Browse:WHISKEY AS PAYMENT (Volume 4, entries 7625)
WHISKEY AS PAYMENT
Volume 4, entries 7625. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → GRAVEYARD DIRT MUST BE BOUGHT FROM SPIRIT → 1 PENNY - AT MIDNIGHT - GRAVE OF SINNER OR MURDERER KILLED; DIRT FROM HEART SIDE - OATH - SALT - PEPPER - SULPHUR. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 7625
Now, if yo' know of a wicked pusson dat dies, an' yo' wanta create confusion in a home - dis pusson if yo' know where his haid lies in 'is grave, yo' know where de ahms fold...
(Where the arms fold over.)
Sure, yo' reach yuh right han' down de length of yuh ahm, as fah as yo' kin reach, an' git out - jis' squeeze yuh hand up wit de dirt, all de dirt yo' kin draW Out. Den yo' TAKE A GLASS OF WHISKEY AN' SET IT DOWN AN' PAY 'IM FER DE DIRT AN' TELL 'IM, SAYS, "NOW, AH'M PAY- IN' YUH FER DIS DIRT." An' yo' take dat dirt an' throw it in de yard or in de home of de pusson dat chew Wanta create a disturbance, an' dey'111 continue tuh have a confusion dere as long as dis dirt remains.
(Do you put that dirt at any special time?)
Yes, yo' put it eithah at de goin' down or de risin' of de sun.
(Do you get that dirt from the grave at any particular time?)
Gen'ly at midnight.
The informant describes taking dirt from a deceased person's grave, paying with whiskey and casting it into a yard or home for reported conflict while the dirt remains. Collection is generally at midnight; placement is at sunrise or sunset. The capitalized payment formula is prescribed speech, and the interviewer's clarifications remain separate.