Browse:SWEAT (Volume 3, entries 4478–5205)/Part 8
SWEAT
Volume 3, entries 4478–5205. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 5038
Yuh could fix 'em diff'ren' ways in dat if yuh got dere stockin' or anythin', cuz dere [they are] dark stockin'. Well dey - well yuh take a dirty sock or stockin' from 'em like dat. Well dey got dirt in dere. Yuh could take dat dirt an' if yuh want tuh do 'em harm, yuh could take it an' bury it or do anythin' yuh want wit it - jis' depend what yuh wan'a do it fo'. See, dat's how dey do's wit dat. Now, yuh could take her socks or stockin's from a woman an' run 'er crazy wit it.
(How would you do that?)
Well, yuh see, yuh take her stockin' an' it got dirt in it. Yuh git a piece of 'er hair an' yuh sew it up wit what yuh call dis fast luck [perfume or powder] an' sew it up tight. Yuh walk tuh any creek or any runnin' watah - an' sew it up tight - an' when yuh walk back from down tuh de creek or anywhere de running [water] is, yuh jis' turn backwards an' make three wishes - any wishes yuh want. Jis' like if yuh wanta run 'er in dat fast watah or run 'er out of town, or run 'er any part of de worl' dat yuh feel like. Jis' make de wishes fo' dat. Throw it backwards. Walk nine steps befo' dat yuh evah look back tuhward dat watah. Jis' long as dat turnin' in de water, she go on.
(You mean, you throw it over your left shoulder?)
Yeah, ovah yore lef' shouldah an' walk nine steps befo' yuh evah look back. But yuh make de three wishes, jis' de wishes yuh want.
Entry 5039
Stockin's or socks, why yuh know, yuh kin take dose so socks tuhgethah - tie 'em tuh- gethah undahstan', his socks an' hers, too. An' place dem by de bed, yuh see, up on de edge of de bed. An' dat will gain love right on, jis' 'solve[dissolve ' tm tuhgethah, too.
(That is to keep him there?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5040
Dey do dat, yuh know, tuh make him return back home. Take his sock an' tie it aroun' yore waist, jis' one [sock], eithah one, but dey must be worn. Yuh wear it. Den when yuh pull it off why yuh urinate on dat an' stick it in 'is shoe, an' shet it up at de haid of de baid. In 'is right shoe, an' stick it up undah de haid of de baid. Dat brings 'im home. (After he's left, she will wear this sock around her. Any length of time or does it make any difference?) Well, it doesn't make any difference. (Then when she gets finished wearing that, she urinates on it and puts it in his right shoe, and puts it under the head of the bed. And she uses either sock and it doesn't make any difference. That the idea?) Yes.
Entry 5041
Take de socks an' wear [tie] it roun' yore waist. Says dat'll keep de git de right foot chew know. Dey say dat will keep de man wit yuh.
Entry 5042
Den dey take de worn stockin' - change de stockin's an' den dey take de stockin's an' put 'em in a bundle in de mattress, yuh know. An' yuh put dem stockin's an' tie it tight dataway - tie two stockin's tuhgethah an' yuh put it in de middle of yore bed, undah de sheet of de bed. De stock- in' will be up heah. An' den dey'll have ah - dey'll put some strings in dere. Dey'll have a string tied. An' dey draws a pitchure of dereself wit a pencil. Ah seed [saw] a woman do dat mahself. Ah know she done dis. She takes a pencil an' she draws. Ah don' know what pitchure she did draw, but she'll take dat sock an' she'll put it down dere. An' she'll take dat thing dat she draws an' she'll put undah dat same place. An' dat man cain't leave her.
(You don't know what she draws on there?)
No, she won't let me see dat.
Entry 5043
Says yuh take a man's ole dirty stockin' an' yuh take it an' pinch out de toe, clip a li'le piece outen de toe an' wear it. An' take de sock an' turn it towards de back of de house - jis' puts in de do' an' let de foot go inside, an' de top of de stockin' go outside. An' de toe whut yo' wear, wear hit wit Heart Cologne.
(What will that do?)
Dat will keep 'im home.
(You put this sock in the doorway?)
In de middle of de do' undah de rug, where nobody cain't see it.
Entry 5044
Dey cut de toe of yore socks out.
(The toes of both socks?)
Dat's right. Well, aftah dey would cut de toe of yore socks out, dey would fix it intuh anothah piece of cloth an' wear it 'cross dey private - de girls.
(What will that do?)
Dat supposed tuh keep yuh.
(The woman would do that to the man?)
Jis' a woman, not a man.
Entry 5045
Sock.
(What about it?)
Yuh kin take a man's sock or a woman's stockin' an' cut de toe an' de heel of it out; jis' a little bit, yuh don't wan' [too much]. (The heel or the toe, or both of them?) No, jis' eithah piece - eithah end. (Oh, just the [toe or the] heel.) Yuh kin git de toe or de heel of a man's or woman's sock or stockin'. Yuh kin take dat an' perserve [preserve] it. Now, I tell yuh whut yuh kin do. Whenevah yuh perserve dat, dat is, yuh tie a woman tuh yuh. Yuh kintake a piece of 'er stockin' an' perserve it in a small bottle of perfume - somepinlak a cologne bottle. If yuh don' wan' tuh carry it in yore pocket, yuh kin jis' put it up in dat house. See'what ah mean? Dat woman won't leave dere. Perserve dat in alcohol [spirits love alcohol, see p.32]. As long as dat is perserved, she is perserved fo' yuh. Be subjec' tuh yore rules an' regulations. An' she'll obey yuh, too.
Entry 5046
She kin take yuh lef'-han' sock if she kin git holt [hold of] it. She'll take dat lef'-han' sock an' cut de heel an' de toe outa it. Cut de heel an' toe off an' sew it up. Jis' take it an' sew it up an' git 'er some copperas an' git 'er some red pep- pah an' put it in dere an' sew dat up tuhgethah. An' if she kin git intuh any hole dey have in de wall an' put it in dere, well, he will not stay 'way.
(What does she do with that then?)
[Informant gives another possibility.]
She take dat an' sew it up, an' put it in 'er left shoe.
(What does she put in there - copper, you say?)
Coppah, yes sir.
(What kind of copper?)
Yuh know dis - de reg'lah kinda coppah [copperas] what yuh gives dogs an' cats.
Entry 5047
Jis' wit de socks - de feet of de socks - wearin' it in de weathah like 'tis now [in the 90's], dat it would git wha' chew call mortified [have an odorl. See. yuh wouldn't use de heel but yuh would use de toe part. De [they] would cut dat out. Take dat an' place it in a small tin can what de' git sardine out of. An' de' would take dat an' put a little bita salt watah an' lye salt [= Lysol, trade name of a disinfectant] an' dey would covah dat can back up tuhgethah. De way dis man would take sick: in de firs' place he would feel bad in 'is feet. His feet begin to bob out [break out] jis' like somebody got de smallpox. Little bumps will start from de bottom of de feet, an' de bottom of de feet would begin gittin' sore. Aftah dat he may use duff'run' [different] or'nary [ordinary] things dat he would git till it would be swell an' swell an' swell [it would swell and swell and swell]. If he don' go tuh anothah man - anothah root man tuh tell 'im, splain [explain] 'is condition tuh him, dat feet will come until he [it] gives 'im de worse [worst] swellin' an' drive on [bring on] some othah disease.
Entry 5048
Jis' say, if yuh wanta bust up [broken-home remedy], see. A woman kin take his socks an' take her stockin's an' put 'em tuhgethah, heel tuh heel an' toe tuh toe. Use de lef' foot. Some say de right but de lef' foot is bes'. An' yo' put some sugah in dere an' some peppah, black peppah: if it's white person, put white peppah; an' if it's a black person, put black peppah. An' den yuh put a little cayenne peppah in it, see. An' den yuh roll it to yuh, lak dat [demonstrates]. An' aftah yuh roll it tuh yuh, den yuh git chew a bran'-new co'd [cord] string an' yuh wrap it nine times.
(How do you wrap that?)
Tuh yuh. Yuh roll it tuh yuh an' wrap it tuh yuh. An' den git chew a needle an' git chew some red silk thread an' sew it on each end, nine stitches. Pull it tuh yuh all de time dis way [demonstrates]. Pull it tuh yuh all de time.
(You put nine stitches on each end.)
Dat's tuh bring peace.
(What do you do with that then?)
Well, yuh kin wear it in yore pocket or put it where yuh kin evah day jis' dress it. Yuh know, jis' take yore han', don' have tuh put nuthin on it. Jis' take yore han' or jis' put a little perfume on it - good-luck perfume, any kinda good-luck perfume an' jis' rub it in yore han'. An' den yuh kin sleep on it. Or yuh kin put it where nobody won' go by [near] it but chew. See.
(That is for them to live together in peace.)
Yes.
Entry 5049
Oh, yes sir, dey could take yore socks. Dey could take yore socks an' git a augah, an' carry it in de woods an' bore a hole intuh a tree, an' stick it [socks] in dat hole an' stop it up airtight, see. Well, yuh wouldn't be no mo' good in yore limbs de balance of yore days.
(I see, you would be sort of a cripple.)
[The author is either rebuked or considered naive:]
YUH WOULDN'T BE SORTA CRIPPLE, YUH WILL BE CRIPPLE - likely tuh be Paralyzed, yuh cain't do nuthin.
Entry 5050
Bury it in a tree.
(Do what?)
Like I done wore dirty stockings.
(Yes.)
Well, dey kin take mah dirty stockings, an' whatevah dey put in it tuh dress it when dey bury it in de tree, well dat would make me sick - jis' pinin' away.
(How would they dress it? What would they dress it with?)
Dey dress it - dey go tuh de drug sto' an' git powdahs, anything tuh put on it.
Entry 5051
If dey kin git de sock, dey'll take yore sock an' take an' bury it - 'cordin' [according] tuh whatevah dey wish tuh do wit dis [sock]. If dey wish tuh harm yuh, dey take yore sock an' bury it undah a tree. Dey'll cut a hole in dis tree - in de trunk-like at de bottom, an' bury dis sock in dat tree. Do dis tree some hahm [harm] dat it will die. An' as dis tree die, in dataway yuh do likewise.
(I see. Now, do they take both socks?)
Take dat lef'-foot sock.
Entry 5052
Take his sock an' if it's dirty, why yuh kin nail dat tuh a tree an' it will cause him tuh walk away: [Ordinarily a sock nailed to a tree keeps a man stationary, and the sundown side later means lingering or slow death, but intention here demands that he walk away. The big nail suggests urgency and determination - also painful walking.]
(All you have to do is to take a dirty sock and nail it up?)
Jis' take a dirty sock - cut de bottom out de dirty sock, fold dat dirty sock up an' carry it tuh a green pine tree, an' nail a big nail in de centah tuh de sundown. He'll leave an' won't come back.
Entry 5053
Take a man's sock befo' he wash it - yuh know, he git de scent of it. An' yuh kin take dat sock an' yuh kin take an' sew it up inside a little bag or somepin lak dat. Take an' carry it an' nail it on a pine tree on de sundown side, but be sure yuh got it tied in de bag. Yuh kin bring 'im tuh yuh tuh any- where yuh want. (You just take these socks and put them in a bag?) An' take dat bag an' nail it in a pine tree at de sundown side, an' make a wish, an' dat man supposed tuh be de one man tuh yuh.
Entry 5054
Tuh stay on dere ain't but one thing yuh could do an' dat is tuh git, jis' - well, yuh could jis' say a piece of dere ole sock or jis' any of dey clothes or anything lak dat. An' take it an' take an' jis' dip it in some turpen- tine. An' wrap it in a piece of cloth an' jis' tie it right roun' yore right arm. An' wear it dere fo' about fo' days or eithah six. Dey cain't do a thing-a wit chew. Dey couldn't move yuh. (If you were trying to move me out, I would get your sock and do that, so that you couldn't harm me then. If I did that, that would keep you from harming me any way - any kind of way at all?) Yessuh.
Entry 5055
Now de woman is gone, she's gone. She jis' pick up 'erself an' gone out. She boun' tuh leave somepin in dere. Now, dat's whut she lef' in dere - dat be a cloth, a blood cloth. Well, yuh might ketch it. She might leave dat. Well, yuh ketch dat an' yuh kin take dat an' bury dat. Now, dat stockin' when she leaves, yuh take dat stockin'. Don' pin it up lak by de laig, yuh pin it up by de toe, yuh undahstan'. Yuh git chew a bran'- new - a pack of bran'-new safety pins, but don' take an' let dat git away from yuh. Jis' keep dat perfec' [perfect] fo' dat. Take it an' shove it [pin] back dere, right in de stockin' foot.
(Where do you hang it up?)
In yore dressah or in yore chiffahrobe [chifforobe], or whutsomevah yuh got. Yuh got'a hang it in dere, but hang it upside down. Now de name. Write her name nine times. Now yuh take an' yuh write de name an' yuh put dat in a bottle. Write de name nine times comin' tuh yuh all de time, not goin' from yuh, comin' tuh yuh nine times. Yuh fol' dat an' yuh put dat in a bottle. Yuh git chew some lodestone an' put dat in dere in dat clear watah, an' carry dat tuh a rivah or bayou. Ah don' care where yuh carry it; tuh de creek or anywhere. Don't set it up, turn dat down. When yuh turn dat down, dat bottle goin' turn lak dis [demonstrates]. Turn comin' tuh yuh. De mouth of it will turn comin' tuh yuh all de time. It's be comin' tuh yuh an' it'll be goin'. In nine days yuh'll see 'em right dere. [Algiers, La., (193, 2993:2.]
Entry 5056
Yo' kin take a man's sock. AH'M TALKIN' FROM EXPERIENCE, an' wet it in chamber lye an' write his name an' put it in de middle of yore bed where he sleep, an' dat man will continue sleepin' [there]. (You take either one of his socks?) Eithah one of 'em, but people prefah de lef'. Write de name on a piece of papah an' wrap it up in dat sock, his name, an' put it in de middle of yore bed [Quincunx] where yo' have a chance tuh - between he an' yuh. It makes a good fellah out of 'im.
Entry 5057
Yuh kin take a woman's stockin' an' urinate on it an' jis' take a lil Hearts Cologne an' wrap it up tight an' put it in yore pocket, an' dat woman will go crazy long as dat stockin' wrapped up in a tight bow, an' yuh keep it anywhere on yuh. De man's sock de same way. (That makes her go crazy about him?) "Bout 'im, long as yuh have dose stockin's or socks anywhere 'bout chew.
Entry 5058
Ah said dat she could take his ole sock dat he's worn, eithah one of 'is ole socks, but de lef'-foot sock would be de bes'. Take dat sock an' po' [pour] some urinate on it fo' nine mawnin's an' he will come back.
Entry 5059
[She] takes 'is socks an' cut de toe out 'is socks an' weah it undah 'er arms fo' a pad, an' [she] pee on it evah mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's an' put it undahneath 'er arm, an' he won't leave 'er. Wear it undah each one of 'em. She gits de toe of 'is socks, de toe of each sock. If she cain't git but one sock take de heel an' toe. Don't make no diff'ren' how she change it - jis' eithah one.
Entry 5060
Gits yore sock an' dey bury it undah yore do'step. If dey wants yuh tuh stay home, wit de foot yuh know tuhwards de house. Now if dey wanted yuh tuh leave, dey bury hit undah yore do'- step wit de foot goin' away. An' evah mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's dey po' chamber lye on it.
Entry 5061
(What was that?) She kin take a needle [2 of them] an' a bottle of vinegah, jis' a pure bottle of vinegah, & an' she turn aroun' an' cut de toe off 'is sock. An' [she] pin dem two needles in 'is sock an' put it intuh dat vinegah. An' [she] put it down, turn it down, bottom up, underneat' 'er mattress on de floor. An' he'll come back.
(I see. You put two needles?)
Two needles.
(You drop two needles in the bottle?)
No, in de toe of 'is sock. Yuh pin 'em in de toe of 'is sock, an' put dat vinegah intuh dat bottle, an' drop dat [sock] down. Twist it so it kin go down in dat bottom, till it git tuh de bottom, an' den turn it up on its haid undah 'er baid. Well, he comin' back home.
Entry 5062
Den dey would take de War watah an' yore socks, put 'em in de war watah an' shet it up an' keep it in dere fo' a length of time. An' in a length of time yuh would become ailin' concernin' about chure body, an' YORE DOCTORS [M.D. "S] COULDN'T UNDAHSTAN' YORE SITUATION, AN' YUH IN DE GRAVE OR EITHAH IN DE CRAZY HOUSE.
Entry 5063
Wash dat dirt out. Dat's jis' de same as track, lak if yuh turned up a track [took up a foot track to trick someone]. Dat's de same. Yuh wash dat out. (You wash the socks.) Git dat [dirt] in watah. Dat's jis' same as yuh took de chamber lye. Yuh kin do dose things tuhgethah. One is tuh hol' dem, an' de othah see, tuh keep 'em comin' back. Wit dat chamber lye he always comin'. Dis outa de sock, dat's tuh hold 'em.
Entry 5064
Well de sock, yuh see, yuh don't have tuh - mos'ly [mostly] dey washes 'em, yuh see, if yuh git 'em kinda dirty. Yuh see dat's [that sweat is] yore strength intuh yore sock. An' yuh takes dat watah an' bottle dat what chew wash 'em an' bury hit.
(What will that do?)
Well, dat will hold a person.
Entry 5065
Yuh got a man an' he gittin' away from yuh. Don' act so he gon'a come back an' talk tuh yuh. Yuh git a pair 'is dirty socks an' wash dem socks out. An' take de watah an' put it in a milk jah [jar], or yuh kin put it in a pint bottle or whatevah, [according to] how much watah yuh has. Turn dat bottle - bury dat bottle down [upside down] an' let it stay dere nine days an' nine nights. Don' move it, don't touch it. See if yo' don' [get] him back.
(You turn that bottle upside down?)
Dat's right, upside down. Yuh kin bury it in de house, where he won' come or somebody won' fin' dit. Yuh know where it is.
Entry 5066
Take a man's sock or eithah a woman's sock an' wash it. Jis' take it an' put it in boilin' watah an' boil it. Wash it out an' take dat boilin' watah an' airtight it, an' put it undah de do'step an' dey'll nevah leave yuh.
(You take this water from the dirty socks?)
Yessuh, de dirty watah, an' he'll nevah leave yuh.
Entry 5067
Take a man's sock, if dey's got a man an' he's tryin' tuh run aftah some othah wimmin or sompin lak dat. Take a man's sock especially if de wimmins live wit 'im or anythin' lak dat. Takes an' wash dem socks out an' take dat watah where yuh wash dem socks an' put it in a quart bottle. Put dat watah in de quart bottle an' stop it up an' put it ovah de sill of de house lak dat do' dere, yo' know. Take an' open dat ceilin' dere an' put it in dere an' let it set in dere. [The ceiling near the door is opened so that the bottle can be placed on the top of the hidden door frame, here as so frequently, called the sill of the door - sill equalling ceiling of door.] Make him stay home. [Wilson, N. Car. (1496).2665:6.]
Entry 5068
Jis' lak yuh take dat othah thing [we were talking] about while ago, yuh take hit an' let it soak in some watah.
(The sock?)
[My question is to establish immediately what we are going to talk about.]
Yeah. Jis' take de watah an' put it up ovah de front do', an' jis' let it set dere. Dat is if yuh wanta hold-a person. Jis' lak if yuh got a girl fren' an' she's good tuh yuh, well natchly [naturally] somebody else wan' [to] git in wit 'er an' 'bout tuh take her from yuh. Den yuh go tuh work an' do dat. Put it up ovah de front do' an' jis' let it set dere, an' she'll commence tuh leanin' on yuh evah time.
Entry 5069
Wash de sock yuh know an' git de dirty watah. Put it in a little bot- tle an' mix a little Hearts Own Cologne an' jis' stop it up, an' jis' carry it in yore pocket. An' dey say dat man will follah yuh or woman - which one [whichever one you Want].
Entry 5070
Yuh kin take a woman's stockin' an' a co'se a [and of course al woman's stockin' - but ah tell yuh whut have tuh be done. A woman's stockin' have tuh be washed in Lysol, dat's Lysol whut chew take a douche wit. [Lysol is a trademark for a solution of cresols in soap, used as disinfectant and antiseptic.] Well now, yuh gotta take dat stockin' an' wash it in Lysol, an' den when yuh git through, don't rench [rinse], jis' wash it in de Lysol an' don't rench it. Hang it up an' let it dry, an' den when yuh git ready tuh press it, de way yuh do, yuh have tuh press it in dere, now. Yuh take dat stockin' an' den yuh git chew a dime an' put it right in de toe of dat stockin', where de big toe go at, an' yuh tie dat dime up in dat stockin'. An' aftah yuh tied dat dime up in dat stockin' yuh done tied 'er up in a knot wit dat Lysol. Don't take none of dat germ outa her feet whut's in 'er stockin' an' yuh'll have her.
(What do you do with that stocking after you get it prepared?)
Aftah yuh git dat stockin' 'pared, put it intuh de bottom of yore trunk an' lay [it] between a papah, or [and] lay it between de bottom of yore trunk.
(Who does this, the man?)
De man or woman, eithah one of 'em.
Entry 5071
Yuh wash a man's sock, his lef'-foot sock an' git dat watah an' put it in a bottle, an' gain de influence of 'im. (What do you do with that bottle then?) Yuh jis' keep dat bottle, add mo' tuh it. Dat will git chure man tuh love yuh.
Entry 5072
[Wash his] sock an' rench [rinse] it out, put de watah in a bottle an' put sugah an' cinnamon in it. An' shake it like dat [demonstrates] an' call 'is name nine times. An' turn it upside down an' he'll come back.
(The man'll come back to this woman, but where'll she put the bottle?)
Well, yuh kin set it in a cornah.
Entry 5073
Take an' git dere socks. An' take his socks an' wash 'em. An' take de watah an' put it in a bottle wit de soft watah, sompin lak rain watah, in a kinda crystal watah. Let half of it be de watah from washin' de socks an' half of it be's de crystal watah.
(Soft water?)
Yeah, take dat an' put a little sugah.in it an' put Epsom salts in dat. An' yuh take an' burn de incense an' de red onion - lump incense - on de stove, an' sprinkle a little sugah in it. Dey mos'ly use sugah mos' in anything. An' yuh burn dis lump incense an' de red onion on de stove an' call de name three times. Burn dat fo' 'bout nine mawnin's an' he'll come back an' dere won' be no trouble.
(What did you do with that sock water? What did you do with that?)
Take dat an' set it in de no'th cornah of de house an' keep it dere fo' three days - three tuh nine days. An' yuh take it out an' yuh po' it 'cross de do'- steps an' aftah it dries... [I turned off recording machine too soon or accidentally and had to restart it to repeat informant's words.]
(He'll come back?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5074
Yuh take dat sock - like if yuh wear a sock, yuh pull dat sock off, eithah one, yuh soak dem socks. Yo' squeeze de watah out of dem an' yuh take dat watah come out dem socks an' yuh put dat watah in a bottle. Den yuh take some of yore watah [urine] an' put in dere. DAT'S A TRICK IT AIN'T NO HURTIN' NOR NUTHIN, JIS' A TRICK. [For tricks, see TRICKS, Pp.260-269 and elsewhere.]
(What will that do?)
It will jis' trick 'um tuhgethah an' dey cain't git loose from one anothah. Dat's all it is. Ah know dat. Yuh give a little bit of de watah tuh drink.
Entry 5075
If it's a lady an' she wants dis man an' [or] if it's a man an' he wants de lady, he'll take his socks an' wash 'is socks real good. Or eithah wash 'is sock an' take hit an' make watah on it. Or eithah put it in whiskey an' give her dat tuh drink offa dis foot - enough in it tuh keep from colorin' de whiskey. An' drink dat. An' if it's a man, he'll take his sock an' wash it an' dreen [drain] dat watah off yuh know. Well, den dat holds 'er. Dat holds de woman right wit 'im. Dey don' git away.
Entry 5076
If it's possible dey kin git intuh yore room an' git one of yore socks, dey kin easily have yuh go away. It's GOTTA BE DIRTY, though - GOTTA HAVE SOME OF DE MOISTURE FROM YORE BODY IN IT. An' dey take it an' fold it an' put it in a cloth, sew it up an' put it intuh a runnin' stream of watah an' dat will carry yuh away.
(That would send me out of the house.)
Entry 5077
Take a man's sock an' yuh kin run 'im away wit 'is sock - his lef' sock. Carry it tuh a rivah or eithah a creek, any place like dat where it's runnin' watah; an' jis' which way dat watah runs, dat's de way he'll go - drift jis' dat way.
Entry 5078
Tuh run 'im away, throw 'is lef'-footed sock in runnin' watah an' name it, as she threw it. Throw it ovah 'er lef' shouldah an' name it. Dat'll drive him away. He'll nevah come back.
Entry 5079
Tuh make 'em leave town ah've heard people tell how yuh do dat. Yuh take de lef' sock, an' take some of yore [foot] track an' put in one of yore lef' socks, an' carry it tuh watah dat's runnin' west an' throw it ovah- bo'd. An' dey say in nine mawnin's dey'll be gone.
Entry 5080
(Get a piece of the garment?)
De sock.
(Of the person who is gone?)
Yes, an' he takes it NOT LARGAH DEN A POCKET HAN'KE'CH'EF. Taken dat piece not largah den a pocket han'ke'ch'ef an' take it tuh a runnin' stream of watah, tuh where rock run ovah - a stream from nature, earth, dat run ovah rocks. Wash it three times an' fold it up when it's wet, an' po'l vinegah ovah it, an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some li'le clay. Wrap it tight, real tight, an' put it in brown papah, three layahs of brown papah, an' turn it, twist it, an' den put news- papah round it, an' burn de newspapah off it an' let de brown papah covah it. An' den take it aftah dat an' wrap it up in a flesh [soft] towel lak dat. A towellak dat, one dose turkish towels. Take an' bury it in red clay an' let it stay dere seven days, an' den move it. Aftah seven days yuh'll move it. An' when yuh move it, den go an' bury it right by de rock, by dat stream, an' let it stay dere 21 hours, an' den move it - throw it away. She'll be back in 21 days.
(Where would you throw that away?)
Anywhere.
Entry 5081
Lak if yuh take a woman or man's - she take a pair of 'is socks an' dey kin take dem socks an' go tuh a drug sto' - anywhere yuh kin git it - an' git chew a bottle of toilet perfume. Yuh take dat perfume an' yuh take both of 'is socks, de right an' de left one, an' yuh damp it good on dere, an' yuh take dat an' put some whiskey on it an' wash 'em in dat whiskey. Hang 'em on de line an' let 'em dry on dere. Den aftah dey dry on dere, den yuh take an' yuh slip 'em back an' put 'em in 'is shoes befo' he know anythin' about it. Dey said, den he'll come back an' prob'bly put dis same pair of socks on, becuz dey be in his shoes, take an' put 'em on. An' aftah he put 'em on he'll start tuh wearin' 'em. an' dey says, lak if he goin' tuh leave, he'll start tuh walkin', an' jis' walk right on out an' he won' nevah come back no mo'.
Entry 5082
[Wiping, different from the magic rites of rub- bing, is itself often magic action; in fact, it frequently occurs in impotence causes and cures.] If she have any of 'is clothes, she kin bring 'im back. If he left any of 'is pieces he wore close tuh 'i, she kin git 'im back. Well, she take 'em jis wherevah - if he got a sock, stockin', or anythin' he's got, she'll take dat sock an' she'll wipe herself wit it. An' she'll fill it fulla sugah an' she'll roll it tuh 'er an' she'll sew it. An' right where he lay at, dat's where she'll put dat sock. An' de ninth day he'll be back.
Entry 5083
Take de sock dat he done wored an' put it undah where - stretch it out on de side dat she lays on In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost an' sleep on it. Den he will stop runnin' roun'. (Stretch it out where?) Undahneat' 'er bed, which an' why. Put it undah de sheet on de bed an' lay on it, an' make her wish In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost dat she means tuh stop 'im from runnin' roun'. Dat will stop 'i. [Florence, S. Car. (1314), 2510:4.]
Entry 5084
Now, if ah wanta git chure influence, ah take mah stockin' an' lay it down - mine. [On her side of the interviewing table she begins to demonstrate by spreading out an imaginary stocking and sock, as I comment:]
(Flat down.)
An' put chures on top.
(And put one of mine on top. Just one of each?)
Jis' one of each.
(Which one would they take?)
[My they may be an attempt to avoid the guinea pig situation.]
De right. Den yuh rolls dis back, mine on top - roll it back [to you] an' turn it ovah.
(Do you roll it from you or away from you?)
Tuh me. Den aftah yuh rolls it tuh yuh, yuh take it den an' wet it in chamber lye an' put it intuh a close place where nobody will bothah it - nobody kin find it. Yuh keep it damp. No mattah what chew wanta do or what chew wanta say, or how yuh want dis person tuh do, dey will do it. Dat will control dere mind.
Entry 5085
Well, dey tell me it's good luck. Jis' like if yuh wake up in de mawnin', jis' say fo' instance, ah put on mah sock wrong side outwards. Change dat sock at twelve a'clock in de day an' dey say befo' de nex' twelve a'clock in de day yuh'll have a change in life fo' bettah.
Entry 5086
Tuh put on yore sock wrong side outward would help yuh tuh git a job. Ah reckon if yuh'd put on yore underclothes right side out would help yuh tuh git a job. [Wilmington, N. Car., (312), 241:2.] [This is the fifth subsection of SWEAT, one of the functions of the physical human body. As previously explained, clothing such as shoes is placed here only because of the magic and power of human perspiration.]
Entry 5087
She jis' gits a piece of de inside sole [insole of your shoe], puts it in a bottle wit cologne an' red peppah, salt, sulphah - dat keep zhoo in love wit 'er - wit Eve-an'-Adam [Adam-and-Eve] in it. Dat li'le root dey call Eve- an' Adam; it grows, looks lak a li'le tinsy [tiny] Ish [Irish] potatah. De Eve is a woman, Adam is a man. De man one'll swim, an' de she one'll sink. Dey grows on a hillside wit a li'le leaf looks sorta lak a heart leaf.
Entry 5088
Yuh kin [take] yore shoes an' yuh kin put alcohol in yore shoes an' wrench [rinse] it roun' in yore shoes. Yuh kin take dat alcohol out an' yuh kin po' it into any kinda drink an' give tuh a person. Well see, when yuh take dat alcohol an' po' it intuh any kinda drink an' give tuh a person, why dat'll give him den - his mind, he'll lose his mind. HIS MIND GONE FROM 'IM RIGHT STRAIGHT.
Entry 5089
Take yore shoes an' cuz yuh tuh fix 'em tuh keep yuh home, keep yuh from driftin' from pillah tuh post.
(How would they do that with your shoes?)
AH HAVE WELL EXPERIENCE OF KEEPIN' YORE MIND TUHGETHAH WIT SHOES. Yuh gO tuh de store an' git yuh a box of cinnamon an' a box of allspice. Take-a ole pair of shoes dat yuh have worn, if a person's mind have been drifted so dat dey cain't stay tuhgethah, an' take de cinnamon an' all- spice an' sugar, an' mix it tuhgethah an' put intuh each shoe. Take de shoe an' turn de shoes tuhgethah an' plant 'em [demonstrates]. (I see. You put the two mouths of the shoes together, and the soles away from each other, like that.) An' de sole away from each othah, an' den yuh kin [plant] dose shoes down in de centah of yore steps. Dat's tuh keep a person's mind from driftin' [away from home]. AH HAVE WELL EXPERIENCED DAT.
(Well, how do you mean, keep the person's mind from drifting?)
Jis' like if some one have put a spell on yuh, tuh be goin' from pillah tuh post, yuh see, an' by puttin' dis cinnamon an' allspice an' sugah in dat shoe, an' turn[ing] de soles of dat shoe tuhgethah [see later] an' plantin' it at de house where yuh live, it'll keep dere minds at home.
(You don't mean put the soles together, you mean put the tops together.)
De tops tuhgethah, yes. De soles go out.
(I see.)
[My correction of informant is one of the few times I ever did this sort of thing. I am not correcting her words but recalling her pantomimic actions I describe. Yet she was right the second time also, magically. What difference can there be whether the two MoUTHS of the shoes are together or the two soles (SOULS)? The significance is the same - love and peace. Significant also is the emptiness of the preceding magic. You are never responsible for any of your actions, because someone may have a spell on you. A perfect example of being irresponsible for your actions will be found in the alcoholic woman (No.78, p.33).]
Entry 5090
Dey take de shoes an' a little sulphuh an' burn it down tuh ashes. Dey'll take de ashes an' dey put allspice an' dragon blood wit it an' jis' like powdah. An' sprinkle it right in dey place. Dat'll bring luck.
Entry 5091
Dat a diff'ren' thing. Yuh kin take a man's shoes or a woman shoes an' aftah dey done wored [worn] it, yuh'll take it an' yuh'll nail it intuh any- thing dat travels de same as a freight [car], truck, or any steam- boat, anywhere. An' as dat boat travel, is [so] dat party mind do de same way. See, give him a travelin', a rovin' mind, see.
Entry 5092
Den, if yuh got a fambly [family] an' she gone away from yuh an' yuh wan' 'er tuh come back, yuh take her shoes - both shoes, her ole pair of shoes - an' yuh kin burn it de same as yuh do's de ashes. An' yuh put 'em in a pan an' put 'em undahneath' de baid, an' in nine days time she'll come back home. Ah know dat.
Entry 5093
Yuh burn dem ole shoes an' git de ashes, an' yuh buries dat, if yuh know any cleahin' [clearing] lak on some concrete or somewhere, yuh know, eithah in de stove. [If you do not have a stove, look for cleared concrete like a sidewalk.1 Clean out all de ashes an' sweep it out. Yuh kin burn it in dere an' git all dem ashes of it, an' put 'em in a little bag an' sew it up. An' put it in some Jockey Club, Hearts Own Perfume in it, an' bury hit undah de do'steps. Dat'll make him stay at home.
Entry 5094
Well, yuh take a ole shoe, jis' find yuh ole lef'-foot shoe, sompin lak dat, an' take an' burn it up in yore business. Burn dat shoe up in yore [place of] business - tuh [at] yore house dat day, yore business. See dey follah dat shoe. [Looks] lak de ashes of dat shoe will mo' [more] lak tuh draw 'em tuh yuh - lak it wus any kinda business. Well dey jis' come in dere. Could hardly git shet of peoples, couldn't hardly wait on 'em.
(Where do you put these ashes?)
Yuh jis' burn dem dere ashes up an' jis' sprinkle dem about ovah de flo'. An' den when yuh sweep, don't sweep it outdo's. Sweep it up behin' de do', 'cuz yo' sweep 'em away, yo' know. Sweep 'em right up behind de do'-like, yo' know, lak dat.
(And then leave it there?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5095
When I was a boy I was hunting a job here [at the Chamberlain Hotel] as bellboy and I had my mother to see a so-called fortuneteller. And he told her to burn some shoes and to get a few of the ashes, and sprinkle some of these ashes around Richmond's [the manager's] feet when I came to apply for the job. [This was the old Chamberlain, not the new one of 1936, when I interviewed informant, the head waiter there.] [Old Point Comfort, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 5096
Heard of takin' a ole shoe sole an' burn it. Take de ole shoe sole an' mash de ashes of it an' dey kin take dat an' sift it-through any kinda white cloth. An' sift it so much ev'ry day, some of it ev'ry day. Aftah de nine mawnin's - an' aftah de ninth mawnin' den sift de rest of it den. An' whosomevah shoe sole it is, dat's when dey pass out.
(It will kill them?)
Yessuh, it will kill 'em. [Sifting is a magic rite - See later in SHOES, margin title SIFTING WITH SIFTER.]
Entry 5097
Take de bottom, de sole part of a right-foot shoe, an' burn it intuh ashes an' pound it, yuh know, an' use dat in de coffee of anything. Dat'll run 'em crazy, too. (Whose shoe is used for that pur- pose?) Jis' like yuh had a man, yuh know, an' been wantin' some kinda way tuh git rid of 'im. Yuh kin take dat an' use it.
(Which right shoe do you use, yours or his?)
His.
(Just coffee?)
Yes.
Entry 5098
Now, in burnin' shoes, if yo' kin git - it don' mattah whethah yo' got de whole shoe or not, but if yo' git de tongue of, de tongue of dere shoe, git de tongue outa it, an' if not, why jis' take de bottom. An' yo' kin burn dose shoes an' take de ashes an' at sunrise sprinkle some toward de sun, say, "Peace be unto yo'." Den turn tuh de west an' tuh de no'th an' say, "Peace be unto yo'." An' turn tuh de south, an' say de same thing each time. An' whut- evah yo' want dat person tuh do, why yo' got 'em dere.
(You don't call his name or anything? That person's name?)
Nawsir.
(But you must have that person in mind when you are doing it?)
Oh yeah, yes sir.
Entry 5099
Well, lak yo' livin' in dis house 'sides [beside] yo' neighbah an' he's mad wit chew or somepin othah lak dat. Well, dey want chew tuh move out. Well, prob'ly yo' take an', if yo' kin git some of 'is shoes, an' take an' burn dem shoes, an' sprin- kle sulphuh on dem shoes as yo' burn 'em. An' if yo' take dis ashes aftah yo' burn de shoes - take de ashes an' prob'ly ketch dem goin' 'way from de house someplace or 'nothah lak dat. An' take dis ashes an' sprinkle it roun' both do'steps, de back do'step an' de front do'step. An' when dey goes in an' come out - when dey goes in de house an' come out, den yo' take dem ashes an' take an' bring 'em back, an' yo' burn 'em ag'in wit some sulphuh. Jis' burn 'em in dis sulphuh dis time, an' take an' sprinkle a li'le whiskey on it. Den dey leave ag'in, an' aftah dey leave ag'in, yo' take an' do de same thing, an' let it stay dere dis time. An' den when dey leave out dat time, den de nex' thing dey'll wanta do is move, becuz dat stuff whut she did will begin tuh start tuh work.
Entry 5100
If he leave one of 'is shoes, any of 'is shoes at home, yuh take one of 'is lef' shoes. Yuh take his lef' shoe an' bury it undah de back step. Dat'll bring 'im back. [The mystery here is rather clear. Some involuted mind has produced this strange combination, because the back in back doorsteps and the back in bring back look like a magic coincidence or possibility!]
Entry 5101
Has a sweetheart dat he may lak 'er. He may wanta git hold of 'er. Whut he'll do. He'll take - go tuh yuh front gate an' he may put 'er shoe on de right-han' side, take one of yuh ole shoe or eithah a sock, an' place it on de left. An' he'll git a bay bush, he'll stick it between dem shoe - jis' a li'le small piece. An' jis' as de wind blow dis li'le bush, den dey'll be agru- in' [arguing] an' quarrelin' - raisin' cain. An' de minute dat dis bush - de wind blow dis bush down on de ground, an' she [the bush] fall, dere's where dey part.
(That's when they'll part. That's if you want to separate these people?)
Separate dem, yeah. (But you must do that at the gate. You just get a bay bush and stick it in the ground?) Yeah, a li'le small piece of bay bush.
(A twig or something?)
Dat's de idea. Don' have it so large cuz dey might be able to find it befo' de wind blows it down. When it fall from de wind, dere's where yo' got 'em. [Norfolk, Va., No.466, Doctor Paul Bowes, see 300, p.89; 337, P.99; 410, p.122; 455, p.141;614, p.206.]
Entry 5102
[Take] de lef' foot of yore shoes an' put it unnerneat' chure foot of yore baid, an' make a spirit stay away. Tuh give yuh good luck, dey [you] take yore shoes, one yore ole shoes, an' yuh put some sulphur in it an' throw it in de fiahplace, an' burn de sulphuh an' shoe tuhgethah. Dat will give yuh luck in yore home.
Entry 5103
If yuh keep shoes undah de bed yuh'll be sick all de time.
(You mean you do that yourself, you'll be sick all the time?)
Yes.
(So you don't want to keep them under the bed. That the idea?)
No [not under bed].
Entry 5104
Ef a person git one of yuh shoes, ef dey put bluestone an' sulphuh an' beat it all up tuhgethah an' git some of dis stuff from de drug store dey call de incense, dey put dat in de bottom undah yuh shoe. Yo' know de li'le piece dat be's up in yuh shoe [insole]. Put it up undah dere an' put it back down. Well, when yo' put dat shoe on, yo' goin' always stay sickly, an' yuh feets will start tuh swell.
Entry 5105
[As we have seen under ASHES, there are many more shoe-burning rites than those given here.] If yuh got a husban' an' he won' stay at home, yuh git one of 'is shoes, de right foot of 'is shoe. Take dis shoe an' burn it up. Of co'se, yuh know de [there is] leathah on de shoe. Burn it until it gits kinda intuh a powdah form. Den take it an' wrap it in a piece of papah. Dig a hole up undah de front do' an' of co'se, when he walks in, yuh won' have any trouble 'bout 'im goin' out any mo'.
Entry 5106
Git chure yore shoe while yore feets sweat - sweat up to de end of yore toes.
(What do they call that?)
Toe jam, toe jam. Yo' kin take dat shoe right down an' burn it an' dat will jes' give yo' a crazy mind. A mind wit - yo' wouldn't speak right no way. Yo' wouldn't talk right. Yo' wouldn't answer right. Yo' wouldn't act like a man dat had plenty sense. Yo' wouldn't.
Entry 5107
Dat innah thin sole in dere, yuh take dat out an' burn it an' it will 'fect yuh as rheumatish-like.
(Give you pains in your feet?)
Yes.
Entry 5108
Ah've did it mahself. Yo' take a ole shoe an' yo' burn it. Dat's tuh keep snakes away from de house. Burn de ole shoes wit sulphuh.
Entry 5109
Take dey ole shoes an' burn 'em an' jis' like yuh burn dem shoes till dey burns intuh ashes, dat person'll withah down. Dey tell me.
(WHOSE SHOES DO YOU BURN?)
WHOSEVAH YUH MAD WIT.
Entry 5110
Yo' git some sulphuh, yo' git a piece of ole shoe; but don' do dat, not until yo' dere by yuhself. Yo' set dat afire at twelve a'clock evah Friday. (In the daytime?) Yes sir, twelve a'clock evah Friday, an' burn dat slowly. An' aftah dat, yo' won' have no trouble. It may be slow in comin', but whenevah dey do come, dey come in a heap.
(You burn that at twelve o'clock in the daytime or at night?)
Twelve a'clock in de day, when dere nobody dere but chew.
Entry 5112
Says at sunrise evah mawnin', if yo' kin find an ole shce, tuh burn it in de mawnin' an' 'specially Mondays, Wednesdays an' Fridays, an' dey say things will come yuh way. (You burn this before sunrise.)
Entry 5113
[There are many more shoe-bury- ing rites than those given here.] IF HE'S ON A LONG VOYAGE, DE WAY MAH GODMOTHAH USED TUH DO, dey'd take her lef'-foot shoe. [This is the first appearance of the word godmother in HooDoO. Surely she took his shoe. Not necessarily 80. Everything in hoodoo bows before intention and desire.] In one instance, dey'd bury dat shoe right at de back of dere house like dat. Now, in anothah instance, dey would take dat shoe an' burn it. An' dey'd take de ashes of dat shoe an' wear it aroun' dere wais' an' continly [continually] pray.
(To make that man come back to you.)
He'll come back. (How would they bury that shoe to make that man come back, if that's what they do?) Dey would bury dat shoe wit de heel tuhwards de east, de toe tuhwards de west, jis' like ah'd have de shoe on an' it would be pointin' dataway.
Entry 5114
Ah kin tell yuh jis' whut chew kin do tuh make a person leave town. Yuh take dere left shoe an' bury it, if yuh kin git holt of it. All de time yuh cain't git holt of dere left shoe, but if yuh cain't, yuh git somebody else tuh git holt of it. An' yuh bury dat left shoe. Don' care if it's de only one dat dey nuse [use], bury it an' dey won't be seen in town aftah nine days or aftah yuh bury dat. It take 'em about nine days tuh git outa town. Dey gon'a leave out fo' some special cause. [Notice quaint all de time.]
Entry 5115
Well, lak de pieces inside dere.
(The inner sole?)
Yes. Take dat out. Yuh kin take dat out an' carry dat an' bury dat in de woods somewhere - in de woods somewhere by de creek, bury dat. An' dat person jis' continue goin', continly [continually] goin'. If yuh don't take it up, jis' go right on away. [Person will keep going because the creek is running. There are a number of these burials on the riverside.]
Entry 5116
Yuh kin take a man's shoe, yuh kin take one of 'is ole shoes, jis' lak yuh got some steps dat yuh come up, lak yuh got stair [door] steps, if yuh kin git undah dem stair steps [doorsteps], yuh bury dat shoe in de ground. Put salt in dat shoe an' bury it in de ground. He'll be back dere.
(Either shoe?)
Eithah shoe.
(You don't bury it any particular way? Just so that you bury it?)
Yuh bring it back [point it towards the house], den he's gotta come back. Git 'im so he'll cross ovah dat shoe an' he cain't stay away. Dat shoe will bring 'im back.
Entry 5117
Bury dat. Take dat shoe, dat lef'-foot shoe an' yuh take dat piece out dat shoe - dat bottom, dat piece of cloth.
(That inner sole?)
Yeah, dat innah sole. An' yuh bury dat. When yuh bury dat, when dat shoe rots, yuh'll rotten - GONE TUH HELL AN' GONE! GONE TUH HELL! SHO' KILL 'EM! OH, YE-AH!