Browse:Powered by Singing (Volume 1, entries 1031–1032)
Powered by Singing
Volume 1, entries 1031–1032. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 1031
[In the preceding rite we warmed up or gave extra power to a fireless coffeepot; in the following rite we have a waterless bath powered by singing:] I was livin' [rooming] with a lady in this town here and she had a man she was livin' with. An' this man, you see, would go out and work but he wouldn't bring in money to suit this lady, see. And this lady went to some hoodoo lady and tried to find out some way of gettin' him to put his money in de house - you know, in de home. Well, this lady told her what to do. She told her to go somewhere and get a, about, you know, a cup of graveyard dirt from some place, and get and have some strands of his hair out of him, and mix it together, and get some more - some kinna roots, you know, out de woods. I don't zackly [know] what de name of 'em would be but I seen 'em, you know, seein' how she mixed de stuff together. She took de graveyard sand and roots and this strand of his hair - she tied it aroun' de roots see, put de graveyard sand in a little sack. Den she put dat in, you see, put de sticks [roots] in this bag too, and tied it up and wore it in her bosom up here. And de lady told her to get in de tub and face de sun in de mornin', you see, take a bath and holler and sing - you know, sing low to herself. There wasn't any water in it - jis' an empty tub. But she was suppose to do dat early before de sunrise rise, for nine mornin's and burn some kinna lamp behind de door - you know, a lamp jis' like we use. But I don't know whether it's true or not. I couldn't say that [she didn't see this part of the rite]. But that was de words she came back and told us. And she did it. And then she ordered off - of somepin from some firm, Johnson C. Smith, I think it is, in Racine, Wisconsin, and got somepin dey call High John de Conquer. But she wouldn't let me see that. I couldn't tell you zackly what dat looked like; she wouldn't let me see it. But I re'lly do know from myself experience dat he did change. He start to bringin' de money in and spendin' it in de house jes' like any other man. [Wilmington, N. Car., (261), 257:3.]
[For a doctor singing while making medicine, see margin-title George Jackson.]
Entry 1032
Git chew a ole shoe, git a man's shoe, an' git chew some sugah - yo' Want fren's yo' see, sugah makes it sweet fo' anything. Git chew some sugah an sulphur. [Sulphur is for protection.] Every Thursday in de week, yo' jes sprinkle dat [mixture] in each corner of yore house an' say - a song yo' sing [she sings]: Jesus invites yo' heah, Prayers come from hearts so deah, 0, won'( chew come? Almos' persuaded - come - come. An' yore house crowded lak dat. Ah us'ta do dat mahself: Jesus invites yo' heah, Angel is lingerin' neah. Prayers rise from hearts so deah, O, won' chew come? Almos' persuaded - come - come today. Almos' persuaded, turn not away. (I see, that's very good [the singing]. That will bring customers in to buy your liquor?) Shore.