Browse:THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF (Volume 4, entries 5206–8881)/Part 32
THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF
Volume 4, entries 5206–8881. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 7686
Dey say dat chew [a woman] could go tuh de cemetery, but yo' have tuh go dere at midnight, an' git dis graveyard dirt. Well, ah do know a woman dat says she went dere. Says she git dis graveyard dirt but yo' gits it outa de breast of a sinnah, a person dat chew know is a sinnah. Yo' go dere an' yo' git it right up outa his breast, an' tell 'im dat chew git- tin' dis heah dust an' yo' want it tuh hold sech-an'-sech-a-one. Yo' gittin dis - jes' lak yo' go an' git it, says So-an'-so, ah'm gittin' dis. Ah wan' chew tuh hold sech-an'-sech-a-one fo' me. An' yo' kin take dat graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it aroun' in yore house fo' nine mawnin's an' he [the man for whom the rite is worked] come an' tell yo' jes' evahthin' mos'ly dat he know. He'll come tuh tell yo' mos'ly evahthin' dat he know in de line of some woman dat he's been naggin' attah [after] or de woman naggin' attah 'im.
Entry 7687
Fo' evil yo' kin git some graveyard dirt, mix up saltpetah in it an' sulphur, an' cast it roun' a person dwellin' an' whut yo' wush [done], say. Put de jinks [used only 3 or 4 times in Hoodoo] on 'em in diff'ren' forms. It'll make 'em unlucky wit de evil spir- its. In goin' tuh de graveyard an' git- tin' dat dirt it would be wise fo' yo' tuh know de person whose grave yo' goin' tuh. Den yo' pay dem fo' dat dirt an' work wit it. Yo' tell 'em dat, "Ah want chew tuh do dus [thus] an' so fo' me." Whutsomevah dat chew wan' 'em tuh do. It wouldn't make any diff'rence. Say, "Ah'm payin' yuh tuh do so." Yo' git de dirt from off de left side from ovah de heart, but choo runs yore han' down in de grave tuh de elbow down ~ ought tuh be [beyond] yore wrist.
The informant describes graveyard dirt with saltpetre and sulphur for reported harm, payment and requests to a known deceased person, and collection from the left side over the heart. Quoted requests are prescribed speech. Hyatt's glosses and comment on the word 'jinks' remain separate; the printed collection-depth wording is retained.
Entry 7688
Well, dis graveyard dirt, dey say dat'll drive anyone from yer home. Yuh take dat an' mix it wit salt an' some red peppah. An' dey say yo' take dat an' sprinkle it all aroun dese people home as neah tuh de home as yuh kin. An' dey say yuh have tuh talk to all dis stuff dat chew doin' an' say: In de Name of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost, an' tell it whu' chew wan' it tuh do. An' dey say dat dey be Wantin' tuh leave dere.
Entry 7689
Graveyard dirt is all right, graveyard dirt is lucky tuh yo'. If yo' Wants some graveyard dirt tuh be lucky tuh yo', go tuh a gambler's grave. An' stick yore han' down in de grave jes' as fer as yo' kin, right down at de haid of de grave an' say, "Ah'll do dis In de Name of de Lord, tuh ovahcome mah enemies." An' stick yore han' way down in dere an' bring out some. Say when yo' bring it out, take it an' put it in sompin an' tie it up an' care [carry] it home. An' yo' care it home den an' yo'll be lucky - become lucky. Yo' kin gamble an' make money.
Entry 7690
Go tuh de graveyard an' put a penny down in dere an' take up dat grave- yard dirt In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost. An' carry tuh dat person house [be- fore] de sunrise an' throw it, an' yo' walk off an' don't look back. Dat'll do dat person harm. Jes' sprinkle it all roun' where dey gotta come out at.
Entry 7691
Sprinkle it [graveyard dirt] in yore baid an' it'll make yuh go away tuh nuthin. Yo' see, if somebody die, yuh go right dere an' take it right from de grave about middle- ways [center of] de grave an' say, "Lord, he'p [help] me in mah undahtakin'." When dey put it in yore baid, hit'll make yo' go away [tuh nuthin = kill you].
Entry 7692
Ah heard 'em say if yo' wanted luck, dat chew would go tuh de grave; but chew wouldn't have tuh git no dirt dis time. But yo' would go tuh de grave an' yo' would make a prayah, an' yo' would ask fo' yore luck, In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost.
(That is all you have to do?)
Yassuh, dat's all.
Entry 7693
They kin take those headbo'ds or any part of that bo'd, an' if they wan'a make yo' drift out of the neighborhood, they kin take that an' put it to the doorsill, if they know where they live at, an' make yo' leave there.
Entry 7694
If you bring the headboard from the ceme- tery an' put it aroun' [near].de house, why won't anyone stay there. They could- n't stay there, it would be ha'nted.
Entry 7695
Lak yo' go tuh de graveyard an' git a footbo'd, or prob'ly somepin simple as a ole piece of tree stump, or sompin lak dat, or some kin'a log out de graveyard. Dey could take dat an jes' t'row it right down in fron' of yore do'. Why yo' not payin' so much 'tention tuh it. Why yo' say, "Well, dat's only ole piece of wood." Somebody comes by an' say, "Look, [So-an'-so] yo' not goin' any bettah." [You become ill and are not improving.] An' dat'll make yo' move, too.
Entry 7696
[He can take] de haidbo'd an' footbo'd, see, dem two li'le pieces, one at de haid an' one at de foot at de graveyard, dat [belong to], some of 'is rela- tives. Kin take dat at home an it will be lucky tuh 'im. (You mean the relatives of this dead man will go out and take these boards, and that gives them luck?) Sho' [sure].
Entry 7697
Oh, de graveyard bo'd. Yes, tell me dey take de one bo'd. See, some people's got 'em up lak dat, an' dey's got dey initial [name] on 'em. Well, some are made outa tombstone an' some made outa jes' plain bo'ds. Dey tell me if dey take dose an' bury 'em in de yard or anywhere dey git 'em, dey tell me in thirty days yo'll be daid.
(Do they bury the stones, or only the wood ones?)
De wood ones, don't bury de stone ones.
Entry 7698
Dey git de haidbo'd ah b'lieves it is, lemme see now, dey take de haid- bo'd an' bury it - of a family. Say, fo' instance if ah wus mad wit chew an' any kinda revenge ah could git, ah bring dat haidbo'd an' bury it roun' heah, an' hit wouldn't be long 'fo' [before] one of de family would die.
Entry 7699
Take de bo'd an' bring it on home an' burn it down on a - take de haid- bo'd an' yo' burn dat bo'd on a piece of tin, an' git de ashes an' yo' jes' take de ashes an' jes' go wheresomevah ah live at, an' go throw it dere roun' mah house. Dat'll jes' make yo' [me] move, dat's all.
Entry 7700
They say that chew can take the headboards of a dead person, I mean where they're placed at their grave, or footboards, either one, and burn them; and then get some of that dust of the grave with that, those ashes, and put them down under a door- step of an indivi- dual, and they'll become effected so that they can't handle themselves. They become tricked so they don't have any definite understanding about anything.
Entry 7701
Dey'll go tuh de graveyard at midnight jis' befo' de clock strikes twelve, an' dey'll make a cross mark - dat is a X - right acrost de footbo'd an' de haidbo'd [that is 2 crosses]. Dey go tuh de foot firs', den dey take nine steps backwards, back de way yuh come in [the graveyard], den yuh kin come on out. Dat's fo' luck.
Entry 7702
Take de haidbo'd from de grave an' dey carve, cut dat person's name in it dat's involved, an' dey bury it face down in de graveyard, right dere in de graveyard an' covah it up. An' dat person jis' comes right down in de dirt where his name is down dere. He's Way up in de world tuh begin wit, but dat [is] jinx, an' he puts de jinx on 'im fo' his name tuh be buried in de graveyard.
Entry 7703
(This grave board?)
Dat's right. Wal, yo' take dat an' yo' draw de name ovah [offa] it, jes' lak dat person's been daid. Now, if a person's been daid an' yo' wants tuh see 'em, Wan' 'em tuh come tuh yuh or sompin lak dat, yo' take dat an' draw is name ovah [offa] dat bo'rd, steam it, jes' lak dat, an' yo' read de 37th Psalm, an' he'll come befo' yo' end [the Psalm] an' talk tuh yuh.
(What do you mean by drawing that name off?)
[Had the name been on a tombstone a rubbing could have been taken.]
Jes' draw it off on a tablet - papah.
(You just put the paper on there and draw it?)
No, jes' draw it off wit a pencil on de paper, jes' lak it dah [there] an' den yo' see, yo' put dat [paper with name] on yore haid wit de [while you read de] Bible. An' yo' read dat [Psalm] an' he'll come an' talk tuh yo', an' tell yo' whut chew want.
Entry 7704
Providin' if it's a person dat yo' like an' dey are about tuh scurry away, an' if yo' go tuh dat ceme- tery an' talk to de dead an' pay dem so much, an' yo' write de name of de person on de headboard an' dat'll also keep 'em from goin' away, but it will keep 'em
Entry 7705
If yo' wanta hurt anybody, yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' call de person name. An' carry a piece of [his] ole clothes, leave dat dere, an' bring [a small piece] eidah [either] de haidboard or de footboard; an' yo' kin go tuh a person house an' put it right undahneat' 'is pillah, [but] undahneat' de baid. An' he'll go tuh sleep dat night an' he'll take a pain an' he wouldn't nevah be no good tuh hisself. He wouldn't fin' out until he die. Somebody goin', but she'll nevah let 'im, unless yo' wanta turn 'im loose. Den yo' kin go an' tum 'im loose if yo' don't wanta harm 'im. (How do you mean put that footboard under the pillow. Wouldn't they feel it under there?)
[Actually only a splinter from the board is used.]
No, sir, dey ain't goin' feel it. Dey ain't goin' have sense enough tuh feel it. [This rite is unusual. The man's old clothes has contact with the grave- yard dirt, and the graveyard board splinter is taken to the house as a substi- tute for the dirt.]
Entry 7706
Dey say dey take it if yo' wan'a person tuh leave home. Jis' lak yo' stay roun' a family of people an' yo' didn't want dem tuh stay dere or dey were sturbin' yo'. Well, yo go to de graveyard an' yo' git some dirt offa grave. Yo' know about where a per- son's heart is an' yo' take a knife an' yo' cut a splintah offa dat haidbo'd an' a splintah offa de footbo'd. Say den yo' take dat splintah an' make a cross out it. Chew know, lak yo'd make a cross.
(Just a little bit louder.)
Yo' make a cross outa dem two splintahs an' yo' take dat dirt an' yo' put it undah dere do'step an' make a grave out of it. An' den yo' take dat cross an' stick to de haid of it jis' lak it wus tuh de haid of a grave. Well, dey will have tuh move 'way from dere. Dey cain't stay dere. [Here we have 2 splinters from the graveboards making a cross for a mock grave, a subtect to be explored later in this section DEATH.]
Entry 7707
Yo' kin go tuh de grave an' turn de haidbo'd from de grave an' take dat
[dirt], go to a person - jes' lak if yo' want a sweetheart or anything [a man to]
quit wit a woman - an' carry it an' put it dere, an' tell dis person tuh make dis man stop goin' dere. An' why if he evah go dere at night or anythin', go tuh sleep, dis [dead] person will worry him so dat he couldn't go back nohow.
(You put that board in the house?)
Yassuh, [no] put de dirt undah de house. Den yo' change de bo'd an' git de dirt, de graveyard dirt, an' carry it tuh de house. Why he couldn't go back dere.
Entry 7708
Dey kin draw yo' on a tombstone [or headboard] an' long as dem lines [remain] where dey draws yo' at; dey molt away, [I mean], yo' molt away wit dem. See?
(As that person in the grave molts away, you will molt away?)
Yo' molt away.
(Well, how would they draw you on that tombstone?)
Maybe have - dey done took yuh photo from somewhere. See, yo' [theyl done took yuh photo. Well, dey kin take yuh photo an' give it tuh somebody who know how tuh retrace it an' draw it, an' dey kin draw yo' lak dat. [An easier method would be to draw a circle adding ears, eyes, mouth and initials or call name. Informant good, has the right idea but complicates it.]
Entry 7709
Yo' take de haidbo'd. Now, yo' kin take de haidbo'd an' cut it roun' [demonstrates]. It's already cut lak a haid. Well now, if yo' cut anotbah roun' ring on it, take it den an' mark it right straight down. (The top of the headboard is round and you merely complete the circle by drawing an inverted circle under that, making it round. Then you draw a line straight down.) See, when yo' draw dat line straight down, dat makes a person. De cunjuration dat dey puts in yo' when yo' draw dat line straight down, dat's makes it start right up heah an' continue tuh come - start right at de top of yore haid an' come right straight on down. See, an' when it git clean down, why dere's no mo' of yo'.
(How do I know I've got the right person when I'm doing this?)
Well, ah tell yo' de way it is. See, jis' lak yo' go tuh a graveyard, yo' go tuh - jis' lak now if yo' know a person an' yo' happen tuh be dere when dey bur- ied. Well, now, ah'll go right chere - ah'll know dis person person'ly. Ah'll take dat haidbo'd, see, an' ah'll go right on. Well, now, dat's one in dat fam- ily is gotta go. Dat's one in dat family gotta go.
(That gets somebody in the family.)
Someone in de same family is gotta go.
Entry 7710
Dat's if yo' daid, if yo' daid. Ah wants tuh git nex' tuh dis man outa heah 'cross de street. Ah'll go dere [to the graveyard]. Ah'll know yuh name. Ah'll go dere an' ah'll pick up dat haidpiece [slip of tongue] from 'is feet an' ah'll git a little bit of dat [dirt] outa his chest down heah. Ah wants tuh run 'im an' wit dat chest-board [headboard]. Ah'll take dat an' covah it up an' bring it in mah house an' throw it undahneat' mah house. An' ah'll take de rest of dat chest [dirt] an' cast it in he [his] yard, an' he can't do me no harm. He's daid.
(You don't do anything with those boards, though?)
Take dat board an' put it undahneat' yuh [your own] house.
Entry 7711
Ah've hear'd dat dey go tuh de grave an' talk tuh de daid an' move de haidbo'd an' change it aroun' an' tell de daid whut chew want tuh be done tuh sech-an'-sech-a-one, chew see, an' it be done.
Entry 7712
("If a man is killed" - see, tell me the whole story like that.)
[If a man is killed]
dey take de footbo'd an' take it tuh de haid, an' [they take] de haidbo'd an' place it at de foot, yo' undahstand. Why yo' do dat? Yo' do dat in ordah tuh bring back de murdahah. [This rite should have followed No.7494, P.3288.]
Entry 7713
Dey say yo' take graveyard dirt. It's accordin' tuh where yo' git it from, whut side yo' git it when yo' goin' git graveyard dirt. Yo' go tuh de graveyard an' take de footbo'd an' put it tuh de haid; take de haidbo'd an' yo' put it tuh de foot. An' yo' take dat graveyard dirt right about at de centah, about tuh dis fah [far] at de centah [demonstrates].
(Up to the elbow.)
Yes, about tuh de elbow. An' yo' take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' could do mos' anythin' wit dat, see. Sprinkle it roun' a person house, dat'll confuse 'em, cuz 'em tuh leave home. Sometimes cuz 'em tuh be spellbound, go crazy. Dis graveyard dirt, jes' [sprinkle it] somewhere where dey kin pass ovah it, walk ovah it. Dey tell me dat whut graveyard dirt will do.
Entry 7714
Well, if yo' wan'a job an' know where's it at, or wan'a git de job back [if you have been dismissed], yo' cu'd [could] go in de graveyard about 'fore day in de mawnin', an' git de haidbo'd from de foot an' change it tuh de haid [and put the headboard at the foot of the grave], an' git some of de sand from de foot [of the grave] an' throw it towards de sunrise. Den yo' go on back tuh de job where yo's workin' at an' don't even ax [ask] fer yuh job back or nuthin, settin' aroun' dere coupla [couple of] mawnin's, an' de man will Say come on back an' 'vite [invite] chew tuh go tuh work.
Entry 7715
Yo'd go down tuh de grave an' take de haidbo'd an' carry it tuh de foot an' make yore wish In de Name of de Father, de Son an de Holy Ghost.
(What would you do with the footboard then, throw it away?)
Bring it tuh de head.
Entry 7716
Ah said she could go tuh de graveyard.
(The woman could go to the graveyard.)
An', yo' know dere's a haidbo'd an' a footbo'd. Write dat individual's name on de haidbo'd of de grave an' vice versa [likewise on] de haid [foot]. Take dat haidbo'd an' write 'is name on it an' put it back tuh dis foot, an' take de footbo'd [and write his name on it] an' put it tuh de haid, an' dat individual will return.
(That man will come back to her?)
Dat's right.
Entry 7717
Yo' could go down tuh de cemetery an' call 'is name an' make de change wit dose bo'ds.
(Call whose name?)
Yo' bossman's name, an' make de change wit dose bo'ds, In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, an' go tuh 'im de nex' mawnin' or de same day, eithah one, an' he'll settle wit chew.
Entry 7718
When yo' wants a man tuh stay wit yuh, yo' go tuh dat graveyard an' yo' write his name in de middle of de grave - on de middle of de grave jes' write his name in de dirt. Jes' take yore fingahs yo' know an' write his name. Den yo' take de footbo'd from de foot an' put hit tuh de haid, an' take de haid- bo'd an' put it tuh de foot, chey lmo. Jes' change de footbo'ds [graveboards] roun'. An' dat'll make 'im stay home.
Entry 7719
Now, yo' take an' yo' go tuh de graveyard, an' yo' write her name down three times on a piece of papah, an' change on de stob on de grave, yo' know. Pull it up heah [de- monstrates], see, an' put it down heah [at the foot] - yo' take de haid [headboard] tuh de foot, yo' see. Well, she done left yo' an' yo' want 'ah [her] back, see. Take de haid [board] tuh de foot an' change it [with the footboard]. Dat's to come [to bring her] back. See, she have tuh come back dere.
(What do you do with that paper?)
Dat papah, yo' got 'ah [her] name on it an' yo' [demonstrates] put it down dere an' yo' put it [pour] in some whiskey an' drive it [footboard in hole]. (You put it [paper] in that hole where you pull up that headboard and put it [headboard] to the foot. Then you take the footboard and put it back in the hole in the headboard's place?) Dat's right.
(Then she'll come back?)
She'll come back. [Paying the grave spirit with whiskey is fairly common.]
Entry 7720
Well, yo' goes - yo' have tuh go dere twelve a'clock in de night an' git dat [dirt]. An' yo' bring dat back. Yo' go tuh de graveyard an' yo' takes it [board] from de haid - yo' takes de haid, put de haid tuh de foot [board] an' de foot [board] tuh de haid. Den yo' go right down in de middle [of the grave] wit three cent in yore han'- go down in de middle. Yo' turn 'em loose dere an' yo' bring up dat dirt. Den yo' carry dat back home. An' yo' - jes' lak yo' wanta put it, yo' carry it tuh anyone's house; if yo' wanta run 'em off, throw it round de house. Jes' spread it roun' de house an' jes' call dere name, an' tell 'em yo' wan t'em tuh, "Go, yo' devil." Tell 'em tuh keep goin'. Cain't stay dere.
Entry 7721
If yo' sellin' likkah an' yo' wanted tuh keep de laws away, go tuh de cemetery an' make de change [of graveboards]. If yo' know dey all names, call dem names; an' if yo' didn't know de names, jes' use de word "of yore enemies" an' make yore wish, In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' Holy Ghost. An' bring some of that dirt back wit yo', an' leave three pennies. An' then take it an' mix it wit some salt an' red peppah. Sprinkle some on each side of yore house where dey's goin' tuh come up to dere, an' make yore wish on each side of it, "In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, make dat man stay away."
(That will keep the law away if you are bootlegging?)
Yes sir. Yo' make de changes in dat.
(Change the headboard and the footboard.)
In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' Holy Ghost, an' bring some of dat dirt wit yo'. Take it tuh de co'thouse aftah yo' mix it wit salt an' red peppah; take it tuh de co'thouse an' sprinkle it aroun' dere.
Entry 7722
Go tuh de cemetery an' make de changes wit de bo'ds out dere. Put three pennies intuh de groun', intuh de grave. Bring some of dat dirt back wit chew an' put some red peppah an' some cay- enne peppah in dere wit it, an' burn it intuh de fire, call- in'; In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, dat yo' may have luck in gainin' de influence of all of yore frien's. An' yo' will have luck.
(That is to get customers if you are bootlegging?)
Yes.
Entry 7723
See, yo' 'sposed tuh go tuh de graveyard twelve a'clock at night, an' yo' git dis dirt, an' when yo' start gittin' dis dirt, yo' supposed tuh say, "Dead spirit, ah didn't come tuh rob yore grave, ah came heah fo' luck In de Name of de Father, of de Son an' of de Holy Ghost." An' if yo' put money tuh dat grave or a corn or either some fresh rice, anything, yo' supposed tuh pay dem An' jes' lak if yo' want chure luck changed, yo' go dere in de nighttime at twelve a'clock an' yo' take de haidbo'd an' throw it tuh de feet an' take de feetbo'd an' throw it tuh de haid. An' yo' git dis graveyard dirt an' yo' sup- posed tuh put sulphur in it - supposed tuh put red peppah an' yo' supposed tuh put sompin yo' kin git at de drugsto', but yo' don' specially have tuh have dat, an' salt in it. An' yo' burn dis dirt three times a day. If it's wet yo' put it in de sun an' let it git dry, an' when yo' make yore fiah [fire] it gonna smell funny when it be burnin'. Yo' shet up in a room tuh yo'self an' yo' burn dis heah dirt. An' jes' lak if yo' want - if anothah party livin' next do', yo' want 'em out chure house, yo' burn dat dirt on dose people an' tell 'em dat chew want 'em tuh be out. Yo' know, move out de house. An' burn it three times a day. An' jes' lak if yo' runnin' a joint or anything, an' if no one will visit chure joint much, yo' kin burn dat dirt, an' in about ten minutes time yo'll have a crowd at chure house. An' if it's a woman yo' wants tuh see, an' yo' cain't see her, an' yo' burn dat dirt, dogged if she wouldn't be dere in about five minutes' time.
(You make your wishes when you burn that dirt.)
[This was not a leading question. Somewhere while recording machine had stopped this had been mentioned.] Yeah yo' make yore own wishes In de Name of de Fathah, an' de Son an' de Holy Ghost. (What is the stuff that you would get at the drug store if you wanted to use that and add that to it?) It's sompin, but chew specially [don't] have tuh have dat, becuz ah ain't nevah didn't nuse [use] dat. (You don't have to have it. What is it, if you do want to use it?) [Either no answer or I turn off machine too fast.]
Entry 7724
Yo' git a headboard from de grave, de headboard, why dey claims it'll make yo' lucky. Yo'll have luck in hittin' de numbers; or if yo' are bootleggin' yo'll have luck in sellin' it. (What do they do with that headboard, though, to get that luck? What do they do with it?) Well dey keeps it somewhere roun' dere home. Dey jis' [keep] it - don't do anything wit it, jis' keep it aroun' dere home.
Entry 7725
Take de footbo'd an' put it tuh de haid an' de haidbo'd an' put it tuh de feet, an' let it stay fo' [for] fo' [four] days. Go back an' reverse de footbo'd tuh de left-side an' de haidbo'd tuh de right-side, an' name de othah per- son - name de per- son [victim]. Take de length of dat grave from de haid wit a rule [string can be used]. Carry it back through a [paper bag suggested later] an' pass it tuh dem [the victim]. Give it tuh dem or some of de ones in de house - or de one dat shure tuh be condemned. Dat'll be de one who'll soon pass out of de house. (How do you mean? You go there and put the headboard to the foot and the footboard to the head?) That's right. (Then you go back there in four days. And then what do you do with those boards?) Take 'em an' jes' place 'em tuh de side, one tuh de left an' one tuh de right Iside of grave].
(Well, which is which?)
De haidbo'd tuh de left [heartside] an' de footbo'd tuh de right. Jes' take dem an' jes' push 'em dere; jes' push 'em dere an' name 'em.
[Somewhere along here informant said something about a sign on the grave.]
(That you make a sign on the grave?)
Yo' make a "x" on de grave, dat's right. Carry it [measurement] back an' give tuh de person.
(What do you give to the person?)
De measure. Yo' measure it wit a rule or a string; anything yo' want tuh, jes' since yo' git it back [to the house]. Yo' take de measure an' give it tuh dis person, somebody in de house. Yo' gotta give it tuh 'em in a papah bag or sompin - in de bag or sompin. Be sure dat chew give it tuh 'em. [Sumter, S. Car. (1384), 2460:5.]
Entry 7726
Yo' take de foot- bo'd tuh de haid an' jes' whatevah yo' want done, vell yo' gotta say dat fo' yo'self yo' see; but chew take it, an' see how it's turnt one way, den yo' pull it up an' den yo' turn it roun' de othah way. See.
(You mean you put the head part [headboard] down to the foot?)
Yeah, yo' take de haid part - yo' take it from de haid an' put it tuh de foot an' den yo' - but chew turn it upside down. Don't turn it lak yo' pull it up. (You put the top [part.of graveboard] down into the hole. What do you do with the footboard then?) Yo' do de same thing. Yo' take de footbo'd an' put it to de haid an' yo' take de haid an' put it tuh de foot.
(But you must put them upside down?)
Upside down. Jes' whutevah yo' want did, den yo' ast dis dead body tuh do dat fo' yo' - jes' whutevah wish yo' want, whutevah yo' want did, yo' do dat. [Sumter, S. Car., (1348), 2330:9.] With all the graveyard dirt previously given and more to follow this subsec- tion (2), what is the reader to do? Remember only, graveyard dirt full of the spirit refuses to be confined within man-made schemes of order.]
Entry 7727
In N'oleans [New Orleans] it wuz a lady taken some graveyard dirt. An' she taken some, yo' know, anvil dust an' graveyard dirt, an' she buried it an' de woman jes' got in a ill condition. (Where did she bury it?) She sift it undah de woman's house. She buried it undah dere, but ah haven't experienced dat. [Sifting itself is a magic rite.]
Entry 7728
Ah hear'd dey could take graveyard dirt an' some gin an' assafetadee [3 ingredients] an' mix it tuhgethah, an' go tuh a person's house where a family. Jis' lak a man an' woman livin' dere an' dis woman - he got anothah woman yuh know, an' she [latter woman] go an' git dat an' sprinkle all aroun' de do'. Dey say dat'll break peace, dey [the two inside] always fussin' an' fightin' one anothah. [The gin is for the spirit in the graveyard dirt - see ALCOHOL FOR THE SPIRIT, p.32].
Entry 7729
You go into a graveyard and take two pennies and dig in a grave and take the dirt out of the grave, and take these two pennies and put them down in the hole and close it. And they can walk behind you and take this dirt and throw it up and down your back, and they work the trick right on you, and you'll go off in bad health and you are going to come on back to the graveyard [as a corpse].
The informant describes taking dirt from a dug grave, leaving two pennies and using the dirt behind someone, with reported ill health and return to the graveyard. The corpse interpretation is Hyatt's bracketed gloss; the Ediphone citation supplies recording context.
Entry 7730
Take graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it in yore baid, jis' lak yo' wanta bust up a man an' 'is wife - tuh bust up anybody - why yo' sprinkle dat. If dere any way yo' kin git dat in de baid, sprinkle it in dere an' it'll bust 'em up. Dey won't be tuhgethah no mo'.
Entry 7731
Dey put de li'le bag - yo' sleep in anywhere - in yo' baid in yo' mat- tress, anything. Dey'll slip dat graveyard dirt in it an' put it in de mattress, sew it up intuh de mattress. An' if dey wanta run yo' outa town, run yo' away from dere, den yo'll leave dere, if yo' sleep in dat baid.
Entry 7732
Take graveyard dirt an' put it an' sprinkle it in any- body's bed if dey sick. Put it in dey mattress, sprinkle it all in dey mattress an' dey'll dwindle away tuh nuthin.
Entry 7733
You can take graveyard dust and sprinkle in your bed, sprinkle in your bed nine times - once on each of nine consecutive days, that'll fix them so they'll die.
Entry 7734
It's jes' lak pow- dah yo' know an' dey'd sprinkle it all undah de bed, so dat it couldn't be seen yo' know; cuz natchly [naturally] people whut come in would wanta know whut's all dat dirt dere fo'. But it wouldn't be so conspicuous dat way, it would jes' be sprinkle... [I interrupt].
(Where would you get this dirt?)
Outa de graveyard.
(And why do they use it?)
Tuh keep people away, dere enemies away. An' dey'd keep it undah de bed, see.
Entry 7735
Dat graveyard dirt - dey takes dat graveyard dirt an' dey'll come intuh yore house an' set, laugh an' talk, yo' not payin' 'em any mind. Well, dey'll take dat an' sprinkle it ovah yo'; yo' know, undah yore bed, table, aroun'. Well jes' keeps yo'- rathah be from home den tuh be roun' home. Ah don't care where yo' go, yo' can't stay dere.
Entry 7736
Put dat grave- yard dirt undah yore steps an' up undah yore house right back tuh where it turn. Sprinkle it from de foot right straight 'cross tuh de haid. Dey couldn't rest fo' nuthin. Dey cain't sleep.
(Where do they sprinkle that?)
Undah de house...
[I turn off machine too quick and must repeat informant's words.]
(Under the bed from the foot to the head and you couldn't sleep fo' nuthin.)
Entry 7737
Git graveyard dirt an' put it in a bag wit blackroot an' black dirt - de kind yo' buy from lak places lak de island black dirt - an' blackroot. An' put dat in a bag an' go out in de voods at twelve a'clock at night fo' three an' foah nights at de time an' pray tuh evil spirits, etc. [In the southern United States black- root is the perennial plant (Chaenolobus undulatus) with black tuberlike root- stocks used medicinally by herb and root doctors.l
(Down on what island? Where do they sell this black dirt?)
Right on de island ovah dere. Yo' have tuh git dat special shuah [sure] becuz dat is why dey call it black dirt. [This black dirt is top soil washed down from higher land during the years.]
Entry 7738
Ah think yo' put brimstone, camphor, bluestone, an' ah think graveyard dirt. Mix it up about soft enough tuh make li'le balls outa it, an' yo' keep dat till it git dry, an' yo' carry dat an' jes' powdah it. Jes' sprin- kle all roun' dere an' wish fo' whut yo' want it tuh do, tuh happen - whut yo' expect tuh happen.
(What do you expect of that?)
Yo' expect, jes' lak yo' want somebody tuh stay away from yore house, yo' could do dat den. Sprinkle it aroun', all roun' so dey can't see it, an' dey won't come ovah it.
Entry 7739
Well, they said, just like this; now, you living here and I wanted you to move, I want this house. Well, I'd go to the graveyard and I will get some dirt, and I will cross it up near the doorstep. (How do you cross it up? How do you mean?) Throw it like this [demonstrates]. (You sprinkle it in the form of a cross.) Yes. And make a wish and call your name. You'll move, can't stay there no more.
Entry 7740
I have heard that they go to the graveyard and get some dirt from the head of the grave, and then get some dirt from the foot, and bring that dirt to the house. Bury that dirt. [First, however, you] make a cross mark so. You make a cross [on the ground] with this graveyard dust. [Then] you make a hole right in the center [of the cross] and bury [the rest of] that dirt. You bury that dirt anywhere these parties to walk over it, and they won't walk long.
Entry 7741
Take some salt and black peppah an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt an' cross it wit dat dirt. If anyone move dere, dey cain't stay. Yo' bury it in a li'le box [coffin symbol] dere, an' if anyone move dere, dey cain't stay. (That is, you cross this house up after you leave it so that the next person can't live there?)
[This is done if you have a grudge against the landlord or person moving in.]
Yes, dey cain't live dere.
Entry 7742
Yo' take a lettah. Well, if she's round in town, yo' go tuh de woman's house, or whosomevah's house she's at, an' yo' draw a cross mark lak dis an' yol take sulphuh an' yo' take graveyard dirt. An' git de graveyard dirt from a sinnah [sinner's grave]. An' draw yore mark an' call dere name an' yo' put yore peppah, nine pods of red peppah. Den yo' take de sulphuh an' put it cross. Den yo' [do] lak dat wit graveyard dirt.
(Making the form of a cross all the time.)
Yes. "An' let 'im walk 'cross dat. See, he goin' walk 'cross it if he come out. Well, in nine days him an' her will start fightin' jes' lak cat's an' dogs, an' it won't be long befo' he's goin' tuh break up [leave her].
(That is to separate them. That is going to make them quarrel, isn't it?)
Well, dis is gonna break 'im up, yo' see.
Entry 7743
Yo' go out tuh de fo'ks of de road now, lak if yo' have a boy friend an' yo' want 'im tuh go, or if yo' wan' 'im tuh come back. Yo' go tuh de fo'ks of de road, de heart of de road heah, an' take yore foot or else a long stick an' make a, yo' know, a trench long enough tuh spread salt an' sulphur [demonstrates]. (You make a trench like that.) Yes, tuh each one of de fo'ks of de road. Yo' know when de road fo'ks, it fo'ks sompin lak dat [demonstrates]. Well, yo' take an' make yore lines sompin lak dat [demonstrates].
(Make and "x".)
Yes. An' yo' have yore salt an' yore sulphur an' graveyard dirt an' yo' put it in dere, sprinkle it down. Have enough tuh put in dere, an' den yo' tell it whut tuh do. Yo' use graveyard dirt, dat's very good.
(What did you tell it to do now?)
Well now, lak now, if yo' want dem tuh come back. Or if yo' want 'em tuh [be] gone, say, "Go", whichevah direction yo' want. Say, "Go, dis way or dat way, or dat way, an' don't nevah return." But if yo' say, "Wherevah yo' are, if yo' in de no'th, so'th, east or west, come back tuh me."
(You can do it either way?)
Yes.
Entry 7744
See, jes' lak if yo' in a house an' somebody else wanta undahmine yo' fo' dat house, dey have tuh go tuh de graveyard an' yo' git some graveyard dirt, an' git chew some quick- silvah an' yo' git some High John de Conkah root an' some devil-shoestring roots, an' place it up undah de house. An' yo' goin' tuh an' fro', an' den evah night dey'll come 'n'int [anoint] it wit somepin an' yo'll soon come out.
(Do you know what they anoint it with?)
No suh. Ah did, but it's been a long time [since I heard this].
Entry 7745
Yo' go tuh de graveyard an' reach right down in de breast, an' dig down in dere deep an' git de dirt right off de grave, right off de breast part. An' mix dat graveyard dirt up an' a li'le cayenne peppah. Mix dat graveyard dirt up an' de cayenne peppah, an' yo' take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' gits a dirt daubah nest. Yo' go tuh a house whah [where] dere ain't nobody died in dat house an' git dat dirt daubah nest an' mix it all up tuhgethah.
(What do you mean, you go to a house where nobody died?)
Yo' see, whah dere's nobody died in dat house it give dat dirt daubah all powah. Git it whah dere ain't nobody died in de house. It have tuh be 'bout in de co'se of time of fo' yeahs. See! If dey died longah time den fo' yeah's time, it's all right; but if dey died recently, don't put dat dirt daubah nest in dere. Yo' have tuh git a wasps' nest. Yo' see, yo' git a wasps' nest an' put dat wasp nest in dere wit dat graveyard dirt an' dat cayenne peppah, an' it keep dem person on de warpath all de time - dissatisfied all de time.
(What do you do with this dust?)
Take it an' sprinkle it across de do'. Sprinkle it 'cross de do', sprinkle it ln dere house, an' let 'em walk ovah it. See, dey will be warfarin' all de time.
Entry 7746
Well, dey goes out an' dey git dis graveyard dirt, an' dey kin take it, if dey wanta give yo' bad luck. Dey kin take a lot of it an' sprinkle it all roun' yo' front dō' an' yo' back dō'. Ah don't know how true dat is, but ah know a lady dat lived next do' from us. She used to go out an' git it an' take it aroun' an' sprinkle it aroun' in front-a people's do's. An' dey said dat it would give dose people bad luck. An' dey really would have a lotta bad luck.
Entry 7747
Dey go out dere an' dig in it 'bout midnight an' put it tuh yore do' in de mawnin', an' yo' walk out on it. An' suppose yo' walk out on it, den yo'll soon have tuh leave dem dere.
(This graveyard dirt?)
Yes.
(You get it from any kind of a grave?)
Dey always do try tuh git it from a sinner's.
The interviewer identifies graveyard dirt and asks about the grave; the informant confirms and says a sinner's grave is sought. The departure claim remains source-reported.
Entry 7748
[Well, dey tell me yo' kin go out in de graveyard an' git some graveyard dirt an' bring it in, an' take it an' put it to de do', an' dat will turn me an' whoevah in dat house, where dey couldn't be able tuh do anythin' - couldn't pros- pah no way shape or form.
Entry 7749
Dey gits some graveyard dust an' tie it up an' gi' [give] some dat to yo', why it'll make yo' stay home.
(How do they do that?)
Tie it up in a piece of rag an' put it up ovah de do'.
(They get off the dirt from your foot track.)
[The sleep inducing quality of graveyard dirt mentioned elsewhere evidently acts upon the footprint dirt to keep a person home.]
Entry 7750
Yo' go tuh de graveyard wit a penny an' yo' buy some graveyard dirt from a wicked person whut die, an' take dat graveyard dirt an' sprinkle roun' de front do' an' dey'll move.
(That is to move your next door neighbor?)
Yessuh.
The informant describes buying dirt from a wicked person's grave with a penny. The interviewer's question about a next-door neighbor and the informant's confirmation remain separate; the departure claim is source-reported.
Entry 7751
An' ah've heard of 'em takin' graveyard dirt an' put it up ovah yore dō' an' it will make yo' lucky.
Entry 7752
Take graveyard dirt an', jes' lak if yo' don' lak a person an' dey don' lak yo', an' yo' wanta git rid of 'em. Take dat graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it in dey house, throw it undah dere stoop when dey out - absent. An' when dey come dey'll move. Dey don' know whut makin' 'em move. Dey'll move on out.
Entry 7753
Dey git graveyard dust an' sprinkle it on yore stoop, put it all roun' yore step, an' dat'll cuz yo' bad luck, cuz yo' have tuh move, cuz yo' tuh pine away, cuz yo' tuh pine away an' tain't long fore yo'll be in yore grave.
Entry 7754
Take graveyard dirt an' bury it undah a person's do'step an' dat will run 'em crazy.
(How do you mean run them crazy?)
Jes' make 'em where dey jes' git all upsot [upset] an' jes' leave an' jes' be all - jes' can't live dere, no way in peace, no way.
The informant explains the printed phrase 'run them crazy' through upset, leaving and inability to live peacefully. The interviewer's question is separate, and '[upset]' is an editorial gloss within the speech.
Entry 7755
Ah heard dat chew could take graveyard dirt an' kill anyone wit takin' an' diggin' a hole undah dey do'step, yo' know an' bury it, an' by folks walkin' ovah it, dey will fight amongst dem[selves].
(That will kill them.)
The informant introduces this as hearsay. The final parenthetical 'That will kill them' is the interviewer's statement, with no further informant confirmation printed. '[selves]' is an editorial completion within the printed speech.
Entry 7756
It's one thing, yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dust an' put dat on a person's do'steps. An' [they] try tuh stay dere fo' a certain length of time an' den dey will go crazy, yo' see.
Entry 7757
Bring it [graveyard dirt] from de graveyard an' bury it upon yore front do'step an' dis will bring yo' luck.
The material name “graveyard dirt” is supplied editorially in brackets. The speech itself says it comes from the graveyard.
Entry 7758
Go tuh de graveyard an' git graveyard dirt. Yo' kin bring dat grave- yard dirt back an' yo' bury dat graveyard dirt up undah de steps. See, dat will give yo' bad luck tuh run yo' away.
Entry 7759
Ah heard of 'em goin' tuh de graveyard an' gittin' dat dirt at twelve a'clock at night an' plantin' it undah de steps. Dat'll keep dere man, keep dere ole man; yassuh, keep de man at home, keep 'im from leavin'.
Entry 7760
Take graveyard dirt an' dragon's blood an' make [mix] it up. Yo' kin take dat an' sprinkle it aroun' in a person's home. He can't see it. Yo' begin tuh have a hackin' cough an' dat hackin' cough, yo' jes' cough, cough lak yo' got tuberculosis; an': if yo' don' git dat dirt - some people don sweep often enough. Some people know [how] tuh avoid dat. Any person kin come in yuh home an' have a pinch of it an' throw it in dere an' cuz yo' tuh have a hackin' cough. (You say they take graveyard dirt and dragon's blood. Do they put it sep- arately or what?) Naw, mix 'em tuhgethah. See, dragon's blood is a very precious thing an' de graveyard dirt yo' git it off a sinnah's grave.
Entry 7761
Dey tell me yo' kin take graveyard dirt an' aig an' put it tuhgethah an' throw it on - somewhere roun' de house an' dat will cuz dem tuh be in hard luck all de time.
(How do you put that graveyard dirt and egg together?) Dey jes' have it mixed tuhgethah.
Entry 7762
I've heard of them getting graveyard dust. That is to lay you so you won't bother me. If you have an enemy you get graveyard dust and you wrap it up ip a paper and bury that and you won't by me. You put that some place where they can walk over it.
Entry 7763
Go tuh de graveyard an' git some sand an' bring it back. Have it in yore pocket yo' know. An' den come back dere to dat house an' jes' not let de fellah see dat yo' wants tuh run off from dere, not let 'im know nuthin 'bout it. Jes' scattah it roun' on de flo' an' dey tell me dat will make dat man move from dere. De rent-man could do dat, say when de man come roun' aftah de rent. De man dat's dere yo' know, somebody in 'is house could make him do dat. An' when de rent-man come, why see he could go out dere an' talk tuh de rent-man, an den him an' de rent-man will fall out. Dat's a fact.
Entry 7764
I've heard you can go to a graveyard and get some dirt and put it in a bag for a lucky hand and they say you'll win every game you go in. You carry in your pocket.
Entry 7765
If dey's shootin' crap, shootin' dice, yo' kin [go] down tuh de ceme- tery an' git some-a dirt off de haid of it, an' put it in de pocket where yo' goin' use de money. Well, dat will [make you lucky in gambling]. [Here I turned off recording machine, then started again]. Yo' don't know how tuh make dice do yo'? [I probably shook my head.] Don't know how tuh make 'em? Well, yo' kin take - dey make 'em wit bones an' dey make 'em wit celluloid, too. Ah'm tellin' yo' whut ah know an' WHUT AH HIRED TO TELL YO'. [No one Was ever hired to tell me anything. Every one came to me on the basis of a promise: if he knew something I wanted to hear, he was paid according to what I thought the information was worth; if he knew nothing, he was given a small fee for his time. As we gained experience and established confidence in a community, we tried to weed out before reaching the interviewing room, those who knew little or nothing.] But de man who run de house tole me - he want tuh git me [sooner] but ah had tuh go out of town. [De man who run de house, the man who rented the house in which I interviewed, was H. L. Timmons (see Vol.1, p. XXxvII), my contact man, whose automobile I also rented.] (Well, all you have to do is to put this graveyard dirt in your pocket where you put the money.) Put it to work, dat's right.
(That is for luck in gambling.)
Tote wit de dice.