Subject:Coffee
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Entry 554
Yo' take a person - de family of a person dat got killed yeahs ago, say, "Well, ah wonder who killed him, ah don't know." Well now, say, "Well, we'll go to a fortune-teller." Well, go to de fortune-teller an' he'll take some coffee, po' it in a cup an' he'll let chew drink three little sips of it an' he turn de cup down. When dey turn de cup down, let it set dere about five minutes. After den he'll take it up an' he'll look in it. Yo'll see de grains of coffee an' de very picture of de person dat killed him, an' it tell yo' directly, jest lak if it's two miles or three miles - well, yo' see dem grains of coffee will be jest dat fur apart an' jest de very shape of it [miles] an' tell 'zactly. Dere'll be letters cut - de 'nitial of his name in de cup.
Entry 556
I'll tell you what my father saw in a white girl's coffee cup. She brought her cup to my father, asked him to read it. He looked in it and said he did not want to tell her what was in it, but she begged him to tell her. He saw a casket [coffin] wit lots of flowers on it. That was Saturday morning. Tuesday afternoon she was dead. [New York City, (1), Ed.; Wilmington, N. Car.,1915.]
Entry 557
If yo' wanta know whether yo' goin' git married or not, yo' kin take a spoon an' put it in a cup an' po' coffee grounds in it an' if dose coffee grounds circle roun' an' makes a circle right roun' de top part of dat spoon, then yo'll git married; but if it doesn't, yo' not goin' tuh git married.
Entry 622
Jes' lak if a person steal somepin from yo' an' yo' wanta find out who did it, yo' jes' take a cup an' po' some coffee in it an' yo' blows yore breath in it three times, and put some snuff in it an' po' de coffee out. Den turns de cup down till it gits dry an' whensomevah hit git dry, de picture of who stole it will be in de cup - regardless tuh who it 'tis, it be in de cup. An' de place dat dey at - if dey standin' by a tree or by a stump or a ditch or offa de road [you will see the person there]; or again, if dey daid yo' kin see dey coffin.
Entry 623
Had a old lady here - she's dead now - named of - used to live out chere in Moccasin Bottom, named Caroline Young, and ah never knowed how she did it.
(Explain that to me again, now.)
She would take the grounds and put in the cup - coffee grounds I guess it was, they look like coffee grounds, and then put it into the grounds out of the cup in the saucer. Then she would pour coffee in the cup, and pour that coffee out of the cup into the saucer. [I believe Caroline used not coffee grounds but snuff, as in the preceding rite.] Well, when she would do that then, you would see pitchures in the saucer, see. And then natch'ly if you would see a person's picture in that saucer that you knows - but you know, you wouldn't know it [was] him. But she would tell you, say, "Well, do you know this picture." And you say, "Well, sure I know that picture." 'Well, this is the one have your stuff."
[The seeker traps himself!]
(That stolen stuff.) [Vicksburg, Miss., (714), 983:6.] [See my interview with Madam Griffin (Griffith) for a reader of snuff.]
Entry 699
This wus uncle's wife. She started one day to limpin' in her right leg. She said her leg wus hurtin' her so bad she couldn't do this an' she couldn't do that. She couldn't hardly walk on it and she couldn't cure it wit that medicine. She'll feel somepin jumpin' an' runnin' - claimed that's a jumpin' an' runnin' in her laig, an' she couldn't tell whut was the matter. So a little bit after that you could see that. She held it up so ever'body could look at it. That started to run up her to her knees and run right back down to near her ankles - jis' like that, jis' as plain that you look at it. An' in that time she wus havin' fits. So ole man Henderson Bird, she sent for him. He wus a root doctor. We'd call it a witchcraft doctor. He's from Camden, South Carolina. He come there an' he give her a dose of medicine an' he anoint dat laig down with somepin - it look like mercurochrome, a red liniment. He didn't told whut it wus but he told how it could happen. He said if you ketch a scorpion or a snake, jis' like you wan'a put a snake in a person, you kin kill the snake an' cut his haid off an' hold him up an' drop that blood into some water into a bottle an' stop that bottle up; that in nine days it'll be a snake or a scorpion, jis' whutever it wus [you killed]. An' he say that's whut they dose her. They dose her in some coffee with that scorpion blood. [Wilmington, N. Car., (295), 219:1+85; near Camden, S. Car.,1900.]
Entry 2416
If yo' got some business, real important business dat yo' want tuh 'tend to an' yo' don't exactly understan' how tuh start at it, yo' git up at twelve or one a'clock at night an' wash yore face. Yo' cook an' make yo' strong coffee an' drink yo' a strong cup of coffee an' make yore wishes whut chew want tuh do de nex' mornin'.
Entry 3414
Yo' kin ketch a houn' see when she's in heat - a bitch at least, when she is in heat, an' raise up 'er right hind laig an' cut it. (Cut it?) Yeah, an' git some blood from it, see an' put it in a cup. Put it in some of 'er coffee or tea, anything she drinks. Let 'er drink it an' if a man go to her, she'll get stuck an' can't nobody get 'em loose until yo' come back an' give her anothah drink of dat stuff. [For like cures like. see p.349.1 DE DOCTOR [M.D.[ KIN GIT 'EM LOOSE BY KILLING ONE OF 'EM, BUT CHEW KIN GIT 'EM LOOSE AN' SAVE BOTH OF 'EM.
(WELL! HOW CAN YOU DO THAT?)
JES' GIVE 'EM A DRINK OF DAT - FROM DAT CUP WHAT YO' KET' DE BITCH'S BLOOD WHEN SHE'S IN HEAT. Yo' know a bitch runnin' roun', an' yo' raise her right hind laig an' slit it. Jis' cut a gash enough to git some blood an' put dat blood in dere. Put a drop of blood in 'er cup of coffee or tea or somepin an' she drink it see, an' if a man go to her, why he gona stick.
(He'll get stuck.)
An' den when yo' come back [from finding a bitch] - evahbody roun' dere yo' know, doin' somepin fer 'em, see - no soonah yo' come back an' yo' walk in, an' picks up a dose of somepin [coffee or tea] an' put [in it] a drop of dat blood an' give it to her, an' she'll git back all right.
Entry 3684
Well, yo' pound 'im up, poun' de snail up. Dry it an' pound it up an' git it in some likkah or coffee, jes' a leetle bit chew know, so dey can't ex- serve [observe] it, an' dat will kill yo' 'cuz yo' be [become] jes' lak dem [snails] an' yo' be's slow about evahthing. Can't have - nevah git ovah it.
(And it kills their courage?)
Kills dere courage.
Entry 3881
A woman, she take an' give yo' a drop of blood, if she's ministratin'. Dey say if she give yo' any of dat, say as long as she live dat yo's goin' be wit 'er. If she evah git dat an' give it to yo' in coffee or molasses bread, or any- thing lak dat, says yo'all will die togethah or kill one 'nothah or sompin lak dat. If she evah give yo' anything lak dat, if she wanta quit chew an' do yo' lak dat, says she kin go 'head on somewheres an' yo' gonna always be behin' 'er, be on her track, until she kill yo' or somebody else [kills you].
Entry 4088
An' jes' lak yore man will take a bath, yo' take dat watah whut he take a bath in an' take a little of yore pee, an' take it an' put it in 'is coffee; if he drinks coffee or tea, eithah one. He'll be crazy 'bout chew.
Entry 4097
Dey take chamber lye an' put it in food. Dey put chamber lye in a man's coffee. When a woman want a man tuh go crazy 'bout 'er, she kin jis' put chamber lye an' take it an' put it, yuh know, a little in 'is coffee or in 'is food or somepin an' he'll go stone crazy
[about her].
Entry 4098
Yuh kin take hit - take de chamber lye an' put it in 'is coffee or eithah sompin tuh eat, an' it will make him love yuh an' give yuh money.
Entry 4099
Whut ah heard women say - ah don' know but ah heard women say dey take dey chamber lye an' put it in dere husban' tea or coffee, an' dey say dat will make 'em love 'em an' make 'em stay at home.
Entry 4100
Ah've heard women say, if dey Want tuh git nex' tuh a man, dey put it in somepin tuh drink lak tea or coffee.
(This chamber lye?)
De chamber lye an' git de good will of dat man an' make him follah aftah dem.
Entry 4101
Lak if mah man has turn 'is back on me, ah take some of dat chamber lye an' ah put it in 'is coffee an' he drink it. Well, den he'll do anyvay ah say, an' he go wit nobody else.
Entry 4494
De nex' way, she kin take an' wash 'er feet, yuh undahstan', an' make a tea out of it. Put it in yore tea or coffee. Wash 'er feet an' put it in yore tea or coffee an' give it tuh yuh tuh drink. An' when yuh drink it, it be about nine days or so yuh'll be crazy 'bout 'er.
Entry 4495
De watah whut chew take a bath [in] - if yuh wanta make a woman love yuh, git dat watah whut chew taken a bath in an' take a teaspoonful of dat. An' put it into - if yuh cook greens or peas or anything lak dat, a spoonful of dat watah intuh anything yuh cook. It's bes' tuh put it in coffee an' let 'er drink dat. An' de third day dere ain't no way in de worl' fo' her tuh quit chew. She can't quit, see. She won't have no feelin' fo' nobody else but chew.
Entry 4843
(Anything else now?)
Oh yes, she kin take her watah, or she kin take her monthlies. Dat's de big- gest way de mos' of 'em do, an' mix wit 'is food. She stirs it wit a little chamber lye an' put in 'is coffee. She kin put milk in it an' keep 'im doped on dat. Dat's if he don' care nuthin about 'er. She want's tuh take 'im in, see, wal she jis' takes dat. An' if she don't wan'a do dat, she don' have tuh do it. [When] she washes, she takes 'is undahclothes, his drawahs, an' right in de seat she clips, yuh know. Jes' lak pants sewed up, yuh know, dere's a little seam. Well dat run right up dere. She jis' clips jis' dat much of it off [dem- onstrates]. Dat's all she got'a have, an' bind it up in a red flannel, jis' a small piece, an' place it undah 'er arm an' [or] undah 'er feet.
(Which arm does she place it under?)
Undah de lef' one. Always put it undah de lef'.
Entry 6405
Well, now, dat would make a person stay tuhgethah. Dat's whut chew mean. Well, dey trim de toenails an' de fingahnails an' yo' parch 'em. Yo' put 'em in a li'le top, yo' put 'em on de stove or anywhere an' yo' parch dem fingah- nails an' toenails. Den yo' pound 'em up an' yo' put 'em in a person coffee an' give 'em. Yo' see yo' parch 'em.
Entry 6413
Well, dey say - jis' lak yo' soak yore feet, scrape a li'le of de bot- tom of yore feet an' put dat in de coffee or tea, an' dat will make 'em stay home.
Entry 6428
Well, now, ah've seen dem use de fingahnail tuh make people love 'em an' all, yo' know, an' pull 'em dere way an' all. But dey take dere fingahnail an' dey'll git de dirt from undah dat fingahnail. An' dey'll scrape de fingah- nail an' den when dey do dat, dey'll take dat dirt an' stuff from undah dat fin- gahnail an' put it in dey coffee or dey tea.
Entry 6430
Put de dirt from undah yore fingahnails or eithah undah yore toenails intuh coffee or tea. Ah've heard of dat.
(What would that do?)
That is to make love. (Make someone love you? Just the dirt from under your fingernails and under your toenails?) Yes, dat's right.
Entry 6432
Dey say yo' kin trim yo' fingahnails, lak ah trim mah fingahnafls, an take de skin offa de bottom of mah feet. An' take an' parch dat up an' put in mah husband's coffee or sompin lak dat. See, let it draw up in dere. An' give 'im dat an' make 'im care mo' fo' me.
Entry 6474
Now ah tell you. If yo' got a friend, a girl friend, or wan'a be wit one in company an' she don' love yo' enough [you don't love her enough] an' she cut chore fingah- nails. Cut it off, an' when yo' done, she take dat fingahnail, an' if yo' drink coffee or sompin, take dat fingahnail an' throw it in dat coffee. An' den when it done drawin' in dat coffee, she kin cat 'er own an' put 'em in dere. An' yo'll drink de coffee fer suppah or break- fast. Give yo' dat about nine mawnin's or nine nights. Yo' couldn't git away from 'er to save yo' life. Yo' has tuh go through till death.
Entry 6530
Git de ants an' take an' put 'em up an' dry 'em, until dey gits good an' dry. Powdah dem. Take an' put dat in dey coffee or dere tea. Dat will do de work fo' yo' den. Dat will kill yo'.
(How Would it kill you?)
Kill yo' if yo' drink it.
(How? Will it put live things in you or what?)
[This was a leading guestion, though the answer could be inferred.]
Yeah, dere'll come live antses.
Entry 6654
Take a snake shed, see, most any kinda snake shed, an' beat dat snake- shed up real fine, an' puts it in a 'bacca [tobacco] sack an' go tuh mos' any man. Lak yo' go tuh a person an' yo' don' wanta [do nuthin] kill 'im - mean, he done hurt chew. Well, he take dat snakeshed an' go dere an' put it in 'is coffee, or any meal, or anythin' he kin git it in sompin tuh eat, an' name him, say, "Jim, John" - de one he name he wanta kill.
(Well, what will that snakeshed do to them?)
It'll swell yo' an' keep swellin' yo' till yo' start tuh - snakes start growin' in yo' till yo' die.
Entry 7052
Yo' take his right sock an' put it in coffee an' take de coffee an' give it tuh 'im, an' dat'll stop 'im from drinkin'. (Stop him from drinking liquor.) Yessuh.
Entry 7053
A woman could take her watah or chamber lye an' put it in a man's coffee or anythin' lak dat, if he's a bad likkah drinkah, an' he'll quit off right den; won't know whut's de mattah wit 'im tuh cuz 'im - he'll think he jis' quit it.
Entry 13227
Spit into cut 3 times for 9 mornings before pouring in coffee, he won't leave. [Memphis 1515:6.]
Entry 11465
"A person kin take and wash their feet, just scrape that, get it off there; I mean that dead skin off the feet. And I've heard they say they take and parch it and put it in coffee, or a man's food that a man be eating, to take advantage of a man." [Vicksburg 1001:4.]
Entry 11472
"You want somebody put under your feet." Wash feet toes to heel. Scrape dry skin. Put in whiskey or coffee. "Put 'em right under your feet and they'd do anything in world you said do." [Memphis 1568:8.]
Entry 2664
Yo' take coffee grounds, codfish an' wintergreen oil. Any kinda stuff dat's put down in front of yore do' an' aftah yo' picks it up, yo' gits a clear bucket of watah an' yo' puts dat coffee grounds in dere an' yo' puts dat codfish an' dat wintergreen oil an' yo' scrubs with it. Jes' dem three 'gredients in de watah, an' yo' scrub with it an' when yo' git ready tuh wash de sidewalk, yo' git chew nine bucket of watah an' yo' stan' from de gutter - from de street an'yo po's it back towards de steps an' leave it run down [into the gutter]. An' den have yo' some of dat codfish watah - yo' need nine bucket of watah, an' de last nine bucket [ninth bucket] of watah, use dat codfish, coffee grounds an' winter- green oil an' yo' scrub. Any kinda hoodoo or anything lak that, dat's put down fo'yo', scrub dat up wit it.
Entry 11774
If you place 9 needles, 9 pins, 9 Victrola points, graveyard dirt, coffee and sugar, black pepper and salt; if you place all these under the rug at the front and back door, it will break up that home. [Norfolk 453:4.]
Entry 2861
"The black candle, that's tuh bring back. But chew must put de party name on de candle an' turn it upside down. See [demonstrates], writin' de name on de candle dataway, an' cuttin' de end off an' settin' it upside down, an' burnin' dat candle in - if de party like coffee, yo' burn it in coffee; if dey like whiskey, burn it in whiskey; if dey like gin, burn it in gin. Yo' burn dat fo' nine days. If de party don't come back in nine days, yo' git a round candle. Light it once all day - all de time. Dey guaranteed tuh come back. Dat will bring 'em back.
(You burn this candle all the time.)
Jes' be sure dey upside down, because if yo' burn dem straight dat'll keep den on away.
Entry 3459
Yo' kill a dog an' take his tools - yo' know, dem little bags whut he got. Dey tell me yo' kin take dem an' powdah 'em up an' yo' kin give it to a man in 'is whiskey or eithah in 'is coffee, an' dey tell me dat make him tie up wit a woman jes' lak a dog tie up wit anothah dog. If yo' wanta ketch - dat's how yo do when yo' wanta ketch 'em, dey tell me.
Entry 3633
Yo' kin take a snail an' put it - yo' know, jes' lak yo' take a snail now, yo' know, yo' crack it or sompin an' yo' kin put it in dis man's coffee or tea or somepin an' he can't go out, unless yo' say so, or unless yo' 'gree wit 'im or sompin othah lak dat. Got a man ah love an' all dat, but yet dat snail, yo' see, it got it slowin' down.
Entry 3715
Beef gall is sometime that is used to bring a man's nature back when a woman done tied knots aroun' - nine knots aroun' 'er stomach. (Well, how would you handle that? How would he get his nature back?) You use - take ordinary beef gall, if a man drink coffee, or whatevah drink he drink. Take or'nary beef gall an' make coffee or whatevah it is, make it strong enough dat yo' kin put one drop into dat an' he won't taste dat gall in dere, an' let 'im drink it, yo' see. An' if a woman is got a knot aroun' 'er stomach, an' she wears dem nine knots aroun' 'er stomach to kill a man's nature, yo' give him dat beef gall. Jis' continue givin' 'im dat beef gall, an' when dat string bu'st on 'im, he'll become a normal man when dat string bu'st on 'er. Long as he take dat beef gall an' urinate through 'is penis, dat string will continue wearin' - wearin' - [away].
Entry 3910
Well, yo' kin take nine knots, yo' know. A woman kin take dat rag, yo' know, an' tie nine knots in it an' [or] she'll take a string an' tie nine knots in it, yo' know. An' when she make yo' coffee, see, she drop dat string in yo' coffee fo' about sev'ral mawnin's an' yo' become, yo' can't hardly bear 'er out of yore sight.
(What does she do with that string first?)
What she do wit de string, she take de string - yo' know whut wimmins have while dey be - an' git dat on de string yo' know, an' den put nine knots in it an' put it in de coffee. (That is from her monthly cloth. She puts nine knots in that and then puts it into your coffee.) Yo' drink of dat, see, an' yo' come to - yo' can't do wit'out 'er.
Entry 3922
Yo' kin take a chicken gizzard an' take it an' let it dry up, jis' let it dry up an' make a powdah outa it. An' jis' lak if yo' wanta make yore husban' crazy about chew, well yo' take dat chicken gizzard an' git some of yore mon'ses [= month- ses = months] an' mix it wit dat chicken giz- zard an' - see, yo' put chure monthlies on dat chicken gizzard whilst it's green an' let it dry up. An' den jis' lak yo' make a pie or sompin else, yo' pound dat up into a powdah an' sprinkle it in 'is coffee or bread or anything, an' he'll jis' be crazy about chew an' follah yo' evahwhere yo' go. AN' EVAH TIME HE SEE A MAN WIT CHEW HE JUMP ON YO' AN' BEAT CHEW.
(Whowill?)
Yore husban' or any man yo' goin' wit.
Entry 3945
An' then ah've heard if he's runnin' aroun' - see, if a man's got an- othah sweetheart, an' he's got a wife an' he doesn't provide fo' his home as he should. She kin git a beefsteak an' she PUT IT UNDAH HER ARMS, an' de sugah IF HE DRINKS COFFEE, PUT DE SUGAH UNDAH HER ARM - PUT ONE UNDAH EACH ARM. Let It stay fo' 'bout a hour. Den cook dat steak an' take dat sugah an' sweeten his coffee, an' dat'll break up dat.
(She puts the beefsteak under one arm and the sugar under the other?)
Yes.
Entry 3950
[This brief rite is merely to create a margin title for a common belief found everywhere - see preceding margin title and many places in HOODOO.] Den yo' kin take - like yo' got a man an' yo' wan' 'em love yo', wan' 'im go crazy 'bout chew. Yo' take some of yore monthly period an' put it in some of 'is tomatoes or eithah coffee or tea. Put a drop or two in dat tomatoes, yo' see, an' den when he come tuh eat 'em, he nevah know de diff'rence. He'd go crazy 'bout chew.
Entry 3986
Yo' take dat chamber lye when yo' cook, make coffee or tea. Yo' jis' take dat an' put dat in de coffee or de tea an' let 'em drink dat. An' if yo' wash yore face, dey put jis' a little in de watah, de watah where yo' won't tell [notice] it, an' let 'em wash dere face wit it.
(What will that do?) Dat will hold 'em, make 'em love yo'.
Entry 4151
Said yuh go tuh work an' wheresomevah yuh jis' go an' urinate on de groun', dey git de earth, yuh know, from a fresh place. Jis' lak ah come out chere dis mawnin', dat [man urinating on the ground] is a man dat runs about an' wouldn't stay at home. Dey'd git dat earth down dere an' dey boil it an' make a little Klnda drop [like eyedrops] outa it, chew know, an' when ah come in mah wife sould jis' take it an' drop a drop or two of dat in my tea or coffee, whatsomevah ah use at mealtime, an' dat would make me stay at home an' wouldn't wandah about.
Entry 4819
[The following shirttail-tea rites are more frequently called shimmy- tail tea (see p.647 and elsewhere).] A woman kin taken - say fo' ninstance, if yuh wuz goin', keepin' comp'ny wit a woman, or if yuh wuzn't keepin' comp'ny wit 'er. If yuh wuz aroun' some place dat she had a chance tuh serve yuh yore meals or tuh fix yore meals, den she have a chance tuh do anythin' she wan'uh duh along dat line. Ah saw here in Fairfield, Md., in suburb of Baltimore in 1914, a woman dere by de name of Belle X. She's dead now. Huh husban' used tuh work at Oyster [Austin's?] Fertilizah. An' she had anothah man. Her husban' would sleep in de middle room an' 'er an' 'er man would sleep in de front up- stairs.
(You mean they were?)
Suah. Well, dis man when she firs' met 'im didn't care anythin' fo' 'er, but still he wuz bo'din' [boarding] dere. Well, she said tuh me, she said, "Ah'll git 'im. If yuh don't b'lieve ah'll [get him], jis' come on an' watch me." So ah did watch 'er. She goes tuh work an' gits some of 'er dirty pieces an' put 'em in hot watah an' boils 'em. She had taken dat hot watah an' mixed it wit 'is coffee. An' she served it tuh 'im an' he drank it, an' he become crazy about Ter, craziah dan 'er husban' evah wuz.
(If a man is in that condition, is there anything he can do to get rid of it?)
Oh, yeah. He kin git rid of it all right. Well, in ordah tuh git rid of it, de firs' thin' he would have tuh do. He go tuh work an' have connection wit 'er. Take an' git a bottle of sweet milk [and put it in] an' give it tuh 'er, or [put it in] anythin' sweet dat she likes [and] give it tuh 'er. Even'tly [eventually] all de feelin' he had fo' her in dat way will go right back where it came from.
Entry 5886
Yo' kin take a person's hair an' yo' kin parch it on de stove. Say, fo' instance, now - dis ain't de person dat chure are tryin' tuh do sompin wit. Yo' take yore own hair an' yo' parch it on de stove, an' aftah yo' git it parched it's jis' de same as black peppah. Den yo' take dat hair an' sprinkle it in coffee or whatevah de person might drink - whiskey or anything of de sort.
(What will that do?)
Dat's supposed to draw de person's attention to yo'.
Entry 6378
Yo' soak yore feet an' den yo' git a knife an' scrape dat skin off - some of dat dead skin. Make it up an' put it in sompin tuh drink. Nachurally ef yo' drink tea, put it in yore tea or in coffee. An' take yore fingahnails an' toenails an' parch dem an' beat dem up an' put it in coffee or tea. An' wash undah yuh arm an' put dat in de tea. Dat vill make 'em love yuh, make dem real jealous of yo', too. An' ef yo' don't min' 'en, make 'em kill yo'.
Entry 6398
Well, ah know a man de way he do. He take his toenails an' trim 'em. Where he have a knack of makin' coffee fo' his wife, yo' know, evah mawnin'. Well, he'll let dem toenails contin'sly be in de cof- feepot, an' boil coffee off dere fo' 'er an' let 'er drink it. An' so dat kinda ties her tuh 'im - keep 'er from men or anythin' lak dat. Well, a man or woman, eithah one could tie one anothah tuh 'em wit dat, by givin' it tuh 'er in whiskey tuh drink. Sev'ral diff'ren' thin's lak dat.
Entry 6431
Scrape off de bottom of yore feet an' scrape yore fingahnails. Jis' all yore fingahnails dis way an' scrape 'em off. Yo' take dat an' make it in coffee. Some people jis' scrape de fingahnails an' de toenails. Dey take dat an' make coffee. Dey'll hold dat intuh de han's an' den dey make de coffee. An' when dey fix 'is cup, dey'll drop dis stuff in dere, an' dey'll give hin dat cup of coffee tuh drink. An' it will bring 'im down tuh where yo' won't lmoc 'im.
Entry 6433
How tuh make a woman love yo' or a man love yo'. Trim yore toenails an' fingahnails or clean out from undah yore fingahs. An' put it in yore coffee or put it in sompin tuh eat, or sompin othah lak dat an' let chew eat it. An' yo' go crazy about 'em, an' make yo' love 'em an' all lak dat.
Entry 6437
[Well, ah've heard dey take de fingahnails an' toenails an' wash yore feet an' scrape undahneat' de bottom of yore feet. An' take an' parch de nails, beat it up an' put it wit dis heah stuff dat come from mdahneat yore feet, an' put it in 'is coffee. Dat's fo' someone yo' wan' tuh love yo'.
Entry 6440
Yo' kin scrape yore fingahnails an' yore toenails wit sugah an' give 'em tuh yore lovah, an' dat makes 'im stay at home.
(How would you give it to him?)
Kin mix it wit yore sugah an' serve in 'is coffee.
[While recording machine was stopped I must have asked about footskin.]
Nevah done dat but ah've heard of it bein' done. Yo' use dat too - wit yore fingahnails an' yore toenails - de dead skin [from the feet]. Uh-huh, along wit dat.
Entry 6448
Yo' cuts yore fingahnails an' yore toenails evah Monday or evah Friday, until yo' git a tablespoonful of it, an' den yo' take dat an' put it in whiskey. Dat's makin' yo' love me, see. Put dat in whiskey. An' den yo' put so much of dat - ah would - in yore coffee or yore tea an' let chew drink off it. Or yo' kin git it in dat powdah an' sprinkle on yore food, an' yo' eat it. (But you must cut these fingernails and toenails on Friday or Monday.)
Entry 6461
(No, no, go ahead.)
Well, tuh make a man stay wit chew. Yo' cut all de side of yuh fingahnails an' yuh toenails, hairs undah yuh arms, hairs from yuh head, undah dere, an' yo' parch it brown, brown, lak de dust. When, if he drinks coffee, yo' put it in de coffee. If he don't, well yo' take it an' yo'll make it brown jis' lak it wuz black peppah. An' yo'll take it an' yo'll sprinkle it all ovah 'is fish, an' yo'll give it tuh 'em. Well, he'll come tuh lak yo' an' he'll love yuh.
Entry 6490
(Now what do they do with that stuff from the bottom of your feet?) Well, yo' takes dat an' yo' dries it. Dat's if dey're washin' [the feet], yo' know. Yo' take dat. Dey soak dere feets an' dey take de scissors an' instead of scrapin' it down - an' dey scrape it up.
(They scrape it up from the heel to the toe?)
To de toe.
(Well, why do they do that?)
Well, dat's de way dey do it, from de heel tuh de toe. Dey dries dat. Let it dry an' roll it lak a powdah. Put it intuh de sugah an' let yo' sweeten it intuh yore coffee or intuh yore food. Dat's fo' makin' people lak me, yo' know. Bring on luck, brings all dat, see.
(I see.)
Entry 6503
If a woman wants a man to be what you would call under her feet, she wants to command that man to do everything she say, she lets her feet get dirty. She goes two or three days without washing her feet, then she soak 'em in water until they, you know get all that dry skin off, that dead skin. She puts that in the stove and bakes it until it's just as dark as coffee. Then she rolls it out to a powder, then she cooks it in the man's coffee. And after he eats a certain portion of that, he has no will of his own at all. His will is her will- her will is his will, rather. He's down under her feet.
Entry 6504
[Contrary to two preceding beliefs, the contrary is also believed.] You take the bottom of your feet and you wash it good and you scrape it. And you put in the water and drink coffee or tea and that will leave a man drink it. If you want him back, he will stay with you.
Entry 6505
When yo' go intuh a bath, yo' wash yore feet good an' clean, an' den yo' wash 'em ovah a'gin, an' yo' take dat watah an' yo' put dat intuh coffee or sompin lak dat fo' de person tuh drink.
(What will that do?)
Dat keeps 'em, keep 'em lak yo' want 'em tuh be, yo' know, roun' yo' or sompin lak dat.
Entry 6515
Ah heard dat chew kin take from de bottom of yore feet dat dead skin an' put it in stuff, if yo' wanta gain a man or somepin of dat lin'. Jis' put it in some whiskey or coffee or somepin dat he's gon'a drink, in 'is food or somepin lak dat. Yo' jis' keep 'em down undah yore feet all de time.
Entry 6524
If yo' scrape de bottom of yuh foot, lak yo' is in love wit a man an' someone else in love wit 'im. Well, yo' scrape de bottom of yuh feet an' put it intuh 'is coffee or in 'is food an' make three wishes. An' he will stick tuh yo' jis' as long as yo' give 'im dat.
Entry 6550
Dey use a frog. Kin take a frog an' kill 'im, an' git a drop of 'is blood an' a drop of someone's blood an' put it tuhgethah. An' put it in some coffee or whiskey or tea or sompin lak dat, an' give it tuh dem tuh drink. Well, dey'll be poisoned an' go crazy an' yo' have tuh send 'em tuh 'sylum.
Entry 6608
Well, ah heard tell of 'em usin' snakes fo' killin' peoples. Well, ah've heard tell of 'em takin' snakes - take de snake haid, cut de snake haid off whilst he's live. Make him angry an' cut 'is haid off short. Take dat snake haid - cut: 'is haid off whilst he's real short, yo' know, whilst he's live. Don't cut it off aftah 'e's daid. Cut it off whilst 'e's life [alive]. Den yo' take dat snake haid an' yo' dry it. Hang it up yore chimley dey say an' dry it fo' nine days. Den yo' kin take dat snake powdahs whut chew git from dat snake haid, an' it supposed tuh lill yo' daid. If dey kin git it intuh coffee, food, anythin' - dat snake powdah It'll be so dry till yo' kin jis' pound it up yo' know. An' den yo' take dat poudah, an' yo' kin sprinkle it in anythin' an' dat'll kill a person.
Entry 6610
(What do they do with that snake blood now?)
Dey take de snake an' kill de snake while de blood is warm, yo' know, befo' de snake git cold, yo' see. An' take de blood an' put in milk or coffee, but if dey put it in coffee it won' show up as bad, dey say. An' yo' drink it, an' dat'll have snakes in yo'. De little snakes will crawl all dhrough.
Entry 6621
Yo' kin take a snake, mos' any kinda snake - ain't got'a be no special snake, mos' any kind. An' if yo' kin gi t'is aig an' break it intuh a cup of coffee or anythin' dat chew drink, an' whosomevah drink it; well, when dey drink it it'll come tuh be snakes in dere laigs. Dat's de way dat do.
Entry 6633
Dey say yo' take a snake an' kill 'im. Ah think yo' kill 'im, but any- how yo' dry him up an' make a powder outa dis snake. Well, now, if yore fond of drinkin' whiskey or coffee or anything, dat ah could git dis in fo' yo' tuh drink, why dat will bring live things in yo'. Eithah dey will use a scorpion or eithah a snake, an' dat will make dem things come in yo' 'live.
Entry 7039
Mah husband's a heavy likkah drinkah but he don' drink now see. He don' drink now becuz ah broke him of dat. Now, yo' have tuh ordah dis. Dey call it cinnamon bark. Dat's all ah evah known, dat ah evah did [for a heavy drinker]. An' it made as a tea, but chew cain't give him de reg'lah cinnamon bark. Well, yo' go tuh de [she could not think of blacksmith, if she knew it] - yo' know where did man fix horseshoe. Well, yo' gO an' GIT CHEW A LI'LE PIECE WHERE HE TRIM OFF DE HORSE HOOFS. YO' CAIN'T GIVE 'IM MUCH 'CUZ IT'S DANGEROUS. Yo' may git chew a piece, well say 'bout large as dis pea. An' yo' boil dat cinnamon bark an' dis heah horse hoof tuh- gethah, an' yo' strain dat an' put it intuh a extra li'le bottle. An' den when dey drink dat, drink coffee or tea, well yo' have tuh take a teaspoon; yo' know, jes' lak dey measure thin's as a medicine. Yo' take a teaspoon an' take it half full an' po' it in 'is coffee, where he cain't taste it, an' let 'im drink it an' he'll finely he nevah drink no mo' whiskey. Mah man a drinkah an' ah broke 'im from it.
(Well, you must know.)
Entry 7054
De wife'll take de sage tea an' put it in a quart of watah, an' boil it down to a half a quart. An' she'll take some of 'er urinate, de amount of dat about half a teacup, an' po' dat in dere. An' sweeten it wit sugah an' syrup, jis' a li'le syrup, an' den yo' go tuh eat, dey'll po' some of dat in yer coffee. But chew don' know it. An' den dat'll turn yo' ag'inst whis- key, 'cuz evah time yo' drink it, it'll make yo' sick an' yo' can' keep it on yer stomic.
Entry 7838
Yo' kin take graveyard dirt an' run people cleah [clear] outa town wit it.
(How do they say they do that?)
Yo' go tuh de grave an' right in de middle of de grave - have tuh be a murdah dough... [though].
[I stopped machine here to make certain the meaning of murdah.]
(Must be the grave of a murderer.)
Yo' go in de chest right here an' git it an' bring it away [demonstrates].
(Get a handful.)
An' yo' carry it - an' carry it home an' yo' mix coffee grounds wit it, all up good, an' yo' name dat aftah dis person. Keep it until it forms in a cake in dat cup. Yo' take den an' go an' carry it an' throw it ag'inst dis per- son's do'. Dey will have tuh go [cleah outa town].
Entry 7839
Ah heard dey kin take graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it all roun' yore do' an' make yo' move. [I stop machine so that we can begin on something not so well known.] An' yo' kin take graveyard dirt an' yore name an' put it in a bot- tle wit some watah, an' if yo' drink coffee, put coffee in dere an' make yo' commit suicide. (How many times do I write that name, just once on that paper?) No, nine times. (How do you write it?) Write it back dis way [demonstrates] dat's if yo' wanta do harm wit it, yo' write it backwards. Lak yore name's John Henry, ah write Henry John.
(Write it nine times?)
Yeah. Den yo' write it chere [here] an' yo' write it 'cross dere [demon- strates]. (Always keep crossing it up all the time.)
Entry 9179
Ah've hear'd tell of 'em usin' eggshells, ah've hear'd tell dat chew kin take nine eggshells. An' if he drinks coffee, ah've hear'd tell of 'em takin' nine eggshells - yo' take de eggs of a black hen. An' yo' take nine eggshells an' if yo' kin beat those eggshells up, an' use dat intuh his coffee, ah've heard tell of dat stoppin' 'im from drinkin'.
Entry 9195
Ah heard dat yo' take coffee groun's an' egg shells an' yo' beat dat up wit salt, an' yo' put dat undah de step. An' as de persons who live in de house track dat, well dey'll be disagreeable an' dey wouldn't be in dat premises long. Dey'll move out in perhaps a few days.
Entry 9729
I'll tell you this much. Just like I say I have a husband and I have a sweetheart-man, and I wants my sweetheart-man and my husband to live like - you know what I mean - like friends. I'll heat some water to make coffee and I'll put three nails in that cook-kettle or pot, whatever I heat the water in. I'll make that coffee. I'll get the first cup of coffee myself out of that. I'll give my husband the next cup and my sweetheart-man the next cup. After we drink off of that coffee, now I'll take the three nails out of that cook kettle. All right, I'm first. [Demonstrates.] I'll put one nail there [for me], my husband here - here's me right there - and my sweetheart [man] laying right here.
(You put those nails in the shape of a triangle?)
Yes. Well, but I'm first [demonstrates], my husband [I interrupt before sweetheart]. (Your husband is to your right and the other man is to the left in that tri- angle.) In that way we'll never fuss. He could come and ketch me in the bed with the sweetheart-man but he won't have nothing to say. He can't even fight with me. Him and that man will never fall out. They'll always be friends together.
(Where do you put those nails?)
In the wall. But I'm here - I'm first, and my husband is next, and this man is here, see. See I'm the boss of all both of them.
Entry 10652
Dey jes' take de red ants an' make a tea, yo' see. Well, yo' don't know nuthin about it. Yo' know, dey may make some iced tea or lemon tea or somepin lak dat an' give it to yo', or coffee. Yo' don't know when yo' got it, but it will come to really kill yo' - stop yo' from makin' watah, see.
(That will stop you from making water.)
Yo' can't make no mo' watah.
Entry 10712
Ah heard dey tke, not de egg, dey take where a bird sit at in dat nest an' take some of de trash out of dat.
(The manure.)
Yes sir, an' put it in dat, an' yo' can't stay nowhere.
(Put it where?)
Put it in whiskey or tea or coffee, an' give yo' wandering mind.
(That gives you a wandering mind.)
Entry 10891
Yo' kin put cat hair in a person's whiskey or coffee or tea or somepin lak dat an' dey'll begin tuh have fits an' act lak a cat or somepin. Den too, yo' kin take dog hair an' do de same thing, an' de dog hair git in it [drink] an' it'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 11218
(What do you mean by nine times and nine days?)
That's what I say; nine days, you know.
(Well, tell me the whole story so I'll understand it.)
I say, that they says you can take a dirt dauber's nest and make you a tea, and as you give your husband his coffee, you might put a little in his coffee for nine days, and then that might would check him up from running around, you see. Running around, that's all I hears about dirt dauber's nest. (Running around with what?) Just going out aplenty. Going out so much, just don't know what he does; but however, he just be going all the time.
Entry 11300
Got de hair from a dog - git it from right off his right hip - an' yo' take dat hair an' put it in some coffee. An' if yo' got anybody dat chew, chew dislike around yore house, yo' jes' give 'em dat an' let 'em drink de coffee up, off dat dog hair. Well, yo' won't have no trouble. (The right hip you say. The front or back?) De back one [the leg a dog lifts?].
Entry 11301
Ah heard dat chew could git de blood from a dog, a black dog. Jes' git his blood from him an' put it into - jes' lak ah git de dog's blood, see, an' put it into yore coffee whut chew drink, or water, anything yo' drink. Let yo' drink it an', well, yo' have a dog in yo'. Most everything yo' eat will make yo' sick on de stomic.
Entry 11400
Scrape fingernails, put in coffee, tea, or whiskey, an' you'll go crazy. [Charleston 572:2.]
Entry 12045
As a substitute for hair, a woman may use dandruff from his head in his coffee or whiskey. He cannot leave here. [Mobile 904:4.]
Entry 12607
(If anybody is at your house, you say?) Yeah, an' yo' want 'em tuh go. Dey jis' company an' yo' don' want dere company. Yo'll mix yo' up some coffee grounds, snuff, red peppah, an' yo' be's walkin' around right where dey at, where dey gotta pass any business [and you sprinkle this] an' dey goin' go away an' dey ain't comin' back dere no mo'. Dey ain't comin' back dere to your house.
Entry 10619
Well, if yo' have a person tuh leave yo' an' yo' wanta bring dem back- yo' loves dem. Yo' loved ones gits scattahed off an' yo' wanta bring 'em back tuh yo'. Dere's two roots grows in de woods, ah'm tellin' yo' truth, dey has two leaves. We calls 'em Eve-and-Adam an' de roots of dem roots is got two little knots about little bigger den a coffee bean - two little knots. One of 'em is a woman an' one is a man. Yo' take 'em an' dry 'em on a stove. Put 'em on a stove an' dry 'em dere stiff an' spongy - spongy like a sponge. But chew cut 'em up when dey gits dry an' make a softa powdah outa dem - a soft powdah. If dat woman drinks coffee, tea, or anything dat she drinks, well yo' kin jes' sprinkle jes' a little bit in de bottom of de cup an' den pour on it. Pour a drink in an' den she drink dat she'll be crazy 'bout chew. Ah believe dat's de truth. Ah'm halfway telling yo' by experience. [St. Petersburg, Fla., (1008). 1630:3.]
Entry 10620
Yo' take de root - Eve-an'-Adam root an' yo' fix it up. Grind it up an' put it in some coffee an' give it tuh 'im tuh drink. He'll go.
(That will send him away.)
Entry 13225
Lak ah wus yore cook an' ah wanted tuh gain influence wit chew some way, ah would fix yore coffee or yore tea, or yore ice cream an' spit in it. Yo' gotta do dat nine times. Yo' go ahead, yo' done drink it. Yo' don't know whut ah'm doin' an' when yo' do, dat'll give me de influence of yo'.
Entry 13228
If yo' wanta keep yore wife wit yo' always - jes' lak if yo' got a wife yo' know an' yo' can't keep her home an' she love tuh go all de time. Jes' take a brass spoon an' dip it into yore sugah dish an' sweeten her coffee. Yo' put it in dere yo'self an' let her take it herself an' stir it. An' yo' evah will have a wife tuh stay at home. Let it stay in dere a few minutes 'fore yo' call her. Yo' understan' me, an' yo'll evah have a wife tuh stay at home - wit dat brass spoon.
Entry 13236
That is only used in a drink. Now if you know a person is an ex- cessive drunkard, you know that you can always give them in something to drink- mostly using wine, or where eggnogs or cocktails are concerned. You get a little bag, a little new bag - linen or domestic white cloth, cotton. You put three tablespoons of sugar in this little bag and sew it up. You have seen a sachet bag. You make a sachet bag out of that and wear it under the arms, where you know nearly everyone will perspire under de arms. (Which arm do you wear it under?) Under the left. You wear that for nine days and then you take this and add it to the per- son - well, even if they drink coffee, you mix that in the coffee. But be sure that chew don't drink it, you see. [In hoodoo is is always dangerous to sample any of your own work!] But you'll put that in the sugar dish after you wear it, but if not, if they drink, you put it in their drink. That is the way that is done. [Despite this reference this rite continues as follows: Mobile, Ala.,
(650), 866:3.]
[The preceding account comes from a Mrs. Brady, a woman with great experience in the world I wanted to meet, she having sold curios, given advice to women in trouble, told fortunes, made hands, etc. In fact she became one of my helpers. Unfortunately my first day recordings were so bad I had everyone back for another session. Here is what she said the secone time - substantially the same, but of greater interest.] Git chew a piece of new domestic, any kind of new white cloth, and you make these little bags [as I said, she made hands]. You've seen little sachet bags. Put about three tablespoons of sugar in each one and sew it up, and then you pin it under the pits of the arms.
(Both arms?)
Sure.
(One under each arm.)
There are other people wear 'em other places but it's not so nice. They do that. But ah tell you it really does have a strange effect on people. Ah've seen things carried out like that - it really does. And then after they have worn that nine days, then it will absolutely do the work.
(Then what do they do with that?)
You put it in the coffee or in wine, anything that you have to use anything sweet in.
(And what will that do - hold them?)
It will hold them, influence them towards you.
Entry 4107
An' den put eithah a man or a woman chamber lye in tea or coffee or whiskey or whichsomevah it is, jis' feeds it tuh 'em - a teaspoonful at de time evah mawnin'. An' take a man - an' cut chure fingahnails, an' cut chure toenails, an' soak yuh feet in warm watah. An' take a razor blade or somepin an' shave dat dead skin from undah de bottom of yuh feet, an' yuh could put it on a little pan an' parch it on de stove. Yuh kin put dat in sompin, tea or coffee, an' dat will hold 'em togethah. AH KNOWS ALL DEM THIN'S CUZ AH'VE TRIED 'EM.
Entry 4116
Jes' lak if yuh want a man tuh be wid jah an' stay wid jah. He may be pullin' off wid some othah woman. Yuh take chamber lye an' a little bit of yuh minstratin' an' put it in whiskey or coffee, eithah one of dose thin's, an' jis' give it tuh 'em. An' he drink dat an' he jis' be so fool about chew, he'll have tuh be dere.
Entry 4117
Dey takes dat an' let it set nine days, fo' nine days, an' put it in de man's coffee an' make 'im love dem an' make him come back. (That's the chamber lye.)
Entry 4126
[Preceding rite is now simplified to 3 drops:] If he's mean or she's mean, yo' kin give dem three drops of chamber lye to make dem come ca'm [calm]. Put three drops of chamber lye in dey coffee or in dey milk tuh drink, or anythin' yo' want. Any time yo' fixin' dey coffee yo' kin do dat.
Entry 4127
A woman kin take her chamber lye an' put it in coffee fo' her man or fo' her hus- ban', de regular - dey says anyhow three times a week, an' in de new moon - wit de new moon assistance. Yo' always work in de moon becuz de moon governs de seasons. It controls from heaven to New York or any othah place, becuz where de moon is got dominion, why so in dis pow- ah it kin carry. So she takes dat an' she give him it in coffee say, three times a week, an' if she continue to do lak dat, HE'LL BECOME TO BE A COMPLETE SLAVE AN' SHE KIN DO HIM AS SHE PLEASE. He'll believe evahthin' she says is true an' evahbody else may be true, but what she says goes wit him. He don't believe whut nobody else says.
Entry 4479
An' den sometimes yuh wan' chure man tuh bring 'is money home. Take a little watah an' wash up undah yore arm an' squeeze it in 'is coffee, see, an' serve it. He's comin' home. Yuh sho' kin do det.
Entry 13305
I'd go to the graveyard where a sin- nerman' buried, and get me some graveyard dust and some coffee grinds and put it in a bottle with some war water. And whilst the people be asleep, I'd take the war water and sprinkle all over the front step and they couldn't be in there 12 days.
(You put all these things in that bottle, in the same bottle?)
In the same bottle.
Entry 13374
Yo' kin use dey chamber lye an' boil it in his coffee or use it in his tea, or eithah if he bringin' his whiskey home, yo' kin [use] it, but chew gotta boil yore chamber lye an' let it set befo' yo' give it tuh him. See, let it set prob'ly a week or sompin lak dat. An' den boil it an' strain it by itself. See, aftah yo' boil yore own chamber lye, it forms a drugs [dregs] lak in it, an' yo' po' it off an' strain it an' po' it den. Use it in his coffee, eithah in his tea, anything dat he drinks or eithah po' it in his whiskey. Yo' don' have tuh po' dat much. Ah say roun' 'bout fo' or five drops jes' in dere tuh stop him from drinkin'.
Entry 13427
People generally use this stuff they call war water. They use the powder called war water. There is a liquid called war water. Now you take that and you form it into one [mix war water powder and war water liquid]. Then you take Epsom salts and table salt and coffee grounds. Now, you make one package of that, you see. Just like a fellah lives in that yard over there, you take that before day in the morning and you sprinkle it in the yard. In a couple of days they have a racket in the home, you under- stand.