How would I put it down beside the river? How do you mean put it down?) Take a stick or a spoon an' git de dirt from de hollah of de foot an' carry it tuh dat rivah. Yo' couldn't stay dere. Yo' lay it down side of de rivah bank, jis' on de dirt.
(Do you take either track or both of them?)
Only de right foot track.
Entry 5656
Ah heard dat chew have tuh take nine spoonfuls of dirt outa dis per- son's track as dey go 'way from de house. Jis' go 'long an' take nine tracks of dey tracks, nine of dey tracks, yo' know, jis' lake one, two, three - nine. Git nine pinches of dirt outa each one dose tracks, dey said, an' bottle it up an' dey nevah would come back any mo'. (You get nine pinches out of these nine tracks or you get nine spoonsfuls. Which do you get?) Dey said nine spoonfuls.
(You take nine tracks, one right after the other.)
Yes sir, de way dey goin' from de house.
Entry 5657
Yah suh, dey - someone has tole me dat if dey git aholt of yo' foot track, an' dey put it in a bottle, an' dey puts six needles, six pins an' six ole rusty nails, six new gold- eye needles, six pins dat nevah did been used an' six rusty nails [mistakenly repeated] - an' den dey take it an' put it in a forked stick like dat [demonstrates], see. An' dey ties dose togethah an' dey put it to de foot of de steps, see. (Well, now they put that stuff in the bottle first, don't they, and then they put that bottle in that fork of that stick.) Yeah.
(I see. Where do they put that?)
Put unnah de steps or put it on de sunrise or sundown side. See, de haid of de step like dat, see, put dat down dere.
(I see - the step must be on the sunrise side of the house?)
Yassuh.
(And what do you do at the sundown side of the house then?)
Dey put de bottle outside - dey lean de bottle, put de bottle an' lean it. Don't let it lay down flat. (I see, they put the bottle at the sunrise side of the steps and they lean it tovard the sundown?) Uh-huh an' den dey lay down. Ah don't know nuthin about it befo' ah learned. (That's what I wanta hear. What you have heard about it. That's right. What vill that do to the person?) Suh, whut dat'll do? Dat track, if yo' got a husban', dat'll make him stay bome. An' den if he ups wit any othah wimmin, he can't even run about. If an- othah woman got 'im tied up, dat'll break 'em up. Dat's supposed tuh break 'em up in nine days time. (I see. And after you bury that bottle, do you do anything else then. After you bury that bottle, you let that stay there for nine days and then.
Entry 5658
(You take two pine sticks?)
Jis' two li'le pine sticks. Yo' take 'em an' let one be de man an' one be de Woman. An' yo' take 'em an' put 'em in a new piece wit some of yore track - yo' know, de dirt. Put 'em both in dere togethah an' lay it up ovah de do' an' dat'll make 'em stick togethah, stay togethah in dis house. (Do you take up the dirt from either track?) Take it from de left track, de one dat de heart's on. See, dat's in ordah to know whether yo' mean tuh do right or wrong.
Entry 5659
Lak in de centah of it, lak in de ball of 'is foot chew know, right ohere he press down in de sand, an' jes' make up a little knot, an' dey even tie dat chew know in de knot. Yo' know, make a li'le knot an' tie dat ovah yo' haid lak where yo' walk undah. (What will that do?) Dat will make him stay home. (What do you tie in a knot now?) Yo' git de stockin'. Yo' tie it right up ovah de do' where he valk in, jis' a knot in dat stockin'.
Entry 5660
Well dey have to git it while he's 'sleep, cut it while dey sleep.
(And how would they use those tracks?)
Jis' take de hollah of de right-foot track an' put it in a li'le bag, an' jis' take it an' bury it undah de steps. Put it undah a stone so de rain won' Wash it away. But chew see when yo' dig a place undah de steps an' bury it - git dat track an' bury it, yo' see, dat will make him come back.
Entry 5661
Dey take yore track, if yo's goin' some place, an' dey wan' chew tuh come back. Whey dey git chure track - why jis' take it an' bring it tuh yo'. Jis' take it an' put sugah wit it, an jis' put jis' as much sugan as dere is track. An' stick it down undah yore do' or in yore house some place, why yo'd have tuh come.
Entry 5662
Yo' take a foot track, take it an' put sugah wit it. Carry it to de rivah an' throw it ovahbo'd an' tell it to "Go! Go! ". As long as de watah run, dat man'll run. Dat drive 'im away.
Entry 5663
Take yore foot track an' sew it up in a piece of white homespun an' put sulphur to it, an' take it an' go throw it in runnin' watah. Dat makes yo' tra- vel. Yo' can't stop until dat bag hits some part of de rivah, yo' see, where it stop at, can't pass.
Entry 5664
When a person is doin' anything tuh yo', yo' take dey track an' take it - if dey goin' dis way, yo' take de track dis way; if dey goin' dis Way, yo' takes de track dis way [demonstrates]. (You take the track right from the toe back to the heel?) Take de track from de toe. Don't take de heel, take from de instep tuh 'is feet, from de instep of 'is feet. Take dat goin' dataway an' go an' git chew some sulphur, spirits of turpentine, black peppah an' tie it up in a ball. An' go tuh a runnin' watah an' throw it in.
(What will that do?)
Well, dey'll leave.
Entry 5665
Well, if yo's a person dat want a person tuh leave town or anything like dat, if yo' kin ketch 'is footprint in de evenin' when de sun's goin' down. Yo' gotta lay fo' 'im. Some- times it be weeks an' months, yo' know, when anything like dat goin' tuh occur, yo' gotta wait until yo' kin ketch 'im goin' dat way. An' yo' kin git de whole shapes - de whole shape.
(Either track?)
Eithah track, right or lef', an' de same thing ag'in. Carry it right down tuh de rivah. He lef' town but he won't be hurt.
(Well, how do you pick that up.)
Yo' gotta pick dat up wit 'is face goin', goin' west, his face turned from de sunrise tuh de west. Yo' pick up dis track.
(Then what do you do with that track?)
Yo' have tuh take it an' put it in a bag or anythin' an' carry it. Throw it ovahbo'd where de tide's goin' out an' he go right along. He [will suddenly] have a job [somewhere], he'll rush tuh go.
Entry 5666
Git dat foot track comin' to yo', both of 'um. Git dat track an' take it an' take a piece of cloth. Git some red peppah an' salt an' tie dat oop [up] in dere. An' take it an' go east on a vacant lot some- where, where dere ain't no house at, an' throw it ovah yo' lef' shouldah - ovah de right shouldah at sunrise an' don' look back. Yo' see? An' de way yo' throw it, dat's de way de person is gwine.
(I see. You throw it over your right shoulder?)
Yes sir, an' don' look back.
(You throw it toward the east?)
East.
(Before sunrise?)
Jis' de way de sunrise, jis' as de sun go down. Let it be first dark, on a vacant lot where ain't no house. See? An' don' look back at it. An' de way yo' throw it, if yo' want dat person to move in dat direction, dey'll go in dat direction.
(I see.)
Entry 5667
It have been said dat if an' individual come to yore house an' yo' want en to stay away an' not come again, to sweep dere track out immediately right behin' 'em as dey go out.
Entry 5668
If somebody comin' round yo' an' doin' yo' harm, or wupin lak dat, an' yo' wan' tuh git rid of 'em, when dey goin' out de do' sweep dey tracks out behin' 'em.
Entry 5669
If anyone visit yore house an' yo' don't wan' 'em dere, when dey start to leave, da' chew [that you] would follah 'em to de do', an' as soon as yo' kin, close de do' behind 'em, den open it immediately befo' dey kin git outa sight. Jis' keep Watchin' 'em, an' take a broom an' sweep dere tracks aay from de do', right on towards de direction dey're goin'.
Entry 5670
If yo' has a enemy dat comes to yore house, yo' wait cill it's dark an' take de broom an' sweep out de tracks behin' 'em. Dat enemy gon't return no' mo'.
Entry 5671
If yo' don't have nuthin tuh do wit 'em an' yo' wants tuh drive 'em, Yeep 'em away from yore house, yo' take some bluestone an' burn it well. An' while de bluestone is burnin', yo' take an' mix watah an' let it cook in dere good. An' dey come back tuh yore house an' yo'don' wan' 'em dere, when dey walk out, yo' po' it right in de tracks where dey make tuh go out, an' sweep it. Dat whut dey do wit de bluestone.
(They won't come back?)
Won't come back.
Entry 5672
When he come tuh yore house, when yo' see his tracks comin' towards yore house, well when he comes tuh yore house, yo' know dis 'is tracks. An when he stays - when he stays 'is length of time, an' when he starts out, git chew some salt an' throw on 'is back, an' den throw some salt in de yard, " den yo' start tuh sweepin'. Start from de do' an' sweep 'is tracks out back clean out. Dat's sweepin' 'im on away.
Entry 5673
Well, dere nuthin much dat chew kin do wit de foot track, but a lotta ople says it fo' drivin' people away an' all like dat. But de only thing dat yo' kin do wit de foot track is now: a lotta peoples wants tuh keep yo' away from de house an' all like dat. Now te thing is wit yore foot track proposition, like yo' have a person come tuh yore boase an' yo' don' wan' dem tuh come dere so often. Why [you] kin sprinkle some salt down right in front de gate where dey pass by, an' jis' as soon as dey come an' walk out, yo' gotta sweep de whole track an' all outside of de gate.
(Do you put that salt down before they come?)
Befo' dey come in dere. Jis' like yo' done be expectin' someone tuh come in, " yo' don' wan' 'em tuh be bothahin' yo'. Yo' don' wan' 'em tuh come dere, why put dat salt down dere.
Entry 5674
Tuh drive 'em away - tuh drive 'em away yo' git yo' some cayenne peppah an' salt. Jis' lak if a person is comin' in heah an' yo' don' wan' 'em in heah. An' yo' git chew some cayenne peppah an' salt, an' yo' set an' hold 'em [inl a conversation. Set an' talk wit 'em, be frien'ly wit 'em an' ack lak yo' ain't mad, chew know. An' den dey say, "Well, ah reckon ah bettah go." Well, yo' already has dat salt an' peppah mixed up an have it in yore han's somewhere, an' yo' follah 'em out de house. See, when dey goin' out, jis' sift dat cayenne peppah an' salt in dere tracks. Den go tuh each fo' cornahs of yore house an' put some cayenne peppah an' salt in each fo' cor- nahs of de house. An' den take de broom an' sweep it all on out an' sweep it de Way de' go an' flirt it. When yo' sweep it down on de steps, jis' lak if dey goin' up de street dat way, yo' flirt it de way dey goin' [demonstrates].
(How do you do that? Do it with your hand like that?)
[Flirting with a fan I had read about and had seen on stage; but flirting with a broom, though good English, was beyond my experience.] Wit chure broom, when yo' flirt it yo' say - WHEN YO' SPRINKLE IT DOWN IN YORE [ROOM] HERE, SAY, "WELL, AH'M CONKERIN' MAH ENEMY, IN DE NAME OF DE LORD. DRIVE DE DEVIL AWAY FROM ME, IN DE NAME OF DE LORD." An' jis' sprinkle it on dere, an' WHEN YO' SWEEP IT AN' YO' MAKE DAT FLIRT, YO' SAY, "WELL, AH'M FLIRTIN' MAH ENE- MIES AWAY FROM ME, IN DE NAME OF DE LORD." An' den flirt de dust on de street. Dey nevah put dere foot in yore house.
Entry 5675
Yo' mean de foot track tuh go or de foot track tuh come?
(Well, both of them - one one way and one the other way.)
Well, now, if yo' want somebody tuh come back, yo' git dis foot track an' don't - now, like de foot track is goin', don' turn de foot track back tuh yo'. Yo' git chew a piece of papah an' write on dat papah nine times, an' put it undah de step an' turn dat foot track back tuh de house. Dat's tuh come. Now, if yo' wan' 'em tuh go. (What do you write on that paper nine times.) Yo' write, "Come back, come back." An' ah don' care how far dat person is - an' if yo' wan' dat person tuh come back, in nine or 21 days dey will come back. Dat's fo' - now tuh go, yo' turn de track. Dis is de track, yo' write dat nine times, "Go."
(You turn the track as if it is going away?)
Yes. Git chew a handful of salt an' jis' dash it down an' sweep 3 times. Dey gone.
Entry 5676
Well, yo' take a person's foot track. Jis' lak if yo' wanta run some body 'way from town, move 'em, yo' take dere track. An' if dey goin' dataway, jis' go by an' ketch it from de toe heah, ketch it up from de toe back tuh de heel. Walk along an' don' stop an' pick up de track from de toe tuh de heel. Yo' jis' come 'long dataway an' carry it on home. An' soon as yo' git furt [far] as yore fron' do'step, yo' back back three steps from it an' throw it right ovah yore lef' shouldah. Take a li'le bit of sulphur in dis han' an' throw it ovah de right shouldah. An' yo' take de broom an' go tuh sweepin' it tuh de outside of de yard, an' dem people in less time den three days, dey goin' move 'way from dere. (The track you put it in your right hand and throw it over your left shoulder, and the sulphur you put it in your left hand and throw it over your right shoul- der.) Yo' take de track, see [demonstrates] dis is mah lef' [side]. Throw dat ovah yore lef' shouldah. An' de sulphuh yo' put it ovah yore right shouldah at de same place.
(You use the dirt from either track?)
Yo' use it from de right track.
(That is to make a person leave.)
Entry 5677
If anyone come in de house an' yo' didn't wan' dem enemies to come dere any mo', as soon as yo' step out on de outside, yo'll git a pail of watah an' throw de watah down behind 'em an' sweep it ot [out]. An' dat's de sign da' chew [that you] won't come back dere any mo'. Throw it on de flo' an' sweep dere tracks off. Yo' do dat on de sly.
Entry 5678
Well, yo' kin take dat dust from de feet, if yo' wanted a person in yore neighborhood ~ an' yo' had a fuss wit 'em - an' yo' wanted tuh run 'em away. Yo' goes at de ninth hour, yo' see, tuh runnin' watah an' yo'll take dis here dast, whut yo' have swept up at de ninth hour, an' yo' throws it ovah yore lef' shouldah wit yore lef' han', not tuh look back, wit a curse word. An' yo' are forced tuh leave unbeknown tuh yore ownself. Yo'll pack up. Yo'll jis' leave. Yo' have tuh walk away.
Entry 5679
(This woman whom the man has left, she would get hold of his left sock?) Git holt of 'is lef' socks, 'is drawahs, an' take an' take dem home, an' put 'en undah de do'steps. Don' let nobody see or know yo' put 'em undah dere. An' den take yore broom, when he come inside de house. an' sprinkle salt down evah'where he walks. When he's goin' out, don' sweep it out do's, sweep it back in de house. Seep it all back in de house. Sweep 'is track all back tuh de kitchen, an' let dat stay undah dere, an' dat will bring 'im back.
Entry 5680
Well, if yo' want 'im tuh stay home, evah time he starts out, evah tine he leaves yore house, yo' jis' walk right straight on out while his tracks hot. An'.sweep 'em back right undahneat' de steps, say, "Come back heah." Yo' ain't gotta put nuthin behin' dat, says, "Yo come on back heah. Ah'm yore wife. Come on back heah." An' yo' sweep 'is tracks right undah dat steps. An' evah time yo' go out, yo' do dat an' he'll Qe back an' be so nice.
Entry 5681
Dey could go on down den an' dey could take yore track an' put it in a tater [potato].
(You mean an Irish potato?)
No sir, a potatuh, a sweet potatuh. Take yore track an' put it in a sweet potatuh an' stop it back up an' put a peg in dat tatuh an' throw it in de rivah, an' yondah yo' go. (That's to send you away?) Send joo right on away.
(Do they take both tracks or what?)
Take de lef' track, an' ag'in dey could take yore right.
Entry 5682
Take de print of yore lef' foot, about a teaspoon an' bring it toward 'em, an' in nine days time yo'll be gone. (Here's your left-foot track and you get a teaspoon?) Bring it towards yo', bring it back towards yo'. Dey'll be gone in nine days time.
(What do you do with that after you get it in the teaspoon?)
Well, yo' kin put it in de bottle an' bury it.
Entry 5683
Yo' kin git dere tracks, jis' like ah wuz firs' tellin' yuh a while ago 'bout de rivah, but chew don' take it tuh de rivah. Yo' take dis an' put it in a tree an' let it stay dere fo' nine days. An' den yo' take a yo' know, if yo' don't git dat wood whut [has that] in it [what?], den yo' ketch yuh a terrapin. If yo' kin git one, bo' [bore] a hole in 'is back an' put dis dirt in dere. An' he'll finely [finally] go on away jis' like a terrapin crawl off somewhere an' nevah come back any mo'. [An old note of mine reads: tree = cross; 9 days = 9 hours on cross.]
Entry 5684
Now, yo' kin take a sewin' thimble whut chew have on yore han' an' yo' kin put it tuh de toe of a person track. Dat is de lef' track. An' yo' draw dat sewin' thimble back tuh de heel wit whut dirt, yo' know, [so full of dirt] dat it wouldn't even draw, yo' undahstan'. An' yo' tie dat up intuh a piece of new cloth dat nevah been used. An' yo'll step tuh a place where watah runnin' an' yo' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' don' look back at it. Dat'll run 'em away from dere.
Entry 5685
[You] kin take yore foot track an' take a thimble. Take it from de toe of de foot back to de heel. An' dey kin kill yo' wit dat. (Just how do they do that?) Well, dey take dat an' dey put nine needles in. Dey take de thimble an' dey puts a thimbleful of it, an' take it an' put nine needles in dat stuff an' put it in a jar, a bottle, an' drop it in floatin' watah an' yo' die from dat.
(Which track did you say they take, both of them?)
De lef' track. (Take a thimbleful of the dirt and put nine needles into and put it into a bottle. Do you cork it up or leave it open or what?) Stop it up tight as wax. Dat will kill de person.
Entry 5686
They tell me that they can take the dust from under the right foot and mix that with High John de Conkah and bluestone and alum and aloes, and then use the word, "God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, " will bring him back. And take that then and wrap it in a rag and bury it under their doorstep and let it stay there for nine days. And then take it out and put it in a rag and wear it around her body, and he'll be compelled to come back.
Entry 5687
Ah wuz stayin' by a wumum one time. She wuz a disappeahed [dissipated] sumum.
(What kind of woman?)
A bad wumum. She wuz a mighty bad neighbah. An' ah didn't lak 'er. Ah thought ah would try whut wuz tole tuh me tuh try on 'er. Ah got some of 'er track, her lef' feet, put it in a snuffbox. Go tuh de rivah, calls de Lord's Name three times: By de Name of de Lord: By de Name of de Lord: By de Name of de Lord: Throw it right ovah de lef' shouldah, don't look back, keep right straight on in front of yo'. She lef' dere.
Entry 5688
Take some sulphuh an' cayenne peppah wit it [foot track] an' change his co'se from where he's trav'lin'.
(How do they do that?)
Yo' take de sand up out de middle of 'is track, de lef'-foot track, an' put some sulphah an' cayenne peppah in it in a li'le rag-lak. Yo' would make a small ball an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah, an' make him take a diff'ren' route from de route he's trav'lin'. (How would you throw it, just throw it over your left shoulder?) Ovah yore lef' shoulder dis way [demonstrates]. Jes' don' look back aftah yo' throw it ovah dis way. Dat makes 'im take a diff'ren' route from where he's trav'lin'.
(You throw it over on the ground?)
Jes' throw it ovah on de groun'.
Entry 5689
Git aholt of dat foot track, take up a half of a pound of dat firs' track along dere tuh de toe. Take dat wit 2 drops of vinegah, 2 drops of tur- pentine, 5 drops of coal oil. An' den dat will draw de man back home - woman or man. Aftah yo' git all dat tuhgethah, why yo' take dat [track] an' put it in a bottle an' drop dis [9 drops] on it. An' den yo' sprinkle dat along where dat, if yo' are gone away from yore home, yo' undah- stan', sprinkle dat along in de tracks [made after the first onel. Dat'll draw 'im along back home.
Entry 5690
Ah wuz tellin' [asking] a ole man about it one day, how tuh git 'er away from de county [Charles City Co.] an' she would nevah come back ag'in. An ah ast 'im whut wuz it. He tole me de firs' time ah see huh walkin' by huhself, tuh git 3 pinches of dirt outa huh right foot, an' git 3 grains of black peppah, whole black peppahs, an' wrap it up in a piece of brown papah, an' throw it in de creek at ebb tide, an' she would go away from de county an' nevah git back no mo'. Ah saw 'er comin' down de road one day. Ah know it wuz 'uh track an' ah started tuh git some of de dirt. When ah started tuh stoop down somepin spoke tuh me an' said, "Let 'uh go on, ah'll fix 'uh some day." So ah didn't git de dirt an' let 'uh go on. In a few days she wuz taken very sick an' died.
Entry 5691
You can take a pinch of dirt out of the hollow of anyone's right-foot track, and take a pinch out of the heel, and one out of the toe. Then, go up to the foot of a grave, take a pinch out of the foot of the grave and mix it with one of them parts [from the foot track], and then bury it at the foot of the grave. And take up another pinch of the head [of the grave] and mix it with another part [of track dirt] and bury that at the head of the grave. And take up another pinch at the [grave] center and mixit with the last part [of track dirt], carry it and throw it in strong running Water. And make your wishes, wish you would go away. That'll run any of them away. [From Doctor Frank Harris, out in country, near Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va., by hand. For this man, see INTRO., v.1, p. XXIX, line 24f., and elsewhere.]
Entry 5692
Ah heard dey could, yo' know, lak dey say yore right foot, chew know, an' it wuz in de sand where yo' could git it good. Say dey'd take three pinches out de toe, an' den three out de heel, an' den dey'd go tuh de middle an' git three pinch- es. An' aftah, dey wuz sup- posed tuh take dat, chew know, an' put it in a rag an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' turn yore back an' not look back. An' den yo' wuz supposed tuh travel. Yo' nevah supposed tuh be satisfied nowheres yo' go, yo' know.
(That's the right idea [that's what I want].)
Entry 5693
Now, jis' lak yo' say at de start back dere, ah would wan'a do yo' some evil. An' ah'd git up between midnight an' day jis' befo' de sun rise, but ah'd have tuh have some of yore urine watah or yore track. An' ah'd take dat an' ah'd mix it wit - it ain't powdah, it's a quick- silvah [and] brimstone. Yo' take dat brimstone an' ah'd have some of yore urine watah an' yo'd mix some bluestone wit, jis' lak yo' say. An' yo' take dat an' yo' git chew a tin box, yo' know, whut de lid will fasten down on, an' yo' put dat in dat box. Yo' bo' li'le holes in de bottom of de box. Yo' don' put no liquid in dat, jis' dat powdah. An' den set dat - de sun goin' tuh rise, yo' set it dis way [demonstrates]. Yo' don' lay it complete down, jis' kinda tilt it. Yo' set it so when de sun rise it'll come ovah it. Brimstone, bluestone an' quicksilvah.
(You bury that towards the sunrise.)
Yes, toward de sunrise. Yo' see de sun rise on it an' go ovah. Dis part of it tuh de sunrise. An' dat li'le box, whosomevah is doin' dis, dey got some words dey use three times a day: in de mornin' dey uses some words, dinnahtime dey use some words, when de sun go down dey use dose same words.
(What do they use?)
"Carry mah enemy away."
Entry 5694
An' den yo' kin take three of 'is lef' tracks, jis' lak yo' git 'em from de toe. Evah time yo' go, befo' yo' git 'em, yo' call 'is name. An' evah one yo' git yo' call 'is name. An' den yo' take dat track an' go tuh a lightnin'- struck tree an' git two splintahs offen it. Have one shortah den de othah. An' den yo' take dis heah - let yourn be short an' his'n be long. Well yo' lay his'n up on top of yoren. [The symbolism of the 2 splinters is quite revealing!] An' den yo' git a teaspoonful of sugah an' put on dere. An' den yo' sew it up in a piece of cloth an' weah it. Dat'll make 'im love yo'.
Entry 5695
Yo' take de foot tracks aftah it rains. Wait till it rains. An' when it rains yo' watch fo' dat person whosomevah yo' wanted tuh harm. Yo' watch fo' dem, an' when he done pass an' gone by on 'is business, why yo' come out an' git three tracks up. (How do you pick them up now?) Well, yo' pick 'em up wit chure han', jis' de whole track, yo' see. Yo' pick one up [demonstrates] lak dis an' yo' go an' yo' pick de othah one up. Yo' have a papah bag an' put dat in dere.
(You pick up three tracks?)
Yeah, an' yo' take a papah bag an' put dat in. All right yo' take dat an' put dat in, an' yo' go home an' yo' git chew a aig, yo' git chew some hot stuff an' some yeast box - de ten-cent box yeast box, do' [though] dey got a big box, an' yo' be ballin' dat up. An' yo' take dat an' throw dat in de rivah.
(What do you throw in the river?)
De tracks.
(What do you do with the stuff you whip up?)
Yo' whip all that up tuhgethah, yo' undahstan', den yo' put it back in a heaviah papah bag, an' yo' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah out tuh de Miss'ippi Rivah, yo' undahstan'. Or if it's a guttah where it's runnin' watah it's all right. [RUNNING WATER IN A GUTTER IS MENTIONED HERE THE FIRST TIME IN HOODOO.] Well, dat'll be all of it, see.
(What will that do?)
Dat'll jis' send 'im down, dat he won' talk. Yeah, dat cripples 'im.
(It won't send him away or anything?)
No, it jis' sends 'im down, he cain't do nuthin.
Entry 5696
If yo' wan' 'em tuh go, yo' don' wan' 'im tuh stay, git choo a table- spoonful of salt, a tablespoon whut dey call cayenne peppah. Git choo a red flannin rag now, an' git saltpeter - woman salt- peter. Yo' know it's two kinds, a she saltpeter an' dere a he saltpeter. Yo' git de she. Take yo' a teaspoonful an' put it dere an' put it - make a li'le. red-flannin sack an' put it down in dere. Well, now if yo' know dis party, yo' watch 'er walk. Yo' count de tracks as dey walk. Yo' count de tracks lak dey 3 right-foot tracks. Yo' jis' take it from de toe. An' take it up, po' it in dat sack. Sew it up. Yo' meet de sun three mawnin's as it rise, an' wet on it. Take it tuh de rivah befo' de rise de fo'th day, an' throw it in dere. Ah don' care where yo' wan' 'em tuh go, dey'll leave dere. Dey can't stay.
(WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "SHE" AND "HE" SALTPETER?)
DE "SHE" IS A LARGE LUMP AN' DE "HE" IS IN LI'LE BITA CRUMBS.
Entry 5697
Takin' yore track, jis' find yore track. An' dey'll take de soil jis' where yo' track, take it up an' put it intuh a envelope, or intuh anything dat would come tuh be air- tight. An' dey keep dat fo' three days. An' den aftah de three days, why dey take it an' bury it - bury yore track. An' dey claim in dat way, why dey kin make yo' think well of 'em, make yo' stay wit 'em an' be nice tuh 'em. If yo' be cruel, why it'll cuz yo' tuh come tuh love dem, stay wit 'em.
(Where would you bury this track?)
Why dey would bury it somewhere roun' dere dwellin' - where dey be livin', where dey wan' dat person tuh stay. (Do they take up just one track or both of them or does it make any differ- ence?) Well, dey would always lak tuh have de right track, de right track.
Entry 5698
Mah gran'mothah said dat yo' could take dat track up an' wrap it up, an' yo' could tote it roun' in yore pocket fo' 'bout three days, an' throw it in a stream of watah. As long as dat watah runnin' why yo'll be crazy, an' as long as dat watah runnin' yo' be goin' places. Yo' won' stay in one place, yo' be goin' jis' keep goin'; jis' keep yo' upset an' worried until dat watah stop. In othah words, long as de watah run yo' upset.
(You take either track?)
No sir, yo' take de lef' track.
Entry 5699
Dey take a person dat's goin' from yo'. Dey make a new paddle out of a shingle or a bo'd of any kind; jis' so dat chew make a paddle out of it - lak a spoon-lak, yo' know. Yo' carry it in yore pocket three days, knowin where dat party's track is, an' yo' ketch de sand out of de hollah of dere foot, SCoOP IT OVAH YO' LEF' SHOULDAH [see later]. Yo' pray dis prayah, it's de same thing, says, In de Name of God, return. An' go on. Throw de paddle ovah dere an' dey'll come back. [The preceding Words SCOOP IT OVAH YO' LEF' SHOULDAH mean that you kneel down behind the departing tracks, push the paddle forward under one of the tracks, say, "In the Name of God, return, '' and carefully lift the paddle, throw the dirt back over your left shoulder - that is, towards your home.]
Entry 5700
She's livin' not far from me an' ah seen 'er do dis. She would git up evah mawnin' de time she knowed dis man wuz goin' tuh 'is work. An' she'd go on out - ah git tuh de windah dere an' ah look - an' she'd pick up 'is track, three mawnin's. She picked up jis' one track, his lef' track. She picked it up from de heel an' bring it up disaway, from de heel tuh de toe. An' put it in a rag an' put it in 'er bosom an' put some salt in it, becuz she tole me dat's de way she fixed it. An' dis man on de fo'th mawnin' he wuz back tuh 'er house. He wuz stayin' wit 'er but anothah woman wuz goin' tuh take 'im away from 'er an' wuz gittin' 'im back. An' he wondahed how it come he wuz back dere. Ah tole him ah didn't know. Ah didn't tell 'im nuthin, yo' know, she'd bein' doin'. An' she said de nex' evenin' when ah come home, "Ah," she says, "John's back. Ah tole jah ah wuz gon'a git 'im back." Ah said, "Did jah?" She said, "Yeh." Ah says, "Yo's all right. "[