Subject:Dirt
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Entry 1239
I had a mother, she wus poison. Somebody took her hair. The fellah that come to cure her said they put it in a bottle, a cologne bottle, put it in some runnin' water - that cause her min' wus goin'. He didn't zackly make her, you know, straight; but he told 'er whut wus ailin' her. He told er to git up every night jis' befo' mid- night, she wus livin' in de country, an' walk to the fork of the road. She do that fo' five or six night. I don't know zackly how many nights that he told 'er, but I know he told 'er go to de fork of a road. He told 'er take some dirt from under her front steps an' wear it aroun' her head as a poultice. He said that would help 'er. It helped a lot.
Entry 1777
Ah heard dat yo' could go undah de house an' git some sand fo' that, an' evah whut chure name is, write chure name out dere in de yard wit dat sand. Dey say de fellah wouldn't pay no attention yore name - jes' write chure name out by de do' wit dat sand. If somebody [enemy] send him [policeman] dere, say he'll come up right in front of de do' an' jes' look in an' drive on off. He won't come in de house, jes' drive right on off.
(If you are selling liquor. Where do you get this sand?)
Git de sand right down side de chimley undah de house [hearth dust] yo' dig down a spoon deep. Yo' git a spoonfulla sand each time until you git enough yo' know tuh write chure name.
Entry 1837
Dey say also that you take that dirt dauber's nest an'.yo' go to any- body's place of business an' pound it [the nest] all up an' jes' walk in there an' throw it anywhere round where they have to walk ovah it, an' dey say they wouldn't have any job - it loses it. Den de boss an' deyself will fall out. [This rite makes a person lose his job. Since dirt dauber dirt causes confusion, it is used in many confusion rites - family quarrels, moving person out of house, etc.]
Entry 1843
Dey could go tuh dat house an' git some dirt from de do'steps an' carry it an' put it in runnin' watah, an' dat will cause 'em - dey have tuh leave de house, dey couldn't stay dere. (What do you mean by the dirt from the doorstep?) Right from where yo' have tuh walk out. (You pick that dirt up and throw that in running water.) [See Doorstep Dust in subsection Business and Customers.]
Entry 2351
Dey tells me dat dey'll gen'rally gits both of them dirts - say dey don't mix 'em - at de fo'ks of a road. Say dey gets dem dirts. Well, now mah brothah, he's got each kind wearin' in his shoe right today. He walk to his bossman an' he tells him anythin'. Ev'rythin' he say goes. (What kind of dirt did you get out there?) Red dirt out de road. (You said the dirt doesn't mix. What do you mean by that?) Jes' lak two fo'ks of de road run, don't chew know, together. Now, if ah thought some way or 'nothah an' de fo'k of de road heah joins, well ah could turn dataway an' turn disaway, so yo' git one outa dis one an' one outa dis one. (You get dirt from each one of those roads, that come into the fork, and you wear that in your shoes, and you can do anything you want to do?) Dat's right. Anything yo' wanta do.
(Your brother is doing that?)
Dat's right, an' he do as he please.
Entry 2472
Yo' know a dirt dauber makes his nest up high. Well, he gits de dirt from offa de groun' dough [though], don't he? (What?) He git de dirt offa de groun' - from de earth. Well, den he builds his nest up high. Den, say yo' git dat dirt dauber nest an' git yo' some spice, grain of spice an' beat it up an' poun' it all in together, an' jes' sprinkle it all roun' in yore place of business an' also undah de do' an' yo'll gain all de customers yo' want. Yo' kin burn incense.
Entry 2483
Ah wanta tell yo' now, ah run a bo'din' house once fo' a ole lady dat stayed dere, an' she went to de fo'ks of de road an' got de dirt outa de middle of de road - don't chew understand me. Den she took some bluestone an' saltpeter an' brimstone - git it all at de drug sto' an' then she takes them an' beats it up fine an' puts it into that pot an' some splinters ovah it.
(What pot?)
To a small pot whut'll hold 'bout two or three quarts.
(Of water?)
Yes. No, no - of de sand, don't chew understand from out de middle of de road. Yeah, de sand is under de bottom of dis heah, under de bottom of dese splinters an' dis heah stuff whut she sprinkles ovah dat, an' den she po's a little kerosene ovah dat an' burns it about three a'clock in de mornin' befo' day. That is to git roomers in her house. Yeah, dat has come from de fo'ks of de road. (She would put this dirt in the pot an' then she mixes this other stuff with that dirt.) That's it - de saltpeter, bluestone an' brimstone. (So that I understand perfectly what it is about: she brings this dirt back from the forks of the road, she puts it in this little pot, then she gets these various things and puts on top of this dirt.) Beats it all up together. (And puts it on top of the dirt in the Pot; then she lights this stuff, this mixture - burns it.) Yeah - three a'clock in de morning.
Entry 2848
Well, you go out there to the crossroads, which yo' supposed to go there at midnight, and gets that dirt from right at the crossing. And yo' supposed to take dat wit a black candle and burns it - jest put it in a lid and put dat candle over it and burns it. (You take this dirt from the middle of the crossroad and you put it in a tin lid. Then what do you do with that black candle?) Sets right in the middle of it and burn it. (You put the black candle right on top of that dirt and then you burn that. Do you burn it at any special time? Or for any length of time?) Yes, you burn it a special time. Yo' supposed to burn it an hour - hap' past six in de mawnin' and hap' past six in de afternoon, or either seven at night.
(What is that supposed to do?)
Why it'll run yuh and put chew in tough - cause yo' to drift where you won't get holt of anything. (Don't you have to do anything else? Do you burn this over somebody? That the idea?) Yes, sir, you supposed to put the names on it. Cut de names on it. (Oh, you cut the names before you light the candle. You scratch the name or it.) Yes, sir.
Entry 2853
Jis' lak if yo' wanta run a person crazy, see, yo' got de sole of the shoe. Yo' go in de graveyard jis' about da'k, yo' see. Jis' to anybody's grave yo' see. An' yo mash it [shoe]. Yo' see, de leather it be's jis' flat lak this [demonstrates]. An' yo' git chew a black candle. An' yo' write de name on a piece of papah or eithah on dat candle, yo' see, but yo' see yo' can't write it mo' den nine times. An' yo' burn that fo' nine days. See, dat's de way yo always send a person tuh de graveyard. Dat mean graveyard dirt [for you]. Well, at de end of dem nine days dat person goin' die.
(Now what do you do? You get that graveyard dirt and you spread it out?)
Yo' see, sometime it be's lunpy, but yo' gotta take it somewhere where it kin be smacked - where yo' mash it fine, where yo' kin set dat candle on top of it. Jis' put dat candle. Dis be de graveyard dirt an' dis be de candle an' yo' jis' wanta set it [graveyard dirt] roun' dere [candle] an' aftah yo' write de name on dere, well dat candle goin' burn down de name 'fore de end of nine days. Yo know how long it goin' take a candle tuh burn. De candle goin' burn nights till de end of dem nine days, an' den dey goin' tuh de graveyard. (You write that name on the candle longwise, just nine tlmes? Or you can write it on a piece of paper, you say?) Yo' kin write it on de piece of papah, each [either] way yo' see. Write it on a piece of papah, well, it's good; an' if yo' write it on de candle it still bettah, yo' see, cus as dat candle be burnin', yo' see dat [name] be burnin' too.
(How do you write it on the piece of paper?)
See, lak dis de piece of papah [demonstrates]. See, yo'd write it lak this - nine times an' den yo' take an' yo' come dis way an' yo' write it nine times lak dis, nine across.
(Where do you put that paper now when you are burning that candle?)
Took de piece of papah jis' lak dis, yo' see, jis' fold it lak that, an' take de candle an' put it on de papah.
(Now where is your graveyard dirt?)
It's underneat' dat, see underneat' de papah. Or yo' kin put it in a saucer, eithah one yo' see. It be de best.
[Similarly, a foot track is burned under a black candle.]
Well, now, yo' see if a person don't lak yo' an' even so - co'se dey don't have dust lak it be's out in de country cus yo' see out in de country it's all dust roads yo' see. A person goes an' dey take yore feet yo' see or either dey kin take de shovel or anything an' pick it up, but dat track must be warm yo' see. Yo' mus' jis' be pass' dere. An' yo' take dat dirt from de bottom of yore feet an' yo' write chure name on dat an' git chew some.
(What do you write your name on?)
Yo' take dat dirt from de foot track an' yo' put it in a piece of papah, yo' see. Jis' lak ah'm goin' take yore foot track, yo' git de dirt, yo' see. But it gotta be warm. De dirt gotta be warm cus if it cold, it doesn't do any good. It gotta be warm. See, when dey gits de dirt dey gits some papah, a brown piece of papah, see, but chew gotta buy dat piece of papah - it's a brown piece of papah. An' yo' git that an' yo' write their name on that. Yo' kin write it eithah way yo' kin write it crossways or yo' kin write it de longway - eithah way yo' see. Jis' write it once. An' yo' burn dat.
(What do you burn?)
Yo' burn a candle. Dat's candles. Burn a black candle - a black candle is de best.
reported black-candle burning in two distinct variants. The first account moves from running a person crazy to predicted death. Preserve this shift as source speech, not an observed outcome or clinical finding. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Read full source (printed page 821) · Read full source (printed page 822)
Entry 2854
You use graveyard dirt to kill people. You take graveyard dirt and mix it with some salt - Epsom salts [symbolic purgation]. You pound it as fine as you can get it. All right. Then you write that name. All right. You write that name seven times [on a piece of paper], see. You put it in a can, yeast powder can. You seen them black candles. You take one of the black candles, you set it in there. Then you write that name in the candle three times, see. And after the candle is burned out, you jes' will wilt away. That is what it does. That is for the fellah who does you harn.
Entry 3492
He kin 'eep 'er from havin' any man in de world while he's gone.
(How does he do that?)
He take, go to bed wit 'er - see, intahco'se wit 'er. Jes' go an' git a bran'-new white linen han'ke'chuf an' don't let 'er use no towel lak she been or'nary [ordinary] usin'. She say, "Well, Baby," say, "I ain't got nuthin in de bed." Yo' say, "Well, here mah Pocket han'ke'chuf." Yo' take dat pocket han'kechuf, see, an' use hit. Yo' see. Don't let 'er use it on yo'. She use it on 'erself. All right. An' den yo' take dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' yo' go to de north cornah of de house, an' yo' dig a hole eight inches in de groun'. An' yo' git some of dat last dirt yo' got out dere an' tie hit up in dat pocket han'ke'chuf. An' yo' bring dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' yo' put it undah de doorstep befo' yo' leave, an' let 'er walk over it two days, two nights. An' dat last night dat yo' stay wit 'er, yo' take it an' put it undah 'er head. An' she sleep on it but she don't know it. An' den when yo' git up dat mawnin' when yo' leavin', yo' take dat pocket han'ke'- chuf - yo' take dat pocket han'ke'chuf an' carry it on wit chah. An' evah man dat she - yo' see, she might try to have some man but she can't have 'em. She'll turn wrong side out wit 'em, yo' see. She can't [take] dat man, she'll turn out. Dat ties 'er. Dat ties 'er, she can't intahco'se, yo' see.
(But what happens to her?)
Yo' see, dat makes 'er turn out - yo' see.
(Turm out?)
Turn out. Evah time a man start foolin', it hurt 'er yo' see. She'll tell 'em, say, "Gee [something]." See, ah'm got her fixed, yo' see. She can't stan fo' nobody to mess wit 'er. She can't stand it. She can't stand it to have no Dan, yo' see. Dat's got 'er fixed where she can't - she tied up. She ain't got Do int'rest fo' no man. Yo' see, won't have none. She don't want nobody but choo, yo' see.
Entry 3729
Mine wus caught. Mah watah wus caught in a bottle an' wus buried, an' dey took it up an' put graveyard dirt wit it, an' ah didn't have no nature to- wards mah life. Well, on account of dat ah wus in bad luck. Me an' mah wife couldn't git along, an' dey [a rootman] tole me dat it wus somepin wus against me. An' dis man told me dat de only thing dat ah would do, ah would have tuh go at twelve a'clock at night in de cemetery. Well, dat's somepin ah wus scared tuh do, but ah had tuh do it. An' ah went an' found - [this man] say, ah must find where a little one wus buried an' jump across de grave three times, jes' frontwards dis way an' dis way backwards, an' frontwards ag'in, an' walk away from it an' don't look back at all, jes' keep on goin' regardless to whut chew hear, don't look back, until yo' git to de public highway and dat mean [here, public] street, an' den mah [bad] luck leave me. Ah [before this] wus out of a job, couldn't git no job or nuthin. An' ah felt dat it [the spell on me and the cure] wus true, 'cuz ah got a good job an' been workin' evah since.
(What cemetery did you go to?)
Laurel Grove, colored section dere. Yes sir, dere's white an' colored yo' know dere.
Entry 3730
Well, yo' take de dishrag, if a woman has got a run-aroun' man an' she take de dishrag - aftah she take de dishrag, wipe him wit de dishrag. Wipe him wit de dishrag an' iron it with a very hot iron, an' bury it to de left side of a tree. When yo' bury it to de left side of de tree, dat will perish away all nature dey has fo' any woman. He can't run aroun' any mo', he'll have to stay at home. Well now, if he don't go to de graveyard an' den git de graveyard dirt from de head an' de foot, place a penny in de centah of de grave- pay de grave fo' whut chew git in de Name of de Lord. Take it back an' mix brimstone, sulphur an' sweet milk an' drink it. Well, if he don't do dat, he'll nevah be a man any mo'. He goes to T. B.
(But if he does that, it restores his nature.)
Entry 3731
Dirt dauber nest will cure a person if dey's hurt. Take dem waspses out dere, dem little waspses lak dat yo' know, an' if yo's want tuh be wit a woman an' she's dressed [by her husband], why yo' go an' git a dirt dauber's nest an' git some young spidah's out dere, jes' one or two of dem, an' rub yore han's lak dat, an' go an' rub 'er ovah heah. An' when yo' rub dat, take de no'th cornah of yore shirttail an' rub it off dere. Yo' put dat on dere an' yo' go right on doin' jes' whut chew came to do.
(If the woman is hurt what do you do for the woman then?)
She ain't hurt, she's jes' dressed. Yes, jis' dressed. Well, if yo' take an' put dat on a woman dressed lak dat yo' know, yo' couldn't have nuthin tuh do wit er tuh save yore life. (If I thought some other man was fooling around with my woman, I would rub it where the stuff won't hurt her.) Yeah, jes' take dat an' smear it on 'er lak dat - on her person [privates].
(But you have to rub that over your own privates first?)
Yeah, an' yo' take de no'th cornah of yore shirttail an' go dere an' - dat stuff ah tole yo' - an' rub it off lak dat. Take de shirttail, de no'th cornah of it, an' spread it out lak dat. An' yo' kin go right on to her.
Entry 3892
Yo' git dat graveyard dust an' yo' mix dat in, yo' mix dat wit de live - what de man or de woman does. Yo' goes dere an' git de graveyard dust an' git some of dat piece from jes who yo' wanta hurt. Git dat an' mix wit dat graveyard dust an' put it wit 'er toenails. Yo' see, yo' kin git dere toenails. Dey tell, "Well, ah Want cha to cut all of my toenails off." She was dat shweethearty. All right den when yo' cut all de toenails, an' some diff'ren' strands on de floor an' den cut 'er slips - stained piece of 'er slips - cut dat an' pull all dat togethah wit dat grave dust, wit a piece of hair out of de head. An' jes' take all dat an' mix all dat togethah an' yo' put dat an' yo' sew it up in a bag. Yo' see, yo' make a little bag, yo' know, an' sew it up an' throw it undah de step. Dat's to keep you down.
Entry 3894
Takes it [blood], buries it. Aftah yo' puts graveyard dirt wit it an' cayenne peppah, dey buries it; an' aftah dey buries it, why it molts away. Why yo' molts away wit it. (What sort of blood do they get?) Why dey use, yo' know, dis women's from de soiled clothes. Yo' see, when dey lay aroun' why dey get 'em.
Entry 3896
Dis is true. I've seen dis experienced. If yo' wan'a hurt some woman, when 'er sickness come on 'er, yo' git one piece of 'er sickness, dig a hole in de groun', put dis graveyard dirt on top of it an' bury de piece, dirty piece, cover it up, put zher own chamber lye on five mawnin'. She'll jis' drinel [dwin- dle] away. If you'd - when dat rotten, when dat grown [grows] rotten, she's gone - when dat cloth'll rotten in dat groun'. She may leeve [live] - it may take a year, it may take it a couple of years to rotten, but she won't be worth nuthin - but she won't be worth nuthin. Evahbody says she's gone into bad health. It's jes' dirty work dat done to her.
Entry 3914
(What do they say about that?)
Dey say dey kin take de dirt out from undah yore toenails, an' de dirt out from undah yore fingahnails, some hair outa yore haid, an' wit de lady people, yo' know, wit de changes of de moon. An' put all togethah an' put hit in a bottle an' stop it up, an' as hit grow old as dey fade away. (As it grows old they fade away. I see. Do you mean, get hold of a woman's monthly cloth?)
[I am asking for the meaning of his de changes of de moon.]
Yes, sir.
Entry 3957
I don't know whut side of de graveyard she got dat dirt off of but she want an' got de graveyard dirt.
(Why did she get that?)
She wus angry at dis woman about 'er husban'.
(Then what happened?)
Well she managed aroun' some way or nothah an' got a piece of dis woman used evah month, yo' know. Yo' undahstan' whut I'm talkin' about? (I understand.) An' she taken an' cut a piece outa dat, an' puts dat graveyard dirt in it an' wraps it up. An' went in de woods an' bored a hole in a tree on de north side, an' she put dis here piece of cloth an' dat graveyard dirt in dere an' stopped it up. Well, she did it to kill de woman, but it didn't kill 'er but she got small - well she got sickly from it.
Entry 4075
In a old-fashioned house, yo' know, dey go roun' in de cornah of de chimley. Well yo' go roun' in de cornah of de chimley an' git a pinch of dat dirt roun' in dere, scrape it up from de earth. An' den yo take some of dat dirt an' go anywhere dat a person is livin' at an' make 'em leave. [For other ex- amples of this outside chimney watercloset, see 203, p.57, lines 3-11; 3092, p.913, lines 5-9.]
Entry 4141
I heard this from an old man in Hick'ry [Hickory], N. Car., said that he could take a man's watah an' bottle it up with graveyard dirt, pins an' nee- dles, an' 'twould stop the ureene [urine]. An' that would be the cause of his death. [I had stayed the night at Hickory in 1922 (see vol.1, p. XXVIII), where I first heard the radio.]
Entry 4144
Dey say yo' [a woman] kin take a man's wee-wee, ah mean 'is wet, an yo' know, watch 'im as he wets, dey say, an' go dere an' git dat an' put it into a rag an' den yo' wear it on yo'. Put it in a rag an' wear it right dere. Sew it up an' wear it. What will dat do? Dat'll keep 'im from goin' wit any othah woman but chew. So dey say.
(YOU TAKE UP THAT DIRT WHERE HE'S WEE-WEED AND YOU WEAR IT DOWN BELOW?)
Yassuh, put it into a rag.
Entry 4145
Dey watah yo' know where dey pee on de groun'. Say yo' kin take a man's watah lak dat or a woman's - eithah side. Yo' kin take dere watah lak dat an' take up dat dirt down dere an' put it in a little ball, bag or somepin. Den yo' wear it on yo' an' evah night, well fo' 'bout nine maw- nin's dey say yo' pee on it yo' know. Take yore pee an' pee on dat sand in dat bag of de man's. Say dat will make 'em stay wit yo'. Dey jis' cain't leave yo'. Yo' wear it fo' a length of time den yo' take it off. Den yo' go back an' git it an' wear it ag'in.
Entry 4146
If yo' wan'a - got anyone yo' wan'a stay on top, meanin' yo' will rule, yo' go on where dey wet on de groun' an' git a little bit of dere sand an' put it in a cup. An' den yo' go on an' pee on de groun' [at a different place] an' git twicet as much [of yours] an' put it in on top an' pack it down an bury dat right in de road where dey [both of you] have tuh walk ovah it, an' yo'll rule dem long as dey live.
Entry 4147
Ah don't know much about dat, but ah've heard talk of dat dat way.
(What have you heard them say?)
Ah've heard dem say dat chew kin take chamber lye, where a person urinate. Yo' kin take dat urinate an' bury it wit an ole piece of cloth dat dey have used, an' thin's lak dat, an' dey could stop 'em from ministratin' if it's a woman, or if it's a man [a piece of cloth from near his pri- vates] dey could have 'im all messed up dere until he won't be no good atall.
Entry 4150
Git ashes out de fiahplace, an' watch out where she throw 'er chamber lye an' go git some of dat dirt. An' yo' kin take dat an' yo' kin mix dat jis lak yo' mix up a dough. Sprinkle some red peppah ovah it an' carry it an' spread it out up undah 'er steps. When she walk ovah it she'll move.
(That is to make her move, move out of the house.)
Entry 4231
Evah time have tuh ketch some of 'er watah, an' she be lak dat [preg- nant], dey stop it up. An' dey put diff'ren' thin's. Dey puts graveyard dirt an' diff'ren' thin's in 'er wa- tah, an' fix evahthin' bad in dat bottle an' seal it up an' put it upside down. An' den de baby git crossed in 'er an' apt tuh kill 'er an' de baby.
(That's to fix a woman who is carrying a baby.)
Entry 4489
De dirt from undah dere, an' take de watah - go right in yuh bathtub, don't use no zinc tub, skim dat grease off round dere an' mix it wit dere fingahnails an' toenail. An' den yuh kin - if yuh want a man or anything like dat, good luck, jes' use it. Wear it an' anoint wit it an' he'll do anything yuh want 'im to. Give yuh money or anythin' like dat - HURT 'IS WIFE FO' YUH. (I see. You put these things in a bag or something with your fingernails and the toenails?) Yes, sir, an' den dat grease, yuh know, when yuh bathe, dat stuff comes aroun' dere [the edge of the bathtub].
(That grease, that scum. And then you say you anoint that with something?)
Yuh anoint yuh body.
(Oh, you anoint your body, I see.)
Yes.
(Oh, I see - make sort of a salve?)
Yes, an' den put some dat heart - put dat old-time perfume.
(Heart's Cologne.)
Old-time perfume.
(Heart's Perfume, put that in with it. Make it smell nice. I see.)
Yes. [While machine is stopped I must have asked about the fingernails and toe- nails.] Claim dey get de toenails, fingahnails, something like dat. Hit jes' de same thing.
(I see, and that [the nails] will repeat the same thing.)
Yes.
Entry 4491
Dey say yuh could take de dirt an' let it get dry. (What dirt?) De dirt what's lef' aftah yuh use - when yuh drain de watah out, an' de dirt dat's lef' in de tub. An' let it get dry an' keep it fo' nine days, an' dat will make yuh husban' stay home. I don't know all dat, whut it's fo'.
Entry 4524
She kin git a chance tuh git dat [graveyard dirt] in dere [sweatband], dat'll make yuh go blin'.
“Graveyard dirt” and “sweatband” are bracketed editorial identifications within the printed speech.
Entry 4933
Now, if you leave your own home an' you got a par [pair] of dirty socks, but dey's got tuh be a par of yore dirty socks dat dey ain't been wash. Put [in these socks] red peppah, grave- yard dirt, an' six needles. An' yuh turn de needle points, when yuh bury it, to- wards de house, right towards yore do'. Bury it in yore yard or eithah in yore back yard, but let de points be [pointing towards] de do'. Aftah dose socks o' 'hisen is buried, yuh go out dere fuh five mawnin's, straight mawnin's, take yer dirt offa dis sock, turn yore back tuh de house [an' pick upl jis' [as] much as yuh kin throw, an throw it across yore right shouldah tuh de house. Wharevah he is, if he's way way from home, if he evah go on a train or anything, he'll come back - he'll come back home. An' he'll stay dere as long as yuh handle dose dirty socks.
predicted single absent man’s return and staying, with sock ownership unresolved. No husband inferred claimed continued residence conditional on handling the dirty socks. Keep the condition as long as yuh handle dose dirty socks; no permanent retention or observed success. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 4996
Dey had mah husban' [fixed] now. His sock in a bran'-new white han'- ke'ch'ef, nine needles an' nine pins - new pins [and surely also new needles] - graveyard dirt, cayenne pepper, an' dey wuz all in dat bottle what ah foun' undah mah steps. An' so [it] wuz mah husban's dirty sock. Dey had it fixed wit somepin in it an' wearin' it roun' 'er waist. Ah sees dat mah- self.
[Not round the woman's waist! She saw the sock showed to her by the doctor!]
(What did that do to him?)
Well, he recognized it [the sock produced by the doctor] - saw de whole thing. An' so ah got somebody look at 'im an' de woman dat looked at 'im tole me dat dere wuz a girl aftah 'im befo' he started courtin' me. De girl went 'erself an' she stole his dirty sock, had it fixed [by a doctor] an' wore - had it roun er wais'. (Well, did this woman [doctor] tell you how to get rid of that? What to do to get rid of it?) She give me some medicine, but what de medicine wuz ah don't know. [She give me some medicine is ambiguous. Was it for herself or husband? If for her, then we have one of those rare examples of MEDICINE BY PROXY - margin title p.365. This story came early in my hoodoo collecting days, otherwise I would have asked for further details. It is evident that the woman on finding the bottle took it to a Woman, who told her what was inside and why the ingredi- ents had been planted at the steps.]
Entry 5138
It's a - people go out tuh de fo'k [fork] of de road. Fo' instance, de fo'k of de road made in dis position [demonstrates].: See, dey'll go at de end of dat fo'k. Dey'll take an' dey'll dig down dere an' dey'll git a certain amount of dirt. Dey'll come back wit dat dirt an' dey'll git de sole of a - a individual's shoe. (The outside sole?) De inside sole, see, of de shoes wit dat dirt. Mix dat [fork-of-road dirt] up wit dat insole. Bury it undahneat' de step where de party pass goin' in an' out. Dat will git 'is mind intuh two channels.
(I see.)
He won't have a stationary mind, yuh see. Yuh'd have his mind, always keep 'im cross-minded. He'll be here, he won't be satisfied; he'll go tuh dat town, an' he'll figure he should move outa dat town. It jis' keep 'im always upstirred anyway.
(His mind will be in two channels just as that road forks into two roads?)
Absolutely - dat's de idea.
(You get that dirt right from that "Y" at the fork?)
Absolutely - dat's de place.
(I see.)
Entry 5145
Take graveyard [dirt] an' yuh kin keep someone wit chew. Yuh git twelve days, which is twelve months to de yeah. [You get 12 pinches of grave- yard dirt, enough to last 1 pinch a day for 12 days, the latter symbolizing the 12 months of the year.] Yuh kin take an' loose one sole [insole] of dey shoe, an' take yuh knife blade an' cut jis' a little bit [a hole for the dirt] in dere. An' jis' as long as she wear dat shoe, she'll always be comin' tuh love yuh, regardless tuh whut shegot. IF SHE'S GOT A MILLION DOLLAHS, SHE'LL BE COMIN' TUH LET CHEW HAVE PART OF IT.
Entry 5146
Ah burns de sole of 'is shoe an' take de ashes an' gits dragon's blood an a bottle of cologne an' wear it on me. An: ah would git some graveyard dirt.
(What would you do that for?)
Well, tuh keep 'im roun' wit me. Wear it in yore bosom.
(You put this stuff in the bottle? After burning his shoe sole?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5147
Take de graveyard dirt. An' yuh git a ole shoe an' yuh parch dat ole shoe until yuh kin jis' powdah it up. An' yuh mix dat graveyard dirt wit dat shoe dust an' yuh put sugah in dere an' cinnamon. An' yuh sprinkle dat roun' ovah yore flo's an' lak dat. Dat keeps peace in de home. Dat's fo' success.
Entry 5240
Dey kin take - if yo've wore yore shoes an' got 'em good an' sweaty, dey git chure feet dirt from it an' de scent of yore feet lak dat. An' dey kin take dat an' weah it aroun' 'neath of dere waist an' thing lak dat, an' put some of dis oil of cedah in it, an' make de person follah dem an' ca' [care] mō' [more] fō' dem den dey do any- body else. Jis' lak dey would take dere hair outa dere haid... (You mean they wear it around their waist?). Right nex' tuh dere skin lak dis. An' dey puts it in a bandage an' puts it nex' tuh dere skin, an' put dat oil of cedah tuh it, an' weah it night an' day aroun' dere waist nex' tuh yore skin.
Entry 5251
A pusson kin take yo' shoe - real spells. DERE SO MANY ANGLES WIT DE SHOE. Dey'll take yo' shOe an dey kin put chew tuh wondahin' [wanderingl. Take yo' shoe an' put a pusson tuh wondahin'. Take de shoe an' put graveyard dirt in de shoe so dey cain't tell. Go tuh anythin', a instrument dat movin', train or ship er anythin'. De individual be jes' lak dat train movin' place tuh place, dat ship go frum place to place. Dat pusson move dat same way. (You'd have to move away.)
Entry 5252
Well, now, if yo' wan'a person tuh leave, say leave town, yo' kin take 'is shoe. Take one of 'is shoes an' take it tuh de railroad an' turn de shoe de way de train's comin', de way yo' want 'em tuh go. An' when de train runs ovah dat, yo' call 'is name an' have some graveyard dirt. An' jis' drop three pinches down in 'is shoe an' slip dat shoe on de railroad an' de train will run, yo' know, hit runs ovah de shoe, an' he's wit dat [train] crew. Yes sir, dat will lose him. (You don't put that on the rail, you just put that on the track? Between the rails?) Yeah on de track - NO, PUT IT ON DE RAIL!
(Oh! the train actually runs over it.)
Yes sir, runs ovah it.
(Either shoe is all right?)
Don' make any diff'rence.
Entry 5269
If de boss fire yuh - yeah, he fired yuh. Yuh goes tuh 'im an' ast 'im fo' a job ag'in, once mo', an' he says, "No." Yuh say, "Well, ah been work- in' mighty faithful fo' yuh an' yuh's not treatin' me right.' Sompin lak dat. Git chew some spirits turpentine an' if yuh kin git tuh 'is shoe or sompin lak dat, his right shoe - if yuh kin ketch 'im wit 'is shoe off sometime, rub it on de bottom of 'is shoe, yuh know. An' take a li'le dust dere from de bottom of 'is shoe an' mix wit some turpentine an' put it in a li'le can. An' stop it up an' carry it an' bury it undah yore do'step. An' yuh got a job wit 'im right on. Yes sir, yuh git de job back.
Entry 5294
Heard tell of 'em takin' de sole, de innah sole out de shoes. Take de innah sole out chure shoes an' put it in runnin' watah, put graveyard dirt wit dat in runnin' watah an' run 'em wit it - de innah sole out chure shoe.
The informant introduces hearsay about an inner shoe sole with graveyard dirt in running water. The movement claim remains reported rather than independently observed.
Entry 5297
He uses track, same ah tell yo' tuh use tuh run a person off. Kin use de sweat out de bottom of yo' shoe, lak yo' use de innah sole out de bottom of yo' shoe, yo' know. Cain't have dat. Some people rathah have de track yo' know. (Like picking up your tracks.) (What would she do with that sweat out of the bottom of your shoe?) Scrape dat out an' put it in a li'le bottle wit some needles an' pins an' li'le graveyard dirt [3 ingredients] yo' know an' throw it in runnin' watah. Dat will send de man away.
(How many needles and pins does she put in there?)
Put three of each.
The informant discusses track and shoe-sweat alternatives, then shoe scrapings in a bottle with needles, pins and a little graveyard dirt, cast into running water to send a man away. The answer specifies three of each sharp item. Hyatt's bracketed ingredient count and the interviewer's prompts remain distinct.
Entry 5306
[HERE WE HAVE A TRIPLE WALKING-AWAY RITE: foot track itself suggest walking; graveyard dirt under the house drives person away; and ant dirt keeps a person running about like ants.] Dem ants - de dirt outa a ants bed an' a person track an' graveyard track. (Graveyard what?) Graveyard track. (Dirt, you mean?) Yes. Well ah'm talkin' about dirt. An' throw it up undah de house an' dat'll make dat person move - or will run 'em outa town.
Hyatt frames a triple walking-away rite in an editorial note. The informant distinguishes ant-bed dirt and a person's track, says 'graveyard track', and confirms dirt after the interviewer's clarification. The placement under a house and departure claim are reported, without treating every use of 'track' as dirt.
Entry 5341
Yo' put 'em tuh ramblin', see. Well, now, heah's whut ah mean by dat. Yo' takes a fresh hen aig see, an' hit will be jes' fresh laid. An' wheresom- evah yo' transfah [walk] at on de natchal [natural] groun', yo' take dat an' bury it in de hollah of dere track. See. An' yo'd be sho' [sure] not tuh bury it mo' den three inches deep, an' in place of rakin' de dirt ovah lak dat, yo' rake it ovah back tuhwards home, where yo' wan' 'em tuh come. See. See, yo' rake it back de way yo' wan' 'em tuh come. An' den yo' take dat an' yo' git chew cleah watah an' put it in nine bottles at chure home. An' yo' take dem bottles an' put 'em on a grate or heatah or whatsomevah yo' have, one at de time. An' have a co'k stoppah in dat [bottle] so it wouldn't burn out, an' dat would bust in dat fiah, see. An' dat will break dat trouble an' draw 'em back. (The woman, when he leaves home, she would get one of his foot tracks and put that egg in that foot track. Bury taht egg in that foot track. And after she does that, carries it back toward the house. Then she gets her nine bottles of clear water and puts one on the hearth...) Puts 'em dere one at de time.
(And each one must break.)
Each one must bust, explode, jes' pops.
(And after she has done nine of them, then he'll come back to her.)
Will come back. If he knew dat she wuz doin' dat an' he still wanta stay 'way an' not go, well he'd have a way tuh keep from doin' dat. Well, now, he'd do dat wit de same thing - salt. He'd burn dat salt and put it in a little bag, see, an' keep dat in his pocket. Dat would break dat.
Entry 5377
Well, [if] ah wanted tuh make yo' have bad luck. An' ah would ketch yore footprint in de sand an' ah would go tuh de risin' of de sun, an' jes' take de heel of yore feet - jes' de heel of it, an' den take de toe of it. Tie it up inside of a white cloth. An' den ah'd put red peppah an' den ah'd git dis devil's snuff, whut dey call now is devil's snuff [snuff from the devil's snuffbox]. Dat's in a ball. Yo' kin find it all roun' toadstools where dese little frogs be [see FROG DUST, TOADFROG BREAD, DEVIL'S-SNUFFBOX, Pp.562&72, No.250; and elsewhere]. An' ah take dat an' ah mix it tuhgethah an' ah'd burn it. Ah'd take de ashes out an' go tuh de fo' cornah of de earth an' put it in de palm of mah han' an' blow it, an' say, "From good tuh worse yo' go." An' dat's de way of takin' a person's footprint.
(Now do you take either footprint or both of them or what?)
No, yo' take one. Yo' take de lef' foot.
(And you say that you burn this devil's snuff?)
Yo' burn de dirt, burn evahthin', tie it up in a white cloth an' burn it all tuhgethah, see. An' den take de dust from it an' go tuh de fo' cornahs of de earth.
(What do you mean, go to the four corners?)
See [demonstrates by pointing to the corners of the room] dere's a cornah dere, dere's a cornah dere, an' dere's a cornah ovah heah, an' a cornah ovah heah, see. Well, yo' kin take dat to de fo' cornah of de earth yo' know. See, if yo're in a big house an' yo' have a fence. In any house - it don't have tuh be a big one. Jes' go tuh one cornah of de house, de nex' cornah an' den - see, lak dat [demonstrates].
(You face each corner.)
Each cornah.
(In other Words, yOu simply BLOW THIS STUFF IN FOUR DIRECTIONS.)
From de palm of yore hand. [For another blowing rite concerning foot track, See preceding margin title BLOW BREATH 3 TIMES.] [St. Petersburg. Fla., (1045) 1695:7.]
Entry 5378
If it's a man - someone yo' love, if yo' kin ketch 'is track an' jes' have a piece of newspapah wit yo', an' de minute chew pick it up, say, Come heah tuh me; yo' dirty son of a bitch. Sompin lak dat, an' put dat track in dere. An' yo' put dirt daubah wit it, an' some kinda sweet stuff lak yo' put in pies an' thin's. Yo' mix all dat tuhgethah an' put it in de mattress an' lay on it. An' ah don' care where he go, he comin back.
(You take up either track?)
Jes' take up de track an' put it in newspapah.
(Either track, it doesn't make any difference?)
Yes, it don't make no diff'rence, eithah track.
(Coming or going, it doesn't make any difference?)
Yes, it don't make no diff'rence jes' since yo' git dat track an' have dat newspapah an' put it in dere right den soon as yo' pick it up. An' yo' fix lak spice.
Entry 5400
Well, now ah've heard people say if yo' take dere right foot track, take it from de toe lak dat an' come back tuh de heel, an' take yo' a aig - take dat dirt an' put it in dat aig. (Just give me the whole thing again, I'll be sure I get it then. You get the dirt from your right foot track.) It comes from de toe back tuh de heel. See [demonstrates] lak dis is yore toe. Well, dip it from yore toe back tuh yore heel lak dat, yo' see. An' den yo' take dat aig...
(A raw egg?)
A raw egg. Yo' jis' pick a li'le hole in it. Dat's whut dey tell me yo' kin do, an' put dat dirt intuh dat. An' yo' put dis cayenne peppah intuh dat. Shake it well an' stop it up. An' carry it tuh de rivah, an' turn yore back, an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah as far ovah de runnin' watah as yo' kin.
(What will that do?)
Dey tell me dat will make yo' leave any place yo' are.
Entry 5440
Ah have heard a person kin run yo' crazy. Dey kin take some of de dirt, git a part of yore track. Go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt. (Get the dirt from both tracks or just one?) Yore right feet - from yore right feet track, an' go tuh de grave of a gamblah an' git some of de dirt from de foot of 'is grave. Take it an' carry it home an' git chew some red flannel, table salt, an' take it an' put it right undah 'is steps, an' in seven days he'll be crazy or mindless. (You Wrap all this stuff up in that red flannel and bury it under his own step.) Undah 'is step.
Entry 5441
Dey tell me yo' have tuh go tuh de cemetery roun' about fo' a'clock in de mawnin' an' take an' put yore han' intuh de middle of a dead sinnah's grave. An' den yo' put, yo' know, a dime [in this hole] an' git dis dirt. An' yo' take dis dirt, choo see, an' yo' come on away. An' yo' would take de [victim's] foot track, yo' see, wit dis graveyard dirt. An' wherevah a person is da' choo don't wan' 'em, dey tell me da' choo kin take dis dirt - aftah yo' git it from dis graveyard about fo' a'clock in de mawnin' - an' take it an' throw it all ovah dis place where dis person is. An' dey say dey'll nevah will go back no mo'. Dey say dey'll jis' certainly drive 'em away from dere, or drive 'em outa town. Yo' ain't got'a do a thing but jis' take an' throw it right on de front porch an' walk away wit chore back turned. An' don't look back.
Entry 5445
Heard of 'em jis' takin' up yore track. Dey could take up yore track an' run yo' 'way from home. Dey take dat track an' dey carry it tuh - put it undah- neat' chure step. Go tuh de graveyard an' mix some graveyard dust wit 'em, den dey bury it undahneat' chure steps.
(That is supposed to run you away?)
Dey say dat 'sposed tuh run yo' 'way.
Entry 5447
Ketch de right foot [track] disaway [demonstrates], de lef'-foot [track] disaway. (You bring the right foot back, toe back to heel; the left foot, you catch from the heel up to the toe.) Put it in a piece of new homespun w'a' [what] ain't nevah been washed. Go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt an' mix wit it. Well, yo' see, dat'll make yo leave home. Take it an' put it back undah yore steps. Well, aftah dey put it undah yore steps, yo' see, yo'll leave home; yo' can't come back dere no mo'.
Entry 5448
She will git 'is track an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dirt an' put it in a piece of cloth, an' carry it tuh a rivah an' chunk it down de stream, an' tell 'im tuh go, an' he'll go.
Entry 5449
Take de foot track an' mix it wit sulphur an' put it in runnin' watah - an' graveyard dirt, an' dat will run 'em off.
(Either foot track?)
Well, it's best tuh git de lef', nex' tuh de heart.
Entry 5450
Ah knowed a fellah once said if yo' watch a gurl [girl] - he said if she stepped in de sand, he said take three fingahs, dip down in de sand li' cat [like that], jerk it back tuh yuh an' say de words 'ah got chah, '' he said. An'yo'ta'cat [take that] sand an' take it tuh de graveyard, an' git some graveyard dirt an' put it lit it. Den yo' take it an' tie it in a bag, an' bury it in de bottom of a dirt spring - a spring wit a sof' [soft] bottom tuh it - where dis gurl drinks outa, see. An'.yo'll have de gurl so da' she [that she] couldn't leave yuh. She'd have tuh stay wit chew all de time. [Baltimore, Md., (154).61:4.]
Entry 5451
Den dey say dey could take roun' yore track an' dey kin finely [final- ly] run yuh completely away from home. Dey take out of yore lef' track, take three outa de lef' [3 left tracksl. jis' outa de palm of de track [often called the holZah = hol- lowl. Den jerk it back. Take dat an' mix it wit graveyard dirt. Put some sul- phur an' lodestone. Tie it in a li'le [cloth]. Bury any place right aroun' de house.
Entry 5452
Ah would go an' ah would fin' de foot tracks, an' ah would pick up de dust of de foot track - where de foot track made a print. Ah would go tuh de graveyard an' ah would git some graveyard dust, an' ah would mix it all tuhgethah, see. Den ah would place it in mah shoe an' walk on it. Dat would make yo' come - jis' like yo' hate me, are an enemy against me, undahstan', dat will make yo' come tuh like me.
Entry 5453
De way ah heered dat, dey take yore left-hand track. Jis' lak yo' make a track, well dey take de centah from yore track, right from de bottom of yore foot, an' take dat dirt an' carry it. Go tuh a graveyard an' take dat [track] dirt an' mix it wit graveyard dirt. An' yo' take it den an' tie it up in a han'che'ch'ef, in de left-hand side of a han'ke'ch'ef, an' tie it roun' dere body an' tote it on dere body lak dat. Well, dey says if yo' take it an' tote it roun' yore body lak dat, dat take some kinda 'fect on party [whose track is used] an' keep 'em wit cheW, an' SHE WON' HAVE NO NATURE FO' NO OTHAH MAN BUT 'IM [this could also go under CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE, p.2341f.].
(Well, who would do that?)
Well, now de boy would do dat to de girl.
(He would wear it on his body?)
Yes sir, wear it roun' 'is bodv.
(And she wouldn't have any nature for anyone but him?)
No one but him. (He would take her foot track with this graveyard dirt and put it in the left side of the handkerchief?) De left side of de han'ke'ch'ef.
(Well, what is the left side of the handkerchief?)
Well, de left cornah dere.
[The upper-left corner as you face it.]
(And he wears it around his waist?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5454
Well, dey git some dust out of a graveyard an' mix it tuhgethah wit some peppah an' stuff like dat. See. Den aftah yo' mix it tuhgethah an' like dat, den dey will git lodestone. Dis black lodestone is a powdah-like, yo' see. An' mix it tuhgethah. Den dey will take yore track like dis. Take yore track an' where dey come an' take yore track up, den dey'll put de dust down de way yo' go - see, disaway. An' when yo' go from de home an' travelin' ovah dat place, dey sprinkle dat dust dat- away all de time. But when yo' travel ovah dat, den dat'll make yo' come away from dat house, make yo' be uncontented here. See, yo' will move, see.
(I see, I see.)
Yo' cain't be contented in dat place. Dat'll make yo' have tuh move.
(They don't pick up the track, the earth - just put stuff in the track?)
Jis' put de stuff in de track jis' where yo' go, an' den dat make yo' be...
(Just in the track.)
Entry 5455
Dey'll [evil doer will] go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt an' mix it wit salt an' peppah. Git dis red pod of peppah an' grind it up, an' put it right at dere [victim's] step by de do'. Den yo' [victim] step in it. He [evil doer] takes dis up, dis footprint, an' take it back tuh de graveyard an' bury it. An' den dey claim dis person [victim].will eithah become sick or dey be driven outa town.
Entry 5456
De left foot, gits it from dere where yo' make yore track. Jis' lak yo' make yore track dere in dat sand, well ah come back down dere an' ah see yore track. Den [I] come dere an' jis' git up one teaspoonful of dat dirt out chure track. An' den yo' take dat dirt an' sulphur, graveyard dirt, salt. Mix all dat tuhgethah. An' den take dat thing an' jis' whatevah dey wanta do wit yo', dey kin do it.
(What would they do with that?)
Well, dey could take dat an' if dey want chew tuh leave from dere, don' wan' chew roun', if yo's ahindahin' 'em any, jis' send yo' on off. Dey won't nevah have no mo' tuh do wit yo'. Dey ain't goin' be any way bothahed. Dat's fo' a hinimey [an enemy] of yourn.
(What would they do with that dirt in order to send me away?)
Why dat's whut dey do wit it. Jis' take an' mix all of dat tuhgethah whut ah tole yo'.
(But what do they do with that after they mix it together?)
Well, dey will take dat den an' carry it - dey kin bury it. An' when dey bury it, why dat jis' got chew upset. Yo' jes' got'a leave dere. Yo' can't do any- thing atall.
Entry 5457
Ah heard a lady dat ah knew, she wanted tuh do a person a very bad trick. She taken a bran'-new bucket, a tin bucket dat nevah been used. Put dat bucket dere an' put some graveyard dirt in it. An' put dat lady's name in whut she jis' didn't care much fo' in dere. An' walked tuh a place an' took 'er left foot, mashed it in de ground, so she could git de print of 'er foot. An' put dat in dat new bucket, an' bought a bran'-new looking glass - bran'-new ten-cent glass an' put dat in de bucket. An' den she buried dat. Dat's tuh turn them down against de world. She buried dat glass an' de left print of foot, an' de graveyard dirt, an' put it in dis new bucket an' buried it. She wuz buryin' 'er down. (She put this graveyard dirt in the bucket and then she puts this woman's name in the bucket.) De name on a papah. (Then suppose I'm doing this to you. Then I make my own footprint, put my own footprint on top.) Ah'm de one supposed tuh be puttin' mah prints on top of yo'. (You are putting your prints on me to keep me down. I understand.) [An old note of mine read, "Woman talks so fast."]
Entry 5458
[Deyl git mah track early in de mawnin'. Dey'd go tuh de sunrise, take it from de west, take it from de east. Put it in graveyard dirt [and sayl, "Go an' stay. Nevah come no mo'. Nevah be worried wit yo' no mo'." Take it an' throw it across mah left shouldah. Don't look back. Nevah be worried no mo'.
(Where do you throw it?)
Throw it across mah left shouldah tuhward de east. Nevah be worried no mo'
(How do you mean you take up this foot track from the east and from the west?)
Not throw it east an' west, take it up as yo' walk tuhward de sunrise. Undah- stan'? Jis' lak yo' walk out de do', undahstan', early 'fore de sunrise. Well ah will take yore track up. Ah would put yore track in a box. Undahstan', shet it up in dere. An' when - de stuff 'fore de sunrise, ah'm goin' throw it east an' west cross mah left shouldah in graveyard dirt. Well, ah'm goin' pray, 'Go an' stay. Don't nevah come back no mo'." Well, ah'll nevah see yo' no mo'. Undahstan'? All right.
Entry 5459
Tracks of yore foot - of yore right foot.
(How do they do that?)
Yo' kin jis' take - dey tells me dat yo' kin walk out dere. Wat chew [watch you] when yo' step Out. DEN DEY USED TUH HAVE GROUN', YO' KNOW, TUH WALK ON. Well, when yo' step down on dat dirt, right where yo' step, dey go dere an' takes dat track up, picks it up. Dey tell me dey ketch it right in de middle of where yo' put yore foot [the hollah (hollow) or palm of the foot].
(What will they do with that?)
Well, dey takes dat, dey say, an' mix it tuhgethah wit de buryin' groun' dirt an' put it in a bottle an' po' watah on it, some kinda watah, an' carry it an' bury it in de north cornah of a tree root. An' let it begin tuh drip, yo' undah- stan' me, an' de las' drip out de bottle, yo'll be gone.
(Do you know what kind of water they put in it?)
Rain watah. YO' COULD KETCH RAIN WATAH DOSE DAYS. [Richmond, Va., (?). 380:4.]
Entry 5460
Ah heard dat yo' could go tuh de graveyard fo' nine mawnin's an' each mawnin' dat chew go, yo' git chew jis' as much sand an' graveyard dirt as yo' kin hold in yore han', yo' see. An' yo' take dat on back home, an' yo' place dat nine points aroun' yore house, see. Den if it's somebody which yo' want tuh harm or sompin, if yo' git 'em tuh come dere, undahstan'. Well, aftah dey come dere, yo' pick up dey tracks yo' see, an' yo go tuh a tree an' pick yo' a hole in dere, an' take an' place dis graveyard dirt each mawnin'. Jis' lak yo' took it from de cemetery. Take it back an' stick it in dat hole, an' de last mawnin' yo' take an' close it up. Dey tell me dat run 'em crazy.
(Would you do anything with their tracks?)
Take dem tracks up, yo' see, an' put dat fo' nine mawnin's - see, yo' jis' put dat in dat hole whut yo picked in de tree. See. Den aftah yo' do dat, put dat graveyard dirt in dere an' stop it up. Say dat will run 'em crazy. (You put these tracks in the hole, then you pick up this graveyard dirt and you put that on top of the tracks?) On top of de tracks.
Entry 5461
[This statement contains 3 separate rites, the last one the burning rite.] Well, now yo' kin use a track fo' love tuh hold a person, or yo' kin use it tuh run a person. Now, tuh hold a person yo' kin take a person's lef' track when dey are leavin' yore house. Yo' kin take it an' pull it backward, jis' a li'le of it back tuh- wards yo'. See, an yo' kin take dat track yo' kin mix it wit a li'le cookin' salt, an' yo' kin bury dat undah yore do'step or right down by yore do'step. Well, dat will hold a person an' make dem love yo', see. Or, yo' kin take dat track an' not use de salt but chew kin take yo' a li'le perfume or a li'le powdah - sweet yo' know, perfume powdah, an' mix it wit dat track. An' yo' kin take dat track an' yo' kin wear dat track. Keep it on yore person an' dat will make a person stick tuh yo'. An' den if yo' take.... If yo' wanta run a person wit dere track, yo' kin git dere track goin' from yore house. Don't put it tuh yore house. Yo' see, yo' wanta git rid of dat per- son. Like ah'm leavin' de house, pull it from yo', see. An' den yo' git yore track - yore own track - an' pull dat back towards yore house. Den yo' takes dose two tracks an' put it tuhgethah, an' yo' git chew nine peppah seeds. Git chew a li'le piece of bluestone an' a li'le piece of alum. An' if yo' kin git de cemetery dirt, yo' git dat. But if yo' can't git de cemetery dirt, den yo' jis' use dose ingredients. An' yo' put dat tuhgethah, mix it up tuhgethah, an' put a li'le salt in dat. SALT IS A WONDERFUL THING IF PEOPLE BUT KNOW HOW TUH USE IT. Take a li'le salt an' mix it in dat an' mix all dat tuhgethah. Den yo' jis' take an' ball it up an' burn dat. Burn it in de fiahplace or in de stove an' dat'll separate dat person from yo'. Dat is if yo' pull it from yo'. Now, pull dere track from yo'.
Entry 5462
Use graveyard dirt an' ashes, an' de man will leave out of town. Ah don' know about movin' out de house. Take dat dirt out of dere an' take Purity Salt [trade name?] table salt, an' put it in dere. Mix it all up tuhgethah. An' when dis man, dis person be goin' out de do', take it an' go behin' 'em an' put it in evah track. Put a li'le piece lak dis in evahone his tracks an' he ain't comin' back. Yo' ain't got'a po' it - jis' nine of 'is tracks. He can't stay in town. Ah seen dat mahself. Mah girl frien' did dat.
Entry 5463
Dey says if yo' take yore fingah, reach from hollah of de foot tuh de heel, dey take dat dirt up [demon- strates]. (YOu PUT THE INDEX FIN- GER AT THE HOLLOW AND the thumb at the heel and bring it together. Take up a pinch of that dirt. Out of either foot?) De right foot. An' yo' kin take dat den an' put 'em tuh wandahin' - trailin' [a rare word].
(What would you do with that dirt after you got it?)
Well, dey say dat yo' mix a li'le graveyard dirt wit it. Dey kin kill yo' wit it or else dey kin put yo' tuh travelin'. Take dat dirt an' sprinkle it wit nine new needles right in de direction yo' wan' 'em to go. If de house heah, dat yo' wanta run 'em from, yo' go right dere in front dat house an' put dat dirt. Say dat will run 'em. (Now I am not quite certain about those nails. You take this dirt from the foot and some of this graveyard dirt. And then you take nails or needles?) Kin take needles an' nails.
(How do you drive them - into the ground or what?)
Yeah into de ground. An' den nine new pins, an' needles wit it, but chew put dem needles between dem nine nails.
(That will make them go away.)
Entry 5464
Lak yo' wan'a make yo' git yo' a job, yo'll go an' git 'is [the boss's] track. Pull up 'is track ag'in [as in a preceding rite]. Go an' git it, but yo' shove his toe back tuh 'is heel. Go an' git chew nine pinches of salt, an' nine pinches of peppah an' nine pinches of sulphuh. Now, undahstan' whut ah'm sayin'. An' nine pinches of dat - dis heah dirt, dat graveyard dirt, an' yores too, tuhgethah, yo' know.
(Your what?)
Yore track, too. Fix his track an' yore track tuhgethah, an' shuffle itaroun' yo' know. An' den take it an' make a li'le ball. Stick it up de chimley an' let de smoke git in it, an' yo'll git work. (You fix some of his track and your track all together with nine pinches of that other stuff. That is to get a job?) Dat's right.
Entry 5465
Well, DIS GRAVEYARD DIRT IS ALWAYS A DIRT TUH CARRY YO' AWAY OR SEND YO' OFF.
(How do you use it?)
Well, yo' takes it - yo' takes de graveyard dirt an' put a li'le sulphur wit it, yo' undahstan'. An' table salt. If a person roun' yo' dat chew wan'a move 'im, pick 'is track up an' put it wit dat. Jis' take 'is track if he's goin'. If yo' wan' 'im tuh go, jes' take an' walk in 'is room, jis' lak ah walked in heah; an' ah start out, yo' take mah track an' git it goin' out. An' put it wit dat sulphur an' dat graveyard dirt, an' wrop it up an' carry it tuh runnin' watah an' drop it [in] dere. (That will send him away from around here. You take up one foot track or both of them or what?) No sir, jis' one.
Entry 5466
Now, if a person is a enemy tuh yo' an' yo' wanta git shet of 'em, yo' take dat footprint an' go tuh de graveyard an' git chew some graveyard dirt. Yo' sews dat up in a bag an' yo' goes tuh a runnin' stream of wa- tah an' yo' takes dat dere bag an' throws it in dat runnin' stream of watah an' keep yore face farwards, an' yo' nevah be bothahed wit 'em any mo'. [The admonition to Keep face farwards is rare. Usually it is don't look back.]
Entry 5467
An' den ag'in if dey ketch yore track yo' know in de street, well dey meet chew tuh git de track. Well den dey would take dat out de hollah of yore feet, an' den dey would git some dirt from de graveyard an' put dat tuhgethah, an' den dey put it on a shingle, an' dey put a piece ovah it an' tie it real good.
(What sort of piece do they put over it, another shingle or what?)
No, jis' any kinda cloth but let it be kinda thick an' wrap it tight so it won't come off. Well dey kin carry dat an' throw it in de rivah.
(What will that do?)
Dat will make yo' move an' keep yo' agoin'. Yo' can't rest or be contented nowhere yo' go.
Entry 5468
[Yo'] takes de right foot track but yo' got'a be meetin' dose people. Yo' got'a be meetin', not git behin' an' pick up de track - not behin' dem lak dat. Dey goes dis way an' yo' be comin' dis way [to- wards them]. Den yo' meet dat person an' git de dirt out de hollah of de right track. Well, den dey put dat dirt in a place an' den dey go tuh de cemetery an' dey git some of de graveyard dirt. An' dey puts dat tuhgethah. An' dey puts dat tuhgethah an' a piece of lodestone an' takes it - let it stay nine days in dey house. Takes it den aftah nine days an' put it on a shingle, an' takes it tuh de rivah or de runnin' watah, an' put it in dere an' let it go on down jis' lak dat. An' den yo' jis' turn right roun' an' put it in dere an' walk on off away from it an' not nevah look back. Well, dey tell me dat's a good way tuh git evahthing goin' jis' lak dey wan' it tuh go, if dey Wan' chew tuh go out de country or leave out. Or whutevah dey wan' chew tuh do, why dat's whut dey do tuh do dat.
Entry 5469
An' den ag'in, dey say yo' kin take dis track up an' pull it goin'. Pull dat track goin' an' take dat track an' go tuh de cemetery. An' run yore han' down in a grave, a wicked man's grave, an' git some dat clay out dere an' mix it wit dis track. An' care [carry] it tuh de great watah an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' say, "Go, devil, don't look back dis way no mo'." An' dey say dey shore will go. Yes sir, mah sistah-in-law tole me she done a woman dataway 'bout 'er husban', an' say, she jis' went adriftin' jis' lak dat track.
Entry 5470
Yo' kin go right out in de cemetery right now - have done dat tuh me - an' git some [dirt], jis' from de head of de grave, an' go tuh de feet an' git some. An' when dey git it, jis' say, "Ah wan's tuh keep Carrie down, ah don' wan' 'er tuh strive [thrive], wan' tuh keep 'er down." If she wanted tuh drove me off from dere, or run me off from dere, she would fix itdis- away. Yo' take de graveyard dirt an' yo' goes tuh work an' take red peppah, beat 'em up an' fling 'em in yere [place?] if dey got [a place?]. Yo' leavin' out chere. Den, if dey don' wan' chew tuh enjoy yore things or yore own stuff dat chew got - ah mean de - to break yo' up, chew know, dey take de graveyard dirt an' follah [follow] yo' behind, an' git chore tracks, both feet. Put 'em in dere, carry 'em tuh de sea or de rivah, an' jis' throw 'em in dere. An' yo' will leave dat place, can't resist it. De sea or de rivah an' yo' will leave dat place. Yo' got'a go in nine days time. Break yo' off from dere. Cuz dat have happen tuh me.
Entry 5471
Well, yo' kin ketch a person's lef' track gwine away from yo' an' draw it tuh yo'. An' den yo' kin put it in a bottle an' put graveyard dirt wit it an' cayenne peppah, an' a li'le sugah an' some table salt, an' air- tight it an' throw it in runnin' water. An' den if dat bottle drift away, why yo' drift away wit it.
Entry 5472
Jis' lak ef ah wan' chew tuh move, yo' leave heah - jis' move from de place or somepin lak dat, leave out dis town. Well, ah would go behin' joo an' git chure track offa de groun'. See, jis' lak yo' goin' dis way an' ah'm comin' behin' yo'. Well, ah grab up yore right track dat way, yo' know, de dirt, behin' yuh, yo' see [demonstrates].
(From the heel to the toe.)
Yes sir, dat's right. Well, ah puts it intuh a papah or somepin othah so ah kin keep all dat dirt, see. When ah git it ah git it goin' [track going away] jis' lak daE. So - well den, ah goes tuh de cemetery an' gits some graveyard dirt, jis' anywhere, yo' know, about de grave, an' puts it in dere wit dat dirt. Well, ah put me some black peppah intuh it an' salt, see. An' den ah takes an' carry it onto de rivah somewhere, anywhere de watah's runnin'. Well, ah throws it intuh dat stream of water an' say, "Go, yo' devil, yo'." An' so dat night, ah reckon yo'll - yo' know, git goin' some way. Hit'll run yo' off, make yo leave.
Entry 5473
If yo' want 'em tuh go, yo' kin git de track up from yo' - take it from yo'. See, if yo' want 'em tuh go [demonstrates]. (Here's the toe here and here's the heel, then I take it up right like that. Like this?) Start at de hollah of de foot an' take it from dere tuh de toe. See, dat whut ah mean. Yo' want 'em tuh go. Take it jis' dis way, see. An' yo' take dat foot track an' put chew some red peppah an' some salt in dere. Listen, some grave- yard dirt, an' sew dat up an' go tuh de rivah befo' de sunrise. Yo' kin turn yore back an' throw it right where de watah's runnin' right along, an' throw it ovah dis way [demonstrates].
(Over your right shoulder?)
Yes. An' when yo' leave, yo' kin say anythin' - some of de baddest things, an' don't look back, an' walk away an' nevah look back. Dey'll go. An' if yo' wan' 'em tuh stay, yo' take it tuh yo' - if yo' wan' 'em tuh stay. Take it up tuh yo', see. Take dat track an' yo' kin fold it in a piece of news- papah. See, stretch it on out an' write dere name down nine times, an' pin it ovah yore do' an' make yore wish - where dey's comin' in an' out. An' dey's comin' in dere. Dey will continue comin' as long as yo' - until yo' take dat up an' destroy dat. Dat's tuh bring 'em, see, if yo' wanta.
Entry 5474
If dey wan' chew tuh leave town - if yo' givin' dem trouble an' dey Wan' chew tuh leave town, why dey'd ketch it [your track]. If yo' goin' dis way, dey'd ketch it disaway. Den dey would take dis dirt - take it an' put it in a new piece of home- spun. When yo' go tuh a graveyard, git chew two bran'- new teaspoons. Go tuh a graveyard wit two bran'-new tea- spoons. Git chew two teaspoonsfulla dirt offa two sinnahs graves. Well, yo' takes two pennies an' pay each one of dese sinnahs fo' de dirt. Well, yo' takes dat gunpowdah an' thundah-strucken wood, red peppah, an' mix it all tuhgethah. What ah mean thundah-strucken iw where lightning struck a tree. Well yo' take it an' divide it intuh two parts. Yo' put one in a red chunk bottle [bottle with long neck] an' bury it in de east, an' yo' put de othah one in a red chunk bottle an' yo' go tuh runnin' watah, an' yo' pitch it 'cross yore shouldah - turn yore back, pitch it 'cross yore shouldah. Befo' yo' pitch it 'cross yore shouldah, yo' say, yo' do dis, In de Name of de Father, an' de Son an' de Holy Ghost - fo' yo' tuh go an' nevah return. An' in three days time yo'll be left town, yo' can't stay. Yo'll tread dat watah until yo' drown.
(You say you put all that stuff in a red chunk bottle?)
In a red bottle - quart bottle [the ordinary brown beer or whiskey bottle one "chunks" or throws away.]
(Which shoulder do you throw that over?)
Ovah yore lef' shouldah.
Entry 5475
Well, dey take yore foot track - ah'm tellin' yo' lak ah've heard it - take yore foot track. Say dey take it up backwards, don't take it up goin'. Some of 'em say take it up goin', some says take it up backwards. Well, yo' git nine of dose tracks. An' den dey take dem tracks an' go tuh de graveyard an' git dirt. Any- body dat's not scared kin do dat. Git de dirt an' mix it tuhgethah. Carry it an' chunk ovah dey lef' shouldah in de rivah, yo' know, an' don't look back at it. An' jes' say, "Yo' drift on 'way from heah." An' dey say yo'll have tuh jis' wandah an' keep goin'.
Entry 5476
Takes dey tracks an' weah it in dey shoes.
(What will that do then?)
AH DON' WAN'A TELL NO STORY. Yes, yo' kin take dere tracks an' weah it in yore shoe. An' den yo' kin take brown sugah an' yo' kin take graveyard dirt, an' write his name an' yore name on a bran'-new envelope has nevah been used, an' put it undahneat' yore bed mattress. An' he's supposed tuh come back tuh yo' in three days.
(You put all this stuff into the envelope?)
Uh-huh.
Entry 5485
De track business breaks up frien'ship between a girl an' her sweet- heart man. Hit's lak ah had a girl goin' wit a man an' ah didn't want 'im tuh go wit 'er. In ordah tuh break it up, ah would take three swings of dirt wit'out stoppin', an' walk right on behin' 'em - ah grab [swing] up three tracks dat are jis' made - wit'out stoppin' - an' ah save dem. An' if he Wus goin' - jis' lak he wuz goin' south, ah would ketch his comin' no'th. Ah ketch de girl's goin' no'thwards, [I mean] ketch her goin' so'thwards, gits de three grabs. (In other words if he's walking southwards, you catch his from the toe back to the heel; and the girl's going north, you catch her's back to the heel - just in opposite directions.) An' ah got three of each. Den ah takes it an' ah compound it, jis' sticks it in de ground an' compound it [mix his and her tracks]. An' den ah take, an' ah takes gunpowdah dat explodes, an' wrop it up an' put it in somepin tight, chew know. Put de powdah at de bottom, wit de dry papah comin' up through de center, yo' know, an' pack it aroun' dere. An' den ah put dirt on top jis' lak it wuz shot, an' ah take dat out an' den stick a match tuh de top of dis dry papah, an' it goes tuh de bottom an' de bottom explodes. Dat explodes dere frien'ship. Dat breaks de frien'ship up. An' dat will do so.
(All you put in there is that dirt and the gunpowder.)
Dat's right.
(In this paper?)
Yes.
Entry 5532
Ah've heard dat dey kin git chure foot track an' measure yore foot track, an' take some of de dirt out de hollah of yore track, see. Den go tuh de graveyard aftah twelve o'clock an' git some de dirt from de heart, about de heart, an' from de head an' from de foot [3 places]. An' mix it wit dat dirt whut dey took out of yore track. An' march aroun' dat grave fo' times, firs'. Den come back an' march aroun' it ag'in five, six, seven. De seven is de uneven numbah. March roun' dat seven times. Den take dat dirt whut dey got wit de graveyard dirt outen yore track, an' go an' mix it tuhgethah, an' boil it in salt an' water an' lime. Throw dat in salt, watah an' lime. Den dey will take dat an' sprinkle it wherevah yo' gotta go, where yo' cross ovah at, if it's yore doorstep or some path yo' go. If yo' in a car, why dey'd sprinkle it aroun yore car - sompin like dat - an' dat will do yo' harm. See, when yo' git in dere, yo'll be painful an' cain't rest, an' have no min' tuh stay at home - only be goin' all de time. (NOW TO MAKE CERTAIN ABOUT THIS. When you get this graveyard dirt after twelve o'clock at night, you get it from three places: on the head, the heart, and the feet. And before you get that dirt, do you walk around the grave four times or after?) Aftah.
(Then you say you walk around it again five times?)
Firs' yo' walk aroun' it, dat make five. Den yo' walk aroun' it seven times.
(Seven separate times or all together?)
Altuhgethah.
(You walk around it four times. Then what do you do?)
Yo' walk aroun' it fo' times an' yo' speak words.
(What will you say?)
Yo' will say, "Ah wan' dis man tuh be subjec' tuh me. Ah wan' 'im tuh go an' not come back. Dat 'is min' may go from 'im, dat he may not undahstan' whut he do." See, dat's whut dey'll say.
(Then you will walk around it?)
Two mo' time. Dat makes seven. (They walk around it four times. They dig that dirt up and walk around it four times. Then what do they do after the fourth time, after they say those words?) Den dey walk aroun' it ag'in one time. Dat makes five, yo' see.
(Then do they say anything?)
Naw, don't say anything. Den de fifth time, den de sixth an' de seventh. Den dey march aroun' dere de seventh time, den dey will repeat de same words over ag'in....
(Then you go on away with the graveyard dirt.)
Entry 5541
Yo' take dat foot track, try tuh git it wit'out breakin' it. Yo' lay it on a piece of brown papäh an' yo'll take de measure [of] dat track. An' yo'll write dis person name crossways in it nine times. Yo' git some dirt offa sinnah -bad person died bad - yo' git dat offa dere grave, dat dirt. An' yo' put dat [grave dirt] on dere [the track]. Den yo' git chew some John de Conkah root powdah [hoo- doo drug store or mail order house product] an' yo' spread it in [the 2 dirts]. Den yo' bury dat track backwards: lak yo' gon'a walk intuh dis doah, well yo' wan'a put de foot print comin' in - yo' put de heel part comin' in. Dat'll make yer brains - mos' people bury it any way - it'll run yo' crazy, if yo' use it lak dat.
Entry 5552
Now ah have heard dat if yo' wanted tuh vanish a person, in uddah words, dat's runnin' 'em off, drivin' 'im on. Yo' git up early in de mawnin'. Say ah were goin' dis way, but chew don't go in de direction ah'm goin'. Yo' come from de direction ah'm goin'. An' git a little of de dirt right out de hollah of mah track.
(How do you scoop that up?) From de toe [demon- strates]. (From the toe to the heel.)
Right in de hollah of it. See, yo' take dat sand tuh a runnin' stream, an' throw dat sand in dat runnin' stream, an' repeat de Three Highest Names. Jes' throw dat sand in de runnin' stream.
(What will that do then?)
Dat will run dem off.
Entry 5553
Yo' take a person dat yo' dislike an' yo' wan' 'em away from yo'. Yo' seet 'im. He's comin' dat way an' yo's comin' dis way. Take a bran'-new piece of papah, a piece like dat [he changes this for cloth later]. Take a bran'-new easpoon. When ah say bran'-new, ah mean one dat was nevah used fo' any purpose. An' yo' put it - take a piece of cloth, white cloth dat yo' have nevah used fo y othah purpose. Take dat wit yo'. An' prepare tuh meet yore man, whomsoevah ir is. An' meet 'im dere, an' git a smile if yo' kin. Pass 'im an' pass 'im a certain distant [distance]. But gauge yoreself so as tuh not allow 'im tuh git ay too far. An' yo' take de track up wit dat teaspoon. Begin right at de toe, don' cha know an' pull it directly back tuh de heel. An' git de spoonful an' put it intuh dis cloth, an' wrap it up so it won't - yo' know, it will be out of de way. An' yo' take a rusty nail an' yo' cross de track directly in de centah, an' den cross it ag'in from de heel tuh de toe - away from yo', directly. An' throw de nail ovah yore left shouldah. Den yo' keep de stuff dat yo' got in de cloth, take dat an' take de spoon an' throw dat ovah yuh right shouldah. Take dat cloth right on, roll it up tight, tie it away from yuh, don't cha know. Take a piece of rock an' put in it, in de othah part of it, an' yuh care [carry] it an' yuh throw it ovah yuh lef' shouldah, right ovahbo'd intuh runnin' watah. Or if de tide is goin' down, on de tide, when yuh throw it ovah. An' yuh mention de person's name. Dey goes right on out like dat [with the tide]. As it go ovahbo'd, dey die. An' if it's comin' up, yuh know what yuh call a spring tide, huh, when it's comin' up, why dey'll git almos' crazy until de tide turns. An' as soon as de tide turns ag'in, dey gone.
(Where did you learn this?)
Ah learned dat in de Bahamas.
(At Nassau?)
At Nassua.
(From this girl?)
From dis girl.
Entry 5598
Jis' sompin othah, some broad [woman] yo' wanta make. Yo' know, meet a broad an' yo' try tuh make a broad, yo' know, an' she don' pay yo' no mind. Yo' know, yo' kin - dere's a way tuh make her, see. (Well, how can you make her do it?) Well, all yo' got'a do is jes' take a li'le of 'er foot, yo' know where she step, take a li'le of de dirt in yore pam [palm] an' put it in de han'ke'chuff, fold it backward [fold it to youl, yo' know, an' put it in yore belt. But de firs', yo' got'a put it down at chure do' an' walk ovah it evah mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's an' name it, see. Aftah nine mawnin's, yo' take it up an' put it in yore belt. An' de ninth mawnin' she jis' goin' tuh be dere. An' she'll be dere, too.
Entry 5602
Aftah he goin' outa de do', ah heahed [heard] chew could take his track comin' tuh yo'. An' if he'd walk out de do', tuh take yo' a penny an' drop it in de middle of 'is track. An' jis' as much dirt as would covah dat penny, tuh pick it up. An' regardless tuh where dey'd go, dey'd be uneasy until dey got back tuh yo'. (That is, as he left the door - his feet are going away from the door, you Would put this penny in his track. Either track?) Yes sir.
(And take some of this dirt. That is to bring him back?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5621
Dey say if yo' goin' anywhere an' a person don' wan' choo dere, an' yo' leave, dey walks right back out on yore foot track; an' take de firs' two track, an' takes up one han'- ful of dirt from de lef' an' den throw some salt in de right one. Dey take de sand [from left track] on back to de house wit 'em an' put it in a bag: an' keep dat. An' dey say yo' can't come back to de house no more.
Entry 5708
Take de graveyard [dirt] an' de dirt from yore track. (Either track?) Both tracks, de dirt outa both tracks an' sack it up, an' put it on some train or sompin, an' 'long as de car runs, yo'll run. Run yo' plumb away.
Entry 5715
Jis' lak ah'm on de way now uptown. Ah'm on mah way up an' mah min' is toum. Ah got some pahtic'lah business ah wanta 'tend [attend] tuh, an' ah'm on de way, now. Den yo'll git some of 'is track, undah- stan'. Yo' stan' where he's goin', de direction dat he's goin'. Take some of 'is tracks three times - take dat dirt P outa his track three times, an' den put dat in a piece of new cloth an' bind I up. Put three pods of red peppah in wit it. An' den take dat an' sew it up a' put a long string about dat long an' so it kin swing it. Sew dat string jis batavay an' evah time de win' blow, dat swing. He's agoin'.
(Where do you tie that up?)
Ties it up on a white oak in de woods. Jis' take it, tie it up in dere. He can't stay becuz 'is min' altuhgethah from dere. (In other words you take that track, you take it three times out of three different tracks - one right after the other?) Yessuh. (The same thing as that other one you told me about, about taking all the dree tracks?) Dat's right.
Entry 5729
Jis' lak now if yo' wanta take dey feet track, lak de girl, lak yo' leavin' heah now, dey slip on out de do' an' git chure feet track, an' carry it back in de house an' put it in a box. Go tuh de graveyard roun' about twelve or one a'clock - between twelve an' one. Git tuh some grave where dey dyg a fresh grave, see. An' yo' take it [dirt] an' mix it in wit it [track], an' some table salt.
(Begin right from the beginning. What are you going to do, now?)
Jis' lak yo' be leavin' heah now, [you] step on de groun' an' make a feet track. Take de feet track up on it - in a piece of papah, shingle or anythin' lak dat.
(Either one or both foot tracks?)
From de heel tuh de toe. Den go at one a'clock or twelve a'clock at night - go on tuh de graveyard. Git thirteen han'ful dirt out, if ah ain't mistaken, of a fresh grave. Den when yo' fix tuh leave, yo' see, yo' leave dat one cent in dat grave, in dat hole where yo' dug in de top of it. Den yo' go an' git chew a box of table salt an' mix dat in it. Den yo' go tuh de store an' git chew a box of dat cayenne peppah an' yo' mix dat in it. Den yo' go tuh de drug sto' or some place where yo' buy de sulphuh - aftah yo' git chure box of salt - an' yo mix all of dat in it. Den yo' take it an' yo' go out in woods, somewhere close, where yo' carry dat an' augah [auger] yo' a hole in a tree wit a augah. An' git chew a cork stoppah, yo' undahstan', dat chew drive in dere. Push it in - stove de dirt in de hole, den take de stoppah an' drive it up in dere. IN THREE DAYS HE'LL FALL DEAD.
(What happens?)
He'll eithah die or leave town.
Entry 5730
Ah tell yo' about de foot track as fur as ah knows. Yo' drags dat track from de toe an' drag it back wit dem two fingers, until yo' thoroughly gits back to de heel. [Demon- strates.] (You take the right hand and the index finger and the little finger. Make them as a shovel and drag it back towards the heel. And you begin with that track - your thumb must touch the heel and then where those two fingers rest, you draw them back like that.) Right in de centah of de track. Yo' takes dat track an' yo' buy yo' a bottle of ink, an' yo' mix jis' enough of dat in dat track tuh make a li'le, yo' know, a dough of it yo' might say. Den yo' go tuh a growin' tree on de sundown side an' bo' a hole right down at de foot of it. Put dat in it, pack it up, an' go back dere fo' three days evah mawnin' an' give it [peg] one tap. De third mawnin' yo' have it [peg] in wit [even with] de tree. Den take some of dat same ink an' stain all roun' dat place, an' go on about chure business. Dat man nevah go out in peace. Dat will jis' run 'im com- plete 'way from dere.
Entry 5753
You can go to work and take nine drops of chamber water and get nine drops of dirt out of the hollow of the right foot and get a little piece of bow out of the hat and then carry it to somebody else's house and they po to that somebody else and want to move in with them. You bury it right under dhe door. [By hand Doctor Frank Hall, near Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va., see - INTRO., V.1, p. XXXIX, line 25f.,1958, p.573.1
Entry 5850
She gits somebody to go to dis woman's house an' gits 'er comb. She gits dis comb. She gits all of dis dandruff from dis woman's head out of dis comb. She takes it an' puts dis graveyard dirt in dere. Den she put some of 'er own chamber lye in it. An' she puts dis undah de step of dis woman. Well, dey thought dat dis woman had went into bad health, consumption. An' she went to de hospital an' she died.
Entry 5897
Dat is fo' a woman tuh git a whole lotta influence ovah 'er husban' or 'er sweetah' [sweetheart], so as tuh control 'im. She takes 'is hat an' bur- ies it in de graveyard. An' she re'lly, if he's vicious an' mean tuh 'er or sompin lak dat, an' if she's a woman dat lak tuh have her own way an' run aroun' wit othah men lak dat, why she'll git some of 'is hair an' bury it in de grave- yard, an' dey tell me he come right down undah 'er control.
Entry 5903
Say, if dey git some of de hair out of de comb an' dis graveyard dirt an' bury it underneat' chure do'step, but bury it tuh.de sundown, not sunrise.
[I interrupt.]
(What do you mean? Bury it at sundown?)
Dat direction [demonstrates].
(The direction of sundown.)
From where yore house is set at - see, at sundown. [Informant adds confusion! He means bury on the west side of your house at smdown. Despite the confusion I do not forget the purpose, as my question now shows.]
(What will that do then?)
That will cause yo' tuh wandah away, not be stationary - jes' wandah away an' all, don't stay one place atall.
Entry 5904
Right in de top of yore haid yo' git a certain stran' - git a stran' out de top of yore haid an' take an' put dat in a bottle. Fix it wit graveyard dirt an' salt an' stop it up, or eithah bury it undah yore do'steps, or else chip off a block on a tree, on de no'th side of de tree an' bury it - put it in dere. Dat will run yo' crazy.
Entry 5905
Now, so fer as de woman proposition - lak if yo' got a woman, or any man got a woman, an' yo' don't want 'er tuh leave, yo' understan'. Whut he do, he gits - dat mawnin' when he gits up, he'll call 'er Sweetheart an thin's, yo' know, an' job an' all wit 'er. Well, she might be havin' some outside man on 'im, see. De firs' thin' he'll do, he'll git up dat mawnin an' he'll plait 'er hair an' he'll take a couplah [couple of] grains of 'er hair, yo' see, an' put 'em in a can. Den go to de graveyard an' git some graveyard dirt an' put in dere, an' go to de rivah an' git some watah, an' git some of de rivah watah an' let it soak. An' aftah it soaks in dere, yo' take an' carry it back to de lavatory an' put it back of de lavatory an' leave it stay dere. [Lav- atory here is a fancy name for outdoor watercloset.] She'll nevah leave, yo Tdahstan'. YO' AN' 'ER GIT ALONG JIS' LAK TWO PEANUTS IN ONE SHELL.
Entry 5906
Yo' take yore hair - ah know whut dey says - take yore hair if yo' mnta kill someone. Well, dey say yo' take yore hair, it's a certain place dey git it right from de front - right from de front. Yo' have to git [demonstrates] jes' a little bit right from heah, or ketch it right back dere, see. (Either right from the forehead or either in the back of the head.) Or eithah git a lock right from de neck. Den yo' git a little of dat, whut [hair] dey use, an' yo' tie it up an' have some graveyard dirt. An' yo' put dis togethah, dis thing, an' den yo' go ahead an Wrg it. An' den yo' goes aroun' an' [something - see later] fo' nine mawnin's.
(You what?)
See, yo' go aroun' dere an' yo' say - yo' mus' [must] go to it. Yo' see, yo' urite dis here [see later]. Aftah yo' git all dis mess of stuff mixed up, yore bir an' de graveyard dirt. Well, yo' see, yo' wrap it in a piece of papah an' yo' write de person name on it, an' den yo' bury it. Den yo' go to it an' take Yore chamber lye an' wet it fo' nine mawnin's.
(You go to this hair - where you buried this hair. What do you do with it?)
Take yore chamber lye, git chure chamber lye, an' yo' wet it fo' nine mawnin's, an' dey say in thirty day's time dose people will be daid or dey'll be gone. If de're [they are] enemies dey'll have tuh move - dey'll have tuh go.
Entry 5907
Well, yo' kin take de graveyard dirt an' yo' kin go out an' git it, see. An' den yo' kin take some of dis heah woman's hair from de mole of 'er haid. An' put it togethah. An' yo' kin den put it in a little ole sack sorta like a 'bacca [tobacco] sack, an' tote dat in yore pocket all de time. An' den yo'll come to be lucky an' all de time while yo' is out, why dis heah woman, she will come to be in love wit yo' an' have her mind on yo'.
Entry 5908
Yo' could take graveyard dirt an' take a dime an', if dere [there is] any woman haah, sew it up togethah an' dat'll make her can't git away from yo'.
Entry 5909
Well, yo' kin take de hair out de top of a woman haid an' go to de graveyard an' git some of dis graveyard dirt. Put a dime down in dere an' den yo' kin tie a little piece of new cloth - right new cloth. (You tie this hair and the graveyard dirt [and dime] together into this new cloth.) An' put it in a little bottle an' put dis stuff dey call Heart Cologne on it, an' yo'll keep 'em fo'evah - dey nevah will leave yo'.
Entry 5910
De graveyard dirt dey said take it an' throw it in de rivah, mix it wit yore hair an' throw it in de rivah. Dat's whut dey said, dat's if a woman wanta git away from a man or a man wanta git away from a woman. Well, ah know dat cuz ah know a woman done mah uncle dataway. She got rid of 'im, see.
Entry 5915
Yo' kin take yore own hair, take a man's hair or a woman's hair [a man or woman can do this], put [wit it] graveyard dirt, three coppah cents, six pins - no needles - six pins - an' put it eithah in buckskin or eithah in red flannel. An' go to a runnin' stream, throw it wit yore left hand in dat watah. If it sink it's all right. But as long as dat stay in dere, yo've got to travel. Yo' ain't satisfied nowhere, yo've got to leave yore own home.
Entry 5949
Well, dey take a piece of hair out de middle of de mole of yore haid, an' dey [take] dat hair out de mole of yore haid an' dey git a perfume dey calls Hearts Cologne. An' take dat Hearts Cologne an' dey take dat hair an' put it in dat Hearts Cologne bot- tle, an' take dat bottle an' stop it up well. Den aftah leavin' dis bottle stay aroun' 24 hours, den dey take a or'nary [ordinary] person, jes' lak yo' is man dat has a gurl dat he thinks well of an' somepin lak dat. Yo' take de fingahnail - take de dirt. An' poke between [clean] yore fin- gahnails is protection to yore body. Well, dey take an' cut off all dat fingah- nail an' all dat filth [you left under your nails] an' de' put it in dat bottle, if dey poss'bly kin get holt of it, an' dat will DRIVE A PERSON UNSANE - JES' LAK A "SHORT MIND", YO' THINKS NOW AN' AFTAH WHILE YO' CAN'T THINK. Dat mind at pre- sent is gone.
Entry 6070
[Take a piece of] de petticoat an' [or] de bloomahs an' cut de - a little top of dere hair off. Well, an' git de same thing off a man [his under- clothes]. An' mix it togethah in a soda-watah bottle. An' take it an' carry it to de end of de do'step an' put it - not too deep, jes' a little deepah 'nuff where yo' know dey could not tell it. An' let 'im walk ovah it fo' nine mawnin's. Dey say dat will come to keep 'im at home an' he'll come to love yo' an' can't no othah woman git 'im.
(Wait a minute! You take the hair from the top of a man's head, you say?)
De mole of 'is haid, yes. Den dat from right on yo'self down dere, yo' know, jes' cut about two stran's.
(From a woman?)
Yeah, an' mix it togethah, an' git chew half a bottle of 'logne [cologne] an' so' dress it wit dat. Well, yo' go right - cut 'er bloomahs right in de seat of 'em. Well yo' git it out de seat of de man de same. An' put it togethah. Well, aftah yo' do dat, chew take about a little teaspoon - not a little, jes' a drop, but not so much, an' let it be kinda graveyard dirt. Put it in de bottle an' shake it up. Well, yo' go right to de end of de do'step an' yo' call a person nine times. Well, when yo' call 'em nine times, take it an' stick it right to de front of de do'step - put it down dere yo' know, kinda deep undah where yo' couldn't tell it. An' nine mawnin's - fo' nine mawnin's, well, when yo' git up yo' [call?] 'im [his name] about six [nine] times. Well yo' take it out from dere an' carry it to a cornah right where yo' know he comes out backwards an' forwards - dat same route road - come right to de cornah. [Does informant mean corner of the outside chimney, the old-fashioned country toilet, where he would urinate on this conjure or hand? I do not believe corner of a path or crossroad is meant, where other people would walk over the buried object. Bottle was orig- Inally buried at "corner" of doorstep. This is cornering a man.] Why yo' bury dat an' let it stay dere fo' so many days, certain days. Well, aftah yo' do dat, see, dat'll keep dat man an' woman togethah. See. [A comment of mine made while checking cylinder reads, "Talking too fast."]
Entry 6179
Git dis dirt daubah nest an' chicken feathahs an' dat hair of de in- dividual, yo' know, dat dey'll wanta use, an' mix dat all up togethah, an' sew it in a little round piece, an' dey put one of dose papahs on it an' burn it. An' dat runs 'em crazy sometimes, especially, yo' know, if dey git enough amount of dere hair.
Entry 6251
Dey take de hair an' go tuh de sundown side of a sweet gum tree. Go ovah dere an' dey'll put [that] hair wit some graveyard dirt on tuh it. An' den dey'd have a augah an' bo' a hole in dat tree, an' have a peg de same size de augah, yuh know, an' drive it in dere. Tap it - got'a hit a lick evah day nine days, de ninth day yuh goin' drive it all de way down - way down, way down. Dat's when dey lose dere mind.
Entry 6261
Dey'll fool roun' an' soon git a scissor [or] somepin an' cut off some of yore hair. Git dat hair an' put nine pins wit it an' some graveyard dirt an' hang it up in a tree. An' in nine days, eight or nine days, yo' loses yore mind. Well, dere's a way tuh stop dat, ef dey git it [your hair] an' yo' ketch de idea dat dey got it [your hair] befo' it's too late, or aftahyo go to de [doctor] an' bring yo' back [how to cure yourself]. Yo' kin go tuh de drag store an' buy dis ole rose watah an' mastah dat rose watah.
(How do you mean master it?)
Yo' kin go tuh de drug store an' buy yo' some old rose watah - smells good - a' yo' mastah it. [Mix it with] a quart of watah an' a teaspoonful of table malt. An' yo' use dat on yore head an' at nighttime. If yo' don't want'a do dat, yo' kin git chew somepin on yo' dat chew kin do without buyin'. Well, yo' arah [urine] penetrates through yo', yo' know. Well, YO' TAKE A PINCH OF SALT A'KETCH YORE WATAH WHILE IT'S HOT AT NIGHT, AN' PUT IT ON YORE HEAD 'FORE YO' 00 TUH BED, AN' ON YORE FACE. WELL, DAT HAIR WILL FALL OUT OF DAT TREE. YeS, su, hit'll fall out of dat tree. Dey run yo' crazy when dey hangs dat up dere. IF SOMEBODY DON'T BE SO BRIGHT, T'S GOIN' STAY UP IN DERE. As long as it stays up in dere, yo'll goin' [lose yoar mind]. [I turned off machine here and had to repeat substance of informant's words S y following statement.] (If you do that at night, then this spell will be turned back on the other person.)
Entry 6337
Well, ah kin go out tuh de fo'ks of de road, if ah wants tuh go out dere an' put down a little magic work for business. Ah kin go out dere tuh de fo'ks of de road an' git me a little dirt [see FORK-OF-ROAD DIRT, p.688, and elsewhere]. De fo'ks of de road comin' so [demonstrates]. Prob'ly one comin' - Memoirs.of Alma Egan Hyatt Foundation - east an' one comin' west. Well, ah gits right in de middle of dat fo'k of dat road. Ah don't git very much of dis, jis' a li'le bit of it, dat dirt. Take dat li'le dirt an' has me a li'le bottle, or cup or anythin ah wants tuh put dat dirt in, an' go on back home. Well, ah kin fix dis right up out tuh de fo'ks of de road. Aftah ah git dis dirt an' put it in dat bottle, den ah has me a ten-cent bottle of Hearts Cologne. Put dat Hearts Cologne on dat - nine drops, see. An' aftah ah po' dat in dat bottle, den ah puts anythin' - any othah article ah got lak hair or any- thin'. Ah'll fix dat up. Well now, heah's what all goes in dere: Dat dirt out de fo'ks of de road. Buy a bottle of Hearts Cologne jis' about dat big [demonstrates], a ten-cent bottle. Yuh po' dat intuh dis dirt or whatsomevah dat chew got tuh put dis dirt in, a bottle or cup. An' aftah yuh put dat in dere. den yuh takes hair. Don't care whut part it come from - come from out yore haid, puts it in dere. An' aftah yuh put dat hair in dere, yuh stop dat hair up airtight an' takes it back to dese peoples' home an' bury dis fo' nine inches under de ground. Dat represent de nine mawnin' dat she'll leave dere. [She'll leave on or before the ninth day.] Den go back an' take it outa dere an' goes to a runnin' stream of water an' throw dis in a runnin' stream of water. An' when yo' throw dis, throw it high enough to give a splash tuh dis bottle. Don't look back - jis' throw it ovah yuh haid, don't look back atall. An' jis' long as dat watah an' dat bottle floats - it don't be a big bottle, a little bottle, so [demonstrates]. So long as it goes, dat person dat yuh's aftah, dey is gone.
(You throw it high enough?)
High enough tuh make de splash be heard [over] dat curse words. [My transcriber ommitted dat curse Words; a common practice to end a rite with a cursing incantation. Why the splash had to be heard during or after the curse words is a sort of So be it or Amen.]
Entry 6380
[This may be my only example of the rare term badge, meaning hand, or toby or mojo.] If yo' wanted 'er tuh love yo', why yo' jes' take some of - jes' lak yo'd take a bath an' git some of de dirty skin from undah de bottom of yore feet, de hollah of yer lef' feet. Trim yer fingahnails good an' close an' git some of de dirt from undah dere. Take dem an' parch dem, parch de fingah- nails. Parch dese fingah- nails brown, beat it up, an' git some of 'er hair an' burn it - de hair from 'er haid an' burn it. Mixes it tuhgethah wit Hearts Cologne an' sulphur, an' weah it undah-yer lef' arm as a badge.
(Wear it under your left armpit as a badge.)
An' in seven days she'll eithah come or she'll write yo' a lettah.
Entry 6422
Dat's right. Take dirt from undah yore fingahnails an' dress it in boiled food, lak cabbages an' turnips an' all squashes an' things lak dat. An' people eat dat an' become tuh be crazy about people. Do dat two or three times.
Entry 6429
Now ah've heard dem say dat de ladies dat goin' wit mens, fo' spechly [specially] spō'tin' wimmins, dey takes dere fingahnails an' jis' git a li'le dirt from undah 'em, or eithah dere toenails. An' lak dey cook grits or make any kinda nice gravy tuh put ovah a man's food, or somepin lak dat, dey will put it in dere an' make de man jes' so crazy about 'em - all 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 6434
Wal, if a person wanted chew - a woman loved yo' an' couldn't git chew, she could trim some of 'er toenail an' 'er fingahnail an' take de dirt out from undah 'er toenail, yo' see, an' put it in - say a soft drink or sompin lak dat. An' den passin' it roun' an' yo' bein' settin' dere, yo' know. Yo' jis' passin' all of 'em drinks an' she drene [drain] dis outa dis bottle. Jis' lak she's servin' in dis room yo' see, an' yo' all settin' roun'. She'll drene dis outa dis bottle in yore glass an' she servin' yo'. Dat'll make yo' crazy 'bout 'er.
Entry 6435
Jis' de same like a woman, or eithah a man, dey wan'a rule dere husban' or de man wan'a rule 'is wife. Well, dey take de fingahnail an' de dirt from undah de fingahnail, an' dey scrape de bottom of dere feet. An' dey puts it on de stove or anything an' dey'll patch it like a powdah. When dey give 'em dere food, well dey takes dat an' dey'll sprinkle it ovah de food from de feet [and nail clippings]. Dat's my experience wit dat.
(What will that do?)
Well, dat's - dey could rule 'em like, yo' know.
Entry 6451
(What do they do with those fingernails and toenails?)
Ah hear'd 'em say dat dey cut 'em an' put 'em in a snuffbox, an' go tuh de cemetery an' take a dime, an' reach yore han' as fer as yo' kin in de centah - ah mean in de centah of de grave - an' take jis' as much of dat dust as dat dime kin hold. An' ah hear 'em say yo' kin put it in a snuffbox an' throw it in a runnin' stream. An' dat's all ah know about it.
(What will that do to you then?)
Run yo' away, dat's whut dey tell me.
Entry 6454
Some [graveyard] dirt an' some crawfishes an' snakedust. Mix it tuh- gethah an' some of yore toenails an' yore fingahnails an' some of yore strength. (Some what?) Some of yo' strength yo' - WHAT HAVE SOME OF YORE STRENGTH IN SOME OF YORE FINGAH- NAILS. An' take it an' put it up ovah de do' or up ovah yore head, anywhere. An' jis' lak dose things pine away, dat person pine away. Yo'll pine away an' die. Or either put it on a toadfrog in a box wit dat graveyard [dirt] an' put it undah de steps. Go out yo' home an' put it undah de steps an' dat frog will stay dere nine days until he pass away an' die. Dat person will die. Jis' lak de graveyard dirt an' de crawfishes molt away, yo' molt away.
Entry 6455
Puts 'em in a bag, dese.
(These fingernails and toenails?)
Yes, takes yore fingahnails an' toenails. Dey git holt of 'em an' puts 'em in a bag. Aftah dey puts 'em in dis bag, dey take an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt in dem an' hang 'em up ovah yore door- sill. An' aftah hangin' yore fingahnails ovah de doorsill, stay up dere awhile, den dey take an' sprinkle dem down by yore do'.
(And what will that do?)
Dat will run yo' away from someone dat dey don' wan' chew tuh be wit.
Entry 6468
They can take your toenails and fingahnails an' see, like mah nails mog, they could harm me purtty much for this simple reason. They're dirty. See, they are not all that much long, they are dirty. Well, they would take this nail and they would cut these nails as close as they poss'bly could with the dirt a'all into 'em. If they could get to my toes, they'd do my toes de same iden- tical way. Now, they take these nails here, an' mah toenails an' they'd put them together. If they could get a lizard, they'd take a lizard an' they'd kill the lizard an' let that lizard dry.
(They take a lizard and kill the lizard?)
They kill the lizard.
(Oh, they kill the lizard.)
An' let him dry - I mean, till he gets to a powder. When he gets to a pow- der, they mixes him with these nails of mine. They'd put that into a piece of red flannel and they buries that. AN' NOW, WHEN THEY BURIES THAT, THEY BURIES IT WITH A CROSS.
(What kind of a cross?)
THEY MAKES A CROSS THEYSELF. THEY DON'T VERY SELDOM BUY A CROSS. YOu know, ordinary, plain - just a plain cross, wooden cross; just any kind of a small cross you'll use, just since it's a cross. They buries it with a cross into that flannel. See? Well, now, when they buries that, why they got me just the Way they want me.
Entry 6482
Well, yo' kin take a li'le bit of yore dirt from undah yore fingah- nails. Well, yo' git some salt an' git some alcohol, some vinegah - salt, an' put it in a bottle an' shake it up, an' make yo' do jis' lak dey want chew tuh do. (Do you get that dirt from under your fingernails or under mine?) No sir, git 'em from undah yore fingah- nails. Make yo' do jis' lak ah wan' chew tuh do. (Who would do that? Some woman to a man or man to a man? Something of that sort?) Eithah one could do it if dey knew [how]. Jis' lak yo' were mah wife an' yo' runs aroun' an' ah couldn't keep yo' home. Well, ah could git a li'le bit of dat dirt, yo' know, from undah yore fingahnails, an' make yo' do jis' lak ah wanted yo' tuh do.
Entry 6500
Dey scrape it offen de feet an' den dey take dem fingahnails, dey trim dose, an' dey git de dirt off de toenails, from undah de toenails an' undah de feet, an' put all dat tuhgethah an' powdah dat up an' dry it. Den when dey git dat powdah up, dey put dat in a bottle. Dat's when yo' want 'em tuh love yuh an' yo' can't do 'em no harm. Yo' put dat in a bottle an' den yo' fill dat bottle wit chure urinate wit dat stuff, an' let it sit dere nine days befo' dey use it. Den aftah de nine days whenevah dey fix yo' a meal or anythin' lak dat tuh eat, or anythin' tuh drink, dey will put a teaspoonful of dat in there fo' yo'. Well, den dat gits chew jis' dey way. Gits yuh down undah dere foot an' yo' can't do no mo' den dey wan' chew tuh do.
Entry 6525
Dey take - womens take cut of all yore toenails an' yore fingernails an' take de dirt from underneath 'em an' dey could cook 'em in de bread an' make a man love 'em. Dey could WITCHCRAFT dem dataway.
[St. Petersburg, Fla., (1022), 1653:5.]
(5). A FEW MORE DOCTORS {Folk medicine in hoodoo or witchcraft has a wider field of involvement than the isolated cures given in books of general folklore. This is true because hoo- doo or witchcraft supplies causes for all ailments and diseases as well as cures, and also tells how to protect oneself in the future. Such protective rites, actu- ally preventive medicine, as well as other cures unlisted here, will be found throughout the total text. For the latter, consult especially: FOLK MEDICINE pp.361-519; SEXUAL IMPoTENCE Pp.2341-2509; and 'HER PRIVATE TIME' Pp.2513-2540.] [A considerable number of live things in you will be found on pages 227-239, well as elsewhere in the complete text. May I call your attention to the first two rites in margin title SNAKES.]
Entry 6540
Take a dirt daubah. See, dey builds dere nestses up side de house. Yo' takes a dirt daubah nes' an' yo' take dat an' yo' put it in watah or in anything, an' a person will eat dat. As it git inside of 'em, dey claim, it will be young eggs er sompin in dere. An' aftah dey git inside of 'em, by it bein' warm in dere, dey creates. An' when dey do anything, why it's jis' lak a dirt daubah's makin' a house.
Entry 6658
Ah had a aunt. A man got 'er hair. See, he got mad becuz she wouldn't marry 'im. Well, he took a piece of hair from 'er mole [mold] while she wuz layin' down on 'er bed fast asleep. All right, took a piece undah 'er arm. (Both arms or one?) De lef'. An' den took a piece some- where else - down below. Dey took it tuh a new elm tree [at Algiers?].
(They took it to a new elm tree or to New Orleans?)
Yes, all right. Well, de only way, if dey didn't know nuthin 'bout it, it would liable been too late. Well, aftah dey [the man] went tuh someone in] Al- giers, dey had it fixed. Dey also had some glass, some kinda black glass [prob- ably broken from a black bottle]. Dat means fo' tuh kill 'er. An' it would have killed 'er, see, but she wuz saved by St. Anthony. Well, now, he came back [from Algiers or New Orleans] an' she begged an' begged an' cried. He told 'er dat he would not hurt 'er, see. She wus moanin' [molting?] an' moanin' [molting] away an' de only way wuz to git dat hair an' dat thin' back - dat wuz de only [way]. Well, all right. Aftah he done it, he wouldn't give her up. Well, twixt 'em, dey went out dere, way ovah de trees [in the woods] somewheres, an' got some root. A man wuz sellin' some kinda roots. He died [he is dead now]. Well, he got some root in a hurry an' made a poultice. He had some of 'er othah thin's, piece of 'er ministratin'. An' dis man got some kinda calomel [surely calamus] root. De drug stores got it [calomel], but any drug store don't got [calamus] becuz dey wouldn't know whut it is. Got some of dat an' made a tea. An' got some dog dirt, [also] yellah clay, cleah yellah clay, an' beat it up. She hadda take it though. Took it [dog dirt and yellow clay]. An' den got some new - bran'-new cloth an' bind 'er all arou', see. When he bind all aroun' 'er, well it somepin came outa 'er - through 'er bowels. Dey were kinda lak a rattlesnake - jet black. Dey had 'er fixed dataway in New Orleans-Algiers. [Algiers is a Ovah de mivah part of New Orleans.] But she pulled through an' de man came back. See, didn't know she would pull through. Aftah dat she lived ten years.
(What was the name of this doctor out here that is dead now?)
[A name informant couldn't pronounce or spell.]
Entry 6720
If yo're hurt from sompin somebody have did yo' lak cunjurin' yo' lak dat, yo' take de dirt from undahneat' of yore toenails. An' take it an' wet it wit dis oil of cedah an' weah it in a piece of cotton in each one of yore ears. Yo' stop yore headache, if yo're hurt in sompin.
(That is if you have a headache from being hurt?)
Dat's whut ah said. Lak if somebody, yo' know, do sompin tuh yo' lak dat cunjure. Not if yo' jis' git hit about de haid [and get a headache]. [Even being hit on the head and getting a headache could be caused by conjuration, evil wishing, etc.]
Entry 6758
[The following medical rite I marked doubtful years ago and was about to throw it out with the discards. Years later on taking a second look I saw something unseen previously. Why did I keep it? Suppose we take a look:] (Cow manure? What do you do with that?) Yo' kin take cow manure, vinegah, dirt daubah nest an' black peppah an' if a person is got a disease, yo' kin keep dat disease on 'em wit dat cow manure, an' dirt daubah nest an' vinegah an' black peppah. [An excellent opening statement!] Yo' weah a bandage on yuh laig, on yuh lef' laig jis' evah mawnin', jis' put a fresh bandage on. An' jis' as long as dat bandage is applied tuh yo', dat disease will be applied tuh dat person.
(The person has the disease to begin with, you mean?)
Yes, sir.
(I see. Well, how do I know which person to apply it to?)
Well, it's jis' lak if somebody would come tuh yo' an' tell yo' an' say, "So- an'-so-an'-so is got a case of shankles or a case of pox or somepin, an' DEY BEEN WASTIN' TIME WIT MAH DAUGHTAH" or somepin. An' dey say, "If dere's any way dat ah kin keep it on 'em, ah wanta tuh do so." Well, den yo' [the author] know whut tuh tell 'em tuh do [when they come to you]. (Get this person's name and put the bandage on [PUT THE PERSON'S NAME ON THE BANDAGE!]. I see.) [My seeing at the time was not very good!] [Here we have a remarkable folk-medicine rite, one of the finest beliefs in Hoodoo, and yet I missed it! Perhaps I was tired, often interviewing for hours at a time. An experienced folklorist will immediately recognize: (1) the 4 in- gredients put in the bandage are about the commonest in folk medicine, cow manure a well-known ointment; and (2) that some doctors claim the power of being able to absorb a disease (see No.1007, p.387). For another example of the latter, some wart doctors pretend to, or are said to, catch all the warts they remove. In the present case however, we do not have an absorbtion rite, but a substitution rite; the absorbtion being only a pretense like the birth pangs of the husband in the couvade! The father in our present rite by pretending to have the venereal dis- ease of his daughter's paramour, keeps it upon the man permanently! Surely there must have been a time limit for the father's acting!]
Entry 6766
Ah've see 'em take dis li'le bit of wasp or dirt daubahs, yo' know de're white. Ah've seen 'em [doctor] take dem [dirt daubers] an' go cah places dat people were poisoned. Dat is some ways tuh beat 'em out dere roney. [These people] thought dey were poisoned. An' [these doctors] have 'em in dere han' an' claim dey would cure 'em an' take out dose things in 'em. Dey gotta take out dose things, but dey didn't take 'em out.
(How did they do it then?)
Dey [doctors] carried 'em [dirt daubers] dere wit 'em. [Informant is skepti- cal about a doctor removing dirt daubers (usually if not always dead ones) from a person. He believes the doctor brought the insects with him and used a little sleight of hand.]
Entry 6774
If yo' thought somebody wuz HOODOOIN' yo' or if yo' had any pain an' yo' thought it came from somebody's work dat had anything on yo', dat chew kin use a plastahs on dat part wit dirt daub- ah, wit de eithah pound dat up or let it dissolve in vinegah an' use dat applica- tion. It will give relief.
Entry 6781
Makes up a salve wit it, wit some dirt daubah nest, saltpetah, chewin' tobacca an' yo' make a salve. Now yo' kin put it in a li'le - ah dunnō [don't know] how much yo' goin' make up, but put chew a li'le vine- gah in it an' it's jis' lak a mustard, yo' know, jis' lak prepared mustard. Make a li'le of dat an' put it on de place an' see whut it will do fo' yo' [recording machine stopped, see later].
(What will that cure for example?)
Well, jis' lak a lotta people - yo' know yo' got a misery in yore ankle, cain't stand up on yore ankle. Dey [person working spell against you] got chew down in yore knees. (You said before [while machine turned off] that it kills off a lot of hoodoo ousiness.) Hoodoo business.
Entry 6821
[All the following graveyard dirt rites, as well as others elsewhere, indicate that the spirit in graveyard dirt fights or protects you against the spirit powering the cunjure put down for you:] Pay de grave an' git dat graveyard dirt...den new needles an' huh [her] ole shoes an' sul- phur...in de room evah night tuh keep ghost aay. [Here is one of other statments showing that the spirit in graveyard dirt keeps other spirits away.]
Entry 6824
Dey could take de dirt from de grave an' put it, weah in yuh shoes. It could be dust. Dust, dey say, is bettah dan de compoun' dirt. Yo' git de dry pulverized dirt an' put dat in yuh shoes, an' yo' kin weah dat if a person is seek- In' tuh put somepin down where yo' might walk ovah tuh [harm you] or cripple yuh in some way, or deform yuh from gittin' aroun' an' makin' a livin'. Why yo' weah dat, dat prevents dat, dat graveyard dirt.
Entry 6825
Tuh git graveyard dirt, dey say go out tuh de graveyard whah some of yoh relatives die. Well, dey tells me dat dat'll kill double pneumonia. Ah had a baby die yestiday mawnin' wit double pneumonia, an' ah were in mah home Sunday an' a lady came tuh mah house, an' say, "Ah tell yo' whut chew do," she say, "yo' git in yuh cah [car]." She came dere Satiday night. She say, "Come an' git in yuh cah an' come go wit me, an' go out whah a man is buried, whah yuh mothah-in-law is buried, an' git some of dat graveyard dirt an' put it in a bag. Git some from right undahneat' de lef'-han' comah of 'er grave. An' put it in a bag an' take it tuh hospital an' sprinkle it undahneat' dat baby's mattress, an' he won't die."
(What do you mean by the left-hand corner of the grave?)
Well, dat whut she tole me. She say, "Git it from de lef'-han' cornah." Ah say, "Whut de lef'-han' cornah?" Wal, she tole me dat evahtime yo' beah [bury] a person, YO' JIS' BEAH 'EM A CERTAIN WAY. AH HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT DAT. DID JOO? All right. She says, "Now yo' go an' git it out de cornah, " an' says, "yo' scattah it undah huh [her] haid. Git it from de lef'-han' cornah of de grave an' put it in jis' a li'le bag. An' go an' slip it undah dat mattress an' dat baby won' die."
[While machine turned off informant gave information I now repeat.]
(Get the dirt from the left-hand side near the heart.) [This means, while standing at head of the grave looking to the foot, the left-hand corner would be the heart corner.]
Entry 6826
Now, suppose dat chew would git in a fight wit a pusun [person] an' dat dey bit chah. Why yo' go tuh de grave- yard fer nine mawnin's an' put a li'le graveyard dirt on dat, an' it'll rot dere teeth out.
Entry 6827
Well, yo' take graveyard dust - see, I wuz a person hurted in dis right feet heah an' it wuz ah had tuh bathe intuh hot watah - boilin' watah intuh red peppah an' ammonia, saltpetah [defect here, could not tell whether salt or saltpeter] an' mah urine - an' jis' bathe in dat fo' nine mawnin's. An' den ah made - it wuz plaster made outa fresh lard an' graveyard dust, see. An' dat's whut drawed de misery out.
(I see, if you were hurt in that right foot.)
Yes. Ah wuz crippled fo' three months an' dat's de only thing dat cured it. A woman came along an' cured it.
(Who came along?)
A woman. She know right smart.
Entry 6828
Goes tuh de graveyard an' git dirt fo"luck: An' yo' kin git it fo' bad luck. If anythin', yo' kin git it offa certain grave, if yo' kin remembah de certain grave; an' if yo' cain't remembah de certain grave, git de dirt, but it's gotta be at night. Yo' cain't go in de daytime an' git. Some peoples have tried it in de daytime when dey goin' tuh de funeral an' git it, but chew'll have tuh go at night, when only de gravediggers are dere.
(What do you do with it then?)
Yes, yo' kin use it fo' luck. Yo' kin take dis graveyard dirt an' git chew some of de flowahs dat's in de graveyard. Yo' kin git some of de rose - yo' cain't use it unless yo' has some kinda flowahs - rose. Yo' kin git chew a flow- ah from de graveyard an' use dis graveyard dirt or eithah fern from de graveyard; or eithah some kinda sprout twig - not any dry. Yo' cain't use any dry twigs, yo' have [to] git 'em all sproutin' when de sap is in 'em. An' place 'em tuh- gethah an' wrap 'em in any kind of cloth yo' wanta. An' wind 'em roun' yuh waist fo' luck, or eithah yo' kin have 'em fo' peoples havin' spells. Or eithah yo' kin use it fo', if yo' have a person sick in yuh home, it's bettah fo' dat. If a person's sick in yore home an' yo' figure dat dey're not goin' git well, de doctors an' evahthin' have given 'em up, use dis graveyard dirt fo' dat, but chew'll have tuh cook it in dere food. Regardless tuh how dirty it is an' all lak dat, yo'll have tuh cook it in dere food, fo' de condition dat dey are in - fo' dere health.
Entry 6829
(What do you use with the graveyard dirt?)
Yo' po' dat on de graveyard dirt.
(Yes?) [Continue.]
Go tuh a undahtakah's parlah or anywhah whah de daidman is. Git some of de fat outa dis man. Melt it down lak yo' would lard. Mix dat wit anythin', mos' commonly wit 'is food, undah- stan'. Or jis' as a medicine, let 'im drink dat, an' he's cured of dat graveyard dirt. He's soun' an' well ag'in.
(I see. I see.)
Entry 7030
Supposed tuh break any habit prakly [practically]. See, in de fo'k of de road where de road come tuh join dataway [demonstrates], or eithah cross data- Way [demonstrates] yo' go an' yo' git dat dirt. An' use it wit blue di'mond, whut dey sell at de drug sto', git John de Conkah, an' put dat in a airtight bottle. An' if de man have a habit of drinkin', or anythin' dat way, dat's de end of dat. Git some dirt in de road... [I interrupt].
(What do you do with that stuff in that bottle then?)
Jis' leave it stay shet up an' put it in de house where he live, 'custom [accustom] tuh live at.
(What is this blue diamond? What is that?)
Yo' git it from de drug sto'. It's lak dis steel dust, sompin lak dat.
Entry 7165
Take some graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it ovah de house. Dat will put 'em fast asleep, dey say. Ah nevah experienced it but ah jis' heard whut dey would say.
(You mean it would put this man asleep?)
Puts 'im fast asleep an' she kin git up an' go jis' where she wanta.
(Where does she sprinkle that stuff?)
Sprinkle it ovah yore house.
(Oh, all around the house - inside the house.)
Yeah.
Entry 7167
Git a li'le graveyard dirt an' put on a person, an' when yo' put it on 'em - git a li'le graveyard dirt an' carry it, tie it up real tight, an' put it up undah de pillah an' let 'em sleep on it at night. An' if he's got a wife an' 'is wife wanted tuh go out, she could put it up undah dere an' let 'im go tuh sleep. If he's got whiskey in 'im or anythin' - anythin' at all lak whiskey on 'im, she kin go on off an' stay jis' long as she wanta. An' when she comes back she'll pull it out an' he wakes up.
(That is to keep him asleep while she is gone.)
Entry 7220
An' a girl, she wuz wantin' tuh leave. She wuz goin' tuh leave me lak on a Friday evenin' an' ah wuz lovin' 'er real hard an' ah didn't wan' 'er tuh go. She wuz goin' tuh leave me an' ah didn't Wan' 'er tuh go. So ah goes tuh a man [doctor] an' he tells me tuh go ahead an' go tuh a grave- yard befo' dat dat mawnin' an' git some dirt from undah - from off a man's breast, right off 'is heart, an' put it in a piece of flannel cloth; an' go tuh a grave where a woman hadn't been long died an' git some dirt offa her heart. An' den take it [both dirts] an' sew it up in a piece of red flannel cloth an' tote it on me. Tie it on mah lef' side, an' he guarantee dat she wouldn't leave. An ah did dat an' she didn't go nowhere. Yo' kin take graveyard dirt an' go tuh a stream of runnin' watah an' turn yore back an' throw it upstream, crost yore lef' shouldah, an' if dey wanted tuh go some place dey couldn't go. (Well, wouldn't you do something else, use someone's hair or something of that sort?)
[Informant ignores my leading question.]
Dat if ah wuz in love wit somebody an' she wuz fixin' tuh leave, an' prob'ly ah would heah dat, an' couldn't git 'er not tuh leave, an' ah could git some graveyard dirt an' go tuh any stream of runnin' watah, an' turn mah back an' throw it behin' me upstream. An' she wouldn't wanta leave, she can't go.
(You don't say anything while you are doing it?)
[Again my leading question is ignored.]
No suh, not anything at all. Jis' go by yo'self an' throw it crost yore left shouldah, an' she'll stay dere. [The intention of the rite is sufficient here.]
Entry 7221
Well, ah've heard 'em say dat if yo' bootleggin' an' yo' wanta keep de law away from yuh house, yo' git out soon in de mawnin'. Yo' take incense. Yo' kin buy dat, an' yuh burn dat, but here's de nex' thing yo' kin do dat ah suggest dan incense. Yo' kin take an' go tuh work an' git dat dirt whut ah suggest tuh yuh.
(What dirt?)
Soon in de mawnin' dat chew go out an' yo' mix up.
(What dirt?)
De dirt dat chew go an' stand on. Aftah yo' make dis dirt, aftah yo' make it up in a mixture. Yo' understand. All right, an' yo' stand on it, an' yo' reach down an' yo' git some of dat dirt. All right. An' aftah yo' reach some from undah de bottom of yuh feet - dis is whut chew call, whut ah told choo 'bout dose twelve head of dose officials, high offi- cials.
(I see.)
But yo' mus' call twelve high officials in de city which yo' live in - names, yo' mus' call dere names. An' yo' put dis dirt in dis pan an' den yo' brings dis pan back. [Then you] goes tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt outa de graveyard. An' den yo' takes dat salt an' yo' sprinkle dat salt ovah dis dirt. An' as yo take dis dirt soon in de mawnin', den de nex' mawnin' 'fo' de sun rise, yo' go all de way roun' yuh house an' sprinkle dis dirt an' say, "As ah cast dis dirt out, ah wants tuh cast [then call some of those officials' names] from dis groun' dat ah stand on." An' dey won't - yo' won' be worried wit 'em. (Will you tell me that story again - over again - you told in the beginning about standing out in a certain part of the house and calling those names. I don't quite remember that.)
[This was a part of the story told before recording began.]
All right. Here it is. Yo' go tuh de east side of de house - de east side, now - an' yo' dig dis dirt [the dirt upon which you stand]. Yo' make it up jis lak yo' wuz makin' a bread; git it good an' crumbly an' soft, yo' see, an' - but choo mus' stand. Yo' want me tuh show yo' how tuh stand?
(Yes.)
Ah'll show yuh [demonstrates]. See? Yo' mus' - aftah yo' git yuh dirt made up good, an' all, den yo' stand upon it lak dis [demonstrates]. See?
(With your shoes on?)
Wit yuh shoes on.
(I see. All right.)
Yo' stand upon it. An' see, when yo' standin' upon it, yo' supposed tuh be standin' on de high officials' heads, becuz dey comes from dust, accordin' tuh de Bible. An' den yo' reach down an' yo' take... [I interrupt].
(Well, didn't you say something about calling names or something?)
Call twelve of dese names of de high officials in dis town, or in de town yo' live. Ah wouldn't know whut dose names is.
(I see. Well, go on again with the story.)
In de town yo' live, see. Yo' call twelve high officials - rulin' powahs in dat town - an' yo' git dat dirt. An' whenevah yo' gits dat dirt from right undah de bottom - de sole of yuh feet - yo' put it in dis pan. An' den yo' takes dis pan an' yo' goes directly from dere tuh de cemetery an' yo' gits some dirt offa de daid body. An' yo' put dat in dere an' yo' mix it wit dat whut choo got from de east side of yuh house. An' aftah yo' do dat, yo' go tuh de table - tuh yuh table or wherevah yuh salt is - an' yo' git some salt an' put in it. An' yo' po [pour] dat salt in it an' den de nex' mawnin' yo' git up soon 'fo' de daylight, den go out an' yo' throw dis aroun' yuh house an' yo' say, "As ah throw dis salt" - jis' throw it out - "dat good fo' nuthin, aftah he [salt] done losed [lost] his savor, but tuh be trampled undah de feets of men." An' den yo' call some of dose twelve officials, high officials, an' yo' won't need worry.
(I see. He would go away, not make him move.)
Yes, keep from makin' yo' move or keep from any officer [keep any officer away] - anything.
(Keep the officers away?)
Yeah, away from your house.
(Trouble of any kind?)
Dat's trouble of any kind.
(I see.)
Entry 7281
If a man killed anybody an' don't want 'em tuh ketch 'im, he kin - de one dat he killed, he kin step backwards ovah 'im three times an' hug 'im an' kiss 'im, go to de graveyard an' put some dirt in each one of 'is shoes, an' dey can't ketch 'im.
Entry 7302
Graveyard dirt? Dog can't run yo' wit graveyard dirt.
(What do you mean dogs can't run you?)
You know, run-away time - yo' know, ah got all dis in slave-time and since freedom. But ah knowed of it in slavery times, when a man run away from 'is mah- stah. [This man said he was 107 years ola when I interviewed him in 1937.] Dey had dogs an' dey fetch a dog behind yo' track, an' dey will start it from right from where yo' started away from de house, but can't go no furthah cuz he done bur-ried [burrowed] his Way out. May care [carry] it tuh de graveyard [dog may care track as far as graveyard], but no furthah dan de graveyard will dey run - can't run. No, can't run. Dog played out right dere. Yes suh.
(What did this man do that was being chased?)
An' when he gittin' away from home, he take a hat or pocket [handkerchief], perhaps an' put it ovah his feet an' put dat graveyard dirt in dere. Well, he [dog] can't run 'im atall. He'll stay right around dere an' de dog will play out right dere. Ah knows dat fer a fact.
Entry 7308
Well, dere so many diff'ren' little things yo' kin do wit graveyard dust. Suppose yo' is in trouble an' yo' killed somebody an' yo' wanted git away. Yo' gits - go to de graveyard an' git some of dat dust. Put some in yore shoes an' put some in yore right pocket, an' dere couldn't no houn's run yo'.
Entry 7309
Ah say if a person kill a person - jes' lak de detectives is now - yo' could kill a person an' go to de graveyard an' git some of dat graveyard dirt. Go to a fresh grave, as fresh a grave as yo' could find, an' git some of dat graveyard dirt and put it in yore shoe. An' den git some an' put in yore left-hand hip pocket an' aftah yo' - don't go out of de gate, git ovah de fence. An' don't nevah look back, jes' keep a-goin' an' yo' kin git plumb away. Ah've heard dat.
Entry 7310
Go to de graveyard gittin' some dirt, diggin' Way down in dere an' gittin' some dirt, an' put it in dey pocket an' yo' go ahead on. Den dey nevah will ketch 'em.
(That's if a fellow did some crime or something.)
Entry 7311
A man 'at [that] kills yuh - say, fo' ninstance, ah shoo' choo an' yo' die, ah stay in ambush an' hid aroun' heah until yo' are buried. Ah go to yore grave an' step backwards over dere an' git some of de dirt, an' ah nevah will be apprehended. (What do you do with that dirt then, after you get it?) Care [carry] it in yore pocket, stick it in yore pocket. Long as yo' keep dat, yo'll go free.
Entry 7312
Well, ah heard 'em say dat it wus good tuh keep from bein' caught when- evah yo' wanted tuh git outa de way of de officahs - things lak dat. (How would you do that?) Yo' would go out an' git dis dirt from a grave where a mean man is buried, an' yo' git it about twelve a'clock in de night, an' yo' take it an' put it in yore shoes. An' de dogs an' things can't track yo'.
Entry 7313
Jes' lak dat ah would kill yo', yo' see, an' ah wanta git away, see. An' yo' know it used [to] be at de time - AH DON'T GUESS YO' REMEMBAH IT. AH DO CUZ AH'M OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW, dat when a murderer killed a man, he goes to de graveyard. He goes to de left side or [and] to de head of de grave, and he goes dere an' he gits a handful of dat dirt - goes down an' gits 'im a handful of dat dirt from dat grave. An' he puts it in his left-hand pocket an' he puts it in his shoes, both shoes. No hound in de world kin trace him.
Entry 7314
If yo' take an' do somepin to a person - kill 'im, an' dey say such a thing as ha'nt comin' back. If yo' see anything, yo' know dis person, yo' go to dey grave on de left-hand side, an' git some dirt an' wear it on yo', an' yo' won't be worried wit such a thing. (That is you get this dirt from the per- son whose spirit is around you, right from his grave.) Yes, on de left-hand side. An' wear it.
Entry 7315
(Have you ever heard of them going out to the graveyard and getting some of -that dirt out there?) I've heard of people usin' graveyard soil, but ah nevah used any in mah life - no.
(Well, what do they say they do with that?)
Ah've heard dey say dey take it an' have diff'ren' cases lak yo' might kill a man an' he's buried dere an' yo' wanta try to help yoreself. Why yo' take nine thimbles of dat graveyard soil from dat grave, but yo' stand off from de grave. [You] stands off an' wit de index fingah [he means little finger] an' your thumb - undahstand, stands off an', as yo' stands off, yo' measure dose spans in equal parts. Dere yo' are. An' yo' take a brass thimble an' take up nine thimblefuls of dat graveyard soil in yore hand, an' dat'll help yo' in de court.
(I see. When you have killed the man. If you have killed a man.)
[My second statement tries to soften the first.]
Say, if yo' killed one - yo' know, anyone, not only - not de person dat kilt de man kin do dat, but ah mean anyone else dat do dat fur 'em, yo' know, what git to de graveyard where de fellah is buried dere. (But YOU MEAN THE FELLOW THAT KILLED THE MAN MUST BE UP IN COURT AND SOMEBODY MUST DO THAT FOR HIM?) Oh, sure, yeah! (Well now, how did you measure that off? I didn't quite understand how he did that.) Measure it off wit yore hand - de index an' de thumb here.
(WHERE DO YOU BEGIN NOW ON THE GRAVE?)
Right at de head of de grave. Dere yo' are.
(In the head of the grave.)
Down to de feet dere. (FROM THE THUMB TO YOUR INDEX FINGER.) [Only later did I realize informant Was calling the little finger the index finger. HE WAS USING THE COMMON SPAN = 9 INCHES. HE WAS HORSE-MEASURING THE GRAVE!] Dere yo' are.
(And you do this way - keep measuring off nine.)
[I solved a number of unusual problems as they arose at the interview table, but this one I missed completely! My keep measuring off nine means informant kept measuring off the distance between his spread-out thumb and index finger! I thought he was measuring them in groups of nine! I did not know that he was try- ing to locate the center of the grave. That comes later. The diagonal lines connecting the 4 corners of the grave - easily drawn with a stick or by crossing 2 long sticks would have given the center. THAT WORD SPAN WAS THE CLUE. BUT IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE HORSE-MEASURED A GRAVE. WHY NOT STEP IT OFF, SIGNIFYING THAT MURDERER OR HIS SUBSTITUTE HAD THE VICTIM UNDER HIS FEET? PERHAPS SOME OTHER SYMBOL OF MAGIC IS INDICATED HERE.1 Nine. Measure off till yo' measure off to de end of de grave. Dere yo' are.
(Oh! To the end of the grave.)
Den yo' divide dose spans - keep count of dose spans. Was it ten, was it five an' a part, was it nine, or was it four an' a half? Yo' understand, huh? Den yo' take an' measure dat grave in de middle section [measure width]. An' den yo' take up - dig a little hole [in] dat [center] an' take dose nine thimbleful of dat graveyard soil.
(In Other WOrds, YOU MEASURE THIS GRAVE TO GET THE EXACT CENTER?)
Dere yo' are.
(I see, I understand. That's what they do to get the fellow off in court.)
Entry 7316
Go to de cemetery right where he [murdered man] wuz buried, yessuh, an' git some of dat dirt right off de top right middleways, an' put it down in a red bag an' sew it up, an' den take dese heah nine needles an' jes' stick 'em all de way roun' de top, an' throw dat in runnin' watah, an' dis man [murderer] he would come back.
(This man who killed this other man?) Yes, he's comin' right back where he left from.
Entry 7317
[Ah] heard one thing about graveyard dirt, dat if yo' wus on de chain gang workin' an' could git to graveyard an' pull up de headbo'rd an' reach down in dere jes' as fah as yo' could, or anywhere in de grave dig down if yo' could, an' git de dirt an' put it in yore shoes, dat de dogs wouldn't run yuh, wouldn't track yo'.
Entry 7318
Go to de graveyard right heah and bury it right chere [demonstrates]. Like dis is mah head heah and dis is mah foot, an' walk backwards - turn yore back an' walk backwards toward mah face, walk all roun' tull [till] yo' git to de headbo'd.
(Wait! You walk back like that, around the grave. And then what?)
[Informant probably demonstrated by walking backwards round his chair.]
An' den yo' put chure han' right down dere an' git a han'ful of dirt an' put yore han' in yore pocket an' turn yore back.
(What does that do?)
If dey do [give] yo' trouble any way, dey can't ketch yuh - de dogs won't run yo' wit it. (Suppose they are trying to catch me and I go out to the cemetery, to the graveyard, and I turn my back and I walk round the grave.) Yes, sir. (I walk back over [round] the head down to the foot. Where do I get this dirt?) Git it right out de head of de - at de headbo'd. See, de bo'd nail down dere. Yo' reach right down dere at de head an' git it.
(Do you get it at the footboard or the headboard?)
De headbo'd.
Entry 7319
If yo' do anythin' an' gittin' away an' de dogs in behin' yo', go to a cemetery to a fresh grave an' run across a fresh grave an' git chew some dirt an' make yore track an' put dat fresh grave [dirt] in it. Take dat fresh graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it around in a circle an' go on off. An' de dog couldn't go no furthah den dat track from dat cemetery dirt from de fresh grave.
(You sprinkle it in a circle.)
Yes, make a circle round lak dat.
(Where do you make the circle around?)
Jes' where yo' standin' at. Jes' take yore dirt an' git chew a handful an' sprinkle it round like dat an' go on off dataway. De dog wouldn't come no fur- thah den dat dirt, where dat dirt at - couldn't pick it [track] up no mo'.
Entry 7321
Well, when yo' goes out to de fo'ks of de road is when yo' in any kinda trouble wit de laws or anyone behin' yo'. Yo' kin take an' go out tuh de fo'k of de road an' take some sulphur an' some red peppah, an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt offa any kinda grave dat chew wanta, between twelve [mid- night] to fo' a'clock. An' yo' kin scattah it all de way around yo' [make a circle round you], an' make a cross mark underneat' each one of yore feets an' one up in de hair ovah yore haid. An' jes' goes right where yo' knows evah offi- cah have tuh come out of his do' an' jes' sprinkle some of dat dirt round dere, an' jes' stay outa de way from 'im fo' nine days. Dey will nevah bothah yo'. (You have to go out to the.forks of the road - the crossroad to do that, where you make that circle.) Yes sir.
Entry 7322
Yo' kin go to de graveyard an' git some graveyard dust. Yessuh, an' den dey kin put some in dere shoe, an' run on to a cow pasture an' keep on goin'. An' den dey kin come on back an' git yo' fingah- print or yore han'print an' dat'll work a long ways. (What do you go to the graveyard for - what's wrong?) Jes' lak if yo' happen tuh be in any trouble any way. (You go to the graveyard and get some graveyard dirt, and what do you do with that graveyard dirt?) Put it in yore shoe, so dey say, an' den run through a cow pasture, if yo' in any trouble or anythin'.
(What will that do?)
Dat will he'p yo' git away. Dat whut dey say. [Sumter, S. Car., (1378), 2448.
Entry 7323
A fellah could - jes' lak he kill someone an' he wanted tuh git away - go an' git some of dat graveyard dirt of de fella dat he killed an' wear it inhis shoe, an' den endurin' [during] de time dat he wearin' dat in 'is shoe - dat is, if dey wus crowdin' 'im wit dogs or somepin lak dat, go on through some big bunch of cows [to step in cow manure] an' go on about 'is business. An' de dogs couldn't trail 'im.
Entry 7324
Jes' lak if somebody kill somebody, well dey git de track dogs on dere track. Well dey kin go tuh de graveyard an' git graveyard dirt an' put it in de bottom of dere shoes. Well de track dogs couldn't track 'em. Also, dey kin git cayenne peppah an' put it in de bottom of dere shoes. Well dat cayenne peppah yo' know will strangle de dogs so dey git off de track.
Entry 7325
An' black or red peppah, salt, bluestone. Make dat stuff up an' sprin- kle it down, if yo' done a crime an' yo' Wanta git away. Dey goin' take de blood- hound to git aftah yo'. Git dat graveyard dirt an' dat bluestone an' salt an' stuff an' put it in your shoe. An' anywhere yo' go dat dog'll track yo' till yo' got dat, an' den when yo' got dat he can't track yo' no furthah, yo' see. Yo' see, yo' done hoodooed dat dog. Dat dog come on back. An' he can't go ovah dat cuz it's too strong fo' 'im, yo' see - dat graveyard dirt.
Entry 7326
Ah heard of if a man or a woman done a crime an' dey git out an' try tuh git away, dey'd rub turpentine undah de bottom of dey feet an' walk across de graveyard an' dey could git away. [This may be my only ex- ample of a woman trailed by dogs. Yes, I remember Eliza in Uncle Tom's Cabin.]
Entry 7331
If a person - lak nov, say ah kilt somebody an' ah wanted tuh git away. Ah kin take mah foot an' put it in dat [cow] manure an' den step in tur- pentine an' run through a cemetery. An' ah'm gone, dey couldn't find me.
Entry 7375
Well, yes, if a man kill a man. If he jump - if dis man now, when he kill 'im, he jump backward, come backwards ovah him, lak yo' step back ovah him befo' de breath leaves 'im or at de time dat he's breathin', an' if he kin git jes' a distance away, he will git away. An' if he don't - jes' lak if he go away an' don't do dat, an' if yo' jes' ketch a man on suspicion figurin' dat's 'im an' if de man ain't, if he ain't a bad 'un, yo' know, sompin lak dat, an' den if he's gone, if dere's any blood dat's in dat dirt, if it's two years or three, yo' bring dat fellah back dere. An' if he's de man did it, dat place will git dark an' darkah when yo' bring 'im back dere to dat place.
(That place where the man died?)
Oh, yes. Jes' lak yo's an officah, yo' take dat dirt wit yuh an' yo' find dat fellah, yo' know de color of de dirt. Jes' lay it right, yo' present dat dirt when yo' git to whah [where] dat person at, dat dirt will turn dark as 'is face.
(That dirt will get darker and darker.)
Entry 7414
I say dey done takes dat bone, a dead person's bone, an' den dey pow- dahs dat up, makes a dust out of it. An' den dey gits de watah dat yo' bathe 'em in an' dis graveyard dirt an' dis cayenne [pepper], all be togethah, an' mixes dat up an' dust dat on 'em, dust where he sit down at. (The water they bathe in. Which water? The fellow who is doing it? Or the one against whom he is doing it?) Yes, sir, de one dat's doin' de work. Gits dat dead person's watah, bath watah, see what dey bathe him in, an' mixes all dat together an' dust it, yo' know anywhere he sit down at, or anywhere he walk at, or yore room or yore bed, eithah one.
(What will that do?)
Dat will kill yo'. Sure it will ruin yo'.
Entry 7471
If a man happen tuh kill a man an' he fall of his face. If he fall on 'is face, if yo' kin go dere tuh de spot where he fall, an' git some of dat dirt where his face wus lyin', an' take dat dirt an' carry it right tuh dis person house whut kill 'im, an' sprinkle it roun' in de yard, or undah de step where some of 'is family prob'ly walk ovah it, dat'll bring 'im back.
Entry 7496
Mah gran'mothah says, she says, it's a devil's shoestring. She say yo' tie dis roun' yore waist - roun'about, yo'know right 'long heah [demonstrates], an' yo' git chew a little bag a sand an' put on each end of dis devil's shoestring, an' de man dat'll appear - yore mind will jes' come to 'im [your mind will show you a. picture of the killer]. De man dat did dis to yo', yo'll see 'im. An' in othah words yo' be lookin' out fo' dat. An' de first man dat chure 'tention [attention] strike an' he gits in yore mind, vell dat's de man dat really did de killin'. Yo' kin take, lak dis [dead] man dere, yo' kin git some of de dirt offa his grave an' jes' scattah it round, yo' know, lak.
(This dirt now, what about that?)
Three days aftah de man is buried yo' kin take dis dirt an' scattah it along dis road, an' if dis man evah comes along dis road ag'in, he'll show 'imself up. In othah words, if he evah cross where yo' scattah dis dirt, in othah words, de spirit is not normal till three days aftah, den yo' git it offa dere an' scattah it 'cross de road.
Entry 7498
Dey says if yo' kin git dis man track, yo' kin bring 'im back. If yo' can't git 'is track, take anythin' belongin' to dis man an' anythin' lak dat. (The man that did the killing?) Yes sir, an' he gone. But, jes' lak yo' kin take de bow off 'is hat. If yo' kin git any hat or anythin' dat belongs to de man, yo' take dat an' wheah dis crime is committed an' wit graveyard dirt, yo' bury it dere.
(You bury it where?)
At de graveyard. [No], yo' git de graveyard dirt an' yo' bury it wheah dis crime is committed, yo' know wheah he did de killin', an' he'll have to come back; if not, to dat house, he'll come back in dat neighborhood.
(Out of what graveyard do you get that dirt?)
Yo' git it out from on top of a wicked grave, a person dat chew know died wicked. Yo' go an' git 'is dirt.
Entry 7500
An' jes' lak if a murdah' [murderer] have did somepin, why go tuh de cemetery tuh a fresh grave, de freshest grave dat chew kin fin'. Go dere an git chew some graveyard dirt an' take two pennies an' some watah an' put it into a bottle an put that graveyard dirt in dere an' shake it up an' set it aside until yo' see bubbles come from it, until bubbles from dem pennies in dat watah. When dem bubbles start, 'is min' is gittin' bad. He'll come right straight back tuh where he killed dis fellah.
Entry 7501
Jes' take of dat dirt, yo' know graveyard, an' a frog. Yo' lay 'im on his back in dat dirt an' yo' put some weight on 'im an' cover 'im an' let 'im stay dere, so he cain't move no ways. Well, he's stay dere - see, he'll smothah in dat. Well, he's comin' back an' he'll find out.
(Well, where are you going to put this frog?)
Undah de steps. Yo' put dat weight ovah 'im, lay 'im on 'is back. (What do you do this for? For what purpose?) Tuh make him come back, de murderer.
Entry 7516
Dey take graveyard dirt an' put it in dey shoe an' dat will keep dem from interferin' in de family, an' it will cause dere death. Say, if yo' kill dat person yondah, well yo' bury 'em. An' ah'll go take some graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it ovah yore flo' an' put some in yore shoes, an' when yo' go out an' travel on, yo' tell it 'fore yo' know it.
(You'll find out on me that I killed that man. How would you find it out?)
By dat graveyard dirt. Yo' lay down an' go tuh sleep an' yo' know yo' did a bad crime. an' yo' - why den yo' go an' tell it. Dey go an' stick yore fingah in a pan of watah [while you are asleep] an' yo' tell evahthing about it. [Wilson, N. Car., (1474), 2654:7.] [This section contains merely a part of the many beliefs and rites in Hoodoo about death, burial and graveyard (see preceding section MURDER and everyvhere); therefore the subject matter here is not as complete as it could be. I have divided the section into three subsections, the first two concerned with grave- yard dirt: (1) HOW TO OBTAIN GRAVEYARD DIRT, and (2) WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT; and (3) COFFINS REAL OR MOCK - PHOTOGRAPH AND COFFIN - DOLL BABY - ANIMAL SUBSTITUTE - BONES FROM THE DEAD. This latter subsection (3) will be given in lettered subsubsections as we reach them.] [Graveyard dirt or dust, the most deadly and feared hoodoo substance, is act- ivated by the spirit of a dead person - a dangerous power to handle. An amateur would be wise to leave graveyard dirt in the hands of an expert, but if he or she desires a do-it-yourself experience or wants to avoid professional expense, here are the rules and procedures to be observed, beginning with a few words about the spirit itself.] [The Spirit in Graveyard Dirt is the same spirit we met at the beginning of Hoodoo (vol.1, Pp.19-164) and elsewhere in the text. Beliefs and rites in this subsubsection reestablish former atmosphere:]
Entry 7517
Yes sir, ah kin go to de graveyard an' git some dirt an' put it into dis room [in Wynn Hotel where I was interviewing, see INTRO. v.1, p. XXX, line 9] an' ah betcha [bet you] can't stay in heah at night. Dere be's somepin all in de cornahs - jes' well, yo' gotta git eveh [every] grain of dat [dirt], yo' can't [become scared and] back aways from 'em [spirit]. Dat's to make, to run a person outa de house, see. Dat will run yo' outa de house. [This opening paragraph contains one of the great laws of the spirit: the complete spirit is in every grain of that graveyard dirt - see margin title, PART OF SPIRIT EQUALS WHOLE OF SPIRIT, p.21.] Dey take dat stuff - ah kin take some an' carry it to a person's house what ah wants [to move into] an' jes' walk in dere wit it in mah pocket, an' throw it all aroun' in de cornahs wit'out people not knowin' it. In a few days dey'll say dere house is ha'nted, dey'll move. Well, dat's de evil spirit comin' back fer dat dirt, to take it back to dat cemetery. To git some of dat dirt, what chew gotta do, yo' gotta put one cent down dere 'fo' [before] yo' kin bring it away; else yo' can't bring it away, so much racket be aroun' dere [the grave] dat yo' can't bring it away.
Entry 7519
People say dat chew could go tuh de fo'ks of de road - like two roads cross [crossroad] yuh know. A person walk in dere an' if yuh wan' 'em back, yuh kin take yore han' an' pull away de left [foot] track - dis is de heart [side] chew know - back tuh yuh, jis' a little bit of dirt out de hollah [= con- cave portion of bottom of foot, called ball of foot by some informants]. An' take dat an' put a little bit of - go tuh de graveyard an' git chew some, jis' lak if somebody yuh know is dead, Mary or John, somebody. Yuh say - yuh go tuh de grave yard an' says, "Mary, ah wan' chew tuh help me. An' ah wan' chew tuh follah me." Says, "Ah wan'a buy some of yore dirt." See, if yo' don't drop dem pennies yuh'll be robbin' de dead. An' run yore han' down about lak dat [usually to the elbow] where it nex' tuh [over] de heart an' take out a snuffbox full. Take dat an' some black peppah an' de track, an' jis' put a little bit in de cornah of yore house de foah cornahs. [This is one of the many four corners of the earth rites in Hoodoo.] An' if it's a woman [who left], she'll come right back - she can't leave. If it's a man he'll come back. An' dat spirit will follah yuh, guide yuh evahwhere yuh go.
(Make you come back.)
[This same rite, with a slight variation, is now used for customers if you are in business:] Fo' frien's [customers], de same thing ah tole yuh 'bout dat grave. Yuh know frien's will speak tuh frien's. Yuh git chew some dirt, don't have no track in it yuh know. Jis' go dere an' git dat dirt an' have a little - yuh git a [new] box of black peppah an' don' use it fo' nuthin but dat. Shake a little bit of black peppah in dere an' jis' carry dat black peppah an' de graveyard dirt [back home]. Yuh wanta gain frien's when yuh in business. An' put some in yore coat Pocket an' yuh be laughin' an' talkin', jis' sorta foolin' around - yuh be - lak shakin' yore han's or somepin. [Here informant, according to my penciled nota- tion made while checking original cylinder reads: "Lowers her voice and begins to whisper." Evidently she was afraid someone could hear through the closed door.] Slap [throw] dat roun' an' wherevah it be it will draw dem - wherevah yuh at, in yore store or any business. An' dey will flock tuh yuh. Now ah've heard dat.
(You use black pepper and graveyard dirt together.)
Dat's right.
(And you get the graveyard dirt just the way you got it before?)
Yeah. Now, yuh see, yore han' drop in three pennies, an' covah de grave up, jis' lak yuh do wit chure han's yuh know. If yuh don't drop in pennies, yuh will rob de dead. If yuh carry somebody wit chew, den yuh will drop in silvah, a dime [tol keep from robbin' de dead. [THE LAST STATEMENT - PENNIES IF ALONE OR A DIME IF SOMEONE ACCOMPANIES YOU - IS PROBABLY MY ONLY EXAMPLE OF THIS BELIEF. As We shall see, a dime, no longer of silver, is sometimes given to the spirit; BUT TAKING A COMPANION WITH YOU VIOLATES THE NORMAL CUSTOM OF ONE PERSON APPROACHING THE SPIRIT.]
Entry 7522
Jis' what sickness, what disease dey died wit - why where dat woman is, maybe she step ovah it, why she will git de reflect of dat. If dey dies wit T. B., why de T. B's will reveal on yo'; an' if dey dies wit rheuma- tism, yo'll take effect of dat. See, all dat comes out of dat bone, yo' see.
Entry 7524
[Despite the rule in the preceding margin title, the following two rites are the exceptions proving the rule. Moreover, if I remember correctly, they are also the only two beliefs permitting a black person to use graveyard dirt from a white per- son's grave. The fol- lowing words may be a third exception: yo' could go tuh de grove- yard...take...three pennies an' go PAY WHITE OR COLORED - see interview RAGGEDY HAN, p.2195, line 19.] [I have never heard how you] harm anybody wit graveyard dirt but I have heard dis: I've heard dat yo' git graveyard dirt, an' a button from a rattlesnake, an' two teeth from a cotton-mouth blacksnake - two of 'is front teeth. Dey say dat yo' kin take dat dirt, but graveyard dirt from a white person's grave - not from a colored person's, a white person's graveyard - an' dey say yo' kin come into a lotta wealth. I've heard of dat dataway.
(Well, what do you do with these teeth and things?)
Well, now yo' put all dat togethah an' tie it up in a little red flannel cloth an' yo' wear it roun' yore neck - jes' tie it roun' yore neck an' yo' wear it. An' evah mawnin' befo' speakin' to anybody yo' have prayers. I disremembah what de prayer is an' den yo' kin become very wealthy. FROM DE WHITE PEOPLE I'VE HEARD DAT.
Entry 7525
[A person] jis' died, yes. Git graveyard dirt, dig it off de head of a white man's grave. Undahstan', go tuh a white man's grave. Go out an' git some wood ashes - ashes burnt from wood, yuh know. [Wood ashes are the payment!] An' put it in de grave an' take about, aroun' about a half a tablespoonful of cayenne peppah, an' put it in through dat [graveyard dirt] an' stir it up - mix it all up. An' when yuh git dat mixed up, make dust out of it yuh undahstan', an' pass it on de hants. Called hants [al spirit, yo' know.
(What will they do with that? What will they do with that then?)
What will yuh do wit it?
(Yes?)
Well, de spirit, somepin like yore hants be - have de spirits. Git yuh dat dirt an' jis' sprinkle it aroun' yore place of business - round about, like dis house is [your place of business]. Well, yuh jis' sprinkle it all aroun' yore house, sprinkle it jis' dere [nowhere else].
(What will that do then?)
That will run 'em away.
(Run what away?)
De hants.
(The hants?)
Yes.
Entry 7526
Well, ah heard dat dey could go tuh de graveyard an' carry three pen- nies tuh some sinner's grave, tuh somebody dat chew know, an' dig a hole down about heah, 'bout lak neah de heart, an' ask in dese people's name fo' three cents' worth of graveyard dirt. An' dat wus tuh move a person, but not take it in de house, in yore house. An' ah've heard dat dat would really move a person.
(Well, what would they do with it after they got this dirt?)
Put it in dis person's house whut chew wanta move. Threw it on de ground, or if yo' kin git dere, throw it undah de bed. De neaheh yuh git it dere, de quickah dey'll go.
Entry 7527
Well, go right in the graveyard an' gits some of dat dirt, an' throw it under dis house an' throw on top of de house, an' sumpin will run 'im out, jis' keep aworryin' 'im. De dead spirit will jis' keep aworryin' 'im an' git 'im out of dat house. He couldn't stay there. [There are many examples of this belief in Hoodoo.]
Entry 7528
Yuh kin take some graveyard dirt an' take an' throw it ovah yeh house, an' not let it [in] de house, an' dat would make 'em stop bothahin' yuh, run [them] away. Throw it all de way ovah de house. Do it fer nine mawnin's. Take it in a bottle an' throw it ovah.
Entry 7529
[Not so well known as the violent side of graveyard dirt is its cause of sleep. What could be more logical, the word cemetery itself means sleeping place? Unfortunately this quieter aspect of graveyard dirt has fewer examples: a thief with straw blowing graveyard dust through keyhole to keep his victim in house asleep; and chicken thief scattering graveyard dirt to put watchdog asleep, even chickens asleep! Here is another one: Someone put graveyard dirt in a mon's hat and every time he sat down he went to sleep! Short story. This was a short story I read on the Richmond cylinders but did not transcribe. Further I probably on the cylinder-space tab drew an X indicating to transcriber not to transcribe. My original notation in pencil is attached as given above except for the reference: Richmond, Va., (402), 350:5+85.]
Entry 7531
Den, again, dey goes to de bur'in'-groun's [rare expression] whenevah a grave is open an' dey git a han'ful of bur'in'-groun' dirt [rare]. Takes dat an' brings it home an' puts it in a bag shaped like dis [demonstrates]. (A bag shaped like that.) [For this shape, see later.] Uh-huh. Tie dis en' an' puts it in a bag. Dey lay dat on de groun' on a certain spot in de cornah of a fence, jes' like in de cornah of dat house. It lay dere fo' nine mawnin's. De nex' nine mawnin's dey go dere an' lif' it up an' make a oath, turns it ovah an' let it lay anothah nine mawn- in's [3 separate 9 mornings]. Den dey go dere den an' take it up an' make a oath, takes it up an' shakes it togethah. Den dey'll sprinkle cayenne peppah, fresh salt an' sulphur [3 ingredients]. Den dey shakes it. [Shaking is a magic rite.]
(Salt and sulphur.)
[And] fresh cayenne peppah [pepper from a new container]. Den dey takes dat an' grinds it up right fine - grind it togethah. Den dey got a way, dey take dat, dey tell, an' sprinkle it undah de edge of dey do'sill, an' let dat lay nine mawnin's. (Now, that - this is different from that bag [in 380:2]. The person fixed up a bag you told me about. This is something different from that bag. This bag - what shape is this bag? Like an ice-cream-come shape, or a sock or?) No, de bag is like a stockin'.
(Like a stocking.)
An' a new bag dough [though]. Dey always say to git new things. (Now, what will that do? In that first thing you told me about that bag, what do they do that for?) Dey put dat down for yuh to walk ovah. Say if yuh walk ovah it, it will kill yuh. An' if dey can't git yuh to walk ovah it, dey'll take an' sprinkle it down.
(Where do you walk over it?)
Sprinkle it down or put it undah de edge of de do'sill an' blow it tuh yuh. [Blow it under the door into the room, blowing in itself also being a magic rite.] Well, if yuh go tuh sweep, dat stuff git in yore throat an' strangle yuh an' make yuh cough yoreself tuh death, an' folks will think yuh got T. B. (I see.) [Informant gives a similar method of killing by snake dust in the previously mentioned 380:2.]
Entry 7541
Go to ole cemetery, yo' know, dat dey not usin' fo' a long time, an' yo' go out dere an' be's out dere seventeen mawnin's, an' git chew a spoonfulla dirt offen each grave. De first grave yo' start dere. Go dere seventeen days. An' den de nex' day start lak de second one heah, start dere an' travel through dere. Git dat an' carry it to yore home, an' hang it up in a sugah sack yo' know, or somepin lak dat. Jis' hang it up an' not let it git wet, an' not touch it no mo'. Dey'll be back dere in sixteen days. (This is to bring somebody back that has left you. You go out to an old cemetery. How many times?) Seventeen times. (And you get a spoonful of dirt off of a grave. You get a spoonful each morning off the same grave?) Nawsuh, git one dis mawnin' off dat one, an' de nex' mawnin' de othah one.
[Informant's answer confuses my following comment:]
(You go to two different graves. The first morning you get the spoonful off of this grave and the next morning, this other grave, then you go back to the other grave, until you have seventeen spoonsful. And then you take this home and put it in a sugar sack, and that is supposed to bring the person back to you. You don't make any wishes or anything of that sort then?) Nosuh, yo' jes' didn't let nobody see yo' doin' it an' don' let nobody know where de sack is, say nuthin - not let nobody handle it.
Entry 7590
Git dat dirt - go tuh de graveyard. Well, yuh takes a new grave, kinda new, about say a week old. An' dey goes - goes down tuh de haidbo'd, de haidbo'd of de grave, an' dey get dat dirt. Well, dey gits some of yore hair an' some of yore gar- ments [3 ingredients] an' dey take dat an' put it where yuh have tuh walk over it. An' by changin' - do's dat, do it jis' befo' de moon change. When de moon changes, de spell be comin' on yuh. Well, den it come tuh gittin' wuse [worse] an' wuse, an' yuh'll git so cain't no- body do anythin' wit chew an' yuh jis go crazy - die off from it.
Entry 7592
Ah've heard dat on de new moon dat chew kin go tuh de graveyard, if a person died wit a certain disease, perhaps tuberculosis, yuh kin git de dirt from roun' de grave an' possibly plant it in someone an' dey'll git de disease. (How would you plant it on this person?) Yuh kin possibly put it in dere clothin', or possibly roun' any object dat dey will put dere ban's on.
Entry 7593
(To bring in customers.)
Yo' use de dead man an' de way dey mix it, yo' mix it wit de clay taken from a fresh grave at de full of de moon. Mix de clay an' sulphur an' red peppah an' bury it undah de foot of de step, an' it use'ly brings in per- sons.
Entry 7596
Hear'd 'em says graveyard dirt at fō' 'clock, if yo' go dere. Jes' lak yo' - now yo' [the boss] got a job an' ah wanta git mō' salary. Ah might ast fo mo': salary an' yo' make out lak yo' don' wanta give it tuh me. An' yo's de boss. An' if ah kin git - co'se ah do' [don't] nevah do dat - an' run yore arms down jes' as fur as yo' kin. It don' make any diff'r- ence - some folks say dey be gun folks [evil person who carried a gun}, but it doa' make any diff'rence. Yo' run yore han's down jes' as fur as yo' kin reach lak dat down in de middle of de grave, from de haid tuh 'bout de middle of de grave an' git it. An' git some of dat on 'im [the boss] somehow a [or] 'nothah, why den he mo' 'en apt tuh raise yo' pay an' yo' all be good friends.
Entry 7598
Dere's lotsa people always say dat if yuh go tuh de graveyard 'long about - well, 'fo' [before] day in de mawnin' an' dig down right about de heart of de person, right about de breast of de person, dig down way down deep intuh de grave an' git de graveyard dirt, no doubt, an' put it in yore shoes or wrap it in a rag an' tote it in yore pocket, dey always say - dat anothah sayin' - dat is good luck fo' gamblin' also.
Entry 7599
"Fore sunrise in de mawnin' yo' kin go. tuh de graveyard an' take a pen- ny an' put it in de centah of dat grave. An' run yore han' down dere an' take up some of dat dirt, In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost. An' yo' kin bring it back tuh dat person house dat chew wanta run away. an' sprinkle it all roun' dere house. In de Name of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost, an' dash it an' don't look back.
(That will run them away?)
Dat'll run 'em away.
Entry 7600
Dey say - some dey buy thin's tuh make yuh move. Some, dey go in de graveyard an' git thin's tuh make yuh move. Yuh supposed tuh go in de grave yard - now dis is one ah'm gona tell yuh. Yuh supposed tuh go in de graveyard at noon of de day, reach down intuh de bosom [of] any grave dat chew kin reach down, an' git a han'ful of dirt down tuh which yuh think would be tuh de body of dat person, or neahest [nearest] dere heart as yuh could git. Yuh take dat dirt out, den yuh put in two or three pennies. Tell dem dat chew didn't come tuh beg nor tuh borrah [bor- row] yore way, but chew payin' yore Way tuh make such an' such a party move - put 'em tuh movin'. Den yuh place dose pennies in dere an' shut dat hole up. Yuh take dat dirt an' take it home. Put some salt wit dat dirt an' de name of de party an' sprinkle it wherevah dat person is. Dey tell me dat dey can't stay dere.
Entry 7603
Ah say yuh kin [go] tuh de grave- yard an' git some graveyard dirt an' gun- powdah an' sprinkle it roun' dere place. An' if dey git [dirt] comin' from de head, dat takes 'em from de house; but if dey git it comin' tuh de house, dat brings yuh dere.
(Get what coming from the head?)
De dirt.
(What dirt?)
Ah say, tuh make a person move sometime yuh goes out dere an' git dat dirt an' sprinkle it roun' wit gunpowdah. Dat makes a person restless an' give 'em a mind tuh go, not tuh stay.
(You said something about nine days, didn't you?)
Yes, nine days aftah de party's buried. Yeah, nine days yuh go dere an' git it right out de chest. Den yuh kin go dere an' git it an' put it in a pile of chips. Put it in a pile of [wood] chips an' [if your victim] go dere an' rake dem chips up an' put 'em in de fire, yuh [the victim] liable tuh ketch afire an' burn tuh death. (If someone wants to do you that harm, they sprinkle this in the chips and you are liable to burn.)
Entry 7604
Yuh kin [go] tuh de graveyard three or nine or fifteen days aftah any- body is dead, an' git some of dat graveyard dust, if yuh wanta harm anybody or kill 'em. Yuh dig a square hole [or oblong one, both a grave sym- bol] an' put dat dirt in it, an' take dis little bo'd an' covah dat hole up, an den put some othah dirt on top of dat, an' dey really got chah.
(Where do you put that dirt, this graveyard dirt?)
Well, yuh kin put neah tuh de do' - tuh de front do', or tuh de back do', or any de alley [gallery?], any place where dey gotta walk at, an' yuh know dey've gotta walk across it.
conditional intent to harm or kill in a described account. The source expresses conditional intended harm; no actual injury, target identity or perpetration is established. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 7605
An' den dey say, if yuh wanta run a person, tuh take some dirt out from undah dere steps, an' go tuh de cemetery an' go tuh a sinnah's grave. Dat's whut ah heard. Ah haven't tried dis one, 'twuz told. People have been to folks [doc- tors, fortunetellers, etc.] lak dat. Go tuh de cemetery an' go tuh a sinnah's grave, an' go tuh de breast an' run yore han' down in de grave, as far as yuh kin git chure han' down in dat grave. Take up a han'fulla dirt outa dere an' den yuh pay dat daid a penny. Put it down in dere, say, "Now, ah'm payin' yuh fo'dis." Take dat dirt an' bring it roun' de house an' dat dirt from undah de steps. Take dat dirt an' put it intuh a cloth an' sew it into somepin. Dis box an' dat dirt will drive dat person away from dere. (Do you put that graveyard dirt and this dirt from under the steps into the same box?) Intuh de same box.
(Then what do you do with that box?)
Yuh take dat box - yuh put it in a box or eithah sew it up. Wear it aroun' yuh. Dat drives a person away from yuh, too. Dat's whut ah was told. Ah've nevah tried dat.
Entry 7606
Well, yo' go tuh de graveyard roun' about twelve a'clock at night tuh some sinnah's grave or murdahah have been killed [or executed] an' on de side de heart's on yuh put a penny down dere an' git a handful of dat dirt. An' while yo' gittin' yo' usin' a oath. An' yo' bring it back tuh de house an' take it an' put chew salt an' peppah an' sulphur in it an' yuh keep it. Put it in a jar an' anybody dat chew don't like or wheresomevah yo' go at an' yo' wanta start I confusion, yo' Jes' take dat 'long wit chew an' jes' sprinkle it all aroun' as yo' go. Dat will certainly cuz confusion wit yore enemies.
Entry 7611
Ah learn of it. If dey git some of yore hair or dey jis' only git dat dirt right out de centah of dere yard. Ah learned tuh hear whut ah'm talkin' 'bout. Yuh git de dirt right out de yard, but yuh says a few words yuh know In de Name of de Lord an' yuh'll take dat dirt up an' yuh'll wrap dat hair in it. An' when yuh wrap dat hair in it an' wear dat, yuh would put a little bit of eatin' salt in it, an' den yuh'll work dat. An' yuh git, no doubt- sometime ah hear 'em say yuh git graveyard dirt, but den yuh'll git a wicked per- son. An' yuh'll take jis' de least of dat dirt but yuh'll pay dat graveyard-man who dead. Yuh [must] know 'im. An' yuh'll take a little bit of it an' yuh'll give him two cents. An' yuh run yore han' in de body of it - yuh know, de grave. An' den yuh'll mix dem two thin's tuhgethah, an' den yuh'll wrop 'em tight an' tie 'em tight, an' den yuh bury it. Dat's whut ah learned about it.
(What will that do then?)
Well, yuh jis' only bury it an' yuh jis' tell it whut chew want it tuh do - jis' lak yuh's talkin' tuh me. Yuh'll tell it whut chew wan' it [to] do jis' befo' yuh bury it doWn. Dat's harmin' 'em. DAT DEAD PERSON WILL FOLLAH YUH AN' DAT GIVE YUH A AGONOUS [agOnizing] CONDITION. (You take some hair from a person's head and some of this dirt from the grave- yard?) Yessuh, an' a lil' bit [of dirt] out of yore yard. (Now for example, suppose I wanted to harm you, I would get some of your hair, but I would take the dirt out of my own yard?) Out yore own yard, and... (And then some dirt out of the graveyard. And then I would mix this stuff all up and talk with it, and then I would bury it some place?) Dat's right. Tie it tight wit a raw cotton thread.
(And that would harm you?)
Harm me.
(Well, what would it do to you?)
Well, lotsa time it's 'cordin' tuh whut chew say tuh it. It'll rum me crazy, it'll always keep me mindless, an' den it'll keep me ill all de tize.
Entry 7614
Ah heard dat chew kin take graveyard dirt. Yo' must dig roun' about de length of yore arm. Yo' must drop three pennies in dere wit dat. See, an' leave it dere an' say de Lord's Prayah. An' whutsomevah yo' want. chew git it. (What do you do with that dirt?) Yo' brings a li'le up wit chew. All right, chew bring a li'le dirt up wit chew, but chew gotta say de Lord's Prayah when yo' bring dis dirt up. All right, yo' takes dat dirt, yo' puts it in a envelope an' yo' sends it tuh de guy dat chew wan' tuh have. If he's in state prison, he must be free.
Entry 7618
Ah heard 'em say dat yuh kin go tuh de graveyard - lak dat, if ah Wants tuh change mah luck - dat ah kin go tuh de cemetery an' dig right up on de right-hand side of de grave jis' about where ah think de heart oughta lay, an' dig a hole down deep an' git me out two han'fulla dirt. Bring it out. An' when ah git dis dirt, ask fo' luck - jis' ask of de dead fo' luck, an' drop from five tuh eight pennies in dat hole an' plug it up. An' when ah rise up from off mah knees, tuh thank 'em [a rare courtesy!], an' walk away an' don't look back. Well, ah take dis dirt an' carry it tuh mah house an' sprinkle it roun' dere, an' dey say dat will give me luck.
(That is to change your luck. In anything?)
In anything.
Entry 7619
(What do you know about graveyard dirt?)
Well, ah tell yuh, yuh kin take graveyard dirt - now, yuh kin go tuh de grave- yard jis' lak if yuh wanted tuh do anybody any harm. Well, yuh kin go dere. Well, yuh kin carry - it's a cert'in 'mount of pennies fo' yuh tuh carry, see. Well, yuh kin carry dem eight pennies an' yuh go tuh de haid of de person, see. Well, yuh ast dem fo' some of de dirt, see; an' tell 'em dat chew'll pay dem fo' it, see. Well, yuh drop dese pennies intuh de dirt right tuh de haid of dem, see. Den yuh take some of de dirt. Git some of de dirt an' put it in a papah an' yuh kin bring it on back home, see. Well, yuh kin take dat dirt an' jis' lak yuh go tuh a person's house, or yuh kin git someone tuh do it fo' yo'. Yuh kin go in dere an' sprinkle dat dirt roun' in dere, see. Well, it will cause dat whole room tuh git upstarted, see. Dere'll be fussin' an' fightin' an' goin' on until dey [man and woman] be separated, see.
Entry 7621
Wal, dey learnt me dat if yuh wants tuh do any harm wit graveyard dirt, dat chew take ten cents [dime] an' go tuh a graveyard early in de amin' jis' befo' day, an' run yore han' down in dere jis' as deep as yuh kin. Have de dine in yore han' an' drop de dine dosn in. If yuh gu dem person name, yuh call dem name an' tell 'em yuh wants tuh buy a dime's wor' of dust an' do so- an'-so wit it. An' dey say when yuh git dat han'ful of dust, leave de dime dere an' take dat dust an' care [carry] it an' strike it round yore [victims] house. Jis' throw it roun' dey place of business.
(What will that do?)
Dey say that will run dem out or kill 'em, jis' whatsomevah dat yuh tell 'em
[the dead] tuh do - yuh wants tuh do wit it.
Entry 7622
Take some dimes an' git chew a little graveyard dust an' bury it undah de front dō'steps an' dat finely [finally] make 'em leave. Yessuh, some dimes an' wrap 'em up right tight in a rag, an' put some of dat dust dere an' bury it undah dat do'step. (What is the idea of putting the dimes, I wonder?) Well, dem dimes - see, dey stay dere so long ah guess, an' dey cankers, see, an' yo' know anything dat cankers will gen'ly [generally] make anything go 'way. [Is this the reason? Or is the rare case of payment for the dirt being kept with the dirt?]
Entry 7623
Well, dey tell me jis' lak if yo' have lots of enemies an' dey say if a mean person wus tuh die, dat chew go dere, out tuh dis graveyard, no one but chew, an' git some of dis dirt out an' give 'em - put 15c down in dere, say, "Here's 15c yo' kin have." An' say yo' takes dis dirt an' stan' up an' throw it in de house. Dey say dat would conquah yore enemies down.
(Whose house do you throw that in, your own house or the enemy's house?)
Tuh yore enemy's house but not let no one see yuh. Throw it an' let none of 'em see yuh, an' dat will conquah dem down.
Entry 7624
Now, if yo' wanta go tuh a cemetery, somebody daid dat chew know, take 25 cents 'long wit chew, tuh de haid of de grave an' push yore arm down as fur as yo' kin git it. An' leave dat quartah down dere an' bring up yore three fingers of dirt, an' take dat long wit chew. Dat'll give yo' luck. [Instead of picking up a pinch of dirt with two-fingers, thumb and index fin- ger, a method mentioned elsewhere, some other informant says pick it up with three fingers: thumb, index finger, and middle finger.]
(What do you do with that after you get it?)
Wrap it up in a piece of paper or a piece of brown cloth an' put it in yore pocket an' keeps dat 'long wit chew. Well, dat's one way tuh git chureself luck.
The informant describes paying a quarter at the head of a known deceased person's grave, taking three fingers of dirt and carrying it in paper or brown cloth for reported luck. Hyatt compares two-finger and three-finger collection methods, referencing another informant; that comparison remains editorial.
Entry 7626
Stickbo'rd tuh de haid of graveyard [grave]...when yo' goes dere. Yo'll have tuh go dere at twelve 'clock at night. Durin' de time of goin' dere yo'll have tuh pay de graveyard-man three cents an' a half a pint of whis- key. (Where do you put that stuff?) Yo' have tuh dig in de haid of 'is breast, an' dig dat out an' set de whis- key down in de centah of it, an' step across 'im three times - backwards like dat [demonstrates] come across, go across - go across - go across - an' den go back an' talk tuh 'im in dat hole whut chew want 'im tuh do.
(What do you do with the pennies?)
Right in dat same hole where yo' put de whiskey, an' den call 'im up an' bring some of dat stuff away, out de hole, an' put it in a bottle. An' den he'll work fer yuh, do jis' whut chew want 'im tuh do.
Entry 7628
Ah learnt dat yo' could git dirt out of a graveyard an' put it roun' a person's house an' run dem away. An' yo' could put it undah de house an' someone would burn de house down. (This graveyard dirt under the house?) Undah de house would burn de house down. An' if yo' sprinkle it roun' de house, why it would make de person move, dey couldn't stay dere. Ah heard dat when yo' git it, yo'd have tuh git it in a bag, put it in a paper bag, an' yo'd have tuh keep it separate from any othah dirt.
Entry 7629
Graveyard dirt in de mawnin' - 'long in de mawnin' jes' befo' day, yo' kin go out to de graveyard an' dig into a grave an' jes' at de end of dey foot wheresomevah a person is buried into dis grave, an' git three handsful of dat sand. An' put it into a red papah bag an' bury it. Keep it three or fo' weeks [first], [because] dis person dat chew love, it's [the length of burial time of dirt in red bag is] 'cordin' [according] to how colored dey are. Yo' kin make dem come back home in a certain length of time.
(What would they do with that dirt after they got it, could you tell me?)
[I wanted a detailed account of how time of keeping dirt depended upon the darkness or lightness of a person's shade of black or brown or lighter shades of a person's skin. My preceding question was a bad one because I ask for a repeti- tion of general information rather than the specific details about intensity of color. THERE ARE RITES IN HOODOO DEALING WITH COMPLEXION, especially those about candle colors.] Ah really don't know. Ah hear lots of 'em say how it's done. Dere so many Ways, ah would really not know exactly how it's done. Ah heered lots of 'em say it.
(Well, what do you get this dirt for?)
Yo' git dis dirt to make a person [come back home].
(You put this dirt in the red paper bag. Then what do you do with it?)
Yo' wrap it an' bury it jes' lak yo' would a package. Yo' know, Wrap up a package an' bury it undah de ground somewhere near about where yo' stay at.
Entry 7630
Yo' kin take graveyard dirt if yo' is a gambler, if yo's a bolito player or if yo's a poker player or somepin like dat. Yo' kin dig down an' git some graveyard dust an' tie it up in a red bag - see, understand, a red bag an' yo' carry dat in yore pocket. Now, we often wins wit dat, 'cuz dat's where we come from [from the dust of the earth]. An' tote it in yore right-hand pocket. If yo' won't git lucky from dat yo' won't git no luck.
Entry 7631
They git the dirt out of the graveyard and they stop that up in a bot- tle and they will come to yore house. If they don't like you, they come to yore house with that graveyard dirt. Mix it with a little salt and they sprinkles it underneath the steps. Then they stop the other one tight an' bury it. But chew not supposed to be home when dey do dat, and any time yo' go back to dat house why yore spirit is gone. Dat driv yore spirit away. Yo'd go to de house but chew can't stay.
Entry 7632
Yo' kin take de graveyard dirt an' boll it an' put it in a bottle dat kin broke easy. An' yo' an' a person come in contact, dey fixin' tuh fight [you], if yo' git a chance tuh break dat bottle ovah dere haid an' cut dem an' bring de blood out, why dey'll linger an' pine away an' die. (You do that if you think you are going to get into a fight, get into a fight with anyone?) Yes. See, see him comin', why crack dat bottle ovah his head an' bring a little bit of blood an' let de watah run down. [I suggest that the graveyard dirt is boiled to arouse the captured spirit of the graveyard dirt to fighting madness.]
Entry 7633
Dey could go an' git some graveyard dirt, an' dey have whut dey call a Way of dressin' A BOX LAK DIS THING [my Telediphone recorder on the table be- tween us], like puttin' it in a box, if dey wanted tuh do harm tuh yuh. If yuh were a woman or if yuh wus a man, eithah way, yuh take it vice-a-versy. Put it in a box an' - put dis graveyard dirt in it an' go tuh yuh home when dere wus not no one aroun'. An' lift up yuh bottom step, de firs' one dat yuh walk on, an' place it down in dere. Den dey will manage some way not tuh go back dere de same day, but dey will go back maybe in de evenin' tuh stir yuh aroun' an' maybe send yuh fer a drink of watah or somepin lak dat. An' den dey will dress yer whole house an' yuh won't stay dere. Dere is no Way fer yuh tuh stay dere.
(How will they dress the house?)
Well, dey dress it wit de same dirt dat dey have dat dey gits in de graveyard, but dey git it near [the] heart.
Entry 7634
Go tuh de graveyard an' git me some graveyard dirt. If dey bury hishaid lak dat toward de east, an' ah'll jis' straddle dat grave an' ah'll git dat dirt in a tin box. Well, ah'll git dat dirt in a tin box an' ah'll take dat dirt an' ah'll put it undah mah arm. Ah'm comin' on home. Ah'll fasten dat dirt up an' when ah git a chance ah throw it in dere house. Dat's whut ah do.
(What do you mean you straddle that grave?)
Jis' straddle it lak dat [demonstrates].
(Where do you dig the dirt from?)
Right off de grave, right on top of it. Ah'll go to a person dat died bad an' went tuh hell.
The informant describes straddling a grave, collecting surface dirt in a tin box, carrying it under an arm and throwing it into a house. Questions and a bracketed demonstration note are separate. The deceased person's fate is the informant's belief; the account does not establish it as fact.
Entry 7635
They say they take this graveyard dirt, choo understand, take it an' put it in a box. Take a piece of yuh underweah whut choo weah nex' tuh yuh skin [and put it in the box], an' jis' put it in a trunk an' let it stay there. An' as this dirt turns this piece of yuh underweah yel- lah, dat's jis' de way yuh'll turn. Yuh'll jis' fade right away. NO DOCTOR
[M.D.] KIN CURE YUH!
Entry 7636
Prob'ly if yo' [a doctor] got girl [patient] an' she's worried up 'bout some man 'nother, an' she cain't git 'im tuh act right, cain't git 'im tuh do right, an' he won't treat 'er right or sompin 'nothah lak dat, den yo' kin go tuh a graveyard at night. Yo' have tuh go dere certain time of night, go at twelve a'clock at night an' git a han'ful of dirt an' tie it up in a han'kerchief an' bring it back dat same night an' be sho' dat yo' know de room dat she sleeps in. Say, fo' ninstance, she sleepin' in dis room, an' yo' come tuh de windah dere an' yo' 'sposed take a li'l' de dirt an' sprinkle it up on de windah sill an' take de rest of de dirt an' sprinkle up on de walk, where dey walk comin' intuh de house. An' he'll nevah treat her wrong no mo'. He will always be nice tuh her den.
Entry 7637
Yo' kin take dat graveyard dirt an' throw it aroun' in yore house an' throw all alongside of de bed, an' rub it on down dere. An' yo' kin take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' kin make a man - ah mean work fo' yo' de balance of 'is life wit dat graveyard dirt. An' take a little of it an' tie it in de cornah of red silk han'ke'- chuf an' tote it on yo'. Jes' tote it on yo' enywhere an' he'll nevah be satis- fied till he back wit chew.... He git away from yo', he ain't satisfied until he git back where he wuz....
Entry 7638
Dirt from man's grave, at face part, pick up with silver spoon, go at just dark or just before day, sprinkle in 4 corners of house, or throw on top of house, to move.
Entry 7641
Dey go out tuh de fo'ks of de road, an' ah think dey speaks fo' times [recite an incantation of some sort] an' turns tuh de lef'. An' dey goes tuh de graveyard an' dey gits some graveyard dust from de left, from de head of de grave, an' put it in a li'le bag an' weah it in dey pocket- book. (What is that supposed to do?) Dat supposed tuh give yo' luck. (That will give you luck, I see. You go out to this crossroad and speak four times?) Yes, sir.
(What time do they go out there, any particular time or just any old time?)
Naw, five an' six o'clock in de mawnin' an' twelve o'clock at night, an prob'ly three o'clock in de mawnin'. [This means midnight or after, or before daybreak - the usual dark hour.]
(I see, and from the crossroads then they go to the cemetery.)
Yes, sir.
The informant thinks four utterances at road forks and a left turn precede taking dust from the left head of a grave and carrying it for luck. The account gives several possible hours; Hyatt summarizes a usual dark hour and interprets the utterances as an incantation. Keep the informant's uncertainty and times distinct from those editorial summaries.
Entry 7642
Well, dey takes a tombstone, from mah undahstandin', from a person dat dey knows is very evil an' lived a wretched life. Jis' lak if ah wanted tuh have disturbance in de home or anythin', well, ah take dat from dere an' ah put it anywhere aroun' yore house. (What do you take, the whole tomb- stone?) Take de whole tombstone - de dirt on it. (Oh, the dirt on it?) Yes, an' put it anywhere roun' yore house an' dat. Yo' ain't goin' tuh live in dat house. Yo' undahstan'?
(How do you get that dirt off this tombstone, how do you get it?)
Dig it.
(Oh, you dig it near the tombstone?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 7644
If yo' got somebody an' maybe yo' Wanta kill dat person or wanta harm dat person. Say now if yo' go up in de graveyard an' maybe it been some man dat have lived a rowdy life. Yo know some people live a very rowdy life, nevah attempt tuh be a Christian, a very rowdy person. Some people cuss tuh de last. Say yo' go tuh dat person an' go tuh de foot of 'is grave an' dig down one foot in de groun', she say. An' git chew a handful of dat dirt an' put it in a bag, an' bring it back home an' go round at dat man's back do', an' jes' take dat dirt an' throw it lak it wuz some flour or sompin. on de ground. Say, why dat man will come afflicted wit 'is laigs, or make his foot swell up, or he'll have some kind of ailment about 'is laigs account dat graveyard dirt bein' around de dō'.
Entry 7646
Git some dirt. See, de grave is settin' dere lak dis. Well, yo' go right in de centah of dat grave an' run yore han' dat way an' git some of dat. An' carry it off an' put it on dey po'ch an' sprinkle it in dey yard.
(And the man will stay home.) [Wilson, N. Car. (1514), 2681:7.]
Entry 7647
Dey says dat yo' kin go tuh a graveyard an' take de dirt off de centah of de grave, an' put it intuh a box an' carry it a few days wit yo'; but put red peppah intuh dat box. An' yo' kin take dat same thing an' mix it up an' use it in de woman's mind tuh git 'er confused, an' she won't be satisfied wher- evah she goes.
Entry 7648
Whenevah dey's [there is] someone livin' at a place dat dey didn't Wan'em dere, wan'em tuh move or somepin. Dat dey'll go tuh a grave an' take de haidstone an' put it tuh de foot, an' take de foot- stone an' put it tuh de haid. An' reach down in de middle of de grave an' jis' as fah [far] a'zhoo [as you] kin reach - yeh ahm [arm] will go down - an' git some de dirt an' bring it up. An' mix it tuhgethah wit some cayenne peppah, an' sprinkle it aroun' de home where dey äh [are]; an' dey'll leave, dey won't come back.
Entry 7649
Ah heard 'em say, go tuh de graveyard an' git some de graveyard dust cleah [clear] out de man's breast an' bring it back an' put it undah 'is do'step. Dat'll run 'im away.
Entry 7650
Yo' dig down an' git some grave- yard dust an' yo' go down - git it from near de heart of de body of de person who might be layin' dere. An' keep dat in yore pocket an' yore bossman cain't hardly fire yo'. Dat's whut dat's kept fo'.
Entry 7651
Jes' reach dat deep in de grave right in de centah close tuh de heart. An' den yo' take it from de foot. An' yo' git dat graveyard dirt an' yo' take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' put black peppah in it. Yo' know dose [whole] black peppahs are very 'fective. An' yo' kin break up a person dat way.
(How?)
An' den aftah dey git dat graveyard dirt, dey put dat peppah in dere. An' dey take dat graveyard dirt in dere hand an' dey walk tuh yuh porch, an' throw it right at chure dō', where yo' goin' tuh walk out dere ovah it.
Entry 7652
Dey goes tuh de grave, dey go tuh de haid side, [I mean] on de heart side. So dey tell me. Ah've nevah done it but ah've heard of it. Dey go dere an' dey git dat dirt, come back, an' dey put dat dirt in a li'le bit of sack. An' dey take dat dirt an' mix some othah li'le stuff wit it, a li'le salt an' one t'ing or 'nothah; a li'le sulphur an' diff'ren' t'ings lak dat. Carry it wit yo' an' yo' kin take it an' put it in a place, a dwellin', an' dere's nobody kin git along in dere. An' dey take dat dirt an' dey go aroun' amongst people dat dey're neighbahs, an' see 'em gittin' along, an' throw datdirt all aroun' 'em, dere windah, where de windah's up, or in de do', when dey kin git a chance, or on de do'steps, or in front of de do's an' t'ings, dat choo'll have tuh walk ovah it. An' consequently it cuzes [causes] a confusion an' yo' can't git along wit yoreself or nobody else.
Entry 7653
Yo' could go tuh de graveyard at twelve a'clock at night an' go tuh somebody grave dat chew know dat wuz not very long buried dere - dat chew know 'em by der name personly [personally], see. An' jis' scratch chew a hole right on de lef' side of de grave tuh de haid part, right where yo' 'magine de heart would be, an' run yore han' down in dere tuh de elbow an' drop three pennies in dere. Git dat sand right on out an' come on back home. Put some cayenne peppah intuh dat graveyard dirt. An' on de side of de baid where he always lay, on de front or de back where he always lay, yo' jis' take dat sand an' sprinkle it on de mattress. An' make yo' bed back up an' let 'im lay on dat. Dat will run 'im right off from yore house.
(You will get rid of him then?)
Git rid of 'im.
Entry 7654
Well, ah hear'd dey say yo' kin take graveyard dirt - yo' kin take dat graveyard dirt - go down dere at night an' dig right ovah de heart of de grave. Den bring it back an' put it umdah de steps an' po' vhis- key on it fo' nine mawnin's. Den yo' go back dere an' yo' take dis dirt up an' put it in a piece of white flannel an' take de dirt an' bury it in de ground an' let it stay dere. After yo' take it up an' put whiskey on it an' put it undah de step in de groun'. An' if dere any- one [there] dat don' lak yo', dey can't stay dere. [Is whiskey on for 9 mornings a delayed payment for the graveyard dirt?]
Entry 7655
Ah hear 'em say dat dey takes some graveyard dirt, if yo' have any man in yore community an' yo' wanted tuh move 'em. Yo' take an' yo' go tuh a sinnah man's grave an' git some of de dirt from right off on 'is left side of 'is heart. Jis' go right down in de grave till yo reach clay, an' take it out, an' take dat clay an' mix it up wit some sulphur an' magic sand.
(Magic sand?) [A hoodoo store product.]
Yessuh, magic san'. An' some dragon blood an' brimstone, an' mix all dat tuh- gethah. An' go in dat house wit'out anybody knowin' dat chew in dere, an' sprin- kle it when all de folk gone from de house. See, in de rooms, an' walk out wit'- out nobody knowin' yo' dere. Yo' know dat chew in dere an' make yore wishes. An' dey say dat dey'll have tuh go 'way from dere.
Entry 7656
Dey take an' git, yo' know, it have tuh be a rank sinnah or a wicked person. Yo' don't git it off of a Christian. But chew take an' git dat grave- yard dirt off of a sinnah's grave an' off de left side. An' dey take dat an' sprin- kle it all roun' yore house. An' dey says it won't be long 'fo' [before]. some- body, yo' know, die or leavin'. Dey'll leave, anyway.
Entry 7657
Yo' kin take salt an' go tuh a graveyard an' git chew some real sinnah, a real sinnah dat chew know dat died. Yo' git some of de dirt off of 'is left side. Git it off 'is left side an' yo' go back tuh dis person house an' yo' git up early one mawnin' 'fore anybody stir. Don't let nobody see yo' do it, an' throw it ovah yo' shouldah three times [demonstrates].
(Over your left shoulder.)
De left shouldah. Take yore right hand and throw it ovah yo' shoulder three times.
(You mix the salt and the graveyard dirt together?)
YesSUh, SALT WILL RAISE 'STURBANCE. AH GUESS YO' KNOW DAT.
Entry 7658
Anyone dat's daid an' dere spirit worry yuh, why yo' go tuh dere grave an' git on de lef' side; an' git some of de dirt offa dere lef' side an' carry it on yore person, an' dey'll stop worryin' yo'.
Entry 7659
Go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dust from de sunrise [east] side an' put it in de left shoe of de person dat dey wanted tuh be made faithful, yo' undahstan'. If it's a woman dat's un- faithful or if it's a man dat unfaithful, put dat graveyard dust in dat left shoe an' dat will have de desired results. (That will make them stay at home. Take some old shoe that they won't know about?) Yes, some of de shoes dat dey weah, ah presume jes' de shoe dat dey weah. Jes' lak if it were mah left shoe an' mah wife could arrange tuh have somebody dat had dat craft [witchcraft] yo' know, tuh git dat [dirt] an' [I] wear it on me mos' evah day, why ah wouldn't run away. Ah have tuh be faithful. Git it from de east side, from de sunrise side of de grave.
(They go out there you say when?)
Sometime, yo' undahstan' about sundown.
Entry 7660
Git chew a li'le graveyard dirt, if yo' kin git on de east side of a grave. Git chew some white vaseline an' make yo' a salve [with this graveyard dirt]. Make dat salve an' yo' kin 'noint dat person unbeknown tuh 'im, an' he'll go lame. He'll nevah be no mo' good in dat foot as long as yo' 'noint 'im. But yo' have tuh 'noint 'im fer nine mawnin's wit dat graveyard dirt an' dis white vaseline an' de stuff dat chew scrape from undah 'is foot - kin'a dead skin-lak yo' gotta git from undah 'is foot. An' he'll nevah be no mo' good in dat foot.
(That foot is supposed to go lame. I see.)
Entry 7661
Well, ah don' know about keepin' 'em away but dere's somepin yo' kin do dat he won't bothah yo'. Go tuh de graveyard an' git chew some graveyard dirt, go as fur [far] on de east side as yo' kin git it. Take yo' a piece of bran'-new cotton an' sew yo' up a ball of it [graveyard dirt] intuh dis cotton an' leave yo' a tail [long piece of thread] tuh it dat yo' kin throw it. [Several rites in Hoodoo use tails for throwing.] Yo' come along, ah wan' cha tuh move. Ah'm goin' walk by yore house an' say, "Move, yo' devil, move, '' an' throw it acrost chure house [demonstrates].
(Throw it back over your shoulder, your left shoulder away over the house.)
It goes ovah any part, de low part; ovah yore porch or anythin'. Throw it ovah dere an' yo' nevah look back: 'Move, yo' devil, move.
(And they'll move out of the house?)
Yes, sir. [This is another one of those rare swinging in a circle about head and letting-go rites.]
Entry 7662
Go tuh de graveyard an' go tuh sundown part of de grave, an' git dat dirt an' carry tuh jes whoevah house yo' goin' carry it tuh. An' yo' sprinkle it all roun' de do'step where dey walks out, dey wouldn't [couldn'tl miss it. Put it down dere an' dey step in it, it wouldn't be ovah a veek 'fo' [before] dey die.
Entry 7663
( Git some graveyard dirt outa each end of de grave, yo' undahstan', an' den yo' kin take an' tie it up an' put it in de east end of de cornah of yore house. Dat fo' tuh bring luck. [Memphis, Tem.
(952), 1538:4.]
Entry 7664
Dey go tuh de cemetery, a person would, if dey try tuh do yo' mean. Jes' lak somebody's buried dis evenin', go dere an' git de dirt outa his grave. Go dere an' git it down nex' tuh 'is feet an' outa his stomach an' outa de haid. An' take it an' git chew a snakeshed an' put all dat - mix 'em tuhgethah an' cross 'em [throw dirt in form of a cross] an' yo' aim dat whare dey doin' yo' dirty. (Well, now you get this dirt from three places out of the grave, but it must be a grave that's been opened that day - must be a grave from that day. And you put this inside the snakeshed and you grind the snakeshed up like that. And then you mix the grave dirt with that. Show me what you do with this powder then.) Yo' take dis powdah an' put it, an' bury hit undah yore steps. If dat person come at night an' do anythin' dere, dat'll keep 'em away from dere. Dey'll jes' go an' travel an' travel, an' jes' come tuh be nuthin but skin an' bone. Always travel.
(What about the eyes going down?)
If yo' use snakeshed an' graveyard dirt. Yo' see, all dat jes' goes wit de body, yo' see. Dey ketches de same disease. De snake, yo' know, jes' lak he bit chew, see.
(Well how does it get into them? Does it get in through his eye or what?)
It will git intuh de eye, but people use it in diff'ren' kind [of ways]. Jes' lak yo's heah an' ah do's disaway. Well, when ah'm talkin' an' yore haid - take mah han' disaway, it will kill 'em [you]. (Which way are you going to do. After you get this snakeshed and graveyard dirt ground together, now what are you going to do with it? Are you going to throw it around that person or are you going to put it under your door. Which are you going to do with that? Or do you do both things?) Put it roun' yore home.
(And what is that supposed to do then?)
It 'sposed tuh break up whut dey wan' tuh do tuh yo'.
(And what will happen to them?)
Sompin happen tuh 'em, dey has bad luck.
Entry 7665
Dey kin take sulphur. Dey kin take sulphur an' dey run a row [trench] in front of dey do' wit some li'le stick an' sprinkle it aroun' lak seeds yo' know. An' den dey run a spade row in front of dat house an' turn it back, up de road or down de road, an' dey covah it up. Dey covah it up an' nobody pays po 'tenshun tuh it. Some claims dat will make dem move. (In digging this little ditch, they begin at the house with a stick and drag it right on out to the street.) Dey go right tuh de step an' take de stick, trim it sharp, yo' see, jes' lak mah knife, an' come clean across de do' dere. An' den dey come back in front of de do'step an' make a straight line tuh de edge of de street, an' turn it[trench] up or down [the street] an' sprinkle sulphur 'cross it dis way. An' turn it down one way or de othah. (They make a straight line right in front of the door, making the trench out from that straight line like the letter "T"? And at the end of that letter "T"
[the crossed part at the street] you go one way or the other?)
Make it "L" [instead of "T"] at de bottom, [then go] one way or de othah.
(That would move them out.)
Dere's a superior way, people says it's a surer way. Dey goes tuh de grave- yard where dey has relations buried an' dey git a pinch of dirt offa nine graves, jes' a pinch. An' put it in dat li'le box, a li'le pastebo'd box of some kind, or a jar or somepin. Den dey takes dis li'le pinch of dirt, git nine pinches of it, an' dey put three pinches on de step [demonstrates].
(In a row.)
In de centah an' at each end. An' dey puts six pinches - put three pinches in dis line an' two pinches in dis line, an' two pinches in de "L" line. An' dey call dat superior. Dere no Way he's gonna lose now.
(They use the same shape as that sulphur?)
De same way wit dat dirt as wit dat sulphur.
Entry 7666
If yo' want a person, tuh drive 'em away, yo' take de graveyard dirt. Take an' go tuh de centah of de graveyard an' git de graveyard dirt. If yo' wan'a person tuh drive 'em away, yo' name dem in de han's of God. Crawl halfway de dis- tance up undah de house. Bring de dirt tuh de front of de house an' cast it onto de front of de house. An' whatevah way dat chew go, yo' carry it right 'long wit chew an' name it as yo' go. An' de person will go de same distance. Dey will go, dey cain't stay.
(You carry that dirt and you scatter it as you go.)
Scattah it as yo' walk. Sow it jes' lak a person would sow oats.
(You crawl under the house first?)
Go undah de side of de house an' don't look back; jes' keep right on plowin' [crawling under housel, don' look back not atall.
(You crawl under the side of the house to the center?)
To de centah.
(And from the center where do you crawl?)
To de front, right on out tuh de front; right on out tuh de front, an' jes' keep right on. But don' look back.
Entry 7667
Dey said dey would take - jes' lak yo' kin go tuh de cemetery an' dey'd git dere a certain hour in de night, twelve a'clock in de night, an' git some dirt from a dead person grave. Dey moves de top of dat an' dig a hole about fo' inches deep, an' git some dirt den from dat, if dey wanted tuh make yo' sick or sompin. An' dey come tuh yore home an' be settin' down an' talkin' wit chew an' look undah yore desk or somewhere an' a pair of shoes or sompin othah dere. Dey jes' sprin- kle a li'le of dat dust, de dust of dat grave in yore shoe, an' it would cuz yore feet tuh become sore an' boily - break out in big sores.
Entry 7668
Yo' kin go tuh de graveyard at twelve a'clock in de night; not let it be ovah twelve a'clock an' yo' reach yore han' down in de grave - say it's no harm - jes' about six inches down an' git chew a han'fulla dirt an' hold it in yore hand, not slide it out, an' hold it in yore hand-an' walk on back, an' de girl dat yo' want, if yo' want 'er tuh love yo', yo' throw it up on 'er windah, eithah way up on 'er shade or windah, or anything, so it be's 'er room. An' if yo' do wan' tuh do her some damage, don' throw it up on de house. Den she'll be sick 'long as yo' stay in town, an' git dwindlin' an' quite natchal [natural] she'll soon finely [finally] die, if she stay roun' dere an' be passin dat - attah yo' do done [dat] chew know, if yo' go tuh de daid, an' sech as dat, becuz dat's de thing dat EVAH'BODY'S SCARED TUH GO TUH DE GRAVEYARD AN' GIT DIRT LAK DAT. But dat's so about dat 'cuz ah have did it mahself. Dose things ah'm talkin' 'bout ah done it mahself.
(That's all you have to do with that graveyard dirt, throw it on her window?)
Yeah, throw it on her windah.
(What will that do to her then?)
Dat will make her love yo', if yo' throw it on 'er windah.
Entry 7669
Yo' kin dig about six inches in de graveyard, an' yo' git some of dat fine dirt, dat dirt about six inches down. Take dat an' put it in a cup an' yo' git some lodestone an' put in it too. An' yo' shet it up. (What do you do that for?) Dat's fo' a woman, tuh make her stay wit chew, yo' got dat dust. See, yo' gotta take it, see, put dat undah yore house an' she'd stay dere. She ain't goin' leave.
Entry 7670
Well, yo' kin take graveyard dirt. Run yore arm down in de grave tuh yore elbow an' take graveyard dirt. Make yo' a li'le sack. It makes yo' lucky, yo' kin jes' weah it in yore pocket. Dat make yo' lucky.
Entry 7671
Yo' kin bring up confusion by goin' tuh de graveyard an' gittin' some graveyard dirt, but yo' have tuh run yore han' as fur down in dere as yo' poss'ly kin; but chew mus' carry three pennies, brass pen- nies. Dese pennies, yo' know, jes' carry dat 'long dit chew, when yo' go out dere. Den when yo' bring yore han' up dat pays off, a'yo' do's dat.
(What do you do with it then?)
Well, yo' kin jes' use it eithah way. Yo' kin make him stay home or yo' kin make him go wit de same dirt.
(Tell me how you would use it?)
Well, yo' could put some sulphur an' brimstone wit dat. Put dem three tuh- gethah. Yo' takes dat an' carry dat an' put it inside de house an' dat will cuz confusion.
Entry 7672
He [my contact man] wus askin' me about how would yo' git a woman away from yore home, if yo' didn't want 'er. Wal, ah tole him dat dey kin go tuh a graveyard where yo' know it's some evil person had.died, an' dig down dere about three feet an' git so much - 'bout three teaspoonsful of sand an' mix it in with some black peppah an' take an' mix some sulphur in it an' carry it an' throw it ovahbo'd in a bot- tle, an' curse dat at de present time, lak 'Go.' Curse at de present time three times an' holler "go" - "go" - "go."
Entry 7673
De bes' thing dat ah would do, ah would go to de cemetery twelve a'clock at night an' take [dig] six feet of dirt down to the bottom of de grave wit mah lef' han' an' sprinkle dat roun' yore front do'step befo' de sunrise. Well, dat house will become unearthly fo' yo', an' yo' gotta move out. [Informant, of course, does not dig down 6 feet. He digs down 6 inches, which symbolizes the 6 feet.]
Entry 7675
Ef anyone in yore neighborhood is doin' yuh any harm an' yo' don' want 'em in yore neighborhood, why yo' jes' go tuh de graveyard an' take a penny an reach down dere an' git chew some dirt chew know. An' take a pinch of dat dirt an' bring dat dirt back an jes' throw it on de flo'. An' dey sweep it out, why de spirits will worry 'em so dey has tuh leave dere, dey cain't evah stay dere.
(Whose floor do you throw that graveyard dirt on?)
On dere flo.
(Of the people that you want to move?)
Yes sir, wants tuh move 'em outa dere.
Entry 7676
If any harm wuz roun' yore place, go tuh a graveyard tuh de wickest person dat chew know dey buried in dere. Yo' come in on de right-han' side of dat grave as near as yo' kin. (The right hand side as you enter, come to the head of the grave.) Yes, dat's it. An' yo' go down, run yore han' down in dere an' come out wit as much dirt as yo' kin hold in three fingers [demonstrates].
(In the thumb, the index and the middle finger of the right hand.)
Yes. Den yo' go ahead an' yo' git chew some bluestone, pound it up fine. Den yo' go tuh all fo' cornah of yore steps an' yo' sprinkle dat down, but yo' do's dat at nine-thirty at night. An' ah don' cah [care] whut nobody put tuh de dat steps, dat stuff will run it 'way from dere.
Entry 7677
If anyone disliked yuh an' wan' choo tuh move - lak yuh a nex'-do' neighbah - dey go tuh de cemetery an' git graveyard dirt tuh make yuh move. Dey say dey go in dere at twelve a'clock at night an' run dere han's jis' as fer as de joint of dere elbow right down in de earth, an' git chew three han'fulla dat fresh graveyard dirt outa dere an' put it in a bucket. An' bury three pennies in dat dirt when yuh take out de las' han'ful out. Yuh put three pennies in de grave. Dey say dat's payin' fer it. An' den yuh bring it back an' sprinkle it aroun' de person do'. An' dat will make him leave.
Entry 7678
Go tuh de graveyard if yo' wanta do anything; in fac', if yo' want some money, or want yo' a good job. Yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' yo' kin git chew some dirt from off de grave, but let it be a wicked person. Don't let it be a good person. Try an' let it be a wicked person yo' see. Yo' go dere tuh dat grave an' yo' digs down dere jes' about - well, jes' about a half a foot, an' yo' git some of dat dirt out of dere. Git chew jes' about three good han'fuls lak dat. Take dat on home wit chew. An' yo' take dat an' git chew some red peppah an' some salt an' sulphur an' yo' mix all dat up tuhgethah. Put a li'le bit of it in a piece of flannen cloth an' sew it up. Weah it in yore pocket. Evah mawnin' take a li'le bit 'fo' [before] yo' walk out: "By de help of God on mah journey, ah hope ah'll succeed." Put a li'le bit in de fiah. Evah mawnin', evah time yo' goin' off tuh transact business, yo' know, or anything lak dat, yo' do dat. But chew keep dat dust in yore pocket in dat red flannel. Keep dat in yore pocket an' evah mawnin' when yo' gwine off tuh business, anything yo' wanta 'tend tuh anything yo' vanta do, when yo' do dat it will be a success.
Entry 7679
Ah 'sperienced dis mahself. Ah had a man an' he wus engaged tuh git married. When ah firs' started goin' wit 'im he tole me he wus engaged tuh be married, an' ah tole him, "Go ahead an' git married." Ah didn't feel lak ah cared den. Well, it wus about two yeah's time, dis woman whut he wus supposed tuh git married, he tole ne she wus in town. He said he would have tuh go down dere where she wus. Ah said, "Go ahead." He took me an' carried me home. Aftah ah got home ah got tuh thinkin' 'bout it an' ah jes' decided. Ah'd heard dat such things could be done. So ah got nah niece an' we went out tuh de cemetery. Yo' go tuh a grave an' yo' take de headbo'd an' throw it tuh de foot, an' say, "As ah throw dis headbo'd, In de Name of de Fathah an' de Son, an' de Name of de Holy Ghost, as ah throw dis headbo'd tuh de foot of dis grave, ah want chew tuh change John's min' off dis woman an' place it on me, In de Name of de Lawd." An' yo' go tuh de foot an' yo' do de same thing as yo' have at de head. Den aftah yo' do dat, yo' go an' git chew nine han'fuls of dirt outa de grave. An' aftah yo' git dat dirt outa de grave, den yo' have somepin tuh put down dere - pennies. Put 'em in dere, say, "Ah's givin' yo' dis money tuh pay yo' fo' whut yo' are doin' fo' me In de Name of de Lord." An' it won't be long - ah know dat wus de thing dat run dat woman 'way from Florence. An' she have nevah been back heah since.
(What did you do with that dirt after you got that dirt?)
Ah brought de dirt home but ah nevah did know whut tuh do wit it. Ah brought it home an' kept it fo' a long time. Ah didn't know whut tuh do wit de dirt. But de woman [doctor] dat tole me tuh do dat, she tole me dat plenty hell could be raised wit dat dirt, but ah don't know how. [Or you could] use dis red pep- Pah. INSTEAD OF PUTTIN' PENNIES IN DERE, YO' JES' PUT RED PEPPAH. But cheW got- ta have a odd numbah if yo' put red peppah - anything, jes' have a odd numbah - in dis grave when yo' take dat dirt out. [THIS IS SURELY MY ONLY EXAMPLE OF A
Entry 7682
Tuh put evil spirits behin' yo', yo' goes tuh a graveyard an' yo' gits de dirt off of a grave but chew do not git it offa a person grave dat died - dat wuz a Christian an' vent tuh heaven. Yo' gits it off a sinner's grave, a person dey know God won' pardon dere sins. See. An' when yo' goes tuh git dat dirt chew leaves a dime, an' yo' takes dat dirt an' sprinkle it anywhere where anybody's dead [alive] an' call dat person name whut's daid an' tell 'em yo' want 'em tuh to'ment 'em. An' dey will tō'ment dat person an' dey won' be able tuh stay no- where roun' where yo' puts dat dirt.
Entry 7683
Ah know in one instance 'bout de graveyard dirt. In case yo' wanta see somebody an' yo' wuz away an' dey would die [while you were absent] or somepin lak dat, ah know of an instance. Yo' git dis grave- yard - jis' find out whut grave or cemetery it is, jis' de spot dey is buried, an' yo' git dis dirt from dis place an' take it home wit chew. If it clay, an' it more den apt tuh be clay, yo' take an' powdah it up lak black snuff or sompin lak dat. An' put it in a cloth an' say, dat chew wanta see dis person or de person wants tuh see yo'. Den yo' take dis when yo' git ready tuh go tuh see dis person, or dat person [in the spirit] come tuh see yo' [because his spirit follows his dirt]. Yo' take dis heah, lak if yo' goin' out tuh de graveyard, an' call de person tuh see yo'; [or] take dat wit chew, take dat back tuh de same place where yo' got it at. An' call dat per- son an' talk tuh dem, an' tell 'em whut chew wanta tell 'em, or he kin tell yo'.
(You dig that out of the grave to call them out of the grave?)
Yessuh, ah saw a man do dat once.
Entry 7684
Yo' go tuh a - if somebody troublin' yo' an' yo' jis' want 'em tuh git in trouble, see. Yo' go tuh a sinnah - yo' gotta know somebody wuz a wicked sinnah an' got killed - yo' see, a gamblah. Yo' go tuh 'is haid an' dig down about wrist deep. An' put three pen- nies dere an' jis' tell it - jis' lak yo' talkin' tuh in - jis' lakyo' know'im, say, "so- an'-so-an'-so, ah wan' chew tuh go tuh Such-an'-such-a-one an' give dem hell, jis' give dem hell. Wham! Fight 'em, make 'em fight. Make 'em kill if it's necessary." An' yo' put de pennies dere. Kivah [cover] de hole up an' go off. Walk off an' nevah look back. Yo' take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' ketch yore dog an' cut some hair off de end of 'is tail, see. All right, yo' ketch chew a ket [cat]. Yo' cut some hair off 'is haid an' 'is tail. An' yo' take dat dog an' cut jis' a li'le bit of hair out 'is fo'haid. Yo' git some of dis urinate, see. All right yo' git yo' some red peppah, table salt, put wit dat. An' yo go by where dem people stay an' jis' tell 'em [dirt and its ingredients] what chew want 'em do wit it. An' throw it.] Don't evah look back, keep goin'. An yo' ain't goin' be a minute off fo' yo' see 'em raisin' Sam [Sam = devil]. Dey goin' move from dere. Aftah while dey goin' move from dat state.
(That is to run them out of there, run them away.)
Dat's tuh run 'em away. Dat's hard tuh ovahcome. Now ah heah'n [heard] a man tell dat an' ah seen it work. See, fo' a fact he used tuh git me tuh go by dere sometime an' throw it dere. Dis ole Doctor Bush.
Entry 7685
Now, ah saw a woman throw graveyard dirt week fo' [before] las', an' ah know de woman is gone. She lef' evahthin' in de house [she left so fast]. (Well, how did she use that graveyard dirt?) Well, yo' gotta git it off a sinnahman's grave an' den yo' gotta put so much money in dis grave. Dey say dat's payin' 'em fo' de dirt. An' den yo' tell dat spirit tuh run 'em away. An' dat spirit runs 'em away.
(And then waht do you do with the dirt after you get the dirt?)
Yo' take de dirt, care [carry] it an' sprinkle it across dat do', or if yo' kin git it inside, put it inside - inside de house. An' if yo' cain't git it inside de house, jes' sprinkle it crossways de do' where dey gotta come ovah it.
Entry 7686
Dey say dat chew [a woman] could go tuh de cemetery, but yo' have tuh go dere at midnight, an' git dis graveyard dirt. Well, ah do know a woman dat says she went dere. Says she git dis graveyard dirt but yo' gits it outa de breast of a sinnah, a person dat chew know is a sinnah. Yo' go dere an' yo' git it right up outa his breast, an' tell 'im dat chew git- tin' dis heah dust an' yo' want it tuh hold sech-an'-sech-a-one. Yo' gittin dis - jes' lak yo' go an' git it, says So-an'-so, ah'm gittin' dis. Ah wan' chew tuh hold sech-an'-sech-a-one fo' me. An' yo' kin take dat graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it aroun' in yore house fo' nine mawnin's an' he [the man for whom the rite is worked] come an' tell yo' jes' evahthin' mos'ly dat he know. He'll come tuh tell yo' mos'ly evahthin' dat he know in de line of some woman dat he's been naggin' attah [after] or de woman naggin' attah 'im.
Entry 7687
Fo' evil yo' kin git some graveyard dirt, mix up saltpetah in it an' sulphur, an' cast it roun' a person dwellin' an' whut yo' wush [done], say. Put de jinks [used only 3 or 4 times in Hoodoo] on 'em in diff'ren' forms. It'll make 'em unlucky wit de evil spir- its. In goin' tuh de graveyard an' git- tin' dat dirt it would be wise fo' yo' tuh know de person whose grave yo' goin' tuh. Den yo' pay dem fo' dat dirt an' work wit it. Yo' tell 'em dat, "Ah want chew tuh do dus [thus] an' so fo' me." Whutsomevah dat chew wan' 'em tuh do. It wouldn't make any diff'rence. Say, "Ah'm payin' yuh tuh do so." Yo' git de dirt from off de left side from ovah de heart, but choo runs yore han' down in de grave tuh de elbow down ~ ought tuh be [beyond] yore wrist.
The informant describes graveyard dirt with saltpetre and sulphur for reported harm, payment and requests to a known deceased person, and collection from the left side over the heart. Quoted requests are prescribed speech. Hyatt's glosses and comment on the word 'jinks' remain separate; the printed collection-depth wording is retained.
Entry 7688
Well, dis graveyard dirt, dey say dat'll drive anyone from yer home. Yuh take dat an' mix it wit salt an' some red peppah. An' dey say yo' take dat an' sprinkle it all aroun dese people home as neah tuh de home as yuh kin. An' dey say yuh have tuh talk to all dis stuff dat chew doin' an' say: In de Name of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost, an' tell it whu' chew wan' it tuh do. An' dey say dat dey be Wantin' tuh leave dere.
Entry 7689
Graveyard dirt is all right, graveyard dirt is lucky tuh yo'. If yo' Wants some graveyard dirt tuh be lucky tuh yo', go tuh a gambler's grave. An' stick yore han' down in de grave jes' as fer as yo' kin, right down at de haid of de grave an' say, "Ah'll do dis In de Name of de Lord, tuh ovahcome mah enemies." An' stick yore han' way down in dere an' bring out some. Say when yo' bring it out, take it an' put it in sompin an' tie it up an' care [carry] it home. An' yo' care it home den an' yo'll be lucky - become lucky. Yo' kin gamble an' make money.
Entry 7690
Go tuh de graveyard an' put a penny down in dere an' take up dat grave- yard dirt In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost. An' carry tuh dat person house [be- fore] de sunrise an' throw it, an' yo' walk off an' don't look back. Dat'll do dat person harm. Jes' sprinkle it all roun' where dey gotta come out at.
Entry 7691
Sprinkle it [graveyard dirt] in yore baid an' it'll make yuh go away tuh nuthin. Yo' see, if somebody die, yuh go right dere an' take it right from de grave about middle- ways [center of] de grave an' say, "Lord, he'p [help] me in mah undahtakin'." When dey put it in yore baid, hit'll make yo' go away [tuh nuthin = kill you].
Entry 7700
They say that chew can take the headboards of a dead person, I mean where they're placed at their grave, or footboards, either one, and burn them; and then get some of that dust of the grave with that, those ashes, and put them down under a door- step of an indivi- dual, and they'll become effected so that they can't handle themselves. They become tricked so they don't have any definite understanding about anything.
Entry 7706
Dey say dey take it if yo' wan'a person tuh leave home. Jis' lak yo' stay roun' a family of people an' yo' didn't want dem tuh stay dere or dey were sturbin' yo'. Well, yo go to de graveyard an' yo' git some dirt offa grave. Yo' know about where a per- son's heart is an' yo' take a knife an' yo' cut a splintah offa dat haidbo'd an' a splintah offa de footbo'd. Say den yo' take dat splintah an' make a cross out it. Chew know, lak yo'd make a cross.
(Just a little bit louder.)
Yo' make a cross outa dem two splintahs an' yo' take dat dirt an' yo' put it undah dere do'step an' make a grave out of it. An' den yo' take dat cross an' stick to de haid of it jis' lak it wus tuh de haid of a grave. Well, dey will have tuh move 'way from dere. Dey cain't stay dere. [Here we have 2 splinters from the graveboards making a cross for a mock grave, a subtect to be explored later in this section DEATH.]
Entry 7707
Yo' kin go tuh de grave an' turn de haidbo'd from de grave an' take dat
[dirt], go to a person - jes' lak if yo' want a sweetheart or anything [a man to]
quit wit a woman - an' carry it an' put it dere, an' tell dis person tuh make dis man stop goin' dere. An' why if he evah go dere at night or anythin', go tuh sleep, dis [dead] person will worry him so dat he couldn't go back nohow.
(You put that board in the house?)
Yassuh, [no] put de dirt undah de house. Den yo' change de bo'd an' git de dirt, de graveyard dirt, an' carry it tuh de house. Why he couldn't go back dere.
Entry 7710
Dat's if yo' daid, if yo' daid. Ah wants tuh git nex' tuh dis man outa heah 'cross de street. Ah'll go dere [to the graveyard]. Ah'll know yuh name. Ah'll go dere an' ah'll pick up dat haidpiece [slip of tongue] from 'is feet an' ah'll git a little bit of dat [dirt] outa his chest down heah. Ah wants tuh run 'im an' wit dat chest-board [headboard]. Ah'll take dat an' covah it up an' bring it in mah house an' throw it undahneat' mah house. An' ah'll take de rest of dat chest [dirt] an' cast it in he [his] yard, an' he can't do me no harm. He's daid.
(You don't do anything with those boards, though?)
Take dat board an' put it undahneat' yuh [your own] house.
Entry 7718
When yo' wants a man tuh stay wit yuh, yo' go tuh dat graveyard an' yo' write his name in de middle of de grave - on de middle of de grave jes' write his name in de dirt. Jes' take yore fingahs yo' know an' write his name. Den yo' take de footbo'd from de foot an' put hit tuh de haid, an' take de haid- bo'd an' put it tuh de foot, chey lmo. Jes' change de footbo'ds [graveboards] roun'. An' dat'll make 'im stay home.
Entry 7720
Well, yo' goes - yo' have tuh go dere twelve a'clock in de night an' git dat [dirt]. An' yo' bring dat back. Yo' go tuh de graveyard an' yo' takes it [board] from de haid - yo' takes de haid, put de haid tuh de foot [board] an' de foot [board] tuh de haid. Den yo' go right down in de middle [of the grave] wit three cent in yore han'- go down in de middle. Yo' turn 'em loose dere an' yo' bring up dat dirt. Den yo' carry dat back home. An' yo' - jes' lak yo' wanta put it, yo' carry it tuh anyone's house; if yo' wanta run 'em off, throw it round de house. Jes' spread it roun' de house an' jes' call dere name, an' tell 'em yo' wan t'em tuh, "Go, yo' devil." Tell 'em tuh keep goin'. Cain't stay dere.
Entry 7721
If yo' sellin' likkah an' yo' wanted tuh keep de laws away, go tuh de cemetery an' make de change [of graveboards]. If yo' know dey all names, call dem names; an' if yo' didn't know de names, jes' use de word "of yore enemies" an' make yore wish, In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' Holy Ghost. An' bring some of that dirt back wit yo', an' leave three pennies. An' then take it an' mix it wit some salt an' red peppah. Sprinkle some on each side of yore house where dey's goin' tuh come up to dere, an' make yore wish on each side of it, "In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, make dat man stay away."
(That will keep the law away if you are bootlegging?)
Yes sir. Yo' make de changes in dat.
(Change the headboard and the footboard.)
In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' Holy Ghost, an' bring some of dat dirt wit yo'. Take it tuh de co'thouse aftah yo' mix it wit salt an' red peppah; take it tuh de co'thouse an' sprinkle it aroun' dere.
Entry 7722
Go tuh de cemetery an' make de changes wit de bo'ds out dere. Put three pennies intuh de groun', intuh de grave. Bring some of dat dirt back wit chew an' put some red peppah an' some cay- enne peppah in dere wit it, an' burn it intuh de fire, call- in'; In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, dat yo' may have luck in gainin' de influence of all of yore frien's. An' yo' will have luck.
(That is to get customers if you are bootlegging?)
Yes.
Entry 7723
See, yo' 'sposed tuh go tuh de graveyard twelve a'clock at night, an' yo' git dis dirt, an' when yo' start gittin' dis dirt, yo' supposed tuh say, "Dead spirit, ah didn't come tuh rob yore grave, ah came heah fo' luck In de Name of de Father, of de Son an' of de Holy Ghost." An' if yo' put money tuh dat grave or a corn or either some fresh rice, anything, yo' supposed tuh pay dem An' jes' lak if yo' want chure luck changed, yo' go dere in de nighttime at twelve a'clock an' yo' take de haidbo'd an' throw it tuh de feet an' take de feetbo'd an' throw it tuh de haid. An' yo' git dis graveyard dirt an' yo' sup- posed tuh put sulphur in it - supposed tuh put red peppah an' yo' supposed tuh put sompin yo' kin git at de drugsto', but yo' don' specially have tuh have dat, an' salt in it. An' yo' burn dis dirt three times a day. If it's wet yo' put it in de sun an' let it git dry, an' when yo' make yore fiah [fire] it gonna smell funny when it be burnin'. Yo' shet up in a room tuh yo'self an' yo' burn dis heah dirt. An' jes' lak if yo' want - if anothah party livin' next do', yo' want 'em out chure house, yo' burn dat dirt on dose people an' tell 'em dat chew want 'em tuh be out. Yo' know, move out de house. An' burn it three times a day. An' jes' lak if yo' runnin' a joint or anything, an' if no one will visit chure joint much, yo' kin burn dat dirt, an' in about ten minutes time yo'll have a crowd at chure house. An' if it's a woman yo' wants tuh see, an' yo' cain't see her, an' yo' burn dat dirt, dogged if she wouldn't be dere in about five minutes' time.
(You make your wishes when you burn that dirt.)
[This was not a leading question. Somewhere while recording machine had stopped this had been mentioned.] Yeah yo' make yore own wishes In de Name of de Fathah, an' de Son an' de Holy Ghost. (What is the stuff that you would get at the drug store if you wanted to use that and add that to it?) It's sompin, but chew specially [don't] have tuh have dat, becuz ah ain't nevah didn't nuse [use] dat. (You don't have to have it. What is it, if you do want to use it?) [Either no answer or I turn off machine too fast.]
Entry 7727
In N'oleans [New Orleans] it wuz a lady taken some graveyard dirt. An' she taken some, yo' know, anvil dust an' graveyard dirt, an' she buried it an' de woman jes' got in a ill condition. (Where did she bury it?) She sift it undah de woman's house. She buried it undah dere, but ah haven't experienced dat. [Sifting itself is a magic rite.]
Entry 7728
Ah hear'd dey could take graveyard dirt an' some gin an' assafetadee [3 ingredients] an' mix it tuhgethah, an' go tuh a person's house where a family. Jis' lak a man an' woman livin' dere an' dis woman - he got anothah woman yuh know, an' she [latter woman] go an' git dat an' sprinkle all aroun' de do'. Dey say dat'll break peace, dey [the two inside] always fussin' an' fightin' one anothah. [The gin is for the spirit in the graveyard dirt - see ALCOHOL FOR THE SPIRIT, p.32].
Entry 7729
You go into a graveyard and take two pennies and dig in a grave and take the dirt out of the grave, and take these two pennies and put them down in the hole and close it. And they can walk behind you and take this dirt and throw it up and down your back, and they work the trick right on you, and you'll go off in bad health and you are going to come on back to the graveyard [as a corpse].
The informant describes taking dirt from a dug grave, leaving two pennies and using the dirt behind someone, with reported ill health and return to the graveyard. The corpse interpretation is Hyatt's bracketed gloss; the Ediphone citation supplies recording context.
Entry 7730
Take graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it in yore baid, jis' lak yo' wanta bust up a man an' 'is wife - tuh bust up anybody - why yo' sprinkle dat. If dere any way yo' kin git dat in de baid, sprinkle it in dere an' it'll bust 'em up. Dey won't be tuhgethah no mo'.
Entry 7731
Dey put de li'le bag - yo' sleep in anywhere - in yo' baid in yo' mat- tress, anything. Dey'll slip dat graveyard dirt in it an' put it in de mattress, sew it up intuh de mattress. An' if dey wanta run yo' outa town, run yo' away from dere, den yo'll leave dere, if yo' sleep in dat baid.
Entry 7732
Take graveyard dirt an' put it an' sprinkle it in any- body's bed if dey sick. Put it in dey mattress, sprinkle it all in dey mattress an' dey'll dwindle away tuh nuthin.
Entry 7733
You can take graveyard dust and sprinkle in your bed, sprinkle in your bed nine times - once on each of nine consecutive days, that'll fix them so they'll die.
Entry 7734
It's jes' lak pow- dah yo' know an' dey'd sprinkle it all undah de bed, so dat it couldn't be seen yo' know; cuz natchly [naturally] people whut come in would wanta know whut's all dat dirt dere fo'. But it wouldn't be so conspicuous dat way, it would jes' be sprinkle... [I interrupt].
(Where would you get this dirt?)
Outa de graveyard.
(And why do they use it?)
Tuh keep people away, dere enemies away. An' dey'd keep it undah de bed, see.
Entry 7736
Put dat grave- yard dirt undah yore steps an' up undah yore house right back tuh where it turn. Sprinkle it from de foot right straight 'cross tuh de haid. Dey couldn't rest fo' nuthin. Dey cain't sleep.
(Where do they sprinkle that?)
Undah de house...
[I turn off machine too quick and must repeat informant's words.]
(Under the bed from the foot to the head and you couldn't sleep fo' nuthin.)
Entry 7737
Git graveyard dirt an' put it in a bag wit blackroot an' black dirt - de kind yo' buy from lak places lak de island black dirt - an' blackroot. An' put dat in a bag an' go out in de voods at twelve a'clock at night fo' three an' foah nights at de time an' pray tuh evil spirits, etc. [In the southern United States black- root is the perennial plant (Chaenolobus undulatus) with black tuberlike root- stocks used medicinally by herb and root doctors.l
(Down on what island? Where do they sell this black dirt?)
Right on de island ovah dere. Yo' have tuh git dat special shuah [sure] becuz dat is why dey call it black dirt. [This black dirt is top soil washed down from higher land during the years.]
Entry 7738
Ah think yo' put brimstone, camphor, bluestone, an' ah think graveyard dirt. Mix it up about soft enough tuh make li'le balls outa it, an' yo' keep dat till it git dry, an' yo' carry dat an' jes' powdah it. Jes' sprin- kle all roun' dere an' wish fo' whut yo' want it tuh do, tuh happen - whut yo' expect tuh happen.
(What do you expect of that?)
Yo' expect, jes' lak yo' want somebody tuh stay away from yore house, yo' could do dat den. Sprinkle it aroun', all roun' so dey can't see it, an' dey won't come ovah it.
Entry 7739
Well, they said, just like this; now, you living here and I wanted you to move, I want this house. Well, I'd go to the graveyard and I will get some dirt, and I will cross it up near the doorstep. (How do you cross it up? How do you mean?) Throw it like this [demonstrates]. (You sprinkle it in the form of a cross.) Yes. And make a wish and call your name. You'll move, can't stay there no more.
Entry 7740
I have heard that they go to the graveyard and get some dirt from the head of the grave, and then get some dirt from the foot, and bring that dirt to the house. Bury that dirt. [First, however, you] make a cross mark so. You make a cross [on the ground] with this graveyard dust. [Then] you make a hole right in the center [of the cross] and bury [the rest of] that dirt. You bury that dirt anywhere these parties to walk over it, and they won't walk long.
Entry 7741
Take some salt and black peppah an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt an' cross it wit dat dirt. If anyone move dere, dey cain't stay. Yo' bury it in a li'le box [coffin symbol] dere, an' if anyone move dere, dey cain't stay. (That is, you cross this house up after you leave it so that the next person can't live there?)
[This is done if you have a grudge against the landlord or person moving in.]
Yes, dey cain't live dere.
Entry 7742
Yo' take a lettah. Well, if she's round in town, yo' go tuh de woman's house, or whosomevah's house she's at, an' yo' draw a cross mark lak dis an' yol take sulphuh an' yo' take graveyard dirt. An' git de graveyard dirt from a sinnah [sinner's grave]. An' draw yore mark an' call dere name an' yo' put yore peppah, nine pods of red peppah. Den yo' take de sulphuh an' put it cross. Den yo' [do] lak dat wit graveyard dirt.
(Making the form of a cross all the time.)
Yes. "An' let 'im walk 'cross dat. See, he goin' walk 'cross it if he come out. Well, in nine days him an' her will start fightin' jes' lak cat's an' dogs, an' it won't be long befo' he's goin' tuh break up [leave her].
(That is to separate them. That is going to make them quarrel, isn't it?)
Well, dis is gonna break 'im up, yo' see.
Entry 7743
Yo' go out tuh de fo'ks of de road now, lak if yo' have a boy friend an' yo' want 'im tuh go, or if yo' wan' 'im tuh come back. Yo' go tuh de fo'ks of de road, de heart of de road heah, an' take yore foot or else a long stick an' make a, yo' know, a trench long enough tuh spread salt an' sulphur [demonstrates]. (You make a trench like that.) Yes, tuh each one of de fo'ks of de road. Yo' know when de road fo'ks, it fo'ks sompin lak dat [demonstrates]. Well, yo' take an' make yore lines sompin lak dat [demonstrates].
(Make and "x".)
Yes. An' yo' have yore salt an' yore sulphur an' graveyard dirt an' yo' put it in dere, sprinkle it down. Have enough tuh put in dere, an' den yo' tell it whut tuh do. Yo' use graveyard dirt, dat's very good.
(What did you tell it to do now?)
Well now, lak now, if yo' want dem tuh come back. Or if yo' want 'em tuh [be] gone, say, "Go", whichevah direction yo' want. Say, "Go, dis way or dat way, or dat way, an' don't nevah return." But if yo' say, "Wherevah yo' are, if yo' in de no'th, so'th, east or west, come back tuh me."
(You can do it either way?)
Yes.
Entry 7744
See, jes' lak if yo' in a house an' somebody else wanta undahmine yo' fo' dat house, dey have tuh go tuh de graveyard an' yo' git some graveyard dirt, an' git chew some quick- silvah an' yo' git some High John de Conkah root an' some devil-shoestring roots, an' place it up undah de house. An' yo' goin' tuh an' fro', an' den evah night dey'll come 'n'int [anoint] it wit somepin an' yo'll soon come out.
(Do you know what they anoint it with?)
No suh. Ah did, but it's been a long time [since I heard this].
Entry 7745
Yo' go tuh de graveyard an' reach right down in de breast, an' dig down in dere deep an' git de dirt right off de grave, right off de breast part. An' mix dat graveyard dirt up an' a li'le cayenne peppah. Mix dat graveyard dirt up an' de cayenne peppah, an' yo' take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' gits a dirt daubah nest. Yo' go tuh a house whah [where] dere ain't nobody died in dat house an' git dat dirt daubah nest an' mix it all up tuhgethah.
(What do you mean, you go to a house where nobody died?)
Yo' see, whah dere's nobody died in dat house it give dat dirt daubah all powah. Git it whah dere ain't nobody died in de house. It have tuh be 'bout in de co'se of time of fo' yeahs. See! If dey died longah time den fo' yeah's time, it's all right; but if dey died recently, don't put dat dirt daubah nest in dere. Yo' have tuh git a wasps' nest. Yo' see, yo' git a wasps' nest an' put dat wasp nest in dere wit dat graveyard dirt an' dat cayenne peppah, an' it keep dem person on de warpath all de time - dissatisfied all de time.
(What do you do with this dust?)
Take it an' sprinkle it across de do'. Sprinkle it 'cross de do', sprinkle it ln dere house, an' let 'em walk ovah it. See, dey will be warfarin' all de time.
Entry 7746
Well, dey goes out an' dey git dis graveyard dirt, an' dey kin take it, if dey wanta give yo' bad luck. Dey kin take a lot of it an' sprinkle it all roun' yo' front dō' an' yo' back dō'. Ah don't know how true dat is, but ah know a lady dat lived next do' from us. She used to go out an' git it an' take it aroun' an' sprinkle it aroun' in front-a people's do's. An' dey said dat it would give dose people bad luck. An' dey really would have a lotta bad luck.
Entry 7752
Take graveyard dirt an', jes' lak if yo' don' lak a person an' dey don' lak yo', an' yo' wanta git rid of 'em. Take dat graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it in dey house, throw it undah dere stoop when dey out - absent. An' when dey come dey'll move. Dey don' know whut makin' 'em move. Dey'll move on out.
Entry 7760
Take graveyard dirt an' dragon's blood an' make [mix] it up. Yo' kin take dat an' sprinkle it aroun' in a person's home. He can't see it. Yo' begin tuh have a hackin' cough an' dat hackin' cough, yo' jes' cough, cough lak yo' got tuberculosis; an': if yo' don' git dat dirt - some people don sweep often enough. Some people know [how] tuh avoid dat. Any person kin come in yuh home an' have a pinch of it an' throw it in dere an' cuz yo' tuh have a hackin' cough. (You say they take graveyard dirt and dragon's blood. Do they put it sep- arately or what?) Naw, mix 'em tuhgethah. See, dragon's blood is a very precious thing an' de graveyard dirt yo' git it off a sinnah's grave.
Entry 7761
Dey tell me yo' kin take graveyard dirt an' aig an' put it tuhgethah an' throw it on - somewhere roun' de house an' dat will cuz dem tuh be in hard luck all de time.
(How do you put that graveyard dirt and egg together?) Dey jes' have it mixed tuhgethah.
Entry 7762
I've heard of them getting graveyard dust. That is to lay you so you won't bother me. If you have an enemy you get graveyard dust and you wrap it up ip a paper and bury that and you won't by me. You put that some place where they can walk over it.
Entry 7763
Go tuh de graveyard an' git some sand an' bring it back. Have it in yore pocket yo' know. An' den come back dere to dat house an' jes' not let de fellah see dat yo' wants tuh run off from dere, not let 'im know nuthin 'bout it. Jes' scattah it roun' on de flo' an' dey tell me dat will make dat man move from dere. De rent-man could do dat, say when de man come roun' aftah de rent. De man dat's dere yo' know, somebody in 'is house could make him do dat. An' when de rent-man come, why see he could go out dere an' talk tuh de rent-man, an den him an' de rent-man will fall out. Dat's a fact.
Entry 7764
I've heard you can go to a graveyard and get some dirt and put it in a bag for a lucky hand and they say you'll win every game you go in. You carry in your pocket.
Entry 7765
If dey's shootin' crap, shootin' dice, yo' kin [go] down tuh de ceme- tery an' git some-a dirt off de haid of it, an' put it in de pocket where yo' goin' use de money. Well, dat will [make you lucky in gambling]. [Here I turned off recording machine, then started again]. Yo' don't know how tuh make dice do yo'? [I probably shook my head.] Don't know how tuh make 'em? Well, yo' kin take - dey make 'em wit bones an' dey make 'em wit celluloid, too. Ah'm tellin' yo' whut ah know an' WHUT AH HIRED TO TELL YO'. [No one Was ever hired to tell me anything. Every one came to me on the basis of a promise: if he knew something I wanted to hear, he was paid according to what I thought the information was worth; if he knew nothing, he was given a small fee for his time. As we gained experience and established confidence in a community, we tried to weed out before reaching the interviewing room, those who knew little or nothing.] But de man who run de house tole me - he want tuh git me [sooner] but ah had tuh go out of town. [De man who run de house, the man who rented the house in which I interviewed, was H. L. Timmons (see Vol.1, p. XXxvII), my contact man, whose automobile I also rented.] (Well, all you have to do is to put this graveyard dirt in your pocket where you put the money.) Put it to work, dat's right.
(That is for luck in gambling.)
Tote wit de dice.
Entry 7766
He tole me one time, he says: Jes' lak yo' knew a person dat died re- cently, it don't make no diff'rence how long he's been [dead]. Dat's providin' if he's a gamblah, a man or a woman. It don't make no diff'rence, if he's a gamblah an' yo' wanted tuh git a "lucky hand" or sompin lak dat tuh be successful in gamblin'. Ah have nevah tried it but he tole me, said he wus successful. Ah noticed he handled plenty of money. Said, jes' lak yo' knew a person dat died, woman or man, an' dey wus a gamblah or pokah playah or sompin of de kind, an' yo' Wanted a little luck. Well, whutevah 'mount of money yo wanted tuh give 'em - yo' have tuh pay 'em firs'. Jes' lak yo'd git up, why it be twelve a'clock at night. Yo' go tuh dis pahtic'lah grave of de person yo' knew, yo' knew tuh be de gamblah, an' git so much dirt - jes' a little pinch lak dat. Jes' dig yo' a hole in dere an' git it, an' 'fore yo' close it back up, put some money in dere. Pay 'em fo' it an' take it an' wrap it up in yore little rag. An' tote it in yore pocket where yo' money at an' dey say yo' be lucky.
Entry 7770
Go tuh de graveyard an' dig in a grave late at night tuh gamble. Go out late at night, midnight, an' go in a grave an' he git a handful of it an' throw it ovah 'is shouldah an' den take some back in a can or pot. An' den he goes an' gamble, shoot crap or throw cards or anything. He will be lucky in winning. (What does he do with that pot of this graveyard dirt - what does he do with it then?) Jes' keep it in yore pocket.
(What shoulder do they throw that dirt over?)
Right shouldah [demonstrates].
(With his right hand over his right shoulder.)
Entry 7776
Once ah wuz goin' wit anothah woman - me an' anothah fellah wuz goin' yit de same girl an' we didn't know anything about it. An' she tole anothah girl dat me an' 'im, dat we wuz both ma'ied [married] an' she wuz goin' kill both of us befo' three days. Well, we went on back an' wuzn't pay- in' any 'tenshun an' she fixed a pint of whiskey up an' sont [sent] fo' me a' 'im tuh come an' git some of it. So den de fellah come on an' got de whiskey a' tried tuh git me tuh go an' ah didn't care tuh go. An' he went an' got an caken a drink of de whiskey. He taken sick an' he lived three days aftah dat. An' she tole 'im, when she got through wit 'im, she taken some of 'is hair out from off de left side of 'is haid an' put it in some whiskey an' got some grave- Yard dirt an' went to a place where dere wuz a dead snake, an' got some of 'is womes an' grin' hit up real fine an' put it in de whiskey. An' he drinken [drank] dat an' he died in three days.
Entry 7777
You can take the graveyard dirt, they say, and put it in whiskey and give a person consumption.
Entry 7780
Ah've hear'd dey cud [could] git graveyard dirt an' runnin' huckle- berry an' ball [boil] it tuhgethah. Dey say huckleberry will kill anybody. An' jis' two spoonfuls of dat tuh anybody [in food or drink] will kill 'em or keep 'em lingahin' two or three months, an' de doctah's [M.D.'s] medicine will not do 'em any good. [Huckleberry is sometimes called devil's huckleberry.bush, see HUCKLEBERRY BUSH, No.361, p.107.]
Entry 7782
Dat make yo' - dat make somepin fo' luck in gamblin', some way.
(Tell me what way to do it.)
Only one way yo' do dis, wit graveyard dirt. Git some of de dirt outa de graveyard, outa de middle de grave. Yo' take dis dirt an' put it in somepin fo' a man, if yo' wanta hahm [harm] 'im, an' yo' let 'im git holda some-a dat dirt tuh eat - in some-a his food or somepin lak dat, dat graveyard dirt. Dat'll put 'im undah affliction whut would take a hard time tuh git 'im ovah.
(I see.)
Entry 7783
[The following rite could have been placed with the foot tracks and graveyard dirt under Nos.5437-5476, Pp.2845-2855.] Well, if yo' have did any hahm [harm] tuh any- body-lak, see lak some yuh friend, an' den dey'll misjudge joo an' den dey die, some-a dere family will go tuh de graveyard where dey wuz buried at an' take some-a dat [grave dirt] an' throw it on yuh, throw in yuh [foot] tracks where dey'll know yo's had tuh walk at all time. Dey'll [the dead spirit will] be right in yuh way all de time.
Entry 7784
If yo' wanta make someone move or sompin lak dat, why yo' go tuh de cemetery but it have tuh be at twelve a'clock in de night. Jes' lak yo' know somebody died wicked, yo' jes' put a dime on dere grave an' git some of dat dirt. An' dey say yo' go tuh de fo'k of de road an' yo' put it down dere, an' yo' put so much on dere steps [or] on dere porch. Dey gotta leave den.
(You put this graveyard dirt...)
Yo' gotta pay fo' it. Yo' got it offa a wicked person's grave.
(And then you go to the forks of the road? What do you do out there?)
Put some of it out dere at de fo'k of de road. (Put some of the graveyard dirt out there and then you put some of it under the steps?) Yes.
(To make a person move.)
Yes, dey gotta leave, go eithah one of dem roads. Dey gotta go. (They would have to leave on one of those roads at the fork.) [Brunswick, Ga., (1201), 2017.1
Entry 7785
(What do you go out to the forks of the road for?)
Yo' go out tuh de fo'k of de road tuh git a kinda root. Yo' git a kinda root de' calls de Conkah root. Aftah yo' git dat conkah root, yo' goes on back tuh de house. Dat's when yuh madam done quit yuh - lak yo' mä'ied [married] an den yuh madam done quit yuh. An' aftah yo' git dat root, why yo' goes on back an' yo' take de root an yo' parch it-lak, yo' undahstand. Yo' make a kinda dust outa it, jis' make a dust an' yo' mix it wit graveyard dust, yo' undahstand. An' den yo' gotta rejoin dat tuhgethah.
(Well, what do you do with that, after you mix all this stuff?)
Aftah yo' fix it, yo' jis' take it in a li'le sack. Take it in a li'le sack an' jis' wash it roun' yuh waist-lak, yo' see.
(I see. That's to bring the woman back?)
Yes.
Entry 7786
Go tuh de graveyard an' git dirt from de graveyard, an' den go tuh de forks of de road an' make a wush fo' nine mawnin's, an' dey have bad luck. If dey wusn't in bad luck, bad luck will follah dem; if dey wishin' good luck, why good luck will follah dem. (That is if I wanted you to have good luck or bad luck, I would go to the graveyard and get some dirt, and then I would go to the forks of the road nine mornings and make my wish.) Nine mawnin's befo' day, befo' de sun rise.
(But I only go to the graveyard once?)
Yes.
Entry 7787
Take a chicken alg an' go tuh a ant hill an' dig down in dat hill an' git some dirt an' a red ant. An' den go tuh de woods an' git a young oak tree, a oak tree dat's got jis' kinda sprouts tuh it. An' dey come back wit it an' take it, an' go intuh a kinda forks in de road 'bout where anybody, yo' know, 'spect [expect] tuh walk on. An' den if fellah [lover] or fren' is gone away, take an' bury dat. Yo' know, bury dose things down tuh de ground an'take dat red ant, egg an' all, an' put ovah de top of it, an' dey say dat will bring 'em back.
[Informant now illustrates rite with following story:]
Dey talk about a ole man an' he didn't want 'is daughtah tuh stay 'way. He vent out tuh de red ants' baid an' he got de fo'ks of a li'le tree, an' buried it down tuh de fo'ks of road in de direction which she went, wit graveyard dirt, an' told it whut he want done. An' 'is daughtah came back an' she's up dere tuh 'is house right now.
(You mean just this little small fork off the tree?)
Yes jis' a li'le small fo'k about where it will not be noticed. An' bury it in de direction in which she's gone. Jis' use de graveyard dirt an' tell it whut chew want done an' sprinkle dat graveyard dirt ovah it. (You mean the fork at the tip of a [branch], you cut that off that red oak tree?) Yessuh.
Entry 7789
Ah know of a man gittin' a gravevine stick, but he have it dressed, dressed, load it up wit a piece of li'le small lodestone an' brimstone an' put it in dat stick wit graveyard dirt. Put it in, in de stick. Have yo' a separate hole bo'd [bored] fo' it. Yo' 'tend [attend] tuh dat yo'self an' nobody won' observe any hole 'bout it. An' if yo' knock a man wit it, why he'll lingah - dat cuz 'im tuh lingah an' pass away. [If I may guess at the intention here: the lodestone attracts the person to be present for the hitting, the brimstone sends him to hell, after the graveyard dirt has killed him.]
Entry 7790
Well, they say that chew can go to a graveyard and take the dirt be- tween the top and the bottom down in the grave, and mix that with a right foot of a rabbit; but the rab- bit must be shot down while he's running. And you take that and then git somebody's finger- nails and toenails and mix in with that, if you're against them, and then put that in a gun and shoot that away; and the direction that you shoots, the indi- vidual will leave, go off that same direction and become a wanderer.
Entry 7791
If yo' wanta break up anybody, if yo' kin git de black cat hair an' black dog hair an' gunpowdah, an' graveyard dirt, an' wasp nest an' dirt daubah nest, put it tuhgethah an' mix it, an' shoot it an' dat'll break 'em up. (Where do they shoot this stuff?) Jes' put it on a li'le shovel an' throw it up out- do' at night. [The preceding word shoot has been retained by present informant in the baseball sense: he shot the ball to second base, meaning he threw it as hard or as fast as he could. Shoot can mean to send swiftly along as to shoot guestions at someone. Here we have an example of how original rites can be changed: A person may not own a gun, es- pecially the old-fashioned muzzle-loader implied here. Besides, shooting a gun at any time could attract attention. By using a shovel we return to rites of letting the wind blow things away.]
(Where do you do this?)
At chure home or anywheres.
(If I were trying to break up somebody, I would do that at my home?)
No, at dere house.
Entry 7792
Now, if a person wanta run yo' out of a house, why dey goes tuh a ceme- tery where dere's someone deposit dead dere dat is well known, dat dey knows de disposition of de person [ill- tempered]. Dey carry along 7 pennies an' two lightvood AND HOW [fatwood or fatlighter pine] splinters [stakes]. Dey stick one on dis side jis' across de ways [waist] an' de othah cross de othah side di- rectly opposite an' dey stretch dat string zactly across dere.
(Across the breast from one stake to the other.)
Yes sir, lightly - must be caught lightly. An' den dey take anothah string an' stretch it directly from de foot tuh de haid [demonstrates].
(IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE FORMING A CROSS RIGHT ON TOP OF THAT GRAVE.)
Yes, sir. Den yo' go tuh work an' yo' go right intuh 'is hips, de right hip, an' yo' deposit dem 7 cents dere, an' yo' bring up from dere a handful of dat earth. Put it intuh a li'le box of some kin' dat yo' kin close it down tuh- gethah with. An' den tell 'em jis' zactly whut yo' wants done an' how yo' want it done. Den make dem undahstan' dat yo' have paid 'em, absolutely have paid 'em de price an' yo' mean fer 'em tuh do it. Yo' come on back tuh de house an yo' buy one gunshot shell an' cut de shot off, an' yo' takes de powdah an' yo' will po' it out an' measure jis' exactly how much powdah yo' want tuh put in dere. Measure de powdah an' put it intuh a clean piece of cloth an' measure de earth, jis' dat much earth, an' put it intuh dat cloth too. An' den yo'.git yo' dat much ground red peppah. Put it in dere an' fold it up tight an' yo' puts it right intuh de gun an' yo' turn directly an' face westward an' call dere name an' pull de triggah. An' if dey don't move, dey'll drop daid on de spot.
(Where did you learn that?)
Ah learned dat right chere, Charleston.
(Is that a special remedy of anyone? Of any special person?)
Yes, sir, fellah in de neighborhood name of Robert Chaplin. [Charleston, S. Car., (514, Doctor Glover), 595:2.] [For Glover see also references at end of 7214, p.3209 and elsewhere.]
Entry 7793
Jis' git graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it aroun' de step an' kep' [kept] back evil, dey call it.
(What do you mean by that?)
Ha'nts [spirits of dead people]. [The magic principle here is: like cures like, fight fire with fire, hair of the dog that bit you, etc. Spirits of the dead, as those of the living, fight among themselves. Somewhere in Hoodoo an elderly woman remembers seeing as a child a graveyard fight among spir- its.]
Entry 7794
(Tell me that again, now.) Dey put it in de band of yuh hat. (This graveyard dirt?) Graveyard dust, put it in de band of yuh hat an' it fall down in yuh eyes an' cuz yo' tuh go blind.
Entry 7795
Well, yo' kin take dat [graveyard dirt] an' put confusion in peoples' homes, [or] dat will put chew in bad luck regardless of how far away dat dey living... Awe [I] kin take dat dirt an' put it in yore house an' yo' begin tuh fall, fall down tuh nuthin, lingahin' of sickness. (Where do you put it in the house?) Anywheres, down anywhere.
Entry 7804
If yo' were livin' by me an' ah want chew tuh move. Well, ah could go tuh a graveyard an' git a handful of dirt; an' take a handful of dirt an' start roun' in de left side, yo' undahstan', an' sprinkle it roun' in dere house. Den de nex' mawnin' yo'll move. [This circumambulation ap- pears to be inside the house. Notice that the person sprinkling the dirt starts on the left side, meaning he performs a clockwise circle inside the house.]
Entry 7805
Now, yo' see yo' take a house dat is unlucky dataway. Yo' say now, de house is unlucky, ain't good luck tuh yo'. Well, yo' go tuh, say a graveyard, an' yo' git some of dat graveyard dirt. Yo' gits right ovah.a grave an' stretches out on it, an' reach as fer down wit yore right ahm [arm] as yo' kin. Yo' take a dime in yore han', go dere an' reach down in dere, an' yo' turn dat dime loose an' yo' takes dat dirt up, an' carries it back home an' sprinkle it all aroun', allroun' yore do' - all aroun' yore house, yo' see. Well, when yo' sprinkle it roun' dere, well evahthin' den will come yore way. Dere's no hahm [harm] tuh be done. Yo'll come lucky. (That is if somebody has crossed up my house and I'm leaving, moving out, that is to uncross it.) Dat's right, dat'll uncross it.
Entry 7806
From personal experience, yo' would go in de cemetery an' git dirt at a cer'in hour at night, an' dat hour would be twelve, 'tween twelve an' one, an' yo' would take dat if possible an' sprinkle it in de no'th cornah; an' if not possible, yo' Would sprinkle it aroun' de house nine diff'ren' times. In less dan nine days dey'd be moved wit'out any trouble. If yo' know how tuh kill it, in case if someone knew dat, had de ideah of dat, he'd do de same thing wit brown salt [salt browned on stove]. Take table salt an' as yo' sprinkle at night, why he'd git up in de mawnin' an' sprinkle ag'in, an' dat would kill it.
[As informant said, this sprinkling is done 9 times.]
(What kind of salt?)
Table salt. Yo' take it an' brown it an' dat will kill it. Now, dat's from personal experience. Ah know dat.
Entry 7807
Graveyard dirt, dat's when yo' wanta run a person from any place. Jis' lak now, if a person stayin' in dis house [in which I was interviewing] an' yo' Want dis house an' yo' come in here. All yo' gotta do when yo' come, yo' walks aroun', aroun' dis place [demon- strates]: put some in dis place, put some in dis one, put some in dat one, an' put some in dat one.
(You put it in all four corners of the house.)
De fo' cornahs of de house. Don' keer who yo' is, dey couldn't stay in dere fer soul or life.
Entry 7811
Fo' mahself, lak dis mah house, ah could put it in all fo' cornahs.
(This graveyard dirt.)
Jis' lak three times a week - ah mean three mawnin's but till nine mawnin's pass, an' den yo' stop, an' den yo' wait nine mawnin's an' yo' put it roun' ag'in. Dat will keep down confusion in yore house.
Entry 7812
Yo' kin take graveyard dirt, dat keep anybody from movin' in dis [empty] house. Take graveyard dirt an' salt an' cayenne peppah [3 ingredients] an' mix it tuhgethah an' plant it tuh de fo' cornahs of dis heah [empty] house. Well, yo' nevah take a notion tuh move [into this vacant house, this] keep yore mind off. (You mean you wouldn't move into the house.) Jes' lak ah say, if dey [you] have dis heah [house we are in] an' yo' move out, say fo' instance if yo' don' wan' de man tuh rent it, yo' go tuh de graveyard an' git chew dirt from de worst man's grave yo' knows, a wicked person - some wicked person dat didn't b'long [belong] tuh church or sompin lak dat. Yo' stick a cane [bamboo] down in dere deep, about two feet chew yo' know, an' git up de dirt an' take it out. Put three cents down in dere an' covah de hole up an' bring dat dirt tuh de house. An' mix it up wit salt an' peppah an' put it tuh de fo' cornahs of de house. Ah doubt whethah he'll rent it fo' twelve months. [Our cane, reed or bamboo here is probably genus Arundinaria, species maero- sperma, of the southern U. S. A. The only other American species is A. tecta, a small cane. Informant of course could be referring to one of the foreign bamboos introduced into the U. S. A., but I doubt it.]
Entry 7814
Dey did mah grandmothah dat way, an' ah went tuh a woman [doctor] dat tole me. Take de graveyard dust an' got some ole stuff dey jis call John de Conkah, an' put it wdt dat graveyard dust. An' git Jockey Club an' put it. Mix it all up tuh- gethah an' put some peppah in it. An' put it in 'er tracks an' put it at de do' where she had tuh come out. An' de woman [doctor] git one of 'er shoes an' put some in dere, an' 'er foot lak tuh rise [swell] off her.
(Almost ran off?)
Yes. [The woman doctor or fortuneteller turned the spell back on the spell-caster.1
Entry 7815
You can use graveyard dirt for many occasions. Now, you can take graveyard dirt, dirt dauber, sand.
(Sand?)
Sand.
(Ordinary sand?)
Ordinary sand, cement [and graveyard dirt] an' yo' can make a ball out of it. You take it an' make a real ball out of it. An' after you make that ball out of it, why you takes that stuff that you make mosquito bar an' yo' take that, an' wrap that around of it. An' put it out in the sun, where de sun can hit it an' let it dry, an' take that an' just put it in de house. It's just as hard as a ball, it is. An' any time, why, if yo' wants to have control over whomsomever yo' desire to have control, yo' just kick that ball aroun' an' play wit it, call his names, an' de next three or four hours he's supposed to bedere.
(I see.)
Entry 7816
In some parts of the South they claim if you get some dirt from the cemetery and put it in a box, and place it under the steps of your enemy, it will cause trouble in their home. And oft times they sought a cunjure-man and he in turn gives them a piece of rau- hide, and tells them at intervals to tie a knot until that string is exhausted. That will do away with the evil spirit. [Informant Was born in Jacksonville, Fla.]
Entry 7817
If a person away an' - yo' could take yo' a cotton string an' yo' tie dose nine knots tuhgethah. Yo' sew dose nine knots up intuh a bag an' yo' take graveyard dirt wit'in dose knots. An' yo' take dat bag an' put it some- place in yuh clothes whut chew veah nex' tuh yo'. An' yo' weah dat bag wit dat string in dere twixt yo', an' dat'll bring 'em back.
Entry 7818
Dey would put hit an' larkspur tuhgethah an' dat would create confusion in de house. (They would put this graveyard dirt and what to- gether?) Larkspur, a flower. Sprinkle it aroumd yore house an' it will create upstirs.
(Make confusion in the family?)
Yes.
(Now, in using that larkspur, they just take the whole plant or?)
Take de flowahs, de flowahs off de larkspur an' pound dem up aftah dey dry - wit de graveyard dirt.
Entry 7819
Well, jes' lak she gits a lettah from 'im. All right, she'll take de lettah an' she'll go to de graveyard an' git some graveyard dust. An' she'll dress it wit de graveyard dust an' mail 'is signature back tuh him. Dat's whut dey tell me.
[After machine turned off, informant adds bring him back.]
(That will bring him back.)
Dat will bring 'im back.
Entry 7820
Well, yo' kin take a envelope an' go tuh a cemetery, well maybe 'long about dis time a-day, or maybe 'bout eight a'clock in de mawnin', an' yo' kin git some dirt offa de grave- yard. An' yo' takes it back home an' put it in dis enve- lope an' write chure name down nine time an' [demon- strates] write chure name heah nine time, er, one time, an' her name heah one time, see all de way down. Well, yo' go on down an' let chure name be firs' all de time, all de way down. Well, yo' go on down till yo' git dat nine times.
(Each one nine times?)
Yessir, yores nine an' mine nine times. Well, yo' takes dis envelope an' yo' cuts a hole in de mattress an' put dis envelope undah dere, undah de feet or eithah at de haid, or eithah where de body lay on de baid, see. Well, dat'll make him come, if he's workin'; an' if he ain't been bringin' 'is money home, dat'll make him come an' give his money tuh dis girl or 'is wife. An' den, when yo' do dis, put dis envelope undah dere, why yo' kin take...
[I interrupt.]
(Now, which side do you put it under, his place or under your place?)
His place where he sleeps. An' den yo' take dis aig, newly-freshly-laid aig, hen aig. Write chure name [demonstrates] heah one time, an' hers heah once, until yo' write it all de way round nine times.
(Each one nine times?)
Dat's right, each one nine times on dat aig, an' on de envelope, an' yo' bury dis aig undah de do'step. All right, whenevah he comes in, he gotta go in ovah dis aig an' he gotta come back out de do'. Dat's all tuh dat story.
Entry 7823
Tisn't [It is not] but one place at ah knows of in de graveyard dat yo' kin git any dirt dat will do anythin'. Not any kind of dirt in de graveyard will not [omit not] anything. [Such a belief] it's a fake. If yo' go tuh a murdahed man's grave... [I interrupt.] (Some man that was killed?) Yeah, murdahed. He gotta be a sinnahman, a worldly man lak a gamblah or gangstah or somepin of dat kind. Yo' goes tuh 'is grave an' on 'is left-hand side at 'is haid, yo' take yuh right hand, yo' puts it down in dat earth. Yo' try tuh make it [reach the grave] aftah it rains, 'cuz de earth is soft. [As we shall see, you must grasp this dirt until you reach home and write a letter; consequently not one grain of this dirt must be dropped.] An' yo' kneels dere an' yo' ask 'im whut yo' wanta be done. Undahstan', an' as yo' ask 'im, yo' close yuh hand whilst yo' got it down in dat hole, an' den yo' brings dis dirt out. Undahstand? Yo' brings dis dirt out. Well, den yo' take it home. Yo' writes a lettah jis' lak ah'm writin' tuh a live person from which ah got dis dirt. An' in dat envelope ah'll put dis yere [here] dirt whut ah had in mah hand in dat envelope. Nevah let it [dirt] loose, nevah turn it loose until ah put it in dis envelope. An' den ah will take de sheet of papah an' ah will write tuh dat [dead] man. An' whutsomevah ah wan 'im tuh do, ah will seal dat lettah up wit dis dirt an' put it undah mah haid An' he will do anything dat yo' ast 'im tuh do. An' dat's de only place in de graveyard dat de dirt is any good.
Entry 7826
I have heard of them getting a hold of graveyard dust and putting it in a bag. And they wear that on the left side of the breast, in a woman; and if it is a man, they put that in his [left] pocket. They want to wear that next oo the skin and they will get them.
Entry 7827
I've heard X's father say you can go to the graveyard and get some dirt off the left side of the grave and do anything you want. You put that in a box and bury it in another grave and mention their name. You do that about sunset.
Entry 7828
Git some lodestone powdah an' graveyard dirt an' mix dat tuhgethah an' dat will make yo' git a job. Put it in yuh pocket an' tote it.
(The boss will give you a job.)
Entry 7829
Said if anybody had done anything tuh yo' an' yo' didn't wan' 'em tuh know yo' done anything tuh 'em, yo' go tuh de graveyard an' git some fresh graveyard dirt. An' yo' take dat dirt an' yo' take quicksilvah, an' when yo' take de quicksilvah... (What is that quicksilver? Is it a liquid-like or that tin paper [tinfoil]? What is quicksilver?)
[Quicksilver among my informants meant several things.]
Well, ah call dat liquid silvah. An' den yo' take dat. An' yo' git dat an' yo' git dis lodestone an' yo' shivah [sliver? = shave] it off right fine. An' yo' take dat dirt an' all dat an' mix it tuh- gethah. An' when yo' git chure oin- ment made lak yo' wan' it, yo' take dat li'le wad [insole] in de bottom of yuh lef' shoe [and put it under there] an' dey'll lingah an' lingah den until dey be's put in de ground. Ah heard it lak dat.
Entry 7830
Mostly dey use graveyard dirt, but dey git tuh use sand an' powdah.
(Sand and powder?)
Yeah.
(Sand and powder. What kind of powder?)
Love powdah.
(Love powder?)
Yeah, yo' see. Well, dey use graveyard dirt an' love powdah. Dat's tuh make yo' lak 'em or anything lak dat, yo' see. (Well, how would you prepare that? How would you do it?) Well, de way yo' do, yo' take yo' some graveyard dirt an' yo' mix it up de powdah in dat. (This love powder?) Yeah, love powdah an' sand. Yo' buy de love pow- dah right in de drug store, an' sand.
(Ordinary sand?)
Sand. An' yo' put a li'le sugah in dere. Sugah's fer love, see. Put a li'le sugah in dere an' yo' kin put a li'le bit in de envelope. An' lak yo' send yo a lettah, yo' put a li'le bit in de envelope. Well, dat make dat person lak yo aftah yo' git dat stuff on 'em.
Entry 7831
Lak if two people co'tin' [court- ing] an' yo' wan'a break 'em up, if yo' git some dirt from de graveyard an' throw it between 'em, dey say it will break up dere love.
Entry 7832
Yo' go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt, graveyard dirt an' some sulphur, an' mix it tuhgethah. An' when yo' see de two parties [man and woman] tuhgethah, yo' throw dis dirt between de two an' dey'll break up.
Entry 7834
Take twelve - yo' kin go tuh de graveyard, lak some fellah yo' know has been bad, bad. Ah mean a bad fellah, he died bad. Yo' go intuh de cemetery, yo' git jis' anywhere 'bout a handful of dust offa his grave. Yo' don't want no mud, yo' jis' want de dust offa his grave. Yo' take dat dust an' yo' come back. Yo' git chew one fresh egg. Yo' git chew some lōg oil.
(What kind of oil?)
Log, loggah oil.
(Lōg? Lōg oil?)
Lōg oil, de name of it is Loggah.
(How do you spell it?)
Well, ah don't know de name of it, but yo' explain dat tuh de druggist. He'd know whut yo' want, if yo' go tuh de right place.
(Oh, all right.)
[I KNEW THE DRUGGIST HE MEANT. I GUESSED THAT INFORMANT MEANT LOGy, A WORD IN U. S. A., MEANING SLUGGISH = sluggish Oil!] Yo' git chew some Miner's oil.
(Miner's oil?)
(Mines with - minus - mind this - mindless?)
Minus.
(Mindless! Like you lose your mind?)
Dat's it!
(Mindless oil?)
Dat's whut choo want.
(All right.)
[We now have logy oil and mindless oil.]
An' yo' take dat oil an' mix it up. Yo' take nine drops of each oil. Co'se dey give yuh a li'le perfume bottle full. Yo' can't buy under 50c worth, dat's de less he'll sell yuh. An' yo' git - befo' yo' - yo' know, befo' yo' leave de druggist, yo' git chew ten cents of John de Conkah root. Yo' git de log oil [lōgy oil] an' de mindless oil an' yo' take dese an' yo' mix it up all intuh dat dust, until it git tuh a real powdah. An' yo' kin do wondahful wit dat, wit dat powdah. Kin do anything yo' want. Yo' kin do good or bad.
(Just using that powder?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 7836
(What do you do with that graveyard dirt, now?)
Yo' kin take it, if yo' know a person dat died dat wuz sinful, yo' undahstand. Yo' kin take it an' throw it ovah dere [at the house]. Say, dat de spirit will ha'nt 'em tuh death an' dey will leave. Den yo' kin take dis graveyard dirt an' mix it wit moving oil an' lemon juice. See, yo' mix dat tuh- gethah, an' if yo' got a friend dat live at dis - ah mean dat visit dis house - an' yo' mix dat tuhgethah an' make a powdah of it. An' yo' come an' yo' sprinkle it from front tuh back. An' dey won't stay in dere aftah three days.
Entry 7837
Wit graveyard dirt. Jis' lak, yo' see, yore ole man is left wit anoth- ah woman, yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' yo' kin git some dirt. An' yo' git a nail jis' about 'er size an' den yo' write her name on a piece of pa- pah, an' yo' wrap it aroun' dat nail. An' den dat graveyard, yo' git a bottle, an' yo' pack it [graveyard dirt] in a bottle an' yo' put dat nail wit 'er name wrapped in it. Dat's called buryin' 'em. Yo' kin take dat [bottle, now a symbolical coffin] an' throw it ovah in runnin' watah, an' dat supposed tuh break 'em up.
(WHAT DO YOU MEAN A NAIL HER SIZE?)
Jis' lak if it's a small person, a low [short] person, den yo' kin git a small nail; an' if it's a tall person, yo' git de tallest nail dat yo' kin find. An' put de graveyard dirt in a bottle an' pack it jis' as tight as yo' kin pack it - dat graveyard dirt in de bottle - an' den yo' write 'er name on a piece of papah an' yo' wrap it around dat nail. Dat nail supposed tuh be her. An' yo' stick it in dat graveyard dirt whut's in de bottle an' stop it up real tight, an' yo' throw it in de rivah. Dat supposed tuh break 'im an' dat woman up.
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 7840
Dey kin put some graveyard dirt in de end [hem] of yuh dress an' sew it up, an' dat'll run yuh crazy, make de spirits follah yuh, see. Dey'll be aftah de dirt, choo see, an' dey'll go dere [to your house] an' git it, 股 choo see. Jis' lak yogo dere [to the graveyard] an' git it, git it off a sinnahman's grave. Yo' put de money down, put two cents in at hole where yo' git de dirt from. Yo' say, "Well, ah mean fer yo' [spirit] tuh run sich-an'-sich-a-one crazy an' keep 'em worried until yo' [victim] come ohere ah'm at [come as a corpse to the graveyard]." Well, dat'll keep 'em wor- ried, choo see, until dey die.
Entry 7842
Dey go tuh de graveyard an' dey git some dust. Dey go tuh de store an' dey buy a new pack of needles whut ain't be used. All right, dey take dose needles an' dey cross dose needles, an' den dey sews 'em up intuh a piece of red flan- nel. An' dey: make whut dey call a bag outa it, an' dat's fer good luck.
(How many needles do they cross?)
Two of 'em, jis' two needles. Dey cross 'em. When dey put dose two needles in dere, dey put's a piece of lodestone about so big [demonstrates] in dere wit it, see. Dat's fer good luck.
Entry 7843
Dey kin go out dere an' git a handful of graveyard dirt up off of dat grave, an' bring it - if dey Wan' choo tuh leave de house where yo' live - bring it an' take nine NEEDLES an' wrap 'em tuhgethah wit a li'le [small amount of] thread, an' stick 'em down at yuh steps, an' sprinkle dat grave- yard dirt aroun' de house where yo' walk ovah it.
Entry 7844
Yo' could use a needle, dey said, fo' breakin' up a home. (How would they do that?) Take nine needles an' nine ten- penny nails. Yo' undahstan' me? An' yo' could take dat same graveyard dirt. An' sew dat intuh a li'le bag an' bury it anywhere tuh de front of de steps. An' dat will tear up de home, tear it right up.
Entry 7845
My mother said once two ladies fell out, and one went to the graveyard and get dirt from the north side, and stopped it in a bottle an' put it under the other lady's doorstep, and she moved out. [This quarrel occurred in Spotsylvania Co., Va., 50 years before I interviewed inform- ant there in 1936 at Fredericksburg, the county seat, the quarrel occurring about 1886. [Fredericksburg, Va., (cylinder No.53) by Ediphone.]
Entry 7846
[The expression north corner of the house once bother- ed me, because there are two north corners, northeast and northwest, inside and out. The following rite will show that corner and side can sometimes mean the same thing.] Dat graveyard dust, jes' put it in de cornah of de house. Dat will atchly [actually] make 'em move. Dat's a known thing.
(What corner do you put it in, any corner?)
No suh, in de no'th side.
Entry 7848
Ah git me a li'le graveyard dirt an' ah take dat graveyard dirt an bring it back an' bury it, some of it. Take some an' put it in a vial an' put it in de no'th cornah of yore house an' den yo' see, whosomevah yo' put dat in dere fo', well see, quite nätchel [natural], if yo' love 'em or if yo' don' love 'em. If yo' hate 'um, dey won' stay 'bout chew; if it's fer dem, dey'll come tuh yuh. (Where would you bury that graveyard dirt?) Bury it [loose por- tion] undah de no'th end of de steps, an' put de othah [vial portion] in de no'th corner of yore house.
Entry 7849
Lak dey wanted tuh trick yo' or wanted tuh put sompin in yo' [poison you], well, dey go tuh de graveyard yo' see, an' git graveyard dust. Den dey take dat graveyard dust an' put some red peppah in it, an' sew it up, an' walk in de no'th cornah of dat house an' hide it; but dey have tuh put it in between somepin dat it Wouldn't be seen. An' den when dey walk, dey walk backwards wit dere face tuh de wall of dat house till dey got tuh de centah of de do'. When dey got tuh de centah of de do', dey turn aroun' an' walk on. An' wit'in a short while dat dust, why it will eithah draw yo' or send yo'.
(According to what you want done.)
Yessuh, jes' 'cordin' tuh what chew want done. If yo' want it tuh draw yo', den yo' turn aroun', see. If yo' want it tuh send yo', yo' walk backwards. An' when yo' turn, don' turn tuh de right, but tuh de left.
Entry 7850
Af' choo bear [bury] it [graveyard dirt], yo' walk ove' [over] dat, dat'll give yo' a pain. Well, dat'll make yuh feet swell up. Some time yo'll fall down dey [= dere = there], yo' cain't git up wit'out somebody help yuh up. [To bury graveyard dirt for an intended victim to walk over is one of the commonest rites in hoodoo. Examples in various combinations and for a variety of purposes are given else- where.]
Entry 7851
Yo' go an' git graveyard dirt an' put it in a pillahcase on dere [your] husband baid [and let him sleep on it] an' if he workin' [has a job] he won't, he can't open dat [pay] envelope until he brings the whole thing home.
Entry 7853
If you want a girl to love you, go in agrave- yard at twelve to one o'clock that night. And you get a handful of graveyard dirt and sneak it in your girl's pocket, and she'll always love you. [Deal Island, Md.,. (114), 33:5.]
Entry 7855
(What was that?)
Graveyard dust. Dey say dey kin go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dirt an' take it an' use it. Keep it in dere pocketbook or prob'ly tie it up in a li'le rag, or prob'ly put it in a can in dere house. An' dat will bring good luck tuh home. Well now, whethah it's so, now ah don't know.
Entry 7856
Say fer instance, if ah wanted tuh keep de law away, ah would take potash - take dis ole potash an' ah would take an' place it undah yuh steps, an' ah'd [I would] place dis ole potash up undah yuh step an' ah'd put graveyard dust intuh dis potash, an' yo' wouldn't have no trouble wit no police. Not comin' tuh yuh house, if yo' wanted dem tuh stay away.
Entry 7857
If ah wus tuh go tuh de cemetery an' gathah some dust, graveyard dirt as we call it, an' come when dey are not suspectin' an' sprinkle it ovah de po'ch. (What will that do then?) Well, dat would, yo' know whut ah mean, corrupt de minds of de persons dat lives in dat place. An' it won't be long befo' dey leave dere.
(That will make them move out.)
Dey'll move.
Entry 7861
Take graveyard dirt an' spidahs an' eggshell an' dis stuff yo' call quicksil- vah, an' put it tuhgethah an' put it in person pump where dey pump. An' dey drink dat watah an' it will kill 'em. De ole people [in the country] uses pumps. Yo' put it in dere an' it kill 'em. [Somewhere we have a rite about quicksilver drying up a pond.]
Entry 7863
Dey git graveyard dirt an' sew it up in a li'le piece of red flannen an' wet it fo' nine mawnin's wit Hearts Cologne an' weah it in yore pocket. Dat brings yo' luck in gamblin' an' on dese [playing] cards.
Entry 7864
Take graveyard dirt an' red peppah. Jes' lak if yo' seen somebody yo' hated, why yo' go where yo' think dey walk at in de mawnin'. Go 'fore sun [before sunrise] in de mawnin' Where dey git up an' walk ovah it. Sprinkle it roun' in de yard yo' see, an' den dey'll walk ovah it. Yo' kin fix dem lak dat.
(What will that do to them?)
Well, sometimes it will give dem - dere feet will swell up or dere laigs or somepin lak dat, an' dey can't git it off dem until dey go tuh some root person or somepin lak dat.
Entry 7866
Well, ah've heard some of 'em say dat yo' could take a penny an' go tuh de cemetery, an' say one or two words an' [say to] jes' de person in de cemetery dat chew want 'em tuh work fo' yo'. An' yo' git a li'le bit of dat dirt an' come back home, an' take yo' some red peppah an' sulphuh an' put it in a sack, an' stick it undah- neat' de house. An' it supposed tuh move 'em in nine days.
Entry 7867
It is not like ordinary dirt. Most graveyard dirt is reddish clay. You can go to any grave, you see clay, and it'll be reddish clay. If it looks black on top it's red down beneath. All hoodoos use it. You've got to go to the graveyard before midnight. That's an unlucky hour, be- cause then all the spirits is risen and around them.
Entry 7868
Yo' kin go tuh de graveyard, but it gotta be a certain time; late at night, ah think now, ah dunno. An' yo' go down intuh de middle of de grave, run yore hand down in dere jes' as fer as yo' kin in de middle of dat grave. Yo' bring out some of dat dust, jes' a small amount, don't have tuh have very much of it. An' yo' go back home an' yo' take dis table salt an' mix in wit it. An' lak if yo' wanta come in possession of sompin othah, or Want somebody tuh do sompin dat yo' desire 'em tuh do, take dat dust an' dat table salt an' go an' place it - place it where dey will pass ovah it.
Entry 7873
Dey kin git jis' some plain bakin' soda wit salt, an' use dat wit a li'le graveyard dirt, an' dat will usely [usually] run a person away. (How would they use that?) Well, yo' use it - jis' take de salt an' de bakin' powdah [soda?] an' graveyard dust, make it in a bag an' hang it by dere do' where dey have tuh pass in an' out, an' dat will cuz dem tuh be wondahin' [wandering] from den on. (You just hang it near their door, where they'd have to pass under.)
Entry 7874
Yo' want sompin fo' luck or sompin lak dat, take some graveyard dirt. Depend on how much yo' want. Now, yo' don' wanta make a plastah of graveyard dirt fo' no sickness or nuthin. Yo' take a tablespoonful of graveyard dirt an' a tablespoonful of salt an' git chew some bluestone. An' mix dis up in a quart bottle an' use it in 'er room or in a hall where it's private. Now lak if it in yore room, use it in yore room. But yo' gotta git out an' use some out dere too an' not let 'em know nuthin about it.
(What do you do with that after you put it in that bottle?)
Shake it up an' use it jes' lak yo' would perfume, yo' see - jes' lak yo' do perfume. Yo' kin use it on yo'self, go tuh baid an' use it.
[To shake it up, a magic rite, excites the spirit in the bottle to action.]
(What will that do?)
Entry 7875
Well, ah've heard 'em say dat dey go tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt an' bring it back an' git some salt an' peppah an' mix dem wit it. An' come tuh yore house an' have it fixed so dat dey would throw it from yore front do' to de back an' drop a bag of it up undah yore steps, or eithah slip back up dere at night an' bury it up undah yore steps. Dat'll make dem move.
(You say you take this from the front door?)
Yes, where dey come in from de front an' sprinkle it all de way up de steps as dey come. An' have it fixed so dey have dere han' in dere pocket an' have a hole in dere pocket lak dat an' have it so dat it'll be siftin' out as yo' be goin' on. [Hole in the pocket is a coumon trick.] Git up an' ast 'em fo watah, an yo' go on, yo' know wit yore han' in de pocket an' drink de watah. An' go tuh de back do' an' walk out on de po'ch an' sprinkle it, aftah yo' got de watah, aftah yo' done got through drinkin".
(They must take it all through the house?)
Yes, take it all de way through de house.
Entry 7878
If dere anybody in yore house an' yo' wanta git dem out an' yo' ast dem tuh git out an' dey wouldn't git out. Well, yo' jis' take yo' some graveyard dirt an' red peppah an' salt an' burn it all. An' make a good fiah an' put it right up on top of de stove, an' let it burn an' don't have no mo' worry den. Git dem away.
Entry 7880
Go tuh de cemetery an' git some graveyard dirt an' put in both shoes unbeknownst tuh him - put it in dere. Git some red peppah an' salt a an' sprinkle it in both of yuh [his] shoes an' he won't be dere no mo' den about tro or fo' hours, an' he will have tuh go.
(That is to drive a person away from the house?)
Away from yore house.
The informant describes cemetery dirt in shoes and a separate pepper-and-salt treatment to drive someone from a house. The interviewer identifies that purpose; the bracketed pronoun is editorial. The reported departure and timing remain the informant's claims.
Entry 7881
Dey could send yo' away wit graveyard dust. Git some cayenne peppah dat hasn't been used an' fresh table salt an' mix it wit graveyard dust, an' make a wish an' throw it de Way yo' live. Dat'll run yo' away.
Entry 7882
Yo' may take graveyard dirt an' go tuh someone's house dat chew don' lak, an' take cayenne peppah, black peppah an' table salt, an' run people from home. (What would you do with this powder and all this mixture then?) Mix it all up tuhgethah an' throw it aroun' de house an' throw it up on de po'ch, or carry it in de house if yo' kin git it in there, an' dey will leave.
The informant names graveyard dirt, cayenne pepper, black pepper and table salt in a mixture placed around, on or conditionally inside a house. Departure is reported by the informant; the interviewer asks about placement.
Entry 7883
Or eithah yo' go tuh a graveyard late at night an' stick yuh arm as far down in de fresh grave as yo' kin, an' git some of dat graveyard dirt out. Well [rooster crows] yo' git back, take it, bluestone, salt, red peppah an' mix it tuhgethah, an' put it undah de cornah of a person house. Dey'll fuss an' fight all de time until yo' git dat removed. When yo' git dat away from dere, den dey quits fussin' an' fightin'. Dey don't fuss an' fight no more. But long as dat dere an' dey don't know where it is, dey goin' tuh fuss an' fight an' kill one anothah maybe, all de time. Yo' gotta git somebody dat knows [what to do - a hoodoo doctor.]
The informant describes fresh-grave dirt mixed with bluestone, salt and red pepper beneath a house corner, with reported conflict while it remains and relief on removal. The rooster interruption and final explanation of someone who knows what to do are editorial context.
Entry 7884
Ah heard dey kin take graveyard dirt wit salt, Epsom salts, cayenne peppah an' sprinkle it undahneat' de do'steps, or git a chance tuh git in de house an' sprinkle it roun' close places in de house.
(What will that do then?)
Well, dat will make 'em move.
(They use both cooking salt and Epsom Salt, too?)
[I wanted to be certain informant did not say salt twice.]
All tuhgethah, an' graveyard dirt.
Entry 7885
Go tuh a graveyard an' git graveyard dirt an' mix salt wit it an' whut's dis dey call some kinda sulphur.
(Sulphur?)
An' jes' sprinkle it round in de house and sprinkle it de way dey want chew tuh go. Sprinkle it all de way through de house. Well, dey gits chure track an' take it an' wrap it up in somepin - a cloth - put graveyard dirt wit it an' if dey goin' down to runnin' watah, throw it down in runnin' watah. (These are two different ways of making you move?) Yes. An' dey take an aig an' write chure name on de side of it an' throw it cross yore house an' break it: if it breaks cross dere, yo' gotta move; if it don't yo' git sick. If somebody [root man] don't do somepin fo' yo', yo' liable tuh die.
The informant reports two dirt-related ways to make someone move: a graveyard-dirt mixture scattered in a house, and a track wrapped with graveyard dirt and cast into running water. A subsequent named-egg rite is separate and does not establish dirt use there. Departure, illness and death remain reported claims.
Entry 7887
Yo' kin take dat [graveyard dirt] an' put hit wit sulphah an' salt, black sut [soot] out de chimley [chimney] an' take it an' walk by a person dō nine nights, an' if dey don' see yuh [sprinkling this mix- turel, ah guarantee yuh aftah nine nights, de twelf' night dey move. Sprinkle it down.
“Graveyard dirt,” “soot” and “chimney” are bracketed editorial identifications. A later gloss is damaged in the printed text; the nine-night and twelfth-night conditions remain visible.
Entry 7888
Saltpetah - yo' take saltpetah an' beat it up fine, an' if yo' kin use some of dis graveyard dirt, tuh sprinkle in de do'way, see, where dey kin see it each mawnin', mo' lakly [likely] dat person will move from de house.
Entry 7889
Dey tell me yo' take an' git yuh sock, an' dere's somepin or othah yo' kin do an' run yo' crazy. Dey take dat sock an' dey git some graveyard dirt. An'. if dey want, dey kin git - choo know, dere's a scorpion in de woods dey call de wood- bitch. Yo' kin git 'im an' cut 'is haid off an' let it dry. When 'is haid been dried, come an' powdah dat up. Yo' take dat [wood-bitch powder] an' take dat graveyard dirt an' mix it [and put it in or on the sock] yo' see. An' yo' take dat [sock] an' yo' kin care [carry] it on de nō'theast side of a pine tree. Yo' bear [bury] it down dere an' drive a stäve down in it, yo' see [demonstrates].
(Hit an imaginary stäve or stake 6 times.)
Dat settles it. [This is one of many mock burials. The victim if unnamed is always intended by name. Here the victim is buried in the shade of a pine tree, so that he will gradually pine away. North instead of northeast side would probably have meant a quicker death.]
Entry 7890
Take de graveyard dirt an' put it in a glass an' set it ovah dere man- telpiece fer seven days, an' aftah [that] yo' turn it undah de bottom of yo' steps see. An' dey says dey kin harm yo' lak dat.
(Well now who gets this graveyard dirt? The person that is trying to harmyou?)
Yes.
(All right, do I put the graveyard dirt on your mantle then?)
Dat's whut ah'm speaking about.
(And then put it under your step.)
Put it undah mah step.
(Well, you would see it on the mantle, wouldn't you?)
Sometimes yo' bury dat.
The informant describes graveyard dirt in a glass on a mantel for seven days, then beneath steps, and attributes harm to what people say. The interviewer supplies the proposed victim perspective in several questions; the informant also mentions burial. The bracketed time completion is editorial.
Entry 7891
Take dat graveyard dirt an' put dat graveyard dirt in a li'le bag an' sew it up. An' den dey'll, yo' know, dey put dis in a, yo' know, put some in - [if] dey kin git tuh yo', dey put some of dat grave- yard dirt in yuh shoe, put it in de shoe. Well, dat run yo' crazy.
Entry 7893
Dey kin take yuh shoes an' dey kin break yo' out wit sores.
(How do they do that?)
Well, dey go tuh de graveyard an' dey git de dead dust - not graveyard dust - like here de grave an' dey send dat pipe down intuh de grave 'till it hits - till dey git, till de pipe gits full wit dat dust. [See piece of cane driven into grave, No.7812. p.3364.1 Dey takes dat dust an' use immaterial [material] from dat very grave, but evahwhere dat dust go on your feet, dat breaks yo' wit sores.
Entry 7894
Take yuh shoes an' put graveyard dirt in 'em an' go ahead ovah de rivah, de left-foot shoe. De right-foot shoe don' 'mount tuh nuthin. It's de left-foot shoe.
(What will that do then?)
Well, yo' jis' drifts away. (Sends them away.) [That expression ovah de rivah in New Orleans means across the river in Algiers, the west bank of the Mississippi, in Algiers it means across the river in New Orleans. Here the words apparently mean send you away.]
Entry 7895
Weah dat in yo' shoe.
(This graveyard dirt.)
Yes sir.
(What do you do that for?)
Well, dey weahs dat in dey right shoe an' dis will drive yo' outa town, too. Ag'in, undahstand, dey weahs it in dey right shoe an' den dey will take dis dirt, when dey weah it fo' nine mawnin's ag'in, an' dey goin' take dat dirt, an' when dey ketch chew, when dey thresh [whip] yo' an' ketch yo' [catch you and whip you], den dey buries it or throw dat dirt ovah dere left shouldah.
(That drives you out of town?)
Yes, throw it cross yore left shouldah.
Entry 7897
Well, dey take de shoes an' dey git some graveyard dirt an' quicksilvah an' chip [stir or mix] it up tuhgethah, an' sprinkles it in dey shoes an' dat'll make 'em walk away. Ah've heard dat. A fellah tole me dey done him dataway an' he walked away.
Entry 7898
Dress de shoes wit grave- yard dust an' quicksilvah an' gunpowdah. (What will that do?) Dress yo' shoe. (Why?) Oh, dat'll make yo' leave, jes' keep yo' always on de go.
Entry 7899
Well, graveyard dirt - yo' jis' take graveyard dirt an' yo' take it up, an' jis' put chew some salt in dere, an' jis' git chew a li'le nail, jis' a li'le nail, not nuthin tuh hurt, jis' a li'le nail wit dis graveyard dirt. An' yo' put it inside of de stove an' den yo' let it [graveyard dirt and salt] git hard, jis' hard. An' den yo' jis' powdah it in de bottom of yuh shoe. [The nail of course does not powder, it merely being a magic object completing 3 ingredients.] Dat makes yo' lucky. Git hard lak a powdah an' den jis' weah it in de bottom of yuh shoe. Jis' sprinkle it [in your shoe]. An' den sometime yo' put talcum powdah wit it.
(What do you put talcum powder in it for?)
Well, dat makes it lucky.
(How do you get the talcum powder?)
How git it? Buy it. [A good answer!]
Entry 7900
Yo' take lak yo' got on yore shoes an' yo' pull yore shoes off. Dey kin git some of dat graveyard dirt an' sulphuh an' sprinkle in yore shoes. Wal, dat'll put chew in trouble. Dat all dat'll do. Put chew in jail, keep yo' in jail all de time. Put chew in hard luck. Dat's de way dat do's.
Entry 7901
Git chew - git nine or ten grains of fresh graveyard dirt an' fix it up wit garlic an' a piece of silvah, a dime. An' take de silvah dime an' scrape it. Scrape some of de silvah in wit dis sand an' a piece of garlic an' tie it up an' weah it. [This hand has 3 ingredients.] Dat's luck. (Luck for what?) Well, it's lak yo' got someone dat chew lak an' she don't care much about chew, yo' weah dat. Dat's suppose [to] be luck.
(You take ten grains you say?)
Yassuh, nine or ten grains.[ Brunswick, Ga., (1182), 1992:9.]
Entry 7902
Take de graveyard dirt an' put it in yo' pillah or eithah in yuh mat- tress, an' sleep on dat nine days. Yo' jes' go away - yo' know, jes' fall off an' git po' [poor] an' po' until yo' jes' go 'way an' die. Dat'll kill yo'. (After nine days.)
Entry 7903
Jes' lak ah told yo' 'bout de [grave- yard] dirt. Dey put dat in it or dey put de salt in dat sock, dat dirty sock, an' dey'll also bury it. An' dat also will keep yo' away, a wife from goin' off anywhere.
Entry 7904
Yo' take graveyard dirt an' put in one of 'is sock, de right sock, see. He be runnin' out [away from home] an' see, if yo' throw dat ovah de house - lak ah were de woman, dat ah an' mah husband live in [the house] see. In othah words, when he came back in de house. ovah mah, where hit [the sock] tetch de ground at. he wouldn't wanta go back out dere [away from me]. When he come in he be crazy about de house an' don' wanta go anywhere, wanta stay home most of de time.
Entry 7906
Ah heard of people say, if yo' go tuh de grave- yard twelve o'clock night an' git some dirt out de graveyard, an' mix it wit sulphuh an' throw it onto a pusson's porch - any place where dey got tuh step ovah it - [this is] somepin tuh do 'em harm.
Entry 7907
Dey put some graveyard dirt undah her steps, an' some sulphuh, an' she caught it in 'er laigs an' de laigs swolled up - all both her laigs - jes' lak de dropsy. An' she took dis dime an' file some of de silvah off an' taken de [silver] tea an' drank it [as a cure]. [Sulphur a symbol for the devil and hell, and the death symbol graveyard dirt, these two combined would cause almost any- thing!]
Entry 7908
If yo' want a job, when yo' git ready fo' dis job, yo' go an' git chew some sulphuh an' git chew some dirt from de graveyard. An' yo' - jes' lak yo' goin' tuh dis job - yo' git tuh de house, yo' sprinkle dis roun' de house. An' when yo' sprinkle dis roun' de house, den yo' could walk up on de do' an' knock at de do'. An' ask fo' de job an' yo' do dat fo' nine mawnin's, an' in de ninth mawnin' yo'll git dis job.
(You mean you sprinkle this in front of the boss' house or the job?)
Yes [at the home of the boss].
(All the way round the house?)
Not all de way roun' de house, jes' from de front. Lak dat's de cornah [demon- strates], from dere tuh de cornah of de house.
(Just to the front of the house?)
Yes.
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 7910
Git some graveyard dirt an' sugah an' sweep it de way, out de do' behin' 'em, see, an' dey'll have tuh go. (You would be living in the house, though, wouldn't you? And to make another person go you would throw this behind them?)
[Behind him after he left so that he would not return.]
Yessuh.
Entry 7911
If you want to go to stealing, you go to the graveyard and get some dirt off of a fresh grave and go into a man's yard, barn, and take anything they want and the dogs won't bother them. That would be his night password. [Informant 8 years old when Civil War began in 1860.]
Entry 7913
Ah heah 'em speak of de graveyard dirt [demonstrates]. (Get the graveyard dirt - and what do they do with it? Rub it in their hands.) Rub it in dere hand an' when dey got tuh anybody's yard - don' care how bad de dog is - put de graveyard dirt an' rub it in dere hands an' rubs on de privates. Don' care how bad de dog is, jis' go dere an' [hold your] palm tuh de dog, an' de dog won' even bothah yo', jis' come dere an' lick yuh hands.
(The dog must smell your hands.)
He'd smell yuh hands from dat graveyard dirt and privates.
(Just the female dog's privates.)
Ah don' care how bad de dog is, de dog wouldn't bothah yo'.
Entry 7915
If yo' had a house yo' wanted tuh rent, take dis graveyard dirt ag'in. Yo' nevah will fail wit dis graveyard dirt. Yo' kin use a penny or else use silvah. SILVAH WORKS FASTAH den de othah. Well, yo' kin go tuh de graveyard ag'in an' put chure silvah money down dere an' tell it whut chew want, whut chew wanta git chure dirt fo'. But, prefah a baby's grave, an' git chure dirt an' come back. An' yore house has fo' cornahs tuh it. [Informant now points out the corners of my interviewing room.] Yo' put some in dat cornah an' den yo' say, In de Name of de Fathah, an' Mame of de Son, an' in de Name of de: Holy Ghost, ah want some luck brought intuh dis house. Ah want dis house rented. Ah want someone tuh occupy dis house. Put chew some dirt in dis [second] cornah, an' say de same thing in dat [third] cornah an' say de same thing at dat [fourth] cornah. An' den yo' say [it again] befo' yo' leave out [the house]. Yo' should have it in dere, scattah it all aboutdere, Jame of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost. An' den when yo' go out, jes' scattah it all down on de steps, an' den somebody will come an' rent it. [Fayetteville, N. Car., 2556:8.]
Entry 7916
Lak if anybody do anything tuh yuh an' yuh want 'em tuh move from dere, yuh git dat dirt an' yuh eithah throw it on de steps or on de porch or put it by de do'. Dey say yuh put it cross by de do' fō' three times. (They put it across for three times?) Make it cross by de dō' three tues an' dat person will have tuh move.
Entry 7917
Dey say yo' take graveyard dust an' sprinkle it around yore house three times in succession befo' leavin', an' dey say yo'll leave dere - yo' can't stay dere. [For a hazy statement like this one I normally would ask Who sprinkles? Who leaves? Probably I forgot to restart recording when questions began. This could be called a typical spite rite. To get even with the rentman, the departing renter on leav- ing for the last time throws back through the door 3 sprinkles of graveyard dirt. Whether vocally expressed or not, the departing person does this in the Three Holy Names! The next occupant will not be able to remain in the house.]
Entry 7918
If it's anyone aroun' here dat ah would lak fer 'em tuh move - ah want tuh move in de house or anything of de kind - ah kin go out tuh de cemetery an' git some dirt. Make three wishes, dat is, yo' know lak ah want dem tuh move an' stay away. Jis' throw it across de steps or in de hallway or in de porch, an' in three day's time dem people goin' tuh move.
(Move out of the house?)
Yes, sir. [Here 3 wishes replace the 3 Holy Names.]
Entry 7919
Yo' kin git dirt off a person grave, ah think it wus twelve days aftah yo' [they] put away [buried] an' yo' kin care [carry] it an' put it undah de person step where dey live at, an' yo' put 'em in a bad spell of sickness.
Entry 7920
Take de dirt off de grave an' take it at night, twelve a'clock. An' take it an' carry it tuh de do' an' put it at de foot of de steps. An' whosomevah in dere, what dey don't like, will run 'em crazy.
Entry 7921
Take chamber lye an' graveyard dirt an' mix it de same as ah jes' tole yo' while ago, an' jes' keep it all roun' de house. That will keep de law away. Dat chamber lye wit de graveyard dirt an' de peppah an' salt. ah wuz tellin yo' 'bout jes' awhile ago. (That will keep the law away?) Dat keeps de law away.
Entry 7922
(They did what?)
Jes' raisin' Cain around dere. Yo' could heah it, sompin lak somebody walkin'. It wus purely graveyard dirt 'cuz ah swept it out. Jes' gits chure mind, evah- thing tormented, 'cuz it's from de daid spirit, yo' know. [Raising Cain equals raising the devil or hell. Spirits walking or unseen footsteps is a common belief, see FACI 2nd ed., Nos.15541-15543, p.733.]
Entry 7923
Dey puts it in a cloth or anything an' wraps it up, an' yo'll have tuh pass backwards an' forwards ovah it.
(And then? What happens to you then?) Yo'll become tuh be sickly. (I see. You walk over this graveyard dirt.)
Yeah, an' it puts yo' in hard luck.
Entry 7924
I have heard of people giving graveyard dust. You throw it in running water. The person you want to go away or come back will come or go. You throw it over your right shoulder and don't look back but keep walking and have the person in mind.
Entry 7925
Dey tell me if yo' usin' a lavatory, especially a outside lavatory, dat yo' could jes' take a little bit of it an' go dere durin' de night an' sprinkle a little bit around de hole where yo' sit at.
(Sprinkle what around?)
Graveyard dirt.
(Around the lavatory?)
Aroun' de lavatory hole.
(And it will injure you, you say?)
Yes.
Entry 7926
Ah heard dat if yo' wanted a sweetheart, lak yore husban' or anythin' - if yo' love him an' yo' want him tuh stay wit yo' - yo' takes de graveyard dirt an' yo' wears it, jes' git chew a li'le bit in a bag. Ah seed [= seen = saw] a lady one time wearin' some of it. An' yo' wears it in a bag an' that will make the man wanta stay wit yo'.
Entry 7927
Yo' take a sock an' put dat dust in dere. (What dust?) Yo' take dat sock an' yo' git some graveyard dust [and put in], dat willah leaf an' yo' put dat in dere, but yo' gotta let it stay in de sun an' let it dry good. An' dey put dat in de ground. It's all dif- f'ren' kinda ways [to use graveyard dirt] an' dat's a simple thing tuh do.
(What will that do if you put the willow leaf in that sock?)
Put it in dat sock? Dat'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 7936
Get dey socks an' fill 'em fulla dirt, an' sulphur an' soda - furse [first] one thing anothah an' bury 'em like yo' do a person. Let it be a secret, don't let nobody see yo', an' dat person dey say will die. [Here we have an unusual combination for So few words: sock, used as a mock coffin, representing feet, to keep a person down uder your feet, and also odor, the smell of death; ordinary dirt is mock grave- yard dirt; sulphur signifies the devil or hell; and soda, its effervescence, suggest body decay. Secrecy covers everything with the added power of ritual silence.]
Entry 7962
Yuh toenails or fingernails. Dey kin git holt of yuh fingernail clip- pings an' de dirt from undah yuh foot. See. An' dey mix it tuhgethah an' git 'em some graveyard dirt an' shape 'em a box. Make a li'le shape of a box, see jis' lak a coffin, an' take hit an' bury it undah yuh steps. See. An' git some hair from yuh belly an' put in dere Wit it. An' DERE AIN'T NO DOCTOR IN DE WORLD KIN CURE YO'.
(What will it do to you?)
It will kill yo'.
(I see.)
(Now that dirt from your foot. Well where from your foot?)
Yassuh, dat daid skin whut's scraped off yuh foot.
(Oh, I see. Where do you get that?)
De way I git dat, dat skin from yuh foot.
Entry 7965
If a person dat chew dislike an' don't want 'em be round yo', yo' take a small box an' make it jes' like yo' casket [coffin]. Take yo' some Epsom salts, right in yore yard, [I mean] in dere yard. An' dat'll keep 'em from round joo. (Keep them away from there?) Yes.
Entry 7978
Yo' takes a photograph, see, an' writes on de back of de photograph yore name, her name cross it. Don't write 'em straight. Yo' write chure name down an' yo' come back an' write her name on top of it. Yo' go to de grave- yard an' take yo' two han'- fulla dirt an' sprinkle it ovah dis picture, an' fold dis photograph up an' puts it in a envelope an' sprinkle dat dirt in de envelope, jes' 'nuff tuh put in dere an' fold it up an' puts it in de box. An' in seven days, regardless tuh where she is or who she is, she cain't be still - she'll return. She gotta come.
Entry 8140
Take dey photograph an' git dis gunpowdah out of a shell, wit sulphuh an' salt, an' go out in de field or in de house, wherevah yo' want to. Co'se de gunpowdah makes sech a noise. Yo' kin put dis pichure face down on dis an' make a fiah undah it. (Face down on what?) On de fiah. See, yo' make a fiah an' den yo' put dis pichure face down on a piece of papah wit de gunpowdah an' sulphuh, an' salt an' graveyard dirt. Tell it dat, "Ah want chew tuh run dis person away. Ah want chew tuh kill 'em." But mos'ly tuh kill de person. When de fiah ketch on de pichure, it will kill de person.
Entry 8161
If I want tuh kill yo', I git somebody tuh take a tintype of yo', pho- tograph. Yo' know I want it. It's got tuh be a tintype. I wan'a put me some graveyard dirt an' I'll bury dis tintype pitchure of yo' headforemos' down. First, put de tintype in de hole, covah it wit dis graveyard dirt, an' put de othah dirt on top of it, but let joo be face foremos'. An' when dis dirt undah dat groun'll rot an' jis' takes all dis here whare dat yuh pitchure been drawed, dis'll mold, yo're gone.
Entry 8170
Now, if's a pasteboard, they can't do so much with it, but if's a tin- type, they take that tintype pitchure an' care it to the graveyard an' dig a hole, an' turn the face down an' cover it up. Go thah every mawnin', put a handful of dirt on it. Go every mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's. An' yo'll pass on away. Yo' talkin' of goin' away like somebody [with] T. B., yo'll go away then. Yo'll go away in a hurry.
Entry 8171
Yo' kin take dere picture, take de pichure an' bury dis pichure. Now if someone jis' don' lak 'em roun' heah or wants tuh git rid of 'em, jis' take dis pichure fo' nine mawnin's an' jis' take it tuh de graveyard, tuh de offside of de grave, see. De graveyard got fo' cornahs tuh it; any place, see. Take it tuh de offside, it's on de right side. Evah grave got all cornahs. See whut ah mean? Take it tuh de offside as yo' come up on dat side. It's got a offside on de right side of it on de fo' cornahs evahwhere yo' go. Take it tuh de offside an' bury it on its face. An' fo' nine mawnin's go dere an' dump a li'le dirt down in on it, fo' nine mawnin' an' make a wish evah mawnin', say[ing] dat yo' wan'a send 'em away. An' turn roun', don' look back. Walk off an' don' look back when yo' go 'way. An' in nine mo' mawnin's dis fellah be's somewhere, he cain't he'p hisself.
(What will happen to him?)
Sompin will happen. He jis' runned away. Yes, he jis' gone 'way fo'evah.
Entry 8173
Jis' lak ah'd take yer pichure. Well, ah could go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dirt right off from de sinnah's, yo' know, where a sin- nah is buried at, right in 'is chest. Git hit an' sew hit an' de pi- chure up intuh a piece of cloth, an' keep it fo' nine mawnin's, an' bury at chure do'step, an' dat'll bring yo' love.
(That's for love?)
Yes sir.
Entry 8184
I was in Georgia - Savannah, Georgia - with a company an' I was kin'a in touch wit a girl. An' she says tuh me, "Whitey, yo' goin' home?" "Yes." She says, "I would give yuh mah photograph but I afraid dat yo'll take an' let somebody have it an' yo'll do me harm." I said, "No, I wouldn't let..." Well, I said, "De bes' thing fer yo' tuh do is tuh not tuh give it tuh me." Yo' could take a tintype - yo' kin take a tintype an' have yure photograph on it, an' yo' kin take [it] up intuh de country roads [in those days (1937) mostly dirt roads] country roads where horses travel, an' bury it wit de face down. Dat horse tramples ovah it, dat will kill yuh, too.
(I see. Must the horse tramp over it to kill you?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 8215
Ah heard, quite a while ago now - hit was a lady heah in St. Augustine, Fla., was up heah, but 'uh [her] husban' had quit 'uh. Her an' 'uh husban' ep- arated. Dis was [a] woman [who] was in a li'le busi- ness. Ah don' know whethah it was dry good or grocer- ies. But anyway, huh hus- ban' ruled 'uh outa dis by dis same identical thing ah'm talkin' about now, Witchcraftin'. He ruled 'uh out [of] dis. He went somewhere an' got some kinda stuff an' come back. An' he came back. Well, she didn't have no hopes er [or] nuthin, couldn't have no use tuh do nuthin any place. Well, dey even driven 'uh 'way but she was brought back. Dis woman aftah she came back, she had some money, an' dis man sold out all de goods of dis sto' whut dey had an' taken anothah woman an' lived wit 'uh. Ah had learnt dat he wus in some part a [of] Florida. Anyway, he wus goin' fo' good, goin' tuh sea. But she went an' she had 'im brought back. An' when he wus brought back, he gave huh de money dat he even carried fo' huh. Now, dat wus wit de photograph. Now, yo' take A LOTTA PEOPLE SAY, "AH DON' HAVE MAH PICHURE TAKEN AN' ALL DIS AN' DAT AN' DE OTHAH." NOW, YO' TAKE MAHSELF. HIT'S NUTHIN AH DO'S IN DIS WORL' TUH CUZ DE OFFICAHS AN' DETECTIVES OR ANYTHING LAK DAT TUH BE LOOKIN' FO' ME.
[This is caused by enemies through witcheraftin'.]
Now, ah've been 'rested twice right in dis town heah, one time fo' bein' drunk an' de othah time becuz me an' anothah fellah got intuh a fight. Now, ah has mah pichure, mah pichure's up dere, prob'ly in Atlanta, Ga. BUT NOW AH DON'T GUESS DEY'D DO ANYTHING TO IT AT ALL.
[Informant laughs.]
Well, now yo' kin take a pichure an' cut dis pichure half in two. Let dis li'le book heah now be de pichure. [One of my Nunbers Books I always kept on interviewing table; each informant having a number - see illustration at end of volume 2 of Hoodoo, which shows actual size and contents of one of these books.] Cut dis pichure half in two. See, heah's de pichure right on dere. Dat's de body of dis man's pichure. Cut dis pichure half in two. An' aftah yo' cut dis pichure half in two, git chew a pint flask. Go uptown an' git chew a pack of brand-new needles, a pack of brand-new safety pins, git chew 25 cents bottle of Hearts Cologne. An' aftah yo' cut dis pichure half in two, yo' write his name wit de pins - see, in dis part of de body, wit de pins, see [demonstrates].
(The upper part of the body.)
Dat's right, de uppah part of de body wit de pins, see. Yo' take de pins an' stick 'em dis way, an' dis way, an' one dat way, an' one de othah way, see. Sup- posed tuh be [able] tuh write dat, in de uppah part of dis body. Den yo' take dis part an' turn it haid foremost intuh de body, jis' lak if ah drap [drop] mah haid down lak dat. Yo' take dis part wit de needles an' yo' write wit seven - his name wit de needles in dis part of de pichure. Den instead of turnin' dis pichure down de same as de haid part turnin', turn it up, yo' see [demonstrates].
(Turn the feet up?)
Turn de feet up.
(Lower the head and turn the feet up?)
Dat's right. An' den yo' got de nails in dere. Well, yo' take an' put chew half of dis Hearts Cologne on dere. Yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' git chew some dirt outa de graveyard. Don't mattah if it's from de haid of de grave or from de foot of de grave or from de centah of de grave, but git chew some of de dirt. Puts it in dis bottle, jis' about a tablespoonful, but let it be sifted, not no tracks er nuthin, jis'.de dirt itself. An' yo' bury dis. Now, dese people kin be in Chicago, Illinois. Dey kin be in Paris, France, or England, dey'll be brought back in a length of time aftah dis is nine days old. Den a person kin take dis pichure ag'in an' dey kin run yo' crazy. Dey kin take dis pichure lak dey do wit chure hair, yo' see. Dey drive yore hair intuh a tree wit a peg.
Entry 8283
Well, yo' see, yo' kin take dat 'ere [photo] an' [a note of mlne says informant very shaky, a stutterer] an' bury it down in dirt an'...meal buries... eithah meal. Dey eithah buries it in de groun' where dey walk ovah it fo' nine days, an' make any kinda wishes yo' wants fo' it, yo' see. An' den take it out, yo' see, an' nail it up side of de tree at de ninth day an' shoot it, sompin lak dat, wit No.8 shot.
(What is that supposed to do to you?)
Dey say de person will die. (You take this photograph first and you bury it in the ground, face down, you say. And then what do you put on that?) Make any kinda wishes yo' wants tuh.
(You said something about meal. What did you say about meal?)
Even if yo' don't want tuh bury it down in de ground, yo' kin bury it in de meal.
(Oh, if you don't bury it in the ground, you bury it in the meal. Corn meal?)
Yes, sir. An' den yo' leave it fo' nine days. Den yo' see, yo' kin make yere wishes, any kinda wish yo' want. An' de ninth day yo' kin take it up an' shoot it.
Entry 8298
At least ah know about de photograph. Well yo' take a person's photo- graph, dat's providin' if it's on a tintype. Yo' take a person's photograph an' prob'ly yowanta git shet [rid] of 'em out de worl' where dey won't worry yo' no mo'. Take dat photograph an' carry it tuh a - prob'ly some ole field or nothah, an' bury it on de face." An' aftah yo' bury it on de face, yo' prob'ly could walk away ahummin' some ole re- ligious song. An' aftah yo' bury it on de face an' walk away, hummin' dat ole religious song, it won't be long befo' dey be throwin' dirt in dere face. It won't be long befo' dey be daid.
(Well, what do you do with the photograph?)
What would yo' do wlt it? Yo' bury it. Yo'll die!
Entry 8307
Yo' could take a pichure. Now, if yo' wanta do good, if yo' wanted de person tuh love yo' or somepin an' - yo' put dat pichure tuh de haid of yore bed, an' call de person's name nine mawnin's. An' wit a pin dat's nevah been used, a new pin, yo' put nine holes intuh dis pichure fo' nine mawnin's. An' while yo' punch dose holes, yo' talk tuh de pichure jis' lak yo' talkin' tuh de person. An' aftah de nine mawnin's, jis' whatevah de statements were dat chew made, dat person will do jis' lak yo' ast dem tuh do, but chew must keep dat pichure dere.
(You punch one hole each morning or nine holes?)
Nine holes for nine mawnin's.
(That's nine times nine?)
Eighty-one.
(And you keep it at the head of the bed?)
Yo' keep it dere tuh de haid of yore bed.
(Now you do harm you say with the photograph. Tell me about that.)
Well, if yo' wanta do harm wit de pichure, yo' could take dat pichure an' yo' take dat tuh de graveyard, an' yo' go an' yo' call de spirits of de dead. When yo' think dat de spirit is dere, yo' take out nine han'fuls of dirt out of dat grave. Den yo' place dis pichure down dere an' yo' explain tuh de spirit jis' whut yo' want 'em tuh do tuh dat pahticlah [particular] person, see. An' what- evah yo' say, den yo' pay dat spirit.
(Well, now. What do you usually pay the spirit?)
Well, it goes - Well, NOW DE FIRST DEGREE IS THREE PENNIES. DE SECOND IS NINE AN' DE THIRD IS THIRTEEN. [I do not recall that these sums of money paid the spirit are called degree elsewhere in Hoodoo.]
(Then you cover that picture up in there?)
Let it stay dere. An' yo' have tuh explain tuh dis spirit whut tuh do tuh dat pahticlah person, an' pay dem tuh do dat. Dey'll do it jis' lak yo' ast dem tuh do.
Entry 8334
Well, yo' see if yo' git anybody tuh snap a person's photograph - now, ah don' keep mah pichures. If ah take a pichure, an' ah lets people look at it - ah'll keep it an' ah'll take it an' ah'll do 'way wit it, becuz yo' could take a man's pichure, jes' have somebody snap it, den go tuh a tree an' bo' a hole in it - a fast-growin' tree - roll it [snapshot] up, an' take an augah, a very small one. Yo' jes' take a li'le bit a [augerl, li'le five-eights [of an inch] an' bo' a li'le hole in a fast growin' tree. An' put it in dere an' jes' grab a li'le dirt tuh smear ovah de end of it. [Hole is filled with dirt, not wooden peg.] Dat's de last of 'em. If yo' don't git it outa dat, he'll die. Dat shows yo' cut it off, cover it
[hole] ovah.
Entry 8489
Yo' kin take fingah- nails from yore fingahs, pick 'em an' yo' put 'em in some graveyard dirt. [Fin- gernails are now forgotten.] Pick undah dis fingahnail, dis fingah heah. (The middle finger on'the left hand, and get some blood you say.) Until it bleeds, an' drop it in dis. Drop nine drops in dis han'ke'ch'ef wit dis graveyard dirt in it. Den yo' take it, lak dis heah, tie it up, an' yo' put it in a bottle airtight an' whoevah it is, her name in it.
(Put the name on a piece of paper.)
Dere yo' are, on a piece of papah. Den when yo' stop dis bottle airtight, an' then in nine [days] evahwhere [anywhere] she are, she'll be 'way [leave] from dere.
(Where do you keep that bottle during the nine days?)
In de nine days, yo' bury it undah de left cornah of yore house. (When you get this graveyard dirt, you put it in a little saucer or something and put the blood in it?) In a little vial.
(In a little bottle.)
An' yo' got drop dis blood - nine drops of blood in it out from undah his fingah.
(The middle finger of the left hand.)
Dat's right. (Do you get this graveyard dirt any special way, or just go out there and pick it up?) Go to de haid of a man's grave - see, an' put it in dis vial.
Entry 8511
(What do you do with that graveyard dust?)
Well, yo' take graveyard dust an' put it wit - tuh break up a woman an' a man.
[Long pause by informant.]
(How would they handle that? How would they use that?)
Well, dey take de graveyard dust an' steel dust an' guinea seeds an' war wa- tah, an' put it intuh a coconut, yo' see, an' red peppah, cayenne peppah, Epsom salts an' bittah apple an' bury it. An' yo' see, dat cuz a 'sturbance. Den dey writes de man's name an' de woman's name nine times an' dat break 'em up, cuz dem tuh make terrible 'sturbance. An' dat cuz dem tuh break up, see. (Where do they bury this?) Well, dey bury it undah de porch - bury it in de ground, bury it in de ground. [For preceding guinea seeds, see long margin title GUINEA SEEDS... GRAINS OF PARADISE, p.57Of. Red pepper in present margin title could be a repetition for preceding cayenne pepper, but more likely it means a piece of hot red-pepper pod. The preceding bitter apple - also called bitter cucunber and bitter gourd - is the colocynth (Citrullis colocynthis), a Medi- terranean and African vine related to the watermelon.]
Entry 8524
You get a coconut and you open that coconut and you leave that water out of that coconut. See. And just like I want you to drift and drag around, I'll take that coconut and put your name down in that coconut, you see. Then I take some dust, graveyard dust and put it down in that coconut. Then I take that coconut and stop it right back up with your name in that coconut. And if I Want you to drift and, drift up and down the river, I walk to the river and throw it in there. Then, otherword [in other words or otherwise] I could take the coconut and keep it where I just use you, just roll it backwards and forwards, see. And I'll have you planted [at home] and just any way what I'll want to do with that coconut, well you'll just have to do.
Entry 8563
Dey take yore [bare] footprint, ketch de track wheresomevah yo' make it, an' picks it up an' puts it in a can or bottle, eithah one, an' writes your name down in it an' put it in a bottle, an' throw it anywhere where dey got runnin' watah. (How do you write the name?) Yo' write de name - lak whatsomevah yore name is, well yo' write yore fami- ly name first an' yo' write chure given name last. See, suppose tuh write chure family name first an' den write chure given name last. Yo' write it down nine times, wit a indelible pencil. An' yo' cross it. Every time yo' write it an' yo' put dat dust an' yo' cross it, an' den yo' put it in a bottle, or in a can, sompin dat chew kin seal up. An' yo' throws it splash into dat runnin' watah.
(Either foot track, it doesn't make any difference?)
Either foot track, jes' so long as dey git de track wheresomevah yo' put chure print, shoes or barefooted, eithah one.
Entry 8564
Git de dirt from a person foot track an' yo' could put some steel dust with, an' hair from undah yore arms, an' yo' could bury it, an' yo' could keep a person down lak that. Either yo' could make 'em travel. Yo' could take a person's foot tracks an' yo' could take de steel dust, hair from undah yore arms an' dirt from undah yore fingernails. An' yo' take dis ole [anything you measure with] yo' know de length that yo' measure. Measure it [foot track] crossway an' straight up an' down, too. An' yo' could write de name [on a piece of paper or article used for measuring] an' bury it an' yo' keep 'em down. An' yo' could take a piece of their sock with that, yo' understan'.
Entry 8626
What other way they say they can do?
(Yes.)
They can take your name and write it nine times and write the landlord's name nine times on top of your name. Then they takes a lemon, and they gets graveyard dust, Epsom salts, red pepper, black pepper, plain salt and takes a lemon and hulls it out and puts that name down in there and bury it in de ground de butt end up, an' when that name rots, that landlord will put yo' out.
(I see, the landlord will put me out?)
Yes. Yo' an' 'im fall.out. (Now, you say - you write my name nine times in a row, then you write the landlord's name?) Across it.
(You turn it like that [I demonstrate] and cross it?)
Cross it.
(You cross it like that or just write over it?)
No, over it but cross it.
(Oh, you cross it. You turn the paper upside down and write across it?)
[Names are on same line but upside down.]
Yes.
(Well, why do you put his name on top of mine?)
To make him fall out wit yo':
(Oh, I see.)
Entry 8663
(Measure you with cords? How do they do that?)
Well, jest like if I know yo' is five feet or [and] six inches, or three[!] feet six inches, ah'll walk by yo' an' ketch de height of myself. [He compares his height with that of his victim's.] Ah take a length of cord an' go [step] back an' put it in nine [loose] knots. Den ah'll call yo name. [Then the knots are tightened.] Den ah'd go back an' get me dat stuff [previously mentioned] and get some graveyard dust an' set it up dere, right dere. Run yo' away or make yo' do enythin' ah wantcha [want you] tuh do - leave de town [for example].
Entry 8780
If yo' wants tuh make a person move ag'in [another method] eithah [or] make 'em live bad - it goes fo' both de things. If yo' wanta make 'em live bad, ah break some ice up, an' ah take dat beef gall, an' de dirt dauber - yo' knows dat - an' yo' roll it [dirt dauber]. Yo' know, yo' take a bottle an' put it [dirt dauber nest] in a piece of papah an' roll it up, yo' know lak yo' do bread crumbs. An' yo' take dat beef gall an' yo' take de same cayenne peppah. Yo' use a whole box of it an' de beef gall, an': yo' mix all dat up togethah. An' yo' write de individual name down nine times each way. Yo' see, yo' could write it nine times straight lak dat [demonstrates]. An' den whosomevah yo' breakin' up from, yo' could write dem on top. An' den yo' write 'em down nine times each way yo' see. Yo' write it straight lak dat, an' den urite it, yo' know, catacorner [catercornered]. Yo' undahstan' how ah mean? Write it across jis' lak a seal lak yo' make. [These 2 groups of names cross each other making an "x" or cross.] An' den yo' put it in dat piece of papah, but chew git a white piece of papah an' yo' write it in ink. An' yo' git it in dat papah an' yo' fold it up, an' when yo' fold it, don' fold it towards yo', always fold it from yo'. An' yo' put it in a jah. Yo' put all dat togethah in dat papah an' yo' put it in a jah an' yo' stop dat jah up tight an' yo' put it in a ole country toilet. Have tuh be shure tuh find a country toilet tuh put it in where nobody won' find it.
(What would that do then?)
Dat would break yo' up. Dat would break anybody up, if yo' want 'em tuh live bad an' not prosper or nuthin. Dat'll make 'em, yo' know, live bad.
(These two people.)
An' den ag'in, dat same thing yo' could do ag'in, if yo' wants tuh put some- body against - lak yo' have friends an' de people heah lak [like] yo'. If yo' put de othah person ag'inst dese othah people, yo' kin take dat same thing an orite dere name down an' den write de othah individual name on top an' put it down, an' dey'll come tuh lak yo' an' hate de othah one.
(You don't throw that in the toilet do you?)
Yes, de same thing. Yo' know it diff'ren ways yo' could do.
Entry 8840
Yo' have tuh go tuh de grave tuh do dis. Go tuh de graveyard an' go down in a man's grave an' yo' have a penny in yore hand. Run yore han' down in de grave - it make no diff'- rent which han' - run yore han' down in de grave an' leave dis penny an' come up wit de dirt. An' take dis writin' an' sprinkle it [dirt] right 'cross dat writin', an' fold it up, an' lay it undah de lid [cover] of de Bible. An' ah don't care whut she done or nuthin, yo' kin 'tract [attract] her anywhere he want tuh by dis dirt. (You take her writing? Her handwriting, a letter she wrote to you, and you can make any kind of a wish and she'll do anything you want her to do?) Yes.
Entry 8844
Jes' lak yo' write me a lettah an' ah don' wan' chew tuh bothah wit nobody else, an' yo' will not go wit me. Ah take dat lettah whut chew write tuh me an' ah goes tuh a graveyard an' git some of dat graveyard dirt an' bluestone - yo' know whut dat [bluestone] is. Well ah'll beat dat bluestone up, see. An' ah'll take it an' put it in dat lettah an' fold it up jes' as tight as ah kin. Carry it in de lavatory [outside watercloset] an' put it up on dat cross- piece dere. An' she won' 'ave [won't have] no mo' trouble wit dem [other girls]. Yo' can't write tuh her atall no mo'.
Entry 8845
Yo' kin take nine nails every - [on the] night dat chew write dis let- tah, an' yo' take nine nails an' lay 'em in a glass crossways wit watah [lay them crossways in a glass of water] an' put some dirt [identified later] in de bottom of de glass an' sprinkle a little bit of dirt in de powdahs [identified later] in de envelope, an' dey say dat'll bring 'em back. Bring 'em back an' dey'll stay wit chew long as yo' keep it up.
(What sort of dirt do you use?)
It's graveyard dirt.
(What kind of powders do you use?)
It's some Lucky Heart Powdahs. [Lucky Heart is name of firm selling the powders - see interview AGENT FOR CURIOS (Jacksonville, Fla.) pp.1075-1085, first few paragraphs of text.] (You send the letter after you put these nails in the glass of water. You put this graveyard dirt in the water and this lucky powder. Then put this letter in the water, too?) No, yo' sprinkle some in de lettah, if yo' goin' send it tuh anybody.
(What do you put in the letter, just put dust?)
Yessuh. (If you write a letter to somebody, you put [in it] this graveyard dirt and this lucky powder. What do you do with these nails in the water? What do you do that for?) Dey say de nail keep dere till dey git dere or somepin lak dat, ah hear'd de ole people say.
(You keep these nails in the water.)
Until dey git de lettah, yeah, an' dey'll come. (They'll come back. But all you do is just put the nails in the water, nothing else?) De nail an' dat dirt.
(The dirt and the powder. Then you don't put anything in the letter?)
Yes sir, see yo' puts dat powdah an' a li'le dat dirt, an' call dere name.
(You put some of that dirt and powder into the water and also the letter?)
Yeah, an' call dere name.
Entry 8912
Den if yo' got a idea dat I stole it - yo' know, like if I steal somepin from yo' an' yo' got a idea - I seen yo' come aroun', I mean. Yo' kin get some of my foot track or anythin' an' I'll bring it back, but if yo' don't know.... [I tum off recording machine here because rite did not sound promising. Then he says something about foot track and I begin to record.]
(What do they use?)
Well, yo' know, wheresomevah yo' step like dat, see right between de palm of yore foot an' de heel; see, yo' get a knifebladeful an' yo' put it in a handker- chief an' fold it.
(How do they fold it?)
[Informant begins to demonstrate.]
Fold it to yo' an' den fold it...yo' fold it like dat, an' den back like dat, but yo' don't want a rag as large as dis, see. An' den double it over like dis, back like dat. Well yo' won't want no - no piece no bigger'n [bigger than] dat in dere. An' den put it undah yore do'step an' cross it evah mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's an' name it, like if my name are John, see. Yo' cross it evah mawnin fo' nine mawnin's an' call my name 'fo' sunrise. De ninth mawnin' yo' go dere an' take it up, an' den yo' pick it up an' put it in yore pants, anyhow yore belt, an' de ninth mawnin' ah'll be dere.
Entry 9014
Well, ah heard dat chew kin git chew a black hen aig, see, an' carry it home an' boil it. But yo' have tuh go tuh de graveyard fo' dat. Yo' have tuh go tuh de graveyard an' dig down in dere by de person's haid where he was buried, up tuh yore elbows, yo' know, an' git a handful of dust an' come back, an' put it intuh dis pot what chew boil dat aig in. Put dat dirt dataway an' den take de aig an' carry it on up tuh de co'thouse. Jes' lak yo' de one wants tuh git out an' ah slip yo' de aig, an' yo' carries dat dere wit chew. Den yo' jes' let it drop somewhere on de floor an' bust it, an' dat'll help yo' tuh git a light fine. Sometime it cleahs yo'.
Entry 9020
All right, if yo' got some of yore friends in trouble an' wants tuh git 'em out. Prob'ly yo' got a purtty bad case an' yo' wants tuh git 'em out. Well, yo' kin go tuh de graveyard at night, twelve a'clock at night - let it be daid on de minute twelve aclock. Yo' go dere at night at twelve aclock an' yo' run yore arm down in de graveyard as fur as yo' kin git it down dere, right in de centah [a quincunx rite]. Yo' git a han'fulla dirt an' yo' take dat dirt an' git chew a plain white pocket han'ke'ch'ef dat don't have any streaks atall about de pocket han'ke'ch'ef - so it's plain white. An' yo' take dat dirt an' tie it up in de cornah de han'ke'ch'ef, puts it in yore pocket an' brings it on back. Well, yo' bring it back tuh de house an' when yo' git back tuh de house, yo' git chew some sage or sompin at night. Do all dat dat night. Bring it back tuh de house an' git chew some sage or sompin an' tie it up in dere wit dis dirt an' yo' takes it up in de jail, wheresomevah dey's in jail at, an' give it tuh de person an' tell 'em tuh weah it in de bottom of dey shoes. Well, dey weah dat in de bottom of dere shoes dat night. Prob'ly dey goin' have trial tuhmahah. An' dat night befo' dey goin' have de trial, yo' have some of yore friends tuh go tuh dat co'thouse, dat nex' mawnin' or dat mawnin' befo' day - sometime befo' dey'll have de trial - an' throw three aigs on topa de buildin'. An' be shu' dat evah' one of 'em is bust. If dey don't bust, it's not any good; but chew have tuh be shu' dat de aigs is bust. An' let 'em weah dat sage an' dirt in de bottom of dere shoes, an' dat'll cleah hit up.
Entry 9028
[This rite could also have been indexed under many blowing breath ex- amples in Hoodoo.] Yo' take dirt daubah nest. Yo' kin be in jail. Ah've done done dis. Yo' kin be in jail an' yo' kin git chew a piece of dirt daubah nest, but don't let it fall. [This is one of those don't-let-it-touch-the- ground rites.] If it fall, don't chew bothah wit it. Cheo git dat [nest] chureself. Yo' mix it up wit table salt an build yo' a li'le fiah, an' yo' burn it as de people do in ole ancient time, sacrificin', In de Name of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost. An' make yore wishes fo' whatevah yo' want tuh be done. An' yo' keep a-blowin', an' evah time yo' blow, say, God de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost till words 'mount tuh nine times. An' evah time it'll be yore way. An' if things ain't yore way, evah time yo' burn it, if things ain't zactly, yo' burn it ovah ag'in an' keep a-burnin' it ovah ag'in till things come zactly yore way.
(This is in a court case, you say?)
Yes sir. [For the mystery, awe and magic concerning the dirt dauber nest, See especially the interview, 'TOMB OF DE BABE OF BETHLEHEM," pp.1325-1335, v.2J
Entry 9029
Ah see whut it done an' done fo' me, but den yo' has a word tuh speak tuh it. If yo' wanta git dat, nuthin but gunpowdah, sulphur, aftah yo' git dat nest. Yo' git de sulphuh an' bluestone an' den dirt daubah out de nest an' dat black pep- pah. An' yo' make a good pow- dahs an' yo' kin sprinkle it anywhere roun' dere, jes' where de judge an' all de rest gotta come in ovah. When dey come inside of dat do' dere, an' dey walk ovah dere, dat settle it. Dat fur as ah know 'bout dat. An' ah've seen dat happen.
Entry 9035
In fact, dere used tuh be a ole fellah roun' heah - he wuz a bad fel- lah, bad principle, an' 'is mothah believe in dat. An' ah've often see 'er - she'd go off in de night, she's daid now, she died in Richmond. But ah'ye seen dat fo' a posi- tive fac', she'd go off an' she'd come back, when 'er son would be in trouble, an' she'd have dat. Ah couldn't sweah dat it's graveyard dirt, yo' undahstan', but it would look dat Way. An' she'd be stirrin', mixin' it. Whether she mixin' it tuh git 'im outa trouble, ah don' know.
Entry 9037
Dead person dust offa dem [off their graves]. Dey use dat fo' re- leasin' people from chain gangs.
(How do they use that?)
Jes' slip it tuh de person in - it's dust - in a papah or somepin. An' evah- where dat dey kin git a chance of stirrin' aroun' in de prison or at de [chain gang] camps, dey sprinkles it. In a few days somebody'll come fo' 'im. Yo' see, tuh releas- ed 'im, pay 'im out or released him some way.
Entry 9038
If yo' have a case in co't an' dey kin git dat an' put it aroun' dere sometime an' - roun' de co'thouse, if dat dey have been in jail. An' go tuh de graveyard an' git dirt, graveyard dirt, an' put it around dere, de co'thouse an' he will come out.
Entry 9039
Well, now, in a lawsuit or sompin lak dat, chew go tuh a graveyard an' dig down in dere jes' 'bout jes' as deep as yo' kin reach down in dere wit de arm, an' git dat befo' co't. An' if yo' git a chance tuh go in dere, sprinkle some of it aroun' down where de judge sits. An' in de lawsuit - if yo' steal somepin or somepin lak dat - yo' be lucky in dat case.
Entry 9041
All right now, if yo' wanta he'p a person dat is in jail. If yo' kin git some graveyard dirt, yo' supposed tuh git dat from as neah de haid as yo' could. Wal, jes' lak if ah wus in jail an' yo's goin' work fo' me, yo' would wanta walk aroun de jailhouse, yo' know, sif'in' a little - jes' sif' it a little aroun'.
(A little of this dirt?)
A little of dis dirt. Wal, if yo' could git into de co'troom yo'd wanta sif' a little. Wal, in case, in time of co't ah wouldn't have no - so many enemies. Yo' see? But hit sompin else yo' supposed tuh do wit dat graveyard dirt dat ah really don' know whut it is.
Entry 9051
Dey go tuh de graveyard an' dey gits dat dirt, if yo' got a case in co't. Ah have done seen it tried. An' yo' git all dat dirt up tuhgethah, yo' see, an' yo' brings it home. An' yo' takes it an' pound it an' put sulphur wit it, an' pound it all tuhgethah. An' go tuh co't wit it an' hold it in yore hands lak dat. An' when de trial comes up, de trial come up, dey'll dismiss it.
[Informant has been wrapping this mixture in a handkerchief.]
(They put it in that handkerchief and wrap it up. When they get to court they just keep it in their handkerchief.) Kin jes' keep it in dere han'ke'ch'ef an' evah once in a while jes' shake it lak dat. Dey don' know whut yo' doin' yo' see.
Entry 9061
When yo' go tuh dat co'troom, dat co'thouse, dat yo' goes tuh somebody dat yo' knows dat's real wicked. An' go tuh de graveyard an' run yore han' down an' git chew some graveyard dirt. An' as yo' go out, go left-handed, left-handed tuh de jail, de co'thouse, all de Way roun' it, an' jes' throwin' jes' lak yo' do fertilizuh. An' stroll right on tuh de place where yo' start in, an' den back in, an' jes' stop it all right in dere. Well, yo' go in dere, say dat's luck fo' dat. [According to my following question informant demonstrated.]
(YOU THROW IT WITH YOUR LEFT HAND?)
YESSUH AN' GO DE LEFT WAYS ALL DE TIME.
Entry 9064
If de law don' git 'im, why he goes in de cemetery. He goes tuh de drug sto' firs', sends somebody tuh de drug sto' an' buy 'im some gum-ō-wackiom [the store's name for it!] a li'le ball lak dat [demon- strates]. It look lak wax, brown [perhaps beeswax]. An' when yo' buy dat, why yo' go tuh de cemetery an' git some uh dat graveyard dirt from nine diff'ren' grave. An' git yuh [demonstrates] some offa [off of] dis an' some of dis'n [this one]. An' yo' mix dat tuhgethah. An' yo' call dat judge name or whatsomevah or whomsoevah it may be. An' yo' care [carry] it tuh de co'thouse. Yo' put some roun' de place where de p'lice is, all gen'ly [generally] be, an' yo' put some in yer pocket. An' wherevah yo' go, yo'll nevah git trapped. [Gum-o-wackum is gum to whack them. Whack (Colloq. = to strike with a smart, resounding blow). This gum knocks out the judge! Could the gum have been asa- fetida? What a sense of perverted humor some of these sellers had!]
Entry 9137
Yo' take twelve leaves of sage. Yo' name de sage. Yo' know, dere's twelve disciples. Well, yo' take an' name dose leaves of de twelve disciples. Put 'em in yore left shoe. Well, yo' take a piece of dis blacksnake root an' put it in yore mouth. Well, yo' go in an' yo' take infant's dirt. Yo' go an' tell de daid, "Daid, ah'm not" - yo' carry three pennies tuh de grave. Lak, now, yo' already in dere [jail]. Well, now, yo' want yore case dismissed. Well, now, some of de peoples or some of yore relatives, dey'll take an' go tuh de cemetery an' take three pennies, an' dey dig a hole an' on a infant's grave. Dey tell it, "Daid, ah didn't come tuh do any harm. Ah jes' come tuh ask yo' tuh fix it so his case will be dismissed." An' take his [infant's] dirt up in yore fingahs lak dat [demonstrates]. Yo' goes home an' put dat dirt down in a papah. Den yo' take de table salt nine times [9 pinches of salt] an' put in dat dirt an' shake it up. Yo' put dat dirt in yore left shoe wit dose leaves an' yo'll walk out.
Entry 9154
(Tell me right from the beginning of it.)
From de beginnin' of de accident an' all?
(That's right, and how she had to pay this and all, you know.)
Well, she cooks fo' C. P. D. Dat big man up dere tuh Something & Company. She been workin' dere two years.
(This is your daughter.)
Ah works fo' So-an'-so, de jeweler uptown in de store. All right. Well, on de second Sunday of each month Mrs. D. lets Emily off, she's mah daughtah, fo' her tuh nuse [use] Sunday. She jes' go an' gits break- fast an' don' have tuh clean up, jes' dust. Dat's her commune Sunday. An' she jes' go an' git breakfast an' jes' dust around, make de beds - spread de two beds an' dust around. Yo' know, make things passable. An' she gits off. Well, this partic'- lah Sunday, which dis Sunday gone - a month now - wus de second Sunday. Well, she came home befo' ah did. She got off befo' ah did. She got off befo' ah did an' she came home an' she went tuh de garage an' got her car out. Well, she started to go to a girl's. She had her hair done dat Sat'day. Well, she started tuh go tuh dis girl tuh jes' have her hair turned undah yo' know. She got up dere on de cornah of Amherst an' George Street. She met two friends of hers an' dey said, "Oh, mah feets hurtin' me!" Said, "Would yo' take us home, Emily?" Emily?" say, "Why, yes, ah got time ah reckon." She looked at de watch. She says, "Yes, ah guess ah got time." Well, she went right on down de street dat way an' on House[?] on Egmont Street is where she got in dis collision wit de water - whut chew call it?
(Hydrant?)
Yes, dat's whut dey call it. An' she jes' ran right up intuh it. De steerin' wheel got locked on her. Yes, got locked on her. Well, den, it's nuthin she could do. Well, dat jes' tore de pipe all up an' muddied de streets with water an' everything, see. Well, someone ah guess up dere called up de police. Dat's de bes' thing yo' could have done. Dey came out. Well, dey 'rested [arrested] 'er an' made 'er git in dere cah. So dey called up dere at de wreckah, de Chevrolet wreckah. De Chevrolet wreckah came an' taken 'er car down tuh de Chevrolet place. [Police] taken her along tuh jail. Well, jes' about dat time - she wus in jail about five minutes. Ah got off from work an', cos' [of course] quite natchly [naturally], she gone tuh de co't- house right down dere. Evah'body ran tuh meet me, "oh Mirandy, Mirandy, have yo' heah whut happened?" Ah said, "No - no - what?" Said, "Well, Emily wus in a wreck." Ah said, "Did she git killed or git hurt?" Ah jes' wus flusterated den yo' know. So dey said, "No, she didn't git hurt. Dey taken her tuh jail." Ah said, "Well, all right." Ah went - rushed right on down tuh de fail. Dey said ah couldn't see her but dere wus nuthin wrong wit 'er. Well, where ah wus workin' at de time, ah wus workin' fo' one of de police's sistahs an' he stayed right dere, de little fellah dat rides de motorcycle, Andy C. He said, "No, Mirandy, ah wouldn't tell yo' a story, yo' know, yo' mah cook. Ah would not tell yo' a story." Ah said, "All right." So den ah came on back home aftah ah couldn't see her or talk tuh her. Ah Went ovah dere tuh Mr. G. an' ah axed Mr. G., ah said, "Goodness sake, whyn't yo' call me up an' let me know dat Emily wus in jail?" He said, "Mirandy, it jes' happened jes' now." Said, "Ah didn't know where tuh call yo' an' ah knowed yo' would see me." Ah said, "Well, ah do see." Ah said, "Ah want mah chile out, " ah say, "Emily is no jailbird." Ah said, "An' accidents are likely tuh happen tuh anybody at any time, an' especially wit a cah." Ah say, "Ah seen some cahs would go sailin' by hers a thousan' times an' say be wrecked, " ah say, "an' ah've read in de papahs where a man an' his wife were jes' married on dere honeymoon, got killed an' hurted." Jes' went on explainin tuh 'im. He say, "Yes, " he says, "Don't chew be worried." He said, "If it any sech thing lak money tuh git 'er out, why she's comin' out." Ah said, "Well, 'phone 'em an' ask is she hurted?" So he did. Dey said, "No, dey wasn't anything wrong wit Emily nor de people - de two girls whut wus in de cah. Ah said, "Well, all right." Mr. G. say, "Go on home." Ah say, "No. Well, no." He say, "Yes, yo' go on home." Ah went on home an' as soon as ah unlocked de do' an' opened up de house, den she came. Well, dat wus on Sunday, de second Sunday in last month. So Monday, dat Mon- day, yo' know, dey had co't. Well, de judge didn't wanta fine me, becuz he knows me an' 'er folks, yo' know, an' den ah worked fo' 'im. Ah have worked fo' 'im. Haven't worked fo' 'im. recently but ah have worked fo' 'im. Anyway he knows me. An' de Chief, Chief Francis, said, "Judge, dat Mills woman" - he wus talkin' 'bout me - he says, "ah've knowed her, been knowin' 'er fo' ovah 25 yeahs." He says, "She's a truthful woman. Ah believe evah word she says." He says, "She's all right." But yet, yo' see, de city had tuh pay fo' dat hydrant tuh be put back an' it cost - dey only charged her fo' dat hydrant tuh be put back. Dey had tuh hire extry help, yo' see. De watahin' people had done knocked off at dat time, yo' know, an' dey had tuh call on extry help. Dey had tuh call on extry help. Why ah guess dey had tuh pay dem extry. Ah know dey did.
(Overtime or something?)
Yes. So de Judge wus very lenient wit 'er. Dey only charge her $25.50. $25.50 but aftah she back ovah tuh de co'troom or tuh de jailroom - whatevah yo' call it - why she had tuh pay $26.50. All right, dat wus settled right fo' dat. She didn't have tuh go tuh jail. All right. Den she went on back an' fixed dinnah fo' her people. Well, de cah wus still at de Chevrolet place where she bought it from. So de one tuh go ovah - ovahhaul de cah an' see whut it would cost an' check up on it, yo' know, see whut dey could do. Well, Mrs. D., de lady dat she worked fo', friend - a personal friend is a businessman. So he tried to do it cheap as he could an' it wus $63. Well, latah on de watah people taken a 'tachment [attachment] on de cah an' Sued 'er fo' $55.55. BUT DEY'LL BE AS LONG GITTIN' DAT $55.55 AS YO' OR I WUS GITTIN' GROWN. AH'M GOIN' SEE TUH DAT PART. AH'LL TAKE CARE OF DAT MAHSELF. (Now, you were going to tell me what you have done now to take care of that - make a nice story of it.) Well, ah taken me a piece of stick - common ordinary stick an' ah hew it down jes' about lak dat [demonstrates].
(About as long as your long finger.)
Yes. Ah hewed me anothah piece about a inch, about two inches long. Ah make a cross in dat.
(You made a cross of those two sticks.)
Ah taken it an' ah put it in de back seat undah mah cah - undah de back seat of de car - our cah, de flivvah, mah cah. Well, it's mah daughtah's but ah call it mine.
(The car that was in the wreck you mean?)
Yes. Re'lly, it is mah daughtah's cah. Ah taken me three new nails, three rusty nails an' put dem in de back of dat cah. Ah got me some dust outa dat cemetery an' ah put some peppah, gunpowdah an' salt in a little sack - jes' made it about dat much - jes' a little lak dat, of each [demonstrates].
(Just a pinch of each.)
Jes' lak dat an' ah put it undah de.... [demonstrates].
(Under the seat?)
Uh-huh. Well, yo' know, ah hol' up de hood of mah cah wit a pencil [demonstrates].
(Made a cross with a pencil like that.)
Dat's de end of it.
(Well, now, where did you put those nails?)
In de back seat - undah de back seat of mah cah an' dat cross.
(Well, now the nails - usually they drive them into the wood?)
No, yo' jes' throw dem careless [demonstrates].
(Just throw them careless.)
Yes, careless.
(And just lay the cross in there?)
Jes' lak yo' would have jes' ole rubbage in yo' cah.
(Just throw stuff in.)
Yes, any stuff dat chew might need.
(And that was done so that they couldn't win this suit. That the idea?)
Dey will nevah win it, unless ah die or dat git misplaced. But DEY'LL BE AS LONG GITTIN' IT AS YO' OR AH GITTIN' GROWN UP.
Entry 9234
Jes' lak if yo' got a fren' an' he's away from yo', yo' use a chicken aig lak dis. Yo' put it in de mun of de house [under eaves] wit de end [small end of egg] down an' yo' writes 'is name on dat an' yo' puts it dat deep in de groun' [demon- strates]. (About as deep as your hand.) Yes sir, at de drain of yore house, an' yo' call 'im, an' yo' put sulphuh, sugah - all dat mixture is sweet don't chew know. Put sulphuh, sugah an' brim- stone. An' each mawnin' yo' call 'im fo' nine mawnin's. [Brimstone and sulphur raise hell with him, sugar sweetens him.] Yo' call 'im an' he boun' tuh come, he cain't stay away - he gotta come. One aig an' write his name on de aig. Ah'm goin' call yore name, see. Say, "Ah'm callin' yo' an' ah wan' chew tuh come on back home heah tuh me." Write dat on de aig. See, write his name on dere [egg]. Call 'is name an' write dat [name] on dat aig. An' put dat aig right down in dis guttah [in the ground under the eaves].
(Any kind of a chicken egg?)
It would be bettah if it wuz a black hen aig.
Entry 9242
And then you turn around then and want to run him away from her, yo' get a coal-black hen's egg an' yo' write his name on de egg. An' den yo' turn around and get a pinch of dirt out of the hollow of his right-foot track, and write his name on a piece of paper, and put that egg and that dirt in that paper, carry it and throw it in strong running water, all run one way [meaning not a tidal river], an' make yore wishes. An' go back to yore house an' get in yore door an' turn yore face out of the door an' wish 'im from yore house, an' he'll go away. [Out in the county from Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va., (Doctor Frank Hall, called by my tired mind Frank Harris! in v.l, INTRO., p. XXIX. I hadn't thought of Frank Harris in years! Material from Hall was taken down by hand.]
Entry 9258
What ah heard 'em say, said dey take a hen egg, a black hen's egg an' some - an' tuh go out tuh de graveyard an' git a han'ful of graveyard dirt, an sprinkle dat dirt on de porch, an' take de egg an' bust it up side de do'. Dat sup- posed tuh make yo' move, if dey didn't lak yo'.
Entry 9259
Ah heard dat if yo' - jes' lak yo're workin' on a job an' dere's somebody dere dat try tuh work ag'inst yo', an' yo' wanta put 'em away from dere (2)1 an' yo' take his place, dey tell me dat yo' kin take a fresh hen aig an' go tuh de graveyard and git some graveyard dirt, an' bury it tuh de pahticlah [particular] place dat he always stand at, an' in a few days time he'll be gone from dere an' yo' have his place.
(You use any kind of a chicken egg?)
A black hen aig.
Entry 9260
Eithah yo' kin take a aig an' rub graveyard dirt on it, an' throw it ovah from de front tuh de back an' if it busts, dey'll move or git sick; most of 'em die.
(Throw it over the house from the front to the back?)
Yessuh.
Entry 9265
Git a hen aig an' some graveyard dirt an' bluestone an' jes' keep a-throwin' it on dere front - yo' break dat aig in de front do'. Dat graveyard dirt yo' throw it all aroun' de house an' dat bluestone. Dey can't stay dere tuh save dere life.
(That drives them away.)
Yes sir.
Entry 9266
Dey tell me dey take a black hen aig, if yo' wanta run a person. Ah'm using mah seriance [experience] 'bout dis. Ah believe dat dis graveyard dirt an' gunpowdah dey puts in dat egg, dat black hen's egg, bust it in yore do'. Jis' throw it ag'inst yore do' an' bust it. Dat'll bust yo' an' dat woman up.
Entry 9267
Dey tell me dat dey bust rotten eggs on yore do' an' put graveyard dirt from dere to de gate. [For more rotten-eggs rites, see following rite and later in section.] (What's that for?) Tuh make yo' move.
Entry 9272
(This is to separate people?)
Yes. Take a aig. Ah uses de aig: Ah'm talkin' 'bout whut ah use mahself. Ah ain't talkin' about whut nobody tell me. Ah use de aigs fo' separation. Yo' take three aigs regardless tuh how fresh dey is an' how ole dey is. Yo' take three aigs an' write de person's name. If it's yore wife an' yo' wanta separate her from a man, or sbe Wants [to] separate chew from a woman, well both dere names should be written, yore name an' dis woman's name or de man's name or de woman's name. Yo' understan' whut ah mean. Dat's tuh separate chew [man] from dis.othah woman fo' yore wife, or separate yore wife from dat man. Yo' take her name an' 'is name an' put it on de aig, take three aigs.
(Do you write my name any number of times on each egg? Once?)
Once all around each one. Yo' know, each one de name. Yo' make as much as fo' or [I mean] three time, each one of de names, [one] on each one of de aigs, on de three aigs. An' den yo' take yore needles, yore nine needles an' yo' pass 'em through cross [crossed]. Cross dem nine needles through de aigs, all de way through, all three of dem aigs [demonstrates], one dis way an' one dataway an' one dataway.
(You put three needles in each egg?)
In each aig an' den yo' take 'em an' yo' put 'em in a sack or pan where yo' gonna carry 'em, an' yo' got 'em far apart. But it's mostly done at de grave- yard. Yo' bury 'em a foot apart an' dat's a broke up scrape [a broken up affair]. (That is to separate this woman and this man. His name is written on the egg and her name is written on the egg? Just once on each egg?) No, two an' three times on each aig. See, ah could put between de needles - de needles gotta go between de two names, don't chew understan', go through dem names. See, her name at de top or his at de top, anyway, see, an' gotta go in between dem. Turn it lak dat [needle is forced through egg by turning] an' go in between it [the names]. See, an' when yo' turn it lak dat go in between it. Yo' write disaway an' disaway an' write it 'cross lak dat. Jis' lak yo' stick yore needles, jis' lak yo' make yore names - three of yore name an' three of 'er name yo' see on each aig.
(On each egg, and you stick three needles in each egg?)
Three needles. (You write those two names three different places on the egg so that you can cross those needles three times on the eggs, and the needles are crossed through those names.
Entry 9402
Jes' lak dis man is heah in dis house an' ah didn't want 'im livin' heah - jis' lak fo' 'im tuh move outa heah - ah'd git me three aigs an' dey have tuh be rotten dough [though], dey have tuh be rotten eggs. Ah throw dem aigs ag'inst dis house, but ah goes nine steps backwards an' ah throw 'em ovah mah shouldah. Dat's whut ah do wit dem aigs den. It be any time of night or any time of day. An' den ah come dere an' sprinkle a li'le dust aroun' dere, dis same dust whut ah got, graveyard dust, an' dey couldn't stay dere. Dey gotta leave.
(You walk backwards from the house?)
Nine steps, nine steps backwards. Not backwards from de house, backwards tuh de house. Jis' lak if ah wuz 'cross de street, ah'd walk backwards tuh de house, not from it, den throw 'em ovah mah lef' shouldah.
Entry 9602
Dey tell me that chew go to de east side of yore house an' yo' dig a small little pail full of dirt an' yo' pat hit full of salt an' peppah an' yo' put hit right out in front of yore door where yo' gotta enter de steps an' dey say hit'll keep it away but...
(That will keep the law away?)
[My use of word "law", already used by informant, causes nervousness.]
BUT AH DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT! AH'VE NEVAH TRIED IT! Your enemies, well dat's de laws.
Entry 9604
Take yo' some red peppah, sulphuh an' table salt, or eithah graveyard dirt, an' put it in a little cloth an' put it in de bottom of de shoe an' weah it. [That graveyard dirt is a part of preceding com- bination and not a substitute for it, see following rite about graveyard dirt from near headboard of grave.]
(What will that do then?)
Dey can't hurt chew.
(You walk over anything and it couldn't hurt you?)
Yes.
The informant describes a shoe-cloth treatment and protection claim, using the words 'or eithah graveyard dirt'. Hyatt's bracketed note instead treats dirt as part of the combination and refers to the next rite. Preserve that difference and the red pepper, sulphur and salt as distinct ingredients.
Entry 9670
Well, ah been tricked one time by some of mah things. A girl lived in our home an' she fell out wit me concernin' a man. She'd taken a dress of mine, one of mah monthly period cloths, an' some of mah hair an' got underneath de ahm [arm] where ah sweat at, an' taken it an' cared [carried] it across [town] tuh a man [cunjureman]. (Wait a minute! What did she get from under your arm, the hair or just the sweat?) De sweat from de dress. An' she'd taken it tuh a man an' she had it mixed wit graveyard dirt, peedles an' pins an', well one or two mo' thing but de man [healer I went to] didn't name 'em, see. He put it in a jah [jar] an' brought it back tuh our house unbeknown tuh all of us, late hour of de night, an' buried it. Now, it wus buried out 'bout along by de lavatory, see. Well, one Sunday mawnin' ah was sittin' on de po'ch an' ah got up an' ah went out tuh de lavatory. An' ah had a spell. From den ah commenced tuh feel as though....
(What kind of a spell did you have? How did you feel?)
Ah felt as though ah was dyin' fo' a few minutes. Well, ah started back tuh de house an' when ah got back home, ah tole mothah tuh call de doctah. Our lavatory was out from de house. An' she said, "Well, whut's de mattah? Yo' don't look sick?" Ah said, "Well, ah am." She said, "Well, yo' don't look sick." An' so ah went on de porch. She said, "Go back an' lay down, if yo' want me tuh call de doctah. Don't stan' on de front porch." Ah said, "Well, ah cain't lay down." While she was callin' de doctah ah went runnin' down tuh de drug store. Seemed as though mah mind wus leavin' me, see. An' all ah could have on mah mind right den was dyin' or eithah seein' mahsel' confined in a 'sylum. See? An', well ah got back home an' de doctah came out. He examined me thoroughly. He said nuthin was wrong. Well, ah knowed it was somepin wrong. Still, he said it wasn't anything wrong. Well, mah mothah tried two mo' doctahs. Both of 'em said dere wasn't anything wrong. She'd taken me crosstown tuh a man by de name of Mr. Lee [a root doctor].
(What town was this?)
Waycross, Georgia. Yes. An' ah went ovah dere on Lee Avenue tuh Mr. Lee. An' he tole me of dese things dat had been taken from me. An' tole me dat de onliest way dat he could get dis spell offa me was tuh dig dese things up. An' tole me de charges of diggin' it up. An' he say he knowed dat ah didn't have much money, an' ah could pay dis on installments. See, dat he would charge me $25 fo' takin' dese things up. See. So he charged de $25 an' mah mothah paid 'im ten of it down. He came ovah tuh our house an' he digged dese things up. Dug 'em up an' it was in a jar an' it was stopped up tight. An' it looked as though it had begin tuh kinda rot. See. He'd taken it out. He got a pan of warm watah an' put some lodestone in it an' a little salt. Taken dese things an' po'd 'em in dere. An' - well, ah don't know whut he done wit it. Ah know he'd taken it wit 'im whatevah it was, see. An' he didn't nevah give me anythin' tuh take, but grad'ly by degrees dis spell commence tuh weah off, until now ah'm fine.
(How long ago did that happen, did you say?)
That's been - ah imagine now - dat's been around seven or eight months. No longah, no soonah. [These are the experiences difficult to find.]
Entry 9685
An' if yo' don't want 'em tuh come tuh yore house, yo' take table salt an' snake dust - cos' [of course] snake dust will kill yo'. Dey throw it at chew when yo' goin' tuh de house. Yo' take dat an' chunk it. Dey call it throwin' it at chew, but dey don't throw it at chew, dey put it down fo' yo' tuh walk ovah it. But if dey don't want chew tuh come tuh de house, yo' take one of yore right-foot shoes, an' sweep dat shoe, dirt an' all out de do', an' den dey'll walk backward from dat shoe in de house. Dey ain't comin' back no mo'.
(Whose shoe do they put out there?)
Yores. Jes' put a little table salt in dere. Dat will carry dem away.
(What do you do with the snake dust?)
Dat snake dust? Well, now, dat's tuh kill yo'. Dey won' do nuthin but jes' pur dat down, right down in yore pathway.
(Where you can walk over it?)
Yessuh, an' yo' walk ovah it. (But if they want to get rid of you, they just put that salt in your shoe and seep it out?) Yessuh. But dat snake dust, if yo' walks ovah dat snake dust an' dey got it in dere, why dat'll git chew, see, 'cuz dey got dat lodestone in it, yo' see.
Entry 9741
Says yo' take nine nails an' carry 'em tuh a graveyard. An' if a per- son real mad wit chew, take nine nails an' carry 'em tuh a graveyard, an' leave a penny down dere, an' take some dat dirt. An' tie it in a rag an' carry it an' put it undah dat nail at 'er fiahplace. An' dat person dat mad wit chew, dey come dere whah [where] dat down. De woman or man dey come dat same night.
(You bury those nine nails in the graveyard?)
Yo' bury dem down dere an' yo' bring de dirt. [That nail at the fireplace is a peg upon which she can hang various articles. Having paid a penny for the graveyard dirt I see no reason for leaving the 9 nails there. Surely both grave- yard dirt and 9 nails were buried at the fireplace.]
Entry 9772
[In the margin title I have called this rite amazing because I had com- pletely forgotten about it and its future significance. The person I am inter- viewing here is J. R. Patterson, proprietor of the black hotel, Patterson Hotel, in New Orleans. Among the illustrations at end of HOODOO, volume 2, see the Patterson Hotel letterhead containing pictures of the hotel, the proprietor, and his signature on Wednesday, March 9, 1938, for rent on room No.17, including elec- tricity for my machine, and room space for my clients downstairs. I paid my rent each day before returning to my own hotel, the old St. Charles. To give Mr. Patterson some idea of my work, I suggested that he himself be interviewed. His following rite tells how he could be driven from his own hotel. Neither of us realized at the time that before a year had passed, Mr. Patterson would lose his hotel and I myself would be chased from the black hotel in Memphis by the police. For this later surprise, see Introduction to HOODOO, volume 1, page XxxIV, line 9 following.] De first thing yo' do, git chew a dime's worth of saltpetah. De nex' thing tuh do is git chew a box of cinnamon, a box of cloves. Git chew a nickel's worth of new tenpenny nails, an' den git chew one quart of gasoline. Den git chew a dime's worth of saltpetah. Go by dose person's house an' pick up, whethah it's mud, dirt or sand, take it up an' put it in de bucket wit dose nails. Po' yuh gasoline in dere an' strike a match an' light it, [let it burn] until it comes tuh be dry an' sandy. Den yo' take it an' go backwards from de do' where dey livin' at an' sprinkle it crossways dat way tuh de fo' cornahs of de world: [demonstrates by pointing] dat cornah, dis cornah, dis one, and dat one cross de street. In 24 hours de're [they are] gone. (You just sprinkle it like this [I demonstrate], like a wingy motion all around, cross that house?) [My demonstration of wingy motion must have been a fluttering or flipping motion like a bird. Informant misunderstands my word cross, meaning to put a hoodoo on the house, not throwing back and forth across the house.] No [you don't throw back and forth across the house] yo' tro' it from de house [demonstrates]. Yes, lak dis is de back, dis is de sidewalk out heah [demonstrates], sprinkle it dis way [demonstrates], cross ovah [demonstrates].
[I describe his demonstrations:]
(From the house out to the gutter, you sprinkle it back and forth, like a "v".)
[This "v" or triangle is the 3 Holy Names.]
One block each way, one block each way from de house. Lak Patterson [the speaker] whut chew [suppose you] wanted him tuh move. Well, yo'd git some dirt. See dat cigah ashes [he points to ashtray containing ashes of my cigar] an' [also] pick it from de sidewalk [get sidewalk dirt], an' git some dirt an' sprin- kle it aroun' dere - some sand. An' befo' he sweeps de banquette [= sidewalk in New Orleans] up in de mawnin', yo' jes' come aroun' dere an' brush up a little bit, jes' enough tuh git in yore fingahs an' put in dere. Den yo' come back heah dat night, yo' see, an' sprinkle from his do' crossways de banquette tuh dat cornah. Den yo' go tuh dis cornah an' go cross de street tuh de nex' cornah. Yo' go dat way an' go cross de street tuh de nex' cornah. Den yo' go ovah heah tuh garage. See. In 24 hours dey are moved.
(You have to throw it to the four corners of the world.)
Yes. [New Orleans, La., (1566, J. R. Patterson, proprietor of black hotel, Patterson Hotel), 2866:3.] [The title of this section could have been either Pins and Needles or Needles and Pins, both having tradition behind them; the first because a person is some- times said to walk on pins and needles; the second according to the folklore couplet: Needles and pins, needles and pins; when a man marries, his trouble begins. As in the case of the preceding section about nails, most rites about these objects have already appeared elsewhere in the printed text as parts of rites with other ingredients. The following rites will be listed according to number of pins and needles: 1, 2, 3, etc.1
Entry 9906
Yo' kin take a toadfrog. Now, I had dat - dat wus done tuh me. A man wus co'tin' [courting] me an' he wus co'tin' anothah lady. An' we co'ted fo' a good long while an' ah tole 'im, ah says, "Why don't chew let's git ma'ed?" He say, "Well, ah'm engaged tuh anothah lady tuh git ma'ed." Ah ast 'im, ah say, "Why yo' co'tin' me so long when yo' know yo' wus engaged tuh anothah lady?" He says, "Well, ah guess ah lak yuh." Ah say, "Well, dat ain't busi- ness." Say, "Ah thought chew wus co'tin' me fo' a wife. If ah hadda thought chew wusn't doin' dat, we'd abeen [we would have been] quit long ago, becuz a husband [was] whut ah wus lookin' fo'." He says, "Well, ah'm already [TORTOISE IN GEORGIA] engaged tuh git ma'ed." Ah say, "Well, when yo' goin' git ma'ed?" "Well, we's tuh git ma'ed in June." Ah tole 'im, ah says, "Well, when June come if ah live, yo' won' git ma'ed." He say, "Well, if ah live, ah will git ma'ed." Ah say, "Well, if yo' live yo' won' git ma'ed." So when June come - de lady wus down south - she came. He come ovah an' he tole me, he say, "Well, de lady ah tole yuh about ah wus tuh ma'y, she have come."
[Cylinder change causes the following repetition.]
Ah say, "Well, when yo' goin' git ma'ed? He say, "We's tuh git ma'ed in June." Ah say, "Well, ah tole yuh, yo' wouldn't ma'y her." He say, "Well, Ah don't see how yo' [can say] ah'm not gonna ma'y 'er. If ah live ah'm gonna ma'y huh." Ah say, "Well, if ah live yo' won' ma'y huh." So ah goes tuh a fortunetellah an' dis fortunetellah tole me tuh ketch a toad- frog an' git me a coffee can, a tin coffee can, an' drive holes in de bottom of dat can an up aroun' in dat can tuh 'bout halfway. An' ketch dat frog an' put 'in in dat can an' name him dat puhson's name three times. An' take it tuh a black antses baid an' stir it up, an' set dat can in dere; an' evah two or three days fo' me tuh watch dat can. Go an' look in it evah two or three days. An' when dem antses eat all de meat offa dat frog, tuh bring 'im dat frame [skeleton] in dat can. An' when dat wus done, ah ca'ed it tuh 'im. An' he tole me dere wus some bones in dat frog dat he wus gonna fix in a li'l package fo' me tuh weah shere it'll keep warm nex' tuh me, an' he would nevah ma'y dat wumman. An' he fised de package an' ah went tuh weahin' it. So when de time come fo' him tuh ma'y dis wumman, he come ovah an' he tole me, he sayed, 'Miss Cartah, '' he sayed, "De lady didn't ma'y me." Ah said, "Well, why she didn't ma'y yo'?" He said, "Ah dunno." Ah said, "Well, did yo' buy de papahs?" He say, "Yes, ' say, "Ah bought mah license an' dey cost fo' dollahs an' fifty aents, an' ah went ovah tuh ma'y her an' she tole me she 'clined [declined] de idea of gittin' ma'ed." Ah said, "Well, when did she say she would ma'y yuh?" "She didn't say." Ah said, "Well, yo' oughta make huh tell yuh when she gonna ma'y yuh. She 'clined de idea right now, maybe a li'l latah she might ma'y." He say, "She don' mean tuh ma'y' Ah say, "Yo' reckon she don't?" He say, "No." Ah say, "Why?" "Cuz she given me mah money back. Ah paid fo' dollahs an' fifty cents fo' de license an' she give it back tuh me." Ah say, "Oh well, she don't mean tuh ma'y yo' den." An' den he commence tuh worryin' me tuh ma'y 'im an' ah wouldn't ma'y him den, 'cuz de fortunetellah dat ah'd gone tuh tole me it would happen dat way. An' he tole me, "When he ast chew 'bout ma'in' don' chew ma'y him." Said, "Becuz he wouldn't live long. He would soon stricken an' die an' yo' would soon be a widow ag'in." An' jis' lak he tole me 'bout it, he would ast me 'bout ma'in' 'im, he did. But ah kep' 'im shooed off, an' re'lly, latah he did taken sick an' died. [Here I changed the cylinder. Informant begins by returning to an episode she had omitted, what she had done to make her rival refuse the man.] So dis fortunetellah tole me dat dis woman dat he wus supposed tuh ma'y, she wouldn't ma'y him. He tole me tuh git some li'l boy tuh go on in de swamp or somewhah an' fin' me a gophah - wit fo' laigs, a gophah, yo' know. So ah come back an' got de boys tuh hunt de gophah up an' dey wouldn't fin' one. [The preceding word gopher may confuse the reader. Here in Georgia where I was interviewing, people called the gopher a salamander. What informant means by gopher is a burrowing land tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), the animal and eggs edible.] So ah went back an' tole 'im about it. Ah said, "Well, don' seem lak ah kin git a gophah." Ah say, "It'll have tuh be some othah 'rangements made." Ah said, "Dis man sweahs dat he gonna ma'y dis wumman." He said, "Yo' needn't worry about dat; he ain't goin' ma'y huh." He say, "Well." He got some dirt, some red-lookin' dirt, an' he showed it tuh me. He said, "If ah give yuh some of dis dirt an' tell yuh whut tuh do wit it, would jew be scared tuh do it?" Ah said, "No, ah won't be scared. Ah'll try tuh do it." An' he fixed so much of de dirt in a papah an' give it tuh me. An' he said, "Aftah dahk [dark] - yo' know wheah dis wumman live?" Say, "Yessuh." "Aftah dahk yo' go tuh huh house wheah she live. Don' let no one see yo', if yo' kin he'p it, an' yo' throw dis dirt tuhwards 'er front do', as much as yo' kin, tuh spattah it on de do' an' de porch aroun'. An' she won't nevah ma'y." So ah did dat. So dey didn't ma'y. (You said this was another case where a woman was going to marry the man. This is the same story?) Yes sir, dat's de woman's part of de graveyard dirt. [The reader may recall that my informant told us her rival de lady was down south. Here we were in southern Georgia not too far from Florida! I found this down south all along the Atlantic coast from Maryland southward. The south was always somewhere farther south!]
Entry 10072
(After you have boil- ed this black cat, you take these bones and limbs. Then what do you do with those bones?)[I am summarizing what informant had said be- fore I: turned on machine.] Yo' has tuh suck evah one of 'em, evah one tuh git tuh de right one. When yo' git tuh de right one, it's a short j'int bone, somepin lak dat [demonstrates]. When yo' git tuh dat, it goin' burn yore mouth. When yo' burn yore mouth, yo' take it an' yo' force it roun' - put it in a sack an' reseal [seal] it up wit some garlic an' salt an' some sugah an' some red dirt [reddish clay unless one buys a special red dirt somewhere; in any case it is a substitute for blood]. An' if yo' goin' play dice wit dat or any kinda game, dere's two words yo' say out de Seven Book of Moses: If ah could win, ah'm goin' win; an' if ah happen tuh win, ah'm trustin' yo'. [Whether this is from Seventh Book of Moses, I do not know.]
(What kind of a sack do you put that in did you say?)
In a mink skin! [After informant leaves room, I say to machine: End of 1604. I think this fellow was a liar. Liar is a little strong, but I did concentrate upon every Word said. That I did not believe everything is shown by the section on made- up material in this present volume.]
Entry 10131
Ah hear'd 'em say dat dey take a black ket wit not a white spot about it anywhere. An' take it an' put it in a pot alive, an' b'il it till de meat falls offa de bones. [Bones not thrown into running water.] An' take dose bones an' dat Zi'le roun' cur'ous bone dat's in de ket, take it an' weah it in yore pocket. Keep it in dere wrapped up from all dirt an' evah- thin' an' dat wuz good luck tuh yuh, couldn't nobody harm yo' or do nuthin tuh yuh.
Entry 10237
He wus a married man, she wanted him. All right. She goes to this here ole lady, this ole lady in Chattanooga, Tenn., called Aunt Dinah. Eberbody in Chattanooga - you can call her name from here and eberbody - you can ast de co'thouse about her, jes' ast anybody. Jes' call de co'tenhouse [because her special- ity was court cases] and ast any- thing about Aunt Dinah, an' you'll git hist'ry of her from right here today. She goes to Aunt Dinah. Aunt Dinah says, "Well, kin you go to sleep with him?" She says, "Yes." "Can you have dealings with him?" She said, "Yes." She says, "You take a string, and when you have dealings with him, ' she says, "you measure around him." When she measured this man around here, she carries that to Aunt Dinah. Aunt Dinah takes that and she buried it in graveyard dirt. And after she let it stay in graveyard dirt two day, she told her to carry it back. She wrapped it up in red flannel and put old sharp needles, points stickin' straight up, and [said]: "Carry that back and sew it up in your bedtick. Put it on the side where he's got to sleep; and as long as that is in your tick, that man will stay with you and he'll quit his wife."
Entry 10600
Yeah, we call dem bullbats.
(What do you hear they say they do with those?)
Well, yo' take dat bullbat an' yo' take de wing of de bullbat - his vings - aa'yo' put dat with some graveyard dirt. An' put dat in a li'l' bundle an' yo' put it up anywhere umdah a person's house or anything lak dat. Dat'll cause 'em to be confusd an' fly around jes' lak de bullbat; case 'em to fly aroun' lak dey don't have good sense. [My note on this sheet reads: "R.D. (root doctor) unusual but legitimate. The man is not lying. No two per- sons work alike. R.D., good, but broke up his material, too late to preserve
(as a whole for an interview). Good.]
The informant describes a bullbat wing bundled with graveyard dirt beneath a house, with a claimed confusion effect. The interviewer asks what people do. Hyatt's separate quoted notebook appraisal describes this informant and the broken-up interview material; it does not independently establish the rite's effects.
Entry 10638
Take de red ants' nest an' use it with flour an' meal [3 ingredients]. Mix that all up together an' take that an' jes' throw it - jes' throw it chew know roun' in de room 'bout where he sleep at, an' dat would make yo' [him?] lovely kind to ever'body.
Entry 10640
Go to a ants' bed an' git dat sand an' sprinkle it round someone's house dat chew didn't like an' dat will also cause trouble. (What kind of trouble?) Like fights an' probably would end up into killin'. Dat's de red ants' nest.
Entry 10646
Take dose antses, see, ketch 'em, an' dat [ant] bed dey done made - some of dat [ant] bed yo' see, an' yo' git it [some of that ant bed] in a box an' yo' bring it back. An' dey tell me yo' jes' keep dat sittin' ahin' yore bed all de time. See. Well, dey say dat's jes' tuh run yo' crazy - yore mind bad, see.
(You do that at some other person's bed?)
Yeah, doin' othah people harm.
Entry 10651
Jes' take it ovah heah. Yo' know where dey [ants] make a bed, yo know. An' yo' go dere an' git dat bed. Gotta sift de ants, not let 'em be in dere. An' git some watah an' make 'bout enough lak yo' make corn bread, yo' know, an' lay it out somewhere in de sun an' let it bake, git hard. An' den yo' take it up an' break off a piece of dat dirt, an' lak yo' wrap it up in a papah heah, an' yo' takes dis man, whoevah 'tis, not let him see it, an' tro' it where he live at. Why he couldn't rest, yo' know, jes' lak de antses, he couldn't rest nowhere he'd be, aftah dat place. (You simply take this ant's [nest dirt] after you dry it up and scatter it around his house, to make him all upset like the ants. And he has to leave?) Yes.
Entry 10689
They skim de bath water an' they cooks that in with de husband's food an' that'll make him have a weak stomach. He will always feel sick an' he won't want to go anywhere an' per- haps - de woman do that to keep him at home, to keep him from running around. It ties up his nachure [na- ture]. He don't have any feeling towards her at all, no more than a - be a slave in de home for her, while she'll be out running around with different other guys. That puts her to be free amongst men an' him a slave at home. Use de bath water.
Entry 10774
Well, whut ah've heard is this. Yo' git some snuff - that whut chew dip [what you pick up by dipping thumb and forefinger into it] an' mix some dirt with it, jes' dis natural dirt out heah [in the yard or field]. Mix it together an' sprinkle on de po'ch. An' den take a broom an' go backward, sweep backwards that-a-way [demonstrates]. Sweep it on out backwards that-away. An' then aftah yo' do that, then mop de po'ch with some Red Seal Lye an' [or] Red Devil lye. That's [use] one of 'em.
(What will that do now?)
That'll make 'em move, an' ah mean make 'em move right now. (Well, where would that be. In case, like right over here, if I wanted to get rid of them, I would do that in my own house?) Yessuh, make them move.
Entry 10786
In sweepin' de house, don' nevah sweep de trash out de do'. Always in sweepin' it yo' sweep up [not out the door] an' yo' sweep it up an' put it in yore fireplace an' burm it. Jes lak when yo' sweep, yo' know, sweep de kitchen, don' nevah sweep it out de do'. Always sweep it in de house. Keep dat sweepin's in de house. Well, dat keeps de people out. Put dat in de fire an' burn dat.
(That keeps the law away.)
Entry 10788
Or you kin take just plain lye and boiling water and go and scrub your house and scrub yore steps and brush it in. And every morning sweep your steps down. And when you walk through your house, wherever you go, sweep the dirt in. Never sweep it out.
(What will that do?)
Bring you luck.
(What kind of luck?)
Like if she would want to take in roomers, she would want 'em to come in, if it was business, she... (Both of those things. Onions do the same thing.)
Entry 10803
You get you some cinnamon and sugar. All right. You sweep. you go to sweep, don't sweep your dirt outside, you sweep your dirt in [into] the building. And you get this cinnamon and sugar and put it in the water, amd you scrub your floor. And then when you get through scrubbing that floor, you just take - get you some oil of clover. See, you buy some oil of clover at the drug store and you put water in there [scrub bucket] and you put a bottle of beer mixed in with it. (Bottle of beer?) Bottle of beer, yes. And you takes - start at the front door and you sprinkle it all the way back into the place, and your place will be packed.
(The place will be packed?)
Yes, sir, your place will be packed with people, all through the day.
Entry 10813
Yo' know if yo' don't want a person round yore place of business or sompin like dat, an' can't keep 'em Way from dere an' want 'em away from dere, it's like ah first said. Whensom- evah he come to yore house, sweep out behin' 'em, out de gate [through door and all way out through gate]. An' don't let no matches go outa yore house atall, till yo' git to sweep behin' dis person. Dat's de only thing ah heard about matches. [Sweeping behind a person is common, but to the present rite a witchcraft ele- ment has been added with the matches. To make your counter spell work, you must not lend anything to a person who may be a witch or at least has a spell of any kind over you. In other words the departing man of this present rite could break the woman's kicking and incantations by successfully borrowing something from her house. Matches could also lend a sexual twist to the present rite.]
Entry 10870
Git a black cat an' git de hair. Git a strand of hair out of a black at an' - don't git as many as yo' kin, but yo' kin git 'bout one or tso scraods of hair out of a black cat. An' take somepin that kin float on de vatzh. Take at hair, sulphur, salt an' red peppah an' graveyard dirt, an'srite oo a piece of papah whut chew want done, an' put it with cat hair; all dat in a container dat will float on de watah. An' throw it in de watah, runnin' watah, whichevah watah yo' want it. An' whichevah yo' want done, it will be done. Ah've tried that.
Entry 10880
Heah's anothah instan' [instance]. Yo' kin take a black cat an' cut some of de hair from right undah his tail. Well, yo' take some Hearts Cologne or eithah whiskey. Well, yo' bury it. Yo' taked dat cat hair an' yo' sew it up, put it wit dat whiskey. But chew bettah, if yo' kin git any part of her undahweah, or if it's a man, any of his clothes, yo' kin make 'em go like dat. Jes' bring it right back dere an' jes' drop it right in de yard, any place dat he kin walk ovah it. Or eithah yo' kin git some of dere dirt. Jes' watch hin an' whenevah he come out - man or woman - git some of de dirt of one of de shoe where he track ovah an' mix dat. Mix it in wit dat hair. Yo' kin make 'em move out de house like dat. (This cat hair - suppose you are driving me away - you get some of my hair and the cat's hair and put this in some of my clothes and put it out where I can walk over it. That's to drive me away?) Dat's to drive you away. [Brunswick, Ga., (1188), 2002:8.]
[Two cylinders later informant returns to black cat hair:]
Ah always heah 'em say keep dat same black cat hair, keep it round yore place an' keep it wet in vinegah - ah mean in Hearts Cologne or good whiskey - dat black hair. Keep it round yore place. Tell me dat's lucky fo' yore business.
(How do you get that black cat hair?)
Why, yo' ketch a black cat, any black cat, an' jes' cut de hair from undah his tail or his belly part. [Brunswick, Ga., (1188), 2004:11.]
Entry 10889
There Was another boy fell in love with her and she did with him and I went a trying to break 'em up. I goes and gets me dere lef' - a handful of dr dirt out of de lef' track from her and a handful of dirt out of his. I moxes doze two toget- her. I goes and gits me a dog, and I goes and gits me a cat, and I cuts de tip end off of each one of them's tail. I mixes them together with that sand all out of each one of doze tracks. I t'rows dem into a fire stove. I says, "Cats and dogs can't get along together, I'll be damn if you all shall." And it worked, broke dem right up.
Entry 10906
Take the - like they got a white dog. Well, you see, they [white dogs] make white - white stuff you know, down here. Well, you take that [white manure] and when that's dry, get the dirt dau- ber and get that cay- enne pepper, Epso salts, black pepper, salt, and red pepper- the red cayenne pep- per. You [know] the regular red cayenne pepper. And take some of the hair out of the dog's back and some out of the cat's back. You know cats and dogs can't agree. You know they'll fight. Well, they put all that together and fix it up, and then throw it around peoples' houses and make them fight.
Entry 10916
Heard dem say if folks wanta give you bad luck, dey kin go to grave- yard and git graveyard dust. And they kin take - and dey kin git some hair off a dog's back and cut de hair off a black cat's tail, and bury it under yore door, and dat will give you bad luck. (All those things together?) Suah [sir], all dem together and tie dem in a sack and put it under yo' door and give yo' bad luck.
Entry 11076
A woman's stockin', you kin take it an' git chew some de cinnamoa, de big cinnamon. Dey got de two kin', dey got de groun' cinnamon an' dey got de big cinnamon. Dey take de big cinnamon. (You mean the bark?) Yes. Take dat an' yo' git chew some graveyard dust, an' yo' git chew two tacks an yo' nail that. Yo' nail de heel part of de stockin'. Yo' nail de foot-part any- where yo' wanta nail it an' dey jis' be gone. Dey'll live about nine or ten days but dey cain't live no longer, yo' see. If it's both of them it's all right but de left-foot shoe [stocking] yo' must have.
Entry 11120
[Make the coffin] first, and they they get a piece of wood and of course they cut out what you call a little statue. And that's in imitation of the person they made the cof- fin for. When they make this little coffin - of course, I'm supposed to be your friend and you did me something [wronged speaker] and I want to get even with you. I could git it in your home better than anybody else. [After you] make this coffin, make a little statue. That statue supposed to be you. And when I get it made I bring it and put it any- where around in that house. But I put some graveyard dirt in that coffin with that little statue, you understand, and I get it - if I ever get in your bopse, [I] put in some secret place. Or if not, I put it under the steps and you aalk on it. It's just the same. It'll cause you to go crazy.
Entry 11133
Reach arm as far as possible in wicked per- son's grave, mix with bull dung, sprinkle at house, causes confusion.
Entry 11147
I've heard tha' choo kin remove the sty from yo' eye. Go to the crossroad and take that dirt at the crossroad and rub on your eye and say: Sty, sty, leave my eye. [Had this been any ordinary cure from folk medicine I would have omitted it, but here vas something special. It does not appear in Folklore from Adams County, Illin- Ois, 2nd ed., though there a sty cure where 3 roads meet (No.5499) and a cross- roads cure (No.5500). Does this rite go back to executions at the crossroads? A shrine? The ancient spirit of the crossroad?]
Entry 11189
De dirt dauber.
(Sort of like a wasp or a bee?)
Yes. Well, didja evah see de little cells dat dey build?
(Yes.)
Well, now, de people down dis way - especially in dis part of de world at one tine - now ah know dis tuh be a fact. We were living in Conecuh County, Ala. We had a very disagreeable neighbor lived across de street from us, an' she rented from some white people, but we owned our property. And dis person was disagreeable. And de white people dat she liked, dey like her so well, un- til dey wouldn't have her move just tuh please someone else, you see. Well, mah mother told many different people about her. De woman was named Ada Sonworth [Stallworth] - of course I don't have to tell [her name]. Anyway, she was very disagreeable and she would argue. Well, anyway, as I started tuh tell you, dis woman was very disagreeable and it wasn't no possible chance of getting her tuh move. We wasn't going tuh move. And mah mother told an old man 'bout it. An' he was a man supposed tuh have some super-power.
(Did they have any special name for this man? Did they call him anything?)
Yes, dey called him a cunjure, as far as dat is concerned. Well, he told mah mother tuh go and get some of dis dirt dauber cells and pound dem up, and mix one cup of ground pepper and one of black pepper, and one of salt, and have us tuh go tuh her do', you see, at night when dey was 'sleep, and sprinkle it. Said tuh give it tuh us children [to sprinkle] and not her [the mother]. And when you go and sprinkle dat down at de door and walk backwards, you get tuh de gate and throw dat de way you Wanted her tuh go, and said she would leave within nine days. So mah mother didn't believe much about it but she said, well it wouldn't hurt tuh try. It would be so inexpensive until it wouldn't make any difference. So she prepared dis concotion dat we'd have heard, you see, and we did dat - mah brother. Mah brother lives here [Mobile] too, now. We tried dat when we were children and she really disappeared in de next two weeks. Dat's positive.
(How many years ago when you were a child?)
When I was a child dat was in 1915...it was in 1915, and dis little town where dis happened, was in Evergreen. Mah grandfather died in 1917. He was a man dat was very stingy. He was born a slave. "Corse ah don't have tuh tell you but our name is Dubon. Mah grand- father was owned by some French people and dey came from down New Orleans way some place and dey established up here in Conecuh County, and mah grandfather...
Entry 11190
Ah heard dey go an' git a dirt dauber nest an' some cayenne peppah an' sprinkle it undah de do'step an' turn yore back an' nevah look back, an' nevah look back, an' say "good-by." An' dat'll make 'em move an' dey cain't come back again.
Entry 11192
To break up house, beat up dirt dauber's nest, salt in it, pepper [black or redi in it, sprinkle around or through house.
Entry 11193
Dirt dauber nest, red pepper, person's name on brown paper [and usu- ally if a white person, on white paper] parch on stove, sprinkle this dust, per- son leaves. [Burning person's name is usual, but sprinkling the dust is unusual.]
[Mobile, Ala., 944:9.]
Entry 11194
When yo' got somebody an' wanta make 'em move out chure house, [or] out de house nex' tuh yo', yo' git chew some dirt dabahs [larvae and their cells] but de wasp makes de nest. Yo' git dat dirt [and larvae]. Yo' git chew some cayenne peppah an' some Epsom salts and gunpowdahs, an' yo' mixes all dat up tuh- gethah. An' when yo' mixes dat up tuhgethah, yo' t'rows dat aroun' 'bout twelve a'clock at night - not in de day, at night. At twelve a'clock at night yo' t'rose it undah de step, an' when yo' t'ro' it yo' say, "Jes' lak ah t'row dis heah powdah, dat's de way ah want dem [you] tuh move out dis house." [For a special appreciation of the mud dauber and its larvae, see interview "TOMB OF DE BABE OF BETHLEHEM," Pp.1325-1335, v.2.]
Entry 11195
Throw mixture of dirt-dauber-nest powder and gunpowder near home for 9 mornings to make people move. [Wilmington, N. Car., 274:8+85.]
Entry 11196
You go out there and dis dirt dauber nest, yes. (What would you do with it?) Chuck [it] underneath de house - drop it underneath de house - an' make de folks mind upstir an' make 'em move.
(I see.)
Entry 11198
Dirt dauber's nest - take de dirt dauber's nest an' pound it with sulphur an' put it up ovah de do'post an' dat would separate a family an' make it go separately. [What is a doorpost? I would say one of the two posts of an un- ended door frame, such doors being fairly common.
Entry 11199
Git dirt daubah dat-a-way an' put it in a bottle wit vinegah. Dat's uhut chew call a shure shot. Put it in de bottle wit vinegah, de dirt daubah, wit black peppah an' red peppah, an' if de people of dis house wuz gittin' 'long fine, a person would slip [in] heah at night an' throw it undah de house or plant it anywhere in de yard. In two week's time dey would be axin' [asking] one 'nothah fo' a divorce.
Entry 11200
Yo' take a dirt dauber nest an' anything, jes' lak say, yo' wanta cause confusion or sompin lak dat in a home. Yo' take a dirt dauber nest an' yo' go dere a certain hour of de night an' yo' use dat jes' lak yo' do de aig. Jes' lak dirt dauber keep a-goin' an' conin', dat person keep a-goinin' an' comin'.
(What would you do with the dirt dauber's nest when you took it to that house?)
Yo' jes' carry it an' bust it ovah de house at twelve a'clock at night, jes' lak yo' bust a aig.
Entry 11202
Git 'em out of a house. Dey got some of 'em back dere now. Yo' kin git dirt dauber nest. Yo' know whut dey call dirt daubers. Well, yo' git dat an' cayenne peppah, but yo' have tuh git in de house tuh do dat. Yo' cain't do dat on de out- side of de house. See, cayenne peppah, Epsom salts, sulphur an' powdered asafetidy. Yo' know whut dey call powder asafetidy. Well, dey mix dat tuhgether. Well, if yo' cain't git chure tobacca, yo' kin git dis scotch snuff an' yo' mix dat, but chew gotta git in de house dat yo' kin sling it back in dere. Yo' know, an' 'noint de house, an' dey'll move.
(You just throw that in the house and these people will move away.)
Yes.
Entry 11203
Take nine dirt dauber nest an' pound 'em up together. Put some salt - jes' de least salt, into de nine, which id about a teaspoonful into de nine dirt dauber nests. Then yo' put three teaspoons fulla sugah into dat. Pound it up good together. Then yo' take - after pounding that all up together - then yo' take an' anywhere that a person gotta visit, if it in a home or anywhere that they got dealin's at in dat place, yo' sprinkle it In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost an' make yore wish the way that yo' want it to work. It will work.
(What will you wish for on that?)
Well, if yo' want 'em tuh quit workin' dere or tuh leave dere, why yo' kin wish that way. An' if a person wants tuh continue working to a place, why yo' make that wish there. [Nine dirt dauber nests surely means 9 cells from one dirt dauber nest, not 9 separate nests which would be quite a large amount of dirt.]
Entry 11204
You get you a sock or sompin like that, anything you wear. Take that sock, ball it together, put it with some dirt dauber nest, roll 'em together [sock sprinkled with dirt dauber is rolled up] and you put it in a jar or any kind of bucket or anything that unleaks - what won't leak. Take it to the river, throw it in the river and let it go downstream. You'll be gone!
Entry 11206
Yo've heard tell of yo' takin' a dirt dauber, taking de nest out de house an' mix it up. Sift it in yore meal or flour whatsomevah yo do, an' cook it in yore bread, an' dat'll make yo' ole man love yo'.
(Make him love you.)
Entry 11207
Well, ah'll tell yo' whut tuh do wit dat. Go tuh a ole house an' yo' sees de dirt daubah build a nest. Yo' git nine an' yo' powdah it up an' yo' git chew a nine [cents] 股 worth of rock sulphuh [small cake of] an' yo' powdah hit up an' yo mix dat all up tuhgethah an' sew it up intuh a bag an' yo' put it right undahneath - intuh de mattress. Cut a hole intuh de mattress where he gen[eral]ly sleep at. An' he'll come home an' he'll sleep right on dat dat night, an' he wouldn't nevah leave home no mo'. He'll stay right dere wit yo'. Ah've seen dat done.
(They don't do anything else?)
Nuthin else.
Entry 11208
If ah have a mean husban' an' jes' lak he's argy [argues] all de time, ah jes' take dat dirt dauber an' beat it up fine an' throw it anywhere where he set at in de house - 'neath his fut or anywhere at de suppah table - an' why it will stop him from arguin' yo' understan', dat dirt dauber.
Entry 11209
Take de whole nest - she say, git it down whole, de dirt daubah nest. Take it whole an' don't break it. An' put in a cup or anything an' put some watah on tt, an' jes' about time it draw - in about fifteen minutes - jes' keep it an' drink off of it. (What will that do?) She says dat brings yore [her] husband down an' puts him undah her feet. Well, she shore got her'n [hers] undah her feet. She say dat's whut she use, she say dat's de best it is.
(Does she drink that water herself?)
Drinks dat. An' she say dat's shure fo' him. Ah know one thing, he's undah her feet all right.
Entry 11210
Dirt dauber nest [informant, a former midwife, called it "three finger dirt dauber because she used thumb and two adjoining fingers to pick up rather than thumb and index finger, the pinch measurement] make tea, "give it to a woman in labor, it will help her to come 'cross [across - to de- liver]. [Would those 3 fin- gers be a survival of the 3 HOLY NAMES?] [Mobile, Ala., 900:6.]
Entry 11213
Take the dirt dauber and take dis man's name.
(Yes?)
And you write the man's name and you set this in the bottle, and when you puts this in the bottle...
(Now what do you put in the Bible?)
You puts - in de bottle!
(Oh, in a bottle. You put all this in a bottle?)
All this in a bottle. Well, I call a bottle a jar - one of these pickle jars - and put the vinegar in there with the man's name in there. That's the dauber dust. Then you takes this man's name and you just put the pin and the tacks and the needles in there. And then you put it in there, and every day at twelve o'clock you shake it up and call this man's name. Every day you do the same thing until the ninth day that you see that you get your wishes.
(What kind of wishes do you make?)
Well, the wishes that I would make, would be the bad destruction on him. That'd be bad luck for him to have. That's the bad wishes.
Entry 11214
Yo' kin take dirt dauber houses, yo' know, an' put 'em in a piece of rag an' hang it up ovah yore front do', an' ah don't care who yo' owe, dey won't come dere. Dey won't come nowhere round yo'.
Entry 11215
Dirt dauber nest, pound, put piece of garlic with, in purse for luck. [Garlic is lucky because it is a witchcraft deterrent.]
Entry 11217
Yo' kin take, yo' know, if yo' an' yore husband ain't gittin' long good in yore house, yo' kin take some spice an' dirt dauber nest an' mash it up together; an' after yo' sweep, sprinkle it in each corner of de house. Every- thing will git 'long lovely. Dat's all ah know it's good fo'; yo' know, killin' anything lak dat. Wear it in yore shoe for a fuss lak dat an' sprinkle it round yore house. Dat's all ah know dat it's good fo'.
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 11219
You get the mud dauber.
(Yes.)
Out of a big stable anywhere. You stick this finger.
(Which finger?)
This one.
(The middle finger of the right hand?)
Yes. Get the blood out of it.
(Yes.)
Get all the blood. You write the name nine times on a piece of paper. You roll that mud dauber, that name, steel dust, lodestone, wrap it up. Roll it up tight, and you get [have] some luck. (It separates them.) Man and woman.
Entry 11220
The dirt dauber's nest, you go in a person's house and put it in the four corners of the house - graveyard dirt with the dirt dauber - and they move out of there. Just beat it up.
The printed account distinguishes graveyard dirt from a dirt-dauber nest in a mixture. The departure claim remains source-reported; the two ingredients are not treated as equivalent.
Entry 11221
Now, yo' take de [chicken] aig an' broke a little hole in it an' put some of dis graveyard dirt - jes' a drop of it - an' de dauber nest [dirt] an' throw it on de house, and run 'em away.
The informant describes graveyard dirt and dirt-dauber material with an egg. '[chicken]' and '[dirt]' are editorial identifications; the materials remain distinct and the departure claim source-reported.
Entry 11222
Yo' kin git dis heah dirt daubah nest an' de lettah whut he wrote chew. Yo' kin fix dat lettah all up an' send it back tuh him. (How do you mean, fix that let- ter all up?) Well, yo' take dis daubah nest an' a little bit, jes' a pinch of dis graveyard [dirt], an' put in dis lettah - not tuh let him see it, jes' dust ovah it - an' send it back tuh him.
(What will that do then?)
Dat will bring his mind back tuh yo'. [There is a collection of these letters in section LETTERS AND HANDWRITING, vol.4, Nos.8789-8881, Pp.3589-3610, some With graveyard dirt.]
Entry 11223
Take dirt dauber, cai-yanne peppah an' grave- yard dirt. Dat's tuh make people move, too. Yo' puts dem things intuh a ole cup an' yo' make a powdah of it, an' yo' go an' throw it aroun' dis place where yo' want de people tuh go.
Entry 11224
(What do they do with that?)
You see, you take the dirt dauber's nest and you'll mash it up good, and that dirt dauber's nest can make [a] fuss [quarrel]. And the dirt dauber's nest is good - now, dirt dauber's nest would be, if you got a sprain...
[Here I turn off machine but immediately restart it.] (And do what?)
[Take the dirt dauber's nest and get you some little] guinea peppers and get you some graveyard dirt [guinea peppers and graveyard dirt restarted machine] and fix that together, and then you can make a person move. I don't know where to[!].
(Well, how would you handle that?)
You see, you mix it all up together. Now, just like you go away, [like] you turn your back [to go away]. Well, I'd go throw that all around, or get some of it in your house. See, you'd pass over that. [Then you would soon leave that house or town.]
Entry 11225
Go to de graveyard an' git some dirt an' bring de dirt back home an' mix it up wit dirt dauber nest an' sulphur. An' mix it all up an' put it in de house - jes' a little bit in de house, a little bit. (What will that do?) Dat keepin' his mind, bring his mind back home.
Entry 11226
Nine dirt dauber's nests, 9 pinches out of victim's left foot track, pound up together, make wishes over, take to a grave of evil person, bury you there, you will soon die. [This is my condensation of a long rite in the material of an interview missed by my transcriber. I never had time to return to it. Original condensation in pencil attached to final manuscript.]
Entry 11227
Well, now, yo' kin use dirt dauber in confinement an' yo' kin use dirt dauber fo' runnin' people outa town an' around like that.
(How would you run a person out of town with dirt dauber?)
Well, yo' have tuh take - yo' know the dirt dauber nest has all that stuff inside of that clay there, inside of that clay. Well, yo' git the inside [lar- vae] an' yo' kin mix that with cemetery dirt. Mix that with the cemetery dirt an' yo' git chew a piece of brim- stone an' a piece of blue- stone, an' pound it up to a powder an' put in that. An' yo' kin sprinkle that wherevah - whoevah yo' wanta do. Yo' kin sprinkle that an' that will certainly run 'em outa town - run 'em an' they keep agoin'.
Entry 11228
Well, yo' supposed tuh git it offa sinner, like yo' know a person's died a sinner - git it offa de breast of him. Imagine where de breast should be. Yo' git dat dirt. Take yo' left han' an' git dat, a left handful of dat dirt. Well, yo' takes cayenne pepper and table salt and dis ole dirt dauber dat be's in houses up in de walls. Yo' mix dat tuhgethah. Say dat'll make a fuss anywhere. It will even cause de law tuh come tuh yore place.
(Well, what do you do with this after you mix it up?)
After yo' mix it up, jest put it where yo' want it tuh be. Jest like if yo' are angry wit someone, or somebody yo' know is bothering yo' or sompin. Well, yo' wants dem tuh move or git on out de way. Yo' jest throw it where it can be tracked in dat house. Dey'll go tuh fighting and de law goin' come.
Entry 11229
Take graveyard dirt and dirt dauber's nest and cayenne pepper and new salt and parch it - you mix it and parch it and make a powder. And throw it Monday night, Wednesday night and Friday night where they walk over. They change their mind and they go on about their business. They move off and go off.
(They leave the house?)
Yes.
(You sow this on these nights. Do you throw it or sow it?)
You throw it around. (Oh, you throw it around.) [The preceding combination of 3 days is common in New Orleans for burning candles - see p.830, v.1.]
Entry 11529
If you know de name of de person, you kin bring dem back.
(Well, what would you do with that [name]?)
Well, yOu COuld - AH TELL YOU, BUT AH HOPE YOU AIN'T COMING BACK ON ME.
(NO! I'M NOT COMING BACK ON YOU AT ALL. NO! NO!)
Well, you see, you are sure you knows de fellah - we [let us] say dat I'm de person do's it - see. You kin jest git to my step lak late in de night, and git a little dust right from under my step and mixes that in some gunpowder and put it - don't put it in no shot [shot gun gunpowder without the shot]. Put it in your gun. You have to use, you know, one of dese ole-time muskets. Jest put dat in dat gun and come right to de door, and shoot right directs towards my home - in the direction of my home. And in three days dat would be back dere. Get 'em [not foot tracks, see later] right from de center part of my [door] step as I go in my home.
(Both tracks?)
No, jest git de dirt from under de step, not de track, jest de dirt from under dere where I goes in and out. [In many of these small houses the treads of out- side steps are not enclosed; it being easy to reach under or from the side to pick up dirt from under the steps. Both wind and rain forced foot track dirt under open steps.]
(of, you mean the doorstep?)
Yeah. Jest take and go on a' [and] mix dat in some powder and put dat in your gun. And in de morning jest about day you shoot right in the direct [direction] of his step [whether] towards de east, north, south or West. You shoot right dat way. Two or three days I'll be back to you. (You'll bring back the things you stole.) [On the original transcription, nade within year or two after collection of rite, is the word doubtful in red ink!]
Entry 11590
Ah hear'd of 'em pickin' up de tracks, zhoo know, way [where] people galks along. An' dey jis' take up de san' [from the heel of both tracks, right and left] in de han', zhoo know, an' take a piece of chewin' gum, jis' lak yo' git out de sto', an' chew it. An' take dat an' wrap it all up togethah, yo' know, an' go to a tree an' bo' a hole in de tree, an' put it in dere, an' close dat tree up. An' de nex' day dis person will be gone, dead and buried.
Entry 11668
Walk just like you walk to the two forks of the road, from the house, make a cross mark with your right foot, you know. Turn around and go back to the house. That's supposed to be lucky to you. Sup- posed to bring luck to you. (That will bring you luck, I see.)
Entry 11670
Whut dey do's at de fo'k. Well, de fo'k of de road, when yo' do dat, yo' kin draw a person tuh yo' or yo' kin run 'em from yo'. Well, now, when yo' got dere at de fo'k of de road, yo' git dere at sunrise. Well, den yo' make a cross, jes' lak de cross dey say dat Christ hung [on], yo' know. Yo' name dat even, an' yo' cross dat, an' den yo'll take a little graveyard [dirt], good or bad [grave] it don't make no difference. An' den yo' put dat in a little bit of sulphah an' salt, an' den yo' make a powdahs of dat - lak, yo' know, an' den yo' throw it in dat place. An' dat's de way yo' uses dat at de crossroad, yo' know, anything lak a fo'k. An' dey [den?] yo' say, yo know, yo' have to talk to it, say, "Jesus Christ suf- fered an' died on Calvary Cross, why can't yo' do so- an'-so-an'-so." See, jes' anything yo' want tuh name tuh it.
(You do that for harm or bad?)
Yeah, it'll do eithah fo' good or fo' bad, but den yo' have de Lord, an' make it which way yo' want it tuh go.
Entry 11672
Take de dirt out de fork of de road, if you don't want 'em to leave. Take de dirt out of de fork of de road and put it in a bag and hold it there. Keep it, that will keep them from going away. (You just go out to the forks of the road and pick up that dirt.) Yes, an' put cayenne pepper with that, and hold it. That's what ah heard.
Entry 11673
Say yo' kin go to de fo'ks of de road an' take, yo' know, dat crossin' sand. [sand from crossroad used in crossing person]. An' go an' git 'im, say, a box about foah inches square. An' git a piece of flannen cloth. An jest lak it wus me, dey take mah name [write it] and [write] whatsomevah dey wanta do tuh me; lak dey wanta kill me or wanta lingah me. Dey kin take dat an' read de 35th Psalm fo' nine days at sunrise, an' [while reading it] turn yore haid to de sunrise, an' dey kin kill yo'. (What would they do with all these things in that box? You didn't tell me vhat they did with those.) Well, dey would jest go an' dey would take dat crossing sand [sand from cross- road] yore name, yo' understand, an' dat jest be closed up [in the box]. Yo understand me. Go out an' put dat ingredients in deah. It's a dragon's blood dat chew kin git - dragon's blood - put it in dere. An' put dat box back to- gether, yo' know, jest like yo' kin use dat sand an' dat dragon's blood an yore name an' read dat - yo' understand, dat 35th Psalm.
(Where do you put that box then?)
Well, yo' jest place it most anywhere about in de house, ain't got no certain place.
Entry 11674
Go to the forks of a road and yo' can git dat dirt jes' as it turn off at de forks of de road, yo' kin git dat dirt an' yo' kin take it and bring it back an' sprinkle it in a person's shoes an' if dey wearing dat shoe an' yo' want 'em to go, that will keep them going.
(But you must get this dirt from the fork of the road.)
Git it from de turn, that's to make them leave. (It must be the dirt from their track?) Not from their track. Yo' go out to the forks of the road, you git dat dirt.
(Anybody's dirt or any kind of dirt.)
No, yo' git de dirt out of the road, not nobody else's track.
Entry 11675
Go out to de fo'ks of de road an' git some dirt, if it a person at yure house, yo' know, an' yo' want 'em tuh leave or eithah come back, see. Yo' git dat dirt out de fo'k of de road an' bury dat up undah de steps. An' put so some sugah an' two brand- new needles ain't been used. (What will that do?) That will make them stay at home.
Entry 11677
Yo' go tuh de fo'ks of de road an', when yo' go tuh de fo'ks of de road, yo' git a pinch of dirt from de fo'ks of dat road. Den yo' go to do - befo' yo' go tuh de fo'ks of de road, yo' go tuh de graveyard yo' know, an' git some of de graveyard dirt an' mx it tuhgethah. Den go tuh de fo'ks of de road an' git some of dat, an' mix dat tuhgethah. Den yo' have tuh season it, chew know. Yo' git dem two things an' yo' git some salt an' yo' git some peppah an' some sulphur, & an' crumble it all wit dat dirt from de fo'ks of de road. An' it will do jes' whut chew want it tuh do.
(What will you do with it?)
Yo' went dere fo' a purpose. When yo' went tuh de fo'ks of de road, yo' vants somebody probably, or yo' wanta change somebody from goin' wit somebody's else, an' yo' bring yo' dese, an' why, dat means dey'll come yore way.
(What do you do with that dirt after you mix it up? What do you do with it?)
Sprinkle it.
(Where?)
Yo' know, jes' lak ah know yo' goin' out. "Sposin' ah'm goin' from heah ovah yondah an' yo've gotta cross dat othah fellah's house, ah sprinkle it right down in yore yard an' yo' walk ovah dat. Yore mind changes, dat changes yore mind. (That changes your mind. That is if you want to bring somebody back, some- thing of that sort?) Yassuh.
The informant describes a mixture of dirt from a graveyard and road forks with salt, pepper and sulphur, sprinkled to influence a person's direction or attachment. Questions clarify use and purpose. The hypothetical yard scenario begins with an unclosed printed quote, so no closing speech boundary is invented; both dirt origins and the qualified return purpose are retained.
Entry 11678
Yokin git de graveyard dirt. Yogo tuh de graveyard. Yo' kin go dere any time a-night dat chew wanta, if yo' ain't scared tuh go, an' git chew some of dat dirt: but chew gotta burn some of it, an' keep some of it unburned. Anwhenyo gits in a place, jes [like] ah'm in heah an want chew tuh do business wit me. Ah keeps some wit me all de time, an'ah jes' rubs mah han's when ah wants tuh be lucky. An'ah raps mah hands on de table lak dat [raps on interviewing table] an' ah've nevah gone out broke. Ah've always had a dollah every day of mah life, evah since ah've been usin dis dirt an' burnin' ah've got it. An' den yo' kin take dis graveyard dirt an' yo' kin go tuh de fo'ks of de road an' git dirt; dat's where yo' meet dem two fo'ks of de road. Yo' know whut ah'm talkin' about. Yo' go in dere. Now, yo take yo' a silvah spoon, yo' go to de fo'k of de road an' yo' git chew some dirt an' put wit dis graveyard dirt. Yo' kin conkah all of yore enemies in any way yo' want, if yo' take dis dirt an sprinkle it round dere [their home]. An' yo' kin be partic'lah wit it, ain't gotta let 'em see it; 'cause if yo' let dem see it, yo' know, say yo' doin' sompin wrong. Yo' gotta be partic'lah wit anything yo' do. See, dat's de way ah use graveyard dirt. An' it gotta be burnt, some of it's burnt. When yo' git dat dirt outa de fo'k of de road yo' ain't gotta burn it atall, but yo' put it wit dis graveyard dirt an' yo' kin do anything. Yo' kin conkah all yore enemies in any kind of way. Dat make yo' successful. Yo'ain't got nuthin tuh do tuh keep de law away, but jes' yo' go out an' den yo' go tuh de fo'k of de road. Go on back tuh de fo'k of de road now in dis partic'lah business. Yo' take yo' silvah spoon an' yo' git yo' some dust an yo' ain't gotta put de graveyard dust. Now, jes' about nine or ten steps 'way from yore house an' in front of dere, jes' sprinkle dat dust down, an' count de tracks dat chew make, cause if yo' make a mistake, well, yo' liable tuh have tuh go ag'in 'cause somepin othah liable tuh happen. But it always causin' tuh keep yore enemies cowered at chure feet when yo' git that dust from de fo'k of de road. If yo' got it wit de graveyard dirt it goes bettah wit chew. If yo' ain't got it, well, it's all de same - it'll do it right on. Jes' go tuh de fo'k of de road on de left-han' side.
Entry 11689
Dey go to de fo'ks of de road an' dey turn three times, but ah heard dey go to de graveyard befo' an' dey gits some dirt. An' dey take dat dirt an some sugah an' some sugah of lead an' some sulphur, an' take it an' take dat dirt an' bury it undah de steps, undah de front steps, either de back - if dey's out an' yo' want 'em tuh come in...yo' take it an' yo' mix dat all up togethah. Yo' take it an' bury it undah yore steps, where dey gotta come ovah. An' dat'll make dem come back.... Either yo' take it an' bury it out from de steps. Dat'll make 'em go away.
(What about the forks of the road?)
Ah say, ah've heard of 'em goin' to de fo'ks of de road but it be at de grave- yard at de fo'ks of de road, an' git dat graveyard dirt.
(You have to go to a graveyard that's near a forks of the road?)
Yassuh, tuh git dat dirt, but now if yo' say go to de graveyard an' git dat dirt off a grave fo' dat somebody dat's went away.... An' yo' wanta git 'em back.... Dat's whut ah'm tryin' tuh tell yo' 'bout dat graveyard dirt. Yo' go dere an' git dat an' yo' bury dat dirt.
Entry 11723
Fix it up an' go in de cemetery an' git some dirt an' fixes it up.... (That is all you put in it?) No sir, yo' put sulphur an' put dis table salt an' red peppah, grind it fine, an' yo' take it an' sprinkle it anybody's track - sprinkle it ovah dere - say dey'll leave an' dey won't come back no mo'.
(You call that mixture goofer dust?)
Yes. [This informant gave an unusual account of how to sell self to the devil, No.375, v.1.]
Entry 11735
[Graveyard dirt will be found everywhere in these volumes, its largest concentration appearing on pages 3293-3385, volume 4. Here I begin with a few leftover longer rites and end with the more numerous short or condensed ones, these latter to show how widespread they were.] Ah've had [have used] de graveyard dust mahself. If I was in a lawsuit with yo' an' ah wanta win de lawsuit, well ah come in dere [your office] with some graveyard dust in mah pocket. An' ah sprinkle in de - in de fo' corners of de place, an' a little in de do', an' down de steps as yo' [I] go out - when ah start out - unbeknowst tuh dem [you]. It must be done un- beknowst tuh dem. Dat's de way dey supposed tuh be tuh handle dat graveyard dust.
(Where do you sprinkle this graveyard dust?)
In de office - like dey wanted tuh move yo' out of heah or put chew tuh trav- elin', yo' see. Ah'd come in heah unbeknowst tuh yo' an' throw some in dat cor- nah, sprinkle it around ovah in de othah cornah, an' ovah tuh de othah cornah [informant forgets to mention the fourth corner], git it aroun' lak yo' want it. An' if necessary dey gits some on yuh.
Entry 11736
To make 'em move outa a house, we'd [we root doctors would] use somepin - say we'd use somepin in de do', don't chew see. We used somepin in de do' each mawnin', yo' know, somepin tuh frighten 'em. Well, say, we'd use somepin like de graveyard dirt. We use somepin like de graveyard dirt.
Entry 11737
Go to de cemetery at a certain hour of de night and take dirt. You kin change de will of a person, put 'em under your control, dey claim, if you kin get dat dirt, you know. Get it sifted, thrown any- where where dey dwell or where visit; supposed to control their mind. You kin do dat by using dat dirt. I've seen several instances where dat was tried and it really - well, it worked all right because dey had dat belief quality.
(They just throw it around where they were?)
Just sprinkle it around where dey have to pass in and out.
The informant reports cemetery dirt taken at a certain night hour, sifted and scattered where people dwell or pass, as a claimed means of controlling their will. Personal observations are qualified by the informant's reference to belief. The interviewer's placement question remains separate.
Entry 11738
Yo' kin go to the graveyard about 12 a'clock at night. Understand now, yo' git this dirt off a sinnerman's grave, 12 a'clock at night. An' yo' take this dirt an' yo' mix some salt with it an' [red] pepper. Yo' under- stand me now? An' yo' go an' git a No.6 gunshell; yo' know one of them No.6 gunpowder, those shotgun, them shells, yo' know No.6. An' yo' open it an' yo' scrape all that gunpowder out. An' yo' put that gunpowder, that cayenne pepper and that salt wit that graveyard dirt, but don't take it nowhere near your home. Yo' understand, don't let it go near your home. An' yo' take that an' throw it up on their door an' all the hunting[?] they do, they shore git killed.
Entry 11739
Yo' go down, dig in de center of dat grave an' keep adiggin' till yo' git way down fur as yore hand kin reach. An' yo' pull dat dirt up, see; an' yo' git dat, see, an' go. (Then what do you do with that dirt, now?) Yo' takes it an' den go 'long dere an' put it on de steps. (How would you put it on the steps?) Git chew a lump piece, jes' two pieces lak dat. (What kind of pieces?) When yo' git up dere [on the grave] yo' reach down in dere an' yo' jes' goes - yo' reach down [in there] as fur as yo' kin reach an' put it [this dirt] on each side [of the steps]. (On either side [on both sides] of the step. What did you say it would do then?) It would make 'em leave home.
Entry 11740
Say like if any of yo's people is in jail an' yo' don't have money to git 'em out, yo' go to a graveyard an' yo' takes two pennies. And dey say yo digs a hole, yo' know, 'way down in de middle of de grave, an' yo' pays de dead spirits fer dat dirt. And yo' tell dat dirt, tell dat spirit dat, "Ah wants chew to go direct to de jailhouse and ah wanta git so-and-so out." And dey say yo' jest leave dem two pennies there and you'll go on to de co'thouse when dey be's having co't, and you come [out] without [paying] money. (What will you do with that dirt?) Yo' jest picks up dat dirt and carries it to de jail- house wit yo', an' yo' jest holds it tight on yo', and when de' havin' yo' trial, dey more den apt to turn yo' loose and yo' won't have to pay nuthin - jest dem two pennies what chew left at de graveyard.
Entry 11741
Well, jes' lak now probably dat ah wuz sellin' likker. Well, ever' time ah turn roun' an' somebody knock at de do', ah think it's a customer come in dere. Ah open de do', "Ooh! It's de law." Well, ah goes tuh mah neighbor, yo' know, sell a lotta people roun', "Ah ain't got no luck. Ever'- time ah open mah do's, it's de law comin' in. Ah don' unnerstan'.: Seem lak de law gotta pick at me. Ah want dat law quit comin' tuh mah house." "Well, "' ah declare. "May[be] it's hard luck put on yo', '' [he] says, "dey's things lak dat." Well, jes' lak dat, talk along an' talk along. Ah wuz sellin' right along, gittin' on all right, thinkin' ever'thing wuz okay. Oh, makin' mo' money, yo' know, an' jes' gittin' 'long. Fus' thing ah knows, "Knock, knock." "Who's thah?" Twarn't nuthin but de [wind?] but still it wuz a lil' strange. Goes opens de do'. Who but it is de law ag'in. Well, ah sigh to mahself, "Well, ah taken dese chances but ah don't wanta take nO mo' chances." Ah goes tuh talkin' fo' fair den. So ah got one mah best fren'. Ah call her mah best fren'. So mah best fren' says, "Well, ah tell yo' whut chew do," say, "yo' go git luck, 'cause dere's bad wishes put on yo'. Yo' gotta have luck. Dere's a bar ovah dere" [someone over there could recommend a hoodoo]. Okay. An' so ah goes an' git luck. So fo' de luck he tole me, says, "Go tuh de cemetery an' git chew a lil' graveyard dirt, an' yo' git it on de off side - cf side of de right. Yo' dig down an' yo' pay. Yo' pay him an' yo' git dis dirt. Dig a hole jes' lak dat an' let chure han' go down in it, jes' lak dat [demonstrates] an' dig yo' up jes' a lil' dirt jes' lak dat. Den yo' put three pennies down in dere where yo' got dis dirt at. An' yo' take it home an' don't look back. When yo' git dis dirt jes' take it an' come right on home an' don' look back. When yo' git home, yo' put a spoonful of sulphur in dat graveyard dirt an' yo' sprinkle jes' a lil' bit of black peppah in dere. An' den yo' jes' put dat - yo' put some right under de front steps, an' den yo' go round an' put some undah yore back steps. An' den yo' gotta speak three times tuh hit, 'Name of de Father, name of de Son an' de Holy Ghost, stay an' nevah come no mo'." Dat'll do it.
(That keeps the law away.)
Keep de law away.
Entry 11742
Dey kin take an' dress 'em [shoes up with graveyard dirt an' cayenne pepper.
(How do they do that?)
Why, they kin put it inside of a shoe; or they kin take that little leather [insole] out at de bottom [of the shoe] and they kin dress up. Take that out an' bury it. [That makes] feet ache and hurt all de time. (Well, now, are those two different things you have told me or are they all the same thing; that stuff in your shoe and bury it? Do that at the same time or do they do them at different times?) Well, see, these are all right separate, but they be all right together. So one at de time probably dis month and next month, probably two, three months afterwards - something like that - but it be all right together. [This is a skillful piece of tact!]
Entry 11743
Graveyard dirt is fo' movin', too. Yo' takes de graveyard dirt an' mix it togethah wit different kinds of peppahs. An' yo' takes dat an' yo' throws it undahneath de steps, but when dey goin' tuh do sompin lak dat, why yo' Would have tuh go nights when people sleep an' nobody's around, an' throw dat undahneat' de steps. See, an' dat'll make people move too.
(What do you mean by all kinds of pepper? What do you mean by that?)
Dat's black peppah an' dat's red peppah. Yo' see, dey got a little peppah dat comes in a pod, little short pod [finger pepper] an' all dat's hot-hot - cai- yanne peppah an' de black peppah.
Entry 11744
If it's someone behind yuh, the one - you know, someone behind yuh what rid them[-selves] of other people, they will pick it [your foot track] up and mix it with graveyard dust. [Long pause.]
(All right, go ahead. What else?)
And they, they'll take that and mix it with graveyard dust, and they will take and fix it together and sprinkle it around your door, yuh see. And they will take and make - mix it with pepper, black pepper and cayenne pepper, you see. They mix all that up together and they sprinkle it around your house, and that will make for confusion with you and your neighbors, and that will cause you to have to move.
Entry 11745
Take yore hair - off a person's haid - an' git a little dust, grave- yard dust. Dat will run 'em crazy, dat will run 'em away.
(Well, now what about the buzzard?)
Dust of de buzzard [see later]. (How do you mean they get some of my hair?) Yeah, git some yore hair out chure haid, an' take it an' graveyard dirt an' pepper an' put it to a buzzard.
(What do you mean put it to a buzzard?)
Tie it to him or sompin like that.
(What will that do to me then?)
Run yo' crazy or run yo' away.
(The buzzard flies away with that stuff on him?)
The buzzard flies away an' yo' go.
Entry 11749
You can take graveyard dirt, you can run people crazy with it. You can keep a man and his wife together and you can separate them with it, because if they fuss and fight and almost kill one another, of qourse they have to separate. Now, you go to the graveyard and you get it [graveyard dirt in] a bucket, for a bucketful is all that you need at one time. And you try to find one of those skeleton bones, and take that skeleton bone and that basket of graveyard dirt, and catch them when they are away from home and wobody there. And bury that bone and that dirt under their step, if they have 3 dirt step; if not, they got bricks, and you can pry that brick up, but you got wo be sure where they pass in and out of their door all the time. And when you get that dirt down there, of course, you put it [soil or brick] back so they roa't detect it, see. It will cause them to fight and almost kill one another. They have to separate.
Entry 11750
Dey dig a grave. Dey don't dig a grave fo' a person dat has died, but dey digs a grave ordinary fo' a person befo' he dies. An' when dey dig dat grave - well, now de same person dey [you] dig it fo' don't have tuh git in dat grave, but chew digs dat grave in order tuh cause yo'self gittin' dat dirt outa dere fo' de person dat chew wanted tuh die. [You are using simulated grave dirt.] Dat's in order tuh master dem. Dat's all ah knows about dat. [A mock grave or burial is fairly common, but this use of its dirt may be my only example.]
Entry 11754
Well, jes' lak yo' might see somepin round an- othah person's home dat yo would like tuh git holt of, vell yo'd go to de graveyard an' git some dirt an' sprinkle it on de top of dere house. Dey can't wait until yo' git to do whut chew wanta do - git whut chew'd [you would] like to get.
(If you would want to use that article.)
Dat's right.
Entry 12057
In case if sometime a man an' wife is confused, yo' know, lak some confusion in de family. Some kinda dissatisfaction an' wanta bring peace an' harmony, den if yo' kin git a lock of de man's hair or a lock of de woman's hair, an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dust. An' den git some of de dust of dere insteps of dey individuals' feet, see.
(Where they walk in the ground, their track?)
Yes, whether dey bared feet or whether dey have on shoes, jes' so it's from de instep of dey feet. An' dey git some sulphur an' some brimstone an' mix all up. Beat dat brimstone tuhgethah fine an' mix all dose tuhgethah. Sew it up intuh a flannen rag - cloth. Sew it up good an' tight, an' yo' kin drop a few drops of camphor; dat's tuh keep it alive, quicken it. An' jes put dat roun' de do'step, bury it two or three inches in de earth. An' dat'll bring peace in de home.
Entry 12129
If you don' want her no mo', after she come back to yuh [she have left you] - if yo' don' wan' her no mo', so's [= so as] yo' kin [get] control [of] yo'self - [you] kin git dis bow heah [he points to my hat with micro- phone on interviewing table] out de hat. A-tall [at all = whatever you do] don' chew take it [out]. Yo' tell her, say, "Ah wanta see dis bow heah, " lak dat. Say yo' wanta see dis bow. An' lak yo' wanta see de bow, yo' put de bow in your han'. An' when she put de bow in yore han' [after she remove it from the hat], yo' goes right to a white- folks graveyard - or a colored-folks graveyard - an' git a han'fula dirt lak dat. Don' git it from somebody [who] was buried dere yesterday [or] lak day 'fore dat. Lemme show yo' now. [Informant demonstrates on the floor of the interviewing room.] Yo' kin pick up de dirt lak dat. Quick! Don' let nobody see yo' pick it up. An' put it anywhere in yuh pocket. Ain't gotta put it in no papah. All right. Den yo' come back [home]. Yo' take dat bow an' yo' set an' yo' sprinkle it [with the graveyard dirt]. Understand?[He sprinkles graveyard dirt on a hat bow her hand had touched.] If she got a $1000, she'll pay yuh to make her husband take her back. But yet, he don' want huh, don' want huh no mo'.
Entry 12533
Yo' kin git chew - yo' know whut red onion is. Ah don' know whether yo' eat 'em or not. An' jes' git chew a red onion an' cut de root of it off. Jes' cut off a piece an' git chew some graveyard dirt offa man's grave - some ole wicked man, some- body whut's daid, an' some cayenne peppah. Mix it all up an' stop dat onion up with dat onion top. Stop it back up wit dat piece whut chew cut off.
(You put this stuff in that onion?)
Right back, yes, put it in dat onion an' stop it up an' put it in dat per- son's house.
(What will that do then?)
It move 'em out dat house.
Entry 12563
Under your foot track - just like people come along and say that they could hurt you by your foot track. But they couldn't hurt you by a foot track, but I tell you what they could do. They could take some dirt coming from your shoes: just like if you had a hole in your shoe like that [dirt would get into shoe through hole in shoe]. And your foot track they Would probably pick up [in that way]. And after [hole in shoe] picking it up, they could take that dust, what come from your shoes. And they could shake it, put it in a box with some of these here pigeon eggs, and beat it up like that. Anywhere you bury that, you have to leave town [be- cause pigeon flies!]. And anytime you couldn't stay nowhere, couldn't never come back into the place where you was. (You mean the dirt from your shoe, any of the dirt that sticks to the bottom of your shoes? What about that hole in your shoes?) Just like - you see, where I Was, this feet chere, how it was. How this feet chere of mine was [he evidently demonstrates foot or feet]. Well, then, gettin' a remedy for that? [Here is how it happened.] I walked out one morning and it had some kind of yellowish-looking stuff on the steps. But I didn't paid attention and I walked on out of there, going to my work. Well, it was in the summertime and it was right warm. Well, I had some shoes that cut, you know, like this [demonstrates].
(Had holes in the bottoms of them?)
Yes, sir. Well, then, what made me heed them then was my heel started to hurt. I comes on back. Well, that heel of mine was about that big [demon- strates]. So they carried me and they got some of this sugar, this white granulated sugar, and got some of this Palm of Christiandom.
(Palm of what?)
Palm of Christiandom. (Palm of Christian?) [I am not correcting informant but commenting for the future. Besides, the words are Palma Christi "hand of Christ, " the castor-oil plant.] Palm of Christian, yes. You get that anywhere through the country. And they takes that and they put that on, in hot water, just as hot as I could bear it. Then after that they take some cayenne pepper and put it there and they soak it. Then they take, after that - don't never wipe it off - you just take it and let your feet hangs over the water like that, and drain until it dries. Then you take some of the "Pp" oil.
(PP. Two "P's.")
Yeah, PP oil. Get it in the drug store. You take that PP Oil and you just take it like that, with a piece of cotton, you know, and 'noint it. But always 'noint it going down.
(Why?)
Well, that's to draw out all the swelling and all the pain leaves - whatever. You have to rub it like that. [Informant either did not know or did not under- stand my question. You rub downwards to drive pain or any crunjure out through the feet. Many examples of this occur in HOODOO, see No.981, p.377, vol.1.] Well, the swelling before I ever knowed, well they had all the - I'll just lift it up here. They had all this here and all down here. [Informant demonstrates all this.] And they told me how to use it. Well, I got relief of that.
(What did it do to make your ankle swollen that way?)
Well, I walked in some yellowish-looking powder.
(Oh, I see.)
That's where it came from. And it was somepin that makes your ankle itch, you see; and you scratches it, you know.
Entry 12567
Take a dauber nest.
(Just take one dauber's nest?)
And seven peanut hulls.
(And seven peanut hulls.)
And seven pods of red pepper.
(And seven pods of red pepper.)
And parch all that together and crumble it up. And then sprinkle it around a person's door if you - like if your husband is going over there. And sprinkle it around her door, and the path, anywhere where she goes in and out at. And it will bust them up. But you have to crumble it up fine after parching it, and just sprinkle it all up and down there. See, and it bust 'em up. They will bust up - and they goes - just drift from place to place.
(This will bust them up?)
He will quit her. You use one dauber nest and seven pods.
(And seven pods.)
Oh, I should have said that that dauber nest was to be filled with a certain kind of mud, what is used to tear down. (The dauber nest is to be filled with a certain kind of mud, I see.)
Entry 12574
Jes' lak if yo' don't want nobody tuh yore house, don't want tuh speak tuh anybody, yo' kin take yo' a penny - jes' a penny is brassy - an' yo' kin rub it an' rub it till it gits shiny. An' de penny whut yo' rubbin' den yo' go tuh de grave- yard dust: In de Name of de Lord an' de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost. Well, yo' rubs dat penny, rubs dat penny wit de dust until it gits shiny.
(What do you do with that then?)
[I shut the machine off before recording the answer, but the penny is probably nailed at the door. This could be my only example of using graveyard dirt as a scouring material!]
Entry 12717
Take graveyard dirt an' dey would go an' git it an' put it in a bag. Co to de head of a sinner's grave, dat is someone in hard luck [goes]. Dey go to de head of dis sinner grave an' dig down to de marshy dirt. Yo see dat on top is dry an' den why when you dig down in de ground it's marshy. An' dey dig down an' git some of dis marshy dirt off of a sinner grave from de head. An den dey would put it in a bag an' git whut dey call a rabbit foot an' put in dere with it, an' dat would cause to bring good luck. (If you are out of luck, you wear it or carry that. What foot do you get from the rabbit?) De left foot, de back.
Entry 12770
Well, a person take dat - sometime dey got rattlesnake [dust] in it, rattlesnake dust an' graveyard dust. If yo' step across it, it run in yuh. See, den dat becomes - grows - forms other rattlesnakes [in you]. So de king of de woods to do all dat work, is prickle feet - jest as I give it to yuh.
(That is to get that out.)
To get that out.
Entry 12881
Why yo' take dis scorpion an' kill him an' care [carry]'in tuh a... Jes' lak if yo' wanted tuh kill a person, take dat scorpion an' some black guml powder an' Bone red pep per an' some graveyard dirt an' tie it dere. Put it on - git a chance tuh git inside his house an' let him sleep on it, an' he commence failing. De doctors [H. D.'s] couldn't do anything - ain't nuthin de doctors could do - unlessen be [patient] goes tuh a man dat knows somepin about it.
Entry 12887
In de business line - fo' customers, if yo' runnin' dis place of busi- ness. Now, yo' kin take when yo' knock off [close] dis place at night, put some of dis Hearts Cologne in de water an' mop dis buildin' out dat night. An' don't sweep none of yore dirt out at night after six a'clock, outa yore front atall. Dat'll make business an' yo'll prosper mo'.
(Brings customers in.)
Entry 13107
Dere is such things as dat. Dere's a little graveyard dirt. You kin get it in - you get graveyard dirt and you get de dust from a rattlesnake's rat- tle and make you a powder of it. And den he'd come along and 'tempt to play with you. Take your hat off, "Oh, dat's a nice hat." Take your hat like dat and probably look at it. Put dat dust in dere and you put your hat on. It may be warm or it may drift down your face if you perspire, or anything, run down and blind you. You never will see again. (You have this rattlesnake dust and the graveyard dust mixed.)
The informant describes graveyard dirt mixed with rattlesnake-rattle dust and a hypothetical hat-handling scenario, with claimed blindness. The quoted compliment is prescribed or imagined speech within that account. The interviewer restates the mixture without a recorded confirmation; harm claims remain source reports.
Entry 13141
Take a man's sock or a woman's sock an' bury it. See, where yo' have a fireplace, take up a brick an' sprinkle sulphur an' salt on dat brick an' sprinkle sulphur an' salt on dat brick an' graveyard dirt, an' uri- nate on it fo' 9 mawnin's, an' tell it whut chew want it tuh do. If yo' want him tuh love yo', not leave yo', be right dere undah yore foot an' all, he can't do it, 'cause he's buried right dere wit dat stock- in' an' de minute he takes it up why yo' kin go. But long as hit stays down dere, why he stays dere.
(You bury that stocking right under that brick?)
Yeah, right undah dat brick. Anywhere where yo' kin git tuh it an' urinate on it fo' 9 mawnin's.
Entry 13428
Kin you understand what I say, now?
(I understand now.)
To make you move out of the house, you go and get some holy water, see [and] war water and you sprinkle that. And then you go to the graveyard, get some graveyard dust, and you go and sprinkle it with black pepper and salt. And you sprinkle it all around the step and put it underneath the steps. If it got a brick there, you put it underneath that, where they can't see it. And when anyone can't see it, it's more better. When you come down the steps and walk away, you'll cross over it. See, when you cross over it, then maybe you'll start to go black [not feel well] and then you'll come back 'round and you'll start to scrubbing - get some lye. You says, somebody's been sprinkling me. All right. You'll go and get some lye and your urinate, and take it and scrub that up. Well, the next morning, I'll go back and do the same. And when you do find it, you say, "Well, I'm going to move. Somebody is sprinkling 'round here. They must be wanting the house or something." And I done move out of the place. So that's why I give it to 'em and that's why I move.
Entry 4017
De chamber lye, well dey take hit an' dey put it in a bottle an' dey'll bury in de dirt. Well, yo' can't make no watah.
Entry 4329
Yuh kin take a woman's watah, tuh run 'is wife 'way from de othah man. An' yuh kin take dat watah an' put it intuh de dirt, if it not already on de dirt. Take it an' put it in de dirt an' make a kinda mud-like outa it, see. Yuh take de watah intuh de dirt an' yuh kin bo' a hole intuh dat tree, an' put it in dere an' stop it up In de Name of de Fathah, [and the Son] an' de Holy Ghost, an' make yuh wish de way dat chew want it tuh work. It will work.
(Any kind of way?)
Yes sir.
Entry 7538
For to send anybody away, somepin like that - just to send them away, not kill them, not atall like that - you go to the head of a grave, an ole grave, and you dig down there and you get a handful of graveyard dirt. An' yo' take ten new nails, nine new pins, an' seven grains of shot. An' yo' can take this, if yo' want to send them away from home, send them on adrift, an' yo' sprinkle it where they walk. An' the last sprinkle yo' make every time yo' sprinkle yo' drop three pins an' two wire nails - why they'll get in a fidget to go away some place an' they'll go. The chances is they won't be back under three year no how. [For as old a grave as yo' kin' find, see lO lines from bottom of p.2239.]
digging at an old grave's head to collect dirt for a stated non-killing send-away purpose. Retain old-grave/head location, handful wording and explicit send-away/not-kill distinction. direct conditional sprinkling of a prepared mixture to send someone away rather than kill. Preserve the explicit send-away/not-kill distinction and conditional purpose. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified. The informant explicitly distinguishes sending someone away from killing them and reports a chance of absence for three years. Hyatt's final cross-reference is editorial; the ingredients remain separate.
Entry 7543
Well, if yo' know where dey live yo' kin take yo' some graveyard dust an' put chew some red peppah in dere. Git dis dirt off a grave dat chew know, from a person dat chew know is buries, an' put chew some red peppah in dere. Yo' don' have tuh go in de house dat's goin' - sprinkle it in de walk an' throw it up on de po'ch. Dey'll walk out an' git dere feet in it an' git mad lak anything an' done walk away. [Graveyard dirt from the grave of a person known by you is quite common.] [Little Rock, Ark., (897), 1470:3.] [Graveyard dirt from the grave of a weZl- known person is not frequent except for gambler, criminal, etc. For unusual example, See later margin title GUN - GRAVEYARD DIRT SHOT FROM.]
direct sprinkling in the walk, distinct from throwing onto the porch. Retain walk-sprinkling and porch-throwing as two different actions; neither establishes a Sprinkle/Throw/Scatter alias. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 3082
I came here to find out. (Will you sit a little bit closer so I can hear you?) [To bring him nearer the microphone.] [The following paragraph will introduce you to the problem I faced every day while collecting the material of this investigation - see also Introduction.] I came here to find out what your work may be, if there is any help I kin git in connection - if there is any of your help or whatnot in connection with what has happened to me in my business. [He is a bootlegger.] That's what I wan'a know. If it's anything 'at I've to tell or go through. I wan'a know that an' I'll begin my story jis' like I started off before [before I turned on machine]. There's so much of dis recently, I thought I jes' couldn't understand it you see. Lots of people come here an' say you's someone who tryin' to trap someone, an' this is tryin' to git someone in trouble. Well, I say, "Well, I don't know what in the world it's all about, but if he, that is to say, [does] things to help me, why I don't mind goin' over an' explain myself." ['Here I explain my work." These words are my penciled comment made at the time I did the original transcription in pencil. Here I also made one of my many mistakes. I failed to transcribe my explanation. My failure however Was excus- able - hand transcription being such a tedious and impossible task I had to call in an expert transcriber for the post-Wilmington cylinders. Yet one explaining sentence does remain, "I don't heal anyone, I don't sell anything." As you will now learn, this man Was in serious trouble. My lost explanation at least set him more or less at ease.] You mind if I light my cigarette?
(No, go right ahead.)
[I was smoking a cigar, why should I mind him smoking a cigarette. A woman later over in Memphis "came in...smoking a big cigar" - see MAMMY: THE CIGAR SMOKER in INTERVIEWS.] Now first, I'm a married man. I've got a wife an' three children - jes' as well say five because I've two to take care of that's my wife's sister's, dead, an' they stayed with me from the first, each one of them, so that makes me have five [children] to take care of. Now my wife, she's sick an' has been for a long period of time. Her first [sickness] was believed by medical experience was pelegra, an' after that, why I found out something else; an' I went on an' kep' - go see her an' I kep' finding out something else. I went to work at Wrightsville Beach six years ago [1931], right down here ll miles from the city, where I was workin' for Doctor W. there. An' one day, after knowin' that my wife had been sick so long - I kep' tryin' to, wonderin' what in the world's the matter - finally I found out from Doctor H., that it was pelegra. [Here informant is returning to something already said.] Thereon he subscribed that I take her to the country for her health. No doubt it would be a little beneficial to her, an' where it was quiet an' didn't hear the runnin' of the cars, the streetcars an' so on, an' jis' git out of all that stuff, an' it would make her no doubt so she recover. An' so I carried [her] on over to Atkinson, North Car'lina, an' she stayed there for a long long time - in fact the whole summer through an' partly of the fall. An' one day I got a telephone call - it come at ten o'clock jes' before I carried [her] to Atkinson. [Informant again returns to something already men- tioned. For the difficulty in following this type of thinking, see confusing story, No. 2750, Pp.758-767.] An' that was while I livin' away from home in the country right out here. In fact she was jis' like her mother, my daughter's god- mother [grandmother?] as fer as that concern [whatever this means]. Tom T., it was his wife [who. telephoned]. She say, "Come to town at once. Eliza is crazy."
[This may be why "she was jis' like her mother."]
An' I didn't believe it. When I got in town she didn't know me from [some- thing, not Adam] or nobody else. So after havin' consulted with Doctor H., as I foresaid, I carried her on up de country. She lived up there fer a while an' I'd go there. She jis' got in such a wreck, kickin' up so, an' jis' nobody could go around 'er. She didn't want to hear what they had to say. She jis' git to the place she dispised 'er father, you know. An' even to 'er sister or to herself or anybody. She didn't wan'a see nobody. Well we goes there to Clinton, North Car'lina. There's ole man up there, they call 'im Mr. Wickins[?]. He read the cards. He also give me a dose of medicine to take.
(What did he give it to you for?)
He told me when I took that dose of medicine - after readin' my palm - he said, "This dose is goin' work for you an' not her [it is not MEDICINE BY PROXY, p.365]; and besides, you goin' get it in house when you get back home. [This is preventive medicine - see PREVENTIVE MEDICINE CARRIED TO EXTREMES, p.328.] Well, I wonderin' what he meant by that. He told me, he said, "There's someone has thrown for you," he said, ''but they're not tryin' to kill your wife in connection with you, but they're durin' [doin'] somethin' to keep her puny, ailin' along." He said, "They'll give it to you, if they're havin' a whole lot of trouble with her." He said, "Now, it's a black-skin woman an' a dark-skin woman that's doin' this." [A doctor is always vague when identifying culprit - see MADAM JACKSON ACROSS DE CREEK, p.757.] An' besides, de black-skin woman is the woman that want joo, an' de dark-skin woman don't visit chore house very often but she's helpin' fo' this people." He said, "Now, the way they did this - goin' to git it goin' their way - they went there an' sprinkled somepin in de baid while you were away [in the country].
(Did he tell you what they sprinkled there?)
He said some kin'a powder. He couldn't - he don't - he set some kin'a thing in front of him. It was a little thing that looked to me like a little horses settin' up there, an' a little somepin looked like a crab, another thing looked like a little fish, another little thing looked like a little serpent. He could touch them little things, you could see them shiver all around in - looked like to me they was settin' in a little basin or a little [over shape? = over size?] bowl of water.
(Was it a bowl of water?)
Looked to me like it was water. An' he talked to me. Den directly he go startin' talk to these little things in there, an' they kin'a quiver. [See photograph, supposedly in crystal ball, "trembled like a leaf," p.173, line 5.] An' then he start to tell somepin else. ["I suggest that these figures were magnetic, shaped in forms of the zodiac, and that they quivered whenever the root doctor holding a concealed magnet passed his hand over them. There was no water in the bowl." This comment is a part of original transcription in pencil. The evidence or experience for it I no longer remember. These quivering figures may be a diagnostic device (pp.165-217) like the trembling photograph in the crystal ball just mentioned. It is certainly one of the many tricks to impress the patient - like invisible writing (p.265).] So he told me, he said, "You weren't all right, don't sleep well at night, an' neither one of you don't sleep good at night." I said, "Well, you're right." He said, "Well, don't answer me." He said, "I know what I'm talkin' about." I have given many examples of a doctor knowing or foreseeing everything - see YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME, p.316.] I says, "Well, I must tell you, she don't sleep at all at night." He said, "Well, that's why that was sprinkled in your baid for. An' the way this black-skin woman had the dark-skin woman to do, to give it to you, were to sprinkle some of the same stuff under your door, an' that's why it got choo an' it fix you. Then I told him exactly [all that had happened.] He give me some kin' of little roots - he called one [of] them John de Conker. Then he also give me some kin' of little stuff called wood mold. It grows in the little pine [something - could be thickets?] like tha' choo go to rake it up an' you use it for makin' fertilizer - like the farmers use. [In Maryland this "little stuff is called shadders (= shatters), "fallen pine leaves or needles," used for animal bedding, which turns into manure or fertiZizer - 723, p.240.] An' he told me to take that [wood mold] an' red oak bark [frequently used for medicine, p.462 and elsewhere] - take that stuff an' boil it, make a tea out of it, an' feed her off of it. Give her all salts that I could get her to take - physic salts. An' so I did it until she got to the place that she wouldn't even take that. An' I went back to him again an' he said get Vita-Food east [brand of yeast] that come in a big tall can about that tall - somepin tha' choo sprinkle over de food when she gits ready to eat. Not de Fleshman [Fleischmann] east, something in comparsion, but it was yellowish lak sulphur maybe an' had a very strong odor. An' he had somepin called Eastborn [yeast-born or Eastbourne] tablets. Well, she had then fallin' from a hunderd an' seventy-six pounds down to a hunderd an' twenty. Well, I was feedin' [her] on that stuff an' she went back to a hunderd and fifty. An' I come on back to town. An' afterwards I brought her back from de country here an' we lived together fer a good while. My house be the second doah to my brother-in-law - from her brother house, my brother-in-law. I was at 905, where he was 909. An' rather than stay home, she'd stay over there; but when she goin' eat she'd come home, an' jes' as soon as she eat she'd be right out an' gone. Well I got worried over the gait[?]. So I told my father-in-law about it an' he says, "Well, any steps you wan'a make, why go on an' make it." So then I got into another [acquainted with] boy that was workin' there with me. We called him Skeet. Skeet told me of a woman down South - Madam Rachel - Dillon, South Car'lina. [Note that a man in North Carolina calls South Carolina down South. This was frequently done - see Introduction.] An' he also made men- tion of a old man called Doctor Buzzard.
(Where was he?)
Florence, South Car'lina. First, before I got to this Madam Rachel, this Doctor Buzzard came to my house [in Wilmington].
(He came to see you?)
He came here ordinary passin' by. An' another person he goes by [visits pro- fessionally]. An' someone told him that I'd care to see somebody of that kind. So he came in. He had a little hand bag, not a big case. [Was he referring to my 3 large cases - recorder, transcriber, and cylinder carrier?] It was a hand bag [in imitation of a M.D.'s medical kit then in use]. He had a whole lot of little snakes in that bag. [See SNAKE, Pp.66-73, and elsewhere.]
(Alive or dead?)
Alive. That snakes scared her. She's frighten anything that kind. My wife was there. She was lyin' right in de baid an' he told her, he said, "Now, I'll put choo to walkin' by tomorrow for four dollers and one cent.' I ast him what was he goin' do with de one cents. He says, "Well, the four dollars is for me; the one cent is the cure." "I says, "If you put my wife to walkin' by tomorrow, I'll give you four dollers an' one cent." [For this type of payment, see DOCTOR ARMOUR, p.891, line 2.] He say, "Well git me a pint of liquor." I say, "That'll cost you a dollar." I got a pint of liquor. He took a needle an' two straight pins an' crossed them. He crossed all three of 'em an' tied 'em together with a red piece of string an' put em into a little bag. Then he took out some little seed that appearently looked like flaxseeds. An' he told me take these seeds; if it's any time you want to go, be with some Woman. He say you drop one of these seeds in the liquor or somepin that she's drinkin' an' make her do anything you want her to do. I said, "I didn't ask you to come here to cunjure me an' wife. I ask you to come here to aid." He said, "I don't mean that." Well, I went on an' give him de four dollers an' one cent, an' [he] took all this stuff an' sewed it up in that bag [thus making a hand]. Then he took the snake out of it [iar], which [snake] he had already wrapped one around my wife's leg an' throwed [throwing] some liquor over it he wrapped it around the right leg jes' above the knee. Besides, when I got that second pint of liquor for him, he poured some down the table an' poured those snakes out of a little jar he had 'em in, an' begin to talkin' to those snake, an' they stood right straight up an' go over to him. There's where I vacate out of de room fer a few minutes. [I repeat preceding reference, SNAKE, Pp.66-73, and elsewhere. Besides after one drink of raw moonshine whiskey a person could see a few things; after two pints of it, anything.] So I came back. In a few seconds later an' he told me, "All right. Now, by tomorrow, as I told you [she will be out of bed]." Well, he went home an' she seemed to be recoverin' a little. But then this Madam Rachel, about two weeks later, she came there. This was the third party [root doctor] now. [She had been called from Dillon, S. Car., to wait on a case in Wilmington, and had heard about my informant.] An' she told me to go to the drug store to Doctor Mason [druggist], the Ideal Pharmacy. I was livin' aroun' there at that time. [This is a normal drug store, not a hoodoo store.] She tole me to git a dime worth of bluestone an' red pepper. An' she put out some dirt, some kin'a lookin' - I called it sand. She poured out a little bottle, but she tole me it was graveyard dirt. So she mixed it all together. Then she ask me before she give me that stuff, she said, "Do you know any officers in this town?
(Officers?)
Officers. Policeses. I said, "Yeah, I know jist about every one of 'em." I told her the name of them. An' [she said], "Write them down on this piece of paper I'll give you. De's somepin I wan' choo to do with it." I said, "All right." So I wrote down every one that I could think of. She said, "Now, on this set of names, how many is it that you think would do you harm, an' he goes out an' make it his business an' come arres' chew jes' out of ordinary [for no purpose at all?]?" I said, "I don't know. I hate to go through that part of it; but still, since it's personal, why I guess I'll have to tell you." So I named the one or two that I thought wasn't very good friends of mine an' knew the whole family an' my wife and her [people] before I even knew her my own self. So I named 'em down fer her. She told me, she said, "Now, you take these names on this piece of paper, go to the northeast of this house an' bury it down there, then come back to me. Then she took that dirt, that mixture she had there, an' circle all the way aroun' my house entirely. [To circle the house with salt or other substances is a fairly common protective device.] An' told me then - she says, "There somepin under your front doorstep tha' joo an' your wife are walkin' over ev'ry day is what cause you not to be gittin' along any better, an' I'm gon'a stop it. An' besides, the officers been runnin' in here on you all the time an' claim that choo have a lot of liquor an' you doin' this an' that an' de other thing you' re not doin'." She said, "I'm gon'a stop that. Besides, Im gon'a fix it so when they come to the front door they can't come in." I said, "How much is that gon'a cost me?" She said, "Give me three dollers an' you pay for the goods an' a doller on my gas bill back home." Well, she had a big Buick car out in front. I did that. Well, I found out I was gittin' along very very good then an' really my wife did come out of bed, stayed up fer a long time, gittin' along gran'. So after she'd gone, I decided then I'd move an' change houses. I thought the house was bad luck to me. I didn't know if there any other stuff [sprinkled or buried] along there. So I moved. No sooner than I moved, I got in other house, [it Wasn't] three months before I in [jail] agin. That [this] time I cooked 60 days in the county jail up here in town. I cooked up there when the cook got sick.
[At least this tells us something about the informant - he was a fair cook.]
An' when I came back, to be sure whether I was right or wrong, I moved right back in that same house. [Which house?] Then [I] started to fallin back [into the same bad luck] right away. I had a ole - sister's dead an' gone now. She came to me one day an' tole me, she said, "Let me tell you somepin. She always did call me brother. [She Was not his sister.] She say, "Let me tell you somepin, brother." She say, "There's somepin aroun' this house that it interfering with chor life an' you can' be happy. You can't live with your family like you want to," she says. "I'm goin' find it," she say. She went up under my front doorstep an' got a pair of scis- sors out from under there with one of the points broke off of it, an' ole rusty nails au' needles all tied together. An' she brought them in the house with her, "Here it is, I've got it at last." [He did not see her find the articles.] I said, "Now, Mama Annie, do you reckon that's true?" She say, "Well, here it is."
(What was her name?)
Mama Annie, we called her. Her name was Annie P. We called her Mama Annie.
[She was a root doctor.]
So she tole me then to take that, break it up, burn it up, do anything I knew to do an' I would stop that stuff goin' on then. So I ask her what it was an' she tole me it was [some]thing that somebody still tryin' to git between me an' my family. I took that pair of scissors - I had a good hot fire in the stove - needles and nails, an' I thought that stove would melt. It turnt red-hot. An' I let it there fer two or three days till I was sure it was gone. I got rid of that. Well now, a little later on comes the nex' part of it. I got in some more trouble. A man 'cused me then of sellin' 'im whiskey. This happen recently, too. This party - he's dead, the one that said it; but this party lives right here in the city now. [I am unable to straighten this out - the man will appear again.]
(How long ago was all this happening - these stories?)
It happened to an' fro within the last five or six years - right along, all up an' down the sides, right up an' down. It's right now so. Jis' like I told Mr. Gavin out here [in my waiting or reception room in the Gavin home] jis' a while ago. [Mr. Gavin, my contact man in Wilmington, N. Car., Was the husband of the sister of Julia, page one. I interviewed in the Gavin home and had lunch there each day.] I said, "I've a tendency maybe today I want my wife any second an' I'll go to her. We are sweet and loving together. An' directly another feelin' jump right [up in] me an' I'm out and gone. Maybe she'll be talkin' nice an' lovin' to me. Directly she jump right up, "Oh! So-an'-So." An' I'm out an' gone. Well, I go around to her brother's house an' go to bed an' sleep or some- where, anywhere, at some friend, an' go on to sleep. So I told her one day, I said, "Let me take you down South. I had a party aroun' there in Walnut Street by the name of J. He told me a place up [down] here between Southport an' here, that I could go to a man that he was - well, that he could clear all that stuff where I lived at. [Southport - being south of Wilmington - equals informant's "down South."] Somebody agin! [Another root doctor!] An' that [meeting with the doctor down toward Southport] was suppose to have happened this last Thursday, but I was sick - had no more than come out of the hospital. I had a rectal abscess. I'd jes' been operated on. Come out last Monday an' I wasn't able to go. I didn't have any money to go with - the first part of it. I had to pay little bills you know. An' about this last party, to git back to de same trouble'as I started to say. This man claimed that I sold him some whiskey on the 21st day of November, an' I Wasn't even in the house that day or that night. An' so dis same [Walnut Street] Mammie J., he told me that, "I know a party that you ought to see right here in town. Maybe he kin help you a little." I said, "Who is it?" [No answer.] They [the rootworker between Wilmington and Southport] were supposed to be here in town this last past Thursday, but didn't come an' I didn't have any way to get to 'em. But I did see the party here in Wilmfngton. An' they told me also that it was things down aroun' my house; that's why I couldn't live happy an' peaceful at home.
(What do you think about it?)
Well, I do think there [is something] in it. An' I'll be frank with you. There had been a time way back, when I was much younger, I didn't believe any doze kin'a things; but I still now, since I found things buried - there is so much. An' that when I'd go as I foresaid, an' try to make love to my wife, seem like ev'rything is all right, right at first an' directly things occurred in an- other different way. An' then I would come an' try to humor her along, "Honey, what's de matter? What's de occasion? Sittin' in de dining room, huggin' wit 'er as sweethearts do. We'll talk things over an' directly she'll say, "Well, let's do so-an'-so, let's be sweethearts again." She'll forgit it an' I'll do anything fer you. You kin bet chor life right on the same schedule agin. So I went to this party [in Wilmington] an' he read the cards out fer me, an' told me that there was somepin down at my house to cause to bein' this way, an' I couldn't help myself, an' give me a root, an' got it with me now as fer as that's concern. He told me to keep it wit me anywhere I went. An' I got another thing, I got two other articles at de house that I keep. An' whenever I go roun' my wife, he told me to always wipe my face down with that powder. It's a little sweet perfume powder. An' then there's a little ball somepin like you got it sewed up in a little bag. You can't tell what's in it. I didn't cut it open to see. [This is a ball-shaped hand.] I leave it at home unless I'm goin' round to her house.
(What's the name of that root?)
I don't [know] what de name of the thing. I got it here in my pocket. An' she told me to chew a piece off of it an' spit around the door before I walked in, to kill my enemies before I got dere. That's what she give it to me fer. She said that would kill my enemies before I got dere; an' if it's anyone to do any harm, it'll change their mind. That I would also find a little dark-brown-skin man there. I didn't intend to tell you about that. That's de trouble over me an' my wife. An' [she said] I would certainly find that man there. An' she also told me she did it [whatever this means]. An' my wife sometime would mention this man ["rootworker is my transcription notation] to me. She said she liked me but she never [was untrue tol me an' didn't live no man in the world but me. Well, I know that of it's true [truth]. An' the thing that - so far [the marriage?] would last three or four years jis' about perfectly right up to the minute [trouble began]. This little bag I pinned that on the inside of my clothes nex' to my flesh. Then sometime it would smell like a onion an' agin it would smell like perfume - change odors all kin' of ways, like turpentine an' agin you don't know what you smellin'. Jes' the way that thing smell. Well, as I tell you, I didn't open it up to see what was in it, because it was sewed down there. Then she give me a prayer. It was written on a piece of paper down onto the 24th Psalm, called Ezekiel, I believe it is. An' I'd read that an' memorize as much of it as possible when I'm goin' aroun' my wife - like I'm away there now an' I should happen to think [trouble Was brewing]. That [is] to quite fusses down or anything in case you may start anything. Read that as I start towards my house, an' when I git to my yard I finish it an' then go in. An' they told me when I paid her a dollar and a half more, that she would go in there an' git this thing up an' show it to me. An' I told this weekend I'd let her complete her part of the job. An' [I] found that ev'rything she told me has worked out right. Even now in this case that I have now, she told me that this case was gon'a be put off three times. An' she said, "Let's put it off some more."
(That case in court now against you?)
Yes sir, that this man J. accused me of sellin' him some whiskey, bottle of liquor on the 23rd day of November of last year, which I wasn't even in my house, as I aforesaid a while ago, dat day or night. An' she told me and said, "Well, I'm gon'a show that I'm right before I clear you completely. I'm gon'a put off your case some more." An' she has put it off eight times successfully. Now this comin' Friday will make the ninth time that I'm goin' to be tried.
Entry 28
A man, he tole me his ole lady went outdoors one night an' went to her chicken coop an' got a big sack fulla chicken dirt - taken it in de house an' taken ashes out de fireplace an' taken his underwears an' rolled dis stuff up in it an' taken - yo' know, rolled it ovah. Didn't mess wit it any Way at all - jes' rolled it ovah an' take it out an' carried it to his bed an' washed his feet, an' let de watah drene off his feet into that ashes an' chicken stuff, an' says, he can't even walk now. Says, lak if he walks, seems lak needles stickin' in him.
(Was he asleep - she did that while he was asleep?)
No, he wusn't asleep - he jes' thought she wus washin' his feet. Dat's all, but he had noticed dat.
Entry 80
I know a lady at home had a husband who would drink a lots - he stayed drunk all the time. Someone told her if she went out to the graveyard and got some dirt off of a drunkard's grave and sprinkled it in some of his food, that that would cure him. And afterwards she did. It didn't exactly cure him, but it kind of stopped it.
Entry 107
Jes' lak if a person botherin' yo', yo' go to a graveyard where a sinful person is an' git dirt off their grave an' put it undah a person's step an' that hag will worry dem. Dat's whut chew call a jack mulatta. (You mean jack-o'-lantern?) No, jes' lak if ah wanta tantilize somebody an' ah know somebody died dat's a evil person, well ah go to their grave an' git dirt from there an' throw it undah de house. Well, dat's whut yo' call a jack mulatta an' it'll come in jes' lak a hag would - would ride yo' tuh death an' tantilize yo' an' de person fo' who ah put it dere couldn't even rest.
(But this doesn't ride you?)
It doesn't ride yo' but it jes' somepin dat tantilize yo' tuh death - nobody couldn't see it but chew.
Entry 350
If dey go out dere, dey call dat prayin' to de devil or do somebody a dirty trick, yo' know. Well, ah heard dat yo' go out dere nine mawnin's an' bo' a hole an' git some graveyard dust an' put in it, an' dey say yo' git down on yore knees ovah dat graveyard dust fo' nine mawnin's an' pray whatevah yo' want to be done, say dey'll do it. Bo' a hole right at de fo'k of de road.
Entry 565
Yes, well, that was in Columbia [South Carolina] now. That was years ago, you know. My mother was alive then - this was a long long time. I had been a girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old. We were living on Smith Street near [Something] Street and in my slumber one night de spirit tole me - must get up next morning and when I come down de steps in de hallway must turn my back and come out de door backwards. When I come out de door backwards, it say - underneath the steps was a piece of brown paper and something was in it. And I got up next morning and I told my mother what was told to me in my slumber and I got up and there I found it. She threw it in de toilet and washed it out and then we had to clean up out that place and go back to the place where we moved from. That was fixed to run us out of there. But we knew who put it there though.
(What was in this paper?)
It was graveyard dirt and something else. It is known that if you get grave- yard dirt and kind of dress it, why they will run you out wherever you goes. Ah've found that.
Entry 665
Well, goofer - dis stuff a graveyard dirt, red peppah an' black peppah. Ah call all dat stuff - yo' kin git a snail an' powder him - all of 'em goofer dust.
(Why do they call it goofer?)
Call it goofer - it do things dat yo' cain't jis' ordinary things can do.
Entry 679
That's tis' this fine dirt.
(Goofer dust is almost anything put down.)
Anything that would be to have influence - like you get from dis dirt dauber nest and de pepper I told you about and mix it up, that would be goofer dust.
(Well, what is goofer supposed to be?)
What they mean is to make you goofy.
(Oh, it's goofy dust?)
So now, say, for instance I want you to lose your memory, if you were going. to court or something with [against] me - it would get you where so you would prob'bly forget what you's talking about.
Entry 743
An' den dere's anothah way yo' kin do it. Yo' kin take up a fellah's [foot] track. Yo' kin write his name in his track - if yo' know his name, jes' write his full name in his track.
(With what?)
Yo' know, wit yore finger. Take yore finger, dis finger, an' write his full name in his track. Take up dat track [demonstrates].
(You use that right - index finger of the right hand.)
Yes, sir. Take up that track an' go to de woods. Have yo' seen wire grass up heah in No'th Georgia?
(Wire grass? I know what it is.)
[This means I had seen a wild grass. I did not and do not know its name.]
Yes, sir. Yo' go to a big bunch of wire grass an' dig up dat wire grass by de roots; jes' take yore shovel an' have yo' another shovel - dig up dat wire grass by de root, de whole root of dat wire grass. [Presumably two spades are needed for a clump of wild grass.] Yo' dig up de whole root of dat wire grass an' jes put dat track in dere. When yo' put dat track in dere, hit on top of it three times like this, "God de Father, God de Son, God de Holy Ghost" - jes' like dat.
(What do you hit it with - your hand or the shovel?)
De shovel. An' say, "Whosoevah passes dis track with not good things in his mind" - be sure to put it though along where dis fellah travels at, yo' know he travels long dere where yo' carry dat - "whosomevah passes dis track with not good things on his mind, he shall be buried jes' de same as this dirt." An' walk away after yo' say them three words.
(You do that in case he has any hard feeling against you?)
Yes, sir - in case me an' him would git in some kind of a dispute or somepin an' ah thought he wus tryin' tuh harm me any way or he would harm me some way, an' it would better fo' me tuh do dat den to have to hurt him an' den have to go befo' de law, see.
Entry 825
I rented a farm about sixty years ago [1876] and this woman didn't like it for me to be there. I came in one night and I saw a pile of dirt just like a grave and flowers stuck all around it. The next morning when I came out I looked at it. The woman asked me what was that. I said to her, "I guess you know more about it than anybody else." Then I took my foot and leveled that to the ground. I said, "Now I suppose you expect to see me hopping like a horse with a broken leg." It didn't have no effect on me. They did that to get me off the farm.
Entry 828
Yo' know ah wouldn't want nobody tuh heah me dat would do me evil, an' my thought would be ah don' know dat ah'm capable of whut chew ast, wantin of me. Dat wus de biggest thought wit me [before coming here]. Dat's mah biggest trouble, yo' see. Ah saw some books that give some thoughts on it an' that book say they had whut wus called move-away dirt, somethin' they would sprinkle down, an' it wus called hot-foot.
(What were the names of them - do you remember the names of the books?)
One of 'em wus a Vam-Van, a magical book.
Entry 1080
Take de graveyard dirt an' carry it an' git de black cat's bone an' carry it fo' luck.
(For gambling?)
For gambling. Ah sells stuff dey call lodestone an' ah sell another one call High John de Conker, an' each satisfies 'em. Ah explains it so dey jes got faith in it.
(How do you prepare that? How do you fix it up then?)
How yo' prepare de High John de Conker? Well, yo' wear dat chew know. It's a root somepin 'bout dat long an' yo' put it in yore pocket an' wear it wit chure money. An' de lodestone yo' puts dat in a purse. Yo' know dere's a purse goes with it. Den ah has anothah stone dat comes in de oil called de holy oil. When yo' go in at night, lak if ah wanted to have luck, yo' uncork dis. It's in a little jar lak dat an' set it up ovah de mantelpiece an' when ah'm goin' out, take de lode- stone out an' wrap it up an' put it in mah pocket. When ah come back in at night, ah go to de jar an' drop it back in de holy oil. [Informant is a small- time curio products salesman: "Wilson, N. C., Fri., June 16, 1939...1468 - man 50 - sells articles - ng [[= no good, meaning he knew his own work but little about hoodooll" - Numbers Book 1291-1515. For an expert seller of curios, woman in Jacksonville, Fla., see Agent for Curios in Interviews Section.]
Entry 1203
In some parts of the South they claim, if you get some dirt from the cemetery and put it in a box and place it under the steps of your enemy, it will cause trouble in their home. And oft times they sought a cunjure man and he in turn gives them a piece of rawhide and tells them at intervals to tie a knot till that string is exhausted. That will do away with the evil spirit. [See Spirit Caught in Knot, p.389.]
Entry 1206
I walk to the forks of the road [crossroad]. I make four steps east and I make four steps west, I make four steps north and I make four steps south. Then I walk east if there's any dirt there. I gets me a small 'mount of that dirt and I bring it home and I take a little piece of pasteboard and in each corner of the house, if hoodoo is round, I just lay the dirt round in the corner, just lay it on the floor. If anything is in there that is hoodoo, it going to be moved. (You put a little bit of this dirt in the four corners of the house and then you tack this pasteboard over it.) Then the hoodoo is going to be moved, there is no mistake about it.
Entry 1312
Yo' kin take maybe half a pint of likker or half a dozen aigs an' go to de graveyard, an' right down somewheres on de breast of someone dat yo' knows is buried dere, an' git up some dirt. Put dis down in dere, de aigs or de whiskey.
(How many eggs do you put in?)
Half a dozen.
(Half a dozen and a pint of whiskey do you say?)
Yessuh, tuh pay him tuh take care - tell 'em, "Ah'm payin' yo' tuh take care of de situation." Carry it on back with yo', dis dirt - carry it at chure home. Starts to de right corner of de house an' sow it clean back on round and yo's jes' taken pretty well care of - de house is taken care of.
(What will that do to the house?)
Den yore enemies won't bother yo'.
(You do this to your own house?)
Yessuh, to yore house.
The opening offers half a pint of liquor or half a dozen eggs; the interviewer later combines eggs with a pint of whiskey and receives confirmation. These differences remain unresolved. The quoted payment words are prescribed speech, and the protection claim is source-reported.
Entry 1316
This woman, she's a frequent visitor to the graveyard. This has been going on for the last twenty-five years [before 1936]. [If] she feels somebody Wants to harm her or prejudice her, she takes this dirt and sprinkles it toward this person.
Entry 1319
If a person put anything down fo' yo', well yo' kin take that graveyard dirt an' mix it with some - yo' know whut ah wus tellin' yo', git some saltpeter. Mix it with saltpeter an' sprinkle - jis' sprinkle it in yore house an' that'll do 'way with that.
The informant describes graveyard dirt and saltpeter as a mixture. The conditional removal of something laid down remains a source-reported claim.
Entry 1320
Now, dis thing, when yo' go to this cemetery an' git this dirt, if a person happen tuh bite chew or anything, jes' take dis dirt an' put it on dis place an' it will rot out dere teeth. [The usual rite to rot teeth of a person biting you demands chicken manure (No. 1189f., p.428); less usual, chicken egg, No.1193f., p.429.]
The informant describes cemetery dirt and a claimed effect on a biter's teeth. Hyatt's following comparison with chicken manure and egg rites is separate editorial commentary, not a statement by the informant.
Entry 1321
Yo' kin take a dime an' put it round yore laig, an' yo' take some graveyard dirt an' sulphur an' red peppah seed an' wear it in yore shoes, an' yo' kin walk ovah it [hoodoo] an' it won't harm yo'.
The informant describes graveyard dirt as one ingredient alongside sulphur and red pepper seed. The bracketed word '[hoodoo]' is an editorial identification within the printed speech; the protection claim is reported.
Entry 1322
If somebody have done put down somepin fo' 'em, dey go in de graveyard an' git a little dirt an' rub on de spot - git ever'thing straightened out, git well agin.
(You say if they are poisoned inside?)
No sir, jes' lak a snake bit 'em, see. Dey kin go out dere an' git a little bit of dat dirt an' rub on it. Dat kill it.
Entry 1323
Ah heard dat a fellah was supposed to be a professional in dat kind of thing. He would take dat dirt if yo' in trouble - he'd go to de graveyard an' git it out of de north end of - yo' know de graves be's mostly east an' west. Well, de north side what ah would mean to say.
(of the grave.)
Of de grave. Reach down - jest go down an' git - put chure han' way down, even if yo' don't git clean to de body. But dey say yo' must go to yore elbow an' git dat dirt, an' save it till it come to - if it's dry sand, an' if yo' in trouble or want to git 'way from yore enemies, yo' hold dat an' let de wind blow north direction an' dat will free yo' of dat trouble - wit dat graveyard dirt.
(You just hold that dry sand.)
Jest hold it out an' let de wind take it away yo' see. (The wind blowing north. And where do you hold this - out at the cemetery or when you get home?) After yo' git home. Yo' see yo' take dat 'way from de cemetery.
Entry 1394
I have heard the old people say that you can take a lock of your hair, and a piece of your underwear, and nine nails - five up and four down, and bury it right down at the sill of your door and lean it out from the house. You lean the package out very carefully - you bury it just out of sight. Take your left foot and drag the dirt over it and cover it. If anybody walks over it, that keeps them from trespassing. You won't have any trouble with them any more.
Entry 1546
Ah know dis mahself - ah seen de man when he come out but ah hadn't seen whut had happened.
(You saw the man what?)
De man dat had went wit a woman, de woman dat anothah woman wus goin' wit 'er husband, an' she wus fren's wit dis woman an' she eated at dis woman's house - gi'ed her somepin tuh eat. An' den after gittin' somepin tuh eat, she wus sick, sick, sick an' in bed - in bed, stayed in bed. So after while, fin'lly, she feel things workin' up in her stomach - she see some things wus workin' up in her stomach. So she seen she wus sick, so dey went tuh graveyard an' git two tablespoon of graveyard dust, an' tuh git a quart of sweet milk, an' den dey put dis two tablespoon of graveyard dirt in de milk an' dey boil it. An' after dey boil it fo' a little while, dey take it out an' dey strain it an' take a new file. Git a new file an' git some silver.money, an' den yo' saw [file] some of dat silver money up in dis milk an' graveyard dust tuhgethah. An' den in two doses de maggots come from her.
Entry 1624
I had a cousin. He say he 'us poison. He say they had to put some graveyard dirt on him or somepin or other, you know, to break him an' his wife up. They got him so he couldn't stay with his wife; he couldn't go home without fussin'. A ole lady tole him they went to de graveyard an' got some graveyard dirt an' throwed on him an' sprinkled it around his house to keep him fussin' an' fightin' all the time. So she told him to get some chamber lye an' keep it around his house an' that would kill it.
Entry 1722
[The Black Bottle rite appears to have been confined to the New Orleans area. As the dark greenish-black bottle disappeared, any dark bottle was used - beer bottle or even a bottle blackened with tar as in the following:] I said you kin take, after a man go outside - you know they have a action and you kin watch him and get that and put it in a black bottle, and carry it to the cemetery and bury it de way the dead is buried in the cemetery. Ah knowed that to be true - a man died from that, after that buried in the graveyard dirt. (I see. They get his dung and they put it in this black bottle and they took the bottle out to the graveyard. And they buried this bottle on the grave or buried it like a grave?) Buried it like a grave. Dig a grave for the bottle and buried it jest head and tail, the way the body is laying in the cemetery, and he will die. I've seen that done.
(I see. Must they use a black bottle? Couldn't they use a white bottle?)
No sir, it's to be a black one - you see, jest something like you get a bottle that have tar in it; dey black bottles, just black.
Entry 1866
(Suppose a man is running around with another woman and his wife wants to break it up and make him stay at home. What would she do to make him stay around the house?) She would tie him to herself with footsteps; her footsteps and yours. She would tie him around her.
(Well, how would she do that?)
You get in there - some of de steps coming in, she ties that, takes de dust - I mean de track from your foot and she brings that in and takes her foot track and brings that in and she tacks dat under de carpet or at foot of de door. That holds you there. There's two spirits of two people.
Entry 1890
Yo' kin git graveyard dirt an' a frog an' take this frog an' put this graveyard dirt an' dis frog an' de lodestone in yore pocket an' dress it ovah wit whiskey. Den yo'll be lucky.
(Lucky in what?)
In gamblin' or runnin' a house or most anything - restaurant - anything yo' doin'.
(You put all this in a little bag?)
Yes, in a little red flannel rag. Sew it up an' it'll make a hand - jis make a hand out of it.
Entry 1934
Dey tell me dat chew kin go to work an' if a man dies - jes' lak a gambler. We all could be in de gambling hall an' jes' gambling. Prob'bly dis man will be shot off, prob'bly ah may be shot off in gambling. Well now, dey tell me dat if he has a ring on his finger - if yo' got any money in yore pocket an' he has a ring on his finger - any kind of ring, doesn't matter if it's jes' little ole ten-cent ring - yo' gits dis: ring offa his finger. An' in pulling off dis ring yo' tell him - jest call him name, tell him, "John or Henry, ah'm buyin' dis ring fo' yore luck on gambling." Well, dat's gittin' luck offa dead man tuh gamble. Now, in buyin' dis ring yo' puts dis ring in yore pocket an' puts de money whut chew goin' tuh give him in his pocket. Well, after he'd be buried, yo' goes back to his grave den an' git chew some dirt - about three or fo' months after he done laid dere in de grave. Git chew some dirt an' tote dis dirt in yore pocket wit dis ring, yo' see. Well now, dat gives yo' a hand.
The informant introduces hearsay about acquiring a dead gambler's ring and later dirt from his grave. The quoted purchase words are prescribed speech; the gambling-luck claim remains reported.
Entry 1973
Go to a graveyard for a gambling hand, git dat graveyard dirt and sew it up into a bag, and puts dat lucky lodestone into hit - into that bag. Yo' feeds dat lodestone. If yo' went to de graveyard, yo' feed it with whiskey, yo' puts whiskey on it; an' if you didn't go to de graveyard an' uses de lucky lodestone, yo uses de Hearts perfume on it - it'll 'vaporate, it keeps that lodestone damp and it makes yo† lucky.
(In gambling?)
Shore.
(Well, why do you use whiskey when you use graveyard dirt?)
Well, dat's a wicked person - yo' git de graveyard dirt from a wicked person. Use dat Hearts Cologne on de lodestone. Dat's de diff'rence.
Entry 2039
Dey goes out dere long about twelve. (Where do they go?) To de fo'ks of de road 'bout twelve or one a'clock in de night an' git some sand right out de fo'ks of de road an' carry it an' put it in a bag an' wrop it up an' put it ovah yore mantlepiece. Go tuh de graveyard an' run yore arm in de cemetery to yo' elbows an' git some dirt an' sew it up wit dat. An' dat'ud [that would] make yo' lucky - good a jomo as yo' want.
(That's luck for anything - luck in the home.)
Yes, sir - yes sir.
Entry 2146
Some people say they use nails to keep the police - that's another thing they say to keep the police away an' keep yore enemies out.
(How do they do that?)
They nail one ovah each windah an' talk to it jes' whatevah yo' want it to do, an' ah think yo' dress it with - befo' yo' nail it ovah each windah. Yo' make yo' up some sulphur - sulphur is a thing goes 'bout with ever'thin', an' a little graveyard dirt, an' yo' dress this nail. An' if you can, go write on it whut yo' want it tuh do. Yo' nail one ovah each windah an' one ovah de do', an' they say there's nuthin kin come ovah there.
Entry 2224
Yo' take de left hind foot of a rabbit an' yo' go round where the law is traveled on the dirt an' yo' git jes' a lil dirt - jes' whut yo' kin hold on lightly out of they track, an' yo' take that dust an' bring it back an' when yo brings it back why yo' take an' fix it up an' yo' plant it under each corner of the house - right up under there. An' yo' take that rabbit foot an' yo' go to de back do' right up undah de first step an' yo' make a "x" an' also at de front do'. That will keep him 'way.
(You make that "x" with the rabbit's foot?)
Yessuh.
(And then what do you do with the rabbit's foot after you make the "x"?)
Yo' put it back in yore pocket.
Entry 2227
Say, fer an instance, yo' wanta be a gambler. All right, chew go to de graveyard an' yo' take an' yo' roll up yore sleeve an' yo' go to one certain grave - he's a gambler. Yo' go dere to de graveyard an' yo' run yore arm down as fer as yo' kin, an' git graveyard dust, an' yo' take dat graveyard dust an' yo' go on home. All right, if yo' wanta be lucky, yo' take dat graveyard dust - yo' do dat first, den yo' would see a rabbit dat it would be a rabbit coming towards de graveyard, yo' see, an' yo' kill dat rabbit an' yo' cut [off] his left foot.
(He has two left feet you know - which one do you take?)
De left one - see, de back. An' yo' take dat an' yo' would take dis dust an' tie it up in a rag an' tote it in yore pocket, an' yo' would be lucky all de time fer gambling. Any kind of a rag.
Entry 2281
Take dirt dauber's nest and mix with mostly any oil that you want to. and make like a seal for yourself. Understand. Just write like - like this were - like a seal that's made on de Sixth and Seventh Book of Moses. Well, you take that and beat it out, you know, press it. Well it get hard, understand. Then you write just whomsomever you want - a person you want upon there - and wear it upon you, just like I'd come to you for a favor or anything.
(You mean, you write this seal on this stuff?)
Yes.
Entry 2379
Like I go out - I could get the dirt but they hardly can pick up the tracks unless you is bare-feeted. Then they can do more with the track, but just your foot track like that with your shoes - they can't get next to your necked [naked] feet.
(I see.)
But if you're bare-feeted and that, they can pick up your tracks good.
(Well, how would they do that, then?)
Well, if they can get behind you - but hardly ever you can get behind anybody to pick up their tracks.
(Why is that?)
Well, some people don't walk bare-feeted for you to pick up their tracks, you see.
(I see.)
But people in the country, you know, mostly walks bare-feeted and they can pick up their tracks, because most of them is bare-feeted sometimes. They'll walk bare-feeted - well, you can pick up their track right in the middle of their feet. But some people's got hollows in their feet where you can't. Flat-feeted folks you can do that because the whole foot goes down, you know. (Well, what would they do with that dirt after they gather it up?) [She will repeat my gather.] Well, they gather that dirt and fix it up, and they'll go to a river or any- thing what's running.
[I will repeat her fix.]
(How do they fix that dirt up?)
[See Introduction for this occasional back and forth exchange.]
Fix - they gets water - they goes and gets something like what they call war water. They can buy that in the drug store, war water. Just mix that up with that in a glass or something so that it will dry, and then when it dry, they'll go to the river and then throw it over their shoulder right down the stream [channel] what's going down the river. That'll make you keep adrifting.
Entry 2429
Jes' lak yo' got de business an' - well, an' yo' got good trade all de time. Nevah sweep yore dirt on de outside - always sweep it in an' sweep it in de fire-hearth. An' like yo' wanted yore business to keep acomin' on too, yo' take an' go every Friday - git chew a ole shoe, git some sulphur an' a penny, an' yo' put it in de fire-hearth an' let it burn an' shet de do' an' go on outside. At twelve 'clock yo' do it.
Entry 2430
That [powder] you kin buy. Sweep from out de front door - always sweep it back in de door, sweep it up in pile, pick it up and carry it and put it out de back door. See. Well, dat's the dirt from the people's feet - you put that out the back, that's for them to come in and go in the back. You see. Well, ever' time they come in there - that draw 'em in, you see, with that powder.
Entry 2495
In business yo' kin go an' take a penny - yo' take de head of dat penny an' put it down head-down an' let it stay dere, an' take dat dirt from round dat grave an' sprinkle it any place an' yore business will be successful. If yo' want 'em to move out [to put them out of business], yo go back to de same grave an' take that penny an' put it head-upwards dere, an' yo' take some of dat dirt from de left part de foot part of grave an' sprinkle dat under those steps or inside. Dey'll go.
Entry 2497
Dey take de same one foot of yore sock. Git chew - go to a baby's grave an' take three pieces of white cloth an' one silver dime. Yo' dig dis hole like dat, an' when yo' take dis three pieces of white cloth - dat's a baby grave now - three pieces of white cloth. An' a silver dime - yo' paying dis baby off. Yo' understand. Yo' dig a hole about lak dat, "In de Name of de Lord, yo' take care of dis in Jesus name. Ah'm only givin' yo' dis in Jesus name." Yo' put dem three pieces of cloth an' dat dime down dere. Befo' yo' put dat dere, yo' git out a handful of dirt. Den yo' put dat dime an' dem three pieces of cloth in strips - jes' little strips - in dere, an' yo' cover it on back, an' yo' take dis with you an' go on.
(What do you do with that, then?)
Go on an' fill yore sock with dat an' one silver dime. Yo' take it an' - either corner of de house yo' could put it. Or either yo' could run it up under de sill, it'll be good.
(What will that do then?)
Keep de police away. (Keep the law away. Well, why did you put those three pieces of cloth in the grave? What was the idea of that?) It's a baby an' a baby is in de arm an' is harmless an' sinful from de world.
(I mean what do those three things represent - those three pieces of cloth?)
Dese Three are One.
(Those three pieces of cloth represent the Three Who are One.)
Don't chew see.
Entry 2500
Say jes' git graveyard dirt, red peppah, cayenne peppah, sulphur an' alum, an' beat it together an' sprinkle it all around yore place an' they say that will keep it away - say that will keep de law away. (What is the difference between red pepper and cayenne pepper? Is there any difference?) Well, dere's one ground, an' yo' know dere's one whole grain.
Entry 3220
Lak yo' loves a man an' wanted 'im, yo' know, alone fo' yo'self, why yo' an' 'im - yo' have intahco'se wit 'im. Why don't chew wipe wit de towel, yo' let 'im wipe wit it, see. An' den yo' take dat towel an' bury it down in de dirt undah de steps somewhere. Why he couldn't raise a holler wit nobody but chew, undahstand. He'd try tuh be wit othah women but when he git dere, he'll fall. He might raise up, but he'll fall. [This raise a holler will also be found later among the opening expressions of subsubsection DISHRAG.]
Entry 3893
Yo' could take a person's monthly cloth, take it an' stop it up. Bury it in de graveyard. An' yo' kin go to dat place fo' nine mawnin's an' do de same way each time dat chew go dere. Do de same thing each time dat yo' go dere. Evah time yo' go dere, why yo' put a little bit mo' dirt on it - each time, fo' nine mawnin's. An' dey'll nevah do nuthin in dis worl' no mo'. [Here we have the symbolic grave mound, made by the magic of in- creasing amount, the opposite of magic of decreasing amount.]
Entry 4140
Dat chamber lye, yo' know de pee, throw it roun' mah do' an' he cain't come any fu'thah. Jis' let it stay dere an' be strong yo' know. Jis' put a little dat graveyard dirt all in de foah rooms, put a penny in dat do'. Dey won't come dere an' bothah yo'. (The rent, the law or the bill collector - whoever it is.)
Entry 4291
If yuh in bad luck in doin' business in yuh house, de firs' thin' yuh do in de mawnin', git up 'fo' de sunrise an' sweep yuh dirt out chure back porch [never out the front entrance if you are in business], sweep de sand off yore back porch. An' go out tuh yuh, IF YUH GOT A TOILET, out where yuh dump yuh chamber lye. Bring dat fresh stuff back an' sprinkle on yuh porch an' yuh won't be bothahed wit dat no mo'. Why ah says yuh take some of yuh chamber lye whut chew urinate, yuh own, yuh sweep off yore back porch firs', den bring some of yuh urinate back dere an' jis' sprinkle ovah de back porch, an' yuh be through wit dem fo'evah. (That is after you sweep the porch, you sprinkle it with some chamber lye. You do that in the morning for nine mornings.) Fer nine mawnin's. [These 9 mornings enter the text after the first paragraph, where the extra periods following no mo' in original transcription indicate a recording-machine stoppage. Informant's preceding words yuh be through wit dem fo'evah raises the question With whom? Her bad luck does not arise from too much competition (espe- cially severe during the Great Depression, the time of this interview), lack of business ability, quality of facilities and goods and services. No, bad luck, like disease and all ailments, is caused by an evil-minded person who has thrown a dust in her house, planted a hand outside, wished her evil, etc. Why does she use ground on which urine has been emptied? Is this a contact-with-the earth rite? Or have we a practical reason? Urine, frequently used in scrub water, would become as urine-soaked-earth more useful when sweeping.] [St. Petersburg, Fla., (1043).1693:2.]
Entry 4476
Well, now if yuh angry wit someone an' yo' could git dere, yuh know, dere business, yuh could go tuh de no'th side of a walnut tree an' dig a hole in dat walnut tree, an' put dat dirt in dat walnut tree an' 'is bowels would nevah move no mo' an' he'll die. His bowels nev- ah will move no mo'.
Entry 5372
Ah have done it. Ah have a man ah wus goin' wit an' he quit me. An' ah went tuh work an' taken dirt, pull it back towards me on de bottom of his right feet. An' ah'd taken it an' put it in de cornah of mah house an' stayed in dere. An' when ah done dat, it weren't but two days he come right back tuh me. (Which track did you pull, the one that was going away from the house or com- ing to you?) De track comin' tuh me. Comin' tuh me, not goin'. An' if yo' pull it out from yo', he'll leave.
Entry 5386
Dey tell me dey kin take yore footprint, de dirt from de palm of yore foot, an' put it ovah de do' an' compel yo' tuh stay. [The hollah [hollow] of the foot is occasionaly called the palm of the foot.]
(Do they take either foot or both?)
De left foot.
Entry 5390
Now, when he go tuh yore house yo' know, lak when he go tuh leave, git some dirt out of 'is lef' track. An' pick up de dirt, take it up tuh yo', an' bury it undah de steps.
(What will that do then?)
Draw 'im back.
(When you pick up those tracks, you bring the dirt back toward you.)
Yessuh.
(These tracks he made as he was leaving your house.)
Yes, de lef' track.
Entry 5446
Dey say if dey git chure lef' track an' put some graveyard dirt in wit dat, an' put it undah de step; dey say dat will cuz zooh tuh be LAME IN YORE LEG, OR MAKE YO' SLEEP A LOT. [Wilmington, N. Car., (205), 112:4+85.}
Entry 5615
Well, yo' take de red peppah an' git dis track of de woman undah de hollah of 'er foot. Den yo' wrap dis dirt up in de peppah tuhgethah wit a lit- tle - in a rag, an' yo' go tuh runnin' watah an throw it intuh de watah an' don't look back. An' when it go on away, dis woman will go away an' won' bothah yore husban', fo' ah have tried dat fo' mahself.
(You just use the foot track - either one?)
De foot track, either one.
Entry 5641
Ah heard 'em say yo' could take some dirt out right in de bottom, right in de palm of de lef' feet, choo know. Take it an' put it in a bag an' fix yo' so yo' couldn't walk. Yo' jis' weah it in de bottom of yo' shoe.
Entry 5739
A pinch of dirt outa twelve tracks from a woman, dat's good luck.
(What do you do with that dirt?)
Take it an' sew it in a rag an' tote it. [St. Petersburg, Fla., (1017, 1647:3.]
Entry 5740
If yo' wanted tuh git rid of a person, whenevah yo' would see dere track befo' it wuz ovahnight - yo'd have tuh do it wit a track not goin' ovah a day or it wouldn't do no good. But overnight, jis' befo' it's been inside de twelve hours, take de track right out of de middle, right undah de hollah of dere feet, some of dat dirt. Take it an' carry it in de night, an' dump it intuh run- nin' watah an' dey go - dat person will leave. Yo' nevah will have no trouble wit'em.
Entry 5766
Well, if anybody wanta run a woman or a man away, yo' git de - in de middle of de track yo' git dat dirt out of de middle of de left track. An' take dat dirt an' take it tuh a stream of runnin' watah an' fold it up tight in a li'le rag an' put it in dere. An' it will float away, an' dat will drift dem clean away.
Entry 6419
Well, yo' scrape de dirt from undah de bottom of yore foot an' put dat in tea or coffee, tuh give tuh yore boy frien' fo' love, tuh hol' [hold] ]'is love.
Entry 6767
If a man give yo' some poison - yo' git de poison in yo'. Den yo' make a tea out de dirt daubah nest an' drink it, an' dat'll kill it.
Entry 6770
Dirt dauber nest, make tea, give it to woman in labor, it'll he'p [help] 'er tuh come 'cross. [Informant, a former midwife, called it three- fingah dirt daubah.]
Entry 6823
Git chew some graveyard dirt an' put it aroun' yuh waist an' dat'll keep it [cunjure] off.
Entry 7374
Yeah, if dis man dat killed dis man is gone, if yo' kin git dere, yo' undahstan', an' take anything, an' take a teaspoon an' dip some of de [spots] of de dead man's blood. (Where he was killed?) Yeah. See, git some of [the dead man's] blood, dig it up an' go ahead wit it, an' den come back an' quick as yo' kin. Den go where he went an' git some of 'is [foot] track, an' git some dirt outa his track. Git a little of dat dirt outa his track whut he made an' take de decease [deceased's] blood, de dead man's blood, an' po' it on top of dat track. All right, yo' got 'im. Yo' got dat blood, po' it on dere [foot track] an' say, "Ah want chew tuh come back heah, undahstan', an' stan' yore trial like a man fo' killin' dis po' man. Ah mean dat. Ah mean fo' yo' tuh come back, an' yo' can't git away." Ah pō' it on an' ah be talkin' to it, sayin', 'By de mercy an' power of God, ah mean fō' dem [you] tuh come back, fō' ah know God rules de world an God will rule yo'." Tell it [In the Name of] "De Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, drive him back." He kin go an' go, but 'ventu'lly he turn roun' an' come on back an' give up.
Entry 7523
Listen, yo' kin go tuh de cemetery an' go to a grave dat chew know, know who it is dat's buried dere. Yo' kin git chew five pounds de dirt off dere, if yo' know who dey is. Take dat dirt but leave a ' nickel. Listen! Stick it in de top of dat grave an' jis' spread de dirt back ovah it. See, yo' payin' 'em fo' dat dirt, yo' see. Yo' bring dat dirt back in dat tin pan an' set it in de no'th cornah of de room. Ah don' ca' [care] who move dere. But let dis dirt come outa de colored cemetery, not de white, becuz white rules de while an' colored rules de colored. An' set it in dere an' cain't no- body stay in dat house, until dey goes an' moves dat dirt - whoevah puts it dere take it out an' destroy it.
(You would see that dirt in there wouldn't you?)
Yes, yo' would see de dirt, but if yo' would disturb dis dirt - yo' could throw it out, why you couldn't even stay dere. If yo' destroy dat, yo' jis' take it outa dere, yo' bound tuh walk an' git some of it on yo' feets. Dat's jis' as well as puttin' it in de house. An' s'long as yo' keep it roun', it disturb yo', s see.
Entry 7532
If ah wanta do anything tuh yuh in yore foot, ah'll git some graveyard dirt an' come an' sprinkle it ip de front of yore do'. Sprinkle it jis' about de time when I think nobody goin' tuh sweep dere, befo' yuh do' where yuh gotta walk by. An' once yuh walk on it today, yuh'll tell de diff'rence tuhmorrah mawnin'. Yore feet'll [commence] swollin' an' dat'll run up [your leg]. It's called - dat's what brings on white swollin', white swollin', an' dat nevah comes till yuh die.
(Do you get any kind of graveyard dirt?)
Dere ain't but one kind of graveyard dirt.
(What kind?)
Jis' a natchel [natural] graveyard - from a fresh grave. Don't git nuthin where's dere already grass.
Entry 7551
Yuh go tuh one of de wors' yuh knew dat died, some ole wicked person, an' git some of de dirt about midnight from dat grave, an' take it an' throw it roun' a person house, an' dat would drive de person away from dere home, or run 'em away [out of town]. Dey couldn't stay dere any mo'. Or eithah slip it in dere house some- where an' dey couldn't stay dere any longah. Ah heard dat.
Entry 7552
Yuh git de graveyard dirt off a wicked man's grave an' bring it home an' take it an' sprinkle it all roun' de house, an' if yuh have any enemies it vill run dem from yuh.
Entry 7557
Yuh kin go tuh de graveyard an' dig down fer about seven or eight, or nine inches; but it must be de grave of a very crim'nal person, a person dat killed an' cut, dat yuh know of, dat wuz buried in dat pah- tic'lah place. Well yuh git de dirt out of dat grave dere an' yuh sprinkle it undah de doorstep in de front an' in de back, where dey have tuh cross ovah all de time. An' de evil from dat dead man will jis' natchly entah dat household an' de people dere'll begin tuh disagree, an' fuss an' fight, an' event'ly dey'll move away.
Entry 7558
Jis' like if dere are some neighbahs aroun' an' yuh don' wan' 'em. If yuh wan's 'em away from dere, dere's a way yuh kin fix it so dat dey cain't stay dere, an' no one else - no one else will stay dere. I tell yuh de way yuh do dat. Dis is whut I know. I'm tellin' yuh somepin dat I know. I'm not tellin' yuh somepin dat I heard. Yuh go tuh somebody, if a man or woman, find out really where dere grave are. Don't go where yuh think it is - a person dat have killed 'emself. An' yuh go dere at night an' yuh git - stan' wit yore face turnin' towards de sunset, an' take a han'ful dirt jis' off de left-han' side of it, close up tuh 'is heart, from de grave. An' when yuh take dat, yuh take it an' put it in a place any- wheres undah de do'step - jus' undah somepin like de do'step. An' if yuh cain't git up [to the step], jis' throw it up. [They] jis' go right away from dere. Anyhow, dey cain't stay dere nor nobody else kin stay dere, unless dey know whut tuh do. Dere's a way dat dey kin stay dere, but dey gotta go tuh somebody dat know whut tuh do, how tuh break dat an' stay in dere. An' if dere's any way yuh kin take away dis dust, is goes in sompin like a powdah, pahtic'lahly when dey shut dat do'. Dey closes dat do'. Dat all in dere face. Dey cain't stay dere an' nobody else kin stay dere.
Entry 7559
Ah nevah heerd nuthin 'bout de bo'd, but ah heered now when yuh go tuh git dis dirt, yuh have tuh carry three pennies. All right, yuh go dere an' yuh have dem three pennies in yore han' an' yuh reach right down. It have tuh be somebody dat don' have religion - some sinnah. Yuh take dese pennies an' put 'em right down in dis grave an' leave de pennies an' pick up de dirt.
(Then you use the dirt?)
-Den yuh git de dirt.
Entry 7561
Go tuh de cemetery an' git graveyard dirt from a sinnah's grave an' put it in de cornahs of de house - in de cornahs of jis' one room, front room, where people penetrate mo'. An' dere mind will be so stirred up ~ well, dey jis' have tuh go.
(They couldn't stay in there.)
Entry 7562
(How do they do that?)
See, dey'll go tuh de graveyard an' dey'll git some dirt from a new grave - it must be a new grave from a sinful person, a person dat nevah prayed none. Dey'll go an' git dat dirt off dat grave, out of de grave- yard. Den dey'll take dat dirt an' dey'll put it in a box, dey will leave dat dirt stay dere fo' two or three days. An' den dey'll sprinkle dat dirt wit stuff all aroun' yore house, an' dat will make yuh disagree, an' put yuh in de worst kind of luck.
Entry 7563
[The two following left-foot rites I will keep together, because they are related and were given by the same informant at the same time:] [First rite:] Yuh take an' go tuh de graveyard an' if yuh wan's run 'em away, an' dig - a sinnah die, aftah nine days, aftah he's daid nine days - take an'dig elbow deep at 'is lef' foot. Git choo some grave- yard dirt. put two down, then bring it [tol yore house. Sprinkle it all de way roun' yore house, in de fo' cornahs in de room. An' when he go out de do', sprinkle some behin 'im an' he cain't come back.
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 7566
Ah heard dey say yuh go tuh a graveyard an' git de dirt offa simah- man's grave or a sinnah-woman's grave - a single sinnah, dem whut ain't married, offa dere grave. An' bring it an' sprinkle it roun' yore house or put it roun' dere do'step or sompin. An' dey says dat'll take it off yuh. Ah've heard dat.
(Take what off?)
Jis' lak if yuh - whut did yuh ast me? [If somebody were tricking you or something. If somebody was trying to give you bad luck.) Dat would remove it.
(This would take that spell off?)
Yes sir.
Entry 7568
Graveyard dirt, dat cuz fuss. See, like a man would die an' he's been 1 gambler, unnderworld man, all his life. An' if he'll die an' a fellah is accus- tomed tuh gamblin', he'll go dere at twelve a'clock at night, take his pocket- Imife an' git some of dat dirt, put it in 'is pocket wit John de Conkah, an' go tuh any place an' 'is luck change same as day an' night. Now, IF YUH WAN' ANY "FUSS" OUTA DE GRAVEYARD DIRT, yuh Will get de same.
(That's - wait a minute. That's for gambling luck?)
Dat's fo' gamblin' luck.
(Now - what else now?)
If yuh wan' any fuss, yuh will take dat graveyard dirt aftah it is dry. Yuh cala't do it wit it wet - very dry so it kin be a powdah. Put dat pod of red peppah, hot as yuh kin git it, mix it up tuh a powdah. Come intuh a person's bone an' durin' de time yuh be in dere, sprinkle it in dat. See. An' it will cz prackly [practically] a killin' scrape in dere 'fore de week is end.
Entry 7570
Dey go tuh de cemetery - now listen, accordin' tuh de Bible, some people believe dey got a God an' some don't. Well de man or woman dat die dat don' believe dey got a God [is] an' infidn [infidel]. Or a man dat gambles prak'ly practically] all 'is life, an' he dies, dey figure dat he is gone tuh hell. He don' dwell where de good dwells at, see. Well, dey go up at twelve a'clock at night an' take a knife an' take some of dat mud, see. Dey take dat mud, dey bring it on back an' dey leave it dry well. Dey git some hot red peppah, dey mix dat up tuhgethah, an' if dey wan'a disturb here, dey jis' sprinkle dat here. An' de two parties, ah guarantee dey won't be tuhgethah long.
Entry 7571
Now, if dere's anythin' done dat gon'a run in yore mind, or jis' [any- thing done] tuh yore home, [or] ef somebody gits yuh [hoodoos you] tuh keep yuh from a job. Which an' why, yuh jis' use yore method dere. If a man know how tuh do - a spiritual man, yuh kin. Yuh have tuh do it. Yuh take a penny an' goes tuh work an' yuh take dat penny an' yuh put it in de middle of de grave. Dat in case of emergency if de person, yo' know or not, is a religious person died. Yo' undahstan', dey know who dat is. Well, dey give 'em a penny an' dey takes some dirt. "Fore dey takes dat dirt, which an' why, dat will make an evil spirit follow yuh, becuz yuh got somepin belongs tuh 'im. Now, dey git in aroun' yore home, it will always keep a confusion an' make a separation. Now, yo'll have tuh be aroun' an' take de method wit a good man. Wit a spirit- ual man, he meet de spirit. He kin set home an' when de spirits come, yuh know what time tuh meet 'im, an' yuh kin cure 'im, if it's not too long [too far gone]. [InfOrmant SayS, IF YOU ARE HOODOOED, A SPIRITUAL MAN WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO. You must pay for graveyard dirt, otherwise the spirit will follow you, evil or good, depending upon who is buried there. A SPIRITUAL MAN (USUALLY A PERSON WORKING LARGELY WITH SPIRITS) can sit at home and wait for the coming of a good- man spirit and use it for curing, if the sick or hoodooed patient is not too far gone.]
Entry 7572
Yuh go tuh de graveyard an' yuh git dis dirt from a good person's grave, if yuh want peace in yore home. An' take dat an' place it - jis' sprinkle it roun' in de home. An' when yuh sprinkle it roun' in de house, well den yuh goes tuh work an' yuh find peace in dere.
Entry 7575
Well, jis' like yuh had two wimmens an' wanted 'em both tuh git along, wanted 'em tuh live in de house tuhgethah. Well, yuh go tuh a graveyard where a young baby is buried an' jis' run yore han' down dere an' git some dirt off 'is haid. Come back an' sprinkle it aroun' yore house evah nine mawnin's, an' dat - dat'll make peace. Dey will git along. (What do you mean by having two women in one house and want them to get along?) If yuh have two of 'em, jis' wan' 'em tuh git along. If dey stay in a separate house it'll be all right, but yuh know yuh have tuh sprinkle it aroun' both houses.
(I see.)
Yuh could put 'em in de house tuhgethah if yuh use dis dirt.
(You mean the two women?)
Yes.
Entry 7578
Now, I've heard dat tuh be a positive fact. Now, dey say dat if yuh go tuh - if dere's a woman dat yuh like. An' if yuh cross de watah an' yuh go tuh de graveyard, an' git some dirt offen infant's grave - child yuh know - dey say it will effect 'er tuh come back. But if yuh git it off a murdahah's grave, why she'll go furthah. (I don't quite understand what you said. If it's a woman you like, you cross water and get this dirt?) He ain't got'a cross watah. She's across watah. Yuh git de dirt an' send it in a lettah. [This violates an ancient rule, a spirit cannot cross water! Is mailed in a letter an exception?]
(Oh, I see.)
Yes. (You've got to get it from an infant's grave to bring her back, but if you get the dirt from a murderer's grave, then what?) Dat drives 'er furthah.
(Oh, I see - it drives her farther.)
Entry 7579
Wal, if yuh wan' a job of any kin', yuh git a dirt dauber an' go tuh a baby's grave in de cemetery an' reach yore han' down in dat same direction. An' if yuh wan' a job anywhere, yuh mix dat same dirt - de dirt dauber's nest wit de othah dirt. An' go [sprinkle it] in front of de place roun' de office where de boss got'a go in, an' jis' say, "Little Baby, In de Name of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost, give me mah job back." An' dey'll give it tuh yuh.
Entry 7580
Ah heard dat chew kin take a dirt dauber nest an' some graveyard dirt from a little baby, if yuh know it, an' mix it togethah an' put it somewhere 'bout dere bed or in de cornah some hidden place, an' de baby terrify yuh an' cry so - de spirit will - dat yuh will leave out de room.
(That is to make you move.)
Entry 7582
Take broom straws an' some dirt on a baby [grave] whut didn't nevah cry, an' some parch eggshell an' put 'em up on a person's do'steps. An' dey say it will make 'em lame in dey laigs. (You take the broomstraw?) Yuh take de broomstraws, nine of 'em from de large part of de broom, an' eggshell, parch 'em, an' take some graveyard dirt, an' dis person in de hollah of dey [foot] track, an' mix it up. An' dey say dat makes 'em lame. Makes yuh laig bothah yo'.
(What about this baby that never cried?)
Yuh git some dirt offa de baby's grave whut nevah cried - yuh know, whut born daid or somepin.
Entry 7586
Now, it's no special time tuh entah dis graveyard tuh git dis dus'. Yuh kin be walkin' roun' de cemetery an' perten' [pretend] yuh be lookin' ovah yore belove' ones dat gone tuh rest. Now, in passin' yuh git chew a han'ful of it an' yuh go on. An' yuh an' yore wife or yore lady fren' - somebody lak dat - if it's quarrelin' [or] yuh may have caught 'er Vrong. Yuh don' wanta kill 'er, dat's gon'a put chew in trouble. Yuh jis' wanta git rid of 'er. Yuh'll take dat dus' an' when she go tuh bed at night an' dere's "er shoes, a pair of shoes dat she wears mo' den othahs. Yuh jis' sprinkle dat dus' in dose shoes. Quite natchel [natural] by sprinklin' dat dus' in dere, she's gonna pesspire [perspire] in 'er feet. Jis' lak yuh or ah would pesspire mdah de arm or on de haid, our po's [pores] would be open. If it wusn't dat, ve wouldn't nevah ketch a cold, yuh know. De dus' will dissolve jis' lak a aspirin. Well, when dat dissolve, her po's will be open an' 'er feet is right nex' tuh dat - might as well say dat. See. dat [is al little silk stockin'. See, it may be a pair of bedroom slippahs she may have on. Dat'll git right on intuh 'er po's an' 'er po's will close up wit dat in dere. An' she'll jis' withah away jis' lak anythin' else - jis' leave [this world].
Entry 7589
At twelve a'clock at night yuh git graveyard dirt, yuh see. An' git graveyard dirt. Dat's mos'ly [mostly] fer harmin', dat's fer nuthin good. Yuh go dere at twelve a'clock at night, but not when de moon's shinin'. Yuh go dere on a dark night. An' yuh take dat graveyard dirt. If yuh jis' wan' a person in bad luck, yuh jis' take graveyard dirt an' throw it at a person - strictly wit'out anythin' else. It's strictly bad luck. Dey'll nevah be successful in nuthin dey undahtake tuh do. Anythin' dey undahtake tuh do, dey won't be suc- cessful - be disappointed.
Entry 7594
Ah heard dat chew could go tuh de graveyard. Yuh have tuh go at one a'clock in de night tuh git graveyard dirt. An' yuh git de dirt, graveyard dirt, an' yuh bring it back an' yuh sprinkle dat dirt on people's po'ch, anybody's po'ch, an' make 'em move.
Entry 7595
Go tuh de graveyard roun' 'bout fo' clock in de mawnin' an' buy a penny's worth of graveyard dirt. An' come back an' sprinkle it roun' de house, all roun', an' sweep off de do'step behin' 'im. Dat will move 'em ['em, 'im and 'um are usually the same meaning. Sweeping graveyard dirt is both an uncommon and dangerous rite. The wo- man here, who wants to rid herself of an unwelcome roomer or friend, sprinkles graveyard dirt about the house outside, leaving her- self a dirtless entry. Coming indoors she closes the dirtless entry, the door- step, with graveyard dirt. She is a prisoner in her own home! But, as soon as he walks over the dirt, entering or leaving, she sweeps it away. The spirit in graveyard dirt, not liking to be swept by a dirty broom, flees back to the grave- yard; the man, having crossed the dirt, must go away forever; and the woman, now imune from the graveyard-dirt spirit, is free - for another roomer or frierd.]
(How much dirt do you get from the graveyard?)
Penny's worth.
(How much would that be?)
Dat be - uh two ounces.
Entry 7639
Jes' lak a man er [or] woman, anyone, say, if she really meant tuh kill dis man - wanta have him outa de way. She kin go tuh de graveyard - if he don't pertect [detect] it befo' she git too fah [far], see. She kin go tuh de grave- yard an' git dis dirt outa 'tween a grave. She gotta git from de grave doh [though], de head of de grave, de person head. Dey git dat dirt offa de head of de grave. Den she take dat dirt an' she take a small piece of cloth an' she sew dat up in dere, an' den she take dis cloth an' she weah it roun' her waist. Now, dis man, he Would contin'ly [continually] feel- in' bad an' weary an' stuff [similar feelings], but he don' know whut it come from. Now, dis woman she would weah dat an' weah dat until she git dis man tuh de place dat he would git puny, sickly an' jes' cain't he'p [help] hisself, an' den if someone don' tell 'im how tuh go out...says, "Well, bless me, yo' is lookin' very bad, yo' oughta go an' see de doctor. Why don' yo' go an' see a root doctor tuh see whut's de mattah wit chew?" Well, nachur'ly [naturally] dis man wouldn't believe it, becuz he don' think dat it nachur'l [natural] dat 'is wife or de girl dat 'e [he] goin' wit, er somepin, would do him any hahm [harm] lak dat. An' nachurly [naturally] he may, if he don't git tuh some of dose [hoo- doo] people, dis thing will finely [finally] kill 'im.
Entry 7640
Now, if yo' got a home happy an' someone wanta break yo' up, yo' [he] goes tuh de graveyard an' git some dirt off de left-han' head of a grave, an' take it an' sprinkle aroun' dose steps, an' yo' got a to'd [= tored = torn] up home.
Entry 7643
Well, yo' goes tuh de graveyard an' yo' gits some graveyard dust. Now yo' don't git it off de haid, yo' git it off de foot. Dat mean travelin', see. (When you get it off the foot, neans traveling.) Yo' git it off de foot of de person off de grave, see. All right, den yo' come back an' yo' mix dat up wit a li'le pot salt an' jis' go tuh 'er doah, yo' un'ahstan' [understand] an' yo' take dat jis' lak yo' would go in a field an' sow rice, peas or spring cotton or somepin lak dat, yo' know. Yo' jis' sprinkle it fronta her house, right on until all of it give out, an' she'll have tuh leave dere. She couldn't stay dere. She will be all mixed up; he or she, whosomevah it is. All mixed up, jis' couldn't stay dere.
Entry 7713
Dey say yo' take graveyard dirt. It's accordin' tuh where yo' git it from, whut side yo' git it when yo' goin' git graveyard dirt. Yo' go tuh de graveyard an' take de footbo'd an' put it tuh de haid; take de haidbo'd an' yo' put it tuh de foot. An' yo' take dat graveyard dirt right about at de centah, about tuh dis fah [far] at de centah [demonstrates].
(Up to the elbow.)
Yes, about tuh de elbow. An' yo' take dat graveyard dirt an' yo' could do mos' anythin' wit dat, see. Sprinkle it roun' a person house, dat'll confuse 'em, cuz 'em tuh leave home. Sometimes cuz 'em tuh be spellbound, go crazy. Dis graveyard dirt, jes' [sprinkle it] somewhere where dey kin pass ovah it, walk ovah it. Dey tell me dat whut graveyard dirt will do.
Entry 7735
Dat graveyard dirt - dey takes dat graveyard dirt an' dey'll come intuh yore house an' set, laugh an' talk, yo' not payin' 'em any mind. Well, dey'll take dat an' sprinkle it ovah yo'; yo' know, undah yore bed, table, aroun'. Well jes' keeps yo'- rathah be from home den tuh be roun' home. Ah don't care where yo' go, yo' can't stay dere.
Entry 7747
Dey go out dere an' dig in it 'bout midnight an' put it tuh yore do' in de mawnin', an' yo' walk out on it. An' suppose yo' walk out on it, den yo'll soon have tuh leave dem dere.
(This graveyard dirt?)
Yes.
(You get it from any kind of a grave?)
Dey always do try tuh git it from a sinner's.
The interviewer identifies graveyard dirt and asks about the grave; the informant confirms and says a sinner's grave is sought. The departure claim remains source-reported.
Entry 7750
Yo' go tuh de graveyard wit a penny an' yo' buy some graveyard dirt from a wicked person whut die, an' take dat graveyard dirt an' sprinkle roun' de front do' an' dey'll move.
(That is to move your next door neighbor?)
Yessuh.
The informant describes buying dirt from a wicked person's grave with a penny. The interviewer's question about a next-door neighbor and the informant's confirmation remain separate; the departure claim is source-reported.
Entry 7754
Take graveyard dirt an' bury it undah a person's do'step an' dat will run 'em crazy.
(How do you mean run them crazy?)
Jes' make 'em where dey jes' git all upsot [upset] an' jes' leave an' jes' be all - jes' can't live dere, no way in peace, no way.
The informant explains the printed phrase 'run them crazy' through upset, leaving and inability to live peacefully. The interviewer's question is separate, and '[upset]' is an editorial gloss within the speech.
Entry 7755
Ah heard dat chew could take graveyard dirt an' kill anyone wit takin' an' diggin' a hole undah dey do'step, yo' know an' bury it, an' by folks walkin' ovah it, dey will fight amongst dem[selves].
(That will kill them.)
The informant introduces this as hearsay. The final parenthetical 'That will kill them' is the interviewer's statement, with no further informant confirmation printed. '[selves]' is an editorial completion within the printed speech.
Entry 7756
It's one thing, yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dust an' put dat on a person's do'steps. An' [they] try tuh stay dere fo' a certain length of time an' den dey will go crazy, yo' see.
Entry 7758
Go tuh de graveyard an' git graveyard dirt. Yo' kin bring dat grave- yard dirt back an' yo' bury dat graveyard dirt up undah de steps. See, dat will give yo' bad luck tuh run yo' away.
Entry 7759
Ah heard of 'em goin' tuh de graveyard an' gittin' dat dirt at twelve a'clock at night an' plantin' it undah de steps. Dat'll keep dere man, keep dere ole man; yassuh, keep de man at home, keep 'im from leavin'.
Entry 7768
Dat [is a] luck proposition. Yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' run yore han' down in dere up tuh yore elbow an' bring out as much dirt as yo' kin bring out between dem two two fingahs dere [demonstrates].
(The thumb and the little finger of the right hand.)
Yes, an' put it in a rag an' jis' lak yo' luck fo' skinning or gambling, any- thing lak dat. An' go ahaid on tuh de skin game an' set down an' yo'll break evah game dere.
Entry 7772
If a person wanta, yo' know, wanta know how tuh gamble an' be a wondah- ful gamblah, yo' go tuh de graveyard at night. An' go tuh dis wicked man, yo' know, grave. An' ast 'im, yo'know, tell 'im whut chew want, dat yo' wanta learn tuh be a gamblah. An' dig right down by his left side, an' git some of dat dirt outa, yo' know, his grave - by his left side. An' den yo' git three pennies an' put in dere an' give 'im. An' den yo' git de dirt an' carry it on, an' yo' be one de best gamblahs dey is in de worl'. Nobody beat chew no way - can't win, can't git chew no way.
(What do you do with that dirt then, after you get it?)
Yo' take it an' put it in a bag an' keep it in yore pocket. Evahwhere yo' go jes' carry dat dirt in dat bag an' evah game yo' git in yo'll win.
Entry 7781
They'll git graveyard dirt, jus' a little pinch of it, an' put it in some of your food. You'll linger, yo' know, jus' start to lingerin' that way - it ain't gon'a kill you right away.
Entry 7809
Dey say yo' kin take dat dirt, graveyard dirt, an' put it in de fo' cornah of de house, an' put some right tuh de front of yore do' where yo' walk cross it. Dey say dat'll stop confusion all in yore home.
(How would they put this dirt in the four corners? How?)
Jis' put it onto dere, sprinkle it down. (You put it something like that. Well, you told me before that you cross it. What do you mean by that?) No sir, jis' sprinkle it. [Waycross, Ga., (1098).1775:1.]
Entry 7847
Den yo' kin git some graveyard dust an' put it in de no'th side of de house an' yo' kin make 'em leave in dat way.
Entry 7858
Yo' go, if yo' know a person dat die bad, yo' go tuh de grave an' jes' run yuh han' about dat deep in de grave an' git some of de dirt. An' if yo' want a person tuh leave from 'way round yo', throw it on de po'ch. Dey'll be gone. [For an interesting little story about this driving-out-of-a-house rite, see one from Wilmington, N. Car., No.1629, p.506.]
Entry 7859
Ah've heard of about graveyard dirt. If yo' wuz in love wit a man an' he wuz goin' tuh a place dat chew didn't want 'im tuh go, an' come tuh see yuh, yo' kin take graveyard dirt an' go tuh dis lady's house an' sprinkle it on de porch, front do', as much as yo' kin. Dat'll stop 'im from goin' dere. AN' AH HAVE TRIED DAT AN' DAT'S TRUE.
Entry 7865
Take de cayenne peppah an' mix wit de graveyard dirt, an' if de person valk ovah it, dey have a burnin' in dey feet, she tole me.
Entry 8015
Ah learn how yo' kin kill a dog. See, yo' kin take an' kill a dog, yo' know, an' dig a hole, see. Yo' put dis dog in de hole, undahstan', an' have his haid up, yo' see, an' have his feets up. See, have him propped up in dat dere hole good an' solid, undah- stand. An' den yo' take an' git a li'le of dat dog's blood. As yo' covah dat dog up, see, befo' - don' put no blood on top of de dog when yo' take de blood, but aftah yo' git 'im covahed up, den puts dirt on top of 'im yo' undahstan' an' put de blood on top of de dirt, on de grave. Jes' sprinkle it down in dere, sprinkle it good. See, yo' let it drop back down in dere an' yo' drop back heah. All right, de time when yo' kivahin' [covering] up dis heah grave wit dis dog in it, yo' name dis person nine times. Yo' name de person nine times. An' when yo' name de person nine times, aftah yo' name dis person nine times, why yo' keep on po'in'[pouring] dat down, an' yo' say, "Daid, daid, daid, ah hope yo' be dyin'." An' nine days aftah yo' name dis dog nine times an' covah him up, in nine days dem people is daid.
(You do this to get rid of an enemy?)
Yassuh.
Entry 8752
Write his name on one of dose little fryin' pie-a-pans, tin plates, yes sir. Write his name in dere an' write de 13th chapter of Psalms. An' den write his name three times an' Write de Psalms twice, but chew must read dose verses backwards. Place 'em underneath of de steps with very little over earth over it, dat means de dirt over it, an' leave it underneath of dere from nine to eight- teen days. He'll be back dere.
Entry 9040
Yo' kin take dat - yo' go tuh de graveyard cert'in hours at night an' yo' kin dig down dere an' git dat dirt. An', jes' lak dey goin' have me fo' trial - ah done killed somebody, see. Well, dey might bon' [bond] me out. Ah'll go tuh de graveyard a certain time of night an' ah'll run mah han' down an' git a cert'in class of dat dirt. An' ah take dat dirt an' jes' when dey goin' have co't dat mawnin', ah git in wit de jon'ter [janitor] of de co't; yo' know, de fellah whut cleans up. Well, when ah git dere wit 'im ah'm gwine jes' - ah'm goin' he'p 'im clean up. Well, fast as we sweep up an' clean up, ah've got dat li'le graveyard dirt, ah jes' git roun' dere an' sprinkle it all roun' de judge stand, all roun' de haid jury- man stan'. See. Ah done he'p 'im clean up an' den throw mah li'le dang 'um dust dey calls it.
(What kind of dust?)
Dey call it de li'le dang 'um dust. [Dang used to mean damn. This is God daorn 'em dust!] So ah be done throw dat aroun' dere. Well, now, when de co't come off, ah'm not uneasy, 'cuz ah know de judge can't do nuthin wit me.
The informant describes a hypothetical trial and calls the grave dirt 'dang 'um dust'. '[bond]' and '[janitor]' are editorial glosses; Hyatt's following explanation of the dust's name is distinct from the speech.
Entry 9042
Yo' kin go tuh de cemetery. Yo' have tuh go by yo'self an' carry jes' two or three grain of cawn [corn rare as payment] or two or three cent. An' run yore han' fur enough down in dere to tech de casket, tuh git de dirt, an' put dem pen- nies down in dere. An' when yo' put dem pennies down in dere, tell 'em, jes' say, "Ah want chew tuh do sech-an'-sech a thing. Ah want chew tuh git mah husban' outa trouble, or mah brothah outa trouble, " or somepin othah lak dat, if dey in trou- ble. An' when it time fo' trial dey'll come cleah. Yo' take dat graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it all roun' de co'thouse, all aroun' de jailhouse, or jes' where- somevah he at.
Entry 9057
Ef somebody's against [you], yo' gotta meet a co't, yo' go tuh de graveyards an' yo' turn de haidbo'd tuh foot [and footboard to head - see HEAD BOARD AND FOOTBOARD, PP 3340-3348, vol.4 and else- where] an' say, "Ah will change yore min' tuhnight." Yo' have tuh do it in de night: Ah'll change yore min' tuhnight, ah'll change yore haid tuh yore foots. Dat's changin' yore min' tuh somepin else. See, tuhwards joo'. An' yo' call de person name. Say, "Ah'm goin' change yore min'." Ef yore name is John or somepin othah, "John Henry, '' say, "ah'll change yore min' tuhnight; ah'll change yore haid tuh yore feet [despite preceding foots]. An' yo' change de footbo'd tuh de haid, an' yo' go down at de haid as fur as yore arm kin reach from heah [usually elbow] down. An' yo' git some dirt from out dere. Yo' take dat out, two han'fuls an': throw it tuh- wards de nō'th. Den yo' take a piece of papah, white papah, an' yo' write 'is name on it an' yo' set dat papah afire, say, "Dead [dead person], work! Evah- thin' yo' do or try tuh do, yo' must be mah fren'." An' yo' set dat afire an' yo' covah de hole back up, an' walk off an' don' look back.
(You burn that in the hole?)
In de hole an' walk off. Don' look back, jes' keep on. An' he can't come against yo' in co't. He'll have tuh be yore fren'.
Entry 9060
One time mah brothah he wuz in a serious case, one time, an' so she [wife] had a ole man [doctor] workin' fo' 'er. An' de ole man told 'er, if she'd go tuh de graveyard tuh a fresh grave, an' take huh right han' an' reach down as fur as she could, an' git de graveyard dirt 'fo' de sun rise, an' take it tuh de co'thouse, an' make a roun' circle all de way roun' [circumambulate] de co'thouse, an' he say dat would free 'im. Ah know he come free. Ah don' know if dat done de work or not, but ah know he come free.
Entry 10812
If she wanta git rid of him, don't want him tuh come back, jes' sweep de house. When he go out de do', jes' sweep de dirt out behin' him an' kick it three time, an' tell him tuh go away- keep his spirit away. Kick it three time an' jes' say, "Go away," an' jes' sweep it on out de do'. Jes' sweep de dirt right on behin' his foot off de do', an' tell him tuh go away, an' his min' will finally [tell him to stay away]. (Just kick it up in the air three times. That makes him stay away.)
Entry 11396
Dirt from under someone's fingernails kept or worn causes love.
[Mobile 882:4.]
Entry 11401
If dirt under your fingernails is dropped into whiskey or anything, your system becomes poisoned or poisoned. [Charleston 642:5.]
Entry 11451
Use dirt from under fingernails and footskin in food for love.
[Mobile 878:3.]
Entry 11519
Man's foot tracks measured and buried so many feet from his door - buried with graveyard dirt. He died. Happened in Arundal Co., Md. [My original transcription soon after belief collected, H. M. H., this note Nov. 23, 1976.]
[Baltimore, Md. 45:3.]
Entry 11586
Pick up dirt from right-foot track, put graveyard dirt with it, go to a river, then throw dirt back over shoulder into river, saying Go. "That'll put choo in the road, start choo to goin'." [Memphis 1560:5.]
Entry 11726
(Do you know what goofer dust is?)
Ah don' b'lieve it's a thing but graveyard dirt. [Fayetteville 2515:20.]
Entry 11748
They'll git graveyard dirt, just a little pinch of it, and put it in some of your foot. You'll linger, you know, just start to lingering that way. It ain't gonna [going to] kill you right away.
Entry 11756
Wear graveyard dirt in shoes as a protection against hoodoo and spirits of any kind. [St. Petersburg 1691:4.]
Entry 11757
Graveyard dirt, let dry on stove, get rattlesnake buttons, beat up and mix these two, make 2 piles, put one pile in whiskey, put other pile around waist, this keeps person from harming you. Give whiskey to enemy, snakes in him.
Entry 11759
They get graveyard dirt at midnight and sprinkle it in your rooms. This will give you a coughing spell or consumption [tuberculosis] until you die.
[Norfolk, Va., 457:4.]
Entry 11763
Tie up or shut up dirt from a fresh grave and throw this container over the top of a house [most of them small and one story high] to break the peace within. [Petersburg, Va., 424:1.]
Entry 11764
To git a man, git dirt off infant's grave, take piece of John de Con- kah root, put both in nation sack [see interview THE "NATION SACK" WOMAN, p.1449- 1459, v.2, especially p.1458, lines 7-28.] When you git to man, put piece of John de Conkah root and chew and sprinkle the dirt.
Entry 11765
At midnight visit the grave of someone you know, call his name, run hand into grave as far as possible, bring out dirt, sprinkle this at person's house, and he will move. [Wilmington 116:10+85.]
Entry 11766
If dirt from a sinner's grave is scattered at the door, the person living within becomes worried and dissatisfied and cannot stay there in peace.
[Norfolk 533:7.]
Entry 11767
Dirt from a sinner's grave sprinkled in his path makes him move.
[Vicksburg 1040:2.]
Entry 11768
Dirt from a sinner's grave, mixed with quicksilver, placed on or under a bed will kill the person who sleeps there. [Wilmington 260:4+85.]
Entry 11769
Go to a wicked person's grave at 12 o'clock day or night, run arm down into up to the shoulder, close up handful of dirt, mix this with gunpowder and throw it around house, and people within will move. [Memphis 1551:11.]
Entry 11771
"Dirt from good person's grave, put in clean envelope, keep, pray over it, anything you want you can do." [Memphis 1551:14.]
Entry 11784
Mix graveyard dirt and gunpowder, throw near house, breaks up man and women living there. [Wilmington 273:3+85.]
Entry 11785
Throw graveyard dirt over right shoulder into running water, while wishing a person to go away or to come back, and then walk away without looking back. [Newport News, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 11786
An enemy fixes up your name with graveyard dirt, throws it into run- ning water, says what he wants done, cursing you and telling you to go, and then leaves not looking back. [Washington, D. C., 804:3.]
Entry 11788
The making of crosses with graveyard dirt in front of a person's door makes that person move. [Washington, D. C., 828:2.]
Entry 11791
They throw graveyard dirt and cayenne pepper into your house to "run you off." [Mobile 883:4.]
Entry 11792
Mix graveyard dirt and pepper, sprinkle around house or gate, makes person within move. [Vicksburg 991:1.]
Entry 11793
Mix graveyard dirt and cayenne pepper, throw it about person's house, tell occupants to move, and they'll go. [Wilmington 141:7.]
Entry 11820
Graveyard dirt about door causes quarreling; man will leave the house.
[Richmond 369:1.]
Entry 11822
To throw graveyard dirt under step causes trouble in house or a special misfortune. [Wilmington, 235:5+85.]
Entry 11823
Put graveyard dirt under doorsill, person who walks over it will be hurt [hoodooed or cuniured]. [The meaning of the word doorsill varies in HOODOO, in some cases it actually being the top of the door frame, as I have explained elsewhere. Often with lowland houses it means the house sill under the door, which could be reached by crawling beneath the house. The word saddle or jambs of the door I rarely, perhaps never heard.] [Wilmington 107:1+85.]
Entry 11826
They sprinkle graveyard dirt at house to make persons within move.
[Little Rock, Ark., 1464:10.]
Entry 11830
If they sprinkle graveyard dirt around your door, that will hurt you.
[Wilmington 105:5+85.]
Entry 12024
To keep his love, woman takes piece of his clothes, graveyard dirt, soaks them in vinegar and turpentine, wraps tight, seals in jar, and buries under steps. [Richmond 341:6.]
Entry 12036
Woman wraps some of man's private hair around a hairpin or two small pins, adds graveyard dirt, sews into a bag, and hides it in the bed. [The 2 prongs of the hairpin or 2 ordinary pins probably symbolize the man and woman bound together.] [Richmond 374:3.]
Entry 12954
Woman burns her old shoe to dust, mixes this with graveyard dirt and puts in a man's shoes: "that would go to his brain and that would make his mind always stay on me." [Newport News 511:3.]
Entry 13108
An' den yo' kin take it again. Yo' kin take dis graveyard dirt an' yo' kin git rattlesnake dust an' mix it together, an' it will run anybody stone blind.
(Just how would they do that?)
Jes' take de rattlesnake dust an' de graveyard dirt an' mix it tuhgethah. Mix it up tuhgethah an' git anybody hat an' sprinkle it in de hat dat dey gotta dem stone blind.
Entry 13129
If you mix rattlesnake-shed powder with graveyard dirt and put it in person's hat, he or she will never get over headaches unless hat is undressed.
[The latter word heard only several times.] [Mobile 875:8.]
Entry 659
Dey tell me - now if - goofer dust is jes' lak if yo' have loved somebody - this is whut they tell me, if yo' loved 'em an' they have died an' been dead fo' a number of yeahs, then yo' goes to this graveyard where they's been buried an' yo' dig right down underneath dis bo'd, or undah - jes' lak it was a rock [tombstone] dere of some kind. Yo' git the dust from there an' yo' sprinkle it on yo' jes' lak yo'd wanta go fo' somebody. Then yo'd sprinkle it on the next person that chew wanta love. That will make them fall in love with yo'.
(You get this dirt from under the headstone or the headboard of the grave?)
Yes. Jes' lak if yo' loved 'em, but'yo' have to be in love with 'em. (You goofer them you say. [I am repeating what informant said while machine turned off.] What do you mean by goofer them?) Well, ah don' know dat.
(If I wanted to goofer somebody, what does that mean?)
Yo'd have tuh git this dust - now dey tell me.
(Well, is that doing them good or doing them harm?)
Well, yo'd be making them love yo' - see, jes' lak somebody dat chew had loved has died an' then yo' - (Put a goofer on you. [Again I repeat what was said while machine off.] What does that mean?) Dat means dat's chew be in love wit me - jes' lak if ah would wanta make yo' love me, den ah'd have tuh continue jes' keep it on yo'. (Do the people around here in Fayetteville ever speak about putting the goofer on you?) Yes.
(Were you born around here?)
Yessuh, ah wus born in [something].
[I am rather insistent and not too satisfied.]
(Because that is something that I never heard of in any other part of the country: It seems to be just the usual thing around here.) Yes. [I comment at a later date, "I want more evidence for this."]
Entry 11512
"If they want choo to be with them, why they bury it under the door- step. Like if they want chew to come...to my home, see, I bury it under the doorstep. And if they want to run you away, why put that in running Water and make a wish.
(Which tracks do they use?)
They use the right track.
(How do you mean?)
Get the dirt from under the right foot. Like, just, if you want 'em to come to your home, see, you take it when they're coming to the home. If you want 'em to leave, you get it out of that track when they leave home."
Entry 11526
" 'You git de track like that [going from you] and you say, Go... Git choo a breechloader shell...take all dat shots outa dere an' pō' dat dirt into dat shell...put choo a little cayenne peppah in dere...twelve o'clock dat night... on de way you want de party to go, you shoot dat shell.π [Mobile 937:1.]
Entry 11547
"Take de dirt from undah yore left foot an' take hit an' den carry it tuh runnin' watah an' [throw it in and] dat will run yo' crazy..*.
(The dirt from your left-foot track?)
Yes."
Entry 11567
"They take this dirt out of 9 of your tracks, and take it and tie it up in a little piece of cloth, and keep it fer 9 days. And they kin carry it and throw it in a river: if it swims upstream, why you go crazy; and if it float down de stream, why, you know, it won't harm you much." [Wilmington 91:1+85.]
Entry 11790
"You kin jis' take some black peppah an' some graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it where they'd [the suspected thief would] walk on it an' they'll bring it [stolen article] right straight back." [Richmond 322:6.]
Entry 11796
"Go to a cemetery and git some dirt...salt and cayenne pepper...mix it...sprinkle it [at their house] and curse it, and the party will move." [New Orleans 1184:3.]
Entry 11814
"If they go to the graveyard an' git some dirt an' put it up over your door, they say you'll always be down. [You do this] if you jis' see some- body you're jealous of or sumpin another, they're gittin' along better then [than] you." [Up over your door, compared with the bottom or near the bottom of the door, is fairly rare so far as graveyard dirt is concerned.] [Wilmington 115:7+85.]
The printed quoted excerpt reports dirt from a graveyard placed above a door. The bracketed insertions belong to editorial text; Hyatt's following comment compares the location with other accounts.
Entry 11817
"Take graveyard dirt and sprinkle it in front of your door...if you walk in it, dat's poison; it'll kill you."
This printed quoted excerpt contains an ellipsis and makes the alleged harm conditional on walking in the dirt.
Entry 11829
"Graveyard dirt will run you crazy too, if they sprinkle it around your door." [New Orleans 1146:11.]
Entry 105
I heard a church member said dere's a ole man in de church where he were a member - he ain't got much confidence in 'em now 'cause dey did dat - ole man da'd [that would] git mad at anybody at church; you know, he'd fall out with 'em. Well, he'd go to de graveyard an' reach his han' as far in dere as he could, an' he'd git some dirt jis' off, jis' as near de coffin as he could, an' wrap it up, [and] bring it back. Well, he'd put it in somepin thin, cheesecloth or somepin or othah, an' put it in each pocket, in his coat pocket. An' he'd go to church you know, until de preacher git to preachin', you know, an' dat de people git to shoutin', why he jis' git to shoutin' an' go right aroun' near dis person [he's mad at], you know, an' jis' let dis dus' - it woula jis' fly so it'll, a 'hole lot of people would inhale it, an' dey'd git so sometime dey'd git to coughin' Well, dey say, if you git enough of it, it'd kill 'em. [Wilmington, N. Car.,
(215), 208:1; Darien, Ga.,1896.]
Entry 106
Well, you've seen dat in de graveyard - you seen where dere one stick standin' up on dis end [of the grave], de haid [the headboard], an' one on dis end [the footboard]. Well, she'll take his name - she'll know his name, an' I guess she'll get somebody to do dat, because she'll be scared to go dere aroun' two a'clock in de night, see. She'll get somebody to go dere an' jes' call his name - his name John, Will or somepin another - an' say, "Will, I take dat footstoll [footboard], ' an' turn it over an say, "Well, I turn you haid over heel, in de Name of the Lord, therefore, dat He'll find you an' bring you back to me, In the Name of de Lord" - (Say that slower.) [She was speaking this incantation so fast I could hardly understand her.] Well, dis way. "John, I turn you'" - you take dis footstoll [footboard] jis' like dis [demonstrates], an' you turn it over an' say, "As I turn you haid over heel, therefore I don't want you to refuse, an' bring you back to me an' make you love me, In the Name of de Lord, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ." Well, you stick dis one [the footboard] here [at the head of] de grave where de haidboard had been, an' you take dis one [the headboard] an' turn dis one over [and say], "I turn you haid over heel, therefore if you refuse, an' make you love me an' come back to me, In de Name of de Lord, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ." Well, he'll [the man acting for the woman will] run his hand down in de middle of dat grave an' he'll take some of dat dirt, a handful of dat dirt out de grave. Well, dat'll be about dat deep.
(A hole as deep as - up to the elbow.)
Take a handful of dat dirt out an' after you get a handful of dat dirt out, den he'll drop three pennies in dat grave jes' for the spirit, an' [say, ] "I's [I has] pay you to work for me, In de Name of de good Lord, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ." An' he'll walk right aroun' dat grave three times an' he wouldn't look back. An' he would take dat dirt an' he'd throw dat dirt up in de air an' say, "Go, spirit, an' worry 'em up, an' bring 'em back, In de Name of de Lord. Go to de west, east, north an' south, de four corners of de world an' wheresomever you may be." He'll come. An' if he right in dat town, you don't have to do dat but twice; if he's out dat town, you gotta do it nine times, nine nights. You go dere after twelve a'clock, between twelve an' one. Den, I don't care where he's at, he'll always contended [contented] with 'er on his mind. He'll come where she's at. I don't care where he's at, unless he's in jail.
Entry 186
Well, dey say yo' ketch it when dat wind - jes' de whirlwind, if yo' kin git it. Git a papah an' ketch some of it when de wind is up in a whirl, an' take that an' mix it up with graveyard dirt an' lodestone an' sulphur - dere's somepin else yo' kin mix up wit it - an' plant it. An' jes' lak dat whirlwind go up, dat person will jes' continue tuh go dat-a-way - jes' drift till yo' nevah see 'em agin, jes' run 'em plumb crazy. Yo' plant it right in back of de do'step where dey do the most of they walkin' - dat's where yo' plant dat stuff.
Entry 1840
See, ah takin' in a little washin' an' ironin'. Wal, I'se makin' good and she call herself fren' of me an' I believed 'er then. So she come to mah house an' says, "Ann, come heah a minute." An' ah went to her. She says, "Come walk around a piece with me." Well, ah did, but ah said, "Well, ah ain't got time cause ah gotta go an' wash." Well, there was another woman called me at de time, says, "Ann, do yo' know who dat woman is dat walk wit chew." Ah says, "Yes, dat's Lulu Taylor." She says, "Wal, now, ah want tell yuh dat woman will put chew in de worst luck - she put chew in de worst luck yo' evah been in yore life. That's Lulu Taylor's job. She call herself great frien's but she kin put chew in de worst luck yo' evah saw and yo' watch what ah tell yuh." She says, "Lulu Taylor is goin' put chew in hard luck," cause she has put her [speaker] in hard luck. She says, "She goin' put chew in hard luck." Ah says, "Well, how will she do that?" "[She] says, "She goin' burn sulphur on Friday on yo' and she goin' to git graveyard dirt to run yo way from heah. Dat's what she goin' do; put chew in de worst kind of luck." Wal, she did do it. She asked me to come home wit her and ah went and says - when she got a piece out she says, "Ann, does yo' know where any white dog manure is? Wal, ah wanna git some." She say a man's name. Now, it was a man there she had been knockin' aroun' wit, an' another woman come and commence to lose time with him. She say, "Come on an' go with me." Ah said to mahself, "Ef she goin' do this kind of trick, ah wanta see how it's done." Ah goes with her. She went to the graveyard and she dug in top of dis grave, down in de grave about dat deep [demonstrates].
(To her elbow.)
An' she got some dirt out of the grave and she say, "Heah's a penny." She put de penny down and tuk away de dirt, come on back to wheah I was wit it in her han' and says, "What ah want chew to do de first time yo' see any white dog's manure, git it fer me." Wal, by time she got to de house, ah walks on heah and ah see it. Ah calls her and she come on back dere to dat stuff. She mix dis heah stuff and put three pins in dere. She put three pins in dis stuff she had fixed - she wouldn't tell de [other] stuff she had. But she run dis man away. Ah know she done dat. Dat [given name] Thompson, ah think it was [his given name] - she run him away from there. Well, he went. [The preceding statement, come on back to wheah I was, shows the first rule of graveyard procedure - all rites must be performed by operator alone. A good illustration of this is the man who waits outside graveyard while woman enters; he not speaking to woman again until they reach home (see No. 77, p.32). Present informant talking about penny is merely after-the-rite knowledge projected for- ward. If present operator had mentioned penny to present informant before-the- rite, she would have violated the rule of secrecy, this causing failure.]
Entry 1867
Hit wus a girl ah wus goin' wit an' ah been goin' wit her fo' sometime, 'bout a couple of yeahs, an' anothah boy come 'long an' got in 'twixt us, had her tuh de place she wouldn't pay me no 'tenshun 'tall. So ah goes to a ole fren' of mine dat wus a root worker, an' ah explained it to him an' he tole me, he say, "If ah kin git to it right at once." Said, "Soon as yo' kin git a chance, git some dirt out of de hollow of her foot track, at de left foot." Says, "Yo' ties it up in a pocket han'kerchief."
(That is your pocket handkerchief?)
Yessuh, mah pocket han'kerchief, an' he said, "Wet it wit Heart's Cologne an' yo' wear dat in yore pocket." An' so it wus about six or seven days, she wus in de field hoein' cotton an' ah walks close to de field an' ah got chance tuh git dis dirt, an' ah tied it up in de pocket han'kerchief an' goes on tuh town an' ah bought a bottle of cologne an' ah wet it. An' fo' 'bout a week an' a half ah say it wusn't any good, say, "Aw dere ain't nuthin tuh dis." But still ah carried - tryin' tuh see her. So dat Satiday evenin' ah seen her fatah an' he tole me, says, "Noble says she wants tuh see yo'." Tole him, "Okay." Well, ah try tuh stick out [hold back from going to see her]. An' so dat Sunday evenin' she came up on de church an' axed me, say, "Whut's de trouble?" Yo' hasn't been roun?" Say, "Well, yo' lak So-an'-So, didn't think dere's any use." An' from dat ah an' her start goin' tuhgether. An' ah went with her until she died an' dere wus no trouble atall. Lots of boys tried tuh go with her an' dey had lotsa money an' all, but ah didn't have any mo' trouble. Ah kept dat sack dere until aftah she died.
Entry 1936
Take graveyard dirt an' put it in yore pocket - graveyard dirt an' Sampson snakeroot an' blacksnake root an' measure it. [Three ingredients.]
(Measure what?)
De blacksnake root when yo' take it up. Yo' measure it de length of yore finger, de blacksnake root.
(Which finger?)
It either be's [these] two or dese two - this or the other one [demonstrates]. Ah don't know, don't want be positive.
(Either two of the fingers of the right hand.)
Yes sir. They take three of those Sampson snakeroot an' measure 'em, den dey take three of blacksnake roots an' measure 'em, an' weave 'em together with raw cotton thread, weave 'em together, an' put 'em in dey pocket, an' git some grave- yard dirt an' put in it.
(What is that supposed to do then?)
That is luck - luck to win. Or way back in slavery time that was luck to keep yo' boss from whuppin' yo'. Ole people carried dat - dat's all dey had to pertek deyself. [Informant born 1858.]
Entry 1940
You kin git chew a little dis talcum powder, git chew a little grave- yard dirt. Go as near de center of de graveyard as you can. It don't make any diff'rence where [whether] you git it off de grave or not, but you git from sandy dirt like. Take dis talcum powder and mix dat and de graveyard dirt together. Prob'bly you have to put it in de stove somewhere and let it dry out so's it'll be dust. You go and git chew a little of de best cologne dat you kin find and sprinkle into dere. Well now, if you kin git right on to dis boss or kin roun next to 'im, you may drop some of it roun' his feet like dat or run your hands - keep some in your pocket all de time. Run your hand in your pocket and sprinkle a little roun' dere. Well, you take dis same Adam and Eve root. It don't hurt cha if you put it in yo' mouth. You take and place one in each jaw, walk roun' de boss and talk to 'im. Spit ever' once in a while roun' in dere. If dere's anything on his desk or anywhere [like] dat, you kin prob'bly spit in your hand and go and lean on it - jes' like I'd come in chere and ask you for a job, I'd lean up here [against my work table] and talk to you. Now I got dat spittal in my hand you see and put it on his desk. He can't tell nuthin.
Entry 1942
They kin take this graveyard dirt, they kin take this camphah gum, with sulphah [three ingredients], an' they wear it in their pocket. Maybe they jis' dampen with whiskey an' stuff. An' jis' befo' you git to the white man you gon'a ax fer the job at, you take this stuff an' you rub all in your hand an' rub it ovah your face three times, an' you kin walk up to the man an' ax fer a job. He might deny you the first time he might, but the second time he can't deny you.
Entry 2067
Dey throw salt an' sech as that behin', yo' know, an' burn incense. Dey use graveyard dirt - mixes graveyard dirt an' git a sewin' needle an' break dat all up an' black lodestone, an' dey makes tobies from dat. Well, yo' git a piece of flannel, yo' know, red flannel an' break dat lodestone, crumble it up, an' take de needle an' break dat up an' sew dat up an' put a little perfume in dere. A man dey always say, carry dat in his left pocket. Dat'll keep lucky - dat'll keep him an' his wife on good terms.
(And it's very lucky to do what?)
Burn incense.
(Where?)
In de right corner of yore house, or eithah underneat' yore bed - burn it all night. We giner'lly burn it all night undah de beds.
Entry 2499
Yo' know de truth always is right. We runs - we wus fulla dem things, too. Befo' mah husband died we run de same thing an' we run de same years, but de lawyers nevah caught us. Well, now ah'm goin' tell yo' whut we use on dat. It was learned to us tuh use dat an' ah used dat. Dat was saltpeter an' dat copperas, table salt an' red peppah, an' we made a powders of dat. An' a dead spirit from de graveyard to get de dirt - yo' know, after yo' done talk to de daid spirit an' tell him whut he want do. An' den mix dat togethah an' make a powdahs, an' he has crossed de road on many a time and de law could nevah come by our do'. (Well, how did you fix that - I mean what would you do with that after you fix that up?) Yo' jes' mash it all up fine.
(Then what do you do with it?)
Throw it in de road - jes' cross de road where dey come 'cross. Jes' ary road dat lead in to yore house with de law, why yo' put dat 'cross dat road - any distance yo' wanta from de home, where yo' know he kin turn in. An' if he evah git to dat one time, he ain't comin' in no mo'.
Entry 2501
Yo' go to a ole-time grave an' git chew some dirt. See, dig down in de grave lak dis an' git chew some dirt out of de grave. Well, yo' take dat dirt an' yo' mix dat dirt up with salt. Yo' put table salt in dat dirt an' yo' mix it up. All right, den yo' go to de sto' an' yo' buy yo' some lucky perfwme, Heart Perfume, yo' see. Yo' git chew some Heart Perfume. Well, yo' mix that in there with it. See. Jes' put Heart Perfume all in dere with it. All right, den yo' go an' yo' git chew some sulphur an' yo' put that sulphur in there with it. See. All right, yo' go an' git yo' some John de Conker an' den git chew fo' diff'rent cans - fo' diff'rent small cans, tin cans, where yo' kin put 'em airtight. See. An' yo' put 'em in a circle - jes' lak yo' runnin' a bootlaig place, yo' put 'em in a circle all de way round.
(Around what?)
All way round yore place, yo' understan', de place of business yo' carr'in' on - all de way round, yo' see. Den yo' take, aftah yo' put 'em all de way round [one can on each side of the business], yo' take dat salt an' git in de street all de way round where yo' got chure cans an' yo' care it all de way round yo' see, till yo' git clean round yore house. Well, aftah yo' gone all de way round yore house wit de salt, yo' come on back right where yo' left from an' say, "Ah put dis out, In de Name of de Father, Son an' the Holy Ghost, that ah may have no trouble." Then yo' spit up in dere three times. Yo' won't have no trouble. If yo' have any trouble atall, yo'll git out of it. [The four tin cans with seal-type lids, one on each side of the house, should have been sufficient - an airtight protection.].
Entry 2503
Then agin, I git de graveyard dirt from somebody relative who is dead, [died] good -, ou know, make peace. Any person who dead, git dat dust you know. Den you git de white-horse manure, mix that with salt and sulphur, and sprinkle around yore place. An': hey'll [officers will] call round yore place but they'll go away - wouldn't stir about chuh.
(Keeps the law away.)
Keep away because yo' have a white horse in de pasture and dey'll tell de party, "Oh! Looks like a white horse." (That white horse keeps them away? This is supposed to be the white horse in the pasture?) Yes. See, if you have a white horse in de pasture, dat horse will fight all other horses, but dey never fight dat white horse. (Those other horses won't bother a white horse. That is why the white-horse manure is good.) Yes.
Entry 2504
Take dat graveyard dirt - take some and divide into each one, see, and git you some salt. Some of de graveyard dirt into each one of de shells.
(Of these shells?)
Yes, dey done already shot, you see. And you take another shell and git some of de gunpowder and put - divide it and put some in each one of those shells. And then you take a needle and stick it in each one - stand de needle up in dere like you goin' sew some cloths, but jest right on de tip. And put dat stuff in dere round and pack in around dere tight - jest like you fixing de shot in de shell, see. And then you take that and put one under your front step, and then you turn around and put one under the back step, you see. And if you got any side windahs or anything like that, chew kin jest take and put one at de main windah where you always keeps open, you see. [Three shells.] When de revenuer comes he'll come round to everybody house but chores, and people wonder how come he won't stop to yores - and you selling whiskey in dere, too. But he jest won't have no spirit to come towards that house. He figure there won't be nothing there, when the revenuer comes there. Never won't have no spirit. Co'se ev'ry- body don't know that, you see - don't know everybody telling that. See, if I tell a person that, I want some money fer telling that.
Entry 2550
They burns a - they got something - sweeps your house in de morning. Just like you done business in here, you sweeps your place out - sweep all your dirt, all your trash one way. You mop it, you mop it all one way and then you got some little old incense candles. You burn one in that corner and one in that corner, one in that corner and one in that corner, and one on your cash register.
[Here five candles form an approximate quincunx - see p.710.]
(I see. And how do you mean by sweeping this dirt one Way?)
All one way - don't never sweep nothing back thataway, sweep it all one way. Just like you going thisaway with it, sweep it all that Way and mop it the same way.
(I see. And what do you do with that stuff after you get it swept up?)
Sweep it right on out de door. (Sweep it outside the door? Do you sweep it to the front of the house or to the back of the house?) Right on out de front. (Out the front, I see. And you burn these incense candles in each of the four corners of the room where you are doing business and put one on cash register?) One right on the register.
(And that is supposed to bring in trade?)
Bring in trade.
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 3940
Den a woman could take a - jes' like yo' go to market an' yo' git some steaks - yo' get steak. She know yo' like dat, or any kin'a meat yo' like. She wears dat right 'tween 'er laigs. She take dat an' leave her wear dat whole day an' she cook dat. An' she'll take dirt from undah her toenail an' she'll put it in yore food. She'll take an' she'll get some tomato paste an' put it into dat meat. De minute yo' eat dat, regardless of where dat woman at or where yo' at, but yo'll suffah wlt cramps in yore stomik. She done got dat, all dat filth down in yore stomik. Don't care where dat woman at, yo' want to see her, [even] if dere mens wit a fowl gun dere; but if dat woman in dat buildin', yo'll take a chance an' go on where she at. Dat's what yo' call she done fed yo' off 8ome of 'er 'pearance.
Entry 3982
Yo' take de antses when dey pilin', totin' dere dirt up high, why yo' kin take dat an' git a han'fulla it, an' put it in a bran'-new white han'ke'ch'ef an' urinate on it, an' den put it in somepin lak a tin [can] an' bear
[bury] it. Now, dat'll fill yo' fulla pain, jes' lak somebody shovin' needles through yo' dataway, yo' know - jes' lak somebody stick yo' dat way. Well, it's no cure fo' dat. (You have to walk over it.)
Entry 4486
Stop dat watah up in a bottle.
(This bath water?)
Yes, sir, stop it up in a bottle an' put it, bury hit down - an' bury it up- side down an' dat'll harn yuh, too. See, cuz yuh'll git sickly an' po'ly [poorly] an' things. Yuh see, dat be all yuh dirt, YUH STRENGTH an' things. BURIED BATH WATER TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
Entry 5511
He kin take it [her foot track] an' take his han' an' rake it up light an' rake it tuh 'im. An' take de dirt an' carry it home an' put it in 'is right sock, an' she'll come back if she gone off. An' if he wan's 'er tuh leave him, tuh don' nevah come back no mo', he kin take her track - take his han' an' dip it from 'im. Start from de foot on tuh de toe. Carry it home an' put it in 'is right sock an' throw it away, an' she won' nevah come back. [She will] stay dere, nevah come back no mo'.
Entry 5761
Well, yo' know what a wasp is. Yo' know what a wasps' nest is. Well, so' git the wasp nest. Yo' go an' get their left foot goin' this way, from you, an' yo' take this dirt up. You start at the toe an' yo' [go] round [in] the front of it. You take it up this way with a spade or something to keep from disturbing - keep from breaking it. An' then you sprinkle that over with salt. Sometime if you have time I would demonstrate to you how you do this? You sprinkle de salt goin' from you an' then you sprinkle red pepper all over that, an' then you put this in the stove, a red-hot stove; an' you just cook it until it just parched, just until that salt is just brown, you know, and the dirt is jest as hot. Well, you take that an' you put it into a snuffbox or any kind of box that chew kin jest cement with wax or anything to airtighten it. Then you throw it down in a runnin' stream, and that person will have hot feet. They will go jest as long as that water will carry them, keeps them wandering. That is something that has been proved. (Now, the track is going away from me and you take this shovel and you go under it like that - from the heel to the toe and pick the whole thing up.)
Entry 7534
[Depending upon the type of work you are doing, it can sometimes be easier to bury the article in a fresh or new grave:] Well, dey said tuh run yuh crazy, why dey take yore hair an' go an' git graveyard dirt an' mix yore hair - git a little bag, a little piece of new homespun, sew it up, about dat long, an' put chure hair in it. An' put de graveyard dirt in it an' carry it an' bury it in a new grave, an' in nine days yo' will go crazy.
Entry 7574
Yuh go tuh de Cath'lic graveyard an' reach down in dere - dig down in dere an' git chew some of dat dirt offa down on de breast. (A woman's?) Don't make no diff'rence but it's got'a be a Cath'lic grave, an' yuh git dat dirt. An' when yuh git dat dirt, yuh git cher some of dese gourd seeds - green seeds. An' yuh git chew dem green gourd seeds, an' den yuh git chew some red peppah an' git chew nine grains out dat red peppah yuh know, dose pods yuh know. Git nine grains an' roll it tuh yuh an' put it in dere. Well, den when yuh do dat yuh go tuh a - yuh know, git a good bit of it, yuh go tuh de fo'ks of de road an' yuh sprinkle a little bit of dat in de fo'k of de road. Go dere fo' de third day, but chew've got'a do it in de night an' call dose party's name. Call dere name an' dey will return.
Entry 7577
(To keep the law away, you take this same dirt and instead of throwing it into the house.) [I am repeating what informant had said while recording machine was turned off.] See, when yuh throw it intuh yore house, dat's fo' yore luck. Dat's bringin' all de peoples tuh yuh. Dat's tuh make yore business big. An' when yuh git ready tuh keep de law away, yuh go roun' yore house in de mawnin' between eight an' nine a'clock an' yuh draws yuh a cross an' makes yore wishes, tell it whut chew want.
(Where do you draw the cross?)
At each do' 'fore dey kin come in. Well, dey might come out dere but dey nevah comes ovah dere. Put it tuh yore front do' an' yuh put dat down in de cross jis' lak dat an' dey won't come in.
(You put this dirt down in the cross?)
De dirt, sulphur - graveyard dirt an' yore table salt.
(Graveyard [dirt] from the infant's grave.)
Yessuh.
Entry 7581
Git graveyard dirt, yuh know, an' dig tuh yore elbow on de left side - not on de right. On de left side dig tuh yore elbow an' aftah yuh git tuh yore elbow, den yuh git whut chew want outa dere. An' git a bran'-new box of peppah, red ground peppah whut peoples puts in somepin, yuh know, tuh put on de barbecue. An' git a bran'-new box of salt an' mix all dat tuhgethah. If yuh wan'a person tuh move, yuh could throw dat on dere house, or up on de house, or carry it in de house, jis' one time. An' den yuh kin take an' git chew NINE ROCKS OFF A LIL' BABY'S GRAVE jis' so's it not no ten or 'leven yeahs ole chile - a lil' small baby. Git chew nine rocks offa dat dere grave - an' dis is true 'cuz ah have tried dis mahself - an' take it, take dem nine rocks, an' if ah want some- body [to] move, ah kin throw it ovah dere windah [window] up ovah de po'ch, jis' anywhere, jis' since ah hits dat house ovah dere windah. Ah don't care 'bout de othah family, dey'll be dere [in the house]. Jis' whoevah ah want moved from dere [will be moved]. An' take dem baby rock an' throw 'em dere. Go lak tuh- night, an' tuhmorrah night ah go again, till de nine nights run out, an' ah call 'em by dere name, an' dey'll leave.
(You throw one rock each night?)
Each night. Dat's true 'cuz ah've done dat. An' dis graveyard dirt is true too.
Entry 8014
Do dat tuh a man if dey wanta run 'im away from town or if dey wanta kill 'im. See, prob'ly yo' wanta kill dis man. If yo' wants kill 'im, cain't git rid of 'im, he goin' wit some daughtah [or] 'nothah, or somebody's daughtah, an' dey cain't git rid of 'im wit'out killin' 'im, yo' jis' take an' git chew a dog. Ketch choo a dog dat some of yore neighbah's have dat yo' know 'is name. Yo' know de dog's name, an' yo' know de man's name, too, see. Well, yo' git de dog an' yo' carry him off in de woods somewhere an' bury 'im. Kill de dog, see. Yessuh [yes sir] kill de dog, take him way off in de woods somewhere an' bury him. An' yo' bury him wit 'is heels up about dat much [demonstrates] out de dust. Leave 'bout dat much of 'is feets out de dust. Jis' leave his feets out de dust. Well, dat's if yo' wants tuh kill de man. When yo' leave his feets out while yo's covahin' 'im up, when yo' turn 'im up, git 'im placed on 'is back real good, jis' lak yo' want 'im. An' while yo' covah 'im up, yo' call de dog's name nine times, an' yo' throw nine shovels of dirt on 'im, high 'nuff tuh git 'im covahed up. An' git 'is feets up above 'bout dat fur [demonstrates] 'bout couple inches or prob'ly couple an' a half inches. An' den aftah yo' git 'im covahed up an' git ready tuh leave him, say, "Ah hope yo's daid, In de Name of de Father, [Son and Holy Ghost], " an' call de man's name fo' time. An' walk away from de graveyard [burial place, not graveyard] an' don' look back at it. If yo' look back, it's not any good. Don' look back while yo's leavin'. An' dat'll kill de man. Now, if yo' don' wanta kill 'im [the man], yo' jis' wanta git 'im outa town, yo' don' kill de dog when yo' bury him, yo' see. Yo' don' kill de dog daid, but chew cuts: 'is throat or prob'ly knock 'im in de haid, so yo' leave him in a slum- bah. Put 'im in de ground an' yo' leave two of 'is feets out. Yo' leave two of 'is feets out. When yo' leavin' de graveyard [of the dog] yo' call de man's name nine times an' weah a cross pin. Yo' have tuh git a cross pin. Prob'ly go tuh Kress [Kresge] or somebody, any place, an' git a pin wit a cross on it. An' yo' weah dat cross pin tuh de grave where yo' dere messin' wit de dog. An' when yo' git ready tuh leave, yo' sticks it up in dere in de grave lak yo' do a tombstone, an' den de man will leave town.
(You kill this dog somewhere out in the woods?)
Yes.
Entry 9262
If yo' got a man an' he runs out, yo' kin take a chicken, hen aig, an' den yo' kin take an' write his name on it good as yo' kin. An' den yo' kin go tuh de graveyard tuh a wicked person's grave, an' dig as fur as yo' kin git chure han' down in dere, an' git some of dat dirt, an' yo' put a dime in dere. An' den yo' come back an' yo sprinkle dat dirt undah de do'steps. See. Den yo' take dat aig an' yo' throw it hard as yo' kin an' break it [against the door of the other woman]. Dat'll break dem up an' yo' won't have no mo' trouble at all. She'll have tuh leave town. (You throw that egg against the door under which you have buried this grave- yard dirt. That's the black hen egg.)
Entry 9268
Yo' kin take a chick- en aig an' it kin be dressed wit sulphuh, graveyard dirt an' peppah, but it has tuh be a rotten aig. An' if ah don' wan' chew tuh come in dis do' no mo', aftah ah git dat dressed, ah come 'long heah early in de mawnin' an' throw it up 'ginst dat do'. Yo' know, right ovah de facin' of dat do' an' let it bust ovah dat do'. Yo' ain't comin' in heal no mo'. (How do you dress it with that graveyard dirt? Just roll the egg around in that sulphur?) [Here is a leading question, more to keep the conversation going than anything else.] Yo' make a hole in it yo' see, jes' a small hole in it, if it wus a rotten aig. Jes' lak yo' goin' suck it [if it was fresh instead of rotten]. An' den yo' pinch dat graveyard dirt in dere, jes' a li'le bit. Yo' know, don' take verah much, an' a li'le sulphuh. Take a match stem or a toothpick an' shove it down in dere. Yo' take a small piece of papah an' wet it an' put ovah dat hole an' stop it up. Put it in yore han' an' come on by dis do' in de mawnin' soon [early] or at night, an' throw it up 'ginst dat do'. Jes' say right in de middle of dat do' where it will bust, an' jes' let it run down dere. Yo' ain't comin' heah no mo'. [Intention is everything here. A woman throws this egg against another woman's door to keep a man or husband from going there, or a man similar- ly drives away another man from some woman's door. Sucking a fresh raw egg, an old custom, may be unknown to a few readers in modern cities. During my boyhood at the turn of the century, when even a city boy could live among chickens and horses, and farms were only a mile or two away, some people would make a small hole in the end of a fresh egg to suck out the contents. From this custom comes the well-known proverb: Go teach your grandmother to suck eggs.]
Entry 9269
Take graveyard dirt an' sulphah an' put people back tuhgethah, an' yo' kin take it an' part 'em. Well, yo' take dat sulphuh an' table salt an' grave~ yard dirt, take it an' break yo' a aig an' put jes' a lit- tle of it in a aig if yo' wanta run 'em now. An' den yo' stick nine pins in dat aig. Den yo' take dat aig an' write de name cross it an' den write de name straight up an' down dat aig. Den yo' take dat aig at twelve'clock in de night an' bust it up onto dere house. Dey gotta go.
(How do you get those pins into the egg?)
Jes' punch 'em in dere, jes' stick dem in dere till de haid go down.
Entry 9270
Tuh make yo' move out of de house, kin go git a black hen's egg an' bust dat egg on yuh porch an' spattah de egg on it. Gotta be de black hen's egg. An' throw dat egg on yuh porch. Yo' gotta move, yo' cain't stay dere. Take dat black hen's egg an' throw it at chure do' an' say fer nine times: Ah hope yo'll nevah stay here, yo' cain't stay.
(Do you do that all in one day.)
In one day. Yo' won't stay. An' git a little dirt from de cemetery. Go tuh de cemetery an' git chew a little dirt. An' de aig of a black hen.
Entry 10161
Yo'll git de graveyard dirt, yo' undahstand, offa person dat's died bad. Yo'll git de graveyard dirt an' yo'll git red cayenne peppah, hot as yo' kin git it [this means buy it from a hoodoo shop!]. Yo'll git chew nine nails an' yo'll put in dere. An' yo'll go tuh work an' yo'll put dere name. Yo' put it down nine times on a piece of papah, but den yo' put chure name [9 times] on ahead of it. See. No, heah [demonstrates] yo' put chure name 'cuz yo're makin' dem people go. Yo'll go tuh work an' write his name nine times an' yo'll write it cross, yo' undah- stand. [His name is not written across her name, which is written one below the other in a column. His name, following her column, is written either in the form of an X or a cross +, one name crossing the other; or else his name the first time is written normally behind her fifth name. Then the paper is turned upside down and his second name written across first one etc. Various ways of crossing names and writing them upside down are given in HOoDO0.] An' den yo'll go tuh work an' yo'll git nine nails an' yo'll wrap it up in dere, tenpennies [nails], an' yo'll git cayenne peppah an' yo'll git snuff. Yo' know, whut de people use in dey mouth. Yo' git a yallah of a aig. Yo' mixes all dat up tuhgether, yo' see. All dat's ingredients tuh make 'em go, yo' see. An' den yo'll wrap dat all up tuhgether, see. Den if yo' kin go tuh work an' make it lak a powdah, make dat lak a powdah. Dat's tuh sprinkle in de house. It's tuh sprinkle in de house an' dat'll keep a confusion in dere an' he kin not stay. Den yo'll burn a black candle. Yo'll turn it upside down [by cutting off the normal wick and making a new wick on the bottom of the candle]. An' yo' put nine new needles in dere, yo' see an' his name on de top. Write it all ovah all aroun it. Jis' write his name all aroun' on dat candle. Den yo' burn it upside down fo' nine days.
(What'll that do?)
Dat'll run him away, git him outa de house. He don' wanta see dat house any mo'.
Entry 11075
See now, he don't wanna, a person don't wanna kill you, or they wan' chew to run around an' leave home, or you won't have no friend of nobody so no- body can like you. Why you kin gits some - you kin git a piece of your... Git your sock or any piece of your clothes an' he'll go to de forks of de road. And take that same pepper [red], pepper is a good thing, and take that [sock and pepper] and carry it to the forks of the road about 2 o'clock in the night, and dig a little hole right in the fork of that road. You got to find a root dere. Sometimes they find hard dirt you know. And drive that nail right down [through the clothes with red pepper] into the root. And you turn right off from there - he'll turn right around and take you [him] some salt and throw it right there like that [demonstrate back over his shoulder] and don't look back. Dat person [owner of clothes] you'll see him run aroun' crazy. [If the present forks of the road is a typical one, two roads crossing more or less at right angles + the clothes buried in the center of the crossing would create a quiul cunx rite.]
Entry 11448
They take that and they bury it, these fingernails and the toenails - all wrapped up, you see. Get some, somepin that come out of the shell - gun- powder. Get some gunpowder and dirt out of the graveyard, and your fingernails and your toenails, either one, and go bore a hole in a tree, but you stop it up in a can or a bottle like that. And you bore a hole in the tree, and a nail, as long as you can find, to drive in to keep that drawing up, you see. You drive that can fastened up. Of course, you burn at the soles, you get funny feeling about your head, you see. [New Orleans (855) 1347:3.]
Entry 11747
Dey tell me dey will git some graveyard dirt an' go tuh a wasp where wasps make a nest at - an' aggravate some of 'em an' kill dem. Den dey go an' git de frog an' aggra- vate de frog an' kill him. Den dey go an' git a snake an' aggravate a snake an kill him. An' den dey would take de head offa all of "em an' burn 'em. An' aftah burnin' it, mash it on up into a dust an' mix dat graveyard dirt wit it. An' if yo' go dere an' have yore hat wit chew or anything lak dat, an' dey kin git a little of it in yore hat. Aftah puttin' yore hat on, dat's all dey have tuh do tuh git it in yore clothes somehow or 'nothah, an' it'll be in yo'. Weah dat in yore clothes. An' at de young moon, dat's de time dey have tuh do it, on de young moon, an' as de growin' of de moon, why it will grow in yo'.
(What will grow in you?)
Dat wasp an' dat snake an' dat toadfrog.
(That puts live things in you?)
Dat put live things in yo'.
Entry 11783
Graveyard dirt, salt, sulphur, needles, and green water (slime or algae) in corked-up bottle under steps will swell you up and kill you. [Wil- mington, 125:2+85.]
Entry 5507
If yo' wan' anybody leave home an' wan'a send 'em away fo' good, jis' git de dirt undah de lef' foot an' mix it wit cayenne peppah an' carry it tuh a stream of watah. An' git some of de hair, if yo' kin; but if yo' cain't, jis' git de track. An' yo' take dat an' cayenne peppah an' go tuh a stream of watah, a runnin' sorean of watah, an' throw it in de stream of watah. An' dey'll go jis' de way d atah will go.
Entry 5567
Now, if someone wanted tuh harm yo' 'bout dat, wantedtuh harn yo', dey would git chure track an' put it in a bag, an' write chure name on it an' put it in runnin' watah, an' yo' be goin' de balance of yore days.
(Get my foot track and put it in a bag.)
No suh, jis' put it in a piece of cloth yo' undahstan'. Jis' write de guy's Dame who yo' want tuh be gone.
(Where do you write that name?)
Yo' jis' write it on a piece of papah an' put it in dat dirt wit dat track in dere.
(You take either track?)
Eithah one of de tracks, it doesn't make any diff'rence.
Entry 5656
Ah heard dat chew have tuh take nine spoonfuls of dirt outa dis per- son's track as dey go 'way from de house. Jis' go 'long an' take nine tracks of dey tracks, nine of dey tracks, yo' know, jis' lake one, two, three - nine. Git nine pinches of dirt outa each one dose tracks, dey said, an' bottle it up an' dey nevah would come back any mo'. (You get nine pinches out of these nine tracks or you get nine spoonsfuls. Which do you get?) Dey said nine spoonfuls.
(You take nine tracks, one right after the other.)
Yes sir, de way dey goin' from de house.
Entry 6132
Lak ah wanted tuh love yo', ah could git some of yore hair, go tuh yore house an' git some dirt outa yore - from undah yo' left shoe, an' tie it up togethah an' den put a penny in dere wit it, an' wear it in mah right shoe. Dat will make me love.
(You mean that will make me love you?)
Yes sir.
(What do you - put in a penny, you say?)
Yes sir.
Entry 8377
Take de photograph an' git it an' take a pencil an' puts dat on de photograph. An' take it tuh a big oak tree down 'side of a stream. An' take it an' cut a place in it - take a axe an' split a place in dere, So yo' kin jes' stick de photo in dere lak dat. An' take some ole dirt or somepin othah an' jes' put it in dere, in de place, so de pichure cain't be taken out - so de photograph cain't be taken out. An' dey tell me dat will run 'em crazy. Ah've nevah experienced dat.
Entry 278
Well, dey goes out to de fo'k of de road, but yo' gotta go at twelve a'clock in de night - a dark night at twelve a'clock. Yo' goes out dere to dat fo'k an' yo' stan' up - yo' be's talkin' to de devil - de devil have tuh come up dere an' jes' whut chew want, yo'd ask de devil fo' it. Tell de devil whut chew wanted an' whut chew wanta do wit it - tell de devil yo' want him tuh go wit chew tuh do these things. An' den yo'll make a cross mark there an' yo' git some of dat dirt from dose fo'ks. Yo' take dat dirt den an' yo' carry it on back home wit chew. Then yo' git chew - yo' have tuh git chew a black cat, an' yo' put dat black cat in a pot of watah, hot boilin' watah an' let all de meat boil off him. Den yo' take it all an' yo' carry it to a stream of watah runnin' an' yo' empty all dem down dat stream. De one dat stay dere, dat de one yo' git, but de one whut float away you let dat go. Den yo' carry it right on back home an' put it in yore pocket an' tote it. Keep dat wit chew an' dat's lucky to yo'.
(What do you do with that dirt you bring back from the forks of the road?)
Yo' puts dat wit dat - wit de bone - tote dat wit chew. Put it in a little sack an' tote wit chew. That'll he'p yo' - yo' kin do most anything.
Entry 349
If you want to know how to play a banjo or a guitar or do magic tricks, you have to sell yourself to the devil. You have to go to the cemetery nine mornings and get some of the dirt and bring it back with you and put it in a little bottle, then go to some fork of the road and each morning sit there and try to play that guitar. Don't care what you see come there, don't get 'fraid and run away. Just stay there for nine mornings and on the ninth morning there will come some rider riding at lightning speed in the form of the devil. You stay there then still playing your guitar and when he has passed you can play any tune you want to play or do any magic trick you want to do because you have sold your- self to the devil.
Entry 592
Well, I've hear'd of 'em gittin' dirt from de fork of de road. Well, if a - you could go to the fork of the road and git dirt. You works with a mirror. You takes a mirror and you bury it at the fork of a road. Understand? And you let that mirror stay there for three days and afterward you digs this mirror up, and you don't want to be de first one to look into it. Let a cat, either a dog, look into it first. Then after that you can know just what you wants to know through this mirror if anything coming against you.
(You can see it in that mirror?)
Yes, sir - that what ah knows about the fork in the road.
Entry 638
Graveyard dirt kin be used in many different things. It kin be used in love cases. Well, graveyard dust, if yo' wanta use fo' protection in love cases, yo' use it wit de wonderful water.
(What is the wonderful water?)
It's got from a spring runnin' dead no'th, a spring runnin' no'th - lak dis Way, de stream dis-a-way an' de spring heah runnin' no'th. (You get this wonder water and you get this graveyard dirt. How do you prepare this thing now?) Well now, we'll come on down an' prepare it fo' yo'. Yo' git the stream runnin' no'th - de spring is ovah on whut ah would call de south side of a stream runnin' dead no'th. Be sure dat chew find a spring wit de stream runnin' no'th. Well, we takes our graveyard dust an' we gits it in a clear bottle den wit a stopper to it dat we kin stop up, an' we goes an' puts some of de dirt in de bottle an' we gits our spring wit de watah runnin' no'th - we gits dat an' put it in dere. Den when we's goin' pull a deal of any kind, we sits our bottle with this heah graveyard dust in it. Well, quite natch'l, de dust will settle to de bottom of anything. Whatevah we gits our mind on, what de object we got befo' us - whatevah it may be, whether we make good or whether we lose out. Well, we handle dis bottle - we sets it on de table so de top of it will come clear. Yo' know spring watah is clear as a crystal, an' since [if] it clear as a crystal, why we knows everything whatevah we goin' do, we know we'll put it through. We put it ovah whatsomevah it may be. Well, den, if it's not dat way clear, it not fo' our luck tuh change right at dat time, dis heah graveyard dust will come up dere an' cloudy dat water jes' lak a cloudy day - change - de skies will change. It will change within de period of fifteen minutes. It will come on up an' cloudy dat water so yo' can't be sure atall. Den we jes' keep it dere, an' whenevah we goin' tuh do anything - in love cases or whatevah we may do, we goes an' git our bottle an' set it on de table in a quiet place. It's a great magic watah - it's a magic gift. Den we use dat tuh conquer spirits, yo' see, for sech things as whut dey call hants. We use dis heah spring watah wit de graveyard dust in it.
(How would you conquer a hant in that case?)
Well, if we conquer a hant in dat case, we put a little add into dat watah - we add somepin to dat watah, we'd add sulphur. We'd add burnt sulphur, we'd burn it - we'd burn it on de watah, somepin tuh form a little clond on de watah. Den we go up on dere an' git de cloud off an' put de cloud in dere on top of dat. Dat give us mo' force to conquer de spirit - we'd keep spirits away from anything we'd go tuh do. How to make a man come back. Yo'd have tuh use dis same watah in a case lak dat - it's a mind drawin' thing: First, yo' gotta git chure mind on whatevah object yo goin' tuh undertake tuh do. An' aftah we git our mind pin on dis heah, then we sits de watah befo' us an' we looks at de watah. We naturally sits dere an' looks - sometimes it takes us hours, until we kin git contact with the party whosomevah dey may be. They mind an' mah mind contact wit each othah, an' den he'll come tuh me, at de same time whether dey wants me or not. Den if ah want tuh draw 'em back, ah'll turn de watah, ah'll git de square bottle - see, ah'll turn de square side to me, an' ah'll give dem three days tuh roll in. Dey come back an' dey send fo' me. De same watah draw 'em back - draws through de mind, yore mind an' dis othah party's mind would come in contact together an' why, quite natch'ly, yo'll see 'em in three days aftah that. That is, if yo' stay on it dat long.
Entry 818
[Power for good or evil comes from many sources - actually, from one's desire or intention:] Well, it wus a little woman, her husband died an' leave two chil'run, a settle woman, light [complexion], an' it wus a bright-skin man, a settle man. He wus much older then she wus dough [though]. He wus single. He had liked this woman, had loved her an' wanted to marry this woman. An' another woman had love him, see, but he didn't care nuttin fer her. Well, he would buy her ev'ry kin' of thing ev'ry kin' of - nice things you know to bring this woman. He carries her candy, milk, ham an' all kin' of things to bring this woman, but she never would eat it when he'd bring it. She would take it out an' bury it. She wouldn't eat it. An' he kep' bringin' her some of his - he'd bring cloth an' all like dat. Well, she wouldn't use it. So he - fin'lly he couldn't git her that way, he came to see her one day, an' fin'lly he wed her anyhow by chewin' some chewin-gum, somepin like chewin'-gum, an' she inhaled it, choo know.
(What did he put on that?)
I don't know, sir, whut he put on it. An' he would use a white han'kerchif - you see, throw it aroun' like this [demonstrates], zhoo know, whenever he'd come to see her. [The Waving or manipulating of a white perfumed handkerchief appears to have been a fad at one time.] He'd throw it aroun' an' fin'lly she jis' went crazy about him, you see, an' she married dis man. But de other woman had loved 'im an' this other woman wus jealous of her an' this man. An' one day she came to her house an' the way she came she had to come through the back doah, an' she [wife] wus in de house. As she came along she drop some dirt down by de table.
(What sort of dirt did she drop?)
Some kin' of grey-lookin' san'" - where she always stan', you know, washin' dishes. An' she said, "Hey." She didn't hear her because she wus in de house. This wus in de country. She didn't hear her because she was inside de house. She said, "Where are you?" She said, "Here I am." She said, "I thought you ought to be standin' here washin' dishes." She say, "No, here I am in de house today." She she went in an' done dropped dis in there in the kitchen as she was passin'. An' they went on in there wit de talkin'. She said, "Well, now, Louise, I got'a get up an' fix dinnah, '' she say, "he'll be here directly for his dinnah." An' she went on back in the kitchen, went to stirrin' aroun' the table, you know, built a fire in de stove an' messin' aroun' de table an' things like that. An' all at once a pain struck her in the bottom of her foot an' then her foot went right on up to her stomach an' her stomach began to hurt an' she said, "oh," she said, "you know my feet hurt!" An' the other woman said, "Yes?" She said, "Whut's de matter with you?" She say, I don't know." She had jes' stepped on this san' an' it went all on de bottom of her foot, but she didn't see it, you see, an' this woman knowed she had put it there. An' she say, "You know, I got a pain down in this toe." It looked like it would come in spells, you know. It would lay off awhile an' come back again. An' she kep' on like that, didn't pay it no min', didn't thought it 'mount to nuthin. Fin'lly the woman kep' on worryin' her - this other woman went on back home. An' she got bad off, real sick, an' they called de doctor an' tried ev'rything they could an' didn't seem to do her no good. An' one woman come there, she say, "You know one thing, I believe you's hurt." She said, "You reckon?" She said, "Yeh, I believe you's hurt." She said, "Well, I don't know how it works but I seen people hurt an' dat's de way it worked - come in spells like dat." An' sure enough, she say that why she couldn't make a pass - couldn't have a action. An' so she tole her about a root man. They took her in de buggy an' carried her - I don't know where he lived - an' this man fixed her up. She said the man said, "This a simple thing." He worked through the spirit, with the Lord, you know. He reads the Bible an' all. Before time she walked in the house he could tell her - he commence to tellin' her whut she come for an' tell her she wus hurt. An' he gave her some plain aloes - this bitter medicine, this black aloes with whiskey on it an' tell her take a teaspoonful of that ev'ry four hour. An' he give her a box of sulphur an' tell her take a pinch of that sulphur whenever she take this aloes. So she did that an' fin'lly she begin to have a action an' you know her bowels begin to hurt an' she pass. A snake come from her. The snake had a head on both end. Den a scorpren [scorpion] at de next time. Well, she said she continued takin' that. After that passed she begin to get all right. She had to pay fifty-five dollah.
Entry 821
I have a fellah, he told another boy an' myself - we always knowed 'im being very high [a high man = cunjureman] - he could do anything he wanted to do. In fact, I knowed 'em to put 'im in jail an' handcuff 'im, an' put 'im in a cell, a couple of hours after he'd be on the street. Nobody could never explain how he'd git out. They had to carry 'im back to jail. Jis' an ol' peaceful ol' quiet fellow, but would git drunk, you know, an' not create a scene, but jis' be disorderly we'll say. An' they'd put 'im in jail, an' the next morning they'd turn 'im out an' never would be no fine. So he said to me and another one of my boy friends - we were always walkin' down this town here - that he could fix us so that we could git all the money or anything else that we wanted, but we'd have to go with him at nighttime. Well, we decided to do it. So he told us to git shovels. So we got shovels. An' I'm not knowin' what he could do - of course, I'm skeered of those sort of things. An' we went around to his place about eight o'clock at night and he entertained us by playin' the guitar and the banjo, and singin' and dancin', till along about eleven o'clock we thought somepin ought to take place then, becuz it wus time for us to go home and go to bed. So he say at twelve o'clock we wus goin' out to the graveyard - to our colored graveyard, that there wus a body there had been buried jist a certain length of time. Seems as though a body had to be buried that's dead in a grave a certain length of time. And he said -
(Where was this cemetery?)
This cemetery wus about a half a mile out of this present town on this Deals Island road. And he said after a body laid in the grave so many days - I think he said ten days that there would be a slobber that would come from the mouth. And we had to git into this grave, that he would git this slobber. And he said twelve o'clock. Well, I wus through with 'im right then as soon as he said twelve o'clock. But he never told us whut we had to do until this particular night. And he would get this slobber. Our work would be to open the grave, and he'd go in it and git this off of this body; we'd cover it up and come on back. Then he'd build these things the next day. But he had to have that. Now I've heard speak of he had to have graveyard dust out of a coffin, but he never told us whut he could do with it or anything. But he did specialize in the slobber that would develop from a man's mouth or anyone that's been dead ten days. And that would be gotten and put together with various other things, and he would be equipped to do anything that he wanted to do and get away with.
Entry 823
I know a lady whose husband would fight her quite often and he was noted for biting her when he fought her. And she was told, when he bit her severely, to go to the cemetery and get some of the dirt from the graveyard, and put on this where he bit her, and it would cause all of his teeth to drop out. (Did she do it?) Well, she went out there and put it on, but whether his teeth dropped out or not I don't know.
Entry 900
Dey did it with mah brothah. Well, dey took one of de dead bones out of it, out of de dead person rib - de last rib on de left side. An' dey cut dat rib into three parts an' make it as near like a cross, see, an' den wrap it an' sew it into a piece of cloth, red flannen, an' den dey put black peppah, salt an' graveyard dirt in that, an' bury it right at de front steps, as yo' come out. That'll cause yo to go crazy, hate everybody dat near yo' would care fo' yo' - would like anybody dat hate yo', an' de people dat care fo' yo' dey can't come near yo', an' finally yo'll die. Well, it be a short death, 'cause he didn't live ovah one week an' fo' days - mah next oldest brothah. An' dis man dug it up an' showed it to us, an' he said it wus de last rib of a man an' wus cut into three parts - 'cause we looked at it. It placed in a little small three-cent cream can - was in dat an' buried undah de steps.
Entry 1030
[Although the following rite deals with love, the doctor uses this coffeepot method for all sorts of cases:] Now, listen. Dis woman an' her husband couldn't git along. He's very noisy an' he has - naturally he is diff'rent from her an' he do things she didn't like an' always cause an argument. So he goes away fo' foah months, yo' understand. He goes away fo' foah months. Well, dis woman she got in love - dis is Anna - Anna wus so much, yo' know, so crazy about him an' loved him an' want to live with him an' all lak dat, so she goes to dis woman an' tole dis woman how, whut an' ever'thing. Dis woman said, "Kin yo' come down heah eleven-thirty? Ah want chew tuh go to de cemetery. Bring two pieces of money - two pennies, an' take up dirt from de foot an' de haid an' bring it back to me. Ah'll put it in a coffeepot." She fixed it up - she put sulphur an' peppah or salt - ah don't know jes' what, but we'll say peppah an' she give it back to Anna. She put salt an' peppah with dis dirt - she put it in de coffeepot an' she prayed ovah it. Ah don't know whut de prayer. An' she give this dirt to Anna an' she said, "An' yo' write his name on a papah three times a day an' burn dis papah six a'clock in de mawnin', twelve in de day an' six in de evening" - see - "an' do dat fo' nine days, an'in de third day write him a lettah."
(The third day during those nine days?)
Yes - yo' understand. After ah do dis nine days [she reveals the identity of the woman going to the doctor], den after dat three days, write him a lettah on de third day, yo' understand. "An' yo'll hear from him, an' yo' an' him will git back together in three days or three months." An' in two months time dey wus back together. (When she went out to the graveyard, what did she do out there? She took some dirt and what?) She took dirt from de graveyard - dat wus supposed to be at twelve a'clock at night, but Anna had tuh go to dis place an' be there at eleven-thirty an' talk to dis woman. She had to go to dis place alone - de cemetery alone. Well, Anna is very nervous ~ er - ah had a lot of nerve, yo' know. She goes to de cemetery an' she gits dis dirt from de foot an' de head. Yo' understand me? An' she bring it back to this woman. She put it in a coffeepot wit, we'll say peppah - put peppah in it an' give it to Anna an' said, "Yo' write his name on a piece of papah."
(When she put it in the coffeepot did she do anything to it in the coffeepot?)
Not anythin' - jes' put it in dere an' pray ovah it an' take it out. No - no cookin'.
Entry 1313
An old lady, she lives out there in [New] Kent [County, Virginia]. I can't call her name now, but she's a dark woman, she's got a daughter name Mattie about chore color, and she goes out to it every thirty days. She goes out to the graveyard and get about, I reckon about a half a pound that dirt. Ev'ry morning she changes that dirt in her shoes - says it keep the evil spirit out. And at nights when she go to bed she sprinkles it all around her door. [My informant, who intended no offense, is merely saying that a dark woman had a daughter name Mattie about as white as anyone could be.]
Entry 1471
To protect your things when you leave home - I've heard old people say, to keep anyone from entering your house while away, if you'll walk five steps from the door, throw some salt over your left shoulder, then over your right shoulder, then make a hole and spit in the hole and cover it with dirt, then walk ten more feet and make an X in the road, make a circle around the X, and then make a secret wish - if you should go away from home and stay two weeks, no one will enter your house while away.
Entry 1485
Now dis salt an' brimstone an' graveyard dirt is used fo' many things - see, that salt an' brimstone. Take table salt an' sulphur an' brimstone an' burn it together - see, burn it together, an' den make a sack of that. See, that is called a bodyguard, body protection - make a sack of that. [This is a hand.] An' every nine days saturate [feed] dat good an' well wit camphor. That will keep - not sin, but will keep de evil spirits off yuh - using a little graveyard dust in dat.
(Nobody can harm you if you have that on you?)
No sir, can't harm you.
Entry 1629
A woman was mad at my sister and I was staying across the street from her and she came by my house. And I got up next morning to go out and she had a whole lot of graveyard dirt throwed all over my porch. And do you know, I had to move out of that house - made me move. They sure make you move. I didn't know she put it there but someone tole me after I moved that she did. Of course, if I knew it, I wouldn't move I reckon. They tell me how to kill that out - to get some chamber lye and salt and pepper, and throw it all around yore house and that'll kill that out.
Entry 1727
Well, ah tole him [my contact man] that if yo' wanted tuh break up any- one - yo' understan', separate anyone, yo' git some graveyard dirt an' yo' git dirt dauber with the holes in it, yo' understan'. Yo' roll that dirt dauber an' yo' git nine pods of red peppah an'.yo' git cayenne peppah an' yo' git vinegar an' yo' put it in a black bottle an' turn it upside down, an' in any corner of their yard. Ah guarantee it'll break anybody up dat chew Wanta break up.
(You put this bottle in the yard of the people you want to break up?)
No, in yore yard, right where yo' workin yore - yo' put that bottle. Dat'll separate anybody.
(Well, how would I know that I am separating the right people?)
Well, suppose yo' workin' fo' a person - tuh separate a party. Yo' know whut party yo' workin' fo'. Well, yo' know when dey separate. [You will know by your intention.]
Entry 1781
Dat's easy. You kin take an' make a little box. You know you kin git dese, any kind of little box you understand and make it - you know, shape it like a coffin. But co'se you have to have it shaped like a coffin, don't you. Got'a carry it to somebody if you can't do it yourself - got'a carry it to somebody an' have dem fix it jis' like a coffin. You gits some new linen cloth and you tack it around in there with shoe tacks never been used - git chew a nickel box of shoe tacks and you tack dat cloth around in dere, see. After you tack that cloth in there, you git some black dirt and put into it; git some pot salt and sprinkle onto dat dirt. Well, after you have sprinkle de salt, you git chew some clear sand. You know dese sand and gravel whut you mix concrete wit; git some clear sand like dat and put on top of dat salt, see. All right, and you git chew some chamber lye from somebody else - you understand, not yours. You have to git it from somebody else and you pour that onto that you understand and you carry dat [coffin] and bury it into de graveyard. And that will be the end of dem.
(Well, whose end would that be? Whom would you kill that way?)
Kill de person you want, see. (Well, how would you say that? "This is the person I want?" How would you do that?) You would jest have to call dere name - see, at de time when you buryin' it.
Entry 1939
Dat graveyard dirt, why ah've got it mahself to be lucky. Why ah take it an' some Hearts Cologne an' git me a silver dime an' put into it, an' wrap it up in some red flannel an' wear it in mah shoe fo' nine days - in mah left shoe fo' nine days. An' ah change it out an' put it in mah right shoe fo' nine days. An' de tenth day, why if ah felt like it, if ah had a job or gambling, ah'd go back to gambling, why ah'd always be lucky.
Entry 1943
Well, there's diff'rent things. They said that they take that grave- yard dirt and mix it with - just like if they working on a job and they wan'a get 'em away [from] there. Well they get the graveyard dirt, but they get it off a sinner's grave. And they take this graveyard dirt and you mix with pepper and salt, and get to where this person that you wan'a get off the job, and sprinkle on 'em and they won't be able to stay on that job.
Entry 1955
Well now, a lady got my hair one time and she stopped it up in a bottle and she buried it. So it almost run me crazy but I went to a man. He made her bring de hair back. She'd brought it face to face and give it to me and told me why she did it, because she thought I had nothing to do but sit on de porch and read papers and I was in better circumstances den her. So dis man asked me what did I want done with her. I say, "Well, tain't worth while to kill her, but jest send her away from Portsmouth." I was living in Portsmouth. Well, he sent her away and he wasn't nine days sending 'er either. He just got three pinches - jest like that - pinches of dirt and sewed it up.
(Was this out of her left track? Tell me just what he did in this case.)
He got three pinches of dirt out of her left track, right in the hollow of her foot and put it - made a little cloth bag and put that in there and sewed it up and had taken it to running water and made three wishes and threw it overboard. She went away from dere. [Norfolk, Va., (486), 514:8.] [To show that my comment did not suggest a left-track rite to informant, I will now quote the left-track rite given by informant two rites preceding present one.] Get the dirt out of the left foot, three pinches, and put that in a cloth rag you know and sew it up. And take it to running water and throw it overboard and make three wishes before you do it. And when you make them three wishes - they gone from here. An' I know that to be true.
(You make the wishes just for them to leave?)
Yeah.
(You mean just to leave town or to die?)
To leave, to die - either one. You make de wishes - if you want 'em just leave town, make it dat way; and if you want 'em to die, you make it dat way. [Norfolk, Va., (486), 514:6.] [Both these original transcriptions - 514:6 & 514:8 - are part of the final manuscript.]
Entry 2315
De graveyard dirt by itself is not no good, but it's a certain time yo' gotta go git de graveyard, de dirt from de graveyard. One minute aftah twelve yo' supposed tuh be dere tuh git it from a fren' dat yo' an' him been long nice good - yo' an' him been good, see jes' lak a fren'. Yo' swap money wit him - could handle money wit him or somepin lak dat. One minute aftah twelve on de dot, yo call him by dey name when yo' go down dere by de graveyard, one minute aftah twelve. Say, "Joe, Jim, '' say, "come heah, ah want some luck from yo'. Ah wanta git a little de dirt." An' don't git de dirt right off de top of de groun'. Git it from as close by de casket [coffin], if de casket ain't rotted up, but it's bettah if yo' could git it right out it if de casket done been long 'nuff fo' it tuh done rotten. An' yo' take it an' mix it wit steel dust an' take yo' a silver dime - dat graveyard dust, de silver dime an' take yo' a piece of red flannen, an' git chew some oil of cinnamon an' mix wit dat an' make yo' a little bag an' wear it on yore left side. Dat's luck. Put de steel dust down in dere wit de silver dime, put it down in dere wit it an' wear dat on yore left side. Dat's luck fo' gamblin'. Success. But it's dangerous! Lightnin'! De dust, it draws. De steel dust is de same as lodestone, yo' know, it's always dangerous. Be sho' tuh take it off yo' in de case of thunder or lightnin' storm. Yo' should take it off yo'.
Entry 2473
Well, heah whut yo' git - black peppah whut chew cooks wit, whut chew eats wit. Yo'll git dirt dauber nest out de roof de house, yo'll git a little bit of dirt from under yore steps, an' yo'll mix dat an' physic salts. It's a diff'rent one dem salts though from Epsom, but den ah kin tell yo' fur as ah know de salts. Ah don't know - yo' cain't keep up wit de name of 'em, but dere's some salts dey keep right heah in de Kress Ten-Cent Sto' in bags. An' yo'll take some of dat salts an' yo'll take dat dirt dauber nest an' yo'll - now, yo' listen jes' whut ah say now - an' yo'll take a lil piece of bluestone, jes' a lil piece an' yo'll mash all of dat as a powders. See, dirt dauber nest an' black peppah, an' yo'll put them together, yo' see, wit dat little dirt from undah yore steps, an' yo'll mash 'em together an' make a powders of dat. An' all yo' have to do is jes' sprinkle it anywhere roun' yore home an' it will draw dem.
(That'll draw trade?)
Ah mean he gotta come - ah done prove dat.
reported attracting/coming effect without unambiguous trade-only target. Do not convert the claim into exclusively drawing trade/customers or a named person. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 2740
Well, now, dere's lota other things whut ah hear people talk about gamblin' han's. Ah hear a fellah say a time ago dat he went to de Seven Sisters in Virginia, but he said he went dere fo' a gamblin' han'. Well, he wus give a gamblin' han fo' - by, not de people he went tuh see. He went to see dem [Seven Sisters] but dey wasn't in at present, but he found some man dey call Mr. G. H. Smith. He called tuh be a confidence man, which an' evah he is. G. H. Smith & Company ~ de books Company'S name on dat. Spells his name lak dat - G. H. Smith & Company. Dis man gived him a piece of lodestone an' he gave him a piece of somepin dey call de five-fingers [grass]; but dis was to be found in de woods, dis five- fingers. It's like a flower grows - it grow in de shape of five fingers, jest lak dose five fingers [demonstrates]. Dey gave him a piece of dat, after gitting dis lodestone, an' den he told him dat he would give him some othah kind of mix- ture. Dat wus wrapped up in a cloth an' it looked lak dat wus graveyard dirt. An' he told him to put dis all in dis little bottle an' every mornin' he tole him tuh feed dis heah wit Hearts Cologne. Now, dis stuff - ah looked at de thing an' it eat up de stuff, dat Hearts Cologne jest lak yo' take water an' drink it. Now, yo' could po' some of dis bottle like dis morning an' fill dat bottle half full, an' twelve a'clock every bit of dat stuff be gone. Dat stuff - whut dey had in dat bottle wit dat five- finger - would suck it up. Now, dis man could go into a gambling hall - no one knows de truth if I would tell it - he could go into de gambling hall an' money - jest walk in an' hold de cards - pick up any cards - doesn't matter whut cards he pick up - he could pick up any card an' that card would get him through. Now he could sit there an' jes' beat de skin game.
Entry 3107
If she'd [some woman had] gone away from you, she'd [Zippy Tull would] tell you, "Bring me the right shoe an' the last track she made of goin' from home" - take the dirt from that track goin' from home, an' her right shoe, an' bring it to her. She'd take this shoe, she dressed this shoe an' had this shoe - you see, the toe wus goin' from the house, she'd have you to bury it, the toe goin' to de house; the shoe, you change it right around. She put that [track] in the shoe. An' in nine day's time she'd tell you she'd [be] there, she come very near bein' there.
Entry 3255
(Do they get it out of any particular track, or doesn't it make any difference?) No, it don' make any diff'rence jis' since it de hollah of dey track, yo' undahstan'. See, right in de hollah of dey track. Dey take dat dirt, yo' undah- stan' an' wrap it up in a rag, see. Take dat rag, if yo take it out a girl's track, yo' take it to yore home, yo' undahstan', an' put dat rag up undah de baid in de rollah.
(You take the roller out and put it up in that hole and put the roller back?)
Dat's it, an' dat girl won' take nobody else, have nuthin tuh do wit inter'- co'se atall. [Bed leg, roller not mentioned, will be found later under margin title UNDERWEAR.]
Entry 3971
Dere a man, his wife wuz runnin' roun', an' aftah she got de ronin' fit, she didn't want 'im. An' he wuz wondahin' how would he do tuh make her wanta leave 'em off. So he jes' got tuh thinkin' roun' an' he said, "Well, ah'll know whut ah'll do." He says, "Ah'll git even wit 'er. Ah'll put 'er away." So he got a li'le dirt outa her laig track - got dat. Den he got a li'le of 'er monthly periods an' he put dat in a bottle, an' he stopped it up an' he taken dat tuh runnin' watah. He taken it down dere about sundown, right aftah it wuz dark, an' it wuz tied dere. An' as long as dat bottle bobbled [bobbed] on de watah, her mind would go. An' she finely [finally] went until she run crazy. Huh mind run clean away from huh. An' he nevah seen [her] from dat day he did dat until she died.
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 4505
Well, now, dey kin take yuh watah whut chew bath in an' yuh kin take dat watah an' po' out jes' like de sediment - dey ketch de sediment, de bottom. Dey don't ketch de top, git de bottom part of de dirt. It's from, yuh know, what comes from de hide. Yuh undahstan' me, from yuh hide. See, de sediment goes into de bottom. De watah dirty on top, but chew kin take time an' po' it out an' ketch de drainin's. Ketch dat dust. All right. Yuh'll take dat an keep it fer twelve days, undahstan' me. Den aftah de twelve days, yuh'll take it an' yuh'll go tuh a creek, forward, an' don't nevah look back. Whilst yuh's goin' it's diff'run', yuh mind is on goin' to dat creek. Don't look back'tall fer nuthin. When yuh get to de creek - yuh gets tuh de creek or rivah or what- somevah it is an' throw it back like dat. Yuh take dis han' heah [demonstrates].
(Your left hand.)
Dis han' here, dis yore heart. Throw it ovah dere an' go on about chure business. Don't look back.
(You throw it over your right shoulder?)
Yes, take dat lef' han'
(What will that do then?)
Well, dat is - dat man dat yuh wants tuh do dat tuh, dat gives 'i, he cain't stay nowheres. He has tuh jes' - see, de creek is got dat goin', an' jes' like he is goin'. He be here an' aroun' tuhday an' tuhmorrah in anothah little town somewheres, an' on an' on, unless yuh save a little of dat watah an' yuh git tired of 'im goin'. Yuh save a little watah an' change it. Go tuh a creek an' take dis han' an' throw it ovah. An' aftah it gits far as yuh wanta - if it git fer enough from yuh, dere ain't no way fer 'im tuh git back, becuz he'll nevah have de mind tuh git back tuh yuh. (In other words, if you want him to stop roaming, you take the other hand, the right hand, and throw this stuff over the left shoulder.) Yes sir, ovah de right shouldah [see correction later]. Take yuh lef' han' an' throw it ovah yuh right shouldah [see correction later].
(That's to get rid of him?)
Yes. (What's to make him stop then, when you take that other piece of dirt? When you go back to the creek the second time?) Well, yuh save some of dat sediment an' throw it ovah yuh left-han' shouldah [here is the correction] but don't look back. Well dat stops 'im. (You take the right hand and throw it over the left shoulder. I see.)
Entry 4682
Dey kin take dat, take dat bow from mah hat, if anybody git holt of it, lak dat [shows his hat]. Yuh see, dere it's hot now. Yuh see ah'm sweatin'. Sit down dere, yuh undahstan', an' takin' a knife an' scrape it outa dere, jis' lak dat, an' take all dat dirt an' sweat out of dere tuhgethah, an' git it outa dere till dey git quite a nice bladeful. Git about a knifebladeful out de bow of de hat, yuh undahstan'. An' yuh take dat an' yuh go tuh work, yuh undahstan', an' go tuh a tree an' digs yuh a hole in dere. Gits yuh somepin othah tuh gouge yuh a hole in dat tree lak dat dere. An' den take dat knife an' wipe dat thing off on a li'le piece of rag, an' take an' shove it back in dere. An' git chew a stoppah, make yuh a peg tuh fit dat hole an' drive it in dere. Drive it in dere tight jis' lak dat. Yuh kill 'em, bash it - hit ovah 'is haid.
(That gives him a bad headache and kills him?)
Kill 'im.
Entry 4852
Jes' lak yuh in love wit a fellah an' yuh can't - yuh wan's 'im an' yuh can't git 'im lak yuh wan' 'im. All right, if yuh kin git a chance tuh wash fo' him, yuh take dose pieces dat he wear, his un- dah pieces an' all dat chew kin git tuh, an' put it tuh soak ovah night. Nex' mawnin' when yuh git up, yuh wash dem pieces out wit'out any soap. Rub 'em. git all dirt dat yuh kin out of dem. Den yuh take an' take de drainin's - turn it [pan or tub] on one side an' drain it [water] off. Take de drainin's of dat dirt come outa his clothes an' stop it up in a bottle. An' put it right undah de centah of yore bed undah de house - bury it dere. Turn it bottom upward, an' put it undah de centah, an' covah it up an' make yore wishes. Den he be comin' dere - he be yores. He come tuh be yores. From time tuh time he keep acomin'.
Entry 4892
Ah hear sompin about socks, dat chew take it an' take yore socks, one, dis is de right-foot sock, a man's sock. Ah guess it's de same way about de stockin', whut a man does fo' a woman. Yuh take dat an' put it undah yore do'- step. Let de toe go south an' de heel go east, an' de upper part no'th. Straighten it out straight. real straight undah dere. Yuh know, undah de do'step, rake yuh off a nice clean place undah dere, down in de dirt jis' about a inch down in de dirt, an' yuh lay dat down in dere, see. Git chew some tacks an' put three in de toe an' three in de heel an' three in de uppah part, an' three in de part right in front de heel. Yuh know, jis' stretch it out straight.
(You put three in the toe and three in the heel and three in the top.)
An' den three ovah heah in de front part, right heah, see [demonstrates].
(Right there in the ankle, the upper part of the ankle.)
An' den yuh put dat dirt back ovah it smooth. Dat's whut ah heard dat yuh could do wit dat. Put dat dirt ovah dat smooth, an' whoevah name is dere or who- evah yuh fixin' it fo', write dey name an' put dat intuh dere. Put dat on de sock befo' yuh put de dirt on it, see. An' den yuh read de 27th chapter of Psalms. Say dat's fo' people - tuh prevent drunkness, drink too much. Dat'll break 'em up from dat. [This keep-him-home rite keeps him from going out to drink with the boys.]
Entry 4893
De stockin' tuh de left foot yuh know, an' yuh bury it, bury it in de groun' tuh a cornah of 'er house. Well, when yuh bury dis sock, well yuh have it [the situation] jis' lak yuh wan' it. Well, when yuh do dat yuh - his co'ns [corns] yuh know, jis' lak he got co'ns or anythin', or fingahnails or toenails. Well, yuh git a piece of dat an' yuh take dat [and bury with it].
Entry 5038
Yuh could fix 'em diff'ren' ways in dat if yuh got dere stockin' or anythin', cuz dere [they are] dark stockin'. Well dey - well yuh take a dirty sock or stockin' from 'em like dat. Well dey got dirt in dere. Yuh could take dat dirt an' if yuh want tuh do 'em harm, yuh could take it an' bury it or do anythin' yuh want wit it - jis' depend what yuh wan'a do it fo'. See, dat's how dey do's wit dat. Now, yuh could take her socks or stockin's from a woman an' run 'er crazy wit it.
(How would you do that?)
Well, yuh see, yuh take her stockin' an' it got dirt in it. Yuh git a piece of 'er hair an' yuh sew it up wit what yuh call dis fast luck [perfume or powder] an' sew it up tight. Yuh walk tuh any creek or any runnin' watah - an' sew it up tight - an' when yuh walk back from down tuh de creek or anywhere de running [water] is, yuh jis' turn backwards an' make three wishes - any wishes yuh want. Jis' like if yuh wanta run 'er in dat fast watah or run 'er out of town, or run 'er any part of de worl' dat yuh feel like. Jis' make de wishes fo' dat. Throw it backwards. Walk nine steps befo' dat yuh evah look back tuhward dat watah. Jis' long as dat turnin' in de water, she go on.
(You mean, you throw it over your left shoulder?)
Yeah, ovah yore lef' shouldah an' walk nine steps befo' yuh evah look back. But yuh make de three wishes, jis' de wishes yuh want.
Entry 5142
Yuh take dat shoe - jis' take one of 'em, de one tuh de right foot. An' burn it halfway up. Den take it an' care [carry] it an' dig yuh a hole an' bury dat shoe. Pray ovah it. Go dah evah mawnin' an' throw a handful of dirt on dat, an' he'll leave yuh. Yuh won' have no trouble wit 'im, he'll go on whah he won' bothah yuh no more.
Entry 5143
Well, now, dere one dat ah heah dey do wit a shoe, wuz take it an' jis' lak make 'em restless.
(How do they do that?)
Well, yo' take dat shoe an' yo' carry it an' yo' bury it bottomside upwards; jis' lak yo' dig a hole, jis' lak yo' diggin' a grave. Yo' put dat shoe down in dere - see, bury it. An' when yo' bury dat shoe in dere, yo' cuss dat person evah kinda dirty cuss dat chew kin think of, an' pack dat dirt. Well, dere's no Way in dis worl' fo' dem tuh rest, an' dey won' be heah no longah.
(You say you bury that shoe like you are digging a grave?)
Yeah, jes' lak yo' dig a hole. Put it deep, cuz sompin othah will scratch it up. An' bury dat shoe, pack de dirt on it. An' as yo' pack it yo' cuss it, jis cuss 'em jis' as hard as [you can].
(Either shoe?)
Dat's right. Any kinda shoe, jis' since it's a shoe dey done wore. But it got'a be wored, dat shoe, a good length of time. Den yo' bury it, see. Dat's right.
Entry 5332
Dey take mah, yo' know, pick de dirt up. Ah'm walk- in' dis way an' co'se ah wuz told dat dey pick de dirt up of me goin' dis way [demonstrates].
(From the toe back to the heel.)
Yes, pick mah dirt up lak dat. Well, ah wuz told it wuz put intuh a red flannel cloth an' throwed intuh runnin' watah - BLACK RUNNIN' WATAH.
(Why black?)
Ah don' know about dat.
[This is my only example of black running water.]
(What did they do that for?)
Well, dat wuz tuh make me jes' travel an' wandah.
Entry 5335
I used to hear my father say they would take up sand from out of your track and put it into a bottle, and put some chemicals in there. Then they take it and put it underneath the doorstep and put this vial in there and cover it up. Then they proclaimed they were cun- juring the missus and master. [For bottle, see also pre- ceding margin title BLACK BOTTLE.]
Entry 5342
Ah've heard de story about, if you are angry with someone or somepin... ah've heard people say, mah mothah an' oldah people say, dat people have told 'er about, dat yo' kin take dis dirt where de person walks. Take dat dirt out of dere track an' put it in a bottle an' throw at in runnin' watah, an' dey'll lose dere mind. [Snow Hi11, Md., (86), 4:8.]
Entry 5348
Well, ah heard dat yo' could take de dirt out from undah de right feet an' put it in a bottle, an' carry it tuh de rivah an' turn yore back tuh it, an' stop it in de bottle about dat full, jes' enough fo' de watah seep in. An' take it an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' says, Go, devil, go. An' ovah dat yo' throw half dat dirt.
(You get that out of that foot track, the right foot?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5374
Tuh git yore foot track, why yo' jis' take dat dirt outa de bottom of it an' put it intuh a bottle or somepin an' bury it. Dat foot track, or eithah put it in a cornah in de house some place. An' dat'll make yo' stay dere.
(Do you get both foot tracks or just one of them?)
Jis' one, de right one.
Entry 5375
Dey take de dirt out of a right-foot track, an' yo' take it an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' cuss de person an' tell 'em tuh leave out of town. (Get the dirt from the right foot track?) Yes.
Entry 5376
Ah heard 'em say dat dey kin git chure right-foot track an' run yo' 'way from town. Dey kin take chure right-foot track an' sprinkle some cayenne peppah in dat dirt an' mix it up good. Take it tuh a stream of runnin' watah an' jes' throw it in de watah an' jes' cuss. Make a mean cussword an' pitch dat sand in de watah an' walk off from it an' don't look back at it.
(You pitch it up over your shoulder?)
Dat's it, up ovah de shouldah. Jes' pitch it an' don' even look back at it, jes' walk on off from dere.
Entry 5407
Dat is, if it's a woman an' yo' wan' 'er tuh visit dis place here, yo' see. Yo' kin always have her tuh come here by dat foot track, if it's any way dat de foot track, if it's been rainin' data- way, if de soil is soft enough fo' yo' tuh gathah some of dat up wit dese two fingahs. See, takin' de length of 'er feet dataway an' drawin' 'em slightly dis way [demonstrates].
(Take the thumb and the little finger.)
Dat's right, see.
(Of the left hand or right hand?)
Right hand, see. Drawin' 'em slightly dis way [demonstrates].
(You catch it up between those two fingers.)
Yes sir, an' aftah pickin' it up, yo' see, take dat an' bury it undah yore step where yo' live at, where yo' wan' 'er tuh follah.
(I see.)
An' she be accustomary woman come in dere - yo' understan' daily.
(I see. Just take that one pinch?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5427
Dey says dey kin take yore tracks - yo' know, jis' lak yo' git de dirt outa yore tracks, an' takes it tuh de fo'ks of a road. An' put it in de fo'ks of de road an' git chew tuh wandahin'. Dey put it right at de fo'ks of de road an' it put chew tuh wandahin' aroun'.
Entry 5488
Well, dey say yo' could take three dips of earth outa dey right track, an' take a gunshot an' take some of de shots out of it, an' put dat dirt in dere an' covah it back up, an'.shoot it anywhere, object dat chew want 'em tuh go, an' cuss 'em. Tell 'em tuh go.
(You put that into a gun. That's to make them move out?)
Yes.
Entry 5495
Ah says dere wuz once a man an' wife twan't [they were not] gittin' 'long good. Dey wuz gittin' 'long happy at one time an' den dey had some sort of misundahstan'in' an' dey couldn't git 'long tuhgethah. So he wuz studyin' a way how tuh make her love him an' git 'long happy tuh- gethah. So he taken some of de dirt outa her lef' track an' he fixed it up wit Hearts Cologne an' sweet camphor. [Does informant mean sweet niter, or camphor with a sweet in- gredient?] Tuk [took] an' he mixed dat all tuhgethah, an' he got three stran's of her hair out of her haid, an' he fixed it up in a li'le small sort of sompin lak a li'le small package. An' he tied it wit a string an' jes' bind it so it rest right up undah his left, right in de hairs of 'is ahm [arm], so it git de sweat on it. Well, den aftah while dey got 'long very happy.
Entry 5497
Git de dirt outen dere track, in de middle of de feet, in de right feet, goin', an' git it outen de left. Den yo' take dat an' git de hair from heah [demonstrates] an' from de back.
(The hair from the top of the head, [and] the back of the neck.)
An' yo' mix dat tuhgethah an' yo' totes dose fo' luck. Totes dose fo' luck tuh git 'im back. Jes' lak if yo' have a husban' an' yo' cain't do anythin' wit 'im, an' den yo' take dat stuff an' put it tuhgethah. Dat'll always keep 'is mind always comin' back home.
(Where do you put this stuff after you get it?)
Well, yo' put it - jes' sew it up in yore dress, or eithah take it an' tie it up an' put it in yore baid mattress or yore pillah where yo' sleep on it.
(That will bring a man back.)
Entry 5499
Jes' lak if he run aroun' wit a woman, yo' kin take his track - dat's yore husban'. Take his right track an' git de dirt out de hollah of 'is foot, 'is track. Take dat dirt an' put some black peppah intuh it, an' a li'le salt, an' wrap it up in a piece of brown papah, an' bury it undahneat' of yore do'step. Put a li'le of 'is hair in dere. An' he'll stay bne.
Entry 5500
She can take and get a piece of dirt from his left-foot track, and a lock of his hair, and a piece of his underwear, and nine nails, and seven grains of red pepper, and put all of that in one pack- age, wrap very careful, and take it and put it down at the sill of the door, out the door like that, and lean the package back, and he will come back home. [Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 5502
I have heard that if two men are going to see the same girl, one of the men can take some dirt from this girl's left-foot track and a piece of her hair, and make a pocket-piece of it. He puts that together in a pack- age and wears it in his left pocket. Finally, he will change the girl's mind and she will take to him instead of the other fellow. [Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 5504
Take a man who quarrel and mean in his home. You [the root doctor] take a pinch of dirt out of his right-foot track, take a piece of hair out of the lower part of you[him], get a piece of her [pubic] hair, and then wrap hers round his [pinch of dirt and hair which have been wrapped in paper or a rag], and that'll tie him to her, and he will come to seriously love her as he always did. [Doctor Frank Hall, see vol.1, Intro., P. XxIX and p.573, by hand.]
Entry 5508
Well now, if yo' got a man an' yo' wan's tuh drive him away - ah mean, If yo' wan'a git rid of 'im, yo' git some dirt outa his shoe track an' git some Wdr out of haid, out de top of 'is haid, an' tie dat intuh a rag an' throw it ia rummin' stream of watah, goin' downstream, an' dat will carry 'im away.
Entry 5527
Ah'm tellin' whut experienced. Dey take de dust, de dirt out from yure lef' foot, an' dey put it in a li'le small bag an' mix wit Devil Lye. An' put it in a secret place dat chew kin walk ovah it, an' dat'll cuz pain in yore foot. Yo"mem- bah [remember] readin' duh Bi- ble whah [where] it says, in Numbahs [Nuonbers] de 27th and 15th [chapter 27, verse 15].
(What Was that? From the Bible?)
De Numbahs, ah say, de 27th an' 15th, say, "Warned he dat hideth anything in a secret place dat yore neighbor finds it not."
(That's from Numbers, 27th chapter,15 verse?)
[The preceding guotation comes not from Numbers but from Deuteronomy as fol- lows: Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen" - King James Version.] [While recording machine was stopped I must have asked informant, "Where did you hear this?" He evidently answered, "From my uncle."]
(Where did he live, here?)
Oh, he daid now. He used tuh live in Perry County, in Perry County, Ala., Scott Station.
(What was his name?)
His name Jim Herod. An' one [another uncle] named Winston Williams. Well, he daid.
(Well, he wasn't your uncle?)
Both of 'em mah uncle. Both uncle on mah mothah's side, but dey had diff'- ren' fathahs, see.
(Well, whose remedy was this? Who told you this?)
Mah uncle Jim Herod.
(Well, you tell me which one of your uncles you learned these things from?)
[This man Was brought to me as a root doctor. Two comments of mine are on the original transcription: "not much" and later "may use as [[an example of]] a fake R.D.[[root doctor]]. THE LATTER CRITICISM IS UNJUST. I WAS TOO SEVERE ON THESE EARLIER INFORMANTS. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS LYE-TRACK RITE, AS THE PRECEDING AND LATER-IN-DATE EXAMPLE FROM BRUNSWICK, GA., SHOWS.]
Entry 5543
(I am going to talk to a girl now who was here the other day, by the name of Mary Magdalene. I am not certain that I have her material on the rec- ords, so to be certain I am going to take it down again. Her number was 679.) (All right, go ahead I want to be ableto hear you.) It's a man - if yo' want him to come back, yo' know, and if he goes out chure house, well yo' pick up the left-foot track, the dirt. Put it into a box and shut it up. And get to de right-foot track and get yo' a pine stick - about this long a stick - and take it and nail underneath of de steps. And take that dirt and bring it into your house, and put it right underneath - place it right underneath of your mattress, if you want him to come back, and he can't get away from you. [THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH IS VERY COMMON IN HOODOO, SOMETHING IS MISSING. THESE FREQUENT MISSING SOMETHINGS REQUIRE TOTAL CONCENTRATION ON WHAT THE SPEAKER SAYS. FOR THIS REASON I ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:]
(You said something about a pine stick?)
Yes, sir.
(What do you do with that?)
Measure that stick just as long as his right foot. And nail it underneath of your step. [Informant's answer is quite evident in her original statement, but her ex- planation was necessary for the record.]
(I see.)
But the bottom where you measure it - the bottom of it, turn it towards the ground. [That part of the stick touching ground during measurement must when tacked under step face downwards towards ground.l
(I see.)
Underneath the step, tack it up underneath the step. And you place that dirt in your bed mattress where you sleep.
(That's the dirt from the left foot?)
Yes, sir.
(And what do you measure with this stick?)
The right one.
[This is merely checking, not trying to trick informant.]
(The right one, and what is that to do?)
That's to make him stay. (Make him stay. Now, what kind of tracks do you get? His tracks out there, any track?) When he leaves out, yes sir - just right where he steps on de dirt.
(Oh, when he's going away?)
Yes, sir.
(I see.)
Entry 5564
Dat a lady taken de track, yo' see, de hollah [hollow] of both of de feet - dirt - an' put intuh some fresh hog lard, stuck nine wire nails, new wire nails in this lard. Den wraps it wit raw cotton thread an' cuts de shape of a shoe sole, a pair of 'em, an' put 'em tuh- gethah an' wraps 'em an' put it in ground. Now, dose things dey say stops de ones from walkin'.
(How do you mean stops them from walking?)
Dere knees cannot bend.
(She gets that sole out of your shoe or does she cut it out of something?)
Cut it out of a pasteboard. Now dat's whut de lady tole me herself. [Mobile, Ala., (704 0r 702), 960:8.]
Entry 5576
Ah went tuh a person [doctor] fo' dat, too. Now he tole me, he got mah name fust [first] an' hern [hers] second, an' he tole me tuh go back an' in meetin' 'er, take some ofde dirt outa de right foot - chew know, meetin' 'er. Well, behin' 'er dat's de lef' [not right] foot. See. Grab some of de dirt outa back heel, jis' a little small amount of it, an' put it in dis piece of paper an' roll it. Roll it tuh yo' all de time, see till yo' git it down tuh a small little papah. Den git nine needles, dat nevah has been on de flo', an' stick 'em in it. Take a little vasoline bottle an' drop dat little thing in it an' stop it up, an' bury it undah 'er do'step where she'll have tuh step ovah it. [The preceding nevah has been on de flo' goes back to the American pioneer cabin - probably to primitive man - which originally had no floor, the bareearth, sometimes packed level with the first log, being warmer and easier to keep clean. The word floor at least in pioneer English can mean the bare ground, always a place of magic. This also is one of the meanings of articles dropped: accident- ally, purposely, or mysteriously by spirits.] Ah had a boy crost [across] town done de same thing. His wife went back tuh 'im an' been [with him] evah since.
(Now in getting this dirt from her foot track you are walking behind her?)
No, comin' in front of 'er. (Oh, you are coming in front of her, meeting her. And you are taking the dirt out of which track?) Dis track ovah here, dat would be yore lef' foot.
(Out of her left-foot track.)
Comin' tuh yo' it would be her right foot - comin' tuhwards yo'. But still it's de left foot if yo' git behin' 'er. (Oh, actually, you get it out of the heel of her left foot.)
Entry 5587
(What can you do to make a man stay away? Drive him away?)
Well, yo' will have to take up 'is track. Yo' see, yo' watch 'im when he valks. Now, see, if 'is toes are goin' dis way, 'way from de house, undahstan', vell yo' start from 'is heel an' yo' take one dat way an' take de othah one dis way, an' rake de dirt up. (Which one do you begin with first?) His right foot, from de heel. Take it from de heel an' carry it to de toe. Den yo' take yore lef' foot an' carry it de same way, from de heel to de toe. Yo' take dat an' put dat in - yo' have to use new homespun wit all dese things, yo' undahstan'. An' yo' take dat an' put it in new homespun an' carry it to evah-runnin' watah, a rivah or jis' a stream dat runnin'. An' yo' take it an' yo' jis' stan' direct lak dat [back to water] an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' let it go on down de stream. An' ah mean he'll follow it.
Entry 5601
An' 'e [he] taken dat piece of pastebo'd an' cut it in de shape of yo' shoe.
(You cut the pasteboard in the shape of your shoe?)
In de shape of yo' shoes, yes. An' den yo' take dat dirt out chure track an' put it in [on] dere, an' yo' take new piece of cloth an' yo' stitch it all de way roun', an' throw it right off [throw it away]. (And what will that do?) Run yo' - run 'im away. (You cut a piece of pasteboard out. And what else do you do with that pasteboard, now?) Not enything. Yo' make it de shape of yo' shoe an' yo' git dis track. Yo' take dat dirt an' put it into [onto] dat track [pasteboard].
(You put it onto that pasteboard you mean?)
On dat pastebo'd. Den yo' git a bran'-new piece of cord string dat nevah been used. An' den yo' sews it tuhgethah, an' dat will run 'im off.
(What foot do you have to get?)
De lef' foot.
throwing the stitched pasteboard-and-track-material object right off. No river, shoulder, distance or destination is specified for this throw. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Read full source (printed page 2892) · Read full source (printed page 2893)
Entry 5625
Take de dirt from undah a person's right feet an' put it in a rag, an' put red peppah an' salt intuh it an' put it in runnin' watah. Dat will cuz a person tuh bust - goes mos' anywhere yo' wan' 'em tuh go.
(That will send him away.)
Entry 5634
Dey say yo' kin take dere track an' put it wit some salt an' [red] peppah an' sulphur an' put it in a bottle, an' go to runnin' watah an' throw it in backwards, an' tell de person - call dere name - tell dem to go jis' lak dat track go down dere, down de rivah. An' long as dat watah runnin' carr'in' dat track, why dat person always wundahin' [wandering] roun' an' goin'.
(You use the dirt out of either foot?)
Either one.
Entry 5640
Well, yo' kin take de dirt up out dere foot track. Yo' take dat up m' put it in a cloth an' den dey take salt an' [red] peppah, an' it's eithah Samson [snake root] or blacksnake root. Yo' take dat up an' put it all togethah, an' den wrap dat up, see an' dey bury dat. Put it in a bottle an' stop it up right airtight, an' dey bury dat. Dat'll make yo' stay.
Entry 5647
If yo' wan'a make love yo' take his right - if he's comin' towards yo', take de dirt out 'is right foot track when he comin' towards yo'. Put it in a bag wit sugah an' spice in dere, an': sleep wit it undah yore haid, undah yore mattress undah yore hair where yo' lies.
Entry 5648
If yo' have somebody nex' do' tuh yo' an' yo' wanted 'em tuh move. An' dey wuz 'sturbin' de neighborhood, yo' know, an' yo' wanted 'em tuh move. Why yo' jis' take some of de dirt outa dere right foot, an' put it in a snuffbox an' carry it tuh de rivah. An' throw it intuh de rivah 'not look back an' go on home. Dey'd move. [Waycross, Ga., (1121), 1802:5.] ap'
Entry 5697
Takin' yore track, jis' find yore track. An' dey'll take de soil jis' where yo' track, take it up an' put it intuh a envelope, or intuh anything dat would come tuh be air- tight. An' dey keep dat fo' three days. An' den aftah de three days, why dey take it an' bury it - bury yore track. An' dey claim in dat way, why dey kin make yo' think well of 'em, make yo' stay wit 'em an' be nice tuh 'em. If yo' be cruel, why it'll cuz yo' tuh come tuh love dem, stay wit 'em.
(Where would you bury this track?)
Why dey would bury it somewhere roun' dere dwellin' - where dey be livin', where dey wan' dat person tuh stay. (Do they take up just one track or both of them or does it make any differ- ence?) Well, dey would always lak tuh have de right track, de right track.
Entry 5706
Well, if it's anybody yo' wanta git out of town, git dere right-han' track, de right-foot track an' take a teaspoonful of dirt outa it an' mix it wit sulphuh an' burn it. An' tie it up in a flannel rag an' go tuh where a freight train go 'long, an' jis' put it down dere. Throw it in dere as dis freight train go 'long an' say, "In de Name of de Fathah, go."
(You throw that into the freight train?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5707
Go out de fo'ks of de road an' pick up some kinda dirt yo' know an' git chure track out dere, an' carry it tuh a railroad. An' put it in a papah sack an' tie it on a carbox, an' when de train goin' - don't make no diff'rence how fur de train goes, dat car- box runnin', yo' follah right behin' dat carbox. (They have to get your track out of the forks of the road in order to do that?) Yes.
(They put it in the carbox?)
Right behin' de carbox on de bumpah [bumper].
(Are you a railroad man?)
Yes sir, ah used tuh be a railroad man. Ah heard dat in a railroad town once. Dat's de reason ah know.
Entry 5826
Ah've heard 'em say, yo' know, dat chew kin take a, a individual's hair a' place it, yo' know, into a bottle dat way an' stop it up tight an' bury it undah de do'step, or jes' anywhere in de dirt wit de head of it down dat way. An' dey say dat will run 'em, yo' know, kinda bout half crazy where dey'll have diff'ren' minds yo' know, have a wanderin' ird, see, not to stay in one place.
(You don't put anything else in that bottle do you?)
Nuthin else in dere, jes' de hair.
Entry 6192
Dey kin take dat [see later for meaning of dat] an' put dat in a rag an' wrap it up, an' go to a tree - listen good. Go to a tree an' take a augah, yo' see, an' bo' a hole in de tree. An' take [that] thin' [= thing, the rag holding articles named later] an' slam it right back up in [the bored hole], push all dat stuff up in de tree. An' take dat same thin' w'ut yo' bo' [bored] out dere an' take a peg an' drive it back in dat tree. An' dat jis' kill yuh as daid [dead] as [anything?] in dis worl'.
(What do they put in that tree?)
De dirt off yore feet, an' some yore fingahnail, an' a li'l bit yore hair off yore haid, an' table salt. Dat'll end it up.
Entry 6355
Gittin' some of de man hair an' some of de dirt - jes' lak a woman she git some of de man hair an' git some of de dead skin from undah 'er foot, an' veah it roun' 'er wais', an' dat'll keep 'im mo' [more] close tuh 'er. (She takes some of his hair and some of the dead skin from the bottom of her feet and puts it together.) Yessuh.
Entry 6396
Well, yo' take a person fingahnail an' yo' cut dem. Dat's fo' love.
(Just how would you do that?)
Yo' trim yore fingahnails. Yo' take an' bake dem an' den yo' take an' beat 'em up tuh a powdah. When yo' feed a person yo' sprinkle dat in dat meal, see, an' dey'll love yo'. An' den ag'in yo'll take - wash yore feet real clean an' scrape de dirt from de hollah of yore foot. An' yo' put dat in de food, an' dat'll make dem love yo'.
Entry 6466
Yo' see yo' scrape dat feet an' yo' take dat feet an' put it in a bot- tle of cologne an' black peppah. Mix wit it an' git some iron whut rust, rus' iron. An' yo' stuff down in dere wit it an' dat'll continue tuh eat dat, commence eat up dat feet dirt from yore feet. An' yo' feet will be eat de same, long as - de mo' dat dat thing, de mo' dat dat rus' commence eatin' dat scuff off yo' feet, de mo' yo' feet will be eaten.
Entry 6513
Dey kin take yore fingahnail an' run yo' crazy. Dey kin take yore fingahnail an' also dey kin take dis - de skin from de bottom of yore feet. Yo' know, de dirt from de bottom of yore feet, an' put dat tuhgethah, see, sew it up an' take it down tuh de rivah on de ebbtide, while de tide goin' out tuh de sea, an' throw it ovahbo'd.
(What will happen then?)
Yo'll have tuh follow it.
Entry 867
[A picture of a handbill will be found among the illustrations. In the Introduction I explain my experience with handbills in Baltimore. My Mojo Expert of Memphis in Interview section is puzzled because I did not advertise.] Here on Madison Avenue in the same block and - so one morning I'd gone to the store and I'd taken a awful pain in my foot and I had to hop, and I hobbled back home and ah told my daughter, ah say, "You go and tell Mrs. Dawson, I can't come up dere this morning, '' I say, ''because somethin' happen to mah foot before I got up there." And you know before the day was gone my feet was this way [demonstrates].
(Swollen?)
Swole. Well, I couldn't wear a shoe, a bedroom slipper or nothin', and I hobbled round there for most of the week. But one day I was settin' on de porch and see de wind blow somethin' - some advertisin' papers [handbill] up near de gate and I called my daughter to come and get dem so I could read dem and see what they was. [See illustrations of handbills given to me.] When she brought dem - went and got dem and I see where it was a man out to Merrimac Avenue and he was from New York, so de paper said, and he say he want ever'body that was sick to come and get well. Well, I got her to get her boy friend to take me out dere and he'd taken me out dere. He called himself Professor Purvis. And we'd gone out there and he look at my feet and legs and he said, "Oh," he said, "you are in bad shape." He says, "Where did you get this from?" I said, "Well, what is it?" "You walked over something," he said, "a enemy put down fer yuh and you didn't have - you wasn't wise to the fact." He say, "It's a woman this man is dealing with and it seems like he likes you better," and he say, "that she is stopping you from going to the house - to the store." And he says, "You've taken [this] thing between your house and the store?" I said, "I sure did." He said, "Well, I tell you," he say, "that's purtty serious," he say, "but I will work on you," he say, "but ah works peculiar - ah don't give you anything, but ah give something to wear." And he gave me a little piece of something like silver and he say, "When I work on anyone and cure them, it always goes back where it come from." Well, I'd gone on [home]. He say, "Now, in a few days you goin' be so dizzy you can't get up, but stay in bed." Well, sure 'nuff, I was. And so when I commence to getting dizzy, well [that meant] this swelling going out of my feet and veins, because I couldn't even walk - had to get my daughter pull me around in a chair. And so after then, purtty soon I heard talk of a woman being very sick. Well, her friend asked me where did I go and I told her where to go, but they never could catch him at home. Well, they'd gone to North Carolina and got an old man and brought him up there and this old man told her - her friend told me because she lived upstairs over me - she might of known about her puttin' this out on me. But I didn't see this [what was] put out fer me because he said he was goin' to get that one night himself. He said it was in a bottle and it was put down fer me and I asked him what was it. He say, "It's your tracks with some pins in it." He say, "Dere's nine pins and your tracks is in there." and he say, "that's to give great effect," he say, "and then there's some graveyard dirt too," he say, "that took great effect on yuh," and says, "but I'll get that one night myself." I never did see it. He say he got it and I got well, but the other woman was taken sick. And this man from North Carolina came and her own friend told me, that when he come in and she was going on so, he said, "What's the matter?" He says, "Nothin' the matter with yuh but just reapin' what you sows." He says, "You sowed somethin' to somebody that hadn't did anything to you and they was just sharp enough to turn it back on you," and say, "I can't do you no good, when you beginnin' to reap I can't cure you." Say, "You just reapin'" and they say he took his bag and went on back to North Carolina. He didn't do anything for her and she died. And she was one of my lodge members, too.
(That's all you did - was to wear this silver?)
Wore that silver, all I did - little piece of silver that I wore a long time. It look white as my old hat here - just as white. But I'd gotten well - whatever he did, ah don't know. He didn't give me anything to take or nothin', jest told me to wear that.
quoted participant cure claim and refusal, followed by narrator-reported uncertain recovery. No verified cure or causal efficacy These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified. A quoted participant specifically claims graveyard dirt; the narrator says she never saw it. This occurrence is retrieved under the broad historical Dirt index without merging it with the separate Graveyard dirt destination. The contents, responsible person and causal cure remain unverified.
Read full source (printed page 305) · Read full source (printed page 306)
Entry 7424
[The preceding rite from Charleston - throwing into the murdered per-. son's grave the vegetable believed to have caused death by poison - I have pre- viously met and collected at Petersburg, Virginia. Here is an unusual variant: If yo' kin git some black peas... (Black peas?) Black corn-peas [peas planted in a corn (= maize) field, to be identified later]. Den go here some place tuh yo'- self an' dig yo' - yo' don' wan'a go tuh de old-time grave dey used tuh have. Dey used tuh have a coffin built wit cornahs lak dis, yo' know [demonstrates].
(The [upper] corners were sort of cut off.)
[Beveled or slanted would have been better.]
Dey have cornahs in de coffin made dat way, lak a elbow an' come down narrah [narrow] tuh de feet, yo' see. [Excellentt] Den dey used tuh dig a...fo' dat, didn't dig a square [oblong] flat grave lak dey do now. An' dey make a fo'k [fork] down in dere, yo' undahstan', in de bottom of dat [grave] enough tuh take dis box in. [Box is the old word for coffin because the coffin was a box.] Den dey put a plank ovah dat an' put dirt on de plank.
(They put what over that?)
Take a flat piece of junk jis' as long as dey dig de hole.
(Oh, I see.)
Yo' dig de hole an' yo' dig a fo'k in dat, yo' know.
(A something?)
[I failed to understand his variety of fo'k or fahk for fork!]
Yo' know, what ah call de fo'ks in de grave wit de hole in tuh fit de box.
(Oh, I see! Sort of dig out the sides so that box will fit it?)
Yeah, de box comes down, yo' see. Dey dig a square [oblong] hole...
[I interrupt.]
(You dig out the corners so that the box corners will go down in - that's the idea, isn't it?) No, [if] yo' had a piece of papah, ah'd show it tuh yo'.
[I probably tear a blank page out of my Numbers Book.]
(All right, write here.)
Yo' dig dis square [he draws a square]. Now, here's de nex' one. Plants dat down in de bottom of it.
(Oh, down in the bottom of the grave! I see.)
Den yo' dig a li'le one in dat, yo' know, same as dat's down in de bottom of de firs' one. But yo' don' dig de firs' on...dese peas supposed tuh come up an' sprout. Den yo' put de peas ovah on de rough ends of de bo'd, yo' see.
(How many peas do you put in there?)
Put one in each hole. An' yo' put sompin ovah dat - yo' see, ovah dose peas - piece of wood or anythin'. An' den put dirt on all of it, yo' see, but not dese, an' den when dem peas sprout, de corn will be gone.
(I see.)
It's six of one...
(Is that all you have to do?)
Dat's all, yes. BEFO' YO' TELL ANYBODY, FIRS' THING YO' DO WHEN YO' GIT UP IN DE MAWNIN', KNELL [KNEEL] DOWN AT DE DO'STEP AN' TELL DE DO'STEP, THREE TIMES, WHUT YO' DO. It's a simple thing but it's true.
(HOW LONG AGO DID YOU SAY THAT HAPPENED? HOW LONG AGO SINCE YOU HEARD THAT?)
IT'S BEEN OVAH FIFTY YEAHS.
(Fifty years.)
Yeah, when ah wuz young - [I am now] goin' on 76 yeahs.
[This interview occurred in 1937.]
(Was that here in Virginia?)
NO, nO, DAT WUZ DOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA. [If the purpose and details of the foregoing rite appear hazy, blame my scanty experience with hoodoo up to this time. The proper questions and explanatory notes for the recording cylinder would improve with more time. As I restudy this rite, a few afterthoughts arise: (l) Is informant talking about black corn-peas, as recorded, or does he say or intend to say black cowpeas? Surely one of our several cowpea rites confronts us. The cowpea (Vigna sinensis) I have already discussed somewhere in Hoodoo. Sometimes called black-eyed pea, black-eyed bean, etc., it is or was an extensive forage and green manure crop of the Southern States in the U. S. A. The seeds are or were often used for food. (2) Since the cowpea plant is more nearly related to the bean, we have here a historical con- nection with ancient death beliefs. (3) Notice that our peas or beans are not planted in or thrown into an actual grave, but in a mock grave between two rows of growing corn, i.e.maize. Here we have a reason for calling them cornpeas, if this latter word was meant. Our informant digs a small oblong hole, at the bot- tom of which he makes 6 small square holes, one for each pea. At first I thought we had an example of Chinese-box planting, square hole within square hole sort of thing; but informant corrects me with 6 separate holes, each separately covered with a small piece of wood - each of the latter a coffin symbol. Did this orig- inally bring back the murderer on the seventh day? At least we are told: When dem peas sprout, de corn will be gone. Presumably only the ears of (sweet?) )corn are gone, which permits the peas or beans to climb up the denuded cornstalks - hence the cornpeas. (4) The purpose of the rite is not given. Most likely this information was supplied before recording began and I forgot to repeat this de- tail to the cylinder. But certainly all becomes clear at the very end. WHY DOES INFORMANT "KNELL" DOWN AT DE DO'STEP AN' TELL DE DO'STEP, THREE TIMES, WHUT YO' DO? HE ACTUALLY KNEELS AT THE DOORSTEP OF THE MURDERED MAN TO TELL HIM HIS DEATH WILL SOON BE AVENGED! That is the reason for the secrecy until after the actual rite has been performed. Informant knew about this rite back in the 1880's. In some form it must be much older.]
Entry 7486
Ah've heard of dem takin' de man's tracks, de one dat done de killin', taken 'is tracks an' puttin' dat dirt into de casket, jes' sew it up in a bag, an' put it right into de casket, an' dey claim dat man, if he leaves, he will come back. (The man that did the killing, he will come back if his foot tracks are buried in the casket.) In de casket wit de dead man dat he killed.
Entry 7521
Gotta go to graveyard at night 'tween one an' two - dat's de time yo' gotta go. When yo' go dere yo' gotta have a heartless spirit - yes, dose terri- ble dead people yo' know. Well, jes' de way some of 'em is kilt, dey fs holler- in' dat same thing an' doin' it. Well, yo' go to dat certain grave dat dis person want dis dirt off. Ah'll go dere in de daytime an' pick dat grave out. Den ah'll go dere in de night, go in dere at one 'clock an' fes' dig doom in dere an git de dirt off dat certain person's grave. Well, ah'll come to yo' an' tell yo', ah say, "Nou, yo' take dis dirt an' if yo' wanta move such a one out chure house, yo' take dat dirt an' sprinkle it all roun' in dat house an' dat person can't say in dere to save dere life." An' dat very man yo' wus talkin' to he knows all about it, 'cuz he's de one tole me about it.
Entry 7542
Well, when you want your next door neighbor to move outa dat house, you go to the graveyard and get you some graveyard dust. You walk to the third grave - get you some graveyard dust; bring that dust back there and keep it - you sprinkle a little salt in it - just a little salt and you stop it up. Now, on the full of the moon, you walk around there and you sprinkle that dust and they going to move from there - they gotta move.
(What do you mean by the third grave?)
The third grave in that - after you enter into the graveyard - the third grave you git to. You get you some dust off. [For a variant of this rite with a different purpose, see 1918, p.563; and for more about moon as a time for getting graveyard dirt, see following rite, 1919.]
Entry 7554
Jis' like if a person - yuh don' like a person an' dey stay in dis house. Go tuh de cemetery an' yuh know dis person positively - de one whut daid - dat always wus cursin' an' cut up [people] an' thin's like dat. Git some of dis dirt an' carry it an' throw it on dis heah people porch. An' dere always be fussin' in de house.
Entry 7751
An' ah've heard of 'em takin' graveyard dirt an' put it up ovah yore dō' an' it will make yo' lucky.
Entry 7753
Dey git graveyard dust an' sprinkle it on yore stoop, put it all roun' yore step, an' dat'll cuz yo' bad luck, cuz yo' have tuh move, cuz yo' tuh pine away, cuz yo' tuh pine away an' tain't long fore yo'll be in yore grave.
Entry 7771
Well, ah heer'd, if yo' wanted graveyard dirt fo' luck, tuh go tuh some bad man. Jes' lak ah wanted tuh git some graveyard dirt fo' luck fo' gambling, go tuh 'is grave an' call 'im by his name. An' dig down in 'is grave an' tell 'im dat ah want some of dis dirt fo' luck an', "Ah'm goin' pay yo' fo' it." An' drop two cents in dat hole an' pay him fo' it an' kivah hit back up. Take dat dirt an' go on gamble wit it. Dat is lucky.
(How do you carry it?)
Take dat dirt an' tie it up in a rag an' tote it in yore pocket.
Entry 7810
It's de same as yo' were livin' intuh dis premises right chere, yo' undahstan', an' he might not be a sufficiently good enough neighbah roun', yo' know, in de community, an' yo'd like tuh git someone out chere. Well yo' goes tuh de graveyard yo' undahstan' an' yo' gits holt of some of dat dirt an' yo' put, ah think it's black peppah an' salt, an' yo' sprinkle it aroun' in de fo' cornahs of de house. An' den yo' jis' take de rest an' den yo' scattah it an' go on out tuh de street. It won't be but a day or two befo' dey'll go on, have tuh leave dere.
(Have to move out of the house?)
Oh! dey couldn't stay in dere.
Entry 7869
Dey could take dat an' make de person do as dey want 'em tuh do.
(How would they do that?)
Dey would go git de graveyard dirt an' dey mix some wit table salt, put it in yore pocket, an' go on talk wit 'im an' he will give yuh a job.
(Don't you have to do anything with that salt at all?)
No sir.
Entry 8084
Yo' kin git de photograph of me if dere is any dissatisfaction between I an' yo'. Yo' is de woman an' I'm de man, an' yo' kin git mah pichure. [Once again as so many times, I am a guinea pig - this time a female one!] Yo' kin carry dat pichure an' take up about half a tablespoonful of castor oil. Sprinkle de castor oil [demonstrates] ovah de pichure lak dat, turn it down on de face, dig a li'le dirt out de ground an' put it on topa de pichure lak dat. An' I'll go crazy. [For oil on photo, see later margin title 9 DAYS etc.]
Entry 8145
Ah have heard dat dey would take yuh photograph an' burn off de cornahs an' carry it out tuh de cemetery an' bury it underneat' de earth, an' let it stay dere fo' three days, an' den tuh bring it back. Why? If dey wanted dat person. If dey was wishin' fo' dat per- son tuh die, why dat person would die. Yo' see.
(Well, when they brought that photograph back, what would they do with that?)
When dey brought it back, why dey kept it. Dey kept it in dere possession.
Entry 8186
Take it an' bury it.
(This photograph?)
Yes sir. Jes' take it an' take it tuh de east side of de house or wherevah dey is, an' turn it bottomside upwards an' bury it. Now, dey's quite a few young peoples do dat tuh make girls love 'em, too. Take de photograph an' bury it in de ground yo' know, bottomside up- wards. (That's to bring love.)
Entry 8202
Well, dere's a certain type of people dat believe in de wanishin' [van- ishing], dat yo' kin do away wit a person through an' by a photograph. Yo' could git de actual photograph of a person. Yo' take it an' on de first of de new moon, yo' carry it anywheres where dere's a tree or a stone, anything dat choo kin mark an' know it won't be moved. An' plant it face downward in de soil. An' dey claim dat when dat moon passes away, de nex' new moon will cuz some kinda affliction tuh ovahtake de person, an' dey will grajly [gradually] drift away tuh nuthin. Nuthin will relieve 'em. It impossible tuh cure 'em, until dey will fine'ly
[finally] jis' waste away de same way de photograph do.
Entry 8211
(How would you make a person move out of the house?)
Well, de way ah would do dat - dere's two or three diff'ren ways of doin' it, but de plain way, dey say, fo' instan' maybe yo' live nex' do' tuh me, well ah'm gon'a wait until night, see. An' den yo' kin git some sulphur - in othah words some sulphur an' gun- powdah an' mix dat up. An' about de noon hour of twelve at night, midnight, well yo' kin sprinkle dat befo' de do' an' let it goes in de do'. An' undah nine days time dey'll move. An' dere's anothah way dat chew kin take dat track. Yo' kin take dey track or eithah dey photo or eithah dey name, an' put a rattlesnake mastah root, an' wrap it up wit dey name in it an' dat track. Dey tie it up real tight an' have it so dat it wouldn't sink, not immediately, an' cast it in a runnin' stream of watah. DE SWIFTAH DE STREAM IS DE QUICKAH DEY WILL MOVE. Some people says sompin about aigs, but ah don't use dat. (Well, now, to make them move fast, do you put that rattlesnake master and the photograph together and the foot track or just one of those with the root?) Well, yo' take rattlesnake mastah, de name, an' de dirt dat chew git. Well quite natchly [naturally], if yo' wrap it up in wool, it take quite a bit fo' dat watah tuh soak in dat wool, yo' know.
Entry 9058
Well, anybody in jail git dat graveyard dirt an' a red onion, an' let dem sleep wit it undah dere haid dat night. Nex'l mawnin' turn dere clothes wrongsides out an' put it on, an' put dat graveyard dust in dey shoe. An' dey come cleah. Dey can't fine 'em, don't care whut dey do. It's de spirits [in the graveyard dirt] is worryin' de judge.
(Now, that night, you put that graveyard dirt under you in something?)
Yo' puts dat onion - undahstand, sleep dat night in de jailhouse. Yo' git up an' turn yore clothes wrongside outahs [outwards] an' pin dat onion on yo', an' sprinkle dat graveyard dust in shoe. Undahstan'? An' dey can't try yo' cuz de daid folks is worryin' 'em.
Entry 9063
Dey take dat tuh settle a case in co't chew know.
(How is that done?)
Well, when de case comin' up, yo' wanta break de case down, yo' take - walk aroun' de grave seven times, 'cuz Joshua walk aroun' de walls of Jericho seven times, yo' know. Call dey pusson name evah time [7 times] an' tell 'em whut chew want. An' pull up de haidbo'd an' care [carry] it down tuh 'is foot, an' tell 'em'tuh bring de case down fo' me - tuh break it down. Right at chew foot, yo' know. If a fellah got a case ag'in' [again- st] yuh, dat goin' break it down. (What do they do with that footboard then?) See, dey - den dey take de footbo'd up, yo' know, an' care it tuh de haid, an' tell 'em tuh he'p yo' ovahcome dem. Git me [understand me]? Yo' go back tuh de foot now, an' git chew some dirt frum de foot an' care it wit chew in yo' pants pocket. It tends tuh bring all yo' enemies beneath yo' feet. Eithah in yo' pants pocket or eithah in yo' shoe, eithah one. Care it wit chew. Ain't no one comin' ag'in yuh.
Entry 9184
Well de thing tuh do when a person's in yore house in ordah tuh make dem move, dey say yo' go undah de house an' take a bar'l [barrel] hoop, an' cut it half in two an' bend it an' stick each end in de ground an' leave a circle [arch] above. Den dey said dig a deep hole an' take de yellah of two eggs an' put in dat hole, an' put three pennies an' covah it up wit dirt. Dey say on de third day dey'll move.
Entry 10637
Go to a ants' nest an' git de dirt from roun' it an' put it in sulphur, red peppah an' table salt, an' wear it in yore pocket; dey say dat gives yo' luck. Brings luck to yore home.
Entry 9810
(That foot track, what do you do with that foot track after you get it and put those pins and things in it?) Yo' take hit, yo' don't bury hit, yo' lie hit on yore bedspring an' yo' sleep on hit. An' he may go wit anothah woman but he won't ca' [care] nuthin 'bout 'er. An' in goin' tuh de othah woman he'll pay yo' twice de 'tenshun [attention] dat he will 'er. But in goin' wit yo' an' lovin' yo' often, yo' know, evah once in a way he'll go tuh dis woman, but he won't intendin' tuh stay cuz ah got a man lak dat. Him an' me mean so much. (In other words, you will take this foot track in order to hold a man - that's all.) Dat hold 'im. (And you put those pins in there in order to keep other women away. You name them your enemies.)
[I am corrected!]
Dat won't completely keep 'em away, but he'll be from undah dere influence.
(When you name these pins you are thinking of other women, aren't you?)
Yessuh, dat's de enemies. (They are your enemies and you want to keep them away from your husband or your man.) Well, heah's de othah one. Yo' see, womens doin' lak dat, gittin' de foot track an' pins, dat's not all of it. Yo' see if a woman - now, ah don't know 'cuz ah ain't nevah did nuthin, but ah hear'd it. [They] say, if a woman goin' wit chure man, he care de mos' fo' yo', an' yo' ain't tryin' tuh, yo' know, do nuthin but jes' tryin' to keep de man a Zi'le out de way, an' she tryin' tuh do somepin tuh 'im. Yo must always do lak dis, say he goin' wit 'er an' he ca' mo' fo' 'er. Well, she's got'a make him ca' mo' fo' her den he do yo'. Yo' got'a git 'is track den, but chew git it in a diff'ren' way. 'Stead [instead] of gittin' it fahwahds, yo' gits it backwahds. But chew take it an' yo' ca' it tuh a ants [nest] - jis' lak, yo' know, in de summah. Jis' lak yo' see a ants nest an' ants totin' dirt in an' out. Dis is ca'in' [carrying] it in jis' [like] ah'm gittin' love. Yo' got'a git de woman's track dis time, not de man's track. Git de woman's track. Yo' ca' it tuh a ants nest where de ants totin' dirt in an' out an' put it down dere. An' yo' go tuh puttin' it down where de ants totin' in dere. Yo' know how ants tote in. An' yo' name de same thing: "Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, make her leave dis town." An' yo' know, as yo' thinkin' [all this] yo' sprinkle it. Well, jis' as de ants tote it in, she got'a go. Well, dat's de woman. Fo' de man, well, yo' don't put it down in no ants nest. Jis' tie it up in a hans'cuff [handkerchief] an' yo' got'a put nine pins in dere. [Here I turned off machine thinking she had ended and had to restart by re- peating what had been lost.]
(Put it in your bedspring?)
Put dat undah de haid of yore mattress an' sleep on it. But de woman yo' got'a find a ants nest where de ants totin' in de dirt. [Informant now tells an experience of hers, an experience similar to the one told in, vol.] Dis wus a man passin' through [town]. Ah didn't know 'im an' he didn't know me. Ah wus on mah way tuh a party one night an' he said, "Lady, " he said, "ah'm hongry: Ah wan't somepin tuh eat: If yo'd give me twenty cents, " an' he said, "dat's not de price, ah'd tell yo' somepin." He wus a big mulatto man. He weren't no white man, he wus a colored man. Ah says, "Well, ah'll give yo' mo' den twenty cents, " ah said, "heah's thirty cents. An' heah's whut he tole me. An' he tole it so straight. Ah had nevah seed de man befo' an' he had nevah seen me, but he tole me who [what woman] mah man wus gone wit an' how he looked an' evahthing, an' whut she wus tryin' tuh do, an' whut fo' me tuh do. An' ah'd called 'im back an' ah'd sweah de man wus crazy. But ah done whut he tole me [to bring back my man]. De dog! See, dat walk right off an' left me. He come right back tuh me an' ah ain't had no mo' trouble wit 'im since. Ah wus dressed an' ah start out tuh de party. Well, it wus a big mulatto man an' he came rapped on de do'. He did give his name but ah ain't goin' tell no story, ah cain't remembah 'is name now. He says, "Well, where yo' goin', lady? See yo' dressed." Ah an' mah sistah [were going to the party], but ah'm jis' talkin' 'bout mahself. He wus talkin' tuh me. He says, "Ah lak yore future." Aftah dis, ast 'im tuh come in. Ah say, "Ah'm goin' tuh a party. He says, "Whut party yo' goin' to?" He says, "Ah think ah mostly know wit'out chew tell me." Ah says, "Ah'm goin' down heah in Thomastown." [I said it] jis' lak dat. He say, "Well, yo' drinkin'." Dat wus 'is words. Ah said, "Ah'm drinkin'?" He say, "Yeah." Ah said, "Ah did have 'bout a dime's drink but no mo'." [This was a dime's drink back in 1939, not in 1976, and it was the cheapest moonshine available.] He said, "Well, yo' goin' tuh de party tuhnight. He's daid an' yo' goin' preparin' tuh raise hell.' Said, "But if yo' gived me twenty cents, ah'll tell yo' sompin." Ah say, "Well, whut chew gona tell me?" He says, "Yo' worryin'," says, "yo're not satisfied." HE SAYS, "IT'S A WOMAN BUT SHE'S NOT YORE COMPLEXION, ' SAYS, "YO'S KINDA TEASY, WHUT CHEW CALL CHOCOLATE BROWN, BUT DIS WOMAN IS BLACK." He says, "Whut chew call a [something] or some bnda black woman [something]. Say, "But dis woman tryin' take yore man." Dat whut he said, "Dis woman tryin' uh take yore man." An' he say, "When dis woman tryin' 'uh take yore man, if yo' give me twenty cents, ah tell yo' how tuh git 'im from 'er 'tention." An' he say, "Ah oughta charge mo' den dat, " he said, "but ah's hongry an' ah want somepin uh eat." But he wus a colored man. We wus goin' tuh a barbecue, ah an' dis girl. Ah say, "Well, if yo' come go tuh de party, ah'll buy yo' sompin." He say, "Well, if yo' promise me fo' shuah yo'll buy me somepin uh eat, ah'll pay yo' 'fore yO gits dere. BUT IF YO' DON' PAY ME DE MONEY, WHUT AH TELL YO WON'T DO YO' NO GOOD." Ah said, "Well, come on." He said, "Yo' goin' wit de man an', " he said, "de man love yo' an' yo' love de man, an', '' he say, "jis' lak he come an' familiahize [familiarize] wit chew. He don't stay heah an' life [live] wit chew, do he?" Ah says, "He sho' don't." Ah says, "Me an' 'im quit." Ah said, "He lived down dere wit dem othah wimmins, went crazy 'bout 'em.' He say, "Well, when he step out de [door], jis' lak he step, yo' go out an' yo' git 'is right feet, git 'is right track." Says, "When he step out, don' chew go right behin' 'im. De time [after] he go, git 'is right track." Ah didn't even pay 'tention. Ah put on mah coat, de one dat ah wuz weahin' roun'. He say, "Git it from de toe an' rake it back tuh de heel, an' git somepin kinda slick an', " he say, "whut yo' pick up on dere, take an' tie it up in a hans'cuff." An' he say, "When yo' tie it up in a hans'cuff, yo' git nine straight pins, an' if dere any woman dat chew think he goes wit, whatevah dere name dat chew think is yore enemies, yo' call 'em name by name. An' jes' as yo' call 'em name by name, yo' stick dat pin in dat hans'cuff an' dat dirt till yo' git de nine pins in dere." An' [he] say, "When yo' git 'em in dere, hol' up de haid of yore mattress an' put it [handkerchief with pins] on yore springs, an' let yore mattress fall back down an' sleep on it." AN' SAY, "HE'LL COME TUH YO' MO' SO DEN HE'LL GO TUH DIS OTHAH WOMAN." SAY, "HE MAY GO BACK TUH DIS OTHAH WOMAN BUT HE WON'T MEAN 'ER NO GOOD. HE'LL MEAN YO' DE GOOD." (Then what else did he tell you about - there's something else about getting rid of the women?) About de girl. Well, he jes' left an' heah ah thought that... He says, "Now, if yo' wanta git rid of dis woman, if he go wit yo'..." She lived down on - ah live on [something] Street, 10ol, an' she lived on [something] Street, way down at de [something] Garden. "Yo' wanta git rid of dis woman he goin' wit," say, "but if yo' don't do it, if yo' do lak yo' did de firs' time, it'll backwards an' fo'wards. If yo' wanta git dis woman out of town," say, "yo' go tuh her. She ain't comin' where yo' live, cuz she's scared of yo'." Dat's whut he said. "But chew go tuh 'er home. She goes tuh work evah mawnin'." But he wun't lyin'. She do go tuh work an' ah know it. "Yo' know whut kind a shoes she weahs?" Ah said, "Yah, ah do." Say, "Now, ah got de right feet of his'n. Yo' git de left feet of 'er track an' don't rake it from de toe." "See, " [says informant] ah rake his'n from de toe." [He] say, "Yo' take it from de heel. Take it up an' put in a piece of papah an' ca it tuh a ants nest. "'- Now dis is a diff'ren' story. "yo' see how de ants, " he says, "work all day. Yo've seen dat. See, dey be totin' it in but dey don't tote it out. When dey come out, dey come out aftah ca'in' it through [the hole]." Jis' lak dose ants wit'in dey nest, he don't nevah tote out, he totes in. He says, "Yo' take dis woman's track an' rake it from de back of 'er heel, de left foot, an' ca' it tuh a ants nest. Go till yo' find a ants nest, totin' in an' out, ' [he] says, "if yo' have tuh wait till de summah. If yo' cain't run tuh de south, '' say, "yo' wait till den [warmer weather] an' dey ants totin' in."
[Down the coast from Maryland the "south" was always farther south - author.]
An' he say, "Yo' jis' stan' up dere where yo' see all dem red antses totin' dat dirt intuh de hole, an' yo' has it in a papah or hans'cuff an' jes' sprinkle it down, In de Name of de Fathah, an' de Holy Ghost, whut do yo' want wit mah mam? An' ah want mah man fo' ah need mah man mahself. An' jis' drop it dere an sprinkle it." An' de ants will come pick up dis dirt whut ah bring from anothah place an' dey goin' tote it in dere. An' dat's jis' how she'll tramp [become a tramp, a wanderer]. When ah sprinkle it down dere an' dey tote it, she'll have tuh leave dis town. If yo' wanta git rid of 'er, yo' jis' carry it tuh a ants nest an' yo'll be rid of de woman. He say, "De man goin' stay 'cuz yo's sleepin' on 'is dirt undahhaid [under your head]. But de woman will have tuh leave town. She will leave de town an won't even know how she leave.
(Well, did you do that, then?)
DID AH DO IT? AH'VE GOT 'IM BUT AH AIN'T GOIN' STOLE [STEAL] HIM. AH AIN'T RUN 'ER YET, BECUZ IT AIN'T BEEN BUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK. WELL, YO' KNOW, IT'S WINTAHTIME AN' DE ANTSES AIN'T TOTIN' IN TOO MUCH DIRT. IT'S WINTAH. But ah tried it 'bout puttin' de pins intuh him [his foot tracks]. BUT AH KNOW ONE THING, HE'S QUIT [HER]. BUT AH'LL BE DOGGED IF AH AIN'T GOT 'IM. IF SHE SEE HIM, SHE SEE HIM ON DE FLY, 'CUZ SHE SHORE WON'T KETCH 'IM REG'LAH.
(Well, are you waiting now until the ants come out before you run her?)
AH'M GONA "RUN' 'ER THOUGH. AH'M JES' AS GOOD TUH RUN ER AS AH'M SETTIN' IN DIS CHAIR. She go tuh work evah day right by mah house. All ah gotta do - ah'm gonna grab 'er left-feeted track an' ah'm gona git me a ants nest. She's de onliest one give me trouble wit mah man, an' soon as ah git dat she WOn't give me nO trouble. JIS' AS FUR NO'TH AS AH WANT 'ER TUH GO, SHE GOIN'. AH'M GONA NAME DE CITY WHEN AH'M DROPPIN' DE DIRT AN' WE SEE HOW FUR SHE'LL GO. [This woman had a good story but she hopped around the room and kept repeating and repeating.]
Entry 10667
Well, for instance, there is two parties together, like you would have a daughter and her husband and the husband and her didn't look like they were getting along well, and you want them to be together. You get a delicious apple and you will sign his name at the bottom and her name on top on parchment paper.[Core the apple.] You fill that apple full of granulated sugar. You fill that apple full of syrup or honey. The sweeter it is the better it is. You get you some holy water, you put that fern down in that apple after you hull it out. You see, hull the delicious apple out. You put that fern down in there. And then after that you pour the holy water on top that water in that flower pot. Now, as that fern grow, their love grow. Well, that fern, that put them together after signing their name to it, you see. Take a delicious apple, hull it out well, take the fern and put down in there, in the hollow apple. After putting it in the hollow apple, then you git you granulated sugar, pour it down in there, then you put your syrup, here come de holy water, then the dirt back on the fern, you see. You see no apple at all, it is at the bottom. Well, if the fern grow, their love grow; they get along like two birds in one nest. (They put the hollowed-out apple in the flower pot, and the names on, they put that there too. That brings this man and woman together.)
Entry 11025
Dey use chicken feathers dey say fo' bad luck. Probably if yo' got some chickens or sompin lak dat an' ah wanta make yo' have bad luck, ah kin take de feathers from yore chick- ens and burn 'em in mah stove. See, an' use de ashes an' dese chicken fea- thers an' take 'em an' sprinkle 'em all round yore house. Dat will cause all yore chickens tuh die, or someone in yore family to die, or sompin lak dat. Dat's whut de' call a re- buke to a family. Or either if ah should happen to have tuh buy a chicken or sompin lak dat, ah kin git some of yore dirt from roun' in yore yard where yo' have travel on, an' use it an' burn it an' cause yo' tuh have bad luck to some of yore family or either probably to yo'.
Entry 11110
They couldn't harm you with your handwriting. If you left finger- prlnts upon the table on which you had been writing, they could not harm you with the writing, but they could with the fingerprints. Well, like if you had a little bit of dirt or dust or something on your finger, well that is more harm than the writing. They will take that dust off there and put that in a [small] bottle, and they put that in a coconut and throw that in the river sbere it floats. And it won't be long before you be right in that river with that coconut.
Entry 11113
A coconut, jug [punch] one of them eyes out and pour that juice out the coconut and let the coconut dry. Then you go behind him in soft dirt and get his track and put it in that coconut, mix it, get cork stopper and put in stopper and throw it in [river] and just as long as that coconut float, he'll walk [for walking also see No.11114].
(Just one of them?)
Just one of them - left track.
Entry 11322
Yo' kin take a knife an' go tuh a forked dogwood tree [a dogwood tree having a small branch with a fork]. Go out in de woods an' cuts yo' off a piece of dogwood, kinda lak a bow an' arrow what chew pulls back [what we used to call a rubber shooter = slingshot]. Yo' take an' puts some lye in dat an' yo' goes - dere two things yo' kin do with dat, too. Dat will bring a person tuh yo'. Yo' kin take an' put some lye right in de fo'k of dat an' put it at de right han' cornah of yore steps, stick it in dere, an' put de dirt ovah it, an' let jes' 'bout dat much of it be stickin' out. Dat is if yo' wanta bring a person back, yo' kin do dat. Now, jes' lak if sompin wuz stole from me. Ah had some money stole from me, an' ah don' know who stole it. Jes' lak if yo' lock up dis place heah an' some- body comes 'long an' steals yore money an' yo' don't know who 'tis. Why, yo' Lin take dat lye in de forked piece of dogwood an' put it at de right-han' cornah step an' covah it up, an' in three day's time dis person is goin' come up. He's not goin' tell yo' he got it, but yo' kin see he did it no quickah yo' look at him - he drop his haid. An' den yo' commence tuh askin' him questions an' he won't deny it.
Entry 11692
Go to a table, de fo' corners of a table, an' scrape de dirt off it - de fo' corners of a table an' cook it in his biscuits or anything she cook it in an' give it to him to eat, an' ah guarantee he won't leave. He'll stay right there [I had heard about sitting down at a kitchen table, scraping the corner to your right and feeding scrapings to dog, also scraping 3 corners for the same purpose, keeping animal home (see FACI, 2nd ed., Nos.2295-2296, p.91- 92); but keeping a man home with scraping from 4 corners was new to me. Is a man harder to keep home?]
Entry 11751
They kin take some graveyard dirt and people's hair and some of their clothes, and they would soaken it in vinegar and turpentine and wrap it up tight in some kind of jar, and put it underneath of the people's [victim's] steps that they may walk over it. It would cause an infection or transaction between the two. The person would git in contact with the person with whom he want to git to. That would bring the one whom that they wanted to them. [The person who walks over the bottle will find and visit the person who prepared the bottle.]
Entry 11770
Run hand into sinnerman's grave or baby's grave, take dirt from breast, mix with salt and pepper, and sprinkle round the house to "break up de home, cause confusion." [Mobile 971:4.]
Entry 11772
Dirt bottled from the north side of a graveyard and put under a person's steps will move him. [Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 11794
Graveyard dirt, salt and pepper mixed, then thrown behind person to drive him away. [Washington, D.c., 80:7.]
Entry 11795
Graveyard dirt, salt, cayenne pepper, throw around house, confusion.
[Memphis(969), 1568:16.]
Entry 11797
Confusion powder, graveyard dirt, salt, cayenne pepper, a mixture that will cross-up house. [New Orleans 1451:2.]
Entry 12488
Graveyard dirt in shoes to keep dogs off trall. [Known everyvbere.]
[Newport News 506:3; Charleston 601:3; Vicksburg 1043:1.]
Entry 11374
Well de fig tree is always goin' tuh be good. Yo' work good wit dat. Anything, yo' understan', tuh do or whut chew want it tuh do. (How would you do that?) Well, yo' jes' only put it at de root, anything whut chew wanta use in dat. Jes' lak if yo' wanta do ne good, an' wanta give me even good luck on it, yo'll put it at de foot of a fig tree. Yo'll jes' take me an' name me. An' den when yo' name me, why, co'se den yo' jes' only write mah name an' den yo' write whut chew want done. An' den yo'll put dat down at de fig tree root, but chew put it in dirt. Dat's all ah know 'bout dat.
Entry 11380
Git a ole rusty file, understan, what somebody haven't used and you kin file that file. In other words dig a hole about two steps from the door- step and put a hog foot down in dere. An' then go about two steps further and you drive that file down about two inches under the dirt. An' of course when you drive it down in, using three words. Conseguently, it won't be long till that's gone. (What three words do you use?) Well, you drive that down, In the Name of the Father, Name of the Son and the Holy Ghost.
(I see. What will that do to them then?)
Well, they have to go. That will set them going.
(Make them move.)
Entry 12250
It have to be Red Devil Lye, de same lye dat dey use for scrubbing porches. You buy Red Devil lye in de groc'ry store, you see, but it's more... [expensive in hoodoo shops?]. Now, you git dis Red Devil Lye and after cut- ting [making an opening in] dis can, you understand, you turns it upside down [a number of "up- side down lye cans have been given in text] you see. And dere's some kind of root dey get. John de Conkah is one and it's another one. You see [there are] several of them, but I do not [remember?] even enough to know each and every one of them. And get some of dis Dragon's Blood and you sprinkle it around dere [the door]. De law will come to de door but dey will never be able enough to enter.
(Well, what do you do after you get that can open?)
Dat can - when you get dat can open you put dat can in de earth upside down, you see how it is, and cover it right back up and leave it stay dere, but it must be right to your front, de leading door dat comes in.
(What do you do with these roots then?)
Well, dose roots, well dose roots dey'll have to be right side de can. John Ce Conkah you have cause dat will conquer everything.
Entry 13112
Dust from rattlesnake rattle and graveyard dirt in your shoes make feet swell. [Norfolk 526:7.]
Entry 9759
You kin take these nails, tenpenny nails, and you kin drive 'em in the ground where some person that you doesn't like or want to move them, you move them with nails. And when you drive 'em in the ground and make your wish, you drive 'em head down an' p'int up. Or you kin drive 'em at your doorstep and nail them down under your control. You use nine nails.
Entry 1565
De snakeroot - well, yo' take dat snakeroot an' yo' pulls it up by de roots an' yo' shake de dirt off it an' wash it. Well, yo' put hit into a bottle. Well, then you kin put whiskey on it - hit's good fo' most any kinda disease.
Entry 4295
Well, yuh wan'a keep de law away, if yuh're bottleggin'. Evah mawnin' fer nine mawnin's yuh git up, yuh go tuh de front do' - don't evah sweep yuh dirt out de front - befo' de sunrise. Sprinkle chamber lye an' - but firs', burn ole shoe sole an' take de dust of dat ole shoe an' sulphuh, an' sprinkle it all aroun' yeh house out- side. An' den do all dat when de sun go down in de evenin'. As de sun goin' down yuh burn de shoe sole [and the sulphur - see later]. Nex' mawnin' befo' de sunrise, sprinkle it aroun' yeh house [shoe-sole ashes] an' sulphur, an' den sprinkle chamber lye all de way roun'. Den as zhoo sweep yuh house, sweep de dirt all back, from de front all de way back. Take it up on yuh shovel an' befo' sundown dat evening take dat dust whut choo sweep out cheh house an' burn it up in sulphuh an' ole shoe sole. An' do dat fer 9 mawnin', don't miss a mawnin', befo' de sunrise. An' as de sun goin' down in de evenin', yuh burn yuh shoe sole. An' continue sprinkle dat chamber lye aroun' yuh house. An' de officahs, dere wouldn't be anothah step about choo, won't nevah think about chew an' yuh likker.
Entry 13258
If they run me out, then I will fix that house so no one kin live in there.
(I see. How is that done?)
Well, when I move out, you understand, I would sweep up all my trash. I don't wanta leave none of my dirt. I'd take up all my rugs and carpets and things, and I'd sweep the floors. I will get sulphur, you understand - I will get sulphur. I will get de oil of cin- namon. Yo' know what de oil of cinnamon is. I will get cayenne pepper and I will put it in de four cor- ners of dat room, and I will light it and I will fasten de windows down and de doors down and let it burn - with a curse. No one never will move in there. As they move in, they move out. And if they do move in there - there wouldn't a soul move in there what wouldn't have death in the family. [In former days the cursing of a house like this Was a serious business and most people moving in would have had it uncursed by a doctor.]
Entry 13448
Goin' tuh a wil- low tree - when de tree first start tuh bloomin' out - yo' dig down an' yo' git one dem roots. When yo' git de roots yo' bring de roots back. Yo' take dat root an' put it in a bottle an' put some whiskey on it, an' yo' let dat stay in dere. Well, dat will run a person outa a house.
(How do you do that?)
Yo' take yo' willow tree roots an' bring it back - bring it home - take it an' put it in a bottle, a vial where yo' kin po' whiskey on it. An' if yo' kin git any of de dirt where a person been walkin' ovah - out de yard - put it right dere in de bottle too. Shake it an' carry it right back dere an' put it under de steps or either de gate - anywhere round dere - or if yo' kin put it where dey kin git holt of it, an' dat make 'em go 'way from town.
Entry 187
If yo' go to de fo'ks of de road - jis' like if yo' mad at a person an' go to de fo'ks of de road - you have to wait to a whirlwind. You ever see a little whirlwind when yo' git to de road? Well, tha'd a time of de yeah when 'tis a certain day of de mont' dat dey have a little whirlwind. De wind will git a thing of dirt an' make a whirlwind [demonstrates] - jis' like dat, jis' like a whirlwind around like dat. Dey say dat's de day when [you] go dere, see. You git de dirt an' say you kin do anything you wan'a wit it. [Richmond, Va., (379), 320:1. This came from his grandmother - born Louisa Co., Va.,1836; died 1923.]
Entry 658
(Have you ever heard of goofer dust?)
Yessuh, ah've heered tell of that.
(What is it supposed to be?)
Well, ah heered - it was a preacher preachin' round town one time, dis town now, by de name of [So-and-So] an' he practice - he wus practicin' root doctorin' an' he had people fooled an' dey thought he wus a preacher. He had a big church down heah on mah street on West Street. So he had a church down heah by de name of de Temple. So he wus a great preacher. He wus from some parts up No'th. His name was [So-and-So] an' so he taken an' he practi'lly had all de wimmins in de church, practi'lly kept him up - he wus buyin' cars an' ridin' round. An' dis man an' his wife dey go to dis church 'cause he figured dere wus some- thin' good in dis man - he figured there wus somethin' to dis man. Well, him an' his wife had several fusses, an' she went back an' she went back an' told dis preacher 'bout it. Well, dis preacher said, "Well," said, "dat's all right. Ah'll fix dat up." Says, "Yo' come roun' aftah church tuhnight." So she come on out from de church dat night an' when she came out dere he tole her whut tuh do - had her tuh bring some salt 'long wit some sulphur an' some turpentine. So she brought dat stuff tuh him an' he tuk dis stuff an' he gone to a graveyard dat night. Some people had died in his church an' he went to de graveyard an' tuk some of de dirt from de west side - de west side is dat way from de west side corner of de grave. He tuk dat an' he fixed it all up into jes' somethin' lak a powder. An' he went - ah know dis fo' mah ownself, co'se ah stayed roun' dere an' ah seen him on de street. An' he went tuh dis man's house an' sprinkle dis stuff all round de porch dat nex' mawnin'. An' he tole dis woman, said, "Yo' let him come outdo's first. Don't yo' come out." See. Say, "Let him git outdo's first." So he tuk dis stuff an' sprinkled it all round de front porch an' on de side of de front porch - sprinkled it round 'nuff so he could walk in it when he come out. Well, he came out an' he walked in dis stuff. Well, he'd gone on tuh work an' he come back an' dey had a big fuss about it. He tole her dat he wus goin' leave dis time. So on dat Thursday night dey had a big fuss about it - dat he didn't want her tuh go to dat church or somepin othah. But it seemed dat his mind wus wandering from whut he [preacher] had done. So he tole her, says, "Well, ah'm goin' leave heah - dis game wit de preacher. So dat Friday mawnin' he packed up his things an' left. Aftah dis preacher died outa [left] heah - it's been 'bout a yeah ago - he died. Dey stayed apart as long as dis preacher lived an' after, a long while aftah de preacher died, den him an' his wife wus stayin' tugethah right on Plum Street.
(What did they call that stuff that he sprinkled around?)
Well, he said it wus some kind of goofer dust. Ah understood dat he had turpentine an' dis graveyard dirt an' salt in it. Three diff'rent things he had- three or fo' diff'rent articles he had mixed up in dat.
(What did he sprinkle that around the porch for?)
He sprinkled it roun' dere so he could break him an' his wife up.
Entry 661
Dat's whut we call dat graveyard clay, goofer dust.
(You mean that's what you call it down here?)
Yes slr.
Entry 662
They take graveyard dirt, they say, and make goofer dust out of it and gave you a lingering cough.
Entry 11330
Dirt from under their [victim's door] step, put in bottle, carry to river, throw over left shoulder, they'll follow.
Entry 11752
Then ah know one man tuh take graveyard dirt an' he put it in his car [automobile] an' it seems dat de daid followed him. De daid followed him so dat he got rid of dis car. An' den ah know one woman she says she did that [put grave- yard dirt in her car] an' it give her luck.
Entry 656
And this ole man - he died a sinnerman, but he had played cards up until about one o'clock that night and he was found dead in bed the next morning. So - I don't know what they kin do with it - but when we went to the cemetery to bury this man, there were three women out there, out here in Calv'ry cemetery.
(Calvary cemetery.)
There was three women out there and each one of these women had a cigar box. But there's people visits the cemetery all the time and nobody pays no mind, so - but these women was not presentable to be at the funeral, or out there expecting the funeral or anything, they Was slack and slouchy. So, right where I was standing the undertaker came and snatched these boxes from 'em, and say, "What do you wanta do? kill everybody in Norfolk!" Well, then the people began to - I looked myself - he'd taken these boxes and each one of these boxes had dis dirt in it. Said [someone] you had to get dirt from a sinner man's grave to do ever what was to be done. I don't know what it was.
(I see - they were trying to get some of this dirt.)
Yes, they had it.
The eligible evidence is the narrator's account of dirt in boxes; the later sinner-man grave claim has unresolved attribution.
Entry 11498
Bury under your door dirt from his foot track; he'll come to your house. [Wilmington 167:6+85.]
The source prints this as a short instruction. Its opening notes assign unbracketed text to informants; a verbatim recording is not established.
Entry 11827
"Graveyard dirt makes fuss, keeps up disturbance, " when used in or near house. [New Orleans 1103:4.]
Only the explicitly quoted assertion supplies the occurrence evidence; the following unquoted location phrase remains separate context.
Entry 9048
When yo' go down 'fō' de jedge.
(For any kind of crime.)
Yeah, fo' any kinda crime. Well, now, yo' go down. Dey might 'rest [arrest] chuh, put chew in jail. Well, now if yo's in jail, if yo' kin git some of yore frien's, says, "Well, all right, '' says, "ah'm in jail. Now ah wan' chew tuh he'p me." "Well, all right, ah'll he'p yuh." Well, now, yore frien' will go tuh work - if he's a frien' tuh yuh, he'll go tuh work. He'll go tuh de graveyard an' he'll go tuh a pusson dat don' belongs tuh de church atall. He'd know his grave. He'd go dere an' tell 'im jes' so, he'll speak a word to 'im, he says: God, de Fathah; God, de Son; God, de Holy Ghost; three in one. Says, "Now, mah fren' is in jail an' ah want chew tuh turn 'im loose." Well, now, when he come back, he'll come back wit some graveyard dirt. An' when he come wit dat graveyard dirt de day his fren's trial is, he'll be dere, he goin' be right dere. An' whenevah dey calls his frien' on de witness stand, he gits up an' ast de jedge, May he speak tuh 'im befo' dey call 'im up. Quite nachural, dey'll 'low [allow] 'im a chance tuh speak. Well, when he go dere an' speak, whilst he's standin' dere, he's slippin' dirt tuh 'im, yo' see, he'll git right close up tuh 'im. If he can't git it tuh 'im in 'is han', he'll put it somewhere on his clothes where hit'll fall on de flo'. Right where it fall on de flo', yo' see, when he come tuh trial dat's nol pros.
The informant names graveyard dirt in an account claiming a 'nol pros' trial outcome. The grave's freshness and the claimed result are not established.