Browse:SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS (Volume 5, entries 9441–9716)
SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS
Volume 5, entries 9441–9716. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 9441
Whut chew do, if dey wanted yo' tuh move outa heah [the room in which speaker and I are sitting]. Well dey jis' git behin' yo' when dey came in yore room where yo're at. Dey may shake han's wit choo, see. An' den dey will jis' git dem a han'fulla salt - it's reason- able, too - jis' git dem a han'fulla salt, an' jis' as yo' walk dey would put dis salt in yuh back, right at chure feet jis' as yo' go out. Undahstan', jis as yo' go out, dey will put dat salt right tuh yuh feet, an' it'll move yuh. [Informant and I are talking in my interviewing room at the Memphis downtown hotel for black people, the Eureka Hotel. Some days later I was thrown out of that very room, not by salt, but by the police! See vol.1, INTRO., p. XXXiV, line 10f.]
Entry 9442
Well, anybody comin' tuh yuh house an' yo' git tired of 'em comin' tuh yuh house, yo' jis' follah dem tuh de do' as dey goin', an' have some salt in yuh han' an' throw it on 'em. Dey won't come back.
Entry 9443
Aftah dey [visitor] would leave, dey turn dere backs, an' dey would bid 'em goodbye, jes' grab a han'ful of salt an' throw behin' dem. Guarantee dey are gone tuh stay.
Entry 9444
Jes' lak anybody comin' tuh mah house. All right, ah'm tired of 'em comin' dere. Ah figah [figure] dey don' do me no good or nuthin. When dey go tuh leave, ah throw salt at 'em.
Entry 9445
Ah hear'd a ole lady say it wus a true sign, if someone would come tuh yuh house an' yo' wanted tuh make 'em stay away an' didn't wan'a insult 'em any way. Yo' could jis' take a handfulla salt, if dey pass - if dey leave yuh house wit dere back turned, an' chunk a han'fulla salt at 'em. Say, yo' nevah would have no trouble dataway any mo', cuz ah've: hear'd a lady say she did dat.
Entry 9446
Ah've hear'd dat if a person come tuh yuh home an' yo' figah [figure] dat dey are not dere fo' de right purpose, dat aftah dey leave out, chew kin take a han'ful of salt an' throw out behin' dem. An' dey won't come dere agin if dey have anythin' of 'em lak witchcraft.
Entry 9447
Dey say if yo' don' want a man an' if a man come out chure house - ah don' know what dey [do but] ah know yo' kin keep 'em from yo' house. Yo' kin take jis' as he come out dere house an' jis' take some pot salt, an' chunk 'em aft' 'em [after them], [saying], "Yo' son of a bitch, don' come back heah no mo'." An' he'll nevah come back tuh yuh house no mo'.
(I see, you throw the salt after them.)
Entry 9448
Yo' would have tuh go...no, yo' kin take table salt. Now, lak dey'll come lak, say tuhday, an' yo' don' wan' 'em tuh come no mo'. Yo' take yo' a han'fulla table salt an' when he turn tuh go away from yo', an' throw dat salt behind 'im an' put it an' say, "Go, yo' son of a bitch an' don' come back here no mo'." Dey won' come back, dat salt'll keep 'im away. Or even, yo kin put watah an' Epsom salts an' throw dat watah behind 'em. For throwing salt behind departing person and shaking your apron, this near Snow Hill, Md., see No.1468, p.477, vol.1.1
Entry 9449
"Fore yo' go down tuh de bossman, yo' git chew some salt, git chew a box-a [box of] bran'-new salt. Den yo' take dat salt an' tie it up in a new piece a yellah homespun, an' yo' put it in yore pocket. An' yo' take yo' some loose salt, have it in yore han', an' yo' sprinkle it all roun' where yo' - [do] not let chure boss see it - all roun' where yore boss makes tracks at. Sprinkle it all roun' dere an', see, salt conkahs. Salt is a conkah thing. Salt conkahs a lotta things yo' know, jes' even cookin' salt. Yo' kin do a lotta things wit salt. Dat's good.
Entry 9450
Take some table salt an' yo' wrop it up in a little piece of white rag, an' tie it up an' tote it in yore pocket. An' aftah yo' tote it in yore pocket, yo' take a little bit in yore han' an' jes' rub it right lak dat [demonstrates]. An' rub it all ovah yore haid an' face an' all lak dat.
(Over your hands?)
Yes sir, an' aftah yo' done rub it all in yore han's, jes' go [to the boss] an' he'll look out fo' yo'. Prob'ly yo' don' git de job tuhday, prob'ly not tuhmahrah, but befo' dat week or so out he'll give yo' sompin tuh do.
Entry 9451
If yo' goin' tuh hunt a job an' yo' think yo' not goin' be a success, yo' always tote yo' a li'le salt in yore pocket. Have salt in yore pocket evah mawnin' when yo' on dat job or when yo' goin' jes' tuh look fo' a job, see. An' jes"fore yo' git tuh yore boss, yo' put a li'le bita dat salt in yore han' an' goes up wit chure han' lak dat [demon- strates] an' jes' rub. An' go on tuh yore boss.
Entry 9452
Anythin' lak dat yo' wanta do an' jis' be's aroun' dere [the bossman] an' yo' have dis pot salt in yore han'. An' why? Yo' know, yo' jis' throw it aroun' an' it's some words yo' say an' it'll work: Mah jus- tice comin' from de Lord an' ah trust 'im tuh regulate all mah affairs. An' it's de words dat yo' kin repeat in de Bible an' it'll work out all right.
(And this boss will give you a job?)
Yes.
(Are those all the words you say?)
Yes.
(Do you say those words just once?)
No, yo' jis' [do] dat [demonstrates]. (While you are sprinkling that salt around. That's in the Bible, you say? Those words are in the Bible?) Yeah, it's in de Bible. [Those italicized words are not in the Bible but the two ideas expressed are Biblical.]
Entry 9453
Ah hear'd if yo's [you is] workin' or eithah want a job, an' somebody else was workin' dere, dat yo' could take a li'le salt, an' when de boss walkin' outa de do', an' throw it on 'is coattail, dat yo'd [you would] always have a job. [If you threw salt on the bossman's coat while he was leaving or going out a door, he would not return (see No.9442 following), but here intention is more powerful than action.
Entry 9454
One of de mos' valuable things, yo' kin take salt an' run evahone out dat house in ten minutes.
(Just how would you do that?)
Jis' take dat broom an' open de back do' an' de front do', jis' lak yo' open dis do' heah, an' take de broom an' turn it bottom upwards, an' put a handfulla salt right in de broom, an' set it wit de broom up an' close de do'. In ten minutes evahone of 'em git restless an' leave dere. Ah run company dat way some- times, when ah have company home an' git sick of 'em. Ah jis' git up an' go in de kitchen, an' take de broom an' set it behin' de do' an' throw salt on top of it, come back dere an' set down. In about ten minutes dey all git restless an' leave - dey go an' leave.
Entry 9455
Sprinkle salt on brushy part of broom an' set it [brushy part] up [be- hind door]. Run 'em outa house. [For an unusual example of this rite, a box of salt set down into brushy part up, after broom strings cut, see from New Orleans, No.2426, p.674, v.1.1 [Wilmington, N. Car. (212), 118:5+85.
Entry 9456
Hell, ah've saw 'em use broom or knew dey used brooms, fo' instance, lak if yo' have a party dat visits yuh house an' yo' not interested in dat party. An' when dey come tuh de house, yo' take dat broom an' put it upside down in de cornah of dat house. When dey leaving outa de house, throwin' three handfulla salt behin' dem. Dey don' come back.
(I see.)
Entry 9457
When a person come in yore house dat yo' don' wan' 'em in dere, yo' kin strew down a li'le salt, an' take dat broom an' sweep dat salt on out behin' 'em; an' when dey go, yo' kin shake de broom an' dey'll quit comin' roun' dere.
Entry 9458
Take an' go tuh de sto' [store] an' git chew a box of salt, where [what] yo' put in bread [not salt for cattle]. An' yo' kin take dat salt an' evah mawnin' yo' kin take a han'fula it, an' throw it in de fiah an' make a wish. Wish he'd he would] nevah come dere no mo'. An' den act lak yo' mad, when yo' throw it in de fiah, an' he won' come back dere tuh bothah yuh no mo'.
Entry 9459
If you had an enemy call upon you and you did not desire his visit or attentions, when they are beginning to leave, without letting them know what you do, sprinkle salt on their back and sprinkle salt across the doorsill. And let it remain twenty-four hours, then sweep it out the door and across the sidewalk, and take it up and burn it up, and that person will never visit you any more.
Entry 9460
If a woman had a man an' she wanta git rid of him, she would first start a argument wit him, an' de minute dat he'd begin tuh walk out, de same as ah'd walk out de do' dere [door of interviewing room] dat she would take a han'fulla salt an' throw it behin' him, an' throw some on de stove or in de fy'place [fireplace] - out de do' behin' him, an' if she got a fiah in de stove, throw some on dat. An' she would use a cuss. Den he stay away. In othah words dey would sweep yo' track out de do' as yo' go out. (Would she also sweep after - she would throw this salt after you and throw it into the fire. And throw it behind you, and she would put some in the fire and curse. That would make you stay away?) Yes.
Entry 9461
Dey say if a man is away from yo' an' yo' want him tuh come back, yo' git a new pack of salt dat has nevah been used out of, an' yo' burn it an' call his name, fo' him tuh come. An' jes' nex' yo' leave outa yore house, start where he left an' sprinkle dis salt, an' den turn round an' walk right back in dere, an' call 'is name an' throw some in de fiah. He'll come back ag'inst his mind.
Entry 9462
When dey [person moving from house] git ready tuh leave an' done swept up evahthing, done swept de whole house up, jis' sweep it intuh a - it have tuh be a chimley. Sweeps it intuh a chimley. An' dey throws a handful of salt in dere, an' den dey make a "x" in de back an' dey burns dat papah stuff [old papers] up in dere. An' anybody dat moves in dat house won't stay dere. Dat's de way dey done things.
(Where do they make that "x"?)
In de back of de chimley, right in de back of de chimley. [For burning salt In fire, see also No.2271, p.641, v.1; also No.9139, p.3699, v.4.]
Entry 9463
Throwin' salt on de stove will cause a quarrel. (Where?) In de house wit de family. (That is, if I wanted to cause that quarrel, I would stand in here and burn that salt.) Yeah.
Entry 9464
Git chew some salt an' put it aroun' yo' do'. Yo' ain't gotta pick no special mawnin', but jes' lak yo' wan' chore [author's] business good, sprinkle it roun' yo' do'. An' jes' lak dey come in heah inside tuh see yore [author'sl room or sompin, put it aroun' in de edge of de room. Well, yo' goin' git customahs, yo' know, befo' - all de time. Ah mean, yo' know, jes' lak yo' sellin' likkah. All right, yo' wan'a sprinkle it [salt] undah yore steps. Yo' don' wa' [want] nobody tuh see it yo' know. Sprinkle it roun' yuh do' an' den sprinkle it in yuh room.
(That is all you have to do?)
Yes sir. [Quite a number of salt and business rites are also given in Nos. 2583-2615, Pp.711-717, v.1.]
Entry 9465
Put some cookin' salt right in de do', in fron' of de do' yo' see; an' put some backwards tuh de kitchen where dey be walkin' in. An' dey walk in ovah dat salt, he'll have good luck de balance of dey days.
(Who would do this?)
De man, or anybody wus runnin' de house.
(Of any kind [of business] - selling what?)
Sellin' moonshine or....
Entry 9466
Yo' kin take a box of salt an' jes' t'row it all de way roun' yore house evah mawnin'. Don't use nuthin fo' dat but jes' t'row it roun' de house fo' nine mawnin's. An' dat will give yo' luck.
(Luck for what?)
Luck fo' business, peoples comin' in an' tradin' wit chew.
Entry 9467
An' den, dey says, yo' kin take some table salt an' put it in a piece of new homespun. An' yo' kin put - open up yore mattress an' put it right in de centah of yore mattress. An' sew dat mat- tress back up on it an' let 'im lay on dat salt bag. Say. An' yo' talk tuh dat salt fo' nine mawnin's an tell it whut chew wan' it tuh do. Jis' PAT IT [new-homespun bag containing salt] an' den make a cross-mahk across it, yo' see. An' dey says he'll always stick tuh yo' lak dat.
(You just tell that salt anything you want done with that man?)
Wit dat'man. Make a cross-mahk across it. (You only talk to that salt while you are putting it in there, you don't talk to it each morning?) Yo' talk tuh it each mawnin', yo' make a cross-mahk each mawnin'. [This may be the only patting rite in H00DOO.]
Entry 9468
[CENTER OF A CIRCLE, HERE REPRESENTED BY A PLATE, IS RARE IN HOODOO. For another example, see No.9683, p.3823. Contrariwise, center or middle of a square or oblong (bed, house, grave, room, etc.) is fairly common, the center or fifth point creating a quincunx.] Yo' kin, if yo' got a mean rent-man dat worries yo' an' yo' can't git along wit 'im. Yo' kin gits up in de mawnin' an' git yo' a fresh box of salt - cookin' salt. Teah [tear] it open an' yo' have a tablespoon- ful, an' yo' put a spoonful in yore right hand. Dat plate must be thoroughly clean dough [though]. Put it [spoonful of salt] in yore right hand an' put it in de middle of dat plate. An' yo' bring it right tuh de windah where de sun rise early dat mawnin', an yo' jes' throw it [salt] out de windah, an' come back an' turn de plate down. An' ah don't cay [care] how mean he is, when he git dere he be pleased.
(That is against the rent-man.)
Yes, de rent-man.
Entry 9469
Well, yo' go in tuh be tried, yo' jes' sprinkle de salt all roun' dere, all roun' jes' where no one see yo'. Jes' sprinkle salt as yo' goin' up de steps, right on up evah step, an' jes' as close tuh de officah, de judge, as yo' kin git tuh wit dat salt. An' dat'll lighten up de case, it won't be hard on yo'.
Entry 9470
Carry some table salt wit chew an' evah word yo' says - evah word, yo' know - jes' lak ah wus sayin', evah word yo' say, why sprinkle some of dat salt. Keep sprinklin' it all de time.
(What will that do?)
Well, if yo' goin' git a fine, it will cut it down - shortah, won't be as heavy.
(You mean every time you speak or the judge speaks?)
Evah time ah - jes' lak ah wus in co't an' ah wus talkin'. Evah time ah would say a word ah be mashin' it... [in my hand].
Entry 9471
Husban' or wife or jis' a frien'. Well, dat salt, jis' as yo' come in, wherevah yo' set or wherevah yo' went in de house, sprinkle dat salt dere an' den lak dis [demonstrates two strokes making sign of cross]. If yo] step ovah de salt, dey says dat's misfortune wit yuh mind, an' yo' jis' forget about evahthing an' yo' won' come back.
Entry 9472
If yo' wan' 'em [to] move out an' dey won' git out, jes' when dey come out dere - jes' when dey come out, aftah dey come out an' yo' know dey gone, yo' jes' git right in de same direc- tion dey went, an' yo' take yo a handful of salt an' throw it in dere [in direction person went]. Say, "Ah hope yo' stay gone an' nevah come back, by de he'p of God." Dey won' come back, ain't goin' come back.
Entry 9473
An' dere's anothah thing dat she kin do or he kin do at de home an' [if] dey can't git along tuhgethah. If he comes back, tuh keep 'em from squab- blin' so much, she kin take a li'le salt, cookin' salt, sprinkle it aroun', in de house, roun' de, 'bout de do'step in cases lak dat, an' he'll be quiet or she'll be quiet.
Entry 9474
Jis' lak yo' wan'a house - jis' lak anyone naggin' an' dere be a whole lot of rows in de house an' yo' wan'a quit dat rǒwin' an' live pleasant in de house. Yo' take a li'le bit of table salt, but choo have tuh use it In de Name of de Lord. An' yo' take dat table salt an' yo' put a li'le bit in a can or anything, an' put it up ovah de do. An' dat's good tuh keep yuh home quiet.
Entry 9475
Now, jes' lak dat - dat's common, dats easy tuh be done, dat's a short argument. Why yo' jes' take a li'le pot salt an' sprinkle it 'fore yuh do'. Yo' will nevah be in no peace at all. Jes' a li'le pot salt.
Entry 9476
Throw salt on de do' or on de porch, an' dey more den apt tuh leave. Yo' know salt gives 'em bad luck if yo' bring it from yuh own house. An' den dey won't stay dere in peace an' dey'll fin'ly move out.
Entry 9477
Once someone had did somepin tuh hurt me an' dey tole me whut tuh do. Dey said go back home an' look undah de flo' - undah de step an' dig undah dere an' git some salt an' sprin- kle in dat hole. Dat would kill dat whut dey had fo'me. Wahl, ah did dat but ah don' know wus it. Ah did whut dey said all right. Dat'a de best ah knowed of it [to] do.
Entry 9478
Yo' takes cookin' salt an' sprinkle it in front de do', sprinkle fer t'ree mawnin's. Den de fo'th mawnin' de people will move out. Evah mawnin about - time about 'fo' 6 o'clock.
Entry 9479
There's several dif- ferent methods to work at it. The one method, why you would get up in the morning at three o'clock and take three hands of salt, and throw 'em across the door and make your wishes. And sometimes it have a tendency to make 'em move.
Entry 9480
Yo' say yo' wan' zem tuh move out dis house. Git chew some salt an' carry it unbeknown tuh dem an' sprinkle it across de sill of de do' - see, right crossin' de do'. All right. Well, now, yo see, dey gotta step ovah dat. An' when dey open dat door de nex' mawnin' comin' tuh go out where dis here salt is, yo' see, dey goin' tuh pass ovah it, yo' undahstan'. Why dey gotta sweep it outa de house outa de way. An' when dey go tuh sweep dat salt away from dere, see evahbody in de house follah it. Won't be long, maybe. Ah've had dat done tuh mahself all right.
Entry 9481
Ah heard yo' could git some cookin' salt. Ah've heard dat chew kin take salt, cookin' salt, an' if anyone was kin' of a enemy of yo', dat is if yo' an' him has had some disagree- ment some way an' he seem tuh be a enemy of yuh, dat yo' could bury it undah yore steps, an' he'd walk ovah it, dey say he'll even come - really aftahwards - come tuh be yore friend, comes all de way 'long.
Entry 9482
Fo' peace in yore home, yo' kin take table salt, jis' common table salt, an' sprinkle it roun' de flo', but don't sprinkle it heavy so dey kin de- tect it, yo' see. An' dat keep de diff'rence outa yore home.
Entry 9483
[Dey kin] bring salt from dere home an' put it intuh your place [house] - salt, cookin' salt, see. An' de same thing dey says dat dey'd [they would] com- pare salt. It gives yuh hard luck as being a means of good luck by puttin' it in de fo' cornahs. [Salt brings bad luck and good luck.]
(What will that do, putting it in the four corners?)
Say dat brings luck. An' yo' names each pile de kinda luck dat you'd lak tuh run in. Fo' instance you'd lak tuh have dis [demonstrates] as de money pile, dis is some othah prosperity, dis is love, an' dis is biggah business.
Entry 9484
Go tuh de sto' an' buy yo' cookin' table - box of cookin' table salt. An' if yo' kin git a chance tuh go tuh dat house, yo' put it roun' tuh de fo' cornahs. Put about a tablespoon of dat tuh evah foah cornahs of dat house. [4 corners outside and 4 corners of each room]. An' yo' go inside an' yo' put as much as yo' kin in each cornah of dat house. Don't care how many cornahs it's got, yo' put some in each cornah - a tablespoonful. An' dey have tuh move, can't stay in dere.
Entry 9485
Git chew a new box of table salt. Listen good! Git chew a new box of table salt an' yo' jes' take it an' open it. See, no one haven't nused [used] out of dat. An' when de' both are leavin' yore house, yo' jes' take some of dat salt an' chunk, stirrin' [magic action] yore salt lak dat [demonstrates circular motion, saying], "Go." An' den when dey - yo' jes' throws out yore arm lak dat [demonstrates], yo' jes' sprinkle it aroun' in each cornah of de house, in all fo' cornahs, an' dey'll finely [finally] break up. An' den yo' take up one of de bricks in yore chimley an' jes' put some undah de bottom of dat, an' set it right back down dere. An' dey won't be dere long - no, dey won't be dere long tuhgethah.
(That will separate them?)
Yes, separated.
(I would do that?)
Yes, separated, fuss all de time till dey separated. Ah'll pull 'em apart. (If I wanted to do that, I would wait until this man and his wife walk out and then I would sprinkle it in their house. Do all that?) Yes.
Entry 9486
Yo' kin git table salt an' sprinkle it in de fo' cornahs of de house: one, two, three, fo'. An' yo' put dat table salt in de cornah dere an' yo' sprinkle some salt around de side of de bed where he sleep at, an' dat'll make de home jes' charmed...make it lovin, not have no fuss. Dat'll stop de fuss...make peace, yessuh. [All of this be- cause salt keeps out "witchcraft." For keeping out witchcraft, see No.9446, p.3780.]
Entry 9487
Take some salt an' throw it in fo' corners of dat place, an' take yo' two sticks an' cross 'em in de middle of de flo', an' walk out backwards. Did ju' [you] heah me? (Yes. Now what would that do?) Dat would keep de landlord from rentin' de place. (That is to cross up the house so that the landlord can't rent the place after he has moved you out.)
Entry 9488
If anyone will come in yuh house - jis' lak a person wan'a come in yuh home an' broke yuh home up, an' yo' know dey come [for that purpose], take some salt an' go all through yuh house an' throw it in de each fo' cornahs of de house, an' use it In de Name of de Lord. An' when dey use dat salt, throw it through de house. Dey throw it undah yuh do'step too when dey come. Why when dey come in dey can't do a thing tuh yuh an' evahthing will go on pleasant.
Entry 9489
Yo' kin take salt, a bran'-new box of salt, an' throw it in each cor- nah. Start from de sunrise an' go round tuh each fo' cornahs, an' yo' put de salt in each cornah of yore house. An' git in de middle of yuh flo' an' yo' make a wish. [The middle of yuh flo', the fifth point, turns this into a quincunx rite.] Den yo' kin take dat salt an' burn it "In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, put peace an' pleasure in mah home." (After you do that at the sun- rise side, which way do you go then?) Yo' stay tuh yuh right [walk clockwise]. Yo' see yo' start in de sunrise an' yo' go roun' till yo' git tuh de last cornah.
Entry 9490
Yo' kin put red peppah an' salt - yo' weah dat in yore shoes, see. An' den yo' take salt an' put it in each cornah of de wall in yore rooms where yo' sleep at. An' if anybody [come] tuh yore house dat yo' don' want tuh come tuh yore house - dey come tuh yore house an' yo' don' wan' 'em dere - de time dey'd leave yo' sprinkle salt an' red peppah in dere tracks right out dere behin' 'em, an' sweep it out. See, an' dey won' evah come back a'gin. Well, we tried dat one time 'bout a police, about a law. Dey haven't nevah been dere tuh bothah us no mo'. (That first about that salt and pepper [in 4 corners of bedroom], that is to keep you from being harmed?) Yeah.
Entry 9491
Why, yo' kin be moved even wit de sunshine, even wit de table salt.
(How do you do that?)
Yo' take de Bible an' yo' take de salt an' go tuh de do' at de risin' of de sun, an' yo' throw yuh salt tuh de east. See [demonstrates]. An' yo' go through yore rooms no'th, east, so'th an' de west. See, an' yo' throw dat salt around in dat room. Dat is, eithah way yo' kin do it. An' den yo' go back - yo' do dat fo' three mawnin's an' he'll git upset an' of co'se he'll move. Yore [victim's] nerves will become nervous an' yo'll [he'll] have tuh go.
(Now I go to the door that's facing the east, and throw some salt...)
Dat way, yes, an' dat way [demonstrates]...fo' directions.
(That will make them [him] move out.)
Entry 9492
[Gambling rites using salt in HOODOO are colmon and scattered through the text - see especially vol.1, p.641, Nos.2264-2270.] Yo' kin take some table salt, see lak yo' an' anothah fellah tuhgethah - yo' an' 'im gamblin', see. Well, if he don' gamble an' yo' gamble, yo' kin take some table salt, table salt whut de' [they] put anywheres. Have it in yore pocket an' let him have it in his pocket...an' yo' goin' be gambling. Well, dis fellah, jes' lak ah'm settin' up heah now - ah'm lucky, yo' let dat [demon- strates] jes' drop dat table salt right down ahind of [behind] him. Dat's tuh change his luck.
(That is to spoil any hand that he has.)
Dat's right. "
Entry 9493
Take an' put dat salt on 'em.
(What did you say - salt?)
Salt will kill anybody [anybody's lucky hand] what sets dere at dat time.
(Kill anybody's what?)
Toby. [Word toby was rare down Atlantic coastline.]
(I see.)
At de time dey usin' it, if yo' kin git a chance tuh sprinkle salt on 'em, de toby won't do 'em no good. An' yo' kin win jis' as much as dey kin. Ah know dat. (Even if you can't sprinkle that salt on the toby, if you sprinkle it on them it's all right.) But put it on dem, dey got dat on dem. Yo' sprinkle it on dem. (It will kill the strength of the toby. I see, a gambling toby.)
Entry 9494
Yo' kin take pot salt an' carry it tuh a [skin game], jes' lak if yo goin' gamblin', an' throw it right where yo' at or where de people at till it connect me wit all de money. Have good luck an' successful. An' throw it an' talk to it. Dat why yo' have good luck an' successful. Good luck in gamblin'.
Entry 9495
Yo' take dis table salts in yore han', don' let it tetch yo' [except your hand], an' yo' sprinkle it all ovah dem whut's lucky, an' dey begin tuh fallin'.
(They begin losing.)
Yeah.
Entry 9496
If yo' winnin' an' somebody slip up behin' joo an' sprinkle salt on yo', say yo' go tuh losin' den.
Entry 9497
In gamblin', to drop salt down in [on] each othah back an' dat will cause 'em tuh lose. (That is if someone was lucky in winning. If you drop a little salt on him, that will kill his luck?) Dat's right.
Entry 9498
In othah word, if yo' wanta give him bad luck, yo' could give him bad luck by puttin' salt on him. Tuh cross his luck yo' po' salt on dis man. Dat's bad luck tuh anyone gamblin', enythin', so forth.
Entry 9499
Jis' sprinkle table salt... [I stopped recording machine too soon, then decided to repeat informant's words.]
(You just sprinkle this table salt and that will cause a quarrel in the house?)
It sure goin' tuh duz one evah time.
Entry 9500
(Take salt and do what with it?)
Sprinkle it in de house. Dat make, yo' know, fuss an' fight.
Entry 9501
(Take table salt?)
Yessuh, an' sprinkle it all de way roun' dat house an' dere cain't any one go back tuh it dat chew don't want tuh. Call dat man's name dat chew don't wanta go dere. (I would do this if I didn't want anybody to rent this house? Or to live in here after I left?) Yessuh.
Entry 9502
If yo' kin git intuh dere house, take table salt an' carry it tuh de front do' an' throw it out. Jes' come right straight through de house, sprin- klin' it as yo' walk through, an' sprinkle it down an' name it till yo' git tuh de walk where it goin' out [to street or road] an' dey'll move out very shortly behin' yo'. (You go in the back door and walk right through the house?) Walk right through the house an' sprinkle it as yo' go out.
Entry 9503
Yo' kin take salt. Lak a man when he leaves, yo' kin take salt fo' nine straight mawnin's an' yo' stan' in de do' an' yo' go on - yo' come out. Come out in de front yard an' take dat salt an' throw it back on dis man three times. Throw de salt back in de house ovah yore right shouldah three times, an' ovah yore lef' shouldah three times. Dat'll bring 'im back. (You stand out in front of the door with your back to the house and you do that nine mornings?) Nine mawnin's. He'll be back in nine mawnin's. He's gotta come back.
Entry 9504
Yo' kin jes' take a new box of pot salt an' carry it an' string it all de way round de house at night an' talk tuh it an' tell 'em ah want chew tuh make sech-an'-sech-a one move or leave heah. An' when nine days are up why dey'll have tuh go.
Entry 9505
Dey take salt nine mawnin's an' put it from de front tuh de back, miss nine mawnin's, an' den put it roun' nine mawnin's, an' den in twenty days dey'll be gone. Dey couldn't live dere any mo'.
(That is to make them move out of the house?)
Make them move. (In putting this salt from the front to the back, do you go through the house or round the house?) Roun' de house, de outside, nine mawnin's an' den yo' skip. Den yo' do de othah nine mawnin's. Dat's two nine mawnin's, jes' skip one nine an' den put it roun' dere nine - outside of de buildin'. Ah've heard 'em say dat would make dem move, dat dey'll nevah have good luck wit dat house. An' dey can't stay dere any mo'. (In other words, you simply go round twice, nine mornings?)
Entry 9506
Whut tuh do tuh keep de law from bothahin' yo'. Yo' could buy a fresh box of salt, Jack Frost [trade name] salt, an' put two level handful at de front do' an' two level handful at de back, an' dey'll nevah come roun' yore home.
Entry 9507
An' even in usin' dat salt - did ah tell yo' 'bout de salt? Remembah when ah tole yo' 'bout de usin' de salt tuh keep de law away from yore house? Now, dat salt whut chew use fo' dat, don' nevah use dat fo' cookin' or nuthin else but jes' fo' dat pahtic'lah purpose. [Here is a part of a fundamental law in hoodoo: ingredient used - other than parts of a person's body or anything touching him, such as clothes - must be new; and anything left over must not be ased again for any purpose. Like all laws, they are often broken!]
Entry 9508
Now if yo' runnin' a gamblin' house, sellin' whiskey, got women, if yo' wanta be lucky 'bout dis thing, always keep in yo' place loose salt, ice cream salt. Git de ice cream salt, it's in big lumps. [Ice cream salt is rare in HOODOO.] Dey says yo' could swallah oneof'em[lumps], deygood fo' yo' stomic anyway. Jes' put one in yo' mouth an' swallah it an' dey says dat ev'ry once in a while jes' scattah some all round de house. It roll up lak snow [informant not a native of place where we are talking] or sweep it out. Dey says de cops or p'lice will bar'ly evah pass by; if dey do, dey speak tuh yo' an' wave dere han's. Yo' do dat fo' nine mawnin's straight an' den yo' skip nine. Dey tell me dat'll work fine. An' ah believe some people's doin' it right heah [in the city] now, 'cuz ah been heah a long time. Dey say dat's a fact.
Entry 9509
Salt throw tuhwards sun- rise 3 times, say, Whitefolks go an' don't come back. An' dey'll [police] stay 'way from yuh. "Go yuh way an' Let me alone.
Entry 9510
Ah heard yo' could take salt an' sprinkle it roun' yore house. Yo' know, bury it undah de do'steps an' - if yo' wanta sell likkah an' keep de law away from dere.
Entry 9511
Yo' rise early in de mawnin' befo' de sun rise an' put salt befo' de do', an' nobody will nevah come in de gate.
(That is to keep the law away or your enemies.)
Entry 9512
Well, now, it ain't but two things tuh keep de law away from de place. To' spread table salt down where he is an' he ain't goin' tuh come up dere. Dat's all it is. Yo' jes' git tuh 'im an' throw 'em down 'is back an' put 'im in hard luck, an' he's goin' on away from dere. He's not goin' tuh come where yo' is. [Memphis, Tenn.,
(976).1581:2.]
Entry 9513
Ah wus told once that the law, the way to keep them away from your Loose is to throw salt behind them, if they ever come. Get a handful of salt Wd throw behind him and they will be very seldom visitin'.[ New Orleans, La.,
(796), 1109:9.]
Entry 9514
Ah've heard dat if yo' don' wan'a person tuh yore house, when dey leve take a hand of table salt an' throw it behin' dem an' dey'll nevah return.
Entry 9515
Take table salt an' sprinkle it roun' de do' fo' nine mawnin's, an' dey gotta go.
(bey have to move out of that house.)
Entry 9516
If yo' livin' roun' a set of mean people or neighborhood, yo' jes' cah [morning] fo' nine mawnin's yo' take salt, brand-new salt an' sprinkle it all roun' yore do'step an' yo'll make plenty friends - yo' won' have any enemies. Evah mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's befo' sunrise in de mawnin'.
Entry 9517
Yo' take salt fo' nine mawnin's an' yo' start from de back side of yore house an' jes' goes lak dis heah [demonstrates], jes' go lak dat, an' dat keep any enemies out. Jes' go ahead an' throw yore salt, say: Stop her In de Name of de Lord. An' yo' have frien's all de time, yore enemies won' stay dere. An' de law won' come tuh dis house... [I stopped recording but immediately turned on machine to repeat the missed words.] (You do that for nine mornings, and you say: Go 'way enemies, an' come in frien's.) Drive yore enemies out an' bring yore friends in. An' scattah it inside de house.
Entry 9518
[New Orleans was the scrubbingest place of them all, special prepara- tions often being called a scrub.] She take some salt watah an' evah mawnin' befo' day - it wouldn't be quite light yo' know - she'd take dat watah an' scrub de whole place an' scrub 'er room. An' when he'd come she'd rest his hat, lak anyone would do yo' know. An' she'd have a soft damp rag wit de same solution, an' when he'd be readin' or othahwise lak dat, she'd dampen his hat, jes' take it lak dis [demonstrates] an' dampen it.
(Just dampen the hat with the rag. What is that supposed to do then?)
Keep him dere, yes. [To keep him from being taken away would have been a better answer.]
Entry 9519
Whut ah heard about de job proposition - whut chew kin do tuh make him give yo' a job or tuh make peace. Yo' undahstand me? Well, all yo' have tuh do is buy yo' a fresh box of Jack Frost [trade name] salt an' put it in yore pocket an' put some in yore shoes an' go on tuh him. (Go down to the boss and ask him for a job?) Yeah, dat'll make peace. Dat's right, dat's all yo' gotta do.
Entry 9520
People say dat yo' could take salt, fresh salt in de shoes - weah it in de shoes. Anybody put down anythin' ag'in yo', dey say it wouldn't take no 'fect. (If you walk over anything?) Yessuh, if yo' walk ovah anythin' why it won't take 'fect 'count [on account] de salt.