Browse:SWEAT (Volume 3, entries 4478–5205)/Part 7
SWEAT
Volume 3, entries 4478–5205. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 4958
Take de sock an' tie de sock in three knots an' bury dat undah de front do'step. Dat bring a man back, or a woman, or even yore chile. Eithah sock.
Entry 4959
If yuh wanta make love wit anyone - yuh love dem an' yuh wanta git dem somehow or 'nothah, yuh see. Yuh git one foot of dose socks, one foot of 'em, an' yuh take an' yuh tie it in de top, as near de centah as yuh kin. Aftah tyin' it in de centah, den yuh turn it dataway an' yuh tie three knots on dis end - fo' on dat end. Dat's seven ain't it? Seven - have to be odd. Den yuh take an' come on back tuh yore home an' take 'em an' put 'em down, say, "By de he'p of God ah'm gon'a be wit chuh." An' yuh shall git 'em.
(Where do you put them down?)
Put 'em right down anywhere in yore home. Nowhere else but in yore home.
Entry 4960
Ah heard dat chew could take a person's sock an' tie it intuh nine knots, an' carry it tuh some runnin' stream an' throw it in de stream. An' right where dat sock stop at, yuh will stop. Yuh will go jis' like dat sock go. Yuh continue tuh go, yuh know, if it wuz tuh swim. Yuh know, like de tides be up, an' it wuz tuh carry de sock tuh Savannah or Jacksonville, or wheresomevah de sock stop at, yuh'll stop dere.
Entry 4961
Ah'll tell yuh whut ah know 'bout dat - tain't whut ah heered. Ah got a sistah an' 'er husban' lef' 'er. He wuz atter [after] othah wimmins an' he jis' got so fur gone till he went off from 'er. An' she took eithah of 'is socks jis' lak he pulled 'em off, an' she pulled a thread out from de hollah of 'is foot. An' she tied it in nine knots, tied it fo' nine mawnin's.
(Nine knots each morning or one knot a morning?)
One knot a mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's, an' de ninth mawnin' he come home dat night.
(She took a thread out of both of them or one of them?)
One, jis' 'is right stockin'.
Entry 4962
Yuh kin take a woman's stocking an' tie it in nine knots an' put it in a coffee can with live lodestone an' powdered alum an' a lick of dis heah Hearts Own Cologne an' one needle, sewin' nee- dle, an' yuh kin stop dat [coffee can] back up, an' yuh kin tie her dere jis' like she's lef' yuh an' she had come back. She'll stay dere jis' as long as dat, stay dere until dat stockin' molt away in dat can. [A lick of Hearts Own Cologne sounds unusual, even though lick can mean a small quantity. Previously I had never heard of a lick of perfume! Hearts Own here sounds like heartshorn, a pronunciation that confused me when I first started working in the South. I have discussed this elsewhere.]
(What do you do with that can?)
Well, yuh kin place it in yore trunk. Put it in yore trunk or any place like dat, yuh know, safe keepin' where nobody won't harm it.
Entry 4963
Dey take his right- feet sock an' put nine knots in it an' put some sulphur in it. An' den yuh put some bluestone in it. Bury it at de right feet [side] of de steps an' dat will keep 'im home - keep 'im from runnin' aroun'.
Entry 4964
Ah heah of 'em takin' stockin's an' a girl tie a man up tuh 'er, yuh know, where he cain't quit chah [her]. An' tie nine knots in it an' Weah it undah de mattress - keep it undah de baid mattress, an' he won't nevah quit 'er. Jis' do 'im any kin'a way she wants tuh.
(Would they do anything with that stocking before they tie it up in a knot?)
No, not anythin' - jis' take it, yuh know, an' jis' tie it. Tie knots in it an' weah it undah de mattress.
(That would be her stocking?)
Her stockin'.
Entry 4965
If ah want yuh tuh be mah frien', ah'll take dat stockin' an' ah'll tie nine knots in it an' ah'll carry it home an' keep it.
Entry 4966
[The following rite is a first class sending-away rite told as a bring- ing-back rite. I have marked this informant on the original transcription page ng (no good), which some- times merely means not a good informant, or an in- formant with little worth- while material. The purpose here, though not normal, becomes magically legimate by intention. Reversal is also a piece of magic.]
(About the stocking foot?)
Yes, so fur as de stockin' foot, yo' kin do her stockin' foot an' cut it off at de toe yo' see. Dat's mos' where dey sweats at - de toe of it. Yo' take dat, a small piece, an' put nine knots in it, see. Put it in a bottle an' take a piece of papah an' yo' put 'er name on dere. Yo' put dat in dere an' go tuh de rivah an' throw.it ovahbo'd. See, den dere's no mo' tuh dat.
(What will that do?)
Well, so fur as dat, it bring 'er back if yo' wants 'er back. Yo' kin bring 'er back an' she cain't leave when yo' do dat. See. She gotta stay dere until she die. She gotta stay dere.
Entry 4967
Ah heard the story if you could get the man's left sock an' bury it, he'll always limp it [be lame]. [Do that toI anyone that you have something against, want to get even with him.
Entry 4968
Tuh bring a man back wit de sock, yuh take a lef'-foot sock. Yuh take an' put it down, put it down undah a rug, jis' lak yuh got lino- leum. Yuh put one down - yuh put de firs' sock down comin' in [at the front door]. Yuh go tuh de reah do' an' yuh put de othah sock down goin' out - shoot it [straight] goin' out. Yuh git up [in the morning] an' yuh take yuh some chamber lye an' yuh sprinkle, jis' lift it up soon in de mawnin' an' sprinkle a little chamber lye on dere, see. Go tuh dis [other] one an sprinkle a little bit of chamber lye on it. All right, yuh say, "Now, Lord, combine me an' mah man tuhgethah wit union an' love." Say, "Leave out all stum- blin' blocks, hindahin's an' causes." An' if he as fur away as mah han' he is got'a come. He's got'a come. Yes sir, ah know he's got'a come. Don' care whut direction he is in de worl', yuh take dem socks an' put 'em down lak ah said. Put 'em on down, de firs' sock comin' in dis way, an' dis one goin' out dat way.
(What do you mean by the middle door? Do you mean the back door?)
Jis' lak dat do' right dere [points].
(That back door, away out at the end of the house?)
No, inside de house. [Informant thinks my end of the house means outside the back door. Back door is meant.] (You call that man by name when you are saying that little [I WAS GOING TO SAY INCANTATION BUT STOPPED] - theSe WOrds?) Yeah, yuh have tuh say dose words.
Entry 4969
(You take this man's sock?)
Yessuh, de left sock off de left feet, an' cut it up right fine an' put it in a new piece an' wear it in yore shoe, an' it will give him good luck an' he have de best luck to be shore [sure]. (The woman wears that or does he wear his own sock?) Well, he will have tuh take a woman's sock, tuh fix dis up, see; an' a woman, she kin take his sock.
Entry 4970
Well, ah don' know how tuh make yuh move outa de house, but ah've had experience how tuh keep yuh - keep 'em in de house or keep 'em home, eithah one.
(Keep them home.)
Keep 'em home?
(Yes. What do you do?)
Well, ah wuz told dat yuh take, if yuh kin git a man's sock, git 'is right sock an' put it in 'is lef' shoe - jis' 'is right sock an' put it in 'is lef shoe, an' let dat stay in dere ovahnight. De nex' day yuh give 'im anothah pair of socks an' jis' bury dat [right] sock. Or jis' let 'im wear a pair of socks an' den yuh take dem socks an' git 'im a new pair. Take dem socks [taken from him] an' stop 'em up in some place airtight. An' as long as dey stay airtight he'll hang aroun'. Dat will tie him by a woman [a man] dat was tried by a [another] woman. (I see. Now, if a man comes to the house and that night he stays there, she takes his left sock and puts it in his right shoe; and then she puts the other sock in the other shoe?) Dat's right.
(The next morning she gets the new pair.)
Yes. See, he lose dem socks.
(He can't find them. I understand.)
Entry 4971
Now if yuh've got a girl, jis' lak yuh love a girl an' yuh kin git one of 'er left socks an' take one of yores an' put - yuh seen dis black peppah when not grind [ground]. Jis' take some balls [whole peppers], say nine balls. Git nine balls [seeds] of black peppah an' put it in 'er stockin' an' take two lumps of table salt an' put it in yores. An' take yore stockin' [sock] an' sew it up in 'er mattress where she sleep, an' take yore'n [hers] an' put it in her'n [yours]. Yuh all stay tuhgethah fo' yore life an' nuthin cain't git 'tweenst yo'.
(You put your sock in her mattress.)
Put yore sock in her mattress an' her'n in yours, an' sew it [hole or rip] up, an' let it stay dere jis' as long as dat mattress is [usable].
Entry 4972
If he is away from yuh, if yuh wan' 'im tuh stay wit yuh, yuh take it an' yuh git cheh some steel dust - dat's drawin' - an' lodestone, dat's drawin'. Yuh put it in 'is sock. Yuh take dat sock jis' lak dat goin' in. (Going into the house.) Intuh de house. Yuh put it down in de groun' an' yuh bury it wit de feet goin' in. He cain't stay away from dat house.
(I see. You take the left.)
[Left is nowhere mentioned. Informant may be repeating story and assumes I know which sock; or after story completed I may have turned off machine and then asked left or right before restarting machine in time to catch the answer.]
Entry 4973
Carry a woman's stockin' an' wear it roun' 'is waist, an' dat keep 'er from havin' any othah mens.
Entry 4974
Well, now, if a man jis' wan' 'er, he take her sock an' wear it roun' 'is waist fo' nine mawnin's. An' de ninth mawnin' he'll take an' he'll uri- nate on it. An' he'll pass nex' tuh de house yuh know, an' drop it chew know. Well, now, see when she wear it she done got [his influence?]. See, she wash it. See, where he sweat in dat stockin', dat cause her tuh git all crazy about 'im. An' she'll follah 'im evahwhere he go out, an' ma'y [marry] 'im if he wanta ma'y her.
Entry 4975
Take a woman's stockin' whut she done dirtied, yuh know, wit sweat on lak dat yuh know.
(You take the woman's stocking?)
Yes, sir, wit de sweat on dere an' put it in de baid where yuh sleept. An' sleep on it an' dat will make her come back tuh yuh. An' tie it roun' yuh an' yuh sweat against it, an' dat will make her come back tuh yuh. (Both stockings?) One - don't need but one, eithah one.
Entry 4976
Nevah heard of women's stockin' but ah've heard about men's socks. LAK AH WANTA TRICK YUH. YUH ARE MAH BOY FRIEN'. Well, ah take dat sock an' jis' put it undah de bed mattress, yuh know, aftah he [she does not say YoU] pull it off. Jis' lak stealin' it from 'im, yuh see. An' carry it up undah de bed mattress. (What will that do?) Dat will keep 'im at home. Ah think's de right one [sock].
hypothetical keeping him home through sock-under-mattress placement. The opening distinguishes not having heard about women's stockings from having heard about men's socks; the ensuing case is hypothetical, not an observed enactment. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 4977
If a girl wanted a man tuh love her, want 'im tuh come back if he go away, dey take an' git a pair of 'is socks an' sew 'im up in de bed mattress. An' dat make him love 'em an' come back home tuh 'er. Ah heard ole folk day dat.
Entry 4978
A man kin take a woman's sock an' put it in de mattress, an' dey claim dat will make her stay home.
(Both of her socks, you say, or what?)
Jis' one of 'er socks - eithah one.
Entry 4979
Dey kin take a man's sock or a woman's stockin' dat dey've been worn, an' take dat an' put it between de mattress, if it's a woman. An' den if it's de man, why de man take dat stock- in' - de foot of dat stockin', de bottom of it, an' said he kin weah dat in 'is pocketbook an' dat'll gain de woman. Ah don't know.
Entry 4980
De heel an' de toe of a man's sock an' nail it down tuh de do'. It always MAKE HIM BE A PLUMB DOPE AROUN' DE HOME. He nevah wants tuh go anywhere. An' a woman's sock is about de same thing. (If you want to do a woman the same thing, you do her that way.)
Entry 4981
Den she kin take his sock an' make him stay at home, an' make him come dere by takin' dat sock an' nailin' down tuh de flo' wit de foot comin' in de do'. (Where does she nail that?) In de front do', jis' lak yuh come in de front do' an' she got a rug - undah de rug an' let de feet part of 'em be comin' in de do'.
Entry 4982
An' yo' kin take his sock, take one of 'is lef' socks; one dat he's been weahin'. Yo' know, if yo' weah dat, it gits dirty. Don't wash it if it's dirty. Jis' take it an' take a li'le thumb tack, an' right up in de corner undah de baid, take a hammah an' jis' tack it down a li'le bit, to keep dat sock undah dere. Yo' kin sweep all aroun' dat sock, but jis' don't sweep de sock out. An' dat'll keep 'im. Or eithah yo' kin go undah de house an' nail it up [against the floor] lak dat, so he won' find it. If yo' think he kin find it, yo' put it inside. An' dat'll keep 'im wit cheh.
Entry 4983
An' so in de line of bringin' a man back, yo' take an' take his sock - take his sock an' nail it up in a da'k place in de cornah yer house, behin' de haid of yer bed. Yo' nail fo' nails an' yo' drive one right in de toe. Stretch it up bot- tomside downwards. Yo' drive one right in de toe, an' yo' drive one in de centah of de heel, an' yo' drive one on each outah edge of de heel. See, stretch it lak dat. An' yo' go to it fo' nine mawnin's an' call dis man's name, an' tell it: Bring 'im back to yo' In de Name of de Lord. An' aftah which - aftah nine mawnin's, dey say dat will bring 'im back.
(Do you use either one of his socks?)
Either one of de socks.
Entry 4984
Yuh take nine rusty nails an' yuh git 'is socks. Let it be real soiled - one, it don't diff'rence, jis' so it's a dirty sock. An' put dose nails intuh it an' bear [bury] it in de back yard. An' a... Well, YUH HAVE TUH EXCUSE ME, YUH 'URINATE OVAH DIS PLACE an' covah it up. See, dat will fix it so nobody cain't take 'im away from yuh.
Entry 4985
Yes, dere some work dat people do wit 'em, an' jis' say fo' instan' if maybe yo' wan'a man jis' de same as yo' say jis' awhile ago. If a woman wan'a man tuh leave 'er, she take 'is socks an' carry 'em tuh a stream of watah. In othah words, wit de same thing, de rattlesnake mastah. Ain't de rattlesnake mastah, but dey calls it de rattlesnake mastah - but it supposed tuh be a mastah of all roots an' herbs in de woods. An' if yo' place his name on dat in 'is sock, he compel- led tuh go. But de reason ah spoke of de same jis' awhile ago, if yo' want me tuh move from nex' do', yo' could quickah git mah track den yo' could mah sock, see.
Entry 4986
Git a man's sock an' two rocks an' urinate in a pan. Heat de rocks real hot an' name one yoreself [a woman] an' name one de man, an' bury 'em right at yore do'. (What do you do with the sock?) If yuh name one de rocks de man, wrap dat rock up in 'is sock an' bury it right at de do'. He'll always come dere.
(Which sock do you use?)
De right.
Entry 4987
If yuh git holt a man's stockin' - sock, but it's gotta be dirty, a dirty sock. Now, jis' lak ef mah husban' wuz tuh go off an' leave me, see. Now, ah'd want mah husban' back. Ah'd take his dirty sock an' fill dis sock up wit salt - would git a sack of salt. Used tuh be time we used tuh buy dese cloth sacks of salt an' ah guess yuh kin fin' 'em now. De sack of salt, an' take de salt an' fill it half full regardless tuh where he's gone. He done forgot about it. Would fill dat sock half fulla salt - dirty sock, an' take a piece of papah an' write his name 'cross lak dis [demonstrates - one name below the other] on de papah. Have de papah square, write his name 'cross five times an' den turn dat papah right roun' ag'in an' write mine, ef ah want 'im back - five time on his'n. See. (Wait a minute. You write his name five times, one right above the other, down in a line [column]. Then turn the paper around and write this other name just across it five times.) Thas right, yessuh.
(Do you take both of his socks?)
One - yuh see, whenevah a sock's dirty, a pusson kin tell de right-foot sock from de left-foot sock, an' always take de left-foot sock, an'.
(You said which is which when they are dirty?)
Yessuh.
(How?)
On account hit be's shaped lak a foot. Yuh see, tuh strictly 'tenshun [if you pay strict attention], yuh kin see where de toes fit in it. Becuz it's gotta be a whole sock tuh fix it tuh git anybody back, yuh see. But a raggly [raggedly] sock yuh cain't tell nuthin about it 'cuz it don't have no shape tuh it. Take dat sock an' fill it half fulla salt an' den aftah dat name is wrote, put it down in de sock, see. An' den fill dat sock up tuh de ankle wit de salt. An' den sprinkle some sugah. Put some sugah on top dat salt. (Now first you put the salt in the sock, half full. Then you put the paper in and then you fill up some more salt.) An' den put some sugah on top of it, about half a teacup of sugah on top of it. An' bury dat sock at de front steps. Bury it up undah de front steps wit de feet comin' in. In about five or seven days dat man will be back home.
Entry 4988
Well, if yuh got a woman an' yuh wan' 'er back, an' she done lef' yuh yuh jis' take her stockin's. Yuh take her stockin' an' write her name nine times, an' yuh puts it in 'er stockin' an' bury de stockin' right by de do', see. An' when yuh walks ovah it, she'll wandah right back home, see.
(Take one stocking?)
Both of 'em. Not no new stockin' though. It's got tuh be ole stockin's she been wearin', see. New stockin's won't do no good.
(Bury them at the entrance to the door any special way or just any old way?)
Jis' bury 'em any kinda way, right in fronta de door where yuh walks ovah, yuh see.
Entry 4989
Yuh take nine needles an' put 'em crossways in de sock, an' put red peppah, garlic an' dese little nets dat yuh buy from de drug sto'.
(Hair nets.)
Yuh take dem an' put 'em in de sock, an' den yuh git some clay dust an' pack it, an' sew dat sock up. Dat's de way yuh fix de sock against matches. Yuh take de same amount of matches. Takes nine matches an' nine needles an' fix 'em in dat sock, an' den sew it up. An' den yuh take dat sock an' jis' throw it up undah de bed, or jis' throw it on up ovah de do'.
(What will happen then?)
Well, dat's tuh bring 'em back. When he do come back, yuh take his cloth an' wear it. Aftah yuh'all have intahco'se, yuh take de cloth an' wear it nine days. An' in de mawnin' aftah yuh wear it nine days, yuh take dat cloth an' wipe his plate out wit it.
(That will hold him there?)
Keep 'im dere.
Entry 4990
(That little bow in the back of the hat.)
Dey take dat bow out an' dey dress it - dey carry it tuh de two-head [who dresses it]. An' dey tell 'im what kind of powdahs dey've got. Dey've got graveyard powdah, rattlesnake powdah, and - whut is dat othah? [Three ingred- ients]. Well, dey take dat. Dat's to keep dere husban' wit 'em, cuz ah sepa- rate a lady an' 'er husban' by not knowin' at de time, den bein' young an' didn't know. Dey take a sock aftah dey done wore it an' dey pin it.
(They do what?)
Dey takes de toe of it an' dey pins it tuhgethah disaway. Dey git a pack of [new] needles an' a pack of [new] pins an' dey jis' cross dem pins crossways goin' an' comin' like dat in both socks. An' dey eithah put it in de bottom of dere trunk or bottom of dere drawahs somewhere, an' dey keep it dere. Dat's tuh keep dere husban' wit 'em an' he won't go roun' wit no tothah women. (Well, what was your experience? What did you do, when you said you were a girl?)
[She does not understand.]
(You did something, you said?)
I took - I wuz stayin', me an' de lady - ah wuz youn' an' didn't know nuthin den about fortunetellahs. An' she had one room an' ah anothah room. An' mah clothes wuz in Ter trunk too, becuz ah didn't have any wardrobe tuh put mines in at de time. An' ah wuz cleanin de trunk out dat Friday night, an' ah seen de two dirty socks in dere. Ah said tuh mahself, "Well, whose dirty socks down in dere wit all de clean clothes in dere." So ah went an' ah took de socks an' sat down. It took me ovah a hour tuh pick de pins an' needles outa dere, dey wuz so rusty. An' ah washed dem socks an evahthin an dat separate her an' 'er husban'.
Entry 4991
Yuh kin take a needle - lak ah wants tuh put chew in cripple condition, ah buy yuh a bran'-new pair of socks an' take dat needle, an' take me some thread an' git me - Hoodoo. - Conjuration - Witchcraft - Rootwork - some Narciss [Narcissus] Perfume, an' wet dat thread wit dat Narciss Perfume. An' stick dat needle through dem socks dat ah bought fo' yuh nine times - jis' stick dat needle through dere. Pull dat thread through dere, don't leave it in dere - jis' stick it in dere an' pull it through dere nine times. An' den give yuh dose socks an' yuh put dose socks on. Why give yuh de wors' rheumatism, or de wors' pains - yuh won't have de use of yore laigs.
Entry 4992
Yuh kin git 'is socks an' git some new twine thread. An' yuh know, bring it tuh yuh - wrap it [thread] tuhwards, tuh yuh [about the socks] an' take an' sew it [the tied up socks] up in de mattress. Dat will make yuh love her.
Entry 4993
Dey take a woman's stockin', bran'-new stockin', aftah she'd wo' [wore] it one time. An' yuh git hol' dof [hold of] it an' put it in runnin' watah. Why she'd leave an' would nevah come back where yuh at. (Either stocking?) Dey take de both stockin's.
Entry 4994
Tuh keep yore husban' wit yuh altuhgethah, take one of 'is dirty socks an' yuh tie it aroun' yore wais', an' wear it nine days an' nine night; but yuh mus' not let 'im ketch yuh wit it. Yuh see, dat's tyin' him up - yuh see, keep- in' 'im dere. (Then what do you do after you keep it around your waist the nine days and nine nights?) Take it off dey say an' yuh kin keep it - jis' keep it. Roll it up an' yuh put it undahneat' yore mattress - in yore mattress.
Entry 4995
An' dey kin take yore socks an' things an' hurt chuh. De way dat's done done, dey kin take yore sock an' put nine needles in yore socks, an' have it tied [actually sewed] right where yuh sleep at on de baid. Where yuh sleep at, sew it down in de mattress where yuh cain't see it. An' ah'll guarantee yuh, like if yuh want's tuh quit dat woman, yuh cannot leave her.
(All you do is use that dirty sock.)
Yore dirty sock, yore dirty sock.
(Both of them?)
No, jis' one of 'em - yore left-foot sock. An' yuh be's - jis' like dere's sweat in 'em, dey have yore sweat up in dere. Well, see, dey take a needle.
(They do what?)
Dey take a package of bran'-new needles. Yuh know, go tuh de sto' an' git some bran'-new needles.
[Long pause.]
(Yes.)
What dey nevah been used, wit dem little gold eyes tuh 'em. Dey take an' puts nine of 'em [demonstrates] ma'ks [marks] it across like here, an' across like disaway, an' dey have it across dataway. Yuh undahstan'.
(Cross them up?)
Yes, sir, an' den turn aroun' an' take 'em - take dat thin' [dressed sock] an' wrap it up tight, jis' like a little ball or somepin, an' open de mattress up an' sew dat undah de mattress. An' ah guarantee yuh, if yuh wanta quit 'er, yuh can't leave 'er. She kin do yuh anythin' she wants an' go anywheres. Yuh won't say nuthin.
Entry 4996
Dey had mah husban' [fixed] now. His sock in a bran'-new white han'- ke'ch'ef, nine needles an' nine pins - new pins [and surely also new needles] - graveyard dirt, cayenne pepper, an' dey wuz all in dat bottle what ah foun' undah mah steps. An' so [it] wuz mah husban's dirty sock. Dey had it fixed wit somepin in it an' wearin' it roun' 'er waist. Ah sees dat mah- self.
[Not round the woman's waist! She saw the sock showed to her by the doctor!]
(What did that do to him?)
Well, he recognized it [the sock produced by the doctor] - saw de whole thing. An' so ah got somebody look at 'im an' de woman dat looked at 'im tole me dat dere wuz a girl aftah 'im befo' he started courtin' me. De girl went 'erself an' she stole his dirty sock, had it fixed [by a doctor] an' wore - had it roun er wais'. (Well, did this woman [doctor] tell you how to get rid of that? What to do to get rid of it?) She give me some medicine, but what de medicine wuz ah don't know. [She give me some medicine is ambiguous. Was it for herself or husband? If for her, then we have one of those rare examples of MEDICINE BY PROXY - margin title p.365. This story came early in my hoodoo collecting days, otherwise I would have asked for further details. It is evident that the woman on finding the bottle took it to a Woman, who told her what was inside and why the ingredi- ents had been planted at the steps.]
Entry 4997
If yuh wanted de man - if a woman wanted a man, yuh could take his socks. Have his dirty socks an' fold 'em tuh yuh an' take a teaspoonfula sugah. An' roll 'em tuh yuh all de time an' put nine needles on each end.
(That is 18 needles altogether.)
An' den take dem socks an' put 'em undah yore bed an' sleep on it. Dat'll make him stay close tuh yuh.
Entry 4998
Take dat stockin' an' carry it tuh de no'th cornah of de house an' bury it. Bury it in de no'th cornah of de house an' yuh jis' lingah. Yuh won't die, yuh jis' lingah, have pains in yuh laigs.
Entry 4999
Dey ties dat fo' love. Dey say dey take a woman's stockin' an' keep it out fo' so many days, er [or] so many mawnin's, an' dey ties it in so many knots - three cord knots. Yuh know, tuh love ah reckon. Dey wan' chew tuh love 'em. Three tuh four knots. An' den dey take de foot of dat stockin', take a nail dat's not got a head on each end - jis' a nail bent kinda like dis [demonstrates a staple]. Drive it in de north cornah [side] of a tree. An' dey say long as dat knot tied dere, why yuh an' dem people will be tuhgethah.
Entry 5000
De sock - anyone's sock. Well yuh take it, de sock, if yuh wanta bring - dat's anothah bring-back. Or yuh could take it an' put de heel of de sock in de do' jis' as yore shoe, undah de rug or anywhere. Yuh have tuh put it undah de rug tuh keep anybody from seein' it. Well, dat's tuh keep 'em in, yuh see. Yuh take de sock an' put some Jockey Club [Perfume] - no, Three Jacks Perfume, Three S's [sss], an' Three Kings. Yuh go tuh de drug sto' an' git dat. Dat's a good perfume. Yuh put it in dere an' yuh put de shoe [sock] - put de sock undah de rug. See, all dat's drawin'. Den yuh could bathe in bluein' an' success fo' yore home an' fo' yuhself, too. Anywhere yuh wanta go gamblin', take dat Three Jacks, Three Kings, an' Three S's an' dey could make a toby [a hand] out of it. Yuh could take a silver dime an' de Three Jacks an' Three S's an' de John de Conkah an' red flannel. Well yuh put all dat togethah an' make a little sack, yuh see, an' give it [feed it] a little likkah lak gin. Well, yuh put a little gin in it tuh wet it, an' yuh go an' make money, lak in gamblin' games - yuh shoot dice.
Entry 5001
[Pillow - like the words door, fireplace, eaves and steps - is one of the many magic places about the house; place only when it is on the bed where it belongs. Pillow on the top shelf of a closet or up in the attic is not a magic place or object, unless it has been specially dressed.] A woman kin take a man's sock an' kin put it undahneat' 'er pillah dat she lays on at night In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost tuh bring 'im 'er way.
Entry 5002
A man take a woman's stockin' an' tote it in his pocket an' she'd always stay at home. Dat's whut ah heard.
Entry 5003
A man kin take a woman's stockin', he kin dress it - whut dey call dressin'. Take dat yuh see - take dat stockin' an' carry it off somewhere an' git off tuh deyself. An' skin yuh [thing] back an' de whut chew call gnat bread be roun' dere - be's roun' de haid of yore [thing]. Well, why see, yuh take dat an' yuh balled it up an' go tuh runnin' watah an' wet de stock- in'. Well, dat makes all dat stuff be 'solved [dissolved] all through. Well, now, when she put dem stockin's on ag'in, dere ain't nuthin in de worl' will keep 'er from bein' wit dat man no way whatevah - she's fer 'im.
(What do they call that stuff - sort of scum-like on the head of his tool?)
Yeah, bread.
(What do you call that stuff? I didn't understand that name?)
Dey call it gnat bread.
(What does the first word mean? Gnat like a little bug? Gnat bread?)
Dat's right. [My emphasis shows interest and surprise. I had not heard the term for years, momentarily could scarcely recall the first word. Years ago this condition was associated with a lack of personal hygiene; the reason for the word scum. If I remember, the term does not appear elsewhere in HOODOO.]
Entry 5004
Dey kin take yore socks or stockin's an' jis' make yuh do anythin' dat dey wan'a do, aftah dey are dirty; but if dey clean, dey cain't do yuh nuthin. (Now how - what would they do with that?) Well, fo' a instant [instance]; jis' lak mah husban' treat [mistreat] me. All right. Now, mah husban' go on away an' wants 'im back. Take dose socks, de lef' one - or if yuh cain't git it, take de bow from 'is hat, or de stockin', an' put some sugah in it an' urinate on dere. Bury dat. An' evah three time a day read de 23rd Psalm.
(Three times a day. At different hours?)
In de mawnin' about six, twelve, an' six in the evenin' [formula 6-12-6, see p.830]; nine day.
Entry 5005
(What do you do with those nine tacks?)
[I ask about 9 tacks informant mentioned while recording machine turned off.]
Well, yuh take a sock, one of a man's dirty socks, an' yuh nail it down anl put nine tacks in it - nine bran'-new tacks. An' dat keeps 'im tuh yuh.
(Do you put those nails or tacks in there in any particu- lar way?)
No, yuh jis', yuh raise de mattin' up [demonstrates]. (You raise the matting up. Oh, the diagonal of the floor.) [See comment later.] Put it on de flo' an' put dem tacks - nine tacks in it. Put dat mattin' back ovah it.
(I see. Either one of his socks?)
Either one.
(I see. And what will that do to him, then?)
Dat will keep 'im fo' yuh an' nobody else. [The preceding word matting my transcriber could not understand the first time, leaving the space blank. The second and third times she concluded that informant meant mattress. Mattress in front of the door! Later when I checked original recording on cylinder, I penciled in the correct word matting for the first blank space and for the second, mattress. The first mattress I temporarily eliminated by lightly penciling out the first sentence of my comment, which I considered a confusing repetition of informant's words. This is the reason why the second matting, the one in my comment, now appears inked in. Only 30 years later (Sept.1971) do I realize that informant was demonstrating and that I should have given a better description of the demonstration. We have here a small mat or matting, of straw or similar material, formerly used in summertime in front of door or bed. I saw many of them during my boyhood. Informant folds back one corner of the mat - my word diagonal shows this - laid the sock along the diag- onal of the fold, tacked down the sock, and let the fold return to the floor. Here again we have the magic quincunx so frequently mentioned in HooDoO. An examination of this page in the original manuscript will substantiate my explan- ation of the rite.]
Entry 5006
Jis' lak a man's sock or sompin, when yuh wanta break 'em up or sompin, or yuh wanta run 'em away, yuh bury it. Yuh jis' take it, jis' lak it's yore ole man or sompin an' yuh wanta git rid of 'im. Yuh kin run 'im away wit 'is sock, or: if yuh wanted tuh keep 'im, yuh kin keep 'im wit chure sock. (How would you run him away with the sock?) Well, yuh take his sock an' yuh wrap 'is sock up in sulphur, lodestone an' bluestone, an' yuh bury dat sock an' yuh put three rusty nails aroun' dat sock an' two pegs, an' yuh'll soon git rid of'em.
(How do you put those two pegs?)
Take de sock an' yuh bury his sock wit dat stuff in it. An' yuh take two rusty nails an' yuh put two on each side of de sock - one on dis side an' one on dat side. P An' put one in de middle of it, an' yuh put de pegs behin' it [like this N N N ]. What are those pegs supposed to do?) Ah dunno. [They symbolize the headboard and footboard of a grave. The design is a cross mark on the grave. She has crossed him.]
Entry 5007
Yuh kin take a woman's stockin' an' yuh kin keep 'er home. Jis' lak if yuh love a woman, yuh kin take her stockin'. An' yuh kin take dat stockin' an' yuh kin put a teaspoonful of black peppah an' some cream of tartah an' mix it tuhgethah, an' a piece of jis' de toenail offen a rab- bit's hin' lef' laig. An' wrap it up in de bed mattress where yuh an' 'er sleep, an' she'll leave outen dat room no mo' den outdo's an' dat room. Yuh'll nevah have no trouble wit 'er long as dat in dere, but nevah let 'er know whut's in dere. Sew it up in dere an' let it stay dere. [Fayette- ville. N. Car. (1438). 2608:2.]
Entry 5008
If yuh wan' anybody tuh move an' don' wan' 'em tuh give yuh no trouble, if yuh kin git frien's 'nuff wit 'em tuh git - dey be outdo's washin', jis' walk cross dere an' git dere socks. An' take it an' turn [fold] it lak dis [demonstrates]. An' carry it on de opposite side of de train, yuh know, on de blind side, an' sets it up dere. An' dey'll go right jis' fur as dat train go. Yuh won' evah have no mo' trouble wit 'em.
(How do you mean, turn the sock?)
[I want a better demonstration.]
Jis' lak yuh have on a sock, well yuh fol' de laig an' let de feet come long [along] last, yuh know.
(Where do you put that sock then?)
Jis' lak peoples git off dat side, yuh come up on dat side [blind side].
(On the train and that sends him away.)
Entry 5009
Dey could take a sock, a man's sock, an' tie it to or put it on a box- car. An' as long as dis boxcar wuz travelin', an' dis sock wuz on dere, dis man couldn't stay in one place. He would contin'ly go from place tuh place.
Entry 5010
Now, yuh kin vanish a man wit 'is sock. Yuh kin take a man's sock dat he have worn, or a woman's, if yuh wanta git rid of 'em. Well, say we all live in dis town an' yuh don' care tuh leave, but chew both cain't stay heah in peace. Yuh take de socks dat he have worn, or de sock dat she have worn, an' take it down tuh de railroad tuh any car dat chew kin put dat sock in de [hot] box of dat wheel[!!!]. Jis' as dat train will leave, he will leave or she will leave.
Entry 5011
People kin take yore stockin's or a woman's stockin's. Dey take an' roll 'em up an' put 'em where it won' rain on 'em no mo'. Dey say if yuh put 'em where it won' rain on it, it make 'em lose dere health, an' make 'em look lak dey got de TB. Dey jis' git worsah an' worsah until dey go tuh nuthin. Well, dey don' do a thing but keeps 'em in a dry place.
Entry 5012
Ah hear 'em say dat dey'll take yuh sock, dirty sock, an pu-tit [put it], place it, in a onion. Yuh kin take a dirty sock an' cu-tit [cut it] uP, place it in a' onion, inside a red onion, an' plan-tit [plant it] in de groun' at chew doahstep. An' dat hol' a person at home.
Entry 5013
(How would they do that?) Dey'd take de sock or stockin' an' dey roll dat up tuh yo' lak dis [demonstrates]. See, always roll it tuh yuh. An' when yuh roll dat tuh yuh lak dat, well den dey pin dat right at de joist of de house where yuh gotta come in an' go out. See, dey pin dat right dere, an' long as dat stays up dere, dey have a dominion on yuh.
Entry 5014
Ah heard dat yuh take de socks now, an' yuh take it an' roll it towards yuh. Take it an' start it from de toes an' roll it back, jis' as tight as yuh kin roll it. An' den when yuh git 'em rolled back, yuh take a needle an' thread an' hook it ovah tuhwards yuh. Don' nevah hook it from yuh. Dat's whut dat lady tole me. Say yuh hook it tuhwards yuh evah time. Take dat sock den an' bury it right undah yore do'step, an' say dat man'll always stay dere - or a woman, whoevah it is.
Entry 5015
All ah know 'bout it is whut chew might call a hot-foot. Dey have dose things dey call de movin' powdahs. Dis is somepin dat ah'm not familiah wit. Yuh ordah dis from de Crackahjack Drug Sto' in New Orleans. An' yuh put dat in de innah sole of a shoe, de same as ah tole joo befo'. Aftah yuh git it in de innah sole of yore shoe, yuh take a sock - one of de socks dat de person have been wearin' - an' yuh roll it to yuh. See [demonstrates], yuh start at de toe an' roll dat sock tuh yuh. Aftah yuh roll dat sock tuh yuh, yuh put it in de mat- tress, or somewhere - anywhere dey been sleepin' on. An' dat worries. 'em, gives 'em de hot-foot. Dey cain't be satisfied - yo' know, jis' figgity. [Crackerjack Drug Store is mentioned a number of times in HOODOO.]
Entry 5016
Jis' take de sock an' roll it up - roll it tuh yuh. Jis' lak if ah want somebody tuh come tuh me, roll it tuh me.
(Whose sock?)
If it's a woman, her husban', or eithah if it's yore frien' or sompin yuh Want - if yuh could git holt of one of 'em, yeah, anybody's. Roll it tuh yuh an' put nine needles in dere, goldeye needles, an' nine rusty nails, an' bury it undah yore do'steps an' dat'll draw 'em.
(What about that red pepper?)
Yuh put de cayenne peppah in de sock.
(What will that do then?)
Dat will draw 'em tuh yuh.
Entry 5017
In case of tyin' a man, keepin' a man, makin' love, yuh take dis sock. Yuh kin take a dirty sock an' yuh kin dampen it in some ole black molasses syrup, an' yuh roll it up lak dis nine times. Yuh roll it tuh yuh nine times. Yuh take yuh some brown papah an' yuh git chew a bran'-new cord string an' yuh wind dat nine times. Yuh tie dat.
(How do you wind that string?)
Yuh wind it tuh yuh. Yuh still bringin' it tuh yuh. An' yuh take dat an' yuh win' dat nine times an' yuh tie it. An' yuh put it right undah de middle, undah de centah of yore bed where yuh sleep. [This is a quincunx.] Yuh sleep ovah it all de time. Dat keeps a man down.
(You fix one of his dirty socks. Either one?)
Yes, eithah one of 'is dirty socks.
Entry 5018
An' now lak it wuz a woman an' her an' her husban', or her an' her man frien' has had a fallin' out. He has quit 'er, taken up wit someone else. An' she gits a pair of 'is dirty socks. She takes dose dirty socks an' she will roll 'em up, yuh see, an' put wit de toe tuh toe an' roll 'em tuhwards 'er.
(Begin at the toe?)
Yeah, yuh begin at de toes - gotta be 'is dirty socks an' don't wash 'em, an' roll 'em lak dis.
(Rolling them towards her.)
An' yuh'll roll 'em lak dis, an' yuh'll ask de Lord tuh let 'im come back tuh yuh. An' each word [each time you say], "Lord, bring 'im back," say good things about 'im - not fuss. Say good things until yuh git 'em all rolled up. An' den, when yuh roll 'em up, yuh'll sew 'em up wit white thread, an' each stitch come tuhwards yuh. Yuh'll take dem socks an' yuh'll put 'em in yore pillah or in de cornah of de mattress on de side dat yuh sleeps, direct undah yore haid.
Entry 5019
[I turned on my machine too late to record the beginning of the rite; the reason for my guestions in an effort to recapture the rite.l Put salt in it an' bury it undah de groun' an' it will eithah keep de man from runnin' aroun', or it will make him stay at home.
(Well, just what do you take now?)
De left sock.
(You take the man's left sock. And what do you put in it?)
Salt, jis' ord'nary salt.
(And then what do you do with it?)
Bury it undah de steps.
(That will keep him from running around.)
Entry 5020
They say you can take a man's sock or a woman's stocking and carry it with yeh and make them do what chew want 'em to do. Just make yore wishes with it. And put sulphur and salt in there. and they say nc one else, whatever the're doing [to counteract your in- tentions] can't do anything with it no more than you. See? Just like if you'd bury it out here in this yard and someone come and sprin- kle something on it, they say that wouldn't be any good. And you take this sock and wear it. And if you want him to stay home, if it's a man you want him to stay home and don't want him to go, why then you bury it. Bury it in the yard some place where you walk over it oftener than he does. And that keeps him home.
Entry 5021
Now listen, de way dat ah undahstan's dat, yuh take both heels [of her stockings] an' c'ook [crook] 'em togethah wit a dime in it. Well, yuh rolls 'em up an' yuh hides 'em 'way in some secret place or 'nothah an' yuh'll always have de advantage of 'er.
(You take these two heels of her stockings?)
Take de two heels togethah an' wrap a dime up wit 'em an' hide dem away. Yuh'll always have de advantage of 'er, den.
Entry 5022
Ah heard tell of a man dat de woman miss 'er stockin's. She didn't know where he stockin's be, an' he had de stockin's. She jis' would wear 'em, an' he tie 'em in a heap of knots an' tie 'em tuh 'im. He have a silvah dime, yuh know, wit a lady haid on it; an' he had a piece of new homespun an' tie it tuh 'im. An' dat would fix de wumman so she won' run roun'. (He took two of her stockings and he tied them into one knot or how many knots?) He jis tie 'em right straight up tuh 'im - tie 'em tuh him, keep a-tyin' 'em up.
(And he put this in a piece of new homespun?)
Tie 'em in a piece of new homespun - aroun' it.
(Then when he got these all together, what did he do with the whole thing?)
He put 'em undah de cornah of 'er house.
(That's where she found them?)
Yeah.
Entry 5023
[There are a number of rites in which a woman asks a man for a dime or a piece of silver; the following one being quite complicated:] Do dat tuh make a man bring 'is money home. Well, yuh kin take a man's sock an' let 'im weah it an' yuh weah one of yore [stockings], de right-foot sock [and stocking]. Den yuh git a dime, a silvah dime from 'i, outa his han. Den yuh writes 'is name nine times tuh yuh. Write it nine times, write, "Ah want chew tuh bring yore money home tuh me an' don't cash yore check until yuh git it tuh me, '' nine times. Den yuh takes dat name an' dat silvah dime, dat he give yuh outa his han', an' yuh fold it nine times [demonstrates] an' yuh tell it whut chew Want it tuh do [demonstrates].
(You are folding it toward you, aren't you?)
Uh-huh. Yuh talk tuh it, yuh know, "Ah want chew tuh bring yore money home tuh me." Make dat nine folds on it tuh yuh. Den yuh take yore stockin' an' fold it. Yuh take dis dime yuh know an' de name yuh know, aftah yuh fix it up an' put it in de toe of 'is sock, his right-foot sock, his'n, whut he'd been weahin'. Den yuh take one of yores an' yuh write on dere mah name, an', "Ah Wants tuh be boss. Ah wan' chew tuh bring yore money home tuh me. Ah'm yore wife." or "yore girl fren', " or whut-not. Den yuh fold yore sock [stocking] tuh yuh [and say], "Ah'm goin' bring it home. "See, lak dat [demonstrates]. "Ah'm goin' bring it home." Den yuh puts de man's sock in yores. See, yuh wants dis, an' shet it inside lak dat. Den yuh buries it where he kin walk inan' ovah it. An' HE WON'T CASH 'IS CHECK.
Entry 5024
Yes, ah heard tell of a woman, if she has a man dat she love an' dat she think he's 'bout tuh leave her, don't chew undahstan'. If she takes 'er stockin' an' put it intuh his coat, chew know, slip it into 'is coat, in each sleeve intuh a coat dat he weahs reg'lahly, well den dat holds 'im, yuh see.
Entry 5025
Yuh kin take his name an' yore name tuhgethah. Dat's to keep 'im wit yuh right on. Yuh write his name on some brown papah lak dat brown wrappin' papah. Yuh write his name on [with] indelicate [indelible] pencil - new indelicate pencil. An' yuh put it [name] between 'is socks an' yuh sew it up wit No.8 black thread - de man's dirty socks. Yuh take dat brown papah an' yuh cut it jis' lak seat [bottom or sole] of dat sock. Yuh write his name on dat paper [cut in the shape of a sole]. Yuh write jore name on dat nine times, but joo write yore name on top of 'is fer nine times. Yuh put it between dem socks. Yuh sew dat up wit No.8 black thread. Yuh take drawin' powdah, yuh take steel dust, an' roll it up through dem socks; an' put it [socks] in yer mattress, an' he sleeps on dat. Dat'll keep 'im from goin' away from yeh.
Entry 5026
[To split is a magic rite but not a common one. Usually splitting concerns a stick or tree - which see.] Ah hear 'em say yuh kin take a sock, if it's a boy goin' wit yore daughtah or sompin lak dat an' yuh wanta break 'em up. Yuh kin take a sock. Git on de good side of 'er an' git 'er tuh git one of 'is socks, one de sock dat he's wearin'; not no clean sock whut been already washed, [but] one dat he's been wearin' an' haven't been washed since it's worn. Git one de lef'-han' sock if yuh kin git it. An' yuh take dat sock an' carry it tuh 'er den, an' den de sock yuh split it open [because you want to split up, separate boy and girl]. Yuh splits it open an' yuh gits a horseshoe. Why yuh gittin' a horseshoe, takes a horseshoe an' nail it up ovah de do'. Take de horseshoe an' take de sock, an' place it up ovah de do' where she goes in an' comes out at, an' de do' dat he comes in when he come tuh see 'er. An' place dat sock up dere an' place de horseshoe on top of it, an' nail it up dere good, so it can't be to' [tore = torn] down. An' put 'er 'nitials an' 'is 'nitials in de sock. An' dey say den dat will break dem up. (You just spread that sock behind the horseshoe - spread it [split sock] over it [horseshoe] like a piece of cloth. And you write the initials on the sock with a pencil or something. And that breaks them up?) Yessuh. [This is a new and rather unusual horseshoe rite, and it comes from a root doctor. To walk under anything of yours, here his split sock and initials, up- sets or confuses the mind. And in addition, I suspect the split sock also gives him leg or foot trouble. Her initials assist the mental disturbance.]
Entry 5027
Take de socks an' sprinkle some steel dust on it an' bury it. Dat'll run 'em crazy.
Entry 5028
[A stranger can be a magic person in hoodoo and folklore. There are thirty-two beliefs about strangers in FACI, 1st ed., prob- ably more in 2nd ed. Modernization has transferred the stranger's magic to his automobile:] Den she kin take his sock ag'in, if she wanta run 'im any way, run 'im outa de town, or fix 'im lak dat. She kin take dat sock an' she kin put some red cayenne peppah in it, an' she kin put it into a travelah's car dat travelin', or eithah intuh a train - de baggage [car] - an wait until dat person is leavin' where she at. An' as it leavin', she say, "In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, ah want fo' yo' tuh go an' nevah return back." An' he shure will go. [Florence, S. Car., (1314), 2238: la.]
Entry 5029
Git de socks, de right, an' jis' let it, yuh know, as yuh sprinkle it wit dat little sugah, jis' fold it tuh yuh. An' when yuh fold it tuh yuh, take it an' bury it at de steps an' he won' go anywheres.
Entry 5030
If yuh got a sweetheart an' he's gone away an' yuh wan' 'im tuh come back tuh yuh, yuh git 'is sock an' tie it tuh de east cornah of yore baid an' let it be swingin'. Keep it swingin' an' yuh make yore wishes. Finally, he'll come back, an' long as yuh keep dat sock swingin', his mind is on yuh. Yuh hang up eithah one of 'is socks long as it sompin of 'is.
Entry 5031
Well, dey takes yore sock - like if a man an' a woman done broke up an she wan's 'im tuh come back tuh 'er, yuh see. Well, she would take his sock an' bury it up undah de step wit de feet comin' in. An' tack three tacks in de toe, three tacks intuh de heel of it, an' bury dat up undah de front steps. See, wit 'is name written in an' 'er name, an' dat will cuz 'im tuh come back.
(Where do you put these tacks in?)
Jis' intuh de groun' - jis' tack 'em down intuh de groun'.
(Oh, into the ground.)
Intuh de groun' - tack de tacks intuh de [ground].
(You move what? If you move, you do what?)
Yuh move - jis' like if yuh'd move out de house an' yuh lef' de man, yuh'd move de sock an' tack it up undah de nex' steps. (I see. I see, you put three tacks in the toe and three in heel and press it down. Then you write his name and your name and...) An' tack it down...
(On a piece of paper and that's under the sock that is tacked down.)
Yeah, undah de sock.
Entry 5032
This wuz one [once?] I wuz goin' with a woman an' I went to a special man. An' he tol' me to give him two dollahs an' tol' me to bring one of this girl's stockin's there, were she been wearin' - jis' one, either one. An' this girl had done raised de devil with me. She had nachurely [naturally] treated me in a [way] that I didn't feel like livin' any mo'. An' he say, "Yo take this stockin' an' yo' use nine tacks, and drive 'em right down into the front of the door, towards the head of the bed, an' in nine days she'll be down." An' honest to truth I fixed it jis' like a block, an' that night...
(Was this in your house you did this or in her house?)
We wuz both livin' together. She wuz jis' awful to me. Well, he tol' me how to do to tame her, to draw 'er to me. He says, "Don't tap on the tack, '' yo' see. He said, "When yo' gon'a hit it, shoot it right down. An' put 'em in rotation. An' [I] wan' the foot - the toe of this stockin' towards 'er bed." An' he says, "That'll draw 'er right down." An' it did for a fact.
Entry 5033
Yo' take dat [bath] water - jis' like if yo' had a wife an' yo' wouldn't wan' chore wife, yo' under- stand, an' she be - yo' go off, an' maybe yo' might come back. She kin put down dat sock when yo' go home. An' den [when you come home that's how] she come to git dat [bath water] - "I wan'a take a bath." She take dat water whut choo bath in an' she scrub from de front doah back [into the house]. Den she kin take dis sock of yourn from yer lef' feet, an' she kin measure [flatten out] dat sock under de doah [concealing it under the carpet or linoleum near the door], de length of de foot of dat sock. She take nine new tacks an' put down behind dat, tack it back in de house, an' he's bound to come back, he can't quit. An' she take yer dirty socks [the left one], she put it down, de toe to de doah an' dis heel right on back disaway, yo' see, comin' back.
(The toe is pointing into the house.)
Dat's right. [The informant's demonstration was correct, but her interpretation the reverse because she sat opposite me; hence my annotation.] An' she take nine tacks an' she measure it nine times, de length of de sock, an' dat bound to draw yo' home.
(How do you mean she measures it nine times?)
Jis' like if yo' git a sock, yo' put dat sock down, yo' put a tack dere [in the toe] till yo' put nine tacks - dis de length of de sock. All right. An' den she'll tack a tack at dat end [toe], an' she tack one at de heel, den she'll put dem other nine [seven] tacks between dem tacks, comin' to yo' [in a row coming into the house].
Entry 5034
[They] take 'em an' dey buries 'em. Jis' like I got a woman an' she lef' me, an' I got 'er socks or anything dere. Well, I takes it an' I buries it undahneath de steps wit de white of an egg.
(With what?)
De white of a egg.
(Well, how do you do that? Do you mean just pour the white of an egg on it?)
Take it an' cobweb it an' mix it up tuhgethah. See, an' I folds it, dis stocking tuh me dataway, undahstan', an' I buries it right at mah step wit nine brass tacks. (This white of an egg. You just simply take the white out of an egg and put it on the stockings, and then roll it toward you?) [The verb cobweb is so unusual I missed the full meaning at the time of record- ing. Informant takes the white of an egg and cobwebs, pours a network design over the stocking, a magic entrapment and holding device.] Yes sir.
(And you put it under the steps and you use nine brass tacks?)
Yes sir.
(I see, and you tack it up under the steps?)
Yes sir.
(Anything else? That all you do?)
Dat's to - dat's if dey gone away, see. An' if yuh wanta draw 'em tuh you, well yuh have dat settin' dere. See, it's a way yuh kin draw 'em tuh yuh, when yuh have dat settin' dere fo' 'em tuh step ovah.
Entry 5035
Yo' kin take a man's sock an' run 'im, an' yo' kin take a wo- man's stockin' an' fix it an' run 'er wit it. Yo' take 'em an' yo' put dat sulphur an' red peppah an' table salt [three ingre- dients] - dat whut dey tell me yo' do - an', yo' know, roll it up in some new white homespun. Well, yo' take dat an' throw it in runnin' watah an' dey com- pelled tuh follah dat stockin' yo' see. An' jis' wherevah it lodges, dat's where dey'll lodge.
Entry 5036
Well, ah know dis tuh be a fac'. Yo' kin take a man's dirty sock dat he done wore an' run 'im off wit it. Or yo' kin tie a man up wit dat. (Well, how would you run a man off with that dirty sock? How would you do that?) Well, yo'd have tuh throw it in de rivah. Yeah. But now, if a woman wanta tie dis man wit dis sock, jis' lak he's leavin' 'er goin' wit anothah woman an' don't wanta harm 'er [him] no othah way. Take de sock, de dirty sock, an' cut de toe out, see, de heel an' de bottom. Well, now she cut 'er fingahnails an' toe- nails an' scrape dis ole dead skin heah on de bottom of yore foot - jis' scrape dat off. An' yo' wrap it all up in dat sock an' put chew a little [what?], an' den take yo' some thread an' tie it up, an' yo' put dat ovah de do'. Dat's tyin' de man at home. He cain't leave home an' go nowhere else. All yo' gotta do is stick it dere, see. Dat's all yo' gotta do wit dat.
Entry 5037
Yo' kin take de socks or de stockin's an' bury it at de foot of yore steps. Write his name on a piece of papah an' put it in dem socks wit sulphur an' brimstone, wit a little bit of sugah tuh make it sweet. An' bury dat at de foot of yore steps. An' as he goin' an' as he comin' in an' out, see he gotta pass ovah dat. An' 'is min' den will be, yo' know, tuh come home.