Browse:THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF (Volume 3, entries 3110–5205)/Part 23
THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF
Volume 3, entries 3110–5205. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 4870
If a man got a woman or a wife, or if a woman got a man or husban' an' he leave any of 'is clothes, his undahweah in de house, she kin cut one spot out de undahweahs, or dose clothes where de odor from dat man go. He kin [do the same thing to] bring 'er back. Take it an' work on it, bury it in de yard.
Entry 4871
Yuh kin take a piece of 'er garment dat she wears nex' tuh 'er an' bury it in de back yard an' she'll nevah leave. [Baltimore, Md., (148), 93:12.] [This is the fourth subsection of section SWEAT, one of the functions of the human physical body. As previously explained, clothing such as socks and stock- ings are placed here only because of the magic power of human perspiration.]
Entry 4872
Yore sweetheart or eithah a woman, an' sleep on dere stockin'. Jis' git a soiled stockin', yuh know, where dey been weahin' it. Don't want any clean socks or stockin'. An' ease it inside of de mattress an' let 'im lay on it, see. An' when he sleep on dat stockin', he'll come down ' jis' lak a lamb, becuz dat stock- in' is all de ways down tuh yore foot steps. Well, dey'll come down jis' lak dat. Jis' lak if dey ragin' or sompin an' dey wanta git chew down underneat' dem, see. Yuh sleepin' on dere socks yuh see.
Entry 4873
Take de socks befo' dey wuh washed an' put de socks in a box an' bury de socks. An' as de socks grow old an' bein' buried - as yuh will be cuz'd [caused] trouble in yuh feet, or yuh legs an' yuh dog luck [dog tired], or knees, see. Wha' choo might would call rheumatism, see. By some parts of wha' choo might call sweat tuh be buried in dat. Dat's some part from us, yuh see.
Entry 4874
[The words of the submargin title. informant's own. I consider one of the great statements in HooDoO, because they describe the essence of his hoodoo reality. Did transcriber and I mishear word soul? Could it have been soil equalling dirt in sock? Was the word sole of the sock, which is the same as the preceding meaning? Soil or dirt can be removed from the sock by washing. Those words dey claim tuh be able mean what they say - secret ability or power. Spirit rather than soul would have been more usual and frequent in HOODOO. Somehow, to me at least, soul is less amorphous and more individualized than spirit.] Dey claim if dey git aholt of 'is stockin' [sock], an' if dey kin git any of dat sand or whutevah might be in dat shoe aftah 'i, an' if dey bury dat, dat supposed tuh run a person crazy.
(What do they bury, just the sand or the stocking or what?)
Dey git holt of de sand or whatevah come out of dat stocking [sock] an' - yuh See, if de Stocking is dirty. An' DEY CLAIM TUH BE ABLE TUH MAKE DE SOUL COME OUTA DERE SOCK. AN' IF DEY BURY DAT, DAT SUPPOSED TUH RUN A PERSON CRAZY.
(An old sock. Either one of them or?)
Eithah one of 'em, or piece of 'is shoe - de linin' of 'is shoe. Ah've heard dat.
(They bury the lining of the shoe?)
Or dere sock. Dat supposed tuh run 'em crazy.
Entry 4875
[The woman speaking is a professional worker we have already met. ( (See 291, p.85; 593, p.194; 638, p.216; 647, p.222; 869, p.307; and 1271, p.442.) Her words that follow give the hidden mystery of the silver knife making a cross over socks before burial beneath a brick in the hearth. She calls this markin' yuh and says it's sacred tuh yuh. For the sacredness of the cross mark, see my explanation of the mark "Doctor" Brown saw on my forehead, in my comment at the beginning of his main interview on p.1290.] Yes, ah heard about de socks. Dey take de socks an' dey - evah'body don' have de [same] idea 'bout de socks. Some don' care de socks de same way. [Care de socks = take care of the socks = handle the socks.] Some take de socks an' put 'em down in de hearth - take up a brick an' lay it down undah dere. Long as dese things work, fine - jis' as long as dey keep 'em concealed anywheres. But if a person be's wise an' seekin' information from any othah source [from fortune- teller or doctor], dey tells 'em where dese lost an' hidden mysteries is; an' if he [doctor] gits it [gits the buried sock] up, den he's [patient is] all right.
(What is it supposed to do, when they put those socks down in the hearth?)
Well now, dey doesn't do a thing but use a silver knife, jis' lay it across dere. Mark it, jis' make a cross across it jis' lak dat [demonstrates], an' put de sock down dere. Don' put anything else jis' lak dat. An' lay de brick on it.
(What is that supposed to do to me then?)
Well, dat's not put dere tuh destroy yore life. Dat's put dere tuh make yuh turn some object whatsomevah dey may [have] in view - whut dey want chew tuh do. It might be a love case, it might be somepin dat dey wan' chew tuh put ovah fo' dem. An' dey jis' go tuh work an' jis' mark yuh - call dat jis' markin' yuh. Well, if yuh mark a thing up lak dat, she knows dat it's sacred tuh yuh. Dey call dat markin' an' dey do it wit a silvah knife, a sterlin' silvah knife.
Entry 4876
Yuh take de socks when dey are soiled. Yuh git a person's soiled socks from dere feet when dey are real dirty. Yuh know how dey git when dey are dirty. Yuh git de sock an' yuh git de seats of dere undahweah, knitted undahweah. Or should dey wear any kind of one- piece undahweah, yuh git de seats of dis undahweah an'( dese socks. An' yuh roll 'em up tuhgethah wit de inside soles of de shoes, an' yuh bury dat undah yore steps or eithah put it in some secret place where dis person won't disturb it. Some people put it in de cornah of a mattress. But it's somepin dat chew know yuh are goin' tuh keep becuz, in moving, if yuh don' take dat up, yuh see, dat breaks a person up.
(Now, you take botn the socks.)
Both de socks. Yuh cut de sock off de foot. Den also de seats of de undah- weah. Co'se if dey have long sleeves yuh git de undaharms too. But yuh mus' nevah wash it. Yuh supposed tuh keep de perspiration in it.
relocating while preserving concealed soiled-clothing materials. Keep breaks a person up unresolved; do not invent death, relationship breakup or another precise result. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 4877
De only thing dat will work on anyone - an' heah's another little prop- osition. Yuh sure yuh're not goin' tuh print dose things [here in Mobile]?
[I must have shaken my head to say, no.]
Well, all right. Well now, say fo' instance now, yuh's a woman an' ah wanted yuh. HAVE YUH GOT A POCKET HAN'KECH'EF DERE? GIMME YUH POCKET HAN'KECH'EF. NOW say, fo' instance how, yuh wanted a woman an' yuh couldn't git 'er. Yuh come tuh me an' says, "DoC, mah wive [wife] is gone, an heah's lady 'cross de street ah is aftah, an ah can't git 'er." Ah say, "Aw, yes yuh kin. Have yuh got ten dollahs?" [Or] ah say, "What chew gimme tuh git 'er?" He say, "Ah give yuh ten dollahs." Ah tell yuh what chew do. Ah say, "Yuh go an' kin yuh git one of 'er ole dirty stockin's?" He say, "Yes." Ah say, "Well, yuh git one of 'er ole dirty stockin's." Yuh go an' git dat stockin'. Ah say, "All right." An' ah say, "Now bring me yuh own." All right. NOW PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TUH ME. Take her stockin' jis' like dat [demonstrates]. Jis' like dis is heah, an' lay yores on top of it. YUH WATCH ME. See how dere [they are] straight. [He starts to roll them up.]
(You roll them up.)
Yo' roll 'em tuh yuh, jis' like dat. Roll 'em tuh yuh an' den when yuh git tuh de laig part, den yuh turn dat ovah tuh yuh an' roll yores ovah de top of dat jis' like dat, yuh see. Well, den yuh go ahead den an' git chew a jar, an' put nine grains of whole grain black peppah in dere - jis' drop 'em in dere. Den yuh write her name seven times an' put it in dere - an' roll it tuh yuh.
(The name must be rolled up with the stocking?)
Rolled wit de stockin'. Well, den yuh roll dat wit de stockin' into de jar, an' where yuh stay at, den yuh bury dat undah de step, see.
Entry 4878
Stockin', yuh cut it off even wit yuh ankle, an' yuh kin take it an' bury it, an' she'll walk fo'evah. (Which one?) Eithah one of 'em, make no diff'rence which one.
(Which part do you bury? The lower part or the upper part?)
De lowah part, de feet part of it.
Entry 4879
Tuh keep a man home, yuh take his sock an' put it in yore room, an' yuh put sugah, an' yuh put a little cloves, an' yuh put some anvil dust. An' when- evah he happen tuh scrape his feet [rough skin on bottoms of feet caused by walking barefoot], jis' lak yuh know some people scrape dere feet, git some of dat an' jis' put it right in de do' where he walk ovah it. Jis' place it out real flat an' put it right in de place ovah [under] de rug where he walks at.
Entry 4880
Take a lady's sock if yuh like her - dat's fo' love - take it an' put a little salt in it an' a little black peppah, an' weah it undah yore arm, pin it undah yore right arm outside. Dat got a girl evah night fo' a long time.
(That works?)
Yes sir.
Entry 4881
From a man's sock, cut de heel offa dat sock an' de toe. Yuh know, jis' lak yuh fold it back, an' yuh jis' fold it even wit de heel an' wit de toe. Yuh takes de heel an' de toe of 'is socks an' make yuh arm pads, an' put undah each one of yore arms an' weah it. As yuh sweat, his love will come tuh yuh, cuz de sweat from undah yore arms will draw 'is attention. An' yuh take de othah part of de heel an' put it right down at chure do' face wit de toe comin' in de house, an' he always will come dere. He nevah will stay away. (Let us get that straight: The part you wear under your arm, where does that come from the sock?) Yassuh, de part dat chew weah undah yore arm, dat comes from de heel of de sock. See, yuh leaves dat toe fo' tuh come inside de house wit. See, as yuh spread it jis' as yuh cut it - cuts dat heel off first. Yuh know a sock is double, double enough fo' yuh tuh make a pad fo' each one of yore arms, see, outa dat one sock. But it has tuh be de left-foot sock. An' yuh takes de toe of it an' tack it down. If yuh mean fo' him tuh not tuh go away or stay 'way from yuh, yuh takes dat toe part. It'll be 'bout dat long 'cordin' tuh whut size sock it is. An' yuh put a tack heah an' stretch dat sock as fur as it will go, aftah yuh done cut it, an' put a tack in de toe of it dere, as yuh come inside de do'. Nevah put de toe goin' out, but de toe comin' in. Yassuh, de toe mus' point in- tuh de house. If yuh has a rug, or anythin' whut chew got tuh de do', dat's a good hide fo' it, cain't nobody see it.
(You put two tacks, one in each end?)
Put fo' tacks.
(Two at the end of the toe and two at the other end?)
Dat's right. Two at de end of it - at dis end an' two right at de toe part. Dat's tuh stretch it yuh know, where it be strong always, see. An' it won't come a-loose. Well, yuh take dat an' put it down dere an' why, he cain't leave yuh. He cain't stay 'way from yuh.
Entry 4882
Weah de socks till dey git dirty, yuh know. Some people's feet sweats, what ah mean, yuh know. Well, till dey git dirty anyhow. Take dem socks an' put 'em in a pail a watah, dey says. Den don' wash 'em till dey soaks an' git dat dirt. An' take dem dirty suds an' put 'em in a bottle. Well, dere some mo' tuh go wit it. Put dat in a bot- tle. Den down undah yuh arm, yuhknow where yuh perspirate undah yuh arm, take dat an' yuh socks an' yuh rub. Git all dat watah tuhgethah. Yuh rub undah de shirtsleeve of yuh arm an' yuh socks. Den yuh put dat watah in a bottle an' dig undah yuh steps, an' put it undah de steps an' turn dat bottle bottom upwards. Well, dey do dat tuh keep yuh, jis' like if a person wants tuh keep yuh from goin' anywhere. Yuh kin go anywhere but chew comin' dere. Yuh goin' be always hangin' - if yuh go anywhere yuh goin' hurry back. Yuh can't stay away from home, yuh gotta come back.
Entry 4883
When yuh meet 'im [at the door], put chure sock on, p'int 'em upside down. Stid [instead] a-puttin' de heel tuh de heel, put de heel tuh de foot [toe]. Put yore stockin's on tuh meet 'i. Meet de man whut chew want: de col- lectah, or yore rent man, anyone. Jis' meet 'em an' salute 'em. An' when dey salute 'em an' turn right from de do's - salute an' turn right on back an' go on in. Dey goin' on about dere business an' won' bothah yuh no mo'.
(You put the socks on wrongside outward?)
No, right straight. Don' turn it, jis' put de sock heel tuh de toe, an' de toe tuh de heel.
Entry 4884
A man wan'a woman, he kin go tuh work an' git de right foot of 'er stockin'. An' yuh kin go out at night, if yuh don't want 'er tuh leave home, or if she leave home an' yuh wan' 'er tuh come back. Yuh take her right foot of 'er stockin' an' make out right in de centah of de do'. Dis is de house an' dis is de centah of de do' right chere [demonstrates]. Right in de centah of de do' right heah, yuh go right straight back yuh undah- stan' about five feet - yuh walk backwards five feet. When yuh walk five feet, stan' right stock still, undahstan', an' dig yuh a little hole right down in de ground, right in de centah of de do'. Take dat stockin' an' put it down in dat hole. Git chew some sulphur an' put on top of it. Kivah [cover] it down in de ground dere, drive dat peg down in de ground out dere, an' dat [stocking] right down in de groun' wit it, kivah it up an' stomp [stamp] it underneat' yore foot. An' tell it, "Ah mean fo' dis tuh do whut ah tell yuh tuh do." An' den go back an' git chure left stockin'. Find 'er lef' sock an' put it right undah de bottom of de do'step - where de bottom do'step. Yuh know where de second an' right on up. Right chere de bottom one. Digs yuh a hole an' put it right down in dere. An' if she leave yuh - aftah dat's done an' she's lef' yuh, den she wants tuh come back. An' yuh leave dat dere an' she gotta walk dere, an' in less time dan 36 hours. Yuh give her 36 hours an' she'll be back. Ah don' care where in de world she is, if she's in New York or'where. (When you bury that second sock right there at the doorstep, do you put sul- phur in that, too?) Not a single thing. Yuh done done de mess out yondah.
Entry 4885
Yuh kin take a woman's sock, dey tell me, an' fold it up an' put it in de middle of 'er bed, where she sleeps at, where she li'ble not tuh 'tect [de- tect] it, an' she'll nevah leave yuh. [This is a quincunx, or quincunx magic: an arrangement of five points in a rectangle (here a bed) or square; one point at each corner, the fifth point the center, where diagonals from the corners cross. This is a common magic design in hoodoo.]
Entry 4886
If yore boy fren' done lef' yuh an' yuh wan' 'im tuh come back - if yore boy fren' or yore girl fren' done lef' yuh an' yuh wan' 'em tuh come back, yuh jis' take eithah one dere socks [or stock- ings] an' lay it up undah de side of de baid where yuh sleep at, see. Dey'll come right on back home tuh yuh. It may be nine or ten days but dey comin' back.
(You lay it on the bed?)
Yeah, on de spring on de side where yuh lay at. Or yuh kin put 'is shirt, eithah one. It doesn't make any diff'rence.
Entry 4887
Ah tell yuh, dey [a woman] kin take his [her husband's] socks, two, an' carry it an' put it unnerneat' yore[her] bunks [bunk] an' dey [she] kin have any man dey [she] want, an' he [her husband] wouldn't say a word.
(The woman would do that?)
Yeah.
(She would put her husband's sock under the bunk?)
He [husband] be dere. De [other] man come right in dere an' he [husband] wouldn't say nuthin. Have her right in dere.
Entry 4888
De stockin's an' de shoes or de socks. If yuh want someone tuh con- tinue comin' tuh yore place of business, if yuh kin git dere socks - not washed, let it be dirty. Or if it's a woman, let it be her stockin's, an' dey be dirty when she done wore it an' it ain't been washed. An' if it's a man an' it is sock, yuh take an' bury it anywhere aroun' de house- anywhere, don't mattah where. An' dey'll always be wit yuh - always be dere.
Entry 4889
You take that sock off that right foot and carry it somewhere and bury it and you hurt that foot. It cause pains to come in your leg. [Richmond, Va.,
(385. Doctor Johnson, see p.1620f.) 333:4.]
Entry 4890
Take 'em an' bur' aroun' de house. (You take these socks or stockings and bury them around the house. Why do you do that?) Well, yuh kin do dat tuh make 'em not go off - stay at home.
Entry 4891
Dey kin take you sock an' specially a dirty sock, an' dey kin take you sock an' jis' like a woman git ti'ed [tired] of 'er husban' an' wan'a sen' 'im away from 'er. She kin take an' bur' it on de south side of de house, de way she wan' 'im tuh go. [Or if] it's de north side de house, de [any] way she wan' 'im tuh go. An' some way dat dey put in some salt, dat she put in dis hole wuh [where] she bur's [buries] de sock fer three days. An' a certain numbah of days dat she perfer [prefer] fer 'im tuh go 'way, she'll take two fingahs [holding a pinch of salt] an' say if she wan"i tuh go in [how many] days. Den jis' drop nine times [drop 9 pinches of salt] in dat hole an' covah it up. Den in dat time he'll leave.
(How does she bury that sock?)
She jis' put it in ball [make a ball of it] fer three days, den she put it undah 'is baid. Take it out de [pronounce outd] groun', put it undah 'is baid at night, an' fer de certain numbah days dat she wan' 'im tuh go away. If it stay in de groun' three days, den dat make yuh have tuh take it out fer six days an' put it undah 'is baid. An' den take dem nine pinches of salt an' drop in dat hole. Well, if she wan' 'im tuh go east, she'll make dat hole [on the east side of the house]; if she wan' 'im tuh go west, she'll make dat hole [on the west side of the house].
Entry 4892
Ah hear sompin about socks, dat chew take it an' take yore socks, one, dis is de right-foot sock, a man's sock. Ah guess it's de same way about de stockin', whut a man does fo' a woman. Yuh take dat an' put it undah yore do'- step. Let de toe go south an' de heel go east, an' de upper part no'th. Straighten it out straight. real straight undah dere. Yuh know, undah de do'step, rake yuh off a nice clean place undah dere, down in de dirt jis' about a inch down in de dirt, an' yuh lay dat down in dere, see. Git chew some tacks an' put three in de toe an' three in de heel an' three in de uppah part, an' three in de part right in front de heel. Yuh know, jis' stretch it out straight.
(You put three in the toe and three in the heel and three in the top.)
An' den three ovah heah in de front part, right heah, see [demonstrates].
(Right there in the ankle, the upper part of the ankle.)
An' den yuh put dat dirt back ovah it smooth. Dat's whut ah heard dat yuh could do wit dat. Put dat dirt ovah dat smooth, an' whoevah name is dere or who- evah yuh fixin' it fo', write dey name an' put dat intuh dere. Put dat on de sock befo' yuh put de dirt on it, see. An' den yuh read de 27th chapter of Psalms. Say dat's fo' people - tuh prevent drunkness, drink too much. Dat'll break 'em up from dat. [This keep-him-home rite keeps him from going out to drink with the boys.]
Entry 4893
De stockin' tuh de left foot yuh know, an' yuh bury it, bury it in de groun' tuh a cornah of 'er house. Well, when yuh bury dis sock, well yuh have it [the situation] jis' lak yuh wan' it. Well, when yuh do dat yuh - his co'ns [corns] yuh know, jis' lak he got co'ns or anythin', or fingahnails or toenails. Well, yuh git a piece of dat an' yuh take dat [and bury with it].
Entry 4894
An' yuh kin take his sock, take one of 'is lef' socks, one dat he's been wearin'. Yuh know, if yuh wear dat, it gits dirty. Don't wash it if it's dirty. Jis' take it an' take a little thumbtack, an' right up in de cornah undah de baid, take a hammah an' jis' tack it down a little bit tuh keep dat sock undah dere. Yuh kin sweep all aroun' dat sock, but jis' don't sweep de sock out an' dat'll keep 'im. Or eithah yuh kin go undah de house an' nail it like dat so he won't find it. If yuh think he kin find it, yuh put it inside. An dat'll keep 'im wid jeh.
Entry 4895
Dey'd take a man's socks. Dey claim dat dat'll keep 'im from runnin' aftah othah women. Dey'll take his sock, yuh see, like dey got a rug on de flo', yuh undahstan', an' take dat sock an' take de two socks like dis heah, an' make a "v" [see later] out of 'em dis way [demonstrates]. Yuh undahstan'?
(Put one under the other?)
Yes, sir. (Like you'd make an "x".) Yeah, jis' somepin like a "x". Yuh could cross 'em like dis, yuh undahstan'. An' put 'em un- dahneath de rug right at de facin' of de do'. An' right where yuh walk ovah, yuh undahstan'. Put dat down dere an' yuh kin come in dat house - long as yuh come i: dat house an' go out, yuh ain't goin' tuh fool wit no othah woman.
Entry 4896
Ah heard dat chew could take a pair of - jis' lak yuh come tuh dis man's house heah an' he pull off 'is socks, yuh kin take an' carry 'em tuh yore house an' put 'em undahneat' chure do'steps an' put a cross on 'em. Put a cross on de socks an' bury 'em undah yore do'steps. An' dat will run 'im a long, long way from 'is home.
(You bury them under your doorstep?)
Undah mah do'. Take 'em from yore house an' carry 'em tuh mah do'step an' bury 'em undah dere, an' dat'll run 'em way from home. He won't nevah come back.
(What kind of a cross do you mean?)
Jis' lak yuh goin' - yuh kin take a stick an' cross 'em [demonstrates]. Put one lak dat an' den put one lak dat. Sets 'em cross.
(Make a cross with two sticks on top of the stockings [socks].)
On top of de socks, dat's right.
Entry 4897
If a man leave dey home, why dey kin take dat same stockin' [sock] an bury it undah de steps an' put some of 'er garment any way cross dose. Bury it undah de step an' dat man will be satisfied tuh stay home. (Put some of her garments with that stocking [sock].) Dat's right.
Entry 4898
[Door rites, which also include doorstep rites, are almost endless. They will be found every- where, even among the preceding beliefs of this subsection on socks and stockings. Here in this margin title I have included material not readily classifiable else- where.] Yuh kin take a man's socks, if yuh wan' 'im tuh stay at home - yuh kin take his socks an' bury it undah de do'steps, an' he commence [to] care, too. Well, it have tuh be a dirty sock anyway, not a clean one.
Entry 4899
Yuh kin take a man's stockin' an' wrop it up - be sure it's dirty - an' wrap it up close an' tie it up tight, an' put it undahneat' de steps. Dat will make him stay at home. Couldn't leave fo' nuthin.
Entry 4900
Ah've heard dat yuh could take dat dirty sock dat he weared an' bury it undah de do'steps an' he'll come back if he's gone.
Entry 4901
Git 'er right-laig stockin' an' yuh kin take dat an' bury it. Ah heard de woman say yuh git de right stockin'. Ah specially got dat about de woman's stockin'.
(What will that do then, if you bury that under the step?)
Bury 'er stockin' undah de step, yuh hold 'er. De man will hold 'er.
The account names a woman's right-leg stocking and describes burying it under a step to 'hold' her; this remains an attributed claim.
Entry 4902
Kin take yore left-foot sock an' bury it up undah de steps, undah de first step. Dig yuh a little round hole an' bury it up undah de steps. Dat's good too. Dat'll make yore husban' come back.
(Do you use his sock or yours?)
Use his sock, his ief'-foot sock.
Entry 4903
Ah say yuh could take dat stockin', dat left one - take it an' bury it right at de steps where yuh have tuh go in an' come out, an' let it stay dere fo' nine days. An' if she's prob'ly gone outta dere, yuh an' her's ona bust - if she's gone away an' yuh wan' 'er back, by yuh's buryin' dat sock right down dere, she'll shore come back.
Entry 4904
Say dey use a man's stockin', sock, an' cut it up fine an' bury it undah yore do'step. If he's 'is wife's las' husban', he can't quit 'er.
Entry 4905
(Now, what do you do with the sock?)
Yuh take de sock an' bury de sock toe comin' tuh do', de do' dat chew wan' dat person tuh come dere an' stay dere. Why jis' bury dat sock in de groun' wit de foot tuh de do', comin' tuh de step-lak, yuh know, an' dat person will stay dere. Yuh won' have any trouble wit 'em. (Which sock do you use, both of them or just one of the socks?) Ary one of 'em will do, but de right-foot one de bes'.
Entry 4906
Git 'er right-laig stockin' an' yuh kin take dat an' bury it. Ah heard de woman say yuh git de right stockin'. Ah specially got dat about de woman's stockin'. (What will that do then, if you bury that under the step?) Bury 'er stockin' undah de step, yuh hold 'er. De man will hold 'er.
Entry 4907
If ah have a fren' an' wan'a continue wit 'em, wan' 'im tuh always come tuh mah house, ah'd git some dirty socks an' put 'em undah [doorstep], turn de toe towards de do' an' dey comin' in de house, yuh know. An' dat'll keep 'em comin' in as long as ah wan' 'em.
Entry 4908
Kin take yore lef-foot sock an' bury it up undah de steps, undah de first step. Dig yuh a little round hole an' bury it up undah de steps. Dat's good too. Dat'll make yore husban' come back. (Do you use his sock or yours?) Use his sock, his lef'-foot sock.
Entry 4909
Git yuh a man's sock. Yuh kin take a man's sock, but it's got tuh be dirty, not clean. Yuh takes a dirty sock an' yuh take an' takes a tack, yuh see.
(A what?)
A tack.
(Like a little tack?)
Uh huh, an' yuh git at de back do', jis' like de man's comin' in de house. Well, yuh lets de foot, de toe part be comin' in de house, an' de part dat yuh put yore feet in, yuh let dat be out in de street. An' yuh tack one tack here, an' yuh tack anothah dere [demonstrates as I show later]. Well, dat brings, dat makes 'im stay home, yuh see, 'cuz dat dirty sock wit 'is sweat an' all [is] dere, an' dat makes 'im stay right at dat one spot. De onliest way he don't stay, he'll have tuh take dat up. But yuh see, by 'im not knowin' dat dat goin' tuh make him stay home, he don't nevah have no feelin' tuh go nowhere.
(I see. You put a tack at the top of that sock and a tack at the bottom.)
At de toe.
(And just where do you tack it now under the door?)
At de back step - see, at yore back do'.
(Is it under the step or what?)
Undah de step. Yuh jis' dig a little hole right up undah de step, yuh know, jis' push dat little bo'd right back where nobody can't see it. [For a good picture of back steps and their usual condition, see photograph at end of HOODOO, vol.1.]
(I see.)
An' yuh tack it right dere an' den covahs it up.
Entry 4910
Like yuh wan' tuh make a woman drag. Jis' as though like a big stout woman, yuh wan' tuh make her jis' fall away. Now, yuh takes a stockin' - yuh see dat door? At de centah of de door where yuh come in, yuh bury dat stockin' dere an' yuh walks ovah 'er - ovah dat stockin', see. An' she'll fall away an' jis' withah away fo' nuthin.
Entry 4911
A dirty sock or eithah a dirty stockin' an' bury it on de right-han' side of 'er do'step an' [that] yuh gotta come in an' out. Or eithah in de gate where yuh gotta walk. An' dat'll keep yuh down. Dat'll always keep you down where yuh have no energy about yoreself, yuh know, tuh care 'bout goin' nowhere. An' yuh bring all yore earnin's home.
(How many socks do you bury?)
One, de right foot. (The right-hand side [of the doorstep] as you are going out of the house or coming in?) Going out, all de time going out.
Entry 4912
Ah heard a lady said dat she had a son, sent away. See, he wuz gon'a marry dis gurl. She [his mother] didn't wan' 'im tuh marry dis gurl, see. So she turned aroun', she had 'im sent away [by a woman conjurer]. Den, when she Wanted tuh bring 'im back, why she [woman conjurer] brought 'im back. So she [the conjurer] taken a dirty sock of hissen an' she poot some red pePpahs on it. I GUESS YUH SEEN DESE HOT PEPPAHS OVAH FOOD? An' she put it un' do'step [under doorstep]. An' in less time dan nine days - well, she heard from 'im tellin' 'er dat he would be home. An' de nex thirty days she brought 'im home dataway.
Entry 4913
De woman's stockin's, put 'em up ovah de sill of de do'. An' dat steel dust, as yuh call it, put it up dere wit cayenne peppah wit it, in a bottle, stoppin' it tight. Write her name in it an' dat run 'er stone crazy. Dat give mah mamma de haidache so, she didn't know her haid from her arm or 'er feets.
Entry 4914
Wit de man sock, well yuh take de sand from undahneat' de steps an' fill up dat stockin', de sock, like he have it on, an' dig a hole an' put it in dat hole comin' toward de house, an' he's gotta stay dere, or either take de bow out his hat. (Wait a minute, now! Wait a minute! How do you put that sock down in that hole?) Jis' stand it up jis' like it be yore feet in dere.
(And that's pointing away from the house?)
[This misdirection question I rarely used.]
No, comin' tuh de house.
(You point it toward the house, jis' as you did with the shoe?)
[The shoe was given in a preceding rite.]
Yes sir.
Entry 4915
An' den dey take an ole sock an' dey could put salt in it an' bury it down dere undah yore do' an' yore man'll stay right dere.
(Do you bury just one sock or both?)
Dat left sock, one sock.
Entry 4916
Yuh wanta break it up, yuh git 'is socks an' put chew a little salt an' cook- in' soda, see, in it an' bury dat at 'is step. Dat will bring 'im back home, if he's gone off. Dat will bring 'im right back home an' he stay home, too. (Both socks did you say?) No, one - one, eithah one, right or lef', jis' since yuh git one.
Entry 4917
Take a woman's stockin' while it's dirty - not a clean one, while it's dirty. Yuh take it an' yuh ball it up an' yuh puts it right up ovah de do'. Dat [is] if she leave yuh, yuh puts it ovah de do' an' she'll come back home. Or eithah dey could cut de seat of 'er undahclothes out an' put it ovah de do' an' she'll nevah leave. An' [or] yo' could take de mole of 'er hair [head], cut de hair out an' plait it. Put it intuh a vial an' put Hearts Cologne on it - feed it. [To put Hearts Cologne on is to feed it.] Tote it in yore pocket an' she'll nevah leave yuh - she'll stay wit yuh.
Entry 4918
Take dem an' bury 'em in de eastern part of de house, cornah of de house, an' put de name whut chew desire tuh do on dat sock, an' dey said it would come true.
Entry 4919
If a woman's hus- ban' is gone an' she kin git any of 'is socks dat he wore 'fo' he left dere, she jis' go an' git one of 'er own stockin's, an' she bury dem tuh de sunrise side of 'er house. An' three mawnin's aftah she bury dat - don' bury it any deepah den dat [demonstrates].
(About as deep as your hand.)
Fo' three mawnin's take her night pot - don't let nobody use it but her. She pass dat watah [urinates] when she git up in mawnin' 'bore she speak tuh anybody. An' she take dat pot an' she set it aside until she go out [the door], undah- stan', an' empty dat pot on dat place dose mawnin's, an' he go back [returns] in several days. (She takes one of her stockings and one of his socks, either one of them, and just buries them together. That will bring him back?) Yes. She use dat pot three mawnin's 'fore she begin tuh eat.
(She must be fasting?)
Yes. (Then she will take the chamber lye and sprinkle it on this place three morn- ings?) Yes.
before-eating condition explicitly queried as fasting and assented to. Roles remain informant→interviewer→informant; the fasting term itself is the interviewer’s formulation with explicit assent. predicted single departed husband’s return in several days. No observed return These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 4920
Yuh kin take a man's dirty sock, take de lef' foot, an' git chew a white of an aig. An' yuh take dat white of an aig an' roll it up in dat sock. Jis' like dis is de sock, yuh put dat white of a aig right on de heel of dat sock an' roll it tuh yuh. Don't roll it from yuh, roll it tuh yuh. An' when yuh roll it up tuh yuh right tight, yuh take it an' put it undah de eve [eaves] of de house, an' [or] hide it some secret place where he won' fin' dat sock. An' yuh couldn't git rid of 'im tuh save yore life. Take a woman's stockin' an' do her de same way.
Entry 4921
Sleep wit dere stockin's undah yore haid. Take yore socks an' sleep wit 'em undah mah haid. Or take dem an' cut de feet out an' wear dem.
(What will that do?) Dey will follah yuh.
Entry 4922
Ah heard dat yuh take a man's sock, if he's runnin' about an' don' stay home tuh save yore life. Yuh take his sock offa his right foot, an' yuh take it an' yuh put it in a place where yuh'll keep it warm. Keep dat dere sock warm, dat's 'is track. Dat'll break 'em up.
(Where would you keep that?)
Well, if yuh got a heatah, yuh know, or if yuh got a fireplace, jis' take an' put it in dere.
Entry 4923
Yuh kin take his dirty socks an' put both of 'em tuhgethah an' fold 'em back in de do' lak yuh comin' in de do'. De do's disaway [demonstrates]. Yuh take dat foot an' fold it back, back intuh de house. Dat will keep 'i dere. If he leaves he will come back, he has tuh come back.
(Where do you put these socks then?)
Yuh put 'em undah de carpet. Yuh put 'em undah de carpet. If he leaves he'll have tuh come back.
Entry 4924
(How can you keep this man home?)
Why ah take his dirty sock an' git me some brown sugah an' some sulphuh an' lay 'em down an' turn de foots part up, an' sprinkle dat brown sugah on dere an' de sulphur. Roll 'em up [to you] an' tie an' bury 'em undah mah do'step or in mah bed, in mah mattress. Sew 'em up in mah mattress. (Here's the sock, there's the toe, and there's the heel. How would I roll that up now?) Dis is de toe. Yuh lay 'em bottomside up, de dirty part up, an' yuh take yuh brown sugah an' yuh sprinkle ovah dere on de bottom of de stockin'. Sprinkle yore sulphur on top of dat. An' have yuh a spool of black thread an' yuh roll 'em dis Way [to you]. Roll yore toe up tuh de heel. When yuh git tuh rollin', take yore brown thread [I mean] use black thread an' tie it. Well if yuh haven't got a do'step, lak yore [you are] upstairs [put in mattress].
Entry 4925
Taken needles or pins or wire nails. An' jis' lak ah wuz tellin' yuh 'bout de sock: fold dat sock, if yuh wanta run 'em, fold it from yuh; an' if yuh wanta bring 'em tuh yuh, yuh fold it tuh yuh. An' yuh stick nine pins an' nine needles an' nine wire nails, an' yuh bury it undah yore steps, or undah dere steps, which- evah case yuh wanta do, run 'em or tuh draw 'em. If yuh wan' 'em tuh come, yuh bury it undah yore own step; an' if yuh wanta run 'em, yuh slip it in an' bury it undah dere step.
Entry 4926
(All right, you are going to tell me another way now.)
Aftah yuh run off - de party done run off. Well, what bring 'er back home. She run off an' yuh wan'a git 'er back home. Yuh take her stockin' an' fold it nine times.
(How do you fold it nine times?)
Fol' de stockin' - yuh see yuh take it an' fold it from de bottom, yuh see, where de foot is.
(Yes?)
Jis' make a fold. Fold it. Yuh see jis' [demonstrates]: dat's one, two, three, fo', five, six, seven, eight, nine. See, evah time yuh make it, yuh make a fold, jis' like yuh fold in dere. See, jis' like yuh take dis here [demon- stratesl, dat's one, see. Den take yuh a pan an' lay dat stockin' in it. (Any kind of pan?) Any kin'a pan. Lay dis stockin' in it an' yuh burn it intuh ashes. Take a match, git - no, yuh take nine matches, Searchlight-head Matches, an' fold it inside dat stockin', see. An' as yuh fol' dem nine matches in dere, an' den yuh take one an' light it, an' let it burn intuh ashes. An' den yuh take dem ashes an' dat pan an' bury it undah yore back steps. Dig yuh a hole an' bury dem ashes undah dat back steps An' if she done lef' home, I'll betcha she'll come back.
(I see.)
She'll come back.
(You fold those nine matches into stocking?)
Nine matches an' nine folds in de stockin'.
(Do you put those nine matches all together, or what?)
Jis' lay 'em tuhgethah inside an' fol' de stockin' nine times.
(Well, what stockings do you use? Both stockings or what?)
One.
(Which one?)
De lef' stockin'.
(Oh, the left stocking. I see.)
Entry 4927
Take yore dirty socks an' make yuh love 'em an' keep yuh. Nobody can't git chew away from 'em. Wash de stuff out - wash de filth out an' carry it an' put it in a cake. Cook dat in dere an' give dat to 'em, tuh de individual dat dey want tuh have it. (That is, somebody would take my socks, or I would take my socks and put it in the cake for some other person to eat.) Yessuh.
Entry 4928
If yuh git a forked stick - yuh git a man or woman dat chew don' like. An' if yuh wan'a kill 'em or wan' 'em tuh die or be down undah yuh, sick all de time, take dat forked stick. Yuh git one of de stockin's off dey lef' laig an' yuh take it tuh de root of a pine tree, down de root of a pine tree. Lak yuh kin drive it up undah de roots of a pine tree, an' yuh say, "Ah drive yuh heah tuh stay heah until Lulu, '' or whutevah de woman name, 'until she die." An' jis' leave it right dere. Or de man, an' call 'is name when yuh go dere. Bury it. Lak yuh go tuh bury it in dere an' yuh say, "O, son-of-a- bitch, ah put chew heah tuh stay right chere till yuh die." Well, dat's whut ah heard of 'em doin' wit a forked stick.
Entry 4929
A man could have a wife, yuh know, or somepin goin' a road contrary tuh de way dat he would like her tuh go, or prob'ly might be passin' a man's house dat livin' by 'imself an' he figures she's stoppin' dere or sompin. He kin go tuh de fo'ks of dat road, where de road turns off an' go in 'er house. An' he kin take jis' - well, mos' anythin', a piece of 'er stockin' outa de foot, carry it tuh de fo'ks of dat road. An' take it up dis othah road, about ten feet in de othah road, de one he wanta 'er tuh travel, an' she's gotta go dataway. An' take a peg an' dig 'im a hole, an' drive dat stockin' down on de end of dat peg, an' she won' travel dat othah road no mo'. She'll go dis road evah time, even if she have tuh go roun' an' come dere. But she ain't goin' tuh go roun' an' come dere. She go on an' 'tend tuh 'er business an' come back.
Entry 4930
Yuh take yore stockin' - if de man wants a woman, he takes 'er right- footed stockin' an' he'll put a frog, a life toadfrog, an' he'll put dat frog in dat stockin', tie him up in dere, carry 'im tuh de sunpo'ch[!] an' put 'im right undah de steps, right in de centah of de steps an' bury it, bury dat right down dere. (This man puts the toadfrog in her right-foot stocking and buries it right in the center of the steps. Is that all he needs to do?) An' den git holt of candy or dope or sompin an' wear it. Yuh kin tote de stockin' but yuh have tuh tote de stockin' wit'out de frog in yore pocket.
(But what would that do then, after you bury that stocking under the step?)
That will hold 'er undah 'is - not 'er, but undah his'n feet. Dat keeps 'er.
(What did he do with his pee?)
Kin take dat - if she drinks whiskey or dope or anythin', give her some chqmber lye in dat. Dat will change her, dat'll keep 'er. Dat stockin' an' all dat goes tuhgethah. De stockin', yuh kin take it den - de stockin', yuh kin take dat an' de frog, an' yuh kin put 'em tuhgethah in - kin carry 'em tuh watah an' throw 'em ovah- bo'd. Dat will [make] 'em leave yuh.
(You keep that live frog in the stocking?)
Dat's right, dat'll make 'em leave.
Entry 4931
Ah'm gon'a tell yuh it all. Yuh kin take dat sock an' cut de hollah of it out.
(The hollow of the foot part out?)
[Somewhere in the printed text several persons call this the päm (palm) of the feet.] Yes sir, yuh'll take dat an' git de name of de person. Well, yuh'll take hit down tuh de cemetery.
(What do you do with that name? When you get the name?)
Den yuh tak' 'it an' sew it intuh dere [sock] jis' lak [after] yuh writin [name] on a papah. An' yuh take it den down tuh de cemetery wherevah a mean person is buried at. Well, now yuh take dat an' stick it down dere, an' when yuh stick it down dere yuh gotta cuss it - see, cuss dat. An' it won' be long 'fo' dey be [gone].
(Dead?)
Yes. (Now this name that you put on the sock, you write it on a piece of paper first, and then tie it to the sock. That the idea? All right, you must tell me all that.) [My last statement I made many times with informants though all of them were not recorded.]
Entry 4932
Now, if yuh wanta take an' kill a man, yuh take one [of] 'is dirty socks an' dirty undersuit an' carry 'em tuh de graveyard an' bury it. Dat's tuh kill 'im.
Entry 4933
Now, if you leave your own home an' you got a par [pair] of dirty socks, but dey's got tuh be a par of yore dirty socks dat dey ain't been wash. Put [in these socks] red peppah, grave- yard dirt, an' six needles. An' yuh turn de needle points, when yuh bury it, to- wards de house, right towards yore do'. Bury it in yore yard or eithah in yore back yard, but let de points be [pointing towards] de do'. Aftah dose socks o' 'hisen is buried, yuh go out dere fuh five mawnin's, straight mawnin's, take yer dirt offa dis sock, turn yore back tuh de house [an' pick upl jis' [as] much as yuh kin throw, an throw it across yore right shouldah tuh de house. Wharevah he is, if he's way way from home, if he evah go on a train or anything, he'll come back - he'll come back home. An' he'll stay dere as long as yuh handle dose dirty socks.
predicted single absent man’s return and staying, with sock ownership unresolved. No husband inferred claimed continued residence conditional on handling the dirty socks. Keep the condition as long as yuh handle dose dirty socks; no permanent retention or observed success. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 4934
Well, now, yuh kin take a woman's sock an' go tuh de graveyard, an' dig in de grave an git some dat wet soft dirt down in de grave, an' come back. Go an' buy yuh a new pair of stockin's in de sto' an' put dat dere graveyard dirt in dere, an' shake it up where it git all ovah de stockin's. Yuh bury dat stockin' fo' three days.
(The old ones, you bury them?)
No, yuh bury de new stockin's wit de dirt in it fer a few days. Den yuh take it out an' yuh have it crushed down yuh understand, an' den shake it where it won't be hidden but leave a few stran's of dirt up in de stockin'. Shake it out wherevah yuh put it. An' den yuh press it out good. An' don' chew carry it tuh 'er. Yuh kin mail it tuh 'er. It a new pair of stockin' lookin' nice wit'out bein' use [used] - 'spensive [expensive] pair of stockin's. Dey be lookin' nice an' all. All right, yuh take de stockin's den an' yuh put 'em in a box an' send 'em tuh 'er an' she put dem stockin' on 'er feet. In three days time from de time she have 'em on, she's in yore house. She's back in yore house three days aftah she got 'em - she's back in dere. (Now what do you do when she leaves you. You buy a new pair of stockings and you carry them out to the graveyard?) Dat's right.
(And you bury them out there or just put the dirt on them?)
Yuh bury dem out dere an' yuh git de dirt 'way down in de grave, in de middle of de grave [the frequent quincunx design]. See. An' den scattah a li'le bit [in the stockings]. Fole dem up in a papah where de dampness won' git tuh 'em. Ah don' mean jis' put 'em right down in de dirt where de dampness git tuh 'em. An' natch'ly [naturally] jis' de li'le dirt dat cheh put in de stockin' don' harm 'em. Den yuh put 'em [stockings in paper] down dere [in grave] an' let 'em stay dere fo' three days. See. Den yuh take 'em out an' kinda scattah dat dirt [on inside of stockings]. Shake 'em an' den press 'em out good an' smooth, an' send 'em tuh 'er. In three day's time she'll be back.
Entry 4935
[Hanging can be a magic rite as here, but this action is not always recognized in indices.] Takes yore socks an' dress it wit de same thin' an' take it tuh de cemetery an' bury it. Drive a stake down an' hang dat stockin' on dere an' jis' yuh done dressed it wit dat stuff. [A woman buries a man's sock or socks, dressed with the following 4 ingredients, in the graveyard. She then drives a stake as a headboard over this simulated grave, and hangs on it her stocking or stockings. He is now beneath, ruled; she above, the ruler. A man may perform this rite against a woman.]
(What stuff?)
Dat brimstone, bluestone, cayenne peppah an' gunpowdah. Jis' rub it all in dat sock an' hang up dat stocking. Yuh done sweated in yore sock, or de woman sweated in de stockin'. An' jis' as dat rain come in dat stockin' [and] de socks molt away, dat's de way yuh'll molt away.
Entry 4936
If a woman would take a man's sock, jis' when he take it off, an' take it an' wear it in 'er hat, say dat would make him wan'a be wit 'er. Jis' lak if a man, yuh know, didn't care nuthin about 'er, an' she wanted dis man. Den if she would git hold of one of 'is socks, she would take his sock an' put it in 'er hat; an' as long as she keeps dis sock in 'er hat, well den dis man would wan' tuh be wit dis woman. But dey say yuh had tuh spe- cially have a dirty sock.
(Either sock, it doesn't make any difference?)
No.
Entry 4937
Ef she has any dealin's wit dis man an' he leaves home, of co'se she kin take his socks or anythin' dat he wears nex' tuh 'im an' take de sweat from 'is thin's, see. All right, she would take 'is dirty sock an' fill it wit salt, an' lay it intuh de chimley hearth an' put a brick on it, see. An' ef she leaves it dere, he may be gone for some days; but he won' stay away, he'll come back.
Entry 4938
Take a sock, take yore lef' sock an' put it up in de middle of a - take a brick up in de middle of a hearth an' put chure sock down. An' yuh urinate on dat sock fo' nine mawnin's an' yuh stop it up. Yuh take it up an' den stop it up. Dat's fo' a man dat's runnin' aroun'. Yuh take dat an' git a dirty sock - have tuh have de sock dirty - an' put it in dis hearth, put it down dere an' yuh urinate on dat fo' nine mawn- in's, an' it will turn 'im aroun' all de way diff'ren'. He'll be a diff'ren' man in de home.
Entry 4939
[An informant in the same cityadds a time detail.1 Ah've heard 'em say dat she could take de man's socks an' take a brick up out de fiahplace an' bury it an' make yore watah on it fo' nine mawnin's. Ah've heard dat.
(What is that supposed to do?)
Well, dat's in a love affair, too. Yuh take an' put dat sock down, an' den go dere evah mawnin' befo' de sun rise an' make watah on it fo' nine mawnin's, an' dat will make him stick closah tuh yuh. Fayetteville, N. Car., (1411), 2535:1.]
Entry 4940
Ah heard dat if yo' take a man's sock - 'SCUSE ME, BUT AH DON'T MEAN NO HARM BY IT. AH HEARD A WHITE PEOPLE SAY DIS. DAT'S DE REASON AH ASK YUH TUH "SCUSE ME. She said tuh take a man's sock an' take some sugah, an' take up de lef' brick on de lef' of de fireplace, an' put dat sock down in dere wit sugah in it. An' make yore wishes dat he'd come home. She said take dat.
Entry 4941
Yes, sir, yuh take dem stockin's an' bury dem stockin's, see. Yuh go dere an' bury dem stockin's. See, yuh undahstan'. Now take sulphur an table salt an' put in dem stockin's an' den bury 'em. An' den fo' nine mornin's go back dere an' jis' like yuh got'a pencil, yuh un- dahstan', an' yuh hit dat on dere jis' like dat, an' say, "Go." An' dey'll shore go.
(What do you hit that with?)
Wit a pencil.
Entry 4942
Heah's somepin ah heard about dis an' it hasn't been long ago. A fellah, his wife an' 'im couldn't git along. So he missed a pair of 'is socks. An' one day ah wus down tuh de laundry where he wus - he fired [was fireman] down to de laundry. An' he tole me, say, "Yuh know, heah lately me an' mah wife cain't make it no way," say, "an' ah missed a pair of mah socks." An' he said, "Mah wife is tryin' tuh drive me away from 'er." Ah said, tole him, ah says, "Yuh shore dat she haven't misplaced yore socks." He says, "Yes, she's misplaced 'em." Ah knowed de people. Ah know 'em person'lly, who lived nex' do', an' ah've visit 'em a whole lot. So aftah he were gone ah wus in de house an' ah ast 'er, ah says, "Whut's de mattah wit chew an' yore husban'? Why yuh all cain't git along?" She says, "Aw, it's jis' a simple thin' ah did." Ah said, "Well, ah'd like tuh know about it." Yuh know ah wuz playin' aroun'. She said, "Aw, ah cain't tell yuh." An' de socks dat he los' ah wuz in min' of seein' dem de mos', see. [Most of all, he wanted to see the socks.] An' AH PLUNDAHS AROUN' until ah foun' dose socks. Ah foun' one sock [cylinder changed] - ah foun' one of 'is socks. [THE CHANGING OF A CYLINDER IS OFTEN FOLLOWED BY A REPETITION, OR I ASK A QUESTION.] It had three holes cut right in de bottom of it, plate of it, where his feet fit in de sock. [For word plate see comment following rite.]. An' dere wuz two stran's of 'is hair tied in one side of it. Den she had a wad of - where it looked like he [she?] cut a piece out of 'is hat, an' hit wuz placed in dere good an' nice. An' she had it sew - had it sewed in de sock. So ah got de sock. An' three or fo' days latah AH WENT PLUNDERIN' fo' de othah sock. So ah found it. When ah foun' de othah sock, she had tuk [took] de toe offa his sock an' had some othah kinda toe of a sock sewed back on dere. An' whut she had did wit de othah piece of sock, ah don't know, but she wuz goin' give him de sock back. She wuz goin' place it where he could find 'em an' wear 'em. An' by dis, she havin' [had] one piece [sock] an' had de othah one clipped. So ah taken dese socks mah- self an' ah examined 'em good an' ah foun' dat hair in dere. An' ah taken it loose an' taken de socks an' burned 'em up. An' now 'im an' 'er is back togethah an' jis' as good as dey evah were. [Though I originally had doubts about the preceding story, it is what some of my informants call a parable - like the Prodigal Son. I sometimes say, "Give me a parable, " rather than example, illustration, or story; the latter too often suggesting a lie to many informants. All elements in our story belong to hoodoo. Later I found informant's story interesting. The word he pronounces plate is an obsolete meaning of plat, the sole of the foot. This is the only time I have ever heard the word so used. I like his usage of plunder: Ah plundahed aroun' until ah foun' dose socks. He was also rather free and easy with a neighbor's house, unless this is a part of the parable!]
Entry 4943
Take a woman's stockin' - dat's tuh keep 'em home. Now, fo' a man's sock, yuh'll go tuh work, if yuh wan' 'im tuh stay at home. An' yuh'll take dat sock an' yuh'll go tuh work an' yuh git cinnamon, sugah an' rose watah. An' yuh damp dat sock good an' [in the sock] put yore name an' all of dat. Dat's tuh keep 'im home. When yuh fixin' it yuh'll have yuh a house plant, yuh undahstan'. A plant, but yuh know, don' destroy it. An' yuh'll take dat sock, eithah [or] her sock. An' yuh take dat sock an' yuh'll fix [dress] it wit de cinnamon in yore name an' 'er name. An' yuh'll put it in de bottom of dat plant an' jis' keep dat plant in yore house all de time. Dat'll keep 'im or keep 'er home. An' she cain't go.
(What do you put in that sock?)
Yuh put sugah, cinnamon, rose blossom [water] an' - ah fo'got dis othah per- fume. An' yuh put dat all in dat sock. [There are a number of the plant rites in HOODOO.]
Entry 4944
Git indelible pencil an' git yuh a linen [paper] tablet, an' yuh write his name nine times down, an' yuh come back across dat an' write chure name across dat. Take it an' fold it an' wear it in yore right-foot stockin', an' don't pull it off. He'll be back in seven days. (You fold that piece [of paper] to you?) Tuh yuh, put it in yore stockin' an' sleep in it. [My question is not leading. Something was done during the conversation or before to indicate the type of folding.]
Entry 4945
Well, yuh takes women's socks - I hear talk of 'em doin' sich as dat, takin' de sweated part, yuh know, of de heel. A man take de sweated part of a woman's heel, of 'er sock, an' he take dat an' he weahs dat intuh his - puts dat undah dat little sole of 'is shoes. Yuh know, yuh know dis little slip [strip] dat be's inside of yore shoe [insole]. An' he puts dat undah dere an' he weahs dat undah 'is foot. Well, an' he weah dat sich a length of time. An' he double dat as many times as he kin git it.
(What do you mean double?)
He git dat sock twice, yuh see. Evah time he kin git one of 'em, git dat, an' cut dat heel part out an' put dat in 'is shoe. Why he keep 'er down den. He keep 'er undah 'is fingahs [feet would be better!]. Control - dat controls 'er all right enough.
Entry 4946
Aftah dat yuh kin take his socks, de left-foot sock an' bury it undah de steps, an' put de foot in like he come up de steps [foot of sock pointed to door]. An' take dat sock, de sweat from de sock - an' wash it an' put it [water with sweat] intuh a bottle, an' stop it up wit some cayenne peppah an' cinnamon [and name - see later]. An' shake it up well evah mawnin'. An' yuh kick it from de do' nine times an' bring de face of de bottle an' de name [men- tioned for first time] in tuhwards yuh. Don't nevah put de back of de bottle, de bottom of de bottle, tuh yuh. Always put de mouth of de bottle tuh yuh. Be kickin' it an' namin' it, an' call it, dat dis will draw 'is 'tenshun from de [othah] woman. [The name written on paper is in the bottle and the name is also called.] Jis' keep 'im on away from dat woman all de time. He won' even wanta see her. Come tuh find out he'll be lovin' yuh mo' an' mo' den he did evah.
(You take that sock and you get that water from the sock. Either sock?)
Either one.
Entry 4947
It wuz a lady had - she took me.
(Who was this?)
It was a lady had 'em.
(These socks?)
Uh huh, an' she wanted tuh git rid of 'er frien'. So she take a pair of 'is stockings an' one of 'is ole shoes - it didn't make any diff'rence which one it wuz - an' [she put those socks in the shoe]. She taken a pocketknife an' she put dat knife [in the shoe]. (She put those socks in the shoe?) Yeah. (Now, don't forget, don't leave anything out.) An' she taken dat knife an' she put it in dat shoe wit de point tuh de toe. An' she buried dat shoe undah 'er steps dat he come in, [the shoe] goin' from de house. An' he left, he really left. He nevah did hang roun' 'er any more.
Entry 4948
Yuh kin take a man's socks, tie both of 'em tuhgethah an' wear 'em aroun' yore waist, a woman kin, an' dat he'ps 'er tuh hold a man.
Entry 4949
Dey kin take his socks an' tie 'em in a knot, an' put 'em in de baid where he lays at - on de side he lays at, in de mattress. (What will that do?) Well, wherevah he's at, he cain't rest yuh see. First an' last he'll stray back home tuh where he come from.