Browse:SEXUAL IMPOTENCE (Volume 3, entries 3110–3831)/Part 6
SEXUAL IMPOTENCE
Volume 3, entries 3110–3831. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
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.
Entry 3546
If yo' got a man an' don't want 'im tuh have nobodys else but chew, yo' could tie him in nine knots in a towel or a new piece of yellah homespun. [Yel- low homespun is the same as yellow or unbleached cotton in preceding rite.
Entry 3547
Git a bran'-new han'ke'chuf. She use dat - jes' lak if yo' [a woman] wanta take his nature away, yo' undahstan'. If yo' [a man] don' Want 'er tuh go wit nobody else, yo' use it, see. Take a bran'-new han'ke'chuf an' she wipe wit it but not chew, see. Perten' [pretend] lak yo' did but chew didn't, see. An' yo' go an' put it ovah de do'dere [door of interview room referred to], see. Take dat piece out an' put ovah de do'. If yo' don't do dat, yo' kin take dat - yo' kin take it an' put it in de mattress. An' tie it in nine knots an' put dat in yore mattress. An' evah time he go tuh be wit anybody he'll fall.
Entry 3548
She'll take a string, see, an' if the man's asleep, you know, she'll take it out an' she'll git the full measure, see. An' then she'll go to work an' she'll tie nine knots in there, in this piece of new twine. An' she'll tie it right around the calf of her leg:
(Which leg?)
Either one, an' that's got chah. You won't want no other woman until you git where she is.
Entry 3549
(Well, how does she tie up a man. She takes a piece of what yo' call a grass rope an' whilst he's asleep, she'll take de measure of 'is body. She'll take de full measure of it.
(Of his body?) Yes, sir. What I mean, I can't explain rlght [I don't want to come right out and name it]. (Oh, I see. Yes.) [Yes = continue.]
Well, she put nine knots in dat an' she takes nine hairs from right close to his body. Yo' undahstan' what I mean?
(Right near it?)
Yes. Well, she takes dis an' she ties it in dere an' she ties it aroun' 'er wais'. An' she puts nine knots in dere an' she wears it aroun' 'er wais', an any woman he go to fool wit, he cannot have her.
(I see. But she must have those nine knots.)
An' evah knot supposed to have dis hair in dere. Yo' undahstan' what I mean?)
(She what?)
Evah knot she made [in the grass rope], she have a stran' of dis hair in dat. (Oh! Each one of these knots she made, she has a hair in that knot - one of these nine hairs in that knot. I see.) Yes, sir.
(And she wears it around her waist like a string, and it must be a grassrope.)
Yeah, grass rope.
(Grass-rope string. I see.)
Entry 3550
De stockin's [are] fo' love affairs. Now, dey kin take mah stockin's or mah socks - man or woman, don't make no diff'rence who it is, an' dey kin cut de toe of dat sock off an' de heel part of dat sock off, see. An' aftah dey cut it off, den dey tie it wit nine knots. Now dat's fo' love, [but] dat's not tuh drew [draw] dis love. It's lak if yo' loves a lady - ah should explain it tuh yo' lak dat. Jes' lak if ah loved a lady mahself an' she quit me fo' some othah man, an' ah don't want Ter tuh be intimate wit dis man. Prob'bly she could be wit 'im, but still she couldn't have no intahco'se wit 'im. Yo' undahstan'. All right, aftah ah cut de toe of 'er sock off heah an' de heel of 'er sock off - yo' know women don't har'ly wear stockin's now, some of dem wears socks now. Aftah ah cut dat off, ah takes me an' sets down, an' ah cuts it intuh a kin'a string-lak. Aftah ah cut dat off, see - ah wan'a show yo' whut ah'm talkin' 'bout. Ah think ah got a han'ke'chuf in mah pocket heah. Let dis kin'a be de toe of 'er stockin'. Ah cuts dat off, yo' undahstan'. Den ah takes an' tear dat, an' aftah ah tears dat, ah sits down an' ties me nine knots. See, nine knots In it in a diff'ren' form. An' aftah ah tie dose nine knots, ah pull dem darn tight. An' aftah ah tie dose nine knots, ah takes me a needle. Aftah ah git it all tied up, ah takes me a needle an' ah pins dat - see, wit de needle an' one of de pins. Now, [if] ah kin git a chance tuh git tuh her home, ah go tuh her home an' ah put dis in de middle of de bed. Prob'bly if it's too much [several beds] - if not, if it's only one, ah put it in de middle of it. [The center of a bed is the fifth pOint Of the quincunx.] NOW ANYBODY DAT SHE WANTS TUH INTAHCO'SE WIT, SHE CAN'T HAVE NO FEELIN' FO' DEM AT ALL. NOW, HE KIN DO IT, PROB'BLY HE WILL, BUT SHE WON'T HAVE NONE - NO FEELIN' FO' HIM AT ALL. [This Same nO feeling WIll alsO be found in No.3569.] DEN OTHAH WAYS ABOUT IT. Ah kin take her sock or 'er stockin's an' ah kin cut dat off ag'in, an' not even tie dem nine knots. Jes' cut it off an' take an' go tuh de woods. Now, ah'm goin' tuh de woods an' ah git me whut chew call herb stuff, now. Ah'm goin' tuh de woods an' ah git me whut chew call a holly leaf. Yo' [think] it's some Christmas holly wit berries on 'em, but dere's othah holly leafs hasn't got no berries on 'em - got dose sharp thorns on de leaves of 'em. Now, ah'm goin' dere an' take dose thorns. Ah'm gon'a git me nine leaves an ah'm gon'a break off all dose thorns on de leaves. Aftah ah done cut dat end of dat sock off, put it intuh a mere bottle - a half a pint flask. Put dose nine thorns offa all, each one, of dose leaves intuh dat bottle. An' aftah ah put it intuh dat bottle, den ah takes me a little of whut dey call - it's a water lily, it grows in de water. [This is probably the white-flowered species (Crinum amer- icanum), popularly called swamp lily (see 3246) of the southern United States.] Gits a bud outa dat. An' aftah ah gits dat bud outa dat, den I gits me jes' a leetle bit of salt, an' about, jes' aroun' about, a tablespoonful of hot peppah whut dey call red peppah. An' ah kin parch dat peppah [pod] now, or eithah ah kin let it be [buy it] in de cans. An' put it in dere wit dat an' stop dat bot- tle up. An' ah kin take dat bottle an' ah kin go home an' bury dat bottle any place in mah house ah wants tuh bury it. Take dese two fingahs [demonstrates].
(0f the right hand.)
Of de right hand.
(The index finger and then the finger next to the little finger?)
Dat's right. If she but been to mah house one time, ah kin take dese two fingahs heah an' git me a sharp match stem an' pick dese fingahs until dey bleed. Now her name is Miss H. M. Smith or H. M. Williams. Wit de blood of dat, dat come outa mah han's, ah writes 'er 'ritial - see, "H. M." See. An' puts dat in dat wit dat bottle an' bury dat bottle. Now, ah'm drivin' 'er tuh me, see. Ah'm bringin' 'er tuh me. Ah'm not drivin' 'er from me. Ah'm bringin' 'er tuh me. See. Now hit gotta set dere fo' nine mawnin's, an' aftah dese nine mawnin's den, in de tenth mawnin' yo' see her comin'. Don't kere who she is, she'll come.
Entry 3551
Ah've heard of fellahs takin' part of dere wives' undahweah, takin' an' tied it in nine knots. Well, he could take dat an' keep it in 'is back pocket all de time. An' anywhere he go, no mattah where, she go she be wit 'im. She can't have anything to do wit anothah man, seemed lak she'd jes' be sickly all de time - always sick, she can't do any- thing.
Entry 3552
Den if yo' want to, yo' kin stop 'em from havin' a intahco'se wit any- body but chew. Yo' take dat raw cotton string, jes' a cord string an' use it when yo' have intahco'se. Yo' take dat an' ketch dat an' tie nine knots in it, an' draw 'em to yo', an' tie it aroun' yore waist, an' evah time he goes out, den he cain't have nobody but chew.
Entry 3553
An' if yo' don't want yo' husban' to go wit anybody else, yo' kin take jis' a bran'-new piece of cord string an' measure de size of 'im down dere an' tie it in nine knots, each knot comin' to yo'. Tie it very tight. It's what yo' call tyin' a man up. Tie it very tight an wear dose nine knots aroun' yo' an' evah time he come in contact wit anothah woman he will be ready, until he git to de actual place, an' den he'll fall.
Entry 3554
(How do they do that?)
Well, dey take yore chamber lye an' if dey're still in dat house, yo' go to dere house. An' if yo' want to urinate, say, "Well, ah'm goin' to go to de bath- room." She give a jar to yo' an' yo'll urinate. She'll take dat an' as long as it contain no othah but yourn, she'll take it an' stop it up in a bottle. She'll take dat an' hide it somewheres. An' aftah she hide it somewhere on yo' [not on the man's person but about the house], yo'll find dat yo'll nevah be able [to have another woman] - she only. She take - aftah she gits yore chamber lye, she takes a string an' she'll measure yore private. An' aftah she git de length of yore private, den she take an' she make nine knots in it, drawin' to her evah time. Each time she draw a knot, it's drawin' it to 'er. Den she'll take an' she'll wear dis string aroun' 'er waist nex' to her skin, mo' so. An' den she'll take yore chamber lye an' hide it. She hide dis from yo' an' evah time yo' try to take intahco'se wit some othah woman, it drop. Yo' nevah can do it.
Entry 3555
An' den ag'in she kin git a new han'ke'chuf an' she kin wipe him up an' wipe her down, tie it in nine knots, an' den dat will make him stay home. (What will that do to him?) Dat'll make him so he can't have no othah woman, won't have no min' fo' runnin' roun'. [The magic of up or down is quite common, but up and down magic appears to be rare, I recalling but two examples: To make a baby long lived the person who serves as midwife should carry upstairs and then downstairs a thimbleful of the water used in washing the baby; and also: By running up and down the stairs with a baby you will make it spry. FACI 2nd ed., 3204 and 3206, p.145.]
Entry 3556
Fo' instance, when she have a intahco'se wit 'im, whensomevah he would discharge, instead of 'im wipin', she would take an' wipe him wit de rag. Den tearin' a strip off de rag an' tyin' nine knots in it an' wearin' it roun' 'er waist, an' when he'd go wit othah women dataway he'll be ambitious fo' 'em, but he won' do anythin' until he git dat way fo' her.
Entry 3557
Make nine knots.
(What?)
Nine knots, as I undahstan' it, an' tie dat. Take de rag where dey had de intahco'se wit an' dey wet it [by wiping with it], see. An' take a piece off dat rag where dat fluid is an' extract, it offen de fellah - from de germ cell. Take dat an' tie dat aroun' dere waist, see. An' dey'll usely [usually] will wear dat an' fo' some - fo' some reason, why it creates a kin' of a feelin' in a man's system. Me myself, I know of co'se about dem things cuz I stopped - I was messed in dat pahtic'lah position.
Entry 3558
(What do they do to cause trouble in the home, that is, break up a man and woman - cause them to fight, that sort of thing?) Well, ah an' 'im would be togethah. Well, instead of wipin' mahself, wipes 'im. Well, ah'd take dem pieces, dat cloth, an' cut it up in nine pieces an' tie it in nine knots, an' put it tuh mah side an' wear it evah day. Ah don't keer anywhere he be's at, he can't be uit nobody in de world - he'd fall evah time. (How do you mean you would tie nine knots? You would tie one knot in each one of these pieces?) Ef ah would - jes' lak ah an' mah husban' would be togethah, undahstan'. Well ah would take de towel an' wipe him. Ah ain't gon'a wipe mahself, only wipes 'im. Well, when ah an' 'im gits away awhile ah'm goin' tuh take dis same towel [cloth she calls it the first time - cloth used as towel] an' ah'm gon' tuh cut dis string [narrow pieces of cloth] about de length of mah fingah, an' ah'm goin' tuh tie it. Ah'm goin' tuh cut nine pieces in de string [cloth] jis' lak mah fingah.. [She is going to make a string of 9 finger-length pieces tied together.]
(Cut this towel?)
Yeah de towel, an' ah'm go'na tie it in nine knots, each piece. Ah'm go'na tie a knot in each piece an' have nine knots in it. Well, ah'm goin' tuh put de [nine-knotted] string around mah waist jes' de same as mah sanitary belt [rare term in hoodoo at this date] an' ah'm goin' tuh wear it evah day aroun' tuh mah side, right side, an' he can't have no woman in de world. He may try but he will fall evahy time - can't have nobody but mahself.
Entry 3559
Yes sir, dat's tuh keep a woman from - a woman keep a man from runnin' out wit anothah woman.
(How would she do that?)
She ties nine knots in dat string an' she measures it. Anyway dat she git dat string aroun' 'is private, why den she holds it lak dat. An' she - she might be drunk or sompin. Dey might be drinkin', playin', an' he won't not be thinkin'. An' she git a chance to git one knot in dere, why she got 'er han's on 'im, why den she goes off an' make de other eight. An' she wraps it roun' 'er waist. Why dat will stop a man from runnin' out in de streets, too. Dere sev'ral diff'ren' ways.
Entry 3560
Den yo' kin take a woman an' let 'er have intahco'se wit yo', an' take a piece of white cord, any bran'-new white cord dat jes' come off de wrappin [ball] ain't nevah been tied roun' nuthin. An' soak dat in 'er chamber lye an' jes' discharge aftah yo' git off, yo' know, uri- nate. Soak dat an' put eight knots roun' it an' tie de ninth knot right ovah her navel. Put de ninth knot right ovah her navel, an' yo cain't go off an' do nuthin else wit nobody, but jes' go right back to her, whethah she's a man's wife or a man's woman. An' yo' kin do de same thing on 'er, see.
(The discharge and your urine on it?)
Yessuh. [Both interviewer and interviewee are a little fuzzy here about a very fuzzy subject!]
Entry 3561
She measure mah private - she measure eight inches an' she taken a white cord-string an put eight knots in it, an' ah couldn't mess wit no othah woman.
(What would she do with that string then?)
She kept it.
[Eight knots permits the 9th knot by tying it about body or any object.]
Entry 3562
Yo' take a string an' measure dis person, an' tie a knot at de end of dat string. Yo' see, tie a knot at de end of dat string. Yo' see, tie a knot at de end of dat string, at de firs measurin' place an' den yo' tie it, an' from dere on yo' tie eight more which makes nine, an' den yo' kin eithah pin it aroun' yore ankle wit a sil- vah dime. Stick a hole in a silvah dime an' wear it aroun' de ankle, dey won't love no one but yo'. Well, NOW SOME PEOPLE SAY DEY USE IT FER CRAMPS [see Nos.1516-1517], BUT DAT'S ALWAYS AS AN ALIBI. DAT'S [LOVE IS] WHUT DE USE IT FO'.
(They say they use it for cramps, but they really want to keep a man.)
Entry 3563
Heard of 'em tyin' knots in a cord - jes' in a piece of string. Dey say if a man wanta make his wife stay home, he git a piece of cord de length of de bed an' let it stay dere one night an' she sleep on it. Den take it off an' put six knots in it, thinkin' about 'er, an' den three mo' knots In de Name of de Father, Son an' Holy Ghost. An' den take dat string an' wet it in chamber lye. (Wet it with him?) Yes sir, an' den take de rollah [roller] out de bed [one of the 4 casters on bottom of the 4 legs of the bed] on dat side an' put it up in dere an' push de rollah back in, an' dey say de man's wife will always stay home. De rollah, take it out an' put dat piece of thread up in dere an' den put de rollah back in.
Entry 3564
Yo' goin' wit dis woman an' she want yo' all to herself, wit all yore affection to her, why she jis' git a little string of some kine - some kinda fine cord or even a piece of thread. When yo' an' 'er go to bed, measure - put one knot in de end, an' she measure yo', yore instrument, see, tie dat knot. Well, aftah she measure yo', den she tie a knot dere. Den [after] yo' - all's up [yo' all is up], an' yo' is gone, or somepin, she put jis' as many knots in dere: if she wan' chew to stay wit 'er a lifetime, jis' put nine knots, see, in dat space of yore instrument, yo' undahstan'.
(Nine knots [including those] between those two end knots?)
Yeah, nine knots in dere, an' take dat right in dere, an' if it's not long enough, put anothah piece on it an' pin it aroun' 'er waist. As long as it stay dere, why yo'll fall fo' her all de time. Regardless of who yo' have any affec- tion about, why yore mind will be on 'er.
Entry 3565
[My opening comments here as in so many places are primarily either to put informant at ease or to suggest that he or she speak louder.]
(That's a boat whistling - the boat coming in from New Orleans, I suppose.) Yes, I guess so. (What did you say, now?)
I said dat she would take a cord string an' tie nine knots in it.
(What?)
A cord string.
(Oh, a cord string. All right, what would she do?)
An' tie nine knots in it an' take two grains of black peppah [see later] an' tie it in each one [end], yo' know, an' she would wear it. Of co'se, anything dat's bein' used lak dat, ain't supposed to wear it aroun' de waist. She'd have to keep it nex' to her.
(I see. Well she would have to put - you mean black pepper?)
Black peppah - no [not ground black pepper], you know black grain peppah.
(What kind? Black grain pepper?)
Black grain peppah. Yo' jis' tie dat black grain peppah.
(You just tie this one thing in each.)
Yo' tie it in each tying in the string, yo' know. (You mean those little round pepper things - little round, they are about the size of a bullet shot?) [I wanted to be certain that informant meant whole black pepper. This exces- sive repetition may also mean that I was having trouble with the recording. Gun shell shot would have been a better term.l Yeah, but yo' have to double de cord string.
(You do what?)
You have to double it.
(You have to double it?)
Double the cord string.
(How do you double it?)
Why yo' know how yo' take a string an' double it?
(Yes.)
Yo' ties de knots in it. (Oh, you tie the knots in the double string - nine knots. But you tie these pieces [whole black peppers] in the end?) In each end.
(I see.)
Entry 3566
She kin measure him an' take de nature from 'im fo' othah people so he have nature fo' her. Well, she take de measure of him, as long as he is, but let de string be dou- ble. Double de string an' take de measure of 'im. An' while she's foolin' wit 'im. Den take dat string an' wear it roun' 'er laig. Well, he won't fool wit no one.
Entry 3567
Den she kin take a bran'-new cord string an' put it up in 'er, an' aftah takin' dat string an' puttin' it up in her - take a cord string an' put it up in yo'. Double it three times fo' tuh wear it aroun' yore waist, an' have him. An' don't chew come, let 'im come. Take dat string out of yo' an' put it roun' yore waist, an' fo' nine mawnin's tie nine knots in it evah mawnin' put a knot in it. An' he won't have nobody.
Entry 3568
Git chew some black thread, an' jes' lak he be's drunk or eithah sleepin', yo' measure 'im. An den when yo' measure 'im yo' double dat thread nine times to yo' an' tie nine knots in it an' tie it in de middle of de [bed] spring, an' yo' got 'im. [Middle of de spring, like center of bed, room, house, etc., is quincunx magic.]
(What will that do to him?)
Make him stay dere an' bring 'is money home.
(Will it take his nature away?)
No sir, not fo' yo' but othah folks - he won't care fo' no othah one but chew.
(For no other women.)
Entry 3569
Fix it in a way dat she wouldn't forgit 'im, yo' know, when he come back. Now he's git - he'd take an' he'd git 'im a piece of cord string. He'd ketch 'er while she's asleep, an' he'd measure her. See, he'd measure her. Now, when he'd measure her, he'd take an' he puts a knot evah inch of dat string. He puts nine knots but he'd put 'em an inch apart, see. Now, he puts dem nine knots a inch apart an' he folds dat string up an' he tries to make it in nine wraps. As he wraps it aroun', yo' know, he make nine wraps outa it. He'd go an' he'd git 'im a bran'-new silk pocket han'ke'chuf. He'd tie dis in dat pocket han'ke- chuf an' he'd put it in 'is back pocket an' keep it dere in 'is back pocket. An whenevah she go to do anything, her feelin' will fall an' he'll know it, cuz one of dem knots goin' to come loose. See, one of de knots will come unloosed. Evah time she goes to start he'll know it, cuz one of de knots. I don't care if he goes to New York, when she goin' to do anything, one of dem knots vill come un- IOOSEd, BUT SHE AIN'T GOIN' TO HAVE NO FEELIN' FO' DE FELLAH SHE'S WIT, yo' see. SHE MIGHT DO IT, BUT IT BE AGAINST 'ER WILL; an' HE'LL [HUSBAND WILL] KNOW IT, CUZ ONE OF DEM KNOTS WILL COME LOOSE. [The PreCeding SHE AIN'T GOIN' TO HAVE NO FEELIN' FO' DE FELLAH SHE'S WIT is also believed in Waycross, Ga., see No.3550.]
(How would he measure her? Here she is. How would he measure her?)
[Here she is: indicates that I pushed my Numbers Book (see illustration at end of volume 2) over to informant.] Well, he'd take it straight up an' down, yo' see. (Straight up and down - from the top to the bottom. I see.)
Entry 3570
Well, dey has nine knot to tie, dey tie 'em in a length of dat length [demonstrates].
(About a foot.)
[These knots on the string are tied a foot apart.]
Yo' tie eight. Evah knot chew tie, yo' names whoevah yo' want dere love. Yo' name dem, yo' want dere love an' bring 'em back to yo'. De last [ninth] knot chew tie, yo' tie dat knot, yo' tie dat string roun' yo' an' yo' wear it; but chew 'noint it wit dat holy oil (see p.588) an' den yo' wear it roun' yore waist. An' dose people will love yo' an' always be dere. Ah know dat pos'tively fo' mahself. (You take any kind of string to do that?) Yes - no, ah take a cord string, yo' know, jes' lak yo' buy a package. Yo' take a cord string an' do dat.
Entry 3571
Yo' could measure him to keep from bein' wit anothah woman, but heah's whut chew gotta do. Yo' could take a simple thing as a piece of cord - whut chew tie a package wit - an' measure it down [not up] his thing an' knot it nine times in each little space. [Keep the knots close together.] Knot dat cord nine times an' keep it tied roun' yore waist. An' he couldn't raise a heart fo' no othah woman.
Entry 3572
Well, yo' could take socks an' ah could let 'im - jes' lak he mess wit me, ah could let 'im wipe on dat sock an' ah not wipe on it. An' ah could tie it to de.spring of de bed - not on de sock, a rag. Dat do jes' as good as de sock. An' ah could tie it in nine hard knots an' let it stay to de spring of de bed, an' he nevah mess wit anothah woman long as dat sock [rag] tied dere.
Entry 3573
Yo' wear it. Yo' tie nine knots in dat string fo' nine mawnin's, yo' see. Yo' sleep wit 'im nine mawnin's an' git up on dem nine mawnin's an' tie a knot in dat string fo' nine mawnin's an' wear it aroun' 'er waist. (You tie one knot each morning?) Yeah, each morning. (What do you do with the string? Do you have to do anything with the string first?) Yes, wear it around - no, I nevah heard dat, nevah heard it. She jes' wear it aroun' 'er waist.
(I see.)
Entry 3574
Dat's tuh make a man love yo'. Well, if yo' goin' wit a man an' evah time yo'all go tuh bed togethah, evah time yo'all go out togethah, well yo' tie a knot in dis. Git chew a piece of yellah homespun an' yo' tie a knot in dis homespun until yo' git nine knots. An' aftah yo' git dose nine knots in it, yo' put it in a jar an' shet it up tight, an' den yo' take it an' bury it. An' aftah yo' bury it, dis man will - he jes' can't keep away from yore house.
Entry 3575
Yo' supposed tuh wear a cord string roun' yore wais'.... Fust [first] yo' buy de cord string from de grocery man [so that it will be new]. When yo' have anything [to do with a man], look lak, yo' PUT see. When yo' have sompin tuh do wit 'im, don't chew do nuthin. Let 'im do whut he go'na do. Den yo' take de cord string out. De first time, night, yo' put a knot in it de next mawnin', yo' put anothah knot in it fo' nine mawnin's. Keep de string roun' yore wais'. Low [allow] length enough yo' know till yo' kin put nine knots in dere, an' let it be loose 'nough till yo' put nine knots in it, see. Den yo' put de nine knots in dere an' yo' kin hold 'im.
(But you always wear this string inside yourself?)
No, no. See, de first time yo' put de string [in] an' den yo' have a intah- co'se on de string, see. An' den yo' tie de string aroun' yore wais' an' den evah mawnin' yo' ties a knot in it fo' nine mawnin's. See, dat ties 'im up. (THAT WOMAN WHO WAS IN HERE TALKING TO ME, HAS TO SPIT. SHE IS CHEWING [TO- BACCO, NOT A "ROOT'l AND HAS GONE OUT TO SPIT, AND IS COMING BACK IN AGAIN. NO WONDER SHE COULDN'T TALR!)
Entry 3576
She'll take a cotton string, an' she said she use dat cotton string evah time she have dealin's wit 'er husban'; an' jis' how many times, she'd tie a knot in it. An' den she wear it roun' 'er waist fo so many days, an' den she take it an' put it undah de leak of a house an' bury it dere. An' den he wouldn't run aroun', he'd stay home.
(Do you know how many days she wore that?)
She said she wore it three days.
(That kept him from running around with other women?)
Yes.
Entry 3577
If yo've got a man fren' an' he don't come tuh see yo' as reg'lah as yoo want 'im tuh come, yo' git chew a nail an' a string an' tie nine knots in it [demonstrates]. Yo' wrap dat string an' yo' tie a knot, wrap. it roun' an' tie a knot till yo' git nine. Take dat an' stick it down dere to de do'step an' yo' make a wish whut chew want. Dat will make him come. (You just wrap the string around your finger [serving as a nail] and tie it around, tie it around [9 times].) Yes.
Entry 3578
Say in case now, if yo' gotta wife - yo' wanta learn dis?
(Yes, go ahead.)
Case if yo' gotta woman or wife or somepin lak dat, an' dis othah man is goin' wit 'er, an' yo' wanta break de man who goin' wit 'er. Yo' wanta know dat? All right. Yo' go to de sto' an' git chew a piece of new white cloth, an' yo' git dat white cloth an' tears a strip off it like dat, see [demon- strates]. Well now, lak if yo' goin' wit dis woman an' don't want nobody else tuh go wit 'er but chew. Yo' see, if yo' take dat piece of cloth WHEN SHE HAS CONNECTION, DON' CHEW HAVE NO CONNECTION AT ALL. Jes' tear a strip offa dat an' den tie nine knots in dat - see, nine knots in dat strip. Well, all right, when yo' tie dem nine knots in dere den yo' puts it inside dat piece of cloth jes' lak dat yo' see. [demonstrates]. (You put this strip that you tore off, that you put the nine knots in, you put it in this other piece of cloth that you didn't tear.) See, dis strip dat chew to' [tore] off, now.
(This is the cloth that she's wiped with?)
Yeah, yo' tear dat off an' yo' put nine knots in dat, yo' see. An' jes' lak if my name Dawson [his name was Dawson], yo' say, "Dawson." All right. An' yo draw dat knot to yo', see. Well, lak 'er name So-an'-so, yo' say, "So-an'-so, I an'"So-an'-so," an - see, yo' call yore name evah othah [each] time till yo git nine [knots and names]. Den, when yo' git nine, den yo' take dat an' roll dat to yo' lak dis, yo' see [demonstrates], an' den yo' git chew - go to de store an' git chew a bran'-new spool of thread No.8 an' a needle - big needle - an' put dat in dere an' sew dat up an' wear it roun' yore waist. No man can't go wit 'er to save dere life - TO YORE LIFE AN' MINE'S EITHAH.
(The man does: this to the woman.)
Entry 3579
Ah've heard of 'em tyin' knots in strings, women. Dat's whut ah heard dey do. Dey'll tie dem strings in nine knots an' EVAH TIME DEY TIE ONE DEM KNOTS DEY CALL DE PERSON'S NAME, who dey in love wit, an' if dey Want 'em to love dem, dey'll tie de string in dem nine knots. An' den dey'll put it roun' dere waist an' dey'll wear dat a certain many days, an' in dem certain many days dat person who dey want will cling'to dem. Don't kere who it is, if it's a man's wife, she'll cling to dat man. Or if it's a woman's husban', he'll cling to dat woman.
Entry 3580
Yo' take a cotton string - all dat's tyin' 'em. Yo' take dat cotton string an' yo' git yo' a bottle of Heart Cologne an' yo' drop it in dat bottle as yo' tyin' dem knots, see. An' yo' drop it in dat bottle an' name dem, tie a knot, den drop it in - tie it nine times.
(Each time you tie a knot you let the string fall down into that bottle?)
Down in de bottle till de las' one git on it [string]. Take de string den an' yo' tie it roun' yore waist, an' yo' wear it roun' yore waist. An' yo' git chew a piece of hair from de top [of the head] an' a piece from down dere an' make a li'l' ball - jes' a li'l' ball about as big as a match, de fiah part of de match, an' put a little piece of cloth to it, an' tie it in one dem knots an' let it hang right down, right down on dere.
(On the privates?)
Yeah. An' dey'd wear it. An' see, dat's tyin' 'em.
Entry 3581
Tie knots, as many as yo' want, an' tie a person's name [in the knot]. Jes' lak yo' want dat person tuh do somepin, yo' tie 'em an' yo' call dere name, say, "Well, So-an'-so, an' So- an'-so, ah'm tyin' dese knots heah fo' yo'." An' yo' tie dose knots hard, den yo' wear 'em, an' yo' kin wear 'em round yore waist or undah yore feet. An' dat controls 'em, dey have tuh be submissive to yo'.
(How many knots did you say to tie?)
Nine.
Entry 3582
When yore husban' lie down to take his rest, when he git tuh sleep good, git chew a cord string. Git chew a cord string an' take it an' measure it an' tie nine knots in it. (Measure him. Where does she measure him?) Start tuh measure him from de head down to de toe, an' put nine knots in dere, an' take it an' tie it - tie nine knots in dere an' wear it aroun' yore waist.
(What will that do?)
Evah time yo' tie it yo' call 'is name an' tell 'im tuh come back to yo'.
(What are you doing that for, tying those knots for?)
Well, dat's tuh bring him back home.
(Make him stay home?)
He'll stay home when he come back.
Entry 3583
(Just a minute! Tell me the whole thing.)
Well, dey say yo' kin have a cord string in de meantime, an' yo' kin have it fixed so when yo' go to use it in yore rag, an' hit'll git not much on it yo' see. An' den yo' tie nine knots in it an' let 'er wear dat aroun' 'er waist. An' [dey] say, den she can't do anything.
(He can't.) He can't do anything but wit 'er.
Entry 3584
[Rites of where to measure a man have al- ready been given, but for the sake of completion here are a few more examples of length, width and length and width. Length of person's body rarely occurs in this type of measuring.] Measure him, measure a person, an' tie nine knots. Aftah yo' git de length, den yo' tie yo' nine knots, an' yo' take it an' yo' wear it roun' de top of yo'. [Informant either demonstrated or I turned off machine, missed the words about leg.]
(Oh, round the top of your leg like a garter?)
Yes. Take it off at night an' git up in de mawnin' an' put it on. He cain't do nuthin. Any time he start: [I interrupt].
(Why do you take it off at night?)
Well, he den kin find it. See, yo' pull stockin' off wit 'em, becuz' dey liable tuh go tuh feelin' roun'.
(You hide it at night?)
Sho'.
Entry 3585
Yo' kin take - when yo' have intahco'se wit chure wife, or wit anybody yo' like, jes' take dat string, don't chew know, an' as long as - skuse [excuse] me dat expression [which is the following] as long as it is. Yo' jes' tie nine knots on dere an' jes' wear it roun' yo'. Even if yo' [a man] are wit yore wife, or de othah woman, or eithah de man [can measure a woman]. Take a cord string an' jes' tie nine knots an' de way she is yo' jes' tie nine knots an' yo' know, rub some of dat stuff on it an' jes' wear it roun' yore waist. An' dat'll make 'em jes' git crazy ovah yuh.
Entry 3586
Yo' know dese little wrappin' strings yo' wrap wit. An' when he's daid asleep at night, measure him wit dis.
(With that string?)
Yeah, measure him wit dis yo' see, from de bottom-lak [to] de tip-end - yo' know whut ah'm talkin' about. An' tie nine hard knots in dat string yo' see, an' den tie it undah her [bed] springs, or eithah roun' de bed somewhere; an' if he goes off tuh fool wit anothah woman, he cain't do it tuh save his life. Hit'll go an' fall.
Entry 3587
Take a string an' measure de length of 'im an' tie it in nine knots an' hang it up an' he become to de place where he nevah would care fo' her [the other woman].
(Where would she hang that string?)
Anywhere about in de house where dat he can't reach it, or where it won't be reached - so anyone won't evah bothah it.
Entry 3588
Bran'-new cord string jes' off de grocery or wheresomevah yo' git it, but it must be bran'-new. Well, all right, yo' measure his private. Yo' measure dat wit dat cord string. An' yo' take dat cord string where yo' measured it, how big - how long dat so-an'-so is, an' yo' make dem nine knots how long dat is, right on dat, an' yo' puts dat roun' yore waist. Yo' wear dat roun' yore waist. Dat keeps 'im tuh come tuh yo' an' don' want no worry wit nobody but chew.
Entry 3589
Fo' instance, de man would be asleep at night an' de woman would take a string an' measure him, de length of it. She would tie nine knots in dat string. She would wear dat aroun' 'er waist, an' de woman dat he would have am- bition fo', an' he go on away to her, an' he have it till he git to her, den it would fall. An' he won't be able to do anything to her, yo' see. He have ambi- tion befo' he git to her.