Browse:KNOTS AND TYING (Volume 3, entries 3466–3629)
KNOTS AND TYING
Volume 3, entries 3466–3629. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 3466
Now a man connect wit 'is wife or woman, whatsomevah it is. He git a bran'-new piece of yellah cotton, unbleached dey call dat. Don' chew discharge, yolet im discharge anketch, yo see. An' yo' take hit an' use a cose [coarse] stran' of black thread, an' yo' tie dat. Yo' fol' dat piece an yo' tie it. Yo' tie it, yo' tie it till evah piece is offa dat spool of thread. Now yo' lie dat right on de side dat he sleep on an' dat keep 'im home. An' dat keep 'im dat he don' want nobody but chew.
(How do you wrap that thread? Away from you like that?)
[My preceding words are an attempt to avoid a leading question.]
No, yo' wrap it to yo', an' tight as beeswax, until evah stran' is offa de spool. An' den yo' put it straightways, 'cuz it's gonna be stiff aftah it's wound tight, an' right on de side dat chew sleep on. An' dat man don' ca' [care] fo' nobody but chew.
Entry 3467
Git holt of a man's pocket han'ke'chuf an' tie it up - lak yo' wish 'im tuh have trouble in two or three places, lak yo' runnin' a business ovah yondah an' want yo' tuh lose, runnin' a farm an' want chew to lose yore farm an' yo' stock. Tie knots to evah - cuss de devil an' God an' tie a knot fo' evah- thin' yo' want done. An' take dat han'ke'chuf an' burn it up, an' dat'll make yo' have hard luck.
Entry 3468
If he's goin' wit 'er, she kin take de measure of 'is a - 'hawk. (What?) His 'hawk, his tomahawk. If it's seven or eight inches, den she t take a string see, an' she measure dat; an' if eight inches, why she tie eight knots in dat an' wears dat in 'er purse.
(What if it's seven inches?)
Jis' tie seven knots. Yes, she kin fix 'im so dat he can't have anything to do wit any othah woman but 'er. [There are 1 or 2 other examples of tomahawk in HOODOO.]
Entry 3469
Yo' take a piece of string, any kin'a string, a cord string mo' spec- ially. An' de length of de string, yo' see, evah inch - if it's nine inches, evah one of dose inches yo' tie a knot to each one of dose inches, yo' see. Git de measure an' den evah inch, tie a knot in it. Well, den dey sav dey could take dat an', yo' know, dey could take it an' tie it on 'em an' carry it wit 'em. An' dat would have yo' to de place dat yo' wouldn't have no feelin's fo' no othah woman, jes' dat one pahtic'lah woman, de one dat do yo' dat way.
Entry 3470
She kin measure him down dere, take an' measure hisself when he 'sleep. An' she kin take a ribbon an' put jes' how long it is, she kin put dat many knots in it an' wear it aroun' 'er lef' laig. An' he cain't do nuthin but wit dat woman.
Entry 3471
Dere's two ways a woman kin fix a man so he couldn't have nobody but 'er. Take a cord string an' measure 'im in 'is sleep an' git de many inches as he is long down dere, yo' see. She take an' tie dem many knots in dere, walk to de side of de house an' WRAP IT AROUN' A NAIL. Well, he kin git ready fo' a woman, but when he git up on 'er - well, he gits down.
(That nail is in the side of the house?)
Yessuh.
Entry 3472
If yo' kin git de measure of a lady or eithah a man, take dat measure an' see how many inches it is an' tie dat many knots in it. An' put it in yore pocket an' she cain't go wit nobody else but 'im, or he couldn't go wit nobody but 'er. (Well, how do they measure a woman?) Dat's very easy. Jes' lak she's layin' down, but git 'sfur [as far] as it'll go up heah, not de hair, where de place start at an' on down where it stops at. Dat's de correct measure. Yo' kin take dat an' bury it, an' she'll follah 'im [you] an' love him [you].
(Bury that hair from below?)
Sho'.
[No, bury the measurement.]
(The man would do that to the woman?)
Man de same - it works both ways. [The measurement of women appears to be fairly rare in hoodoo.]
Entry 3473
When he go tuh sleep a woman take a string an' measure de length of 'i [his body] from de haid to de foot, an' tie jis' as many knots in it as yo' are tall, see, an' tie it aroun' 'er waist. Den she measure yo' othahwise, straight down, jis' de length dat [penis] is. She tie it in a knot an' tie it roun' 'er ankle an' wear it. One roun' one ankle an' one roun' de othah one - den dat roun' 'er waist. [This ambiguous statement sounds like 3 places the cause of my close questioning that soon follows.] Yo' cain't have no nature fo' no othah woman. (With THE FIRST STRING SHE MEASURES FROM THE HEAD TO THE FOOT? And tie as many knots?) As yo' [he] is high - de height of 'em, see. Yo' kin take dat string an' measure his height by dat string.
(You have to put a knot at each foot?)
No, yo' jis' take de string jis' how many foot yo' is an' put dem little knots in dere. Don't make no diff'rence whereabouts yo' put 'em, jis' yo' tie 'em in dere.
(Where does she wear that string then?)
She wear it roun' 'er waist.
(WHAT DOES SHE DO WITH THE OTHER STRING?)
Take de othah string an' measure othahwise, yo' undahstan' - de privates, yes- suh.
(The second piece of string, and she only ties one knot in that?)
"Cordin' tuh how long he is, jis' de length of it.
(For how long?)
Ah dunno, jis' as many knots - yo' see jis' lak if it's seven inches lak dat, yo' puts seven knots in it.
(Where does she wear that?)
Aroun' 'er ankle, eithah one. Or she have tuh put it roun' both 'er ankles, one on each foot.
(SHE'S GOT THESE TWO STRINGS THEN?)
Yessuh.
(She only uses the string for measurements?)
Yessuh. (You say the man can do the same thing to the woman.)
Entry 3474
Ah ties 'er against 'em.
(You what?)
Against de othahs.
(What do they say about that?)
Well, it's - lots of 'em will take an' use a cord string. If yo' can't git a good cord string, yo' kin some stuff dey call catgut - see, if yo' kin make it long enough. An' yo' dresses dat stuff wit 'er when yo' have intahco'se wit 'er. An' if ah wanta be away from dere four weeks, ah put four knots in dere an' I keep dem knots tied [around my waist - see later].
(What will that do?)
Jes' lak evah day, why yo' take a man he step off sometime, lak he wanta uri- nate or somepin. Yo' go, why yo' jes' take dis han', yo' know, sometime, an' urinate in 'is han' an' kin'a keep dat string aroun"is waist livened up. Jes' lak, [you are] goin' away, befo' yo' put it [string or catgut] on yo', jes' lak fo' instance, ah have dis night-glass [empty glass jar] or somepin settin' behin' on dis floor. Well, he not supposed to use dat, if he wanta dress dat string. He takes hisself an' let 'er use an' he wets dat in dere, takes it out an' puts it on 'im. Well, he ties dem knots in it first. An' aftah tyin' dem knots in it - well, dat will keep 'er straight prob'ly till he gits back.
(And how many knots do you tie in that string?)
Well, now, yo' have - it's accordin' if yo' goin' to be gone six weeks, well yo' put six knots in dat. If yo' be gone four weeks, yo' put four knots in it.
Entry 3475
They tie knots in a string. If they get a new cord, you see, and tie that, and that's for to make a man or a woman come under their control. They wear that around the waist. You doesn't buy a new ball [of string] for that. Just like you go to the grocery store or some store, you see, and you take it and just break you off a piece the length that you want. And each knot that you tie you make your wish, vbatever that you wish 'em to do. If you wish 'em to get the money, or wish for them to stay away from a certain home, or you wish for 'em to come to your home all the time, each knot that you tie you make a wish. And then the last knot that chew tie, if yo' want 'em to come under your control, you wish then for them to come under your control, to be controlled by you and you alone. And then you tie that around your waist, you see, and wear it. You do that on the last quar- ter of the moon.
Entry 3476
A woman kin git a man's seap [penis] an' measure it. Don't measure yo' roun' but measure disaway [lengthwise], an' war [wear]. Put a hole in a silvah dime an' put dis string [used in measuring] through dis silvah dime, an' war dat cord aroun' 'er leg [left ankle]. An' as long as she war dat cord dis man would nevah have no dealin's wit dat [any other] woman - no feelin's fuh 'er.
Entry 3477
Men and women?
(Yes.)
A woman dat anothah man - dat she got a husban' an' anothah woman wants dis man. Well, she can persuade, she kin make him lose his nature fer 'is wife an' have all de nature fer her by buyin' a square of yellah domestic-lak. De yellah domestic is de only kin' dat'll do. An' when she has connec- tions wit dis man she lets 'im use dat yellah domestic. An' she ties it in a knot jes' as tight as she kin tie it where the spots are. An' she puts it undah de side of de bed dat she lies on, an' sleeps right on dat knot, an' she has 'im tied up where 'is wife can't git any service outa 'im at all. He can't do any- thing at home. De only time he kin do anything is when he come an' lie on de side of de bed where dat piece of domestic is. She lies right on dat when she has dealings wit 'im an' he can't git up any courage fer anybody but 'er. He naturally mistakes dat fer love an' leaves 'is wife an' comes to her.
Entry 3478
Yo' take a string an' measure de man while he's 'sleep an' measure de length of 'im, if he's a normal man. Yo' tie dat to de springs to yore bed. He nevah kin stretch out unless'n he's in dat bed.
Entry 3479
Even if she want 'im an' don't want 'im tuh mess wit no othah wimmins de cloth whut dey connect wit, she ties dat on de springs of 'er bed, throw 'er mattress ovah it, an' he can't go wit nobody but 'er.
Entry 3480
Jes' lak yo' a man an' yo' wife wuz runnin' aroun' - jes' lak a man would run aroun'. Well, when he sleep, de woman could take a cord string an' measure de end of 'is thing an' tie it on de slat undah de bed slat, an' he couldn't mess wit nobody but 'er.
Entry 3481
Takes yo' a piece of string an' measure de root from de end up to yore stomach, an' take it an' tie it aroun' a li'le bottle an' set it up ovah yo' do. An' hit'll - a man can't have no othah woman but 'is ole lady.
(The woman would do this?)
Yes sir.
Entry 3482
She kin have him follahin' 'er. Take de seat of 'is underwear an' take an' cut 'er a di'mond out of dat - jes' cut a little place in de seat dat's in de shape of a di'mond. She'll have a connection wit 'i an' git some of 'is discharge an' roll it real tight in dat di'mond dat she cut. Take a little piece of 'is hair an' bind it aroun' dere, take a new thread an' bind it - jes' wrap it aroun' dere an' place it in 'er shoe. She tear de linin' in 'er shoe to git in dere. An' he'll stick aroun' 'er lak baby sticks aroun' 'is mothah when he wants a tit. He won't leave 'er. Sometime I believe my ole lady got me dat way. Yes siree, he ain't goin' aftah nobody an' she can't drive him away.
Entry 3483
If he an' 'er could have dealings, den she would take a rag an' she would let 'im wipe wit it mostly. Den she take an' tie it up, or seal it in some kin'a sealed bag, an' put it up ovah de do' dat goes into her room so he kin walk undah it, walk in undah it, an' den dat would fix 'im where he couldn't do nuthin wit nobody but 'er. When he go to go wit othah women, why it would fall.
Entry 3484
Jes' lak now if yo' wanta keep 'im an' yo' have a intahco'se wit 'im, jes' lak yo' mess up wit 'im, why yo' git chure han'scheff yo' know an' git dat [semen] an' tie it in de cornah of de han'- sheff an' bury dat undah yore do'step. An' see, dey can't leave but so fur, dey can't go outa town or nuthin, until yo' git ready tuh go yoreself, ah reckon.
Entry 3485
If a man leaves yo' an' yo' wants 'im back, de thing about it, yo'll have tuh git in wit 'im an' go tuh bed wit 'im, undahstan'. Well, if yo' go tuh bed wit 'im one time, yo' could buy a halfa yard of yellah homespun cloth an' aftah yo'all finish whut chure doin', yo' kin jes' stick dat yellah home- spun, dat halfa yard of yellah homespun an' wipe him down wit it three times. Yo' undahstand me, wipe him down three times an' git a thin [well-worn] dime from 'im. An' take yore time, take dat yellah homespun cloth to de cornah an' double it. Evah time yo' fold it, fold it towards yo'. An' git a piece of thread an' tie dat an' bury it at chure do'steps. He come right on, straight on back tuh yo'.
(You put that little dime in the corner of this cloth and keep folding it up.)
Towards yo' evah time. [This woman spoke in a whisper all through interview.]
Entry 3486
Dere's several diff'ren' ways about dat. Dere's such a thing as a woman takin' a gartah dat she wears 'erself, an' if she kin measure de man wit it, she will tie it in a knot; an' as long as dat knot is tied in 'er gartah an' she keeps it anywhere on 'er body, all de nature dat he has for any person is gone. (I see. You said they just take either garter?) Eithah one of 'em, jes' so it's somepin she person'ly wears. An' as long as she keeps dat gartah wit dat knot in dere, she kin trust 'im any- where in de world.
Entry 3487
Jes' lak yo' have a sweetheart an' yo' wanta hold 'im, well yo' take some bran'-new pins dat nevah been used, an' yo' fix dem haid an' haid [tail], but dey must be even, see. (You mean one goes this way [I demonstrate] and one goes that way - they alternate.)
[Informant misunderstands alternate, a word I should not have used.]
Yes sir, dat's right. Yo' have a connection wit chure frien'.
(How many of those pins do you use?)
Yo' make a gartah of dose. An' yo' fix 'em de haid an' haid - lak de stuck right on de haid - dey can't stick yo', see. An' yo' take dis string an' yo' measure him while he's asleep an' yo take dat. Well, when he have connection wit chew, YO' DON'T HAVE NO 'MUNICATE [COMMUNICATION] WIT 'IM BUT HE JES' HAVE ONE WIT CHEW. Well yo'wrap dat roun' an' yo' ketch dat. Well, now yo' nuse [use] dat fo' a gartah, tie it roun' yore laig. He can't have nobody else but chew.
(What do you put those pins in?)
In dat gartah. (In this piece of cloth that you make the garter with, you put those pins in there after you wipe him? And then you make that garter and you wear it?) Yes.
Entry 3488
I've heard that a woman could measure a man while he's asleep and tie that string around her leg and wear it for three weeks; then take the same string and burn it, and take the chars from the string and put them in an envelope, and seal it and write his name on it, and put it under her pillow. And he wouldn't have any use for any other girl.
Entry 3489
Take a little grain of hair off 'im an' put a little bit of dat stuff wit it - a little bit of dat stuff, yo' know lak yo' mate togethah, an' tie it up an' make him come back. (You tie it up. What do you do with it then?) Put it roun' yore waist.
Entry 3490
Well, usely [usually] when a man don't want 'is wife to be in service to anothah man, or a woman don't want 'er husban' to be of service to anothah woman, well usely when dey go in an' have a intahco'se, she'll take a han'ke'chuf. De han'ke'chuf dat she use, why she'll tie a knot in it, an' when she ties dat knot in dere, if he don't know about it - ah don't care who he goes wit, why it won't do him any good.
(What does she do with that handkerchief after she ties the knot?)
She don't do anythin' wit it, jes' tied it an' let it stay in dere. Long as dat knot stays in dere, why he's no good - no one but [to] her.
Entry 3491
De way yo' do tuh stop 'im is to have intahco'se wit each othah an' take a bran'-new pocket han'ke'chuf an' yo' use it fo' yo' dry cloth. Dey say yo' take dat an' yo' tie it up in a knot, an' yo' kin hide it anywhere about chure home an' dat will keep yo' [him]. Or, eithah - some people say yo' kin take a dishrag an' dat would keep 'im from havin' intahco'se wit anybody else except yo'self.
Entry 3492
He kin 'eep 'er from havin' any man in de world while he's gone.
(How does he do that?)
He take, go to bed wit 'er - see, intahco'se wit 'er. Jes' go an' git a bran'-new white linen han'ke'chuf an' don't let 'er use no towel lak she been or'nary [ordinary] usin'. She say, "Well, Baby," say, "I ain't got nuthin in de bed." Yo' say, "Well, here mah Pocket han'ke'chuf." Yo' take dat pocket han'kechuf, see, an' use hit. Yo' see. Don't let 'er use it on yo'. She use it on 'erself. All right. An' den yo' take dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' yo' go to de north cornah of de house, an' yo' dig a hole eight inches in de groun'. An' yo' git some of dat last dirt yo' got out dere an' tie hit up in dat pocket han'ke'chuf. An' yo' bring dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' yo' put it undah de doorstep befo' yo' leave, an' let 'er walk over it two days, two nights. An' dat last night dat yo' stay wit 'er, yo' take it an' put it undah 'er head. An' she sleep on it but she don't know it. An' den when yo' git up dat mawnin' when yo' leavin', yo' take dat pocket han'ke'- chuf - yo' take dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' carry it on wit chah. An' evah man dat she - yo' see, she might try to have some man but she can't have 'em. She'll turn wrong side out wit 'em, yo' see. She can't [take] dat man, she'll turn out. Dat ties 'er. Dat ties 'er, she can't intahco'se, yo' see.
(But what happens to her?)
Yo' see, dat makes 'er turn out - yo' see.
(Turm out?)
Turn out. Evah time a man start foolin', it hurt 'er yo' see. She'll tell 'em, say, "Gee [something]." See, ah'm got her fixed, yo' see. She can't stan fo' nobody to mess wit 'er. She can't stand it. She can't stand it to have no Dan, yo' see. Dat's got 'er fixed where she can't - she tied up. She ain't got Do int'rest fo' no man. Yo' see, won't have none. She don't want nobody but choo, yo' see.
Entry 3493
Ah've heard dat chew kin take a cord string an' measure de man an' tie a lnot in de centah, an' de woman could tell aftah he had gone out. She could tell aftah he'd leaver [leave her] where he wuz tryin' to have a connection wit dis woman. Dey said dis knot, why she could tie it as tight as she could, but it would loosen. She could tell if he tried, bat he couldn't have dis woman.
(That is, if he were trying, this knot would get loose in the string?)
Git loose in de string. See, she would keep de string dat she measure. She beasured de length of 'im an' den she'd tie a knot in de centah of de string. An' if he goes, wherevah he goes, de minute dat he'd try to have de woman, why dis knot would loosen. An' dat's why - or how she could tell whut he wuz doin'.
Entry 3494
When he's layin' asleep take an' measure his privates wit a cord. Take de length of it an' take de roun' of it. An' take it an' tie a knot dere on it an' wear it aroun' 'er below 'er knee. An' dat will stop 'im from runnin' aftah othah women.
Entry 3495
Ah tried dis mahself, yo' know. Now, havin' a intahco'se, yo' takes string, any- ching dat be's long enough an' measure hisself to de...
(You measure him?)
Yeah, wit de string. An' yo' take dis string an' wear it up above yore knee, an' he kin not have anothah person, no othah one but yo'.
Entry 3496
If yo' wanted 'im ag'in, yo' could take a piece of new yellah domestic an' use de intahco'se, use it nine times, an' take an' cut out a piece about as big as a quarter [25 cent piece] an' put it in yore left-foot shoe an' wear it in dere, an' yo'll come tuh conker 'im lak yo' want 'im, if yo' wanted 'im. Yo' could take, say fo' in- stance - yo' could take a piece of cloth an' nuse [use] it an' tie a love knot in it. Take a teaspoon fulla sugan an' put in dere an' tie a love knot an' put it in yore mattress, an' dat'll make him be closer to yo' an' no one else.
(What kind of cloth do you take did you say?)
Yallah domestic - new, dat nevah been nused. An' yo' nuse dat nine times, an' when yo' have it, YO' NOT SUPPOSED TUH HAVE NO INTAHCO'SE WIT 'IM YO'SELF, YO' KETCH HIS'N. An' den yo' take an' put hit undah yore bed in yore mattress where yo' sleep on it. An' dat'll make him close to yo'. De man kin do it if he wants a woman. He kin take his new pocket han'ke'chuf an' nuse dat, han'ke'chuf dat ain't nevah been used, an' take it an' nuse it all de time an' tote it in 'is pocket, an' dat woman, she cain't have nuthin tuh do wit nobody but 'im.
(How does he use that handkerchief?)
He jes' nuse it in wipin' 'isself. See, it's a bran'-new han'ke'chuf, a white linen han'ke'chuf dat ain't nevah been nused. An' he take dat han'ke'chuf, see she jes' ain't payin' no 'tenshun, he jes' take, yo' know, an' dry hisself off. An' den he take an' put it in 'is pocket an' wear it.
Entry 3497
Now, it's somepin how to make a person cold towards de othah one, cold towards evahone. Yo' go git chew a piece of new cloth, linen cloth, white cloth, 18 x 18 inches, an' yo'hem dat. An dis pahtic'lah person dat chure inter- sted in, yo' wan'a use dem - yo' use dat, yo' see. Yo' put it out an' let it dry an' den yo' tie dat as ah tole yo' about de dishrag. "Membah me tellin' yo' 'bout de dishrag? [Informant's material had been badly recorded several days before, she is now repeating.]
(Yes, but you better tell it over.)
Well, but dis doesn't go wit dat, dis is diff'ren' thing. Yo' use dat as yo' did dat, an' yo' tie de knot in it aftah yo' dry it, an' yo' stick dese points in lak yo' make a love knot, yo' know. Do it at twelve 'clock at night, if yo' have some person or frien' dat chew know is dead, yo go to dat grave of someone dat chew know dat have kept secrets fer yo'. Yo' stick yore han' down in dis grave wit a new dime. Yo' say, "Yo' have always been a friend to me, indeed an' yo' have always kept mah secrets. Now dis is one thing ah want chew to keep always, an' ah want chew to keep dis person evah near me an' no one else." An' yo' bury dis wit dat there person.
(The handkerchief you bury there?)
Dat's right, an' dis person will remain cold to evahone except yo'. Dat new dime, yo' pay 'em fer keepin' de secret.
(Where do you put that new dime?)
Right where, yo' know, where yo' dig de place to bury dat - de silvah, an' not two nickels but a dime.
Entry 3498
All right, dey tell me dat when yo' have intahco'se wit 'er, dat she could take a piece of new cloth of any kind an' use it an' let chew use it, den could take it an' tie it in a little knot, ball it up an' put it undah de mattress right undah yore haid, dat chew will nevah go out any mo'.
(With other women?)
Yes sir.
Entry 3499
Tuh make yore man love yo', ah tell yo' whut chew do. Yo' go tuh bed wit 'im an' yo' git chew a bran'-new white pocket han'ke'chuf dat has nevah been used. Well, yo' have a intahco'se wit 'im, yo' know. Well, yo' git up an' yo' have yo' a bottle of olive oil an' yo' git chew a bottle of oil of cin- namon. Yo' take it - yo' know, don't let 'em see yo' - drop 15 drops of oil of cinnamon in dat nasty spot, an' yo' drop 15 drops of oil of olive oil. Den yo' take dat an' yo' tie it aroun' yore laig, an' yo' wear it aroun' yore laig three days, an' if he hasn't been comin', he will come an' cain't quit comin'. He cain't quit comin' an' he'll bring all 'is money home, an' he'll give it to yo'. He'll be good to yo' when yo' do dat.
(You tie that around either leg?)
No, one laig, de right laig.
Entry 3500
She be wit 'im an' she jis' takes, yo' know, his discharge [on a cloth] an' she folds it up or ties it up [which makes the 1 knot] an' wears it in 'er right-foot shoe; an' [or] she'll take some of 'er, yo' know, her period, an' she feeds 'im dat; or eithah some of 'er water an' give him dat. Dat breaks 'em up.
(That breaks him up with this other girl, you say.)
An' [or] take some of 'is hair an' put it in a bottle an' keep it wit 'er. Dat breaks 'em up.
Entry 3501
He have a intahco'se wit 'er an' she take a piece of new cloth an' take bis come on dat an' tie it in dat new cloth an' den she bury it undah de steps, an' when he steps ovah it three times, she take an' carry it to de cemetery an' bury it in de cemetery, an' den he be tied to her an' he Can't have anothah woman tuh save his life. IF SHE'D DIE AN' LEAVE HIM LAK DAT, BE CAN'T HAVE ANOTHAH WOMAN [see 1039, p.396]. Ah've seen dat done.
Entry 3502
Ah know dat chew kin take a rag when yo' have intahco'se wit 'em, an ulpe 'im an' bring it towards yo', an' tie it up an' put it in de middle of yore bed undah de mattress, an' dey can't go wit nobody else but chew. (What do you mean by bringing the rag toward you?) Yo' wipe it, his thing, towards yo' an' den ball it up dght in a hard knot, an' den put it in de middle of de mattress up undah de bed, an' he can't go wit nobody else. [The middle of the mattress and its 4 corners are the 5 points of a quincunx, see p.710 and many places in HOODOO.]
Entry 3503
Gittin' a woman down - ah mean down in mah part of de country, down dis side [southeastern Atlantic coast] down heah, ah'm goin' tell yo' whut dey does. See, go to yo'self an' want action an' all, don't tell 'em 'bout no othah man atall. Jes' look 'em in de eyes an' tell 'em, an' ah tell yo', if she'd make a date wit chew, yo' take a bran'-new pocket han'ke'ch'ef an' use dat fo' de rag. De man will carry de han'- ke'ch'ef off, he carry de han'ke'- ch'ef off 'er an' tie it roun' in a knot, turn it in a knot an' put it up ovah de do', anywhere ovah de do'. Or tie it in a green tree. Dat be all de got'a do. Be wit nobody but chew. De man do dat, yes sir.
(Over the door or where?)
Ovah de do' or tie it on a green tree. If yo' git to a little green tree dat's slindah enough in de woods, kin draw it roun' dere, draw it in tight dis way. Git a new pocket han'ke'ch'ef, one ain't not been used.
Entry 3504
Ah heard dat once it wuz a man, yo' know he'd run about, he wouldn't stay home wit 'is wife aftah dey ma-ied [married]. He run all about at' [after] othah 'umens [women], yo' know. He'd come in twelve a'clock, one a'clock, two a'clock, three a'clock, an' sometime de nex' mawnin'. So dis 'uman ['oman = woman] she git tied [tired] of it. An' so she didn't wan'a, yo' know, kill she 'usban', so she jis' wait till she an' he vent [went] tuh baid, yo' see. An' den, aftah dey vent tuh baid an' he git on dis lady, yo' see, an' he vent tuh doin' somepin wit 'er, yo undahstan' me, vy [why] she jis' take de thing dat, choo know - if I wan'a say a - she take 'is dick, yo' see, an' wipe it on huh undahcoat - undahcloz [under- clothes] yo' see, so he couldn't, yo' know, git up any courage fuh nobody else den but huh. An' so dat [remedy] wuz tole huh he'd haf to stay home, see. She jis' put it on huh undahcoat, joo see. An' den, aftah ven [when] he gone off, he gone tuh verk sometäme [sometime], an' she jis' take it de undahcoat, an' jis' cut dat piece off, yo' see, bǒl [ball] it up an' put it on a long string, an' put it aroun' she waist. It res' [rested], yo' know, on she [her] necked [naked] meat, hangin' down on de right side.
Entry 3505
Ah know dis is true. Yo' kin go tuh work an' yo' kin fix dat man in a way dat he cain't have no dealings wit no othah woman. Jis' git chew a string an' measure him an' tie it aroun' yore waist [this is tying 1 knot in string] an he kin go on any othah woman he wan'a, but he cain't have no dealin's wit 'er. Come back home an' he's all right wit 'er [his wife or woman.]
Entry 3506
(What will she do?)
Take de cloth dat she use an' be sure dat she gits it. She goin' to cut it out, de piece of it out while it's damp, an' she know what she got. An' she'll put it on a belt or somepin an' jis' wear it aroun' 'er waist. Dat tie him to her. Evah time he go to go wit any othah woman, as long as she get dat piece on 'er, he can't. If he's ready, why he soon become unready befo' he kin do any- thing.
Entry 3507
" If yo' wanta person tuh love yo', yo' kin git 'em. Yo' kin buy yo' a piece of white cloth [therefore it is new] an' jes' lak if yo' have a dat wit dis person, whenevah yo' git through wiping wit it, an' take it an' wear it. Tie it aroun' yore waist an' wear it. Dat'll make 'em love yo'. [The tying about waist is the one knot.]
Entry 3508
All right, chew take a white had- ke'chuf an' jes' lak a man an' a woman is - urinate togethah [see later], well yo' take de urinate an' tie it in de middle of de han'ke'chuf, tie it in a hard knot an' den yo' wet it evah mawnin' fo' nine - wit watah fo' nine mawnin' an' keep it in de hot sun.
(What will that do?)
Dat makes [them] love yo' an' dey can't git rid of yo'.
[URINATE USUALLY MEANS URINE BUT NOT ALWAYS.]
(You don't use their urine, do you?)
Yes suh, dat's whut ah mean.
(How do you mean that?)
Jes' lak if dey go wid yo', yo' jes' take dere urinate an' jes' tie it in de middle of a han'ke'chuf. (WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THEIR URINATE? DO YOU MEAN THEIR PEE WATER OR WHAT?) No sir, dey come. (You mean the other stuff [semen from man] that comes out.)
Entry 3509
Well, if it's a man - if a woman wanta trick a man where he can't have anyone else. Well, she have intahco'se wit 'im an' den she use a cloth, she dries 'im. She takes de cloth an' she folds it see, an' ties it an' she wear dat as she would a sanitary piece, see. An' quite natch'l [natural] he'll come in an' he'll raise, until he git ready tuh git in de baid. When he git in de baid an' git tuh crawl on dis woman, it will fall. [Sumter, S. Car. (1364), 2405:8.]
Entry 3510
Well, jis' like if she wanted havin' a man, yo' know, an' yo' don't wan' 'im to have no one else. Dey say dat dere's two ways yo' kin do dat, but de surest way to do it is to go to de store - yo' don't have to buy but about a half a yard of white homespun. I've tried dat mahself. An' when yo' make connection, jis' before he have a good time, dat he takes it out - an' of co'se some draps on de baid. Yo' take an' grab like dat an' wipe it choo know. An' den yo' tie yo' a hard knot in dat homespun. I guess it'll be about dat long. Yo' got to buy about a half a yard anyhow. Yo' might have to splice it, yo' know, so it be long enough to go roun' yore waist an' tie it, an' also tie de knot [here are the two knots]. Yo' wear it nine days an' den yo' take it an' put it somewhere 'bout chah baid, an' he can't mess wit nobody else. He be on level all de time. I did it fer curiosity. I did a man like dat an' he had to pay a man, he told me, ten dollars to git dat thing offa him.
Entry 3511
I've heard dat if a man sup- posed to leave a woman, she don't want 'im to go, why she does 'is washin', see. Of course he could go away, but he Won't be no good to nobody else but 'er. See, she'll cut a piece of shirttail outa his shirt, cut right outa his testicles, cut out dat. Take dat an' wear dat in a - tie sompin aroun' it an' wear it aroun' 'er, see [pubic region]. Yo' kin go anywhere yo' choose, but yo' can't do anything.
Entry 3512
If chew have a man or a husban' an' he's runnin' out somewhere, jes' lak yo' been mate tuhgethah yo' jes' take dat stuff an' tie in a little string an' tie it roun' yore waist, an' when he go back tuh dis lady he can't mate ag'in. [See margin title SPIRIT CAUGHT IN KNOT, p.389.]
Entry 3513
Well, he jes' takes 'er an' when he deal wit 'er he takes 'is hans'- scuff, takes a ten cents linen pocket hans'scuff, not a cotton hans'scuff, an' he use dat. Well, yo' know what. He takes dat an' ties three knots, ball it, an' stick it in 'is pocket an' take it on wit 'im. When he come back she be dere jes' lak she wus when he lef' 'er - if he take dat wit 'im.
Entry 3514
Well, if yo' be's wit a man, an' de cloth dat yo' use, yo' take dat cloth an' let it be a new cloth an' tie three knots in it, an' jes' put it anywhere where de air don't git to it.
Entry 3515
Dat's fo' anybody tuh do anything to yo', see, lak if yo' go wit a woman, yo' know, an' anothah woman, see, dey have yo' tricked an' dey wear it roun' dere waist. Jes' lak a string, any kinda string dey wear roun' dere waist. Dey tie three knots in dere an' wear it roun' dere waist.
(What do they do with that string first or that cloth?)
Dey do nuthin but take a plain knot an' tie it. [Wilson, N. Car., (1456) 2647.
Entry 3516
If a man leaves home an' a woman wants a man back, he's easy tuh git back. It's very easy tuh git 'im back. She haven't got anything tuh do but go 'head an' have a intahco'se wit 'im an' when dey have intahco'se wit 'im an' git de measure of 'is, yo' undahstan', an' den she'll tie three knots in dat string an' ca'y [carry] it aroun' 'er waist. Ain't no way in de world he kin git up anothah heart fo' anothah woman. He goin' come back where she is.
Entry 3517
[When yo' at home at night, yo' an' yore wife or sweetheart, somepin lak dat. Well, she takes a string, see while yo' sleep, an' put it round yore thing; roun' dere, see, an' git de measure from it. An' dey say if she tie three knots in dat string an' wear it up undah her clothes, right nex' to her skin, say she have yo' tied up den where yo' can't have no discharge wit anothah woman.
Entry 3518
Yo' kin keep 'im from goin' wit a woman. Git chew a cord string an' measure 'im, hisself yo' know, an' yo' git de length of 'im, an' den yo' measure aroun' 'is waist [the thickness or circumference], an' tie a knot in it, see. (You get the measure around his waist with the same string or a different De same one. Look heah. Yo' see [demonstrates] de string is long, an' yo' measure it sompin lak dat, an' yo' tie a knot at dis end an' yo' tie one in de middle. An' yo' done tie it dat far roun' yo' see. Den yo' take an' measure dat dis way. (The same as the length.) Yes, an' tie a knot dere, an' den yo' tie it all de way aroun' yore waist an' den [or] yo' wear it aroun' yores right in yore laigs an' dat keeps 'im from - he cain't do it wit anyone else. [This should probably be classified under 4 knots, usually reserved for the 4 corners of a handkerchief. Here, however: lst knot is tied in the end of the string; 2nd at end of length; 3rd at end of added circumference; and 4th about the waist.]
Entry 3519
Well. dey take a cord string, lak a. twine string, an' take de length of 'is private. Well, yo' make three knots right in de middle of dat, dat'll keep 'im from: bein' wit somebody else. It will fall evah time he go wit somebody else same as a [dishrag?]. (What does she do with that string, then?) Take dat string an' keep it, wears aroun' 'er waist.
Entry 3520
[Informant's opening words answering a question of mine were probably something like, "She could measure him." I then turn on recording machine:] (How would she measure him?) Well, take a cord string an' ketch 'im when he's sleep or sompin an' measure him, an' tie three knots in it an' put de othah knot in 'er back an' [to] hang it [round her waist]. Put three knots in it an' tie de othah knot - de last knot tie dat string in 'er back, de third knot. [In other words, that third knot, that middle knot, she puts right in the mid- dle of her back, and then ties the string around her.] Yes. [This is an untied string with two knots of the measure to the front. A third knot appears when she ties the two loose ends of the string at back of her waist.]
Entry 3521
[The following rite is a good example of what happens when you do not turn on or have turned off your machine because informant is "less than fair" - so evaluated at the time. When I ask for a repe- tition of the rite, here is usually what happens - I have to drag it out of informant.] (She takes a cord string and measures a man, how long, and she puts a knot in each end.) In each end.
(And then she puts it in turpentine, you say, and wears it around her waist.)
Around her waist.
[Here, tying string about her waist makes the third knot.]
(And he is no good with other women.)
No, no good whatever.
Entry 3522
Well, that's so he can't have anothah woman.
(Well, how would she do that?)
She jis' take a string offa some of 'er clothes an' measure dis man, an' den take anothah string an' tie onto it, long enough to reach aroun 'er waist, an tie three knots in it an' wear it aroun' 'er waist. An' as long as she got dat aroun' 'er waist, he can't have anothah woman. (I see.)
Entry 3523
Well, de way yo' know dat I undahstan' it, jes' lak if yo' have intahco'se, yo' undahstan'. Well dey'd take dat, dat same piece. Well dey'd be careful an' try to git de edge of it, yo' see. Well dey got some of yores, pref'rence. An' ketch yore urine, yo' know, an' git deres what wuz on dere. An' dey jis' tie a little string on it an' tie three knots in it, an' put dat aroun' dere waist an' wear it fer nine days.
(What will happen?)
Well dat controls yo' to dem.
Entry 3524
In case ah wanta make love to a woman - now ah go to dis woman an' make love to her an' git part of 'er "nature", de same as mah "nature", an' tie a string into three knots an' put it up ovah her do', or undah her front do'step where she have to walk ovah it. Ah make love to her. She only once walk ovah it three steps forwards an' I take it up 'fore she walk back ovah it. Ah have her trapped.
(What do you do with her nature and your nature?)
Take dat an' keep it, wear it roun' yore waist three weeks. (Well, what do you do with this string? You make three knots in the string or what?) In a string or eithah in a rag.
(What do you do with the string I mean? Is anything done to the string?)
De string - dat's it, bury it.
(How do you use that string?)
Fold it - wrap it up into a small piece of papah. Yo' take a string an' tie it - use de nature lak yo' an' a woman have "purgements" togethah, an' yo' take de string an' tie three knots in it.
(You wipe with the string.)
[Here we have a definite statement of the folklore belief about what happens in coitus; both man and woman have purgements together. To purge means to cleanse, to purify the impure or undesirable. I am certain my informant equates purgement with ejaculation or emission, not with something impure. A man's pur- gement is semen, a collection of so-called seeds. A real seed, of course, is complete in itself, needing only a soil or place in which to grow, and nurishment. These latter says folklore are what the woman's purgement supplies, a suitable liquid for the growth and development of man's so-called seed. It never occurred to folklore and earlier medicine that a man's so-called seed was incomplete; that it became a true seed only by uniting with a woman's ovum or egg. Before uniting, the single successful semen and ovum had been single separate cells; but after union they became one new cell, which immediately split into two cells and many others. What the woman purges according to folklore is part of 'er "nature", de same as mah "nature". She certainly does not ejaculate ovah to meet the ejacu- lated semen.]
Entry 3525
(You tie three knots into a string. Yes?) Ah show yo' now. Yo' ties in dat string dem knots, dey got chew tied - yo' can't leave yo' see.
(Well, would they do anything else with that string first?)
No, don't do nuthin else wit it. Dey will git a piece of yore hair aroun' yore private, yeah, an' tie it in dere, an' yo' can't - see now, dat's three knots in dere an' yo' can't leave. Yo' can't go wit no othah woman but de one.
(Well, what do you do? Tie that hair into that string? Tie it in the knot?)
Knot. Tie 'em in a hard knot.
(Well, they use a piece of string though?)
Yassuh, dey roll it up dere, roll de string once on it, tie 'em. Den she wear 'em roun' 'er...
(Round her, near her privates?)
Yes.
literal tying of hair into string/hard knots, with an attributed partner-restriction effect. Keep private-area hair and the limited no-other-woman/cannot-leave claim as the source presents them; do not convert them into proven impotence. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Read full source (printed page 2432) · Read full source (printed page 2433)
Entry 3526
Take a bran'-new pocket han'ke'ch'ef, white han'ke'ch'ef, an' jis' lak a woman an' a man be tuhgethah yo' know, an' let 'im have intahco'se an' she not have nuthin, an' jis' dry 'im wit de han'ke'- ch'ef. Tie it in three straight knots, yo' know, catahcornah. Jis' tie it in dem three knots an' put it right undah de mattress on de side where he sleep at, an' dat'll stop 'im from runnin' roun'.
Entry 3527
Listen, dat is fo' a man an' woman dat has sexual intahco'se tuhgethah. Now, dis man perhaps wants tuh fix dat woman so she kin be wit no othah man. She wanta fix 'im so he can't be wit no othah woman. Yo' take yo' a piece of new homespun dat's nevah been used. Yo' take it tuh bed wit yo' an' use it an' take dat an' yo' put it catahcornah - lak yo' would a han'- ke'ch'ef, three-cornahed-lak. Yo' tie one knot right in de middle [at the apex of the triangle] an' one near each end [each angle of the base]. An' yo' take it an' yo' go undah yore bed an' tie it undah de middle part of de springs or de slat - jis' tie it an' leave it dere. [This tying under the center of the bed creates a fourth knot, also a quin- cunx made with a triangle.]
(That's all you have to do.)
Entry 3528
When a woman wanta make a man lose his nature, dat's by ovahfeedin' 'im wit dis monthly - a man, dey take his discharge an' take de pocket han'ke'ch'ef an' iron [it], tie three knots in it, an' throw it in de bottom of de trunk. He wouldn't fool wit 'em, not until he dead. (With any other woman.) No more good. All 'is nature will go to his head, an' den he'll come to be a man usin' wit 'is mouth. Dat's why a lotta fellahs use wit dey mouth an' can't use down below here, becuz dey nature is taken away from dem. [In hoodoo every ailment and misfortune, including impotence, is caused by a spell or conjuration.]
(They use this nature on the handkerchief and iron it.)
Iron it an' put three knots in it.
Entry 3529
[Put the towel] with watah an' put it into a [chamber] pot an' soak it - boil it an' steam it through de top an' dat will keep yo' home an' cut yore nature from any othah man or eithah de woman, see.
(What will they do with that towel then, after they finish with that towel?) Rolls it up very tight - roll it togethah tight an' tie it in three places on de top [of the rolled towel]. (Tie it in three places on the top?)
Yes suh, an' stick it into a trunk or eithah to a slit [in the house], anywhere dey have a mind to put dat towel up, aftah dey done steam dis chamber lye through it.
(What will they do with that chamber lye then that was left in the pot?)
Throw it out de way de sun goes down.
Entry 3530
Mah gran'mothah tole me dis, an' I don't know whethah it's true or not. She wuz ole, I think she musta knowed. Said yo' take yo' a bran'-new pocket han'ke'chuf an', when yo' have connection wit 'im an' yo' - know how yo' do - yo' bring it towards yo' three times an' wish. Make a wish yo' know so he will nevah bothah about nobody. An' yo' take dat pocket han'ke'chuf lak dis, an' tie three knots in it, an' wish all de while yo' tie dem knots in it, an' take it an' bury it undah de doorstep. An' yo' go on in de house an' long as dat is dere, he can't bothah wit, make no love wit no othah woman but chew.
Entry 3531
Yo' kin keep yore husban' from a woman lak dat, he cain't raise up fo' a [another] woman. Yo' kin take a bran'-new cord string an' name it 'im, an' perhaps while he's sleep, yo' measure him, an' yo' tie three knots comin' to yo', an' yo' tell it whut chew don' want 'im tuh do. Den yo' take dat an' tie it an' wear it aroun' yore wais'. He cain't raise up fo' nobody but chew.
Entry 3532
She measure his privates an' git de measure of 'is privates, an' git de length of 'is privates, how it is den, an' tie three knots in de back of de string an' three knots in de front, an' tie it aroun' 'er wais' where it'll come 'cross 'er privates lak dat. It'll cause him tuh come back home tuh 'er. An' if he don't come back home ag'in, he druthah [rather] come aroun' 'er an' be wit 'er, if he's wit somebody else; but he'll nevah git de thrill outa othah people dat he will [with] 'er. He'll come back an' fo'th tuh 'er. She wears three knots right in de front of dat thing, an' three knots in de back, an' ties it roun' de side down heah [side depending on whether tier is right or left handed].
(She ties a piece of string to this piece?)
Naw, jis' a piece of cord string, see. [This means that her original string was long enough to be tied about her Waist.]
Entry 3533
(And would she do anything else then?)
Well, she kin take an' kin have him.
(What?)
She kin have him, have intahco'se wit 'im, an' take an' tie a string aroun' 'er waist wit a knot in it; wit, yo' see, what come from 'er an' 'im, puts four knots in it an' tie it aroun' 'er wais'. He'll stay dere an' [something = finish?] his days. (I see.)
Entry 3534
See, ah taken a pocket han'ke'ch'ef, bought me a bran'-new pocket han'ke'ch'ef have nevah been used. Take dis pocket han'ke'ch'ef an' aftah yo' have intahco'se wit one 'nothah, take dis pocket han'ke'ch'ef den an' tie de fo' cornahs.
(How do you mean you tie each corner?)
Tie each cornah. - Hoodoo - Conjuration - Witchcraft Rootwork - (Into a knot?) Into a knot, bury it undah de do'step an' jes' let it lay right dere undah dat do'step. (What would that do then?) She be lak a lamb, jes' follah me wherevah ah goes.
(You do that so that girl will stay with you?)
Yes.
Entry 3535
A woman kin tie up a man. Ah guess yo've hear of dat. Ah've experi- enced dat. Ah wuz dataway fo' eighteen months. Well, de way a woman does it. When a man have connec- tions wit 'er - at least has dealin's wit 'er - aftah dey have connections, den she takes yo' know an' cleans 'erself wit a bran'-new pocket han'ke'chuf. An' den she ties it in fo' knots, an' she takes it an' sews it in de mattress; an' as long as it dere, yo can't have any dealin' wit any othah woman. Evah time yo' go tuh have dealin wit a woman, yo' know, yo' fall. If she git pregnant, aftah de chile born, somehow uh nothah he's free. But in othah words, de way a man gits out of dat condition, he goes an' takes an' does de same thing wit 'er. Undahstan', when he has dealin's wit 'er, an' cleans 'isself wit a bran'-new pocket han'ke'chuf an' tie it in fo' knots, an' bury it andah de front do'step, an' den he jes' as good as he evah wuz befo'.
(But if the woman has a child then that spell is taken off the man?)
De spell goes off de man. Ah experienced dat.
Entry 3536
(Tell me that from the beginning.)
Jes' lak yo' want 'em to love yo', yo' take a han'ke'chuf - or'nary han'ke'- chuf. Yo' want 'em to not - yo' don't want 'em to love yo' hard. Jes' tie it in fo' loose knots. Well, den, if yo' want 'em to love yo' hard, tie it fo' hard knots, one in each cornah: one at dat cornah, one down below, one down below, one at de othah end. Tie dose fo' hard knots, hard as yo' kin draw it. An' tote dat in yore pocket.
(I see.)
Entry 3537
Or else, yo' could take a han'ke'chi'f an' each time dat dey has a Intahco'se wit one anothah, take it an' tie a knot in de cornah of it, until yo' git all fo' cornahs of it tied, an' put it away somewheres. Be very pahtic'lah where yo' put it, where it wouldn't, be found, an' yo' wouldn't nevah have any trouble wit dat one.
Entry 3538
Dey say, jes' lak if yo' got a man an' yo' think a whole lot of 'im, an' yo' don' want 'im tuh run roun'. An' dey said when yo' an' 'im have any- thing to do wit each othah, jes' take dis han'ker- cheff or cloth an' tie a knot in each cornah. Take it an' sew it up in yore mattress an' dey say dat sould - jes' lak if he go an' makes a date wit anothah woman, he would fall, yo low. But it's some kinda perfume dat yo' git. Yo' kin git it at any Five an Ten Cent Sto'. Ah fo'git de name of it. Ah know it when ah see. Take dis per- fume an' yo' put on dis stuff [in the handkerchief]. An' yo' git it an' yo' supposed tuh fold it dis way: to yo' half way, an' fold de othah part back. An' den take a string an' tie aroun' it tight. Carry it up ovah yore head three times an' put dis Lucky Heart Powder [trade name] in it, if yo' have any, an' den take it an' sew it up. An' den yo' got 'em.
(How do you fold that handkerchief, now?)
Fold it three times dis way an' three time back dat way. Double it de two cornah lak dat. (You have the handkerchief out flat like that. Then you fold it three times. Now, here's the handkerchief. Suppose you show me how it's done.) Yo' fold it three times here: one, two, three, till yo' get it exactly in de centah of de han'er'cheff. All right. Den yo' fold it three times away from yo': one, two, three. Den yo' take dese two ends an' fold 'em as yo' kin. An' git it jes' as tight as yo' kin possibly git it. Yeah, an' take a cord string an' tie it around. Wrap it jes' as tight as yo' kin git it.
(What do you do with that then?)
Jes' sew it up in anything. If yo' have little bag, den sew it up in a little bag, or in yore mattress or sompin.
Entry 3539
Now, if a man wanta trick a woman, he buys 'im a bran'-new pocket han'- kerchuff, piece of cloth dat nevah been used. Den he goes an' he has a date wit dis woman, but he don't do nuthin 'isself. He dries dis woman thoroughly wit dis pocket han'kerchuff an' he ties two knots in each cornah. (One knot in each corner.) Oné knot in each cornah, yessuh, an' when he fold it, he fold it wit de two knots hangin' down an' two points right disaway an' he irons it jes' lak dat. An' he kin wear it up ovah de do' - [I mean] put it up ovah de do'. An' when she trans- fah ovah [under] dat, it takes effect on 'er. She can't have no othah man. She won' have no feelin' fo' no othah man but yo' in person. [Sumter, S. Car.,
(1363), 2405:9.]
(df). KNOTS FIVE: A CAUSE OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE
Entry 3540
Ef yo' a woman an' jis' lak yo' gon'a have a dealings wit a man. He comes an' yo' don't, but yo' see he do's. All right, git up an' git dat cord string - an' he done - an' dip it in dere an' tie all dem knots in it an' wear it roun' yore ankle. (What knots? How many?) Yo' have tuh tie five knots. Put it [string with 5 knots] in dat han'ke'chuf an' put it roun' yore laig. Yo' cain't git rid of 'im. (What did you do with that handkerchief before? Before you put the knots in it [the string]?) Oh, yo' use dat han'ke'chuf.
(You wipe him?)
Yes.
Entry 3541
Whut a woman kin do tuh make de man behave himself an' make him be happy at home wit 'er alone an' nobody else. Jes' lak she go on an' have con- nection wit 'im, take a clean piece of cloth, even now it might be a pocket han'- ke'chuf, but jes' since it's new, ain't nevah been used, an' jes' use dat at dat pahtic'lah time an' tie it up right tight. Tie five knots in it. But firs befo' she tie it, write his name on a piece of papah five times an' hers on dere five times.
(How do you write that on that paper?)
Write his'n lak dis an' turn it aroun', yo' see, jes' lak dis [demonstrates]. (You write his five times in parallel lines and then turn the paper around and write hers across that five times in parallel lines.) An' den aftah she write it on dere, she take it an' burn de fo' cornahs - jes' burn de little tips of de fo' cornahs of dat papah. An' roll it - fold de papah up, bring it tuh 'er an' be talkin' tuh 'im, "Ah mean fo' yo' tuh come heah. Ah mean fo' yo' tuh behave yo'- self an' come home. Ah'm tired of yo' runnin' roun' wit wimmins, an' ah mean ah don't want chew go out no mo' wit no othah wimmins, cuz ah'm enuff womens fo' yo'." An' jes' talk tuh 'em an' take dat an' put it In dat han'ke'chuf an' roll it up good - continue rollin' it up. Dis might be de han'ke'chuf but it's gotta be biggah'n dat. An' roll it up jes' lak dis here an' keep on rollin' an' keep on rollin' wit dat - wit dat name in dere, keep arollin' it. An' den take it an' sprinkle it good wit John de Conkah Powdah - dat's conkahin' 'im, John de Conkah Powdah. An' den tie five knots in it all de way, five knots clean on in dat han'ke'chuf [demonstrates] - dat's two, an' [put] three 'long heah, an' tie it jes' as tight [as you can].
(Then you keep tying it into a ball?)
Tie it into a ball an' put it - open a hole in de mattress, sew it up in de mattress an' let it stay dere. He'll be tuh de place he won't look at no- body.
(Now in fixing this handkerchief did she use it on herself or?)
Dey both use it.
Entry 3542
Ah tell yo' now jes' like dis, jes' like yo' got some ole clothes. Now yo' wear dose ole clothes, yo' undahstan', an' pull off de dirty clothes. Yo' pull it off an' she put it up; see, yo' Won't have nuthin to do wit dose clothes any mo'. Well, prob- 'ly she might git a piece of de seat of yore slip, yo' undahstan', an' cut it out yo' see. Well, perhaps she might git a piece from undah yore arms. See, yo' know jes' where yo' sweat, yo' see. An' den ag'in, she might git chure hat band or somepin like dat. Yo' know dese little bows in yore hat, she might take dat out, see. Well, she'll take dat an' she'll put some of dis - git a little car- bolic acid an' pot salt an' a little red peppah. An' she will git she a bottle of Coca Cola. She will sprinkle dat, see. An' befo' she sprinkle it why she will tie it up an' she'll put seven knots in it. Dat odds [odd number] yo' know. Now, see, seven knots. Well, she tie dat up, yo' undahstan' an' put it into yore pillah, see, cuz yo' know a woman makes de bed all de time. Yo' don't have no dealings wit beds - yo' wouldn't even think of it, see. Well, yo' have to stay home an' den ag'in yo' wouldn't even think of no othah woman but 'er.
Entry 3543
Dey says yo' jes' take a little rag, yo' know, an' make it lak a little towel, lak dat, an' put dat in chure mattress an' sleep on it, see. Now, yo' kin [also] take dat an' yo' kin tote it aroun' in yore pocket; or even if he sleeps, yo' understan', yo' kin take a piece of cloth an' measure his private, yo' know, an' jes' tie nine knots in dat an' put it in yore pocketbook. He couldn't git away to save his life. Dat's de way, when he's workin', what he makes, he's gotta give it [to you] when he comes.
Entry 3544
Yo' put nine knots in a bran'-new piece of cloth - yo' know, jes' lak yo' wanted to keep yore husban' from goin' out wit a woman, yo' know. Well, yo' jes' yo' know jes' lak yo' an' 'im be's connected togeth- ah, why den yo' an' 'er use dis new piece of cloth wit nine knots in it an' keep it undah yore bed mattress. An' he can't go out wit no othah woman but chew.
Entry 3545
Now, if yo' don't want 'im to go wit nobody but chew, yo' go to de sto' an' buy yo' a bran'-new - uh yahd [yard] of unbleached cotton, yeah. (Unbleached?) Cotton, yeah. Dat's yallah [yellow] cotton, unbleached - not bleached, unbleached. An' yo'll spread [it] right where he lays at. An' when yo' git ready to go wit 'im, have connection wit 'im, now don't chew discharge. Ah'm not goin' to discharge wit 'im, he goin' to discharge by 'isself. Ah takes dat an' ah'll tear a string off it, an' ah'll put nine knots in it an' ah'll wear it aroun' mah wais'. Now, when he git ready to go to see anothah woman, he can't see her. Ah'll stop 'im wit dat.