Browse:Sweat (Volume 1, entries 1581)
Sweat
Volume 1, entries 1581. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → CURE AND PROTECTION. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 1581
Sweat - frequently used in the form of soiled clothes for rites of love or bodily harm - does not occur often in cures or protection.] Well, jes' lak now yo' figure somebody dey done hurt chew or somepin an' yo' have pains, well yo' git up dat mornin' befo' sunrise an' git chew some water out de well an' drink it befo' it curify yo' know. An' yo' turn toward de east an' run yore hand down, yo' know, an' look toward the east an' spread yore hand - yo' know, smell yore hand an' look toward de west, look toward de north, an' look toward de south like that. While yo' doin' it an' smell yore hand jes' lak dat. Yo' won't have nary another pain.
(That will get rid of that pain?)
Yes sir.
[The implication without demonstration was sufficient for my comment:]
(You run your hands under your privates and smell them each time you look toward the four directions. And you should drink some of this water out of the well before what?) Befo' de sun rise, befo' it curify, yo' know. Draw it up an' drink it right den.
(Before it what? Curifies? What does that mean?)
Well, yo' know, dat means jes' lak yo' - jes' lak fresh water yo' know.
(While it is still fresh?)
Don't let it set no time - jes' draw it up an' drink it right den - dat's whut ah mean. [I think he is trying or means to say purifies = pure, fresh - don't let it stand. Water left standing overnight, for example, is dangerous (No. 76, p.32.)] (And after you drink that water, then you rub your hands between your legs and smell them and put them in the four directions.) Every time you look in a direction you turn an' smell yore hands an' look right straight up, yo' know.
(And that will take away any pain you have?)
Yes.