Browse:SEXUAL IMPOTENCE (Volume 3, entries 3110–3831)/Part 7
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 3590
Yo' kin take a string, a cord string an' measure roun' - take it jes' as roun' as, lak yore, measure dat jes' to make it de same size as it. Keep dat de same size, an' yo' take it an' tie it aroun' yore laig. Jes' keep dat aroun' an' tie it aroun' yore laig. (You tie this one string around it and you put two other pieces of string ontd it, and tie it around?)
[Three pieces of string used.]
Tie it aroun' yore laig, or eithah roun' yore waist.
Entry 3591
A woman kin take a man an' take his concern when he sleep, take a cord string an' measure his concern wit dat cord string, yo' see, jes' in de middle [center] yo' see. An' she'll have a certain mark dere, yo' know, how long [thick] it is. An' she kin put nine knots in dat string right in dat certain place an' wear it roun' 'er waist. An' ah bet chew ten dollahs tuh fifty, yo' couldn't fool wit a woman. Evah time yo' go tuh fool wit a woman, it will fall right lak a rag right heah.
Entry 3592
An' if she got yo' so dat yo' couldn't fool wit no othah womens - prob'ly she done given yo' some appearance [menstrual blood], dat anywhere she be at, yo' wants to be dere wit 'er. Well, quite natchly [naturally], yo'll say to yoreself lak dis, "Huh, well, ah could fool wit mah wife so, an' when ah git aroun' othah women, den ah can't do nuthin. Which yo' really is, but de ninute yo' aim to do things, yore courage will leave yo'. Well, dere wuz a woman, she got a cord yo' know, jis' lak any little fine piece of line.
(A cord, yes - a string, yes.)
Well, she done - while yo' sleepin', she done cut de length of yo'. She done cat de length from yo' an' how big aroun'. She done cut dat. She'll put knots in de twine. She'll put nine knots in de cord. She take dat cord an' she put it right ovah herself lak dat, add it to anothah piece of cord, an' she'll put nine knots in 'er cord what she got, an' she'll wear it aroun' 'er waist, but de knots in yore length dat goes ovah 'er, she got it right in front ovah 'er pri- vate. An' jis' as long as she got dat roun' 'er, yo' couldn't fool wit no othah womens.
Entry 3593
Take a string an' measure his thing, an' tie a knot in it at evah time yo' measure it. Yo' measure de length an' de width of it - ah mean around it. Take it an put some of 'is come wit it an' wear it an' he cain't git up no heart fo' her.
(How many knots do you put in the string?)
Nine.
Entry 3594
Yo' want [to] make her stay wit chew, yo' jis' - yo' take her when she 'sleep, an' yo' come dere an' measure roun' 'er wit a string; an' yo' make nine knots in de measure dat way an' yo' tie it, hang it roun' yo see. [Measure roun' 'er = circumference, a circle, a confining symbol; measuring and circle being confining devices.]
(Round your leg? The man ties it around his leg? That holds her?)
Yessuh.
Entry 3595
An' dere's anothah way to tie yo' up. Take - a woman kin fool wit yo' an' git de measure of yore stick, an' put nine knots in it, an' wear it aroun' 'er laig, an' yo' can't have no connection. Yo' may try to have connection wit de party, but evah time dey start, yo'll have de ambition but...
Entry 3596
If yo' got a boy fren' an' don' want 'im tuh intahco'se wit anothah girl, yo' take a cotton string an' tie it in nine knots, in de cotton string, an' when yo' have intahco'se, take dat cotton string an' wipe him off an' tie it roun' yore laig dere, an' he cain't have no intahco'se wit nobody else.
(How many knots?)
Nine knots.
Entry 3597
A wumman could take a string an' tie nine knots in it an' when he goes wit 'er she could measure his privates wit it. (After she has tied nine knots.) Yessir, she could measure his privates wit de string aftah she tied de nine knots in it, an' take dis string an' wear it roun' 'er waist three days. An' aftah she wear it roun' 'er waist three days, take it an' burn it up, an' he couldn't have no intahco'se wit nobody but 'er.
(Well, couldn't he ever git rid of that?)
No, unless somebody wuz jes' smart enough [a two-header], yo' know, tuh tell him how tuh git relief.
Entry 3598
Jes' he be - yo' tyin' 'em togethah now, see. All right, jis' lak ah got a boy friend an' ah say ah'm worried about 'im, he 'bout to git away from me wit some othah woman. All right, me an' 'im go tuh bed an' we have connection wit each othah. All right, he steals de cloth whut he use, or ah steal it from 'im, yo' undahstand. He goin' an' tie it up in nine knots an' we goin' be togethah till dem knots git rotten.
Entry 3599
Lak if dere's a boy an' he goin' wit a girl dere an' he wants tuh - well, ah take it, say if dere's a boy goin' wit two girls. Ah mean two boys goin' wit one girl an' one boy he wanted tuh overdo dis othah one wit dis girl. He take one of dese twine strings an' tie nine knots in dis string, an' aftah 'im an' 'er have an intahco'se, measure each way two ways - cross an' straight up an' down on 'er. An' den take an' tie dat string aroun' 'is waist. An' aftah he do dat she'll come tuh be undah 'is control an' de othah boy he be so he can't have anything at all to do wit 'er. (You say he takes the string and measures her private. You say he measures it three ways. Well, how do you mean? Take the width of it?) Yessuh, an' cross dere. Den he takes an' measure on dis way [demonstrates]. (Diagonal - the corner. Measures it three ways.)
Entry 3600
At night measure him an' tie nine knots an' make a cross an' bury it.
(How do you make that cross?)
Make a cross wherevah it's buried - aftah. (She buries the string with nine knots on it, and then makes a cross on top of the ground?) Yessuh.
(What is that supposed to do?)
Dat's breakin' 'em up.
(Breaking up the other woman?)
Yes.
Entry 3601
(You would take the rag and do what with it?)
Take a new piece an' [after a man's stuff is on it] tie nine knots in it an' put it in a - let it stay in a bottle where it's greasy an' let it stay wet all de time. Keep it in a cornah, some closed cornah in yore house. [This corners, confines a man.] Say yo'll git all yore husban's or man's money like dat.
(Keep this rag in that bottle?)
Yes, keep it, never let it get dry - put it right dere ovah dat grease an' let it stay wet all de time. [This of course is a hand automatically fed grease. For feeding, see p.578.]
(And you'll get all his money, you say.)
Yo' gits 'is money.
(But this piece of cloth, you must wipe him with that or yourself?)
Yo' ketch dat from 'im.
Entry 3602
Now an' den wit 'er.
(What will that do?)
She be layin' down wit 'im an' she have her a piece of yellah cotton.
(Yellow cotton?)
Yes. An' when she go wit 'im, she wipe 'im, she wipe 'im wit it. She takes dis yellah cotton, make nine knots in it, an' put it in de cornah of 'er mat- tress - sew it up in de mattress. He can't git a heart fo' nobody.
Entry 3603
Inside a man hat, de women take dat bow an' whensomevah de man - dey take dat bow out of de man's hat. Whensomevah dey go wit a man, dey takes a special piece [of cloth] to vipe wit, an' aftah takin' de piece to wipe wit, dey take dat bow an' dey tie it up in dat piece wit nine knots an' wear it aroun' dere waist. Well, hit'll make him follah lak one of dose animal do when dey hook 'im in de nose [a bull] wit dat hook, yo' see. Dat's fo' sure. Huh voice am sound sweetah dan any othah ooman, huh cookin's taste bettah an' evahthin'. He jis' git devoted to her so, until dat if he happen to do anythin' aftah she doin' dat, DE LAW SHOULD TAKE SIDES WIT 'IM BECUZ HE'S NOT OF HISSELF. (I see. Will she take a piece and wipe it after she's had intercourse with him?) Absolutely.
(I see.)
Entry 3604
Dey say yo' kin take a new piece of material an' - if yo' have intah- co'se wit a man lak dat, an' tie nine knots in it, wear it roun' yore waist nine days an' buries it - dey say, why den dat man can't have no othah woman but yo'. [For new material, see also Nos.3543-3548.]
Entry 3605
Take some of de hair from undah his clothes an' some of de hair from off de woman an' tie it up in a pocket han'ke'ch'ef wit nine knots, an' tote it in yore pocket.
(This woman would take some of his hair down below?)
Yes sir.
(Just the hair, and what would she do with that?)
She would tie it up in a pocket han'ke'ch'ef.
(What would she put with that hair, anything?)
She put her hair.
(Where would she get her hair?)
Outa down below.
(She puts it in the handkerchief, any kind of handkerchief?)
Yes sir, jes' a white han'ke'ch'ef. An' tie it in nine knots. She does wit dat hair an' she jest tote it, put it in her pocket an' tote it.
(What will that do then?)
Well, that will stop him.
(Stop him from running around with other women?)
Yes sir, hold 'im right dere.
Entry 3606
Dem dere tyin' dem knots, yo' see, is a question lak yo' has to use othah stuff wit it, yo' see. It's prob'bly lak if yo' git a woman's sick rag or somepin lak dat an' tie nine knots in it, yo' see, an den place it into her bed. Well she'll come to be sickly all de time. Dem nine knots yo' know dey use fo' a whole lotta things.
Entry 3607
Well, sometimes dey will tie nine knots in a string an' dey will wear aroun' dere laig underneat' de - if dey want to. An' dat keeps a man tied up. Jes' put nine knots in it an' wear it around dere laig. (What do they do with that string first before they tie those nine knots in it?) No, dey don't wear it atall. Jes' tie nine knots in it an' wear dat aroun' dere laig. An' dey wear dat.
Entry 3608
Ah've heard of womens tyin' knots in little strings lak dat an' wearin' fo' menfolkses dat have quit 'em, jes' as yo' spoke 'bout while ago, an' go away. Why yo' kin tie nine knots in a string an' wear it roun' yore waist. Dey claim dat will bring 'em back.
(Do they do anything to the string first?)
Dat's all ah've heard.
Entry 3609
Ah heard dat chew could take sompin jes' lak some of yore fingahnails, toenails, things from out undah yore toenails, an' trim 'em an' put: 'em in whis- key an' let 'im drink off dat whiskey. An' say dat he'll come back. An' dey say if yo' wanta keep one, tie nine knots in a string an' have lak sompin to dc wit 'im, an' let some of dat stuff git on it an' wear dis string aroun' yo'. An' dey say dat will keep him tied to yo' where he won't leave.
Entry 3610
If a man is runnin' aroun' wit a woman - yo' mean yo' don't want 'im to fool wit dat othah woman?
(Yes.)
Well, dey say, yo' know yo' got a husban'. Well, when yore husban' go wit yo' an' yo' an' 'im connects togethah. Well, dey say, yo' takes a piece of cord string. Well yo' catches dat, an' dey say yo' ties dat in nine knots. See, an' yo' ties it aroun' yore wais' an' yo' wears it aroun' dere all de time. Well, he can't fool wit no othah women but yo' becuz yo' got 'im all tied up.
(I see.)
(What can he do?)
He else will have to git it from yo' [the woman]. He has to go to somebody [hoodoo] an' dey'll tell 'im dat 'is wife got 'im tied up. Now, he may kin catch yo' in de bed asleep at night an' cut dat string from aroun' yore wais', yo' see. An' den yo'll notice dat de nex' time he go wit yo', yo' see, dat's de way dat is.
(He has to get that cord from you?)
Yes.
Entry 3611
Ah heard dat if yo' didn't want chure woman to leave fo' nobody else, dat chew take an' take a string outa her petticoat or 'er bloomahs or somepin lak dat an' git it wet wit some of 'er monthly stuff, an' take an' tie it in nine knots an' wear it roun' yore waist, dat no othah man can't mess wit 'er. Evah time he go dere he'll fall right down dere evah time.
Entry 3612
Fo' a man to lose his nature an' - lak if he has a woman an' she loves 'im, or he has a wife an' she loves 'im best. To remove him from 'er, or to take his nature away, she'll take a string, a cord string an' she'll measure his private an' den she puts nine knots in it. See. An' aftah puttin' de nine knots in it, den she'll take it an' she'll bury it or tie it undah de bed an' sleep on it. Dat is to take away his nature. or to keep 'im from goin' wit anybody else.
Entry 3613
Tie knots on a string an' tie it on to de lowah part of de body, an' tie a piece of cloth to dat, an' evah time - why dey have anything to do wit de fren', why dey take whut dey got fixed lak dat an' let him, yo' know, wipe wit it first. An' he wouldn't have mood, no wants fo' no othah woman but 'er. (Well, would she tie those nine knots first into the string?) [She had said nine knots before machine began to record.] She tie dose nine knots first, an' den yo' sew it onto a little bag, an' keep it right aroun' yore waist. An' evah time dat she be wit im, she would let Tim use it but not she use it. An' do dat fo' 'bout nine times. Well, aftah nine times, why yo' take an' bury it undah yore do'step, an' he wouldn't have no use fo' no othah woman.
Entry 3614
Yo' kin tie nine knots into a cloth if it's a cloth dat yo' use wit anybody, or dey usin' a dirty garment. Yo' tie de nine knots into de cloth an' bury it to de sunrise. It'll pine de person away.
(You mean any garment that the person has used?)
Yes, an' dey won' feel sick, dey won' feel bad or nuthin - jes' dry up on earth.
Entry 3615
It's a certain thing about a woman, dey take an' wrap it wit black thread. (What would he take from her? Some of the cloth?) An' he would wrap it wit black thread jes' as tight as he could, an' tie nine knots aroun' it an' put dat in 'is pocket. Dat woman would follah 'im any place he went. (This woman would follow him. He gets her cloth and he wraps black cloth around that.) No, black thread - nine knots.
(And he puts it in his pocket.)
Or aroun' 'is waist.
Entry 3616
Well, yo' kin take a woman's sanitary cloth [a term rarely used at this date by informants], aftah she'd put it dere somewhere. Yo' kin take it an' tie it in nine knots - not take nine knots in de cloth an' tie it, but yo' know yo' kin take a piece of cord string an' tie nine knots hard dis way, yo' undahstan'. Tie nine knots in. An' yo' take it aftah yo' tie dose nine knots in it, an' put turpentine on it an' burn it up.
(You mean you tie this string around the cloth?)
Roun' de cloth wit nine knots in it.
(And then you put nine knots in the string after you tie it?)
Shu' [sure] - no, tie knots wit de string. See, wrap it roun' an' tie dat one dere; den wrap it roun' ag'in, see. (This string, you wrap it around once, around the sanitary cloth, and tie it Once; wrap it around again and tie a knot; wrap it around again and tie a knot. Get nine knots?) Git nine knots. She won' be no mo' [good] to 'erself or no one else.
Entry 3617
Ah have lived wit a woman in dis city, an' ah found some hair, colored man's hair or coman's hair, an' one penny sewed up in a sack an' a string wrapped aroun' it, an' de string had nine knots in it an' a rabbit's foot. But ah knows one thing dat ah couldn't have nuthin else to do wit no othah woman but 'er. But how dat wuz, whut she did, ah don't know. But ah foun' it in 'er purse.
(She did this to you?)
She did dat to me.
Entry 3618
As ah 'fore said awhile ago 'bout a woman usin' 'er cloths, especially if ah don't use mine, or if ah use mine heah, she would use hers heah. All right now, ah kin be done wit de woman an' stretching out. Now ah'm tellin' yo' dis heah whut ah experienced mahself. Dis heah not whut ah heard, ah experienced it mahself. Crosstown heah last year [1938] ah wus hurt lak dat wit a woman, see. But ah didn't have no itchin' fo' no woman. Well, ah went to de druggist an' bought whut chew call courage pills an' othah kin'a pills. Dey didn't do any good. All right, ah kin'a heard a - ah heard of dis heah talkin' of takin'yore nature from yuh an' ah caught on to she musta had me tied up. An' ah went to her one night, ah said, "Lookit heah, " ah say, "ain't chew got sompin near yo' of me? Or got me fixed some way?" She say, "No." Well, den ah thought about dis heah method of takin' de nature from yo' in de bed, yo' know. Yo' wanta know about dat? Well, she went to de job - went to her job dat mawnin', an' while she wus gone ah tore up de mattress an' foun' dis mess. An' when ah found it, hit wus nine knots tie in a piece of cloth, de same cloth dat she used on me but not on 'erself, see. Now she had it tied in nine diff'ren' knots, jes' nine knots all crossed up in all kinda diff'ren' ways, an' she wore dat. Whut chew call wear, she wore dat roun' 'er waist. See. She had one cloth an' had it tied in nine knots an' she wore dat. An' she had anothah dat she put ovah - lak she puttin' a bandage ovah it, an' she wore dat right on 'er stomach roun' dere. Ah could roam aroun' town, anywhere in de world, see any people, jes' havin' fun. Now, ah couldn't git up no nature fo' 'em. Ah could go to any woman. "Lookit heah, " ah say, "how about gittin' some so-an'-so?" All right. An' go right dere, an' jes' as de minute ah start, it be lak dis heah [evidently demonstrated with a dropping finger or hand]. Until when ah found dat mess, an' when ah found it ah didn't even bothah atall. Ah made her took it out. An' aftah she untied it an' took it, den ah had [my nature again].
Entry 3619
A string, an' measure it, de length of 'is [privates] an' tie nine knots in dis string. Now, if it's not long enough to go roun' 'er waist she might piece it out. Now she tie dem nine knots an' she [wet] dem nine knots in turpentine an' wear dem nine knots right below 'er stomach in front [mons veneris], an' in time won't have no nature fo' nobody but 'er.
Entry 3620
Take yo' a cord an' measure his thing. Aftah yo' measure it while he sleep, yo' tie nine knots in it an' 'noint it [knots] good wit some turpentine an' wear it roun' yore waist or eithah roun' de calf of yore laig.
(What will that do?)
Dat'll keep 'im from gittin' up a nature from anybody else.
Entry 3621
Den yo' kin take a piece of cord string an' put nine knots in it. Git chew some turpentine an' put it up an' down in dere an' put dat roun' yore waist. Yo' can't git up a courage tuh have an intahco'se wit no woman.
(Well, don't you do something with that string first?)
Jes' only put - no, dat's anothah diff'ren' one altogethah. But see, dat nine knots, an' worked in dat turpentine, put it roun' yore waist. Yo'll have a hard time, yo' know, to git courage fo' 'er.
Entry 3622
She kin take a cord string, see, an' evah time - tie nine knots in it an' evah time she have some dealin' wit 'er husban' put a little dat on dat cord string, see. An' it's a little turpentine ah think goes wit it, see. An' den he won't have any nature fo' any othah woman.
(Where does she keep that string?)
Around her waist.
(She ties those knots in it?)
Yessuh, ties dose knots in it - see, until she gits nine.
(She doesn't measure him with that string or anything of that sort?)
[My leading question here makes informant's answer measure from a distance useless.] She gen'ly [generally] measure from a distance first an' den ties de knot in dere.
Entry 3623
When yo' have a intahco'se wit 'im, yo' take yo' a co'd string an' don't yo' come. She don't come wit 'im. She jes' wet dat co'd string in dat come an' 'is chamber lye an' tie nine knots in it an' wear it aroun' 'er waist. An' take de measure of 'is [penis] an' tie nine knots in dis co'd string an' wear it roun' 'er waist. Dat will stop a man from runnin' aroun' an' he cain't git up no heart fo' no othah woman. When he go it will fall. Dat ties up 'im.
Entry 3624
Yo' have tuh take his nature fo' it, yo' understan', dat he wouldn't want othah wimmins. Yo' have tuh take his nature fo' it. Well, now to take his nature yo' would have tuh - where his privates lay on 'is clothes. Undahstan', his drawahs. Well, yo' scrape dat lint from dose drawahs - scrape de lint from dose drawahs, see. An' den yo' take dat lint an' sew it up intuh a nice white piece, see. An' den yo' got 'is nature, see. An' den yo' jis' take dat evah nine days an' dip it in urinate. Jis' dip it in yore urinate, yore own urinate. An' as yo' takin' dat yo' take de measure of 'im. See, yo' take de measure of 'is privates where dey lay at, an' dat's whut yo' scrape out - dat lint right in de seat of dat.
(What do you do with that string?)
Well, now, yo' know whut chew do wit dat string, if yo' take a notion tuh measure wit dat string [instead of measuring the drawers place] - co'se yo' kin measure wit chure fingahs. But yo' put nine knots in dat string. Yo' put nine knots in it an' yo' sew it up intuh dis white piece wit de lint. De lint is in dere. An' den yo' dip it intuh dis watah, intuh yore urinate an' yo' got 'im:
(Where do you keep that then?)
Wear it right round yore wais' an' let it hang right down straight 'tween yore laigs. Dat's whare yo' keep it at.
Entry 3625
An' den anothah thing, if yo' away ah kin bring yo' to me. Yo' kin bring a man tuh yo' in nine days time, or eithah a woman. Yo' take yo' a cord string. Dat's simple but it's a fact, ah done tried dat. Yo' take a cord string an' tie nine knots in it a inch apart. An' evah mawnin' yo' urinate on dat string an' tie yo' a knot [inch apart] an' yo' repeat dat verse, have God's Name in it, say, "Ah do dis In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, fo' yo' to come an' nevah return [away again]." An' tie dat knot when yo' say dat, call im by his name, an' tie dat knot, an' de ninth knot, why he'll be dere in three days time aftahward. (What do you do with that after those knots are tied in? What do you do with that string then?) Wear it. Keep it wit yo' till he comes.
Entry 3626
Say fo' instance, if a woman is havin' intahco'ses wit a man an' she don't want anybody else tuh bothah wit de man. Well, now, one of de towels dat she might use, she takes 'is urine an' she take dis towel an' she wash it in dis urine - de same towel dat de two of dem use. An' den she tear a string offa de towel an' den she make nine knots in dat string, an' if it's not large enough tuh go roun' 'er body she'll make a 'ddition [an addition] tuh it jis' since she make nine knots. An' dat's supposed tuh keep 'im tuh de place where he cain't have any nature fo' anybody but 'er. Dat's whut yo' call a cross [or crossing up a man]. Dere people dat could take dat away, but ah have tuh give yo' mah best knowledge of it.
Entry 3627
Yo' could win a man. Yo' could take, yo' know, a string an' put nine knots in a cord string an' put it in turpentine, yo' know, an' wear it aroun' yore waist, an' it would keep 'im from havin' dealin's wit any othah woman but chureself.
(Well what do you do with that string first before you put the nine knots on it?)
Well, yo' take an' put nine knots in it, see, an' make a wish an' put it in dat turpentine an' tie it aroun' yore waist, an' evah time he git ready tuh have a intahco'se wit any othah woman, see, he couldn't.
Entry 3628
Dey [a woman] could take a piece of their [a man's] underwear that they [he] wear right close to them [him] an' rip it right on down jis' where they [he] button the underwear. An' then she takes that an' ties it in nine knots, an' make evah one of those knots to her an' make a wish [as each knot is tied]. Then yo' take this piece an' yo' tie it aroun' de leg an' wear it - eithah leg, it don't make any diff'ren'. Either yo' take it an' tie it aroun' yore waist. An' as long as yo' wear that knot aroun' yore waist, he cannot leave her [you].
Entry 3629
Takin' yore chamber lye an' usin' dat an' yo' can't - yore dick won't rise till yo' see her, yo' know.
(Well, how do they use that? Do that?)
Put it in a bottle an' tie nine knots in a string, an' put de string aroun' de bottle an' put it up ovah top de door where yo' go out at; an' when yo' go out, dey lay dat bottle an' yore dick won't rise. An' while dat bottle layin' down, yo' come back an' den dey set it up. Yo' set de bottle up an' yo's all right den. (Well, what do they do with this string first? Where do they get the string first?) Wet it in de watah.
(Oh, they wet this - in whose water?)
In yores. (The woman gets the string and wets it in the man's water, and she ties these kmots in it.) Yes, ties nine knots in it. I hear'd of peoples takin' yore hair an' puttin' it in a rag, puttin' it in a bottle an' puttin' some vinegar wit it, an' puttin' it up ovah top de door. An evah time yo' go out dey lay dat bottle down, an' yo' have to come back; an' when yo' come back, dey set dat bottle up, an' yo' is all right.
(What would she do about getting his nature? What would she do with that?)
Put it in a bottle an' lay it 'cross, put it up in de do'r - see, anywhere yo' go out. An' when yo' go out she lay dat down when yo' come back, she stand it up. But yo' kin easily do somepin fer dat. [Norfolk, Va., (469), 475:7.] [I had intended to comment at the end of KNOTS NINE about the number of them in HOODOO. Instead I write a few words to fill in the end of this page.] [I agree with the informant who supplies our first margin title: AH'M GON'A TELL YUH SOMEPIN OTHAH DAT BEAT DE WORL'. Snail rites do beat de WOrl'. They are so amazing I have been more than generous with examples. HooDoO as a whole will show that no special effort was made to collect them, because sex in itself was never emphasized in field work. When I first heard about the snail rite in 1936, I thought the man was lying - see 3635.]
Entry 3630
An' den now, ah'm gon'a tell yuh somepin othah dat beat de worl'. But it ain't no use in me tellin' yuh dis an' ah won't git anythin' fo' it. Now, ah'm gon'a tell yuh dis thing. Mah daddy learned me dis 'fo' he died. Yo' see dat snail dat crawl down on de ground? Understan? Yo' git one of dem snails. Dis trick whut ah'm tellin' yuh, ah tole a man dat an' he give me $50 fo' it. But ah know yo' ain't gon'a do dat. Yo' know what yuh do wit a snail? Yo' know, dere's plenty of smart men in de worl'. Yo' take a snail. Yo' see a snail crawlin' aroun' dere?
(Yes, I've seen a snail.)
Yes? Well, all right. Yo' take a snail an' kill 'im an' yo' wipe a woman's lak dat, an' if she'll have any man but yo', ah'll eat yo' up.
Entry 3631
[Our second margin title (from HOODOO p.649, line 13) explains why a snail is so commonly used in impotence rites; it makes a person slowful (p.648, 4 lines from bottom of page). This word is not sloth- ful, because he'll git so slow - slowful (p.649, line 1). The person rubbed with a snail jes' kin mope along - he can't go, he jes' be draggin' (p.649, line 9). The second reason for the use of a snail is its slime, a sticky substance thought to resemble human semen.]
Entry 3632
Snails, if yo' go to have intahco'se wit a woman. See, dat snail is a slow thing, an' dat would make yo' evah so anxious an' ready to go, an' dey take dat snail an' jes' have it in dere hand against de woman. First rub yore hand lak dat - yo' don't have to have de snail - jes' put de snail down dere an' rub yore hand lak dat. Dat will make a man fall down, yo' see, when he go dere.
(Some other man?)
Yes sir, make some othah man.
Entry 3633
Yo' kin take a snail an' put it - yo' know, jes' lak yo' take a snail now, yo' know, yo' crack it or sompin an' yo' kin put it in dis man's coffee or tea or somepin an' he can't go out, unless yo' say so, or unless yo' 'gree wit 'im or sompin othah lak dat. Got a man ah love an' all dat, but yet dat snail, yo' see, it got it slowin' down.
Entry 3634
Dey say snails is hard luck to have roun' yore home. If yo' bring any of 'em roun' yore home, yo'll have a lotta misfortune, yo'll lose lotsa things dat yo' git hold of.
Entry 3635
I have heard that when a man goes to work or on a journey, and if he believes it himself that his wife is crooked on him, not treating him right, and he desires to catch her; I have been told he can ketch a snail. I don't mean a shell snail, but a slick snail. Well, you take that snail when you have sexual intercourse with her, and you are about to leave her now - and you take this snail and mash it in your hand, and unbeknownt to her, you are loving and kind to her, you rub it over her stomick, and any man will have difficulty in bothering her in your ao- sence. Now if he's a stiff stout man and he goes in, he will be caught there until you come back, and there can't nobody remove him but you. If you love the woman, I don't know what would be the result. You have to come home to release them. As a rule any man that takes to bother her, no sooner than he starts, his tool will fall - he can't raise a heart for her, not to save his soul. In case he do, and go with her, he'll get stuck and nobody can remove him unless this man remove him. You can send for any doctor in the universe and you can't move them except killing one or the other. [For killing the man or woman, usually the lat- ter, see No.3460f.] [This was the first time I heard the snail rite, the summer of 1936. I thought the man was lying.] [Old Point Comfort, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 3636
De only thing yo' kin do wit a snail, yo' kin take an' - go in de woods to a ole hollah log, to a ole tree, an' [or] fin' snails undah dat bo'd dere, it damp in de centah of a piece of plank or bo'd, yo' know, if yo' let it stay dere. Yo' take a snail - ketch it in yore han', see. Sometime yo' kin take dose snails - see, lak dat dey ain't got no shell on. Try to fin' yo' one dat ain't got no shell on. Take dat snail right - couldn't handle hardly tuh save yo' life, some people can't. Take him an' he's soft, limbah as dat. Yo' take dat snail in yore han' an' yo' go tuh bed wit 'er. Have dat thing fixed now - he's cold. Take dat snail right dere lak dat an' drap it on 'er, let dat snail tech anywheres close down dere lak dat. She'll jump, "Whut's dat?" "Oh, mah han's cold." Say sompin lak dat. Dat snail jes' tetch 'er, undah- stan'. An' yo' kin take dat snail den, an' heah she jump up an' say, "Oh, yo' got sompin in yore han'." She jump up. Aftah yo' done hit"'er wit dat snail, yo' be satisfied. Yo' ain't wantin' 'er den, yo' jes' wanta do dat trick. Yo' git mad wit 'er den. Yo' take dat snail an' go on lak dat an' throw 'im away, or yo' kin kill it if yo' wanta. Now, if any man, any man in de worl' git up on top of dat woman, HE'S GoT MO' NERVE DEN GOD GAVE HIM. Can't do it - can't go up dere tuh save his life.
Entry 3637
[While recording machine was stopped, informant said you get a live snail.l Now dis is about if a man is runnin' aroun'. If he's runnin' aroun' an' yo' vanta stop 'im.
(All right, now you get this live snail.)
An' not any - don't git 'im wit de shell. Yo' know, yo' see some snails wit- out de shell an' some wit de shell. Git de one witout de shell. An' den yo' take a new han'ke'cheff an' yo' put 'im in dis new han'ke'cheff on de end lak. Well, yo' put salt on it ian' let it dissolve. Well, yo' see, yo' take dis han'- ke'cheff yo' know, when yo' have a connection wit each othah an' yo' let 'im wipe Alt it. Well, dat will stop 'im from havin' any intahco'se wit any woman at all except yo'.
Entry 3638
Dey tell me yo' kin take a snail - git a snail when he's in de shell, see, an' put 'im in alcohol an' dry 'im up. An' when yo' intahco'se wit a woman yo' kin put - jes' wipe yore han'-lak, yo' know, ovah her laigs, an' anothah man can't touch 'er if he try.
Entry 3639
Well, now here's what I wanted to get information on. Dere is tricks can be turned - it's kind of a woodsy trick, things lak dat. Whether yo' wanted to heah dat.
(Yes. Oh yes, go ahead.)
Well, I have known of people, man to have a connection wit a woman an' to git hung dere lak a dog or anything. Well, de beginnin' of dat, yo' kin take one of dese ole snails. Yo' see dey have a house. When dey stretch out an' crawl dey pull dis house along wit 'em. A shell dey call it. Well, he carries a slime along as he goes. Yo' git a little of dat slime an' yo' go in de woods an' dere's a bug - a black bug an' we used to call 'im a betty bug. It's about so long [demonstrates].
(What kind of a bug do you call him?)
A Betty Bug. Yo' see it's a big black bug dat stays in ole rotten woods an' stuff lak dat. Well he's got where his neck come, his body connects togethah, it's only one drop of blood in it. Break 'im an git dat drop of blood, a little hartshorn [not sal volatite, etc., but a fairly common pronunciation of the per- fumes Hearts Own and Hearts Cologne] an' dis slime from de snail, an' use it be- fore it gits dry or anything, an' yo' kin dress a woman wit dat yo' see. A man goes an' has a connection wit 'er an' he'll git hung dere de same as a dog would to a female dog or anything. If a man want to take dat off dere, he's gotta use dat same snail, a little new milk an' prob'ly somepin lak alcohol or real good whiskey. Dat'll git 'em apart.
Entry 3640
Ah heard 'em say dey ketch a snail an' git dat dust where he lay, an' take dat an' mix it wit some grease or sompin, an put it on a person's haid an' it will take all dere hair out. SLICK IT WIT A SNAIL, ah've heard dat. (Get that slime from the snail?) Dat's right, wipe it on dere.
Entry 3641
He kin take a snail an' - a man he's got a woman an' he believes some- body else is messin' wit 'er an' he cain't stop 'im. An' he don't wanta, say, jes' kill 'er - jes' straight out kill 'er. He love her. he don't wanta kill 'er. ies wanta git rid of 'er. Say he'll take dat snail an' he'll put dis heah snail on 'is - he go to start wit 'er. [For rub- bing snail on 'is, see No.3655.] Yassuh put dat on 'isself. Know it's not real sticky. It'll stick, dis snail will. He'll put dat on it an' he'll use dat as he goes. See dis heah - dis snail will grow in 'er. Jes' grow - folks will think she's in weight - yo' know, goin' wit a child. Say it'll jes' grow till it jes' kill 'er. An' dey tells me dat it's no one - dey's found no one dat could do nuthin wit dat, when dat's done.
Entry 3642
Well, if yo' got a wife an' she jes' happen tuh be a run-aroun' woman, yo' take de snail an' when yo' has connections wit 'er, undahstan', all yo' gotta do is take an' hol' dese two fingahs right heah an' jes' put it up twix [her leg] - AH DUNNO WHUT DE DOC- TORS CALL IT. An' any man dat goes tuh has dealin's wit 'er, he use'ly [usually] fall. [I FAILED TO ASK WHAT INFORMANT CALLS IT.]
Entry 3643
If a man is goin' off from home an' he had a wife an' he didn't want nobody to have no dealin' wit 'er. He'd git 'im some snails, see. An' he'd have some dealin' wit 'er, yo' see, befo' he leaves. Well, he would take dat snail an' rub dat snail - rub dem snails all in 'is han's an' jis' rub 'er belly wit it good. Anoint 'er belly wit 'is han' good. Keep on doin' dat until he git dat stuff, yo' know, to go into de skin. Well, if anothah fellah come dere - when 'er sweetie come, why he couldn't have no dealin' wit 'er. He'd try all right enough, but evah time he git up dere, why dere would be nuthin to him.
Entry 3644
Ole lady an' yo' don' want 'er tuh have intahco'se wit anothah man, says yo' kin take dat snail an' rub it cross her private, an' says de man can't have nuthin tuh do wit 'er. Say, when he git dere his jock will fall.
Entry 3645
If a man don' wan' nobody else tuh be wit a woman but 'im, he kin take a snail aftah goin' tuh bed at night, take a snail an' jes' take it unbeknownst tuh dat woman, an' drags it right up ovah, yo' know, drags it right up ovah 'er. She won't have any nature fo' anybody in de worl' 'cept 'im.
Entry 3646
Well, yo' kin git a snail if yo' have a woman. Ketch dis snail an' take dat snail an' put dat snail jes' about three or fo' times across it chew know. An' den she cain't have no intahco'se wit nobody.
Entry 3647
" Jes' lak if yo'd go to be wit a woman an' yo' gwine away, yo' wouldn't have anything to do, jes' git chew a couple of snails - dat slobbah from a snail an' rub it ovah 'em right down dere. An' evah time a man might wanta, but evah time he go dere, evahthin' will fall.
The informant describes a contemplated encounter with a woman and predicts failure after a snail preparation. The sexual reading is contextual; no completed act or effect is verified.
Entry 3648
Git a snail an' rub it on a man's belly an' he cain't raise a heart fo' no woman. Eithah one - cain't no man have a woman if he [husband or her man] gits it on 'er stomick.
(You mean on her stomach or on her privates.)
Rub it on 'er stomick, jis' anywhere it touches 'er stomick. Jis' leave it right on de top of 'er pussy an' let it touch on dere, see an' cain't no man do nuthin. Kin be evah so ready but when he gits dere, ain't nuthin done.
Entry 3649
Ah experience dis much about it. If a man is got a woman an' he don't want 'er tuh have anothah man, he kin take dat snail, an' ketch 'im a snail an' rub 'er stomick wit 'im an' she cain't nevah have a man.
Entry 3650
Tell me dat, if yo' want a woman an' a man tuh lock togethah, go out an' ketch yo' a snail an' jes' lak if dere somebody dere dat yo' wants tuh ketch runnin' roun' wit a woman. If yo' evah had any dealin' wit 'em [snails], yo' know when a snail stick out he's got a slippery thing on 'im. An' yo' wipe yore han' ovah 'im an' git dat slippery thing off 'im. An' yo' be playin' wit 'er an' yo' happen to run yore han' ovah down dere, an' a fellah will go an' deal wit 'er or anything, it will create dem to lock.
Entry 3651
If ah had a woman an' didn't wan' 'er to have no one else but me, ah'd take dat snail an' wrap 'im in a rag or sompin. Ah go dere dat night an' me an' 'er be tuhgethah. Purtty [pretty] sure one of us goin' tuh sleep purtty soon, after yo' have intahco'se wit a woman. Take dat snail an' rub 'er. Don't want nobody be wit 'er but chew.
Entry 3652
Ah heard about a snail, if yo' don't want chure woman to mess wit no- body else, dat yo' git chew a snail an' wipe it 'cross 'er dere, an' no othah man can't mess wit er. Evah time he go dere, he'll fall.
Entry 3653
Jes' lak yo' had a woman an' she wuz havin' mens. Yo' distrust dat she wuz goin' wit some man an' yo' couldn't stop 'er, yo' git dis slime from dat snail an' yo' wait till she goes tuh sleep an' den yo' rub 'er good 'tween 'er laigs wit it until yo' kill de snail. Do dat wit it 'live an' yo' rub it good until yo' kill de snail. Den when yo' kill dat aftah rubbin' her, den yo' take dat snail an' sew it up in a sack an' den put it, if yo' got a shelf lak dat, put it right behin' dat shelf an' let it stay dere. An' every man dat go tuh her, he'll be ready fo' her until he git ready to git on 'er. Den when he git on 'er, 'is nerves will fall. Nevah will have no intahco'se wit 'er.
Entry 3654
Dey said if yo' ketch a snail, an' yo' see a woman yo' want connection wit, said all yo' gotta do is mash dat snail an' git all dat slime on yo' han', an' if yo' evah got chance to git it in de breast, jis' kinda rub it on 'er breast, an' dey said she will yield to yo' in a few minutes. (You have to rub it on her.) Yes, yo' have to rub it on her breast.
Entry 3655
Well, dey tell me to take dis snail an' rub it on yuh - rub it on yuh- self, yo' know yeah tool. An' yo' see, an' de woman kin rub it on huhself an' de man can't have nuthin to do wit 'er aftah dat. Ah have tried dat. (The woman puts it on herself and the man puts it on himself and that takes their nature away from them? It seems so. [This is merely the usual rite: the person having the rubber can have no one else.]
Entry 3656
What dey use a snail fo'?
(All right. What do they use a snail for?)
Yo' kin take a snail - jis' lak yo' don' wan' chure wife to fool wit nobody. Yo' kin take a snail an' jis' take him an' wipe him on yoreself, see, an' go wit 'er an' no othah man can fool wit 'er. Evah time he go to go dere, see, he goin' to git limp.
(I see.)
Entry 3657
Dey [women] take dat snail an' rub it on yore thing an' yo' couldn't raise de dust on a hill. Ah said yo' wouldn't raise up 'tall.
Entry 3658
Ah heard, if yo' ketch a snail an' when yo' go tuh have a intahco'se wit a man, tuh rub dat snail on 'im an' he couldn't have anything tuh do wit anothah woman.
Entry 3659
Take a snail an' rub across a man's, yo' know, an' dat'll stop 'im if he's runnin' aroun' - it will make him come back home. [Memphis, Tenn., (1529a) 2734:19.]
Entry 3660
Ah heard dat a woman could take a snail an' use it in a way on a man dat where he couldn't use no othah woman but 'er.
(Do you know how she did it?)
Well, now, ah kin make it plain tuh yo'. Ah heard dat she ketch dat snail an' beat 'im up 'live an' whenevah - jis' lak a man would go to be wit is wife, or somepin lak dat, why she'd take dat an' rub it on 'im. An' den whenevah he'd go to be wit some woman, why he couldn't be wit no one but 'er.
Entry 3661
Jis' or'nary simple thing - it's nuthin but a snail. Yo' kin take a snail, one of dese or'nary ole snails dat yo' see crawl outen de watah. See, yo' kin take one of dem an' mash 'im an' yo' use him, when yo'd have connection wit 'er. Jis lak yo'd have him in yore han', yo' see, an' jis' fuddlin' aroun' wit 'er or somepin an' yo' jis' pass dat cross 'er nine times, an' I'll guarantee dat she can't have no man but choo.
(I see.)
An' ah know dat evah time a man go in dere - bound to stay away from 'er house.
Entry 3662
Dat snail dat I wuz tellin' yo' 'bout. She kin take a snail - take dat. snail an' take her han' an' git some of dat snail dere, an' when she goes to have sompin to do wit 'er husban', prob'ly she got dat snail put away some place. She kin take dat snail an' git a little bay rum an' put on 'er han', take dat snail when she goes to take holt of 'er husban' or sompin, have dat snail where she kin git it an' rub it on dere. Do dat fer nine diff'ren' times. An' evah time he go to a woman, he be as hard as he want. As soon as he put dere, it will ball up an' he can't do a thing in de world.
Entry 3663
Oh, dey said if she goin' out wit anothah man an' he wan' it fixed so dat she won't have no courage fo' no othah man. Well, in othah words, so when de man goes tuh be wit 'er he'll fall befo' he evah be wit 'er. Git chew a ten-cent bottle of Hearts Cologne. An' when yo' git dat ten-cent bottle of Hearts Cologne, git tuh playin' roun' wit 'er. An' take an' saturate his han's wit dat Hearts Cologne, prob'ly jis' befo' he git ready tuh go tuh bed an' be wit her. An' when he do dat, why he takes den an' bathe her down - rub her down [demonstrates].
(From her hips right down?)
Yessuh, from de hips down - all in heah. An' do dat fo' three time a week - dat means evah othah day. An' dey tell me when yo' do dat, why den when she'd go out, de man dat gon'a be wit 'er - but when he gits to de place his courage will fall. He can't have any intahco'se wit 'er.
Entry 3664
Yo' kin take a snail an' jis' boil 'im an' git de watah off 'im an' put it on a piece of cloth an' if it's a man or a woman - if it's woman.has othah fel- lahs goin' wit 'er, den rub 'im down. He'll nevah come up. Dat's all yo' wanta do, rub 'im on down. She slip, jes' slip on 'im - can't do nuthin - nevah want de use of a man.
(You mean no other man but her husband?)
Yessuh.
Entry 3665
Said a man take a snail an' if he don't wan' dis woman to do nuthin wit nobody but 'im, he take dis snail an' where huh clothes hangin' up on de outside on de line, if he git a chance, he go dere an' rub dis snail right on uh drawahs. An' when she put dese drawahs on, she can't have no communion wit no man but 'im. Dat whut ah heard about it.
Entry 3666
Dey say yo' [a woman] take a snail an' run 'im ovah a man's clothes an' run 'im ovah yo'self, an' dat man or yo' neithah can't have nobody but yo'self. [The complicated words of this rite mean each is confined to the other.]
Entry 3667
Well, ah heard dat chew kin take a snail on a man, if a woman wants tuh stop 'er husban' or 'er boy frien' from goin' wit othah wimmins. Dey take dat snail an' smear 'im up at de seat of 'is drawahs. An' yo' know he [snail] have a kinda - ah don't know whut chew call it - some kinda slickery [slippery] sompin come from dat snail, an' yo' take, yo' cut a piece out, outa de middle of dose drawahs an' den yo' sew a piece ovah dat, an' let 'im wear 'em. An' dey tell me, dey say he can't have nobody in de worl'. Say he'll fall.
Entry 3668
Yo' kin take a snail, dese snails. Kill de snail an' rub it onto a han'ke'chuf or a cloth or somepin, an' go to her an' rub dat ovah 'er private, yo' know. Ah've nevah found anyone yet dat would be able to go ovah dat.
Entry 3669
Take a snail an' jes' lak somebody yo' know, goin' wit chure ole lady- sompin of de kin' yo' know - an' yo' do dat. Dey tell me yo' kin take dat snail yo' know an' wrap it up in a rag yo' know, jes' lak a rag she nuse [use] - sompin of dat kin' - it will stop 'er from foolin' wit anybody.