Browse:THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF (Volume 4, entries 5206–8881)/Part 28
THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF
Volume 4, entries 5206–8881. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 7366
When murderer enters room, corpse begins to bleed. [This belief is unusual because touching the dead body is an essential part of the rite.]
Entry 7367
[I am adding a number merely to call attention to several unusual rites that could have been included here: (l)
Break a straw into two pieces and cross them on the forehead of the murdered man. Each suspected person must then step over the dead body. As the murderer steps across, the corpse will begin to bleed (see No.109, p.40); (2) Two straws are crossed on the murdered man's stomach and a new pair of scissors is also used
(see No.7421, p.3273).]
Entry 7368
De person dat dey had an idea dat kilt 'im, aw he could be dead fo' so long, an' [dey] said dat he could go an' tetch dis person, even if it was nuthin but jes' de bone, an' hit Would bleed. [Even after 15 or 20 years the bone of a murdered man will bleed - see No.110, p.40.]
Entry 7369
Wus once a fellah found murdered [on the railroad track] between Gir- dletree an' Stockton [Md.]. So they said those people [the murderers] wus infi- dels, they could stop yer blood - you know, stop 'um from bleedin' so tha' choo couldn't find out who did it [by bringing any suspected person into the presence of the corpse]. An' they kilt this fellah, taken a board up in the floor, in 'tween the floor an' the groun'. [This board was retained by the murderers]. So they stopped his blood to keep 'im from bleedin'. Den after that, well, day drug 'im out on the railroad [to suggest death by accident].
The narrative explicitly mentions blood being stopped. That remains a reported claim; the bracketed explanations are editorial and no effect is independently established.
Entry 7370
I have heard that, if a person is murdered in a house and there is a bloodstain on the floor, it remains there unless you take that piece of wood out.
[New York City, by Ediphone, informant No.3, probably from Virginia.]
Entry 7371
There has always been a saying that where a person is murdered or killed that any of the blood has been spilled, you can always tell because it will show itself afresh whenever it's cloudy weather or raining. The stain will become inevitable in the floor, if it's on a board, and it can't be prevented. You can scrub it but it will always come during stormy rainy weather. [New York City, by Ediphone, informant No.lO, from near Orangeburg, S. Car.]
Entry 7372
(If they found a person that got killed, had been murdered?)
Yes, [they] say de stain would be on whosomevah did de crime, de stain would nevah leave him - some part of 'im. It would be on 'im, somewheres about 'is han's an' [or] it would be some place about 'im dat it would show dat he be de real per- son dat did de crime. [This belief is based upon the mark placed upon Cain for killing his brother Abel - see Gen. 4:1-15; see also introductory comment to interview with Doctor Marcus Brown, p.1290.]
The editor links the belief to Cain's mark and a Gen.4:1-15 reference. This is an editorial comparison, not the informant's explanation or an independently established origin.
Entry 7373
Fac' [in fact] ah heard of a man got killed, an' shortly aftah he got killed de law come up to fin' out who wuz dis man dat he got killed an' who wuz it dat killed dis man. He [the law] caught some of 'is blood an' aftah ketchin' it he took de washpan wit some watah in it, an' caught some of 'is blood an' set it down in [under] de bed where dis man wuz at. An' de man dat killed 'im, he had tuh come back an' give up.
(Under whose bed did he put that pan?)
Under dis man's bed dat wuz dead dat dis othah man shot.
(The dead man's bed?)
Yes, dat's right. (That is, the dead man was lying on the bed an' he [the law] took some of this blood and put water with it, and put it under the dead man's bed to bring back the man that killed him.) Yes.
Entry 7374
Yeah, if dis man dat killed dis man is gone, if yo' kin git dere, yo' undahstan', an' take anything, an' take a teaspoon an' dip some of de [spots] of de dead man's blood. (Where he was killed?) Yeah. See, git some of [the dead man's] blood, dig it up an' go ahead wit it, an' den come back an' quick as yo' kin. Den go where he went an' git some of 'is [foot] track, an' git some dirt outa his track. Git a little of dat dirt outa his track whut he made an' take de decease [deceased's] blood, de dead man's blood, an' po' it on top of dat track. All right, yo' got 'im. Yo' got dat blood, po' it on dere [foot track] an' say, "Ah want chew tuh come back heah, undahstan', an' stan' yore trial like a man fo' killin' dis po' man. Ah mean dat. Ah mean fo' yo' tuh come back, an' yo' can't git away." Ah pō' it on an' ah be talkin' to it, sayin', 'By de mercy an' power of God, ah mean fō' dem [you] tuh come back, fō' ah know God rules de world an God will rule yo'." Tell it [In the Name of] "De Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, drive him back." He kin go an' go, but 'ventu'lly he turn roun' an' come on back an' give up.
Entry 7375
Well, yes, if a man kill a man. If he jump - if dis man now, when he kill 'im, he jump backward, come backwards ovah him, lak yo' step back ovah him befo' de breath leaves 'im or at de time dat he's breathin', an' if he kin git jes' a distance away, he will git away. An' if he don't - jes' lak if he go away an' don't do dat, an' if yo' jes' ketch a man on suspicion figurin' dat's 'im an' if de man ain't, if he ain't a bad 'un, yo' know, sompin lak dat, an' den if he's gone, if dere's any blood dat's in dat dirt, if it's two years or three, yo' bring dat fellah back dere. An' if he's de man did it, dat place will git dark an' darkah when yo' bring 'im back dere to dat place.
(That place where the man died?)
Oh, yes. Jes' lak yo's an officah, yo' take dat dirt wit yuh an' yo' find dat fellah, yo' know de color of de dirt. Jes' lay it right, yo' present dat dirt when yo' git to whah [where] dat person at, dat dirt will turn dark as 'is face.
(That dirt will get darker and darker.)
Entry 7376
Ah heard sev'ral diff'ren' p'ints about dat. Now dey says jes' lak if someone killed somebody else, an' yo' wants to fin' out who killed dat indivijal. When yo' git where he is yo' goes an' lay yore han' if he layin' on 'is back, lay yore han' an' drill it up three time lak dat from 'is face down to 'is nostel [nostril] an' say, "It will be a hot heat' - when yo' drill yore han' three time up an' down 'is nostel [nostril]. Well, turn 'im ovah an' right to [at] de back of de haid, git jes' a little pinch of dirt from outen dere. Take it to de house an' take yo' a pinch of table salt an' put it in dat, an' tote it wit chew fo' foah days. Aftah de foah days is up, walk an' throw it in de fiah, an' whosoevah killed dat indivijal, dey'll pass yore home - undah six days dey'll appear in yore home. Dat's de one dat killed de indivijal den. (WHEN YOU FIRST GET TO THAT DEAD MAN, YOU TAKE YOUR HAND AND JUST RUB IT DOWN OVER HIS NOSTRILS THREE TIMES - DOWN OVER HIS WHOLE FACE. Dat's right.
(Then what? It'll feel warm you say?)
It will feel warm on de third time, an' den yo' jes' take right in de back of de head, if he is laying down on de dirt or anywhere - take out a pinch of sand, if he's layin' on de ground - from undah his haid, any kin'a dust from undah his haid. Care [carry] it home an' put chew a pinch of salt in dat an' keep it until de third mawnin'. De thlrd mawnin' throw it in de fiah an' dat indivijal dat done de killin' on de sixth mawnin'll be to yore home.
Entry 7377
If you know his name. [A pause.]
(Yes?)
[This tells informant to continue.]
You get a candle. De man dat he killed, know 'is name. Get yo' a bo'd[sounds like boat but is board] about so long an' a bran'-new needle an' stick dat needle undah dere an' take dat candle an' an indelible pencil. Write his name dis way an' yourn dat way. (Wait! You write one from the bottom and one from the top?) Dat's right. Den light de candle each en'. (Light it from each end.) [This may be my only example.] An' den dey [2 ends of candle] meet togethah. An' let 'em burn togethah. Dat'll draw 'im, jes' draw 'im back.
(I see. Now, wait a minute. Here's your board.)
[I demonstrate.]
Lak dere [the way you have placed the board]. (You get a needle, a new needle, and stick it into this board. Then you put this candle horizontally on that needle.) Dat's right.
(And you write his name once, and the murderer's name at one end of the candle.)
Ovah de othah, yeah.
(Then you light both ends at once and burn them up together.)
Dat's right.
(And that man that did the killing will come back.)
He's comin' back.
(I see.)
Dat's drawin 'im back.
Entry 7378
Yo' kin take dat man's, some of 'is garment whut he wear nex' to his skin, an' take an' dress it wit Hearts Cologne an' carry it back where dis man got killed, an' spread it out an' let de sun shine on it, an' it won't [be] but sev'ral days fo' he show up.
(The man that killed him?)
Yes sir, de man dat kill 'im show up.
Entry 7379
If yo' take a man's clothes an' yo' bury his clothes, well it's like yo' bury 'im. Bundle his clothes up an' bury his clothes. Well de person dat did it, he can't keep it - he can't git off, he'll have tuh give up. (You mean if they take the clothes off the dead man, you bury them separately from the body?) Yes sir.
Entry 7380
Ah heard dey take his clothes off 'im an' bury de clothes an' de per- son dat killed 'im would go crazy.
Entry 7381
Well, suppose you kill me, tisn't but one thing. But do dis now. If you kill me right now - why do you kill any person, woman or man - go to yore house an' get one shirt, or one undahshirt, or one drawers, or a pants, or a sock, anything dat chew wear [wear]. Put it undahneat' dat woman or dat man's head, an' yo' can't go anywhere. Yo'll come back. It'll be far, but yo'll come back in town.
(That's the way they catch you, if you kill somebody.)
Yes, sir, if yo' kill somebody - if yo' jes' shoot 'em, why dey can't get yo' anyway. If yo' kill somebody, yo' can't go. Yo'll go but yo' won't sleep, an' don't care where yo' sleep, yo' goin' to git so tired dat yo' come an' give yore- self up to de law. [The dead man's spirit will not let the murderer sleep. It pesters the killer until he returns and gives himself up to the law.]
Entry 7382
Dey say if a man falls on 'is face, dey say dat man ill be caught. Den dey take some of dis man's clothes an' dey tie knots in 'em an' put some othah man's devilment [= urine or excrement] on dere an' dat will make dis man come back.
(The man that killed him.)
Entry 7383
Wal, dey say if a man kill a man an' yo' wanta git 'im, all yo' have to do, git 'is - some pieces of 'is clothes. Git a piece of clothes an' put some salt and vinegar ovah it, an' he come an' give up hisself to yo'. Yo' say, "What yo' want?" He say, "Wal, ah jes' like to come to see yo'." Sompin lak dat an' make a argue [argument]. Dat's de man.
(I see. You take the dead man's clothes and put the stuff on it.)
Yeh.
Entry 7384
To bring a fellah back whut's went off an' done sompin an' run off, yo' go to work an' git a piece of dis fellah's clothes or eithah a shoe or sompin, an' yo' take dat an' carry it to yore place of [hoo- doo] business, see. An' yo' dress dat wit dis heah - git some of dis Heart Cologne, see, wit drawin'-love powdah an' some dis heah High John de Conkah root. An' yo' take dat an' yo' come back home den, an' yo' take it an' bury it undah yore house, see. Yo' take it an' bury it right undah yore house right behin' undah yore dohstep. Hell, fo' so many mawnin's yo' go round yore house, about nine mornings - one time evah mawnin'. Inside of dat time dat fellah goin' eithah be back or sompin be's happen to 'im.
Entry 7385
Ah heard dat jes' lak if some of mah people wus tuh git killed an' ah wouldn't know who killed 'em - lak ah'd find 'em daid somewhere an' ah wanted tuh know if somebody killed 'em. Well, den yo'd go to de undahtakah's shop an' yo' dress 'em, an yo' cut nine pieces out de tail or out de hem of whatsomevah dey had on. An' den you take dis heah an carry it to yore home, an' yo' keep it dere prob'ly until yo' git ready to bury 'em. Den dey tell me yo' prays nine prayahs ovah 'em, an' den yo' takes it an' carries it back to dis corpse, jes' lak if yo' goin' bury 'em. Yo' carry it back an' set it on de grave jes' yo' seen 'em bury dem right heah in de graveyard. Yo' take an' put one ovah his heart, yo' puts one ovah each eye an' one ovah 'is nose, one ovah his mouth an' one in each one of 'is ears, an' den put one in de palm of 'is han' - of dese heah little blocks yo' cut out de hem of 'is pants or dress or whatsomevah. An' den say, whosomevah killed dis person, dat dey would come back. (You put this right over the body itself, right over the eyes. You cut nine pieces, there are two eyes, nose and mouth - that's four. The ears, that is six. The two palms, one of each hand, that's eight. Now what is for the ninth piece?) One ovah the heart.
Entry 7386
If a person is killed an' yo' wanta find out who do it an' yo' want dis person to die aftah killin' dis person, yo' cut a green tree an' put it down in de grave. (You cut a green tree?) Yes sir, cut a small green tree an' put it down in de grave, an' den yo' bury dis dead man on dat green tree, an' put 'is clothes [in which he was murdered] undah 'im, an' de man who killed 'im it won't be long befo' he dies. But ah don't know what dey say to ketch 'im, ah nevah hear of dat. But dey say it wouldn't be long befo' he dies.
(Do you cut any kind of a green tree?)
Yes sir, any kinda green trees, so as it's green. Put it in de grave.
(Then you put the dead man's clothes on that tree?)
Yes, put de dead man's clothes on dat.
(Then you bury the dead man on top of that?)
On top of 'is clothes, an' dey say it wouldn't be long befo' dis person have killed would follah 'im. Mah stepfathah got killed an' people have tell my mothah to do dat, but she Wouldn't do it. Yo' jes' get a green tree - cut a green tree an' throw it in de grave, an' den throw all de murdered's [murdered man's] clothes an' shoes an' evah bit right down in dere, an' bury de dead right on dat an' dis person will sure follah yo'. (Well, what do they bury the man in, then, the man that was killed? What do they bury him in? They bury his entire clothes don't they?) Dey bury 'im in clothes but yo' jes' throw de old bloody clothes in de grave; see, an' throw dat down in dere an' den bury 'im right on top of dat, see. (And YOU SAY THAT YOUR STEPFATHER WAS KILLED OVER HERE ON JAMES ISLAND. I see, and they told your mother to do that? And she wouldn't do it?) No sir, she wouldn't do it - she wouldn't do it.
(That's supposed to be an old, old way of finding out who killed him.)
Dey find out who kill 'im, yes.
Entry 7387
Yo' [he] could kill a man an' he [murderer] goes away. Well, yo' take dat man's [killer's] name or take some of 'is clothes. Yo' take his clothes. Yo' take his clothes, de man's - if yo' can get some of de man's [killer's] clothes or something of de man's, de man dat's gone. Yo' take dat an' yo' put on de man dat he killed. Or, eithah, if yo' don't do dat, yo' take two hen egg8 an' put 'em in 'is han's an' turn 'im flat on 'is belly, an' fo' nine days when dem eggs bust, de man'll come in - he'll come an' give up. (And you say the other way of doing it is to get some clothes from the fellow who ran away.) Yeah, takes 'is clothes - take some of 'is clothes an' bury 'em wit dat [dead] man.
Entry 7388
If yo' killed a person...yo' gon'a waste some blood...whatevah [clothes] yo' has, if dey kin git dat, smear it [your clothes] in your [victim's] blood an' bury it, turn him on 'is face, an' dat'll draw yo' [murderer] back.
Entry 7389
If ah takes an' kill a person, yo' undahstan'. Now yo' wants me back heah. Now, ah could leave [a dress] or somepin heah, yo' undahstan'? Well, yo see, people come around, a detective come around, dey need so much money to get 'em [me] back. She [hoodoo woman] can take my dress an' bury my dress down heah an' ah can't stay where ah'm at. Where ah done is at - ah gotta come back to New Orleans. If ah don't come back to dat [murder] house, ah'll come back to New Orleans an' de policeman will be de first one to put dere han's on me.
Entry 7390
Well, de person dat killed dis person...the dead person, - yo' go to your hen-house where your poultry an' git chew a hot laid egg - a fresh laid egg, yo'understand, two of 'em an' put one in each hand.... If not that, yo' take this dead person's hat an' put it ovah their face see....right ovah his face. If yo' don't do dat, yo' take [demonstrates] his pocket han'kerchief an' spread it one corner on each side of the corner - heah an' one up heah, yo' see.
[I now describe his actions:]
(You take this dead man's handkerchief and you put it like a diamond over his head.) Dat's right, one point to the top of his head and one at his throat and one toward each shoulder. Dat's right. An' de hat yo' take an' place it right ovah his face.
(These are all separate ways of doing it.)
(To bring back the man who killed him?)
To bring back de man dat killed de man.
Entry 7391
Yo' kin bury him [murdered manl wit a aig in 'is han' an' he'll [mur- derer will] come back. Or eithah bury him wit his cap down ovah his face, or eithah a han'chief ovah his face, an' he'll come back.
Entry 7392
If a person git killed an' yo' want dis person tuh come back, dis per- son will have tuh fall on his face [see p.324lf. and elsewhere.] Den ah heard ag'in dat chew kin take de dead person's hat. Jes' lak yo' be killed an' somebody find de hat, turn it on de wrong side. Turn de right - no, turn de left-hand sleeve of dis person's garment - coat, shirt or undahshirt an' fold it. An' wherevah or who dis party wus whut killed dis per- son, if dey's away, dey gotta return ~ dey can't stay away.
(You turn this left sleeve of his coat inside out or roll it up?)
Roll it - jes' lak on de left now, ah'm usin' mah left hand. If yo' killed me or ah killed yo', well yo' want me tuh come an' ah'm gone. Well yo' jes' turn mah shirt, or eithah mah hat. Turns 'is hat on de wrongside an' turn de bow. Yo' know how dere be's a bow in dat hat. Well now, when yo' roll it, yo' have to roll it tuh yo' wit de bow comin' tuh yo', seams an' all jes' comin' on tuh yo'. He'll have tuh come back, he can't stay away.
Entry 7393
Yo' kin take a package of brand-new pins dat has not been no othah pin out of it, put evah pin on some garment of his'n.
(0f that corpse?)
De dead man - evah pin but be sure de pin package nevah opened of de new pins, not one was taken out. Pin it in 'is garment an' when yo' git it all pinned up, yo' wishes a prayer ovah dis dead man. Dis man cannot stay, he must return - yo've pinned 'im up. Yo' use dat whole package of brand-new pins on 'im while he's layin' out as a corpse. Dis man will come whoevah he is - he's sticked, he's sewed, jes' got him pinned up. He'll come back an' give hisself up - can't stay [away].
Entry 7394
Buy new brand [brand-new] pocket- knife an' put it in de dead man left hand an' put it in de left pocket. (Put his left hand in his pocket.) Yeah, wit de knife open in 'is pocket. (What will that do?) Dat will make him [murderer] die too. (That is a different way from the other way. There're two ways of doing it.)
Entry 7395
If a man murdah somebody an' git away from home, if yo' could git a piece of 'is garment an' twist - jis' lak yo'd git yore shirt, jis' git 'is shirt an' put sixteen knots in de tail of 'is shirt, an' dey say he couldn't stay 'way, no way tuh escape. He'd have tuh come back an' surrendah himself tuh de officahs.
(You get the shirt of the fellow who did the killing?)
Yessuh, jes' lak ah'd kill someone, yo'd git a garment dat ah been wearin' - jis' lak in a shirt or any of mah undahweah.
(That would bring you back.)
Entry 7396
Say fo'stance [for instance], now, if a person kill someone an' dey Want 'em [killer] tuh come back. Undahstan' good. If yo' git holt a piece [of] one of his shirts, any piece [of clothing] dat he wore, yo' take dat piece an' roll it tight tuh yo', an' bury dat undah de side of de house - undah de house, undah yore house. Ah'll bury it anywhah whah he stayed at, an' he'll wandah right roun' dat place an' come right back dere. See, he'll come back. He cain't stay 'way to save his life, he will come back.
Entry 7397
Ah hear tell of 'em takin' yore shoes, yore left-footed shoe. Jes' lak anyone done a crime, jes' lak ah'd kill someone out dere yo' see. Well, ah'm a unknown party, yo' see de idea. Well dey smart enough to git somebody, yo' know, tuh git de left foot of mah shoe, yo' see. Well, yo' kin take de left foot of mah shoe - ah heard dat chew kin take de left foot of mah shoe an' bury it. Yo' know, jes' bury flat down lak dat yo' know, upside down, undah de left cornah of de house. An' a few days aftah yo' do dat, ah would return back, yo' see. Ah did de killin by unknown parties. Yo' see, ah'm de unknown party, but ah have tuh come back tuh dat house, yo' see. Ah heard dat to be de fac'. (Where would they bury this shoe? Under your house or under the house of the party that was killed?) De party's house which was killed.
(How would they get hold of your shoe?)
Well, jes' lak yo' may go tuh work, yo' see - jes' lak yo' may go tuh work an' have a ole footed shoe or sompin of de kind aroun', yo' see, an' yo' kin git hold of it. Yo' see de idea.
(That is to bring you back.)
Entry 7398
Take de dead man's shoe an' bury an' he'll come back. (You mean the fellow that killed him will come back. You bury both his shoes, you say, or one? Which one?) De left foot, yes.
(Where do they bury that shoe?)
Wit'in 'is grave, in 'is box [coffin], right in 'is box wit 'im. [Surely the murderer's old shoe is buried in the coffin, not the dead man's shoe.l [Jackson- ville, Fla., (553) 691:4+85.]
Entry 7399
If a man do any murderin' or anythin', yo' kin take dat ole shoe an' bury it bottom upwards; dey say, jes' in de ground an' bury it bottom upwards. Dey say he'll go crazy - wit 'is clothes.
(Whose shoes do you bury?)
Bury de ones dat done de murder.
(If you know who did the murder?)
Yes, yo' have to know he done. Bury dat shoe, he go crazy. Call dis man name all de time. (In this case you just suspected the man did the killing, and in order not to take any chances, you'd bury his shoe or either his clothing, calling his name, and if he did do it, then he'll go crazy.)
Entry 7400
Take yore shoes sometime an' lak if dey did anythin', yo' kin take dere shoes an' have 'em caught.
(How would you do that?)
Well, yo' take an' put - yo' git chew some quicksilvah. Well, yo' kin git some of dat an' put nine drops in each shoe. Dat's, if yo' wanta git dis person, put nine drops in each shoe. Den yo' take dese shoes an' yo' pray ovah dem fo' three days, an' yo' use de 26 Psalm on dat fo' three days 'fore sunup, an' put 'em undah de steps whence [where] he goin' back to. Bury dem undah dose bo'ds. An' in nine days he'll be back dere.
(If he has committed some crime.)
Entry 7401
Mah gran'fathah said, he was in slav'ry yo' see, he said dat when a person done kill a person dey goes an' gits dis person's shoes an' dey take 'um an' put 'em full of foddah an' den dey take some dis heah lye dey use to run an' make soap outa. Ah don't know whethah yo' remembah it or not. (The old-fashioned lye.) Yes sir, used to run it outa ashes. Put hit in dere an' dey turn dat shoe bottom sides upwards dey said, an' in five days evah who did it would come back.
(Do you do one of the shoes that way or both of them?)
Jes' one of 'em. Dat left shoe.
Entry 7402
Ah heard 'em say yo' could take de tacks out of a shoe. (Out of any kind of a shoe?) A murder [murderer's] shoe an' burn de heel of it, an' put chew sulphur an' green peppah, an' burn it, an' de person would come up heah to yore do' dat mawnin', de one dat done de crime.
(What do you do with those nails out of the shoe?)
Yo' burn 'em wit dat ashes.
(Whose shoe do you burn?)
Yo' gotta git a person's shoe whut no relation to dat family.
(That is supposed to bring that murderer back?)
Yes.
Entry 7403
Dey say now, if a man run off an' yo' want 'im back, ef yo' kin git his garment, whut he wear nearest tuh 'im, an' yo' kin cut de seam out undah heah an den dere, an' bury it wit some of 'is hair an' some of 'is ole shoe, bury eastward an' put one cornah westward, he'll come back. He'll come back, he can't stay [away] no mo'.
(Whom Would they do this for?)
Yo' do dat fo' de party dat dey want, jes' [like] ah killed somebody an' some- body come git chew do it fo' me, anybody. (Bring you back. You cut a piece under the left arm and from the seat of his pants [or] trousers [and] underwear.)
Entry 7404
Yo' kin take some of 'is clothes, de dead [murdered] person clothes, an' put dat on 'im [friend or relative of corpse], an' when he buried, it'll come tuh yo' [friend or relative] in a dream, who did it.
Entry 7405
Ah've hear'd dat if a man kills a man an' runs away or do somepin - misdemenah [misdemeanor] whatevah it done be - an' gits away. Well, an' dey Wants tuh do somepin tuh make 'im come back. Well, yo' go - yo' gotta have some kinda piece which dis man wo'. It don't make no diff'rence what - if it wus 'is coat or whut - but it must be some kinda piece which he has wo'. An' yo' takes it, see. An' yo' dresses it. Yo' dresses it wit three diff'ren' mixtures, an' yo' puts it in a place where it won't - no one partici- pates in [frequents or looks into], dat place, yo' see. An' aftah thirteen days dat individual [murderer] will show up on de scene dere. But yo' must take it an' yo' gits one of yuh, one of dese [ingredients] dat yo' dress it wit; dat ah've hear'd yo' dress it wit, is de left horn of a cow.
(The left horn?)
De left horn of a cow.
(The left horn of a cow.)
Yo' take dat an' in... [I interrupt].
(What do you do, take the whole horn?)
No, yo' jis' git some of dat. Yo' jis' take a knife an' jis' scrape, jis' scrape some of dat left horn of a cow. An' de nex' thing yo' git, yo' goes down tuh de graveyard an' yo' gits yuh some dirt - some soil. Den yo' go tuh de west enda [end of] dis individual house. Yo' mus' know where he lived at - where he lived at.
(What did you say now?)
Go tuh de west enda his house where he lived at, an' yo' dig up some soil an' yo' mix dat. Den yo' bring it back an' yo' goes an' yo' git a piece of 'is socks, an' yo' put dat in dere. An' yo' puts dis in a secret place where nobody lives an' yo' waits about thirteen or fourteen days. An' yo' go git it an' bring it out, an' sprinkle it down with salt an' watah. An' in a few days dat guy Sii show up on de scene. So ah heard.
Entry 7406
Make 'im come back an' give hisself up. Yo' know de man. An' if yo' don' know de man, or yo' know de man. Listen good. Well, all yo' gotta do is come on back an' take yore undershirt, next to yore skin, turn it upside down [inside out] an' put it on, an' whosomevah did it dey come back. Dey'll bring 'em back to yo'.
Entry 7407
Yo' turn yer lef' sock on de wrong side an' yer undahweah an' go along an' dey'll [the law] nevah bothah yuh.
Entry 7408
Jis' lak ef a puson wus tuh kill anothah one an' dey can't nevah ketch 'im. Well, dey go on an' dey gits - dat coffin have tuh be dressed whut dat in- divid'l is in tuh cuz dese othah parties tuh come back. An' tuh dress dat coffin dey'll git some dragon's blood an' whut chew call - well it's a oil whut chew call de come back oil, an' dat dragon's blood an' dat Sang-Sang Powdah. [This is probably the same thing as Sen-Sen or Sen-Sen Powder mentioned elsewhere.l An' take it an' put it in a half a pint-a watah, an' put two tablespoonsful of saltpetah in it, an' shake it up good an' sprinkle dat individ'l good in dat coffin. Sprinkle de corpse real good an' dat individ'l, whosomevah it is. An' in about three day's time dem parties will be back.
Entry 7409
Yes, sir, de firs' thing ah would do, git tuh de undahtakah. Dat's all ah want, git in touch wit de undahtakah - gotta git in touch wit 'em [him] or ah cain't handle de body. Ah'd trim dat man toenail an' fingahnails, an' take some of de hair out de haid [demon- strates], an' take some heah, an' take some heah, an' take some from down heah. An' ah'd put dose things tuhgethah.
[I now describe his preceding actions.]
(Take some from the top of his head, some from just at the bottom of each ear, and some down below.) Dat's it. An' trim 'is toenails an' hands [fingernails], put 'em tuhgethah an' mix some more stuff wit it. An' take it an' put it back in dat casket [cof- fin] wit a bran'-new red han'kachef, an' let 'em [these things] go in de grave wit it [the corpse]. An' if dat guy [murderer] don't be dere befo' dey bury 'em [him, the corpse], de people he work wit cain't git nobody tuh bury 'em. An' if he don't git dere, if he have tuh walk, he'll go in de graveyard an' stay dere until somebody go dere an' git 'em [him]. He gotta go dere, he cain't live.
Entry 7410
A undahtakah parlah or jes' some place where dey makin' shrouds fo' de dead.
(Get this where they are making a shroud for the dead.)
Yes, an' get dat needle an' take dis needle what dey use. Break dis needle, drive it into some place, some piece of wood or anythin', in yore place, in yore house, anywhere yo' wish to, ON YORE ALTAR in de place, set it up on somepin. An' yo' wishes fo' 'im to return on such an' such a date, an' he will return, so I am told. (Anybody's return or this man that killed someone?) Dey want dat othah man, de one dat killed 'im.
(I see.)
Entry 7411
All right, dey kin take dat - dat man kill a man out dere an' he git away. An' dey wan' 'im to come back an' de law cain't bring 'im back. Dey take dat coffin, dat corpse, an' dey turns it a diff'ren' way in de house an' dey turn it in de direction dat he [murderer] went. An' de direction he went, dat de direction he comin' back. Dat body is turned dat direction. An' dey take some - write his name on some papah an' put it in dere, an' dey write it in de Name of de Lawd [Lord], but dey write it in vain [see later], an' say on dere, 'Lord, sen' dis man back. Turn 'im back, him what have killed mah brothah or mah husban', an' let de law git 'im." Well, he'll come back. Write his name on a piece of papah an' put it in dat casket, an' do it in de Name of de Lawd an' yo' do it in Vain.
(What do you mean in vain?)
Yo' gotta use a curse word, yo' see, an' den he'll be back in nine days. He'll return.
(I see.)
Entry 7412
Well, if anyone kill a man an' den run 'way an' dey didn't know who kill 'im. Well, when dey wash dis man, dey takes de watah an' puts it into a quart bottle an' stops it up tight an' bury it in de grave tuh [with] him. Well, he cain't go. He have tuh come back. He have tuh pass dat place evah day, back- ward an' farward. He have tuh pass dere, dat place. (They wash the dead man and that water they wash him with, they put it in a bottle and put it in the grave.) Yes. [Sumter, S. Car. (1367), 2419:10.]
Entry 7413
Well, yo' kin take de water dey wash de individual [murdered man in].
(That they wash the dead man in.)
An' put it in a quart bottle. An' yo' know how yo' cut cork to grease a saw wit - cut a cork to grease a saw wit. Chew know how dey grease a saw, have oil in a bottle - kerosene in a bottle to grease a saw. Jah [did jah] evah see dat? (No. They use a piece of cork to do that, you say?) Yo' see people dat saw wood, don't cha? Den dey have oil dey 'put on de saw. (Yes.) Dey have a stoppah in de bottle don' dey? Have it cut aroun' dere so dat de kerosene come out dere lak dat. Jah evah seen dat? (No, I have never seen that, but I understand. They cut little ridges in the cork so that this kerosene will come out of the bottle.) [Informant is talking about cord wood which years ago (before World War I) in the cities and towns came already sawed for fireplace or wood stove. Sometimes a person did his own sawing on a sawbuck. I did very little of this type of work as a boy. If the saw was rusty, people I knew greased the saw with a fat piece of bacon (American, not English or Canadian), not with kerosene in a bottlehaving a drip cork.] Yeah, theah yo' are, cut ridges in dat cork de same way an' set it up dere somewheres where it will drip, where it will drip out. Put it underneat' de dead man left arm an' it drip. [When] all dat watah drip out dat bottle dat pusson be gone. (That person who killed him will be gone - will die.)
Entry 7414
I say dey done takes dat bone, a dead person's bone, an' den dey pow- dahs dat up, makes a dust out of it. An' den dey gits de watah dat yo' bathe 'em in an' dis graveyard dirt an' dis cayenne [pepper], all be togethah, an' mixes dat up an' dust dat on 'em, dust where he sit down at. (The water they bathe in. Which water? The fellow who is doing it? Or the one against whom he is doing it?) Yes, sir, de one dat's doin' de work. Gits dat dead person's watah, bath watah, see what dey bathe him in, an' mixes all dat together an' dust it, yo' know anywhere he sit down at, or anywhere he walk at, or yore room or yore bed, eithah one.
(What will that do?)
Dat will kill yo'. Sure it will ruin yo'.
Entry 7415
Yo' take de watah. Jes' lak if dey got an idea what ah did ovah yondah to a person, an' dey wash de [dead] person. Take a half-a-pint of [this] watah an' place it to de casket [coffin] an' nine days aftah, well, if ah did de damage, ah'll follow de person. (If you killed that person?) Yes, if ah poisoned dat person, take de watah, firs' to de head. (What kind of water?) De watah dat yo' wash 'em in, git a half-a-pint of it. But jes' only wash one han' or dey feet. Git a half-a pint of it an' place it in de casket an' bury it along wit dere body. Nine days aftah dat ah'll go wit de [dead] body, too.
(You get the water from washing just one part of them?)
Jes' wash one hand or feet or anythin' - jes' git de watah.
Entry 7416
(Yes, what do they do out there?)
When yo' git in de fo'ks of de road, yo' makes a cross. Yo' make a cross dere in de fo'k of de road, an' den yo' turn backwards - make three steps backwards.
(What will that do?)
Whadyado? [= What do you do?] Make three steps backwards? Yo' goes dere along. See, dat's in ordah to cross up de othah person dat supposed to follah yo'. (I see.) Yeah, dat's whut dat's fo'. Yo' go out dere an' yo' make a cross right down in de road an' den yo' back three steps backwards. Well, dat's prevents de person from follahin' yo', which way yo' goin'. Dat stops 'em.
(I see.)
Entry 7417
Jes' lak if a person git killed out dere. Well, dat person be yore frien' or prob'ly yore brothah or some of yore folks, but anyway he got killed an' nobody knows how it done it. All right, yo' goes dere where he would lingah at, jes' lak yo' fin' 'im daid. Dere could be a multitude [do it], could be dat, or de othah one do it. Yo' goes right dere where dey fin' 'im at, an' make two cross marks [demonstrates]: one lak dat, one lak dat, an' one lak dat, an' den cross 'em, an' right in de centah of dat middle one, yo' take yo' a pin - jes' a ord'nary pin. Yo' know, jes' a straight pin an jes' drive it right down in de middle of dat mark, right dere, press it right down in it lak dat. An' whensomevah yo' press dat pin down in dere, see, yo backs out from dat mark an' don't chew say a word to nobody. Don' care who come 'long dere an' say sompin to yo', don't chew say nary [not even] a good [morning]. Back nine steps from dere, an' in less time den nine days dey goin' come an' give up, whosomevah i'tis [it is]. Even [if] it be his own brothah.
[The pin is driven down in center of square of the tick-tack-toe design.]
(This cross is made like this [I demonstrate], something like that. There are two lines like that and two lines crossing it?)
[I drew a tick-tack-toe as follows: #.]
Dat's right. No, dere's one dere an' one dere - dere, jes' lak dat. Den yo' make two crosses dere jes' lak dat, in dat one right dere. An' right in de cen- tah of dat one, yo' put dis.
(The cross you make is like playing tick-tack-toe?)
[Here is the special double-double cross #.]
Dat's right.
Entry 7418
(You lay this dead man on his face?)
On 'is face. An' de person whut done it dey can't stay away, if yo' lay 'im on 'is face. But if yo' don't lay 'im on 'is face, yo' will nevah git de per- son what done it. If yo' lays 'im on de face an' put a fork in dere han' - any kin'a [fork] yes, but not de fork dat yo' done eat wit churesel'. Yo' puts it 'cross jes' lak dis [demonstrates] in each one of de han's, an' lay 'im, de whole body, right down on de face.
(Do you use one fork or two?)
Two. Cross it in both han's. An' if it won't lay in de hands, jes' tie it aroun' dere han's, cuz see, dey dead, an' lay dem on dey face. Dey [murderer] cain't git away from yo' to save dey life. [Cross the hands of the corpse, each hand holding a fork, so that the forks also cross. This creates the double-cross.1
Entry 7419
Yo' kin take some eggs an' bur' [bury] 'em in 'is [corpse's] han' an' [or] put eggs in de baid, an' dat'll evah who did [the murder] dey cain't go nowhah [now- where]. All right, to fin' out who de murder[er] [is] yo' put 2 silver forks 'cross 'is heart [forks crossed] an' bur' 'im, an' de murder[er]'ll come to yore home.
(What bed do you put these eggs in?)
In 'is baid. Jis' lak yo' killed me, dey put 'em in mah baid.
(How many?)
Three eggs. [A chicken egg, a symbol of life and power, is frequently used in death and burial - see later margitn title EGG with many submargin titles.]
Entry 7420
[Someone] done kill somebody an' yo' Wanta draw 'im back. Well, here's jes' whut yo' do. "Fore dem people dies an' 'fore dey bury'u, yo' takes yo' a lemon an' a fork. Yo' take it an' yo' lay it on dere breas', see, an' yo' bury 'um wit it.
(How are that fork and lemon put on there?)
See, jes' puts de lemon.
(Wait a minute! Show me.)
See, jes' put de lemon - put de lemon on 'is breas'. Den yo' take de fork - two forks an' yo' lay 'em cross 'is breas' jes' lak dat.
(Across the lemon or near the lemon?)
Near de lemon. Jus' put de lemon, yo' see, right to de heart, right on 'is body, on 'is breas', an' yo' take two forks an' lay 'em right 'cross dere, see. An' yo' take his name, who an' evah it is, yo' take his name an' write it down five times, an' de one what dead, yo' undahstan', take his name an' yo' put 'em under dat fork, or put it in dat lemon, yo' see, right in dat lemon. Den when dat lemon rot an' all of it start a'rottin' wit him, yo' can't go nowhere. Yo' might just wander 'round - wander round - an' yo' find yourself right back dere wheresomever yo' done killed dat person - they come right back dere an' get yo'.
(Whose name do you write down?)
His name - see, de dead person's name. His name. Yo' just take it an' write it down nine times. See.
(Which name do you write down first now?)
Put de dead man's name down first. Den take hissen an' put it down [demon- strates].
(Cross it like that.)
Cross it like dat - but nine different times.
(Put the murderer's name on top of the dead man's?)
Yeah, yo' see, put 'im to keep 'im from goin'. Yo' see, yo' put his name first. See, de man dat run away, put his name first. Den the dead man, yo' put him on top. Next time yo' put this man dat run away, yo' put his name down dere, den de dead man's. Den yo' take it an' yo' open de lemon. Yo' put it up in de lemon an' put it right by de forks, an' cross it like dis.
Entry 7421
Cross 2 straws on de murdered man's stomach, an' lay a pair of new scissors so dat its closed points point to his toes, an' say, "Whut's did in de dark shall come to de light." This will bring the murderer back. [For cross of straw, see also No.7367, p.3259. Why the closed scissors instead of open ones, always a symbol of the cross? Either my informant has made a mistake, which I doubt, or the closed scissors indicate one cross of straw was enough for the purpose. Already the closed scissors sig- nify that the life thread of the murderer has been cut.]
Entry 7422
An' yo' kin take parsley an' do de same thing [catch a murderer].
(How do you do that?)
Yo' take de parsley, green parsley an' yo' - yo' don't put de leaves part in it, de root part, an' yo' put one root in dis han', put jes' lak dis [demon- strates] lak dis is. Jes' carry 'em disaway, an' take de othah one disaway, an' close de han'. Put it back dere dataway. An' dey won't go away. (Just cross their hands with parsley in it, across their breast, and the fellow can't go away.) Yes, can't go away. (I see.) [A piece of fresh parsley root is placed in each hand of the corpse and then the hands are crossed across the breast making separate crosses with folded hands and roots - a type of dou- ble-cross. The intention to bring back murderer is also there.]
Entry 7423
See, whenevah a puhson [person] do's [does] a killin' an' dey wan' dis othah one [kiiler] tuh die; it's accordin' to whut way he kill 'em dough [though]. Even so, if yo' poison 'em or even if yo' shot 'im or anythin' lak dat. I'm goin' tell yo' firs' de way yo' poison 'im. If yo' poison a puhson an' dey wan' chew tuh die behin' 'im [follow him in death] it's jes' acco'din' to whut yo' poison 'im in, yo' see. If yo' poison 'im in peas, beans or okree [okra] or anythin' lak dat - see, eggs or anythin'. Whenevah yo' git ready to dyin'- ah mean when dis puhson dead an' bein' buried, jes' whutsoevah yo' wus poisoned in, dey throw one of dem same thin's, or eithah a han'ful of it, right into grave - greens, peas, anythin' lak dat, see. An' den when de time - when dat stuff grows, yo' undahstan', sprout up - see dey won't plant on de top of yo' grave, yo' undahstan'. Jes' lak when it grow up [in garden], sprang up lak any othah peas or beans or somepin lak dat gen'rally do, jes' as soon as it git ready to die away, yo' begin to take sick, see. An' den whenevah yo' take sick, when dat thin' is dead sure enuff, den yo' will lay down an' die.
Entry 7424
[The preceding rite from Charleston - throwing into the murdered per-. son's grave the vegetable believed to have caused death by poison - I have pre- viously met and collected at Petersburg, Virginia. Here is an unusual variant: If yo' kin git some black peas... (Black peas?) Black corn-peas [peas planted in a corn (= maize) field, to be identified later]. Den go here some place tuh yo'- self an' dig yo' - yo' don' wan'a go tuh de old-time grave dey used tuh have. Dey used tuh have a coffin built wit cornahs lak dis, yo' know [demonstrates].
(The [upper] corners were sort of cut off.)
[Beveled or slanted would have been better.]
Dey have cornahs in de coffin made dat way, lak a elbow an' come down narrah [narrow] tuh de feet, yo' see. [Excellentt] Den dey used tuh dig a...fo' dat, didn't dig a square [oblong] flat grave lak dey do now. An' dey make a fo'k [fork] down in dere, yo' undahstan', in de bottom of dat [grave] enough tuh take dis box in. [Box is the old word for coffin because the coffin was a box.] Den dey put a plank ovah dat an' put dirt on de plank.
(They put what over that?)
Take a flat piece of junk jis' as long as dey dig de hole.
(Oh, I see.)
Yo' dig de hole an' yo' dig a fo'k in dat, yo' know.
(A something?)
[I failed to understand his variety of fo'k or fahk for fork!]
Yo' know, what ah call de fo'ks in de grave wit de hole in tuh fit de box.
(Oh, I see! Sort of dig out the sides so that box will fit it?)
Yeah, de box comes down, yo' see. Dey dig a square [oblong] hole...
[I interrupt.]
(You dig out the corners so that the box corners will go down in - that's the idea, isn't it?) No, [if] yo' had a piece of papah, ah'd show it tuh yo'.
[I probably tear a blank page out of my Numbers Book.]
(All right, write here.)
Yo' dig dis square [he draws a square]. Now, here's de nex' one. Plants dat down in de bottom of it.
(Oh, down in the bottom of the grave! I see.)
Den yo' dig a li'le one in dat, yo' know, same as dat's down in de bottom of de firs' one. But yo' don' dig de firs' on...dese peas supposed tuh come up an' sprout. Den yo' put de peas ovah on de rough ends of de bo'd, yo' see.
(How many peas do you put in there?)
Put one in each hole. An' yo' put sompin ovah dat - yo' see, ovah dose peas - piece of wood or anythin'. An' den put dirt on all of it, yo' see, but not dese, an' den when dem peas sprout, de corn will be gone.
(I see.)
It's six of one...
(Is that all you have to do?)
Dat's all, yes. BEFO' YO' TELL ANYBODY, FIRS' THING YO' DO WHEN YO' GIT UP IN DE MAWNIN', KNELL [KNEEL] DOWN AT DE DO'STEP AN' TELL DE DO'STEP, THREE TIMES, WHUT YO' DO. It's a simple thing but it's true.
(HOW LONG AGO DID YOU SAY THAT HAPPENED? HOW LONG AGO SINCE YOU HEARD THAT?)
IT'S BEEN OVAH FIFTY YEAHS.
(Fifty years.)
Yeah, when ah wuz young - [I am now] goin' on 76 yeahs.
[This interview occurred in 1937.]
(Was that here in Virginia?)
NO, nO, DAT WUZ DOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA. [If the purpose and details of the foregoing rite appear hazy, blame my scanty experience with hoodoo up to this time. The proper questions and explanatory notes for the recording cylinder would improve with more time. As I restudy this rite, a few afterthoughts arise: (l) Is informant talking about black corn-peas, as recorded, or does he say or intend to say black cowpeas? Surely one of our several cowpea rites confronts us. The cowpea (Vigna sinensis) I have already discussed somewhere in Hoodoo. Sometimes called black-eyed pea, black-eyed bean, etc., it is or was an extensive forage and green manure crop of the Southern States in the U. S. A. The seeds are or were often used for food. (2) Since the cowpea plant is more nearly related to the bean, we have here a historical con- nection with ancient death beliefs. (3) Notice that our peas or beans are not planted in or thrown into an actual grave, but in a mock grave between two rows of growing corn, i.e.maize. Here we have a reason for calling them cornpeas, if this latter word was meant. Our informant digs a small oblong hole, at the bot- tom of which he makes 6 small square holes, one for each pea. At first I thought we had an example of Chinese-box planting, square hole within square hole sort of thing; but informant corrects me with 6 separate holes, each separately covered with a small piece of wood - each of the latter a coffin symbol. Did this orig- inally bring back the murderer on the seventh day? At least we are told: When dem peas sprout, de corn will be gone. Presumably only the ears of (sweet?) )corn are gone, which permits the peas or beans to climb up the denuded cornstalks - hence the cornpeas. (4) The purpose of the rite is not given. Most likely this information was supplied before recording began and I forgot to repeat this de- tail to the cylinder. But certainly all becomes clear at the very end. WHY DOES INFORMANT "KNELL" DOWN AT DE DO'STEP AN' TELL DE DO'STEP, THREE TIMES, WHUT YO' DO? HE ACTUALLY KNEELS AT THE DOORSTEP OF THE MURDERED MAN TO TELL HIM HIS DEATH WILL SOON BE AVENGED! That is the reason for the secrecy until after the actual rite has been performed. Informant knew about this rite back in the 1880's. In some form it must be much older.]
Entry 7425
Jes' lak somebody killed a person an' he'll git away, an' yo' know, yo' cain't find 'im an' yo' don' know who it is. Befo' dat, befo' yo' bury dat corpse, yo' put a aig in it, in de body; jes' de aig down in [with] de corpse befo' it's stiff, an' dat person is boun' tuh come back. He cain't stay away.
Entry 7426
If a man kill a man, see, ketch a raw egg quick an' bust it in de man, de dead man's han', dey'll ketch dat man in less time dan a hour if he gone.
(How do they do - I mean how do they catch him by doing that?)
Jes' git de egg an' bust it in 'is han'.
(In the dead man's hand?)
Yes, jes' de egg in de dead man's han', an' dey'll ketch 'im. If dey don't ketch 'im dere, dey'll ketch 'fore he kin git away.
(Any kind of a fresh egg.)
Entry 7427
De man what dey bury, whut got killed, bury 'im wit a - wit a egg in his lef' han', a egg, an' dis fellah cain't stay away.
Entry 7428
Well, yo' know dat dead fellah, yo' kin put a aig in 'is han' an' dis is fac's an' a bran'-new pair of scis- sors undah 'is haid. When dat aig busts he'll come back an' give up. Ah know dat happen right heah in Memphis.
(What hand is that egg in?)
In de left han'.
(Any kind of an egg?)
A hen aig, gotta be a fresh aig, see.
(And a scissors under his head?)
Undah de dead woman's haid, an' de aig in de dead person's han', see. An' dey buried wit dat aig in dere han's.
Entry 7429
(Why is an egg placed in a dead person's hand?) They go ahead and take an egg and put it in the dead man's hand - you see, he know who done it and that egg makes him come back. Turn him on his face.
Entry 7430
Put egg in hand, tie hands together, murderer can- not escape. [Mobile, Ala., (669 t0 671), 883:8.]
Entry 7431
De man whut's daid, yo' take a fresh hen aig an' put it in 'is right han', an' close 'is han' up wit dat fresh hen aig in it, an' place it across 'is heart, see wit 'is han' close up, an' when dat aig bustess in 'is han' dis man will come an' give up.
(Put it in his hand and then lay his hand right over his heart?)
Dat's right.
Entry 7432
I used to hear it said, that if you get a black hen's egg and put it in his hand that was killed, either hand, you can tell exactly who killed him. That will keep him from nmniag away. He will come right back to that house. If that party touches him [corpse] it will bleed where he touches then. [This old woman was a young girl (almost grown) before Civil War, near Woodville, Mississippi. I interviewed her in my study, 130 East End Ave., N. Y. C., in 1936, March?]
Entry 7433
If somebody kill yo', well yo' [someone] takes a black hen aig an' put it in yore han' an' shet it up. Dat brings 'em [murderer] back.
Entry 7434
Jes' lak if a man gits killed, some man gits killed, somebody gits killed an' yo' don't know who killed 'em. Fin' somebody dead an' dey run off an' don' know who kill 'em. Yo' take a black hen egg, but have to be sure it's a black hen. Yo' take a black hen egg an' yo' bury de people wit de egg in 'is lef' han', an' in two week's time, jes' wheresomevah dat people bury dat, well, whosomevah kill 'im will come dere an' give hisself up. Ah've seen dat did.
Entry 7435
Yo' go to work an' yo' git choo a black hen's aig. Yo' take dat aig an' yo' bring it back to de party whut dat he killed, if yo' could git to 'em [the corpse]. Yo' put dat aig into his right han', yo' shet dat han' up on it, an' bury 'im wit dat aig in dere han'. An' he [the killer] boun' to come back to 'im. He'll come right back to dat same house where dey killed dat pusson [person].
Entry 7436
If he foun' dat man dead an' dat dead man jes' dere. Well, if dat dead jes' layin' - Jesus Christ said, "He dat kill shall be killed." Yo' git a fresh black hen's aig an' put it in, bind it in dat dead man's han' an' turn dat dead man ovah on 'is face, an' dat murderer will come dere.
(You put it in either hand?)
Put it in 'is right han'.
Entry 7437
I would git a fresh yard egg from a frizzly hen an' I would take an' place it in dis man's right han', de dead man's right han', an' I would bury 'im on 'is face. An' aftah nine days he be in de groun', de egg would bust an' dis man would come an' give himself up.
Entry 7438
Bury murdered person wit egg undah left arm. [The usual rite is an egg buried in each armpit.
Entry 7439
Lay an egg on the dead man's breast. When that egg busts, the murderer will return. [Vicksburg, Miss., (?), 986:4.] Bury dead man with a black hen's egg on his breast. [Vicksburg, Miss., (?), 1032:5.] [For original notes, see attached pages in original manuscript.]
Entry 7440
Yo' jes' go right an' take a aig.
(Any kind of an egg?)
Jes' any kinda aig but let dat aig be lay on Friday. Bury it to de no'th cor- nah of de house in a piece of cloth an' dat bring dat person back.
(Bring who back?)
De person who killed de man. (Whose house do you bury that at?) Well, yo' bury it to yore house.
Entry 7441
Now, yo' kin do dis. Dis anothah thing. If a pusson poison somebody belongin' to yo' an' yo' feel dat dat pusson have been poisoned, dat pusson near [to you] is a corpse. Yo' git choo a fresh hen aig - see what I mean - an' yo' put it undah dat pusson, in de corpse, undah dat pusson dat is in de corpse. Put it undah dere, don't break it dough [though]; but chew gotta do dat in secret, see. An' yo' let dat aig stay in dere an' bury 'im wit dat egg in dere, in de corpse, an' if dat pusson was kilt or poisoned, immediately aftah de egg break, de pusson who done de poisonin' will die.
Entry 7442
Jes' lak if ah had a frien' now an' he should git killed an' de man should escape, jes' put a aig in 'is mouth - any kinda aig yo' kin git from de sto', de grocery sto'. He'll come back.
(Put an egg in whose mouth?)
In de man who's daid.
(Just one egg, you men, in his mouth. Any kind of an egg?)
Any kind.
Entry 7443
Take a' aig an' bury dat man wit 'is face down an' put dat aig right back on de corpse [demonstrates]. (Right in the center of the neck, right in the hollow of the neck.) Right heah in dat centah, right dere in dat little low place.
Entry 7444
[Well, when dey bury de man dat's dead, well, dey gen'ly [generally]
write de man's name dat is gone an' put it undah 'is feet an' up undah 'is haid, an' put a aig in 'is right han', an' when dat aig bust, an' as long as dat paper wit dat name is dere, when dat name goin' to rot, de man will re- turn. He got to come back. (You mean when the name is going to rot?) Rotten in dat papah, dat will cause him to [come back].
(You put one paper at his foot and one at his head.)
De man's name dat did de killin'.
Entry 7445
[My recording machine was 3 or 4 words late starting.] An' runs away, yo' take a dead person, yo' bury 'em on dere face, lak dat. Yo' take de man dat killed 'im an' yo' write his name three times. If it's possible dat chew kin git dis [dead] person's han' open, yo' put one name in dis han' [demonstrates].
(The right hand.)
See, an' yo' take a egg from a hen, white hen, if yo' kin git it. (A white hen.) If yo' kin git it, an' put dat egg in dat hand [demon- strates]. (In the left hand.) [Explained later.] If yo' can't git it in de han', put it as neah de body as yo' kin. Be sure dat dis name is in dis han' an' dat party'll come back an' give up.
(There's one thing about that. What do you do with the other two names?)
Jes' write de three names in dere an' put it in dis right hand. An' yo' put de egg in de lef' han'.
(You put the name three times on a piece of paper?)
Yes.
(I see.)
An' put it in dis han' [demonstrates].
(In the right hand.)
An' den yo' put de egg in dis han'.
(Put the egg in the left hand. All right.)