Browse:Protection Against Witch-Riding (Volume 1, entries 477–535)
Protection Against Witch-Riding
Volume 1, entries 477–535. Source context: SPIRITS → THE HAG - WITCH IN HAG FORM. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 477
We use to live in a house where a witch would come in dere ev'ry night - a little ole woman. She'd come in dere an' she'd ride me ev'ry night. Ev'ry night, Laws [Lord's] sake, she'd ride me - jes' worry me so ah couldn't sleep dere. An' when she'd come in she'd come in from de do', from de front do'. (How did you get rid of her?) Well, ah took an' put a Bible up undah mah haid. Yo' kin put a Bible up undah yore haid if yo' dream a lot - yo' kin stop it.
Entry 478
There's something on you riding and you can't speak. You get up and put de Bible under your head; open de Bible and put it under your head, then you'll - they come back there no more. Or you take a open knife or put a ice pick under there. See, those are evil spirits bothering you - see - and it won't bother you no more.
Entry 479
You put a Bible underneath your - open it to any chapter and turn it down under yore pillah, and then you kin put a pair of scissors and that will keep them away.
(The hag.)
Uh-huh.
Entry 480
You read de 35th Psalms of David and then after that reading that Psalm, you put the Bible under your head, but you must read that Psalm for nine nights and after reading that Psalm, you put it under your head, and then go to sleep and after that nine nights the hag will go away and won't worry you.
Entry 481
Put a Bible under your pillow. A witch will have to read that Bible backwards before she can ride you. Sometimes it takes much longer - if they miss one word in one chapter the witch must go straight on back [start] again, and by dat time it's daybreak and they can't ride you.
Entry 482
Dey put the Bible under dey haid - yeah, open it to any chapter in the Bible, iest put a key in it and close it back up and put it under their haid.
(What will that do?)
That keeps the hag from riding them.
Entry 483
I was living in a lady's house. I couldn't sleep in de bed for nothing. And I used to hate to go upstairs to bed because every night after I would go to bed I would hear something tipping on the steps. So when it would get about middleways on the floor it would jump on me and just nearly mash the life out of me. I waked up in de morning, the lady's grandmother lived across the street, I went over there and was telling her about it. And she said, "Honey, that's an old witch." She say, "You put a knife and de Bible under your head and she won't come back no more." So I put the Bible and knife under my head and never heard of her or seen her no more.
Entry 484
To keep a hag from ridin' a person, sleep in black - ole black - or ole black undershirt or even is worth while a black shirtwaist. Put on that and he can't come. [Charleston, S. Car., (512), 585: l. For black coat over outside door to keep out witches, see FACI,2ed., p.889.] [I should note here that hag riding was practically unknown in Adams County, Illinois; a community largely of German extraction. The word hag does not appear in the exhaustive index of the first edition of FACI.]
Entry 485
Once there was an ole lady and she kept comin' in the keyhole, and this Woman [the victim] would sleep flat on her back. So when this witch.would come, why she [the victim] stuck a pin in [the clothes at] her breast. This witch, when she go ride this lady, why she stick the pin in her [drawing blood] and that will keep the witch from ridin' you.
Entry 486
We were setting there talking. Somebody went to tell a tale. He said his mother said a witch rode her at night. Being much worried about it she told her parents and her parents told her to place a knife under her pillow at night. She did this. And they told her if the witch came, to cut it with the knife [to draw blood]. She did this the next time the witch came. Later on in the day she found out it was her brother. He had a cut arm. I don't know how true it is. [The knife (with Bible) under pillow (No. 483) is not used for drawing witch's blood - witch keeps away from it, afraid she will cut herself.]
Entry 487
I heard my mother say lots of times that witches used to ride people in olden times and she herself. A woman didn't like her and she thought that she came one night. She said she saw her come through the keyhole. There was no other Way to get in, she had fastened the door. It was just something [that came through the keyhole] but when she looked at the fire she saw [recognized] her. And she went to the fire and warmed her hands and walked back to the bed and then back to the fire again. And she saw her pull off her shoes. And she got on her in the bed and for hours she couldn't speak a word. And all the week she seemed to be sick from it. Then night after night she would sit up and watch for her but couldn't see her until she went to bed. Then she decided, if aunt Margaret come again - that Was the old lady's name - she was going to bite her, if she couldn't do anything else. So she did it. From that the witch had a bad hand. [More than this, drawing witch's blood stopped her permanently.] [Girdletree, Worcester Co., near Pocomoke City, Md., (89), by hand; happened 1886.]
Entry 488
Well, if you wan'a keep out witches and ha'nts away from your house, you can take bluestone [= blue vitriol], put it in the four corners of the house and right at the steps where you go over, and you won't be bothered with 'em no more. You puts nine grains [crystals] at each corner of the house and nine at the front door.
Entry 489
[The following eight beliefs are variations on the bottle rite for catching a person's spirit - see Nos. 38-44.] I heard about my uncle catching a witch. They hung a bottle up the chimney and crossed a knife and fork. It was bothering and bothering him every night. Somebody told him to do this and he did it. And the next morning he taken this bottle down and something was in it. He left it stopped up. Somebody told him this woman who was bothering him was sick. He didn't go to see her. Finally, she says for him to come and see her. She said, "For the Lord's sake, please let me out, I'll never bother you again." He turned her out and the woman got well.
Entry 490
You kin put down mustard seeds, sprinkle 'em over the floor, and ies before they go they'll have all them seeds to count. And you kin ketch 'em and you kin put it in a bottle and stop it up. And early that morning there'll be somebody come aroun' and want to borrow a match or salt or somepin.
Entry 491
Take nine new nails an' put 'em in a bottle or nine new needles, either one, to ketch a thing dey call a witch at night when dey ride yo'.
Entry 492
No, sir - say a witch don't put spells on you, a witch rides you. [A great amount of evidence is given in this book that a witch does put spells on you and also rides you.]
(How could you keep her from riding you?)
Well, you git - lemme see now - you gits new needles and you gits [new] pins - I know a man had ketched one of 'em - git new needles - he was a sensible man - you know, he know all dem things - he was a sensi'le man - he died now - he caught one. You git new needles and you got'a pins - git new needles and pins, he say, and put 'em in a bottle and when he come a-riding, you know, someone will call his name. You see, someone will be shaking his side to wake him up and somebody will call him - jus' like if I'm over here and you say "John" - you call my name and dat bottle'll be open and slap dat bottle up like dat [demonstrates], you see, and you got his spirit. See, you got de spirit and dey say you kin see de little black thing running around in de bottle. And this one this man had ketched, he stopped de bottle - dey called his [witch's] name - his [victim's] wife called his [witch's name] while he was riding her husband and stopped de bottle up - stopped de spirit up in de bottle, you see, and [later] dis witch takes fits and dey takes him ovah to the hospital and de witch never did get better. And dis witch say if he [could] see dis man - dis man was by de name of Mr. Joe Richardson - he says, "If I could see Mr. Rich- ardson, I would git well." You see, if he could see you and just talk wit you, you see, he would get better - see, because it would git his spirit back. You see, dis man had his spirit. But dis man wouldn't go to de hospital and see 'im, you see, because he done belonged to de same church dat dis man belonged tuh and that he Was a witch. And everybody used to say he was a witch, but you see, some people doesn't believe it. Well, this gentleman [Richardson] he was, you see, half-white and half-colored but he was more white den he was colored and he had plenty sense. So he say, "I tell you he's a witch all right," he say, "I'm goin' ketch him because I know how to ketch him - I'm goin' ketch him." And he [his wife] got de bottle and stopped de bottle up and called his name and ketched his spirit in de bottle wit de new needles and pins, and he tuk sick and he was sick until he died - he died in de hospital. Dey come to your house in de night - late hours.
(Now tell me how to catch a spirit - what will they do now?)
Dey call you late hours in de night when you sleepin' and when you answer 'em, den dey shut de bottle up and shut your spirit up in de bottle. Dat's de way dey catch you.
(I see - you have to answer them though before they catch you?)
Yes, answer - you got'a answer 'em, and if you don't answer 'em dey can't ketch you - your spirit.
(This is if somebody wants to get your spirit to harm you?)
That's right.
(What if they catch your spirit - what will happen to you then?)
Well, you may be spritely and, you know, plenty of spirit in you, and then you be's deadlike - you have to be just like how I am - you see, I can't work - I ain't workded for over two years, I'm not able to work.
(Well, what do you think is wrong with you?)
You see, I was poisoned. You see, I use to been smart, you see, and working, going all de time, and dey didn't like dat - they fixed something you see to take all of my strength away from me.
Entry 493
That's if he is a human an' be a livin' pusson.
(What have you heard about that?)
Dey [hag or witch] jis' take an' strip off necked [naked], jis' strip off necked, if dey gon'a ride joo. Dey write chore name down fo' diff'ren' places - write it on one piece of papah, write it on anothah piece, write it on anothah, an' on anothah one. He'll take it an' tie it roun' his ahm, he'll tie one roun' dis laig, an' one on dis laig, an' one on dis ahm. An' he'll put one roun' dere [his neck]. Dat'll be five pieces - jis' yo' name on it - two feets an' yo' ahms, an' put one piece aroun' de neck. An' aftah dey do dat, why dey grease all ovah wit fresh hog lah'd [lard]. Dat make 'im go to bed wit dis thing on his min'. An' in de night when you lay in bed sleepin', his spirit wandah an' git where you's at, an' jis'beat on yo', knock on yo', choke on yo', an' have yo so yo can't har'ly ta'k. An' de way to git 'im, de only way yo' can git 'im, is jis' take some peppah an' pu't in a bottle, red peppah pu't in a bottle, an' open de top of it. An' he'll go down in dat bottle an' he can't git out, an' he'll stay thah, in thah till nex' mawnin'. He'll put on his clothes [next morning], wherevah he be he'll put his clothes on, an' it'll be de firs' one at yo' house dat mawnin' axin' yo' fo' somepin. An' if yo' don't care wha' chew give im out chore han', dat'll turn 'im loose out dat bottle. An' while he's in dat bottle he turn into all kin' of insex, ants, bugs. An' when he come to yo' house dat mawnin', an' if yo' give 'im anything, a couple of matches or any- thing, why you turn 'im loose. When he come thah he'll be down [dejected], lak dat, chew know.
(Suppose you burn that bottle up?)
He'll die. Dat is his spirit.
Entry 494
I have heard that if a witch rides you at night take a small vial, put hairpins and plain pins and vinegar and a loose stopper in the bottle, and put it under your pillow, and they say it will catch the witch. The witch will get in the bottle, can't get out. The pins will catch the witch and keep him in, and the vinegar will dissolve him and change the color of the contents and you will know that you have the witch. You'll never have trouble with witches as long as you live.
Entry 495
I did hear the old people say at one time that a witch came in the house and got in a wine bottle and drank too much and couldn't get out. Ev'ry once in awhile she would holler about the keyhole, trying to go through it to escape, and fall back on the floor. There where the witch was caught. The olden people use to make the wine and set it under the bed or table and the witch got in one of these bottles.
Entry 496
They tell me that they take a bottle and pee in it and put that bottle up the chimley and when the witch comes in and comes down the chimley she'll go right in that bottle. Then cork it right up and that holds her until you find out who she is. [Wilmington, N. Car., (181),?]
Entry 497
Yo' takes dis chamber lye an' yo' puts it in somepin an' stops it up an' let it stay fo' nine days, an' ev'ry mawnin' dis witch will come to yo' to borrah somepin. Slong [so long] as yo' keep dat dere, don' nevah lend 'er anythin', an' if yo' do not lend 'er anythin', well, den she'll bust. But if yo' jes' keep dat den she'll bust. But if yo' - she'll come to yo' fo' nine mawnin's an' if yo lend 'er somethin' ev'ry time she come to yo, den she kin git ovah it. But if yo' don't lend 'er anythin', why it's nuthin' she kin do.
(Whose water do you put in that bottle?)
Yo' put de witch's watah - oh! yo' put chure watah in de bottle - yo' know, yore chamber lye, yo' put hit in de bottle.
(You have this bottle by your bed when you sleep at night?)
Yes sir, an' yo' turn two fo'ks up - yo' take a fo'k an' a knife an' yo' stick de knife in de fo'k [making a cross] an' lay it undah yore pillah, an' den if she starts ridin' yo' yo'll see her, yo'll wake an' she'll appear tuh yo'. (You use both the fork an' the knife, an' this bottle of chamber lye - all together?) No sir, yo' leave de chamber lye yo' put hit in de bottle de next morning, after yo' see this witch.
(Oh, you have to see her that night.)
You will see her if yo' put dat fo'k dere.
Entry 498
My mother was rode by a witch. I used to sleep in the next room from her. When a witch rides you you can't talk, you holler, you just make a b-o-o-m sound. Then you know something is wrong. My mother started to making that fuss and I called and asked her what was the matter with her. And she said a witch was riding her. So I told her the next time a witch got after her I was going to catch whoever it was. They say you take a sifter, a bottle of water and a broom. You put it down at the bottom of the [door] steps. The witch has to count all those holes in the sifter, all those straws in the broom, and if day- break catches him he goes in the bottle of water and you stop him up, and you find out who was riding you. The person will come to you and beg you to turn them out of that bottle.
Entry 499
Use de straw from a broom for a hag. Take de straws from de broom an' take de broom an' lie it down side de bed, an' de nex' mawnin' dere will be somepin down dere side de bed. People say it be's de hag, but say dat de firs' pusson dat came to your house to borrah somepin from yo', don' loan it to 'em, say dat'll be de same pusson dat rode joo.
Entry 500
Jes' lak if a hag be ridin' yo' ev'ry night - ev'ry night yo' go to bed an' a hag ride yo', jes' take de broom an' sleep wit de broom 'cross yore foot ev'ry night an' dat'll keep de hag away.
Entry 501
Dey only use a broom in case [what] dey call de hag or some kind of a witchcraft rides yo' at night. Dey takes an' put it 'cross de do' an' - sprinkle lot'a salt on de flo' yo' know an' den take an' put it cross de do'. Dat stops dem from comin' in.
Entry 502
In Norfolk city [not the county], there was an old witch that used to go around riding people. So one day an old woman came around and told them, "I can do something so they won't come in. You take straws from the broom you sweep with and lay them all a-way across the door." They mustn't come together like that but cross like that [demonstrates].
(One straw overlapping the other.)
"And if a witch comes to that door, she can't come in. She can't cross the straws because a broom sweeps out." [New York Citv. (4), Ed.: from Norfolk, Va.]
Entry 503
Take nine straws, broomstraws, an' yo' put 'em down - yo' kinda pound 'em an' yo' put 'em down. Put nine to de haid an' nine middleways an' nine to de foot on de flo'. Then yo' put nine on de middleways an' den put de whole straw on de back an' a bottle right down by dem nine straws. When de hag git on yo' he got'a start tuh countin' dem straws, he count dem straws - he count right dere an' yo' ketch him, ketch him in dat bottle.
(What does he look like, then?)
Says he look lak a jelly of blood - jes' lak a lump of jelly.
(Now, about those straws - how many straws do you put on the bed?)
Put nine each ways - nine on de flo', nine up de next de post an' tuh de back.
(Well, where do you put the three nines now?)
From de straw broom jes' git de straw an' put nine up dere; jes' lak yo' plantin' - nine dere, nine heah an' nine dere.
(Where do you put the first nine?)
On de flo'.
(Where do you put the second nine?)
On de bed.
(Where do you put the third nine?)
On de back - dat's de broom, de whole broom - right undah de bed right 'bout chure haid. (You have to do that with the broomstraws, too.) [Have I suddenly become incoherent - too?] An' de bottle 'long wit it.
Entry 504
I told him to get some pepper an' throw de seeds all aroun' on de floor. Well, after dey [a hag] came in there, they've got to pick up ever' grain of dat pepper before they kin get out. They kin ketch 'em and they won't come no more.
(Why won't he do that?)
I don't know, sir. He's 'fraid, say he git de pepper - might git it in his eyes or somepin or 'nother like that. Den I told him, I said, "Well, if 'fraid dat," I say, "well, take your broom and sweep your bed down," I say, "ever' night befo' you get in de bed." He do it for about nine nights or nine mornings, why dey won't bother him no more. But dey ride him most ever' night. See, he'll be hollerin' and moanin'.
(Where does he live?)
Next door. So one night, de night befo' last, he wus hollerin' and strugglin' in his sleep. So I called and ast him what wus de matter. And he ast de Lord to help him. He say he tore de cat up and threw him in de fire. [Informant paused here and I turned off my machine, thinking she had ended. But, she added a final statement which I had to repeat as a question to the quickly turned on machine.]
(When he woken up the cat was gone?)
Yes sir. [The witch-hag had changed into a cat before riding this man.]
Entry 505
You buy yo' five cents worth of [corn] meal an' you go to yo' bed an' you sweep de floor clean an' take dat meal an' set it right down by yo' bed on each side. Well, now he got'a count ev'ry nine grains of that thing, ev'ry nine piece of it. In which you got'a go to work an' - [unless you set the witch this counting task] your blood, you get strangulation an' yo' can't speak, yo' Rin not say nothin'. [But] when dem nine grain dere - all dat meal down - counted it, all dem grains - [the witch] can't [do] nothin' - [from] de time yo' go to sleep ain't nothin' harm yo' till yo' wake up. [Charleston, S. Car., (525), 630:8.] [This witch in hag form is quite simple-minded, able to count only to nine - the reason why he must separate thousands of corn-meal grains into little piles of nine. Such a primitive system of counting he had inherited from his witch ancestors. Witches are most conservative. Using the four fingers of his left hand - a witch would never start with the right hand - he presses each in turn against his left thumb; then he presses the four fingers and thumb of the right hand against the left thumb. The total is nine - a magic number. Yes, he forgot to count his left thumb! Actually, the left thumb of a right-handed person was useless until late in civilization when an unknown genius gave us one of the greatest of all inventions, a concept of vast importance - he called the left thumb zero. The decimal system was born.]
The informant claims freedom from harm between sleep and waking; the counting explanation is separate editorial commentary.
Entry 506
Well, now, yo' kin take a broom an' jes' lay it crossways under yore bed an' dat'll stop 'em. Or yo' kin go to three crossways - go to three crossroads an' pick up a little sand outa three crossroads an' throw it up under yore bed an' they wouldn't bother yo' no mo' tuh save yore life. If dey do, ah'll eat dis hat [my black hat containing concealed microphone - see Hat, my black, in Index].
(That will stop these witches?)
Yes sir - dat'll shore stop 'em.
Entry 507
Git yo' three fat-lighter splinters; yo' take a horsehair and tie it with three crosses in it [demonstrates] - yo' cross one dis way and den lay one in that angle. [Yo' cross One (splinter) dis way (over another splinter, making letter X or cross) and den lay one (the third splinter) in that angle (of the X - like this six-pointed star the latter making three crosses).] Take that horsehair and tie it and whoever yo' think that witch is, set a chair by de side of de bed and lay it [three fat-lighter splinters tied by horsehair into three crosses] right in there overnight. If dat witch comes up dere, he will throw that out of the chair on de floor and yo' won't be worried with him any more.
(You have to throw it out on the floor?)
No, he will. He will do that himself because he comes up and sits down in dat chair and he sits on dat and it gits him and he jumps; you know, jest like if you in a chair somewheres and dere's a pin sticking in dat chair - same you, yo' jump up and put chure han' behin' yo'. Well, he throws dat on de floor.
Entry 508
A broom what you sweep with, you leave that to yore feet an' a Bible at chure head and dey won't worry you. But, if you wanta ketch 'em, you sprinkle - you go to de drug store and you buy a nickel's worth of flaxseed and you sprinkle that around in de room, and if de come in dere, you'll wake 'fore he done pick up every one, 'cause dey got'a pick up every one of 'em an' 'fore he done pick 'em up you kin ketch him.
Entry 509
They tell me that you can take a broom or flaxseed. I think flaxseed is more better than a broom. You get about a half a pound of flaxseed or else mustard seed, they are small. If this hag comes in and you can manage to wake up before she goes out, you take these seeds, all loose, and you sprinkle them between her and the door, and she will have to pick up all these seeds before she can get away. While she is picking up these seeds you will be successful in capturing her.
Entry 510
I have been told that if you want to stop a hag when she comes to your house, you will take a fork and stick it in a chair, in [under] the bottom of a chair. And if you believe this party is a hag, then you will make you a big fire and you take this chair and set it close to the fire, and then you take a broom and put it at [across] the door, and then you ask this party to sit down. She will sit in this chair the fork is sticking in. Then you make a hot fire and they can't move. She will keep twisting. And before you release them, you take the broom up across the threshold before you remove the fork, and they can't go otherwise until you move this. And after you move that broom and the fork they will certainly go.
Entry 512
Dey claim if a witch ride joo it's a person dat's living.
(A person that is living - what about it?)
Dey say - now it's a ole story - dey come outa dere skin and comes in through a keyhole. Dat's de ole story - course it's almost impossible fo' yo' to believe it. Dey say dey comes outa dere skin and den comes in through de keyhole an' comes in only whilst yo' sleep an' rides yo' - usually be a ole woman - be a witch - turns to a witch - she be's a witch.
(How do you get rid of her?)
Well, nail a horseshoe up ovah yore do' an' she won't come in.
(Is there any way you can catch her?)
Well, dey say, de way yo' kin ketch her, say yo' kin take a handful of mustard seed and put it down right on de floor right round your bed, an' she got'a count dose seeds befo' she leaves an' dey say yo' ketch [her] dere counting de seeds.
Entry 513
wäl, ah take a horseshoe and wets it - ah dips it in salt water an' ah place dat ovah mah door and each night ah say, "Lord, ah wish dis hag would nevah ride any mo' and ah be jest [left alone]."
Entry 514
Mah grandmother she used to do dat - she'd take a horseshoe. When dey put shoes on a horse - yo' know, take dose shoes off an' put new ones on, why she'd take dose shoes an' put one ovah her front door an' one over her back door; every do' she had yo' know, an' 'nother one right at de doorstep dere at de right corner. Why, she would dig a hole down dere jest about dis big maybe an' put sulphur down in dis hole an' den cover it back up. An' she den would say some kind of ole funny word dey have in dere mind, an' by dat way dey say dey keep witches away - dey wouldn't come in de house an' bother 'em.
Entry 515
If de hag rides yo', yo' gits a piece of dis rusty iron an' yo' take it an' cut it de length of de first joint of middle fingah yoah lef' han' - yoah middle fingah, an' yo' sew it up in a sack an' wear it roun' yoah neck, an' de hag won' ride yo'. Jes' lak if de hag be ridin' yo', have yo' cryin'.
(You mean that tin that comes off of roofs?)
Dat tin-iron.
Entry 516
An' then yo' kin use a knife crossways jes' lak we wus speakin' about - not straight up an' down - Jes' cross undah yore pillah - cross de bed - right crossways of yore haid, where yo' sleep at night. Dat keep 'em from ridin' yo'.
Entry 517
Take yo' pocketknife, de knife yo' tote in yore pocket, an' de witch bothers yo' or mess around wit yo', yo' jes' open dat knife ev'ry night befo' yo' go to bed an' turn de point of it towards yore bed [see No. 436]. Yo'll never have no trouble.
(What else did you say would keep that witch out of the house?)
Dat stuff right heah, dat garlic up over de do'. Yes sir.
Entry 518
If yo' wanta ketch a witch - now, if a person is riding an' yo' wanta ketch 'um, yo' takes nine mustard seeds an' put 'em undah a sifter an' turn 'em down undah a sifter. De next morning he'll be there tryin' tuh count dose seeds an' yo' kin ketch him right dere.
(What'will he look like?)
He liable to be a ant or liable tuh be any kind of a little bug - you may not pay it no mind but dat's whut it is.
Entry 519
If de witches ridin' yo' at night, den yo' could take mustard seeds - yo' take twenty mustard seeds an' put under de sifter, see, an' yo' ketch dem. Ah've heard dat.
(What would you do if you caught her?)
Say dey'd be under dere tryin' count de seeds - find 'em under dere de next morning countin' de seeds, trying tuh git out.
(What do they look like?)
Well, dey tell me it looks like - when yo' first see it it looks like a little doll, somepin lak dat. [Here, the witch does not become an insect or take off skin to enter a house, he or she reduces size to a diminutive person - again changing form at your first glance. This.protean ability is characteristic of all spirits (see No. 70 and Index); a witch in hag form being a spirit.] Ah had a uncle onest he caught one. He's dead now but he tole us he caught one.
Entry 520
Yo' take nine needles an' yo' use'ly puts 'em on a card together - de nine needles an' take an' wrop 'em up in a ball, in a small ball, an' drop 'em right down at de foot of yore bed, an' dat use'ly keep de witch away or either yo' ketch 'em, but ah nevah known dat yet.
Entry 521
If a witch comes to your house and when she come in she gits on you, you know, and begins riding you, you have a handful of oats and throw it all over the room. She'll be there in the morning picking them up.[ Boxiron, Worcester Co., on Chincoteague Bay, near Snow Hill, Md., (88), by hand.]
Entry 522
You take dis sage whut dey use for Christmas in turkey an dat'll keep 'em away from dere. You take dis sage, you understand - you jis' take a leaf, you understand and repeat some of de Ten Commandments; jis' de same as each one of dese little leaves is a letter, "Thou shalt not steal." You jis' take dose little leaves off dis sage, jis' pull 'em off, "Thou shalt not steal" - you put it down dere. "Thou shalt not commit adultery" - you put it down dere, until you git the ten. An' take 'em, you understand, wherever de witch comes in, you understand, jis' spread 'em out over de doorsill, you understand, an' put a piece of carpet over 'em, and dat's where he git right to de door - he stop right dere.
Entry 523
Dat sulphur, yo' take dat sulphur an' sprinkle it round yore house - jes' lak yo' got a room an' somepin worryin' yo' in dere, yo' know, yo' take sulphur an' sprinkle it all round in yore room. An' it won't worry yo' any mo'.
(That was a hag?)
Supposes tuh be a hag. Some folks say it a hag an' some folks say it's yore blood, because ah've been lak dat. Dey ride me in de night.
(What do they say they do to get rid of them?)
Well, some folks say yo' kin put a broom on de bed an' some folks say yo' kin sprinkle salt ovah de bed. Some folks say yo' kin take a brand new knife an' put dat - lay dat in de bed side an' dat'll keep 'em from worryin' yo' at night. But ah re'lly didn't try none of those things.
Entry 524
You take a scissors and put it under de bed on a newspaper, you under- stand; lay de scissors here and de newspaper here, an' when he git dere he got'a put his hand on ev'ry letter. See, by time he git through dat, it's day an' he got'a go. (You put the scissors and the newspaper under the head of the bed, a newspaper next to it - underneath the scissors or next to it?) Right next to it - here's one and here's the other.
Entry 525
If yo' in a house or somepin of de kind an' sleepin' in dere an' witches an' things, sech things lak dat, ridin' yo', tell yo' whut's good fo' yo'. Some- time yo' put chure Bible undah yore haid. If yo' don't do dat, sometimes yo' kin take a knife an' fo'k an' cross it - cross it dataway yo' know an' lay hit undah yore haid. Sometimes dey say yo' kin put a sifter undah yore haid - dat'll stop dat. [Sifter under head but on floor.]
Entry 526
Take de collard or any small seed an' take yo' a sifter an' put de seed down lak dat an' cover it up, an' lay dat sifter ovah it whut chew sift de flour with, if yo' wanta ketch him [the witch], an' yo' wake up de nex' mawnin', say he be undah dere - he got'a count ever' one dose seed 'fore he git out dere, an' yo' kin ketch him.
(How would you know he's there?)
Well, if he's dere, he'll be in a bug or he'll be in a big fly or some kinda insect or somepin.
(What do you call that when you catch that?) [Not a leading question!]
A witch.
Entry 527
Tuh ketch dat thing yo' call a witch - ah've known of 'em tuh ketch dat. Jes' lak if yo' 'custom to have a witch ridin' yo', yo' always have somebody notified. Jes' lak yo' will snore - yo' cain't holler, yo' kin snore, an' when dey ridin' yo', have somebody dere wit de sifter an' a whole lot'a mustard seed. An' no sonner [sooner] den dis witch startin' ridin' yo', dey come right on ovah an' jes' take dat sifter an' jes' lay it ovah dere.
(They do that while you are asleep?)
Take dat an' jes' lay dat ovah yo'. Now, when dey git offa yo', when yo' wake up den, yo'll find dem standin': Dey ate a hole in it an' dat mustard seed went through dat sifter. An' yo' kin git a - or if yo' kin git a silver ball, silver or copper or somepin lak dat, an' de person whosomevah it is dat jumped outa dere skin -
(That person whoever it is will jump out of their skin?)
Dat's right, dey call dat juonpin' out dere skin. An' if yo' see dat thing, don't kill 'em. Yo' kin go an' put some peppah an' salt on it, an' ev'ry time dev jump in dey got'a git right back out. An' dey stay dere lak dat seven or eight hours, trying tuh git in it. De black peppah burns 'em every time - de time dey jump in it.
(And that kills them?)
Yes.
Entry 528
I have heard my mother tell how to stop witches from riding you in your sleep and awake. The way to stop them is to hang a sifter on your bedroom door near the keyhole, and when they come in they get in that sifter and has to go through each and every hole in the bottom of the sifter before they can do as they want. Often it gits caught in the shape of a fly or worm going in and out the holes.
Entry 529
If you feel like he's [a hag's] comin' on you, keep workin' your fingers and toes and dey'll go away. An' den sometimes dey won't do dat, dey'll jis' jump on you an' ride you - jis' ride you until dey see fit to turn you loose. When you wake up you jis' make a long breathe [long breath]. Well, dey tell me you kin put a sifter down, if the hag come in dere or de witch or whatsomever it is. An' [later] it happen to be a bug crawlin' aroun' in dere, you ketch it an' put him in somepin, you know, where he couldn't git out. An' da' choo goin' count ever' one dem holes [in the sifter], ever' one dem holes, an' befo' you git through countin' dat dere'll be somebody dere to come an' beg to turn 'em loose. An' you'll know dat's an enemy. You have to count 'em, take a needle an' go roun' an' count 'em, an' before you git through countin' dem, dat dere be some- body to come in. Dey ast you to turn 'em loose. [The victim instead of the hag or witch counting the holes of a sifter is most unusual.]
Entry 530
They tell me to stop a witch from coming to your house hang a sifter over the door hole and when she comes she'll have to count every one of those holes, and if she misses a count she'll have to start all over again and by that time it will be day and she'll have to leave.
Entry 531
If yo' be worried lak that, yo' take yore chewin' tobacco an' yo' place it undah yore pillah. Well, vo' put chure money there undah yore pillah - silver money, a dime or a quarter, ah guess. Well, dey says take a chew of tobacco an' count yore money if yo' got any change an' den dey are gone.
(The night hag?) [Informant had called the rider a hag.]
Yes. [This is a good trick if you can do it - to count your silver while chewing tobacco, despite a witch's hands about your throat. Spirits and witches dislike tobacco, detest tobacco juice: "I told my husband she had my chickens bewitched. He said, "I will fix her." So he drawed her picture with her pipe in her mouth. It sure look like she was standing right there. My husband is a witch doctor and he did not have to take her picture to a white oak tree, he just spit tobacco juice in her eyes. Several weeks after that I met my friend (the witch) and she could not see. Her eyes were all sore. I said, "What is wrong with your eyes?" But I knew it was the tobacco spit in her eyes." (Following this quotation is the word Irish - meaning informant was of Irish origin.) See FACI,2ed., p.835.]
Entry 532
Dey claim yo' kin put a pan of watah under yore bed and say three words, jest say, "Father, Son and the Holy Ghost," and den go to bed and dey claim de witches will not come.
Entry 533
A bucket of water or somepin under de bed an' you'll ketch 'em [hag] or either flaxseeds. Jis' put de water under de bed, you know, an' de next mornin' you'll find a bug or somepin in it.
Entry 534
Ah heard tell, lak ketchin' a person's spirit - if dere's somepin dey calls a witch dat is ridin' yo' - if it's a spirit or somebody dat wantin' tuh tell yo' somepin - or somebody is tryin' tuh worry yo' because yo' worryin' some of dey folks upon heah. Ah heard tell dat at times dey might want a drink of whiskey or somepin if dey wus a big drunkard, an' dey worry yo lak dat; if yo po' down a drink of whiskey, dey're gone away an' won't bother yo' no mo'. If they bother yo' right on, yo' take an' git chew a sifter an' place it in de bed with yo', an' at the time this thing start tuh ridin', if yo' kin ketch it up - but it's kind of a strain fo' yo' tuh ketch it up, an' turn it ovah one time an' yo' ketch de spirit in dere. Dey tell me yo' see a lil' somepin de next mawnin' there in de sifter. [See Spirits, like alcohol, in Index.]
Entry 535
Well, dey say if a person dies, if he die cruel to yo' or something lak dat, say his spirit will come back. Well, it comes den through a dream - co'se dey has rid me - it jest as natchral though as I'm lookin' at chew. They jumps right up on yo' an' dey ketch yo' an' when dey ketches yo', yo' try to call but yo' can't call - yo' jes' [demonstrates] (gasp - gasp) jest lak dat until he turn yo' loose.
(Trying to catch your breath?)
That's right, until he turn yo' loose, an' yo' kin hear 'im when he hit de floor - an' yo' kin hear him when he come in, but chew can't see him.
(This is a spirit?)
That's right.
(Well, can't you keep them out of the house any way?)
Yo' take a new piece of lumber an' take yo' a lamp. First, yo' take that lumber, a new piece dat nevah been used, an' drive it right cross de do' an' set dat lamp about three and a half feet from it, an' he'll nevah walk in no more.
(What kind of a lamp?)
Jest a ordinary burning lamp, oil lamp.
(You keep that lamp lighted at night?)
Jest turn it low an' put dat piece of new lumber down dere an' yo' won't be bothered with him any more - unless you'd use it, take it up. (Did you ever hear of them catching one of those people - sometimes they catch them?) Well, ah've heard they catch them in a sifter. Yo' takes a sifter an' when yo' put it over yore face, right up on yore breast lak that, or if it's a person dat have drunk whiskey - if he is a whiskey drinker, yo' takes a little whiskey yo' put right round in dat place, an' when he comes, he'll git in dat an' yo'll ketch him and when yo' ketch him, he's jest a lump of jelly.