Browse:THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF (Volume 4, entries 5206–8881)/Part 10
THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF
Volume 4, entries 5206–8881. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 5926
Well, dey tell me, all yo' gotta do is jes' - if yo' kin git clost enough to 'im, git 'is hair out 'is haid an' put it right up undah yo' hat.
(Under the hatband?)
Yes, an' wear it on yore haid. He'll come back home.
(A woman would wear that in her hat?)
Yes, an' he come back to her.
Entry 5927
Take yore hair out chure haid an' put it in yore hat an' dress it - have it dressed - an' put it in yore hat an' wear it an' it will run yo' crazy.
(Whose hat do they put that in? Her hat or his hat?)
His hat.
Entry 5928
Yo' kin dress it in dis way. Yo' kin take some of 'is outa de mole [mold] of 'is haid, an' take dat an' put it back undah de sweatban', an' dat, too, will stop 'im.
(Stop him from running around?)
Yes.
Entry 5929
[Well, I tell yo' [about hair] in makin' love, an' den yo' kin take hair an' make 'em love yo'. I'll tell yo' mah experience from makin' love an' takin' hair. Take a twist in de mole of she [her] haid - yo' know, de soft part of de haid where de baby's haid is jointed [joined]. [This soft part is also called the soft spot - see FACI 1st ed., Nos.2593-2594,2736,2762.] Yo' kin take a twist in de mole of she haid, like dat. Yo' kin slip out a piece 'bout dis long, about a quartah of a inch of she hair, an' wrap it up in a silk twine, po' Hearts Cologne on it, roll it up an' put it in de sweatband of yo' hat. Weah dat. Why she go but she come back, regardless of where she go, an' he do nuthin [else]. Co'se she - she'll Devah have no love fo' him.
Entry 5930
Yo' take a man if 'is wife quit 'im. See. He kin take piece of 'er hair, git it out de lef' side. Cut a piece off if she got long hair, cut a piece off her plait if she sleep at night - any time he kin git it. He could plant dat piece of hair, see. She ain't gwine 'way. If she in Chicago, she comin' back. Plant dat hair - plant it in 'er house or out do's. Yo' kin plant it in de house wit 'er wall - lak a mantelpiece roun' where dey put de foundation of concrete. Take yo' some cement an' take a little augah an' put dat piece of hair down an' plastah it undah dere. Dat's yore own busi- ness. An' she gonna come dere. Ah don't [care] wherevah she goes, she comin back dere. An' dey do de men in de same way, but if he leaves de house, den yo' write his name or 'er name down on a papah, an' yo' kin put it in a lamp, or put it amdah de candle. Burn it. Dat brings deyself. An' now ah don' care how much dey fussin' in a house or whut dey doin' or how mch dey cut up, take some table salt, jis' de plain table salt, an' throw it on de fiah an' burn it. Dat breaks dat - do's it right now. Ah kin throw it right at 'em - dat ceased. Dey don' have tuh go on fussin'. Dat brings back love an' hy dat hair's planted. When she goes, she comin' back dere.
Entry 5931
Dey take de hair off de left side of yore haid, yo' know, an' de toe- mils, an' scrape de bottom of yore foot ah think. Dat's tuh make de man love e - or love yuh, or stick [stay] aroun' yuh some Way or othah. (What do they do with that stuff?) Dey bury it - undah de front de do'step. If dey want chew dey put it undah yore do'step.
Entry 5932
I say, dey say dey kin take yore hair, see, jes' a clip of yore hair Octa yore head - I think it's on de lef' side, see - an' take it an' bury it wit some soda an' table salt fo' nine days. An' den dig it up an' sew it in a bag an' wear it. An' what- eah dey say dey wanta to it [whatever they tell the bag they want done], why yo lin be wishin' it. Dey say it'll come true - if dey run yo' crazy or make love Tvhatevah dey desire.
Entry 5933
Den if yo' wan'a woman tuh leave yo' or if yo' wan'a git rid of 'er - lf yo' goin' wit a woman an' yo' ti'ed [tired] of 'er - take a stran' of 'er hair eff de lef' side of 'er hair, two stran's ah say, an' go to some runnin' watahan throw it in dis watah, an' it'll go upstream. [Informant probably means hair will float upstream rather than throw it into incoming tide.] An' if she don' leave, she'll eithah die. Yo'll git rid of 'er some way. She goin' do one 'tothah [one or the other].
Entry 5934
Uh-huh, fer love. A person takes two stran's of yore hair, see; dey pulls it if dey kin by de roots, see. But if dey can't, at night when yuh are asleep, especially if yore wife or husband dat's sleepin' wit yuh, dey jerks dat out as quick as dey kin. Dey take two stran's, see.
(From where do they pull it now?)
Uh-hah - right heah, see.
(The left side of the temple.)
Uh-hah, takes it from de left side of de temple, an' dey jerks it out. An' dey gits dis clovah oil an' dey puts dat into a bottle. Dey gits Hearts Cologne an' dey puts dat - an' mix it up intuh a bottle. Dey carries it to runnin'watah an'( dey throws it in. An' dat's tuh make yuh love, see. But dey want it tuh go down de stream, instead of up. If it go up dat's fo' bad. See, if it goes down de stream dat's fo' good. Dey want chew to love 'em. Dey got chew all at dere command, see; an' dere's nuthin yuh kin do. [Normally the throwing of hair into running water is not a love rite, as we have seen; but our informant, marked excellent, turns it into a rite of love by adding Hearts Cologne and clover oil to the bottled hair, and by using A BELIEF OCCASIONALLY FOUND ALONG THE TIDEWATER REGION: ANYTHING GOING DOWNSTREAM OR OUT WITH THE TIDE IS A RELEASE OR GOOD WORK, AND ANYTHING GOING UPSTREAM OR COMING IN WITH THE TIDE IS A CONFUSION OR BAD WORK.]
Entry 5935
Yo' kin take de hair outa de fron' of yo' head an' de hair outa de back of yore head an' put it togethah an' keep it an' dat'll keep yore love togethah. (How do you mean? You take the hair out of the front of your own head?) Like ah'm a wumman, ah take de hair outa de fron' of yore head an' de hair outa de back of mah haid, an' put it togethah an' ah keep it, an' ah keep yo' mah fren' - mah lovah.
Entry 5936
Well, ah've seen dis happen. Lived in West Palm Beach [Florida]. Mah home is in Savannah [Georgia]. Me an' a pal, a boy, we goes down dere durin' de season. Yo' mighta remembah when de boom wus on in Florida. Well, now it wus kinda of a rich girl dere, yo' undahstan', an' he wanted tuh git in wit 'er, git a chance tuh beat 'er out some of 'er dough. AH GUESS YO' UNDERSTAN' WHUT AH'M TALKIN' ABOUT. An' so he wus in love wit 'er yo' understan', an' so he got some of 'er hair an' he goes tuh de Ten Cent Sto' an' git 'im a tall bottle of dis Hearts Cologne an' he take dis ball [curl] outa 'er hair an' puts it in dere an' totes it in 'is pocket. Well, jes' as long as he kept dat hair dere, she would be jes' wil' [wild] about 'im, an' evah time she could git a dime from 'er mothah or 'er fathah, why he got it. Why me an' 'im both got it an' spent it in enjoyment. De girl like tuh went crazy an' ah had to take it 'way from 'im an' throw it away.
Entry 5937
Ah heard yo' kin take a person's hair an' put Hearts Cologne on it an' wear it, an' de person dat dat hair come from it will cause dem to llke yo'.
Entry 5938
Take de hair an' put it in a bottle of perfume an' yo' kin take it an' wear it on yo', an' dat'll make yo' come back to dem.
(That will make the person come back if you do that?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5939
Yo' take a person's hair an' yo' shet it up in a bottle wit Hearts Cologne an' yo' bury it. An' when yo' bury it, aftah it stay dere sech a lengt' of time... [There is a long pause and I interrupt.] (How long Would it have to stay there?) Well, dey says [after] nine days, yo' finda, yo'll begin tuh have a headache. From time tuh time - it 'cordin' tuh how yore blood stand, it li'ble tuh run yo' crazy, if yo' don't find someone tuh relieve yo' of it.
(Someone to get the bottle?)
Yes.
Entry 5940
Take de hair - jes' lak yo' gits de hair right out de mole of yo' haid, place it in a Hearts Cologne bottle an' stop it up real tight. Let it stay in dere a certain length of time an' take it somewhere an' bury it.
(What will that do?)
Dey say dat run yo' crazy 'bout a person. (About this person. What do you mean, you let it stay there a certain length of time?) Well, nine days.
(You let it stay in this bottle nine days. Then what do you do with it?)
Dey take it up an' jes' lay it - jes' let stay dere if dey wanta. Let it stay dere fo' nine days an' finish de nine days why de work is did.
(This begins to work after nine days.)
Entry 5941
Ah kin take - jes' lak if ah wanted to take de hair out of a woman's haid. Well, ah gits dat hair, see, out de mole of 'er haid an' puts it into a little bottle an' put some Hearts Cologne into it, an' den take it an' bury it somewhere roun' de house, an' she will be in love wit chew.
(This hair and Hearts Cologne?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5942
Dey kin run yo' crazy wit chure hair. Dey kin take two stran' of yore hair - two or three stran' of yore hair - an' put it in a cologne bottle an' put some more dat cologne in dat bottle. An' bury it an' it run yo' crazy, makes chew lose yore mind.
Entry 5943
(First, they get what?)
Yo' hair an' buy bottle of Hearts's Perfume an' stop it up an' bury it umdah de right [side of] do'steps. That will run yo' crazy.
Entry 5944
Ah've heered 'em say - well, lak ah heered a guy say once he wuz goin' wit a girl an' he fell in deep, in love wit dis girl, an' she didn't seem tuh care anythin' much about 'im. He wuz very much in love wit 'er. So he tuk a stran' of hair out de mole of dis girl's haid, an' he tuk it an' put it in a bottle of Heart's Cologne, an' throwed it in a stream of strong runnin' watah. An' he said in about two months or three months aftah dat he tuk dis hair an' throwed it in a stream of watah in dis Hearts Co- logne in dis bottle, it wuzn't long 'fore dis girl wuz crazy.
Entry 5945
Ah heard 'em say yo' could git some hair from in de mole of yore haid, an' take an' git chew a bottle of Hearts Cologme an' put it in dere an' put a stoppah in it, an' throw it in runnin' watah an' it would run yo' crazy.
Entry 5946
Ah heard dem say dey take yore hair an' put it in a Hearts Cologne bottle an' throw it ovahbo'd an' it will run yo' crazy.
(Do you mean an empty Hearts Cologne bottle?)
Wit de Hearts Cologne in it.
Entry 5947
An' ah tole him [my contact man Edward Bufford] 'bout takin' de hair from de mole of yuh haid, an' takin' an' puttin' it in a bottle of cologne, an' go tuh any kinda runnin' stream an' jis' drop it ovah. An' dat wuz anothah way tuh git rid of 'em, run 'em away.
Entry 5948
Well, mah sistah, dey nevah did git along, dey'd always be hollerin' an' goin' on an' fussin'. I guess he got between 'er an' some man. She wuz tuh marry someone else an' dis fellah tol' 'er dat he wuz gon'a have 'er. Of co'se she nevah would - she took it tuh be a joke. An' sure enough he got revenge. So he taken, I guess by goin' tuh bed or somepin lak dat, he taken an' cut some hair from de top of 'er haid, an' 'er track, an' raked it fo'ward lak dat, from de heel to de toe, an' put it in some Hearts of Cologne an' put it in runnin' watah. An' she went crazy an' fin'lly she died.
Entry 5949
Well, dey take a piece of hair out de middle of de mole of yore haid, an' dey [take] dat hair out de mole of yore haid an' dey git a perfume dey calls Hearts Cologne. An' take dat Hearts Cologne an' dey take dat hair an' put it in dat Hearts Cologne bot- tle, an' take dat bottle an' stop it up well. Den aftah leavin' dis bottle stay aroun' 24 hours, den dey take a or'nary [ordinary] person, jes' lak yo' is man dat has a gurl dat he thinks well of an' somepin lak dat. Yo' take de fingahnail - take de dirt. An' poke between [clean] yore fin- gahnails is protection to yore body. Well, dey take an' cut off all dat fingah- nail an' all dat filth [you left under your nails] an' de' put it in dat bottle, if dey poss'bly kin get holt of it, an' dat will DRIVE A PERSON UNSANE - JES' LAK A "SHORT MIND", YO' THINKS NOW AN' AFTAH WHILE YO' CAN'T THINK. Dat mind at pre- sent is gone.
Entry 5950
Well, if a woman wants a man tuh go crazy 'bout 'er she'll take dat hair an' she'll sew it in dat newhome- spun an' slip it in de hem of 'er underskirt, dose bottom pieces yo' know, an' wear it in dere. Well, de man will cling to dat woman lak dat.
Entry 5951
Den yo' kin take dat hair ag'in tuh make 'em love yo'. Yo' git de hem of yore dress, an' yo' take de hair an' yo' put it aroun' in de hem of de dress, see; or eithah in any hem. Sew it an' jes' wear it in dere all de time, see. An' yo' gotta keep 'im.
Entry 5952
Take a stran' out yore hair an' some weahs it in de bottom [hem] of dere undahskirts. Dat'll make dat man love 'em, [or] tuh bring 'em back.
Entry 5953
Dey tell me yo' git a - say fo' instan', now ah wanta do yo' some harm, yo' know. Yo' comb yore hair yo' know wit a comb. Well, yo' know lotsa times yo' leave hair in de comb, a little bit of yore hair. Well, yo' git dat hair out de comb an' den yo' take an' git a horsehair outa de mane, yo' bre, a'yo' put it in a vial an' bury it [both types of hair]. Jes' lak yo' stayin' beah am'ah bury it undah yore do' or somepin lak dat, dhy it'll do yo' all de harm yo' [ah] want. (What kind of harm will it do then?) Well, it will, yo' know, Zingah yo' an' all de time yo' be's sick an' undah de weathah. An' it's a good way to make a woman love yo', t too. [HERE IS DOUBLE- EDGED MAGIC. WHICH EDGE DEPENDS UPON YOUR INTENTION.]
Entry 5954
A person kin take yore hair, see kin take it like dat, an' walk right to dis wall [of interviewing room], eight steps to it, dig a little hole, an' set it in dere an' stop it up. Yo'll go rav- in' crazy.
Entry 5955
[Informant speaks about intention, a word rarely used in hoodoo though its presence is everywhere; it being the power behind potive, ritual and desired result. As informant says, the present rite wouldwork eithah way, depending upon intention. Many rites work either Way - see preceding HORSEHAIR. Dey says dat dey could give good luck by taking yore hair an' mixin' it up wit othah ingredients.
(Do you know what the other ingredients are?)
Well, such as salt an' pepper an' common things of dat kind. An' put it into a little bag an' bury it undah de doorstep, an' if dere's no steps to de house, hy close roun' de house, where de person would step ovah dat in an' out of de bouse. An' dey claim dat would eithah - it would work eithah way. It would Sork so as to keep de people livin' in dat house or to move 'em out, whichevah gay dat de intentions were fer it to go. (Well suppose you intended them to stay in, would you have to do anything ex- cra? Say anything or do anything? How would you express your intention?) Well, yo'd express yore intention in dis way, in de same mannah. If yore intention wuz to keep dem in de house, why yo' would do jes' de same, use de sue ingredientses an'.... (You would form your opinion. That determined whether they were to stay or to go.) To stay or to go.
Entry 5956
Anything like a person's hair, you take that, you see, and you get this srahpin' twine. Now, then you take a red flannel or new yellow cotton, it's a homespun, and just a square, and make the little bag, four cor- ners. And you wrahp it up. You kin wrahp ar eitherwise you kin sew it. But always bring it towards yah, and tie it in a fat knot and make your wish. If you're wrahping it, chew know, why evah knot, cvah time you wraap, you wish that he may come to you, and you wish that he may be yours, and you wish that he may be mine and do whatever I want him to do, and sish that he may gave me mah money, and this In the Name of God. I wish that he Se united in holy matrimony, or anything like that. You see, just whatever your Tishes is. And then, you see, you tie it. And each time you wrahp it towards Rh, why that's bringing him to yah, bringing the person to yah. And you tie 1. And the last knot you tie is the last wish that chew make. You wish that Lemay be yours or may be mine all entirely and do just as I say In the Name Of God.
Entry 5957
All right ah'm gon'a tell yo'. Ah known a frien' of mine run wit one of mah frien' [friend's] girls, women, heah yeah befo' las'. He had 'er to git, to steal some of her hair down heah, some of her hair while she - an' she sick, yo' know. An' she got dat, she got dat an' tied it up in a - put it in some watah. Put it in a jug an' tied it up an' run 'er crazy. She nevah did git bettah. She had to leave home an' she died right den in de hospital.
Entry 5958
If yo' wanted to keep a person, yo' take de hair out of de mole of dere head, an' yo' take dis wit othah things dat I tole yo' 'bout concernin' de cloth dat dey use. An' yo' wrap dis togethah around. Jes' take yo' a cotton string an' ball dis hair togethah an' tie it jes' as tight as yo' kin. An' tie it in a little bag wit de bow of de hat.
Entry 5959
Take some of yore hair out de temple an' take a piece of band outa yore hat, an' sew it up in a piece of cloth an' wear [tie] it between dere laigs. Dat'll make yo' love 'er. (Who would do this, the woman?) Yes sir.
Entry 5960
Dey kin take yore hair an', yo' know, tear a piece off yore shirttail, an' wear [tie] it roun' dere laig an' dat'll make a man love yuh. Well, ah've tried dat.
(Well now, what do they do with this hair?) Wear it roun' dere laig. (Oh, they put this hair in this shirttail.) An' wear it roun' dere laig. (Either leg?)
Yore right laig.
Entry 5961
Well, if dey git some of yore hair, dey could take it in de lock [hinge] of de knee heah.
(In what?)
Yo' know, right roun' de knee heah. Tie it roun' wit sompin, a string or sompin lak dat, an' make yo' love 'em lak dat. Or eithah put it into some perfume.
Entry 5962
Ah don't know how much truth is in it, but ah have heard dat dey take yore hair from de mole of a man's head, but he mus' be asleep an' not know anythin' about dis bein' done. An' in doin' dat, tie it in a piece of cloth an' wear it aroun' yore left laig, an' dey say dat if he nevah gits aholt of dat - nevah finds out dat chew have it - yo'll be able tuh control 'im an' keep 'im.
Entry 5963
Yo' kin take it [hair], jes' cut a stran' or so, a long stran', an' tie it in a knot jes' lak dat [demonstrates]. An' yo' kin burn it or yo' kin bury it. (What will that do to me?) It'll hurt chah in a way, or eithah it will run yo' crazy, or keep yo' wit a terrible headache or sompin lak dat.
Entry 5964
Yo' kin take a lady's hair an' make her love yo' all right, if it's lady yo' want an' yo' kin git a chance tuh play wit 'er an' git a stran' of 'er hair. Take it an' wrap it up in some sulphur an' burn it in sompin, but don' burn it up. See, burn it in sulphur, put it in sompin an' burn it. An' take some mo' an' mix all in dat, an' take yore hair an' wrap it up in dat, an' tie it in de cornah of yore pocket han'kechuf an' tote' it in yore pocket. It will draw de woman to yo', so dey tell me. Ah nevah experienced it.
(This hair from the top of her head?)
Yassuh, have tuh git it from de roots.
Entry 5965
Take de hair if yo' wanta gain a person like a frien'. All right, chew take de hair right out de mole of de head an' yo' takes it an' takes dis perfume. Or yo' may give it a little twist, an' take one of dese little cotton strings an' tie it at each end, an' yo' puts about 'leven drops of perfume in it - an' yo' [puts] dis in it. Dat's to keep it moist an' keep it goin' [feeding it]. Jes' as long as yo' feed, dat's as long as dey gonna stick [to you], an' if it gits dry, dey dries up on yo'.
(As long as you keep that package moist.)
It jes' keeps 'em to love yo'
(If this dries up the person will die?)
No, he won't die but [if it dries up] he won't like yo'. Dat's to gain in love.
Entry 5966
Git chure hair an' run yo' crazy.
(What do they do with it?)
What dey do? Dey tie it up in knots an' put it in a book. Conceal it. Or othahwise dey could tie it in knots an' put it down in perfume [in a bottle]. (Put it in a book and seal it?) Put it in a book and let it stay in dere - yo' know jes' close it same as [you press] a leaf. [At the turn of the century and earlier the pressing of plant leaves in a book was a common practice.l An' den dey kin take it an' tie it in three knots as much [tight] as possible - jes' tie in three knots an' put It down in perfume bottle an' stop it up in dere, so nobody can't get to it atall, so derefore, why it will commence to run yo' crazy. Yo." will always suf- fah wit de headache. An' it will start right from here [demonstrates], right in de back dere.
(Right in the back of the head. Well, where will it go from there?)
Well, it transfah [demonstrates]. STARTS RIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND GOES ON TO THE FOREHEAD.
Entry 5967
Take a stran' of yore hair jes' as near de mole of yore head as yo' Kin, an' yo' kin take it an' take one stran' an' tie it into three knots. An crah mawnin' jes' at de dawn of daylight - de firs' mawnin' clip one dose knots out an' put it in de sweat of yore hatban' [sweat- bandl an' tote it arom' until de second morning. An' take dat stran' of hair out dere, dat first hot chew cut out, an' smoke it in yore cigaret right aroun' de forehead where de party [he or she] kin inhale de smoke of it. Well, dat is bringin' dere min' nearah towards yo'. An' de fo'th [second, see later] mawnin' clip de nex knot out. Yo' takes dat an' yo' take yo' a white piece of bran'-new homespun cloth an' ties it aroun' yore wais' an' keeps dat right nex' to yore skin. Dat nex' [third] morning take de nex' piece [knot] dat chew got clipped off from dose two piece [knots] an' yo' put it in yore pocketbook dat chew keep greenback [money] in dere. An' tote dem evahwhere yo' go. [Dem = smoke, waist, pocketbook]. An' jes' as long as a Woman dat yo' Wants - SHE'LL BE HANGIN' BY YO' UNTIL YO' MAKE OTHAH ARRANGEMENTS TO BREAK LOOSE FROM 'ER.
(You do that each morning?)
Each mawnin' until yo' use de last stran'.
(You do it the first morning, the second morning and then the third morning?)
Yes.
(And what did you say - you said, if you had something in your pocketbook?)
De las' piece - de las' stran' dat yo' cut off put in yore pocketbook an' keep it in dere if yo' got any greenback.
Entry 5968
Yo' wants de woman an' man be fightin' all de time - yo' wants de man outa here. Well, see, jes' like yo' wuz de woman's sweetheart. Undahstan'? An' yo' want 'im outa dere. See, you'd make her git some of 'is hair. Undahstan'? Tie de cord string aroun' it. Undahstan'? An' put fo' knots in it an' wear it right aroun' 'is waist, an' dat will cuz de man to leave dere an' dis othah man'll come in.
(I would put that around my waist?)
Yes, sir.
(To make that other man go away?)
Dat's [that's to] cuz 'im to be battlin' an' she'd tell 'im she would leave 'im.
[Since the house is the woman's, this means he must leave.]
(I see.)
[Years ago, soon after its collection, I marked this rite doubtful, but it is quite possible. The man who Wants into the house has complete control over the man within the house. The 4 knots symbolize the four corners of the earth [Rev- elation 7:1] often concerned with sending-away rites.]
Entry 5969
If anybody git any of yore hair, dey kin run yo' crazy with it. Tie it in five knots, if it's long 'nuff, an' throw it in de rivah. Ah knows dat.
Entry 5970
Jes' lak if yo' love a man an' yo' wants 'im. Well, if yo' kin git a strand of 'is hair out 'is haid or eithah a strand from below see, an' take it an' put it into - yo' know, jes' put it in sompin dat chew kin tie it in knots. Take it an' tie it aroun' yore waist an' wear it. He'll be wit yo' all de time.
(You said so many knots before.)
Nine knots dey say.
Entry 5971
Ah heard dat dey could take a stran' of yore hair an' tie it into nine knots, an' dat will make yo' leave.
(What will they do with that hair then?) Well, dey puts it in de rivah for tuh drive 'em.
Entry 5972
Now if dere a ole lady yo' can't git away from yore house- dere a ole lady dere or someone roun' dere an' yo' want 'em tuh leave an' yo' can' git rid of 'em, stick roun' wit 'em where de man git 'is hair cut or sompin lak dat. Git some of 'is hair, see. Git some of 'is hair an' put 'is hair in a little flannel rag an' use some Heart Cologne. An' yo' take dis hair an' dis Eeart Cologne an' yo' do it up in dis rag. Don't sew it, yo' tie wit cotton string an' yo' do it up good. An' jes' befo' yo' do it up, tie nine knots in it, jes' about a inch from de end of de cotton string. Tie nine hard knots in it an' 'noint 'em all good in spirits of turpentine, an' make a wish evahtime yo' make a tie. See. Evahtime yo' make a tie in it, wrap it aroun' an' make a tie. Well, yo' make a tie fo' nine times, an' den jes' put it in yore pocket an' walk on tuh a runnin' creek an' throw it in dere, an' don't look back, keep a-goin'. Yo' won't have any trouble wit 'em atall no mo'.
(Runs him away.)
Yessuh, he gone.
Entry 5973
If someone wuz tuh take yore hair tuh run yo' crazy, dey'll begin tuh take yore hair - takes nine stran's of yore hair. Dey wouldn't take ovah nine stran's of it. Dey'll tie around it de third time - take it jes' lak yo' wrap yore hair wit a string, a thread wrop aroun' it de third time. An' dey'll tie nine knots in it. Den dey'll take it an' take it at 'leven a'clock in de mawnin' - no, dey go in de mawnin' at 'leven a'clock, an' be dere at 'leven a'clock, to any runnin' watah an' throw it in dere. Dat's jes' all tuh git chw 'vay from heah. Throw it in dere, says, "Take him away, take him away, take him aaay. Nevah return. He's trouble long enough." Yo' goin' leave dere.
Entry 5974
Yo' kin take some of a person hair an' put in a bottle an' stop it up an' yo' carry dat bottle wit yo' evahwhere yo' go. An' dat person, nowhere dey go - an' dey keep a headache, dey keep sick - an' nowhere dey go dey would be satisfied. Yo' kin take nine stran's of a person's hair an' Put nine knots in it an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' in nine days dat person sull die.
(Take nine strands of their hair and you tie nine knots in that hair?)
An' yo' kin throw it in runnin' watah an' in nine days dey'll be daid.
Entry 5975
An' if yo' got a sweetheart an' she got long hair, yo' wants tuh make er love yo'. She got long hair, yo' take nine: knots in 'er hair; if yore girl frien's got long hair, yo' make nine knots in 'er hair. An' if she got short hair, yo' git nine stran's of 'er hair. An' put it in a bottle of Heart Cologne an' stop it up tight an' yo' use it fo' nine mawnin's. Yo' jes' put it right on yore body fo' nine mawnin's, quit off fo' nine mawnin's. When yo' use up de whole bottle of Heart Cologne, den yo' use it as reg'lah as yo' feel lak. Dat's tuh make yore girl frien' love
Entry 5976
If she got holda some of yore hair, hit's a powdah dat she could go tuh de drug sto' an' git, dat we call Sweetheart Powdah. An' she could take dat piece af hair an' sew it up in a bag, an' she could wear it on her left side, an' yo ooaldn't stay 'way from 'er tuh save yore life. (Where would she wear it on the left side? Any part of the left side?) Any part - round her waist, or she could pin it intuh one of 'er undahpiece, an'
[or] wear it right nex' tuh 'er heart, don't yo' see.
Entry 5977
Well, dey git de hair out de top of 'is haid. Well dey have tuh have nine stran's of de hair out de top of 'is haid befo' dey kin come tuh make him weak. But de hair got tuh be out de locks befo' he kin come to weak [like] cotton tuh 'er. Dey take an' dey wrap de hair aroun' a match stick, de nine grains [strands] of hair aroun' a match stick, an' dey bury it undah de step Way [where] he got'a come in an' Out. AN' AS HE TRACKS OVAH DAT EVAH TIME, HE'S TAKIN' 'IS OWN STRENGTH. He takes 'is own strength. Yes sir, de locks right in de mole [mold] of yuh haid.
Entry 5978
Dey take yore hair an' dey will run yo' crazy. Dey take dat hair an' put it in a bottle an' put it in milk, new milk, an' put sugah in dat, an' put dis heah red cayenne peppah, an' put some of 'is chamber lye in dat, an' close it up air- tight. Dat will do de work.
(What do you do With that bottle then?)
Yo' carry it in yore pocket.
(You put all this stuff in the bottle?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5979
Dey take yore hair - jes' lak noW, YO' WANTA RUN ME PLAIN OUTA DIS ROUN' WoRLD. Yo' don't wanta kill me, jes' keep me goin' an' ah'll nevah stop. Dey take mah hair, a plait of it, an' dey'll tie a string on each end, an' dey'll ketch dis mockin'bird an' tie it round dis mockin'- bird's neck. An' dey tell me as long as dat mockin'bird live an' go, dey say yo' goin' de same Way. Yo'll nevah have no mo' sense or no mind or nuthin.
Entry 5980
I've heard them say they could take your hair and boil it in black molasses, and then take it and put it out in the sun and let the sun get at it. And take it and put it in the cellar or some dark place. And when it is dark go down there and talk to the hair and tell it what you want it to do to this person. And the hair will do whatever you say.
Entry 5981
She disliked me.
(Who disliked you?)
This woman.
(I see. All right.)
She disliked me an' ah tole 'er [told her] ah had de headache, an' she couldn't give it to me herself, see. By me bein' young, she wus gon'a fool me. She tole me, she said, "Yo' git yo' some salt- petah an' sprinkle it in yore hair, an' evah mawnin' fer nine mawnin's aftah de new moon, " she say, "yo' git up an' meet de risin' sun an' comb yore hair fo'wards."
(Comb your hair what?)
Comb yore hair fo'wards.
(Comb your hair forwards, I see.)
An' ah say, "Ah nevah did comb mah hair dat way." She say, "It's not goin' hurtcha [hurt you]." An' ah went to anothah woman an' de othah woman tole me dat she wuz tryin' to run me crazy; said it wuz goin' make me go crazy if ah put dat saltpetah in mah hair an' combed it to de moon - [I mean] to de sun lak she done tell me.
(That would make you go crazy, you say? I see.)
Yes.
Entry 5982
Well, yo' kin take de hair outa de mole of a person's haid an' run 'em crazy. Yo' kin do dat. (How would you do that?) Well, yo' take de hair outa de mole of dere haid an' yo' takes an' yo' puts it in a bottle, an' yo' buries it in a bottle, an' yo' buries it on de da'k of de moon. See, dat's mah experience 'bout dat.
(And that runs them crazy?)
Yes, sir.
(I see.)
Entry 5983
Dey say dey kin take a bran'-new nail an' some of de hair out chure clothes, some dis way off yore laig - out chure undahweah, yo' undahstan' - an' dey kin wrap it aroun' a bran'-new nail an' stick it right in de centah of de floor [often under carpet or rug], an' yo'll surely stay as long as dey want chew to stay. [Center of the floor is the fifth point of a quin- cunx.] (Well, you told me a certain number of hairs.) Nine - nine stran's. [That preceding hair off yore Laig, changed to out chure undahweah, would have been rare. Armpit hair is used in Hoodoo, but I do not recall any leg hair. Or does informant mean pubic hair?)
Entry 5984
Ef dey git holt yore hair, dey could lead yo'. Yo' could take dat hair an' yo' kin grease dat hair, an' yo' kin wrap it aroun' a rusty nail an' tack it up side de wall, an' he's goin' go wherevah dat hair is.
Entry 5985
In othah words, if it's someone yo' want, ah kin take three nails an ah kin drive three nails down, yo' know, in de ground; an' den ah kin take one [and] drive it up in de steps. An' take yore hair from roun' yore loins, any- where from roun' down dere, an' wrap it roun' dat nails all de way up. It won't be long befo' yo'll be back dere regardless of where yo' gone. (You have three nails in the ground, and one up in de step. You wound this bair on the one under the step?) Dat's right. [That is right, but it appears to me now that the hair could have been wrap- ped about all four nails.]
Entry 5986
Well, if she kin git 'im back she go to de Ten Cent Sto' an' buy her a bottle of Hearts Cologne, if she kin git in touch wit 'im to git dat much of hair oata his haid - a strand of hair. Put it to de Hearts Cologne. Turn de bottle apside down an' call 'is name. When he answah, screw de top - shut de voice up in dere an' he can't stay away. HE'LL COME BACK IN SMILES.
(She does this when he is gone. She gets some of his hair?)
His hair. She hide some place while he gone, an' whensoevah he come in, she has his hair in de bottle, an' jes' call 'im quickly. He'll glance up quickly. Screw de top. She's got 'im. [To hold a bottle of perfume upside down with the cork stopper unloosened, while calling a name and waiting for an answer, could be a delicate operation. But we must realize that the cork is barely untwisted and that the spirit in the answering voice can fly - or what- ever a spirit does - through the smallest crack.] [For catching spirit in a bot- tle, see p.24.]
Entry 5987
Yo' clip de fingahnails - all yore fingahnails. Git nine stran's of hair out de top of yore haid, if he's gone, an' call 'is name an' say, "Ah'm tyin' yo' up an' yo'll evah be tied until yo' come back home tuh me." Tie dem up, an' if yo got any piece of 'is clothes at all, wrap it up in 'is clothes an' bury dat at de foot of yore steps.
Entry 5988
Okay, we have a way of gittin' a new piece of cloth an' ballin' it [hair] up tight. Sew it up an' soak it in Hearts Cologne an' throw it away. An' say a evil prayer an' call yo' name. (What will that do?) Dat's hard luck tuh yo'. (What do you do with the hair?) We ball it up in dis sewed cloth. Jes' sew it up an' say a evil prayer an' call yore name after soakin' in Hearts Cologne.
Entry 5989
If dey hurt chew wit yore hair.
(How do they do that?)
How dey do dat wit yore hair? Dey take yore hair an' dey wrap it up in a piece of papah an' git yore name an' put yore name in dere an' burn it, an' burn it undah de lamp. (Under the lamp?) Undah de lamp. See, lak yo' got a lamp settin', put it right undah de lamp wit yore name an' yore hair. An' dat'll - it jes' worry yo' an' run yo' away.
(I see. You mean just write the name on the paper once?)
Put yore name once.
Entry 5990
Dey drive yuh crazy. Yuh kin do good an' yuh kin do bad. Well, dey take dis hair an' dey put it in a bottle, an' put a little salt an' red peppah. Dey write de person's name on dis slip of papah an' put it in de bottle an' stop it up tight. Yuh go tuh runnin' watah an' throw it ovah yuh shouldah backwards into dat watah. An' jis' since dat watah always runnin', why dat person will jis' go an' jis' go. Evah time dey git a place, dey stay a little an' dey not satisfied. Dey'll go ag'in. Finely [finally] dey'll jis' go an' quit.
Entry 5991
Say, fo' instan', if a man's got a woman an' he's got a little compe- tition an' den he git her fingernail or her toenail, an' den he gits some hair from de mole of her haid an' he take this toenails an' hair an' he'll put it in a bag, say, of a piece of red flannel an' sew it an' he'll write this person name nine times. (Whose name does he write?) He writes the individual that he's interested in. Be write dere name nine times one way. Write his name nine times across that name uhich make 18 names altogether. An' then he fold this piece an' he put this bag on top of this piece an' wear it right next to his heart, say, fo' instan', he pin it on de inside of 'is undahshirt.
(What is that supposed to do then?)
Dat's supposed to keep dis woman's mind to him all de while.
(The paper on which the name is written is not put in the bag itself?)
No suh, it's put on de outside.
(Next to his skin?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5992
Git de hair out chure haid an' take it an' sew it up into a piece of cloth an' tie it roun' dere waist. Wear it. Dey kin fix yo' dataway. (Why would they do that?) Well, to keep yo'. Sometime dey do it to make a man love dem. Yes sir, dey puts it in a little white cloth an' den sew it up. [This is a love hand.] Some of 'ems wear it roun' dere neck, soe of 'ems wear it roun' dere waist.
Entry 5993
Weli, dey take dat an' dey have it twisted tight. (This hair?) Uh-huh, an' dey put it in a - dey put I needle through it an' dey'll put it in a little bottle wit some camphor[rated] al, an' den dey stop it down tight an' put it up ovah yore head.
(What will that do then?)
Well, dat's jes' to make yo' do jes' what dey want yo' to do.
(They put it over your head. How do they put it over your head?)
Jes' lak, yo' know, any place dey put it. Dey put it up ovah a sill - say, fo' instance, highah dan yo'.
(Oh, over the door or something of that sort.)
Yes, ovah de door, or de sill of de house.
[HANY INFORMANTS LOCATE A DOORSILL AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR - highah dAN yo'.]
Jacksonville. Fla., (596), 768:4+85.]
Entry 5994
Git chure hair an' put chure hair wit a needle, a steel needle. Jes' dt it from de mole of yore haid - be sure dat yo' git de hair from de mole of de haid an' wrap it wit a steel nee- dle, an' put it in a little bag an' put dat hair, an' a little peppah or somepin in it an' sew it in de bag. Dyput it up ovah de sill of a door, dat hair. Dey got chew wrapped up de way want chew, dat hair an' peppah, an' sew it in a red flannel an' dey keep it re, an' de thread, [use] red thread.
Entry 5995
Yo' take dere hair an' put it in a needle an' put it ovah front do' an' dat'll make yo' - makes de party loves yo' very much. Dat'll Tng love.
(One hair?)
One strand of hair from de top - from de mole of yore haid right in de top, an' put it in a needle an' put it ovah de do'sill right ovah de fron' do'. Wit de p'int [point of needle] down.
Entry 5996
She kin take one bran'-new needle an' run 'is hair [one strand] out of 'is head through dat needle, an' chunk it [demonstrates] to a sundown side
[throws it to the west] an' call 'is name. In two day's time, why he'll be back home. (She chunks it over her shoulder that way. Which shoulder?)
Left shouldah, an' don't look back as yo' coming [away].
Entry 5997
Well, yo' take a lock of yore hair an' de band [bow] outa de back of yore hat, an' yo' stick a brasshead needle in it, an' put it in a Hearts Own Cologne bottle. Stop it up an' turn it bot- tomside upwards undah de front steps. Well, yo' wouldn't have no care fo' nobody else but me.
Entry 5998
[Since the two following rites are identical and the two informants are separated by only eight informants, I would say the first person came to investigate before the second person would take a chance on seeing me. This sort of precaution I have pointed out several times in Hoodoo.] Version 1: Yo' kina - lak if yo' wanta woman tuh love yuh, yo' kin take some Hearts Cologne [in its bottle] an' stick a needle in it an' take three strands of de woman's hair an' wrap it round dat [needle] an' turn it [bottle] bottom upwards into a inner pocket an' den she'll go crazy about chew - she'll love yo'. [Waycross, Ga., (1080), 1747:11.] Version 2: Well, yo' kin git three strands of a person's hair an' some Heart's Cologne an' a needle an' yo' kin put it [hair] round dat needle an' put dat nee- dle in dat Heart's Cologne an' tote dat bottle in yore pocket about a month an' dat will make 'em love yo'.
(Do you carry that in either pocket?)
In yore pocket. (This hair is wrapped around the needle and that needle is stuck into a bot- tle of Hearts Cologne.) [Waycross, Ga., (1072), 1732:2.]
Entry 5999
If yo' wanta make anybody leave dere home, yo' kin take dere hair out from right in de front of de haid right dere [demonstrates] lak where yo' part it at. An' yo' kin take two needles an' thread dem needles wit de hair, an' put it in a bottle an' bury it right at de block of de house, as yo' goin' out by de front. An' jes' lak de blocks, jes' lak de bricks filled in undah de house - see, yo' could bury it right back down dere.
(What will that do?)
Dat'll make yo' have peace in yore home, or eithah make yo' bring love back - anythin' lak dat.
Entry 6000
The following expression was surely devised by someone tired of hearing the well-known expression: You give me a headache! Yo' wuz speakin' of hair. A person kin do yo' a great deal of trouble wit yore hair. Prob'ly git yuh 'sleep or git some of yore hair unbeknown to yo' - git dis hair unbeknown to yo'. Yo' take dis hair an' git yo' a little Hearts Cologne an' put it into a bottle an' yo' git choo a small piece of flannen an' cross yore needles between dat flannen an' put it in dere.
(What do you mean cross your needles?)
Make a kind of a X [a cross] out of it [the 2 needles].
(Two needles?)
Two needles, an' make yo' kind of a X out of it. An' twist dis hair aroun' dese needles an' place it in dat cologne, but don't stop yore bottle stoppah tight - prob'ly fo' nine mawnin's. Yo'll leave dat stoppah in dere fo' nine mawn- in's, if yo' should git a chance to git co mah bed or to mah do'step, an' let dat bottle [stand] straight up so I got to valk ovah it, it will keep me suffahin' wid a headache. I'll lingah aftah yo'. I still suffah wid dat headache, but when I gits where yo' is, look lak it kinda Vanishes away-lak. I'll jis' lust aftah yo'. A man do a woman dat way or awoman dat way or a woman kin do a man dat way.
(You only have the headache when you are away from them?)
When yo' are away from 'em yo' have a dull headache an' yore mind, look lak yo' is worried. An' yo' arn't [are not] - it jes' stays on dem.
(You never put that cork in tight. You never put that in tight?)
Don't put it in tight, jes' leave it so yo' kin go dere an' touch it fo' nine Mvnin's, becuz de ninth mawnin' yo'll push it in tight.
Entry 6001
Well yo' jis' git a little Hearts Cologne. Why, yo' don't use de whole bottle now, yo' git a little Hearts Cologne. An' yo' git a little - well prob'ly yo' have to git 'er frien' to git a piece 'er hair - see, from 'er head. See. An' yo'll have to git 'er voice, too. (How do you get that?) Well, yo' git de Hearts Cologne an' yo' put it into anothah - yo' put some of it into anothah bottle, jis' about a half, yo' see. An' yo' git some of 'er frien' whut goes wit 'er to git a piece of hair. An' yo' git three little stick- pirs - dese little stickpins [ordinary not safety pins] dese wimmin use fo Clothes. Yo' git two bran'-new needles. See. An' yo' put it into a bottle. All right, yo' put it into dat bottle. Well, yo'll have to 'drop [eavesdrop] around 'er home at night, an' yo'll know 'er voice from anybody else, an' den she alk. When she git to talkin', why yo' jis' - EVAH TIME SHE TALK, WHY YO' STOP DAY BOTTLE. [This is an unusual and excessive opening and closing of bottle. Somally one catching of voice suffices.] Yo' got 'er voice, yo' see, an' she'll tve to come home.
[The voice caught in a bottle is catching the spirit - see p.24.]
(Well, what do you do with that bottle then?)
Hell, yo' jis' tote dat around in yore pocket, or yo' could leave it right e. De best to tote it in yore pocket.
Entry 6002
So far as yore hair concerned, yo' could be ruled by yore hair. Yo' Lou whut ah mean, somebody could take yore hair an' make yo' love dem. Yo' undahstan'. (Do you know how they do it?) How dey do it? Well, ah kin take yore hair. Dey usely [usually] gits - dey takes three pins or needles an' put it in a bottle of Hearts Perfume, yo' undahstan', but dey must know yore name.
(What do they do with that name?)
Write on dis piece of papah an' put it in wit de hair.
(Put all these things in the bottle?)
All dese combination in de bottle.
(What do you do with that bottle then?)
Take it - but wit chew, carry it. Yo' gotta carry dat bottle all de time. Sometimes peoples buries it.
Entry 6003
An' he [author's contact man] ast me did ah know any Way tuh try tuh hold a woman, an' ah tole him a way dat chew could take a bottle of cologne an' one stran' of 'er hair, an' go an' buy three bran'-new needles an' put in dat cologne. An' whilst dat hair be suckin' up dat cologne - jes' let it stay in dere until it suck up all dat cologne - jes' put it anywhere in de mattress, or eithah sew it up in a feathah pillah or mattress where it can't be found.
Entry 6004
Of co'se dat hair - dat hair is very controllin', it's very 'fective, an' it's very dang'rous. Dey kin take dat hair, if dey don't lak yo' an' wants to destroy yo' or make unfit fo' yo' own good. Dey take dat hair an' dey'll wrap dat up wit three whut chew call needles, see. Dey git three needles an' dey gits three pins. But dose pins dey always have de heads of dose pins nipped off. An' dey wrap three needles, three pins, an' den dey git three pods of red peppah, yo' undahstan'. YO' GOTTA HAVE THREE OF THREE. Git three of de red peppah an' put in dis, dis hair, an' dey wrap dem togethah. An' when dey wrap 'em togethah, dey takes dat an' eithah jis' - if dey want a quick death [both quick death and slow death are not rare] in any way, or to run yo'( crazy, dey will take dat an' put it in a runnin' stream of watah on de first new moon. In a runnin' stream of water, an' jis' as dat stream carry yo' [hair] away, yore mind goes.
Entry 6005
An' yo' wanted to keep dat fellah. All right, chew take jis' one of de whole plait out de top of dis fellah's haid. Yo' grabs one of dose plaits an' cut it off, an' yo' cut dat plait off dere clean. Yo' take dat plait an' yo' put it in a bottle of Hearts Cologne an' fo' needles, steel needles - fo' needles stick right down 'side of it an' stop it up tight. An' den yo' carry dat bot- tle wit yo' roun' about 'leven or twelve 'clock at night an' yo' go to de graveyard an' yo' set it to
[the grave of] someone dat chew know an' - co'se he [the spirit in the grave]
arrive befo' yo' have de house [he reaches your house before you]. He unnahstan' dough [though]. He'll arrive befo' yo'. All yo' gota do is tell 'em [spirit] what chew want [done or] what chew wanna know. An' yo' bring dat bottle back [home] an' evah time yo' use it - see [demonstrates] de stoppah will be 'bout dat long. De more yo' shove dat [stopper into the bottle], de worse it will git; de more yo' pull on it [pull it out of the bottle], de lessah it will be.
(In [and out of] this bottle? You have a long stopper about a foot long?)
Dat's right, an' yo' see, de more yo' shove [the stopper] in dat [bottle] de more yo' shove dem [the man] down' but de more yo' pull it [the stopper out of the bottle], why dat de more he [man] be up. Now, if he's down an' yo' jis' take dat same stoppah an' yo' got it dis way [demonstrates]. Well, yo' got it down. Well, de othah way [up], yo' gona ease 'bout a half inch or quarter of inch, increase. But when yo' want 'im to go back down, why yo' jis' shove it on back down dere - lak dat [demonstration ends]. Reep 'em, can't leave home - ain't anyway in de worl' fer 'em to leave home. An' keep dat wid joo - dat is contin'en [continuing] 'is min' d'reck [direct] on yo', his min' couldn't leave.