Subject:Broom
Entries
Entry 7061
Ah heah dat a woman kin take a broom an' lay a broom at de foot of de baid, an' put 'er bloomahs above yore haid an' do anythin' she wanta - yo' won' notice it - an' go on out. Heard of 'em fixin' dat. (At night?) Yes sir, at night.
Entry 7063
Take yer broom an' jis' lak yo' turn it upside down an' go out chure house an' stay all night, yer wife or nuthin nevah know nuthin 'bout it.
Entry 8499
Perhaps someone come tuh yore house an' yo' didn't want 'em dere any mo', yo' could take a broom, make yore wishes, an' call 'im a bad name. An' take yuh a broom an' sweep )'im out an' he won't come back any mo'. [This is not the ordinary rite of sweeping behind a departing person. The departing is pretended and the person's name is intended or wished at least.]
Entry 8501
Yo' take an' write his name on dere nine times all de way roun' de broom, straight though, not backwards. An' whenevah it time fo' him tuh come, yo' sweep in, an' put dat broom undah de baid an' he's comin'. (You just write it on the broom handle you mean?) On de broom handle wit pen- cil. All dat ah tole yo' should be wrote wit indeli- bin, de bad an' de good.
Entry 8995
Like if yo' are in jail an' yo' wanta get out. If yo' in jail, yo' have to go to court an' yo' don't know whether yo' going to get out. Yo' take yo' a broom an' yo' sweep yoreself fo' nine mornings. [Since there are a number of sayings in Hoodoo stating that a person swept by a broom will go to jail, the situation is believed to be magically reversible: you can get out of jail by sweeping yourself down.]
(How do you sweep yourself?)
Sweep yourself down for nine mornings with a broom.
Entry 9192
Well, jis' lak yo' wanta person tuh break up er [or] sompin lak dat. Yo' loved 'er. If yo' love a girl [and] de othah fellah - well yo' want 'er. Well yo' cain't git nex' tuh love 'er, yo' see, becuz dis man be's huh husban', she husban'. Why he might be a pure mahn, den yuh spirit might agree. Well, yo' wanta break dese parties up. Well, yo' go tuh work. Now, yo' may have [a] chicken layin', sompin lak dat. Yo' go tuh work an' yo' watch de chicken when de [they] lay. See, yo' git a fresh, fresh egg [at the] time dey drop it, [egg] leave de chicken, why yo' git dat egg: See. An' yo' take it tuh his house dat night an' throw it up jis' de hide [height] of de house an' let it fall right befo' de doah. An' aftah dat why yo' gotta have a broom, yo' unnahstan' [understand], an' sweep dat [away], see. Yo' sweep dat away from de house, see. Well, dat man'll continue goin', he'll be continue goin' until 'is min' [mind] will be changed until he leave dat woman.
Entry 9454
One of de mos' valuable things, yo' kin take salt an' run evahone out dat house in ten minutes.
(Just how would you do that?)
Jis' take dat broom an' open de back do' an' de front do', jis' lak yo' open dis do' heah, an' take de broom an' turn it bottom upwards, an' put a handfulla salt right in de broom, an' set it wit de broom up an' close de do'. In ten minutes evahone of 'em git restless an' leave dere. Ah run company dat way some- times, when ah have company home an' git sick of 'em. Ah jis' git up an' go in de kitchen, an' take de broom an' set it behin' de do' an' throw salt on top of it, come back dere an' set down. In about ten minutes dey all git restless an' leave - dey go an' leave.
Entry 9533
Den, in case, if de police come tuh yuh house an' yo' runnin' a whiskey house or some kinda business, well yo' kin take some salt an' throw it out behin' dem, an' sweep it out wit a bran'-new broom. He won't come back no mo'. Dat will keep 'em from comin' back.
Entry 9538
If this person was an enemy to you, then you get some salt - out of a jar that has never been used - and when the person leaves, you sprinkle the salt behind them. You did it In the Name of the Lord. Then take a broom and sweep it out the way they went. Then set the broom bck in the house bottom side upward. And they wouldn't come back again. [For setting brushy part of broom up and handle down behind door, a rite widely spread, See 2432, Wilmington, N. Car., and 2433, New Orleans, La., both p.675, v.1, etc.]
[Old Point Comfort, Va., collected in 1936 by Ediphone.]
Entry 10411
Bible under head in bed [under pillow or mattress] keeps witch away.
[Wilmington, N. Car., (206), 113:8+85; also informant 31 at Hampton, Va.]
Bible under head of bed [on floor] keeps witch away. [Baltimore, Md., (near 142), 46:4+85.] Bible under bed and hang sifter overhead. [Deal Island, Md., (108), 16:3+85.] Bible and 3 pins to keep hag away. [Richmond, Va., (343), 287:2+85.] Bible under pillow and 3 stick pins [ordinary pins] underhead. The hag turned into a little piece of red meat, found next morning. Stop the meat up and the hag [unable to breathe] will come. [Richmond, Va., (343), 287:2+85.] Bible and stub of a broom [the straw part of a worn-out broom] at head of bed to keep hag away. [Wilmington, N. Car., (about 249), 161+85, diffuse story not worth copying.]
Entry 10419
If witches start to ride you, all you've got to do is lay a new broom at your door and she has to count every straw in it before she passes over it. By that time you'll be out of your bed and gone on to work.
Entry 10421
Well, it supposed to be nuthin but a hag ride chew. Jes' lak yo' can't sleep at night, yo' know. See, de hag jump on yo' an' will ride yo' an can't rest. If yo' gits up in de night an' put de broom, a straw broom, across de path right wheresomevah dey supposed tuh come in an' in de mawnin' when yo' go by dere, yo' be done caught de witch. It'll be nuthin but a ball of jelly dat look lak de watah [gummy sap] out of a peach tree.
(You said you put the cap what?)
Put a cap ovah de do' [the knob of door with man's cap over the keyhole]. [Straw broom for sweeping floor, has long wooden handle; hand broom is made of small twigs or long grass doubled together and tied at bend for a handle.]
Entry 10423
Take broom and sweep down [bed] to keep hag away ev'ry night before you get in; [sweep bed] head down to foot of bed. Do 9 nights.
Entry 10773
Ah heard sompin 'bout a broom. Now, yo take a broom now - dey claim dat yo' take a broom an' yo'll sweep with it. Well, now, if yo' take a broom an' lay it down an' step ovah it, it will give yo' bad luck. Always, if yo' step ovah a broom forward, step backwards ovah it an' dat give yo' good luck.
Entry 10775
(Ever hear of using a broom?)
You can take a broom, like if you got - there's a person you dislike. You take a broom and after you sweep with the broom, take the corner and the wall where that person sleep. See, where that person sleep, you take that broom, see, like that's your bed [points to bed in hotel room where I was interviewing]. And take that broom, just make it a habitual habit being unnoticed to me. Just set it up behind my bed, but in that broom you fasten my name. Write my name on a piece of paper, white paper, and put it down in that broom well, and fasten it so it won't come out easily.
(You put it down in the broom.)
In the broom.
(In the brush part.)
In the brush part of the broom, where it stay in there a long time, where it won't come out. And I'll betcha I won't be contented and I can't keep no clothes to save my life.
[I turn off machine but he says something about being upset.]
(Keeps you upset?)
Certainly, and I can't keep no clothes to save my life. And unless you get somebody [hoodoo doctor] to work on it, find out from somebody, go to somebody that I know, and [ask her] if she know what that [is] the person have; and they tell you something, well it'll keep you upsetted and without clothes as long as you live, unless that's taken out of there.
(You say, you put that broom behind the bed?)
Behind the bed.
(You put it up there with the brush part down?)
With the brush part up.
(Oh, the brush part up.)
The handle down but the brush part up.
(Oh, I see. Well, why did you do that?)
Well, because if you put it down, you're not against the person, see. If you put it up, you against 'eni - you against a person, see. See, if the brush part of the broom is up, that's against a person if it's behind the bed. If it's down, you don't have no hypnotic powers nowheres, nothing seems to work against him by having the broom down. You wants it against a person with the broom up where the sun goes acrost it each day. Every time the sun go across it, the sun crosses over that broom. If you has it down, well, it don't happen like that, you see.
Entry 10778
If somebody come to yo' house an' yo' don't want 'em to yore house, uhen dey come dere, yo' jes' sit down, an' when dey leave yo' start tuh sweepin'. An' when yo' start sweepin' yo' turn yore broom bottom upwards an' say whut chew wanta say an' dey'll leave.
Entry 10780
Usin' a broom - if yo' set a broom up, yo' see, set de strau up dis way [demonstrates] yo' be's in a uproar all de time. If yo' sets it down, dat makes things better roun' home an' roun' wit de neighbors an' all lak dat.
Entry 10781
De only thing ah know, nevah take a broom an' turn it upside down in yore house. Dat bad luck. [Algiers, La., (1593). 2994:21.]
Entry 10783
They take - you see, some people cross it [a house]. They have dif- ferent ways that they cross it. Now, they got some lady people when they living in a house, before they move, like if they living in this home here, they're sore with the landlord. (They're sore with the land- lord? All right.) The landlord wants them to move. He done give them a notice to move. They'll take and they'll take a old mop or old broom, they'll break the part off that you sweep or scrub with. They will put that into the chimley [chimney] crossways. It'll be months and Sundays before they kin rent the house. [That expression could be months of Sundays.]
Entry 10787
If yo' see anybody comin' tuh yore house, throw a broom 'cross de do' like dis [demonstrates]. Step ovah it [demonstrates]. Dat's bad luck.
(To the person that is coming in?) Yes sir.
Entry 10789
If someone come to de house an' dey don't trus' yo' or didn't wan' choo to come dere, an' dey'll take a broom yo' see an' lay de broom across de [door on the] floah. An' whenever yo' come in dere, den yo'll have to move dat broom. Dey won't step over dat broom. An' as long as dat broom is dere, dey won't come in atall.
Entry 10790
Dey will take de broom an' lay it down right in de threshhold of de door.
(All the way across.)
An' when de collector comes in - why of course, dey'll ask him tuh come in. An' if he steps ovah dat broom comin' in an' steps ovah it goin' out, why dey claim dat he'll commence tuh - it git in his mind, "Why - well, now ah'm kinda 'fraid tuh go tuh dat place. When ah was dere last, why somepin come ovah me." Dey claim dat broom, de crossing of de broom, will give him a thought in his nind dat it's distrustful gon'a happen round dat place. Ah'm gon'a send somebody else iere, because ah don't believe ah'll take chances crossing dere mahself. An' al- so tuh make dat token, [warning] work out, why dey'll sometimes have so.eone set- ting around tuh kinda frighten yo' [him].
Entry 10791
If yo' once were marl ried, an' yo' have a broos an jes' throw it ovah yore dining room back do' an' step ovah it, yo' won't nevah marry no mo'.
(You'll never marry again. Do you put that broom down, you say?)
"Cross de dining room do', jest lay it dere an' step ovah it, an' yo' nevah will marry any mo'.
Entry 10792
Keep de witches out (How do you do that?) Jes' take de broom an' put it across de do'. Dat's all ah know 'bout de broom.
(What will that do?)
Dat will keep de evil spirits away.
(And the witches out.)
Yes sir.
Entry 10793
Take a broom, or either a horseshoe, an' put it up ovah yore do'. Take a broom yo' know an' nail it crossways yore do', keep witches out. (Where do you put it, down on the floor or what?) Lay it right down by de do', on de flo'. (What will that do?) Dat will keep 'em out. Or ei- ther, if a person come in yore house an' yo' don' want 'em dere, yo' kin take a pod of peppah an' throw it in de fiah, an' make dem go.
(Just burn the pepper while they are in the house or after they leave?)
While dey in yore house.
Entry 10794
De broom? Well all ah know whut dey kin [do] wit a broom, like if a person Would come in your place and you didn't want dem dere, dey put de broom behin' de do'. Is dat whut chure talking about? (No, how do they do that?) Dey jest - like you'd come in, dey could sweep yore track when you come out - sweep yo' out. Den dey put dat broom, turn it up behin' de do', an' when you walk in, you can't stay. Dat means, jest as yo' come in, sweep like dat and set de broom up behin' de do'. Yo' gotta go out.
(You sweep when? When they come in or after they go out?)
When dey go, see.
(And they won't come back again.)
Yo' sweepin' dey tracks out. Jest as dey go, sweep dem out.
Entry 10797
Dey say, dat if a person sweep yore feet with a broom, that yo would leave home. [For sweeping feet also see JAIL later.]
Entry 10798
Dat's another thing to move a man or move a woman. Put dat [broom] down by yore fireplace dere an' let it stay dere every night fo' nine nights yo' put it dere. Put dat down crossways, cross yore fire- place, an' den yo' - befo' yo' do dat dough, if yo' kin be fortunate enough to git a piece of dere garment or sompin like dat, an' tie it onto dat broom in seven knots, down next to de bushy part of it, an' let it stay down dere nine mornings. Put dat in nine nights. Dey travelin'. Yo' be discontented where yo' [he] at. About de tenth morning he goin' leave dere, yo' see. Dat's one way ah've heard about de broom. Dat'll run him. Move yo' either away from yore town or against yore success - somepin like dat.
(Who would do that? The woman would do that or the man?)
Either one.
(Somebody living in the same house or just living in the town?)
In de town - either way.
Entry 10801
Keep de broom, de part chew sweep wit, let it stand up an' be in de right cor- ner of yore house. Dat's lucky fo' yo'. (What do you mean, the right corner of the house?) Jes' lak yo' come in, de right side of de house.
Entry 10802
Yo' take a broom. A broom is a concern, jes' say fo' instance, yo' vorkin' wit someone, yo' know, an' dey smart or sompin lak dat, an' yo' jes' haul off an' hit 'em wit de broom. Dat will make a person have bad luck. Put bad luck on dem. Dey'll either git fi'ed [fired from his work] or sompin vill bg pen to him. [For hitting person with broom, also see JAIL margin title under BROOM later.]
Entry 10804
Ah'd knowed a little girl, Betty, ovah heah 'cross town. One morning she was sweeping up - little girl about six years old - an' her sister come by an' she hit her wit de broom. An' JD he come by dere an' dey hit him wit de broom. Miss Kate said, "Dat's bad luck," [she] says, "you shouldn't hit dat gal wit dat broom, Betty," [she] says, "ah'm goin' whupp yo'." [How do you punctuate this sort of discontinuity!] An' An by twelve 'clock dey had both of 'em in jail.
Entry 10806
If anybody hits you with a broom, you [hitter] go to jail, if its a broom, but if you spill 'em [person hit falls down, you won't go to jail].
Entry 10808
Yo' kin hit a person three times wit a broom, sweepin' lak yo' sweep- in' out dis [room] an' ah'm heah, an' yo' wanta put me into trouble. An' yo' jes' sweepin' till yo' git to me an' jes' hit me three times wit de broom, goin' an' comin'. In two hours or three hours aftah dat ah'll be in jail.
Entry 10809
If a person strike a person wit a broom, say fo' nine times, yo' goin tuh jail. If yo' kin jes' go an' - see, jes' lak accidently, brush a person, yo' know make it a habit of doin' dat, dat fellah's goin' tuh jail, or dat woman's goin' tuh jail.
Entry 10810
Yo' kin take a broom in jail, dey says dat aroun' in jail, an' bring mo' customers [prisoners]. (They buy the broom?) Yes, de' [prisoners] buy de broom. See, have someone else [buy it] yo' know, probably de keepers. Have someone out dere dey Want [to] give it to. Dey will buy dat broom from him
[keeper?]. Say dat will bring de peoples to de jail.
Entry 10811
If yo' in jail, take a broom - an' yo' git in jail. If yo' in jail an' someone out chere yo' don' like, yo' kin jump de broom in jail an' call dere names, an' it won' be 48 hours fo' dey be right in dere in jail. (How do you mean, jump the broom?) See [demonstrates with imaginary broom] jes' hol' de broom an' jump ovah it, jes' hol' it in yore han' an' jump right ovah it, call dere name.
[Author explains demonstration for microphone.]
(Like this: stretch your hand out and hold the broom [end of handle]. Then you jump right over the broom.) Hol' it an' jump right through dere. See [informant demonstrates] dat's ovah de broom, see. If yo' call dere name, dey cain't he'p from comin' dere.
(That will make them come to jail?)
Yes. [Broom] whut chew sweep de floor wit. Dey have tuh come dere. [Some- where in HOODOO is a similar rite from Wilmington, N. Car.]
Entry 10814
Well, now yo' take de broom - jes' lak ah cope to yore house an' yo' don't want me dere no mo'. Well, if yo' don't sweep out, yo' take dat broom an' nail it up ovah de corner [side] of de do' dis way [demonstrates] when yo' come in.
(Lay it to the right of the door when [where] you come in?)
Yeah, nail it up; see, caught it up lak dat [demonstrates]. (You nail it against the wall with the brush part up, to keep then from coing back there again.)
Entry 10815
[They say, take a bran'-new broom an' set it behin' de bed, an' write a person's name on it. An' say dat whomsomever dat she wants tuh come dere - jes' like it's a man dat she wants tuh be with - write his name on dat broom an' turn it bottom upwards an' set it up behin' de bed.
(What will that do?)
Dat draws de person in de house. (Turn this broom with the brush part up. You write the name on the handle or the top part?) On de handle.
Entry 10816
Yo' take a new broom, yo' see. Yo' take a new broom, if yo' go move in a house, an' always have a new broom an' have a loaf of bread an' a box of salt. An' it's lucky, a new broom, if yo' sweep yore house. An' nevah tuh go, tuh go [to] work an' leave it [when you move]. Nobody will have it, because it will bring evil into de house. A new broom.
Entry 10818
If yo' use yore own broom to sweep yore house an' [somebody] else's that's a little bad luck on that. An' don't sweep yore yard wit de same broom yo' sweep yore house with. Dey say that's bad luck. They always say that if a person use de same broom to sweep de house with an' dey use the same broom to sweep de yard with, that brings about a little difficulty wit de family.
Entry 10822
To make a husband an' wife be cross with one another all de time - look like dey jes' can't git along - de lady might use de broom on sweepin' off de table an' dat'll cause confusion 'tween her an' her husband. Seemed like dey'd be cross wit one another. Well, anybody oughtn't tuh do dat, but sometimes people wull do it 'cuse ah've seen 'em do it.
(Who would sweep the table with the broom?)
De lady, de man's wife.
(Well, what would she do that for?)
Dat easy cleaning de table, ah reckon. [This may not be the floor broom but the hand broom I describe elsewhere: long slender twigs, reeds or grass bent together and tied with same material just below bend - about two feet long.]
(Sweeping the table off with the broom will cause confusion in the house.)
[This is merely my comment for the microphone.]
Entry 10824
If someone in yore house an' yo' wants 'em tuh leave or eithah stay, yo' lay dat broom down in de flo' an' let dem walk ovah dat broom an' if yo' want 'em tuh leave, yo' take it tuh de no'th side of yore room an' set it up wit de sweepin' part down, an' dey'll jis' leave all de way round. Dey won't come round dere any mo'. An' jis' lak if yo' want 'em tuh stay, well, yo' know, tuh come roun' yo' very often, yo' Set it up wit de sweepin' part up, an' dey'll often come tuh look aroun', yo' o, at chure house; come an' see yo' [if] anything dey kin do fo' yo', dey'll do dat.
(This is on the north side of the house?)
Yeah, it must be on de no'th side of de house.
Entry 10827
Take three straws out of a broom and throw it [broom] across yore left shoulder backwards. Throw it back off yo' and make yore wish. Yo'll git dat wish. [Mobile, Ala., 963:9.]
Entry 10832
And then you take a card, playing cards, you see; you know, like you [picture of man: jack or king].
(Playing cards?)
Yes. Well, you take him out and you'll turn him up behind your bed, you understand.
(Behind your bed, yes.)
Behind de head of your bed on de same side that you [man] sleeps. Now, this is a woman fer a man, and then on de other side, he kin do de woman de same way, you see [he uses female card]. And you'll put it there and then you'll take a broom what you have never swept with. I mean a new broom. You git nine straws out of that. And then you'll talk to him every morning. Everything you eat, you feed him and says good things about him. Don't say anything harsh. And he'll be compelled to come home to you.
(What card do you take out of that deck?)
Take de card that run for you.
(Oh, you have to run the cards?)
Yeah, now like you might run a spade. You might run a diamond. You might run a heart. You might run in a jack and you might run in a king, you see.
(I see.)
Well, you take de card that run for you.
(And you put that up behind your bed - upside down, you say?)
Oh, no! Don't turn dat upside down. You nail it behind your bed. Like I lays on de right side of de bed, well, you nail it on de right side of de bed.
(Behind the bed?)
Yeah, behind de bed, out of search from everyone. No one knows it but you. You do that to yourself. No one sees it.
(Is the face against the bed or the face out?)
The face is out. No, the face is out. The back of de card is against de bed. And you feed that with everything that you eat. Even now, like you would get water - just like you was really feeding him sure enuff. And you talks sweet things - like you 'pologizing, you know.
(I see, to this card?)
Yeah, to that card, for ninr mornings and he will be forced to come back. As to the woman [if a man is working this rite] she'll be forced to come back.
Entry 13289
A root doctor told me that. He said you git choo a bucket of watah a'a broom, an' as they goes on out de doah, he says - like aftah dey gone out, h say - he jis' go back from w'ere they's settin' at, an' gits his broom an' dip it in that bucket nine time an' jis' sweep with it. An', every time yo's make [each of] dem nine [dips], sweep it [from the visitor's chair] right on out [of the house] and make you a wish: "I hope yo'll go an' nevah come no more." He said they'll nevah come back to your house no more [mō']. [That allitera- tion go and mo occurs several times in HOODOO, it appearing to be an uncon- scious folk expression.]
Entry 459
I had a horse that was real poor with a long mane. I combed that mane out every morning. I would get up the next morning and it was all tied up with stirrups from witches riding him. It looked like the more I fed him, the horse kept getting thinner. I told him what to do. I told him to go and get him a broom, drive a nail up behind the stable door, hang this broom up there. If this witch comes there, she has to count every straw in that broom before she can get a ride, then day will be on her and she will have to leave.
Entry 499
Use de straw from a broom for a hag. Take de straws from de broom an' take de broom an' lie it down side de bed, an' de nex' mawnin' dere will be somepin down dere side de bed. People say it be's de hag, but say dat de firs' pusson dat came to your house to borrah somepin from yo', don' loan it to 'em, say dat'll be de same pusson dat rode joo.
Entry 500
Jes' lak if a hag be ridin' yo' ev'ry night - ev'ry night yo' go to bed an' a hag ride yo', jes' take de broom an' sleep wit de broom 'cross yore foot ev'ry night an' dat'll keep de hag away.
Entry 504
I told him to get some pepper an' throw de seeds all aroun' on de floor. Well, after dey [a hag] came in there, they've got to pick up ever' grain of dat pepper before they kin get out. They kin ketch 'em and they won't come no more.
(Why won't he do that?)
I don't know, sir. He's 'fraid, say he git de pepper - might git it in his eyes or somepin or 'nother like that. Den I told him, I said, "Well, if 'fraid dat," I say, "well, take your broom and sweep your bed down," I say, "ever' night befo' you get in de bed." He do it for about nine nights or nine mornings, why dey won't bother him no more. But dey ride him most ever' night. See, he'll be hollerin' and moanin'.
(Where does he live?)
Next door. So one night, de night befo' last, he wus hollerin' and strugglin' in his sleep. So I called and ast him what wus de matter. And he ast de Lord to help him. He say he tore de cat up and threw him in de fire. [Informant paused here and I turned off my machine, thinking she had ended. But, she added a final statement which I had to repeat as a question to the quickly turned on machine.]
(When he woken up the cat was gone?)
Yes sir. [The witch-hag had changed into a cat before riding this man.]
Entry 506
Well, now, yo' kin take a broom an' jes' lay it crossways under yore bed an' dat'll stop 'em. Or yo' kin go to three crossways - go to three crossroads an' pick up a little sand outa three crossroads an' throw it up under yore bed an' they wouldn't bother yo' no mo' tuh save yore life. If dey do, ah'll eat dis hat [my black hat containing concealed microphone - see Hat, my black, in Index].
(That will stop these witches?)
Yes sir - dat'll shore stop 'em.
Entry 508
A broom what you sweep with, you leave that to yore feet an' a Bible at chure head and dey won't worry you. But, if you wanta ketch 'em, you sprinkle - you go to de drug store and you buy a nickel's worth of flaxseed and you sprinkle that around in de room, and if de come in dere, you'll wake 'fore he done pick up every one, 'cause dey got'a pick up every one of 'em an' 'fore he done pick 'em up you kin ketch him.
Entry 509
They tell me that you can take a broom or flaxseed. I think flaxseed is more better than a broom. You get about a half a pound of flaxseed or else mustard seed, they are small. If this hag comes in and you can manage to wake up before she goes out, you take these seeds, all loose, and you sprinkle them between her and the door, and she will have to pick up all these seeds before she can get away. While she is picking up these seeds you will be successful in capturing her.
Entry 1062
Well, this happened about five years ago [1931]. I had a boy friend and he met another lady down at his, Someone's house, here in Fredricksburg. Somebody told me he was down there so I went down there. I rang the doorbell and the old lady's daughter came to the door. She says, "Mama, here's Mrs. Smith." So the old lady came to the door with a broom and commenced sweeping all around. I knowed my mother done that same thing too. So I went on in and I say, "Where's So-and-So?" She said, "I haven't seen him." By that time he came walking down the stairs. I haven't been to that house since. Whether that broom kept me out of there I don't know. My mind just don't lead; me there.
Entry 1138
I have heard that sometimes, if they die dissatisfied about something and they will keep coming back until they tell somebody, if the ghost comes in the door annoying you about midnight, that is the time they usually come, put nine broomstraws across the door so they join together, and they can't cross it. A broom sweeps out. That will sweep the spirit out.
Entry 1140
Heard of 'em usin' a broom string - dey use dat fo' cramps. If someone have tricked yo', yo' take a broom string. First yo' take it from de opposite end an' den dip it in some vinegar, an' den take it an' bring it roun' yore waist an' tie it in nine knots all de way. An' dat drives de cramps away. (You said, when you have cramps you tie this string, from the broom, round your waist, and tie nine knots in it and let the knots stay over your navel.) Let it hang ovah de navel. [You unwind the string backwards from the broom, beginning at de opposite end, the last part of the string sewed to the broom. This is a backwards rite, one of many reversing actions in magicl]
Entry 1141
Ah heard dat yo' kin take a broom an' put it 'cross de do' an' if it's a person dat has bad wishes against yo' or any evil against yo', dey wouldn't walk ovah it.
Entry 1142
You can take a broom and take two straws out of that broom - of course, jis' like I'm sitting here - when I git ready to go out I wouldn't pay attention what's on this floor. You take those two straws and you cross them, just like I would put one here and one there and put 'em any place she have to go and sit down." Just put them where she gotta walk over to go and sit down. But you gotta cross 'em - well, I say just like that [she shows how]. Now, if she walk over them straws - or either you can put a broom down somewhere and if she make a mistake and walks over that broom - or if she makes a mistake where you put a, tie a horse or anything and she walk over that rope - well, she'll never be delivered of it.
(She'll never deliver that child.)
No000. Just an ordinary broom, and either walk over a rope tied to a horse.
Entry 1199
If a person comes back, they get some new lumber, put an addition to the house with the new lumber. And if that don't stop them [ghost], you get sweet milk and dress all the rooms with the sweet milk. You take the sweet milk and put it on and boil. Then you take something like a little broom, something that will sprinkle, and sprinkle all the rooms good with milk. That's supposed to stop 'em.
Entry 2271
[The following rite is taken from my original pencil transcription (fair copy) made a few days after the recording. One change only have I made - my original parentheses had to be turned into brackets, because my comments or explanations were not spoken to the Telediphone at the time of recording.] You kin get a whole bran'-new box of salt, and don't even cook out of it, and take a handful in your right hand and trow it aroun' like dat. [Here informant demonstrated at the fireplace. She extended imaginary salt towards the flames, brought it back to her body by circling from right to left, completed the circle so that her hand was again over the fire, and dropped the salt] and say, Forsake eberbody else in de worl' for me. In de Name of de Father and de Son, Who made us all." And eber time you say dat, drop some in de fire. [The number of times Was indefinite.] You kin say dat for love and draw some man to yah.
[One cylinder later informant demonstrated another rite.]
Like I was in jail and I had somebody out dat I really didn't want some other girl to be aroun' or somepin, I'd take de broom, de broom dat I sweep de ward wid if I'm in jail; take dat broom, turn it down and call dat girl's name or dat boy's name or whoever it was. I take dis broom and do jis' like dis here... [At this point the informant, a girl about twenty, straddled an imaginary broom and went sweeping around the room. The broom strokes, rapidly made, were from be- tween her feet outward] and call their name [while sweeping] every morning for nine mornings. Then whenever I git through wid it I turn de handle part down and de head part up. De ninth morning dey'll come to jail. Dey'll commit a crime and de man'll ketch ''em and bring 'em to jail.
Entry 2428
In case if you gotta persons coming tuh yore house and you want 'em there who've lotsa money, friends who have lotsa money, when dey walk out yo' take a brand new broom and sweep de dust back up under de house, and they will always come back and bring money to yore house.
Entry 2431
Walk backwards ovah yore broom evah Monday mawnin' fo' times an' dat'll keep all de law from yore house. Ah nevah be bothered wit de law. Lay it, yo know, right in yore do'.
(The front door or the back?)
Eithah one yore do's. Step backwards ovah it fo' times evah Monday mawnin' an' it keeps down all de laws.
(What time do you do that Monday morning?)
About nine a'clock jis' 'fore yo' git up - so yo' do it in de mawnin'.
Entry 2436
When he leaves, when he starts out goin' on out, yo' git a broom an' sweep his tracks jis' as fast as yo' kin right on out on de ground, an' he'll stay away.
Entry 2459
Well, you got to get you some - if you want to scrub out door, you mean? Something to put at the door? Oil of cinnamon. You get you some [some- thing - this is mentioned later], pour in a clear bucket of water. You take that bucket of water and set it up there and do like this over it and say the Lord's Prayer [demonstrates].
(You put your right hand up to your brow.)
Yeah, right over the bucket.
(And look down into the bucket.)
That's right.
(And then say the Lord's Prayer.)
Yeah. Then you say - when you finish you say, "In the Name of the Father" - look at me [this addressed to me].
(Yes.)
"Of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
(Make the sign of the cross.)
Yes. "Amen, for luck and success." (Yes. Now, wait a minute. You have water in that bucket. What else do you use in that bucket?) Nothing but the water and the oil of cinnamon.
(Oh, all right.)
Pour it in there. Then you pray over it. And you say - the last you say, "In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, for luck and success."
(While you make the sign of the cross.)
Yes. You right at your door like that, you go outside where the people coming in at and you bring it in with the broom - just have somebody washing in with the broom come in with it. Then mop all around neat with it. but alwavs bring it in the door - you bringing the luck in your door.
(I see.)
Anything you handle, whilst handling it, rub your hand in that oil of cinnamon when you go to send it off to the people. What you do for de people [customers], rub it [oil of cinnamon] on your hand, it coming back to you [in luck and money].
Entry 10420
Dey use a new broom. Dey take a new broom an' put it cross de do' an' dey ain't goin' step ovah it.
(That will keep them away.)
Entry 10805
Take fo' instance if I am sweeping de house an' yo' should happen tuh pass by an' ah tetch chew wit de broom, or hit chew wit de broom, why dat's reason dat chew'll git in jail.
Entry 10823
To bring back man, woman lays two brooms in their, his and her former bed, name one for him and one for her, then crosses the brooms. [Washington. D. C. (630a), 812:5.]
Entry 7170
[This is my resume' of rite transcriber failed to copy.] "Cross knife and fork under his pillow or under mattress. Shimmy over head. Broom stood in corner with brush part up. Keep asleep."
Entry 510
I have been told that if you want to stop a hag when she comes to your house, you will take a fork and stick it in a chair, in [under] the bottom of a chair. And if you believe this party is a hag, then you will make you a big fire and you take this chair and set it close to the fire, and then you take a broom and put it at [across] the door, and then you ask this party to sit down. She will sit in this chair the fork is sticking in. Then you make a hot fire and they can't move. She will keep twisting. And before you release them, you take the broom up across the threshold before you remove the fork, and they can't go otherwise until you move this. And after you move that broom and the fork they will certainly go.
Entry 1643
I went to a lady onest an' it was a place I couldn't stay in de house, an' she told me to get up every morning and soon an' sprinkle a box of table salt all around the house, and leave that go until it penetrated into the place, you see. An' then around twelve o'clock, get out there with a box of lye, Red Seal Lye, and broom and some chamber lye, you know, and you scrub it. And said after that then throw nine buckets of water, clean water, and that will wash it all away - that's if somebody tricked around your place.
Entry 2418
I'm tellin' you now how to bring 'em - you see, if you are bootleggin' and you want to bring a crowd to your house. You take the nine pods of red peppers, you'll take you three ounces of sugar.
(Three what?)
Three ounces.
(Three ounces of sugar.)
Of sugar and you put that in the water. And you get you some nutmeg already ground up - you put that in your water. And then you take and get ammonia - you put that in your water. And then you'll take and scrub. And you'll get you some fast luck and put it in there and you take the broom and sweep all in the corners of the house then. Never sweep it, de dirt out de front - always let everything go to the back. And when you use that essence - that water you scrub with - you always carry it all to the back. And that draws a crowd in your house. Then, as soon as you are done, you take the beer or a little wine, anything what you got, and you put some of that in the water and scrub. But let your scrubbing always go to the back.
Entry 2676
Well, you could take - you go to the grocery store. You buy you a two- pound box of sugar. You get you a five-cents can of cinnamon. Now, before you start to scrubbing in this house, you sweep this home. Don't ever sweep the dirt out; you sweep the dirt in. And after you pick up the dirt and throw it into the garbage can, then you take this cinnamon and sugar and you burn it. See, you gotta use it three ways. You must burn and you must sprinkle it on your floor [and scrub with it?], and in the next two or three days this house gotta be rented.
(You burn that sugar and the cinnamon - you burn it, don't you?)
You burn it.
(Then what do you do?)
After you burn it?
(Yes.)
Then you scrub this place. You see, you got this into a little powder or something like that, but it must be burned with white paper - not newspaper or no brown paper, or no other kind of paper.
(Well...after that's burned...what do you do with that?)
The powder, the paper that's left? You kin always throw that out, you don't have any special use [for it].
(Now, wait - just a minute.)
That cinnamon and sugar?
(Yes.)
Well, you don't have to do anything with it partic'larly - you know what I mean. You just - after you finish burning it, then you kin throw that right into the garbage can, too. And after you finish, then you turn your mop upside down right at the door, as you going out.
(Well...you haven't done any mopping yet. When you going to do the mopping?)
Well, I told you, you mop already.
(Oh, you mop first?)
Yes. You mop first. You see, you get you a - you got to mop this place - get you a bottle of ammonia, bottle of blueing, see. And then you get - you go to any drug store and you get you some Logger's Oil or Miner's Oil, or any of those oils, you understand, to scrub with. See, that's to rent the place. See, that's to rent the place.
(Well...do you scrub...before you burn the sugar or after?)
You have to scrub before you burn the sugar, you see. You see, the place is thoroughly clean. (Oh, I see. And what kind of oil? Any kind of oil. All right. Burn the sugar and cinnamon, don't you?) That's right.
(Then after you burn that, you throw it out?)
Yes, sir.
(Then you get this oil and stuff and scrub the place?)
Yes, sir.
(Then you set your mop behind the door upside down?)
That's right - mop and broom.
(And broom. And then you rent your house?)
Yes, sir.
(All right. I want to get those things in the right order.)
[I was trying to solve the problem of using sugar and cinnamon informant's three ways.] That's right.
Entry 523
Dat sulphur, yo' take dat sulphur an' sprinkle it round yore house - jes' lak yo' got a room an' somepin worryin' yo' in dere, yo' know, yo' take sulphur an' sprinkle it all round in yore room. An' it won't worry yo' any mo'.
(That was a hag?)
Supposes tuh be a hag. Some folks say it a hag an' some folks say it's yore blood, because ah've been lak dat. Dey ride me in de night.
(What do they say they do to get rid of them?)
Well, some folks say yo' kin put a broom on de bed an' some folks say yo' kin sprinkle salt ovah de bed. Some folks say yo' kin take a brand new knife an' put dat - lay dat in de bed side an' dat'll keep 'em from worryin' yo' at night. But ah re'lly didn't try none of those things.
Entry 750
(All right - what about that broom?)
Ah say ah knowed a woman that she was tricked with de broom. She was sweeping her house, grabbed that broom one morning - she left it out on the porch. You see, somebody had angry in 'em against her and come along and dressed her broom some way or 'nother. And one morning she went and grabbed that broom, and when she grabbed that broom she couldn't turn it loose - she was just taken with pains all in her hand, couldn't turn that broom loose.
(Both hands?)
Yes, sir. Well, they had sent and get the hoodoo doctor. When the hoodoo doctor come he just walked in and tole 'er to, "turn that broom loose - what's de matter wit you." And her hands flew open. It could have been the same man that did that, you see [but see No. 641, p.217]. Well, he dressed her hands an' an'int [anoint] them around here and wrapped them up and she got all right.
Entry 1137
If somebody have come to yore house an' yo' don't want them come there agin or somethin' lak that, take three straws out chure broom an' put 'em up ovah yore do' there an' name one of 'em, "Name de Father, Name of de Son an' Name of de Holy Spirit," an' den yo' put a little sulphur an' salt on it an' tell it whut chew want it tuh do. Tell it, "Name of de Father, Son an' Holy Ghost, ah don't Want 'em tuh come back heah no mo', ah don't want 'em return." Let them straws stay up there an' don't take 'em down.
Entry 1139
Jes' lak if somebody goin' come to yore house an' - yo' take the nine straws out de broom an' you set those straws - lak if yo' have a piece of cloth, yo' set those straws an' yo' take nine needles an' stick in those straws into the [cloth] piece, an' yo' put it up ovah yore do' where dose peoples comes in, an put dere name behin' de [cloth] piece lak dis, "In de Name of de Father an' de Son, ah want chew tuh stay 'way." Dey come all in at one time an' dey goin' out de back do' an' dey won't come in no mo'.
Entry 2425
If ah wus bootleggin' or runnin' a good-time place an' wanted tuh keep de law away, ah would take me some honey an' sugah an' wash mah house out wit it, an' ah would cross a broom in mah house, an' de law cain't come in.
(What do you mean by crossing the broom?)
Ah put it crossways of de bed, crossways undah de bed lak. (You mean, this is the bed like this - you don't put the broom like that, you put it like that?) Yo' put it lak that - dat's crossways of de bed.
(Sort of catercorner under the bed?)
Yes.
Entry 2426
Law bothering you, keep sugar and cinnamon around your house - just take and sprinkle it all around. Mix sugar, cinnamon and water and just get up and pour it right on out, the sugar and the cinnamon.
(What will that do?)
And pour it on out - dash it on out.
(That'll keep the law away?)
It keep them from coming to your place to bother you in any way. If they bother you too much, you get you a old broom and you take and you cut the straws all loose - them strings, you know that hold the broom together. Well, you take and you cut them loose. And get you a box of salt and sprinkle that whole box of salt down in there and wrap a white rag around it and set it behind the door. The law won't bother you at all.
(How do you set that broom down?)
Set the handle down and the straw part up.
Entry 2448
If you are bootlegging and want to keep the law away from you, they say they got some - wait, let me see the name of this stuff. If they don't want them to come around, they got some - well, you take witch hazel, red pepper and salt. When they be passing in front of your door, you know, then you throw that out behind them. And after they been visiting your house, trying to break you up from doing it, and you don't want them there, say you take a chair like this [demonstrates], and you turn the chair bottom up, you know, crossways of the door, and put a broom 'cross that chair. They'll never come to your home no more.
(Just turn the chair upside down and.)
And put a broom 'cross it.
(Just an ordinary broom across it?)
Yes sir, and throw you some red pepper and salt behind them and make a wish - just say, "I wish they keep agoing and don't never come back no more." And when you throw it you mustn't look at them an' they won't never worry you no more.
Entry 2558
[Lye, a protection against evil (p.459f.), is used by itself and in many combinations.] If yo' got a enemy anywhere roun', yo' gits a box of potash - jis' lak if ah wus fixin' it up fo' someone, ah have them tuh bring me a box of potash. If they thought they had a enemy round wus goin' do 'em any harm, anything, ah would have yo' bring me a box of potash an' ah would take this potash an' fix it up in a liquid an' den put so much of it in a bottle an' give it to yo'. Yo' would take dis home an' git up in de mawnin' befo' de sunrise an' yo' would sweep yore steps wit it - sweep yore steps an' repeat de Psalms about de Lord makin' me lie on green pastures. De mawnin' yo' git up an' sweep yore steps wit dis lye- Water, yo' put a little bit in a basin or somepin an' jes' dip yore broom in it an' sweep it an' say de Psalms. An' dat will keep anybody from doin' any harm to yo' - keep yo' havin'" good luck.
Entry 2610
Yo' have dat salt watah in heah, an' they come to their house an' they go out, well, they'll take that broom an' dip it in that salt watah an' jes' sweep it right out behin' 'em jes' lak dat.
(That keeps them away?)
Yes.
Entry 4312
[Here is a rite that may have been widespread and fairly common at one time, but I found few examples of it - the urine rite.] Take plain table salt an' each time dey go out, she kin throw it behin' dem. An' some people will jis' urinate behin' dem people. Ah've know dat tuh make em move.
(The salt itself will make them move?)
Jis' plain table salt, dat's it.
(If that person urinates behind them, that'll make them move?)
Dat'll make dem move.
(Well, how would they urinate behind them?)
Dey watch fo' dem, or some people will hold it fo' jis' dat length of time. If somebody goes out an' dat dey jis' hate 'em an' don't want 'em, yuh know, dey jis' squat behin' dem an' jis' do dat, an' den take de broom an' sweep it right straight out behin' dem.
Entry 7057
Ah heard a woman say dat 'er husban' did 'er dataway. Said he taken a broom, got de broom out de cornah an' laid it aside huh, wit de broom part whut chew sweep, up de side of 'er haid. An' say he went down tuh 'is mothah's an' stayed till neahly day, an' come back an' she didn't wake up until he moved dat broom. Ah heard about dat.
Entry 7058
Take de broom, de sweepin' broom dat she sweep de flo' wit, an' push it up undah 'is haid an' he sleep right dere. Or eithah 'er bloomahs. [Some- where in Hoodoo I have already discussed the sweep- ing broom, a few rites later on called a stick broom or straw broom. There were also varieties of the ancient besom, especially for the old-fashioned fireplace.]
(Where would she push that broom?)
Undah de baid he's layin' [on] 'neat' 'is feeth [a slip of the tongue?]. Push it up undah dere. [She lays the brush part of the broom at the foot of the bed so that the outward handle extends the length line of the bed. The bushy part she then pushes up under the bed until it lies below his head.]
Entry 7059
She'd take huh brum dat she'd sweep uh flo' wit, an' she'd take dat brum - jis' lak if yo' sleepin in dat baid, see, she take huh brum an' she'll lay dat brum cross de haida [head of] yuh baid, undah de bottom on de flo'. An' yo' cain't wake up until she come in [come back from wherever she has been].
Entry 7060
Ah tell yo' now - jes' lak a woman wanta go out, a very jealous husban' don' wan' 'er tuh go. Well, de thing she would do, go tuh bed wit 'im. Well, she know 'bout how hard he sleep. Honeys 'im up uatil he go tuh sleep. An' den ease up vury easy, an' jes' ease a stray broom cross 'is feets, an' ease on out de do'. An' he'll sleep right dere till she come back. An' not so [if not that way], she could hang 'uh bloomahs on de haid of de baid.
Entry 7565
If yuh livin' here an' ah don't want yuh here - perhaps ah wanted de house mahself, ah go dere an' git dat dirt offen an old sinnahs' grave, take dat dirt an' pass yore do', an' throw it up in dere an' say, "I hope yuh will go, " an' speak evil of yuh. De nex' day mawnin' yuh'll git up an' sweep de dirt on out. Yuh go out dere an' take yore broom an' sweep it on away. De nex' thing yuh know, yuh'll be movin'.
Entry 7909
Also, yo' kin use dis graveyard dust an' start from de stairway dere an' jes' sprinkle it roun' de house an' git chure broom an' sweep it out, out behin' dem an' on out de walk. An' yo'll nevah be bothahed wit dem no mo'.
Entry 9456
Hell, ah've saw 'em use broom or knew dey used brooms, fo' instance, lak if yo' have a party dat visits yuh house an' yo' not interested in dat party. An' when dey come tuh de house, yo' take dat broom an' put it upside down in de cornah of dat house. When dey leaving outa de house, throwin' three handfulla salt behin' dem. Dey don' come back.
(I see.)
Entry 9457
When a person come in yore house dat yo' don' wan' 'em in dere, yo' kin strew down a li'le salt, an' take dat broom an' sweep dat salt on out behin' 'em; an' when dey go, yo' kin shake de broom an' dey'll quit comin' roun' dere.
Entry 9530
All right. Git chew a box of table salt an' jes' when dey leave out, yo' jes' take dat table salt an' sprinkle it behin' dem. An' git chure broom an': sweep de broom out behin' dem. Yo' won' be bothahed wit dem no mo'.
Entry 9532
An' when ah gits tid [tired] of 'em comin' tuh see me, dey way ah do's him: When he - jis' when he gittin' up goin' out, ah'll put salt behin' him, an take a broom an' sweep him on out. An' ah won't be bothahed wit him no mo'. Ah won't have tuh hurt his feelin'.
Entry 9570
Well, dey jes' take salt an' peppah an' mix it tuhgethah - red peppah an' salt, mix it good tuhgethah an' each time yo' come, put it undah de do'step. Jes' keep it up undah de do'step, an' each time yo' come back, jes' throw it at chew an' yo' know, take de broom an' sweep it out. Purtty soon yo' will stay away.
Entry 9575
If yo' want to keep people away from your house an' afraid that they Ykrt chah, yo' must always have salt an' red cayenne pepper mixed together. Yo' take that salt an' cayenne pepper, they people go out. When they come in de house, yo' don't want 'em to come, yo'd put that salt and cayenne pepper all behin' 'em. An' then yo' take de broom an' sweep that off de way that they go out. As yo sweep it, make a wish, "Keep outa my house." See? Well, they do that three ties. An' then they won't come back to your house no more. If they mean yo' any harm, they ain't comin' back no more. [This is an unusual preparation for an emergency: You must always have salt an' red cayenne pepper mixed together. Often materials must be new and remainders discarded.] [Richmond, Va., (348), 291:1 0r 348:1.]
Entry 9621
Take cayenne peppah an' salt when yuh [visitor] go out de do', an' sulphuh, an' take yore broom an' sweep 'em out. An' let chure broom go on
[sweeping] out in de street behin' 'em an' dey won't come back soon. De way dey go, let de broom go [sweep] dat way.
Entry 9648
He comes an' [you] have a good frien'ly talk wit 'im in de porch or at de gate wherevah he stops at. An' den watch 'im, an' soon as he leaves, go right in de house an' git chew broom. An' sprinkle roun' dere, where he was, oit salt an' black peppah, an' sweep it de way he went. He won't come back.
Entry 9662
Ah tole yo', when yo' want 'em tuh go [pauses].
(Yes.)
When dey makes de track, why yo' take a new broom an' sprinkle salt. Salt an' saltpetah, mix dat togethah an' sprinkle dat an' devil's snuff.
(Devil's snuff?)
Devil's snuff, yes sir.
(Where do you sprinkle that?)
Yo' sprinkle it right on behind. Jes' lak dey goin' out de do', yo' sprinkle it right on behin' dem. An' den yo' takes dis broom an' sweep it an' tell 'em - yo' make, make de wishes dat yo' want 'em tuh go an' stay [away]. Jes sweep 'im, jes' sweep 'im away. [The salt] outa box of salt dat's nevah been used out of.
(I see. Do you use salt? And what else did you say you used?)
Salt an' saltpetah an' devil's snuff.
(Devil's snuff. I see.)
Entry 10779
Take a broom an' turn dat broom bottom upward - de part dat chew sweep wit, turn it upwards, an' git chew a clean towel an' put ovah dat broom an' call dere name. Call de person name an' dey cain't cross de sill of yo' door. Dey kin stay outside an' wanta come in, but dey cain't come in. (You leave this towel right over the broom?) Right ovah de broom. An' yo' call de name just once. Call it mine times. Anything yo' do in dat line yo' supposed to use nine or seven.
Entry 10820
Say he come in - dis yore house heah - he come in heah. When he leave out, yo' sprinkle some salt right out behin' him an' take yore broom an' sweep it out. Dey tell me dat's mighty good tuh keep him away.
Entry 10821
Yo' kin take a broom, dey says it's bad luck tuh sweep trash out de house aftah de sun goes down.
Entry 12394
Well, now, if yo' sellin' whiskey. To bring new customers, every mawnin' yo' have yo' a box of potash [usually Red Devil Lye] an' every mawnin as long as [you need it]. Yo' take dat potash an' put it on yo' stove, take yo' a broom - don't git down on yore knees an' scrub it. Yo' take yo' a broom an' scrub yore po'ch a lil' every mawnin' wit dat potash wit yore broom. Jes' sweep it right out in de street lak dat, an' ah'll okay [0. K.] yo'll be successful. Yo'll have mo customers den yo' kin be able tuh 'tend to.
[Turned off recording machine too soon.]
(You sweep it out into the street you say?)
Yes sir, out in de street.
Entry 12788
After you throw salt behind unwanted guest, sweep 9 times with new broom. [Fredericksburg, by Ediphone.
Entry 12827
Behind unwanted guest throw new salt and new cayenne pepper, and sweep with new broom. [Wilmington 79:3+85.]
Entry 2611
If yo' wanta run somebody away - well, if yo' didn't want 'em dere, yo' could take red peppah [small piece], table salt an' cayenne peppah [powdered] an' take it when dey go out de do', throw it in dere steps an' take yore broom an' sweep it from yo', lak that [demonstrates], an' make yore wish, "Ah wish yo'd nevah return back heah no mo'," an' sweep it on out.
Entry 762
Yo' take an' ole broom an' yo' kin go in front of their place an' yo' sweep a little place; yo' know, jest a little place with the broom part. An' yo' take de handle an' yo' kin draw dat same cross with that broom handle, an' everywhere they move yo' do dat, dey'll move fast as yo' do that. Ah've seen that done several times.
Entry 1063
Well, tuh prevent dis now, yo' go tuh work - when yo' git up de first thing yo' should do when yo' git up, git chew a broom an' sweep. Sweep 'fore yo' walk around any place on yore po'ch, front po'ch, an' always sweep in front of yo', see. An' aftah yo' sweep, yo' go back an' git chew some sugah an' yo' throw that in front of yo. See. An' yo' kin walk on out any place yo wanta go an nuthin will harm yo'.
Entry 1064
Jest lak if anybody hangin' round yore place an' yo' don't wanta be bothered with 'em an' yo' don't wanta tell dem 'cause yo' don't know whut dey know. Yo' jest take de broom whut chew sweep wit - take de stick broom an' jest throw three hands of table salt behin' dem an' take dat stick broom whut chew sweep wit, dat salt, goes to de do' an' jest turns de broom up, an' dey won't be botherin' round yo' no mo'.
(You mean turn the broom up? The brush part up after you finish sweeping?)
Shore, that's right.
Entry 12801
Get choo a bran'-new broom an'...salt...when dey go out yo' jes' take some in your han'...an' throw it so it will hit 'em as dey go out. An' take de broom an' sweep, dey won't come back. [Mobile 886:2.]
The printed instruction contains ellipses; omitted wording is not supplied.
Entry 10425
"Put a straw [broomstraw] or either a broom under your bed, under your head, or put it in your pillow...they [the hag] won't bother you."
The quoted instruction gives a broom as an alternative. The bracketed glosses remain editorial, and the claimed protection is not an established effect.
Entries from source headings
These entries are listed under the following headings in the source volume:
- UPSIDE DOWN TURN BROOM — Volume 4, entries 7063. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- BROOM - SWEEPING - WISHES - CALL BAD NAME — Volume 4, entries 8499. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- BROOM - SWEEP SELF DOWN - 9 MORNINGS; FREES YOU FROM JAIL — Volume 4, entries 8995. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- BROOM ACROSS FOOT OF BED — Volume 5, entries 10422. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → HAG AND WITCH RETURN.
- BROOM - SWEEP BED HEAD; TO FOOT - 9 NIGHTS — Volume 5, entries 10423. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → HAG AND WITCH RETURN.
- BACKWARDS - STEP OVER BROOM; IF YOU STEPPED OVER FORWARDS; CANCELS BAD LUCK - BRING GOOD — Volume 5, entries 10773. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 3 TIMES SWEPT BY BROOM SENDS YOU TO JAIL — Volume 5, entries 10808. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 9 TIMES - STRIKE PERSON WITH BROOM - TO PUT IN JAIL — Volume 5, entries 10809. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- JAIL - BROOM TAKEN INTO - BRINGS MORE PRISONERS; JAILER BUYS BROOM - SENDS TO PERSON WANTED IN JAIL — Volume 5, entries 10810. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- JUMP THE BROOM IN JAIL - CALL PERSON'S NAME; WITHIN 48 HOURS PERSON NAMED WILL BE JAILED — Volume 5, entries 10811. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- NEW BROOM - WRITE ON HANDLE NAME OF MAN SHE WANTS; SET BROOM - BRUSH PART UP - BEHIND BED — Volume 5, entries 10815. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- STAND BROOM ON NORTH SIDE OF ROOM OR HOUSE; IF HE IS NEVER TO RETURN - STAND BRUSH PART DOWN; IF TO RETURN OCCASIONALLY - STAND BRUSH PART UP — Volume 5, entries 10824. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- TABLE - SWEEP OFF WITH BROOM - CONFUSION IN HOUSE — Volume 5, entries 10822. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".