Browse:THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF (Volume 3, entries 3110–5205)/Part 26
THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF
Volume 3, entries 3110–5205. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
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!
Entry 5118
Yeah, dey kin burn shoe soles. Den [dey] kin take, aftah dey git through burnin' de shoe soles, dey kin take an' put it in some devil vinegah an' shake it up, an' in a length of time yuh goin' pass away or commit suicide or go crazy. [For devil vinegar, see p.547 and elsewhere.]
Entry 5119
Take de linin' [inner sole] outa fellah's right shoe, tote hit in yore pocket, see. An' take hit an' some devil's shoestring root an' wrop it up tuh- gethah. (Do you wrap it any special way?) Any special way? Jis' as [so] it wropped aroun' wit some asafitadee. Put it in dere an' wrop it away [from you].? Tote it in yore pocket. If yo' wanta run 'im away put red peppah an' salt in it.
(Then what do you do with it?)
Keep a-carryin' it. Has it on a string hangin' down on yore left side. Keep a fellah jis' hangin' dataway. Dat will keep 'l away from dere. Dat's like yuh have a case in co't an' want somebody tuh do somepin.
Entry 5120
Ah heard dey take a devil's shoestring an' wit de shoes, if yuh wan' 'em tuh return an' bury it undah de do'step an' dey will return.
(Do you put this devil's shoestring with the shoes? One or both?)
De two shoes.
(And you put the devil's shoestring with that?)
Yes, an' bury it right undah yore do'step where yuh wan' 'em tuh come in. Let 'em come in an' dey will come back.
Entry 5121
Ah heard dey burn dem ole shoes fo' luck. An' den ah heard ag'in, said yuh could take dat shoe an' put it ovah a do' where a person - yuh know, a person have lived at. An' it's a certain length of mawnin' dat shoe Would stay dere.[ Wheresomevah dey at dey would come back. (You would take - this person who had left, you would take his shoes?) Take his shoe an' put it up ovah de do'.
(Either shoe?)
Eithah shoe. An' it's a certain time dey say dat dat shoe would have tuh stay dere. An' aftah dem days, dey tell me, whethah yuh had yore [train] fare or whut; but aftah dat date go by, yuh'd have tuh come back.
Entry 5122
Take a person's shoes an' make dem leave. Take dey shoes an' put 'em up, HIGH UP OVAH DEY HAID. Or eithah take de sole off 'em where dey walk at an' dey'll walk. Dey nevah will stay dere no mo'.
(What do you do with that sole if you take it off?)
Take it an' put it up ovah de do' where dey walks at a lots, an' dey'll leave dere.
Entry 5123
Yo' throw de person's shoes at [and hit] de head of de front steps in ordah tuh keep 'em at home, or eithah wheresoevah dey are tuh bring 'em back. [This two-purposes rite cast in a one action form must be some- what rare. Actually there is a second but unexpressed action, the intention either to keep home or to bring back.]
Entry 5124
Ah heard about de shoe 'cuz ah tried it mahself; jis' lak yuh wan' yore man fren' or sompin tuh come tuh yo' an' not leave yuh. Well, ah take his lef'-foot shoes - dat's pertainin' tuh de heart - an' bury it undah de do'step, es- pesh'ly [especially] de do' where he comes in.
(Do you bury it in any special way?)
Yes, bury it comin' tuh de house, not goin' away, comin' tuh de house - wit de track down, de bottom of de foot down.
(You mean the shoe is standing up, straight up? Or you turn it upside down?)
Straight up. See, jis' lak yo're [you are] walkin' in de shoe.
Entry 5125
Take a person - jis' lak ah tole yuh 'bout de lef'-han' shoe or sock. Wus it shoe or sock?
(You didn't tell me about either one.)
Well, anyway yuh kin take a person lef' shoe - SEE, DAT'S DE HEART ON DE LEF' SIDE - an' take it an' bury it deep as yuh kin undah de step, tuh keep 'im from any idea 'bout it. Bury it undahneat' de step, so he cain't leave home.
Entry 5126
(Tell me how that's done to make a man stay at home.)
[I am repeating informant's statement after turning on recording machine.]
Yuh take his shoe or slippah or anythin', an' yuh bury it undah de steps, but comin' in. He won' go nowhere.
Entry 5127
Jis' lak if dey off somewhere an' yuh wan's 'em back, puts dat shoe undah a do'step an' yuh BRUSH OFF DOSE SHOES NINE MAWNIN'S. Dat'll bring 'em back. Yuh don' bury de shoe. Put 'em up undah de step, jis' undah de step.
(Then you brush them off nine mornings?)
Nine mawnin's.
(You put both shoes under there?)
Both shoes.
Entry 5128
(They do what to make somebody come home?)
De son - jis' lak if yore son ovah de way [at some friend's house], yuh could bury dat shoe at de foot of yore steps. Yuh put it down at a time when dere's no one lookin' or nuthin lak dat. Yuh putty [pretty] sho', even if yuh'd have tuh go out between midnight an' day, an' bury dat shoe at de foot of de steps. An' den at a certain length of time, somepin lak six months or less, well yore son would come home.
(You would bury that a certain way wouldn't you?)
[I picked up informant's certain.]
A certain way. Yuh bury it - let de toe of de shoe turn toward de house, eithah shoe, jis' one shoe.
Entry 5129
Takes dey shoes an' put 'em tuh de steps. Bury 'em wit de toe comin' in undah de step, an' jis' curse 'em when yuh put it down dere. An' he kin always - don't care where he go, long as dat shoe dere, dat track dere, he'll come in dere.
(You just put one or both shoes?)
One, jis' one foot, de right foot. An' always turn it comin' in.
(That is to make him come on home?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5130
Ah says like you separated from yore wife. Well, she take dat shoe, if someone done tole her about it. Yuh take yore shoe an' yuh puts it undah de step, facin' tuhward like yuh comin' in, an' turn it bottom upwards. When yore man's out, when he come back an' he walks ovah dat shoe, why when yuh walk ovah dat shoe, yuh continue stayin' dere. Yuh'll nevah leave until dat shoe is move.
Entry 5131
Take dat shoe an' yuh dress it. Yuh kin put a little perfume or jis any kinda little powder or anythin' in dat shoe. An' yuh take dat shoe an' yuh dress it, an' den yuh take dat shoe an' carry it out in de woods an' bury dat shoe. If yuh don' do dat, bury it right undah de do'steps where she'll walk ovah it. Bury dat shoe. Make 'em stay at home.
Entry 5132
If a person gon'a leave yuh an' yuh Wan' 'em, dis is one way if yuh wan' 'em tuh saty. Why yuh jis' take his or 'er shoes an' jis' open up dat thin little piece [insole] in de shoes.
(Inside the shoes?)
Yessuh, an' put some sugah an' peppah in dat shoe, an' den turn dat little piece back. An' go undah yore house, undah yore steps, an' bury de toe of dat shoe comin' up - yuh undahstan', up intuh de house. Jis' lak dey had it on dere feet, yuh know, an' comin' in de house, bury it de same way. An' dey'll nevah leave.
(You mean that little sole [insole] inside the shoe?)
Yeah, rip dat open an' so yo' kin put dat [pepper and sugar] up in it. An' den put it back ovah dere.
(You use both shoes?)
Jis' one, de right one. [These 24 beliefs on one cylinder is about the high- est number ever recorded. This means that informant's preceding and following statements were brief and mostly things I had heard many times before.
Entry 5133
De shoes, if yuh wan' tuh. yuh kin take 'em an' bury de shoes. But if she wan's yuh tuh come back, see she take 'em an' bury 'em at de front of de house comin' in, wit de toes comin' in. See. Den she let dose stay dere nine days. (Then what do you do?) Den aftah de shoes are dere nine days, she'll wrote a lettah. Den when he comes back yuh git dis heah [here] - write it [the name] nine times. An' git chew nine bran'-new needles an' pin it in dere. Stick 'em - see, yuh pin 'em like dis heah [demonstrates]. Yuh put 'em where he comes in. Put it [needle] undah dere, right ovah it [weaving the needles] in an' out [of paper with name]. An' he'll continue goin' [in] an' out. An' wit dose shoes buried, he comin' back.
Entry 5134
Naow [now], dey kin take dem shoes - either one or two, but always seem lak tuh me dat lef'-foot shoe. Take dat lef'-foot shoe an' put some cay- enne peppah an' some saltpetah. An' if dey tryin' tuh hurtcha, gitcha down some way, tuh gitcha past walkin' or swell yuh up, yo' see, put some salt- petah in dem shoes, an' some cayenne peppah, an' some dragon blood. An' put it in dat shoe an' po' some kerosene on it, an' burn dat shoe grajly [gradually] about ten minutes evah mawnin'. An' aftah de shoe burn up, well dat individual will begin tuh suffah wit, 'is knees an' laigs, an' continue lak dat.
Entry 5135
What chew do wit yore shoes? Jis' sprinkle a little bita dragon blood in dere an' a little sulphuh. Yuh know, jis' sprinkle it in dere an' let it [stay in there awhile] an' den shake it out so dat he cain't see it. Or eithah hole [hold] up dat little thin piece [insole] an' let it go tuh de bottom [all the way to the toes, letting the insoles then fall back into places] an' he cain't stay from yuh. He has tuh come home.
Entry 5136
In de bottom of dey shoes, yuh kin take dat little cloth dat be dere in de bottom an' drive 'em away or kill 'em off. (How would they drive them away, first?) [Drive him away first, then kill him.] Well, tuh drive 'em away, yuh take it an' bury it. If yuh wanta make 'em stay home, why yuh kin take dat an' wrop it up an' put it in de crack anywhere in de side of de wall in de house.
Entry 5137
Well, yuh wearin' dat shoe when yuh come in an' yuh take it off. Well de moisture from yore feet is still in dere, an' yuh take dat [insole] an' fold it up. Fold dat to yuh. An' yuh use a piece of flannel. Put dat in de flannel an' keep dat wet [dress it] wit - put Epsom salt or anything. See, dat [is] salt. By me carry [carrying] some salt, well dat salt keeps it moist wit dat perfume. [Perfume either had been mentioned before recording began or this was just a mental lapse.] Dat keeps it moist so it stay alive. Sew dat up an' bury somewhere, or anything [or again], yuh kin jis' put it in a little [tin] can an' keep it on de opposite side of de bed where dey sleep on. He'll nevah notice it, won't know whut it's all about. Dey will keep )'im dere all de time. ANY WOMAN GOT A MAN SHE WANTS TUH KEEP 'IM, A HARD WORKING MAN. Well, dat's whut she do. She got de big advantage of 'im.
(She takes this inner sole out of his shoe. Either shoe?)
Eithah shoe.
Entry 5138
It's a - people go out tuh de fo'k [fork] of de road. Fo' instance, de fo'k of de road made in dis position [demonstrates].: See, dey'll go at de end of dat fo'k. Dey'll take an' dey'll dig down dere an' dey'll git a certain amount of dirt. Dey'll come back wit dat dirt an' dey'll git de sole of a - a individual's shoe. (The outside sole?) De inside sole, see, of de shoes wit dat dirt. Mix dat [fork-of-road dirt] up wit dat insole. Bury it undahneat' de step where de party pass goin' in an' out. Dat will git 'is mind intuh two channels.
(I see.)
He won't have a stationary mind, yuh see. Yuh'd have his mind, always keep 'im cross-minded. He'll be here, he won't be satisfied; he'll go tuh dat town, an' he'll figure he should move outa dat town. It jis' keep 'im always upstirred anyway.
(His mind will be in two channels just as that road forks into two roads?)
Absolutely - dat's de idea.
(You get that dirt right from that "Y" at the fork?)
Absolutely - dat's de place.
(I see.)
Entry 5139
An' den on de othah han', if yuh don't wanta [be bothered] - if dere's somebody dat come dere dat disturb yuh or somepin of de kin', de law or anybody else, take some ole shoes an' rags an' burn 'em evah Friday. Don't miss a week. Yuh'll nevah be troubled. Ah know dat's a fact. [This rite is merely an exten- sion of the belief Old shoes may be burned on Friday for luck (FACI, 2nd ed., 10676, p.485).]
Entry 5140
Yuh take a man's right-foot shoe an' burn it on a Friday mawnin' befo' sunup tuh give yuh good luck, whatevah yuh wanta wish fo'.
Entry 5141
Yuh kin take yore ole shoes an' keep it in yore house an' burn it evah Friday at twelve a'clock - burn yore ole shoes evah Friday at twelve a'clock. Jis' burn it right in de middle of yore flo' [making a quincunx, see p.710) in somepin. Shut chure do' an' walk out. [In somepin means old bucket, can or pan. Even if these are raised on bricks this is a dangerous rite whether fire started with live coals or coal oil!l But it mus' be twelve a'clock. Yuh start dat a li'le befo' twelve. Start de fiah, see, an' it be burnin' at twelve a'clock.
(In the daytime or the night?)
Daytime - twelve a'clock in de day.
Entry 5142
Yuh take dat shoe - jis' take one of 'em, de one tuh de right foot. An' burn it halfway up. Den take it an' care [carry] it an' dig yuh a hole an' bury dat shoe. Pray ovah it. Go dah evah mawnin' an' throw a handful of dirt on dat, an' he'll leave yuh. Yuh won' have no trouble wit 'im, he'll go on whah he won' bothah yuh no more.
Entry 5143
Well, now, dere one dat ah heah dey do wit a shoe, wuz take it an' jis' lak make 'em restless.
(How do they do that?)
Well, yo' take dat shoe an' yo' carry it an' yo' bury it bottomside upwards; jis' lak yo' dig a hole, jis' lak yo' diggin' a grave. Yo' put dat shoe down in dere - see, bury it. An' when yo' bury dat shoe in dere, yo' cuss dat person evah kinda dirty cuss dat chew kin think of, an' pack dat dirt. Well, dere's no Way in dis worl' fo' dem tuh rest, an' dey won' be heah no longah.
(You say you bury that shoe like you are digging a grave?)
Yeah, jes' lak yo' dig a hole. Put it deep, cuz sompin othah will scratch it up. An' bury dat shoe, pack de dirt on it. An' as yo' pack it yo' cuss it, jis cuss 'em jis' as hard as [you can].
(Either shoe?)
Dat's right. Any kinda shoe, jis' since it's a shoe dey done wore. But it got'a be wored, dat shoe, a good length of time. Den yo' bury it, see. Dat's right.
Entry 5144
Take yore shoes an' scrape, yuh know, some outa de instep. An' dey kin roll dat up in a piece of red flannel an' carry it right down tuh any cemetery, any grave in de cemetery, right at de foot, an' [bury it and] IT WILL MAKE YUH WALK YORE BRAINS OUT - keeps yuh walkin'.
Entry 5145
Take graveyard [dirt] an' yuh kin keep someone wit chew. Yuh git twelve days, which is twelve months to de yeah. [You get 12 pinches of grave- yard dirt, enough to last 1 pinch a day for 12 days, the latter symbolizing the 12 months of the year.] Yuh kin take an' loose one sole [insole] of dey shoe, an' take yuh knife blade an' cut jis' a little bit [a hole for the dirt] in dere. An' jis' as long as she wear dat shoe, she'll always be comin' tuh love yuh, regardless tuh whut shegot. IF SHE'S GOT A MILLION DOLLAHS, SHE'LL BE COMIN' TUH LET CHEW HAVE PART OF IT.
Entry 5146
Ah burns de sole of 'is shoe an' take de ashes an' gits dragon's blood an a bottle of cologne an' wear it on me. An: ah would git some graveyard dirt.
(What would you do that for?)
Well, tuh keep 'im roun' wit me. Wear it in yore bosom.
(You put this stuff in the bottle? After burning his shoe sole?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5147
Take de graveyard dirt. An' yuh git a ole shoe an' yuh parch dat ole shoe until yuh kin jis' powdah it up. An' yuh mix dat graveyard dirt wit dat shoe dust an' yuh put sugah in dere an' cinnamon. An' yuh sprinkle dat roun' ovah yore flo's an' lak dat. Dat keeps peace in de home. Dat's fo' success.
Entry 5148
Yuh take de lef' shoe an' cut a square outa de centah of de shoe.
(The center, the bottom or the top part of it?)
De bottom, jis' where yore feet fit right in de bottom of dat shoe. Yuh jis' cut a square outa de inside of de bottom of de shoe. [A square piece is cut out of the center of the insole.] An' yuh bury it.
(What will that do?)
Yuh cut de square outa de shoe an' put it in a li'le sulphuh an' red peppah an' graveyard dirt, an' yo' sew it in a li'le bag an' bury it. An' if yuh wanta hurt a person, well dat will cuz whatevah shoe it is, if it's de right shoe, why dey'll grow lame in dat side. An' dere's no doctah [M.D.] kin cure dem until yuh fin' de person dat has dat [square piece of insole] an' git it from dem. An' de only way tuh find out is tuh [see a] fortunetellah an' let 'em tell yuh how tuh git it.
(I thought it was the left shoe?)
Well, it's de left shoe dat ah'm speakin' about.
(This is out of the left shoe?)
Yes.
(You don't get the right then at all?)
Well, ah nevah learn of de right. It's de left.
Entry 5149
Dey kin take de bindin' in de back right in where yore [a man's] heel rub, cut out a little of dat skin in dere, dat little place of skin. If a woman want a man, dat will keep him. (What will she do with that then, after she took it out of there?) She take dat an' mix it with Adam- an'-Eve root an' wear it with Heart Cologne an' nine grain of spice. Jes' wear it right next to her skin, an' she puts on it a perfume. An' when he be roun' dere an' smell it, yo' know, he don't know whut de contraction [attraction], but he jes' go roun' 'er.
Entry 5150
Take yore shoes an' put some hot-foot powdah inside de inside sole of yore shoe. Dress dat shoe fo' yuh, dey kin put yuh walkin'. Dey kin dress dat shoe fo' yuh an' give yuh spells. Ah had a woman las' yeah dat went tuh a lady an' she tole her tuh - give her some oil an' tole her, say, "Now, yuh kin gain 'im if yuh git 'im drunk an' git dis in 'is shoes. Yuh git dis in 'is shoes. Git 'im drunk, unless dat he wise. He got plenty sense." Say, "Yuh git 'im drunk an' git dis in 'is shoe." An' say, "Yuh have 'im like yuh wanta." Say, "He'll leave his wife an' come an' stay wit yuh."
(What kind of oil was that?)
It was hot-foot oil.
(For you [the man] to come to her.)
[HOT FOOT POWDER (see p.590 and elsewhere) is used to run 'em 'way from dere. HOT FOOT OIL, not so common as hot-foot powder, runs a woman's husband away to a woman working the spell under the direction of a lady, a hoodoo worker.]
Entry 5151
Dey say, jis' like a person go off an' yuh wan' 'em back, say yuh take dey shoes an' chunk it ovah - go outdo's an' chunk it clean ovah de house. An' den take it an' bring it roun' in de house, yuh know, an' bring it in de front do'. An' dey say dey will come back.
(Do you throw both shoes over?)
Jes' de one.
(Either one?)
De right-foot shoe.
Entry 5152
Take a person's shoes an' jis' like he's gone away, or somepin othah like dat. If he's away an' yuh wan' 'im tuh come back, yuh kin take his shoe an' go at de front do' an' throw it ovah de house, yuh know, where he livin' at - clean tuh de back, clean ovah. An' yuh fo' [for] three times fo' [for] seven mawnin's, an' in dem 21 times he's sure tuh return back.
(You throw both the shoes over?)
Jis' de one shoe, de lef' shoe.
Entry 5153
[The following two accounts of the same rite came from Memphis, but the belief is known elsewhere:] Den yuh kin take dat same lef'-foot shoe an' come tuh de middle of dis house each way, right dere to de middle plank, an' nail it up side - nail it up jis' lak dat. An' dat fellah will den stay at home dere, if it's in de middle of de house. [The shoe is sometime nailed up under the house that has a crawl-space beneath it.]
(You must get right in the middle of the house?)
Yessuh. [A quincunx rite.]
Entry 5154
Yuh could take a person's shoe. Yuh could take dat shoe an' nail it up in de centah of de house, if de individual away an' yuh wan' dem back. Yuh kin take dat shoe an' nail it up in de direct CENTAH OF DE ROOM, an' dat will draw 'em back.
Entry 5155
Ah know a case in Beaver Falls, Pa., dat a incident of dat kind hap- pened a year ago [1936]. Wus a woman whut lived dere, an' 'er husban' wure very cruel tuh 'er. An' he begin tuh stay out all night, an' he beat 'er an' knock 'er out. So she begin tuh study de Sixth an' de Seventh Book of Moses. An' wit- in studyin' dat, she found out jis' whut tuh do tuh send 'im away from 'er. An' she tole me dat she'd taken 'is lef' shoe, an' cut 'is 'nitial on de inside of it in de instep. An' taken 'is - one of 'is lef' dirty socks, an' put nine brass pins in it, an' nailed [pinned] it tuh de instep of 'is shoe, an' threw it ovah 'er lef' shouldah at sundown. Ah know he left dere an' he hadn't been back a month or so ago.
Entry 5156
[The following small collection of insole rites is only a small part of them.] If a frien' or prob'ly ah say yore wife, somepin like dat, had gone, an' yo' git dat [insole]. Even so much if yuh couldn't git it, if yuh would git somebody tuh git it, git dat shoe tuh yuh - de innah lining [insole] of dat shoe. An' yuh take de innah lining of dat shoe. An' aftah yuh git it, de piece right undah de hollah of yuh feet heah, cut out a piece de size of a silver half a dol- lar an' wear dat. Put dat inside of yore shoe, wear dat fo' nine days, an' she'll come back.
(Do you take that little piece from out of either shoe?)
Eithah shoe, but dey mos'ly says de right-han' shoe. But ah've seen 'em tried it an' couldn't git wit'out de lef'-han' shoe was done.
(What shoe do you wear that in, either shoe?)
De shoe yuh git it out of, be sure yuh know whut shoe yuh git it out of. If yuh git it out of de left, put it in de left; if yuh git it out of de right, put it in de right.
Entry 5157
Cut dat out dere shoe.
(What do you cut out?)
De linin' - yes, de innah sole.
(What do you do with that?)
Put it in yore shoes an' weah it.
(What will that do?)
Make him love yuh.
Entry 5158
If yuh wan' 'im tuh stay wit chew, take dat li'le sole, dat li'le thing on de inside of yore shoes. An' yuh take dat an' put it in yore shoes instead of 'is shoes. Yuh take it an' put it in yore shoes, an' yuh weah dat, see. An' long as yuh weah dem shoes wit 'is sole [insole] in dere, den yuh got 'i:.
Entry 5159
Yuh kin take a man or a woman. An' yuh kin take a piece outa her lef'- foot shoe an' wear it in yore shoe. Yuh kin put it in yore right or eithah de lef'. But yuh put it down in de side of yore shoe an' wear dat piece in dere, an' she'll nevah leave yuh 'long as she live. Yuh kin keep 'er all de time. Dat's good fo' a woman. [A woman can do the same thing to a man.]
Entry 5160
Take de centah, de sole dat's inside de shoe. Place it intuh yore shoe...it'll make him stay at home. A woman, eithah one, it don't make no diff'- rence [a woman can do the same thing with a man's insole].
Entry 5161
Dey gits right in de pam [palm] of yuh feet an' dey clips out a li'le bit [of insole]...weah dat in dere shoe...make yuh care fo' dem.
The informant says the practice will make someone care for another person. This supports only a contextual affection reading; the kind of relationship and any effect remain unverified.
Entry 5162
She take dat [inner sole of either] shoe [of the man] an' put dat in hot watah an' soak it, an' put dat in a bottle. An' dey say aftah she puts it in a bottle, she puts some cotton in dere wit it, an' den take de cotton an' let de cotton dry. An' she wears dat, an' dat'll bring 'im back - on 'er laig or eithah in 'er bloomahs.
Entry 5163
ALL SICH MESS LIKE DAT NOW WOULD CREATE LOVE. IT COME FROM DAT EX- PERIENCE BY WOMEN, yo' see. Dey'll git zhure shoe an' dey'll take de sole [in- sole] outa yore shoe. An' dey'll wear dat inside of heah nex' tuh 'em, inside uh dey bosom nex' tuh 'em. An' as long as she wears dat in dere nex' tuh 'em, yuh'll be in crave fo' her. She kin handle yuh anywheres she wanta. WHEN YUH MAKE YUH MONEY YUH'LL CARE [CARRY] IT TUH 'ER. Look like yuh'll give it tuh 'er freely. DAT'S [ALL DONE] BY DE SOLE OF YUH SHOE HEAH.
Entry 5164
Lak de shoes yuh weah fo' evah day, yuh know, if a man or woman wants tuh trick yo' in any way, why he'd take dat an' put dat inside of dere, dat linin'[insole]. An' den cut off a piece lak de lady been weahin' or sompin othah nex' tuh 'er, an' cut out a piece de same width dat shoe an' put it in dere. Put it in dere an' put dat [inner] sole back on dere. She put dat shoe on den an' she couldn't weah dat shoe nine mawnin's 'thout [without] suffahin'. Well, if yuh were used tuh goin' some place, why yuh couldn't go no mo', stay or nuthin. (You take this inside lining and turn it back, and then you get a piece from a woman, you say of a woman's clothing. What piece do you get?) Nex' tuh 'er - yuh know, bloomahs or anythin'.
(That is to keep her away from that place.)
Entry 5165
If dey pesterin' roun' an' yo' don' wan' dem dere, take dat shoe an' cut de hollah of de foot, right in de hollah. Anybody know whut de hollah is. Yuh gits dat out, wrop dat up in a piece of flannen or somepin othah. An' yuh wants tuh be wit dem an' make frien's, an' long as yuh keep dat some place, dat is supposed tuh bring frien's.
Entry 5166
Yuh kin take yore shoe an' git some of de inside of it out dere, an' yo' kin carry it tuh any person [hoodoo doctor]. An' dey take dat little piece of leather [inner sole] dat yuh don' think much of it, an' dey [doctor] take it an' dey put it in some Hearts Cologne. An' she [woman who took it to doctor] will take it an' put it in yore clothes anywhere. Well, dat give her or de man [if he does the same thing] - dat draw 'em right in tuh 'em.
(That's to draw that person to them.)
Yes.
Entry 5167
An' anothah one: a girl say de way she make a man come back. Take de inside sole [insole] of 'is shoe. Take de inside sole of a man's shoe, don' make no diff'rence which it is [left or right], an' take yore undahclothes - yo' know, de bottom pieces. An' take an' wrop it up in de sole of 'is shoe, right heah in de centah heah. An' in de night when he sleeps, tuck it undah 'is haid an' let it stay dere all night long. An' she says, she goes de nex' mawnin' tuh take it out, say he won' let chew move it. Let it stay dere an' say he'd can't git away tuh save 'is life.
(That is to hold the man?)
Yes.
Entry 5168
Yo' git de inside sole of a man's shoe. All right now. Yo' git some lightnin'-struck wood an' yo' take some sweet milk, an' yo' soak dat three days. Den yo' make a dress of dat [dressing or hand of wood and milk] an' yo' go tuh de crossroad where hit like dat, see [demonstrates a crossroad]. Den yo' call - git some salt.
[Here is an example of details often omitted in an interview.]
(Wait a minute! What do you mean you call?)
Call 'is name, say, "Ah wanta run So-an'-so." YO' HAVE TUH CALL 'EM TUH RUN "EM. Git chew some salt an' yo' make a dressin' of dat an' yo' bury dat. An' YO' TELL IT WHUT CHEW WANT IT TUH DO. An' evah - in about three days yo' go back there an' make yore dressin' an' tell it whut chew want it tuh do. DAT LIGHTNIN'-STRUCK WOOD GIT'S 'EM CONFUSED IN 'IS MIND. Yo' haVe tuh work 'is mind to do anythin' wit it. [This piece of wood dressed with lightning, milk and salt, 3 things, becomes a hand.]
Entry 5169
Take a pair of shoes dat yo' have worn an' yo' kin take dose shoes an' carry dose shoes tuh yore house - carry 'em tuh yore house. Den aftah yo' carry dose shoes tuh yore house, turn 'em ovah on dey face an' den go out in a cow stall somewheres an' git chew some of evahy kin'a manure yo' kin pick up from diff'ren' animals, all kin'a manure yo' kin pick up, an' put in dat shoe. An' dat will drive yo' jis' as crazy as a bedbug. (That is, if you want to harm me, you would get my old shoes and take them to your house to dress them?) Yes.
(Then what do you do with the shoes after you put that stuff in them?)
Oh! Yo' take de shoes an' carry 'em away an' bury 'em.
(What would that do to me then?)
Dat would jis' fix yo' up so yo' couldn't walk or do nuthin - paralyze yo'.
Entry 5170
Take a man's shoe, right shoe. Take de measure of it an' put some new pins an' needles in it, nine of each. An' yuh take [up] de sill [saddle] of de do'. Yuh know, pull [up] de sill of de do'. An' yuh put it [tape measure] down dere, tack it down dere. An' he have tuh cross ovah it, yuh see, an' [to] git inside. Dat will keep a person stayin' aroun' home.[Informant repeats for good measure:] Yuh git a piece of new tape an' take de measure of [right] shoe. Take it from yuh an' bring it tuh yuh. An' den yuh take dat an' pin de needles an' pins tight all de Way tuh yuh, an' as yuh put 'em in call 'is name. Den yuh take de sill [saddle] of de do' up an' yuh tack it [tape] down an' leave it stay dere. When yuh move out'a dat house, yuh take it up an' carry it wit chew. Evahwhere yuh move yuh carry it wit chew.
Entry 5171
Git de measure of dey shoe, an' put some powdah in dey shoe. Git some powdah, some cun, iure powdah, an put it in dey shoe. Well, dat will make 'em do anything yo' wan' 'em tuh do. [The term cunjure powder is rare. This may be my only ex- ample.]
Entry 5172
A lota men say if yuh gota woman an' she love tuh run about an' don' lak tuh stay home, why yuh kin take one of 'er right-han' slippahs an' bring [bend] de toe of it back tuhwards de house [let the toe point toward the house], an' put a eight-penny nail in it, drive it right through it. An' bury it undah de do'step an' dat'll make huh stay home.
Entry 5173
Nail a person's shoe undah de person's steps where dey live an' drive nine nails in it, in de shoe; an' when dese nails rust completely, dey'll die. (Suppose I would want to do that to you, would I take my shoe or take your shoe?) Mah shoe. (And then put it under your house, put nine nails right through the sole. Drive them down inside or?) Yo' turn dem [shoes] upside down an' drive dem [nails] through dat way [demon- strates]. Dem [nails] come [through] on de inside sole.
(Up [out] through the inside of the shoe.)
Entry 5174
Well, now, de piece when yo' intendin' - when yo' wanta send 'em away, now yo'll take dat piece [insole] an' cut a piece out of it. An', yo' know, yo' have tuh talk tuh it in a diff'ren' way all de time. Well, when yo' take dat piece out de shoe, yo'll git de lef' foot. An' when yo' take dat outa dat, dat's de same as 'is [foot] track. An' yo' take dat out an' den yo' git chew nine of dese fo'- cornahed nails, ah jis' call 'em. An' den yo' git chew a piece of thread an yo' tie all nine of dem nails. Yo' tie 'em tuhgethah. An' when yo' tie dem tuh- gethah, den yo' git a piece of shame brier [see p.646], an' yo' wrop dat tuh- gethah. An' den yo' put it in a blue bottle or a green one, eithah one lak dat, but let it be dark. An' yo' kin throw it in any runnin' watah. He cain't he'p from leavin', he got'a follah dat. (Now about those nails. You wrap those nails up in this piece of the old shoe. That the idea?) Yessuh, jis' a li'le piece whut yo' got outa de ole shoe, but yo' let 'em set a li'le while. An' den, when yo' set it dere, all yo' have tuh do, throw dem ovah yore lef' shouldah an' it go in dat watah. Yo' see, dey goin' as fur as dat watah run. Dey follahs den an' dey compelled tuh go in dat direction.
Entry 5175
[Your left shoe] an' it's wore out an' yuh wanta half sole it, or yuh wanta put a whole sole on it, well she git de whole part of it, but she git it from de inside, not out- side. She git it from de inside, an' wit a piece of pastebo'd, an' den she cuts it. An' den she writes 'is name on it.
(On this pasteboard?)
Yes, sir. She writes it on dere an' she.bury it undah de steps, an' dat man's got'a come back. He cain't stay away.
(How many times does she write the name on there, just once?)
Wrote it nine times on dere.
(I see.)
Nine diff'ren' ways she write it on dat sole an' he got'a come back.
Entry 5176
Dat's not handy fo' yo' tuh do. Yo' git de inside piece of 'is shoe, yo' undahstan', yo' kin git dat inside piece of 'is shoes an' yo'll take dat inside piece of 'is shoe wit 'is name an' yo'll write his name in dere on a piece of paper. But yo' got de measure of dat whole feet, yo' got de whole measure [when you have the insole]. Now, yo'll git chew a piece of papah an' yo'll put 'is name nine times. Yo'll put - lak if it wuz me - my name at de top, an' den yo'll write it crossways heah ag'in, nine times. Den yo'll take dat measure an' yo'll put cinnamon in it an' yo'll put White Rose Perfume, an' yo'll dampen it good, an' yo'll put dat an' yo'll roll it towards yo'. See, yo' fold it towards yo' jis' as many times as yo' kin. See. Den yo'll go tuh work an' yo'll put a bran'-new needle. Yo'll pin a bran'-new needle in dat yo' see, an' yo' kin eithah put it in a bag or eithah put it in yore pil- lah or yore mattress. Dat'll keep 'im home. (You take the inner sole and you write his name nine times and yours across it. You put that paper and the sole together, and put those ingredients in, and then you roll it to you. And you can put it anywhere around you or put it in the mattress.) Anywheres.
Entry 5177
Den yo' git de shoes, yo' take - cut a li'le piece outa de bottom of dat shoe. When yo' cut a li'le piece outa de bottom of dat shoe, yo'll fix dat up in a li'le piece of cloth, a yellah homespun cloth. An' yo'll wind dat, yo' know, wit a string. An' yo'll have in dat nuthin but sulphuh an' eatin'-salt. An' yo'll put dat in dere, an' yo'll tie hit tuhgethah intuh dat li'le piece whut yo' cut out dat shoe. Well, now, if yo' hit [aim] tuh bring 'im back, well yo'll take a li'le piece of saltpetah an' yo'll put [make] dat in a powdahs - all dem into a powdahs, an' yo'll fix dat into dat li'le package. An' aftah, yo' wind dat li'le package up an' yo' bury dat at de back of yore house. An' when yo' put all dat in de back of de house, den yo' call 'im three times - woman or man - an' dey cain't he'p but follahin' back. Now, dat's fer as ah know 'bout dat.
(Do you wind it in any special way?)
No pahtic'lah way but jis' long as yo' know it tied.
(And can you send them away with the same thing?)
No suh, ah don' know if yo' send 'em away wit dat.
(You mean that piece in the shoe, that piece inside [insole] that you pul]
up?) Dat's right.
Entry 5178
Dey take de' lef'-foot shoe an' bury it undah de steps an' go out ev'y mawnin' fer nine mawnin's an' call 'im an' turn yore back. Call 'is name an' de ninth mawnin' he'll be back. (How do you turn your back? How do you mean?) Turn yore back - jes' like ah git up an' turn mah back tuh yo'.
(Do you turn your back to the house or do you turn your back some other way?)
Turn yore back towards de house [and face] in de way he's gone, de way he went. Yo' turn yore back dere an' yo' call 'im. Yo' call 'im nine mawnin's.
(You turn your back. You then face the way he's gone?)
Face de way he's gone an' call 'is name fer nine mawnin's.
Entry 5179
Yo' kin take a man's shoe an' take de inside of 'is shoe, take dat inside out an' wear it in yore nation sack, an' he cain't leave yo'. (Either shoe?) Eithah shoe. [For nation sack, see excellent account on p.1458, lines 7-44.]
Entry 5180
Yo' take de near sole [insole] outa anybody's shoes, jes' lak if yo want 'em tuh stay home or sompin all de time. Yo' take de left sole. Yo' know dat dere little piece be inside dere shoes, yo' take dat out an' fold it tuh yo'. Put it in a li'le sack. Sew it up an' wear it roun' yore waist.
Entry 5181
An' yo' kin take a new [right] shoe sole [inner sole]. Buy a new pair an' cut it half in two [see later], an' take a indelible pencil an' write chore name from lef' tuh right. Turn it [inner sole] around, write his name from right tuh left, [or backwards, his family name first and his given name in front of that] coming tuh yo'. The [inner] sole is split [lengthwise] so one half can be worn in each of the new shoes. Make wishes [for him to return]. They say that'll bring a person tuh yo, bring 'em undah yore control.
Entry 5182
Dey taken dis heah thin sole [insole] outen de inside of a shoe. Yo' know, dere's a little cloth sole in dere when yo' first buy it, eithah shoe. An' git dem nine fat [lighter pine] splinters an' wrap 'em up in dat sole, an' den crawl undah de house an' bury 'em undah de middle of de house, an' dat woman cain't rest fo' yo'. She will follah yo'. (You put that under her house or under yours?) Take it from 'er house an' put it undah mine. (You get the inside of her shoe and put it under your house.)
The account calls it a little cloth sole; insole is a bracketed editorial label.
Entry 5183
Ah know dat dey say dat chew take yore shoe, yo' take yore right shoe, ah - no, yo' take yore lef' shoe. YO' CAIN'T JES' BE POSITIVE IN EVAHTHIN' YO' DO. An' yo' take dat right shoe yo' know, an' yo' take de inside of dat little linin' [insole] down in de bottom. Dey take dat chew know an' dey put dat wit nine needles an' whut else ah do not know; but dey put dose nine needles in dere an' dey take dat an' dey bury it on de lef' cornah of de house. An' dey said, when dey do dat, dey got chew all fixed where dat chew cain't go nowhere. Yo'll jes' git to de place where yo'll be all worn out. Chew don't wanta do nuthin yo' jes' wanta stay at home an' lay in de baid.
Entry 5184
If she's away from me and I want to bring her back, I'll get nine old shoes, burn one each night at midnight with [nine] ingredients: egg shell, sul- phur, ashes, salt, pepper, alum, saltpeter, cloves, ginger, and walk around this fire and say, Send me my wife, sister or friend or whatever it is, back. And the ninth morning take this ashes, all from the whole nine mornings, and throw the ashes toward the direction the person is. You must have the wind blowing that direction. [The wind blowing the right direction on the 9th morning could make this a difficult rite.]
Entry 5185
Dat's anothah way dat dey are supposed tuh bring a person back. Yo' supposed tuh have nine ole shoes an' yo' supposed tuh put sugah an' bluestone an' dis very brown powdah dat looks lak - ah don't know now whethah it's - it's not de same. It has de same smell but it's not de same kinda powdah, but it supposed tuh be de same kinda powdah dat chew put on yo' - dat de women use on dey face. But howevah, dey call it love powdah. An' yo' sup- posed tuh put dose three things intuh dis heah [shoe] an' yo' supposed tuh burn one of dose shoes evah mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's till yo' burn all de shoes up. An' dat's tuh show yo' special favors an' control. Supposed tuh be controllin' powah ovah some individual dat chew interested in.
Entry 5186
Take his shoe an' burn it. Burn 'is shoe tuh ashes an' take de ashes an' bo' a hole in a oak tree an' stop it back up. Dat will kill 'im.
(What do you do burn up, both his shoes?)
No, one - de left shoe.
Entry 5187
If yuh wan' 'im tuh come back home, if he yore husban', yuh could take a couple of ole shoes. [If you] know he's done lef' some anywheres roun', yuh'll fin' 'em. Git two pair of ole shoes [one pair only, see later] an' yuh take one foot an' yuh turn it - de toe of it dis way, de way dey went yuh know. An' one [same shoe] dataway. An' de nex' one [second shoe], turn it back dis way [to the house]. Well, yuh bringin' 'im back home den, see. An' yuh say, "By de he'p of God yuh went away from home, but by de he'p of God, ah wan' chew tuh come back." (Where do you put those shoes?) Put 'em [right shoe] in front of yore house - take one [left shoe] tuh de back an' one [right] tuh de front. (What do you mean, to the front or to the back of the house?) Jes' have tuh take dis foot chere - left foot, put it tuh de back. Turn de toe goin' 'way from de house like he goin'way. Take de right one an' take hit an' turn hit tuh de front - let de toe out tuh de front. Dat's bringin' 'im back. Yuh say, "By de he'p of God yuh Went away, y de he'p of God this is tuh bring yuh back." (Do you put those shoes under the ground or just put them on top of the ground?) Put 'em on top of de groun', right lak dat. Needn't covah dem up atall, jes' put 'em right on de groun'.
Entry 5188
Take dem an' burn 'em, dese ole shoes. Dey have tuh be a pair yo' know, jes' one of each pusson, if yuh kin git de ole ones. An' take de sole outa dem, an' yuh burn 'em an' git de ashes, an' dey cain't go any place wit'out chew sayes fo' dem tuh. (What do they do with those ashes?) Well, yuh keep 'em - yuh bury dem yuhself. Yuh keep 'em. Lak if dere's somebody heah an' yuh don' wan' 'em tuh go, yuh git one of yore shoes an' one of deres - de lef' of deres - an' yuh burn 'em down tuh a ashes an' yuh keep dem ashes yuh- self or bury 'em.
(You get the left shoe?)
Yeah, de lef' of evahthin'.
Entry 5189
Yo' kin git a person's shoe heel an' yo' kin put it, yo' know, in a stove or somewhere yo' know. An' bake it where it'll be, yo' know, right crunchy lak pie or somepin othah lak dat. An' put it in, yo' know, where de sun kin hit it, an' run 'em crazy - run 'em slap outa town. (That all you have to do?) Dat's all yo' have tuh do. Put it yo' know in some place where nobody cain't bothah it. Run 'em slap outa town.
(Use both heels, you say?)
Eithah one.