Browse:THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF (Volume 4, entries 5206–8881)/Part 18
THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF
Volume 4, entries 5206–8881. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 6566
You go to the drug store, they got what you call dried tadpoles there; and if you get them internal, they'll come to life and breed there and you'll have to go to a cunjure to get them out. [Sorry, I forgot in 1936 to ask where this drug store was. [Fredricksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 6567
[Numerous examples of animal brutality and torture have been given in HOODOO. Here are several more examples.] I've seen a woman - she did dis when I wuz quite a kid. I seen 'er when she did dis - I wuz runnin' roun' 'er house - I guess she wuz payin' no 'tention tuh me amongst de othahs. She'd taken a frog. Dis frog - she taken dis frog an' SHE'D TAKE AN' STARVE DIS FROG, a li'le bit'a frog- a li'le, li'le frog. Yo' know de li'le bit'a frog dat jumps in de garden sometime or in de grass. She take dis frog an' she take an' starved 'im. An' she - I don' know whut she used tuh keep de frog in. She nevah would give him nuthin tuh eat, an' wouldn't allow us tuh give 'im nuthin tuh eat, yo' know. Well, she dried dis frog out when he died, dried 'im out an' powdahed 'im up. Aftah she dried 'im out good, she take an' powdah 'im up. Aftah she take de powdah - she took dis powdah an' she put it in some food [and put live frogs in the person].
Entry 6568
Dey takes a toadfrog. See, dey takes a toadfrog an' put dat toadfrog alive - put 'im undah de step wit a li'le sulphuh right undah *Is chin dere, an' if de people walks ovah 'im, dat put de toadfrog into de person.
Entry 6569
You take a frog and tie him to a brand-new shingle, and put dat frog right underneath of the house wherever his [victim's] head is lying [under the head of the bed above], and as her [frog] weaken down the person will weaken; and when he
[frog] dies, makes his last gasp, the person will die.
Entry 6570
Ah know a man dat a woman fixed 'im. She took a grasshoppah aig an' give tuh 'im in 'is buttahmilk. An' evah time he sneezed he sneezed grasshoppahs out 'is nose.
(How do they get rid of a trick like that?)
Ah dun [don't] know dey got rid of it, but he's livin' today.
Entry 6571
Well, all right, in case if yo' wanta learn how tuh raise snakes - raise 'em. An' naow [now] ah mean raise 'em. Well, yo' go tuh a stud horse. Undahstan' good now. Well, yo' go dere an' yo' cut a stran' of hair outa his tail. Well, den when yo' do dat, yo' go tuh a li'le stream of watah an' drive yer stick down in dat watah an' tie dat mane - dat horse's tail roun' dat stick. An' yo' watch dat. In fo' day's time jis' same as de big moccasin, it commence tuh wiggle. Yo' see now, dese wiggle-tail in de bay [of Mobile], well dey make snakes.
(But you have to tie that into a stream of water.)
Entry 6572
Ah don' know whut dey could do tuh git live things out, but ah've heard dat chew kin take an' - de way dat people pretend dat dey've brought live things outa people. Yo' kin take an' take some horsehair. Take a horse's hair an' put it in a bottle an' keep it in a dark place an' let dat bottle be kinda damp fo' a couple of days an' hit will look lak live things. Jis' lak people claimin' dey had got things outa people - worms.
Entry 6573
Yo' take a lizard or a salamandah or anything lak dat - yo' take a lizard now. Ef a person take him an' ketch 'im an' kill 'im, yo' take him den an' yo' let 'im dry up. Well, aftah he dry up, yo' take him an' pound 'im up an' put 'im in anything, an' aftah while he'll grow. Jis' lak yo' put 'im in watah or sompin tuh eat, an' a person eat it, git it in 'em. He'll grow an' in a very short while he'll be runnin' all through 'is flesh.
Entry 6574
Ah heard dat chew kin take a lizard an' take an' cut 'im an' dry 'im up. Kill 'im an' aftah yo' kill 'im, den yo' cut 'im. An' put 'im out on a piece of bo'd in de sun an' dry 'im up until he come crinkle. Den yo' take him an' parch 'im. Put 'im in de stove an' parch 'im, an' take him out an' grind 'im up an' put 'im in a bottle.
(What will that do?)
Dat dust, yo' kin jis' keep it in dat bottle. See, dat dust will poison people.
Entry 6575
Said dat a lady had some li'le lizards in 'er an' she wuz told by a hoodoo lady dat if dey caught dat lizard alive an' tied 'im in a dark cornah an' let 'im die. An' den took 'im an' parched 'im up, beat 'im up an' put 'im in de walk where she had tuh walk. So in de summah- time she'd go wit'out 'er shoes, an' de powdah would stick tuh de hollah of 'er feet, an' quite natchel [natural] 'er havin' life in 'er feets, she'd carry it on an' put on de shoe an' wear it, an' it create little lizards, an' de little lizards grew in 'er.
Entry 6576
(A lizard can harm her?)
If yo' done wanta, take a lizard, jis' keep 'im swimmin' in watah, jis' keep 'im alive in dat watah. Keep 'im in dat watah, while dat woman is neah 'er time. Always jis' keep dat lizard in dat watah an' evah mawnin' git chew a teaspoonful of dat watah an' drop it in de watah she drinks. An' keep dat lizard in dat watah. An' it will make 'er have a hard birth or a miscarriage.
Entry 6577
Ah heard a woman in Birmingham, Ala., say dat if yo' had a enemy an' if yo' wanta git de enemy out de way, say yo' could take a lizard an' dreene [drain] it. Yo' know, make de blood come outa it. An' take dat lizard's blood an' put it on a rag all de way roun' de rag. An' den take dat bloodly rag from de lizard an' put it in de band of a hat. An' dey said dat yo could take dat from a lizard an' put it in dere, an' in nine days, lizards be run- nin' all roun' in yore haid an' up an' down yore body.
Entry 6578
I knew an old man when I was a child who had a little lizard or some- thing in his leg. They say it would run up and down his leg. He could cut with his razor and when it would come down he would cut ahead of them and it would run out. It was a little scorpion or ground puppy or something. Someone put it in his leg.
Entry 6579
I've heard them say you go to a root doctor and he fixes something in a bottle, something about as long as a lizard, dries it up, and put it down for a person to walk over. And a ground dog comes in his leg.
Entry 6580
May water, cayenne pepper, nine pods of pep- per, salt; bathe down and take physic. Live things come out.
Entry 6581
Dey do it wit de fish. Dey take dat fish, de little minnow fish, an' put 'em in a little vial m' let 'im be live. An' dey go tuh work an' put dem a little garlic an' a lit- tle onion in dere. An' put 'im in a vial an' put 'im undah de doorstep. An' dat fish gits intuh de person [after you walk over it].
(Is there any way of getting them out?)
Yes suh, yo' work 'em out jis' de same as yuh did de frog.
Entry 6582
[I know of them] doin' things wit de scorpions. Ah've seed dat done 'caz ah waited on de woman. Dey ketch a scorpion an' kilt: 'im an' let 'im dried. Dis was a bright [skinned] woman an' dis bright woman wus givin' dis dark-skinned woman trouble wit 'er husban'. An' she taken de scorpion an' kilt 'im an' she cured 'im dry, jis' lak if yo' dny anything. An' she crumble dat up an' put it in some whiskey, an' she called er an' give her a drink of dat whiskey an' - IF AH NEVAH MOVE AG'IN AH'VE SEEN OSE LITTLE SCORPIONS, DEY COME BACK ALIVE. DEY CREATED IN 'ER. Dem little scorpions jis' like dat.
Entry 6583
Take a scorpion ag'in an' take some of dat same scorpion an' put it in whiskey or wine or sompin an' drink it. It will have scorpions runnin' all about in yore skin.
(Is there any way of getting those things out of you?)
Why ah don't know how yo' git it out, but dere's a man dat could git it out.
Entry 6584
Git 'em - an' yo' take dese heah stingin' scorpions, too. Git 'em an' parch 'em up. Let 'em git good an' brown. Cook 'em an' den powdah 'em up right good, an' put 'em in a bottle of watah an' stop 'em up real tight fo' awhile. An' den if yo' wanta poison dat indi- vidual, why yo'll po' some of dat out intuh 'is watah.
Entry 6585
Ah heard of 'em usin' a scorpion fo' makin' live things in people. Well, ah heard dat dey take 'im an' put 'im in a open SPIDER [FRYING PAN ON LEGS] one dese ole spidahs whut has a lid tuh it. An' jis' make fire enough in it where dat he'll jis' run aroun' in dere until he dies. An' let 'im bake till he gits where dey kin crumble him up an' make a powdah. An' den dey tell me dey kin put dat on a person an' hit'll go through de skin an' come de same thing 'live in de person.
Entry 6586
Take a scorpion, jis' lak yo' wanta scorpion, yo'd have one drop of blood, an' de joint of 'is tail give it tuh 'im.
(Just one drop of blood and [from] his tail.)
Take a joint. Evah joint's a drop of blood an' evah joint of blood will make a scorpion. Yo' jis' drop one drop in dere an' give it tuh a person, well dere will come a scor- pion. Yo' have dat little thing in dere cuz ah done see 'em right in dey feets. De feets git lak dat, gits swelled up.
(Is there any way of getting those things out?)
Not unless yo' see a person, de person dat gives it tuh yo' tuh git it. Dey kin take it, but how he take it out ah wouldn't know jis' how he take it.
Entry 6587
They tell me that you can take an egg and cut off a scorpion's head and put with that egg, and then take the blood and mark it around that egg so many times, nine times they claim, and then take the blood of an individ- ual and do the same thing. And then take that egg and that scorpion head and bury that, and the individual who has to travel and walk over that will get to a place they claim that he'll have scorpions in him.
Entry 6588
Now yo' take a scorpion, he's poison. Now yo' got sompin ag'in me an' yo' got sompin ag'in a man on King Street. Yo' may got sompin ag'in a man on Spring Street. Well, now, ah'm de fust [first] one yo' wanta git nex' tuh. Dis man on Spring Street de secon' man yo' wanta git nex' tuh. Well, yo'll take dat SCOrpion an' kill 'im. WHEN YO' DONE KILL DAT SCORPION, YO' BRING 'IM HOME HALF LIVE. YO' AIN'T KILL 'IM ALTUHGETHAH. He half live when yo' bring 'im home, but yo' finish killin' 'im when yo' bring 'im in yore house. Aftah yo' finish killin' 'im, de last lick yo' hit 'im yo' know yo' goin' kill 'im, yo' goin' call mah name. Yo' call mah name. Ah'm yore enemy. Ah'm yore dead [deadly] enemy. Ah'm de one yo' Wants tuh git nex' tuh altuhgethah. But when yo' kill dat scorpion an' call mah name, ah'm goin' take sick. Now dat man ovah heah on Spring Street, yo' goin' call 'is name by dat scorpion's tail. Yo' goin' cut dat scorpion's tail off jis' about dat much [demonstrates]. Well, yo' goin' tuh hold dat scorpion an' yo' wrap dat wit silk thread, silk thread. An' [as] yo' hit it, yo' cast it in yore yard an' say, "Go, yo' bastard, yo'." An' he's gone.
(And would it do anything to the person living on King Street, then?)
Dat man on King Street goin' work wit me.
Entry 6589
Lak if a person is sick an' dey wants tuh git rid of dis sick person. Bell, dey kin fix up a remedy fo' dem dat de maggots will eat 'em up. Dey kin take dese snails an' dey kin make a salve out dese snails an' dey rub wit dis salve an' dat'll bring maggots intuh dey skin. Well, dose maggots will eat dis person £P. DEY HAVE PLENTY CASES IN DIS CITY WHERE WOMEN HAVE FIXED MEN AN' DEY EVEN THROW UP MAGGoTS.
Entry 6590
De buckets, anything yo' have tuh drink [from], whut yo' drink watah or yo' drink milk off, grajly [gradually] dat snail will grow. See, yo' rub it in dose things [buckets, etc.] an' dat snail, dat poison, will be in dat glass or dat plate or anything, an' [of] co'se, yo' eat where dat's been, dat will create soe mo'. Any kinda insects.
Entry 6591
Take de snail an' put it in de watah an' dey go drinkin' an' dose ails will grow in 'em.
Entry 6592
In case yo' wanta hurt somebody, somebody done yo' wrong, sompin lak dat, take a snail an' let it dry, an' beat 'im up fine. Yo' know, jis' beat it up in a powdah or anything an' den put it a person's food, anything lak dat. An' dat person will git sick an' snails Wl grow in 'em.
Entry 6593
Den it's anothah somepin. A fellah will do dat. Yo' know whut a snail Is. Well, yo' could take dat an' put it in dey drinkin' watah. Sprinkle a little salt in dere. Yo' know, take de snail an' sprinkle salt on it till it dwindle all away. Ah don' care how large he is he'll dwindle on away tuh nuthin. an' yo' n do de same thing wit a woman person. Let 'em drink watah.
(What will that do to a man?)
Dat will kill 'im. Yo' know, jis' dry 'em up, jis' lak dey would git sick an is'dvindle away. (But you have to dissolve this snail dust in salt and then put that juice into irdrinking water?) Yessuh.
Entry 6594
Ketch a snail an' kill 'im an' powdah 'im up an' put it in yore food, or eithah take a snail aig an' give it to an' yo' won't know it. An' den yo'll come tuh have snails in yore stomach. akes yo' sick.
Entry 6595
Yo' jis' take a snail an' beat it up real fine an' use dat dust.
(What will that do?)
Yo' know, use de dust, an' if yo' kin git a little drop of dat blood - well, jis' lak, now if yo' wanta do somepin tuh somebody, yo' take a drop of dat blood an'( dat dust from dat snail where yo' done parched it, an put it in whiskey an' give it tuh 'em. Well, yo' become tuh have live things in yo:. (What blood do you get, snail blood or blood from the/ person?) No, snail blood.
Entry 6596
Take dat snail. Take his shell an' put it in likkah an' let it stay in dere an' turn intuh a snail. An' yo' drink it yo' git dem snails in yo'.
Entry 6597
[As a diversion from the usual accounts of live things in you, I begin this margin title, about live snakes in a person, with a snake sensitive to time and psychology. For similar material in Hoodoo, and else- where in Hoodoo. Time without the psychology is a very important element in hoodoo.l Dis girl, a man fixed 'er, an' he had sompin jis' about dis big aroun', long lak a snake, an' it worked all de way roun' in 'er body. An' she said at night when she'd know dat dis man wanted tuh see 'er real bad, dat she had tuh go. Say dat snake would move roun' an' roun' 'er until [it] come all up aroun' dere [where?]. Yo' know, yo' could natchly [naturally] see it when it wuz movin'. An' it stayed in 'er back. Yo' know, move up in de bottom of 'er back dere, anl she could git rested. She couldn't do nuthin. An' DE MINUTE SHE WALKED IN DE DO' TUH 'IM, SHE SAY IT STOPPED MOVIN'.
(He put the snake in her to make her come to him.)
An' dey tryin' tuh find out how he put dat snake in her. Ah dunno [I do not know].
Entry 6598
[I follow the preceding snake story with a rare account of a woman with cancer, who, after hospital treatments and as a last resort, visits a spiritualist or hoodoo. About as revealing as the material itself, is my pencil note written on the original transcription sheets within a year of the original interview: MisceZl [miscellaneous material] several small things - will take [choose] one out later. The present cancer ex- perience is the only small thing I took out. Twenty or thirty years later I put over that old comment of mine 3 large exclamation marks in red ink!!!] Dis lady, she wus a frien' of mine, but ah knew 'er fer a long while. An' she had firs' - supposed tuh be a tumor on 'er arm. Had de tumor taken off an' she went on fer years an' anothah one came a'out some place else. She had dat taken off. An' fine'ly [finally] she had trouble wit 'er stomic. She wus comin' from work one day an' she wus comin' up de steps an' a pain struck 'er an' dey had tuh bring 'er in. She couldn't walk. Dey brought 'er in an' put 'er tuh baid an called de doctor. She wus swollen up from 'er toes all de way up tuh 'er hips. De doctor said she had a tumor an' made arrangements fer 'er tuh go tuh de hos- pital. She went tuh de hospital on Sunday an' she wus tuh be operated on Monday, but dey kept aftah 'er so. An' dey couldn't git 'er in any kinda condition fer operatin'." Dey had 'er dere a month 'fo' dey operated on 'er. Aftah dey operat- ed on 'er, dey'd taken a'out a very peculiah tumor. She tole me it had knots on it like a knotty white potato. [Potato in the Southern States usually meant sweet potato.] An' so aftah dey'd taken dis tumor a'out she stayed in de hos- pital a week, two weeks, an' den she went tuh 'er son so she could git 'er strength tuh come home. She wus at 'er son's, she had anothah one come out on 'er neck - up heah on 'er neck - an' she wus so dat she couldn't swallah. An' she said she could feel sompin movin'. She could feel sompin movin' in 'er throat. An' she would go tuh cleah 'er throat an' she would feel sompin like a claw, very painful an' 'er throat wus very sore. Ah know mahself she couldn't swallah. It would take her all day long. She couldn't git down so much as a glass or orange juice. [There is material in Hoodoo showing that live things in a person sometimes try to leave the body through the person's mouth; this being one of the causes of serious choking spells.l So a frien' of mine tole her about goin' tuh see somebody dat supposed tuh be A SPIRITUALIST OR HOODOO, or whutevah yo' might call 'em, an' - aw, she wus very sick, she couldn't eat anythin'. So dis girl [taking care of patient] she went tuh see dis [hoodoo] woman. Ah don' know where de woman is [her street ad- dress]. Anyhow, dis woman she tole her tuh come see her, an' she say she didn't go out, de woman would have tuh come tuh 'er. An' we [corrected later to girl] tole her de woman wus too ill - de girl tole her de woman wus too ill. So she said bring 'er in a taxi. So ah mahself helped tuh git 'er ready, but ah didn't go tuh de woman wit 'er. She went tuh see dis woman, an' dis woman tole her dat it had been seven years ago dat it had been snake aigs wus powdahed an' put in 'er icebox in watah, an' she drank dis watah an' dese aigs 'cumulated in 'er. Yo' see, an' yo' know, dey jis' had formed in 'er an' dis woman said 'er insides wus scally like a fish. An' so, at first she tole her she didn't know whethah she could do her any good or not, but fer 'er tuh come back de nex' day [THE MAGIC DELAY SO OFTEN ENCOUNTERED IN HOODOO]. An' IN DE MEANTIME SHE GAVE HER, SHE CALLED IT GRAVEYARD DUST, IN SOME WATER. [This graveyard dirt was probably a blackish powder known as black draft or black drink, two different preparations, cathartics, frequently mentioned in Hoodoo.] She vomited up. De girl wus wit 'er. Now, ah wusn't wit 'er, de girl wus wit dis woman. She tole me she vomited up absolutely little yallah eggs. An' dis woman [hoodoo] said she had been so long [in finding out what was wrong with her] she wus jis' bedded wit aigs. See? An' she vomited up dese aigs in a pan. She give her a bucket aftah she give her dis graveyard dust. She vomited up dese aigs in dis pan. An' she tole her tuh stop by de store on de way home an' git mack'rel an' take it right a'out, salt mack'rel, an' take it right a'out de, yo' know, a'out de brine, jis' as it wus, an' don' wash it off or anythin'. Don' care whut it had on it, jis' take evah- thin' along wit it an' eat de belly of de mack'rel. Now dis is de truth. Now ah know dis fer mahself. An' she et [ate] dis mack'rel an' she said dis thin' dat wus up along 'er neck - it wus a snake in 'er neck, see - an' SHE SAY DIS BELLY OF A MACK'REL WOULD TURN DIS SNAKE DOWN, SEE. AN' SHE WOULD GIVE HER TREATMENTS AN' WORK IT DOWN TUH 'ER STOMACH [so that it could gO out through the bowels]. Well, she did an' she hadn't et anything fer a long time. She did. She et [ate] dis belly of dis mack'rel an' dat's de firs' thin' she had swallah- ed fer ovah a month. Yo' know, she couldn't swallah anythin' hard. An' den aftah dat, nachur'ly [naturally] she got bettah an' dis woman tole her if she Would keep on comin' tuh 'er she could cure her. NOT TUH GO BACK TUH DE HOSPITAL 'CUZ DE DOCTORS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO FO' HER.
(What sort of treatment did she give her when she went to her house?)
She give her dis snake dust, er [I mean] graveyard dust. Dis made her vomit up dose aigs, yo' see. An' ah don' know whut she did. Ah guess she continue givin' 'er dat so much each time she would go dere. But anyhow she got bettah an' she got so she could go tuh dis woman 'erself. Now dis is de truth 'cuz ah know dis mahself. Ah seen 'er. Ah know 'er. She wus a frien' of mine. An' she WuS gittin' along fine an' CO'SE SHE WEN' TUH DE HOSPITAL TAKIN' RADIUM TREAT- MENTS FER A CANCER, yo' see. An' it burned 'er neck, yo' see, an' of co'se her son bein' [modern and insisting that she go to the hospital, etc.] [Something must have happened here. Machine turned off. I ask her to re- peat.] Yes, she wus goin' tuh de hospital takin' radium treatments an' yo' know dat hot thin' had burned 'er. An' see in de co'se of time it made her neck sore, an' of co'se as she wus sick she wasn't able tuh work den, an' 'er son he wus 'er main support. He started tuh go work fer [against] dis woman [hoodoo], an' den she went back, started goin' back tuh de hospital again. But dey didn't do her any good in de hospital. But dis thing it did git out of 'er neck. Whatevah it was it got out of 'er neck, an' she got so dat she could eat, 'cuz ah used tuh carry 'er food mahself, so dat she could eat. Of co'se, aftah 'er son wouldn't give 'er money [to go to the hoodoo], I give her money two or three times mah- self tuh go tuh dis woman. An' so in de co'se of time - an' in de meantime dis woman tole 'er dat dis woman had got mad wit 'er an' dey fell out about sompin othahs. Dis woman wus a roomah intuh 'er house. Dis woman put de stuff in 'er. An' dat had been seven yeahs ago dat stuff had been in 'er. See, it wus jis' workin' on 'er grajly [gradually]. Dat wus in '35. She wus supposed tuh die in '35. Well, she didn't die in '35. Well she died de fifth of [5th month] '36 - 1936. [I interviewed this informant, March, 1938.1 An' so ah used tuh go ahead an' bath 'er. Ah don' know whut it wus, but her had a big knot almos' as big as mah fist, she had it right undah 'er arm. She had a big knot an' truly yo' put chure han' on dat, it would move. Yo' know, yo' put chure han' right on it dere an' yo' could feel it slip. Ah don' know whut it wus.
(Where was this woman living when this happened?)
Yes, indeed, right heah in Washington, D. C.,
(And the root or hoodoo doctor lives right here in Washington, too?)
Uh-huh, she lived here in Washington City. An' she jis' continue tuh git wuse [worse] an' wuse an' got so bad off. She an' 'er son were livin' tuhgethah an' yo' know, she wus 'fraid tuh leave her home by 'erself an' all, she got so weak an' all. Dey'd taken 'er back tuh de hospital ag'in, right down heah to de [?] Hospital. Dey had taken 'er down to Doctor Reed [Walter Reed] Hospital. An' she jis' continued tuh grow weakah an' weakah, an' den, ah don't know whut it wus, but she had somepin othah an' she lost mo' strength. But dat thin' dat she had in 'er arm would achly [actually] make her arm jump, jis' dis Way [demon- strates]. An' it did like dat until she died.
(What did the doctors say was wrong with her?)
Ah nevah had nerve enough tuh ast de: son, but ah heah 'im talk dat ovah aftah she died.
Entry 6599
Well, she takes de snake an' she dries 'im up an' she takes 'is bones outa his tail, which dose de softes' bones, an' she dries dose bones up. Dey make a dust outa dem an' put dat intuh a vaseline, or hair oil, or hair grease dat he uses, an' he passes dat ovah 'is head when he combs 'is hair. An' it will penetrate tuh 'is - through 'is skull intuh 'is brain. An' he will al- Ways have a min' dat he wants tuh drown 'imself, or he will always have a min' he wants tuh kill 'imself or commit suicide. But de Way tuh keep 'imself from doin' dat, committin' sui- cide, HE WILL HAVE TUH GO TUH ONE OF DOSE PEOPLE OVAH DE RIVAH [IN ALGIERS], SOME OF DOSE TWO-HEADED PEOPLE, AN' DEY WILL TELL 'IM JIS' WHUT IS WROEG WIT 'IH AN' DERE IS NO DANGAH FO 'IM, BECUZ DEY KIN GIT IT BACK OUTA 'IS SKULL BEFO' IT
(How do they do that?)
Dey shave all de hair off, yo' see, an' dey use fresh lard an' sulphh an' hot towels, an' dey will draw dat - draw dat right out, an' he will have tuh pot eat anythin' fo' nine days. He should not have anythin' on 'is stomic, nuthin in "is bowels, nuthin. Give 'im two or three big dose of salts, an' dey contimue usin' dat fresh lard an' sulphuh on 'is head. An' in about nine or ten days, he il begin tuh come back tuh 'imself, an' den he will realize den whut dangah be sus in.
Entry 6600
Yo' be's de firs' one - an' when yo' git 'im yo' put yo' a wire through 'is haid, don' chew know, where yo' kin hang 'im up cleah [clear - not touching anythingl like dat. An' let 'im hang dere.
[The wire as well as hanging clear or free is a magic isolation.]
(Why do you hang him up that way with the wire did you say?)
Why he become 'live after yo' do yore tricks. Yo' hang 'im up an' let 'im die dere. [Here as in so many rites is the tor- ture before death theme.] Well, aftah he die dere yo' take his hide an' yo' groun' dat, yo' know, dry it out thoroughly an' den yo' powdah it. An' yo' take dat - take dat hide - it be's tuh blind yo' see. [Informant begins to tell me this powder will blind a person, but changes his mind.] Well, yo' take dat haid an' cut dat haid off an' powdah dat haid up an' git it intuh a person. Dat makes live snakes [in him]. [After informant left interviewing room, I say to my re- cording machine: This woman spoke so low I don't know whether I shall be able to hear her or not [[at transcription time]]. That or not shows me unconsciously imitating informant's repetition - redundancy! All through Hoodoo informants and I frequently requote one another.]
Entry 6601
(Tell me the story just how you heard it.)
Said dat dis woman had been tuh church an' she come back an' she had a woman stayin' in de same house, undahstan', an' dere wus section [partition] in between duh two rooms. Well, yo' see de brick wus on de side in de back, an' dis othah woman she hollered in dere an' ast dis othah lady did she got some coffee made. She said, "Yes, ah got some jis' 'bout ready." An' dis othah woman tole her, all right, said she'd be in dere to git a cupa coffee. So she'd taken a cup fo' herself an' fixed a cupa coffee down dere fo' - she reach up de chimley an' got de snake haid an' beat it up an' put some in de bot- tom de cup fo' dis othah lady, an' put de sugah on topa it. An' dis othah woman, she settin' in dere lookin', peekin' through de crack at 'er. An' she didn't put nuthin in dis cup ovah dere but sugah. Dat was fo' herself, see. An' so she po'd up de coffee an' called dis womah tuh come on an' git 'er coffee. It wus ready. So dis othah woman she jis' come in dere an' lif' dis cup from heah - whilst dis othah woman turn aroun' - an' she jis' changed it right quick. Took dis cupa coffee an' sot [sat] dat one ovah dere. An' so did othah woman [intended victim] drinked dat cup of coffee; an' dis othah woman, she whut fixed it, she drinked dat whut she had fo' de woman. De woman jis' switched de cups don't chew know. So she say, "Ah'm a dead woman right now." She ast 'er why she's a dead woman. An' [she] say, she went on tuh tell 'er, jis' tell 'er she know she goin' die. An' so dat thin' jis' created young snakes in 'er. An' she died at de [some- thing] plaCe an' DEY SAY DE BUZZARDS WENT DERE AT 'ER 'FO' SHE DIED, SHE WUS STINKIN' SO BAD. AN' ATTAH [AFTER] SHE DIED, DE LI'LE SNAKES ALL CRAWLED OUT "ER NOSE AN' OUT 'ER MOUTH.
(You said something about how she got that snake, how she got that.)
[I] said she took - cut de snake head off right at Holt Place an' hung it up de chimley an' let it dry, an' beat it up intuh a powdah. Dat's whut dey say. Ah didn't see it. [This switching of drinks is surely a folktale theme localized; not by inform- ant, but by a predecessor.]
(This happened up in Georgia? Holt, Georgia?)
At de Holt Place.
(Near what town?)
Near Perry, Georgia.
Entry 6602
Well, all right, ah've had de pleasure tuh meetin' a woman travelin through de country, an' five or six diff'ren' people of mah profession tole [her] dat dere wus snakes put intuh 'er. Now, dey wus Wondahin' how did dese snakes git intuh dis woman. Ah claim dat yo' kin take snake dust an' put snakes intuh a person. Yo' kin sprinkle dis dust over some of dere food an' if dey eat, dey claim dat snakes will grow intuh 'em. Ah've had de pleasure of gittin' one from a woman. Ah've taken de hair from de top of 'er head an' burn dis an' let 'er weah dis dus' in 'er lef' shoe, an it made dese snakes disappeah.
Entry 6603
People had got hurted. People have, yo' know, whut chew call poisoned peoples. Dere wus a lady stayed [with us]. An' dose peoples comes dere tuh 'er. An' yo' know people kin fix yo', yo' know, kin put snakes in yo'. She came dere to de doctor an' yo could see where dey had fixed - in a couple of places yo' could see de snakes.
Entry 6604
Ah had a cousin once. He wus co'tin [courting a girl an' he nevah did ma'y [marry] her. An' 'er mothah fixed 'im up an' a live snake come outa his laig. But how she done it he nevah did know.
Entry 6605
Go down tuh dat Crackerjack Drug Store an' git some, some of dis rattlesnake dust. Git some of dat rattlesnake's dust an' put in dere food. No, dey ain't put it in dere food, dey jis' put a little pinch of it intuh it. An' ah'll guarantee dey have nuthin but snakes in 'em.
Entry 6606
Snakes, any kinda snakes, any kinda insex [insects], if dere somebody yo' wanta put snakes an' scorpions in an' kill 'em. Yo' kin take de snake an' kill it, any kinda snake yo' wanta be in a person. Yo' kill dis snake an' aftah yo' kill dis snake yo' name de person whosom- evah yo' wanta kill. Yo' would name 'em. An' fo' nine days yo'd go dere an' turn 'im ovah. He'd be dead. Yo' turn 'im ovah callin' de person's name fo' nine days. An' de ninth day yo' go dere an' take dat thin' an' parch 'im up, yo' know, an' jis' make a dust outa it. An' if yo' wanta put it in whiskey or amythin', or pat it in some tea or anythin' lak dat, yo' put de dust in yo' knoy vtut cheo make from dat dead snake, or scorpion or spidah or anythin', an' den yo' give it to den. It won't hurt nobody but dem dat chew called dere name. An' den when de ninth day's up dey'll take sick, an' den yo' know, dem dere snakes an' scorpions ll be livin' in dem people, whut yo' give dat dust to - in nine days tine.
Entry 6607
Yo' run 'im.
(Either the frog or the snake.)
Until he gits real hot. Yo' git chew a forked stick like dat [demonstrates] chew know. Yo' grab 'is haid while he's hot. Yo' cut dat haid off, yo' see. Yo' take it an' carry it tuh yore home, an' put intuh a chimley tuh dry tull it git so yo' kin jis' do it dataway [demonstrates] de dust of it. An' if yo' don' like a person, like ah don' like yo' an' pertend [pretend] like ah like yuh, yo' sprinkle it intuh dere food. An' dey tell me dat will certainly bring live things intuh de stomic.
Entry 6608
Well, ah heard tell of 'em usin' snakes fo' killin' peoples. Well, ah've heard tell of 'em takin' snakes - take de snake haid, cut de snake haid off whilst he's live. Make him angry an' cut 'is haid off short. Take dat snake haid - cut: 'is haid off whilst he's real short, yo' know, whilst he's live. Don't cut it off aftah 'e's daid. Cut it off whilst 'e's life [alive]. Den yo' take dat snake haid an' yo' dry it. Hang it up yore chimley dey say an' dry it fo' nine days. Den yo' kin take dat snake powdahs whut chew git from dat snake haid, an' it supposed tuh lill yo' daid. If dey kin git it intuh coffee, food, anythin' - dat snake powdah It'll be so dry till yo' kin jis' pound it up yo' know. An' den yo' take dat poudah, an' yo' kin sprinkle it in anythin' an' dat'll kill a person.
Entry 6609
Yo' take a snake an' when he git angry kill 'im. An' dey take dat snake an' hang 'im up an' let dat blood drip. An' when de blood drip, take dat blood in a bottle an', lak if any- body dat yo' don' lak, a person yo' don' lak, yo' put dat blood intuh dere whiskey. An' dat poison a person. Say dat put live snakes in some persons.
Entry 6610
(What do they do with that snake blood now?)
Dey take de snake an' kill de snake while de blood is warm, yo' know, befo' de snake git cold, yo' see. An' take de blood an' put in milk or coffee, but if dey put it in coffee it won' show up as bad, dey say. An' yo' drink it, an' dat'll have snakes in yo'. De little snakes will crawl all dhrough.
Entry 6611
Now, dey tell me tuh take a snake, cut de snake's head off, let 'im drip, an' while his blood is drippin' ketch de blood in somepin as it drips. Jis' as many drops of dat blood yo' ketch, jis' as I - if I is a enemy, jis' how many snakes yo' desire tuh be in me, an' I lie - yo' let dat blood drip - drop - fall intuh some vessel. Whut kinda whiskey I drink, why yo' po' dat whiskey drink on dis blood, an' shake it in dere wit dis whiskey. Shake it tuhgethah an' give me dis whiskey tuh drink. Very soon I'll come tuh be fulla snakes.
(You'll have little snakes in you from those drops of blood?)
Yes, dat's right.
Entry 6612
Ah heard 'em say yo' kin take an' ketch a blacksnake an' cut 'is head, yo' know, an' hang 'em up by de tail an' let dat blood drip in somepin. Put it in a bottle an' lak if yore frien's come roun', anybody come, yore frien's or prob'- ly yore enemies too, an' if yo' don' lak 'em, an' lak if yo' have a li'le coffee at dinnah or somepin lak dat, yo' put a li'le bit dat on dere cup an' dat will kill 'em instan'ly.
(What?)
De snake will kill 'em.
Entry 6613
Git a snake an' put a snake in yo'. Dey kin go ketch a snake an' kill it, cut 'is head off an' hang 'im on de limb [of a tree] by de tail. Tie a string aroun' 'is tail an' hang 'im up an' put a tin cup or tin plate undah 'im an' ketch 'is blood. Let 'im bleed in dat tin plate or tin cup, whutevah it is. Now dey take dat blood an' dey kin put dat blood intuh yore food or somepin tuh drink; or dey kin let dat blood dry until it comes jis' tuh a hard powdah. Dey kin sprinkle it in yore shoes. An' de perspiration from yore feet will such up de strength of dat blood an' cuz yore body tuh attract dat, an' it will go all through de body an' kill de body. An' it will be crawlin' jis' undah de skin, all about, mostly from de point where dey entered. Depends upon how long it is when it gits in de stomic an' come on up. An' he'll choke yo' tryin' tuh come on up.
Entry 6614
If you walk upon [meet] a snake or lizard, catch him, don't kill him, hang him up by his head with a string around his neck. Cut off the top [tip] of his tail, and put a bowl right under his tail and catch his blood, dry it. You have to catch all of this blood until he is dead. Then you take him and lay him up on a dry place and dry him. His bones and his flesh, after it gets dry, you powder it up. You take this and this blood and mix it, and they put it down for you. They'll dig a hole in front of your door and put this in that hole and call the Lord's Name: Lord, Jesus Christ, His Namesake. You fill it up, take three steps backward, and say: Now, I've got you; that will hold you, that will take you away to an unknown world. When he comes along and steps over that, he's gone. [Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 6615
Well, yo' kin take de blood outa scorpion, eithah snake, eithah one, an' put it intuh a person's food In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, an' dey'll becone tuh have snakes in 'em, or scorpions in 'em. Den if yo' wan' dose outa dere, yo' git chew some salt, red peppah, sulphuh. Combine 'em tuhgethah an' let 'em take it fo' nine mawnin's In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' Holy Ghost. An' dat soon will git 'em out.
(Get those live things out?)
Yes sir.
Entry 6616
I know of a man who used to kill snakes and bleed them. He cut them under the throat and let them bleed in a can and he would take that blood and get one drop in anyone's food and that would kill them.[Fredericksburg, Va., (67), happened years before 1936 (date of collecting) near Woodford, Caroline Co., Va.)
Entry 6617
Ketch a small snake 'live an' put 'im in some whiskey - cut 'im an' let de blood, a couple-a drops of blood drop intuh dat whiskey, an' give it tuh a person dat chew wanta have 'em. An' dere. will grow in 'em live snakes, in de person. (How do they get those snakes out?) Well, now, how dey would git de snakes out. Co'se dey would have tuh be got out by some othah person.
Entry 6618
Ketch a blacksnake an' jis' hang 'im up, cut 'is haid off an' let nine drops of blood drop in a cup. See, an' yo' put dat in whiskey an' give it tuh most anybody dat yo' think have harmed yo'. Well, dat poison, yo' see. Dat's poison den. (What will that do to them?) It would create snakes in dem. An' aftah a long while dat would kill 'em.
Entry 6619
Yo' kin take a - take a rattlesnake - yo' kin take anythin' dat wandahs in de woods snakelike - yo' take 'im an' yo' cut 'is haid off. Well, yo' put dat snake up an' let 'im be dried by de sun. Yo' take dem snake bones an' beat 'em up tuh apowdah, an' yo' put jis' a little bit of dat whiskey - alcohol, anythin' - an' yo' kin set dat bottle up, if yo' wan'a do it. Yo' set it up dere an' if yo' don' happen tuh give it tuh 'em dat day, or dat night, den mawnin' when yo' git up de snakes will be in it [bottle] - little snakes. [Snakes in the bottle next morning proves that snakes would have been in a victim, had you given the snake blood to him the day or night before.]
Entry 6620
Yo' git a snake bone an' take de shoes - yo' git de snake bone an' yo' take a person's shoe an' take dat li'le leathah piece outa it whut's in dere. An' yo' take dat li'le bone an' dry it up - yo' know, kinda make li'le powdah of it. An' yo' take de othah part, de tip-end of it, dat sharp part, an' put it down intuh de shoe an' place dat li'le cloth back ovah it. Yo' take dat powdahs an' sprinkle dat all roun' in dere. If it's yore shoe, if ah wanta kill yo' or put sompin in yo', put snakes in yo' where dey won' come out. Well, yo' see when yo' put dat shoe on, yo' goin' press yore weight ag'inst it; an' when yo' does, see, it pops up intuh yo', intuh yore heel. Well, yo' see, dat poison jis' goes right straight on up in yo'. An' aftah dat poison git up intuh yo', in about de ninth day it begin tuh make li'le snakes in yo'. It begin tuh make li'le snakes in yo'. Well, if yo' wanta git dose snakes outa yo', yo' git chew some sulphuh an' green peppah, black peppah an' mix it all tuhgethah. An' den yo' git chew dis milk of magnesia an' den yo' put dat in wit it an' mix it tuhgethah, an' jis' nine drops of spirits of turpentine. Yo' mix it all up tuhgethah an' yo' take dat fo' about eight days an' it will kill dose snakes. An' yo' go tuh de woods an' dere's one li'le sprig of stuff dat dey call dat Copras it bears one of de straight leaves an' de li'le j'ints [joints]. Dey got about four li'le white j'ints run up tuhgethah. [Does informant mean copperas, and does he think it is a plant?] Yo' take dat an' weah dat intuh yore clothes, an' dey say dat will really, surely run de snakes outa yo'. Put it all tuhgethah an' it will run dose snakes out of yo'. (You just wear this root though, you don't take either of those things - just wear it?) Yes.
(And that snakebone, can you get that any place about the snake?)
Yes, yo' kin git it from de snake, jis' any part of 'is body, jis' so it has dat li'le sharp end kind lak a pin.
Entry 6621
Yo' kin take a snake, mos' any kinda snake - ain't got'a be no special snake, mos' any kind. An' if yo' kin gi t'is aig an' break it intuh a cup of coffee or anythin' dat chew drink, an' whosomevah drink it; well, when dey drink it it'll come tuh be snakes in dere laigs. Dat's de way dat do.
Entry 6622
Ah nevah tried it but dey tell me yo' kin take a snake aig. When yo' find a snake aig, break it intuh likkah or somepin. Whutevah a man drinks or a Woman drinks, an' put dat aig in dat likkah. An' if he evah drinks dat likkah dat will cuz a live snake tuh come in 'is body. But whethah it's true or not, ah don't know.
[After I turned off recording machine, informant added lizard.]
(They do the same thing with a lizard egg?)
Yes.
human body as the alleged destination of a live snake after drinking. Retain both nonperformance and uncertainty, without upgrading either to confirmed disbelief or confirmed fact. conditional drinking as the delivery route in an untried snake-egg report. Keep never tried and whether true I do not know with the whole selected claim. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 6623
How tuh put things in a person. Say yo' wanta put a snake intuh a per- son or dese ole red-haid scorpions. Gits dose things. An' kill 'em an' git dere haids off an' den hang 'em. Put 'em on a string an' put 'em somewhere until dey jis' git perfectly dry. An' den take 'em down an' put 'em intuh somepin where dat dust can't git up yore nostrils. Put 'em in.somepin an' beat 'em up, an' den take dat dust an' put it intuh some watah or a person's food. An' let 'em eat or drink 'em an' dat'll create live things in 'em.
Entry 6624
Ah kin take a snake - yo' kin take a snake an' parch 'is haid up, an' beat 'im up an' give it tuh a person. Dat snake'll create back in a person. Take a lizard an' do de same thing. Yo' take a worm, a [wood] sawyah, powdah 'im up an' git 'im in a person, he'll create. Yo' take a roach, he'll create back in yuh.
Entry 6625
Well, yo' kin use a rattlesnake haid. Yo' kin use a rattlesnake haid, if yo' git someone tuh kill a rattlesnake an' take de haid of it, an' put 'im in de stove an' let 'im jis' stay in dere undah a hot fiah, an' let it parch up fine. An' yo' kin take dat an' put it in anybody's [water]bucket - jis' de dus' from it, yo' know. Aftah yo' take an' beat it up, pound it up good, git de dust of it an' sprinkle it in anybody's watah bucket. Ary [or] a li'le pinch of it in dey food. An' it'll kill 'em.
Entry 6626
Take a rattlesnake haid an' put it down by de fiah jist-lak an' let it bake brown. An' said dat when hit bake brown, say yo' take an' beat dat up an' give tuh a person. Put it in coffee. Make jis'-lak yo' makin' coffee an' put in dere. An' when it boil, say yo' take an' po' it out an' give it tuh 'em, an' let 'em drink it. An' say dat would poison 'em. Dey jis' - say dey die all at once. It would kill 'em finely [finally]. [A note of mine asks could this be a fact? Could the poison in a rattlesnake's head actually poison after the heating, etc?]
Entry 6627
A fellah kin take a rattlesnake, if he's a rootman an' he has a rattle- snake. Fo' or five or 'em round dere [rootman's home]. Parch it daid. An' he take dat rattlesnake an' grind up dat head jis' lak a powdah. He's [snake is] daid yo' know. [He] got 'em roun' dere [his house]. He take dat rattlesnake an' put it in anythin' tuh eat or drink, an' it will kill yo'.
Entry 6628
Take a snake an' cut 'is haid off, which is poisonous, yo' know, an' let dat haid dry up completely. An' den take it an' pound it up an' give it tuh dat individual tuh eat. Or de snake gut or anythin' like dat, an' give it tuh dat individual in dere food tuh eat. It don' hardly kill 'em, but it will cuz li'le insex [insects] tuh grow in 'em.
Entry 6629
Ketch a frog an' take a snake wit 'im an' yo' hang 'em up tuh de chim- ley. Let 'em stay until dey are, yo' know, dey are dry. Let 'em dry - snake, frogs an' lizards. Dat's what dey all puts in yo' dey tell me. Take 'em an' tie 'em up an' put 'em up in de chimley where dat smoke will dry 'em. An' den dey git tuh work an' powdah 'em up - jis' powdah 'em up soft an' fine. An' yo' takes dat - dey tell me dey take dat an' put it intuh whiskey or anythin' an' give tuh yo' tuh drink off it. An' yo'll drink it an' dey'll become live in yo'
Entry 6630
If dey want tuh kill anybody, so ah learnt - dat's how mah fathah wuz killed. Now, dey kin git a snake of any kin' yo' want. Ketch im, yo' know, 'live. An' say yo' take him an' put 'im in de stove an' bake him brown - yo' know, till he's crisp up. An' dey say yo' kin take a li'le bit of dat dust, an' dust it in watah, milk or coffee - anythin' yo' wanta dust it in. An' dey tell me it will kill a person.
Entry 6631
Ah've heard about de way people, yo' know, make live things git inyo', yo' know. Dey tell me dat ef ah kill a serpent, a snake yo' see, an' lay himout, yo' see, an' let 'im dry real dry, yo' see. An' den yo' go git 'im, yo' know, an' grind 'im up yo' see. An' it be jis' kinda lak a powdah, yo' see. An' dey tell me dat yo' could put it in whiskey. An' de person will drink it yo' see, an' dat'll make live snakes come in 'im.
Entry 6632
Ah've heard talk dat chew kin take like a snake or somepin othah like dat. Somebody dat's not 'fraid of a snake. Well, we say - wouldn't say it wus 'is blood, but say dat 'it would be like he's [his] flesh, yo' undahstan', jes' a li'le some of 'im. Jis' like he's killed an' yo' git a chance tuh put dat in 'im [enemy]. Sew dat up an' bake dat in a stove an' den powdah it. Aftah yo' bake it in de stove, powdah it up fine. An' den yo' kin put it in some whiskey or watah or wine.
Entry 6633
Dey say yo' take a snake an' kill 'im. Ah think yo' kill 'im, but any- how yo' dry him up an' make a powder outa dis snake. Well, now, if yore fond of drinkin' whiskey or coffee or anything, dat ah could git dis in fo' yo' tuh drink, why dat will bring live things in yo'. Eithah dey will use a scorpion or eithah a snake, an' dat will make dem things come in yo' 'live.
Entry 6634
Yo' kills a snake an' yo' let 'em dry. Aftah yo', yo' know, let 'im dry, den yo' parch 'im an' take dat dust. Yo' beat it up an' put it in a rag an' shake it ovah a person's sompin tuh eat, or dey food if yo' kin git a plate dressed. Dat whut we call dressin' a plate. An' when dey eat, in time an [at] times he begin gittin' sick, an' it will create live snakes in 'em an' dey grow tuh maturity till it kill 'em.
Entry 6635
Take a snake and kill him and dry him and powder him up. Put it in something you eat or drink. They claim that snake will come alive again.
Entry 6636
I've heard you go to the woods, kill a snake, dry this snake up, beat it up into a powder, and give it to a person in his eats, and in two months time a snake will form in their stomach.
Entry 6637
Ah heard 'em tell dey could git a snake, a poisonous snake, an' take kill 'im, see an' dry him. Dry him out an' dat would make a dust, yo' undah- stan'. An' take dat dust an' put it in dere shoes, an' it would kill 'em. Ah don't know how true it is, only whut ah heard. Jis' put in 'is shoes.
doubted report of harmful dust from an explicitly poisonous snake. Both Ah heard and Ah don’t know how true it is, only whut ah heard must remain visible. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 6638
[Before we begin margin title RATTLESNAKE POWDER, we must realize that snake oil was frequently used as a medication; see especially my introductory comment, to interview: 'IT'S KIND OF A MYSTERY, " p.1930. Since I have in Hoodoo almost no material about the preparation of snake oil, I am inclined to believe that the old tradition of snake oil was largely continued by local hoodoo drug stores. The following prescription for rattlesnake oil is complete except for a final page which may turn up later. The essential ingredients are here:] Now, if yo' got'a wife an' yo' wife leave yo', an' yo' can't git chew wife back; an' yo' wife leave as much as hat or a dress or a cloak in de house, yo' git dat cloak in dat hat. All right, yo' take dat hat an' yo' put jis' about a teaspoonfula sulphuh in vinegah, yo' unnahstan', an' den yo' takes whut dey call some rattlesnake oil an' sprinkle it in de hat.
(How do you get that rattlesnake oil? How do you get that?)
Dey make dat. Ah'm gona tell yo' how tuh make it directly [in a moment]. An' when [after], yo' put dat in de hat, an' den yo' put de hat back up, yo' see, an' she comin' back in maybe tuh git somepin or put on de hat, an' she can't go out dere. All right. Now give me a piece of papah an' ah'll give yo' a prescription how tuh make de oll: [I handed a piece of paper to informant and he wrote out the prescription. This sheet is missing at the moment, though I had it a few days ago. Fortunately the ingredients are written on the present transcription sheet in my handwriting: '10c oil of mint, lOc witch hazel" [[for some reason a fairly rare substance in hoodoo]], and 'lOç for 1 pound of sassafras."] [Charleston, S. Car., (512), 581:2.] [For Doctor Giles and rattlesnake oil, see No.7212, p.3208.]
Entry 6639
Now, lak people has dese li'le ole [worms] an' thin's, yo' know, be's workin' roun' in dere skin. Well, dey kin take a rattlesnake an' kill 'im an' let 'im dry up, an' take some of dat dust an' stuff an' put it in a bottle [of whiskey?]. An' let it stay fo' a while till it 'solve [dissolve] good an' let 'em drink dat. An see, dat's whut cuz dese snakes an' thin's tuh work all undah people's skin. Dat's de way dey git it in 'em.
(How do you get them out?)
Well, ah dunno [how] dey git 'em out.
Entry 6640
Dey'd dry it [a rattlesnake] an' grin' de dust up - make a dust of it. An' dat's why de oldah people didn't wan' choo tuh open lettahs an' things, becuz if it git in yo' eyes or yo' inhale it, it'd be vury injur'us. Ah think dey say it's de rattles [dust comes from the rattles].
reported drying before dust-making with qualified object/body-part attribution. The rattlesnake identification is bracketed editorial wording; Ah think dey say it’s de rattles remains the informant’s uncertainty. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 6641
An' dey could go ahead cross den an' could take a snake, ole rattle- snake, an' dey could pound dat rattlesnake up. Jis' poun' dat snake an' pound 'im up an' put it in bread fo' yo' or anythin' dat go down in yo' - yo' eat. Well, live thin's 'ill come right in yo' - snakes. Dey comes alive.
(Well, is there any way to get those out of you, that you know?)
Well yo' go to de hoodoo an' git dis root medicine an' sompin dey call rattle- snake marstah, rattlesnake marster an' - oh, it's anothah root.
Entry 6642
Dey say, jis¹ lak dey use a rattlesnake, dey use a scorpion, jis' git Dey say, jis¹ 1 de hide an' put it up [to dry]. An' yo' know, jis' lak a han'ke'chuff, sompin lak dat, lay on it an' de dust. Yo' see when dey dry it, it has dust. An' say jis' lak ah walk up tuh yo' an' hit chew in de face wit dis, cross yore nose, an' dat dust would go inside of yo'. An' dey say dat would cuz scorpions or eithah rattlesnakes tuh come on de inside of yo'. [There are a number of the handkerchief tricks in Hoodoo - with snake dust, perfume, etc.]
Entry 6643
Say, if ah wanted tuh' do sompin tuh yo', ah would git me a snake an' kill 'im an' put 'im intuh a sompin an' bake 'im, an' ah would use mah wish. Ah would take de ashes an' ah would drop it in- tuh yore meal or intuh de watah yo' drink, an ah would made de wish fo' whut ah wanted tuh happen tuh yo'. An' it would happen.
(Do you mean you would wish anything?)
Anything dat yo' wanted tuh wish. Dat's de way ah heard of it.
(Wouldn't that dust create certain things in you or what?)
[My question is leading but the live things are obvious.]
Yes sir.
Entry 6644
Yo' kin kill a rattlesnake. Yo' kin git 'is rattles an' yo' keep it till it dries, an' yo' put it in anythin' fo' a person tuh eat or drink, it will cuz young snakes tuh come in 'em. Or eithah scor- pions. Git de haid of de scorpion an' mash it up yo' know in some dust, an' put it in anythin' dey eat or drink. Why dat'll make young scorpions come in 'em. Rattlesnakes, yo git de rattZe dust.
Entry 6645
Dat's about a rattlesnake ah think. Ah heard dat chew could beat up 'is rattles intuh some kinda fine dust. An' take an' sprinkle a teeny bit of dat in sompin, see - some kind of [food] or sompin othah, an' den dey would eat a little. An' den in de long run dem people would git insurance offa dem. Dey would soon die. [Here rattle-powder is a poison rather than a creater of live snakes.]
The informant says 'a rattlesnake ah think' and 'Ah heard' in an account about rattles; the final comparison with live snakes is bracketed editorial matter.