Browse:THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF (Volume 4, entries 5206–8881)/Part 16
THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF
Volume 4, entries 5206–8881. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 6406
Take a person fingernails an' toenails an' parch it all up tuhgethah. An' jis' lak yo' wanta do somepin tuh git yore husban' back, put it in 'is ration an' he eat it. Why it'll bring 'im jis' as humble, an' anythin' dat chew tell'im tuh do, why he'll do it.
Entry 6407
Yo' kin cut off yore fingahnails or yore toenails an' lets 'em burn, an' if de person laks [likes] de coffee, den yo' parch it an' yo' git 'em plumb burnt jis' lak coffee, an' put it in de coffee whutevah dey drink, an' yo' cain't nevah git rid of 'em. Dey'll stay right dere. DAT'S LOVE!
Entry 6408
Dey tell me yo' could take de fingahnails an' toenails an' boil 'em, an' put it in bread or tea or sompin othah, an' keep 'im. Keep 'im home. He'll leave but he come back.
Entry 6409
Take an' wash yore feets an' take de dead skin from undah yore feet. But now, what dis is fo', what I'd [use] it fo', would do it fo' diff'ren' things. I'd take de dead skin from undah yore foot. An' yo' wash it, yo' scrape dat dead skin an' yo' let it dry. Put it on de stove an' make a powdah out of it. An' aftah yo' make dat powdah out, wellyo' kin drop it intuh dere Coca-cola or anythin' a person eat. Dat's when yo' wanta control 'em, yo' see; keep 'em so dey can't do yo' nuthin. Take advantage of 'em, yo' see.
Entry 6410
Yo' wash yore feet clean. Den sit down an' git chew a knife, see, an' jis' start. Yo' see, dat jis' a skin. Jis' take yo' a piece of papah an' scrape it off an' carry it off. See, yo' take dat an' put it on de stove an' let it dry till it gits brown, jis' lak yo' did this othah, an' put dat in dere food. Dat's tuh keep 'em.
Entry 6411
If yo' wan'a woman tuh go yore way or if she wan'a man tuh go her way, it works fifty-fifty. Sometimes de woman wants de man tuh go her way an' some- times de man wants de woman tuh go his way. Well, when yo' wash yore feet, yo' kin jis' take yore pocketknife an' scrape dis off undahneat' yore feet. Yo' git off some li'le fine stuff an' dat jis' fall on a papah, an' git dat in somepin tuh drink. Jis' a li'le bit of it, don' take but a leetle bit of it. Put dat in somepin fo' de man or de woman, either one, an' dey goes jis' lak yo' say. BE UNDAH YORE FEET.
Entry 6412
Yo' kin use dis dead skin from de bottom of de feet. Yo' kin use dat if yo' got a woman dat chew loves, an' yo' an' 'er are not gittin' long so well. Yo' kin keep 'er undah yore feet by takin' dat dead skin an' rubbin' it tuh a fine dust an' sprinkle it ovah de food. Mah mothah she use dat on 'er husban'. Dat's why ah know dat.
Entry 6413
Well, dey say - jis' lak yo' soak yore feet, scrape a li'le of de bot- tom of yore feet an' put dat in de coffee or tea, an' dat will make 'em stay home.
Entry 6414
Wash it nice an' clean an' take a knife an' scrape dat dead skin off, an' put it ovah 'is grits or ovah 'is rice an' put nice gravy ovah it. He'll jis' go foolish about 'em. Dat's all ah heard of it.
Entry 6415
Yo' scrape dat dead skin off de bottom of yore feet. Well, yo' take dat yo' see. Well, DAT'S JIS' LAK A WOMAN TAKING A MAN IN. Yo' scrape dat from mdah de bottom de feet, an' yo' take dat an' yo' make up de bread, or whatevah dey goin' put it in. Beat it all up in dere an' give it tuh 'em. Well, WHEN YO' GIVE IT TUH 'IM, YO' SEE, WHY HIT CREATES IN 'EM AN' GIT IM TUH DE PLACE, WHERE DERE NUTHIN SUIT 'IM DEN BUT JIS' TUH BE WIT DE ONE DAT HAVE DID ALL SECH AS DAT.
Entry 6416
Co'se ah ain't nevah done it but den ah knows whut dis thing will do. Pull off yore shoes an' wash de bottom of yore foot. Take a knife an' scrape dat dead skin off de bottom of yore foot an' parch it till it come to a powdah. An' take dat powdah an' put it intuh somepin dhut [that] dey have tuh drink hout [oat] of, an' let 'em drink offa dat powdah. Why, dey will - dey mind will be devoted to yo' as long as dey [live]. [Waycross, Ga., (1120a),.1798:7.]
Entry 6417
An' yo' kin take de skin offa yore feet, a woman kin, or eithah a man. It don' make any diff'rence. Take dat skin offa yore feet an' evah time yo' feed "in, drop some of dat intuh 'is food. An' let 'im eat it an' he cain't quit chew.
Entry 6418
Dey could take de skin from de bottom of de feet an' mix it in wit de dlk, or watah - whatsomevah dey make de bread wit, an' feed it to a person. Dey say dat would make dem love yo'.
Entry 6419
Well, yo' scrape de dirt from undah de bottom of yore foot an' put dat in tea or coffee, tuh give tuh yore boy frien' fo' love, tuh hol' [hold] ]'is love.
Entry 6420
But if dey scrape de bottom of de feet an' dey cook dat in yore food, yo' cannot leave 'em.
Entry 6421
Scrape yo' feet, I've heard dat. Dey scrape de bottom of yo' feet maybe an' po' it - yo' know, slip it in yore drinkin' watah, yo' know.
(What will that do to you?)
Dat will make 'em catah [cater] tuh yuh at yuh home.
Entry 6422
Dat's right. Take dirt from undah yore fingahnails an' dress it in boiled food, lak cabbages an' turnips an' all squashes an' things lak dat. An' people eat dat an' become tuh be crazy about people. Do dat two or three times.
Entry 6423
Git de dirt out of a person's fingahnails an' yo' kin hurt 'em wit dat. Den yo' kin make love wit dat.
(How would you make love with that?)
Now, yo' kin take de dirt out chure fingahnails dere an' put it in anything dey eat or eithah drink. An' jis' let he [him] git dat wit dat dirt outa yore fingahnails an' he eats dat, if yo' wan' dem dere yo' see. An' when he git dat den yo' got 'im, yo' see.
(That's in case of love.)
Entry 6424
Dey use it tuh make love, boys an' girls yo' know.
(The dirt from under their fingers. How do they do that?)
[I had asked about fingernail dirt before turning on recording machine. My question here is merely a comment for myself.] Well, dey put it intuh dere food jis' lak it wuz powdahed.
(What is that supposed to do?)
Well, he would eat wit 'em yo' know an' dat make him think mo' of de party, yo' see.
Entry 6425
Heard tell of people say dat yo' could take de dirt out from undah yore fingahnails, an' dough it up in de bread or anything dat yo' cook lak dat, an' make yo' boss 'em [that lets you boss the person].
Entry 6426
Yo' take dis fingahnail lak dat, scrape de fingernail [dirt] an' put it in anything, an' yo' know, an' give it tuh 'em in watah, an' dat will make 'em wild about chew - sompin lak dat.
Entry 6427
Dey say dat if yo' scrape de bottom from yore fingahnail, dat is scrape yore fingahnail yo' know an' feed it tuh de individual, dat will also cause her or him tuh like dem.
Entry 6428
Well, now, ah've seen dem use de fingahnail tuh make people love 'em an' all, yo' know, an' pull 'em dere way an' all. But dey take dere fingahnail an' dey'll git de dirt from undah dat fingahnail. An' dey'll scrape de fingah- nail an' den when dey do dat, dey'll take dat dirt an' stuff from undah dat fin- gahnail an' put it in dey coffee or dey tea.
Entry 6429
Now ah've heard dem say dat de ladies dat goin' wit mens, fo' spechly [specially] spō'tin' wimmins, dey takes dere fingahnails an' jis' git a li'le dirt from undah 'em, or eithah dere toenails. An' lak dey cook grits or make any kinda nice gravy tuh put ovah a man's food, or somepin lak dat, dey will put it in dere an' make de man jes' so crazy about 'em - all dat.
Entry 6430
Put de dirt from undah yore fingahnails or eithah undah yore toenails intuh coffee or tea. Ah've heard of dat.
(What would that do?)
That is to make love. (Make someone love you? Just the dirt from under your fingernails and under your toenails?) Yes, dat's right.
Entry 6431
Scrape off de bottom of yore feet an' scrape yore fingahnails. Jis' all yore fingahnails dis way an' scrape 'em off. Yo' take dat an' make it in coffee. Some people jis' scrape de fingahnails an' de toenails. Dey take dat an' make coffee. Dey'll hold dat intuh de han's an' den dey make de coffee. An' when dey fix 'is cup, dey'll drop dis stuff in dere, an' dey'll give hin dat cup of coffee tuh drink. An' it will bring 'im down tuh where yo' won't lmoc 'im.
Entry 6432
Dey say yo' kin trim yo' fingahnails, lak ah trim mah fingahnafls, an take de skin offa de bottom of mah feet. An' take an' parch dat up an' put in mah husband's coffee or sompin lak dat. See, let it draw up in dere. An' give 'im dat an' make 'im care mo' fo' me.
Entry 6433
How tuh make a woman love yo' or a man love yo'. Trim yore toenails an' fingahnails or clean out from undah yore fingahs. An' put it in yore coffee or put it in sompin tuh eat, or sompin othah lak dat an' let chew eat it. An' yo' go crazy about 'em, an' make yo' love 'em an' all lak dat.
Entry 6434
Wal, if a person wanted chew - a woman loved yo' an' couldn't git chew, she could trim some of 'er toenail an' 'er fingahnail an' take de dirt out from undah 'er toenail, yo' see, an' put it in - say a soft drink or sompin lak dat. An' den passin' it roun' an' yo' bein' settin' dere, yo' know. Yo' jis' passin' all of 'em drinks an' she drene [drain] dis outa dis bottle. Jis' lak she's servin' in dis room yo' see, an' yo' all settin' roun'. She'll drene dis outa dis bottle in yore glass an' she servin' yo'. Dat'll make yo' crazy 'bout 'er.
Entry 6435
Jis' de same like a woman, or eithah a man, dey wan'a rule dere husban' or de man wan'a rule 'is wife. Well, dey take de fingahnail an' de dirt from undah de fingahnail, an' dey scrape de bottom of dere feet. An' dey puts it on de stove or anything an' dey'll patch it like a powdah. When dey give 'em dere food, well dey takes dat an' dey'll sprinkle it ovah de food from de feet [and nail clippings]. Dat's my experience wit dat.
(What will that do?)
Well, dat's - dey could rule 'em like, yo' know.
Entry 6436
Take de fingahnails or de toenails. Jis' lak yo'd trim yore fingah- nails or toenails, an' dey put 'em in a pot of tea where yo' draw tea, an' give 'im tea offa dat. DAT MAKES 'IM QUIET AT HOME. A MAN OR A WOMAN, IF DEY'RE FUSSY AN' QUARRELIN AT HOME, YO' KNOW, YO' TAKE DAT AN' PUT IT IN A TEA AN' GIVE IT TUH 'EM, WHY DEY COOLS DOWN. DEY JIS' AS CALM WHEN DEY COME IN AN' Why, de same thing - jis' take de bottom of yore feet, or yore fingahnails or toenails an' put it in de tea.
Entry 6437
[Well, ah've heard dey take de fingahnails an' toenails an' wash yore feet an' scrape undahneat' de bottom of yore feet. An' take an' parch de nails, beat it up an' put it wit dis heah stuff dat come from mdahneat yore feet, an' put it in 'is coffee. Dat's fo' someone yo' wan' tuh love yo'.
Entry 6438
Take yore fingahnails an' yore toenails, an' scrape undah de bottom of yore foot, an' take dat an' take an' put 'em in sompin fo' him tuh eat. Dat will make a man love yo'. Parch it in de stove, yeah. Parch it in de stove till it git tuh a powdah, cuz yo' know, so dey can't detect it in de food. An' put dat in dey food an' dat will make dem love yo'.
Entry 6439
Dat's tuh feed men or women, dope people tuh make dem care fo' yo'. Take dem an' parch 'em an' cook 'em. An' cook 'em an' put 'em intuh food an' dey cain't leave yo'.
(These fingernails and toenails.)
[After I had turned off recording machine, informant added feet.]
(Scrape their feet?)
Scrape dat all an' puts it in dere food. Dat's whut dat's done.
(Is that done with the fingernail [and toenail] or do you do that separately?)
Yo' do either one yo' wanta do [separately or together] see.
Entry 6440
Yo' kin scrape yore fingahnails an' yore toenails wit sugah an' give 'em tuh yore lovah, an' dat makes 'im stay at home.
(How would you give it to him?)
Kin mix it wit yore sugah an' serve in 'is coffee.
[While recording machine was stopped I must have asked about footskin.]
Nevah done dat but ah've heard of it bein' done. Yo' use dat too - wit yore fingahnails an' yore toenails - de dead skin [from the feet]. Uh-huh, along wit dat.
Entry 6441
Now, if yo' wan'a woman tuh love yo' - yo' jis' wan'a woman tuh love yo' wit dem nails. De way yo' do, yo' git her nails an' parch 'em an' parch mah nails. Cut mah nails an 'er nails an' put 'em tuhgethah an' parch 'em. Make a fine powdahs out of 'em an' put dat in de food - jis' feed 'er on dat. Dat'll make her love me.
Entry 6442
You could take yore toenails, your fingernails, the dirt from under your feet, an' you could put that in a bottle an' you could feed a man on such as that. Spread it [on his food] when you give him somepin to eat. That'll make him crazy about choo, keep him from goin' away from you.
Entry 6443
Take de dead skin from de bottom of yore feet or yore toenails or some- pin' like dat - triimin' 'em, yo' know. A person kin take dem toenails an' jis' like if yo' walk, yo' take dis step an' dat step. Now dat dus' created dere from undah yore foot, put some in dis track, where yo' done walked; an' put some in dis one where yo' stepped. An' jis' keep yo' on a wandah, goin' on all de time awalkin'. Yo're nevah satisfied no more. But yo' see, dey does dis to dat stuff. Dey puts...
[I interrupt.]
(Toenails. And then you would put it in one foot track, and then into another foot track?) An' some in de othah one. Divide it up.
(You might begin with the left, or you might begin with the right?)
Yo' begin wit de right foot. Yo' see, yo' watch 'im walkin'. Co'se yo' know de right from de lef' in de direction dey's goin', but yo' wanta be sure yo' git de prints. Yo'll see de prints an' know one foot from de other. Yo' put it in de right foot firs'. It's quite natchel [natural] dat a person steps off on 'is lef' foot mos' any time when he's alone. Well, yo' put it in dere an' yo' git dis...
[I interrupt.]
(You take that and you put some in the left and you put it in the right, too?)
An' some in de lef'.
(I see. All right.)
Yo' dig a li'le hole wit yore pocketknife. Yo' know, jis' kiver [cover] it up. An' dat'll put 'im dissatisfied, so dat he won' even be satisfied nowhere he goes. He's jis' like a man when he done killed a man. He's afraid de law's in here, he's afraid de law's in dere. He's on de go all de time.
(I see.)
Entry 6444
Yuh take yoah toenails, den yuh put 'em in a li'le rag yuh see an' tie 'em up re'l tight. Cu' [cut] choo a fo'ked stick - yuh see, has two fo'ks tuh it - an' go right undah dere doah step. An' pu' dat rag right in dis fo'k an' drive it down so de fo'k will hol' de bag down tuh de groun', see. An' pu' tit in de groun' jis' enough, yuh know, jis' fer nobody can't see it, yuh know. An' [they] tell me dem toenails'll grow as yuh go away. An' yuh fall off an' go 'way tuh nuthin jis' like dem toenails grow.
Entry 6445
Ah have heard dat yo' go tuh de fo'ks of de road, an' take yore fingah- nail or a corn off yore toes, an' make yore three wishes. Yo' know, say, "Ah wish dis one would nevah in- tahfere wit me no mo'; ah wish dey would go 'way from me an' nevah come no mo'." An' drop it an' dey'll go. Firs' thing yo' know, if dey's roun' about chew, why dey'll leave. [During brief stoppage of recording machine, victim's name is called - see later.]
(What do you do with the fingernails or the corn? What do you do with those?)
Jis' drop 'em down in dere an' say, "Ah wish yo' tuh go an' ah may nevah seen any mo'."
[Here I add the person's name previously dropped.]
(You just call this person's name, so they won't be around you any more.)
Entry 6446
Well, see - jis' lak yo' go tuh de fo'ks of de road. An' dey supposed Th be crossed lak dat [demonstrates]. Well, yo' take dat part of it - dat's de same as buryin' it an' [or] throwin' it in runnin' watah. Yo' take de skin from dey feet, de one's [feet] whut chew wanta do somepin tuh "a, yo' undahstan'. Well, yo' takes it an' yo' scrapes it back. See, jis' lak da [demonstrates]. If yo' from or tuh yo' lak dat. If yo' are cleanin' dere feet, yo'll have dat chance. Yo' take it an' bury it jis' lak ah tole it. An' o takes it tuh de fo'ks of de road an' throws it ovah yore lef' shouldah. An: look back at each one of de fo'ks, an' den go on where yo' goin'. Makes a as nark in de road an' turn aroun'.
(What will that do to them?)
Dat'll make dem go - jis' insance [insane]. An' dey mind nevah will come tuh 'em lak it supposed tuh.
Entry 6447
Yo' take yore fingahnails - do dat on Friday. An' yo' trim all 'em off an' den git chure toenail de same way, an' scrape de bottom of yore feet. An' yo' parch dem toenails an' fingahnails tuhgethah. Parch 'em separate so dat de toenails be hard as de fingahnails an' de trimmin' from de bottom of yore feet. When yo' git 'em all parched, den yo grind 'em up tuhgethah. Yo' take dem den an' yo' sprinkle it ovah de food dat dey eat, an' dey'll eat dat. Well, now, yo' puttin' dem undah yore feet den.
(That's for love?)
Yes.
Entry 6448
Yo' cuts yore fingahnails an' yore toenails evah Monday or evah Friday, until yo' git a tablespoonful of it, an' den yo' take dat an' put it in whiskey. Dat's makin' yo' love me, see. Put dat in whiskey. An' den yo' put so much of dat - ah would - in yore coffee or yore tea an' let chew drink off it. Or yo' kin git it in dat powdah an' sprinkle on yore food, an' yo' eat it. (But you must cut these fingernails and toenails on Friday or Monday.)
Entry 6449
Well, dey could take yore toenails an' put 'em on a fire; parch 'em up an' make a powdah outa dem, see. Dey could take a frog, take dat frog an' put 'im in somepin where he can't git out, yo' see. Dey puts 'im on a fire an' parches 'im up tuh a powdah. Dey mixes dose two things tuhgethah, yo' undahstan'. An' aftah dey mix 'em tuhgeth- ah, den dey'll take 'em an' put 'em in a red flannel bag, a little small bag, an' dey will bury dem, see. When dey bury dem, it takes effect on yo' right away. Yo' git founded in yore feet. Yo' can't git about an' yore feet will begin tuh swell on yo'.
(I see.)
[Since I did not ask for the meaning of the preceding founded, I must have understood it as confounded in your feet (found being an obsolete form of con- found); or as fZoundered (flounder = stumble) or to stumble and go lame, as a horse.]
Entry 6450
Dey hoodoo - tell yuh whut dey, yuh know [with] whut dey. stick on stamps.
(Mucilage, it's like gum?) [This sort of thinking can happen!]
Dat's right, somepin like gum.
(Mucilage, paste?) [Again I OFFEND THE OCCASION with MUCILAGE!]
Yes, sir. Put dat in a bottle an' put it in dere wit de fingahnails an' toe- nails an' shut it up, stop it up. (What else did you say? You said you put something else in that bottle. What did you say?) A little limewatah.
(A little limewater and what else?)
Dat's all.
(Did you say something else about water?)
No, sir.
(I see. And what will that do?)
Well, jis' keep it - tote it.
(Well, what will it do?)
Whut'll it do?
(Yes.)
Well, it'll cuz yuh tuh have - toenails, fingernails, lose all of 'em, see. Toenails always be sore, toes always be sore.
Entry 6451
(What do they do with those fingernails and toenails?)
Ah hear'd 'em say dat dey cut 'em an' put 'em in a snuffbox, an' go tuh de cemetery an' take a dime, an' reach yore han' as fer as yo' kin in de centah - ah mean in de centah of de grave - an' take jis' as much of dat dust as dat dime kin hold. An' ah hear 'em say yo' kin put it in a snuffbox an' throw it in a runnin' stream. An' dat's all ah know about it.
(What will that do to you then?)
Run yo' away, dat's whut dey tell me.
Entry 6452
All right, now, heah's anothah one yo' kin take. Yo' be's roun' some person an' yo'll say, "Lemme look at yore feet." Yo' kin take - yo' know dis heah thick skin dat be's in de bottom of a person's feet. Yo' kin scrape out dis thick skin. Jis' scrape a li'le bit offen dis thick skin an' hold it in yore han'. An' if yo' wanta trick a person, undahstan', jis' lak yo' roun' an' someone sleepin' heah, an' yo'all had a argu- ment or sompin, see. Yo' take dat dere scale offen de bottom of dere skin an git chew some sulphuh, undahstan', an' yo' git chew some red peppah. Well, yo' mix dat tuhgethah. All right, den yo' go an' git chew some wild animal blood, an' put dat in dere. All right, aftah yo' mix dat up good, yo' git chew a li'le box, an' put it in a li'le box an' carry it in yore pocket. An' de nex' thing yo' do wit it, yo' carry it tuh a graveyard. See, yo' goes tuh de graveyard an' yo' do's lak dis, yo' go tuh de graveyard an' yo' stan' up [demonstrates], an' de grave is back dere, yo' stan' up by dis grave [like this].
(You stand up with your back to the grave.)
Wit yore back to de grave, an' yo' chunk dat an' yo' say, "Ah hope yo' go 'vay from me. Name of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost, go 'way." Yo' throw dis back when yo' speak de las' words. Dey gone an' yo' don' have no mo' trouble wit 'em.
(What will that do to them then?)
Well, he'll leave yo' an' yo'll nevah see 'im any mo'. Yo'll nevah see him any mo' an' nevah have no mo' [trouble].
Entry 6453
Yo' kin take yo' a per- son's fingahnails - jis' lakmah fingahnails, yo' know. Git de fingahnails, jis' take de fin- gahnails. All right, yo' kin take dem fingahnails an' go tuh a graveyard wit 'em, an' put dem fingahnails down [Bury them] in de graveyard. An' let dem fingahnails soak dere fo' 'bout nine days, until dey come tuh be soft. When it's soft, den yo' go dere an' take it up. Yo' see, when yo' take it, yo' turn den an' go git chew a small piece of rusty tin. Yo' go dere den an' yo' git chew a small piece of rusty tin, see. An' yo' take dose fingahnails, yo' see, an' yo' put it in wit dat piece of tin. Yo' see [demonstrates], heah's de piece of tin on de bottom an' yo' got dis fingahnail. Spread it roun' dere, see kinda in a curve jis' lak dis. Undahstan'? All right. Yo' take dat piece of tin an' yo' rolls it up jis' lak dat [demonstrates]. Yo' roll it jis' as tight as yo' kin git it. Well, yo' tie dat piece of tin yo' see an' [you tie] dis person dat's intahferin' wit chew, bothahin' wit chew an' yo' cain't res' from 'em. See, dere fingahs will draw down jis' lak dat [demon- strates].
(They will turn up.)
Turn up, cramp up: Dey won' have no mo' use in dey han's.
(What do you do with that tin after you roll it up that way?)
Well, yo' leave it in dere [the graveyard], see. Yo' take de tin an' yo' take dis an' yo' take it an' carry it tuh de foot of a tree. See, an' yo' bury it. Yo' take yore axe an' yo' clip off a li'le piece lak dat. Let it be down in de groun' an' back it up, right up tuh de side of de foot of dat tree an' let it stay dere. Let it stay right dere. An' 'long as dat stay dere, yore fingahs will - well, dat piece of tin will bend mo' hitself. Well, when yo' do dat, yo' say, "Ah'm doin' dis In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, dat ah may konkah [conquer] yo'." Den jis' bend down lak dat. [Fingers become magical- ly crippled not only by the bent tin, but also by the tangled tree roots.]
Entry 6454
Some [graveyard] dirt an' some crawfishes an' snakedust. Mix it tuh- gethah an' some of yore toenails an' yore fingahnails an' some of yore strength. (Some what?) Some of yo' strength yo' - WHAT HAVE SOME OF YORE STRENGTH IN SOME OF YORE FINGAH- NAILS. An' take it an' put it up ovah de do' or up ovah yore head, anywhere. An' jis' lak dose things pine away, dat person pine away. Yo'll pine away an' die. Or either put it on a toadfrog in a box wit dat graveyard [dirt] an' put it undah de steps. Go out yo' home an' put it undah de steps an' dat frog will stay dere nine days until he pass away an' die. Dat person will die. Jis' lak de graveyard dirt an' de crawfishes molt away, yo' molt away.
Entry 6455
Puts 'em in a bag, dese.
(These fingernails and toenails?)
Yes, takes yore fingahnails an' toenails. Dey git holt of 'em an' puts 'em in a bag. Aftah dey puts 'em in dis bag, dey take an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt in dem an' hang 'em up ovah yore door- sill. An' aftah hangin' yore fingahnails ovah de doorsill, stay up dere awhile, den dey take an' sprinkle dem down by yore do'.
(And what will that do?)
Dat will run yo' away from someone dat dey don' wan' chew tuh be wit.
Entry 6456
Take an' cut yore toenails off an' take dat an' put it in runnin' branch watah. An' take dis green stuff whut chew call moss, an' put it up in dere kinda like a tea an' put it in dat bottle. Shet it up airtight an' yo' put it up ovah de sill of yore porch.
(What will that do?)
Yeah, yo' wrap 'em up in dis green moss whut runs in runnin' watah [algae], an' yo' takes it an' puts it in a bottle an' put it up ovah de jois' [joist] of yore porch. (What is it supposed to do?) Sometimes dat'll - it will run some folkses CRAsY an' [but other folks] stay home. Dat'll bring peace in yore home.
Entry 6457
[That's a] powahful thing. Yo' kin take de fingahnails, de toenail, a lock of each individual hair.
(Yes.)
Takin' it an' put it in a li'le small can, see, lightin' fire tuh it an' leave it cook tuh a powdah. Sprinkle dat in any food of any woman an' no man kin git between yo' an' 'er. Or eithah way, yo' kin reverse it. If she do it tuh yo', no woman kin git between yo' an' 'er. (I see. I would simply take this woman's fingernails and toenails and some of her hair?) Yes, sir.
(Nothing from myself?)
Nope.
Entry 6458
All right, if yo' wants tuh run a woman crazy, yo' take some of 'er hair. An' cut 'er lef' li'le fingahnail, an' den git de middle fingahnail off de right han', an' some of 'er hair, an' tie it up tuhgethah an' go tuh a li'le saplin' tree. Bo' a hole intuh it an' place it in dat hole in dat tree. Ah guarantee yo' 'fo' a good while she be crazy.
Entry 6459
Yo' kin take yore toenails an' yore fingahnails an' yo' kin wrap dat up an' some kinda hair, if dey kin git yore hair. An' dey buries dat up undah yore back step an' dey say, den yo' can't stay in dat house no mo'. Yo'll have tuh move out. (You'll move out?) Yeah, yo'll have tuh Bove. Long as yore toenails an' things stay dere, yo' have tuh move.
(Well, now, if they were making me move, would they bury it under my house?)
No, dey bury it up undah yore house where yo' live in. Dey have tuh git yo' outa dat house.
(I see.)
Entry 6460
Jis' shave it off, take a little, yuh know - jis' a little bit off yeh fingahnails. An' take a razor an' shave a little bit undah yeh ahms, an' a lit- tle bit of hair down dere. An' take dat an' put it in a pot dat choo not gon'a use any mo', an' put it on de fiah; a pot choo're not gon'a use any mo', becuz yuh know nobody fix anything dat yuh wouldn't wana eat [from] it. An' git a pint of whiskey, somebody dat choo know dat love whiskey. An' take dat stuff aftah yuh cook it - it'll git thick - let it drain off. An' when it drain off, put jis' a little bit in whiskey, until de whiskey won't git so thick dat he'll pay mind tuh it. An' den dat's de way yuh kin draw a person wid jeh. If yuh can't git 'em no othah way, yuh kin git 'em in whiskey.
Entry 6461
(No, no, go ahead.)
Well, tuh make a man stay wit chew. Yo' cut all de side of yuh fingahnails an' yuh toenails, hairs undah yuh arms, hairs from yuh head, undah dere, an' yo' parch it brown, brown, lak de dust. When, if he drinks coffee, yo' put it in de coffee. If he don't, well yo' take it an' yo'll make it brown jis' lak it wuz black peppah. An' yo'll take it an' yo'll sprinkle it all ovah 'is fish, an' yo'll give it tuh 'em. Well, he'll come tuh lak yo' an' he'll love yuh.
Entry 6462
Well, ah've [heard] dat dey takes yore fingahnails. Yo' know, jis' lak yo' have a sweetheart or somepin-lak an' prob'ly dat chew don' want 'im an' he think dat chew don' wan' 'im. If he kin git chure fingahnails an' a, yo' know, jis' as if yo' cut yore fingahnails an' den take his fingahnails an' yore fingahnails an' put dat tuhgethah, an' take de bow outa his hat an' he puts dat wit 'em. Den he takes an' binds 'em up in a li'le secret place an' he carries dem wit 'im, an' he makes yo' wan'a stay in touch wit 'im.
Entry 6463
But ef dey git aholt of de dust from de trimmin' of yo' fingahnails, dey'd jis' mix it in a little moonshine, yo' know, or little good whiskey. Well, dey mix it wit de moonshine. An' if it's a woman an' dey wanta do any- thin' tuh yo', why dey jis' sew it anywhere in a hem or de bindin' of de sleeve dat dey weah regulah an' don' have tuh wash too much.
(What will that do then?)
Well, I suppose if dey might be a person dat care fer yo' an' yo' ain't payin' dem much attention, an' dat will change yore mind an' make yo' love dem dearly. (And they take the scrapings from a man's fingernails and put it in the whis- key?) Yes.
(What do they put that in then?)
Dey jis' put dat in dere tuh make.a moist taste. An' den dey weah it in a hem or de edge of a sleeve. But it will be a piece of material dat dey don' wash very reg'lah.
Entry 6464
Trim de toenails, dat's if yo' wanta keep 'em. De toenails, put 'em in a pan an' put 'em on de stove an' let 'em cook jis' lak yo' gon'a brown 'em see, till dey git brittle SO yo' kin take yo' some an' pow- dah dem up. Yo' don' wanta kill dem. Yo' put dat in dere coffee an' let dat dissolve. Take 'bout dis much, see, an' put it in dey coffee. Mos' likely dey drink dat. Dey's hoodooed.
(You just use the toenails?)
No.
(Both the toenails and the fingernails?)
Yes, jis' three times.
(You put it in there three times?)
Yes. Dey won' go nowhere.
(That holds them.)
Entry 6465
Now yo' take a person toenail. Yo' take yo' toenail, yo' fingahnail. Yo' kin take dem yo' see, jis' lak we trim de fingahnail. Well a person take yo' fingahnail up. He kin take dat fingahnail up an' he kin pound it up, kinda parch it an' pound it up. Take dat an' put it in whiskey. Well, in puttin' it in whiskey hit'll create sompin lak a gern or sompin. Take dat whiskey, see, an' as long as dey keep [it], well jis' say yo' fingahnail, well de worms an' bugs will commence to eatin' undah yo' fingahnails.
(And what do [did] you say people think it is?)
DEY CALL DAT CUNJURATION.
(No, people say they think you have what?)
DEY THINK YO' HAVE DE LEPAHSIES [LEPROSY] - SOMPIN LAK DE LEPAH [LEPER], YO' SEE. IT START IN DE FINGAHNAIL AN' IT JIS' EAT, AN' [AS] DAT GERM EAT, YO' SEE, WELL HIT GOES ALL UP YORE HAND. IT MAKE YO' HAND SPOTTED 'BOUT. AN' PEOPLES CALL DAT LEPAHSIES. IT DON' BE LEPAHSY, IT BE'S DAT CUNJURATION.
(That is if you drink your own fingernails, that causes it?)
Dat's right, if yo' drink yo' own fingahnails.
Entry 6466
Yo' see yo' scrape dat feet an' yo' take dat feet an' put it in a bot- tle of cologne an' black peppah. Mix wit it an' git some iron whut rust, rus' iron. An' yo' stuff down in dere wit it an' dat'll continue tuh eat dat, commence eat up dat feet dirt from yore feet. An' yo' feet will be eat de same, long as - de mo' dat dat thing, de mo' dat dat rus' commence eatin' dat scuff off yo' feet, de mo' yo' feet will be eaten.
Entry 6467
Yo' git some of de daid skin off de bottom of yore feet an' let it git good an' dry. Den yo' write dem. Yo' save dat an' yo' write dem an' dey write chew back. Well yo', when yo' answah dere lettah yo' put some of dat daid skin in de lettah, see. In eight or nine days dey'll coze back.
Entry 6468
They can take your toenails and fingahnails an' see, like mah nails mog, they could harm me purtty much for this simple reason. They're dirty. See, they are not all that much long, they are dirty. Well, they would take this nail and they would cut these nails as close as they poss'bly could with the dirt a'all into 'em. If they could get to my toes, they'd do my toes de same iden- tical way. Now, they take these nails here, an' mah toenails an' they'd put them together. If they could get a lizard, they'd take a lizard an' they'd kill the lizard an' let that lizard dry.
(They take a lizard and kill the lizard?)
They kill the lizard.
(Oh, they kill the lizard.)
An' let him dry - I mean, till he gets to a powder. When he gets to a pow- der, they mixes him with these nails of mine. They'd put that into a piece of red flannel and they buries that. AN' NOW, WHEN THEY BURIES THAT, THEY BURIES IT WITH A CROSS.
(What kind of a cross?)
THEY MAKES A CROSS THEYSELF. THEY DON'T VERY SELDOM BUY A CROSS. YOu know, ordinary, plain - just a plain cross, wooden cross; just any kind of a small cross you'll use, just since it's a cross. They buries it with a cross into that flannel. See? Well, now, when they buries that, why they got me just the Way they want me.
Entry 6469
[The two rites following explain each other:]
They say, kin get your fingernails. If you kin get a man's fingernails, or his toenails, or a piece of hair, you know, say, you get a piece of red flannen, I think, an' sew that up. An' you get chew a bottle of Hearts Cologne. An' I think you get that on the day when the moon's on the last quarter, I think. An' you fix that up and sew that up between nine and ten, an' make your wishes. An' then I think they wear that somewheres near the body, near the heart.
[Informant starts another hair rite:]
(I see. And what do they put in that bag? What would they put in that?)
Well, they's put in that a bag, it's some kind where they got their finger- nails and toenails or some of the hair where they - it's a kind of root they get dey call de Eve-and-Adam. See, those roots are twin roots together. They name one the man and the other one the woman. And then they keep it saturated, I think, in Hearts Cologne. They wear that near the body and make a wish for every stitch they make, sewing up that bag. They makes a wish. They make a bag an sews on it. They make a wish an' puts nine stitches each way [demonstrates]. (Nine stitches in the bag. This is a square bag, nine stitches on each side, nine stitches on each of the four sides of the square bag. I see. And that wish would get them, or something of that sort?) Yes, then they wear that near the heart. (That's different from the - adding that root? That's different from the first thing you told me?) Yes.
Entry 6470
Some folks takes 'em an' parch 'em an' puts 'em in a sack, an' if yo' kin - jis' lak ah wan' chew tuh love me. Ah'll take yore fingahnails an' toe- nails an' parch 'em, an' put 'em sack an' ah'll wear dat roun' mah waist, an' ah'll make yo' cling tuh me. An' den ah kin take yore fingahnails an' toenails an' parch 'em, an' pound 'em up an' make a powdah outa 'em, an' feed yo' wit chure own fingahnails an' yo' own toenails. An' dat will make yo' love me. Den ah kin take yore fingahnails an' toenails an' bury 'em - parch 'em an' bury 'em an' name 'em, an' dat'll run yo' 'way from dere. (Now you say in putting that stuff into a person's food - now if I want this woman to love me I would use her own nails or use my nails on her?) Use yores an' hers mixed, jis' mix 'em.
Entry 6471
Well, dey kin take yo' toenails an' put it intuh a bottle an' stop Hoodoo - Conjuration - Witchcraft Rootwork it up, an' put t'ree needles in it an' call yore name nine tires.an' have yo' undah a bad affliction fo' a certain distance of cire. (On a bed of affliction [wndah a bad affliction] for a certain length of time.) Yas. Aftah dat certain distance of time come, well if he wanted tuh take yo' up, he'll snatch one dem needles out. Dat will let chew git up.
Entry 6472
Take yore fingahnails an' put 'em in new cloth an' it will cuz yo' tuh be painful. Jis' take 'em an' put 'em in some new cloth an' it will cuz yo' tuh be painful. Yo' know, sew 'em up real tight in a new cloth, an' don't break de needle off. Jis' stick de nee- dle right through de cloth where yo' sew it up, an' jis' lay it up ovah de do' where a person got'a pass through in an' out. It would make 'em painful.
Entry 6473
" Yo' could take an' scrape out from under yore feet an' put it in a - sew it up in a little cloth an' veah it roun' 'er waist nine days. An' squeeze it in 'is food fo' nine mawnin's. Dat's de way yo' make him love yo'.
Entry 6474
Now ah tell you. If yo' got a friend, a girl friend, or wan'a be wit one in company an' she don' love yo' enough [you don't love her enough] an' she cut chore fingah- nails. Cut it off, an' when yo' done, she take dat fingahnail, an' if yo' drink coffee or sompin, take dat fingahnail an' throw it in dat coffee. An' den when it done drawin' in dat coffee, she kin cat 'er own an' put 'em in dere. An' yo'll drink de coffee fer suppah or break- fast. Give yo' dat about nine mawnin's or nine nights. Yo' couldn't git away from 'er to save yo' life. Yo' has tuh go through till death.
Entry 6475
Yo' take nine of 'er fingahnails an' nine of 'er toenails, an' den git a red onion. An' git nine stran's of hair outa de mole of 'er haid an' dat on- ion, red onion. An' cut it open an' dig a li'le hole in it, an den take dem nine toenails an' [nine] fingahnails an' dat nine stran's of hair outa 'er haid, an' place tuhgethah an' put it in dere. An' stop dat onion up an' go roun' de house towards where de sun rise an' dig a li'le hole an' put it dere, an' den covah it up. [For a man to hold a woman.]
Entry 6476
Yo' know jis' lak yo' scrape yore feet an' leave de scrapin' an' nails on a piece of papah. He kin take dat an' put it in a pocket hans'scuff an' take it an' weah it in de seat of 'is pants, causin' 'em tuh do things lak dat. If dey don't wanta do it, make women tuh obey yuh. Make hisself do things dat he wouldn't desire tuh do.
Entry 6477
Yo' kin take jis' de dead skin. Yo' wash yore feet, soak yore feet ah mean tuh say, an' den yo' wash it, an' den yo' take dis dead skin an' scrape it off yore feet. An' den yo' wash de plate. Git chew a plate dat yore wife or sweetheart or who yo' got goin' eat. An' yo wash dat plate wit all dat dead skin, see. An yo' let it dry on dere, an' den yo' let 'em eat outa it, an' yo' nevah git shet of 'em.
Entry 6478
Sometime a man lay down to sleep - done tried dis mahself - or eithah a woman it'll work de same way. A man lay down tuh sleep. She say, "Umh! yo' feet cert'ly do smell bad! Why don' choo Wash yo' feet?" "Well, yo' go an' wash 'em fer me." "Looka chure long toenails! Dey about long as a dog claws. Why don' choo cut chure toenails off?" "Cut 'em off fer me." He might not think. Dat woman wash yo' feet, an' take a scissors or somepin an' cut chure toenails off. An' she take dem toenails an' tie dem up in a li'le rag or anythin' an' weah 'em aroun' wit 'er. Yo' always gon'a be cravin' fer 'er, yo'll follah 'er down de street. An' she'll [you'll] do de same thin' tuh yo' [her], if zhoo git 'er toenails. Dis is whut ah experience mahself. Ah had a girl ah thought, re'lly did think somepin of 'er. An' we wus stayin' where dat we could be talkin' wit one 'nothah an' usin' one 'nothah lots of times. An' ah heard of dis, don' choo see. So one Sunday she had a pair of silk stockin'. Ah say, "Yo' gon'a put dem silk stockin' on ole dirty feet?" "Ah ain't got time tuh wash 'em." Ah say, "Ah'll wash yo' feet fer yah." Ah said, "Look'a chure toenail! Long an' cut a hole up through yo' sock. An' An' ah done took de safety razor blade an' trim 'er toenails an' washed 'er feet, an' trim 'er toenails an' took 'em. Trimmin', dey fell on de floor an' ah jis' - aftah she got up, ah went an' took dem trimmin's up an' put 'em in mah pocketbook an' wore dem. An' didn't care where ah wus, dat where she wus."
Entry 6479
Jis' lak a girl cut off a boy fingahnail, or toenail, eithah one. She'll take 'em home, yo' know, an' take a knife. She put 'em on de table an' chop 'em up fine, an' put 'em on de stove an' parch 'em, see. Well, dey tie 'em up in a red flannel an' tote dat in 'er pocket. Well, dat boy will love her long as she keep dat, see.
Entry 6480
Yo' take yore fingahnails an' toenails an' put 'em in a piece of rag or somepin an' tote 'em, an' yo' kin make a person like yo', or even yo' kin make 'em hate chew, but chew have tuh put salt an' black peppah with it, or salt an' red peppah. (You do that to make them hate you?) Yessuh.
(And you tote them then?)
Dat's right, an' make 'em not have nuthin tuh do wit yo' in no way or form or no fashion. Dey can't harm yo', but dey Won't bothad wid joo.
Entry 6481
If dey could git holt of dat - an' if dey git holt of dat, why dey'll scorch it, see.
(These fingernails or?)
Or toenails, see, in ordah if dey wants tuh trick yo'. Dat's if a person is sellin' whiskey or somepin lak dat an' dey wants de customah tuh continue or tuh come on tuh love den, why dey'll burn dat. Dey'll scorch it, yo' see. An' aftah dey scorchin' it, den dey put de spice wit it, see. An' dey tie it in a li'le bag, see. An' maybe, if it's a woman an' she wants tuh use it, she'll [put] her dis- charges in it. An' den she'll jis' put it in a li'le whiskey an' soak in dere. See. An' aftah soakin' it well, she'll take de juice from dat an' den she'll po' it in dis whiskey. An' she'll shake it an' if yo' drink it, yo'll continue tuh go back.
Entry 6482
Well, yo' kin take a li'le bit of yore dirt from undah yore fingah- nails. Well, yo' git some salt an' git some alcohol, some vinegah - salt, an' put it in a bottle an' shake it up, an' make yo' do jis' lak dey want chew tuh do. (Do you get that dirt from under your fingernails or under mine?) No sir, git 'em from undah yore fingah- nails. Make yo' do jis' lak ah wan' chew tuh do. (Who would do that? Some woman to a man or man to a man? Something of that sort?) Eithah one could do it if dey knew [how]. Jis' lak yo' were mah wife an' yo' runs aroun' an' ah couldn't keep yo' home. Well, ah could git a li'le bit of dat dirt, yo' know, from undah yore fingahnails, an' make yo' do jis' lak ah wanted yo' tuh do.
Entry 6483
Take yore toenail an' fingahnail an' put dat in a little sack. Sew it up in a little sack an' put some sugah 'long wit it an' tote it roun'. Dat will make 'em keep love, keep de home. Yessuh, weah it roun' yore waist lak a belt.
Entry 6484
Well, it's quite natchel if a man love a woman, he wan' 'er tuh love 'im yo' know. When she rub 'er haid - when she mub 'er haid wit 'im, well she love yo' an' yo' love 'er. Well, but if yo' wanta git sho [sure] of 'er, if yo' got dat much 'er toenail yo' cut off - cut chure toenail off an' tie it tuh a string wit jis' about dat much Adam Weed Root [Adam-and-Eve?] in dat, wit dat toenail, an' let it swing off intuh runnin' watah. An' jis' as long as dat vill stay dere, she'll love yo'.
(That's her toenail you tied?)
Sho', her toenail.
Entry 6485
If yo' kin git de nail offa each li'le fingah an' de big nail off each [big] toe of de person, an' a lock right out de mole of dey haid an' put it un- dah yuh right steps, dere ain't no way in de worl' fo' dem tuh leave until de house burn down. Ah don't ca' [care] who it be. Undah de right cornah of yuh step. Whutevah way it is dey is comin' in from de no'th is de right cornah of yuh step where yuh house settin'.