Subject:Hair
Other forms: Hairs
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Entry 3252
If he is away from home dataway, yo' see dose red peppah pod, split de peppah open an' hull it out well - only one. Durin' de times he's sleepin', yo' take de scissors an' cut a little piece of hair off of dat, way down below. Put it in dat peppah, sew it up in a little band, an' wear it aroun' yore waist dat way. She may talk to men but huh mind will have no dealin's wit: 'em, yo' see.
Entry 3549
(Well, how does she tie up a man. She takes a piece of what yo' call a grass rope an' whilst he's asleep, she'll take de measure of 'is body. She'll take de full measure of it.
(Of his body?) Yes, sir. What I mean, I can't explain rlght [I don't want to come right out and name it]. (Oh, I see. Yes.) [Yes = continue.]
Well, she put nine knots in dat an' she takes nine hairs from right close to his body. Yo' undahstan' what I mean?
(Right near it?)
Yes. Well, she takes dis an' she ties it in dere an' she ties it aroun' 'er wais'. An' she puts nine knots in dere an' she wears it aroun' 'er wais', an any woman he go to fool wit, he cannot have her.
(I see. But she must have those nine knots.)
An' evah knot supposed to have dis hair in dere. Yo' undahstan' what I mean?)
(She what?)
Evah knot she made [in the grass rope], she have a stran' of dis hair in dat. (Oh! Each one of these knots she made, she has a hair in that knot - one of these nine hairs in that knot. I see.) Yes, sir.
(And she wears it around her waist like a string, and it must be a grassrope.)
Yeah, grass rope.
(Grass-rope string. I see.)
Entry 5801
If dey got holt of yore hair, dey could take it - take yore hair, nine stran's of yore hair an' nine needles an' seven [nine?] threads of red silk thread, an' take an' carry it out jes' as de sun go down an' bury it. An' walk aroun' it nine times an' make a wish each time dey go roun' it an' it will cuz yo' - as yore hair begin to grow wit'in dat thread an' needles, sharp pains begin to penetrate through yore haid, an' as de hair grow, why de pains will grow.[ Washington, D. C., (642), 831:2+85.]
Entry 5875
Dey kin take two stran's of yo' an' mine hair, or eithah yores, an' ketch chew a live, any kinda fish yo' could git - git yore hand on, even dis goldfish - an' Me de tail of it an' put [the hair] in dere, an' turn it back loose tuh run in de water, an' yo' goes off as he go.
Entry 5890
(What do they do out there?)
Well, dere's sev'ral diff'ren' things dat dey do out at de fo'ks of de road.
(Well, tell me one of them, if you know one of them.)
Well, when yo' git to de fo'k of de road - co'se some people uses a lady's hair or her hose dat she wear or her urine or somepin lak dat. Well, in any way dat yo' wanta use her hair, yo' could take her hair when yo' git to de fo'k of de road, yo' could put 'er hair into de groun', but yo' must go dere evah day an' urine on dis hair, see. An' aftah yo' urine on it, yo' must curse it. Yo' have to curse it fo' it to work.
(What will that do?)
Well, yo' see - take fo' instance, yo' got a lady frien' dat yo' wants. When yo' git to de fo'k of de road, now yo' want dis lady frien' an' de lady frien don't want yo'. Yo' could make her want yo' by takin' - firs' yo' git three stran's of hair from 'er head, three from 'er eyelashes, three off any portion of 'er body dat yo' want, but it must be nine in all. Yo' have to take dese rine stran's of hair to do dis wit, an' if yo' got a lady an' yo' wants 'er, yo git dere an' yo' do dat wit it. An' if she's in China, she gotta come back to y~ Qou mean, you bury that hair out at the fork of the road?) At de fo'k of de road.
(I see.)
Entry 5967
Take a stran' of yore hair jes' as near de mole of yore head as yo' Kin, an' yo' kin take it an' take one stran' an' tie it into three knots. An crah mawnin' jes' at de dawn of daylight - de firs' mawnin' clip one dose knots out an' put it in de sweat of yore hatban' [sweat- bandl an' tote it arom' until de second morning. An' take dat stran' of hair out dere, dat first hot chew cut out, an' smoke it in yore cigaret right aroun' de forehead where de party [he or she] kin inhale de smoke of it. Well, dat is bringin' dere min' nearah towards yo'. An' de fo'th [second, see later] mawnin' clip de nex knot out. Yo' takes dat an' yo' take yo' a white piece of bran'-new homespun cloth an' ties it aroun' yore wais' an' keeps dat right nex' to yore skin. Dat nex' [third] morning take de nex' piece [knot] dat chew got clipped off from dose two piece [knots] an' yo' put it in yore pocketbook dat chew keep greenback [money] in dere. An' tote dem evahwhere yo' go. [Dem = smoke, waist, pocketbook]. An' jes' as long as a Woman dat yo' Wants - SHE'LL BE HANGIN' BY YO' UNTIL YO' MAKE OTHAH ARRANGEMENTS TO BREAK LOOSE FROM 'ER.
(You do that each morning?)
Each mawnin' until yo' use de last stran'.
(You do it the first morning, the second morning and then the third morning?)
Yes.
(And what did you say - you said, if you had something in your pocketbook?)
De las' piece - de las' stran' dat yo' cut off put in yore pocketbook an' keep it in dere if yo' got any greenback.
Entry 6021
Dere one thing yo' kin do wit hair. Yo' kin take hair, nine stran's of hair out de top of yore haid. Ah'm tellin' yo' de way ah know, now. Ah don' know de way anybody know it, tell yo' de way ah know. Take nine stran's of hair out de top of yore haid an' git a white pocket han'kercheff, a bran'-new white pocket han'kercheff, an' put nine pins in it. An' wrop dat nine stran's of hair up tight wit dat nine pins, an' put five drops of Heart Cologne fo' nine days. An' put it into a dry place an' let it stay about nine days an' den take it up an' put it anywhere on mah body. Or de Woman could put it anywhere on 'er body where it won' git wet an' wear it. An' dat'll gain a man fo' yo'. A man'll go tuh her an' nobody else cain't git dat man but 'er. Dat man go tuh 'er.
Entry 6055
Yo' take a little hair out de mole of yore haid an' take a little strand from heah.
(Down below?)
Yeah, yo' take dose two an' yo' cross 'em ovah, jes' lak dat yo' see [demon- strates].
(Cross one over the other in the shape of a cross.)
An' yo' git chew a brass-eyed needle an' yo' run it right through dere - one of dose strands, yo' see [demonstrates], right through dere. Den yo' put it in 1 snuffbox an' take it out to yore front po'ch an' bury it right undah yore do'- steps, right undah yore do'steps. (What will that do?) Dat will make 'em come all de time. (You take one of the hairs and thread a needle with it? The other [six] hairs you just leave them as they are?) Dat's right. Put 'em in de snuffbox. (YOU HAVE THREE HAIRS CROSSING THREE HAIRS AND THE SEVENTH HAIR YOU PUT IN THE NEEDLE?) Dat's right.
Entry 6075
She could git 'is hair from 'is private an' de hair from undah 'is left arm an' nine stran's outa his head an' bury it undah de steps. Dat'll make him be's home; he goin' stay roun' home.
Entry 6076
Ah have heard dat chew could take a person hair an' gain de influence of 'em by carryin' dere hair in yore pocket. Yo'could take dere hair an' git chew a piece of bran'-new cloth, piece of bran'-new white cloth sech as be de - yo' know, don't be flowered lak dis. Yo' know, jes' any kin'a bran'-new cloth dat don't cost but 5c a yard - plain cloth. Yo' kin take dat an' take nine stran's of a person's hair an' carry dat nine stran's of a person's hair in yore pocket nine days, an' DE NINTH MAWN- IN' yo' git up outa de bed an' yo' say de THREE GOD MANHEAD: God de Father, God de Son, God de Holy Ghost - de ninth mawnin'. An' yo' take dem nine stran's of bair an' WALK TO DE BACK DO'. Wit yure left han' throw dem nine stran's of hair away. Don't look back aftah yo' throw 'em away, jes' throw 'em anyuay. Don't look back aftah yo' throw 'em. An' de person who yo's in love wit, y jes' lak yo' throw dere hair away, dey'll come back to yo'. [Even cloth at 5c a yard vas amazing back in 1939 - see INTR0., p. XXXV for date.] An' if it's a person dat chew wanta git away from yo', de seventh day yo' cake dat hair an' walk to de front do' jes' at sunrise an' say de THREE GOD MANHRAD, an' put it right in de centah of de do'step - right in de centah of de do'step. Den take a horseshoe - YO'VE SEEN A HORSESHOE - an' lay dat horseshoe right down ovah it; jes' yo' know square each way, jes' so it'll extend each way an' it'll be level each way. Yo' take dem nine stran's of hair an' dig a little hole an' bury it. Put dat horseshoe ovah it. Take yo' nine pins an' drive down in dere. Jes' try tuh drive 'em on top of de head of each othah it'll be bettah. An dat'll drive 'em away from yo', so yo' won't have any trouble wit dat person any
(You cover up that horseshoe so it can't be seen?)
Yes sir, yo' covah it up lightly so it can't be seen. [Despite the absence of pubic or armpit hair in this rite, I have placed it here because of 9 hairs snd9 days.]
Entry 6077
Ah heard dat chew take nine stran's of yore hair, lak yo' wanted yore basban' or sompin lak dat to stay wit chew. Take nine stran's of yore hair from undah yore arm, undah yore left arm, an' nine from down heah, an' trim mine of yore fingahnails, an' put 'em on de [stove] lid an' parch it, an' sift it op in some dough or cake or sompin an' let 'em eat it. He'll nevah leave yo'.
Entry 6084
Well, ah heah 'em say dat dey take de hair from undah yore arms an' de top of yore-haid, an' dey say take an' tack it on a piece of pastebo'd - put it in a little bag an' tack it on a piece of paste- bo'd. Den throw it in runnin' watah an' dey say dat'll, jes' lak if yo' wanted tuh drift 'em away from yo', dey say dat would make 'em walk off in de rivah.
Entry 6085
Make them come back? I don't know about the track [foot track to bring a person back], I jes' know about de sock.
[I turn off machine but decided to hear about the sock.]
About de sock? Take a sock, a dirty sock, an' take it an' put hair from undah is arn, 'is head, an' on 'is private, in de toe of it, an' take an' roll it to yo', an' roll it an' roll it 皿til yo' git to de end. Aftah yo' git to de end, why mke yore wish. Wish he'd come back or wish he'd stay dere, an' bury it undahde foot of yore steps. Dat'll make 'im come back an' he'll stay.
(Either sock is all right?)
Eithah sock is all right.
Entry 6086
Well, ah heard in mah days past if yo' had a woman or a man an' yo' wnted tuh make love wit 'em an' wanted tuh make 'em stay wit yo', [take] some [hair] from de centah of de top of dere haid an' some of de hair from dey body down heah. An' some of de hair from undah dere arms. An' Cobine dat an' carry dat wit yo' to a young grave, where yo' could bury it. Or, yo' know, yo' could take all of dat an' if yo' wanted to make a person leaveyo', S0 dey'd worry 'bout yo' an' wanta come back to yo', but dey couldn't come back yo', jes' throw it in runnin' watah.
Entry 6087
Take his hair [from his head], de hair undah his nose, an' de hair from down dere, an' den wear his picture, an he'll come back.
[I do not recall nose hair elsewhere in HOODOO.]
(What would you do with that hair?)
Jes' wear it, wear it all de time.
(From his head, his nose, and down there. Wear it and he'll come back.)
Entry 6088
Take three stran's out chure haid an' three stran's down below, an' take it an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up. Yo' buries dat.
(What do you do that for?)
It'll kill yo'. (Do you bury your own hair?) Yore own hair. (Won't that kill you if you bury your own hair?) It'll kill yo'. (You Want to kill yourself?) Run yo' blind, sho' it would. [We do not understand one another. Informant merely Bys your stopped-up hair will kill you, whether you or enemy does it.]
Entry 6141
Well, now, if a fellah got a girl, a wife or sweetheart, whatevah he intend 'er tuh be, he go right tuh work, jes' lak mah haid or yore hair right dere an' git chew fo' strands of hair. Be combin', git roun' lak dat, or yo' kin fool wit 'er, make out yo' goin' play an' git it, an' git holt of fo' stran's right out de mole of 'er haid right dere. Dey kin take dat fo' stran's an' put it yore right shoe in de toes or de mouth of it up heah. Fold it tuhgethah an' put it up in dere an' yo' wears it in dere. Now, yo' wears dat in dere, undahstan', an' evahwhere yo' go she'll go. An' if she wants tuh quit - she kin git mad, yo' know - yo' got 'er tied. An' she gits mad an' stays off at some of de neighbor's house an' part up wit yo', lak she not comin' to yo' fo' sometime, well 'fore de sun go down she's right back wit yo'. Can't stay 'way atall.
Entry 6142
[Later during interview informant gives another version of the four- strands-of-hair rite:] Dat's wus'ah [worse-er] den de fo' strands of hair, undahstan'. Den yo' kin take - go git dat fo' stran's of hair. Take dat needle dat de lady sews wit an' wrap it up an' put it wit dat fo' stran's of hair, an' put it in de mouth [informant means toe] of yore shoe, an' wear it dere, yo' undahstan'. An' IF SHE LEAVE YO', DEN DE SUN AIN'T SHININ' OUT DERE - can't leaVe yo'.
(Put four strands of her hair in your shoe?)
Wear it in de toe of yore shoe, way up in de toe, put it up dere where it won't git lost when yo' pull off yore shoe or yore sock - jes' pack it in dere. Let it stay in dere. But it's de quickest way tuh git 'em - dat's it, yo' undah- Stan'. But now YO' MUST KEEP DAT UP ONCE A MONTH. DON'T DO IT JES' ONE TIME, IT DIE DOWN. DAT MEANS, SEE, DAT ONCE A MONTH DE MOON CHANGES. Do it OnCe eVah month.
(On the change.of the moon.)
Entry 6143
(What else do they do with the hair?)
Well, yo' kin take it an' use it in anothah way. Dey kin take yore hair - dey git it in certain places.
(Where?)
In de mole of yore haid, or in de temple, or down below, an' dey kin wear dat hair in dey foot - de shoe. Put it in dey right shoe. Put it in a little thin piece of cloth, yo' know, flannen cloth an' wrap it, an' yo' git some of dis what chew call van-van an' wet it wit it. An' puts it in de bottom of yore shoe an' put a piece of newspapah on top of dat an' wear daily in yore shoe. Well, dat kinda runs yo' crazy 'bout 'em.
(Hakes you like the person?)
Makes yo' love 'em.
Entry 6169
"Bout dat hair proposition, ah hear dat dey take yore hair an' dey takes three Camel Cigarettes, an' takes a strand of yore hair, takes a straw an' push in dere. Push one strand of yore hair in dem cigarette apiece an' den smoke one of dem cigarettes a day, smoke de othahn de next day, an' de othahn de nex' day, an' dey say dey got de woman den tuk in [= took in = taken in = tricked].
(That takes the woman - gets the woman to love them.)
Entry 10214
I hear dat she could take a strand of häh out of a boy's head an' - this is a little bad - put it down an' [while he is asleep] measure hisself [she measures his penis with his hair]. An' she took that hah an' put it in a bag, an' put it up under huh ähm where she sweat at, an' he couldn't do nuthin to no other woman but her.
Entry 11855
Well, yo' see now, it's anothah story. A lady an' her husban', yo' know, dey were gittin' 'long all right. So she saw somebody else she liked an' so she, yo' know, comes right to de front of it wit her husband an' dey nevah wanta agreein' in de home, so she say, "Well, ah dunno, seem lak mah mome is gittin' too upset. Ah dunno, seem lak ah dunno whut tuh do." So dis kept on workin' lak dat. So ah guess in travelin' an' talkin' roun' - prob'ly in, up an' down de streets, so dis [would spread] - 'nothah man or woman, somebody, say, "Whut? Yo' dunno whut tuh do wit chure home?" Says, "No." Say, "Don' be silly, go an' git chew some luck." Said, "It'll make yore home all right." Say, "Will ah be able to work ut? Ah don' know whut tuh do or how tuh do it." So, [she or someone] said dat dis man says, "Well, ah'll see yo' ag'in an' talk wit chew."
['"Dis man" wanted time to inquire about doctors.]
"Okay." An' so prob'ly latah dey got tuhgethah, see. Say, "Seem lak mah home is still gittin' worsah an' worsah an' 'stead a-git' tin' bettah, ah want chew tuh prove whut chew wuz talkin' tuh me 'bout." Says, "Okay." Says, "W'yn't [why not] yo' git chew a cah [car] an' go down South an' git chew some luck. Don' chew know whut tuh do tuh take ca' yo' home?" Says, "No." Says, "Well, ah've got de money if yo' kin git a cah." Says, "Well, ah kin git chew a cah all right." So he got a cah an' so dey went down South. So de ole man commence 'splainin' tuh him whut it wuz all about. So he tole 'em, says, "Well, ah tell yo' whut chew do." Says, "Yo' right easy when she go tuh bed," says, "at night," says, "cut so many strands of her hair." Says, den go down below an' cut so many down dere." An' he says, "Yo' git dat all tuhgethah an' put a lil' of 'er sickness. Ketch onto her monthly an' take a lil' of 'er sickness, an' two strands off 'er haid, two down there, an' a lil' of her sickness, yo' know. Put dem togethah an' tie it up in a lil' bag." An' said, "An' every month when she be lak dat, yo' watch closely an' yo' git a drop of her sickness an' jes' damp it wet lak dat, see, an' she be all right. She'll take care of yo'."
Entry 12229
They says to have luck: well you know you kin take a piece of lode- stone. You kin take a lodestone an' git choo piece of'High John de Conkah root. An' yo' kin take dat an' put it in a piece of red flannin [flannel], an' take an' sew it up. An' git choo some perfume an' pour it over there. An' you'll have good luck in any games you go in. You will win. That's to draw luck - lodestone would. Jis' bathe [usually feed] it [with the perfume] say about 3 times a week to keep it kin'a mossted [moist]. An' that lodestone will grow. See, that would grow...jis' as long as you keep [feeding it] the larger it be. An' as it grow, little hairs will come out, little teenny hairs. Yo' kin see 'em comin' out. It's a lodestone, look jis' lfke a piece of coal [several places in HOODOO this is called black lodestone]. But only them hairs...an' they will move too. You could take a piece of that an' lay it on this table [between us] in one place, an' then you go back about a half an hour after, it'd be done moved.
Entry 12548
(For a man to hold a woman.)
You take 9 of her fingernails and 9 of her toenails, and then get a red onion, and get 9 strands of hair out de mole [mold] of her head. And take that onion, red onion, and cut it open and dig a little hole in it. And then take them 9 toenails and 9 fingernails, and that 9 strands of hair out of her head, and place together and put it in there, and stop that onion up. And go round the house towards where the sun rise, and dug [dig] a little hole, and put it [in] there and then cover it up. [Copied from my rough original pen- cil transcription made soon after recording; original copy attached.]
Entry 250
Ah had a cousin dat wus hurt like dat - mah first experience to it. They taken some of her hair an' dey put it in de back of a frog, an' her finger- nails an' toenails, an' they got that frog an' put him into a 'bacco sack an' dey put a piece of frog bread - dere's de stuff whut chew call frog bread.
(Frog bread - what is that?)
It's somethin' grows in de woods - jest comes up jest like a sprout. Yo' ever seen celery grow? Well, yo' know how when celery come up outa de ground it's right white. Well, dat's de way dat frog bread comes up but it spreads yo' know, as it gits up outa de ground - it spread kind round like a parasol [a mushroom, always called toadstool in folklore]. Dey put a portion of dat in dat. An' afterward dey taken dat frog to mah cousin house an' dey sewed it up in de bed mattress an' dey had some pins in dat frog - [pins in dat] frog bread, tacked down. An' as dat frog - after it got in action - after dey sewed dis up in mah cousin bed - dis frog de longer it go - after it was fixed - an' as dis frog would Jump, she would fits right after one another. An' she wus jest wizlin' away to nothin'. Well, we could take her 'way from home, we could take her 'way from there an' she would git along pretty well, an' we thought she wus well enough to take back home; we'd taken her back dere an' no quicker'n she hit dat bed, she begin havin' dose fits. Dere wus a ole doctor, Mr. Marlborough.
(White or colored?)
Colored - we'd taken her tuh him. So he sont us back an' he tole her he'd be to her house de next day. Well, on de same day dat he promised us dat he would be dere, he wus dere on de noonsday hour. He goes [in] dere - he wouldn't let her see him take it out - he'd taken mah mother an' aunt an' also her husband. He went into de mattress an' he cut dat frog outa dere which dey had - dey says dey had examined it but dey refused [failed] tuh find [anything] but he went in dere an' seem to let 'em see it. So he bring it from de middle room back tuh where mah mother lived an' he'd taken it out an' he cut dat sack open an' out come de [live] frog: He tole us, says - before he ever did it - he said, "When ah open dis sack - de direction dat de ones who done it, dat direction dat dis frog gon'a try tuh go." An' sure 'nuff jest lak he did - it wus true. So he'd taken it out an' [there was] stuck in dere bluestone, stuff de color of graveyard dirt, her hair, fingernails an' all - I'll never forgit it - he po'red it down in de yard. An' he said, "Now, when ah burn dis stuff, when ah say, "strike a match to it, '" say, "hit gon'a burn like fire in all colors it gon'a be." Ah nevah see nuthin' like it befo' or since. He said, "It gon'a be a snake come heah an' dis snake he is gon'a venture to bit her" - a great long black one. He sot dat stuff afire an' it wus a long blacksnake come runnin' up an' he did his best tuh make it tuh her but he kilt it - ah reckon he jest didn't even know whut he wus doin' an' he kilt it. So he burnt dat up. He say, "In three days' time from dis day, de ones who done it, dey will leave outen de roof of dat house." De ole lady name Charlotte an' her daughter wus named Mamie, an' dey would be wanderin' from place tuh place. Course ah nevah - ah wus young den - ah nevah did learn how he done it, understand - dey have been wandering. But ah do - ah take a man oath - ah know dat's true.
The informant reports pins in the frog, followed by Hyatt's bracketed insertion and frog bread. Placement remains ambiguous; all three source layers are retained. Read the complete cousin narrative for its reported events and treatment claims, which remain unverified.
Read full source (printed page 72) · Read full source (printed page 73)
Entry 2750
[Here is another example of the glove-shaped hand, but unlike the former rite (1990, p.584) we now have one in a candle atmosphere - New Orleans is near. More important, the following story shows some of the listening prob- lems of collecting, among them - speedy talker, confusing pro- nouns and references to persons, delayed explanation, all sorts of things.] Well, they say if you were living here and they wanted tuh move you and run you away - well ah know of a lady, she fo' every morning fo' 'bout nine mornings - she bought a bran'-new box of salt and she took dis salt and cayenne pepper and she would sprinkle it, yo' know, from de front to de back and fo' that reason it would cause a confusion, you know, in the house and they all wouldn't live so good, you know. An' so she would take it and she would sprinkle all over when everyone, say, Wouldn't be noticing, you know. She would do that and then when they all would leave, she would take. She went out to the graveyard early one morning and she got some graveyard dust offa someone's grave, and she brought this dirt back, yo' know, and she'd taken it and where this landlady lived, slept, she unraveled [took out a few stitches of] her pillah and she put it [graveyard dust] in dis pillah. And she had a glove - [look] like it was a han' - and it [the graveyard dust] was in this. And she stuffed it with this graveyard dirt. And she says she mixed it [the graveyard dust] with a - wherever she got dis rattlesnake dust from, ah don't know, but she musta got it from a rattlesnake or something, and she mixed it with somethin' and she stuffed, sewed it in dis pillah while de landlady was gone. [She starts to say the graveyard dust was mixed with rattlesnake dust. Was it? For snake dust, see No. 690, p.230; also No. 1433, p.468 - "an original and brilliant piece of therapeutic thinking."] So after, for about a couple of weeks this lady suffered from her head laying on dis pillah. She suffered severely from her head, you know, and she didn't know what it was, you know. She begin to git dizzy and feel bad, and so she said she was going to see what caused dese headaches. And everything she could take Wouldn't do her any good and so she went tuh a couple of fortunetellers. And so finally a ole lady tole her, fortuneteller told her, said, "Well, yo' ought to look about yore bed," say, "it look like you can't get along in de house, there's always a confusion and everything." And so she said, "You go look up in your mattress, your pillahs or something." So she didn't pay any attention to it all [atall = at all]. So finally she made up her mind to do that. Took her pillahs out and she un- raveled de pillah and she found dis glove stiff like a hand, yo' hand, and so she opened it and she found all de stuff in dere, those different things. An' she didn't know what de cause of it, you see. And so she was afraid and she got someone to look after it fo' her. Well, she'd taken it to dis lady and ast her, and de lady tole her it was graveyard dust and rattlesnake dust and she wanted tuh - someone wanted to make her move or either kill her or something like that. [The preceding account is one of our many examples of that important element in hoodoo theory and practice - the doctor's ability to analyze and identify immediately the nature and cause of an ailment. To look at a handful of dirt and say that it is a mixture of graveyard dust and rattlesnake dust is quite a trick. Only our former doctor-druggist-chemist could have done as well (see No. 1593, p.498). To say these two dusts in a glove in a pillow caused the headache is quite a - well, even doctors admit this knowledge is a gift. At least, though on a lower level, we can now answer our former question - "Was it?"] An' so dis lady [roomer] in de house, you see, she would every morning [for 9 mornings] she would sprinkle dis here cayenne pepper and dis salt all ovah de house. And so after a while they [landlady] asked - cause dey [landlady and roomer]didn't 'gree, yo' know, 'count de fuss and everything - after while they asked her to move out and she [roomer] said she was going to return it back to this person [landlady].
(Was that here in Alabama?)
Yes.
(Well now, go right ahead.)
Well, after she did that - yo' know, she [landlady] did that to make 'em [her] move or to keep her [landlady's] husband, you see. So she [landlady] kept her
[own] husband. And so this other hoodoo lady [roomer because she used hoodoo]
tole her [landlady] that she would return it back. So she [evicted roomer] comes and gits dis hen's aig - a black hen laid dis egg, and she wrote the name [see later] on it. They were living in a house kinda lak dis [house in which I was interviewing] wit a glass do' in de front, chew know, in de house. So soon, early one mawnin' she comes an' throws dis aig up side de door and broke de glass, yo' know - throw de black hen's aig up there. So when he [landlady's husband] goes out - get up dat mawnin' soon - he didn't know - so when he looked all de egg spattered in front of de do' and de glass was out, yo' see, and he walked ovah it befo' he knew it, yo' see, so he looked on de shell and saw where de name was wrote chew know - her [his wife's] name and his name was wrote on dere. And so she said, "Well, dey did dat to break us up - broke dat aig up side de do' to break us up." So she said - an' so she got lye and swept - yo' know, swept it all out an' cleaned it up, yo' know. An' so dis lady [roomer] wrote her a letter and tole her that "Seven years wouldn't be too long for a raccoon to weah a ruffle-bosomed shirt. That's the way she spoke. (Wait, will you talk a little bit slowly. "Seven years wouldn't be too long for a raccoon to wear a ruffle-bosom shirt?") That means she would get her, yo' know. An' so dat was de words she wrote to her. [I know nothing about this stylish raccoon. He sounds like early American ruffled shirts, but the saying or proverb may come from the stage or radio.l An' so finally she would - yo' know, she would burn candles on dis man. She went got - an' got a candle and every time on a certain hour, noonday an' like dat, she would burn dese candles wit his name wrote on it. Black candles, yo' know, and she wrote it on dere. Well, he couldn't stay here and he couldn't stay there, yo' know. He was jest kept, yo' know, like he was, yo' know, de mind up- set all de time, yo' see. And so he got so that he didn't [live] peacefully wit dis woman, because every morning fo' nine mornings, she would come there and had something like - ah don't know whut kind of dust it was - but it was - when you look at it, it looked something like black peppah, yo' know, powdered peppah. She'd sprinkle it all roun' dere do'step, yo' know, fo' nine mawnings. An' he came there and so she took one little piece of his hair out de top of his head while he was asleep, and she sewed that up, and had that fixed with something and put it in a little red bag and sewed dis little red bag up, an' taken a cord string like and put nine knots in dis cord string and she wore it around her waist.
(What else did she do with that string first? Anything else?)
When she took dat string she rolled it in something, yo' know, in some kinda dust, yo' know. She rolled dis string in some kind of a dust, dipped it in dis dust and jest as yo' tie those knots, jest like dat dust would be in dose knots, too, yo' see, because it would wear off, you know, say, just straight round her Waist, but it would be in dat knot, yo' see. An' nine knots she tied it around her waist wit dis little red bag wit his hair in it. An' she took one of his socks - yo' know, one his left socks, and she carried it and had dis sock dressed, vo' know, and she buried dis sock at de foot of her steps, underneath her steps, she buried his sock so he couldn't stay 'way from there, yo' see. Said that she had him so that he had tuh come there. See. And so yo' see, well, he would get so he wouldn't give her any money and some- thin' like that, and so dis ole hoodoo lady tole her to get him to give her one silver dime, yo' know, of his money. And so he didn't know what she wanted him to give her dis dime fo', but she got a dime out of him. And she went an' she had dis dime dressed until it turn almost black like a penny, and she put a hole in it and she wore it around her laig, yo' know. And that's where so she could git his money, you see. She was trying to git him away from dis yere woman [his wife], yo'see. An' so, see, she didn't know that this other woman had his sock buried at her do'step. She had his sock buried there and she was still continuously burning dose candles. And every time she'd come roun' she had some kind a powder tied up in her hans'cuff that she would sprinkle. He thought it was jest powder whut chew powder yore face. It smelled sweet but it was some kin' of love powder yo see. An' she had a little somethin' like a tablet. She'd offer him meals. She would [drop] that in his tea or his coffee.
(Like a tablet?)
Like a little tablet, yes. It would dissolve, you know, an' you couldn't see the mixture in there. You couldn't see the mixture, you know, and you couldn't taste it, see. Well, he would drink this, see. Well, he would drink this and therefo' he couldn't stay away for she had that in him, yo' see. Well, see, she wanted to git dis other woman [wife] out de way, and that's [the reason] she went there and broke dis aig up side her do'. An' she give him those little tablets in his coffee or tea to drink, see, and he begin to suffer wit his stomach badly, an' all like that, and he began to look frail, and look bad, yo' know, because she said if she didn't have him, he could not do her [his wife] no good. See. An' he begin to look frail and bad, an' so no doctor's medicine didn't do him any good. Every time he'd go tuh a doctor, it would make him worser. Yo' know, when you've hoodooed anybody, doctor's medicine not good fo' you, you know. An' so he went - and every time he'd take a doctor's medicine, it would make him worser. And so an' ole lady came by one day and tole him dat he was fixed, chew know, that he was hoodooed, see, because he never would git well, yo' know. And on a certain kinda moon he would git like - git in a fit chew know, kinda rave. And so the ole lady told him that if he'd pay her a sum of money, she could cure him - yo' know, she could git him outa dis kinda fix: An' so, he finally jest scuffled up de money some kind of way. And so she'd taken and brought some saltpeter an' tole him fo' 'bout nine or ten mawnin's to take a bath every mawnin', every day, in dat saltpeter - bathe in that. An' she went out and got some roots out of de woods, some kin'a calomel roots and every- thing and he had to chew dose roots, yo' know - calomel roots, like white-look- ing roots, and she tole him to chew a piece of dat, chew know. An' he had to chew dose roots and he had to take a bath in saltpeter fo' nine mawnings. She made him up a mixture of medicine, chew know. She put so much of turpentine - looked like coffee, somethin', where you see it would settle at de bottom. Well, he had to shake it up and yo' know he would take that, chew know. And after he would bathe in dat saltpeter, he had to take dat medicine and then chew dat root, chew see. An' den she told him at certain time - if he would chew it often - that would pass from him. See, when he chews dose roots, dat calomel yo' know worked up in him. Well, yo' see, after he'd taken that and she tole him that ninth or de tenth day something would pass from him, yo' see - but sure enuff it did. When hit pass from him, yo' know, like de calomel worked him yo' know, it passed somethin' looked like little worms - passed from him little bita worms. An' she tole him that if those worms hada stayed [in] him, it would form like little frogs, and things like that was goin' form in his intestines, inside, chew know. And it pass from him like little worms. And when it passed out, she showed it to him, iThis whut pass from yo', this whut they was puttin' in yo'." [There is one strange feature about so many of these passages of worms, snakes, or lizards. The patient does not see them until the doctor has made an examination and then shows them, or sometimes merely tells about them. No doc- tor has ever gone so far as to say, "If you see them you will die." For further accounts, see Live Things In You, Pp.227-239, and Index.] See, that would kill him slowly, yo' know, and so he was pinin' up and every- thing. So he passed little worms from him in de tenth day - little worms and little somethin' she said was gon'a form frogs. Whatever this was dis woman put in his coffee for him, yo' see, that was forming in him - that would form in him, see, because she got these little tablets and she got this rattlesnake dust - some dust from under a rattlesnake, wherever she got it from and say - and put it in dere, put it in him, fix him so he would stay with her. [Choppy place in cylinder. The old hoodoo woman told wife] if she could get holt of him, she say, if she could get a holt of him and git a little piece of his shirt, she could, yo' know, could stop dis fit on him. See, every change of moon he'd have these spells. [Here are four similar beliefs about fits from general folklore: (1) "Epilep- tic fits...more frequent and...severe during the increase of the moon...." (2) "If anyone has fits, take off their shirt...while having it, cut out the piece over their chest and boil...when cool...give to the person to drink...." (3) "He was having one of these fits. She pull his shirt off over his head, put it on a pan and set it on fire...took the ashes...to feed him a spoonful before each meal...." (4) "Remove the person's undershirt...after an attack, let it smolder on live coals, mix a teaspoonful of these ashes in a glass of holy water, and say In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost...must be administered three times a day." From FACI, 2ed., p.248.] Well, this ole lady, finally this ole lady died, see - dis ole lady whut was fixing him, yo' know. Well, she died. Well, yo' see, dey found all kinds of stuff, different hoodoo stuff in her place, where dey went tuh see, yo' know, when she died, an' everything. [For finding spells at hoodoo woman's home when she dies, see No. 239, p.66.] Well, this lady, every change of de moon, she still havin' fits. Yo' know, when de person die and fixed yuh, yo' know, yo' don't nevah git ovah it, yo' see. Yo' see, because dey died befo' dey could take it off dem. See. An' she still had those fits after and nobody couldn't take it off because dis was de woman dat put de spell on, see. [See If Evildoer Dies Spell Incurable, p.396.] And so everytime de moon would change she would go crazy-like and see dis man. See. And then when she seen, she didn't want him. Well, finally, this woman went crazy and nobody couldn't do anything for her because she was de one put de spell on her, yo' see, and after she went crazy, well, dey sent her to asylum and after she went tuh de 'sylum, den she died, you see. But de spell was still on dis man, yo' see, after she died. Yo' see, she never did git her mind back. An' so dis man, yo' see - after he come back - he was already heah, and so after she died, it was still on him. He couldn't git it off him because dis ole lady was de one had buried his socks fo' him and he didn't know where. Differ- ent fortunetellers had tole him that she had somethin' of his'n buried somewhere and if he could find it and dig it up, why that could git him bettah, yo' see, because she had got the worms out of him. See. So she had his left sock buried, took his left dirty sock. She fixed it an' buried it underneath de step. And so he would dig all in de yard to try to find where she had buried it. Well, finally, he jest - seemed like he said he had a dream one night to look under his step: They something tole him to look under his steps. [For spirits warning in dreams, see pp.27,116, and Index.] An' so he got up early hisself one morning and went out there an' was digging around under his steps. And when he dug aroun' he struck something like a little can, and when he opened de little can - de top of dat little can, de dust jest flew out, and when he pulled it out he saw one his dirty sock had been buried under there. And in that sock, he opened it, it had some kind of powder and a little rag, and it had nine needles and nine pins sticking in it - nine wit de heads down and nine needles wit de head up. See - in dat sock and so it was sewed up in dat little rag in his sock. And he'd taken dis sock, de whole thing and he carried it tuh a ole man. Yo' see, he carried it tuh a fortuneteller and tole him, say, "Well, dat's whut she had buried, yo' see - why you couldn't stay away from her." An' so, when he'd taken dat and dose little needles - dose needles been in dere so long dey was rusty. An' sos he'd taken dat herself and she washed it in saltpeter - see, she washed dat in saltpeter and he thought she was curing him, but she was making him worser fo' it - 'cause he wanted tuh go back to his wife, yo' see. De woman died dat broke him from his wife. Dat's de one made him move out de house and break up his home, yo' see. An' so he went back then to his wife and try to live with her, see, an' everything. Well, he couldn't live with her because they both died and de spell was on him, yo' see.
(This happened right here in Mobile?)
Yes.
(All right, go right ahead now.)
Well, he'd gone back to his wife, yo' see, after a certain length of time - so many years, yo' see. An', yo' know, he begged her pardon for the way he did her and de woman. She knew dis woman had broke up her home, yo' know, what she did, because afterwards she found out what she had sprinkled all around in her home, yo' know, fo' de confusion and fo' him tuh mistreat her, yo' see. Well, he'd gone back to try to live with her again, yo' see. And so his wife was afraid and so she thought she would have him fixed her- self. After this woman had him that way, she thought she would go an' git some- one to do him the same way, see. So she goes to a fortuneteller and dey tell her that the only way she could do anything with him was to have him dressed. See, was to have him dressed so that - if she don't, he would leave her again because dis spell was still on him and de woman was dead and every change of de moon, he would leave her. See, he had dis spell on him, and said de woman was dead and she was de one had to git it off him. Well, sure enough, every change of de moon he would leave her but she wanted tuh have him dressed. So this fortuneteller wouldn't tell her whut to do, but she sent her to some- body else. So she went - say she jest tell de fortune but de lady had to go to an ole hoodoo. So she goes out in de woods to an ole hoodoo lady and dis ole lady tole her that yes, she could dress him and fix him so that he couldn't leave her. He would have to stay right there, you know, he couldn't leave her. And so she tole her to git her a sum of money and bring it back and she would dress it. [In the preceding paragraph: (1) Some fortunetellers do all types of hoodoo work, or put another way, some hoodoos and doctors tell fortunes; other fortune- tellers, like this one, refer patients to a hoodoo doctor or a specialist. Even I the, Author Becomes a Specialist, on page 278. Is there another example of hoodoos imitating modern medical practice? Yes and no. Specialization in heal- ing is as old as primitive medicine-man and witch-doctor. Temple incubation Was a speciality of early Greek healers, ancestors of present-day Doctors of Medi- cine. (2) "out in de woods." Here is the old witch of fairy tales and reality. For this isolation as well as personal appearance, see pp.294-301, especially Nos. 849 and 859. (3) For dressing the money, see one man's remarkable version of this rite - Trickery by Doctor. Cast it into Oblivion, p.268. However, not all dressing of money is trickery.] Well, she did that. She went to this ole lady, and dis ole lady tole her that every three hours - she give her some kind of something like incense to burn. Tole her to burn this incense every three hours, and sulphur. Tole her to burn incense and sulphur and write his name on a white candle and roll it in some sugar. See, she said sugar, seemed like that would make everything sweet fo' him, yo' see. Salt is for confusion, chew know and sugar is for sweet. See, that's the way it works. Tole her to roll dis candle in sugar and write his name backwards on dere, yo' see, and stick it in a little saucer and put it in de cor- ner of her room. See. And jest 'bout time de spell come on him, fo' her to burn it. See. An' dat would make it sweet and de spell wouldn't be on him. An' so tole her to take dat candle and burn it and then to burn dis here sulphur every three hours in her home - this here sulphur and this incense. The incense is sweet too. That makes a sweet smell in yore home. Well, she did that. An' she tole her whenever he take a bath - see, next time he'd take a bath - tuh bring a little of his bathwater. Put it in a little cup or something, stop it up and bring it tuh her - what he bathe in. Well, she fixed his water. He didn't know, yo' know, she was goin' tuh pore de water out after he'd taken a bath. She took some water in de cup, some of his dirty water, and she carried it to dis lady. She stopped it up in a little bottle and carried dis dirty water to dis ole woman. Well, dis ole woman, she took his bathwater that he bathed in and she mixed it with something else in a bottle and shook it up and tole her to take dis bottle and bring it back and stand it up in de corner of her room where ain't no one kin see, and everytime he'd go out de do', she goes an' watch his feet and git his left track and bring de dirt back to her. Yo' know, jest take her han' and rake dat track back and wrap it up in some paper and keep it in her purse. Well, every time he would leave dat would make him come back. See, when you git his tracks dat'll make him come back. Well, whenever he would leave out, sure enough she went and got his track. See, she got dat track and she wrapped it up in de paper and had it in her purse and she had dis water in her room, yo' know. An' so, every three hours in de day she would burn dis here stuff, yo' know [this candle and incense and sulphur]. It acted all right for a good long while but see, every once a while, it would die down - it would die down and den she had to go an' do it again. Dis acted all right for a little while, till he begin to git in a rage agin, yo' see. So dis lady tole her that on the way she had to get something in him. See, she had to fix him in that way. Yo' see. [The preceding paragraph reveals one of the great principles of magic, perhaps the greatest after intention - magic power is not permanent. Our best examples of this are those magic objects closest to the believer's heart and mind - the hands. Among their many characteristics, these helpers: (1) have degrees of power (p.576), (2), observe a time limit (p.577), (3) must be fed (p.578f.), and (4) need recharging, which sometimes requires a doctor or a specialist, a hand- maker. A hand lives and helps only because a spirit dwells in it. Even when all amenities and regulations have been kept and the indwelling spirit is contended, it can be killed - chased from its temporary home - by the spirit of a stronger hand. Killing happens often in a gambling game where every man carries a hand. So, here is another rule of magic - a weaker spirit cannot function in the presence of a stronger spirit. But the owner of the weaker hand can kill the spirit or power of the stronger hand - page 641 and Index.] Well, she thought she was fixing hi - instead of fixing him fo' good, she was fixing him fo' bad looked like, don't you see, because whut dis woman give her, de mixture in his food, see. She wouldn't eat what he eat, yo' see, because she Was putting it in his stuff and sprinkling it on his meat. You see she would put it on de meat that he would eat. An' so when he taste it - de different taste in de meal yo' know and wanted her to taste, she proclaimed that she didn't like that kind of meat. Yo' know, she'd make excuse to keep from eatin' it herself. See. And see, every time he'd eat dis meat hit would make him sicker, see. But she put it on his meat. Dis woman give it to her and told her to put it on there and so he found dis here dirt in her purse, yo' see. He opened de pa- per - he went in her purse and he found dis dirt in dere, see, but she didn't know that he found the dirt. He kept the dirt fo' to carry it tuh see what it was. See. An' so he carried dis dirt to see whut it was. And dey told him it was his tracks - one dem hoodoos, another one, tole him it was his tracks, and says, this woman is giving him something in his food. Well, see, he would eat this food, yo' see, and he got so that he would dry up - dried up jest as little as he could be. It was whut she was feeding him off of.
(Put them [his foot tracks] in the grave?)
Yes. An' she tole him - dis hoodoo lady tole him that it wouldn't be long 'fore dey be burying her by she burying dese tracks. And so dis hoodoo woman gave him something. Yo' know, he didn't know that this woman was dressing dis other one fo' him, see, an' so when he goes back to her, something she puts on him, well he got it on her, see, by being close together, got it on her and she come with something like a itch, yo' know, all over her. [For an amazing example of this common trick, see No. 10, p.7.] She had an itch all over her and she'd go to doctors an' everything and de more they would treat her fo' dis itch, de worser it would git. And so it kept itching till all between her fingers got sore - see, all between her fingers become broke out like you would have pellegra yo' know, all that itch. But it would git between her fingers and all her nails and it got between her toenails. See. An' she broke out in sores, sores all be- tween her nails an' everything tull they had to bathe her hands and wrap 'em up in a piece yo' know. And all between her body - all down there between her body, she broke out in sores and everything, yo' see. And so she thought about this letter dis woman wrote an' tole her that seven years wouldn't be too long for a raccoon to wear a ruffled-bosom shirt. See, that whut she meant, she was goin' tuh kill her - see, tuh get dis man, see. An' she had dis man dressed fo' her. See. Well, after she broke out in sores and everything like dat, well, see, he had done buried her tracks to de graveyard, you see. Well, finally dey couldn't cure her and she broke dese sores all out and it come on de inside eatin' her up. Whut she had got inside her, it would just ete her on through, ete her up. An' she died. Finally she did bury her. See. An' so this woman told her dat, see, and dey all remembered whut she said - that she would do that to get her. An' after she do that - after she [roomer] got this man, yo' see, then this man disliked her. After he had done killed his wife and hoodooed her, well, he disliked her, see. He turned against her then, and so after he turned against her, he say, jest like she killed his wife, he would turn that right back on her and do her de same way, and she told him that he couldn't do it. See. An' so he said, "Surely could." Well, after dis man tried to fix her she would go an' git cured, see, bathing in dat saltpeter and salt, see, and that would keep everything off of her. And she wouldn't eat anything from him, see. An' so finally, he brought her some ice cream and she ate the ice cream. She didn't think anything Would hurt her, see. An' she ate de ice cream and after she ate de ice cream, dis man tole her he would get her. See, 'cause he had done went back to dis ole [hoodoo] lady dat killed his wife, to fix her. An' dat ole lady put de stuff in de ice cream - gave it to him and he put it in de ice cream.... [The hoodoo woman told the wife to] "Get a piece of his shirt-tail and his bathwater." Yo' got whut she got, yo' know, from him. She had tole her to take that bathwater and she put dat piece of shirt-tail in dis bottle, see, and she sticks nine needles and pins in it and shook it up and told her to take that and go in one fo' corner of de house and bury that.
(One of the four corners of her house.)
Outside - not under the steps - de fourth corner of her house and bury it and then jest, as she burying it, she had to say some kind of hoodoo and put a evil curse on. Cause she knew that the water had him fixed - his bathwater - and he had to go cross de water. So finally he takes a notion to leave - to leave her, see. And so she said, well, to cross water - well, that would make all that go back [on person fixing his bathwater]. So he left here and so he went an' got on a ship and went away cross de water. He was leaving across de water to git dat off him. Said that this woman know that he was going away, said she'd rather fo' him to leave and not come back. The one he went back to - de woman died.
(The woman killed his wife and then he killed this woman. That the idea?)
No, de woman got killed - dat de one he was running around wit. He couldn't git de spell off him an' so he goes back and makes up with his wife. See. This woman was living in the house and broke his wife and him up, yo' see, and tore up de home and the wife left and that give her a chance. See, she put dis stuff in her pillah, and so then after the woman got out, de wife turned it back on her. See. An' so she [roomer] lost her mind an' everything and de ole woman dat fixed de wife, she died, see, and dey couldn't git de spell off [the wife]. See. And dis woman [roomer] went crazy and dey sent her away and she died. Then he finally makes up his mind to go back to his wife, yo' see, to git a reconcilia- tion with her, yo' know, tuh beg her pardon, after so many years. Well, you see after he went back with his wife - she knew that this woman had done her that and broke up her home - well she didn't care for him much. But he wanted - but he had dis spell on him - dey both [women - roomer and hoodoo woman] died and dey couldn't git de spell off him. And every change of de moon he'd have these spells, see, because dis woman throwed dis egg and put dis spell on him. He had these spells and so the wife said that she would go have him fixed so she could keep him. So she goes tuh have his fixed, yo' see, and dis woman tole his wife to git his bathwater, see; and then git dis candle and roll it in sugar - see, that was to make him sweet.
(Well, now, whose track was buried out in the grave?)
Oh, it was this woman's track that was buried out in de grave.
(Which woman, the first one?)
The first woman - she was de one.
(There are only two women in the story?)
That was all - one man - two womens and one man. De wife and de woman and dis man. (The woman who was trying to take him away died in the asylum. Then the wife died too, didn't she?) Well, later - after - but he went back to the wife. See. And after de wife didn't care fo' him, see, then she fixed him so he wouldn't have these spells - she tried to git these spells off him, so she would git de candle and roll it in sugar an' everything. An' so then she seen she didn't care for him and then [he] goes and has her tracks buried in de graveyard, see. Dis man fixed her.
(What was he fixing her for?)
Cause she didn't want him. (Was she trying to kill him or was he trying to kill her? Or was he trying to make her take him back or what?) Well, he wanted her to take him back. Well, after she took him back, you see he would git dem spells on the change of de moon and he would leave again. He wouldn't act right. See.
(When did he cross water?)
Well, he crossed water when de woman tole him dat de only way he would git dis spell off him, he would have to cross de water. See.
(The spell his wife put on him or the spell the other woman put on him?)
It's de spell the other woman put on him.
(The part that was in the beginning of the story?)
Yes, that goes in the beginning of it. You see, de wife is de one that burned de candles on him and tried to git de spell off him. So he goes and gits his wife track - he's de one - de hoodoo woman told him to bury it in de graveyard, and he went and buried it out dere like she told him.
(That's what killed her?)
That whut killed her and that's whut made her think of de letter that she re- ceived a long time ago. See, dis ole lady was working on 'em both. See, she was pretending to be friends to each one of 'em, but she wasn't. [For doctor "pretending to be friends to each one of 'em," see two excellent examples, No. 780, p.257, and No. 782, p.258.] See, dis same ole lady died, yo' see, who was pretending to be friends to both of them, but she wasn't. Yeah, he had to cross water to git rid of his sins, because she had his water and everything buried in de fourth corner of her house. So, that itch when she broke out like that, that whut killed her. And he couldn't git those spells off at de change of de moon - he would go crazy and everything. They both [women] got out of dere [died] and dat's when dis [hoodoo] woman [told] him he would cross water. See, he took a voyage away cross water - see, he left to get rid of this. And de last that they heard from him, dey said he was gittin' better of those spells.
intended household discord attributed to salt/cayenne sprinkling. No clinical diagnosis, proven causation or definite aggressor/victim identity is inferred. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
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Entry 183
This was during the period of influenza [World War I]. It happened between two women, both colored women, very superstitious. One had an argument with the other. One not wanting to get in a heated argument started to walk away and she was feeling sick. That was the beginning of that influenza that was going around all over the country. And this woman overtook her and started to fight and she pulled her hair and almost stripped her and she gave her a good beating. This woman turned around and said, "All right, you may go, but I will get you. If I die I will come back and I will haunt you. I will get you. [This is another example of bad mouth.] So they parted. The one that started the fight, thinking that she had the better hand, went merrily home, while the other went sadly home feeling sick from the pains of the disease and having got a good beating. That went on about three weeks without saying anything between them. The one that was sick soon died. The woman that had beat her made fun of her death. Many a month passed and she didn't give a thought to what this woman had told her. One afternoon she started to the store to get some coal oil, and - this was in a rural district where they did not have electric lights. She passed the cem- etery where this woman's body had been laid. She had a little child with her, a child of five. The child noticed it. There was something over on the grave the shape of a goat. The child said, "Mother, look at the goat on Hanna's grave, '' for that was the dead woman's name. The mother exclaimed to the child, "Oh, come on, that isn't anything but the devil holding Hanna down." The child went reluc- tantly, passed the cemetery but hesitated [stopped] to look down before having gone too far that the cemetery might not be seen. They went to the store and purchased the oil and on the way back the child exclaimed again, "Mother, there's the same goat on Hanna's grave." The mother said, "Oh, come on, I told you." She gave her a quick jerk. As she gave her the jerk there arose a whirlwind that twisted around the two of them. As it twisted around them it seem to grow hotter and hotter until it had thrown her down. After having thrown her down it continued to whirl. carrving them both within its grype [grip]. It twisted and turned them until the woman seemed to be exhausted. Finally, she lost consciousness. The child was afraid to leave its mother because darkness had almost covered the earth. The child stayed there until a passerby inquired why the mother was on the ground. Then the child ex- plained the whole detail to the passenger. They took the mother and carried her home and went for the doctor. And I drove the doctor there to the home of this woman. The story was told to the doctor while I sat and listened and as we came away from there I wanted to know from the doctor did he think that was true. The doctor being a very intelligent man, I thought he would tell me nothing but the truth. So he said to me that it Was the most mysterious case he had ever attended. The woman seemed to be like scalding water had been poured over her skin. He doesn't know about [the truth of the] story because he wasn't there, but there was something mysterious about it. Several times I inquired from the doctor and he wouldn't discuss it very much because he didn't want me to think that he was superstitious, nor did he want me to think that he believed in spooks. Yet, I think that he believed very strongly in the story that this woman told,-that it was a true experience. That Was about 1919 near St. Petersburg, Fl6rida. The doctor was white.
Entry 220
A girl was always crazy for fixing her hair. Her mother was going to a party. Her mother was hurrying her." And she told her mother she'd rather go to hell than to go to this party without time for fixing her hair. And she died and they laid her out in the coffin. They couldn't move the coffin. They open it and a black cat jumped out. The hair was fixed as good as anybody ever could fix it. They said the cat must of fixed it. [For girl 'fixing her hair, '' cat, and heavy coffin, see FACI,2ed., Pp.710-711, Nos.15372-15373.]
Entry 221
I heard one time that a woman died and the day - they got ready to bury her and the pallbearers had taken her out of the house and put her in the hearse. And they had four horses and they couldn't pull it. So they got two more and they couldn't pull it. And they said they got two more horses and they couldn't pull it. So then they decided to open it and see what was in it. And when they opened it there was a cat in there combing her hair. So they got the cat out and the two horses could pull it.
Entry 222
I did hear one time that there was two girls which was partners, used to go to and fro together. So at last one day, one Sunday, they decided to go to church. And they went to Sunday school in the morning, also to eleven o'clock service, and that night one of the girls decided she Wanted to go to the night service. So when the one girl got to the other girl's house, the other girl was combing her hair. She told the other girl, "Leave us go to church." The other girl said to her in reply, "Before I go to church I'd rather go to hell with both eyes open without my hair being combed." After then they went. The next day, which was Monday, this girl was taken sick. Tuesday she died. On Thursday they were getting ready for her funeral. They had taken the corpse to the church. And after carrying it to the church they opened it so everybody could review. And after doing so, they went to pick up the coffin to put it to the hearse and they couldn't nobody move it. Then at last a gang of men put this coffin in the hearse. After the coffin got in the hearse they had four horses pulling the coffin. All four of those horses could not move it. It was an awful thing to see the great excitment. Then they decided to take this coffin out of the hearse and open it to see what was the trouble. So when they open this coffin there was a black cat in there combing this girl's hair with its paw.
Entry 223
That's the reason I don't plat my hair to this day. If a woman dies and her hair be platted, they said, "She's gone to torment [hell]." The horses could not pull the coffin it would be so heavy. A black cat would be in that coffin unplatting the hair. You open the coffin and run that cat out and go on to the grave. They say never plat your hair. I never platted my hair in my life. They Say it's a bad sign. [Informant a large girl near Woodville, Miss., when Civil War began.]
Entry 459
I had a horse that was real poor with a long mane. I combed that mane out every morning. I would get up the next morning and it was all tied up with stirrups from witches riding him. It looked like the more I fed him, the horse kept getting thinner. I told him what to do. I told him to go and get him a broom, drive a nail up behind the stable door, hang this broom up there. If this witch comes there, she has to count every straw in that broom before she can get a ride, then day will be on her and she will have to leave.
Entry 461
In 1877 I lived wit a man by de name of Mr. Charlie B. My father hired me there for carrying Water for de women folks and bringing in kindling and stuff for the women. I was eleven years old and a little ways into twelve. A man from Snow Hill by the name of Mr. John S. - and in that time a horse and carriage was de fastest way to get along - he had a bay horse, come to Mr. Charlie B. And this horse, one day his mane was all tangled and mingled. And he wanted to lick me over it. Mr. Charlie B. told him, "No, that boy ain't bothered that horse, because my horse is so often like that when I go to take them out. And I know he didn't bother him." And he saved that man from cracking me. If you want to keep the witches from tangling them, you nailed a horseshoe right over the barn door with the points down to keep the witches from riding the horses.
Entry 507
Git yo' three fat-lighter splinters; yo' take a horsehair and tie it with three crosses in it [demonstrates] - yo' cross one dis way and den lay one in that angle. [Yo' cross One (splinter) dis way (over another splinter, making letter X or cross) and den lay one (the third splinter) in that angle (of the X - like this six-pointed star the latter making three crosses).] Take that horsehair and tie it and whoever yo' think that witch is, set a chair by de side of de bed and lay it [three fat-lighter splinters tied by horsehair into three crosses] right in there overnight. If dat witch comes up dere, he will throw that out of the chair on de floor and yo' won't be worried with him any more.
(You have to throw it out on the floor?)
No, he will. He will do that himself because he comes up and sits down in dat chair and he sits on dat and it gits him and he jumps; you know, jest like if you in a chair somewheres and dere's a pin sticking in dat chair - same you, yo' jump up and put chure han' behin' yo'. Well, he throws dat on de floor.
Entry 776
I heard my mother say one time she knowed a woman got hold a lock of hair and bored a hole in a tree and plugged it up. This man had spells and died, swell out of his head. They say he used to bark like a dog. [St. James, Negro community 5 miles from Pocomoke City, Md., (104), by hand; no electricity for my Telediphone.]
Entry 973
There was a man once he got into some trouble and he went to Elizabeth- town [North Carolina], and it Was way out on the hill some place, about ten miles out [from the town] on de place, and he came to this lady's home. And whenever she alive [while she lived] she [her voice] sounded like a turkey. [A voice sounding like a turkey must not be too rare - see a doctor called Turkey Gobbler, No. 848, p.294.] She carried him on in a little place and they had a pump - and a little place it shape like a bathtub, but it's made out of cement [a drinking trough for animals?]. And she carried him in there and pump water out of de pump and sprinkled him with it, and got some kin'a salve and some brown-lookin' dust and put on him, and gave it to him and rubbed it in his hair and hands, and tole 'im to go on back home. And he never got caught [by the police].
Entry 1232
Even if yo' bald, git de milk from de dog an' bathe de part dat's bald of the cranium an' yore hair will event'lly grow back.
Entry 1279
This is by experience. I seed my mother do this. She made us boys ketch her nine toadfrogs. And we caught 'em and we brought 'em in the house and she got a skillet of red hot grease and the lid ready to place on it. And she'd taken them frogs one by one and put them in that skillet - one by one - one by one - and put 'em in that skillet and fried 'em down to where dey was crisp. She'd taken that grease and she put it up, till it congeal - that is, you know, until it got cold and thick, and she used it as a hair dressing and give it to her friends. Well, my mother, her hair -
(She what?)
Used it for a hair dressing. She had hair that long. She Was mulatto and she used to make it all the time.
(That will make your hair grow?)
Yes, sir, it make the hair grow - you know, turn it straight. That's what she would get out of it.
Entry 2062
(This lodestone grows, you say?)
It grows with oil - I mean with hair on it. That lodestone don't grow no bigger, but the hair grow on it - just like hair growing on my face.
Entry 2283
Jes' take three locks of his hair.
(The boss's hair?)
Yeah, if yo' kin git it. Be round his house where he'd comb, where he comb his hair, an' git three locks of his hair an' yo' take those three locks of hair an' yo' keep them saturated in Hearts perfume an' git close enough to him to talk to him to blow yore breath in his face. An' then yo' git a root which is called de Seven Sisters, an' yo' take that root an' yo' wrop this hair round that root an' keep that. An' when yo' go to 'em, dey says he won't deny yo'.
(You carry this root with you. What do you put that root in?)
Yo' take it an' put it in a lil cloth, or make a large enough piece of papah an' tote it right in yore watch pocket. An' de whole time yo' talkin' to him, yo' keep yo' fingah down in there, jes' lak dere somepin between yore thumb an' yore fingah next to it. Yo' know, work it kinda lak yo' would a match, yo' know lak that, yo' know [demonstrates].
(Just roll it around between thumb and forefinger of your right hand.)
Yessuh. [See margin-title Seven Sisters, later.]
Entry 3211
Co'se dis is diff'ren hair do [a different way of doing or using hair]. Tell me yo' kin take when yo' messin' wit a woman an' git a stran' of hair offa her down heah an' git a stran' from yo', an' when yo'all have yore connection dere togethah an' aftah yo'all discharge, jes' take an' put dat hair in it an' tie 'em togethah an' put it in a li'le sack - a flannel sack an' tie it aroun' yore wais' an' wear it. Dat keep love right tuh yo'. She won' love nobody but chew all de time.
Entry 3373
Dey take yore hair an' dis - yo' know whut ah mean - an' yo' wrap it up in a dishrag or any kinda cloth an' yo' bury it undah de do'step which he travel through an' from, an' he cain't have anything tuh do wit any othah person but dat pahtic'lah one.
Entry 4108
Den yuh kin take de hair an' put it in a bottle an' de fingahnails an' toenails an' chamber lye an' put dat in a person's food. Dat'll make 'em love yuh.
Entry 4581
Take dat little bow in a man's hat an' cut some de hairs off yuhself an' wrap de bow up.
(The hairs from your head?)
No, dey tell me de hairs off yuhself. An' wrap dat up an' put it up ovah yore do', careful. Stick it somewhere in some crack or 'nothah where dey can't git it. [For cracks and holes, see WALL later.] Say dat's tuh keep 'em. Whut dey tell me, say dat will keep a man.
Entry 4604
Say dey goin' wit a boy. Yuh snap dat bow outa his hat an' yuh jes' take it an' put it in Hearts Perfume an' let it stay. Let dat bow stay in dere fo' nine mawnin's an' nine nights an' yuh put dat perfume on 'im an let 'im comb it in' 'is hair. Dat's fo'love.
Entry 4641
Take de bow outa yore hat, de woman kin. Take de bow outa a man's hat an' git some of 'is hair an' take de seat outa his drawers an' weah hit. Only way she kin do tuh keep 'im, yuh know, feed 'im. Take fo' instance, her monthlies yo' know.
(What did she do with this bow? Did you say? How will she wear those things?)
She weah dem undah - right 'tween 'er laigs. Put 'em in a sack an' weah dem 'tween 'er laigs.
Entry 6572
Ah don' know whut dey could do tuh git live things out, but ah've heard dat chew kin take an' - de way dat people pretend dat dey've brought live things outa people. Yo' kin take an' take some horsehair. Take a horse's hair an' put it in a bottle an' keep it in a dark place an' let dat bottle be kinda damp fo' a couple of days an' hit will look lak live things. Jis' lak people claimin' dey had got things outa people - worms.
Entry 7573
Take some of dere hair an' yuh carry it an' bury it right 'side somebody yuh know. An' make yore wish whethah yuh wan' 'em tuh stay or leave. Dey'd have tuh leave, dey couldn't stay [if you wished them to leave].
(Where would you bury that hair?)
Yuh bury it right de side of a christian, yuh know, right at de haid.
(Somebody's grave.)
Entry 10917
Tie together hair from dog's back and hair from cat's back and nail it some place; every time they meet they will fight. [Richmond, Va., 306:2.]
Entry 10918
Mix cat hair and dog hair, burn, put ashes in house to cause disagreements, fighting, etc. [Richmond, Va., 378:4.]
Entry 10920
Mix hair from a male dog and a female cat, burn and make wishes to break up a man and woman. [Elizabeth City, N. Car., 394:1.]
Entry 10921
Make a cat and dog fight, take hair from each, burn this on the prop- erty line between the parties you want to have fight. [Norfolk, Va., 492:4.]
Entry 10923
Tie cat hair and dog hair together, burn near a house, and it will break up the couple living there. [Charleston, S. Car., 541:1.]
Entry 10924
Mix cat hair, dog hair, red pepper, dragon's blood, candle wax, burn; person getting scent of this will have "roaming mind." [Charleston, S. Car., 610:12.]
Entry 10927
Cut hair from black cat's tail, mix with black pepper; if undesired visitor, burn this on stove, won't come back. Also keeps law away. [Norfolk, Va., 476:6.]
Entry 10978
Pick hole in egg, take out inside, put person's hair in, write name on [egg shell], seal [hole], throw into running water, runs person crazy. [Nor- folk, Va., 460:2.]
Entry 11308
Take a cat, or either a dog, an' if he won't stay home.... Yo' let de dog in de do' - lak dat do' dere - an' den pull de do' to an' den pull him out, jes' enough to git some of dat hair in dat do'. An' den he won't go off nowhere, Won' stay off.
Entry 11461
Take fingernails and toenails, wash feet and scrape and get dead skin, hair from under clothes, parch, put in food for love. [Memphis 1560:8.]
Entry 11545
Right foot track sewed in bag with lodestone, pepper, hair, in run- ning water, runs you crazy. [Vicksburg 1003:2.]
Entry 11616
A man is brought back by the woman wearing his foot track and hair, or a piece of his clothing, next to her skin. [Petersburg 422:4.]
Entry 11859
Take yore hair an' a piece of yore clothes an' nail it into a tree. Ah've heard of dat.
(What will that do?)
Well, dat'll dry yo' up, kill yo' by degrees; yo' know, jis' dry yo' dat way.
Entry 11875
To hold his love woman ties man's hair on her leg. [Petersburg, Va., 419:3.]
Entry 11878
Wrap up hair and tie with black thread and wear in pocket for love.
[Wilmington 91:2+85.]
Entry 11935
Bore hole on east side of tree and stop up person's hair to give him a headache. [Richmond 333:9.]
Entry 11936
If someone carries your hair to a tree early in the morning, just as the sun begins to shine on the tree, and drives your hair under the bark on the east side of the tree, you will go crazy. [Fredericksburg by Ediphone.]
Entry 11937
If you wrap victim's hair in a piece of paper and nail it into a tree with a new nail at sunrise, this will give the victim a headache. [Baltimore 46:10.]
Entry 11938
Lay person's hair in hollow of a tree or where birds can find it and make a nest, and the latter will run the person crazy. [Baltimore 59:2.]
Entry 11939
To drive a person's hair into a tree root runs that person crazy.
[Fredericksburg by Ediphone.]
Entry 11942
Put hair in fork of tree; "they'll go crazy. [Here we have the "Y" fork of the road where a person must choose one of two roads. He goes crazy not being able to make a choice. The hair of course is either nailed into the bottom of the "v" or stopped up into a hole bored there.] [Mobile 919:2.]
Entry 11944
On the growing of the moon is the proper time to bore a hole into a tree and to put into it victim's hair and 9 tenpenny nails. This will run victim crazy in 9 days. [Norfolk 491:6.]
Entry 11946
A person whose hair is stopped up in a hollow tree will go crazy.
[Snow Hill 3:2.]
Entry 11947
Bore a hole in a real green tree [as the sap is rising], plug up per- son's hair, hit plug once each morning for 9 mornings, and the person will die.
[Baltimore 62:3.]
Entry 11978
They split a fat splinter [splinter from a fat pine or fat-lighter zine, stick some of victim's hair into the split, tie split to hold him there, and throw splinter into running Water to run victim crazy: [Wilmington 141:6+85.]
Entry 12015
To run you crazy, they bury under your doorstep: your hair, finger- nails, toenails, and a piece of a garment you have worn next to your skin [Nor- folk 427:3.]
Entry 12016
You can bury a person's hair with the measure of his foot track to run him crazy. [Fredericksburg by Ediphone.]
Entry 12017
Hair from mold of head, inner sole of shoe, one tenpenny nail, bury at doorstep. That'll make them love you. [Mobile 918:6.]
Entry 12019
If you bury a person's hair in graveyard he will lose his mind.
[Washington, D. C., 838:4.]
Entry 12020
Hair buried in a graveyard will make you crazy. [Petersburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 12021
Hair buried in a graveyard runs its owner crazy, or runs him away, or make a wanderer of him. [Baltimore 44:3.]
Entry 12022
If someone buries your hair in a graveyard, you will never recover from the headache it will cause you. [Wilmington 90:2+85.]
Entry 12119
A woman sews up man's hat bow and his hair in a piece of flannel 'flannin suppose to be the best kin'a rag to use" - and wears in her shoe for luck. [Richmond 296:2.]
Entry 12719
(You get a rabbit foot you say?)
Git a rabbit foot an' cut de hair out de knee of de foot an' bury dat an' carry dat an' yo'll have good luck in gamblin'.
(What foot from the rabbit?)
De left.
(Which left? There are two left feet.)
So - a rabbit ain't got but one left, one right, fo' [four] feet.
(All right, which do you Want, the front left or the back left?)
De front.
(The left front.)
Entry 13179
You take their stocking an' [or] either you take an' get some of that woman's hair an' her stocking an' wear it around de waist...they kin hold 'em like dey wants to. Vicksburg 1001:9.]
Entry 13327
Sometimes they would get some of your hair and burn it up, or trick it in some way, and make you lose your mind. This and the following example are two early appearances of the words trick and tricking. [old Point Comfort, Va., informant 22.1
Entry 24
[There used to be a mathematical axiom stating that the whole is the sumn of all its parts. In hoodoo, however, a part can equal the whole. Every part and function of your body (hair and breath) - anything touching you (clothes and bathwater) - whatever signifies you (name and photograph) - all these and others are substitutes for either the whole or part of the spirit. Many examples of this belief will be found elsewhere - here are a few:]
Entry 11532
"Git the right track...some of his hair - either place, down their or up here - and put that in a bottle and stop it up real tight, where it'll never leak, and put it in running water, and he'll forever travel." [Wilmington 189:4+85.]
Entry 11887
"To keep person under your feet, take hair from the mold of the per- son's head and wear it under the inner sole of your shoe." [Mobile 878:8.]
Entry 11889
"Take a plat of her hair...put it in your left...shoe...got her until yo're tyed [tired] of 'er. Dat holds her." [Little Rock 1460:9.]
Entry 11941
"You can take the hair and a rusty nail, wrap the hair around the nail and take it and drive it in a tree...you won't live." [New Orleans 1133:3.]
Entry 11948
"Nail girl's hair from head into maple tree. Futher [farther] nail it in, more she love you." [Richmond 364:1.]
Entry 11951
"They can take hair and throw it overboard with the going-out tide and run you away. Well, you leave home then." [Elizabeth City 471:7.]
Entry 11952
"I've heard them say you can take a strand of hair and throw it in running water and cause them to go crazy." [Snow Hill 13:4.]
Entry 11981
"Get strand of hair from man and woman, tie these together, throw into running water, will separate them if they're going together." [This is a strange piece of magic, to tie a man and woman together to separate them! Yet the inten- tion is more powerful than the symbolism, and besides, running water flows be- between them.] [Wilmington 108:1+85.]
Entry 12102
"You take that bow and you take some hair out of his head, and take that bow and sew it up on a pair of red garters, and wear that around your leg, and put some Hearts Cologne on it and that will keep 'im." [Norfolk 525:7.]
Entry 272
Git the hair of a black cat up here between the years - cut the hair between the years. Then they git it between the two shoulders, right out to the middle of the back. Take them and put them together. They got'a take that to the cemetery nine nights. They wrap that up into a piece of new red flannel that never used. And you take that to the cemetery nine nights and at one o'clock and you go to that particular grave and call that person's name and tell 'em what chew want dem to do fer you. He have to use his eyes, you know. The last night, the ninth night, you carry seven pennies and you open the - here [demonstrates].
(The breast.)
Dig down to wherever it is, deposit those pennies and tell them just exactly hoW you want that done and when, and that tends - you know, make you disappear as you wishes. You kin go out and if a certain party appears, you disappear until they pass.
[He kept-it in his pocket.]
(Which pocket do you keep this in for your hand?)
In your right hand pocket, and you will disappear every time you touch that.
Entry 703
I knowed a fellow and he lost all control of himself. They cut up horsehair as fine as he could cut it and put that up in his food and after that Was internal it formed snakes. They commenced to destroy him. This doctor took them out. He gave him saltpeter, olive oil, poke root and other things, and mixed them all together and gave him and perished those snakes and they crawled out of him.
Entry 906
A man was telling us one day [about] a woman's daughter. She had lovely hair on her head. And this woman's daughter and her [another woman's daughter] used to go to church together. It seems that this other woman didn't like this girl because her hair was so much better than her daughter's. So she fixed this child - she used to go and comb her hair. Finally, one evening this girl went off crazy. And then her mother asked this old man [who told the story to informant] did he know anybody that could do her any good. And he told her, "Yes, I'll have to go five miles to get to this man's house." So he got a fast horse [and buggy] and he got away from there that night. And when they got to this man's house the man told him, "I know what you all came for. Sit down a minute. You all came here because the girl is crazy and you want me to do something for her." They told him, "Yes." He said, "You all go ahead and I will be there presently." So they went on and got to the girl's house. They weren't there more than two hours when he came in. So when he got in he spoke to them and said, "Get me a basin full of hot water and a towel." And they got the basin and towel for him. And he put the towel right down in the boiling water and wrung it out and put it right to her head. After he put this to her head she came to real life and knew where she was at. He must have put something in the water, but the old man didn't say. He stayed there until four o'clock next morning. Before he left the girl had come to and knew everybody in the house. And he told this man that went after him, "Son, you know what I want you to do? Come on and go around the house with me." They went around the house. It Was getting kind of light then. They carried a lantern. This girl's father was with them. They had a spade. When they got to the corner of the house he told him to dig right down. He dug. They found a little barrel. They dug it and picked it up and gave it to him. They took it into the house. He asked them did they Wwant it and they said no they didn't want it. So when they opened it, the lmage of this girl was cut out of a piece of black cloth. It had needles and pins in there and a whole lot of stuff. He did not say what all was in there. This man said, "You all don't want this?" And they said, "No." So he took it himself. And he said, "Before I go I am going to leave something here for you to do." He told this other man to come on outdoors with him. And he took a stick and drew a ring all the way around the house, and he gave this man some white powder and said, "You sprinkle this all away around on this mark and you all watch the results" - he left about nine-thirty - "at ten o'clock you'll all see who fixed this girl." And he said sure enough they all sat there and watch when he was gone, and exactly at ten o'clock they say they seen somebody come up and try to get in where this girl was, but they couldn't get over this ring. [Did the doctor - or a confederate left outside and away from the house - try to "get over this ring' and then "vanished away?"] After they couldn't get over this ring they turned and went on and vanished away. And they didn't see no more of them. An' old gentleman told me this about eight years ago [1928] and he said it happen 35 or 40 years ago over in Wight [Isle of Wight] County, [Virginia] where he lived.
Entry 923
Now mah wife, I an' her wus togethah heah year befo' last. We separated Christmas gone a year ago. Ah reckon we lived heah three months ago. Now, she wus fixed, although she's impregnant - understand. Sometimes she would grow out an' den sometimes she would go back in. Ah could lay mah han's on her stomach an' I could feel somepin knockin' lak dat - jes knockin'. Well, ah tried doctors - de doctors stayin' in town heah now - Dr. Fields, Dr. Olson, Dr. Roach. She wus workin' in de Georgia Power an' Light Company. So she came home an tole me, she say, "Well, now," says, "ah don't feel no bettah." She say, "Ah jes' have de fainting spells, ah don't feel no bettah atall." Well, dose peoples next do' to us would come ovah an' he'p do fo' her. Well, ah wus a man an' ah had no business doin' all those things fo' her. Some things I could do an' some things ah wouldn't do, although ah wus her husband. Well, dey would come ovah an' dey would do fo' her. So ah tole 'er one day, ah said, "Say, listen, whut de doctor say?" Ah say, "Did yo' went to him?" She say, "Yes, ah went to him." She say, "Dr. Fields say an' also Dr. Walker say I was impregnant. She say, "Well, ah tried Dr. Whitman, an' he say de same identical thing," she say, ''but ah can't understand it, ah'm not impregnant." Well, ah say, "Ah don't know - dis way is funny - mahself - but," ah say, "de blame is on yo' - ah don't know." She went like that fo' seven months an' she come out well. Well, she had to be operated on fo' first of October - Dr. Louis told her she had to be operated on de first of October, also Dr. Whitman, an' wus operated on. So ah tried an' tried an' tried an' tried an' at de main time dat de chile Wus supposed to be born, if it wus a chile; but it wusn't no chile, wusn't nuthin. So ah goes to a fellah - de fellah's in town now. Ah goes to him an' ah walk to de do' an' look round. He say, "Hello there." [I] say, "Hello." [He] say, "How yo' feelin'?" [I say] "All right." He says, "Well, yo' comin' tuh see about chure wife?" "Yes, ' ah say, - "Yessuh, '' [I] say, "she's come with a little condition." Ah say, "Well, from whut ah kin learn, ah can't understand de matter she's in, can't understand de sickness." He say, "Her sickness is not nach'ral," say, "she wus run home - dat's where [when] she got her dose - yore wife is a woman dat she loves tuh run round" - well now, he wus tellin' me wit dis on cards. He says, "Yore wife loves to run round," he says, "she's not a woman true to one man, she wants yo' an' fo' or five or six men." An' he say, "She messed wit a man's wife up dere an' jumped on de woman about her husband an' de woman had her fixed like dat. Now, she's fixed an' perhaps she is pregnant." Well, ah know de girl - tell yo' de truth, Boss, she nevah come in de house [came home] at all. He said, "But chew go back to de house an' yo' go up under about three feet," he say, "under de do'step." He say, "Go up under de house an' stop, dig jes about dat deep." He says, "Dat's where de mess lays - all messed up." He say, "Can't chew smell somebody's chamber lye all round yore house?" Ah tole him, "Yes sir." He say, "All right, den yo' go back to yore house an' git dis." He give me some kinda thing like vaseline, but it wasn't vaseline 'cause ah smelled it - it wasn't vaseline. It was greasy - to keep de misery from comin on me, yo' see. [This thing like vaseline was to protect him, especially his hands, while digging up the mess.] He said, "Yo' git this an' yo' bring it to me." He said, "Yo' go in de woods an' git me three," he say, "git me three piece of cedar-tree root, jes' about dat long," he say, "an' bring dem back to me. Ah tole him, "All right, sir." He say, "Co'se ah won't have it fixed fo' yo' till tomorrow," see, "sometime," he say, "but tonight at twelve a'clock zactly, yo' go out chure back gate, come all round de streets dat chew come in de front do' an'," he say, "have yo' some salt an' some red peppah." He say, "Sprinkle dat salt all de way through yore house from de gate on out to back an' back round de house again." He say, "Make a round ring," he say, "an' den put some dat peppah de same identical way." He say, "Now, dese people will go to yore home tomorrow to git a match. In case yo' don't let dem have de match, dey gon'a be back ovah dere to borrah some lard." Ah tole him, "All right." He say, "Now, yo' have to give me chance - tomorrow ah'll have her all right." He say, "Co'se she gon'a be operated" - she wusn't operated on den. He say, "Co'se, she got'a be operated on - operation do her good, but still ah do somepin an' let somebody else [the surgeon] do something fo' her, or," he says, "she'll be in a terrible condition till she die."
[This is my only example of cooperation between doctor and doctor.]
An' ah went back an' got dis stuff from under de house an' carried it back tuh dis man, an' dis man fixed it. Now, what he put in it - ah don't know whut he put in de stuff. But ah tell yo' whut was in de stuff dat wus fixed fo' her. Dey had a piece of her hair. Dey had some of dis heah cut from de seat of her underclothes. Somebody had eithah slipped in de house an' got dat stuff - see, she wouldn't let nobody do washin' or anything - co'se dey prob'bly had a chance tuh cut it off de line out dere while it hangin' up on de line dryin'.
(The seat of her underwear?)
Dat's right, an' dey got a piece of her underskirt - right up undah heah [demonstrates].
(Under her arm?)
Dat's right, dat wus in dis mess - now, ah'm tellin' you whut ah seen in dis mess. Dat wus inside dis mess whut dey had fix fo' her. An' a little somepin - ah don't know whether it wus tomatoes or don't know whether it was some of her ministration or whut, but hit wus inside a little rag, it wasn't in no bottle, it was in a rag. An' ah carried it on back ovah dere an' gave it tuh him. So after ah gave it tuh him, he say, "Well, now, don't chew git uneasy," he say, "in a few days she'll be all right." An' so - well, it wus on a Friday when ah had taken it back ovah dere to him. An' dat Sunday, she got 'long jest as - nevah been sick no mo'. (Do you know what he did with those three pieces of cedar root that you took to him?) Ah don't know, suh. He wouldn't even tell me whut he did wit it. After ah'd taken her back dere wit me, he wouldn't even let me come in de room whilst she's in dere. When ah got de cedar tree root ah give it tuh her. Yo' see, ah went back ovah dere wit dem all right but ah give it to her, an' him an' her went in a room, like yo' in heah now [and no one else in the room], an' he wouldn't let me come in dere at de time he fixin' dat fo' her. An' he tole her tuh wear dat. Cause she's living now - ah reckon, if she's not daid - but ah haven't seen her in 'bout a year an' three months, cause I an' her separated.
Entry 939
I had an' a'nt and uncle. Both of them was sick at the time, so we sent fo' a doctor, and it was close to a year and de doctors kept coming and dey said dey couldn't do no good. So we got a kind of hoodoo doctor and so he came to see 'em and he came fer nine days and he told her that she'd have to go out under her step and dig. So she went out and dug an' she got a bottle, and we looked down in it and dere was some roots and lotsa needles and two sets of hair - her husband and her hair. And dey tole her she was tuh take it and put it in running water. And she did and he said in nine days he's come back again [magic delay]. So after that he started to rub 'em - rubbed both of 'em and they both commence tuh git well after that. They'd failed terrible - that's mah aunt, ah know that. Both of 'em got better. (Well that first time - he didn't tell them anything until after he came the ninth time?) No, he didn't tell 'em about it - he say he'd have to come right along.
(I see - before he did anything at all.) [Washington, D. C. (626), 801:1.]
Entry 1009
An' git, yo' understan', her ministratin' - a woman's period an' put it in wit lodestone an' some of her hair, rusty needles an' rusty pins, an' bury dat undah her do'step an' that would run her away. Well, de thing that ah saw wus a person had buried this undah a girl's house name Josephine. Well, this Josephine wus livin' in a house an' she wus goin' with a man an' de people wanted her 'way from this place. See. An' somehow or othah they got her stockin' top an' some of her hair an' lodestone. Wrapped that hair aroun' the lodestone an' then she had three rusty needles an' three rusty pins stickin' in through de hair; yo' understan', aroun' dis lodestone, an' buried that undah her steps. An' that wus tuh drive her away. Well, her sistah, Missus Malone, lived 'way on the south end, supposed tuh be one those so-called hoodoos could do things an' drive yo' away. See. An' she told her - she went tuh Miz Malone an' Miz Malone told her about this stuff wus buried undah her do'step an' she got this stuff out - out from undah her do'step. Ah saw de stuff mahself. An' she tole her whut tuh do with it de nex' day. She tole her tuh git up that mawnin' befo' sunrise an' had tuh git three persons tuh burn this stuff. Well, one boy dat ah remembered had burn dis stuff - co'se he's daid now. His name wus - an' he wus de one got de stuff out from undah dat step an' burn it fo' her.
(How do you mean three persons to burn it?)
She meant three persons that she knew - see, tuh git it out an' den each three of these persons do dat tuh see it burn.
(Well, about that piece with the blood - what did they do with that?)
Well, that wus wrapped in with the hair too. Dis bloody piece wus mixed in lodestone an' de hair aroun' de lodestone.
(Did they burn it at any particular time or do anything after they burned it?)
Ah re'lly don't know whut they did aftah dey burn it.
Entry 2128
[A few prices for hands have already been given - here are more:]
I had one man make a hand for me once. He tole me he was going to make me a lucky hand and he charged me $50 for it. As long as I had that hand he claimed I'd always be lucky. I was lucky for about three weeks and luck began to change with me. I'd paid him for his hand then. So I went to see what was in this hand. And I began to look. And there was some black pieces of stuff that looked like lodestone, and a whole lot of hair, it looked like horse's hair, and some clay, red blood it looked like, all wrapped up nice in two pieces of rag and sewed over again with a piece of canvas bag. I paid $50 for that. The canvas bag was grey and the rags was black. I was supposed to put that around my neck and keep it over my heart. Wear it all the time, even at night. You keep that hand so no- body can fix you, and you will always be lucky.
Entry 2129
My wife was sick all the time and she came there to the house and when I came in she wanted to sell me a hand. She said I could get a job any time. So I bought the hand from her. It was nothing more than a piece of red flannel made in a bag and some kind of hair. It wasn't no count. I paid a dollar and a half for it. She told me to carry that in my pocket and if I wanted a job to ask for it and I would always get it. That's what she told me. I didn't do it.
Reported purchase price of a dollar and a half. The narrator calls the hand no count and says I didn't do it. The source specifies no coin, banknote or money-attraction purpose and establishes no employment result.
Entry 3799
Oh, dat is when people fix yo' so, yo' know, so yo' can't have intah- co'se wit anyone but dem. I don't think I told you dat. Yo' go wherevah dey have sheep, an' de male sheep, yo' cut dere hair from aroun' 'im - yo' know all aroun' 'im lak dat. (Around his private-like?) Dat's right, an' den if possible to get some of de water [urine]. Of co'se sometimes yo' can't get de urine so handy, but if yo' can, yo' get dis an' bottle it up an' keep it, an' whenevah yo' know anyone has a spell of dat kind put on 'em, yo' heat dis wit a teaspoonful of salt in it an' give dat to dem to bathe in, an' dat will come back natural. (That is if they lose their nature, they bathe themselves with it.)
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 9036
(That's for bottlegging?)
Yeah. He took - dis [root] woman was workin' on it, had powdah, two kindza [kinds of] powdah, Hearts Cologne powdah ah think an' some kinda body powdah, black peppah, an' two strands of 'is hair. An' taken it, when de judge was talkin' tuh 'er, yo' know, askin' 'er questions about: 'im. She wanted tuh talk tuh 'im an' she slipped dat in 'is inside coat pocket. An' dey tried it [his case] first, an' dey turned dat ovah [postponed it] until de nex' time. De nex' time dey decided - de judge jis' couldn't git hisself tuhgethah, yo' know, an' all dat. [For trying a case like this first and postponing it, See Doctor Washington of Charleston, working on a bootlegging case, No.9024.] Well, she put all dat whut wuz in dere tuhgethah. Well, she went an' she fixed it all again [see Washington again!]. An'.she took it dis time an' she put de hair an' de black peppah, an' dis heah soda in dere. An' she went an' saw de judge comin' out de do', yo' know, an' taken de ink out of a bottle an' dropped three drops of dat in his track an' picked it up an [put] dat intuh it, an' den slipped dat in dere. An' dey wuz fixin' tuh give 'im light time, an' he come completely cleah.
(This fellow was bootlegging when they arrested him?)
An' he wuz bootleggin'.
(And some root woman did this for him?)
Yes.
Entry 10912
If yo's a man an' maybe yo's goin' tuh see dis woman ovah heah, an' go s [after] dis woman ovah heah, ah'll git a piece of yore clothes, yo kmo, jes"aLll' scrap. Ah'll git a scrap of his clothes, clothes whut [both] chew weah, anything. An' ah'll take dat an' put dat tuhgethah an' take a pinch of de dog hair, yo' know. De dog an' de cat don' like one 'nother, yo' know. De dog an' cat fight. Take de hair out de front, out de cat, an' put it in a piece of yore clothes an' de woman's clothes tuhgethah, an' ah'll bind it up an' ah'll bury it roun' dat way, side de road. So dey says. Dey nevah kin live no mo' tuhgethah. (They can't live no more together. You take a piece of the man's clothes and a piece of the woman's clothes and you take this hair from a cat and from the dog, and you ball them up and bury them beside the road. That makes them fight and they can't live together.) Yes.
Entry 10919
Mix cat and dog hair with seven ingredients: pepper, bluestone, sulphur, salt, asafetida, etc., put at door; people living there will fight like cats and dogs. [Richmond, Va., 303:10.]
Entry 11276
Now, in some of them, they goes in the woods. I have an old friend of mine, it is most good for those people when they get ready to sell theirselves [to the devil] to go on by another person. He will make him lay down. Then, uty when he lay down, he will call all the different insect[s], and if he kin stand fer them to go over him, he's all right. Back in 1927 I was called down here to a place what they call Cole Coran, H. Car. [Not in Dennison U. S. Postal Zip Code Directory, 1968.] While I vas there, there was young girl who had just returned from school. Well, they put ber under an evil influence: she was pulling her hair out, screaming, wanted to jp i the gell. So the gentlemen sent fer me. I goes right out and looks aromd. Sbortly after I find a piece of beef stuck on one side of the wall and the last piece vas a piece of liver. So I'd taken it all out. Somebody had taken some [of.this geat?] and dropped it in this water and [one of] them board caskets made it be- One these insects [maggots] into this meat. They were after putting ["after putting comes from Irish transcriber; leave out "after'] insects into the water what they was drinking, become as though they had little snakes, but by pitching [throwing instead of rubbing] it stuck on the sides of the wall, and on the top of the well, and didn't get in the well.
(I see.)
The arrangement [ruse] of making the person who do's all that to return to the well to show theirself up, you look to find two large oyster shells. The oyster shells may be placed into fire and burned slowly and gradually and burn 'em halfway - just about halfway. At exactly twelve o'clock at night, you takes them and pitch them in the well. The next morning you'll go out there and the person who did that will be standing up out there where you kin see them.
[441:3.]
Entry 11290
Doctor King's account of himself begins: from Columbia, S. Car. When 8 years old to Beaufort, S. Car. Not much in this for an extract. Of course he Worked or studied with Doctor Buzzard (341:9). Next comes the stationary root previously mentioned (342:1). Put black cat bone scrapings on a photograph, if you are looking for a man [a criminal, etc]. The picture turns light or dark, etc. [according to your question]. A year later I would have learned more from Doctor King about this. Later I added, "Be careful in using this unless a par(allel) secured!" Nonsense: This was the doctor's own method (344:1). A rite about snake eggs used to kill person (344:3). To take out frogs caused by frog eggs. Black seeds from a watermelon, horse hoof dust, a tea made from. I comment doubtful. Nonsense! (345:1). "Yo' kin take a woman or yourself, either one, an' if yo' git some hair from down there an' stop it up in a bottle with kerosene on that. Take away all your courage - away from you (347:1). Rub kerosene on woman's privates, takes her courage (347:2). Doctor King also appears in No.830, p.288, v.1. If I failed, remember that Doctor King was in a hurry, on his way to see a patient, but would meet me again the following day. He took a disappearing root!
Entry 11972
A woman goes to the forks of a road, makes a crossmark on the ground, picks up some of the dirt, puts these with a man's hair, and buries at her home to hold him. To put him to going she stops these ingredients up into a black bottle and throws it into running water. [Memphis 1550:8.]
Entry 11975
If you stop up a person's hair with salt and pepper in a snuffbox and throw it into running water while wishing and then walk away Without looking back, you will either run the owner of the hair out of town or run him crazy. [Memphis 1545:5.]
Entry 239
There was a woman that died - the night before she died, we was crossing Gilmore and Moore Street, going to church and her snake got away.
(Her snake?) Her snake got away from her. (Did she have a snake?)
Yes, kept two snakes in de house - say she could send 'em anywhere/ she wanted to.
(Oh, I see.)
And those snakes got away and come out and one run down de culver' [one ran into a culvert and was lost] and a man killed one, and when the one he killed - when he killed that snake she drahpped [dropped] sick in de chair. So I went around next morning to see her and she made me open de drawers. I was about twenty-nine years old then. And she had a drawer on side of de wall there - settin' up in a rack - and she made me open that drawer and pull out about half a dozen socks, tied in a knot in the middle and pins were up in de toes. And then she had pieces belongs to diff'rent women, and one of the women that the pieces belonged to lived right up in the square, and she got that when she give birth to a baby, and she was ridden down, but she didn't die till recently because somebody - they cleaned the place up and burnt up all them rags. She had rags - she had hair - she had pieces cut out the seat of a person's pants - oh, she had everything, in a jar about that tall. (Well, why did she die when these snakes were killed - what did she say about that?) [He doesn't understand me. He would have, had he known the answer.] She takes the snakes - she say she could take them snakes and. make 'em go anywhere she wanted 'em and sprinkle the dust.
(Well, that's what she did - but she died when those snakes were killed?)
She died - well, they say that that was all her company. [He almost has the answer. She and the snakes are really one spirit; her life being magically bound up with the lives of the snakes.]
(Well now, this woman you say, that was going to have a baby or something?)
She had a baby. And she paid five dollars for somebody to get one of her sanitary pieces and she had that stopped up there in a box.
(Trying to harm her or something?)
Harm her, which she did harm her. Whatever she did, now, I didn't know; but whatever she did it jest rid her down.
Entry 715
Mah mothah, she tole me once dat huh sistah, huh oldest sistah - dey all wus livin' in de house togethah - one mawnin' she woke up an' 'uh laig wus all swollen. An' dey taken 'uh tuh tuh-three doctahs - livin' in de country - didn't seem to do 'uh any good. An' aftah while huh laigs - hard knots came in it, in huh laigs an' nuthin' wouldn't do 'er no good. So an' ole man tole 'em about a doctah, some kin'a root doctah, an' dey got 'im to come to de house. An' he taken up a bottle from de front doah an' one from de back doah. Den he make some liquid medicine. Whut was in de bottle wus red flannen, strands of hayah (hair), an' fo' brass-eyed needles. It wus in each bottle. An' whut he done, he taken tuh silvah dimes an' balled [boiled] dem. He gave 'uh de water to drink off it an' she throwed up dose black things. They couldn't make out whut dey wus. Den he got some runnin' huckleberry - grows down on de ground, it don' have a huckleberry, it's jis' de vine named dat - den some alter [alder] tags. It's a bush grows an' has little tags on it jis' about dat long. An' dey made a - yo' know, ball [boil] it an' got enough water to bathe in and bath-d 'uh all ovah in dat. Taken dese bottles an' burn 'em in some cayenne peppah, jis' un- stopped 'em an' burned 'em; jis' sprinkle de cayenne peppah ovah 'em an' set 'em - you know, put enough trash tuh 'em to burn an' burn 'em up. An' in about a day or tuh she got well.
Entry 780
Well, you see, mah husband, he wus a kinda like dis he wus jealous of me; and he wanted to run aroun' hisself, but always, if I even smiled at a man, he wanted to 'cuse me out wid dat man. And so he come to me and he'd beat me and he'd abuse me, he wouldn't - it seemed like he jis' didn't care. I tole 'im I was gon'a leave 'im and I mean' it. And he saw me talkin' to a fortune-teller man dat come to de house one day, and he sayed, "Whu' yah doin', gittin' yore fortune told?" I say, "No," I say, "he jis' come dere and wanted money for him to tell my fortune," I sayed, 'but I didn't," I sayed, '''cause I didn't have de money." I jis' tole 'im dat. So - and it went on like dat, he kept seein' de man dere. But one day he had a talk with de man. So de fortune-teller man, he would tell 'im whut he wanted to know and tell me de same t'ing: He seem to tell Bernice about me and tell me about Bernice; see, jis' breakin' peace.
(Just working one against the other.)
Yes sir. He wouldn't care, jis' so he gittin' de money - he wouldn't care. He'd tell on you jis' as quick as he would on me, and he'd tell you about me as quick as he would tell me about choo. And he tole me dat de best t ing for me to do - he said, to put a little salt and sulphah in mah shoe, and to get away from Bernice as quick as I could. And he tole Bernice sumepin 'nother. But anyhow, Bernice startin' gittin' meaner and meaner. And he must of tole 'im sumepin 'nother to do to make me stay wit 'im, aftah he saw I wus gon'a leave 'im, becuz one day he came home he gave me a quarter - I tole 'im I wanted to go to a show. He say, "Well, '' he say, "take dat, a nickel of it and git me a box of powdered sage." Dat's whut he tole me to do. And I thought it was sumepin mighty funny, becuz he had never ast de sage befo'. So when de fortune-teller man come back I tole 'im. And he say, "Joo git dis sage," he sayed, "but don' choo give it to 'im." And he said to take dis sage and a raw sweet patatah. He sayed, "Cut de sweet patatah in half and scrape some out of both sides de sweet patatah and put it on a little piece of papah, and put a pinch of dis sage in dere and a pinch of sulphah, and wrap it up and put it in de middle of your shoe, on both of 'em." I cut de patatah in half, den de piece heah, I scrape it and put it [the scrapings] in a piece of papah, den I puts some sulphah in dere and some sage, and I fold dat up and put it in one shoe; while off de othah side of de patatah, I do de same t'ing and put it in mah othah shoe. And I did dat.
(What did you do to the sweet potato?)
You throw it away. You mustn't eat any of it or nothin'. You have to bury it or eithah throw it away where nobody can find it. And so I did dat. And Bernice ast me did I get de sage. I say, "No," I say, ''and that isn't all," I say, "I'm not gon'a get it," I say, "becuz you're not gon'a be able to fix me," I say, "if I can help it." He sayes, "Huh, I wasn't gon'a fix yah." And so dat night I picked 'im.
(Started a quarrel with him.)
When he came home I picked 'im. I sayed, "Bernice, you played up nice to me," so he would tell me, becuz I know if I picked 'im I could git anyt'ing I wanted out of 'im. And he tole me. He sayed dat de man tole 'im to git some of mah hair and some sage and some sulphah and some dirt out de graveyard, and mix all of it up in a box, he sayed, and carry dat in his pocket and dat would make me stay wit 'im; you see, cuz he'd have some of my hair and some dirt from de grave- yard and a piece of lodestone. He tole 'im to git 'im a little tiny piece of lodestone and - lodestone is suppose to draw yeh - he say dat would make me stay wit 'im, jes' draw me to 'im. He wouldn't tell me who tole 'im dough [though]. And I tole de man [fortune-teller] about it and he played like he didn't know nuthin' about it. Well, he tole me to take some of mah hair, and take some dirt out of Bernice's tracks, out of both of his tracks, and put 'em in a can, and some sulphah and some sage, he sayed, and to keep dat with me. And he tole me to take some salt and sprinkle it all aroun' mah baid and put some in mah shoe and keep it in mah shoe. And I did dat and I certainly have got along good since I've been doin' dat.
(How long ago did this happen?)
Jis' about two months ago [December 1936].
(Are you still with your husband?)
No, sir.
(You were able to get away from him?)
Yes, sir. And another thing. He tole me dat if I didn't make mah get-a-way from Bernice - he tole me dis on a Sunday night - he tole me if I didn't make mah get-a-way from Bernice by Wednesday, he sayed dat Bernice wus gon'a kill me. And he saw Bernice right up de street dat same Sunday night and tole Bernice dat I wus gon'a leave 'im by Wednesday. And Bernice came right on back and tole me. He sayes, "Make your break Wednesday night if you wanna," he say, "I'll see yah in hell first." Dat's whut he tole me. And so dat Monday I lef' while Bernice was workin'. I lef' becuz I know dat all dat Wednesday he would be watchin'. And he kep' comin' back by de house, even on Monday, to see was I goin', but I managed to slip away. I haven't been back wit 'im since.
(Did he come after you, after you left?)
Oh, yes sir. He tried his best to get me to go back but I'm not. And I wear salt in mah shoe now to keep 'im from harmin' me. [The informant, a girl about 18, had just related the childhood experience given elsewhere.]
Entry 816
A white fellow came to me and asked me to go with him down to one of these double-head doctors. He made a deal with a party and he [party] wasn't satisfied and was going to law. He wanted to know if he couldn't stop his ideas of going to court. We goes down and she fixed him. She told his fortune and told him what to do and stopped him from going to court. That was down in Caroline [County, Virginia]. I heard of taking hair out of people's head and cut it up and put it in a bottle and put in a little water and seal it up tight and it will make snakes. They put it under the door [for you to walk over] and they tell me as long as that is there you will have misery in the head. You get one of these double-head doctors to find it.
Entry 831
Once ah had a very bad headache. Mah head hurt so bad until ah couldn't hardly see - had to put mah feet into warm water to bathe 'em and at de same time bathe mah head down, too. So ah went to a hoodoo doctor and ask him what's de trouble, and he look at mah head and said a piece of hair had been cut out of mah head and buried around de house, and if a storm come early an' wash it away it would help me, but if it didn't ah would go crazy.
(What happened - how did the story turn out?)
Ah tell yo' how de story turned out. Ah was a missionary - ah was going to a missionary meeting, and whilst ah was waiting fo' de people to get ready - ah was at a preacher's house an' whilst setting there ah could feel that headache coming on. I said - I grabbed both hands, I say, "Ooh, mah haid hurts so bad ah believe ah'm going have one dem terrible headaches. So de preacher asked me, said, "Do yo' believe in prayer." I say, "Yes sir." So he came an' he put his hand on de top of mah haid and he said, "Now, yo' pray whilst ah prays." An' he prayed secretly, and ah could feel that misery jest easily goin' away - jest easily goin' away. And after it had gone, seemed like ah had been off in a dream, an' ah never did have that headache again.
(Where did this experience happen - right here in Mobile?)
Yes sir.
(Just a few years ago?)
Yes.
Entry 857
Ah know a fellah, he was going with the same girl another fellah was goin' with and they was good pals. Well, dis girl she likeded dis fellah cause he had curly hair. See, de other fellah, she liked him a little bit but his hair wasn't as good as the other fellah's; and she re'lly said that if his hair was as good as the other fellah's, she'd like him. So dis fellah he went to a ole Indian woman [colored woman wearing a turban?] heah at Palm Beach and she told him that if he would take salt, sprinkle it all over that man head while he asleep or somepin at night fer at least a week - said dat dat man hair would grad'lly fall out. And he tried it and de fellah's hair re'lly fell out. [For person wearing turban, see Doctor English.]
Entry 936
I know one that's true. I have a brother who went to the sanitorium for two years. They said he lost his mind. In fact he had lost his mind. They say that his wife got some owl-brain powder. She went to a cunjure and they fixed this up and put it in his hat. He lost his mind the same night he put this hat on. And he wandered about the streets every night until daybreak in the morning [like an owl]. About six months ago my other brother and my uncle were told to go to New York to a West Indian hoodoo doctor. They [he] gave them some stuff in an envelope and he put this on a needle and went to the insane asylum and put it in his arm. Before he got all right this doctor went back and shaved all his hair off his head and put some salve of some kind on his head. In three weeks time he was out. He went to the West Indian in New York and stayed about four weeks in his home. [Fredericksburg, Va., (70), Ed.; Philadelphia,1932.]
Entry 967
[Someone begrudged] me because ah was gittin' 'long pretty good and dey didn't wanta see me git along, you know, and so dey used some kin' of insex [insects] on me. (What happened to you?) Well, ah got so ah could hear things hollerin' all de time any - katydids was in mah haid, those ole katdydids - frogs was hollerin' like dey does in a pond yo' know - ever' kin' of thing was hollerin' in mah haid - jes' had me goin' crazy.
(What did you do then, about it?)
A fortune teller lady come dere and made me use dis here cow water from de cow on mah haid and she killed 'em.
(Well, just how did she use that?)
She had me tuh git it - ah don't know whut she did with it, but she give it tuh me and ah had to wash mah haid; took mah hair all out mah haid it did and ah commence gettin' bettah. She killed 'em. Ah could see 'em all runnin' about in mah flesh - yes sir, dey was jes' runnin' about in mah flesh - could see 'em - people could look at 'em.
(How long did you use this cow water?)
Ah had to use if off and on about six months 'fore ah got results out of it.
(Did you bathe your head every day?)
Ever' other day one - one the othah of 'em - but she told me to bathe ever' day until they got bath-ed down and when they got bath-ed down, she started to use it ever' othah day.
(Did that happen round here in Mobile?)
No sir, ah was in Marengo County, Alabama. It's been now jes' about twenty- five years ago.
[I must have asked how these live things were put into her.]
Take a frog, yo' know and tie him - tie all his feet, tie the frog hog-fashion [= hog-tie = tying all 4 feet together]. Dey take 'im an' put 'im somewhare down whare he can walk over 'im, an' dey say in 9 days dey come alive an' be in yo'. Dey say dat's how dey put dem in me. Dere's a [another] lady come an' tuk it up right whare ah walk out over 'im. (You have to walk over this before it gets into you. That's supposed to go into you.) Dat's de way she [an enemy] had me fixed up.
(How would you get rid of a thing of that sort?)
Well, dat's whut [why] she had me us.in' dat cow chamber lye. An' she had me to use de othah, too; make a pad an' put on heah - dat whut killed 'em.
(What other do you mean - the dung of the cow? Put it where - on your head?)
[This is not a leading question because she had pointed to her head when saying put on heah, but I want her to say head for the record.] Yes, she had me a big round thing made, an' I had to wear dat up on top of mah haid. An' I tole 'er ah hated to wear dat stuff on top of mah haid. She said ah had to do anything to get well.
Entry 985
Well, this party had a shawl and she loaned it to another friend of hers and when that friend brought it back - she Worn it over her head and whutever was in that shawl caused her to lose all of her hair. She became bald and blind. And she went to a so- called hoodoo doctor and that doctor gave her something to take, and then she went to running water nine mornings and washed her eyes, and threw that bag over the left shoulder and in the running water, and she began to have sight. She was to wear that for nine mornings but she must Wash her eyes in this running water with this bag around her neck.
third-person report of repeated eye washing in running water. The bag differs from the earlier borrowed shawl. Preserve the source sequence including left-shoulder disposal without rewriting its timing. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 1008
He had a aunt named Aunt Rachel and she used to cook for Mr. S. at Lake Waccamaw. And she had a friend and this friend wanted her iob and she didn't know how to get it honest. It was Jis' like she knowed she couldn't get it honest, I guess, and so she worked a scheme to get it. Well, she went to work and - of course we didn't know what it was all about until she taken sick. But after she taken sick dey had several doctors to her, dey didn't know still about de matter - de doctors couldn't found what was de trouble with her. So one day she swoll all up. She swoll, look like she gon'a burst all her skin, had this fit, and pant for breath. She jis', you know, like every breath would be de last. She couldn't do anything but jis' lie dere and shake and hold her hands like dat. Dis is a real story that I'm tellin' yah, I know about it. She took like dat and dey couldn't do anything atall. De doctors couldn't do anything with her. And so one day Mr. S. told his waitress aroun' there, he says, "Ed," he say, "suppose we do some work aroun' the yard today." Ed said, "Well, Mr. S.," he says, "what will be the first thing on the docket?" He says, "I tell you. I spect we'll move that pump, tear it down and put a new platform and all aroun' it." So they began to move de pump and to taken down this platform all aroun' de pump. And right under de pump after dey begin -.dey take up de pump - dey was two bran'-new saucers and a dozen brass pins, and some stuff and some hair was pinned up in this two bran'-new saucers. Dey [saucers] were plant one over de other, plant together, and dey were placed under de pump. And she was - that Was her dose under de pump. And jes' as soon as that pump was moved and these saucers were removed from this place she got all right. They burned 'em up.
[Wilmington, N. Car., (256), 252:3; Lake Waccamaw, Columbus Co., N. Car.,1896.]
Entry 1025
Now, if a chile got de whoopin' cough an' nevah seen his father, he'll cut a patch de hair out de top of his haid an' tie it in a string an' hang it round his neck. It's good fo' de whoopin' cough.
Entry 1490
[Saltpeter is used in many healing or protective combinations - see Index.] Well, you kin get saltpeter. You kin go and get you a dime's of saltpeter and sprinkle a little in your shoes about every four or five days. Wear that in your shoes and there can't nobody harm you - not do it to the flesh or put nuthin down fer you. But, of course, it's quite natural that if somebody get aholt of something of yourn - your hairs or your clothes that you been wearing for several days, get something out of them - why they kin do you harm. But as fer as putting something down for you, they can't do you no harm over that saltpeter.
Entry 1698
If they gets holt of your hair and you want to prevent the misery and ev'ry what they have, you'll cross those matches in your haid. You wear that, or either put sulphur in the mole of your head, and it will kill that out. Wear the sulphur in the mole of your head.
(How do you cross those matches in your head?)
You'll put one this way and one this way - just make a cross through your hair, right in the mole of your head.
(Just use two matches?)
You kin use three. [This is the double-cross as well as the Trinity.]
(Three.)
Entry 1850
Take a pin an' put a little hole in it [chicken egg] an' put some of yore blood in that little hole. Yo' know, yo've seen dem little eye-dropper or nose-dropper, somethin', drain it down lak that. Take a strand of yore hair an' stick it down in there - in that hole an' carry it out in the woods where yo' know that snake's there - most any kind of a little bug or something is, yo' know. But chew put some sugah roun' there yo' see. See, that aig is goin' tuh sweat, chew know, an' that sugah is goin' dissolve and the ants or whatevah gits ovah to it first, that's jis' whut - if it be a snake, well, yo'll crawl lak a snake; if a ant gits holt'a it, well yo'll fis' wander aroun' jis' lak a ant.
Entry 1997
Well de simplest thing yo' kin do if yo' pore an' haven't got any money lak me - de cheapest an' best thing to do is tuh go to the drug store an' git a ten-cent bottle of Hearts Cologne and take that cologne an' put it in a spray - jest like yo' spray fo' insects - jest spray the room that chew sleep in an' close it up. If yo' don't do that, yo' kin smoke a cigar. Yo' kin put it in yore eyelashes, in yore hair, anywhere about chew, the Hearts Cologne. An' then yo' kin take it an' po' it on money, if yo' have a dime - anything except a nickel or a penny. Yo' kin put it on a dime or fifty cents or a quarter an' rub it in de palm of yo' hand. Each time that chew rub the money, make a wish fo' de job dat chew want an' yo'll git it.
(And you use it also in the room for a job.)
Entry 2974
Take two. needles an' yo' cross 'em nine mawnin's in de hair - up in de hair yo' cross fo' nine mawnin's. Yo' go tuh de rivah or well an' yo' bathe yore face, dat'll pass dat pain in de haid.
(Will that put the candles out or what?)
Dat'll put 'em out - put out dat cross.
Entry 3261
[AS YOU KNOW, THE READER WHO HAS MORE THAN DIPPED INTO HOODOO, I AM FREQUENTLY USED AS A GUINEA PIG. THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE IS A LITTLE UNUSUAL!] I will tell yo' - of co'se yo' could - maybe if yo' have to - now, yo' know what yo' do? It's a sure sign - yo' could try it. Now, lak if me [a man] an' yo wus a woman - listen good! - yo' an' me lie in de bed an' go to bed. Now, well, yo' know she'd use de hair. Soak it in watah. Well, she give yo' one rag an' he take one. Well, while yo' [who?]. Yo' undahstan', don' chew [the woman] wipe wit dat, undahstan'. Listen good! Yo' wipe wit de one what yo' have.
(Well, what would she use then?)
No, what you use.
(I see. [I see that I am still the guinea pig.])
An' yo' cut a piece out right dere an' wear dat in yore shoe. I betcha she do dat evah day.
(I see - that's to hold her [or him].)
Entry 3629
Takin' yore chamber lye an' usin' dat an' yo' can't - yore dick won't rise till yo' see her, yo' know.
(Well, how do they use that? Do that?)
Put it in a bottle an' tie nine knots in a string, an' put de string aroun' de bottle an' put it up ovah top de door where yo' go out at; an' when yo' go out, dey lay dat bottle an' yore dick won't rise. An' while dat bottle layin' down, yo' come back an' den dey set it up. Yo' set de bottle up an' yo's all right den. (Well, what do they do with this string first? Where do they get the string first?) Wet it in de watah.
(Oh, they wet this - in whose water?)
In yores. (The woman gets the string and wets it in the man's water, and she ties these kmots in it.) Yes, ties nine knots in it. I hear'd of peoples takin' yore hair an' puttin' it in a rag, puttin' it in a bottle an' puttin' some vinegar wit it, an' puttin' it up ovah top de door. An evah time yo' go out dey lay dat bottle down, an' yo' have to come back; an' when yo' come back, dey set dat bottle up, an' yo' is all right.
(What would she do about getting his nature? What would she do with that?)
Put it in a bottle an' lay it 'cross, put it up in de do'r - see, anywhere yo' go out. An' when yo' go out she lay dat down when yo' come back, she stand it up. But yo' kin easily do somepin fer dat. [Norfolk, Va., (469), 475:7.] [I had intended to comment at the end of KNOTS NINE about the number of them in HOODOO. Instead I write a few words to fill in the end of this page.] [I agree with the informant who supplies our first margin title: AH'M GON'A TELL YUH SOMEPIN OTHAH DAT BEAT DE WORL'. Snail rites do beat de WOrl'. They are so amazing I have been more than generous with examples. HooDoO as a whole will show that no special effort was made to collect them, because sex in itself was never emphasized in field work. When I first heard about the snail rite in 1936, I thought the man was lying - see 3635.]
Entry 3681
Well, yore wife - jis' lak if yo' goin' off to work an' yo' wan' 'er not to be foolin' aroun' wit no othah man. Well, jis'as - befo' yo' leave dere, yo' git some snail dust - some snail, yo see, what creeps slow-slow across - JIS' GO TO ANY DRUG STO' AN' SAY, "GIVE Prob'ly yo' have to pay about 40c or prob'ly a little bettah. Yo' git dat snail dust an' jis' lak, say when yo' go on 'er dat night when yo' leavin' 'er [to go to work], yo' wants to go to bed wit yore wife befo' leavin'-time, an' yo' fools wit 'er. Befo' yo' fool wit 'er, yo' put some of dis snail dust into yore undahclothes or in yore hair - yo' know, put it in yore hair, see. Yo' put some of dis same sinimint [cinnamon] an' sugah right in de middle of de bed, jis' where yo'll put 'er to lay. An' yo' take dis snail dust an' yo' put it all on yoreself. Well. But she not payin' attention cuz she used to it an' yo' leave 'er. Yo' git on 'er an' yo' fool wit 'er an' she nevah have no feelin' fo' no man in de worl'. Evah time, yo' jis' rolls across 'er mind [she thinks of you]. Jis' look lak she ain't got no feelin' atall [for another man].
Entry 3900
If a man got a woman an' he wanta keep her down, ah heard dat he'd take a piece of 'er ministration rag, an' de hair from underneat' 'er ahm [arm], an' a dirty sock, an' a piece outa huh haid, an' sew it up in a bag an' nail it 'cross de do', an' she could nevah go 'way.
(Could never leave.)
Entry 4727
A woman will take some of de man's undahclothes an' some of 'is halr offa his haid, an' put it in a bottle an' bury it somewhere aroun' dere 'bout de house. If she wan' 'im, dat's tuh keep 'im at 'er house mos' all de time.
Entry 11930
"Go to the forks of the road where's a tree at, git young girl's hair...the right-hand side of the fork...take that hair and drive it in that tree and it will make her wonder [wander] away." [New Orleans 1142:1.]
Hyatt presents this item in his brief and condensed compilation. The quotation contains ellipses; omitted wording and a continuous recording are not reconstructed. [wander] is an editorial gloss. The reported outcome remains an attributed historical source claim.
Full quoted item (printed page 4267) · Compilation notice (printed page 4264)
Entry 7248
An' so aftah dat ah wus goin' wit a [another] girl an' dis girl quit De: Dat wus about three or four yeahs ago. An' ah went tuh anothah - AH NEVAH BELIEVED IN IT 'FORE, NEVAH BELIEVED NUTHIN ABOUT IT. An' ah neVah think about de girl at all, but dis man caught 'er - [this man] who had cured me. Well, he say, "Yuh girl have quit yuh, havent she?" Ah say, "Yes." He say, "Well, ah kin help yo'." Say, "Do yo' want 'er back?" Ah say, "Yeah." 'Well, '' he say, "yo' give me fō' pieces of silvah." Ah say, "Whut yo' mean by fō' pieces of silvah?' He say, "It gotta be a dime anyway." Say, "It can't be a nickel or anythin' ovah a dollah." Ah give him fo' dimes, but ah ain't payin' no ten-cent tip whutevah. Ah gives 'im dese fō' dimes an' he take de girl's name an' mah name on top, an' wrote it backwards [family name first, then given name] an' tell me tuh put in mah shoe [demonstrates].
(In your left shoe.)
In mah lef' shoe. Ah put it in mah lef' shoe. So ah goes tuh work de nex' mawnin' an' de girl says [this girl where he is] vorkin' on de job - so ah got sick of it, see. It kept on lak dat, an' kept on lak dat, an' kept on lak dat. Dis.[first] girl wus teachin' school. An' so dis girl dat wus teachin' school had gone tuh teachin' school in North Carolina, an' she thought she would go tuh New York an' event'ly [eventually] she'd come back tuh Norfolk aftah livin' in New York fō' a while. Ah really didn't want tuh see her come back. So she did. ["This low voice not at all understandable," says transcriber. Fortunately ve: soon return to the doctor.] So he [doctor] said, "Git me a red onion." Well ah wus a couple of days find- in' a red onion. Went aroun' tuh de market an' evahbody had white onions. Ah couldn't find a red onion. So by an' by ah went tuh de A & P Store an' ah passed an A & P store an' dere wus a delivery truck deliverin', an' ah saw some red onions on dere an' brought one on home. He made me cut it in half. Cut it dis way an' let de two skins on it an' cut dis.
(You cut it from the top to the bottom?)
No, no! Lak [demonstrates] dere's one skin here an' one here, dat way.
(Oh, cut it across.)
Yeah, right 'cross.
(Across the rings.)
So he'd brought some salt an' peppah. Took de salt an' peppah an' dumped a li'le pile of salt an' dumped a li'le pile of peppah, an' he said, "Take nine pinches of de salt an' put it in dis half."
(What did he put in one-half now?)
Put nine pinches of salt in de left half, nine pinches of peppah in de othah half. An' den he gives me a needle. Takes de needle an' stick it up through dis half an' pull dat needle an' take de two onions apart an' make dem tuhgethah, yo' see.
(You sort of pin the two of them together with the needle?)
Sew de onion right back, fix de onion right back so dat de salt an' peppah in it will be tuhgethah. Git a string an' tole me tuh hang it up in de no'th cornah of de wall.
(This needle was threaded with string?)
Yeah, de.onion wus hangin' on de string. Took it dere jis' lak he tole me an' he tole me in fō' day's time she would be back. Well, ah kept it dere, kept it dere fo' fō' days an' she didn't come back. So ah tole him she didn't come. He said tuh give her two mō' days. Ah give her two mō' days an' she didn't come. Ah goes back tuh 'im ag'in. He give me nine pods of red peppah. Yo' know dose red peppahs dat hang down. He give me dem an' a needle an' thread an' tole me tuh tie it, them up tuhgethah.
(These nine pods, did you put the needle through all of them or one?)
Yes, fix dem tuhgethah. Break 'em, yo' know, apart an' den take a needle an' jis' link 'em tuhgethah; yo' know, one on top of de othah. An' he tole me tuh hang it on de same nail wit dat onion. See, [demonstrates] jis' lak dis cornah of de house here is settin' dat way an' dis cornah here is de no'th dataway. An' he tole me tuh hang it in de middle of de house [making a quincunx]. See [demon- strates]. If de house wus settin' dis way, so dat would be de no'th cornah, hang it across.
(The other was hanging in what corner?)
De no'th comah. Cuz [because] she wus in New York. If she wus in de So'th, it would be in de so'th cornah.
(So you hung the peppers in the north corner, too.)
So he tole me in 24 hours she will be dere. An' she come in de nex' train, came right on de nex' train.
(She came?)
Yes sir, right on de nex' train. Ah wus made tuh do dat mahself, but he made me do it mahself - took de onion an' de salt an' peppah. But whut he did aftah dat ah really don' know.
(What did she say when she came? What did she come back for?)
Well, she tole me aftah when she come back dat she jis' couldn't sleep, jis' dreamin' about me all de time, an' diff'ren' things lak dat. But ah nevah let 'er know anything about dat. If ah had continue tuh let it hang dere she would of still been crazy [about me] an' ah had tuh throw dat away so dat she wouldn't be callin' me up on de job an' diff'ren' places lak dat.
(That's a personal experience you've had.)
Well, ah nevah have desert - ah nevah did want 'er tuh leave me no mo'. Co'se ah didn't want 'er too crazy, cuz she would call me up too much. So when she go tuh sleep ah cut a li'le piece of 'er hair off de top of 'er haid an' take some of 'er combin's, or she'd wash 'er comb an' drop a li'le bit of hair dere. So ab buried [this] down 'side of de do'step an' she nevah leave dere.
Entry 7260
Tuh separate a man an' 'is wife, yuh git dis oil dat dey call de Wizard Oil [demonstrates].
(Take this Wizard Oil and wipe your hand with it.)
No, dere hand wit hit an' rub it on 'is face, see an' hair. An' when he git in conversation wit de woman, if he kin git 'er tuh yield tuh 'im - he come tuh kiss 'er, hold 'er by de hand, he kin git 'er so dat she hate her husband an' be where he is all de time. See, cuz dat jis' draws de woman from 'er husban' tuh 'im. Ah've been tole dat. (Where do you get this Hizard Oil?) Well, some people makes it. Ah've been tole dat some people know how tuh make it. An' some gits it from diff'ren' places. [Washington, D. C., (638), 826:1.] [Until 1936, the year following the publication of my first edition of Folklore from Adams County Illinois (2nd ed., 1965), I neither knew nor suspect- ed there was a folklore about murder. In the first edition of FACI - abbrevia- tion used in present Hoodoo for preceding book - the act of murder occurs 8 times: (1) in a dream, No.6305; (2) omen of future murder from wedding dress, 7268; (3) site of murder an unlucky place for playing cards, 8931; (4) a black informant had heard about bringing back murderer by writing a letter, but could not explain how it was done, 9176; (5) dropping umbrella on floor a sign of fu- ture murder in that house, 10174; (6) murderer revisits scene of crime, 10279; (7) murderer unable to sleep facing the east, the sun [Son], 10280; and (8) if you talk about murder every day for 6 months [a folkway of saying if murder be- comes an obsession], you'll be hanged for murder, 10650. The Index in FACI (1st ed.) under Murder also says: see bloodstain, hoodoo and witchcraft, spirits. I will divide MURDER into 2 PartS: HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE, and HOW MURDERER CAN BE CAUGHT. This separation of course can not be absolute, because some inform- ants will give both escape and caught aspects of murder in the same statement. The final aspect of MURDER, the TRIAL, is reserved for COURT CASES later. [Obviously a murderer will use any method he has ever heard of to escape cap- ture by the law. If he has time and knows about one, he may stop at the house of a wise woman or witchcrafter or hoodoo for aid, but usually such professional assistance is not called in until the trial. Some doctors, especially the cele- brated Doctor Buzzard (p.891), specialized in all types of criminal work. Here, however, follow a few of the magic devices supposed to help a murderer in flight.]
Entry 7956
They say to put four nails, nails which you nail your coffin with, four pins [from the garments of the corpse], and the [death] sheet over you, and a lock of hair. The hair is supposed to molt away. When that hair molts, you're supposed to molt. They would bury this, put it all in a bottle, wrap it up tight and bury it anywhere near your home. If you found this bottle, then they would em- ploy some old cunjure doctor to come and get this bottle and throw it in the river of running Water.
Entry 8313
If ah had 'is pichure, ah could take it an' bury it wit a horsehair or somepin lak dat undah 'is do'step an' put a li'le vinegar in it an' salt [3 ingredients] an' ah's fix 'im - li'le vinegah an' salt an' den bury it undah his do'step. An' when he come out de house in de mawnin', he's be paralyzed in 'is laigs.
(They bury this photograph with a horsehair, you say?)
Wit a horsehair an' some vinegah an' salt. An' put it undah 'is do'step. An' when he come out he'll be paralyzed in 'is laigs de nex' mawnin'.
Entry 8678
Take his name down nine times on a piece of papah an' yo' write her name down three times. All right an' she git her some sugah an' some cinnamon an' she put dat on dat papah an' fold it three times to her an' wear it in 'er left shoes. Dat's tuh git him back home. Now, when she gits him back home, tuh keep him from goin with any othah woman, she takes her fingernails an' her toenails an' git a part of her hair. An' grate dat all up togethah an' put it in whatevah she cooks, an' give it to him an' he cain't leave 'er.
Entry 8724
(Dog hair and cat hair, how do they use that?)
Well, yo' take dat dog hair an' dat cat hair together, an' yo." put maybe sompin, my name or yore name, anybody dat chew wanta call. Dey will fight lak cats an' dogs, man an' his wife. Yo' jes' put dere names together, an' yo' take dat cat an' dat dog hair an' yo' put it together, an yo' put red peppah an' sulphur wit dat an' yo' burn dat. Dat will cause 'em tuh fight lak cats an' dogs.
Entry 10184
An' some says anothah remedy tuh put 'em [candles being burned on you] out [is one] dat yo'll use on yuh head. Well, yo'll have tuh git chew diff'ren' little things. Yo'll git chew vinegah, a teacup of vinegah an' three teaspoons of olive oil, an' one egg an' yo' beat it up - whip it [3 things] up tuhgethah. Yo' beat up de egg first an' den add de othah all tuh it. An' put it in a bottle an' shake it up. Well, yo'll take some of dat, take a swallah of it evah now an' den, about two or three time a day or somepin othah like dat. Den yo' take some of dat an' put it on. Yo' know, dey say when de candle burns, it strikes yo' on one mos' pahtic'lah place - burning an' pullin' [demonstrates]. (It strikes you in one particular place, right here in the back of your head some place [informant demonstrates]. Where your neck and head meet, right up here some place [I demonstrate].) Well, some says it will be here [demonstrates]. Sometime it will be here [demonstrates]. But more in gen'ral it be's kinda back, it's pullin' [demon- strates]. Dey tell me it work like dat.
[I describe last demonstration.]
(Or near the left temple.)
Yas, neah de lef' temple or somepin lak it. It pulls. It seems as if some- one is pullin' on de strands of yuh hair. Dere's a strain, yo' know, on yuh hair. Dey say dat's whut dat is [someone burning a candle on you] when yo' have dat. (Well, you've taken some of this mixture, then you do something else you said.) Yo' take dat mixtry [mixture], yo' take it in yore han' jes' like dat. Let yuh han's git wet jes' like dat an' jes' like dis [demonstrates].
(Just rub it right on your scalp.)
De scalp of yuh head. An' sometimes it so severe yo' take de bottle an' po' it like dat [demonstrates]. Jes' douse yo' head wit it good [demonstrates].
(What will that do then?)
Dat eases it, but yo' gotta do dat about two-three days maybe.
(Well, what does that do to the candles?)
Dey say it puts dem out. Dat's whut ah heard, it puts 'em out.
Entry 10315
Woman takes man's nature and hair in a bottle and hide it in bed or pillow [Richmond, 374:1].
Entry 10316
Man takes woman's nature and some of her hair, stops these up in bot- tle and buries [Wilmington, 220:2].
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 10882
Well, if yo' livin' heah an' somebody want chew tuh move out, ah know whut dey kin do tuh make yo' move. Well, de way ah've heard it an' de way ah've seen it did, yo' git a black cat an' a dog an' make dem fight, an' git some of dat hair. Den yo' git some of whut dey do, de passage, an' dry it up tuhgether, an' put dat hair in it. While dey all growled up an bristeld up, yo' git some dat hair out dey back. Rub it tuhgether an' let it dry until it git plumb ontuh a powder. Put it in de stove an' parch it until it git tuh a powder. When it git tuh a powder, den yo' git somebody if yo' cain't go tuh de house, yo' git somebody else tuh go dere, yo' understan'. Dey go dere wit dat powder, have it hid, an' sprinkle it in de fo' corners of dat house. Dey'll move undah five days. Dey cain't stay dere. [I would call this a quasi- quincunx rite, the fifth point being the 5 days. At the moment I do not recall anything similar, though I am almost certain that there is.]
Entry 10926
Cut hair off end of tail of black cat, put in bag - "somepin like a mojo bag"' - carry it for gambling.. [Longer item, check if it can be transcribed for text.] [Richmond, Va., 365:3.]
Entry 11850
If you get his hair and some of his underweah, you kin take it and put it all in a sack with some kind of roots. I don't know what. And put it in a corner [outside house] to- wards de rising sun, and go back to it every morning and pour sweet spirits of niter on it every morning [for 9 mornings] and in 9 mornings he'll come in the door. He'll come back home. [A number of these corner-of-the- house rites are scattered through HOODOO.]
Entry 11943
If you thread a needle with a person's hair and drive the needle into a tree, that will give the person a headache. [Norfolk 476:10.]
Entry 11950
Your hair thrown into running Water makes you Wander. [Washington, D. C., 814:3.]
Entry 11964
If you stop up a person's hair in a small bottle and throw it into a tidal river, as tide comes and goes victim's mind will come and go. [Wilmington 111:11+85.]
Entry 11966
Hair is taken from the left side of victims head, stopped up in a bottle, and thrown into running water to run a person crazy. [Wilmington 262:1+85.]
Entry 11967
If you put a person's hair in a bottle and throw it over your shoulder into running water while cursing, it will run the person intended crazy. [Wil- mington 172:8+85.]
Entry 11968
Put person's hair in bottle, stop it up, go to running water, call person's name 3 times, and throw bottle into water to run him or her crazy.
[Wilmington 127:1+85.]
Entry 11969
You can run a person crazy by stopping up his hair and urine in a bottle and throwing it into running water. [Wilmington 89:1+85.]
Entry 11970
To stop up person's hair in a bottle and throw it into running water makes him a wanderer. [Wilmington 250:6+85.]
Entry 11971
Sew up victim's hair with concentrated lye and red pepper in a red flannel bag, stop up latter in a bottle, and throw bottle into running Water to run victim crazy. [Wilmington 148:5+85.]
Entry 11973
Pick a small hole into a raw chicken egg, remove the raw egg, insert a person's hair, toss the eggshell into running water, the person whose hair it is will go crazy. [Norfolk 492:10.]
Entry 11976
If you tie a person's hair into a handkerchief and throw it into run- ning water, it will run that person crazy. [Petersburg, Va., 426:1.]
Entry 11977
If you tie a person's hair into a handkerchief and throw it over your left shoulder into running water, the victim will soon leave that place. [Peters- burg, Va., 426:6.]
Entry 11979
If you tie a person's hair into a rag and tie the rag to a brick and drop the brick into running water, the owner of the hair will always be travel- ing [Richmond 292:9.]
Entry 11980
Lay hair in snuffbox with graveyard dirt, tenpenny nails, needles, pins, and throw into river; "run you off." [Mobile 883:3.]
Entry 11982
If you bottle a person's hair with graveyard dirt, cayenne pepper and perfume and throw it into running water, you will run your victim crazy.
[Wilmington 271:1+85.]
Hyatt's printed résumé reports a mixture of hair, graveyard dirt, cayenne pepper and perfume. Its claimed effect is source-reported; the résumé is distinct from verbatim informant speech.
Entry 11983
Tie 9 knots in person's hair and throw into running water, having first turned around 9 times while wishing victim will never return. [Washington, D. C., 837:2.]
Entry 11994
To run a person crazy, stop up his hair in a bottle and bury it under his doorstep so that the mouth of the bottle points towards the house. [Wilmin- ton 119:4+85.]
Entry 11996
If you put a person's hair in a bottle with Hearts Perfume, the person whose hair it is will love you. [Each hoodoo vender probably had his own variety bearing a label with two or more small red hearts on it.] [Charleston 606:4.]
Entry 11997
Woman plats a man's hair, puts it in a bottle of cologne, and he can- not go anywhere. [Charleston 582:2.]
Entry 11998
To hold person's love, keep in bottle his or her hair, Adam-and-Eve root and Hearts Cologne - 3 ingredients. [Petersburg, Va., 422:9.]
Entry 11999
For love keep person's hair in bottle with High John de Conkah, love root or sweet root, and Hearts Cologne. [Petersburg, Va., 422:1.]
Entry 12000
Hair in bottle with graveyard dirt and perfume draws the owner of the hair to you. [Wilmington 114:6+85.]
Entry 12001
Your hair and graveyard dirt bottled and buried under your steps will give you a headache. [Richmond 375:4.]
Entry 12003
If a person cuts up victim's hair, corks up pieces in a bottle of water, buries bottle under victim's door, these pieces Will turn into snakes and run the victim crazy. The victim can be cured only by finding a "DOUBLE HEAD." [This term is a rather rare name for a "TWO-HEAD" or "TWO-HEADER, " a person who knows so much he needs two heads to hold it, a hoodoo doctor.] [Fredericksburg by Ediphone.]
Entry 12175
I have heard a gentleman, people, say that you take a piece of horse- hair and put it under your doorstep and you won't have any trouble with a evil person coming to bother you, coming to your house. [Some- how this belief sounds old. Horses and hags and witches are associated with horses. Does the presence of a horsehair confuse the hag-witch and hold her to daybreak? My wife and I stop- ped one night here at the hotel in Petersburg, Va., on our way from Old Point Comfort (not in Richmond as I said somewhere in HOODOO some years ago) - to War- renton on our Way back to New York City. At both one-night stands I interviewed the bellboy. My original transcription by hand is attached to manuscript. This vas informant No.33.1
Entry 12176
Take a piece of horsehair and put it in some whiskey and give to a person and it will form snakes in 'em. (Is there any way of getting those snakes out, if you get them in?) Yeah, you kin take some sweet milk and give it to 'em and they will come out of 'em. Drink it and they will come right out.
Entry 12177
Yo' kin take a horsehair an' take it an' put it in a bottle of watah an' let it stay fo' a couple of weeks, an' she'll turn to a live little snake. fFlorence, S. Car., (1310), 2220:3.]
Entry 12307
You catch about six big roaches and pound them up good and put them in a can and make tea out of them. And after you make that tea, you strain those roaches out and put it in your hair where the louses are, and that kills the louse off. [Lice, of course, can be put into your hair by hoodoo. This remedy kills hoodoo.]
Entry 11306
Yes, sir, ah heah 'em say if yo' got a dog. Ah hear'd 'em say if yo' have a dog at yuh house an' dat dog keep goin' in somebody's house, or won't stay away, yo' kin take some of de hair out 'is tail, an' take it an' put some salt wit it, an' take it an' bury it at yuh steps, undah yuh steps. Dey say dat dog'll nevah leave dere no more. (I see, that keeps the dog at home.) [The addition of salt to this rite is not common.]
Entry 11848
(This woman would take his hair and bury it where?)
Take an' tie it in a washrag an' bury it underneath the do'step.
(What will that make him do then?)
Make him come back home.
Entry 12023
Tie up a person's hair with thread, or cork it up in a bottle, or wrap it up in a piece of red flannel, and then bury it at the foot of a mean person's grave to run crazy the owner of the hair. [Wilmington 111:8+85.]
Entry 13098
They could it it with that hair. They can take that hair and mingle it in your comb, and dress that hair under a burnt snakehide, and put that in [on] your head and you'll go bald, and when that perspiration dries in your eyes, you'll go blind.
(You take "burnt snakehide?")
Burnt snakehide.
(You dress that with the comb?) [Dress comb with that!]
Over with the comb. See? And wrap that hair - soak that hair in water and something. Put it in that burnt-snakehide dust, and put it - wrap it in a - like if a person's using the comb, they don't pull all the hairs left out of the comb, and it'll take it to your head. And gradually that stuff will poison the roots of your hair and run you bald.
(I see.)
And if it drips in yore eyes...
Entry 13105
Dey put dust in your hat so you'll go blind. Accordin' you'll lose your hair. (What would they do? How would they use the dust that way? Have you any idea?) Well, they'll go ahead and, you know, dere's somepin dey calls dragon's blood dat you get from de drug store. You kin get dat ole dragon's blood from de drug store. You kin get dat ole dra- gon's blood from de drug store and you sprinkle it on de inside of your hat, an' a little small piece of dis ole snake's shed. Or place it in de binding of your cap or hat, somepin like dat. And when you begin to sweat den de effect will take on you, sometimes you'll go blind from it an' you taken wit de headache.
(It runs down into your eyes?)
Dat's de idea and cause you to go blind and you are taken wit de headache.
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 2967
Dey say if a person is burning candles on you an' yo' feel - you see it gives you awful headaches and you go fo' days in and days out with headaches, don't chew know, and you turns real dark under yore eyes. Andthenyo'takeand git some matches and stick them in your hair.
(How many did you say you get?)
Three. Stick one like that, one like that, and one like that [demonstrates]. (You make a cross - one match one way and then two crossing it. Put it in your hair and what will that do?) Wear it in your hair - that will outen the candles.
Entry 2971
Dey go to a store and buy some gold-eyed nee- dles and cross 'em - take 'em and put 'em in yore hair and cross 'em.
(How many do you put in there?)
Two.
(Just two in the form of an X or a cross right in your hair.)
Form a cross jes' thataway but put it right up in dis part of yore hair.
(Top of the head. What will that do?)
Say that will put 'em out.
Entry 1542
Take five fifty-cents [five half dollars] if a woman got short hair an' let her boil it an' take de watah off it - off de [five] fifty-cents an' wash her haid with it an' make her have long hair.
The instruction aims at making hair long through washing; no growth result is established.
Entries from source headings
These entries are listed under the following headings in the source volume:
- Presence of Spirit; Creepy Feeling; Warm Air; Hair Stands; Heavy and Luggy — Volume 1, entries 48–52. Source context: SPIRITS → GHOSTLORE.
- Dead: Hair From — Volume 1, entries 1818–1819. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → HANDS: MAGIC HELPERS.
- Hair — Volume 1, entries 1954–1957. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → HANDS: MAGIC HELPERS.
- HAIR - PUBIC — Volume 3, entries 3207. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- HAIR - PUBIC - BURNED — Volume 3, entries 3212. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- HAIR — Volume 3, entries 3372. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DISHRAG.
- SINGED HAIR AND DROP OF BLOOD FROM PROUDING DOG; IN FOOD - 9 DAYS DEY COME APART DEYSELF — Volume 3, entries 3422. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DOG.
- HAIR 3 PLACES FROM DOG AND CAT; EARWAX FROM BOTH; PUT IN DE WOMAN'S SHOE — Volume 3, entries 3423. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DOG.
- HAIR FROM DOG AND CAT - INTO PERSON'S FOOD — Volume 3, entries 3424. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DOG.
- DIAMOND-SHAPED PIECE FROM HIS UNDERWEAR USED; TIED WITH HIS HAIR AND NEW THREAD; WORN IN HER SHOE — Volume 3, entries 3482. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → KNOTS AND TYING → KNOTS ONE.
- HAIR PUBIC - DAT STUFF - TIE UP - ABOUT WAIST — Volume 3, entries 3489. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → KNOTS AND TYING → KNOTS ONE.
- PUBIC HAIR - HIS AND HERS; TIED INTO HANDKERCHIEF WITH 9 KNOTS — Volume 3, entries 3605. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → KNOTS AND TYING → KNOTS NINE.
- (3) FINGERNAILS - TOENAIL DIRT - HAIR; HER PIECES - BOTTLED — Volume 3, entries 3914. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- FINGERNAILS - HAIR - URINE - BOTTLE — Volume 3, entries 4066. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- HAIR - CAYENNE PEPPER - URINE - BURY — Volume 3, entries 4154. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- HAIR - STOPPED UP IN BOTTLED URINE 5 WEEKS; THEN ADD - RED PEPPER POD - SALT - SULPHUR — Volume 3, entries 4155. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- HIS HAIR - HER HAIR - SOAKED IN HER URINE - SHE WEARS — Volume 3, entries 4157. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- HIT 9 TIMES EACH MORNING - 9 DAYS - BOTTLE WITH; HER HAIR - FINGERNAILS - URINE — Volume 3, entries 4165. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- 9 NEW NEEDLES - 9 NEW PINS; HAIR PRIVATE - FOOT TRACK; URINE - ALL IN BOTTLE; UNDER HEAD OF BED WHERE HE SLEEPS — Volume 3, entries 4204. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- 9 NEW NEEDLES - 9 NEW PINS - HAIR - URINE — Volume 3, entries 4203. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- (8) HAIR - URINE - BOTTLE - BURY - SHAKE — Volume 3, entries 4259. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- 6 BOTTLES WITH INCREASING AMOUNTS OF URINE; EACH BOTTLE ALSO HELD NEEDLES AND PINS AND HAIR — Volume 3, entries 4275. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- BLACK DOG TAIL HAIR - LEMON JUICE — Volume 3, entries 4378. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → EXCREMENT.
- WOMAN'S SWEATBAND - SEAT OF DRAWERS - HAIR BELOW; WRAPPED IN RED FLANNEL - MAN WEARS — Volume 3, entries 4520. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → SWEATBAND OF HAT EXCLUDING BOW.
- DOG HAIR 3 STRANDS - CAT HAIR 3 STRANDS — Volume 3, entries 4579. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- KNOT OF BOW UNTIED - HER HAIR - SEW INTO SEAT OF HER CLOTHES — Volume 3, entries 4605. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- KNOTS 9 - STRANDS OF HAIR 3 - NEW STRING - LEFT INSOLE — Volume 3, entries 4613. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- NEEDLES 9 - STRANDS OF HAIR 3 - BOW; IN BOTTLE OF PERFUME - IN CORNER SUN HITS — Volume 3, entries 4625. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- SACK OR BAG - SWEATBAND BOW AND HAIR IN — Volume 3, entries 4648. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- TREE - HAIR TACKED TO BOW ON TREE GROWS - CIRCLING — Volume 3, entries 4685. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- THREE INGREDIENTS IN BOTTLE; UNDERWEAR WATER - HAIR - HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 3, entries 4830. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → CLOTHES EXCLUDING HAT, SOCKS AND STOCKINGS, AND SHOES.
- (5) SALT - PEPPER - SULPHUR - GARMENT OR HAIR — Volume 3, entries 4863. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → CLOTHES EXCLUDING HAT, SOCKS AND STOCKINGS, AND SHOES.
- NEEDLES 9 - CROSSWAYS IN THE SOCK; PEPPER - GARLIC - HAIR NETS - CLAY DUST; MATCHES 9 - SEW UP SOCK - UNDER BED; INTERCOURSE CLOTH - WEAR 9 DAYS - WASH HIS PLATE WITH — Volume 3, entries 4989. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- TONGUE OF SHOE - HAIR - BURIED IN FIREPLACE; 9 DAYS - THEN IN TREE ROOT — Volume 4, entries 5249. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- HAIR - UNDERCLOTHES RAVELS AT ARMPIT AND DOWN BELOW; HAT BOW - TRACK - ALL BOTTLED - BURIED AT DOORSTEP — Volume 4, entries 5494. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR FROM MOLD AND BACK OF NECK; RIGHT TRACK 3 PLACES: TOE - HOLLOW - HEEL; SEW UP IN YARN RAG - STITCH TO YOU — Volume 4, entries 5503. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR - LEFT TRACK - PACKAGE - WORN LEFT POCKET — Volume 4, entries 5502. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR PUBIC FROM HIM AND HER - HIS RIGHT TRACK - WRAPPED — Volume 4, entries 5504. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- TWO TRACKS: MAN'S AND WOMAN'S - ONE GOING AND ONE COMING; DOG AND CAT HAIR MIXED - 9 BENT PINS - BURY AT FORKS OF ROAD — Volume 4, entries 5744. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS — Volume 4, entries 5797–5806. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5795–6379. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF.
- (3) HAIR GROWING IN CEMENT CAUSES DIZZINESS — Volume 4, entries 5799. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- (4) TO MAKE WOMAN'S HAIR GROW ON HIS ARM — Volume 4, entries 5800. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- (6) HAIR WRAPPED IN YELLOW HOMESPUN — Volume 4, entries 5802. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- (7) DEVIL'S SHOESTRING - NINE WITCHES - CORN WHISKEY; CAMPHOR - HAIR - BURIED — Volume 4, entries 5803. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- (8) HAIR PEGGED INTO EAST SIDE OF RED OAK TREE — Volume 4, entries 5804. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- (9) HAIR BURIED UP-AND-DOWN IN GREEN TREE — Volume 4, entries 5805. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- ALCOHOL - 24 HOURS IN - HAIR DOUBLED AND TWISTED; SILK THREAD ABOUT - WEAR IN POCKET — Volume 4, entries 5808. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- ALCOHOL - BOTTLED HAIR - RED FLANNEL STOPPER - POCKET — Volume 4, entries 5807. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- ANGER KILLS HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5809. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- ANIMAL BLOOD AND HUMAN HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5810. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- ARMPIT - WORN IN - HAIR AND HEARTS COLOGNE; IN NEW HOMESPUN BAG — Volume 4, entries 5813. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- ASHES OF HAIR IN BOTTLE - AFTER 5 DAYS; USE FOR DIVINATION — Volume 4, entries 5814. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BARBERSHOP HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5815. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BIRD NEST WITH HAIR IN SPRING - HEADACHE UNTIL AUTUMN — Volume 4, entries 5824. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BURIED HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5827. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BURNING HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5831. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CAMPHOR - HAIR WRAPPED WITH STRING - BOTTLED - SHAKE; AFTER 9 DAYS - WRAP IN FLANNEL - WEAR — Volume 4, entries 5835. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CAT: BLACK-CAT-HAIR AND HUMAN-HAIR ASHES — Volume 4, entries 5837. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CAT HAIR - HER HAIR - BURN - MIX ASHES WITH HAIR GREASE; TIE UP IN PIECE OF MENSTRUAL CLOTH - WEAR IN FOB POCKET — Volume 4, entries 5838. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CHICKEN EGG BRINGS BACK STOLEN HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5839. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CORNER OF HOUSE - BURIED AT; HAIR IN PEPPER-SAUCE BOTTLE — Volume 4, entries 5843. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CORNER OF HOUSE - HAIR BURIED AT - WITH SUGAR — Volume 4, entries 5844. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CROSS - MAN'S HAIR OVER WOMAN'S; ARMPIT OR TAIL OF HIS SHIRT CUT OFF; MAKE POCKETPIECE [= A HAND] — Volume 4, entries 5845. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CROSS MARK WITH HAIR - AT CROSSROAD — Volume 4, entries 5847. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CROSSED - ARTICLES IN HAIR WORN — Volume 4, entries 5846. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CROSSROAD - HAIR BURIED AT — Volume 4, entries 5848. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DEVIL'S-SHOESTRING - HAIR - SEW OR TIE INTO CLOTH — Volume 4, entries 5851. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DEVIL VINEGAR - HAIR IN - SHAKE BOTTLE; OR WEAR HAIR IN LEFT SHOE — Volume 4, entries 5852. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOG-CUT BACK OF NECK - INSERT PERSONS HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5855. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOG TONGUE - YOUR HAIR ON — Volume 4, entries 5854. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOG - FEED PERSON'S HAIR TO - IN SAUSAGE — Volume 4, entries 5857. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOG - SPLIT TAIL - INSERT PERSON'S HAIR - SEW UP — Volume 4, entries 5856. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOORSTEP - HAIR BURIED UNDER — Volume 4, entries 5860. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) HAIR - SEAT OF DRAWERS - TIE - BURY BELOW EAVES — Volume 4, entries 5866. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (3) 3 BUNCHES OF HAIR: CENTER - ABOVE EACH EAR; ROLL UP IN SULPHUR - BURY UNDER EAVES OF; WEST CORNER OF HOUSE - RIGHT SIDE ON LEAVING — Volume 4, entries 5867. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOORSTEP - BOTTLED HAIR BURIED UNDER; IF MOIST, ALL RIGHT; IF DRY, KILLS YOU — Volume 4, entries 5864. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- EAVES OF HOUSE; (1) HAIR BURIED UNDER — Volume 4, entries 5865. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FISH - HAIR IN MOUTH OF — Volume 4, entries 5868. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FISH - CAUGHT ON SUNDAY; HAIR IN GILL OF — Volume 4, entries 5873. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FISH - HAIR IN GILL OF — Volume 4, entries 5872. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FISH - HAIR TIED TO FIN OF — Volume 4, entries 5874. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FISH - CUT SLIT; INSERT HAIR - TURN LOOSE — Volume 4, entries 5878. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FISH - TIE HAIR TO NEW THREAD; PULL THROUGH NEEDLE - PUSH THROUGH TAIL; ON DE WASTE OF DE MOON — Volume 4, entries 5876. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FLOOR - HOLE BORED IN - PACK WITH HAIR - STOP UP — Volume 4, entries 5879. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) BREAD - HAIR HIDDEN IN - SWALLOWED — Volume 4, entries 5881. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (3) CANDY - HAIR WRAPPED ROUND — Volume 4, entries 5882. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) DRINK - HAIR IN UNNAMED — Volume 4, entries 5884. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (5) FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILS - HAIR; PARCHED - TIE IN WHITE BAG; USE AS TEA BAG — Volume 4, entries 5885. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (6) HAIR PARCHED - SPRINKLED IN COFFEE, WHISKEY, ETC. — Volume 4, entries 5886. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (7) 3 TYPES OF HAIR: HIS AND HER HEADS - HER ARMPIT — Volume 4, entries 5887. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FORKS OF THE ROAD - HAIR BURIED AT — Volume 4, entries 5889. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOG AND HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5893. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FORKS OF ROAD, BURY AT; HAIR - CAT AND DOG BRISTLES - SALT — Volume 4, entries 5891. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR; BURY UNDER DOORSTEP AT SUNDOWN — Volume 4, entries 5903. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BURY UNDER DOORSTEP OR IN NORTH SIDE OF TREE; (3) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - SALT - BOTTLED — Volume 4, entries 5904. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (7) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - DIME — Volume 4, entries 5908. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (8) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - DIME - TIED IN NEW CLOTH; BOTTLE - FED WITH HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 4, entries 5909. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- GUINEA HEN CHICK BIRD - HAIR IN NEST - HEADACHES; HAIR IN SILVER THIMBLE - SILVER DIME - CAUSES WARTS — Volume 4, entries 5916. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- GUINEA PEPPERS 9 - HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5917. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HANDKERCHIEF - HAIR IN - CARRIED — Volume 4, entries 5921. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEAD - HAIR FROM FRONT OF MAN'S; BACK OF WOMAN'S — Volume 4, entries 5935. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEARTS COLOGNE - HAIR - WORN — Volume 4, entries 5936. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEARTS COLOGNE - HAIR; BURY — Volume 4, entries 5939. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEARTS COLOGNE - HAIR - FINGERNAIL CLIPPINGS AND DIRT — Volume 4, entries 5949. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEM OR BINDING OF CLOTHES - HAIR WORN IN — Volume 4, entries 5950. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HORSEHAIR FROM MANE - HUMAN HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5953. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HOUSE - WALL OF - HAIR IN HOLE — Volume 4, entries 5954. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOT OR SEW - TEMPLE HAIR; PIECE OF HATBAND - BETWEEN LEGS — Volume 4, entries 5959. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOT OR TIE HAIR IN LOCK OF KNEE — Volume 4, entries 5961. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOT OR TIE - MAN'S MOLD HAIR - ABOUT HER LEFT LEG — Volume 4, entries 5962. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOT STRAND OF HAIR - BURN OR BURY — Volume 4, entries 5963. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOT OR TIE - IN CORNER OF HIS HANDKERCHIEF; HER HAIR BURNED WITH SULPHUR - ADD HIS HAIR - WEAR — Volume 4, entries 5964. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- LEFT - SIDE OF BODY - WEAR ON BAG; WITH HAIR AND SWEETHEART POWDER — Volume 4, entries 5976. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- MATCH: STICK - WRAP 9 STRANDS OF HAIR ABOUT — Volume 4, entries 5977. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- MILK, NEW - RED PEPPER; SUGAR - URINE - HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5978. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- MOCKINGBIRD - HAIR TIED TO NECK OF — Volume 4, entries 5979. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- MOLASSES - BLACK - DARK PLACE - TALK TO HAIR — Volume 4, entries 5980. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- MOON - ON DARK OF; HAIR IN BOTTLE BURIED — Volume 4, entries 5982. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAIL - NEW; 9 STRANDS OF HAIR ABOUT; DRIVEN INTO CENTER OF FLOOR — Volume 4, entries 5983. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAIL - RUSTY - GREASED; HAIR ABOUT - DRIVEN INTO WALL — Volume 4, entries 5984. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAME CALLED - EVIL PRAYER SAID; WHILE THROWING AWAY HAIR; SEWED INTO NEW CLOTH; SOAKED IN HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 4, entries 5988. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAME CALLED - WHILE HOLDING UPSIDE DOWN; BOTTLE OF HEARTS COLOGNE CONTAINING HIS HAIR; STOP UP HIS ANSWERING VOICE BY TIGHTENING STOPPER — Volume 4, entries 5986. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NECK; HAIR WORN ABOUT — Volume 4, entries 5992. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLE 1 - 3 STRANDS OF HAIR WRAPPED ABOUT; IN BOTTLE WITH HEARTS COLOGNE - BOTTOM UPWARDS — Volume 4, entries 5998. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLE 1 - NEW - THREAD WITH HAIR; THROW WEST - CALL NAME — Volume 4, entries 5996. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 2 - THREAD WITH HAIR WHERE PARTED AT FRONT; PUT IN BOTTLE - BURY AT BLOCK OF DE HOUSE... BY DE FRONT — Volume 4, entries 5999. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 2 - CROSSED IN RED FLANNEL - TWIST HAIR ABOUT; PUT IN BOTTLE WITH HEARTS COLOGNE - LEAVE CORK LOOSE; SET UPRIGHT WHERE VICTIM WILL WALK OVER 9 MORNINGS; TIGHTEN CORK - CAUSES HEADACHE - IMPROVES WHEN TRICKER NEAR — Volume 4, entries 6000. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 2 NEW - PINS 3 - HAIR; ARTS COLOGNE - CATCH VOICE IN BOTTLE — Volume 4, entries 6001. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 3 OR PINS - HAIR - NAME; IN BOTTLE OF HEARTS PERFUME — Volume 4, entries 6002. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 4 - MAN'S HAIR - IN BOTTLE OF HEARTS COLOGNE; AT MIDNIGHT SET IT ON GRAVE OF SOMEONE YOU KNOW; TELL HIM OR HER WHAT YOU WANT - TAKE BOTTLE HOME; LONG STOPPER PUSHED IN OR PULLED OUT OF BOTTLE; APPLIES OR EASES PRESSURE ON THE MAN — Volume 4, entries 6005. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 4 - HAIR OR TOENAILS - IN RED FLANNEL BALL; STICK POINTS TO: NORTH - EAST - SOUTH - WEST; BURY WHERE VICTIM WALKS — Volume 4, entries 6007. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- PINS 4 BENT - HAIR TWISTED IN - LIVE SCORPION; ALL SEWED INTO CLOTH - PUT IN VICTIM'S PILLOW — Volume 4, entries 6008. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 5 - PINS 5 - RATTLESNAKE SHED - EPSOM SALTS - HAIR; BOTTLED - BURIED UPSIDE DOWN - NORTH CORNER OF YARD — Volume 4, entries 6009. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 6 - HAIR TIED - BOTTLED - IN GROUND OR TRUNK — Volume 4, entries 6010. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - STRANDS OF HAIR 9 - LODESTONE DUST; BOTTLE - BURY UPSIDE DOWN — Volume 4, entries 6015. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - MAN THREADS WITH HER HAIR - IN HIS UNDERSHIRT — Volume 4, entries 6020. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 NEW - HAIR - BURY AT ROAD FORKS — Volume 4, entries 6019. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - PINS 9 - HAIR IN BOTTLE - UNDER DOORSTEPS; RIGHT SIDE YO' STAY DERE - LEFT SIDE YO'LL GO — Volume 4, entries 6024. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- PINS 9 - TRACKS - URINE - HAIR - BOTTLE - BURY — Volume 4, entries 6022. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) NEEDLES - PINS - NEW - HAIR - BURY — Volume 4, entries 6031. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (5) NEEDLES - PINS - SALT - RED PEPPER - SULPHUR; MAN'S AND WOMAN'S HAIR IN BOTTLE — Volume 4, entries 6032. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 9 STRANDS OF HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6034. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NORTH - CORNER OF HOUSE - HAIR BURIED UNDER; 10 NEW NAILS ON TOP — Volume 4, entries 6036. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NORTH - CORNER OF YARD - HAIR AND HAT BOW BURIED — Volume 4, entries 6037. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NORTH - SIDE OF RAILROAD TRACK - BURY; HAIR TWISTED UP WITH NEEDLES OR PINS — Volume 4, entries 6038. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- PILLOWCASE - KEEP IN; HAIR IN NEW CLOTH — Volume 4, entries 6039. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- PUBIC HAIR - ARMPIT HAIR - AND COMBINATIONS; (1) A CAUSE OF DIVORCE — Volume 4, entries 6048. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) A REASON FOR LOSING HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6049. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (3) ARMPIT HAIR - IN SACK - WEAR — Volume 4, entries 6050. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (5) ARMPIT OR PUBIC HAIR - MAN AND WOMAN; PLAITED - WORN — Volume 4, entries 6052. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (6) BREAD; ARMPIT AND 'LOVE HOLE' HAIR IN — Volume 4, entries 6053. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (9) DEATH - PUBIC HAIR AFTER — Volume 4, entries 6056. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (11) DOORSTEPS IN FRONT - PUBIC HAIR BURIED UNDER — Volume 4, entries 6058. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (12) DOORSTEPS IN BACK; PUBIC HAIR IN BOTTLE OF PURE ALCOHOL; BURIED UNDER — Volume 4, entries 6059. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (14) FINGERNAILS 4 - PUBIC HAIR - PARCHED - IN WHISKEY; LEAVE 9 DAYS - STRAIN - LET HER DRINK — Volume 4, entries 6061. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (15) HATBAND OR SWEATBAND - HER PUBIC HAIR IN MAN'S — Volume 4, entries 6062. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (17) LEFT ARMPIT AND DOWN-HERE HAIR; LEFT FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILS — Volume 4, entries 6067. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (18) LEFT SHOE - PUBIC HAIR WORN IN; DRESSED WITH HEARTS COLOGNE - 9 MORNINGS — Volume 4, entries 6068. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (22) NEEDLES AND PINS BROKEN - SNUFF - SUGAR; HIS PUBIC HAIR - SHE WEARS IN BAG; SO THAT HE WILL NOT OBJECT TO HER RUNNING WITH MEN — Volume 4, entries 6072. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (23) PUBIC HAIR SEWED INTO FLANNEL BAG - WEAR 9 MORNINGS; EACH DAY TALK TO IT - 3 TIMES - IN 3 HIGHEST NAMES — Volume 4, entries 6073. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (24) 9 STRANDS OF HIS PUBIC HAIR JOHN DE CONKER; CHEW ROOT WELL - DIME - SEW INTO BAG - ABOUT WAIST — Volume 4, entries 6074. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (29) TRAIN TRACK - PARCHED PUBIC AND ARMPIT HAIR ON — Volume 4, entries 6080. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (38) 3 BLACK-EYED PEAS - TOENAILS - RIGHT ARMPIT HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6089. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (41) TO HOLD MAN: PINS HIS PUBIC HAIR - INTO RED FLANNEL - WEARS; TO GIT RID OF HIM: INCANTATION - THROWS PACKAGE AWAY — Volume 4, entries 6092. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RABBIT - SPLIT OPEN FOREHEAD SKIN; SEW UP IN - HUMAN HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6096. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RABBIT - SPLIT OPEN SKIN ON BACK OF; SEW UP IN - HUMAN HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6095. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RED BOTTLE WITH: HAIR - BLUESTONE; THUNDER-STRUCKEN WOOD; GUNPOWDER - RED PEPPER — Volume 4, entries 6099. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RED FLANNEL - HAIR IN - HEARTS COLOGNE ON - 5 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6100. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- ROAD - HER HAIR AND DIRTY PIECES BURIED IN — Volume 4, entries 6104. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SHIMMY TAIL - HAIR SEWED IN — Volume 4, entries 6108. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) OLD SHOES - SHE WEARS HER HAIR IN HIS — Volume 4, entries 6118. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) LINING OF SHOE - HAIR WORN IN — Volume 4, entries 6120. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (5) 7 DAYS - WOMAN WEARS MAN'S HAIR IN HER SHOE; THEN PUTS IN SILK CLOTH UNDER HER PILLOW 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6121. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (6) SILK THREAD WOUND TOWARDS YOU ABOUT HAIR; TO BE WORN IN SHOE — Volume 4, entries 6122. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (8) RED PEPPER - SULPHUR - HAIR - IN SHOE — Volume 4, entries 6124. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (9) RED PEPPER - SALT - SULPHUR - HAIR - UNDER INSOLE — Volume 4, entries 6125. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (10) RED PEPPER POD - SULPHUR - HAIR - 9 NEEDLES; IN BLACK CLOTH - UNDER INSOLE — Volume 4, entries 6126. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (11) PLAIT PERSON'S HAIR - WEAR UNDER INSOLE — Volume 4, entries 6127. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (12) PLAIT PERSON'S HAIR INTO LINING OF SHOES — Volume 4, entries 6128. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (13) PLAT OF HAIR - SALT - BLACK PEPPER - BOTTOM OF SHOE — Volume 4, entries 6129. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (15) LEFT SHOE - TACK HAIR IN - COPPER WIRE TACK — Volume 4, entries 6131. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (18) HE WEARS IN LEFT SHOE - 9 DAYS - HER HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6134. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (19) HE WEARS 12 DAYS - IN LEFT SHOE - HER HAIR - SULPHUR — Volume 4, entries 6135. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (20) PLAT 13 STRANDS OF HER HAIR; WEAR IN TOE OF LEFT SHOE — Volume 4, entries 6136. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (23) RIGHT SHOE - MAN WEARS WOMAN'S HAIR - IN HIS — Volume 4, entries 6139. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (24) RIGHT SHOE - WOMAN PUTS HIS HAIR IN HIS AND HER — Volume 4, entries 6140. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (1) STOCKINGS - INTO TOPS OF HER NEW - MAN WEAVES HIS HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6147. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- SLEEVE - HAIR WORN IN CUFF OF — Volume 4, entries 6145. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SNAIL SHELL - HAIR BURIED IN - UNDER DOORSTEPS OR BACK WINDOW; DE DOCTOR CAN'T CURE IT - DE HOODOO GOTTA CURE IT — Volume 4, entries 6146. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) SOCKS - MAN WEARS HER HAIR IN BOTH SOCKS — Volume 4, entries 6148. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- (3) SOCKS - MAN WEARS HER HAIR IN HIS; 9 DAYS BEFORE TAKING THEM OFF — Volume 4, entries 6149. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- (6) INSIDE OUT - SHE TURNS SOCKS BEFORE WASHING - PUTS IN; HAIR - SALT - KEEPS 9 NIGHTS - UNDER HEAD OF HER BED — Volume 4, entries 6152. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- SPITTING: SALIVA ON HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6153. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- STICK - OF SWAMP FLOWER - SPLIT - HAIR IN - TIED UP - JOB — Volume 4, entries 6156. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR TIED INTO SPLIT "FAT LIGHTER" SPLINTER — Volume 4, entries 6158. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- ROOT [= STICK] UNDER RUNNING WATER - HAIR NAILED TO — Volume 4, entries 6163. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SUGAR - SULPHUR - 2 STRANDS OF HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6167. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 DROPS OF FINGER BLOOD - ON HAIR - SEW UP - WEAR — Volume 4, entries 6170. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- TEACUP - 1 OF 6 NEW CUPS - HAIR BURIED IN; NORTH CORNER OF HOUSE — Volume 4, entries 6168. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 HOLY NAMES - 3 PODS OF RED PEPPER - HAIR - HOUSE PILLAR — Volume 4, entries 6175. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 STRANDS OF HAIR IN PERFUME BOTTLE — Volume 4, entries 6172. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 HOLY NAMES - 9 MORNINGS - HAIR WORN - FED CAMPHOR — Volume 4, entries 6177. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 INGREDIENTS: ADAM-AND-EVE HAIR - 3 LOVEDOVE FEATHERS; PARCH TO POWDER - WEAR IN A BAG — Volume 4, entries 6178. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 INGREDIENTS: BLACKSNAKE ROOT OR SAMSON SNAKEROOT; SALT - PEPPER - IN HAIR - SEWED INTO 'ROUND PIECE' - BURNED — Volume 4, entries 6180. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 INGREDIENTS: CHICKEN FEATHERS - DIRT DAUBER NEST - HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6179. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- TIN FOIL - HAIR WRAPPED IN — Volume 4, entries 6182. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- TREE AND HAIR; (1) HOLE MADE IN TREE; HAIR STOPPED UP — Volume 4, entries 6183. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (6) EAST - HAIR ABOUT 3 COFFIN NAILS; GASH TREE - A YOUNG ONE - STAPLE — Volume 4, entries 6197. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (9) FROG - HAIR - IN HOLE - NORTH SIDE OF TREE - STOP UP — Volume 4, entries 6200. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (11) HIGHEST TREE - HAIR ABOUT NAIL; DRIVEN INTO - AS SAP RISES — Volume 4, entries 6202. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (12) HILLTOP TREE - GREEN - BORE HOLE - HAIR IN; FILL WITH CEMENT OR MORTAR OR ANYTHING — Volume 4, entries 6203. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (14) HOLLOW TREE - RED OAK - 9 STRANDS OF HAIR IN — Volume 4, entries 6207. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (15) LIVE HAIR - LIVING TREE — Volume 4, entries 6208. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (17) NAIL - HAIR - INTO TREE — Volume 4, entries 6213. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (21) NAIL NEW - PLAT 4 STRANDS OF HAIR - NORTH SIDE OF TREE — Volume 4, entries 6219. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (24) 9 DAYS - DEAD AFTER - HAIR IN TREE — Volume 4, entries 6222. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (28) 9 DAYS - NORTH SIDE OF TREE; HAND ON ENCLOSED HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6229. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (31) 9 MORNINGS - SHOOT STOPPED UP HAIR IN TREE — Volume 4, entries 6232. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (32) 9 MORNINGS - HAIR AND URINE IN TREE - HIT — Volume 4, entries 6233. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (36) SAP - LIVE TREE NEEDED TO HARM HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6237. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (37) SAP BEFORE IT RISES - HAIR FROM TEMPLES USED — Volume 4, entries 6238. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (43) SUNNY SIDE OF TREE - HAIR IN — Volume 4, entries 6244. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (45) SUNNY SIDE OF TREE; HAIR DRIVEN IN - 9 NEW NAILS - 9 MORNINGS — Volume 4, entries 6247. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (46) SUNRISE - BORE HOLE IN TREE AT - HAIR IN — Volume 4, entries 6248. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (47) SUNSET OR WEST SIDE - OAK TREE - HAIR IN — Volume 4, entries 6250. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (48) SUNSET SIDE - SWEET GUM TREE; HOLE - HAIR AND GRAVEYARD DIRT IN; 9 DAYS - 9 LICKS ON PEG — Volume 4, entries 6251. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (49) SUNDOWN SIDE - GREEN TREE - BOTTLED HAIR BURIED — Volume 4, entries 6252. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (51) SWINGING OR HANGING HAIR IN TREE FOR WIND — Volume 4, entries 6254. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (52) WINDBLOWN IN TREE - HAIR IN GOURD — Volume 4, entries 6257. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (53) WIND BLOWS HAIR IN TIN CAN ON TREE — Volume 4, entries 6258. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (56) TREE, HANG IN: HAIR - 9 PINS - GRAVEYARD DIRT; LOSE MIND IN 9 DAYS - CURE WITH ROSEWATER AND; SALT ON HEAD AT NIGHT - OR YOUR URINE AND SALT; ON YOUR HEAD AT NIGHT MAKES HAIR FALL FROM TREE — Volume 4, entries 6261. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- TWISTING HAIR - A MAGIC RITE — Volume 4, entries 6262. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - COLOGNE - ON TIED UP HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6268. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - HAIR - FINGERNAILS - WORN IN SACK — Volume 4, entries 6269. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - HEARTS COLOGNE - ON HAIR IN RED FLANNEL BAG — Volume 4, entries 6267. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - ON HAIR - WORN — Volume 4, entries 6263. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - BOTTLE - HAIR OF 3 PLACES; NORTH CORNER OF ROOM — Volume 4, entries 6272. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - EXCREMENT - HAIR: 3 INGREDIENTS; PARCH - THROW ON PERSON — Volume 4, entries 6270. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - HAIR - RUSTY NAILS - RUSTY NEEDLES; IN BOTTLE - SHAKE — Volume 4, entries 6271. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE HIS - HAIR HERS - BOTTLE - 5 GRAINS OF RED PEPPER — Volume 4, entries 6275. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINATES 9 TIMES - MAN ON WOMAN'S HAIR - AND WEARS — Volume 4, entries 6277. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - HAIR; 9 GRAINS RED PEPPER; GRAINS BLACK PEPPER — Volume 4, entries 6279. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - HAIR SOAKED IN - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6278. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - SALT - 9 THIMBLEFULS OF EACH - IN BOTTLE; DRESS PERSON'S HAIR WITH - EVERY 3 DAYS - TALK TO — Volume 4, entries 6280. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (11) RED FLANNEL - RED PEPPER - HAIR TIED INTO — Volume 4, entries 6316. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (15) RIBBON - RED - TIED ABOUT UNDERHAND BRAIDED HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6322. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (8) CLOTH - HAIR SEWED INTO — Volume 4, entries 6313. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (9) CLOTH - HAIR TIED INTO — Volume 4, entries 6314. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (16) SEA ISLAND CLOTH - HAIR - FOOT TRACK - SALT - PEPPER — Volume 4, entries 6323. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (22) UPSTREAM FOR EVIL - THROW HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6329. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (25) HYDRANT (= RUNNING WATER) - HAIR BURIED UNDER — Volume 4, entries 6332. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (37) TIDE GOING OUT - THROW BOTTLED HAIR INTO — Volume 4, entries 6344. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (38) TIDE GOING OUT - THROW INTO - HAIR IN SNUFFBOX — Volume 4, entries 6345. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (39) SLUGGISH SLOW TIDE - HAIR IN BOTTLE — Volume 4, entries 6346. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (42) TIDE GOING OUT - BOTTLED HAIR - SALT - URINE; 3 INGREDIENTS - 3 OR 5 OR 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6349. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- WEARING OF HAIR; (1) A LOVE RITE — Volume 4, entries 6351. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (3) FOOTSKIN (DEAD) HERS - HIS HAIR - SHE WEARS — Volume 4, entries 6355. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) FOOT TRACK AND HAIR HIS-WOMAN WEARS — Volume 4, entries 6356. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (10) 9 NEEDLES - HAIR FOLDED - BOTTLED - ABOUT WAIST — Volume 4, entries 6362. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (12) RED PEPPER - HAIR - WRAPPED - WORN — Volume 4, entries 6364. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (13) ROUN' BELOW SHE WEARS HIS HAIR; WRAPPED IN PIECE OF HER CLOTHES — Volume 4, entries 6365. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (15) SALT - SPICES - HAIR - TIED IN RAG — Volume 4, entries 6367. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (18) TIED HAIR WORN ABOUT WAIST UNTIL LOST — Volume 4, entries 6370. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (19) TIE HAIR IN CLOTH - USE HEARTS OWN PERFUME; TIE AND WEAR ROUND WAIST — Volume 4, entries 6371. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (21) WOMAN WEARS MAN'S HAIR IN BELT — Volume 4, entries 6373. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- WHISKEY - LODESTONE - BLUESTONE - HAIR; 9 MORNINGS - BEFORE SPEAKING - SHAKING BOTTLE — Volume 4, entries 6375. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- ANT NEST - WOMAN'S TOENAILS AND MAN'S HAIR IN — Volume 4, entries 6377. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- BURN: FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOT SCRAPINGS - HAIR; DRAGON'S BLOOD - JOHN DE CONKER - RED PEPPER; ROLL UP - PUT SALT ON - BURN SLOWLY — Volume 4, entries 6390. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- HAIR - ARMPIT AND PUBIC - FINGERNAILS; COOK - PUT IN WHISKEY — Volume 4, entries 6460. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- HAIR - FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILS; PARCH - IN FOOD — Volume 4, entries 6457. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- HAIR - FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - BURY AT BACK DOORSTEP — Volume 4, entries 6459. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- HAIR - LEFT LITTLE FINGERNAIL - RIGHT MIDDLE FINGERNAIL; TIE TOGETHER - STOP UP IN SAPLING HOLE — Volume 4, entries 6458. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- MOON, LAST QUARTER - FINGERNAILS OR TOENAILS OR HAIR; RED FLANNEL BAG - 9 STITCHES 4 TIMES - HEARTS COLOGNE; ADAM-AND-EVE - WISHES — Volume 4, entries 6469. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- 9 FINGERNAILS - 9 TOENAILS - 9 STRANDS OF HAIR; 1 RED ONION - BURY ON SUNRISE SIDE OF HOUSE — Volume 4, entries 6475. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- DOG AND CAT HAIR IN PERSON - AFTER 9 DAYS FROM; HAIR WORMS - WHICH AFTER 6 OR 7 MONTHS BECOME SNAKES — Volume 4, entries 6544. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- DOG HAIR IN YOU - WORMS... EAT CHEW UP INSIDE — Volume 4, entries 6542. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- HORSE HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6571. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- DOCTOR SIMS HAS CURE FOR SNAKES IN HUMAN BODY; BURN HAIR FROM TOP OF VICTIM'S HEAD - WEAR IN LEFT SHOE — Volume 4, entries 6602. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- WORMS WITHIN 9 DAYS FROM DOG AND CAT HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6687. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- DOG HAIR - FOR DOG BITE — Volume 4, entries 6782. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- (8) HORSE: HAIR FROM MANE — Volume 4, entries 6878. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- HAIR - PRIVATE AND HEAD - FROM HEAVY DRINKER; SOAK 3 DAYS IN WHISKEY - GIVE TO HIM IN DRINK — Volume 4, entries 7036. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → ALCOHOLICS.
- TWO-HEADED PERSON CURES 9 KNOTS TIED IN YOUR HAIR — Volume 4, entries 7256. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- BACKWARDS 9 STEPS - WHIRL ON LEFT HEEL; PICK UP HAIR OUT OF HEEL MARK; CALL NAME OF MURDERER — Volume 4, entries 7284. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE.
- CIRCUMAMBULATE 3 TIMES GRAVE OF MURDERED MAN; LOCK OF HIS HAIR BURIED AT SCENE OF CRIME; KILLER CAUGHT WITHIN 3 MONTHS OR 3 YEARS — Volume 4, entries 7493. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN BE CAUGHT.
- JIS' BEFO DE MOON CHANGE - NEW GRAVE; 3 INGREDIENTS: HEADBOARD DIRT - HAIR - CLOTHES — Volume 4, entries 7590. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → HOW TO OBTAIN GRAVEYARD DIRT → TIME FOR TAKING GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- FOOD AND DRINK - GRAVEYARD DIRT IN; (1) WHISKEY WITH HAIR AND SNAKE BONES — Volume 4, entries 7776. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- GUN - SHOT FROM: GRAVEYARD DIRT - DIRT DAUBER NEST; BLACK CAT HAIR - BLACK DOG HAIR — Volume 4, entries 7791. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- HIS DRAWERS AND HAIR - BURIED IN GRAVEYARD; LITTLE GRAVE - STICKS AT HEAD AND FOOT — Volume 4, entries 7939. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → COFFIN REAL OR MOCK.
- VICTIM'S HAIR AND QUICKSILVER WITH DOLL BABY IN COFFIN; DOCTOR CURED VICTIM BY SHOOTING EVILDOER WITH SPIRITUAL GUN — Volume 4, entries 8011. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → SUBSTITUTE ANIMAL.
- (3) SPRINKLED IN HAIR - RUNS YOU CRAZY — Volume 4, entries 8031. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → BONES FROM THE DEAD → WHAT BONES FROM THE DEAD DO.
- LEG BONE - WRAP VICTIM'S HAIR ABOUT - BURY IN DARK CORNER; WISH - 6 WEEKS HAIR TURNS WHITE AND WISH COMES TRUE — Volume 4, entries 8047. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → BONES FROM THE DEAD → TYPES OF BONES FROM THE DEAD.
- FOOT TRACK DIRT - STEEL DUST - ARMPIT HAIR; FINGERNAIL DIRT - AND WRITE NAME ON WHATEVER; USED TO MEASURE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF TRACK; BURY ALL THESE - TO KEEP THE PERSON DOWN — Volume 4, entries 8564. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- (11) GIRL BURNS 4 CORNERS OF LETTER SENT; TO HER BOY FRIEND BY ANOTHER - GIRL; SINGES OWN HAIR OVER ASHES - SLEEPS ON — Volume 4, entries 8819. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- SPICE - GRIND - WASH FACE - COMB HAIR - STAND; WITH BACK TO YOUR OUTSIDE DOOR LEFT OPEN; RUB THIS POWDERED SPICE ON HANDS - BRUSH FACE; BACKWARDS 3 TIMES - WITH EYES CLOSED WHEEL; ABOUT AND WALK OUT THAT DOOR - OPEN EYES; WALK ON TO COURT - CASE WILL BE DISMISSED — Volume 4, entries 9151. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- 9 NEEDLES - 9 PINS - HAIR - SALT - IN BOTTLE; CAUSED SORES AND PAINS - ROOT DOCTOR FOUND BOTTLE — Volume 5, entries 9847. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → NAILS - NEEDLES AND PINS - TACKS.
- OBTAIN EMPTY BIRD NEST - IN IT PUT PERSON'S HAIR; BIRD FEATHERS - CANDLE [UPRIGHT IN DRINKING GLASS]; LATTER BURN 1 HOUR EACH MORNING 9 DAYS = HEADACHE; AND FLIGHT - SNUFF AND HOT PEPPER INCREASES TROUBLE — Volume 5, entries 10176. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → MORE CANDLE RITES.
- COCONUT - CUT OUT AN EYE - PARCH AND POWDER; SHAVE HAIR FROM COCONUT - POWDER IT - RUB BOTH; ON WOMAN - SHE IMPOTENT FOR ANY OTHER MAN — Volume 5, entries 10222. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SEX AND IMPOTENCE REAPPEAR.
- MAN CATCHES WOMAN'S DISCHARGE IN HANDKERCHIEF; WRAPS IT UP WITH PIECE OF HER HAIR - DRIES; WEARS - CAUSES PENIS CAPTIVUS WITH ANOTHER MAN — Volume 5, entries 10218. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SEX AND IMPOTENCE REAPPEAR.
- 3 GRAINS CORN - 3 STRANDS HER HAIR - 3 FOOT TRACKS; WEAR UNDER INSOLE OF HIS SHOE - SHE WILL COME HOME; THEN BURN IN CHIMNEY 3: BIRD NEST - SALT - SULPHUR; SHE GETTING SCENT OF THESE NEVER LEAVES HOME AGAIN — Volume 5, entries 10717. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM END OF CAT'S TAIL - BURY IN GROUND UNDER; CENTER OF HOUSE - A QUINCUNX - TO KEEP WIFE HOME — Volume 5, entries 10862. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BLACK CAT TAIL HAIR AND BLACK PEPPER BURNED — Volume 5, entries 10863. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CAT HAIR IN FOOD GROWS INSIDE - KILLS PERSON — Volume 5, entries 10864. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CAT UNDER-TAIL HAIR AND SALT - INTO ROOM - FIGHTS — Volume 5, entries 10865. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM BLACK CAT'S HIND LEFT LEG OR QUARTER; AFTER YOU HAVE MADE CAT LAUGH - LET DRY - CLIP; FINE - THROW OVER ENEMY - GIVES DISEASE - KILLS — Volume 5, entries 10872. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM UNDER TAIL OR BELLY OF BLACK CAT - GOOD; FOR BUSINESS - KEEP DAMP WITH HEARTS COLOGNE OR; WHISKEY - SEW UP CAT HAIR IN PIECE OF VICTIM'S; CLOTHES - DAMPEN WITH WHISKEY - BURY WHERE VICTIM; WALKS - OR INSTEAD OF CLOTHES - USE DIRT FROM SHOE; OR SHOE TRACK MIXED WITH CAT HAIR - MOVES PERSON — Volume 5, entries 10880. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- USE THE BLACK CAT FROM WHICH YOU GOT LUCKY BONE; TAKE HAIR FROM BUTT OR RUMP OF HIS TAIL - TIE UP; IN RAG - WEAR IN SHIRTTAIL - DO ANYTHING - GET JOB — Volume 5, entries 10878. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- AFTER DOG MAKES CAT'S HAIR BRISTLE - CUT SOME FROM; BACKS OF CAT AND DOG - MIX - SEW INTO BLACK CLOTH; BURY UNDER THEIR STEPS TO PART THE MAN AND WOMAN — Volume 5, entries 10881. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BRISTLES FROM CAT'S NECK - HAIR FROM DOG'S TAIL; ADD SALT - CAYENNE PEPPER - WRITE NAME 9 TIMES; THROW INTO FIRE: I WAN' CHOO TO FUSS... BUST UP; IN THE NAME OF THE LORD - OR SAME THING - SUGAR; INSTEAD OF SALT - THROW THROUGH HOUSE AND UNDER — Volume 5, entries 10884. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MIX CAT AND DOG HAIR TOGETHER - ADD RED DEVIL LYE; SPRINKLE WHERE HE WALKS - CALL NAME - CUSS - "GO" — Volume 5, entries 10883. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BLACK CAT HAIR - DOG HAIR - 9 GRAINS OF PEPPER; URINE - HEARTS COLOGNE - ALL IN BOTTLE - BURY; WHERE HE AND SHE WALK - THIS WILL BREAK THEM UP — Volume 5, entries 10886. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM BACK OF CAT'S NECK AND DOG'S NECK; BURN THEM WITH PINE STRAW AT FORKS OF ROAD; THIS SEPARATES MAN AND WOMAN YOU HAVE IN MIND — Volume 5, entries 10888. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM CAT'S AND DOG'S BACK - MIX - BURN; IN FIREPLACE OR HEATER OF FAMILY TO BE MOVED — Volume 5, entries 10885. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR CUT FROM FIGHTING CAT AND DOG - PUT IN; LINING OF MAN'S COAT BY WOMAN TO SEPARATE; HIM FROM WIFE - AFTER SEPARATION - WIFE TIES; UP SOME OF HIS SEMEN WITH SILVER DIME IN; CORNER OF RAG - KEEPS IN MATTRESS - RETURNS — Volume 5, entries 10892. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM TIP END OF CAT'S TAIL AND DOG'S TAIL; MIX THEM - HANDFUL OF DIRT FROM HIS AND HER; LEFT FOOT TRACK - THROW INTO FIRE, SAYING:; CATS AND DOGS CAN'T GET ALONG TOGETHER, I'LL; BE DAMN IF YOU ALL SHALL - BROKE THEM RIGHT UP — Volume 5, entries 10889. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR OF CAT OR DOG IN DRINKS GIVES DRINKER FITS — Volume 5, entries 10891. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MIX CAT HAIR AND DOG HAIR - THROW UNDER THEIR; HOUSE TO CONFUSE AND DRIVE OUT PERSONS WITHIN — Volume 5, entries 10890. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HE CAT HAIR - SHE DOG HAIR - TO MAKE MAN AND WOMAN; LOVE EACH OTHER - TIE HAIRS TOGETHER - ANOINT WITH; URINE AND HEARTS COLOGNE - WRAP 9 TIMES IN RED; FLANNEL - EACH WRAP TO YOU WISHING EACH TIME; I'M TYING MY HEART AND YOUR HEART TOGETHER ETC.; CHOOSE LIGHT OR DARK SHADE OF HEARTS POWDER; GET SHADE NEAR COLOR OF PERSON - SHADE ON PACKAGE; WEAR THIS RED FLANNEL PACKAGE AND YOU WILL GET MAN — Volume 5, entries 10895. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MAN OR WOMAN TAKES SOME OF HIS OR HER DISCHARGE; WRAPS IT UP WITH HIS OR HER HAIR - TIES WITH THREAD; ON THE BACK OF DOG OR CAT - PUTS CHEW TUH WALKIN — Volume 5, entries 10893. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CAT OR DOG HAIR FROM REAR END - SINGE IT; TIE IN CLOTH WITH 9 KNOTS - WEAR ABOUT WAIST; NECK OR IN CLOTHES - SINCE THIS HAIR CAME; FROM REAR END - YOU CAN PASS POISON OUT REAR — Volume 5, entries 10897. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MAKE CAT AND DOG MAD - MIX THEIR HAIR; SPRINKLE ACROSS YARD OF ENEMY SAYING:; NIGGERS AND WHITES DON'T AGREE AND; CATS AND DOGS CAN'T AGREE - MOVE — Volume 5, entries 10899. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BRISTLED HAIR FROM BAD DOG AND HE CAT - NAME - MIX; ADD: CAYENNE PEPPER - BITTER ALOES - JOHN DE CONKAH; BOIL - ADD HOT PEPPER AND WAR WATER - SPRINKLE AT; VICTIM'S HOUSE - HE CROSSING NEXT DAY SON MOVES — Volume 5, entries 10902. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WHITE DOGS MAKE WHITE MANURE - TAKE THAT WHEN DRY; DIRT DAUBER NEST - CAYENNE PEPPER - EPSOM SALTS - BLACK; PEPPER - SALT - HAIR FROM DOG'S BACK AND CAT'S BACK; YOU KNOW CATS AND DOGS CAN'T AGREE...THEY'LL FIGHT; MIX ALL - THROW AT VICTIM'S HOUSE - THEY'LL FIGHT — Volume 5, entries 10906. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAVE A CAT AND DOG FIGHT - CLIP THEIR HAIR QUICKLY; TAKE THEIR MANURES AND RAT MANURE - MIX TOGETHER; YO' KNOW DEM THREE THINGS [ANIMALS] DON' GIT ALONG; THROW INTO THEIR ROOM - SEPARATES ANY MAN AND WIFE — Volume 5, entries 10911. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MIX CAT HAIR AND DOG HAIR - BURN WITH BRIMSTONE; OUTDOORS - 'STURB A COMMUNITY - CAUSE CONFUSION — Volume 5, entries 10907. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SEW UP CAT AND DOG HAIR - VICTIM'S NAME - BURY AT; LATTER'S HOUSE - SOON FIGHTING AND KILLING WITHIN — Volume 5, entries 10910. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MIX CAT AND DOG HAIR AND PUT IN LEMON WITH FULL; NAMES OF MAN AND WOMAN TO BE SEPARATED - ADD; CAYENNE PEPPER - BURY - THEY WILL NOT GET ALONG — Volume 5, entries 10914. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- NAMES OF MAN AND WOMAN TO BE SEPARATED ARE BURIED; A LEMON WITH MIXED CAT AND DOG HAIR - SEAL; LEMON WITH CANDLE DRIPPINGS - DO IN DARK OF MOON — Volume 5, entries 10915. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- YOU WANT TO BREAK UP WOMAN AND MAN GOING TOGETHER; HAIR FROM FRONT OF CAT AND PIECE OF WOMAN'S CLOTHES; HAIR FROM BACK OF DOG AND PIECE OF MAN'S CLOTHES; AFTER YOU HAVE MADE THESE TWO ANIMALS FIGHT; MIX THESE PIECES TOGETHER AND BURY WHERE BOTH WALK — Volume 5, entries 10911. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CHICKEN GIZZARD-SKIN POWDER - IN GIRL'S HAIR - LOVE — Volume 5, entries 11040. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BOTTOM OF FOOT SKIN - HAIR - IN COCONUT OR BOTTLE; WITH VINEGAR - INTO RIVER - YOU GO - NEVER RETURN — Volume 5, entries 11111. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- TO KEEP WOMAN FROM YOUR HUSBAND - HAIR FROM MIDDLE; OF DOG'S FACE AND BACK - IN BAG WITH SULPHUR AND; GUNPOWDER - TIE UP - DROP AND POP AS WOMAN PASSES — Volume 5, entries 11294. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- IF SOMEONE HARMS YOU - CUT UNDER-TAIL HAIR FROM DOG; NOT YOURS - PUT IN EGG SHELL WITH SULPHUR - PARCH; BURY AT STEP - HARMER ASKS FORGIVENESS OR LEAVES — Volume 5, entries 11297. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- DOG HAIR APPLIED TO NAIL WOUND CURES THE POISON — Volume 5, entries 11304. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM RIGHT HIP OF DOG; IN COFFEE OF DISLIKED PERSON; WHO THEN GIVES YOU NO TROUBLE — Volume 5, entries 11300. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- DOG HAIR - TIP OF TAIL AND SHOULDER BRISTLES; BURY HAIR UNDER DOORSTEP TO KEEP ANIMAL HOME — Volume 5, entries 11310. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- DOG'S TAIL HAIR UNDER DOORSTEP TO KEEP HOME — Volume 5, entries 11311. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- LEFT-HIND-LEG HAIR AT DOORSTEP TO KEEP DOG HOME — Volume 5, entries 11313. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- TO CALM MEAN DOG - BURY TAIL HAIR UNDER DOORSTEP — Volume 5, entries 11314. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- DOGWOOD TREE - REMOVE BARK - BORE HOLE INTO TRUNK; MIX BARK AND BORINGS AND VICTIM'S HAIR - STUFF INTO; HOLE - SEAL WITH HUMAN EXCREMENT - VICTIM STOPPED — Volume 5, entries 11324. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CATCH FISH - INTO ITS GILLS THREAD HAIR FROM PERSON; TURN FISH LOOSE - WHEN FISH DIES - PERSON WILL DIE — Volume 5, entries 11633. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - RED PEPPER - YOUR HAIR; TIE TO BUZZARD - RUNS YOU AWAY OR CRAZY — Volume 5, entries 11745. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- TO MAKE A DESIRED PERSON HUNT FOR YOU - TRY THIS:; LET FRIEND OBTAIN SOME OF VICTIM'S HAIR AND CLOTHES; SOAK IN VINEGAR AND TURPENTINE - WRAP TIGHT - IN JAR; LAY UNDER WANTED PERSON'S STEP - YOU WILL BE FOUND — Volume 5, entries 11751. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- IF PERSON'S HAIR OR PIECE OF CLOTHING IS SHUT UP; IN BOTTLE WITH BURNED GUNPOWDER SCENT - VICTIM LOSES; MIND OR BECOMES PERMANENTLY SORE SOMEWHERE IN BODY — Volume 5, entries 11843. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- IF YOU PUT ONE HUMAN HAIR IN FRESH ANIMAL MANURE; THEN KEEP HAIR 9 DAYS IN BOTTLE OF RYE WHISKEY - IT; WILL TURN INTO A SNAKE - IF YOU DRINK ANY OF WHISKEY; BEFORE 9 DAYS END - THE LIVE SNAKE WILL BE IN YOU — Volume 5, entries 11842. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 9 KNOTS YOU TIE INTO PERSON'S HAIR; KEEP BOTTLED IN PERFUME FOR LOVE — Volume 5, entries 11846. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WOMAN GETS THIS MAN'S HAIR FROM BARBERSHOP; BURIES UNDER HER DOORSTEP WITH 3 INGREDIENTS; SALT - PEPPER - WHISKEY - TO WALK OVER BOTTLE; OR PACKAGE WOULD PUT SPELL ON HIM - DIG IT UP; DROP INTO HOT WATER - IF IT FLOATED - SPELL CAN; BE RETURNED TO HER - ROLL PACKAGE IN ARMPIT; THEN IN CORNMEAL - REBURY IT UNDER HER STEP — Volume 5, entries 11844. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WOMAN TAKES SOME OF HER HAIR - SOME OF MAN'S; PUTS PEPPER BETWEEN IT - BURIES IN PATH WHERE; THEY WALK OVER IT - THIS WILL SEPARATE THEM — Volume 5, entries 11847. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- INFORMANT HAS LECTRICITY COMB - EVERY 9TH MORNING; SHE COMBS MAN'S HAIR KEEPING LEFT-SIDE HAIR IN CLOTH; SHE SLEEPS ON 9 NIGHTS TO MAKE HIM COME UP CLOSE — Volume 5, entries 11851. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BLACK LODESTONE - SILVER MONEY; HAIR: WEAR IN BAG — Volume 5, entries 11854. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 3 STRANDS OF VICTIM'S HAIR - BORE HOLE WITH SPIKE; INTO TREE ON SUNSET SIDE - DO THIS WHEN SAP UP IN; TREE - EACH DAY AS SUN GOES DOWN YOU WILL HAVE A; HEADACHE - EACH DAY THEY BECOME WORSE - AFTER SAP; IN THE TREE BEGINS TO GO DOWN YOU WON'T LIVE LONG — Volume 5, entries 11857. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BORE HOLE IN TREE - INSERT HAIR - STOP UP WITH PEG; GIVE YOU LOCKED BOWELS - UNLESS DOCTOR TAKES IT OUT — Volume 5, entries 11858. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MAN FINDING WILD HAIR IN BISCUIT IMMEDIATELY GOES; TO HOODOO DOCTOR WHO SAYS THIS WOMAN WAS TRYING TO; TAKE HIM FROM HIS WIFE - ALSO FEEDING HIM HER BLOOD — Volume 5, entries 11860. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAND BURIED AT DOORSTEP TO BRING PEACE INTO FAMILY; HAIR FROM MAN AND WOMAN - DIRT FROM THE FOOT TRACK; INSTEP OF EACH - GRAVEYARD DIRT - SULPHUR - BRIMSTONE; MIX - SEW UP INTO FLANNEL - ADD FEW DROPS OF CAMPHOR; TO KEEP IT ALIVE - BURY THIS HAND AT DOOR FOR PEACE — Volume 5, entries 12057. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- LEMON JUICE - JUNIPER - BLACK PEPPER - MILK - HAIR — Volume 5, entries 12304. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- PERSON'S HAIR IN MOCKINGBIRD NEST RUNS PERSON CRAZY — Volume 5, entries 12448. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR OR PERSON FASTENED TO LEG OF MOCKINGBIRD - BIRD; RELEASED IN ANOTHER CITY - OWNER OF HAIR WILL WANDER — Volume 5, entries 12453. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CATCH RABBIT - SPLIT HIDE - INSERT VICTIM'S HAIR; RESEW HIDE - RELEASE RABBIT - VICTIM IN BRIAR PATCH — Volume 5, entries 12712. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- OWNER OF A HAIR IN TAIL OF LIVE BLACKSNAKE FOLLOWS IT — Volume 5, entries 13084. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- RATTLESNAKE DUST ON COMB - REMOVES PERSON'S HAIR — Volume 5, entries 13085. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- THRASHER: FEET OF THIS BIRD IN BOTTLE - VICTIM'S HAIR; MILK - LOVE POWDERS - SULPHUR - RED PEPPER - CORK - PUT; IN NORTH OR EAST CORNER OF GARDEN - LEAVE OR GO CRAZY — Volume 5, entries 13309. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- Eaves Water Hair Tonic — Volume 1, entries 990. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING.
- HAIR OF HEAD — Volume 3, entries 3206. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- KNOT 1 - TO HOLD - HEAD AND PUBIC HAIR; IN CORNER OF DISHRAG - KEPT IN CENTER OF MATTRESS — Volume 3, entries 3376. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DISHRAG.
- PUBIC HAIR - 3 KNOTS - STRING — Volume 3, entries 3525. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → KNOTS AND TYING → KNOTS THREE.
- THREE ARTICLES: PENNY - RABBIT FOOT - HAIR; SEWED INTO BAG - TIED WITH STRING OF 9 KNOTS — Volume 3, entries 3617. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → KNOTS AND TYING → KNOTS NINE.
- SNAIL DANGEROUS - HAIR DROPS OUT — Volume 3, entries 3640. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → SNAIL OR SLUG.
- (4) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - TOENAILS; WHAT DE MAN OR DE WOMAN DOES; SEW UP IN BAG - THROW UNDER STEPS — Volume 3, entries 3892. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- HAIR - RAG - DIRTY SOCKS (HERS) - OVERBOARD; OR HAIR IN BOTTLE OF HEARTS COLOGNE - KEEP — Volume 3, entries 3899. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- HAIR - WATER FROM SANITARY THINGS - HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 3, entries 3898. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- (5) CUNJURE BAG - BOTTLE; HAIR - 3 PIECES OF HERS - LODESTONE; NEEDLES AND PINS CROSSED — Volume 3, entries 3916. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- NEEDLES 9 - CROSSED IN HER CLOTH - WITH MAN'S SILVER DIME; AND HAIR - SEWED INTO BAG - WEAR IN POCKET — Volume 3, entries 3919. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- NEEDLES - INTO SANITARY CLOTH; ABOUT HAIR AND QUICKSILVER — Volume 3, entries 3917. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- SOCK - TOE AND MIDDLE - PERIOD CLOTH - HAIR PUBIC AND HEAD; TRACK - ALL HERS - UNDER HER HEAD IN BED — Volume 3, entries 3934. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- HAIR FROM HER HEAD - IN BOTTLE OF URINE - UNDER DOORSTEP — Volume 3, entries 4153. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- HEAD HAIR - PRIVATE HAIR - GERMAN HEARTS COLOGNE; BOTTLED WITH URINE - MAN WEARS 9 DAYS - POURS ON SUIT — Volume 3, entries 4156. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- 9 NEEDLES IN BOTTLE STOPPER; URINE - HAIR - PENNY FROM MAN — Volume 3, entries 4191. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- (5) HAIR - SALT - URINE - BOTTLED - RIVER OR BURY — Volume 3, entries 4349. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- (11) 9 NEEDLES - 9 PINS - NEW - HAIR 3 PLACES ON HEAD; RED FLANNEL - URINE - BOTTLED - RIVER — Volume 3, entries 4355. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- (17) URINE BOTTLED - WITH HAIR FROM RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD; THROWN INTO INCOMING TIDE - TO BRING PERSON BACK; TO SEND AWAY - HAIR FROM LEFT SIDE - OUTGOING TIDE — Volume 3, entries 4361. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- (9) NEW NAIL - HAIR - PHOTOGRAPH - 9 MORNINGS — Volume 3, entries 4418. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → EXCREMENT.
- DOOR - BURY UNDER: UNDERSHIRT - FOOT TRACK - HAIR — Volume 3, entries 4746. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → CLOTHES EXCLUDING HAT, SOCKS AND STOCKINGS, AND SHOES.
- DOOR - STOCKING OR SEAT OF UNDERWEAR OVER; OR PLAIT HAIR - PUT IN BOTTLE - FEED HEARTS COLOGNE - WEAR — Volume 3, entries 4917. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- THREE WISHES - WHILE THROWING OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO; RUNNING WATER - DIRTY STOCKING - HER HAIR - FAST LUCK - SEWED; TIGHT - WALK 9 STEPS FORWARD BEFORE LOOKING BACK AT WATER — Volume 3, entries 5038. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- HAIR 3 STRANDS HER HEAD - HER LEFT TRACK - HEARTS COLOGNE; SWEET CAMPHOR - TIED IN PACKAGE - WORN IN HIS LEFT ARMPIT — Volume 4, entries 5495. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR FROM HEAD - HAT BOW - TRACK - BAG - UNDER STEPS — Volume 4, entries 5498. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR FROM HIS HEAD - HIS LEFT TRACK - SHE WEARS OVER PUBES — Volume 4, entries 5496. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR TOP OF HEAD AND BACK OF NECK - TRACK - WEAR OR BED — Volume 4, entries 5497. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR - TRACK - BLACK PEPPER - SALT - BROWN PAPER - DOORSTEP — Volume 4, entries 5499. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR - UNDERWEAR - LEFT TRACK - 9 NAILS - 7 GRAINS RED PEPPER; ONE PACKAGE - BURIED AT DOOR - LEAN TO HOUSE — Volume 4, entries 5500. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR HERS - TOE OF HER RIGHT TRACK - RED PEPPER; SEWED UP IN RED FLANNEL WITH TURPENTINE-ANOINTED THREAD; TIE 9 FINAL KNOTS - WEAR IN RIGHT POCKET — Volume 4, entries 5505. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR PUBIC AND ARMPIT - TRACK - IN BAG - BURY IN GRAVEYARD — Volume 4, entries 5506. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR-RED PEPPER - LEFT TRACK - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5507. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR FROM HEAD - TRACK - TIE IN BAG - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5508. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- MANURE - NEW - FROM BULL - IN BOTTLE WITH - HER LEFT TRACK; COMING TO YOU TOE TO HEEL - HER HEAD AND PUBIC HAIR; 3 STRANDS - HEARTS COLOGNE - LIKKAH - CAMPHOR - SHAKE; SEW INTO SILK CLOTH - FEED 3 TIMES A WEEK - WEAR — Volume 4, entries 5529. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- POCKET - HER LEFT TRACK IN HIS LEFT HIP - MAKING WISHES; OR HER HAIR IN HIS PILLOW — Volume 4, entries 5605. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- (1) ONE HAIR FROM HIS HEAD IN EACH HEEL OF HER SHOE — Volume 4, entries 5797. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- (2) BURY HAIR FROM MOLD OF HEAD — Volume 4, entries 5798. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- (10) HAIR WILL GROW IN BOTTLE WITH ALCOHOL AND URINE — Volume 4, entries 5806. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → A FEW EXAMPLES: HAIR TAKEN FROM BODY STILL GROWS.
- ANT NEST - HEAD AND PRIVATE HAIR; TWIST - TIE WITH RAVELING — Volume 4, entries 5812. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BIBLE - HAIR IN - THEN IN COLOGNE BOTTLE — Volume 4, entries 5819. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BLACK BOTTLE - HAIR IN - URINATE ON; BURY UPSIDE DOWN AT DOOR — Volume 4, entries 5825. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BOTTLE - HAIR IN - BURIED HEAD DOWN — Volume 4, entries 5826. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CAT HAIR AND HUMAN - IN VINEGAR - SHAKE - DOORSTEP; IT MAKES IT 'LIVE, KEEPS IT 'LIVE — Volume 4, entries 5836. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CHICKEN FEATHERS - HUMAN HAIR - RUNNING WATER - LEFT HAND — Volume 4, entries 5840. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOG TAIL HAIR - HER HAIR - FLANNEL WRAP - BURY AT DOOR — Volume 4, entries 5853. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- DOOR - HANG DOWN OVER - HAIR SEWED UP IN CLOTH — Volume 4, entries 5858. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FISH - THREAD NEEDLE WITH A HAIR AND TIE; STICK THROUGH FISH - OVER SHOULDER INTO WATER - "GO" — Volume 4, entries 5877. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- CANDY - HAIR - LODESTONE - LOVERS SACHET — Volume 4, entries 5883. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FOOD AND DRINK - HAIR IN; (1) 3 STRANDS OF HAIR - BROWN PAPER - WHITE THREAD; COCONUT CANDY - PIANO - WISH OVER 9 MORNINGS — Volume 4, entries 5880. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (8) 3 INGREDIENTS: ARMPIT HAIR - PUBIC HAIR - FOOTSKIN — Volume 4, entries 5888. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 4 NOT 3 STRANDS OF HAIR - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5892. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- GRAVEYARD AND GRAVEYARD DIRT; (1) HAIR OR HAT BURIED IN GRAVEYARD — Volume 4, entries 5897. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - RIVER WATER; IN CAN - KEEP BEHIND LAVATORY — Volume 4, entries 5905. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (5) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR TIED; WRAPPED IN PAPER - NAME ON; BURY - URINE ON 9 MORNINGS — Volume 4, entries 5906. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (6) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - IN SACK - IN POCKET — Volume 4, entries 5907. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (9) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5910. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (10) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - 3 PENNIES - 6 PINS; BUCKSKIN OR RED FLANNEL - LEFT HAND RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5915. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- GUN - HAIR SHOT FROM; (1) ACROSS RIVER — Volume 4, entries 5918. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEAD - LEFT SIDE - HAIR FROM - BURY 9 DAYS; DIG UP - SEW INTO BAG - WEAR - TELL BAG YOUR WISHES — Volume 4, entries 5932. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEAD - LEFT SIDE OF - HAIR FROM; PLANT AT DOOR - OR IN CONCRETE OF MANTELPIECE - OR IN WALL; OR WRITE NAME - IN LAMP - OR UNDER CANDLE; SALT INTO FIRE - OR ON PERSON — Volume 4, entries 5930. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEAD - LEFT SIDE OF - HAIR FROM - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN; 3 INGREDIENTS - BURY UNDER DOORSTEPS — Volume 4, entries 5931. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEAD - LEFT SIDE OF - HAIR FROM - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5933. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEAD - LEFT TEMPLE HAIR - CLOVER OIL - HEARTS COLOGNE; 3 INGREDIENTS - BOTTLED - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5934. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEARTS COLOGNE - HAIR - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5944. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEARTS COLOGNE - HAIR - FOOT TRACK - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5948. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS - INDEFINITE NUMBER - WHILE TYING HAIR INTO; FOUR-CORNERED BAG - OF RED FLANNEL OR NEW YELLOW COTTON; BRING TO YOU - WISH ON EACH WRAP - IN THE NAME OF GOD — Volume 4, entries 5956. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOT OR TIE ABOUT LEG; HAIR IN PIECE OF SHIRTTAIL — Volume 4, entries 5960. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOT TIED ABOUT BAG HOLDING HAIR AND HATBOW — Volume 4, entries 5958. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS TIED IN PUBIC HAIR; STOPPERED IN A JUG OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 5957. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 2 - 1 ON EACH END OF TWISTED HAIR - PERFUME 11 DROPS — Volume 4, entries 5965. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 9 FOR LONG HAIR; STRANDS OF HAIR 9 FOR SHORT HAIR; MORNINGS 9 ALTERNATED; HAIR IN BOTTLE OF HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 4, entries 5975. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 9 - IN 9 STRANDS OF HAIR - THREAD WRAPPED 3 TIMES; AT 11 O'CLOCK IN MORNING - INTO RUNNING WATER - INCANTATION — Volume 4, entries 5973. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 9 - STRANDS OF HAIR 9 - RUNNING WATER - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 5974. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 9 - TIED ABOUT FLANNEL RAG - HOLDING HAIR; HEARTS COLOGNE - TURPENTINE - WISH AT EACH KNOT; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 5972. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- MOON - DURING NEW - SALTPETER ON HAIR - COMBED TO RISING SUN — Volume 4, entries 5981. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAILS 3 - DRIVEN INTO GROUND - AT DOORSTEPS; ANOTHER NAIL - PUBIC HAIR ABOUT - DRIVEN INTO STEPS — Volume 4, entries 5985. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAME CALLED - INCANTATION - 9 STRANDS OF HAIR; TIED IN PIECE OF HIS CLOTHES - BURY AT STEPS — Volume 4, entries 5987. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAME ON PAPER - WRAP HAIR IN - BURN UNDER LAMP — Volume 4, entries 5989. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAME WRITTEN - HAIR - SALT - RED PEPPER; BOTTLED - OVER LEFT SHOULDER - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5990. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAME OF WOMAN HE WRITES 9 TIMES - HIS 9 TIMES OVER; HER HAIR - FINGERNAILS OR TOENAILS - IN RED FLANNEL BAG; FOLDED PAPER AND BAG HE WEARS OVER HEART — Volume 4, entries 5991. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLE 1 - HAIR [RED] PEPPER; THREAD - RED FLANNEL BAG OVER DOOR — Volume 4, entries 5994. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLE 1 - TWISTED HAIR - CAMPHORATED OIL; IN BOTTLE OVER DOOR — Volume 4, entries 5993. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLE 1 - HAIR - HAT BOW - BOTTLE HEARTS OWN COLOGNE; UPSIDE DOWN UNDER FRONT STEPS — Volume 4, entries 5997. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 3 - HAIR IN BOTTLE OF COLOGNE; IN MATTRESS OR PILLOW — Volume 4, entries 6003. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 3 - PINS 3 NIPPED OFF - 3 PODS RED PEPPER - HAIR; INTO RUNNING WATER - FIRST NEW MOON - QUICK DEATH — Volume 4, entries 6004. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 4 - CROSS INTO SQUARE OR OBLONG; TYING IN PLACE WITH RED CORD; BOTTLE HAIR - LAY INTO FRAMED NEEDLES; (COFFIN OR GRAVE SYMBOL); SEW INTO RED CLOTH; THROW OVER SHOULDER INTO RIVER — Volume 4, entries 6006. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 6 - PINS 6 - NEW - CROSSED INTO CLOTH - HAIR; BOTTLED - BURIED UNDER DOOR - CURSED - TOLD TO GO — Volume 4, entries 6011. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - HEAD AND TAIL - HAIR BETWEEN - BLACK THREAD; LODESTONE DUST - RED FLANNEL BAG - WEAR IN POCKET — Volume 4, entries 6014. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - LODESTONE - HAIR - HEARTS PERFUME; TIED WITH BLACK THREAD INTO RED FLANNEL BALL AND WORN; FEED WITH WHISKEY — Volume 4, entries 6013. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - HAIR - TIED IN PAPER; DOCTOR'S WHITE WOMAN FINDS UNDER HOUSE BELOW BED — Volume 4, entries 6018. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - PINS 9 - NEW - HAIR - IN PILLOW — Volume 4, entries 6023. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - PINS 9 - HAIR PLAIT IT UNDERWARDS - BOW ON; LODESTONE - ANVIL DUST - SILVER DIME - SUGAR - FLANNEL BAG — Volume 4, entries 6026. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 9 - PINS 9 - MIND WATER - CINNAMON; HEAD AND PUBIC HAIR - IN CORNER OF HOUSE — Volume 4, entries 6025. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES UNNUMBERED; (1) NEEDLES ALTERNATED AND CROSSED - HAIR; IN FLANNEL - SIDE OF BED YOU SLEEP ON — Volume 4, entries 6028. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- PLAITING OR BRAIDING HAIR - AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE; WRAPPED INTO WHITE CLOTH - THEN RED FLANNEL - FED TURPENTINE — Volume 4, entries 6040. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- POCKET - HAIR CARRIED IN — Volume 4, entries 6041. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) ARMPIT HAIR - IN BAG UNDER ARM - HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 4, entries 6051. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (10) DIME - JOHN DE CONKER - HEAD AND PUBIC HAIR; WEAR IN BAG - FED WITH HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 4, entries 6057. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (7) CATFISH - HEAD AND PUBIC HAIR INTO SENDS AWAY; SEWED INTO BAG UNDER PILLOW KEEPS PERSON — Volume 4, entries 6054. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (13) FINGERNAILS - PUBIC HAIR; WOMAN'S - MAN WEARS IN SHOES — Volume 4, entries 6060. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (16) LEFT ARMPIT HAIR - HEAD HAIR; IN BOTTLE OF HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 4, entries 6066. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (19) MAN'S HEAD HAIR WORN ABOUT HER WAIST; SO THAT IT HANGS DOWN OVER MONS VENERIS — Volume 4, entries 6069. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (20) UNDERCLOTHES - PIECE OF HIS AND HERS; HAIR FROM HIS HEAD AND HER PRIVATE; GRAVEYARD DIRT - COLOGNE - ALL IN BOTTLE; SHAKE - CALL HIS NAME 9 TIMES; BURY - LET HIM WALK OVER 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6070. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (21) NEEDLE - THREADED WITH - HEAD AND A PUBIC HAIR; STICK INTO WOOD OF DOORSTEP — Volume 4, entries 6071. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (28) PUBIC AND HEAD HAIR WORN FOR LOVE — Volume 4, entries 6078. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (30) SALTPETER - PUBIC AND HEAD HAIR - IN BAG - WORN — Volume 4, entries 6081. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (39) 3 DAYS - 1 PUBIC HAIR - TIED IN CORNER OF BED HANDKERCHIEF; HEARTS COLOGNE - BURY RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF STEPS - WISHES — Volume 4, entries 6090. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (40) 3 KNOTS TIED WITH PUBIC HAIR; ABOUT HAIR FROM HIS AND HER HEADS; KEEP IN BOTTLE OF HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 4, entries 6091. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (42) WOMAN'S HEAD HAIR - PUBIC HAIR - URINE: 3 INGREDIENTS; COLOGNE AND MAN'S URINE ON - POCKETBOOK — Volume 4, entries 6093. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RATTLESNAKE MASTER - JOHN DE CONKER - HAIR; HEARTS PERFUME - IN BAG ABOUT WAIST — Volume 4, entries 6098. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RED FLANNEL - WRAP HAIR IN - WITH BLACK THREAD - OVER DOOR — Volume 4, entries 6101. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RED PEPPER 2 PODS - SALT - VINEGAR - BLACK PEPPER - HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6102. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RED PEPPER - SULPHUR - BLUESTONE - ALUM - HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6103. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SALT - HAIR - BOILED IN WATER; BOTTLED - BURIED 6 MONTHS — Volume 4, entries 6106. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SALT - HAIR IN BOTTLE OF HOT WATER; BURIED NECK OUT - UNDER DOORSTEPS - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6105. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SALT - PEPPER - HAIR; WRAP IN FLANNEL - BURY AT DOOR — Volume 4, entries 6107. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SHOES AND HAIR; (1) HAIR MERELY WORN IN SHOES — Volume 4, entries 6109. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (7) HAT BOW - NEW DIME - HAIR PUBIC OR HEAD; IN FLANNEL - WORN IN BOTTOM OF SHOE — Volume 4, entries 6123. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) RIGHT FOOT OF HER STOCKING - AND HAIR - IN HIS POCKET — Volume 4, entries 6150. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- (5) FEATHER FROM CHICKEN HEAD - HAIR FROM MAN'S HEAD; SHE WEARS IN STOCKING - OR ABOUT WAIST — Volume 4, entries 6151. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- HAIR WEDGED INTO SPLIT STICK - WRAP AND TIE; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6157. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SPOOL - HAIR IN EMPTY - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6154. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- STICK, A FORKED - WRAP IN - MOLD HAIR AND STRING; MEASURING FROM MOLD OF HEAD TO TIP OF TOE - BURY AT DOOR — Volume 4, entries 6155. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR ABOUT GREEN STICK WRAPPED IN CLOTH - TIED IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6161. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR IN WOODEN PEG - PEG UP IN BOTTLE; OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6159. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- START ASH PEG INTO GROUND UNDER SWEET GUM ON BANK; OF CREEK - EACH MORNING - 9 DAYS - THROW 2 STRANDS; OF HER HAIR INTO WATER AND TAP PEG UNTIL DOWN — Volume 4, entries 6160. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR BOTTLED - TIED TO STICK IN RUNNING WATER - LET BOB — Volume 4, entries 6164. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR IN SACK - TIED TO STICK - IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6162. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- STRING TIED ABOUT HAIR; INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6165. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SUGAR AND HAIR IN BOTTLE - IN DARK PLACE OVER DOOR — Volume 4, entries 6166. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 STRANDS OF HAIR; WORN IN LEFT CORNER OF SHIRTTAIL — Volume 4, entries 6171. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 HOLY NAMES - USE WHEN BURYING IN PINT OF WATER; HAIR - RED PEPPER - SALT: 3 INGREDIENTS — Volume 4, entries 6176. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 TACKS - IN SOCK WITH HIS AND HER HAIR; SPREAD OUT UNDER HEAD OF HER BED; TACK IN TOE AND HEEL AND TOP; TOE POINTING AWAY FROM DOOR INTO ROOM — Volume 4, entries 6181. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (3) CHERRY TREE - HAIR INTO BAG - INTO HOLE IN — Volume 4, entries 6194. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (7) FIG TREE - DIG HOLE IN - BURN HAIR - BROWN PAPER - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6198. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (38) SAP BEFORE IT RISES - LEFT TEMPLE HAIR; NAIL AS HIGH AS CAN REACH UP TREE TRUNK; SALT - PEPPER - FOLDED WITH NAME ON NEW PAPER — Volume 4, entries 6239. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (40) SLICING BARK UPWARDS - GREEN TREE - OAK - HAIR GROWS — Volume 4, entries 6241. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (44) SUNNY SIDE OF TREE - HAIR IN WITH GUNPOWDER; HOT STUFF - RED PEPPER - MUD-DAUBER NEST — Volume 4, entries 6246. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - HAIR - ADAM-AND-EVE - BOTTLED - UNDER STEPS — Volume 4, entries 6266. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - HAIR; BURIED IN BOTTLE UNDER STEPS — Volume 4, entries 6264. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - 5 DROPS OF - HAIR - BOTTLE - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6274. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE AND HAIR BOTTLED - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6273. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) RUNNING WATER IN BOTTLED HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6282. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (3) HAIR THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER MAKES CRAZY — Volume 4, entries 6284. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- WATER AND HAIR; (1) ORDINARY WATER IN BOTTLED HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6281. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) HAIR THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER SENDS AWAY — Volume 4, entries 6292. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (5) BOTTLED HAIR INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6297. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (6) BACK TO RUNNING WATER; HAIR OVER LEFT SHOULDER - NEVER LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 6308. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (14) RAG - HAIR TIED INTO - WEAR 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6321. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (17) SILK CLOTH - WRAP IN - HAIR - FOOT TRACK; SWEATY CLOTHES - ANCHOR BOTTLE IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6324. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (19) DIRECTION: EAST RUNNING WATER - HAIR INTO — Volume 4, entries 6326. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (20) NORTH RUNNING WATER - HAIR INTO — Volume 4, entries 6327. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (21) WEST RUNNING WATER - 9 STRANDS OF HAIR IN — Volume 4, entries 6328. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (26) NAME - HAIR - BOTTLED - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6333. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (27) NAME - SALT - RED PEPPER - HAIR; BOTTLED - THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER; OR PUT OVER DOOR OR UNDER MATTRESS — Volume 4, entries 6334. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (29) 9 DAYS LATER - HUMAN HAIR BOTTLED IN WATER; BECOMES ALIVE; THROW INTO RIVER NOT LOOKING BACK — Volume 4, entries 6336. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (30) 9 INCHES BURIED - BOTTLED HAIR - FORK OF ROAD DIRT; 9 DROPS HEARTS COLOGNE - DIG UP 9 DAYS LATER; THROW OVERHEAD INTO WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 6337. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (32) PAPER - 3 STRANDS OF HAIR - WRAPPED IN — Volume 4, entries 6339. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (33) PAPER YELLOW - HAIR WRAPPED 9 TIMES IN — Volume 4, entries 6340. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (34) RAINWATER ATTRACTS WIGGLE-TAILS; PUT BOTH IN BOTTLE - ADD A HORSEHAIR AND; VICTIM'S HAIR - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6341. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (36) TALKING TO HAIR - BOTTLED - RUNNING WATER - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6343. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (40) WATER - OF OUT-GOING TIDE - IN BOTTLE WITH HAIR; THROW INTO OUT-GOING TIDE WITH A CURSE — Volume 4, entries 6347. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (43) 3 INGREDIENTS: RED PEPPER - PEPPERGRASS - HAIR; AT 12 O'CLOCK THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6350. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) BAG OR SACK - HAIR IN - A HAND — Volume 4, entries 6352. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (7) MOLD OF THE HEAD HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6359. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (11) PAPER - WRAP IN - MOLD-OF-HIS-HEAD HAIR; SHE WEARS SEWED IN SACK — Volume 4, entries 6363. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (14) SALT - CAMPHOR - WATER - HAIR - SHAKE — Volume 4, entries 6366. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (20) UNDERWEAR - INTO PIECE OF HERS - HE WRAPS; HER HAIR AND SEWS IT INTO NEW CLOTH; TO WEAR IN HIS POCKET — Volume 4, entries 6372. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- WRAP AWAY FROM YOU 9 TIMES; CORD ABOUT PAPER PACKAGE CONTAINING; 9 STRANDS OF HAIR - 9 DROPS OF TURPENTINE; PUT UNDER PERSON'S STEPS - BEFORE SUNRISE 9 DAYS; REMOVING PACKAGE EACH NIGHT AFTER SUNSET — Volume 4, entries 6374. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- BADGE - MADE WITH FOOTSKIN FROM HOLLOW OF LEFT FOOT; PARCHED FINGERNAIL CLIPPINGS - FINGERNAIL DIRT; HER HAIR BURNED - MIX HEARTS COLOGNE - SULPHUR; ALL IN SMALL PACKAGE - WORN IN LEFT ARMPIT - 7 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6380. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- HAIR - ARMPIT AND PUBIC AND HEAD - FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILS; PARCH ALL - IN FOOD OR DRINK — Volume 4, entries 6461. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- 3 INGREDIENTS: 2 LITTLE FINGERNAILS - 2 BIG TOENAILS; MOLD-OF-HEAD HAIR - UNDER RIGHT CORNER OF DOORSTEP — Volume 4, entries 6485. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- TREE - HOLE BORED IN - 9 PINS - FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS; HAIR - VINEGAR - PEG IN - 2 LICKS - BEFORE SUNRISE - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6496. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- DOG HAIR - IN WHISKEY AND SULPHUR - SNAKES IN YOU — Volume 4, entries 6543. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- HAIR FROM 3 PLACES - MENSTRUAL BLOOD; CALOMEL - DOG DIRT - YELLOW CLAY; NEW CLOTH ABOUT WOMAN - SHE PASSES SNAKE — Volume 4, entries 6658. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- HAIR BOTTLED - PUT IN RUNNING WATER; TURNS INTO SNAKE - KILLS OWNER — Volume 4, entries 6659. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- WATER, IN A SPRING - HAIR INTO OVER SHOULDER; NOT LOOKING BACK - KILLS ATTEMPT TO POISON YOU — Volume 4, entries 6984. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- MAGUIN OR SAN MONGAIN - A DOCTOR OF CHARLESTON; IF FOOT TRACK IN GRAVEYARD - DIRTY WATER UNDER HOUSE; BURN DRAGON'S BLOOD AT MIDNIGHT IN OLD SHOE; LET GUM-BUSH STAY IN HOUSE 3 DAYS AND BURN; FOR SPELL ON PERSONS HAIR - ANOINTS 3 MORNINGS WITH; URINE - SALT - RED PEPPER - VINEGAR - KEROSENE; FIGHT SPELLCASTER AND DRAW BLOOD — Volume 4, entries 7228. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- COFFIN DRESSED WITH 5 THINGS FROM CORPSE; TOENAILS AND FINGERNAILS - HAIR FROM TOP OF HEAD; BOTTOM OF EACH EAR AND DOWN BELOW; ALL THESE WRAPPED UP IN RED HANDKERCHIEF — Volume 4, entries 7409. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN BE CAUGHT.
- KNOW SINNER WHO GOT KILLED - HEAD OF GRAVE - DIG DOWN; WRIST DEEP - 3 PENNIES - TELL SPIRIT TO GIVE HELL TO PERSON; BOTHERING YOU - TAKE DIRT - DON'T LOOK BACK - MIX WITH DOG; AND CAT HEAD AND TAIL HAIR - URINE - SALT - RED PEPPER; THROW AT VICTIM'S HOUSE - DON'T LOOK BACK - RUN THEM AWAY — Volume 4, entries 7684. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → GRAVEYARD DIRT MUST BE BOUGHT FROM SPIRIT → TALK TO OR INSTRUCT GRAVE SPIRIT.
- HAIR IN COFFIN WITH DEAD — Volume 4, entries 7940. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → COFFIN REAL OR MOCK.
- FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOT SCRAPINGS - HAIR FROM BELLY; GRAVEYARD DIRT - IN SMALL COFFIN - UNDER STEPS — Volume 4, entries 7962. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → COFFIN REAL OR MOCK.
- FROG - LIVE - 1 HAIR OF VICTIM IN MOUTH OF; PHOTO OF VICTIM LAID ON PIECE OF NEW LUMBER; IN HOLE UNDER VICTIM'S DOORSTEP - ANIMAL HELD; ON PHOTO OVER NEW LUMBER - DRIVE PEG THROUGH; HEARTS OF FROG AND PHOTO - FROG AND VICTIM DIE — Volume 4, entries 8148. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- PERFUME - ON WOMAN'S CUT-UP PHOTO AND HAIR BOTTLED; HIDE IT WHERE SHE WILL WALK UNDER IT — Volume 4, entries 8235. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- HAIR FROM HEAD ATTACHED TO PHOTO - WISH - IT WILL COME TRUE — Volume 4, entries 8477. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- KNOTS 9 IN THREAD - PERSON'S NAME - CAT AND DOG HAIR; BURIED IN BUNDLE AT DOOR - TO KEEP PERSON AWAY — Volume 4, entries 8576. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- LEMON AND NAMES; (1) BOTTLE: PUT IN HAIR FROM MOLD OF HEAD; JUICE OF LEMON - NAME 9 TIMES - SHAKE; SET SUNRISE SIDE OF WORLD - LOSE MIND — Volume 4, entries 8623. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- PAPER: BROWN - WITH VICTIM'S NAME - WRAPPED; ABOUT VICTIM'S HAIR FROM TOP OF HIS HEAD; WISH ANYTHING YOU WANT TO HAPPEN TO HIM — Volume 4, entries 8683. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- SHELL OF EGG - HAIR IN - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 9368. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- HE TOOK STRAND OF GIRL'S HAIR TO DOCTOR McKINNA; AND TIE IT TO LEG OF FROG PUT ON SHINGLE IN RIVER; AS FROG HOPPED OFF SHINGLE SO GIRL HOPPED TOWARD; OR AWAY FROM HIM DEPENDING ON INTENTION — Volume 5, entries 9947. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → FROG AND TOADFROG.
- YOU YOURSELF MUST CATCH BLACK CAT WITHOUT ONE WHITE HAIR; PUT ALIVE IN BOILING WATER - AFTER FLESH FALLS FROM BONES; THROW THEM INTO RUNNING WATER - BONE SINKING IS LUCKY BONE — Volume 5, entries 10015. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- CATCH A BLACK CAT WITHOUT A WHITE HAIR - WHEN; WATER STARTS TO BOIL DROP HIM IN ALIVE - AFTER; HE FALLS TO PIECES - TOSS BONES INTO RUNNING WATER; GRAB THE BONE FLOATING UPSTREAM - CAN DO ANYTHING — Volume 5, entries 10018. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- HAVE WATER BOILING - CAT WITHOUT A WHITE HAIR; GRAB CAT IN SACK - THROW INTO POT USE LID; BONE ONLY ONE FLOATING - USE WITH LODESTONE — Volume 5, entries 10030. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- TO RID HERSELF OF HUSBAND - SHE PUT HIS PICTURE; UNDER BED - IN FRONT OF IT FOLDED TOGETHER WERE; HIS HAIR - BERGAMOT - VINEGAR - SALT - BLACK PEPPER; SHE KEPT A SMALL WHITE TAPER BURNING BEFORE IT — Volume 5, entries 10170. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → MORE CANDLE RITES.
- SHE MEASURES MAN - TAKES HIS PUBIC HAIR; MEASURE AND HAIR IN BAG - WEARS BETWEEN LEGS — Volume 5, entries 10215. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SEX AND IMPOTENCE REAPPEAR.
- 3 TRICKS: MAN'S PUBIC HAIR IN BOTTLE UNDER DOOR; HIS SEMEN - TIED ON STRING ABOUT HER WAIST; SEMEN WIPED ON DISHRAG - PUT UP OVER SAME DOOR; WOMAN DID ALL THREE - TIRED OF HIM - LEFT HIM — Volume 5, entries 10270. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SEX AND IMPOTENCE REAPPEAR.
- BIRD NEST - FOLD ON PERSON'S HAIR - THROW INTO; RUNNING WATER - PERSON ALWAYS BE ON DE PATH; A MORE COMMON EXPRESSION: DAT'S RUNNIN' 'EM — Volume 5, entries 10713. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FORK OF ROAD - BOTTLED MINISTRATION - BURIED; HEAD DOWN TO UPSET - ADD HAIR TO DRIVE CRAZY; INTO RUNNING WATER MAKES TO WANDER AND DROWN — Volume 5, entries 10743. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BUZZARD MANURE OR HANDS WIPED BETWEEN LEGS; RUBBED ON PERSON'S HEAD TAKES OUT ALL HAIR; SPIT RUB OVER PERSON'S HEAD TO REMOVE HAIR — Volume 5, entries 10850. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BLACK CAT NECK HAIR - BLACK HEN EGG - ON LATTER; NAME OF PERSON WANTED - WRAP - BURY UNDER STEP — Volume 5, entries 10858. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CAT HEAD HAIR UNDER DOOR - CAT NEVER LEAVES — Volume 5, entries 10861. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM CAT'S TAIL - SCRAPINGS FROM 4 CORNERS; OF KITCHEN TABLE - BURY AT BACK STEP - KEEPS CAT — Volume 5, entries 10869. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SNATCH OUT BLACK CAT HAIR TOWARDS HIS HEAD; PUT WITH YOUR LUCKPIECE IN POCKET - SUCCESS — Volume 5, entries 10866. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BLACK CAT HAIR - SULPHUR - SALT - RED PEPPER; GRAVEYARD DIRT - WRITE ON PAPER WHAT YOU WANT DONE; ALL IN CONTAINER THAT WILL FLOAT ON RUNNING WATER — Volume 5, entries 10870. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM UNDER 4 LEGS OF BLACK CAT - CLIP HAIR; FROM BEHIND EACH EAR - AND TIP END OF TAIL - KEEP; IN BAG OR POCKETBOOK AND USE FOR GAMBLING LUCK — Volume 5, entries 10873. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 2 CATS - RUB THEIR HEADS TOGETHER UNTIL ANGRY; SNATCH LOCK OF HAIR FROM EACH HEAD - FOLD TOGETHER; WITH RED PEPPER AND SALT - KEEP IN NORTH CORNER OF; ENEMY'S HOUSE - THIS PARTS MAN AND WOMAN INSIDE — Volume 5, entries 10877. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM CAT'S TAIL AND HAIR FROM DOG'S HEAD; OR VICE VERSA - LITTLE PEPPER - 3 PODS RAT MANURE; MAKE IT A BALL - ATTACH STRING - DIP 3 TIMES INTO; FAMILY'S WATER BUCKET - THIS BREAKS UP A HOME — Volume 5, entries 10887. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SHE CAT AND HE DOG - HAIR FROM - MIX; CALL WOMAN MARY AND MAN JOHN; SAY, MARY, YOU AND JOHN CAN'T STAY TOGETHER; TAKE 9 PODS OF RED PEPPER AND GUNPOWDER; MIX THESE 3: HAIR - PEPPER - GUNPOWDER; BURN IN YARD - MAKE WISHES - THEY SEPARATE — Volume 5, entries 10894. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CATCH A CAT AND BULLDOG WHEN LATTER MAD - TAKE; HAIR FROM BACKS OF EACH - MIX - ADD GUNPOWDER; YOU WRITE THEIR NAMES - HAVE TO WRITE YOUR NAME; PRACTICALLY WITH MOST OF THE WITCHCRAFT WORK; BORN - MAKES THE PERSONS FURIOUS - SEPARATES THEM — Volume 5, entries 10901. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- CUT HAIR FROM BACKS OF DOG'S AND CAT'S NECKS AND; PUT IT AT VICTIM'S DOOR - SEPARATES MAN AND WIFE — Volume 5, entries 10904. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM BAD DOG'S BACK - CAT'S - BACK - WATER FROM; WOMAN'S WASHED UNDERWEAR - ADD TURPENTINE - BOTTLE; THROW INTO MISSISSIPPI RIVER - CAUSES FAMILY FIGHT — Volume 5, entries 10903. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- PUPPY AND KITTEN - MAKE HAIR BRISTLE - TAKE SOME; FROM BACKS OF NECKS - CONCEAL AT ENEMY'S DOOR; WHILE SAYING: CATS AN' DOGS CAIN'T AGREE. GO! — Volume 5, entries 10909. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM DOG'S BACK - HAIR FROM BLACK CAT'S TAIL; AND GRAVEYARD DIRT - BURY TIED IN SACK UNDER DOOR; GIVES BAD LUCK TO PERSONS LIVING IN THAT HOUSE — Volume 5, entries 10916. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BLACK DOG TAIL HAIR - CLAY CHIMNEY SOOT - URINE; AT ENEMY'S DOOR - BRING DEM DOWN TO YUH COMMAND — Volume 5, entries 11292. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- DOG MEASURE TIP OF NOSE TO TIP OF TAIL WITH; HICKORY STICK - CUT STICK THAT LENGTH - CUT HAIR; FROM TIP OF TAIL - BURY BOTH UNDER VICTIM'S DOOR; TIE DOG OUT IN COUNTRY - THIS DRIVES VICTIM AWAY — Volume 5, entries 11291. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- THIS HAIR FROM A MAN DOG BURIED UNDER A MAN'S DOOR; AND MAGIC WALKING AWAY ARE RARE AND INTERESTING — Volume 5, entries 11296. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SPLIT WOOD - INSERT DOG HAIR - NAIL TO BACK STEPS — Volume 5, entries 11307. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- PULL DOG THROUGH DOOR CLOSED ENOUGH TO REMOVE HAIR; DEN HE WON' GO OFF NOWHERE, WON' STAY OFF — Volume 5, entries 11309. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- YOUR HAIR OVER DOOR YOU WALKED UNDER; BRINGS YOU BACK AS LONG AS HAIR THERE — Volume 5, entries 11845. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM MOLD OF HER HEAD - 3 FINGERNAILS FROM EACH; OF HER HANDS MAN TAKES AND WEARS TO TIE HER DOWN — Volume 5, entries 11853. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR OF LOVED PERSON - SUGAR - BLUESTONE - LODESTONE; PUT THESE ON PIECE OF BROWN PAPER - OVER THIS PILE; TIE JOHN DE CONKAH ROOT - THIS LOOK LIKE 2 PIECES; JOHN DE CONKAH ROOT HERE IS SURELY ADAM-AND-EVE; THIS SMALL PACKAGE IS WORN IN SHOE TO HOLD PERSON — Volume 5, entries 11852. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- TO MAKE MAN STAY HOME - WOMAN TAKES HAIR FROM MOLD; OF HIS HEAD - 2 COPPER PENNIES - EACH WITH WOMAN'S; FACE - PUT FACES FACE-TO-FACE WITH HAIR BETWEEN; HOLD COIN-SANDWICH TOGETHER BY WINDING THREAD ABOUT; EDGES - WRAP PACKAGE IN ONE PIECE OF PAPER - HIS AND; HER NAME ON IT - KEEP IN SACK - EVERY TIME SHE EATS; SHE MUST OFFER FOOD AND DRINK TO THIS SUBSTITUTE — Volume 5, entries 11856. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- LODESTONE - SAYS DOCTOR BUZZARD OF NORFOLK IS BLACK; OR WHITE MALE OR FEMALE - HAIR DOES NOT GROW ON; LODESTONE AS SOME PEOPLE SAY - IT IS MERELY A FUZZ; SPECIAL STONE FROM BIRD NEST IS FREQUENT IN HOODOO — Volume 5, entries 12341. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- LOVE POWDER AND HAIR WRAP IN CLOTH - SEW INTO BAG; A HAND - PIN TO SIDE - FEED DAILY WITH COLOGNE — Volume 5, entries 12363. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 3 INGREDIENTS: HAIR FROM CAT'S BACK - RINSE OUT DIRTY; PIECE OF HERS - AND WAR WATER - INTO RIVER - NO MAN — Volume 5, entries 13308. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
Entry 48
They tell me you can feel them. You feel creepy your- self; feel like something creeping up on you and going to grab you. You get awful restless. They say - a spirit is creeping up on you.
Entry 49
" If you are walking along de road an' you leave [pass by] a hot steam, they say that ghosts is travelin' by yo'.
Entry 50
In country places in the wintertime you can pass a warm stream going over your shoulder and all up and down your face. You're kinda like where they was over a stove right out of doors. There's something funny about that. But olden people said it was a spirit that you met. I've passed them many a time in my time. I've been awful frighten because I hearn the olden people speak about them so much. I thought they could harm me. I used to tell my mother about it. She said, "There's no harm in them. Don't be afeard."
Entry 51
They say you can feel a peculiar feeling. Sometimes a flash comes over you. Your hair seems to stand on your head. I felt it myself. People say then you are passing a ghost. They are near you. That's why these hot breezes meet you. I have been driving, my husband has been driving, when we passed those hot breezes. The horses stand almost up in the harnesses, they get so frightened, and dash to one side of the road. I have witnessed that. And the olden people told us that, that it was a ghost.
Entry 52
If spirits are around you light a candle with insent [incense]. After awhile everything will be light and nice. And as long as they are around every- thing is heavy and luggy and you think something is going to happen every minute.
[This refers to a headache caused by spirits.]
Entry 990
Yo' kin cut chure hair out an' burv it in de leak of de house, an' it would make it grow - make yore hair grow.
Entry 1818
Take a woman's hair, from a dead woman an' cut de little tip end of her hair an' cut it off an' git it out chew know. An' yo' kin count nine strands of it out an' tie dat in a knot an' wear it aroun' yo'. Dey tell me yo' kin git a job anywhere yo goes.
Entry 1819
[In my earlier collecting days a hairball among white inform- ants was: "A cow licks her hair and that hair goes down in the left side of the pouch and that forms a ball, and if you have one of those in your hand you can bewitch anyone." This object is sometimes called a witch-ball: "One morning the cow didn't come up for milking and they went out to find the cow and found it dead. It had been shot in the thigh with a hair-ball.... You see, a witch always uses a silver bullet or a hair-ball to kill anything, and this man [witch] had shot the cow with one of those witch hair-balls." FACI, 2ed., Nos. 15884 & 15885, p.797; see also No. 16151, p.827.]
[In the following account we have a different hairbalZ:]
Now, dere's a hairball - dat's concernin' a lady, misfortune between yo' an' her. Now, yo' kin wear dis hairball tuh keep in contact with her an' yo' kin wear it dat chew may nevah git in contact with her no mo'.
(What kind of a hairbalZ do you mean?)
It's an ordinary hairball.
(Well, where do you get that hair?)
Well, it's hair dat's from ole dead people, yo' know, befo' it's event'lly decayed - it's spoiled. Put it in a thimble or somethin' round that chew may put it in a ball. Quite natural, by it gittin' air it will not, yo' know whut ah mean - fade away. Quite natural if yo' know de person that die - everythin' all right. Now, this hairball - it comes in a ball. To keep in contact with this party, yo must put this in a bag - yo' know, somethin' lak a Bull Durham sack. [The latter was a small cloth sack containing a cigarette mixture used in "rolling your own" - making your own cigarettes. The paper label on the sack had the picture of a bull.] Yo' make a small bag small enough fo' it tuh git in. Now, tuh keep in contact with this person, yo' must put this hairball in that bag an' sew it. Make nine stitches, an' dere's three words yo' must say while sewin', "With me Fo'evah." Yo' know, as yo' make a stitch, jes' say a word. Now at de end, when yo' git tuh de end of de bag, do not make a knot in it. Make three turns wit chure needle - yo' know, lak yo' be sewin' dis, jes pass it roun dere three times. Den yo git chew a string an' put nine knots in dis string an' de ninth knot, yo' take a needle an' attach it to dat bag an' wear that next to yore skin. Now, tuh git rid of dis lady event ally, wear dis hairbalZ jes' outright - don't put it nex' tuh yore skin. Fo' instant [instance], lak yo' got chure coat on dere, dis top pocket heah - jes' keep it in dat pocket, jes' outside from yo'. See. An' yo' wear it thataway yo'll nevah come in contact with her. That's all it is to the hairball.
Entry 1954
Well, de Book [Bible] claim that the hair is a man's strength - a man's strength lodges in his hair an' so is his knowledge. They claim that a man kin take three strands of a woman's hair outa de mole [mold] of her haid, or she kin take three strands outa de mole of his haid - git him tuh sleep an' git it, take de scissors an' cut it out. An' she kin tie it up in her underskirt tail an' she kin carry him anywhere she wanta, or he kin carry her.
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 1956
An' den yo' kin take a little bit of strand out of a man's head - like if a man dat chew got an' yo' want him tuh stand by yo' or somepin lak dat. Yo' kin take a strand of hair out de mole of his haid, clip out a little hair an' do it up in a little new piece of homespun an' jes' wet it in yore watah, yore urine an' poke it down in jes' de least little crack dat che've got. Yo've not got'a take but jes' de least little tiny piece an' wrap it tight, an' poke right down in a little crack in yore baid in de wood part of it or iron part - yo' know, wheresomevah yo' kin git it punched down in dere good wit a pin. An' dey says dat will hold him.
Entry 1957
Just keep your [a woman's] hair and take it and gilt it - have it gilt you see just like you gilt a pitchure [frame] [an' make] like a watch chain of it and wear it. And as long as they [you] wear that, you is all right. I had one myself.
(You use your own hair?)
Nol No! No! Somebody else's. They can't harm you.
(You get that woman's hair?)
Yes sir. [This hand protects a man from any of a woman's tricks.]"
Entry 3206
Jes' lak yo' have a intahco'se wlt a man - a woman would, see, an' she wanta make dis man love her. Well, when she use dis towel tuh wipe wit, see, she wipe her han's on dis towel an' take her han's an' run 'em through dis man's hair - run it ovah his haid, see, jes' lak dat. An' dat will make a man love yo'. (Well, how does that affect you, you say?) Wal, ah figured it must - in 'is haid ah guess - jes' goes to 'is braln or sompin. But ah guess it in 'is haid - whut a person study, quite nat- urally it is in dere haid.
Entry 3207
Well, de othah is, yo' kin take halr from roun' yore private an' use in a way, say a man or a woman, if she runnin' aroun' an' yo' in love wit 'er or somepin, an' yo' wanta stop 'er. Say yo' use dat tuh stop 'er. (Do you know how they would use it?) Take it - yo' have tuh git it durin' intahco'ses an' git it an' keep it tuh yo'self. Take it an' put dis hair in a bottle an stop it up, an' den somepin othah goes with it - take a cloth or rag, anythin' she use. Take dat an'.
[Informant was so long trying to finish sentence, that I suggested:]
(You carry it with you, that the idea?)
No, yo' kin stop her tuh make her stay where yo' is, have no connection wit nobody but chew...
[I stop machine and let him talk (see dots) and then attempt to summarize:]
(By taking some of her private hair and a piece of her monthly cloth, and putting it in this bottle and stopping it up, and keeping it on your person. Wearing it.) No suh, place it in a secret place right ovah de do' dere or anywhere yo' kin hide it - up ovah her, where she goes through.
(That will keep her from running out with men?)
Yes.
Entry 3212
She could cut some of 'is - his hair from de lowah part of 'is body. Take an' cut some of it off an' she'll take it an' go out an' burn it, an' she'll take his nature 'way fo' anybody else 'cept 'er. (She will take and burn this hair she took from him, take his nature away for any other woman.) Yes.
Entry 3372
She would take a cloth or sompin lak dat an' she would take his nature, see. Some of de hair so dat he couldn't mess wit othah ooen. She'd take a white plain cloth an' she would place it into de bottom of a trunk an' she'd place dat - well, he's lost 'is nature, see. She'd place it dere.
Entry 3376
Take de dishrag when yo' mess togethah, only de woman mustn't dis- charge. Gen'ally de men do all dat. Den yo' take dat dishrag an' yo' clean 'i off wit it. An' take de hair out de top of 'is haid an tie it togethah, an' put it up 'tween de mattress an' put one knot in it in de cornah, an' put it right in de middle of de mattress. An' he stays dere, he won't go. (You said the hair from the top of his head and the hair from down below, and you put it in the dishrag - tie it up in the dishrag. Then you put one knot in the dishrag.) Dat's right.
Entry 3422
Yo' kin take de hair from a dog or a cat when dey proudin' an' yo' singe it, burn it yo' know, parch it an' git it in dey food where dey kin eat it. an' when dey eat it, it will make 'em hitch up. An' a drop of dat blood, dat dog's blood - a drop of dat in dey food, yo' see. An' if dey runnin' aroun', de husban' or wife, an' yo' ketch 'em doin' dat, dey'll hitch up. Not till nine days dey come apart deyself.
(After nine days.)
Can't loose 'em. Stay dat way nine days.
Entry 3423
Yo' git de wax outa de cat's ear an' git de wax outa de dog's ear an cut jes' a little piece of hair off de dog's tail an' den de half way of his back, an' den de back his neck [hair from 3 places], an' put it in dey shoes. Dey put in de woman's shoe. (What happens then?) Dey git stuck to 'em lak doge. Yah, de' [dey] put dat in dere shoe, de woman's shoe. (They don't get any hair from the cat then?) Git de cat hair an' de dog halr togethah.
Entry 3424
De halr from a dog an de hair from a ket [cat] an' dey duap it into de food of a person. Dat will cuz a tyin' between a man an' a run-aroun' woman, but not at home.
(Cause what?)
Tie 'em up jes' lak a dog tie up.
Entry 3482
She kin have him follahin' 'er. Take de seat of 'is underwear an' take an' cut 'er a di'mond out of dat - jes' cut a little place in de seat dat's in de shape of a di'mond. She'll have a connection wit 'i an' git some of 'is discharge an' roll it real tight in dat di'mond dat she cut. Take a little piece of 'is hair an' bind it aroun' dere, take a new thread an' bind it - jes' wrap it aroun' dere an' place it in 'er shoe. She tear de linin' in 'er shoe to git in dere. An' he'll stick aroun' 'er lak baby sticks aroun' 'is mothah when he wants a tit. He won't leave 'er. Sometime I believe my ole lady got me dat way. Yes siree, he ain't goin' aftah nobody an' she can't drive him away.
Entry 3489
Take a little grain of hair off 'im an' put a little bit of dat stuff wit it - a little bit of dat stuff, yo' know lak yo' mate togethah, an' tie it up an' make him come back. (You tie it up. What do you do with it then?) Put it roun' yore waist.
Entry 3525
(You tie three knots into a string. Yes?) Ah show yo' now. Yo' ties in dat string dem knots, dey got chew tied - yo' can't leave yo' see.
(Well, would they do anything else with that string first?)
No, don't do nuthin else wit it. Dey will git a piece of yore hair aroun' yore private, yeah, an' tie it in dere, an' yo' can't - see now, dat's three knots in dere an' yo' can't leave. Yo' can't go wit no othah woman but de one.
(Well, what do you do? Tie that hair into that string? Tie it in the knot?)
Knot. Tie 'em in a hard knot.
(Well, they use a piece of string though?)
Yassuh, dey roll it up dere, roll de string once on it, tie 'em. Den she wear 'em roun' 'er...
(Round her, near her privates?)
Yes.
Entry 3605
Take some of de hair from undah his clothes an' some of de hair from off de woman an' tie it up in a pocket han'ke'ch'ef wit nine knots, an' tote it in yore pocket.
(This woman would take some of his hair down below?)
Yes sir.
(Just the hair, and what would she do with that?)
She would tie it up in a pocket han'ke'ch'ef.
(What would she put with that hair, anything?)
She put her hair.
(Where would she get her hair?)
Outa down below.
(She puts it in the handkerchief, any kind of handkerchief?)
Yes sir, jes' a white han'ke'ch'ef. An' tie it in nine knots. She does wit dat hair an' she jest tote it, put it in her pocket an' tote it.
(What will that do then?)
Well, that will stop him.
(Stop him from running around with other women?)
Yes sir, hold 'im right dere.
Entry 3617
Ah have lived wit a woman in dis city, an' ah found some hair, colored man's hair or coman's hair, an' one penny sewed up in a sack an' a string wrapped aroun' it, an' de string had nine knots in it an' a rabbit's foot. But ah knows one thing dat ah couldn't have nuthin else to do wit no othah woman but 'er. But how dat wuz, whut she did, ah don't know. But ah foun' it in 'er purse.
(She did this to you?)
She did dat to me.
Entry 3640
Ah heard 'em say dey ketch a snail an' git dat dust where he lay, an' take dat an' mix it wit some grease or sompin, an put it on a person's haid an' it will take all dere hair out. SLICK IT WIT A SNAIL, ah've heard dat. (Get that slime from the snail?) Dat's right, wipe it on dere.
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 3898
If it's a woman, yo' kin git some of 'er sanitary things of hers an' keep 'em yo' know. Jes' keep 'em in a close place an' put - either jes' wash 'em an' put de water in a little bottle or somepin, an' mix it wit dis Heart Cologne. An' den if yo' kin git some of de hair, put it in dere an' keep it. She goin' come back.
Entry 3899
Dey said dat a person take yore hair. Dey could take yore hair an' put it in a bottle of Hearts Cologne an' keep it an' yo'll always think swell of 'em. An' ah heard dat a person could take yore hair an', or part of yore ministration rag, an' put it togethah an' one yore dirty socks, an' throw it ovahbo'd an' yo'll go crazy.
(Now somebody would do that to a woman. Take her hair and what else?)
Her ministration rag.
(And her sock. All these things [three things] belong to her?)
Yeah. Yore dirty socks definitely belongs to the woman; the man not adding his own sock to her hair and blood. He would also have driven himself away!]
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 3916
Ah'm goin' tell yo' somepin dat I saw here in '23 - was in '23. Ah wus workin' fo' Halstrom Brothers. An' my firs' wife - it was a girl lived right side of us named Theresa Jackson, an' my firs' wife helped to raise dis girl. Well, dis girl, she was a stout girl, an' she was workin' fo' Dr. Knox[?]. All at once she'd taken sick an' we couldn't undahstan' why she wus sick all de time. An' ah says to her, say, "You're workin' fo' dat doctah, say, "whyn't yo' tell de doc- tah 'bout it, how bad yo' feel?" Well, dere she would go to work an' have to leave work to come home. An' she tole de doctah 'bout it. Well, de doctah say he couldn't fin' no trouble - yo' know, what was 'er complaint. So she wus off on 'er off-day an' she said, "Ah'm goin' clean up my house. Ah'm goin' from de stern-wheel to de rudder" [surely an old Mississippi River expression]. Says, "All right." Ah was layin' down sleepin'. Ah been workin' at night. An' dis girl goin' to clean up 'er house. An' right behind de middle door, she found a bottle an' a little bag. Well, when she found dis bottle an' little bag, she brought it an' showed it to my wife. My wife said to her, "Ah'm goin' to wake Steve up an' tell 'im 'bout it." Which she did wake me up. When she woke me up, ah took it an' ah looked at it, say, "Dis looks mighty funny to me. I said, give me a knife." I said, "I'm goin' open dis bag." Ah opened de bag. It had a plat of 'er hair, outa her head. It had three pieces outa her pieces, yo' know, about dat size.
(Out of her monthly clothes?)
Yes. An' it had some lodestone in dere an' it had some needles an' some pins crossed dataway [demonstrates], see.
(Held that way with two crosses in it?)
Yes, sir. An' it had dat hair undah dere an' jes' like - jes' like my thumb is de hair, an' right along dere was de lodestone, see, into dis piece, an' dey had it sewed up. See. And he [the man who had tricked her] had de bottle wit 'er mon'ses [months] in hit.
(Which?)
[I either did not grasp mon'ses or wanted a fuller explanation.]
It had, yo' know, change over de moon in de bottle.
(I see.)
An' I opened it an' taked de stoppah outa de bottle an' it was jes' worsen [worse than] anythin' yo' evah smelled in yore life. Ah says to her, ah says, "Yo' take dis out dere" - ah always heard my ole uncle say dese things - ah say, "and throw it in dat runnin' watah." Dere was a little bayou - part of de bayou right back dere - part of de bridge an' de little bayou run undahneat' dere.
(Where?)
Little bayou right out chere on Rogers Street. An' she - ah say, "Now, you throw dat ovah yore left shoulder an' don't look back." An' she went out dere an' throwed it ovah her lef' shouldah in dat runnin' watah. An' he left. Dat fellow come home, but when he come home he rushed right on in de house. He says to her, "What yo' been doin' here?" She say, "Ah been cleanin' up." He say, "Yo' don't nevah clean up." He said, "Did yo' find anything of mine?" She said, "No, I find somepin of mine." He says, "What wus it?" Ah says, "If he hits yo today, I'm goin' woop 'im an' [or] he gon'a woop me eithah one." So he hauled away an' he hit 'er, an' when he hit 'er, I grabbed 'im. An' he lef' an' went to Paducah, Ky. He lef' dere an' went to Oil City, Ill. He lef' dere an' come back here to her an' stayed three days, an' went to Natchez an' she ain't been worried wit 'im since. An' she's married an' she is jes' as stout as she evah wus, an' de mothah of a child.
(She got rid of him, got rid of the fellow.)
Entry 3917
Take dey sanitary cloth an' roll it up aroun' dat hair wit de quick- silvah in it, an' den yo' stick dose needles in dere, yo' see, an' yo' put it in a secret place somewhere. An' dey'll be worried to death wit dat, an' natchly [naturally] it will run 'em crazy. (You told me something a while ago. How does it make them feel, you say?) Oh! it makes 'em feel lak pins is stickin' in 'em - in dey flesh or somepin all de while.
Entry 3919
[HERE IS VERSION ONE OF THE RITE:]
Well, she goin' bring 'im home an' make 'im stay dere wit 'er. She'll take dat [sanitary] cloth an' take dem needles, dem nine needles an' cross 'em, take a silvah dime from 'i血m if she kin git it, an' take a piece of 'is hair outa his haid an' tie it, an' sew it all up in dat cloth togethah, an' cross it - crosses dose needles lak dat [demonstrates] - dat way. [The crossing of needles or pins in a cloth is a frequent magic act. Each needle or pin is stuck into the cloth so that it crosses over one or more needle or pin.] Well, aftah she do dat, she takes it an' puts it in 'er pocket. If it's nec- essary she wears it all de time.
Entry 3934
[Take] de toe of de socks, an' git a piece of de middle, an' take dat socks an' 'er periods cloth.
(NoW you are taking her sock and her period cloth or are you taking my socks?)
Her socks an' her periods cloth. An' git some of de hair from roun' 'er pri- vate down dere, an' a little from offa heah, de mole of 'er haid, an' put it all togethah an' step to de do'. If yo' see her go outside in de yard, step to de do' an' ketch up as much of 'er track, lak dat, an' put it altogethah dere. An' ball it up an' sew it up tight as yo' kin git it, see. An' bury dat an' put in de mattress or de pillah right where she puts 'er haid. An' yo' got 'er jes' as yo' wanta - like a footstool.
Entry 4066
Well, dey take dat - well, if dey git holt-a yuh fingahnail an' yuh hair, an' prob'ly maybe some-a yuh urinate, see. Well, dey stick 'em in a bot- tle an' dey bury dat in de groun', see. An' dat will do all de harm dey want. (What will that do for example?) Well, it will make yuh mindless.
Entry 4153
Yuh kin take a woman now, an' yuh kin git de hair outa her haid an' put it in a glass wit de pee in it. (A glass of your urine?) Yeah, an' yuh kin put it in a box [bottle] an' put it in undah de do'step where she walks ovah all de time, an' covah it wit somepin undah de bottom step, an' she can't leave, yuh got 'er tied.
Entry 4154
Yuh kin take de individual's cham- ber lye an' some cayenne peppah an' also some of dere hair, an' yuh kin run 'em outa town. (What do you do with all that stuff then?) Yuh bury it.
Entry 4155
Take dey chamber lye an' make yuh so dat chew can't make watah. Well dey takes it from yuh an' save it, an' dey git a stran' of yuh hair out chure haid, an' put in it an' let it stay fo' five weeks. Well, aftah dose five weeks dey mix some sulphur wit it an' dey put dat in dere an' dey put a little salt, red peppah, yuh know, whut grows on bushes. Den yuh can't make no watah.
(Where do they put all those things?)
Where dey keep it, puts it in a bottle, airtight so no air can't git in it, an' it stay in dere.
Entry 4156
If dey wanna go ag'in - tuh keep 'em from goin' ag'in, yuh'll have tuh clip a piece from she [demonstrates].
(From the top of her head.)
An' a piece from she private an' put it in de bottle wit nine needles, an' take yuh chamber lye an' some German Heart Cologne, an' mix it tuhgethah an' hol' dat in yuh pocket fer de fus' [first] nine mawn- in's. An' den take it an' po' it in one of yuh suits, an' she will nevah go tuh dat pocket tuh take it out. An' SHE'LL STAY DERE FOREVAH AN' FOREVAH.
(I see. That keeps her.)
Entry 4157
A woman kin take yuh hair an' a little of hers an' bring yuh tuh 'er by soakin' it in chamber lye, an' den tote it in 'er - sew it up in some of 'er clothes so's it not lost an' nobody will nevah see it. Tote dat an' go on. He be wit 'er.
Entry 4165
Take now, if yuh got a girl an' yuh likes 'er an' she don't like yuh much undahstan'. Yuh git a little bit of 'er hair. Well, yuh take an' make her trim 'er fingahnails, an' take a little of dat fingahnail an' yuh mix it up tuhgethah [with the hair]. An' if yuh kin, git jis' a little bit of 'er urinate watah an' put it in a bottle - a little vial. An' evah mawnin' yuh open dat bottle an' thump it nine mawnin's straight out, an' dat'll give her love fo' yuh.
(You do this to get the girl's love?)
Yes sir, ah've tried it mahself.
(You take the cork out and each morning you thump it. You hit it?)
Yassuh, nine mawnin's. Yuh hit it nine times evah mawnin'.
Entry 4191
Dey say take a needle, a goldeye needle, an' stick it in de stoppah of a bottle. But yuh gotta axe dis certain somebody fo' a penny, if yuh want 'em tuh give yuh some money, see. An' take dis penny an' his hair out de top of 'is head, an' put dis hair in dat bottle an' a penny, an' use some of 'is urinate an' keep dat. Stick nine goldeye needles in dat stoppah, an' dat'll make 'e [= he = him] give yuh money. But yuh gotta git dat penny from 'im.
(But you put your own [his] urine in the bottle?)
Yes.
(But you get that penny from the man?)
Yeah, from who yuh want de money.
(You just keep this bottle?)
Yes.
Entry 4203
Dey git a hold of some of yuh hair an' git some of yuh watah wit it, an' put dat in a bottle, an' dey git a hold of nine new needles an' nine new pins, an' cork de bottle up, an' dey bury dat anywhere where yuh walk along, an' dat will run yuh crazy.
Entry 4204
Dey cud [could] take yore track up, yuh know, an' dey cud use yuh watah an' some of yuh hair, from undah here an' also below here, an' take nine new needles an' nine [new] pins, an' stop it up in a bottle an' put it at chure head an' dey cud have yuh like dat. (At your head?) An' let yuh sleep on it. (And how would it harm you? What way will it harm you?) Wal, it jis' make yuh jis' stay an' take any- thin' dey do an' anythin' yuh got. Yuh jis' bring it an' give it tuh dem.
(To the man or to the woman?)
Tuh de woman. Jis' like if yuh got a woman an' she t'inks yuh runnin' roun' - yuh know, sompin like dat.
(Fix you with your hair?)
Uh-huh.
Entry 4259
chamber lye an' a piece of hair. (Take chamber lye and a piece of Yore hair, mah hair, anybody else [hair] an' put it in a bottle, see. An' evah time [you want the person] tuh come tuh yuh, all yuh gotta do is shake it. But yo' gotta bury it [when not in use]. An' jis' shake it an' yuh'll [person'll] come.
Entry 4275
I know one time a woman had some [urine] in a bottle. She had six bottles: One was about two inches full, another was about three inches full, another about half full, an- other half full, and another almost full, and another all full. And [all] stopped up tight. The bottles had needles and pins in them and hair in it. And he couldn't pass his water until some of those bottles were opened. Her husband, she didn't like him, and she was going with another man. It' was his water she stopped up. It killed him. He actually died. [The magic rite of increasing amounts - as well as of decreasing amounts - is fairly common, but this one is rather elabo- rate, unusual.]
Entry 4349
Well, jis' lak if yuh wants tuh harm a person, yuh see, lak dat, or yuh wanta git dat yuh might got 'em down undah yore feet tuh a certain point. An' yuh take dat hair an' yuh put it in a bot- tle, but chew put in it chamber lye an' salt. An' den yuh stop dat bottle tight, an' den yo' kin bury dat bottle or chunk it in runnin' watah - eithah one of dem things. Dat's whut de story ah got. Well, each one of 'em will harm yuh.
Entry 4355
Takes it from [demonstrates] de top an' de side an' here.
(The top and both sides, the hair.)
An' tells me dat dey puts it in a bottle wit red flannel, nine new needles an' pins.
(How many pins?)
Nine. An' git some of yuh urine, stops it up, turn it [bottle] bottom up- wards. Jis' as it dreeps [drips] out, jis' as yuh dwindle away. An' den when dey don't turn it bottom upwards dey throw it in de rivah. Drive yuh - Hoodoo - Conjuration - Witchcraft: Rdtvorl crazy. Dat's what dey say dat dey kin do wit it.
(If they turn it upside down?)
Yuh pines away, an' if it's throwed in de rivah in quick runnin' watah, yuh'll go crazy. [Washington, D.c., (628), 805:9.]
Entry 4361
Well, if dey wan' 'im tuh go away, dey will take a lock of de right head - hair on de right side, two or three locks of it - right side of de head, an' put it in a bot- tle an' put some urine in it, an' throw it away in a stream dat goes - tuh a stream dat goes up [river], carry it up, so dey [he] will go. Well, it's jis' de opposite if dey wan' 'im tuh come back, dey take it [hair] off de left side an' throw it in a stream comin' in tuh 'em - vice aversy. [This is a tide- water stream, coming in and going out.]
Entry 4378
Yuh take yuh passage [excrement], yuh take dat an' stop it up in a bottle. Yuh kin take de hair offa end of a dog tail, a black dog, an' put it in dat bottle. An' squeeze dat lemon juice on it. An' it's no mo' tuh it. Yuh take dat bottle an' bury it. Yuh cain't make no passage no mo'.
Entry 4418
Dey say dat chew could take a nail an' dip off a little bit of yore, yuh know, manure, an' carry it tuh a tree, yuh know, a nail dain't [dat ain't] nevah been used, an' drive it through dat tree wit some hair, ah think dey say, an' some of yuh hair too, an' say yuh tap it fo' nine mawnin's, an' de ninth dey says yo'll die.
(That hasn't anything to do with your photograph, has it?)
Dey tell me dey have yuh pichure up dere wit it.
(Oh! You drive this nail through it?)
Through de pichure. Drive dis nail through de pichure, see, an' have dat hair up dere wit it. Jis' drive it on in.
(Where do you put the manure, on the end of the?)
On de end of de nail.
Entry 4520
If yuh have a girl fren' an' yuh love her an' she didn't seems tuh care very much fo' yuh, why yuh could sometime in goin' roun' 'er, an' git a chance tuh git 'er hat. Take de ban' from roun' 'er hat. Take de band from roun' 'er hat an' git a piece she's wearin' close tuh 'er. Take it an' some of 'er hair from a [below]. Yuh kin git chance tuh make a date wit 'er an' git some of 'er hair from roun' 'er. An' take it an' wrap it up in a piece of red flannel an' wear it nex' tuh yuh skin. Why den she come back tuh live wit chew.
(What piece of clothing do you get?)
Git de seat out of 'er drawahs. (And the hair from down below. That will make you have power over her.)
Entry 4579
On a dog's tail an' cat's. Three stran's of dog hair an' three stran's of cat hair an' put it in dat bow. [See later.]
(This bow on a man's hatband?) Yes. An' dat'll run 'im crazy. (What you do is let it stay on thebow?)
Yes, put it in de bow of de hat an' let it stay dere.
(Three strands from the dog's tail and three strands from the cat's?)
Three stran's.
(From where?)
From undah 'is tail. Yuh know dat an' kinda plat it tuhgethah-like an' put it right in dat little bow on de hat.
Entry 4605
Take de bow from de back of a man's hat, dat is [if] a woman is got a sweetheart an' she don' wants tuh git rid of 'im. She takes dat bow from de back of 'is hat an' sews it in de seat of 'er clothes, an' wears dat bow. She wears dat bow in de seat of 'er clothes an' when he wears 'is hat so long till dat bow gits sweaty an' greasy, well she takes dat bow an' untie it, an' takes an' puts some of 'er hair wit it, an' sews it in de seat of 'er clothes, or up undah 'er arm where her clothes sweats, an' wears it.
(What will that do?)
Dat will keep 'im dere.
Entry 4613
Well, yuh take dat out of a man's hat, chew know, de little bow dat's right back of de hat heah, out of de man's hatband. Den yuh git a little hair from de mole [mold] of de head - no, yuh git three strands right out of de mole of de head. Chew wrap dat aroun' dis little bow an' git chew a piece of new cotton cord, cord string, an' yuh wrap dat aroun' an' tie nine knots in dat string. An' den yuh put undah de little flap of yuh shoe - yuh know dat inner sole, or de heel of de left shoe. An' as long as it remains in dat shoe, dat person's supposed tuh remain dere.
(That's all for love.)
Entry 4625
Take dat bow out de back a man's hat an' yuh kin take some needles, an' about two-three stran's of dere hair an' wrap it up in dem dere needles. Have dem needles turned all kinda ways, yo' see. An' put it in a bottle of perfume, see, an' jes'.keep it in a cornah somewhere, yuh know, where de sun kin kinda shine on it. An' dey tell me - say dat will make 'em love yuh.
(You put it so that the sun can shine on it?)
Where de sun kin shine on it, yes. Yuh know jes' in a place - yuh know jes' up on de top of de house. Yuh know somewhere in some close place, yuh see, where de sun kin hit it.
(You put any number of needles in it - any number?)
Yuh put about - ah think it is nine needles yuh put in dere.
Entry 4648
(What will they do with that little bow?)
Well, dey take dat an' dey totes it. Dey put it in a little bit of bag, a little Durham sack [Bull Durham tobacco sack known since the days of rolling your own cigarettes]. An' tote dat nex' tuh 'em all de time. Does 'im an awful lot of harm. Put de hair wit it - an' de hair, toenails - evahthing dey kin git wit it. Dat jes' makes 'im drag aroun', drag till he die. Won't do 'im no good an' nobody else.
Entry 4685
(Dey take that bow from the back of a man's hat and do what with it?)
An' tack it on a tree an' git some of yore hair an' tack it right on de end of dat bow, an' put dat hair on dere. When dat hair go all de way roun' dat tree, it'll meet back to dat bow. Den yuh'll go crazy. (They have to go to the tree with the bow and have some hair in [on the end of] the bow. Then that hair grows all the way round the tree?) All de way roun' de tree. [For detached human hair to continue growing under all sorts of conditions, See examples at the beginning of long section HAIR.]
Entry 4746
Jis' lak yuh has a run-about husban' an' jis' lak ah'm telled [I have told] 'im an' ah cain't stop 'im. Jis' take yore piece of 'is undahshirt, yuh know, nex' tuh 'is skin, an' git de right track an' some of 'is hair an' bury dem undah yore do'steps. An' ah guarantee he won' go wit nobody else.
(Any piece of your undershirt?)
Yes, nex' to his skin - yes, under 'is arm.
Entry 4830
De story about de woman?
(About the man, to make him come home.)
Yuh could git 'is underweah. Well, take 'em in de fron' an' wash, yuh know, in jis' a li'le watah, an' put it in a bottle. If yuh kin git some of 'is hayah [hair], put it in dere wit it an' stop it up wit some Heart Cologne. (With it, what will that do then?) Bring 'im back.
Entry 4863
Yuh kin do it, but yuh have tuh git somebody's hair or somebody's gar- ments dat's got de odah in it, dat dey wore. An' if yuh take it, yuh put salt an' peppah an' sulphah in it. An' put dat in runnin' watah an' it will start 'em tuh move. (That will run them out of town, keep them on the go?) Yes, dat will keep 'em on de go.
Entry 4917
Take a woman's stockin' while it's dirty - not a clean one, while it's dirty. Yuh take it an' yuh ball it up an' yuh puts it right up ovah de do'. Dat [is] if she leave yuh, yuh puts it ovah de do' an' she'll come back home. Or eithah dey could cut de seat of 'er undahclothes out an' put it ovah de do' an' she'll nevah leave. An' [or] yo' could take de mole of 'er hair [head], cut de hair out an' plait it. Put it intuh a vial an' put Hearts Cologne on it - feed it. [To put Hearts Cologne on is to feed it.] Tote it in yore pocket an' she'll nevah leave yuh - she'll stay wit yuh.
Entry 4989
Yuh take nine needles an' put 'em crossways in de sock, an' put red peppah, garlic an' dese little nets dat yuh buy from de drug sto'.
(Hair nets.)
Yuh take dem an' put 'em in de sock, an' den yuh git some clay dust an' pack it, an' sew dat sock up. Dat's de way yuh fix de sock against matches. Yuh take de same amount of matches. Takes nine matches an' nine needles an' fix 'em in dat sock, an' den sew it up. An' den yuh take dat sock an' jis' throw it up undah de bed, or jis' throw it on up ovah de do'.
(What will happen then?)
Well, dat's tuh bring 'em back. When he do come back, yuh take his cloth an' wear it. Aftah yuh'all have intahco'se, yuh take de cloth an' wear it nine days. An' in de mawnin' aftah yuh wear it nine days, yuh take dat cloth an' wipe his plate out wit it.
(That will hold him there?)
Keep 'im dere.
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 5249
Ah know dey'll take joor [your] shoe tongue out joor shoe - dat's whut dey tell me. Yo' take de shoe tongue out joor shoe an' take a stran' of haah from joor haid, an' beah [bury] it in joor fiahplace. An' yo' kin go away but choo cain't stay. Yo' got'a come back at home. If yo' work any job, evahthin' da' chew [that you] make [earn] yo' have tuh bring it tuh 'er. An' she'll let dat stay in de fiahplace nine days, an' den she'll take it tuh a root of a tree an' beah it. An' she'll let it stay dere. An' jis' as long as dat stay beahed [buried] dere, she got choo.
Entry 5494
Take his hair...
(With that little bow.)
[Bow was mentioned before I turned on recording machine.]
Yes, take de hair an' put it in a bottle an' bury it. Yo' buries dat. Bury dat wit some of 'is tracks. See, yo' take an' bury dat wit some of 'is tracks. Dat will make him follah yo' evahwhere, anywhere yo' go. (What else do you put in that bottle?) Some of 'is hair, some of 'is dust out from undah 'is feet, an' den some of de ravels from 'is undahclothes - from undah 'is arm an' yo' know down below.
(Some of the sweat.)
Yo' know, jes' lak dey'd git chure dirty clothes an' ah'd take some of de ravels. An' put it in a bottle, undahstan', an' yo' carry dat an' bury it. Bury it out at chure do'step. He'll follah yo' anywhere.
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 5496
Now, ah tell yo' whut chew kin do. If ah taken some man - ah tell yo' yo' kin let a person walk away form yo' or sompin lak dat an' yo' kin take dere lef'-foot track an' pull it back tuh de heel. Yo' pick up jis' as much as yo' kin pinch in yore fingah lak dat [demonstrates] an' if yo' kin ketch 'im 'sleep, see [demonstrates] yo' git chew some hair from right up heah.
(From the top of the head.)
Yassuh. An' yo' take an' yo' put it in a bag, an' yo' weah it aroun' ovah yo' yo' know whut ah mean.
(Right over your private?)
Yeah. Weah it daily an' anythin' in de worl' dat yo' got in yore view tuh worry dat person, it will surely come tuh rest dere. Cain't he'p it. Some thin's [I know are true]. Dat's whut ah have did.
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 5498
Well, yo' take a stran' or two of yore hair out chure haid an' dey'll take an' git de bow out de back of yore hat. Yo' take dat hair an' de bow out chure hat an' yo' git a few grains of sand outa yore shoe track - out de streets an' den take an' put it tuhgethah. Sew it up in a little bag an' put it undah yore steps an' yo' cross ovah it. Why dat jes' upsets yore mind altuh- gethah. Dat's de way dey trick yo' dataway.
(Now whose steps would they put this under, mine or...?)
Dey put it undah de steps where yo' come ovah. (Well, now suppose they got all that stuff from me. Would they put it under Ty step or under your step?) Undah de step dat chew goes ovah.
(That is to upset my mind?)
Yassuh.
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 5503
( Git a piece at de toe an' de hollah of yore feet an' at de heel, an' put dat in a yarn rag an' sew it up. Git a piece [of] hair out de mole of yore haid, some old hair from de back of yore neck an' put it in [with] de mole of yore haid. Dat will make 'em care fo' yuh.
(You put that hair with this foot track dirt?)
Yo' put de foot track dirt, sew it up in a piece of yarn rag.
(And what do you do with that rag then?)
Totes it witcha [with you]. Put it in yore pocket an' totes it witcha. (I see. That will make them like you. Well now, do they take that dirt from both feet or just one?) No, de right foot.
(Oh, from the right one. I see.)
An' yo' put dat in a yarn rag an' sew it, an' ev'ry time yo' sew it, bring de stitch to yo'.
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 5505
Yo' kin take her right foot track. Now, lak yo' tryin' tuh make love an' dis girl doesn't want tuh make it wit yo'. An' jes' lak it seem yo' couldn't make it up wit 'er, an' in kinda speakin' tuh 'er, yo' goin' try tuh make it some- how wit 'er. Well jes' take her right track den an' jes' take yo' a flannen rag, yo' know de red flannen rag, an' jes' git 'er right toe track outa dat toe where dat dig up. Git dat. Git about as much as yo' kin pick up [with your fingers] an' put it in dat flannen an' do [tie] it up. An' git some red peppah an' put it in dat, an' git some of 'er hair. If yo' don't do it jes' den, it may be a month or it may be a yeah yo' gotta work. Git one stran' of 'er hair out 'er haid. Don't git de lef' foot, git de right one. An' when yo' git dat, put it in dis rag an' jis' wrap it up. Sew it up. See. Well, aftah yo' sew it, make a knot. See, right befo' yo' git roun', make nine knots in it; an' de las' one at de end of yore sewin' let it be nine knots. See, jes' make nine knots befo' yo' close up de end. See. An' jes' 'ninte [anoint] it good befo' yo' go tuh sewin' wit dis. Let it be a cloth string or cotton thread string. Well, jes' use spirits of turpentine, jes' ninte [anoint] it good wit dat, an' jes' make de nine knots an' den yo' got evahthin'.
(What do you do with that bag then?)
Jes' tote it in yore right pocket - keep it. An' she'll come tuh yo', BOY. [This is the second time I have been called boy.]
Entry 5506
Take some of yore hair off down below an' take some of dat [foot track] dirt; an' some of dat hair down heah, git some hair from undah yore arm. Take all dat an' put it in a little bag an' sew it up, an' take it an' bury it in de cemetery. Den yo' got 'em lak yo' wan' 'em.
(What will that do?)
Run them crazy - yo' know, jes' make yore min' jes' - yo' know, jes' make yo' go crazy.
(Whose hair would you use?)
Uh, anybody's hair.
(Whose foot track would you use?)
Lak ah'm Wit yo' - LAK AH HAD DIS FRIEN' GIRL AN' AH'M MAD WIT 'ER, AN' AH IAN'A GIT DE SPITE OUT, AH WOULD TAKE SOME OF 'ER HAIR AN' DO DAT.
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 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 5529
(Suppose you begin that right from the beginning now. What do you do with this woman's track?) Yo' take dis woman's track, de lef'-foot track. See, yo' mus'n't [must not] ketch it gwine from yo'. Ketch it jes' lak - yo' ketch it comin' tuh yuh, jes' lak ah'm comin' tuh yo' heah, now. Jes' lak yo' call me, say, "Come heah, Jim." Ah goes tuh yo', an' yo' watch de lef' foot yo' see. Well, now, maybe when ah turn mah back an' go on de othah way - yo' know, ah don't know whut chure idea is. Yo' git it lak dis, yo' see. Yo' watchin' me goin' de othah way, yo' see. Yo' ketch it lak dis - go back to de heel [demonstrates].
(From the toe to the heel. Pick it up.)
Yo' pick it up. Den yo' goes tuh work an' goes - don't go tuh a steer. Yo' KNOW WHUT'S A STEER IS? A steer is - he has been a bull but he been cut, yo' Know. An' yo' goes tuh a bull lot. Yo' goes in dere an' aftah yo' goes in de bull lot - make it dere befo' sunrise an' de bull be layin' down yo' know. Yo' stir 'im, make him git up, yo' see. When he git up, he goin' stretch yo' know. Hell, when he stretch he goin' do his business. Well, yo' see, yo' ketch de second turd befo' it hit de groun' - don't let it hit de groun' yo' see - de secon' turd. Jes' as de first one - yo' let de firs' one hit yo' see.
(You grab that?)
Yo' grab dat yo' see. Yo' take dat an' go on off an' put it in a ole tin pin [pan] an' set it on de fiah. An' yo' go tuh work aftah yo' set it on de fiah - dat parch it. Yo' have seen people parch coffee. Yo' set dere an' yo' stir it yo' know an' parch it. An' yo' take dat track, an' yo' take dat bull's stuff, an' go tuh de drug sto'. Go tuh drug sto' an' git chew a bottle of cologne, or eithah de Ten Cent Sto'. Yo' mix dat up wit one of dem track yo' see. Yo' mix dat up tuhgethah an' go git chew a vial: Den yo' goes tuh work yo' see an' yo' gits yuh a li'le bottle - see, 'bout lak dat [demonstrates].
(A small bottle about the size of your middle finger.)
Dat's right, a small bottle. Den yo' goes tuh work an' yo' gits dat Heart Cologne. Git chew a li'le bit of likkah. Heart Cologne, dat trouble. An' git chew a li'le bit of likkah an' a li'le camphor, yo' see. An' yo' put all dat in dere, yo' see, intuh dat bottle. Put dat mixture yo' mix outa dat bull turd an' 'uh track. Put all dat in dat bottle. Yo' see de idea. An' aftah yo' put it intuh dat bottle, yo' shakes it up lak dis yo' see [demonstrates]. Yo' take a stoppah an' yo' puts it intuh a stoppah [into the bottle] an' yo' git chew a piece of silk cloth an' yo' sews dat up. YO' KNOW WOMENFOLKS IS KINDA SHARP, yo' know, an' yo' sews dat up. Den yo' go tuh work an' yo' tote dat right nex tuh yo'. Yo' see, if yo' kin git it in dis li'le fob pocket chere [here], yo know, nex' tuh yore skin anywhere. Yo' totes dat yo' see. Well, yo' feeds dat jes' lak yo' feeds [yourself], 'bout three time a week. Yo' go tuh work an' buy a li'le mo' likkah, yo' know, an' yo' put on dat yo' know. Take a li'le bit mo Heart Cologne an' yo' po' on dat, yo' see. Yo' po' dat right on de rag, yo' un- dahstan'. Well, now, dat's carried. An' evah time yo' go by 'uh, anywhere, yo' say, "Looky heah, honey, how 'bout [so-an'-so]?" "Yes, all right.'" An' jes' git a li'le bit of it, yo' know, right out de top of 'uh heah [demon- strates].
(The top of her hair - top of the head?)
Jes' about three strands. Be sharp enough - be sharp enough aftah 'uh sleep- in'. Yo' see de idea. Go right heah [demonstrates].
(By her privates?)
Yeah. An' take 'bout three strands, de long one right heah, yo' know. Take dat an' mix it all tuhgethah an' put it right in dat bottle. She'll follah 'im anywhere in de worl'.
(And keep her?)
Yessuh. See, ah tried dat. Ah had so much trouble wit womenfolks, dat, yo' know, ah'd...
(Who taught you - who told you that?)
Well, ah tell yo', AH MET A LADY [doctOr] FROM LOUISIANA. SHE WUS TRAVELIN' AN' SHE WUS THROUGH HEAH. So ah been havin' quite a lot of trouble wit wimmins yo' see. Ah used tuh be a woman lovah, yo' know. Ah did love womenfolks, yo' know, an' AH HAD MAH HAID BUMPED BY MANY, yo' see. An' ah tole huh 'bout it N' she tole me whut tuh do. An' ah has tried it - RIGHT TODAY, YO' HOL' DEM AN' PUT "EM UNDAH YORE FOOT. Yo' hol' dem, an' long as yo' kin keep 'em down undah yore foOt, yo' kin gO. But DE MINUTE DEY GIT DE UPPER PULL ON YO', DEY GOT CHEW AN' GONE. Yo' see? Dey got chew an' gone.
Entry 5605
Yo' kin [do] dat - jis' lak if yo' love a girl an' yo' sees 'er walkin' 'long, yo' kin go an' pick up some of dat sand outa her track, an' put it in yo' lef' hip pocket. See, take it an' tie it up in a li'le bundle, an put it in yo' lef' hip pocket an' make wishes. An' yo' somehow or 'nothah will git tuh dat girl, see, an' git tuh talkin' wit 'er. An' den she'll come tuh have tuh fall in love wit chew. An' den when she fall in love wit chuh, den take, yo' know, mess aroun'. Well, yo' kin take a li'le of 'er hair, yo' see, an' put it in yo' pillah. See, rip de pillah where yo' kin put it inside dere in yo' pillah. An' den evahwhere yo' be's she'll come where yo' is.
(What track do you take that dirt from?)
De lef' one.
Entry 5744
Ah know about whut chew do wit de tracks. If yo' have a enemy or any- thin', anybody dislak yo' or anythin', an' dey wan' chew tuh leave town or sompin lak dat. Dey'll meet chew an' git chure track an' take it an' mix some dog hair an' cat hair. Yo' know cats an' dogs disagrees in anythin' lak dat. An' takes nine straight pins an' ben' dem tuhgethah, an' put dem in de fo'ks of de road, an' yo'll leave town. An' if it's a woman an' a man dat loved one anothah an' de' meet one 'nothah ag'in, dey be hatin' one 'nothah jis' lak cats an' dogs, be mad an' wanta fight an' kill up one 'nothah. No mattah how good dey is in love, dey git apart.
(This is to separate a man and his wife. Whose foot track do you take?)
Take his'n an' hers. Take his'n, yo' know, de lef' goin', an' bring it up ob yo' lak dis, an' take hers an' bring it up tuh yo'. An' mix it tuhgethah dt de hair out yore haid, if yo' kin git it. Eithah if yo' cain't git de hair oat dere haid, den git de dog's hair - yo' know, de bristles an' de cat's bris- tles, an' mix it tuhgethah wit nine straight [bent] pins.
(Wait a minute! You take the man's left foot, you say?)
De lef' foot track.
(And what about the woman's?)
Take de lef'. Uh-huh, take one goin' an' de othah one comin'. Dere's one aiie' one way an' de othah one comin' de othah way.
(Whose do you take going?)
Take de man's goin' or eithah de woman - it don' make no diff'rence, so dere's e goin' one way an' de othah one comin' de othah.
(And you bury this out at the forks of the road?)
At de fo'ks of de road, but chew mix dem cat bristles an' dog bristles wit dat track. Den take nine straight pins an' bend 'em. [Waycross, Ga., (093, 1760:6.]
Entry 5795
Aftah yo' leave a foot track in dust, well dey say yo' take dat per- son's foot track up, see, de whole print of dat track. See, yo' git chew a stick or spoon or somepin an' yo' pick it up, an' yo' put it in a 'east [yeast] powdah can. An' dey say yo' go tuh de rivah on de ferry boat, an' dey say let de boat git in de middle of de rivah. An' when yo' think it's in de centah of de rivah, say yo' throw dat can ovah yore lef' shouldah an' make a wish. An' dey say, as long as dat can drift up an' down de rivah, dat yo'll drift; an' when dat can begin tuh seep watah an' fall tuh de bottom, dey say yo' die.
(I see. Well, now, how many tracks? Do they get a special track or what?)
No, dey say yo' take de lef' track.
(Oh, only your left track?)
Only de lef' track.
Entry 5796
If they want chew to be with them, why they bury it under the doorstep. 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?) Get de dirt from under de right foot. Like, just if yo' want 'em to come to your home, see, yo' take it when they're coming to de home. If yo' want 'em to leave, yo' git it out of that track when they leave home. [Elizabeth City, N. Car., (438), 401:3.] [The sixth section Of division THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF is HAIR. De- spite the hundreds of hair rites that now follow, hundreds more are scattered throughout the text of Hoodoo, because hair is often only one ingredient in a compound rite containing other important substances: URINE, BLOOD, GRAVEYARD DIRT, etc.] [The lO submargin rites under this margin title recall the well-known belief that hair continues to grow a long time after death - FACI, 2nd ed., 15415, p.714; 1st ed., 10367, p.595. Not so well known are the following beliefs about living hair continuing to grow, after it has been taken from the body:]
Entry 5797
An' den if yo' fall fer a man an' a man don't care very much about chew - eithah a woman kin do it or eithah a man kin do it - yo' take an' pull two stran's of 'is hair outa his haid an' yo' put it in each heel of yore shoe, an' yo' wear it in yore shoe fo' nine days. An' aftah yo' wear it in yore shoe fo' nine days, he'll start to fallin' fo' yo' an' he'll be so crazy about chewden dat he wouldn't even leave yore house. Yo' see de longah dis hair grow, de long- ah 'is love will grow fo' yo'.
(You take two strands of his hair and you put one strand in each shoe?)
Yes sir. [Florence, S. Car. (1322), 2266:2.]
Entry 5798
Dey say dey kin take yore hair an' run yo' crazy. Dat why so [many] people is crazy today. Dey say yo' kin take dis top cleft from de mole of yore hair, an' dey say yo' kin take an' bury dat, dey say, an' long as yo' live, dey say, yore hair jes' begin to grow, grow longah. An' dat make yo' lose yore mind. (What hair grows longer? On your head or the hair they take?) De hair what dey takes, what dey kin git from yo'. Well, yo' see, dey take an' plant dat hair. Well, long as dat hair is planted dere, an' yo' livin', yo' see, it will grow; but when yo' die, well it will quit growin'.
(I see.)
Entry 5799
A little piece of yore hair - dey say dey takes dat piece of yore hair from de top partment in de centah [the parted place at the mold] an' put it in de [wet] cement steps an' bury it; make yo' have funny kin'a feelin's towards de haid. Yo' see, jes' lak someone is concrete fixin' [building] a concrete step, yo' kin jis' go an' chip undahneath it an' bury dat [hair]. An' fine'ly it will, dat concrete - it will.grow [the hair] yo' see in de concrete step. Dat make diz- ziness about de head.
Entry 5800
Yo' take hair ag'in, take her hair, yo' scratch yore flesh lak dat [demonstrates], an' ah don' care whut kinda woman she is [I interrupt]. (You scratch your flesh on that arm or either arm?) Eithah arm. (Either arm just above your wrist.) Yes, an' git de point of dat hair down in dere, an' den yo' take a piece [cloth] an' bin' [bind] dat dere, an' two uh [or] three days aftah yo' bind it dere hit'll ketch root - it'll grow. An' ah don't care where yo' go uh [or] whut chew do, yo'll nevah git rid of dat woman. She'll love yo'.
(In other words one of her hairs is growing right out of your arm?)
Yes.
Entry 5802
Take a person hair an' all yo' kin do - take a person hair an' wrop it wit some whut chew call yallah [yellow] homespun an' wrop it up in it an' weah it in yore pocket. Dat's love. An' it [hair] will grow in your pocket. Long as yo' keep dat hair, her mind will be on yo'; but de day yo' lose dat hair, why yo' ain't got nobody.
Entry 5803
Dey kin git a thin' dey call devil's-shoestring. Dey kin git a thin' dey call Nine Witches [a hoodoo-store product?] an' put along wit dat [hair], an' den some corn whiskey, camphor an' bury dat.
(This hair?)
Yas, an' de longah dat grows - de more dat hair grow, de worsah yo'll git.
(What will that do to you?)
Well, it will send yo' crazy, if yo' don't git somebody to take it off yo'. [For the preceding Nine Witches, I did not suggest a piece of witches'-broom, that brushlike deformity of small branches of trees and shrubs caused by fungi, rusts, etc. The sug- gestion was not made because few persons in my experience know the witches'-broom and I personally never encountered any folklore saying or belief about it. Yet the oldtime Germans of Adams County, Illinois, surely knew the word hexenbesen.
Entry 5804
Dey kin take yer hair from yer haid an' take it tuh a red oak tree, an' on de east side of dat tree, yuh bo' yuh a hole - dat's fo' tuh run yuh crazy. Bo' yuh a hole in dat tree an' put dat hair in dere. Take yuh a stick an' trim it. Stop dat hole up, yuh know, jes' as yuh put in a peg lak dat. Put it in dat tree an' stop it up in dere an' go ahead on. Well, as dat hair - see, dat hair is gonna grow an' as dat hair grows, dat takes yer mind. Yuh has no mind fo' nuthin. An' when dat hair beginnin' tuh grow, hit'll run yuh stone crazy - yuh don't even know nuthin. Yuh haven't got no mind fo' nuthin.
Entry 5805
[Hair of the preceding rite was placed horizontally in tree; here we have the up an' down or vertical position.] Dey tell me dey take dat hair an' if dey wanta give yuh bad luck dey take it an' go tuh a green tree, an' put a stran' of dat hair up an' down dat green tree, yuh know, an' den let it grow up in dere as de tree grow up. Now dey say dat'll run yuh crazy. Yuh know, dat's bad luck.
Entry 5806
Ah said dey would put it in a bottle. (What would they take?) Dey would take some of yore urine. Yuh know whut dat is don't chew? An' put in dat wit dat. (Tell me right from the beginning everything they do. What do they put in the bottle?) De hair, an' den dey put in alcohol wit dat. Hit'll make it grow yuh know. An' hit carry yuh right off. Yuh can't stay dere in dat place.
(You told me they kept it in there a certain length of time.)
Ten days.
(And where do they keep that bottle?)
Oh, somewhere close in de house - undah de bed, sompin lak dat.
(What do they do after they keep it ten days?)
Dey take it an' bury it.
(And what will that do to you?)
Dat will run yuh, won't let chew come back no mo'. [To bury something of yours to run yuh is not logical, but intention is everything in hoodoo.]
Entry 5807
Yo' kin do dat, yo' kin take de hair outa woman's haid. Co'se [of course] ah don't know if a man do anythin' to anothah man. But if yo' have a goman yo' wanta make love wit, yo' jes' take de hair outa de mole of 'er haid if yo' POSS'bly kin. YO'D HAVE TO STEAL IT OUTA DERE CUZ WOMEN WON'T LET CHEW GIT DAT OUTA DERE IF DEY KNOW IT. An' if yo' kin, some hair out de mole of de woman's haid, yo' kin put dat into a little bottle, see, an' put some alcohol over it, see, an' put a flannen [flannel] stoppah in it - a red flannen stoppah. DAT COME DIRECT DOWN FROM DE HOODOO BUSINESS cuz ah've had dat. An' tote it in yore pocket an' dat woman'll come back to yo'. Don't care where she is, she'll come back to yo'. If she don't come back she'll go crazy. [For alcohol, see also margin title WHISKEY.]
Entry 5808
Now, yore hair - see now, yo' kin take yore hair. Yo' kin take yore hair - a person kin take yore hair. She kin take yore hair an' she kin take one stran' of it, jis' say one stran', an' double it an' kinda twist it an' put a silk thread aroun' it. Take dat bair an' put it into somepin lak alcohol. Keep it in dat alcohol 24 hours. Take it out an' weah it in yore pocket, an' yo' nevah have no mo' good sense. Yo'll jis' - yore haid will be jis' worryin' yo' all de time. People been callin' dere,
[you] say, "Well, ah got a bad headache. Mah haid worryin' me." Doctors [M.D.'s]
lagu it, but yet - still dey don't know whut it is. Ain't no good to do, unless dey could git dat hair an' do 'way wit it.
Entry 5809
If a person angry wit yo' an' yo' didn't know it, dey could put dere han's on yore haid on de top of yore hair an' it would all come out - from de top of yore haid, an' all yore hair would come out. But it would have to be a person dat is real angry wit yo'. Ah nevah heard where [whether] it wuz anythin' dey would put on de han' or Dot.
Entry 5810
[I have included this margin title because LIVE THINGS IN YOU (Section 8) is based upon the theory that some animals are reproduced through their blood. Our informant evidently confines the word animal to horse, cow, dog, cat, etc.; a lizard or a snake being an insect.] Yo' kin take yore hair an' put nine drops of any- thing's blood on it - yo' know, insects - an' put it in runnin' water an' run yo' crazy. (You take nine drops of any kind of blood from an animal or insect or any- thing?) Insect - not a animal, a insect.
(Any kind of an insect?)
Yes suh, a lizard or a snake, an' put it in runnin' water an' dey say dat will nmn yo' crazy.
Entry 5811
In order to make a person lose his mind, it is said you take several strands of hair from his head and put into a bottle, and three or four drops of blood from any animal. This bottle is buried and kept buried for six months, in ohich time the person to which the hair belonged will become very sick and then vill die. [Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 5812
[Version 1]: Yo' kin take yore hair, take my hair, an' de man's hair Lat, yo' know from down here, yo' know, an' wrap it togethah an' a ravel out from ondah his arm - yo' know, right nex' to where he wear 'is clothes.
(In his armpits.)
Jis' a ravelin'. Take dose two hairs, yo' know, an' wrap 'em togethah, an' den yo' git a ravel from out de seat of 'is pants - out de seat of 'is undahweah. An' wrap all dat togethah - jis' wrap evah bit of it togethah, an' go to a ant's nest an' dig in dat ant's nest. Yo' know, if he's not treatin' yo' right, dig in dat ant's nest an' put dat in dat ant's nest. An' jis' as long as he - jis' as long as he live, he'll be worried. He'd jis' be worried, he worry hisself almos' to death. [Version 2]: Git some of 'is hair an', yo' know, twist it togethah, an' git de ravels from 'is undahclothes an' git de ravel from down here in de seat of 'is undahclothes. An' yo' roll dat - tie it hard, yo' know. Roll it jis' as hard as yo' kin, yo' know. Go to a ant's bed an' open it.
(Well, you've got these things before.)
[I am telling her she is repeating.]
Yes, sir. An' open it an' den yo' put it down in dere, yo' see an' dat jis' keeps 'em fussin', fightin' an' quarrelin', until dey [separate]. [The two rites. are similar but the purposes are different.]
Entry 5813
Dey tell me dey take hair out de top of yore haid an' dey mix it wit Hearts Cologne an' den sews it up wit a new piece of homespun an' wears it undah dere arm. Dat's fo' love.
(Which arm do they wear it under?)
That arm there [you are holding up], that's the left arm.) Yes sir.
Entry 5814
Now, ah've [heard] de ole people say, if someone have somepin ag'inst chew an' git holt of some of yore hair, an' take de hair dat dey git holt of it- maybe yo' combed it outa yore haid, or dey git a chance to cut a plait or sompin out. Take an' burn half of it an' place it in some bottle or jar an stop it up real tight. An' if yo' had evah did anythin' to 'em, or somepin dey had heard yo' did, an' dey wanted tuh find out. Now, if yo' had did somepin to 'em an' dey take dat [ashes] an' put it in dis bottle an' stop it up fo' five days. If it's summah dat bottle will begin tuh sweat an' dat hair git moisty. Said whether dey tell yo' whut dey did or someone dey tole whut happened or whut dey wanted tuh happen, dey come tuh yo' an' explain jis' whut dey tole dem. Dat's as fur as ah heard of dat.
(At the end of five days that bottle will sweat, that hair will turn damp.)
Yes.
Entry 5815
Wal, dey kin take yore hair an' cut chure hair while yo' 'sleep, or where de barbah done cut chure hair. Dey kin take dat hair an' bury, an' it will run yo' crazy. Yo'll lose yore mind, yo' nevah has de right mind dat yo' did when dey didn't have yore hair. Yo' nevah will have yore right mind. [For barbershop hair, see also later margin title FISH - CAUGHT ON SUNDAY. I
Entry 5816
Some people won't have their hair cut in a barbershop at all. They'll cut it at home, afraid their enemies might get it and harm them. There are any number of women after they comb their hair will take it and put in the fire.
Entry 5817
When I go to the barbershop I take up my hair before I leave. I won't trust my hair with nobody.
Entry 5818
Take heart out of a bat, chew know, an' den yo' take some of 'er hair wit dat, an' yo wear dat undah yore lef' arm. Well, now, aftah yo' wear dat ondah yore lef' arm about nine or ten days, an' have a chance to have a intah- co'se wit 'er, den yo' ain't got no mo' trouble wit 'er. Dat'll lead 'er yore Way. IF SHE GOT MONEY, Or whatevah she got, AT CHURE COMMAN' SHE'LI NoW dat de heart of a bat. Hit brings good luck an' bring love.
Entry 5819
I have heard of people gittin' fixed by de hair to make 'em love yo'. Take it an' put it in a Bible an' let it set for about fo' or five days an' take it out of de Bible an' put it in a cologne bottle an' jis' keep it.
Entry 5820
Take yore hair, some of yore hair, an' put it in a bird nest. Dey claim long as it stay in dis bird nest yo' be flyin', yo' be goin' jes' long as de bird roost on it. (In what way would you be flying?) Jes' lak, yo' know, yo' tryin' tuh stay heah, but yore mind wouldn't let chew, jes' have tuh leave.
(The woman would do that to get rid of the man.)
Entry 5821
Take a hair of a person head an' put it in 'is [bird] nest, or put it sbere he'll git it an' he fly off wit chure hair. Dat will run yo' crazy, have yo' have A DON'T-CARE MIND - yore mind Want [to] be runnin'.
(What bird will do that?)
Any bird.
Entry 5822
Yo' take a person's hair an' a bird's nest. Yo' comb yore hair an' yo' let chure hair git away, dat dis bird'll pick it up an' put it in 'is nest. An' den yo' go crazy.
Entry 5823
Take a person's hair, a man or a personal enemy, an' put it into a bird's nest, see. An' dat will run 'em crazy. Ah've heard dat.
Entry 5824
[Fortunately the headache said to be caused by human hair in a bird nest does not last indefinitely.] You kin take your hair in the spring of the year and ball it up and put it in a tree, in a bird's nest, or any place obere a bird kin git it, and they claim you'll continue to have a headache until the season is over.
Entry 5825
If she kin git holt of a piece of 'is hair - if he's left any of 'is bair, if it ain't but two or three strands of it in a comb, yo' take dat hair der an' put it intuh a black bottle. An' den pee on dat bottle, an' at de bottom of 'er do'step turn dat bottle - dig a hole an' turn dat bottle face foremost right down In de ground. An' if he's close enough tuh be back in three days, he'll be back In three days. Jes' dat little piece of hair.
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 5827
[The burial of hair by itself or combined with other ingredients or objects is such a common rite that it demands the present margin title. Normally burial places are specified: crossroad, doorstep, etc. I include the following rites here merely to establish the margin title.] Take dere hair an' dig a big hole intuh de ground an' bury it, an take a long stran' right from de top of de hair, de very top. An' ah guarantee in eight days he'll begin - yo' see him dryin', look lak de eyes goin' begin tuh fall out dere haid.
Entry 5828
Fo' instance dey take a ball of a person's hair an' den takes part of his [foot] step. Ah'll make it plain as dis: If a man an' 'is wife wuz iivin' heah, an' if she wuz bad about runnin' aroun' an' wouldn't stay at home or nuthin lak dat, he'd take a plait of 'er hair an' bury it aroun' 'is house. Dat would always keep 'er wit 'im at 'is house, or sompin lak dat. Instid [instead] of bein' out in de streets she be at home.
Entry 5829
Ah've heard dat a person could take yore hair an' put it in a bottle, in anything dat dey could stop it up airtight, an' it would run yo' - yo' know, jes' have yo' goin' evah whichaway.
(What do you do with that bottle?)
Yo' bury - yo' buries it, buries dat bottle.
Entry 5830
(What do they do with my hair?)
Well, dey says dey kin run yo' crazy, bury it. Put it in a little bottle lak dat. Ah've heard of findin' hair in dem bottles. An' bury it. Dat supposed tuh run yo' crazy.
Entry 5831
[Similar to the margin title BURIED HAIR, only a few examples of burn- ing hair will be given here. Many other rites are scattered through the text.] Dey take mah hair an' put it wit some sulphur an' brimstone, an' dey put it in some of yore watah an' de sand - some of dat sand out de hollah of yore track, or eithah dey take a piece outa yore sock at de hollah of yore feet [if unable to obtain the foot track]. An' put it together an' if dey want chew tuh go, why dey throw it in a runnin' stream wrapped up, an' as long as hit run, why jes' de furthah yo' will go. An' when- evah it stop, yo' will stop until it start rainin' ag'in - till de stream start washin' it, see. An' if dey wanted yo' tuh stay or wanted yo' tuh kill yo'self, why dey'd take it an' put it in - bo' a hole in a tree an' put it in dere an' put a piece back in dere ovah it tuh hold - keep de air from it. Or, eithah dey would take an' burn it. An' if dey burn it, why whenevah - at a certain time de spell, dat spell would come on yo', a real full spell - kinda out of yore senses, an' yo' stick yore head in de fiah or maybe yo' jump ovah- bo'd an' kill yo'self or sompin. Well, dere wuz a boy ah know, hit wuz a girl he wuz goin' wit, an' he wuz leavin' for de CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps, of the U. S. A.] Camp. An' she'd taken 'is picture an' she put it in a - his picture an' some sulphur an' some brimstone an' some of de hair out 'is haid an' de bow outa his hat, an' dey [wo- men] put dis togethah an' burn it. An' aftah dey burn it, dey taken it out de fiah - jes' burn it, put it in a separate place an' burn it in a little box - an' den dey taken it an' wrapped it up good an' real tight an' wore it in dey clothes, in dere undahclothes. Well, as long as she wore it in 'er undah- clothes why he stayed dere. He couldn't stay 'way from 'er house. An' when she taken off 'er cloth [holding the ashes] an' put it - she'd throw it in de fiah, an' he'd taken an' stuck 'is haid in de fiah. It taken six people tuh hol' 'im out de fiah. An' den he got away an' got in de fiah an' caught afiah. An' whenevah dey could git 'im out, he'd ketch hold of de bed, jes' lak dat [may have demonstrated], dey said. An' he'd ketch de foot of it an' draw it togethah, jes' bend it [the 2 legs of the bed together]. An' he kept on lak dat till he died.
Entry 5832
An' den if ah wanta put a spell on a person, ah go git some of dere hair. Ah burn dat hair, take dat hair an' carry it right back an' put it down ghere yo' gotta walk ovah it. An' dat make yo' have spells. An' yo' kin even take de hair an' burn it an' put it undah de - sew it up in some red flannel an' take dat flannel an' carry it tuh de house, dig a hole an' put it undah dere where yo' kin walk ovah it. Dat put anybody tuh havin' fits.
Entry 5833
(Well, suppose somebody wanted to harm yo' with that hair. What would they do with that then?) Well, if dey want to do yo' harm, why dey take dat an' burn it with sulphur. Dey kin harm yo' dat way.
(Well, just how would it harm you?)
Well it will give yo' a ramblin' mind, it has yo' goin' from one place to de othah, soonah or latah until yo' don't know zac'ly [exactly] whut chew wanta do. Yo' 'cumulate a silly mind - soon die.
Entry 5834
My mother told me of a story of TWO GIRLS LIKED A FELLAH DOWN IN O: ARLoTTE CO., VA. And one of them came to church with this boy on Sunday morn- ing and the other one sang in the choir. And the fellah was sitting back there Jith the girl, and THE OTHER GIRL PICKED A 'HAPPY FIT, ' SHE GOT FULL OF THE HOLY GOST AND SHE WENT TO SHOUTING. AND SHE SHOUTED RIGHT ON DOWN THE AISLE TO THE CIRL AND CAUGHT HER IN THE HAIR, AND JUST PULL OUT A 'HOLE HANDFUL OF HAIR, STUCK IIS IN HER POCKETBOOK. So that week the girl that took the boy to church start- ed to having fits, something-like just fallin'-out. I reckon they called it fcllin'-out fits. And some of the close friends of the first girl asked her what Wad she done With this girl's hair. SHE SAID WELL, SHE JUST TOOK THE 'HOLE HAND- UL OF HAIR AND SINGED IT, AND SIFTED IT IN HER PILLOWCASE AND SLEP' ON IT.
Entry 5835
Yo' take de hair from de mole, take de hair right out de top, de mole [old] of de hair. Well, yo' take dat hair an' yo' wrap a string around it, or thread, any kinda thread aroun' dat hair, an' yo' put dat hair in a bottle, see, an' yo' po' some cphor in it, see. Well, dat will make it 'live. Shake it up, see. Yo' let dat stay in dere nine days an' yo' take dat out an' yo' wrap in a flannen cloth. Let it stay in dat flannen cloth an' den yo' wear it. Dat is tuh draw yore sveetie to yo' or anybody yo' want lak dat.
(Whose hair do you put in that bottle?)
Fell, if it's de man, he put de woman's hair; an' if it's de woman, she put de 's hair.
(What did you say THAT CAMPHOR does for the hair?)
Entry 5836
Take some of dere hair an' mix it wit some cat hair an' put it in a Boctle of vinegah an' shake it up an' bury it undah de do'step an' let chew walk ovah it. Dat will run yo crazy. (That is if you took my hair you would bury that under my doorstep? Under my own doorstep?) Tes sir.
(That would set me crazy?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5837
Dey kin take yo' head, dey take some hair right from de roots of yo' hair an' take dat an' burn it. An' den dey git some hair from a black cat an' burn along wit dat. An' dey take de ashes an' put in a tobacco sack. An' den dey take an' put it in a tin can an' throw de can right on straight out [into the water] and [so that it] don't come back in [with] tide. Well, dat will run 'em crazy inside of three months.
Entry 5838
Yo' kin take cat hair an' yo' kin make a person love yo'. Well, yo' kin take de cat hair but yo' firs' gotta git a plait of hair, a stran' of hair from de person who yo' Wanta love yo', an' yo' take, burn dem togeth- ah. An' den yo' take some hair grease - dey call it hair grease. Yo' mix dat up togethah, undahstan'. An' den aftah mixin' it up togethah, den yo' tryin' tuh make yore lady fren'. Yo' try tuh git holt of some of 'er sickness, some piece, if 'er clothes dirty, some of 'er sickness, an' tie it up an' wear dat in yore fob [watch] pocket. Dat will cause her tuh love yo'.
Entry 5839
Dey tell me dat chew kin take a chicken egg an' yo' know break it. Put it in a glass. Be keerful [careful] an' don't let de yoke git broken. An' if anybody should take a plat of hair out of yore head, you'd put it [egg in glass] undahneat' yore haid an' in a couple of days dey'll draw dat hair in dat glass. (If someone has taken some of your hair and you want to get it back, that is what you do. This hair will rise in the glass.) Yes, dat's what dey tole me.
Entry 5840
Co'se yo' kin take, really. [a person's hair] an' ball it up wit hen feathahs an' throw it into runnin' watah wit yore left hand. Dat will run a person off. Yo' kin [take] hair, anybody's hair yo' know, an' knead it wit hen feathahs an' throw it into runnin' watah an' run any- body off - any kinda hen feathah an' throw it wit chure lef' han'.
Entry 5841
A chicken, yo' know he has a slobbah in 'is mout'. Yo' could take yore hair an' wrap it aroun' 'is tongue an' yo'll crow lak a roostah - crow lak dey do. (That is, I would take one of your hairs and wrap it around the rooster's tongue, and that would make you crow like a rooster?)
[FOR ONCE, SOMEONE BESIDES MYSELF IS THE GUINEA PIG!]
Yeah.
Entry 5842
Ah heard dat chew kin git dere hair an' go to a pond an' ketch yo' a cootah an' tie it on de cootah feet an' dat will keep 'em agoin'. See, when de cootah die, well yo'll die. Dat's whut ah heard. [Cooter is a word confined to the U. S. A. for one of several turtles or tortoises: (l) common snapping turtle; (2) box tortoise; and (3) any fresh-water tur- tle of the genus Pseudemys.]
Entry 5843
Yo' git a hot-stuff bottle [bottle containing pepper sauce] an' yo' opens it up, an' yo' puts yore hair in it an' yo' bury yore hair, yo' see, some- where aroun' of a cornah of a house. Dat causes yo' to lose yore mind. (You say, they bury this bottle?) Bury de bottle an' all. (This hot stuff, you mean pepper bottle?) Uh huh. An' de more dat mold away, de more it gon'a cause yo' to lose yore mind.
Entry 5844
Take de hair an' bury it at de corner of de house wit some sugah in it an' dat will keep an' hol' yo' dere. Dat's not tuh harm yo'.
Entry 5845
I've heard people say da'choo [that you] could take a man's head - yo git a stran' of hair outa de mole [mold] of a man's head an' take a stran' of hair from yore [a woman's] head, an' put 'em togethah an' cross 'em like dat [demon- strates]. (Like that - one on top of the other.) Yeh, right dat way. An' take dem an' take a piece of 'is shirt from undahneat' 'is arm, or eithah take de tail of 'is shirt, an' cut dat off, an' wrap it up in dere, an' tie it up into a ball, an' jis'make a pocketpiece [hand] of it. An' dey say dat will keep 'im wit yeh, dat'll make 'im love yo' so he can't stay away from yo'. Wear it in yore pocketbook or wear in yore dress pocket - jis' dat yo' keep it on yoreself.
Entry 5846
Ah've seen people roun' heah take feathahs or toothpick an' dey dress 'em some way an' den cross 'em in yore hair an' keep yo' wit a severe headache. It's not tuh kill yo' but it keep yo', yo know, a-lingahin' wit a severe headache. (Do you know how they dress them?) No sir, ah'm not positive.
Entry 5847
Dey'll go tuh de fo'k of de road [changed to crossroads later] - dey'll go to de fo'k of de road till yo' passes, yo' see. Dey kin take yore hair right to dat fo'k of de road an' make a cross mark, [a cross] jes' like de road is, an' dey'll drive dat hair down in dat cross- roads. Drive it down dere, jes' like wedge it down. Dat will keep yo' down long as yo' live. Yo' can't prosper wit nuthin.:
Entry 5848
Ah haven't heard dis'n [this one], ah saw dis'n. Ah saw a man wuz in love wit de girl an' he got holt dat girl's hair an' he carried it to de fo'ks of de road, an' he got some little shiney stuff. Ah don't know whut dis little stuff wuz, but he got it an' he got 'er hair an' he carried it to dere. It wuz a road runnin' dat way [demonstrates] - run dat way an' it run dis way.
(Crossed, crossroads.)
Un'hmm, yeah, where she could walk ovah it - chew know, evah time she come dat way, she walk ovah dat hair. An' he hasn't got shet [rid of] dat girl yet, an' dat's been about nine yeahs ago.
(Was that here?)
No, dat wuz ovah heah at Windsor, Ark.
(Do you come from Windsor? Near there?)
Yessuh, ah ma'ied [married] dere.
Entry 5849
Yes sir, take de dandruff of yore hair an' wrap it up in sompin an' tie it roun' yore waist, an' dey say dat will make 'em love yo'. (They take the what? Oh! the dandruff.) De dandruff, yassuh, take dat an' wrap it up in sompin, an' tie it roun' yore waist, right nex' to yore necked [naked] skin. Say dat'll make 'em love yo'.
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 5851
Ag'in, dey kin go tuh work an' take it, dis hair, an' dey kin sew it up in a piece of cloth or tie it up tight, an' take it an' put it in dere pock- etbook. Git some of dis root dey call de devil's- shoestring an' mix it wit dat hair an' dey'll take dat an' dey'll tie it tight, an' dey'll put it in dere pocketbook, an' dey'll follow dem wherevah dey go.
(Will follow them any place they want me to go?)
Yes.
Entry 5852
Ah heard dat dey would take yore hair an' dey could wear it in dere shoes until yore hair would rot. See, when yore hair would rot, it would run yo' in de insane asylum, in de crazy house. (They put that in both shoes?) In one, in de left shoe. An' den some- time yo' take it an' yo' put it in some vinegah, some devil vinegah. Don' fo'- git about de devil vinegah, an' yo' shake it an' use it.
(What will that do if you put this hair in the devil vinegar?)
It will run yo' crazy.
Entry 5853
If yo' have a wife dat won't stay at home, always ready tuh run off. Well, now, if yo' kin cut de hair off a dog's tail an' git chew some hair outa her haid, an' put dat hair togethah an' wrap it up in a flannel rag, an' yo' bury dat at de do'step, an' dey all of 'em stay dere. Dey won't leave.
Entry 5854
Well, de slobber off a dog. Yessuh, yo' take yore hair an' put it on de roof of 'is tongue, an' den yo' give 'im somepin tuh make 'im go mad, see. An' dat causes yo' tuh go crazy. (What about the slobber then? He only slobbers after he goes mad, is that the idea?) Yes.
(That is to run you crazy?)
Yes.
Entry 5855
Heard 'em say dat chew kin ketch a bird or a chicken or dog or hog or cow, an' cut a place back of de neck an' put yore hair in it an' let it cure up, an' dey say dat long as dey go, say yo'll go.
Entry 5856
Yo' split de tail of a dog or rabbit, anythin', an' put dat person's hair on dat tail - lay it in dere, fold it an' lay it in dere, an' den sew dat tail back up an' wrap it up so dat it cain't come out. He'll grow back togethah, an' long as dat varmit livin', why dat person will be crazy minded - go tuh de 'sylum.
Entry 5857
I've seen 'em git hold of haah an' put a runnin' fits on people by takin' dat hāah, ball it up in sausage. Jis' take some of yo' hāah an' ball it up in sausage meat an' give it to a dog. When dat dog eat dat meat an' dat sausage will pass out dat dog, but dat haah won't come out. An' when dat dog have runnin' fits, yo'll have rrnnin' fits. [A runnin' fit is a leaving-home or wandering-about spell.]
Entry 5858
[They take your hair] an' tie it, put it in a cloth 'bout dat long an' sew it up, an' let it hang down ovah yore do' - up dere where dey can't see it, Specially yore hair - an' yo' come dere out an' in all de time. Dat's whut ah heard. (What will that do then?) Say dat will make yo' come in - if yo' don't wanta stay, why yo' shore will come back ag'in an' stay.
Entry 5859
A woman kin take a man's hair an' run 'im crazy.
(What does she do with his hair?)
Well, she kin take his hair an' carry it tuh de woods maybe, an' put it in a tree, into a hole undahstan', an' stop it up an' no air kin git to it. Well, she'll run 'im crazy. An' a man kin take a woman's hair an' do her de same identical way. He kin take her hair comb an' run 'er crazy. Well, he kin take her hair comb an' bury It undah de do'steps, or he kin take her hair combin's an' bury it undah de do'- step an' run 'er crazy.
Entry 5860
Yo' takes yo' hair an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up tight. Dat's when he wanta gain yo' back an' come back close to him. Well, aftah be put dat in dis bottle to draw yo' back to him, he'll stop it down an' bury it Do de foot of 'is step. Dat will draw yo' back to him. Charleston, S. Car.,
(525), 627:6+85.]
Entry 5861
Ah tell yo' de way ah have known people to do people harm, dat's tuh git some of dere hair an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up tight. Put it undah de doorstep, dat will run people crazy. Ah've heard dat.
(Whose doorstep do they put it under?)
Yours.
(The person whose hair it is?)
Yassuh, dat's it.
Entry 5862
Take a person an' if he wants tuh do somepin to 'em, he could take her bir an' put it in a tin box an' bury it undah 'er do'step an' dat'll run a per- 900 crazy.
Entry 5863
Yo' kin take dey hair an' bury it undah de do'step. Dat will keep 'em me, anybody dat run about a whole lot.
Entry 5864
Take de hair an' stop it up in a bottle an' it will run yo' crazy. An' den yo' kin take de hair an' bury it undahneath de do'steps. As long as it keep moist, it's all right, but if it dry, why it will kill yo'. (What do they put that under the door- step for?) Well, jes' yo' come walkin' in an' out an' de one dat did it, chew know, yo'll walk in an' out, walk in an' out ovah it, chew know, an' yo' don't know it'sdere.
(Well, why would they do that to me?)
Well, dey put it undah dere tuh kill yo' - some of 'em do.
Entry 5865
Dey take it [your hair] an' bury it right at de side of de house jis' where de watah run down off de top of de house when it rain - right in dat lit- tle trench [made by the falling water from the gutter- less house] dey buries it dere. An' den, jis' like de watah run down, dat's de way yore mind an' things be runnin'. Dey will run yo' anywhere dey want wit yore hair.
Entry 5866
Yeah, if yo' kin git hold of some of 'is hair an' de seat out of 'is drawahs an' put 'em togethah an' bin' dat up an' put dat in de drippin' of de house - bury it down in de ground. Or put it underneath yore steps - bury it down dere in a bottle.
(What will that do?)
Dat will make him come back.
(Make the man come back home.)
Entry 5867
Dey kin take, yo' know, a little bunch of hair [demonstrates] outa de centah [and] outa de two sides heah [demonstrates].
(Right above the ears.)
Yes sir. Dat would make three bunches, see. All right, take dat an' yo' put 'em togethah an' yo' roll it up in sulphur. An' yo' take it an' put to de west cornah of yore house, to de right as yo' leavin' de house, so de rainy watah will be drippin' down on it all de time. [These 3 bunches of hair are buried under the eaves.l Leave it right dere where de rain'll drip. An' as long as dat stays dere, it will keep.yo' waverin' all de time, keep yo' prackly [practically] mindleSS. Yo' know, YO' KIN NEVAH BE YORESELF - LIKE WE ARE NoW.
Entry 5868
Yeah, ah'd git a stran' of hair out of 'er haid or 'is haid, if ah Wanted tuh run 'em crazy. An' ah go tuh de woods an' ah dig me some bait, an' ah take it tuh de rivah an' ah'd fish till ah'd caught a catfish. An' ah'd take him off de hook quickly befo' he injure hisself, put dis hair in 'is mouth an' ah throw 'im back an' he fly away. Dese people will go 'way, run 'em ravin' crazy.
Entry 5869
Yo' kin take de hair from undah yore man's arm or eithah in his haid lak dat an' ketch yo' a live fish an' put 'em in runnin' watah, see. An' dat'll run 'im 'way from home if yo' don't want 'im tuh stay dere.
(You get this hair from under a man's arm or from his head.)
Git some out 'is haid an' den undah his arm - one arm, his right arm. Yo' take hit an' put it in runnin' watah, see, an' dat'll keep [him] on de road all de time a-goin'. If yo' wanta git rid of 'im, ketch a live fish an' put dat hair in dat fish's mouth an' turn it back in de watah.
(Wouldn't that hair fall out of his mouth?)
No suh, push it fur 'nuff down fo' him tuh swalluh it, an' jis' turn 'im on back in dere. Any kinda fish an' dat'll keep 'im a-goin'.
Entry 5870
[This is one of several informants who stuttered.]
Lose yore strength wit chure hair. Ah hear 'em say dey kin do it. (What do they say they can do with that? How do they do that? What have you beardthem say?) [There was a considerable pause between each question. A stutterer was not casy to interview.] Ah heard 'em say dat dey kin take yore hair an' den put it in de rivah. Yes.
(Throw it into the water?)
Yes, sir, an' put it in a piece of bread, I hear 'em say.
(Put it in a piece of bread?)
Put it in a piece of bread firs'. Take de hair an' put it in a piece of bread, an' den dey wrap it around [with a cord], an' put a [small] rock around it a' drop it in de rivah, an' a fish will git it. Some big fish will git holt of it, an' when dey carries it dat run yo' crazy. Yeah, I heard 'em tell dat, too. Yes, I've heard dat.
Entry 5871
If dey kin git yore hair or anything an' put it in a fish mouth an' dg'im ovahbo'd - an' wheresomevah he go, why yo' gon'a 'way from heah. If r fish stay in dis vicenty [vicinity], why yo' won't leave heah; but if he evah Lve heah an' go tuh de Atlantic or anywhere, why yo' goin' too.
Entry 5872
Well, dey take yore hair - one of de details of it. A person maybe wanta drive yo' crazy. Well, dey'll e de hair an' take it out by a fish, a catfish, an' tie de hair into de gill dey'll turn de catfish loose - put him back in de water.
Entry 5873
I was in the barber shop one night at Eatonton, Ga., and a fellow said heroved a fellow that run another fellow out of town with this hair. The fel- low Was going with his girl, and a friend of his told him how to get rid of him. So he did what this friend said. He takes some of his [the rival's] hair on a Sunday morning; he has to get it on a Sunday morning. t time the barber shops used to be open on Sunday morning. And [he] went to Hshing that same Sunday, and caught a fish and put the hair in the fish gill, turned the fish back loose in the water. And they say that fellow left town t same Sunday evening. [For barbershop hair, see also margin title BARBERSHOP. p.2940.] [By hand, from Pullman porter, on train between Chester, Pa.and Baltimore, Md.]
Entry 5874
Ah heard dat dey take a strand of a woman's hair or a man's hair, an' take an' ketch a catfish " tie it on tuh 'is fin, an' s'long as dat catfish goin' yo'll be goin' - jes' shin' jes' lak a fish. As soon as de fish die, yo'll die.
Entry 5876
Dey could run yo' prackly [practically] crazy. Dey'll go an' git, ketch a fish outa de watah, a live fish an' git a strand of thread dat nevah been used. Tie dat hair to dat thread an' pump a needle wit dat in it through dat fish tail, de end of his tail. An' carry it fo'ty or fifty miles from dere an' turn 'im loose in de watah. An' dat is a crazy man. He'll go dat way an' when yo' find 'im he'll be dataway - crazy. An' de first days aftah yo' drop dat fish down in dat watah, he's gone. But chew do's dat on de waste of de moon. (You just take a strand of the man's hair and you tie it up in a string, a piece of thread that has never been used. Then pull it through this needle and then you run this needle through the fish's tail and let the man's hair go through the fish's tail.) Yessuh.
Entry 5877
Dey kin put choo in bad wit de hair. Dey take a strand of yore hair an' go to de creek an' ketch a fish. An' take a needle an' stick dat hair in dat needle, an' leave it prong [see later] out, an' throw dat fish back up ovah yore shouldah [into the creek] an' say, "Go!" An' dat fish evahwhere he go yo'll go.
(You put the hair in the needle and push the needle through the fish?)
Dat's right.
(And leave the hair in the fish?)
Yes sir, leave de prong [point] stickin' out, choo know. Evahwhere he go dat'll [prong will] hit against somepin, yo' know. He'll jis' be in dangah evah- where he go. He can't stay no place.
(A piece of hair will be sticking out, outside of the fish?)
Yes' sir. Tie it so it won't come out. Leave de needle stickin' out de prong, de sharp point.
[The prong or point of the needle sticks out of the fish.]
(You tie the hair in the needle?)
Yes sir, in de eye of de needle.
Entry 5878
Or yo' kin take a stran' of yo' hair an' cut a catfish open an' put it in a catfish an' yo' will, dat will make [you] worry along. Jes' as long as dat catfish wave his tail, dey tell, yo' be goin': (Be going - wandering away.)
Entry 5879
Jis' lak if yo' didn't wan' chure wife tuh evah leave 'way from heah, bo' a hole somewhere in de flo'. Don' bo' it clean through dere yo' know. An' take her hair an' punch it down in dere, an' jis' pack it down in dere an' stop it up, an' she won't be goin' nowhere. An' de same way wit de man.
Entry 5880
Dey say dey take three strand of yore hair an' dey would put dat in a piece of brown papah [for the black victim]. Dey would wrap some white bread Wit a piece of candy dat wus made up of coconut [sweets to entice victim's spir- it.] Dis thing is all wrapped togethah, [with] dis thread, an' den it would be cast behin' somepin dat wouldn't move, lak a piano, or some of dose thin's. Den fer nine mawnin's yo' go to dis place an' make a wish ovah dis thin', an' it would prob'ly make yo' suffah wit headaches, or prob'ly make yo' lose yore nid. Worry yo' so - evahthin' would worry, yo' jes' git vor- ried all de tlme. Dat is a thin' what dey clain Would do dat to yo' - wit chure hair.
Entry 5881
Why now, anyone's hair, why yo' kin take dere hair, about fo' or five stran's of dere hair, an' wrap it aroun' yore fo'fingahs [see later] yo' see [demonstrates].
(Just one hair.)
[But I also saw something else during demonstration - see later.]
Jis' one hair, jis' wrap it roun' yore fo'fingahs, see. An' aftah yo' doin' dat, well den yo' kin take a piece of bread or somepin othah an' wrap dose stran's of hair in dat bread an' swallah it. Yo'll eat dat, yo' know, in a way of speakin. An' den dose people will be wit yo' long as yo' in de worl'. Dey'll care fo' yo'.
[I now summarize the rite.]
(You just take these strands of hair and wrap them around your index finger, your forefinger [about forefingers, not 4 fingers], and then you put this hair in the bread and swallow it. That controls these people?) Yes.
Entry 5882
An' yo' kin take dat [his] hair an' wrap it aroun' candy, or yo' know, let it stay ovahnight an' take it off an' give it to a girl de nex' day. Dat will make her love yo'.
Entry 5883
Yo' take de hair wit lodestone, an' dese powdahs, an' some of de little candies [used in cake decoration], an' yo' put dat in a little bag. (What kind of powders?) De Lover's Sachet. [Whether this scented powder in 1938 was a local or wider known brand, I do not know.] An' yo' put dat [bag or hand] in de middle of de mattress. An' it don't make no diff'rence where on earth yo' go or nuthin about how de woman may abu'zhoo [abuse you], YO' GON'A COME BACK AN' GIT IN DAT BED. Yo' ain't gon'a stay aWay from 'er.
Entry 5884
Yo' kin git de hair out de mole of de haid an' yo' kin weah or eithah yo' kin put it in somepin tuh drink an' yo' got 'im dere. An' yo' kin jes' have him plumb crazy [about you].
Entry 5885
Take yore hair an' - cut a little piece yore hair out chure haid an' cut dese thin's off heah [demonstrates]. (Those fingernails.) An' offa dey toenail, don't chew know. An' take dose thin's an' parch 'em an' den mix it up togethah. An' aftah it parch, yo' mash it up, don't chew know, an' take a rag an' tie it up wit a white rag an' use it in de tea - anythin' dey drink. An' dat will make yo' have good luck. Dat's de way dey do it.
(Just good luck? What kind of luck?)
Hit will make 'im brin' yo' de money, or make 'er brin' de money to yo', yo' know.
Entry 5886
Yo' kin take a person's hair an' yo' kin parch it on de stove. Say, fo' instance, now - dis ain't de person dat chure are tryin' tuh do sompin wit. Yo' take yore own hair an' yo' parch it on de stove, an' aftah yo' git it parched it's jis' de same as black peppah. Den yo' take dat hair an' sprinkle it in coffee or whatevah de person might drink - whiskey or anything of de sort.
(What will that do?)
Dat's supposed to draw de person's attention to yo'.
Entry 5887
Yo' kin take a pinch of dere hair, out chure hair, an' den some undah yore arms, an' burn it up to a ashes. Yo' kin take it an' sprinkle it in dey food, or else yo' kin take it an' sprinkle it in dey plate, an' dat'll make 'em stay wit yo'. Jis' burn all dat hair togethah. [Memphis, Tenn., 1542:6.]
Entry 5888
Ah know yo' kin take some of de hair from undah yore arm an' some from othah places an' - yo' know de private, an' take somepin an' scrape some dead skin from 'tween yore laigs [see later] an' give it to a man in his watah tuh drink. An' dat'll keep 'im down. (What do you mean by dead skin between your legs? From the bottoms of your feet?) [My From the bottoms of your feet? is not a leading question. It is the only thing possible informant could have meant; see the many rites about dead skin from the bottoms of the feet, none concerning dead skin between your legs.] Yessuh, an' dat'll keep 'im down.
Entry 5889
Ah hear 'em say yo' kin go to de fo'ks of a road - jes' lak de road jes' fo'k jes' dataway. Well, now, yo' kin go to de fo'ks of de road an' yo' kin take some sand - yo' kin take some sand an' dig a hole jes' about dat deep [demonstrates]. (About four inches deep?) Jes' about fo' inches deep, an' yo' kin take yore hair or anything lak dat an' put it in dere, an' a person will nevah come to dere right mind no mo', yo' see. Well, now, people kin jes' be wandahin' about goin' crazy actin'. Well, DE DOCTORS [M.D.'s], NUTHIN KNOW WHUT'S DE MAT- TAH, BUT YET AN' STILL DAT'S WHUT YO' CALL CUNJURATION.[ Waycross, Ga., (1097), 1766:8.]
Entry 5891
Ah heard of 'em takin' table salt an' - if dey take de hair out of a person's haid an' git de dog an' cat bristles an' take table salt an' bury it in de fo'ks of de road, dey say dat will run a person crazy. (That's about the same as you told me at first?) Yes.
Entry 5892
Git a plait of woman's hair an' plait it into fo' strand - jes' plait it into fo' plaits, not into three an' put it in a bottle an' put it in runnin' stream of watah. Drive yo' crazy. [The number 4 sends the hair to the 4 corners of the earth - see for symbolism, The Revelation of St. John The Divine 7:1.]
Entry 5893
Ah knowed dis, pers'nal sperience. Ah give yo' dis firs'. Now, dis is not fo' love 'fairs, but dis is tuh make yo' leave heah. Yo' kin take some of yore hair an' yo' kin put it in a frog mouth an' yo' kin throw 'im ovahbo'd if it's on fresh watah, an' as long as dat frog go, yo' go be wanderin' somewheres. Well, if yo' put it in dis salt watah like de tide goes an' QES: IF DEY PUT IT ON DE GOIN' OUT TIDE, WHY YO' GOIN' LEAVE HEAH; BUT IF YO FUT IT ON DE COMIN' IN TIDE, YO' CAN'T GIT AWAY FROM HEAH. BrUNSWiCk, Ga.,
(1189), 2007:2.1]
Entry 5894
Well, dey take a toadfrog an' cut dat toadfrog open an' put chure hair fn dere an' sew it up an' put dat toadfrog into de watah. Dey say yo' would leave, yo' wouldn't stay dere. Ah've seed dat done. (You would take a live toadfrog and put this person's hair in there, and put the toad in the water, and that person whose hair was put in there would leave.) Would leave.
Entry 5895
Git hold of yore hair an' ruin yo'. Take yore hair an' ball it up an' Pt sulphur, black pepper an' an ole toadfrog dust in it an' throw it in de rivah r burn it up. Dat kill yo' or make yo' sick. Yo' couldn't do nuthin.
Entry 5896
Well now, whut about de frog. Dat's about a woman's hair. Well, yo' din take her hair an' TIE IT TO A TOADFROG an' he'll hop aWay wit it, an' DAT'LL DC HER SIT DOWN AN' SLEEP ALL DE TIME. An' if yo' TIE IT TO A BIRD an' let 'im fly away, dat'll MAKE HER HAVE DE aDaCHE all de time. Yo' PUT IT IN A BOTTLE AN' STOP IT UP an' go to runnin' watah an' throW it in rumin' watah, an' dat'll run 'er off. An' a man kin take it an' PUT IT IN 'IS WATCH FOB or EITHAH TIE IT UP IN A RAG, THREE KNOTS in a rag, an' put it in his Watch pocket an' dat'll make her love him.
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 5898
They could take a piece of your hair and carry it to the cemetery and bury it and it will run you crazy.
Entry 5899
THEY TOOK MY MOTHER'S HAIR AND BURIED IT ON A SINNER'S GRAVE. AND THIS MAN [DOCTOR] PROMISED TO GET IT, BUT HE NEVER DID GET IT. [This brief statement is quite valuable because it shows what happened. The doctor on being called in diagnosed the ailment as patient's hair having been buried in a sinner's grave. He evidently promised to remove the hair at once. Was he paid in advance? The mother's death proved to my informant that the doc- tor had broken his promise! It never occurred to informant that doctor could not remove what was not there! Is this sort of practice sheer fraud? Not always. In the strange mental background of hoodoo, some doctors believe they can see the cause of illness. The present doctor did not visit a sinner's grave to remove the hair; he magically killed (tried to kill) the effects of the sickness spell while remaining at home. For this make-believe world, filled with abnormal psy~ chology, see the opening quotation of interview Doctor Heard, p.1948f. If Doctor Heard could draw a blood specimen from the shadow of a man who was not there, surely our present doctor could manage the simple task of hair in a sinner's grave.]
Entry 5900
Dey'll take yore hair an' dey'll bur' it in dah graveyar' an' dey'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 5901
When dey bury it [your hair] in de graveyard, that run you away from home. You jis' go crazy, you know. They either got to put you in a 'sylum or you're gone all the time.
Entry 5902
Dey will take yore hair an' bury it, ah would say sixteen inches, in de cemetery. Well, den dat would make yo' feel dizzy in de haid.
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 5911
Yo' could take graveyard dirt. Now, yo' could take jes' lak graveyard dirt an' somebody's hair an' mix it togethah an' carry it to a rivah an' throw it ovah [into] de rivah an' dey'll run deyself plumb crazy.
(How do you throw it?)
Throw it disaway [demonstrates].
(Over your left shoulder?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5912
Yeah, yo' go tuh de graveyard at twelve a'clock at night an' yo' dig. down, dig de firs' dirt [topsoil] off, den yo' run yore han' down as fer as yo' kin git chure arm down in dere in fresh dirt, an' git a han'ful-a dirt an' bring it out. An' yo' take dat dirt an' yo' take it home an' yo' dry it out - put it up on sompin an' dry it out. An' take dat dirt an' some of de person's hair an' mix it togethah an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' dat'll put 'em tuh goin'.
Entry 5913
Dey say dey kin use yore hair tuh run yo' crazy - do things yo' ought not tuh do. Dey say yo' go foolish an' jump ovahbo'd - sompin lak dat.
(All right, how would they do that with the hair.)
Some of 'em say dey would take it an' bury it, or carry it - git some grave- yard dirt an' put it in a sack togethah an' throw it in de rivah, an' dat'll run yo' crazy or yo' go ovahbo'd yo'self.
Entry 5914
Well, dey kin take yore hair an' dey kin put a little cemetery dirt wit it an' dey kin put a little sulphur wit it, an' dey kin take dat hair an' wrap it right tight, an' dey kin bury it eithah in de cemetery, or dey kin throw dat hair in runnin' watah. See. An' dat will affect chew.
(How would that affect me? What would that do?)
Well, it will cause yo', it seem lak yore mind will - at times will go away from yo'. Yo'll git frantic an' feel nersiful [nervous], an' jes' look lak if yo' jes' git to de place yo' don't care fo' nuthin.
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 5916
(All right, you were going to tell me?)
If dey git some of yore hair. Now, sometime dey lose on dat an' sometime dey don't lose. If dey git de hair from yore head - remembah dey kin take dat hair. ALL BIRDS DON'T USE HUMAN HAIR. But dis guinea hen chick bird [I interrupt]. (What kind of bird?) Guinea hen chick bird. (Guinea hen chick bird?) Yes, if dey kin GIT DAT BIRD - TO TAKE DAT HAIR AN' PUT IT INTO HER NEST. YOU'LL SUFFOCATE WIT A HEAD- ACHE TILL YO' GO BLIND. I kin take dat hair. Oh my! An' bore holes - wrap it into a silvah thimble an' put a silvah dime against it [open end of thimble] an bury it in de ground an' make warts come out on yore head. (Now, that guinea hen. You mean the ordinary guinea hen that runs around the yard. I see.) Yeah, yeah.
Entry 5917
Well, if yo' wanta do dat, dat's very simple. Joo git chew nine pods of dis heah whut chew call guinea peppah an' den yo' slip it round dere, yo' see. Yo' git some of dis heah woman's hair an' put it in dere an' place it into her room where she sleep - into one of de cornahs where she'll nevah find it. An' it will cuz confusion dere, cuz confusion in de home, an' fin'ly in de long run dey'll break an' leave one anothah off.
Entry 5918
Ah've heard dat yo' could take a person's hair, whatevah it a woman or man or chile - jes' fo' instance it wuz a lady an' yo' wanted 'er tuh follah yo'. Yo' would take a shell an' po' dat shots out an' put dat hair back in dere, an' yo' put some mo' shots back in dere tuh fill it up. Put in de shot an' run an' shoot it 'cross de rivah, an' dat lady will follah de man any place.
(You have to shoot this across some river?)
Yes, jes' across some rivah an' she will follah 'im.
Entry 5919
Git a man [foot] track or some of his hair an' load de gun up an' shoot it lak de sun direc- da - back on de west. Shoot it in dat direction right ovah his house. An he'll leave wife an' chillern an' all an' go.
Entry 5920
Den yo' kin take de hair from de same place out of 'is haid an' put it in a shell - take it all out but de powdah, an' put it in dis shell wit 'is name in it, an' den as yo' go an' fiah dat, dat jes' kills 'im den.
Entry 5921
Take de girl fren' or boy fren' hair, if yo's in love wit 'em, an' take a lock of it an' wrap it up in yore pocket han'ke'chuf an' tote it; an' as long as yo' tote dat hair, dey will follow yo'.
Entry 5922
Yo' kin take a person's hair an' sew it up in a pocket han'ke'chuff an' tote it an' dey min' a [mind will] stay on yo' all de time.
Entry 5923
Well, I wuz goin' wit a gurl an', yo' know, I didn't lak 'er yo' know, much. An' so I tried yo' know to break away from 'er. An' I jis' kep' - it seem lak I couldn't git away from 'er. So one day I wuz rid- in' a bicycle, see, an' I had taken my hat off, an' it wuz yo' know, a patch of hair right in de ban' [sweat- band] of mah hat. An' so I taken it out an' looked at it. Yo' know dere's a fellah dat used to live at Seventh an' Sewanee, I think. Well, I car'ed it out dere an' he tole me to take a - 'e taken it an' put it in a bottle, an' tole me to bus' [= bust = burst] it up, yo' know, in front of 'er do'. An' I bus' it up an' I ain't had no trouble wit 'er since.
Entry 5924
Dat's de way it 'sposed to 'a [have] been. Yo' kin take mah hair now, lak a girl frien' of mine, an' ah've got 'er bes' boy frien', [or] ah'm goin' wit 'er husban'. She'd taken dis hat of mine an' she has it fixed, she taken an' put dis stuff in it.
(What stuff? What does she put in it?)
Whut she put in it? Take some of mah hair an' stuff an' put it all 'round in de ban' of dis hat.
Entry 5925
Yo' kin take a stran' of 'er hair - whut chew might say two or three stran's an' wear it in yore handban'. Or yo' kin take whut chew might say, a tassel off 'er undahweah yo' know, an' wear it in de top of yore hat, an' yo'll nevah git rid of 'em.
Entry 5926
Well, dey tell me, all yo' gotta do is jes' - if yo' kin git clost enough to 'im, git 'is hair out 'is haid an' put it right up undah yo' hat.
(Under the hatband?)
Yes, an' wear it on yore haid. He'll come back home.
(A woman would wear that in her hat?)
Yes, an' he come back to her.
Entry 5927
Take yore hair out chure haid an' put it in yore hat an' dress it - have it dressed - an' put it in yore hat an' wear it an' it will run yo' crazy.
(Whose hat do they put that in? Her hat or his hat?)
His hat.
Entry 5928
Yo' kin dress it in dis way. Yo' kin take some of 'is outa de mole [mold] of 'is haid, an' take dat an' put it back undah de sweatban', an' dat, too, will stop 'im.
(Stop him from running around?)
Yes.
Entry 5929
[Well, I tell yo' [about hair] in makin' love, an' den yo' kin take hair an' make 'em love yo'. I'll tell yo' mah experience from makin' love an' takin' hair. Take a twist in de mole of she [her] haid - yo' know, de soft part of de haid where de baby's haid is jointed [joined]. [This soft part is also called the soft spot - see FACI 1st ed., Nos.2593-2594,2736,2762.] Yo' kin take a twist in de mole of she haid, like dat. Yo' kin slip out a piece 'bout dis long, about a quartah of a inch of she hair, an' wrap it up in a silk twine, po' Hearts Cologne on it, roll it up an' put it in de sweatband of yo' hat. Weah dat. Why she go but she come back, regardless of where she go, an' he do nuthin [else]. Co'se she - she'll Devah have no love fo' him.
Entry 5930
Yo' take a man if 'is wife quit 'im. See. He kin take piece of 'er hair, git it out de lef' side. Cut a piece off if she got long hair, cut a piece off her plait if she sleep at night - any time he kin git it. He could plant dat piece of hair, see. She ain't gwine 'way. If she in Chicago, she comin' back. Plant dat hair - plant it in 'er house or out do's. Yo' kin plant it in de house wit 'er wall - lak a mantelpiece roun' where dey put de foundation of concrete. Take yo' some cement an' take a little augah an' put dat piece of hair down an' plastah it undah dere. Dat's yore own busi- ness. An' she gonna come dere. Ah don't [care] wherevah she goes, she comin back dere. An' dey do de men in de same way, but if he leaves de house, den yo' write his name or 'er name down on a papah, an' yo' kin put it in a lamp, or put it amdah de candle. Burn it. Dat brings deyself. An' now ah don' care how much dey fussin' in a house or whut dey doin' or how mch dey cut up, take some table salt, jis' de plain table salt, an' throw it on de fiah an' burn it. Dat breaks dat - do's it right now. Ah kin throw it right at 'em - dat ceased. Dey don' have tuh go on fussin'. Dat brings back love an' hy dat hair's planted. When she goes, she comin' back dere.
Entry 5931
Dey take de hair off de left side of yore haid, yo' know, an' de toe- mils, an' scrape de bottom of yore foot ah think. Dat's tuh make de man love e - or love yuh, or stick [stay] aroun' yuh some Way or othah. (What do they do with that stuff?) Dey bury it - undah de front de do'step. If dey want chew dey put it undah yore do'step.
Entry 5932
I say, dey say dey kin take yore hair, see, jes' a clip of yore hair Octa yore head - I think it's on de lef' side, see - an' take it an' bury it wit some soda an' table salt fo' nine days. An' den dig it up an' sew it in a bag an' wear it. An' what- eah dey say dey wanta to it [whatever they tell the bag they want done], why yo lin be wishin' it. Dey say it'll come true - if dey run yo' crazy or make love Tvhatevah dey desire.
Entry 5933
Den if yo' wan'a woman tuh leave yo' or if yo' wan'a git rid of 'er - lf yo' goin' wit a woman an' yo' ti'ed [tired] of 'er - take a stran' of 'er hair eff de lef' side of 'er hair, two stran's ah say, an' go to some runnin' watahan throw it in dis watah, an' it'll go upstream. [Informant probably means hair will float upstream rather than throw it into incoming tide.] An' if she don' leave, she'll eithah die. Yo'll git rid of 'er some way. She goin' do one 'tothah [one or the other].
Entry 5934
Uh-huh, fer love. A person takes two stran's of yore hair, see; dey pulls it if dey kin by de roots, see. But if dey can't, at night when yuh are asleep, especially if yore wife or husband dat's sleepin' wit yuh, dey jerks dat out as quick as dey kin. Dey take two stran's, see.
(From where do they pull it now?)
Uh-hah - right heah, see.
(The left side of the temple.)
Uh-hah, takes it from de left side of de temple, an' dey jerks it out. An' dey gits dis clovah oil an' dey puts dat into a bottle. Dey gits Hearts Cologne an' dey puts dat - an' mix it up intuh a bottle. Dey carries it to runnin'watah an'( dey throws it in. An' dat's tuh make yuh love, see. But dey want it tuh go down de stream, instead of up. If it go up dat's fo' bad. See, if it goes down de stream dat's fo' good. Dey want chew to love 'em. Dey got chew all at dere command, see; an' dere's nuthin yuh kin do. [Normally the throwing of hair into running water is not a love rite, as we have seen; but our informant, marked excellent, turns it into a rite of love by adding Hearts Cologne and clover oil to the bottled hair, and by using A BELIEF OCCASIONALLY FOUND ALONG THE TIDEWATER REGION: ANYTHING GOING DOWNSTREAM OR OUT WITH THE TIDE IS A RELEASE OR GOOD WORK, AND ANYTHING GOING UPSTREAM OR COMING IN WITH THE TIDE IS A CONFUSION OR BAD WORK.]
Entry 5935
Yo' kin take de hair outa de fron' of yo' head an' de hair outa de back of yore head an' put it togethah an' keep it an' dat'll keep yore love togethah. (How do you mean? You take the hair out of the front of your own head?) Like ah'm a wumman, ah take de hair outa de fron' of yore head an' de hair outa de back of mah haid, an' put it togethah an' ah keep it, an' ah keep yo' mah fren' - mah lovah.
Entry 5936
Well, ah've seen dis happen. Lived in West Palm Beach [Florida]. Mah home is in Savannah [Georgia]. Me an' a pal, a boy, we goes down dere durin' de season. Yo' mighta remembah when de boom wus on in Florida. Well, now it wus kinda of a rich girl dere, yo' undahstan', an' he wanted tuh git in wit 'er, git a chance tuh beat 'er out some of 'er dough. AH GUESS YO' UNDERSTAN' WHUT AH'M TALKIN' ABOUT. An' so he wus in love wit 'er yo' understan', an' so he got some of 'er hair an' he goes tuh de Ten Cent Sto' an' git 'im a tall bottle of dis Hearts Cologne an' he take dis ball [curl] outa 'er hair an' puts it in dere an' totes it in 'is pocket. Well, jes' as long as he kept dat hair dere, she would be jes' wil' [wild] about 'im, an' evah time she could git a dime from 'er mothah or 'er fathah, why he got it. Why me an' 'im both got it an' spent it in enjoyment. De girl like tuh went crazy an' ah had to take it 'way from 'im an' throw it away.
Entry 5937
Ah heard yo' kin take a person's hair an' put Hearts Cologne on it an' wear it, an' de person dat dat hair come from it will cause dem to llke yo'.
Entry 5938
Take de hair an' put it in a bottle of perfume an' yo' kin take it an' wear it on yo', an' dat'll make yo' come back to dem.
(That will make the person come back if you do that?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5939
Yo' take a person's hair an' yo' shet it up in a bottle wit Hearts Cologne an' yo' bury it. An' when yo' bury it, aftah it stay dere sech a lengt' of time... [There is a long pause and I interrupt.] (How long Would it have to stay there?) Well, dey says [after] nine days, yo' finda, yo'll begin tuh have a headache. From time tuh time - it 'cordin' tuh how yore blood stand, it li'ble tuh run yo' crazy, if yo' don't find someone tuh relieve yo' of it.
(Someone to get the bottle?)
Yes.
Entry 5940
Take de hair - jes' lak yo' gits de hair right out de mole of yo' haid, place it in a Hearts Cologne bottle an' stop it up real tight. Let it stay in dere a certain length of time an' take it somewhere an' bury it.
(What will that do?)
Dey say dat run yo' crazy 'bout a person. (About this person. What do you mean, you let it stay there a certain length of time?) Well, nine days.
(You let it stay in this bottle nine days. Then what do you do with it?)
Dey take it up an' jes' lay it - jes' let stay dere if dey wanta. Let it stay dere fo' nine days an' finish de nine days why de work is did.
(This begins to work after nine days.)
Entry 5941
Ah kin take - jes' lak if ah wanted to take de hair out of a woman's haid. Well, ah gits dat hair, see, out de mole of 'er haid an' puts it into a little bottle an' put some Hearts Cologne into it, an' den take it an' bury it somewhere roun' de house, an' she will be in love wit chew.
(This hair and Hearts Cologne?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5942
Dey kin run yo' crazy wit chure hair. Dey kin take two stran' of yore hair - two or three stran' of yore hair - an' put it in a cologne bottle an' put some more dat cologne in dat bottle. An' bury it an' it run yo' crazy, makes chew lose yore mind.
Entry 5943
(First, they get what?)
Yo' hair an' buy bottle of Hearts's Perfume an' stop it up an' bury it umdah de right [side of] do'steps. That will run yo' crazy.
Entry 5944
Ah've heered 'em say - well, lak ah heered a guy say once he wuz goin' wit a girl an' he fell in deep, in love wit dis girl, an' she didn't seem tuh care anythin' much about 'im. He wuz very much in love wit 'er. So he tuk a stran' of hair out de mole of dis girl's haid, an' he tuk it an' put it in a bottle of Heart's Cologne, an' throwed it in a stream of strong runnin' watah. An' he said in about two months or three months aftah dat he tuk dis hair an' throwed it in a stream of watah in dis Hearts Co- logne in dis bottle, it wuzn't long 'fore dis girl wuz crazy.
Entry 5945
Ah heard 'em say yo' could git some hair from in de mole of yore haid, an' take an' git chew a bottle of Hearts Cologme an' put it in dere an' put a stoppah in it, an' throw it in runnin' watah an' it would run yo' crazy.
Entry 5946
Ah heard dem say dey take yore hair an' put it in a Hearts Cologne bottle an' throw it ovahbo'd an' it will run yo' crazy.
(Do you mean an empty Hearts Cologne bottle?)
Wit de Hearts Cologne in it.
Entry 5947
An' ah tole him [my contact man Edward Bufford] 'bout takin' de hair from de mole of yuh haid, an' takin' an' puttin' it in a bottle of cologne, an' go tuh any kinda runnin' stream an' jis' drop it ovah. An' dat wuz anothah way tuh git rid of 'em, run 'em away.
Entry 5948
Well, mah sistah, dey nevah did git along, dey'd always be hollerin' an' goin' on an' fussin'. I guess he got between 'er an' some man. She wuz tuh marry someone else an' dis fellah tol' 'er dat he wuz gon'a have 'er. Of co'se she nevah would - she took it tuh be a joke. An' sure enough he got revenge. So he taken, I guess by goin' tuh bed or somepin lak dat, he taken an' cut some hair from de top of 'er haid, an' 'er track, an' raked it fo'ward lak dat, from de heel to de toe, an' put it in some Hearts of Cologne an' put it in runnin' watah. An' she went crazy an' fin'lly she died.
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 5950
Well, if a woman wants a man tuh go crazy 'bout 'er she'll take dat hair an' she'll sew it in dat newhome- spun an' slip it in de hem of 'er underskirt, dose bottom pieces yo' know, an' wear it in dere. Well, de man will cling to dat woman lak dat.
Entry 5951
Den yo' kin take dat hair ag'in tuh make 'em love yo'. Yo' git de hem of yore dress, an' yo' take de hair an' yo' put it aroun' in de hem of de dress, see; or eithah in any hem. Sew it an' jes' wear it in dere all de time, see. An' yo' gotta keep 'im.
Entry 5952
Take a stran' out yore hair an' some weahs it in de bottom [hem] of dere undahskirts. Dat'll make dat man love 'em, [or] tuh bring 'em back.
Entry 5953
Dey tell me yo' git a - say fo' instan', now ah wanta do yo' some harm, yo' know. Yo' comb yore hair yo' know wit a comb. Well, yo' know lotsa times yo' leave hair in de comb, a little bit of yore hair. Well, yo' git dat hair out de comb an' den yo' take an' git a horsehair outa de mane, yo' bre, a'yo' put it in a vial an' bury it [both types of hair]. Jes' lak yo' stayin' beah am'ah bury it undah yore do' or somepin lak dat, dhy it'll do yo' all de harm yo' [ah] want. (What kind of harm will it do then?) Well, it will, yo' know, Zingah yo' an' all de time yo' be's sick an' undah de weathah. An' it's a good way to make a woman love yo', t too. [HERE IS DOUBLE- EDGED MAGIC. WHICH EDGE DEPENDS UPON YOUR INTENTION.]
Entry 5954
A person kin take yore hair, see kin take it like dat, an' walk right to dis wall [of interviewing room], eight steps to it, dig a little hole, an' set it in dere an' stop it up. Yo'll go rav- in' crazy.
Entry 5955
[Informant speaks about intention, a word rarely used in hoodoo though its presence is everywhere; it being the power behind potive, ritual and desired result. As informant says, the present rite wouldwork eithah way, depending upon intention. Many rites work either Way - see preceding HORSEHAIR. Dey says dat dey could give good luck by taking yore hair an' mixin' it up wit othah ingredients.
(Do you know what the other ingredients are?)
Well, such as salt an' pepper an' common things of dat kind. An' put it into a little bag an' bury it undah de doorstep, an' if dere's no steps to de house, hy close roun' de house, where de person would step ovah dat in an' out of de bouse. An' dey claim dat would eithah - it would work eithah way. It would Sork so as to keep de people livin' in dat house or to move 'em out, whichevah gay dat de intentions were fer it to go. (Well suppose you intended them to stay in, would you have to do anything ex- cra? Say anything or do anything? How would you express your intention?) Well, yo'd express yore intention in dis way, in de same mannah. If yore intention wuz to keep dem in de house, why yo' would do jes' de same, use de sue ingredientses an'.... (You would form your opinion. That determined whether they were to stay or to go.) To stay or to go.
Entry 5956
Anything like a person's hair, you take that, you see, and you get this srahpin' twine. Now, then you take a red flannel or new yellow cotton, it's a homespun, and just a square, and make the little bag, four cor- ners. And you wrahp it up. You kin wrahp ar eitherwise you kin sew it. But always bring it towards yah, and tie it in a fat knot and make your wish. If you're wrahping it, chew know, why evah knot, cvah time you wraap, you wish that he may come to you, and you wish that he may be yours, and you wish that he may be mine and do whatever I want him to do, and sish that he may gave me mah money, and this In the Name of God. I wish that he Se united in holy matrimony, or anything like that. You see, just whatever your Tishes is. And then, you see, you tie it. And each time you wrahp it towards Rh, why that's bringing him to yah, bringing the person to yah. And you tie 1. And the last knot you tie is the last wish that chew make. You wish that Lemay be yours or may be mine all entirely and do just as I say In the Name Of God.
Entry 5957
All right ah'm gon'a tell yo'. Ah known a frien' of mine run wit one of mah frien' [friend's] girls, women, heah yeah befo' las'. He had 'er to git, to steal some of her hair down heah, some of her hair while she - an' she sick, yo' know. An' she got dat, she got dat an' tied it up in a - put it in some watah. Put it in a jug an' tied it up an' run 'er crazy. She nevah did git bettah. She had to leave home an' she died right den in de hospital.
Entry 5958
If yo' wanted to keep a person, yo' take de hair out of de mole of dere head, an' yo' take dis wit othah things dat I tole yo' 'bout concernin' de cloth dat dey use. An' yo' wrap dis togethah around. Jes' take yo' a cotton string an' ball dis hair togethah an' tie it jes' as tight as yo' kin. An' tie it in a little bag wit de bow of de hat.
Entry 5959
Take some of yore hair out de temple an' take a piece of band outa yore hat, an' sew it up in a piece of cloth an' wear [tie] it between dere laigs. Dat'll make yo' love 'er. (Who would do this, the woman?) Yes sir.
Entry 5960
Dey kin take yore hair an', yo' know, tear a piece off yore shirttail, an' wear [tie] it roun' dere laig an' dat'll make a man love yuh. Well, ah've tried dat.
(Well now, what do they do with this hair?) Wear it roun' dere laig. (Oh, they put this hair in this shirttail.) An' wear it roun' dere laig. (Either leg?)
Yore right laig.
Entry 5961
Well, if dey git some of yore hair, dey could take it in de lock [hinge] of de knee heah.
(In what?)
Yo' know, right roun' de knee heah. Tie it roun' wit sompin, a string or sompin lak dat, an' make yo' love 'em lak dat. Or eithah put it into some perfume.
Entry 5962
Ah don't know how much truth is in it, but ah have heard dat dey take yore hair from de mole of a man's head, but he mus' be asleep an' not know anythin' about dis bein' done. An' in doin' dat, tie it in a piece of cloth an' wear it aroun' yore left laig, an' dey say dat if he nevah gits aholt of dat - nevah finds out dat chew have it - yo'll be able tuh control 'im an' keep 'im.
Entry 5963
Yo' kin take it [hair], jes' cut a stran' or so, a long stran', an' tie it in a knot jes' lak dat [demonstrates]. An' yo' kin burn it or yo' kin bury it. (What will that do to me?) It'll hurt chah in a way, or eithah it will run yo' crazy, or keep yo' wit a terrible headache or sompin lak dat.
Entry 5964
Yo' kin take a lady's hair an' make her love yo' all right, if it's lady yo' want an' yo' kin git a chance tuh play wit 'er an' git a stran' of 'er hair. Take it an' wrap it up in some sulphur an' burn it in sompin, but don' burn it up. See, burn it in sulphur, put it in sompin an' burn it. An' take some mo' an' mix all in dat, an' take yore hair an' wrap it up in dat, an' tie it in de cornah of yore pocket han'kechuf an' tote' it in yore pocket. It will draw de woman to yo', so dey tell me. Ah nevah experienced it.
(This hair from the top of her head?)
Yassuh, have tuh git it from de roots.
Entry 5965
Take de hair if yo' wanta gain a person like a frien'. All right, chew take de hair right out de mole of de head an' yo' takes it an' takes dis perfume. Or yo' may give it a little twist, an' take one of dese little cotton strings an' tie it at each end, an' yo' puts about 'leven drops of perfume in it - an' yo' [puts] dis in it. Dat's to keep it moist an' keep it goin' [feeding it]. Jes' as long as yo' feed, dat's as long as dey gonna stick [to you], an' if it gits dry, dey dries up on yo'.
(As long as you keep that package moist.)
It jes' keeps 'em to love yo'
(If this dries up the person will die?)
No, he won't die but [if it dries up] he won't like yo'. Dat's to gain in love.
Entry 5966
Git chure hair an' run yo' crazy.
(What do they do with it?)
What dey do? Dey tie it up in knots an' put it in a book. Conceal it. Or othahwise dey could tie it in knots an' put it down in perfume [in a bottle]. (Put it in a book and seal it?) Put it in a book and let it stay in dere - yo' know jes' close it same as [you press] a leaf. [At the turn of the century and earlier the pressing of plant leaves in a book was a common practice.l An' den dey kin take it an' tie it in three knots as much [tight] as possible - jes' tie in three knots an' put It down in perfume bottle an' stop it up in dere, so nobody can't get to it atall, so derefore, why it will commence to run yo' crazy. Yo." will always suf- fah wit de headache. An' it will start right from here [demonstrates], right in de back dere.
(Right in the back of the head. Well, where will it go from there?)
Well, it transfah [demonstrates]. STARTS RIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND GOES ON TO THE FOREHEAD.
Entry 5968
Yo' wants de woman an' man be fightin' all de time - yo' wants de man outa here. Well, see, jes' like yo' wuz de woman's sweetheart. Undahstan'? An' yo' want 'im outa dere. See, you'd make her git some of 'is hair. Undahstan'? Tie de cord string aroun' it. Undahstan'? An' put fo' knots in it an' wear it right aroun' 'is waist, an' dat will cuz de man to leave dere an' dis othah man'll come in.
(I would put that around my waist?)
Yes, sir.
(To make that other man go away?)
Dat's [that's to] cuz 'im to be battlin' an' she'd tell 'im she would leave 'im.
[Since the house is the woman's, this means he must leave.]
(I see.)
[Years ago, soon after its collection, I marked this rite doubtful, but it is quite possible. The man who Wants into the house has complete control over the man within the house. The 4 knots symbolize the four corners of the earth [Rev- elation 7:1] often concerned with sending-away rites.]
Entry 5969
If anybody git any of yore hair, dey kin run yo' crazy with it. Tie it in five knots, if it's long 'nuff, an' throw it in de rivah. Ah knows dat.
Entry 5970
Jes' lak if yo' love a man an' yo' wants 'im. Well, if yo' kin git a strand of 'is hair out 'is haid or eithah a strand from below see, an' take it an' put it into - yo' know, jes' put it in sompin dat chew kin tie it in knots. Take it an' tie it aroun' yore waist an' wear it. He'll be wit yo' all de time.
(You said so many knots before.)
Nine knots dey say.
Entry 5971
Ah heard dat dey could take a stran' of yore hair an' tie it into nine knots, an' dat will make yo' leave.
(What will they do with that hair then?) Well, dey puts it in de rivah for tuh drive 'em.
Entry 5972
Now if dere a ole lady yo' can't git away from yore house- dere a ole lady dere or someone roun' dere an' yo' want 'em tuh leave an' yo' can' git rid of 'em, stick roun' wit 'em where de man git 'is hair cut or sompin lak dat. Git some of 'is hair, see. Git some of 'is hair an' put 'is hair in a little flannel rag an' use some Heart Cologne. An' yo' take dis hair an' dis Eeart Cologne an' yo' do it up in dis rag. Don't sew it, yo' tie wit cotton string an' yo' do it up good. An' jes' befo' yo' do it up, tie nine knots in it, jes' about a inch from de end of de cotton string. Tie nine hard knots in it an' 'noint 'em all good in spirits of turpentine, an' make a wish evahtime yo' make a tie. See. Evahtime yo' make a tie in it, wrap it aroun' an' make a tie. Well, yo' make a tie fo' nine times, an' den jes' put it in yore pocket an' walk on tuh a runnin' creek an' throw it in dere, an' don't look back, keep a-goin'. Yo' won't have any trouble wit 'em atall no mo'.
(Runs him away.)
Yessuh, he gone.
Entry 5973
If someone wuz tuh take yore hair tuh run yo' crazy, dey'll begin tuh take yore hair - takes nine stran's of yore hair. Dey wouldn't take ovah nine stran's of it. Dey'll tie around it de third time - take it jes' lak yo' wrap yore hair wit a string, a thread wrop aroun' it de third time. An' dey'll tie nine knots in it. Den dey'll take it an' take it at 'leven a'clock in de mawnin' - no, dey go in de mawnin' at 'leven a'clock, an' be dere at 'leven a'clock, to any runnin' watah an' throw it in dere. Dat's jes' all tuh git chw 'vay from heah. Throw it in dere, says, "Take him away, take him away, take him aaay. Nevah return. He's trouble long enough." Yo' goin' leave dere.
Entry 5974
Yo' kin take some of a person hair an' put in a bottle an' stop it up an' yo' carry dat bottle wit yo' evahwhere yo' go. An' dat person, nowhere dey go - an' dey keep a headache, dey keep sick - an' nowhere dey go dey would be satisfied. Yo' kin take nine stran's of a person's hair an' Put nine knots in it an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' in nine days dat person sull die.
(Take nine strands of their hair and you tie nine knots in that hair?)
An' yo' kin throw it in runnin' watah an' in nine days dey'll be daid.
Entry 5975
An' if yo' got a sweetheart an' she got long hair, yo' wants tuh make er love yo'. She got long hair, yo' take nine: knots in 'er hair; if yore girl frien's got long hair, yo' make nine knots in 'er hair. An' if she got short hair, yo' git nine stran's of 'er hair. An' put it in a bottle of Heart Cologne an' stop it up tight an' yo' use it fo' nine mawnin's. Yo' jes' put it right on yore body fo' nine mawnin's, quit off fo' nine mawnin's. When yo' use up de whole bottle of Heart Cologne, den yo' use it as reg'lah as yo' feel lak. Dat's tuh make yore girl frien' love
Entry 5976
If she got holda some of yore hair, hit's a powdah dat she could go tuh de drug sto' an' git, dat we call Sweetheart Powdah. An' she could take dat piece af hair an' sew it up in a bag, an' she could wear it on her left side, an' yo ooaldn't stay 'way from 'er tuh save yore life. (Where would she wear it on the left side? Any part of the left side?) Any part - round her waist, or she could pin it intuh one of 'er undahpiece, an'
[or] wear it right nex' tuh 'er heart, don't yo' see.
Entry 5977
Well, dey git de hair out de top of 'is haid. Well dey have tuh have nine stran's of de hair out de top of 'is haid befo' dey kin come tuh make him weak. But de hair got tuh be out de locks befo' he kin come to weak [like] cotton tuh 'er. Dey take an' dey wrap de hair aroun' a match stick, de nine grains [strands] of hair aroun' a match stick, an' dey bury it undah de step Way [where] he got'a come in an' Out. AN' AS HE TRACKS OVAH DAT EVAH TIME, HE'S TAKIN' 'IS OWN STRENGTH. He takes 'is own strength. Yes sir, de locks right in de mole [mold] of yuh haid.
Entry 5978
Dey take yore hair an' dey will run yo' crazy. Dey take dat hair an' put it in a bottle an' put it in milk, new milk, an' put sugah in dat, an' put dis heah red cayenne peppah, an' put some of 'is chamber lye in dat, an' close it up air- tight. Dat will do de work.
(What do you do With that bottle then?)
Yo' carry it in yore pocket.
(You put all this stuff in the bottle?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5979
Dey take yore hair - jes' lak noW, YO' WANTA RUN ME PLAIN OUTA DIS ROUN' WoRLD. Yo' don't wanta kill me, jes' keep me goin' an' ah'll nevah stop. Dey take mah hair, a plait of it, an' dey'll tie a string on each end, an' dey'll ketch dis mockin'bird an' tie it round dis mockin'- bird's neck. An' dey tell me as long as dat mockin'bird live an' go, dey say yo' goin' de same Way. Yo'll nevah have no mo' sense or no mind or nuthin.
Entry 5980
I've heard them say they could take your hair and boil it in black molasses, and then take it and put it out in the sun and let the sun get at it. And take it and put it in the cellar or some dark place. And when it is dark go down there and talk to the hair and tell it what you want it to do to this person. And the hair will do whatever you say.
Entry 5981
She disliked me.
(Who disliked you?)
This woman.
(I see. All right.)
She disliked me an' ah tole 'er [told her] ah had de headache, an' she couldn't give it to me herself, see. By me bein' young, she wus gon'a fool me. She tole me, she said, "Yo' git yo' some salt- petah an' sprinkle it in yore hair, an' evah mawnin' fer nine mawnin's aftah de new moon, " she say, "yo' git up an' meet de risin' sun an' comb yore hair fo'wards."
(Comb your hair what?)
Comb yore hair fo'wards.
(Comb your hair forwards, I see.)
An' ah say, "Ah nevah did comb mah hair dat way." She say, "It's not goin' hurtcha [hurt you]." An' ah went to anothah woman an' de othah woman tole me dat she wuz tryin' to run me crazy; said it wuz goin' make me go crazy if ah put dat saltpetah in mah hair an' combed it to de moon - [I mean] to de sun lak she done tell me.
(That would make you go crazy, you say? I see.)
Yes.
Entry 5982
Well, yo' kin take de hair outa de mole of a person's haid an' run 'em crazy. Yo' kin do dat. (How would you do that?) Well, yo' take de hair outa de mole of dere haid an' yo' takes an' yo' puts it in a bottle, an' yo' buries it in a bottle, an' yo' buries it on de da'k of de moon. See, dat's mah experience 'bout dat.
(And that runs them crazy?)
Yes, sir.
(I see.)
Entry 5983
Dey say dey kin take a bran'-new nail an' some of de hair out chure clothes, some dis way off yore laig - out chure undahweah, yo' undahstan' - an' dey kin wrap it aroun' a bran'-new nail an' stick it right in de centah of de floor [often under carpet or rug], an' yo'll surely stay as long as dey want chew to stay. [Center of the floor is the fifth point of a quin- cunx.] (Well, you told me a certain number of hairs.) Nine - nine stran's. [That preceding hair off yore Laig, changed to out chure undahweah, would have been rare. Armpit hair is used in Hoodoo, but I do not recall any leg hair. Or does informant mean pubic hair?)
Entry 5984
Ef dey git holt yore hair, dey could lead yo'. Yo' could take dat hair an' yo' kin grease dat hair, an' yo' kin wrap it aroun' a rusty nail an' tack it up side de wall, an' he's goin' go wherevah dat hair is.
Entry 5985
In othah words, if it's someone yo' want, ah kin take three nails an ah kin drive three nails down, yo' know, in de ground; an' den ah kin take one [and] drive it up in de steps. An' take yore hair from roun' yore loins, any- where from roun' down dere, an' wrap it roun' dat nails all de way up. It won't be long befo' yo'll be back dere regardless of where yo' gone. (You have three nails in the ground, and one up in de step. You wound this bair on the one under the step?) Dat's right. [That is right, but it appears to me now that the hair could have been wrap- ped about all four nails.]
Entry 5986
Well, if she kin git 'im back she go to de Ten Cent Sto' an' buy her a bottle of Hearts Cologne, if she kin git in touch wit 'im to git dat much of hair oata his haid - a strand of hair. Put it to de Hearts Cologne. Turn de bottle apside down an' call 'is name. When he answah, screw de top - shut de voice up in dere an' he can't stay away. HE'LL COME BACK IN SMILES.
(She does this when he is gone. She gets some of his hair?)
His hair. She hide some place while he gone, an' whensoevah he come in, she has his hair in de bottle, an' jes' call 'im quickly. He'll glance up quickly. Screw de top. She's got 'im. [To hold a bottle of perfume upside down with the cork stopper unloosened, while calling a name and waiting for an answer, could be a delicate operation. But we must realize that the cork is barely untwisted and that the spirit in the answering voice can fly - or what- ever a spirit does - through the smallest crack.] [For catching spirit in a bot- tle, see p.24.]
Entry 5987
Yo' clip de fingahnails - all yore fingahnails. Git nine stran's of hair out de top of yore haid, if he's gone, an' call 'is name an' say, "Ah'm tyin' yo' up an' yo'll evah be tied until yo' come back home tuh me." Tie dem up, an' if yo got any piece of 'is clothes at all, wrap it up in 'is clothes an' bury dat at de foot of yore steps.
Entry 5988
Okay, we have a way of gittin' a new piece of cloth an' ballin' it [hair] up tight. Sew it up an' soak it in Hearts Cologne an' throw it away. An' say a evil prayer an' call yo' name. (What will that do?) Dat's hard luck tuh yo'. (What do you do with the hair?) We ball it up in dis sewed cloth. Jes' sew it up an' say a evil prayer an' call yore name after soakin' in Hearts Cologne.
Entry 5989
If dey hurt chew wit yore hair.
(How do they do that?)
How dey do dat wit yore hair? Dey take yore hair an' dey wrap it up in a piece of papah an' git yore name an' put yore name in dere an' burn it, an' burn it undah de lamp. (Under the lamp?) Undah de lamp. See, lak yo' got a lamp settin', put it right undah de lamp wit yore name an' yore hair. An' dat'll - it jes' worry yo' an' run yo' away.
(I see. You mean just write the name on the paper once?)
Put yore name once.
Entry 5990
Dey drive yuh crazy. Yuh kin do good an' yuh kin do bad. Well, dey take dis hair an' dey put it in a bottle, an' put a little salt an' red peppah. Dey write de person's name on dis slip of papah an' put it in de bottle an' stop it up tight. Yuh go tuh runnin' watah an' throw it ovah yuh shouldah backwards into dat watah. An' jis' since dat watah always runnin', why dat person will jis' go an' jis' go. Evah time dey git a place, dey stay a little an' dey not satisfied. Dey'll go ag'in. Finely [finally] dey'll jis' go an' quit.
Entry 5991
Say, fo' instan', if a man's got a woman an' he's got a little compe- tition an' den he git her fingernail or her toenail, an' den he gits some hair from de mole of her haid an' he take this toenails an' hair an' he'll put it in a bag, say, of a piece of red flannel an' sew it an' he'll write this person name nine times. (Whose name does he write?) He writes the individual that he's interested in. Be write dere name nine times one way. Write his name nine times across that name uhich make 18 names altogether. An' then he fold this piece an' he put this bag on top of this piece an' wear it right next to his heart, say, fo' instan', he pin it on de inside of 'is undahshirt.
(What is that supposed to do then?)
Dat's supposed to keep dis woman's mind to him all de while.
(The paper on which the name is written is not put in the bag itself?)
No suh, it's put on de outside.
(Next to his skin?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5992
Git de hair out chure haid an' take it an' sew it up into a piece of cloth an' tie it roun' dere waist. Wear it. Dey kin fix yo' dataway. (Why would they do that?) Well, to keep yo'. Sometime dey do it to make a man love dem. Yes sir, dey puts it in a little white cloth an' den sew it up. [This is a love hand.] Some of 'ems wear it roun' dere neck, soe of 'ems wear it roun' dere waist.
Entry 5993
Weli, dey take dat an' dey have it twisted tight. (This hair?) Uh-huh, an' dey put it in a - dey put I needle through it an' dey'll put it in a little bottle wit some camphor[rated] al, an' den dey stop it down tight an' put it up ovah yore head.
(What will that do then?)
Well, dat's jes' to make yo' do jes' what dey want yo' to do.
(They put it over your head. How do they put it over your head?)
Jes' lak, yo' know, any place dey put it. Dey put it up ovah a sill - say, fo' instance, highah dan yo'.
(Oh, over the door or something of that sort.)
Yes, ovah de door, or de sill of de house.
[HANY INFORMANTS LOCATE A DOORSILL AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR - highah dAN yo'.]
Jacksonville. Fla., (596), 768:4+85.]
Entry 5994
Git chure hair an' put chure hair wit a needle, a steel needle. Jes' dt it from de mole of yore haid - be sure dat yo' git de hair from de mole of de haid an' wrap it wit a steel nee- dle, an' put it in a little bag an' put dat hair, an' a little peppah or somepin in it an' sew it in de bag. Dyput it up ovah de sill of a door, dat hair. Dey got chew wrapped up de way want chew, dat hair an' peppah, an' sew it in a red flannel an' dey keep it re, an' de thread, [use] red thread.
Entry 5995
Yo' take dere hair an' put it in a needle an' put it ovah front do' an' dat'll make yo' - makes de party loves yo' very much. Dat'll Tng love.
(One hair?)
One strand of hair from de top - from de mole of yore haid right in de top, an' put it in a needle an' put it ovah de do'sill right ovah de fron' do'. Wit de p'int [point of needle] down.
Entry 5996
She kin take one bran'-new needle an' run 'is hair [one strand] out of 'is head through dat needle, an' chunk it [demonstrates] to a sundown side
[throws it to the west] an' call 'is name. In two day's time, why he'll be back home. (She chunks it over her shoulder that way. Which shoulder?)
Left shouldah, an' don't look back as yo' coming [away].
Entry 5997
Well, yo' take a lock of yore hair an' de band [bow] outa de back of yore hat, an' yo' stick a brasshead needle in it, an' put it in a Hearts Own Cologne bottle. Stop it up an' turn it bot- tomside upwards undah de front steps. Well, yo' wouldn't have no care fo' nobody else but me.
Entry 5998
[Since the two following rites are identical and the two informants are separated by only eight informants, I would say the first person came to investigate before the second person would take a chance on seeing me. This sort of precaution I have pointed out several times in Hoodoo.] Version 1: Yo' kina - lak if yo' wanta woman tuh love yuh, yo' kin take some Hearts Cologne [in its bottle] an' stick a needle in it an' take three strands of de woman's hair an' wrap it round dat [needle] an' turn it [bottle] bottom upwards into a inner pocket an' den she'll go crazy about chew - she'll love yo'. [Waycross, Ga., (1080), 1747:11.] Version 2: Well, yo' kin git three strands of a person's hair an' some Heart's Cologne an' a needle an' yo' kin put it [hair] round dat needle an' put dat nee- dle in dat Heart's Cologne an' tote dat bottle in yore pocket about a month an' dat will make 'em love yo'.
(Do you carry that in either pocket?)
In yore pocket. (This hair is wrapped around the needle and that needle is stuck into a bot- tle of Hearts Cologne.) [Waycross, Ga., (1072), 1732:2.]
Entry 5999
If yo' wanta make anybody leave dere home, yo' kin take dere hair out from right in de front of de haid right dere [demonstrates] lak where yo' part it at. An' yo' kin take two needles an' thread dem needles wit de hair, an' put it in a bottle an' bury it right at de block of de house, as yo' goin' out by de front. An' jes' lak de blocks, jes' lak de bricks filled in undah de house - see, yo' could bury it right back down dere.
(What will that do?)
Dat'll make yo' have peace in yore home, or eithah make yo' bring love back - anythin' lak dat.
Entry 6000
The following expression was surely devised by someone tired of hearing the well-known expression: You give me a headache! Yo' wuz speakin' of hair. A person kin do yo' a great deal of trouble wit yore hair. Prob'ly git yuh 'sleep or git some of yore hair unbeknown to yo' - git dis hair unbeknown to yo'. Yo' take dis hair an' git yo' a little Hearts Cologne an' put it into a bottle an' yo' git choo a small piece of flannen an' cross yore needles between dat flannen an' put it in dere.
(What do you mean cross your needles?)
Make a kind of a X [a cross] out of it [the 2 needles].
(Two needles?)
Two needles, an' make yo' kind of a X out of it. An' twist dis hair aroun' dese needles an' place it in dat cologne, but don't stop yore bottle stoppah tight - prob'ly fo' nine mawnin's. Yo'll leave dat stoppah in dere fo' nine mawn- in's, if yo' should git a chance to git co mah bed or to mah do'step, an' let dat bottle [stand] straight up so I got to valk ovah it, it will keep me suffahin' wid a headache. I'll lingah aftah yo'. I still suffah wid dat headache, but when I gits where yo' is, look lak it kinda Vanishes away-lak. I'll jis' lust aftah yo'. A man do a woman dat way or awoman dat way or a woman kin do a man dat way.
(You only have the headache when you are away from them?)
When yo' are away from 'em yo' have a dull headache an' yore mind, look lak yo' is worried. An' yo' arn't [are not] - it jes' stays on dem.
(You never put that cork in tight. You never put that in tight?)
Don't put it in tight, jes' leave it so yo' kin go dere an' touch it fo' nine Mvnin's, becuz de ninth mawnin' yo'll push it in tight.
Entry 6001
Well yo' jis' git a little Hearts Cologne. Why, yo' don't use de whole bottle now, yo' git a little Hearts Cologne. An' yo' git a little - well prob'ly yo' have to git 'er frien' to git a piece 'er hair - see, from 'er head. See. An' yo'll have to git 'er voice, too. (How do you get that?) Well, yo' git de Hearts Cologne an' yo' put it into anothah - yo' put some of it into anothah bottle, jis' about a half, yo' see. An' yo' git some of 'er frien' whut goes wit 'er to git a piece of hair. An' yo' git three little stick- pirs - dese little stickpins [ordinary not safety pins] dese wimmin use fo Clothes. Yo' git two bran'-new needles. See. An' yo' put it into a bottle. All right, yo' put it into dat bottle. Well, yo'll have to 'drop [eavesdrop] around 'er home at night, an' yo'll know 'er voice from anybody else, an' den she alk. When she git to talkin', why yo' jis' - EVAH TIME SHE TALK, WHY YO' STOP DAY BOTTLE. [This is an unusual and excessive opening and closing of bottle. Somally one catching of voice suffices.] Yo' got 'er voice, yo' see, an' she'll tve to come home.
[The voice caught in a bottle is catching the spirit - see p.24.]
(Well, what do you do with that bottle then?)
Hell, yo' jis' tote dat around in yore pocket, or yo' could leave it right e. De best to tote it in yore pocket.
Entry 6002
So far as yore hair concerned, yo' could be ruled by yore hair. Yo' Lou whut ah mean, somebody could take yore hair an' make yo' love dem. Yo' undahstan'. (Do you know how they do it?) How dey do it? Well, ah kin take yore hair. Dey usely [usually] gits - dey takes three pins or needles an' put it in a bottle of Hearts Perfume, yo' undahstan', but dey must know yore name.
(What do they do with that name?)
Write on dis piece of papah an' put it in wit de hair.
(Put all these things in the bottle?)
All dese combination in de bottle.
(What do you do with that bottle then?)
Take it - but wit chew, carry it. Yo' gotta carry dat bottle all de time. Sometimes peoples buries it.
Entry 6003
An' he [author's contact man] ast me did ah know any Way tuh try tuh hold a woman, an' ah tole him a way dat chew could take a bottle of cologne an' one stran' of 'er hair, an' go an' buy three bran'-new needles an' put in dat cologne. An' whilst dat hair be suckin' up dat cologne - jes' let it stay in dere until it suck up all dat cologne - jes' put it anywhere in de mattress, or eithah sew it up in a feathah pillah or mattress where it can't be found.
Entry 6004
Of co'se dat hair - dat hair is very controllin', it's very 'fective, an' it's very dang'rous. Dey kin take dat hair, if dey don't lak yo' an' wants to destroy yo' or make unfit fo' yo' own good. Dey take dat hair an' dey'll wrap dat up wit three whut chew call needles, see. Dey git three needles an' dey gits three pins. But dose pins dey always have de heads of dose pins nipped off. An' dey wrap three needles, three pins, an' den dey git three pods of red peppah, yo' undahstan'. YO' GOTTA HAVE THREE OF THREE. Git three of de red peppah an' put in dis, dis hair, an' dey wrap dem togethah. An' when dey wrap 'em togethah, dey takes dat an' eithah jis' - if dey want a quick death [both quick death and slow death are not rare] in any way, or to run yo'( crazy, dey will take dat an' put it in a runnin' stream of watah on de first new moon. In a runnin' stream of water, an' jis' as dat stream carry yo' [hair] away, yore mind goes.
Entry 6005
An' yo' wanted to keep dat fellah. All right, chew take jis' one of de whole plait out de top of dis fellah's haid. Yo' grabs one of dose plaits an' cut it off, an' yo' cut dat plait off dere clean. Yo' take dat plait an' yo' put it in a bottle of Hearts Cologne an' fo' needles, steel needles - fo' needles stick right down 'side of it an' stop it up tight. An' den yo' carry dat bot- tle wit yo' roun' about 'leven or twelve 'clock at night an' yo' go to de graveyard an' yo' set it to
[the grave of] someone dat chew know an' - co'se he [the spirit in the grave]
arrive befo' yo' have de house [he reaches your house before you]. He unnahstan' dough [though]. He'll arrive befo' yo'. All yo' gota do is tell 'em [spirit] what chew want [done or] what chew wanna know. An' yo' bring dat bottle back [home] an' evah time yo' use it - see [demonstrates] de stoppah will be 'bout dat long. De more yo' shove dat [stopper into the bottle], de worse it will git; de more yo' pull on it [pull it out of the bottle], de lessah it will be.
(In [and out of] this bottle? You have a long stopper about a foot long?)
Dat's right, an' yo' see, de more yo' shove [the stopper] in dat [bottle] de more yo' shove dem [the man] down' but de more yo' pull it [the stopper out of the bottle], why dat de more he [man] be up. Now, if he's down an' yo' jis' take dat same stoppah an' yo' got it dis way [demonstrates]. Well, yo' got it down. Well, de othah way [up], yo' gona ease 'bout a half inch or quarter of inch, increase. But when yo' want 'im to go back down, why yo' jis' shove it on back down dere - lak dat [demonstration ends]. Reep 'em, can't leave home - ain't anyway in de worl' fer 'em to leave home. An' keep dat wid joo - dat is contin'en [continuing] 'is min' d'reck [direct] on yo', his min' couldn't leave.
Entry 6006
If yo' know someone dat chew wanta git rid of 'em an' dey are casin' confusion in yore home, why yo' kin take dere hair an', yo' know, git jis' fo' needles. Yo' cross dose needles somepin lak dat [demonstrates]. Make a square. [This square or oblong is a symbolical coffin or grave.] (Put two parallel needles like that, and two parallel - on the top and the bottom.) Dat's right. An' den yo' take dere hair, an' cut de hair out de mole of dere haid, an' put it in a little bot- tle [originally a tiny bottle of perfume sold at Five and Ten Cents Stores] an' stop it up, an' place it direck [directly] between dat square of dose needles. An' den git chew a red piece of rag or flannin an' sew it up in dere, an' walk tuh de rivah an' chunk it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' dey will leave. Dey jis' gotta go an' dey cain't stop. Dey cain't res' contented nowhere dey go.
(What holds these [needles] in place?)
Yo' wrap 'em wit some thread, wit a piece of red cord.
(Like you were making a picture frame?)
Dat's right. An' aftah yo' fix [tie] dat up lak dat, den yo' place dis bot- tle in de centah.
(Then you wrap the whole thing up?)
Wit a red piece of rag [red flannel]. An' den yo' chunk it direck ovah yore lef' shouldah in runnin' watah.
Entry 6007
Yo' take fo' needles an' yo' have a ball. Yo' know, make a ball of yore hair or toenails, sompin lak dat If yo' kin git holt of 'em. An' aftah yo' make de ball - make de ball roun' - jes' stick de needle wit de point dat way. Jes' have it so eithah way it turns, one dem points will be pointin' out. Try tuh make fo' points: points it to de no't, de nex' one to de sout', one to de wes', an' one to de eas'. An' plant dose somewhere where yo steps ovah it. Dey tells me dat will run yo' crazy. Wrap it up in yore fingah- mails or hair wit jes' a piece of red flannel.
Entry 6008
An' jis' lak if someone in yore church is givin' yo' trouble in de chrch, yo' know, causin' confusion an' splits in church lak mos' people do's. Why yo' go out in de woods an' yo' ketch yo' one of 'em whut chew call dese heah red-back scorpiens [scorpions]. Ah mean a red-belly. Dey got a red stripe undah 'is stomic. An' yo' take dat scorpien an' put 'im into a pillah where dey sleep, see.
(Alive or dead?)
"Live. Den yo' git some hair outa dere haid. Git someone - if yo' cain't git tuh 'em - tuh git some hair outa dere haid an' place it in a piece[of cloth]. An' yo' take fo' pins an' - not needles but pins - an' jis' win' dat hair an' twist it up yo' know in dem pins, an' jis' ben' dem pins jis' as many ways, jis' bend 'um lak evah way yo' kin. Den yo' take dat live scorpien an' dose pins an' dat hair an' sew it up in a piece [of cloth]. An' den place it in dat pillah whare he sleep at an' he'll take a deadly misery in dere haids an' event'ly [even- tually] dey'll jis' - yo' know IT NO USE GOIN' TUH DOCTAHS [M.D.'s]. NO DOCTAH [M.D.] KIN DO ANY GOOD. An' event'ly dey jis' 中 start to pinin' away an' dat's de end of 'um.
Entry 6009
Dey say yo' take dis hair an' a piece of shed off a rattlesnake - rat- tlesnake shed an' take dat hair an' some five pins an' five needles an' put it down in a bottle of Epsom salts an' fill dat bottle up wit watah an' turn dat bottle upside down in de groun' an' bury it an' yo'll [go] stone crazy.
(Do you bury that any place?)
Bury it in de north cornah of de yard.
Entry 6010
If dey git hold of yore hair, why dey'll tie dat hair up jes' lak dey do wit chure [foot] track. Dey'll tie dat hair up in a bottle. Dey'll put six needles in dere wit dat hair an' dat'll keep yo' goin' crazy all de time. (What will they do with that bottle then?) Dat bottle - dey put dat bottle down in de ground, or in a trunk.
Entry 6011
They claim that peoples got it from under your doorstep with your hair mixed in with it. Well, they say that is to cross you away. Just like, you know, I was in love with a man and another woman wanted dis man. Well, if she could get some of my hairs, she'd go and get her a dozen new needles that never been used and pins. She'd stick the pins this way and stick the needles this way [cross them], and when she get ready to put it down, she'd stand it on its head on de sharp part, cuss it and tell it to go.
(Where would she put that?)
Put that at your door.
(And she uses twelve new needles and pins - six new needles and six new pins.)
Entry 6012
Some people kin take yo' hair, dey take seven needles, brass-eyed needles, an' dey will do dat hair up wit dose seven brass-eyed needles, naming evah one of dem yo' name. An' put 'em into somepin an' take em down by de watah stream. Not in de watah, but dig a hole In de groun' an' put it [these things] in a bottle or tin box or somepin an' close it up. Turn de top [of bottle or box] down. Let de eye of dose needles be down. Bury dat six to nine inches in de ground, down by de side of dat watah, an' make a drain where de watah will pass by it - barely runnin' ovah it.
(A little channel.)
An' aftah so many days - nine days - yo' will feel de effects of it. An' dose who know yo' will begin notison [noticing] somepin dat peculiar about chah, somepin diff'ren', somepin unusu'l. An' from time to time it will cuz yo' to dvin'le away an' die.
Entry 6013
Dey have hair in dat - dey git a lock of a lady's hair, men usin' dis. An' git a lock of lady's hair an' den dey git dis lodestone an' dey gits nine needles an' Hearts Perfume. Dat's whut ah heard now. An' den dey wrap it, feeds [see p.578] dat thing wit whiskey, an' wrap it in a ball, an' tie dat black string aroun' it.
(What do they wrap it up in?)
Flannel, red flannel, an' den put de black thread aroun' it an' put a string aroun' dat, an' let it hang down in dere bosom or breast an' wear it.
(What is that supposed to do?)
Dat will draw love.
Entry 6014
Yo' kin take a person's hair now, an' yo' kin take yo' nine needles up an' down [demonstrates], an' wrap dat hair between 'em wit black thread. (One needle is pointed that way and one that way.) Dat's right. Head an' tail dey call it. Yo' take dat an' wrap dat an' put chew - git chew a little red flannel bag an' git chew a dime's wut [worth] of lodestone dust an' put in dat, an' put dat in yore pocket. Yo' have de headache de balance of yore days.
Entry 6015
From mah undahstandin', yo' take nine strands of hair off de mole of yore head an' dey kin run yo' crazy wit it. Dey takes yore hair an' dey mix it up, puts it in a bottle wit nine needles, an' git some lodestone dust, an' dey puts it in dis bottle wit dis. An' dey takes an' dey bury de bottle upside down. See, it will run [you] crazy an' yo' apt to die.
Entry 6016
Yo' take a lock of yore hair, yo' git nine brass needles.
(You mean brasseye don't you?)
[They are usually called qoldeyed.]
Yes sir, an' a piece of red flannen. Yo' put dat in any kin'a little small bottle, an' yo' put dat ovah de do'. At night when he come in [for example] it jes' yo' comin' in an' ah meet chew tuh de do'. Ah be lovin' tuh yo' fo' nine mawnin's, see. Den ah won't have no mo' trouble wit chew 'bout dat. See, don't fo'git nine needles wit de outen flannens [with the flannel out- side]. [Note: Dr. Hyatt I think maybe this informant meant (outing flannel) - a term I have heard used often. Webster says (A flannelette, often with some wool). Mrs. Harry Dyel - see v.3, ILLUSTRATION 4.]
(You put that up over the door?)
Yes sir, right ovah de front do'.
Entry 6017
Dere two things dat ah hear'd dat yo' could do wit de hair. Dey kin take nine strands of yore hair an' put it in a bag an' sew it up wit nine needles an' cross dese needles in dat hair - break 'em an' cross 'em in a little bag. Sew de bag up an' bury it somewhere. Dat is to make yo' stay. Bury it where yo' go out ovah, walk ovah it. Dat'll make yo' stay wit 'em. An' if dey don' want chew wit 'em, dey'll take it an' git it an' sew it up in a bag an' throw it in runnin' watah, or eithah carry it to a oak tree an' cut a little hole in dere an' wedge it up in dere an Stop it up. An' dat Will run yo' crazy. DAT'S WHUT AH HEAR'D A OLE WOMAN TELL A
Entry 6018
[It happened] here in Wilmington, an' dey say dat she wuz hurt [witch- crafted, rootworked, etc.], an' it wuz put undah 'er baid, undah de range[?] of de house [see later]. An' said dey give huh doctor's medicine [medicine from a M.D.] an' it wouldn't do huh any good. So dey went an' dey see about some de othah doctors, an' he [this Othah doctor] sent a white lady dere. [To send a white lady was most unusual unless the doctor himself was white.] An' she went undah [crawled under] de house an' got dis package. [As I have noted several times in HOODOO, houses in the lowlands along the coast rest on pillars - large stones, bricks, wood posts - a foot or two above ground.] An' it [package white woman found (?)] had three grains of brimstone [for devil's work] an' nine needles, an' a little piece of huh hair in it, an' wrapped up in a papah an' tied down tight. An' dat wuz buried undah huh baid. [To plant cunjure beneath the house under the bed - cen- ter of, a quincunx - is a frequent device.]
Entry 6019
Dey say, yo' know, if yo' wanta put a person in hard luck, yo' take nine new needles an' stick 'em in a piece of cloth an' git some of de hair outa dere haid, if yo' kin git it, an' put it in dere, an' bury it at de fo'ks of de road. Say dey'll be in de hardest luck dat a person kin git - hard, shure 'nuff hard luck.
Entry 6020
He'll take his undershirt, an' take a strand of her hair an' thread it through nine needles an' stick it in thiscloth [undershirt] an' hide it some place. She'll love him.
Entry 6022
(What do they say they do with that?)
Dey say dey takes yore hair. An' dis lady [root doctor] tole me dat dey take yore hair an' git nine pins, an' say dey will wrap it an' git chure tracks, an' say dey will wrap it up an' put it in a bottle, an' den dey'll put somepin lak, lak if dey could git yore urine, dey will do dat, an' stop it up in a bottle an' carry it away from dere an' bury it. Sometimes dey bury it right at chure doorstep, be- cuz dey say dat's what wuz did fer me. An' she warned me always be careful how or what I do wit mah hair. Comb it. An' I tole her, yes, becuz somebody had taken out all mah hair. She says she knowed it, says dat's why she tole me to be careful. An' dey take dose pins an' take dat hair an' put dose nine pins an' stick 'em in dere an' dey wrap it. An' dey put yore track in dere an' puts in a bottle. An' say if dey can't git any of yore urines [often called ureen], dey'll try to git some watah from de place where yo' use, yo' know, lak yo' might have a well or spiggot or somepin an' dey'll - sometimes people will come an' [say], "Ah wants a drink of watah, please." Dey jis' want some of yore watah from yore house where yo're at. An' den dey've got all dey want to do wit - dey got de othah parts. (What would they do with this hair and pins after they got it? What would they do with it?) Dey buries it.
(What is that supposed to do to you then?)
Well, it 'fect yo' some way about yo' head, give yo' pain an' miseries.
Entry 6023
Yo' take dat hair.
(Do you take this hair from a man's head?)
Yeah, eithah a man or anyone dat yo' wants to do anything to. An' yo' take his hair out of his [mold of his head], yo' take nine pins an' nine needlesain't nevah [been] stuck [= new]. An' yo' take dat hair. Yo' git chew - yo' ball dat hair up wit dem needle in it. Stick 'em in de hair so dey stay togethah. Stick dem needles all in dat hair. An' de pillah dat he sleeps on, yo'll put a hole in dat pillah an' yo' seu it back up again, an' let dat stuff [be] in dere, an' let 'im sleep on dat stuff. Well dat's trickin' 'em, dat jes' trickin' 'em. Keep 'em wit yo'.
Entry 6024
[Among the many doorstep rites in HOODOO, here is a rare one about the right and left hand sides of the steps.]
Dey tell me yo' kin take yore hair out chere [head] an' put it in a bottle wit nine needles an' nine pins, stop it up, an' bury it undah de steps an' dey 'long gone [along gone = go along, go away].
(That is to send them away?)
Dat's whut dey said. (You bury it under your own steps. And if I would get your hair and bury it under my step?) Wait a minute! An' if dey bury it on de right-han' side - on de right side of de steps, yo'll stay dere, yo'll stop down. (If you bury it on the right-hand side, you stay there. What if they bury it on the left-hand side?) Yo'll go.
Entry 6025
If a woman wants 'er man back, well she takes 'is hair off de top of 'is head an' down on de bottom, yo' know, of 'is trousers. [andl put de needles an' pins an' mind watah in a can, a ole can, any kine of can. Shut it up an' put it in a cornah of de house. Dat's what dat is fo' - 9 needles an' 9 pins. Well, dey bury yore hair in 9 nee- dles, 9 pins, an' cinnamon, an' put it in mind watah." Shet it up in a can. Dat's to keep yo' wit 'em. Dey put dat can in a cornah.
(Did you say mind water?)
Yes sir. Yo' buy dat. It's to keep yore mind wit 'em. Yo' put dat in a can wit 9 needles, 9 pins, an' yore hair, an' dey'll git yore hair from down in, yo' know, when yo' sleep. Dey put dat in a can where nobody kin run across it. Dat's jis' to keep yo' wit 'em, keep yore mind towards 'em. [These ingredients can also be put in a bottle.]
Entry 6026
Git a plait of hair an' yo' plait it undahwards, yo' know, lak dat [demonstrates]. Don't plait it ovah lak we plait our hair, plait it undah lak dat. Den tie a little bow of ribbon on dere. An' aftah yo' tie dat hair in dere, yo' take an' put a piece of lodestone wit it, an' yo' put nine pins an' nine needles in dere, an' yo' sew dat up in a flannel bag, an' yo' puts a little sugah in dere, too - ah'd fo'gotten dat - an' anvil dust lak at de blacksmith shop, dat dust where dey grind.
(From the anvil?)
[From the hoodoo drug store or mail order firm I should have said.1 Yes. Put dat anvil dust in dere an' a silvah dime. Dat's tuh keep de person dat chew love, yo' know, keep dere minds contented towards yo'.
Entry 6027
If yo' kin git a stran' of hair out of a person's haid, out from de top of de haid, yo' git a stran' of dere hair. An' take dat an' git nine nee- dles an' nine pins, an' yo' git a piece of red flannel, an' git some lodestone, an yo' could git some of dere sweat - perspiration yo' know - on a piece of cloth, a bran'-new piece of cloth, an' put it in dere. Stick dem pins in dere, stick 'em cross dis way. Stick 'em cross lak dat [demonstrates].
(Like making a cross - X's.)
Dat's right. Stick dem pins in dat piece of cloth, if it don' be but jes' a small piece of it, jes' so it be's dat perspiration on it. An' yo' stick dem pins in dere an' lodestone an' dat anvil dust. Anvil dust keeps de lodestone live. An' put dat in dere an' put dat hair in dere in dat thing [cloth] an' sew it up [into a bag], an' yo' kin have a person most anywhere yo' want 'em.
(What do you do with that?)
Jes' carry it [bag or package] in yore pocket. Yo' carry it reg'lah fo'about eight or nine days, an' whenevah yo' takes it out of yore pocket, yo' put it ina real pahtic'lah place where no one will bothah it but chew. An' dat will rule a person.
Entry 6028
If a person dislikes yo' an' wanted tuh do yo' some harm, well if dey kin git some of de hair out de mole of dey haid, an' take dat an' take some nee- dles an' parcel 'em up right both tuhgethah [demonstrates] jis' on an' on yo' know lak dat. (Alternate the needle - cross them.) Yes sir, an' stick it in dat hair an' put it into a piece of flan- nel, an' put dat somewhere in yore bed on de side dat chew sleep on yo' know. An' jis' as long as dat hair an' needles are dere, yo'll jis' can't rest. Ah lgu dat fo' a fac'.
(Do you use any particular number, kind of needle?)
Aw - jis' 'bout five or six.
Entry 6029
Someone who used to live on the Riprap Road found a box at the gate one morning and brought it to my house and said, "Look what I dug up at my gate." I said to her, "What's in it?" And she open- ed it and there were pins in there and neodles and some of her hair and sulphur in a bag in there, and a piece of red flannel that had four sticks sewed up into that and a dime in it. It was a wood- en box [coffin] about that long [demonstrates].
(Eight inches long and four inches wide, probably a cigar box.)
She said she was going to take and see who put it there, SHE WAS GOING TO TAKE IT OVER TO NORFOLK TO A FORTUNETELLER. AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK SHE TOLD ME HER TOLD HER.
Entry 6030
Out de mole of yore head. (They get the hair out of the mold of your head?) Yes, sir, an' take it an' d wit some cayenne peppah, put some needles in dere, git a papah of new needles Ahut's nevah been used, an' put 'em in a sack, git some lodestone, an' yo'll rua 'en crazy.
(I see. What do you do with that sack then?)
Yo' jes' carry it on yo', an' dat'll cause dem to go crazy. (I see. Well, how many needles do you put in that? The whole paper of nee- dles?) No, fo' or five - sompin lak dat. Git fine needles, an' don' break 'em.
(I see.)
Entry 6031
(What would that do?)
Well, dat would run yo' crazy.
(Well, just how would they handle that?)
Yo' see, dey take yore hair an' dey wrap it up, an' dey git a bran'-new pack of needles an' pins, an' dey wrap it up in dat hair an' pin it up wit der needles an' pins an' dey bury dat.
(I see. Any number of pins and nee- dles? It doesn't make any difference?) Don' make no diff'rence.
Entry 6032
Ah've heard of people takin' an' goin' tuh yore house, yo' know, an' gittin' a little bit of each one of 'ems hair an' mixin' it togethah as well as dey could, yo' know, an' puttin' it in a jar or little glass [bottle] or sompin of dat kind, an' puttin' some needles in it an' some salt an' some pins, sulphur an' some cayenne, red pep- pah, an' takin' it out buryin' it undah de steps. An' dat keeps up a quarrel 'tween dem all de time until dey realize it's undah dere an' git it out.
Entry 6033
[It happened] here in Norfolk, an' I GUESS 'ER HUSBAN' HAD EVAH DOC- TOR [M.D.] IN NORFOLK BEFO' DAT, AN' DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD, AN' SO DEN DEY BEGIN TO GO AN' GIT T DESE OTHAH DOCTORS. So one old doctor tole her, he said, "Dere's some parts of yo', " he said, "dat's stopped up in a bottle." He said, "Yo' may live five years an' yo' may live ten." He says, "I'm not tellin' yo' so yo'll git scared an' fall off an' die, " but he said, "yo' may live five years an' yo' may live ten but dat bottle will nevah be discovered until you are gone." So, sure 'nough, [it was found] where we wuh livin' at. An' she died. She wuzn't in dis house [where she had been trickedlbut she had moved, an' mahself an' mah mothah had de[tricked] house. So 'bout six mont's aftah she died, I reckon, mah mothah goes out de back do' an' slams de do', an' when she slammed de do', see, de plastahin' fell out right by de do'. An' in dat piece of plastah inside of de lath - it wuz a patch- ed piece of plastah - inside of de lath lay a little bottle. She calls me an' I goes dere an' she says, "Look at dat bottle layin' up dere. Do yo' reckon dat's what de man wuz talkin' about?' I said, "Ah don't know. Let's git it." We got it an' inside of dat bottle dere wuz hair, dere wuz needles an' dere wuh pins, an' dey wuh all stuck through evah what dis wuz - evah which way. "Aftah yo' are gone" [the old man said]. An' so when mah mothah discovered dis bottle, I got it. It wuz a little small- ONE OF DESE LITTLE, Well yo' kin say TEN-CENT PERFUME BOTTLES [the uSual little bottle in HOODOO]. An' dere wuz a woman lived right 'cross from us. Mah mothah called 'er an' she came to de fence. So we broke it open, an' WHEN WE BROKE DE BOTTLE, WE BURNED IT, AN' EVAH COLOR, I reckon dat yo' evah thought of, CAME FROM DAT BoTTLE. [Colored lights from burning cunjure is rather common.] But now what it wuz, we didn't know. We jis' burnt it.
Entry 6034
If yo' wanta be wit a woman an' yo' laked 'er an' yo' wants to git 'er undah yore control, yo' could take nine plats [not plaits, pronounced plātes] of 'er hair, yo' see, an' jis' wear it in yore pocket, put it in yore pockets. Some of 'em have diff'ren' ways. Dey kin take dere shoes. Jis' lak if she wuz workin' fo' yo', kin put it in dere shoes, an' jis' where dat woman at, kin pass by 'er. Her mind will - her mind will attraction 'er to come to de do'.
Entry 6035
Dey could take de hair offen de - 9 strands of hair out de mole of dere haid, an' shet it into a bottle an' stop it up, an' run yo' crazy.
(What would they do with that bottle after they stop it up?)
Jes' throw it away - 9 strands.
Entry 6036
Hair out of dere head - hair anywhere off of dem. An' dey take dat hair an' dey bury it in de north cornah of dere house undahneat' de house. An' aftah dey bury it down dere an' put nails on top of it, well it's a cinch dey ain't goin' to stay here.
(I see. Well, how many nails do they put on top of there?) Dey put ten, but dey got to be bran'-new nails. (I see. That'll send them away.)
Send 'em away.
Entry 6037
(What do they do with that bow?)
Take de bow out of a man's hat an' a little bit of de hair out of de mole of 'is head, an' put it in a bottle an' bury it in de north cornah of yore yard, an' he'll nevah leave yo'. He'll go but he can't stay. [Here is a good and brief example of a rite that could have been indexed or ordered under either the pre- sent hair or under the later hat bow in section SWEAT. If a little urine had been added to the bottle, we would have had three possible classifications.]
Entry 6038
Dey take hair outa yore haid an' twist it up with needles or pins an' take it to de railroad track, yo' know, on de no'th side of de railroad, an' dey bear [bury] it up undah dere, an' dey say dat'll kill yo'. Aftah it stay dere a sich [certain] length of time, yo' have sich [such] severe headache it drive yo' crazy - it'll run yo' insane.
Entry 6039
Dis hair business. Why of co'se a person kin git holt of de hair out de mole of yore haid an' sew it up into a piece of new cloth an' put it into yore pillahcase. Why of co'se dat will absolutely, really draw love. Dat will draw love to yo'. (The woman would take my hair and put it in her pillow- case to make me love her?) Dat's right. She sew it up into a piece of new cloth. [A note of mine on original transcription reads: This is not a small-time worker - queer in head - had reputation [[as a doctor]] - worked for 40 years - see conversation between Edward[[Bufford, y contact man]] and me under INTRO. [[These were original notes and comments for the INTRODUCTION. I do not know where they are at the moment.]] He may have been the man Edward followed to the corner. After informant left interviewing room, Eduard disappeared for about 10 minutes. When he reappeared I asked where he had been. I had been sitting there without anyone to interview! Edward said he was afraid of the man. He had followed him to the corner (the old country crossroads) to prevent his dropping any powders for us to walk in!]
Entry 6040
Dey take a lock of yore hair out de mole of yore haid. If yo' vanta ake love, dey could take dat hair an' plait it as much [many] times as dey kin git it. Dey sew it up in white cloth an' den in a flannen [flannel] cloth. (What kind of a flannel cloth?) A red flannen. Dey take dat hair -' SEW IT INTO DE TICK OF PILLAH, dey pillah whut dey sleeps on, an' dey keeps it moist thoroughly wit spirits of turpentine an' dat'll make love. [This love hand is fed (p.578) spirits of turpentine because of the word pirits says an informant somewhere in text.]
Entry 6041
Git a stran' of a woman's hair while she sleep, if yo' an' 'er are liv- in' disagreeable an' can't git along. Take hit an' wear it in yore right-han' pocket or put it in yore pocketbook. Yo' know dey keep dese little purses in yore pocketbook, an' keep dat in dere. An' dat will git her mind sort of waver- ed back [to you]. An' den if she do take a notion to go off, an' yo' kin githold of a piece of 'er garment dat she wear close by her skin, an' keep it to de head of yore bed, an' sleep wit it undah yore pillah, dat will bring 'er back.
Entry 6042
Ah have heard dat chew kin take, jes' lak yo' do me dataway. Jes' take yore hair out chure haid, comb it out, an' take it an' put it in a papah an' wad it up, jes' a little bit of it yo' undahstan', an' take an' wad it up an' take an' tie it up in a rag, an' tote it in yore pocket. An' ah have heard dat chew could - ah haven't done tried dat - but ah have heard dat chew kin take it an' do dat, an' if yo' wanta love a woman, yo' kin do wit her any way yo' wanta.
(You get that hair off the woman and do that with her hair?)
Yes sir, if yo' do dat wit 'er hair, yo' kin do anything yo' want wit it [her].
Entry 6043
(Now, what about the hair?)
An' de hair de same. Yo' git dat while yo' playin' wit 'em. Take a piece of hair. Clip it off an' ball it up an' put it in a little bag, when yo' git to de house. Now, she ain't goin' wit nobody else atall. She ain't got no feelin's fo' nobody else but chew.
(Bury that hair?)
No, no. Keep it in yore pocket.
Entry 6044
Yo' [she] kin git some of a man's hair an' she kin take it an' git a piece of 'er undahweah an' put dat hair in dere, an' sew it up an' slip it in'is pocket, an' dat will make him love her ag'in.
Entry 6045
De hair out chure head, dey kin do sev'ral things wit it. Now, dey kin take de hair out chure head an' dress it an' dey'll have'yo' jes' lak dey wanta. Well, dey'll take dat hair an' dey'll tie it up, an' put a cord roun' dat hair, an' dey'll put dat hair in dere pocket. If dey wanta lead yo' de way dey go, dey'll put dat hair in dere pocket an' dey'll wear it in dere pocket. An' den dey kin take dat hair ag'in an' put it in dere shoes, keep yo' undah dey. foot. Dat gives yo' bad luck, keep yo' undah 'em.
Entry 6046
Ah tell yo' about de hair question. A man kin git a woman's hair an' he kin sew it up an' put it in his fob pocket an' carry 'er jes' 'is way.
(In his fob pocket, which side?)
In de right side.
Entry 6047
Yo' kin take a person's hair an' yo' kin run 'em crazy.
(How do you do that?)
Yo' kin take a person's hair ag'in, but all de time take it from de mole, see. De mole of anybody's head. Fact, dat's a tendah spot about a person in de head, is de mole. Anybody yo' kin git to, git dere hair, yo' git it from de mole. Yo' gits dere hair, if yo' wants to git rid of 'em. Yo' take dat hair an' yo' git yo' what yo' call - we call it prickly pear - wit de stickahs on it, dey're green [unripe ones are]. Yo' git yo' one of dose pieces of prickly pear an' yo' lays dat down an' yo' cuts it as thin as yo' pos- sibly kin do ft. Yo' cuts yo' nine pieces of it. An' yo' try de bes' yo' know bou, when yo' plat dat hair, to plat dat hair wit dat nine pieces of de prickly pear [demonstrates]. (YOU'RE SORT OF WEAVING THAT HAIR AROUND AS YOU ARE DEMONSTRATING WITH YOUR FINGERS.)
[Informant continues demonstration.]
(You weave that around?)
Yeah, DAT HAIR HAS GOT TO COME IN BETWEEN EACH PIECE OF DAT DERE PRICKLY PEAR. SEE.
(I SEE, AS YOU'D MAKE A SANDWICH?)
Yes, sir. Now, den when yo' git dat in dere, yo' take yo' a piece of black thread an' yo' wrap each one of 'em jis' lak dat [demonstrates]. But it's all goin' to be togithah when yo' git through. Yo' wrap each one, an' as yo' wrap it close - now, when yo' git it all close togithah, yo' take yo' white thread m' yo' come disaway wit it. See, yo' wind up on dere an' den yo pull it dis- away, an' yo' wind up on dis end, an' yo' cross it disaway an' yo' come back. Den yo' wind it up ag'in dis way, see.
[I SUMMARIZE LAST DEMONSTRATION.]
(You wind that black thread around it one way.)
One way.
(And then you take the white thread and wrap it around the other way.)
T'othah way.
(As you would tie up a package.)
Yes, yo' wrap dat white thread de othah way, yo' see. Now, when yo' git dat done, yo' take an' yo' git yo' a piece of de reddest flannel yo' kin find - which flannel don't git no reddah, I don't think. Yo' wrap dat up in dere [the flan- nel] an' dat party's name. Yo' take dat name an' yo' git yo' a indelible pen- cil an' yo' write dat name down on dere fo' nine times disaway [demonstrates].
(Nine times that way.)
An' nine times disaway [demonstrates].
(Make it in [the form of] a cross.)
Makin' it across, yo' see. Now, when yo' do dat - aftah yo' do dat, yo' dig a crench where dey goin' to pass [over] dat, an' yo' bury it right where yo' know dey goin' to pass. Yo' bury it an' bury it as deep as yo' kin. Yo' bury it an' leave it dere, an' when yo' bury it an' git ready to walk ovah dat, yo' jis' say: In de Name of de Father, Son an' Holy Ghost.
(What do you do - you say?)
When yo' walkin' away - when yo' bury it an' are walkin' away, yo' jis' say: Ie de Name of de Father.
(In the Name of the?)
In de Name of de Father. See, when yo' walk away, yo' say: In de Name of de Rtrer. Now, when yo' git jis' about ten feets away from dere, yo' says: de Son, 'de Holy Ghost. See. An' say: We'll depart. An' dat's dat person dat I'm dOIn' de harm tO. AN' DEY'LL GO MAYBE TO DAT RIVAH DERE, JUMP OVAHBO'D AN' DROWN; ° DEY MAYBE TAKE A GUN AN' BLOW DERE BRAINS OUT. See. Somepin goin' to be doe. Dey'll do somepin to demself to kill demself. If dey lose a dollah, dey y take an' kill dereself by losin' dat dollah.
Entry 6048
I'll tell you one thing that was asked my grandmother. There was a lady that called on my grandmother in Macon, Ga.], and there had just been a divorce proceedings in the paper, so hese two old ladies got to talking. And the visiting lady said, "Frances, did you hear the terrible disgrace in the paper?" Of course my grandmother said, "No." She said, "Miss So-and-so got a divorce." So this old lady said, "Well, it beats my time." She says, "Since these new- fangled things come about you can't expect the men and women to stay together." She said, "In my day they had a whiskey barrel sawn in two and made two tubs out of it, and took our baths in those tubs and got their hidden hair together, and wore it in a little bag in our corsets, and we never heard of divorces. Since the bathtub has come in fashion, of course this has gone out of style, and men and women will never stick together because they can't keep their hidden hair together." [Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 6049
Take dere han' an' put it between dere laigs. Yo' know, jes' lak if yo'd rub yore han' between yore laigs lak dat, an' rub it ovah anybody's hair, why dere hair will come out.
Entry 6050
If a man runnin' roun' why she could git some of 'is hair, yo' know from undah 'is arm or sompin lak dat. Take it an' sew it up into a sack an' wear it some- wheres close by 'er. Why dat will keep 'im home.
Entry 6051
Take dat hair undah de arms when a man wanta tie a woman. Dey git de hair from undah a woman's arm an' dey put it in a little bag. Put it in de bag wit Hearts Cologne. An' when dey wear dat undah dere arm where dey per- spire an' let de two combine togethah. Well, dey gen'ly [generally] lak yo' sew it - yo' see, if it's thick undahwear. Dis woman nevah knows it. Well, see, when he's in de presence of dat woman an' she inhale dat cologne an' dat perspi- ration togethah, why she jes' fall fo' dat man in evah way. Dat hold's 'emclosah togethah.
(He doesn't put that in anything? In the urine or?)
[Informant probably had been speaking about urine before I turned on machine.]
No, jes' de scents off de body.
Entry 6052
Take de hair from undah a person's arm. Jes' lak if yo's mah man, ah would take de hair from undah yore arm an' plait it up undah de hairs undah mah arm, an' wear it. (What will that do then?) Dat'll make yo' love me. (And would you get my hair from any particular arm, or does it make any difference?) Well, yo' kin take it from down heah - de best. Yo' kin git it from down heah an' wear it.
(From the privates. Then where would you wear that, then?)
Where ah wear it.den? Ah jes' take it an' plait it wit mine. Yo' mus' wear it on yo' or eithah wear it on a string roun' yore waist.
Entry 6053
An' ag'in dey could do dis, dey could take yore [hair] out from undah yore arms an' down in de love hole.
(Below?)
Yes sir, an' dey would take dat an' squeeze in bread. An' make up bread an' give it to a man an' dat will run 'im crazy [about you].
Entry 6054
Jes' lak yo'd cut de hair out de mole of yore haid an' take de hair from de othah place, an' put both of dem hair togethah an' take dat hair an' sew it up in a bag. Dat's when yo' wanta keep yore man, yo' see, or yore wife or whoevah it is. An' seu it up in hah pillah or 'is pillah. Well, dat'll keep 'em right dere. But of co'se if yo' wan' 'im tuh leave, yo' wan'a run 'im off in de rivah, why yo' take dat hair an' yo' ketch a catfish. An' yo' take a stick an' jes' stuff it down in dat catfish's mouth right good an' den throw dat catfish, throw 'im backwards [demonstrates] out in de rivah. An' jes' as fur as dat fish goin', dat person, uboevah goin', tryin' tuh ketch up wit dat catfish, an' aftah while he'll drown.
(You throw that over your left shoulder.)
Yessuh.
Entry 6056
Well, I was running around with a girl. That was when I was young. I bad some of her hair - no, her private hair. No, I didn't do it for any purpose, just crazyness I guess. And I kept it in a little velvet box in my trunk. That girl died. I went to look at that hair just after that and it vas dust. I heard several fellows say that, that if you have some of that hair aod that girl dies, it will turn to dust right away. That's a fact. [This is Probably my only example of the belief.] [Informant 25, Hampton, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 6057
Ah hear dat [they] kin take a piece hair out de man's - chice[?] of a man an' de man is sich of dem. Tell me dey git aholt of de hair.
(Of the head?)
From de head.
(Yes?) [= continue, because informant had stopped.]
An' dey git holt of de hair from down below.
(That's right [= keep talking]. Now, what do they do with that?)
An' den dey take dem two an' put it in a bag, an' ah don't know what dey do's. Dey takes dose two [kinds of hair] an' put 'em in a bag, an' put a dime intuh it. An' put dat same othah root whut ah tell yo' 'bout [pronounced boat].
(John the Conquer?)
Yes. Put some of dat an' dey git dis [informant unable to remember].
(And what else do.you put in there, then?)
Yo' put dis John de Conkah in dere an' den yo' git holt of dere hair - de two hairs - an' den yo' git a dime. An' yo' sew it up in a bag an' yo' wears it aroun' yo'. Yo' eithah put it aroun' yo' waist or wear it aroun' yo' neck. An' den yo' feed it wid dis same - de same cologne ah tell yo' about.
(That Hearts Cologne, you feed it?)
Yo' feed it wid dat. Eveh once in a while yo' feed it wid dat, see.
(And what is that supposed to do?)
Suh?
(What will that do then?)
What'll dat do? Well, if yo' got a husban' or anythin', or any man or any- thin', he gotta dump [give] evahthin' he got tuh yo' - couldn't git aroun' [with other women, gamble away his money, etc.l. He's gotta come home.
(That's to hold him, to keep him.)
Entry 6058
(If this man has left home, you cut some hair from below and bury it under the front steps and he'll come back.) [I am repeating what informant had said while machine stop- ped. To bury objects under the front door- steps is a common rite.]
Entry 6059
Heah's anothah thing. Dey tell me dat yo' kin take duh hair of a wo- man's, yo' know, private see, down dere an' take hit an' put it in a bottle. Go to de drug sto' an' ask fuh alco- hol, not de wooden [wood] alcohol, de pure alcohol yo' know, an' take hit yo' know an' bear [bury] it up undah yo' back do'step, yo' see, an' dat'll tie huh to yuh where she cain't leave yuh.
(Do you bury this bottle in any particular Way or just bury it?)
Nawsir, jis' any way, an' as long as yo' keep dat bottle dere yo' see, den she will always, yo' know, COME UNDAH YO' OWN JURISDICTION an' stay right wit chew. Nobody cain't 'suade [persuade] huh away an' den she cain't leave. Don't care hoW mad she git, Why it Won't do no good. Jis' HAVE HUH UNDAH YO' OWN CON- TROL.
Entry 6060
Lak yore fingahnails. An' yo' take a Woman's private, yo' know, de hair off a Woman's private, yo' know. An' dat, yo' kin wear dat in yore shoes, yo' know; an' den she can't git away from yo', ah betcha dat. (You mix your fingernails with her hair from down in there. Your fingernails or her fingernails?) Her fingernails, yo' know, an' 'er private hair.
(I see. What fingernails do you take of hers?)
Any - take any of 'em off, don't make any diff'rence in usin' 'em.
(I see.)
Entry 6061
If yo' has a frien' an' yo' loves 'er now, an' yo' wants 'er tuh be wit yo' - yo' take a lotta men, dey don't wanta work, dey wanta sit down an' let de women folks bring in de money. All right. Yo' take dis girl, or woman, who- somevah she is, an' yo' want 'er fo' a wife. Yo' don't want 'er fo' jes' a sweetheart or fo' whut she got - yo' want 'er fo' a wife. Yo' don't know how to drive yo'self up tuh 'er. Yo' prob'ly have a lotta property, lotta money, but still she not aftah dat. Yo' kin take dese foah fingahs, don't cay[care] whut han' it's on - jes' right or lef'. Jes' take dese foah heah [demonstrates], any of 'em, an' cut dose fin- gahnails off. Now, fingahnails sompin not supposed tuh rot. An' put dese fingah- nails into a half a pint or pint of whiskey, an' puttin' dis in dis pint of whis- key, yo' takes some of yore hair from down heah.
(Private hair?)
Dat's right, an' put it on de stove an' parch it, an' put in dis bottle wit dis heah fingahnail, an' den let hit set fo' nine days. Aftah nine days yo' take an' strain it off. Now, yo' kin drink it yo'self an' it ain't gonna hurt chew, an' den yo' kin give it tuh 'er an' let 'er drink it. Aftah de nine days, de tenth day yo' give it tuh 'er an' let 'er drink it.
Entry 6062
Take a man's hair an' cut it off an' put it in 'is hatband - an' put yore hair from offen yore stomach an' place it in de band of 'is hat, an' put 'is hair whut chew got from 'im an' sew it up in a cloth an' wear it vex' tuh yore skin. Well, dat would keep 'is mind always on yo', too. See, dat keep 'im always excited-minded 'bout chew - he cain't stay 'way from yo'.
Entry 6063
Yo' take de hair out de mole of yore haid an' some offa yo'self.
(Where from yourself?)
From dem, if yo' kin git it.
(From the mole of the head and where else?)
From offa deyself.
(From down below?)
Yes. An' put it in de band of dey hat. Put it up in de [sweat] band of dey hat where dat bow is an' let 'em wear it. Jes' undah dere. Well, dat makes 'em ale tuh be ca'm [calm]. Dat makes 'em stop from runnin' aroun'.
Entry 6064
An' dey say, an' take - yo' asked me duh question - dey say [I did not ask or say] take some of de hair off yo' down dere an' turn de rim [sweatband] of 'is hat up, an' put dat hair right in dere undah dat piece, an' when he wear it 'is haid, it will make him come to be crazy about chew.
(A woman would do that?)
Yes.
Entry 6065
(Tell me that whole story.)
She took some hair off a person an' she lift up 'is hat an' she put dis undah de sveatband, an' all dat sweat, dat would sort of run in 'is face. Well, dat moald make 'im - he nevah would leave her, yo' know, as long as dat wuz dere, yo' oc. He would be always crazy about 'er.
(I see. She put some of her private hair in there?)
[The hair was identified before recording began.]
Uh huh.
Entry 6066
Dey git de hair off de haid, or de hair from undah de pit of de left arm, an' yo' take it an' put it in a bottle wit Hearts Cologne, an' yo' stop it up an' keep dat wit yo', or put it in a pahtic'lah place somewhere in yore house, if yo' wanta bring dese parties back. An' dey are away from yo', it will bring de people back - de hair off de haid.
Entry 6067
[The following rite is probably the only one given by my informant. It was the one told to my contact man so that she could enter the interviewing room. We wanted everyone to know before seeing me, what kind of material I want- ed, what kind of work I was doing. De- spite this information we have here one of many examp les in which I am thought to be a hoodoo doctor or fortuneteller or wonder-worker of some sort. This woman knew I did not take money from anyone or offer advice, but she still thought I might be able "to tell her something to do for a living." Here was the social problem confronting me everywhere during these years of THE GREAT DEPRESSION - sheer POVERTY: Yes, we had doles and re- lief then, we still have them in 1972, more than 30 years later. Proper relief we shall always have for a small section of the public, but what we need is work, equal justice, and proportionate taxation for all.] An' yo' know whut chew kin do ag'in [to hold a man]. Yo' kin take dat hair from undah de left arm, an' hair from on de left side of yore, down heah, an take de left fingahnails, all of 'em. Cut all five of 'em off an' all five of de [left] toenails off, an' put dat in de stove an' brown dat, too. An' yo' gotta mix dat wit black peppah, too; an' whoevah yo' want, yo' feed dat to 'em. See. Well now ah show yo' how come. Ah tell yo', yo' use black peppah 'cuz dey won' taste de taste of dat, see. Dat's how come yo' have to use de black peppah wit it, undahstan'. Jes' lak de bottom of de scrapin' of de foot. An' dey say yo' can't even tell de diff'rence. An' ah could put dis peepee [urine] an' dey couldn't even tell dat. [This left-side-of-the-body rite is excellent, unusual, and probably my only erample of it.] (THIS WOMAN WHO JUST LEFT WANTED ME TO TELL HER SOMETHING TO DO FOR A LIVING. JUST THE SAME OLD STORY [poverty everywhere].)
Entry 6068
Dey kin take yore hair from down at chure privates. All right. Now, dis heah is love now. Whut dey drove in de tree is [to make you] crazy. All right, dis is fo' love. All right, yo' take it an' put it in somepin, wrap it up tight, an' put it in de lef' foot of yore shoe an' wear it. An' den yo' takes Hearts Cologne an' dress dat hair fo' nine mawnin's. Den yo' in love jes' as hard as yo' evah wanted tuh git in love.
[Savannah. Ga., (1252).2124:6.]
Entry 6069
Dey take yore [a man's] hair - yo' see, dis hair [demonstrates from his head] [and wear] right across yore [a woman's] private.
(The hair from [at] the privates.)
An' wear it around yore waist. Let chure head [hair] hang right heah. Tie it roun' wit a string an' tie it roun' yore waist an' jes' wear it. An' as long as yo' wear dat hair de man'll run yo' down [chase or run after you]. (You mean the woman wears a man's hair from his head, right across her privates, and that will keep him as her lover?) Dat's right, shure will.
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 6071
Anything lak a man's wife is gone off an' he wanta git 'er back. Well, de way he git 'er back, why he take a stran' of hair out de mole of 'er haid, an' a stran' outa heah, an' put it in a needle whut chew sew wit. (A strand of hair from the top of her head and the hair from below.) An' stick it in a needle An' stick it up in de do'step. De mo' where she come out an' go ovah it, de mo' de mo' think about chew. So she can't leave him, she'll go back to him.
Entry 6072
Ah've heard tell of folks who take pins an' needles an' break 'em up y' know, snuff, sugah, an' hair from down in front of yo', an' wear it, wear dere husban's hair in a bag an' pin it to dey clothes right where it be nex' to dere skin. An' dey husban' couldn't object to 'em goin' out wit othah men if dey want to.
(Do they have their husband's hair in that bag?)
Dey [husband] don't know dey got it yo' know.
(Whose hair do they put in there?)
His'n, yessuh - from down heah, see. Steal it yo' know in his sleep.
Entry 6073
De nex' story ah know. A man an' his wife gits ma'ied an' dey live good. Well, yo' know, people git mad 'cuz when dey gittin' 'long good in de home.[ Well, ah'm goin' tell yo', dere's people don' lak dat: "She's gittin' 'long good ovah dere," says, "an' all ah kin do [is to make ends meet]." Co'se ah'm goin' tell yo' de whole business. Well, dis woman ovah yondah she's cryin' an' wantin' 'er husban' tuh come back an' she can't git 'im tuh come back. "Ooh, ah don't know whut to do. Mah husban' won' come back, ah want 'im tuh come back." Well, ah tell yo' a good plan yo' kin do. Ah tried dis an' dey tell me it's good. Yo' kin try it. Well, ah tell yo' whut chew do. Yo' git some hair offa him down dere an' yo' sew it up in a flannel rag, an' yo' tote hit fo' nine mawn- in's, an' evah mawnin' yo' git up an' yo' speak to it an' says, "Ah totes dis an' de hairs of mah husban' will come back to me, ah'll tote dis an' de hairs of mah husban' will come to me, [surely said a third time], In de Name of de Father, Name of de Son an' Name of de Holy Ghost. Amen." Yo' say dose words nine mawn- in's an' tote dat. He'll come on back.
Entry 6074
Dey say yo' take a silvah dime an' git nine stran's of a man's hair from 'is private down heah, an' some John de Conkah root, an' yo' chews it up good, an' puts it in dis bag wit dis dime, one dime, an' sew it up anl tie it aroun' yore waist. An' dis man cain't git rid of me, cuz he don't wanta git rid of me, an' still yo' cain't git rid of 'im. Yo' wear dat nine stran's of hair. Well, ah know dat's a fac' 'cuz ah tried it tuh see would it come out.
Entry 6078
Take it outa de hollah [hollow = mold] out from de middle of dey haid, an' take dat an' put dat wit dey hair offen dey body an' tie it up. (You mean down below?) Yes, an' tie it up an' wear it fo love. Make dat person love yo'. Qou get this hair from the other person's head and use your own private hair?) Yes.
Entry 6079
Yo' got a wife an' yo' wanta keep 'er, see. Now, if yo' wanta keep er regardless of wahr she go, she comin' back. Yo' kin git some hair outa her haid, see, an' from 'er stomic [pubic hair]. Put it in a bag an' wahr it in yore umdabr clothes nex' to yore skin, an' don't care wahr she go, brothah, she comin' back.
Entry 6080
Take de hair out from 'twix yore laigs yo' see an' undah yore arn, an' parch it yo' see. All right, den yo' put it in a papah-lak. Yo' want chure ole man tuh stay wit yo'. Put it down on de tracks yo' see, an' when de train run ovah it lak dat, well dat'll stick it togethah an' make yo' an' yore ole man stick togethah. Git de hair out from undah yore arm, eithah arm or eithah in 'twix yore laigs lak dat, an' put it on de stove an' let it brown. Aftah yo' put it on de stove an' let it brown, put it in some papah, an' put it on a track. An' see when de train run ovah it, well dat stick togethah an' dat'll make yo' an' yore ole man stick togethah, if yo'all don' live togethah.
(Whose hair do you get, just your own?)
Jis' mah own. [If this hair belongs to the woman only, then intention is the magic power. Usually his and her hair is needed - see No.6078.] [Memphis, Tenn.,
(942)1525:3.]
Entry 6081
Well, dey said yo' kin take yore hair an' some of yore hair down below an' put it togethah, parch it an' put it in - an' a piece of saltpetah. An'dat's to make love. An' sew it up [in a bag] an' wear it nex' to yo', nex' to yo', nex' to yore flesh. An' tie it aroun' yo' - wear it aroun', pin it to yo' some way. An' dat makes de man or wumman love dat person, whoevah dey want.
Entry 6082
If yo' got a man an' wanta keep 'im an' he's runnin' roun' on yo', de way yo' do. De fus' [first] thing yo' do, yo' git seven stran's of hair out de mole of 'is haid; yo' git seven stran's of hair from down heah, be's playin' wit 'im yo' know in de baid. Yo' git chew a piece of cloth. Go uptown an' buy yo' a piece of sompin lak dis bran'-new [homespun?]. Yo' cut it in de length of a towel. When yo' an' 'im go tuh baid tuhnight, don't chew do nuthin, jes' let 'im do sompin, an' wipe off dat on dat towel, see. Yo' take dat an' yo' cut dat spot out aftah it dries. Yo' take it an' cut it up in five pieces, an' put dat hair in dere, an' git chew nine needles an' put in dere, an' sew it up in a bag an' put it between yore mattress, an' yo' have him till he die - yo' will have him till he die.
Entry 6083
Ef ah didn't want mah old lady to leave, ah'd take whilst she sleep - ah'd git a little of de hair out de mole of 'er haid an' a little out of each temple an' a little ovah heah. (Down below?) Yes, suh. An' ah'd take it an' ah'd git me a 'simmon [persimmon] switch an' ah'd split it an' ah'd stick dat hair right in dat switch. Undahstan' me good. An' when ah'd put it in dat switch, ah'd git me a little piece of flannel about dat long - about Iak, about dat wide. An' ah'd take an' wrop dat [small split stick] in dere, an' ah'd put a hole in de bindin' of mah shirt, an' ah'd take dat an' ah'd stick it up indere an' - wrop it tight an' slip it right up in dere. She wouldn't go nowhere. AH COULD BEAT 'ER ALL AH WANT, SHE WOULDN'T GO ON OFF.
(Where do you keep that now? In your shirt, you say?)
Yes sir, right in de bindin'. (Right in the lining - around your waist.)
Entry 6089
If a man wanta marry a girl, yo' undahstan', an' she don't want to ny him. An' she ain't goin' to mind, yo' know, lak he goin' wit 'er. Yo undahstan' vhat Imean, an' she don't want to marry him. Yo' undah- stam', jes' don't want to marry him. Now to make him marry her - to make her want to marry him, yo' know what he'd have to do? He ketch 'er an' cut 'er ten toe- -l, yo' undahstan'. He ketch 'er an' cut 'er ten toenail. Take 'er toenail, youmdahstan', an' take a few stran' of her - cut from some of 'er hair. Yo log, ketch 'er takin' a bath an' take of 'er hair out from undahneat' 'er right arm, an' put dat togethah. Yo' undahstan'? An' take three dem old - what-chew- call-'em, black-eyed peas.
(Three black-eyed peas?)
Three black-eyed peas an' 'er toenail an' hair from.undahneat' 'er arm. Yo' undahstan'? An' wrap it up, yo' see, an' put dat in 'is pocket an' wear it. Wear it right dere in 'is pocket an' ah'll guarantee yo' dat in 15 days she'll be willin' to marry 'im.
Entry 6090
(There is another way of bringing them back, too, you say?)
Yo' kin take some of de hair from down dere.
(Some of the private hair.)
Yessuh, take it. It 'tain't only but one stran'. An' yo' take an' carry a han'ke'ch'ef wid joo when yo' use it to dry it away. Yo' take it [hair] an' tie it in de cornah of de han'ke'ch'ef an' yo' keep it de same length of three days. An' yo' - an' puts yo' on it dis Hearts Cologne. Put it on Heorts Cologne. Take it an' yo' bury it at de right-han' cornah of yore steps, de right-han' cornah. Den yo' take it an' wear dat den on yo' fo' nine hours, nine or ten hours, sompin lak dat, an' go on back home. Stay right dere. Yo' go on back home an' make yore wishes, "Ah wish Sech-an'-sech-a-one Would come. Ah want So-an'-so back." Dat's anothah way yo' kin bring 'em back.
(That is if you happen to have some of their hair before they leave?)
Yes, if yo' could git holt of any of it befo' dey leave, if yo' kin find any anywhere - don' care how long dey been gone. Hair undah dere arm will do de same thing.
Entry 6091
Yessuh, yo' kin take a woman, she kin take her hair an' take yore hair. (The woman would take some of her hair from her head and some of your hair, and what else?) An' take yore private [hair] while yo' sleepin' an' wrap it aroun' an' tie three knots in it an' put it in a bottle of Hearts Cologne.
(How would she get that off then?)
Yo' see she tied it in knots, yo' see, an' slip it off lak dat, an' take it an' put it in a bottle of ten-cent Heart Cologne, an' yo' can't fool wit any othah woman but 'er. (You can go with other women but you can't do anything with them, but you can still do something with her?) Yo' kin still do something wit 'er.
Entry 6092
Oh yes. Yeah. Well, now a woman kin take de hair off a man private down dere, an' take hit an' git her a piece of red flannel an' nine pins, an' sew it up in dat piece of red flan- nel. Dat hair, sew it up in dat piece of red flannel an' wear dat roun' 'er waist fo' nine days. An' if she want dat man tuh stay wit 'er, she'll keep it roun' 'er waist; an' if she want dat man tuh go, den she kin take it an' turn - jes' look attah dat man an' say, "Go, go, ah hope ah nevah see yo' no mo'." An' throw dat hair, an' he'll go an' he'll nevah come back no mo'.
(Where does she throw it?)
Jes' throw it anywhere, jes' so she throw it an' don' look aftah [back at] it. Den he'll nevah come back no mo'.
Entry 6093
Yo' want to know how to make a wumman stay wit yo' or sompin lak dat. Dey said yo' - well, yo' do her jes' lak yo' do a man. Take her watah or take de hair off 'er haid. Yo' take, yo' know offa both places an' keep cologne on it an' keep pee on it. Jes' wear it all de time, keep it in yore pocketbook.
Entry 6094
If it's a woman, if she's gone an' de man wants tuh bring her back, he supposed tuh try tuh locate de place she live at an' cut some hair outa de mole of her head or some place, or jes' be wit 'er, if it's 'is frien' girl [girl friend] or sompin othah lak dat, an' git it an' bringit an' bury it back at dat do'step right down dere where dem rabbit balls [dung] is. Dey say she'll come back dere.
(That is to bring her back home.)
Yessuh.
Entry 6095
An' ah could take yore hair an' ah could ketch me a rabbit, git any Hinda rabbit, an' clip dat rabbit back open an' put chure hair in dat rabbit back, an' ah sew dat rabbit back up, an' yo' nevah will quit'walkin'. Yo' jis' walk till yo' die. If nobody nevah kills dat rabbit, yo'll jis' nevah quit walkin'.
Entry 6096
Now along de hair line. Yo' kin take de hair outa de top if any in- dividual's hair, say if yo' wanta send 'em away. Dis is mo' from sperience ah'm tellin' yo' dat. [Now follows a good example of giving a rite and then illustrating it with a personal ex- perience.] Yo' take dat hair an' ketch a rabbit den, an' split 'is skin right in de fo'head dere, an' place dat hair in dere an' sew it up. Jes' turn 'im loose. Well, who- Cvah hair den dat yo' put in dere, if yo' want 'em tuh leave, when yo' turn dat rabbit loose dey can't stay. [We lived] cross town togethah. I an' 'im were good frien's, too. Well, he bad a right clevah wife. So ah nevah said nuthin tuh anyone heah 'bout dese things jes' like yo' talkin' tuh me now, 'bout runnin' off people. So ah says, "Well," says, "ah kin take de hair outa anybody's head, outa de zole [mold or mould] of de haid an' ketch me a rabbit," ah said, "an' ah kin nm a off quickly." She said, "How do yo' do dat?" Ah said, "Well, yo' git de hair out de mole of dere haid an' ketch chew a rab- bit an' split 'im right in de fo'haid," say, "an' put dat hair in dere an' sew it Turn de rabbit loose. She say, "Shuah 'nuff?" Well, ah didn't pay no mo' 'tenshun tuh it. Two-three days latah ah wus out in de woods cuttin' crossties. [Railroad rails are laid on and spiked to crossties.] All of a sudden he pulls off 'is clothes, all but 'is top-shirt. Ah nevah bothah. Ah reckon about fifty yards distance betveen us - us dere a log-cuttin'. An' when 'is cuttin' stopped, ah stopped aattin', looked tuh see whut wus he doin', weren't thinkin' about nuthin. So chen ah looked he wus standin' up on de log lookin' right straight off tuhwards de cypress pond. He got down off de log an' he walked right straight on off de Way, de direction he wus lookin' tuhward dat pond. He walked on off down dere an' he walked on it. Well, ah nevah pay any 'tenshun, ah went on back cuttin'. Ah say, "Maybe prob'ly got hot an' he's about gone [to] cool off." Dat's whut ah thought tuh mahself. So ah worked on about a hour an' he hadn't came back yet. Ah jes' worked on, hadn't nevah give it a thought. Well, it's about three hours he hadn't come back, so ah thought ah'd go down tuh de pond. Ah went on down tuh de pond where it wus muddy goin' in jes' 'fore yo' git tuh de water. Ah tracked 'im on tuh de watah. Ah whistled an' whistled an' called an' called. Aftah ah couldn't [find] 'im, ah went on aroun' de pond, an' when ah got on de othah [side] de back of de pond - ah seed where he come out. Still ah couldn't git no hearin', ah called an' whistled. So ah went on back, ah said, "Maybe he jes' went off tuh look fo' some [something]." But still he wus in his shirt, nuthin but 'is shirt. Ah went on back an' ah worked on till time tuh knock off. He hadn't came back yet. Time tuh knock off, ah couldn't call 'im up, couldn't whistle 'im. So ah went on back home. So ah went on down tuh his house aftah ah got suppah. He hadn't showed up yet. His wife couldn't tell nuthin about 'im atall. De nex' mawnin' he hadn't showed up. So ah went back out in de woods where his clothes still hangin' dere where he lef' 'em. Well, ah come back tuh de house den tuh tell 'er about it. He git plenty time to git 'rested [arrested for being in his unclothed condition.] Some- body mdght search fo' 'im. Well, de people dat know 'im - de law, dey took 'imup an' dey look fo' 'im dem two weeks. Dey nevah did find 'im. So' 'bout six-eight weeks latah dey got ahearin' from 'im. He wus in de 'sylum. So, I an' 'is wife wus talkin' dere one day aftah he had gone on an' she say, "Yo' know one thing?" "Whut?" Say, "Yo' know whut chew tole 'bout dat rabbit?" Said, "'Yes?" She says, "Ah tried dat. Ah thought yo' wus roun' devilin'," say, "an' dat's whut run mah husban' off from heah."
Entry 6097
Well, ah heard if a person git chure hair - wanta run yo' crazy, dey take yore hair an' jes' ketch a rabbit an' split its forehaid, right behin' yo' know, an' lay it in dere an' sew it back up an' turn 'im aloose. As long as dat rabbit run, yo'll be crazy.
(You split the forehead, behind the forehead?)
Dat's right.
Entry 6098
Take yore hair, cut de hair out de top of yore haid, near de mole of yore haid, an' den dey would take dat hair an' would put it into some Hearts Per- fume. Git de Hearts Perfume an' take dat hair an' put wit dat hair some whut is known as John de Con- kah, an' rattlesnake marstah. An' den yo' would take dat hair an' put it in a bag an' yo'd wear dat hair round yore waist to make someone love yo'.
Entry 6099
Git de hair out chure haid an' mix it wit bluestone, red peppah, gunpowdah, thundah- strucken wood an' put it in a bottle an' bear [bury] it, an' dat'll give yo' headache for- evah an' eternal until yo' go some place an' see somebody an' git 'em to dig dat stuff up.
(What was that last thing you put in the bottle?)
Ah said, bluestone, gunpowdah, an' red peppah an' stops it up in a red bottle an' bear [bury] it. [I was trying to obtain a repetition of thundah-strucken wood, a rare term for the more usual liahtnina-struck wood (see p.599). Thundah-strucken wood of course is associated with the thunderbolt and thunderbolt hand (p.655). For thumderbolt see FACI, 1st ed., No.5380; 2nd ed., No.5786. Informant in present rite ismarked good]
Entry 6100
Yo' kin take dat hair an' do three or foah diff'ren' thin' wit it. Yo' lin git de hair outa woman's haid, yo' take it an' carry it to de man's house, an' yo' buries it undah de step in a red piece of flannel. Well, he walks ovah dat hair. Bell, dat's tuh gain 'is influence towards de woman - dat's gainin'. If yo' kin git dat hair of de woman's an' carry it tuh his house an' put it in a piece of red flannel an' po' some Hearts Cologne, an' let him pass ovah it fo' five days. Dat's fo' one part of de hair.
(The woman does that in order to make him like her?)
Tuh make him like 'er.
Entry 6101
Take people's hair an' wrap it up in some red flannel an' wrap it wit black thread an' put it up ovah yo' do' an' run peoples crazy. (Do you put it up over your own door or over their door?) Ovah dere do'. (In other words you take some of my hair and put it over my door and run me crazy - make me lose my
[ind.)
Entry 6102
All right, yo' got a girl frien' an' she don't want chew doin't [doing it] wit nobodys else but 'er. She kin take some hair from right back of de mole of yore head, middle yo' know - back of yore head, some right oat de top. An' take it an' tie it up, an' tie it up in a rag. An' put some salt in it, an' soak it wit vinegar an' black peppah an' about two pods of red Peppah. An' bury dat right at yore front do'step. An' ef yo' don't go wit 'er yo'll go crazy.
Entry 6103
Yore hair proposition - dey git chure hair right out de mole of yore haid, right out de mole of yore haid. An' aftah dey git de hair right out de mole of yore head, dey take dat an' wrap it up into some into a rag, some cloth. An' aftah dey wrap it up into some cloth, dey takes it an' puts some red peppah, undahstan'. An' aftah dey put de red peppah in it, dey takes hit, takes de - Put red peppah, bluestone, alum, an' mix it all togethah, an' sulphur, an' put hit in dere an' ties it up. An' dey ties dat up an' dey carries it. Dey'll eithah bury it right at chure do'step - bury it at chure do'step an' yo' walks ovah all dat. Den dat begin pains about chure haid, right about chure haid. Den when it begin painin' about chure haid, put chew in bad sickness.
Entry 6104
If a fellah has a wife or a woman dat way an' dey Would git a Lock of 'er hair, yo' see, [and] some of 'er dirty pieces, [and] bury it in dat road, dat will give her headaches ~ see, dizzyness in de head, an' will continue wid dat dizzyness in de head long as it stays dere stopped up airtight [in a bot- tle].
Entry 6105
If dey git holt of some of yore hair, dey kin take dat hair an' put it in some hot salty watah, yo' undahstan' an' bury it undah yore step wit de bot- tle neck turnt out from - yo' know, from de way yo' come out de house. Well, dat'll cuz yo' tuh have addle brains. If yo' don' fin' it - if it stay undah dere nine days, dat'll cuz yo' tuh have addle brains.
Entry 6106
Dey take a strand of hair out chure haid an' it kin run yo' crazy. Well, dey take dat hair an' dey bury dat hair. Dey take dat hair an' put it in warm salt an' watah an' bile [boil] it. See, dey'll take a bottle, a quart bottle lak dat, an' dey take dat an' put salt in dere, an' dey put warm watah in dere, an' dey take dat bottle an' bury it about, well say about a foot deep, about a foot deep undah de top of dat bottle, an' let it stay in undah dere six months. Dere ain't no way fo' yo' tuh stay wit chure mind.
(That runs you crazy.)
Yeah.
Entry 6107
Dey kin take whut chew call a lock of yore hair, mean a plait, an' put salt an' peppah in hit, an' wrap de same thing up an' put it at chure do' an' bury it. Yo' cain't stay dere, yo' gotta go. Long as dat stays dere an' yo' don't find it, yo'll keep a-travelin', wandah, an' yo' won't nevah stop. Yo' stay awhile an' den yo'll go somewhere else. Yo'll keep a-goin' but yo' won't be at de same place. Wrap it up in a flannen cloth.
Entry 6108
Yeah, dey kin take yore hair an' sew it up yo' know some people wear shimmy tails - sew it up in yore shimmy tail an' dey'll become tuh love yo', yo' know. [See also, SHIMMY-TAIL TEA, p.647.]
Entry 6109
Well, ah've heard dat dey kin take a lock of yore hair from yore head, cut it out right about de mole somewhere along in dere, an' take dat lock an' wear dat in dere shoes sometime to make yo', yo' know, care fo' dem - make yo' wanta know where dey is.
Entry 6110
Ah take a girl whut ah want - lak ah tell yo' how ah do - tame dat girl an' git up to her. Ah kin take some of her hair yo' know, an' jes' take it an' wear it in de shoe, an' den she'll be crazy 'bout me. She'll be followin' me roun'.
Entry 6111
Take his hair, cut 'is hair out chew know an' take it an' put it in de bottom of 'er shoes, an' she wear dat in 'er shoes. Dat's tuh make him love her.
(Which shoe would she wear that in you say?)
[This question is almost useless; the information should be volunteered.]
In de left shoe.
Entry 6112
Well, dey says dey kin take de mole of yore hair - wimmins could take it an' wear it in de bottom of dere shoe. Dat will make a man follow dem where- somevah dey goes.
Entry 6113
Ah kin take yore hair an' wear yore hair in mah shoe or stockin' an' keep yore mind.
Entry 6114
Jes' lak he'd be settin' down somepin lak dat, an' she'd git a little of his hair. She have to take dat an' wear it in de bottom 'er shoe, see. Well, dat'll stop 'im lak dat.
(Running around with women.)
Entry 6115
A woman kin take a stran' of yore hair an' put it in de collar of 'er shirt, jes' stick it in dere. Dat will make yo' love 'er. Sompin lak dat. Dere diff'rent places yo' kin put it, see, suh.
(You mean it [in the collar] itches him, that will make him love her?)
Yes. Den yo' put it in 'is shoes, in de bottom of de shoe, slip up dat sole-lak [insole] yo' know, an' stick it in dere, why dat will make yo' go way yo' know.
(Put it in his shoes?)
Yeah, dey put it on 'im both ways [to hold or send away], see.
Entry 6116
Dey kin take yore hair an' wear it in dere shoe an' keep yo' down undah den lak dat.
(You mean down in connection with love or something of that sort?)
No sir, jes' keeps yo' down, keeps yo' down underneat' 'em - lak if yo' tryin' tuh go up, why dat keep yo' down, keeps yo' from prosperin'.
Entry 6117
Yo' take an' git some of de hair, it don't make no diff'rence where yo' dt it from, jes' since it's de hair out of 'is haid.
(Out of the bosses head?)
Outa de boss' haid an' wear dat in yore shoe. See, dat's gittin' 'im undah yore feet, an' den he be kind an' do mos' anything yo' want 'im tuh do. Ah tried wit a lady mahself.
Entry 6118
She take his ole shoe, regardless tuh how long de shoe been dere or how ole de shoe is. She take dis shoe an' git some of 'er hair an' put it in dis. shoe an' she wear dat shoe her- self. She will bring 'im back kinda limpin', but he'll stay dere long as she'll continue tuh wear dis ole shoe aroun'. He'll stay home but Soon as she take dis shoe an' put it aside, an' take her hair out, he's gone back [away] ag'in.
(She takes either shoe, it doesn't make any difference?)
Eithah, ain't any diff'rence whut shoe it is.
(Does she wear both of them or just one of them?)
Wear both of 'em, wear both dese shoes.
Entry 6119
Git some of de hair out of yore haid an' put it in yore shoe, in de bottom of yore shoe. Well now, if it's a woman yo' put it down in de bottom of yore shoe an' yo' tote it, an' each foot Wrapped up in some news- Papah. Don't put it in no white papah, put it in a newspapah wit de lettahs on it. Put it in each foot an' yo' wear it. See dat's love. She got to love yo'. Dere's more diff'ren' ways yo' got to learn besides dat, but dat's about de bes' Wy dat it is.
Entry 6120
A man could take a woman's hair an' wear it in de linin' of 'is shoes, an' if he wants tuh go wit 'er, he could beep 'er.
Entry 6121
Dey git holt tuh yore hair, a woman now tryin' yuh. She'll git holt of yore hair an' she'll wear it in de shoe. Undahstan' now, she wear dat in 'er shoe, if she kin git dat hair out de mole of yore haid. She'll lovin' an' git dat hair out de mole of yore haid an' den she'll wear it in 'er shoe'fo' seven days. An' aftah she wearin' dat shoe seven days, she'll den takes it an' put it in a silk piece of cloth an' put dat dere undah 'er pillah an' den she'll sleep wit dat dere undah 'er pillah. Well, den aftah she sleep wit dat undah 'er pillah nine days, she don't care wha' choo do. Well, she got chew jes' lak she wan' chew. Den yo'll lurk aftah her den.
(Does she wear that in either shoe?)
De right foot.
Entry 6122
An' den, say fo' instance, if dey wants to, someone wants to make yo' love 'em, make yo' lak 'em, think about 'em, yo' undahstan', see; aw well, dey would take dat [hair] an' git some silk thread, yo' undah- stan', an' put it in dat hair an' turn [wrap] it to dem. See, wind it, turn it to me all de time, so dat draws yore attention to me, yo' see. Yo' kin do dat, yo' undahstan'. All dey have to do is dey put dat, dey wear dat in dere shoes, yo' undahstan'. Well, durin' dat time, dat will cause dose people to be thinkin' about chew, yo' undahstan'. Why dat calls dere attention towards yo'.
Entry 6123
Some takes dat. (That little bow from a man's hat?) Yessuh, an' a dime, a new dime, an' strain it wit hair from down heah, if dey kin git it, or eithah out de mole of 'is haid, an' dey sew dat up in a little piece of flannen rag an' put it in de bottom of dere foot an' wear it.
(What do they do that for?)
Dat's fo' tuh keep 'im controlled.
Entry 6124
Well, ah've [heard] dat dey will take de hair from de mole of yore haid an' dey will mix dat wit cayenne peppah an' sulphur - an' from yore haid. It take a woman tuh have dat. Dey say she will wear it in 'er shoe or pin it aroun' 'er waist, an' dat will draw yo' tuh 'er.
Entry 6125
Yo' kin [take] hair, if a man's 'way from yo', an' take dis heah little bottom out of 'is shoe. Yo' know dere's a little thin bottom [insole] in 'is shoe, yo' kin pull it up yo' know, an' yo' kin take dis hair an' some table salt an' red peppah an' sulphur an' stir it all up togethah an' yo' puts dis in yore shoes. Or eithah put it in a new piece of homespun. Sew it up in a little piece jes' about dat long, sew it up an' make a long string an' wrap it roun' jes' below yore knees, an' yo' wear dat. Well, dat keeps yo' from git- ting poisoned, an' den it makes yore sweetheart be good to yo' an' come home to yo'. "An' when it gits old, see, yo' change it.
Entry 6126
Yo' kin take nine needles an' a ball [pod] of red peppah an' jes' as much sulphur as yo' want, an' den take some de hair out de mole of 'is haid an' put it in black cloth an' sew it up an' put it in de inside of 'is shoe undah dat little sole dere, an' let 'im wear dat an' he will be nice to yo' an' any- thing dat chew say, he will do it an' nevah be out wit othah wimmins, yo' know. (You wear that in your shoe. Either shoe all right?) Eithah one.
Entry 6127
Yo' take dere hair an' plait it - plait it, yo' know, like dis heah [demonstrates], an' wear it in yore shoe. Yo' kin wear it in yore shoe or yo' kin take it 'tween de sole of yore shoe heah, an' seal it up ag'in tight, an' wear it in yore sole [insole].
(What will that do?)
Dat will kill yore mind, change yore mind.
Entry 6128
If anybody wanta git holt of yore hair, dey take dat hair an' dey'll plait it, work it into de linin' of dere shoes. Wear dat. Well now, yo' may wanta quit 'em, but long as dey wear dat hair in dey shoe, why yo' will always have a Lakin' fo' dem.
Entry 6129
Take a plait out chure haid an' take it an' put salt in it an' black Peppah an' take it an' wear it in de bottom yore shoe. Do dat to make love.
(Do you wear it in either shoe?)
Yes sir an' when ah do it, why everything's all right.
Entry 6130
Do dat in diff'ren' ways. I kin take yore hair - I take yore hair, but if I take yore hair, I take from de mole of de haid. Take yore hair from de mole of yore haid. I would plat yore hair. If I Wants to do yo' any harm, I would plat yore hair. If yo' wuz a woman an' I wanted to make yo' come back to me or some- pin of dat sort, I'd put it in de toe of my shoes, an' I'd wear dat hair in de toe of my shoes. I'd plat it an' put it in de toe of my shoes an' I'd wear dat bair in dere. An' while I'se got dat hair in my shoes, walkin' aroun' wit dat wr, I'd gits me one of dese little small perfume bottles. I writes 'er name dosn wit pen an' ink, nine times. I makes dis bottle full of sweet water, jes' as sweet as I possibly kin git it, but say, anyhow, into a syrup. I would take sngah an' make it into a syrup, see, wit dis watah. Put 'er name down into dis bottle an' 'er hair in de toe of my shoe. Dat's if I would want 'er. See, an' I'd keep 'er dere into dis bottle an' in de toe of my shoe, an' I puts dis bot- te udah my steps, but I would bury it undah de steps. I wouldn't bury it so deep. I would bury it an' den she would come on back home. See.
Entry 6131
In cases den, if yo' wife is done quit chew, yo' woman's quit chew, an' yo' want 'er tuh come back home. If yo' want yore woman tuh come tuh yo' an' she's gone, yo' go an' see, if she comb 'er hair, yo' gits 'er hair an' go tuh dis drug sto' an' git chew - go tuh a store where dere's lotsa people trans- atin' dere, an' git chew one dose big wire coppah tacks, de head of it, an' take 'er hair an' drive it down in yore left shoe. She can't quit chew, she'll come back home an' stay wit chew.
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 6133
He doesn't like her, yo' see. She got all kinda ways in de world to git up to him. She gits some of 'is hair an' she has dat hair dressed. She wear it in her left shoe. (Where would she have that hair dressed?) Well, she goes to a rootworkah of cour se. Ah know fo' mahself she kin git chure hair an' she kin wear dat hair in her shoe natchly [naturally] wit her stocking on, see, fo' nine days, an' dat sock sweat on de hair an' dat'll git chew to goin' wit'out anything in de world in it atall. Don't have to put nc kinda [love] powdah.
(Where did you say she would wear that?)
She wear it in 'er left shoe, right in de hollah part of 'er feet. Yes sir, right out de mole of yore haid.
Entry 6134
A man kin take a stran' of a woman's hair, yo' know, him an' her, she 'bout tuh quit 'im an' he wanta hold 'er, make her love him. Put a stran' of 'er hair in 'is shoe, in de left shoe, an' keep it in dere fo' nine days, in 'is shoe, an' she'll come tuh love him.
Entry 6135
Git 'er hair an' wear 'er hair jes' lak she wears 'is in 'is lef' foot, see, an' git 'im some sulphur an' wear it in dere - not nuthin but jes' de sul- phur. Ain't gotta put no peppah or nuthin 'tall. Wear it in dere fo' twelve days. Where it's goin' tuh be workin', why co'se wear it in dere till it sweat - till it jes' sweat, yo' know, jes' into de bone, an' dat'll keep 'er at home. She won't wanta go nowheres, an' ah've tried dat.
Entry 6136
(What would they do if they got hold of some of my hair?)
Hair? Well, jes' lak if it wuz a woman's hair, an' yo' wanted to be wit dat woman, an' lak yo' an' 'er used to play befo' de time come fo' yo' an' 'er to separate or anything, or any confusion come up. Evah time yo' comb 'er hair, yo' try to git some 'er hair, until yo' git roun' about thirteen stran's. Yo' take dat woman's hair, aftah yo' git thirteen stran's an' yo' plat it up. See, yo' plat up. Yo' take de linin' of yore shoes, raise de linin' of yore left shoe an' yo' put dat.
(You raise that up?)
Yeah, an' put it at de end of yore toe, de tip of yore left aboe, an'yalk on it. Dat woman nevah would leave home. She's always be at home.
Entry 6137
Yo' kin take de hair out of de haid wit a comb - where dey cozb oat de hair, see. Git it an' dey kin take dat hair an' put it in - git chew a piece of paper, de sta- tionery hich dey writes op, see. Write dat name on it an' put de hair in it an' wit three cornahs, see, an' put it in de toe of yore shoe. An' yo' nevah be outa dere employment. Now, ah know dat's true.
(You would not be out of employment.)
Long as yo' work fo' dat person.
(Whose hair do you put in that paper?)
De employer's hair.
(What did you say about those three corners?)
Yo' fold yore paper in three corners - triangle. Qou put it in the toe of what shoe?) Under de left shoe - undah de innah sole.
Entry 6138
Dey say dey take hair from de mole of yore head. Say women'll take dat, say, an' wear it into de left shoe, wit yore name written nine times in wit sugah. If it's not sugah, it be honey - somepin sweet. Wear it in dere left shoe nex' to dere feet, gee. But it must be written wit indelible pencil, nine times. Yo' could when- cah yo're writin' 'er name an' yo' want to draw 'er to yo', well yo' put yore on top, an' yo' put 'er name at de bottom. An' write it nine times straight. De yo' folds it, an' yo' fold it again, but yo' make a triangle of it. De small point of de triangle goes to de heel of yore shoe, de othah two points go to de gide - jes' lak dat [demonstrates]. An' dat othah stuff be right in de middle of yore shoe. (Where do you wear that stuff, in that piece of paper? Do you wrap it up or hat?) In dat papah - it's in dat papah. It's supposed to work in through dat. Dat's posed to sweeten 'er to yo'.
Entry 6139
Dey say dat chew could take a woman's hair out of de front part of 'er d an' wear it in yore right shoe, an' dey say dat would make her be in obedi- ence to yo', an' finely [finally] yo' could kinda handle de rule. An' fine- J she will come to love yo'.
Entry 6140
Yo' [a woman] kin take his right shoe an' shev [shove] sompin up in de Oe, undahstan' me. Well, take his right shoe an' shev 'is hair up in 'is shoe an' take some of dat same of 'is hair an' shev it up in yore doe an' wear it, an' yo' always be togethah de balance part chure days. What shoe would I [the man] wear that [in]? What shoe would the second per-
[the man] wear that in?)
[My question shows me a little confused.]
De second person? Now, she's wearin'dat shoe an' yo's [the man's] wearin' dat shoe, wearin' yore right shoe.
(What shoe is she wearing that in, the left or the right?)
Yo' slip it up in de right, put it in de right. No, she don't have tuh put none in. Yo' steal it an' put it up in her right shoe an' put some of her same hair in yore right shoe. [A pencil note of mine reads, "Clear up the meaning here!"
Entry 6144
Well, yo' kin make a person do anything yo' want 'em tuh do, wit de bir of a person. Yo' kin take de hair off a person's haid, if it's not but one strand, an' if it's a woman, yo' put it wit three pieces of devil's shoestring a yo' could wear dat in de bottom of yore shoe, providin' yo' goin' wit dis an, an' she'll do anything dat chew want 'er tuh do, jes' as long as yo' let dat hair stay in de bottom of yore shoe of de right foot. Well, now, if a woman wanted a man, she gits a piece of 'is hair from de tem- ple an' wears it in 'er right shoe, an' keep it dere always, an' he'll jes' al- ways yield tuh her jes' lak she wants 'im tuh do.
(Where would the man get the hair from the woman?)
Hell, he kin git it off 'er haid if it's jes' a personal love affair, an dat'll make her jes' do anything he want 'er to do, but he puts it wit dis de- vll's shoestring - three pieces.
(But the woman only has to use the hair from his temple?)
De hair from a man's temple wit'out de devil's shoestring.
Entry 6145
Ah heard if yo' takes a girl hair an' jes' lak yo' got a roll in yore sleeve lak dat [demonstrates], cut a hole in dere an' stick dat hair in dere an' wear dat hair evah day. Yo'll make her run aftah yo' - fall in love. [The hole is made under the cuff.]
Entry 6146
Take yore hair an' git yore hair outa yore head an' bury it in a snail shell undah de door- step or at de back windah, an' put yo' to gwinin' [going] an' have yo' where dat yo' won't know - dey'll put aspell or headache onyo' see, an' dat head- aohe will jes' lingah an' lingah undah until it kill yo'. Ain't no cure fo' it, crs de doctor can't cure it, de hoodoo gotta cure it. Yo' can't git it cured un- til yo' be lucky enough to git some hoodoo to go back undah dat windah, undah dat doorstep an' dig dat up an' give it to yo'. Well, when he dig it up an' tell yo' vat to do wit it, den it's to hell an' gone. (I see.) [The hoodoo doctor sends it back to hell whence it came.]
Entry 6147
Jes' lak if yo' wanted a sweetheart woman an' yo' couldn't git to her, æll yo' buy a pair of stockin's an' git a strand of hair out of yore haid an' work it in de fold at de top of dat stockin' an' den give it to her. When she put dat stockin' on, dat make love. (You just take your hair an' sort of weave it into the top of those stockings?) Yes, dat'll make love. Jes' as long as dat hair in dat stockin', why yo' ain't got no trouble atall, whatevah.
Entry 6148
Dat's one way yo' kin make her - yo' let 'er comb 'er hair good, yo' og, 'cuz yo' know women will leave hair in de comb by de roots. An' yo' take m' put it right in de bottom of yore socks. Open de hair flat yo' know an' put it in de socks an' wear it, an' it will weave into yore socks jes' lak de factory put it in dere. An' yo' got her undah yore control dere. (Do you wear that in both shoes?) Yes sir, yo' kin wear it in de both shoes, if yo' wanta - in both of yore socks, an' it will weave into it, chew know. It'll shure weave into it, cuz ah tried it.
Entry 6149
Jes' lak if yo' got a wife an' if she leave yo' an' if yo's married an yo' do want 'er come back to yo'. If yo' could git aholt of 'er, some of 'er hair, a plait of 'er hair an' sew it up in a cloth. Tie it up in a cloth an' sew it on de inside of de sock an' wear dat sock an' nevah take dat sock off, jes' wear dat sock right dere fo' nine days, say she come back to yo' in de ninth or seventh day, but chew wear it on till de ninth day, an' say yo'll have her an' she'll nevah leave no mo'.
Entry 6150
Sure, ah heard dat yo' jes' take dat hair an' put a few little diff'- ren' articles in it an' wear it in yore pocket. Yo' git de hair an' a piece of de foot out de right foot of dere stockin', an' yo' sew dat hair an' dat piece of stockin' togethah an' yo' wear it in yore pocket an' dey have to return.
(Either sock?)
Out de right foot.
Entry 6151
Yo' kin take a man's hair, or eithah a woman's, an' yo' kin take dere hair an' a chicken feathah outa de top of 'is head.
(A feather off the top of a chicken's head?)
Yes sir, an' wear it in yore stockin's or about roun' yore waist or somewhere. Den yo' - den dat'll make dat man or woman can't do no way, yo' can't go nowhere. (Can't go with other women or other men?) Yes, sir. (You have to take that person's hair and a chicken feather from the top of a chicken's head?) An' de hair from de top of 'is head.
Entry 6152
She kin take his stockin's an' turn 'em wrongsides befo' she wash 'em, yo' see, an' den she kin git some of de hairs of 'is haid an' put dat in dose stockin's an' table salt. It's a common thing dis table salt, an' put ut [it] undah de haid of 'er baid - see, fo' nine nights. An' dat'll stop 'im.
(That is if he is running around with other women - make him stay home.)
Yes sir.
Entry 6153
If dey braid yore hair an' spit in dere han' an' fix yore hair, ever' bit of it will come out, cuz mine came out. (Just spit in their hand and rub it in your hair?) If dey spit in dere han' an' fix yore hair. (Just rub their hands over your hair as if they were attempting to fix [arrange] it?) [Notice how I have repeated informant's dere (as their) and fix; this being a frequent practice of mine. Similarly, informants often repeat my words.] Yes, man or woman, don't make no diff'rence. Cuz ah know mine come out an' it nevah did come back no mo'.
Entry 6154
Well, ah heard dat dey could take dat an' put it in a spool, take dis hair an' put it in a spool, into de spool dat de thread comes from. Stop up each end [of spool] an' throw it ovah de shoul- dah in runnin' watah. An' dey say dat'll make a person lose his mind an' travel. Dhroc it ovah de lef' shouldah an' don' look back.
Entry 6155
(Take what?)
If you take a string of thread an' measure it from [I interrupt].
(A string or thread.)
An' measure from de mole of yore haid to de tip of yore toe, yo' know, an' clip a little hair out de mole of yore haid. Take dat an' wrap it up in a forked stick - wrap dat hair an' thread [or measur- ing string] up in a forked stick, an' bury it undah de do'step - dat, yo' know. See, she couldn't quit yo' or couldn't leave dat house until yo' dug dat up.
(I see. This is for the home?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 6156
Yo' jis' git some his hair out de top of de mole of 'is haid, an' git choo a golgree [?] stick about de size of yore fingah. Dat's a flowah dat grow in de swamp wintah an' summah, white as ivory. An' yo' split dat stick in two. Yo' take dat hair an' put hair in dere, an' yo' kin jis' cord it [urap it with cord string] an' stick in yore pocket dataway. An' yo' [ask for 1 job] an' yo' got a job fer life.
[Is this the swamp lily, the white-flowered species of Crinum (C. americum)
found in the southern states of U. S. A? This flower appears elsewhere in the text. I first saw it in a roadside pond on my trip through Virginia and Kentucky in 1922 - see Intro. v.1, p. XxvIII, last paragraph.]
(You get some of the boss' hair [for that stick]?)
No, DON'T GIT IT OUT OF 'IS HAID. GREAT GOD! DAT'LL RUN 'IM CRAZY! [A split or cleft-stick rite is rare (except a dog's hair in, to keep him wne) but it must appear 7 or 8 times in HOODOO.]
Entry 6157
Yuh take a person's hair from 'is haid an' put it in a stick. Wrap it tight an' throw it in runnin' watah. Dey say as de watah runs, dere mind goes from 'em - will cause dem tuh go crazy. (How do they put it in the stick?) Jis' take de stick an' split de stick open an' put it [hair] in it an' wrap it tightly [and tie].
(Any kind of stick.)
Any kind of stick.
Entry 6158
Put dat [a person's hair] in a lil fat Zightah [pine] splintah. Jis' split de splintah an' stick it [hair] in it [the split], an' tie a string aroun' it, an' throw it de way de water's runnin's out, yuh see, an' dat'll run yuh crazy. [Objects of cunjure or hoodoo are usually thrown into ordinary running water, but one must be careful with tidal water. In the present instance the spellcaster casts the spell object downstream to be certain it does not for a second start to move op- posite or past where he is standing.]
Entry 6159
Yuh take a person's hair tuh harm 'em. Yuh kin put it in a bottle an' put a peg in it, a wooden peg an'.- - yuh take dat hair an' put it in a wooden peg, an' put it in a bottle or anythin', an' put a wooden peg in it [peg the bottle]. An' yo' kin chunk it in de rivah ovah yuh lef' shouldah an' dat will harm 'em. (What will that do?) Dat will harm yuh, kill yuh. Dat will run yuh crazy.
Entry 6160
Ah wuz goin' wit a girl oncest an' ah quit dis girl, an' dis girl didn't Want me tuh quit 'er at de time. But den, yuh see, ah stayin' [with] anothah girl dat ah feel tuh mo' den ah did 'er. An' evah time ah'd go wit dis othah girl, well ah'd have trouble wit dis girl dat ah'd guitted. So ah went tuh a doctor, a 'erb doctor, an' inquirewhut could ah do tuh git rid of 'er. He tole me tuh go back [to quitted girl] an' bring 'im jis' as much of 'er hair as ah could git. So ah, ah do dat. Ah went back an' played wit 'er until ah got a chance - ah had me a ole Jem City razor blade - until ah got a chance tuh clip dat hair off. Jis' cut it off so she wouldn't miss it, cut it off jis' here [demonstrates].
(Above the ear.)
Ah give it tuh 'im. He got a peg six inches long. It wuz jis' a lil ole ash peg. He give me de peg an' tole me tuh go down by a creek, down dere aside of a sweet gum tree, an' stick dis peg in de groun', an' take two stran's of 'er hair an' throw in de watah. An' evah mawnin' - he tole me tuh keep enough of de hair- so evah mawnin' ah go dere fo' nine mawnin's tuh throw two stran's of hair in dis watah, an' drive dis peg jis' a lil evah mawnin'. An' evah mawnin' - ah went down fo' nine mawnin's - ah throwed two stran's of de hair in de watah an' driv de peg, an' jis' driv it fer enough so on de ninth mawnin' yuh kin driv it down [completely]. I did dat fo' de nine mawnin's. On de ninth mawnin' - an' ah smack de peg [all the way in]. From den on ah didn't have no mo' trouble wit 'er. He say dat would divide us. He say dat watah wuz runnin', he say dat would divide us. [Wilmington, N. Car., (283), 198: l; this happening at Whiteville, N. Car., in 1929, the doctor's fee being $15.]
Entry 6161
Dey tell me if yuh git a person's hair, even if it's not but one stran', dat chew kin take dat one stran' an' cut a little green stick about a inch long an' wrap dat stran' roun' it, band it up in some cloth an' tie a string on it, an' put it in some runnin' watah, an't [and it] will run 'em right into de 'sylum.
(Run them crazy?)
Yes sir.
Entry 6162
Kin take a person hair an' put it into a sack an' tie it on a stick in runnin' watah an' run 'em crazy. S'long as dat hair stay on dat stick in runnin' watah, why dat person is crazy until yuh take dat hair off an' let it git dry - dat hair.
Entry 6163
Yuh want me tell about de girl. Well, de love ah had fo' girl. She wuzn't doin' right an' ah fom' 'er oat. An' so ah had knowed it tuh be done an ah 'cided [decided] ah'd try it mah- self. An' so ah made 'er come. She wuz in mah house an' ah took a plait of 'er hir right out de top of 'er haid, an' - well, ah kep' it a long time'an' couldn't git 'er tuh do right. So ah takes it down tuh de stream. Ah takes it down tuhde aatah, dis runnin' stream of watah, where dere's root crosses at de bottom of de stream. Ah nailed it tuh dat root in de bottom of dat stream.
(This hair?)
Yessuh, an' in nine days she got where she couldn't stay home. She couldn't stay nowhere she would git tuh, an' finely [finally] at last she packed 'er suit- Oase an' leave dis town. An' she stayed off foah days an' den come on back, an' Stayed home three days an' went ag'in. An' dat's been twelve months ago an' she ain't been seen back heah since.
Entry 6164
Take de hair an' take it in a bottle, if yuh want 'er tuh be absent- rinded - runnin' away, cain't stay wit nobody an' bein' contented. Take dis hair an' put it in a Coca- Cola bottle. Stop it up an' put it in run- In' watah an' tie a string tuh it an' jis' let it bobbin' dere, an' s'long as de watah runnin' cross dat bottle, she be absent. She cain't stay no place. Jis' got'a be goin' all de time. (You have this string tied and this bottle tied to this stick, so that it cm't float away?) Yessuh.
Entry 6165
De way ah heard it - said dey take dey hair an' tie a string roun' it an carry it tuh runnin' watah an' drop it in runnin' watah. An' dey tell me dat will run yuh crazy. Now ah do not know [how true that is]. (How do you mean, run you crazy? Make you lose your mind?) Bake yuh lose yuh mind.
Entry 6166
(Suppose I want to make them stay at home?)
Well yo' take dat hair an' put it in a little small bottle, see, an' put it In da'k place up ovah yore do', an' put about three or fo' spoons of sugah in it. Yo' know, a little odd-size bottle lak dat. An' put it up ovah de do' chere couldn't nobody see it. Dat'll make yore frien' come home.
Entry 6167
If a man leaves a woman an' she want 'im back, she git two stran's of 'is hair, an' aftah she git dose two stran's of 'is hair, she takes some sugah an' den some sulphur an' mix it togethah. An' put 'is hair in dis sugah an' dis sul- phur an' bury it up undah de bottom of 'er do'steps. An' she'll keep 'im all de time. He won't nevah leave her no mo'.
Entry 6168
Dey use de teacups an' things lak dat.
(How do they do that?)
Well, now dey take dat teacup an' dey'll go to some place yo' know lak heah [the house in which I was interviewing]. Dey go out at dis time an' git a half a dozen new teacups. (A half dozen new teacups?) Uhmm. An' den dey'll use one dem cups. Dey git dat woman's hair or sompin othah concernin' 'er some way, an' put it in dat cup an' bury it roun' 'er do'step. An' den dey keep one fo' deyself. An' den dey'll give dere frien one an' den dey take dat cup yo' know an' bury in de groun' yo' know, an' de one dey bury it fo', dey jis' go 'way to nuthin - 'stead of goin' fahwards dey go right backwards.
(How many cups do they use?)
Only one.
(Well, now where do they bury that cup?)
Bury it right under de corner of - de no'th corner of dere house.
(Whose house?)
De man or wumman whut dey workin' ag'inst.
(What kind of a cup must it be?)
A teacup - stone [not tin], dese heah earthen.
(And they just bury it with something that belongs to the person, in that?)
Yes, dey'd go 'way to nuthin.
Entry 6170
Ah have heard from people dat chew could go to de fork of de road an' see all kind of scarey things lak dat an' people kin fix yo' lak dat. (How would they fix you like that?) Well, dey kin take - some people take yore hair an' den prick one of yore fingahs till it bleed, git three drops of blood, an' have yo' crazy where yo' jis' walk a lot. (I want you to tell me the details. What would they do with that three drops of blood they got from your finger?) Dey takes it an' put it on yore hair an' dey take it an' sew it up an' dey kin fix yo' dataway where yo' won't even love no woman or anything lak dat.
(Well, what do they do with that hair then, after they put that blood on it?)
Well, dey kin wear it. (Well, now a person would get my hair and then put her blood on my hair and sew it up?) Shure, an' den yo' begin to love nobody but 'er.
Entry 6171
An' den if yo' wants to be in love wit a girl, yo' take de stran's of hair, about three stran's of hair out of 'er head, an' take it an' sew it into de left cornah of yore shirttail an' wear it dere. An' yo' can't git rid of 'er, she'll still love yo'. (In what part of the shirttail, front or back?) In de left corner in de front.
Entry 6172
Dey kin take three strands of yore hair an' put it in a perfume bottle, Heart Perfume, an' stop it up tight an' dat will draw 'er love to dis man.
(Of this man to this girl.) Of dis man to dis gurl. (What do you do with this bottle?)
Why yo' keep dat bottle.
Entry 6173
Take de hairs from underneath yore arm an' de haid - yo' know, undah yore clothes down dere, an' wash yore feet. An' yo' know, sometime yo' don't wash yore feet in a long time, dere be lots of ole dead skin on it, yo' know, an' yo' kin take an' scrape dat off. An' den yo' kin take dis watah yo' see an' put it in sompin. A woman had mah brothah fixed lak dat. AN' AH PROMISED DE LORD AH'D NEVAH FIX A MAN NO HAY. IF ONE DON'T WANT ME, AH DON' WANT 'IM. So she had mah brothah fixed jes' lak dat - she had 'im fixed up jes' lak dat.
Entry 6174
(What do they say about that?)
Well, yo' take Hearts Cologne lak ah tole yo', lak dey git it an' dress it fo' to keep yo'. Well, yo' git 9 pins, bran'-new pins what have nevah been used, an' yo' git Hearts Cologne. An' when yo' buy dat bottle of cologne, yo' take de stoppah out - yo' see, cuz dat stoppah been used. An' yo' buy a new stoppah, cork stoppah, an' yo' stick 9 pins in dat cork stoppah. Undahstan? An' put it right down in dat Hearts Cologne. Now, lak dere's some man ah want. I will try to git a piece off 'is clothes, anythin' an' put it in dere, yo' undahstan', fo' 9 days. Well, aftah I gits it in dere, whatsomevah ah want - den ah try to git a piece of 'is hair, an' some of 'is fingahnails an' toenails. If ah can't cut 'em, ah'll jes' take a little file here an' make out ah'm jes' playin' wit 'is han', an' file it off at de same time an' gittin' it in mah han'. Undahstan'? An' if ah kin git a piece of hair from undah his arm, yo' undahstan', an' git a piece of hair from de lowah Part, an' put it all in dere, an' 'tis nuthin atall he kin do unless ah command 'in to do it.
(I see.)
Entry 6175
Gits de hair of a person an' put it wit red peppah, three pods of red peppah, mix it, an' call De Father, Son an' Holy Ghost. Dat three, an' go wit dat hair an' put it undahneat' dere pil- lah or sock [stuff] it up in one cornah of de pillah. An' dat will make 'em stay home. (Make a man stay home or a woman stay home.) [I have interpreted pillar as ooe of the 4 or 5 foundation pillars upon which the small lowland rests, rather than pillah = pillow. The meaning was evidently clear to me at the time, but a question here would have helped later.]
Entry 6176
Take yore hair an' put it into a pint of watah an' put some red peppah an' salt in it an' bury it in de groun' In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, an' dey'll shure leave de worl'.
(Well, how do you put that water into the ground - won't it run away or what?)
[Evidently it is stopped up in a pint bottle.]
Entry 6177
Yo' take de hair an' put it in a piece of white homespun an' sew it up in dere an' make a band and put it roun' yore waist an' dampen [feed] it wit camphor fo' nine mawnin's In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, an' it will bring love in yore home.
Entry 6178
Well, it's anothah thing about de hair. Dey kin take de hair an' gain de influence or love of a woman, by yo' takin' it eithah to a lovedove [love- bird]. Git dat lovedove an' take de feathahs from 'im wit'out 'im bein' bushin' up or anythin' - yo' know, pick dem. Put 'em in de stove an' let 'em parch yo' know good an' dry. Den yo' take some of de hair from de lady - woman. Well, she take all dat an' make a powdah of dat. Well, first she'll put some of dat on yo' an' den she take de rest of it wit dat Adam-an'-Eve root. Den she wear dat in a bag, see. Well, dat will gain de influence of love wit 'er - well, it cause two peo- ples tuh come to git married.
(She put some of her water - urine did you say?)
She put some of her [hair].
(From her head?)
Yes.
(And she puts them with these dove feathers that have been burnt up?)
Yes - yo' know, make a powder of it.
(And put it in this bag and wear it?)
Yeah, aftah she put some on de othah - on de man.
(Where does she put them on him?)
Jes' anywhere on 'is body while he's sleep. Den she take de rest of it an' she wears it in heah jes' in a bag, but she have to take a Adam-an'-Eve root, yo' know, tuh git de rest of de good out of it.
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 6180
If yo' want 'em [to] stay, why dey git a lock of yore hair, see, an' salt, peppah an' blacksnake root or Samson [snakeroot] - it's one of dose root, an' wrap it in flannen cloth an' put it in a bottle an' airtight it, den bury it. Bury it undah de step of yore do'.
Entry 6181
Take de hair an' put de hair in de socks - yo' know, tuh whom it may concern. Take de sock cloth an' tack it, yo' know, whare de toe an' de heel an de top part, an' nail it down undah de haid of de baid. Dat's supposed tuh make yore husband stay at home.
(Do you use either sock?)
Use his sock, eithah sock. If dis is de haid of de baid, well yo' put de top of de sock undah de haid of de baid, an' den yo' tack yore heel an' tack yore toe [demonstrates]. (The toe is pointing down tovard the foot of the bed.) Dat's it. An' yo' supposed tuh let de toe be turned, not to de do' but from de do' of de room dat chew back tack 'en. Yo' use his hair an' yo' use yore hair an' yo' put dem both in dat [sock].
Entry 6182
Jis' lak if yuh wants tuh run anybody crazy or sompin lak dat, well now yuh kin take dere hair oaten de mole of de haid, an' wrap it up in silvah papah, dis nice quick silvah Papah [tinfoil], an' put it in runnin' watah, an' dat'll run 'em crazy. [Flor- ence. S. Car. (1320), 2263:8.]
Entry 6183
[The general theme about hair and tree is threefold: A hole is bored into a tree, hair is put in this hole, and the hole is sealed by driving into it a wooden peg. This theme is then developed into the many rites that follow. Additional rites will be found in the INTERVIEWS and elsewhere in HOODOO.] Now, I had a uncle dat died in Chicago, named Howard Ham, when I wus a boy of about eight years old. (About thirty-five years ago.) [1903.] [I am not guessing informant's age. The time was evidently given before recording began; as soon as I thought he might have a story.] Yes, sir. It wus a girl named Lizzie Quinn [Queen?l suffahed wit 'er head all de time, an' aftah she wus dead, dey wus postin' up a tree [making fence posts out of a tree] an' he foun' dis girl's hair in de tree - bust it [the log] an' dey cuts it open an' dey foun' dis girl's hair in de tree wit a peg driv up in it, wit dat hair up in dat hole. But it killed her, dat's what dey said. She suffahed wit 'er head all de time.
(What did you say they burst - busting what?)
[I changed my burst into busting to make sure informant understood.]
Dey wus bustin' [splitting the tree trunk]. Dey had sawed de tree down, yo' 9s
(Oh, yes.)
An' gittin' out board timbah, yo' see, an' it bust open.
(Board timbers.)
An' it bustin', dat cuts open, yo' know, dey'd run up on dis peg, an' dey bust f open an' found 'er hair.
(Found her hair, I see. That happened down here?)
Yes, sir. Dat out chere 'bout eighteen miles. [They were cutting down trees to make boards at the sawmill when someone saw a pegged-up hole in the trunk of this tree. Instead of leaving the long log for boards, the leader of the loggers decided to saw it into proper lengths and split it up into fence posts. How did they identify the hair as Lizzie Quinn's? She gas probably the last living person in the neighborhood subject to headaches; or perhaps there had been gossip about her dying from cunjure.]
Entry 6184
I know of a young man that was courting a young woman, and the parents of the young woman didn't like this young man because he Was very rough and row-. They told their daughter they didn't want this man to come to their house. And after that the young man he got mad. So he went away. He began to talk among other people and somebody told him how to get the advantage of this young girl. They told him to cut a piece of hair from her head and go to a tree, and take an auger and bore a hole in this tree, and put the hair in the hole and stop this hole up, and in the course of time this woman would go crazy.
Entry 6185
Ah heard dat chew could take mah hair, if yo' wants tuh run me crazy. Cut a patch of hair out mah haid whilst ah sleep an' take a augah, a brace an' bit, an' bo' a hole in a tree, an' fetch dat hair an' put it in dere, an' den take a wedge an' put in dat tree an' cover over dat tree, an' den AH'LL HAVE DE HEADACHE AS LONG AS AH LIVE, an' by an' by dat will kill me.
Entry 6186
Dey take an' go git some of yore hair an' cuz yo' to lose yore mind. Dey take yore hair an' put it in - bo' a hole in a tree, put dat hair in dere. An' as dat tree grows, yo' know dat hole where yo' bored in dere will grow back in dere, an' yo' begin to lose yore mind.
Entry 6187
Now listen, self experience ah'm tellin' yo' dis. Yo' kin take a lock of yore hair an' yo' kin - see heah, dis is a tree. Yo' bo' a hole in dat tree. Dis is de comb. Yo' see, her [hairj. An' yo' put dat hair into dis tree an' yo seal it up. Aftah a time - [seal it up] INTO A GROWIN' TREE, yo' undahstan'. From time tuh time yo' go dere - it be jes' lak a wound, close right in lak dat.
(Like a wound closes.)
Yes - yes, dat tree will close. Yo' undahstan'? An' it'll run me atchly
[actually] crazy.
Entry 6188
Now tuh run 'em crazy, dey could take a person hair an' take an' go to a tree an' cut a place in it. In othah words bo' a hole in it an' put de hair in dere an' stop it up airtight. Say dat would DRIVE 'EM AWAY FROM 'EM, an' will event'ly [eventually] kill 'em.
Entry 6189
Ah've heard of a person bo'in' a hole in a tree an' puttin' yore hair in dis tree an' it would run yo' blind, if yo' stop it up. (If you stop the hair up in a tree, it would run you blind.)
Entry 6190
Ah heah of folks takin' - if dey wants run yo' crazy or sompin like dat - iis' take an' bo' a hole in a 'simmon tree an' git some of yore hair an put it in dere an' stop it up.
(Do you have to put that in a persimmon tree, or any kind of a tree?)
Have to be a 'simmon tree, yassuh.
Entry 6191
An' den yo' kin take some hair an' have a hole bo'd in a tree an' take dis hair an' salt an' sulphur an' peppah, red peppah or eithah black peppah, an' stir it togethah an' put it in dis hole in dis tree an' cork it up. That will kill a man.
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 6193
They tell me you take a live person's hair and bore a hole into a tree, a live tree of course, place this hair in it. You blow your breath in it, in that hole, and force this hair in that hole. And that tree will drindle and finally die. And as that tree dies, their health will decay. And when that tree is dead, they will be dead. [Fredericksburg, Va., Ediphone, Cyl.61.]
Entry 6194
Ah heard dat dey could take dat hair of yores an' put it in a bag, an' go tuh a cherry tree an' bo' a hole in dat tree, an' make a peg tuh fit it an' drive it up in dat tree, an' dat would run yo' crazy. [To put hair into a small bag before inserting it into tree is rare, but see 6196 which also requires a cherry tree.]
(Must it be in a cherry tree?)
Dat's whut dey tole me - a cherry tree.
Entry 6195
Jes' take - lak I'd be havin' a woman or somepin.
(TALK A LITTLE LOUDER, PLEASE.)
Ah say, jes' lak ah'd be havin' a woman or somepin lak dat. Well, she could - ah could be on relief or somepin lak dat, yo' see, an' she may didn't want me to quit 'er, yo' see. She'd go to work an' take some of mah hair whilst ah'm asleep or somepin an' take it out to a tree or prob'ly lak dat, an' take a nail or, yo' know, a augah or somepin an' bore a hole in dere jes' deep enough to get dat hair in dere. Well, any time yo' put it in dere, yo' gotta put it ovah six inches. Dat will make it roun' about nine inches deep lak dat. [Why 9 inches, I do not understand.] An' fill dat hole back up, but instead of puttin' back de [auger shavings], why yo' fill it up wit stuff dey usely [usually] calls famnel.
(Flannel?)
Flannel, an' den on top of de flannel, why yo' take turpentine an' turpentine dat flannel good, an' put it in yore hair an' drive it back in dat tree. Lots of times dat runs people crazy. De same thing if dey got some of yore clothes.
Entry 6196
Ah've heard of 'em bo'in' a hole in a tree on de side de sun rise an' bary people's hair an' - but ah think dey use sulphur wit it, but ah'm not posi- tive. Dey put hair, a bag of hair, an' dey stop it up an' it will lock yore bowels, too. [For bag of hair in tree hole, see preceding submargin title (3) CHERRY TREE.] Dat's whut ah wus tryin' tuh git [to tell you]. It will lock yore bowels wit whatevah dey put to it - de ingre- dfents dey put to it. [For human excrement and hole in tree, see section EXCREMENT.]
Entry 6197
An' anothah thing wit yore hair, dey kin take yore hair an' vrap it Mom' three coffin nails an' go to a tree, cut a gash in dat tree an' lay it in dere. Jes' lay it dere an' nail it down in dere wit a staple-lak, yo' know, where it will stay. Let it stay dere on de east side of dat tree, an' let it be a young tree. As dat tree grow an' heal up, as dat tree covah it [hole] up, when it completely covahs dat, yo' die. Yo'll be sickly all de time atil it covahs up an' yo' will die.
Entry 6198
Yo' bury dat in a fig tree.
(This hair. Just how would you bury it in a fig tree?)
Yo' take de hair an' yo' burn it first. Yo' burn dat hair an' yo' put it [ashes] in some brown papah an' yo' take it an' yo' carry it to a fig tree. But don' bury it undahneat' de root, yo' dig a hole into dat tree, a small hole where evahthing small kin go in dat bark. Yo' see, dere bark on de tree, an' yo' jis' shove it way up in dere an' in de nine days dey gone. (WHAT WILL THAT DO TO THEM? DOES IT RUN THEM CRAZY, KILL THEM, DRIVE THEM OUT OF TOWN, MAKE THEM COME BACK? WHAT DOES IT DO?) DEY DIE! CAIN'T LIVE!
(I JUST WANTED TO KNOW.)
Entry 6199
Take yore hair an' put it in de fo'k of a tree. Split it down, de fork down fer enough, an' put de hair in dere an' tie it [fork] back [together]. When it grow back [together], jes' as it grow back, yo' come to losin' yore mind - yo' go crazy. (You use a small tree for that?) [Splitting a fork suggested small tree.] Yes, sir.
Entry 6200
If yo' wanta git a person out de way, dat's whut de ole folks have said. De person dat yo' wan'a git out de way, yo' git some of 'is hair an' take it tuh de woods, an' git chew a augah an' bo' a hole in de no'th side of de tree, an' git chew a frog an' put dat frog in dere on top of dat, an' git chew a wedge an' put dat wedge in dere an' drive it in tight, an' evah day yo' go back an' tap dat wedge. Well, when dat frog dies, why dat person die. Well, yo' git 'im out de way, yo' undahstan'.
(When the frog dies, that person dies.)
Entry 6201
I've heard people say dat yo' kin take when de sap rise, at a certain change of de moon, an' yo' kin take a live frog an' put in dat. Yo' bo' three holes in dere wit a brace an' bit: one De Father, an' one De Son, an' one De Holy Ghost. Un- dahstan'? (The sap rises in what?) De sap rise in a tree, yo' know. What I mean, by de sap risin' in de spring of de year. Say, an' take an' bo' three holes in dat tree. Undahstan' me: Dat's one De Father, one De Son, an' one De Holy Ghost. An' yo' kin hollah dose holes out in- to one, an' put a live frog in dere, an' dey kin git some of yore hair an' put in dere. An' dey Say, WHEN DAT SAP BEGIN TO COME DOWN AG'IN, SAY DAT DE HEAT FROM DAT SAP WILL RUN DIS FROG CRAZY DERE; AN' DEY SAY, AN' AFTAH DEY RUN 'IM CRAZY IN DAT [HOLE] ALIVE, WHY HE BEGINS TO EAT DAT HAIR. Why yo' kin take a frog anywhere an' he see somepin - roll a ball or...
(JUST A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.)
Yo' kin take a frog an' put 'im on de flo' here an' roll a ball [gunshell shot]. He'll eat de shot fast as yo' rolls it to 'im. [This belief is wide- spread in the South, though I did not always record it.]
(He what?)
Yo' kin take a frog an' put 'im on yore flo' dere, an' yo' roll dat ball - little shot dere. Yo' know, little ball, some kinda gunshell, any kind - yeah. He'll eat 'em fast as yo' git 'em to 'im dere.
(Oh, I see - eating shot.)
Well, I done said, aftah yo' git dat hair when dat sap begin to come down again in dat tree, yo' undahstan', to de epiderma of de tree here - dat epiderma here. De epiderma is de outside linin' of de tree here. [And the word epiderma is also rare in Hoodoo!] He will go crazy. De heat from dat sap will run 'im crazy an' he eat dat hair. An' when he eat dat hair, say yo' will go [crazy] yourself.
(Which hole do you put him in?)
No, yo' bo' three into de tree wit a brace an' bit. Dere yo' are. Den yo' hollah dem three out an' into one dere.
(Oh, these three holes you make into one.)
Dere yo' are.
(And put the frog into the one hole, and then you stop it up some way?)
Yes, stop it up dere wit a piece of galvanized tin here - see, put a piece of galvanized tin ovah dat hole an' stop it up.
Entry 6202
It's got'a be a lock of yore hair from de mole of de head, an' dat must be buried in de highest tree aroun' in dat vicinity. It have to be put on a nail or somepin dat it could be driven in dat tree. An' as de sap rises, yore mind will begin to be inflected [afflicted]. Any kin'a tree, but it must be in a forest like where dere's a thickness, thickest [not thicket, a growth of small trees] - see, like a woods. An' it got'a be a time of year de sap is risin'.
Entry 6203
Dey say if yo' take it [hair] outa de mole of yore head - dat's what dey say. Dey say yo' get it from de centah, from de mole of yore haid yo' call it. Yo' pull it out until yo' kin see dat littlewhite. It looks lak de root of yore hair, yo' see. An' yo' take it up on a hilltop an' take a augah an' bore a hole in a green tree. When yo bore dat out yo' stick dat [hair] in dere an' den take eithah cement or mortah or somepin an' covah dat up in dere an' dis person will always suffah wit de beadache an' have a wandahin' mind.
Entry 6204
[We must keep in mind that hollow tree in the following rite means sany degrees of hollowness:] I heard a story from my mother and she said this lady's daughter - there was amother lady that Was jealous of this lady's daughter becuz this lady's daughter was smarter than her daughter. And they got some of the [smart] daughter's hair and put it in a hollow tree. And this girl began to be funny and very queer, and nobody knew ohat the trouble was. So finally they had a woman who was supposed to know some- thing about this cunjuration - a medium they called the lady - to tell them some- thing. And this medium told them to go to this tree and they'd find some of the girl's hair there. And so they did. But of course in the meantime the girl had lost her mind. It set her crazy. She never recovered.
Entry 6205
A person kin git holt of some of yore hair an' quite natchul [natural] yo' take dat hair, yo' see, to a hollah tree, a tree's got a hollah in it, an dey buries dat hair in dat tree. Co'se quite natchully [naturally], dey puts some more devilment wit it an' dat'll git chew tuh goin' - it jis' git chure head tuh hurtin'. Prob'ly it will git chew tuh de place where yo' can't stay no place long at de time.
Entry 6206
Dey kin run yo crazy wit yore hair.
(How will they do it?)
Well, dey take yore hair an' stop it up in a hollah tree, an' as long as dat stoppah is in dat tree, well yo'll be crazy. Well, if dey Wanta take it offa yo', dey kin go dere an' take de stoppah outa de tree, an' yore mind will come back to yo'.
Entry 6207
Dey say dey take yore hair an' stop it up in a tree, some kinda tree dey finds in de woods - I can't say it right. I heard dat when I wuz a child, but I remembah some por- tion of it. Dey take nine strands of yore hair. Dey put it in a tree an' stop it up. Dey say it'll run yo' crazy.
(Do you remember the name of the particular tree that they put it in?)
No, ah - it's a red oak.
(Red oak?)
Red oak tree wit de hollah.
(With a what?)
With a hollah - hole in it.
(Oh, there's a hole in it. I see.)
Entry 6208
Ah have heard of when dey git holt of dis hair, dey kin take it an' put it in a tree. Dat makes yo' go crazy. (How do they put that in a tree?) Take dat hair, live hair - dey have to git it outa yore head, yo' know - an' dey bo'es a hole in dat livin' tree an' put dat hair in dere an' peg it. Dat's whut dat is.
Entry 6209
Or eithah take yore hair an' yo' - lak yo' comb yore haid. Dis hair dat done come out on de comb, yo' kin take dat an' roll it up, git de augah an' go wit dat to a live tree, put it in de live tree an' make yo' a stoppah, lak a plug, an' plug dat hair in dat tree. An' as dat tree grow, see dat hole will close up, an' finally it'll grow ovah. Well, dat will run [you] a [as] crazy as a betsy bug.
(Crazy as what?)
Crazy as a betsy bug.
(Crazy as a betsy bug?)
Yassuh.
Entry 6210
Ah've heard two things about it. Take de hair an' bo' a hole in a green tree an' put de hair in dere an' drive a green peg on de hair. Dat'll make yo' crazy.
Entry 6211
Or take yore hair out de haid an' go tuh a tree, a green tree, an' take yore knife an' split a place in dere, an' pack dat hair in de tree an' shet it up an' let de tree grow on it. Yo'll go crazy.
Entry 6212
It have been said dat, if yo' take dat hair an' take it to a tree, an bo' a hole into de tree, into a green tree, an' poke dat hair in dah an' wedge it up, yo'll go contin'ly [continually] wit a headache until yo' die prob'ly, or un- til de tree is cut away. Yo' last long as de tree, it have been said.
Entry 6213
Heard dey put things in de tree, jes' lak dey wanted tuh har 'em or sech as runnin' 'em crazy or sompin lak dat. Ah heard dat dey kin take yore hair an' put a hole in de tree, an' put chure hair in dat tree an' stop it up, or take a nail an' punch it down - take a nail hole an' punch it [hair] down. Drive a nail down on it an' nail it in dere, an' dat will run yo' crazy.
Entry 6214
Ah tell yo' anothah thing dat ah have heard. Dey kin take yore hair an'run yo' crazy.
(How do they do that?)
Well, dey claim dey kin take it an' wrap it [about a nail] an' nail it up in a tree, an' aftah nailin' it up, unless yo' kin git it down some way, it jis' makes yo' go nutsy-nuts.
Entry 6215
Dey kin take yore hair an' yo' kin use it in a tree - use yore hair in- to a tree an' run yo' crazy.
(How would they use that into a tree?)
Jes' have to cut a hole unto it or eithah have to pull de bark up on de tree. Place de hair undahneat' de tree [bark] an' nail it back. An' I've found dat dis ll run yo' crazy.
Entry 6216
Dey say dat chew take de hair outa person's het [head] an' take it to a tree an' a eight-penny nail, an' reach jes' as high up dat tree as yo' kin reach, an' nail dat hair up in dat tree jes' as high as yo' kin, an' den nail dat nail down an' dat hair in dere. An' says dt vill give yo' de headache an' yo' would die.
Entry 6217
Take de hair an' take a new nail an' bore a hole in de tree an' drive 'en in dere. Dat's de last of yo'.
(Well, did you put this hair in the hole?) Yeah. (What do they do with the nail then?)
ive it in behin' de hair.
Entry 6218
Bo' a hole in a tree wit a new auger an' dey'll git a new stopper an' dl dat hair in de tree [with a new nail]. Dey say dat'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 6219
Take fo' stran's of yore hair, yo' understand, an' make a foldin' plat outa it. Aftah dey plat dat hair, dey take a brand-new nail, a eight-penny dl, an' carry it out in de woods an' git on de north side of a tree. You see, te BORTH SIDE OF A TREE HAS A HEAVY BARK on dat side. An' take dat bark an' jIs barely crack dat bark enough to put dat hair in dere, see. Wedge dat hair in tere. An' take dis eight-penny nail an' drive it in up to de eye [of the nail]. Pat SUPPOSed to kill yuh. [INFORMANT DOES NOT KNOW THAT THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TEE HERE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE THICKNESS OF THE BARK. THE NORTH SIDE OF TTHING, ESPECIALLY OF A CEMETERY, IS A VERY UNLUCKY PLACE.]
Entry 6220
If dey wants yuh tuh suffah or eithah wants yuh tuh git well, dey takes a' dey go tuh a oak tree an' take some of yore hair or eithah yore name. Write It on a piece of papah an' drive fo' nails in dis tree halfway. An' take an' tdve dese fo' nails in dis piece of papah wit yore name in it halfway. Uhat do they do that for?) Dey do dat if yo's sick an' anybody harmin' yo' an' yo' wanta git well. Puts dese nails an' dis name of yore in dere an' drive dese fo' nails in dere halfway in dis tree - dis oak tree or any kinda tree. [Here we have a general cure for ailments rather than a specific one for the tree spell only. The ail- ing victim sacrifices himself to the sickness-harm causing spirit by offering this spirit his name, magically his person. However, the nails driven halfway into the name reveal a mock sacri- fice, a trick played against the troublesome spirit, always a simple-minded fel- low.]
Entry 6221
Why dey take yore hair, pin or needle points an' bore a hole in any live green tree. A hole, an' put it in dere an' take a lighter peg [see later], a wooden peg, an' drive it in dere as tight as yo' kin git it, an' saw it off right even wit de tree. Dey say dat person will go crazy. [The preceding lighter, occurring many times in Hoodoo, is a stick or piece of chopped wood from one of several pines used as a lighter for fires. If a. pine is rich in pitch, it's called a fat-lighter pine.]
Entry 6222
Yuh git hold of some of yuh hair an' bore a hole in a tree wit a auger an' put yuh hair up in dere. An' dat'll kill yuh aftah nine days. Yuh're bound tuh die.
Entry 6223
Wit chure hair - well, now, ah'll tell. Yuh want me tell yuh whut a person kin do wit chure hair. Ah tell yuh whut a man could do wit chure hair. He could take yuh hair an' bo' a hole in a tree wit a gimlet, an' stop it up in dere wit a peg an' kill yuh by it. BUT IT TAKES A DIRTY SCOUNDREL TUH DO IT. But chew could knock dat nine maWnin's until yuh drive dat peg up jis' as fur dem nine mawnin's, de peg in de tree wit a gimlet. An' yuh kill a man by it. BUT IT TAKES A DIRTY PERSON TUH DO DAT.
Entry 6224
Ah tell yo' jis' how dey do dat. All right, dey will steal yuh hair- eithah parts of yuh body wherevah hair grow at. Dey kin take it an' ball it up tight, an' take a small nail an' carry it tuh a tree, an' cut a little hole into de tree, an' drive it jis' as fur in dere as dey kin. An' den dey go back an' drive dat hair fo' nine mawnin's an' den yuh's done gone crazy. Dat's de way dey drive yuh crazy, see.
(They go back there each morning and hit that nail?)
Nine mawnin's.
Entry 6225
I heard 'em say yo' takè a auger an' go tuh a tree an' bo' a hole in it. Den yo' kin take de hair - take de pieces of dere dress or dey shirt or dey clothes, whut dey wears, an' de bands out dere hat [auto horn] or anythin' lak dat - somepin dat dey use. An' take an' put it in dat tree - in dat place where yo' bo'd out. An' take an' git chew a sharp peg - a [pine] lighter peg whut won't rot, an' drive it up jis' as hard as yo' kin drive. Dey kin go out dere fo' nine mawnin's yo' know an' jis' knock it - take a hammah an' hit it one time. Do dat fo' nine mawnin's. Say dat'll run a person crazy.
Entry 6226
Now a person kin take yore hair out of yore haid an' dey kin go tuh a tree an' cut a hole outa dat tree an' den put chure hair inside dat tree on de quartah of de moon [see later] an' after dey put chure hair in dat tree - dey puts a peg in dat tree [hole] an' dey drive dat peg fo' nine mawnin's. See evah mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's dey go out an' hit it fo' nine mawnin's. Now, dat peg, aftah dat peg be tapped fo' de nine mawnin's, dat's fo' tuh run yo' Crazy. Dat's tuh run yo' outa yore senses. Yo' don't have no senses atall - yo' be stone crazy.
(What do you mean, the quarter of the moon?)
Jis' lak when de moon firs' came out. Dat's whut ah call quartah, when it firs' come out. [PRESUMABLY THE VICTIM WILL SWELL UP WITH THE MOON, THEN BEGIN TO PALE AWAY ITH THE MOON, AND FINALLY DISAPPEAR WITH THE MOON.]
Entry 6227
I've heard my mother say, if you want to do anything to anyone, get a piece of their hair and carry it to the north side of a tree, put the hair against the nail, and drive the nail for nine mornings. That'll kill them.
Entry 6228
They take the bair from the top of your head and bore a hole in the north side of an oak tree ad plug it up, drive a nail in the hole. And they go back every day for nine days and tap the nail, and the last day they drive it in as far as they can. Then chey claim you die.
Entry 6229
Ah've heard about de hair, two diff'ren' things. De hair out de haid, take dat hair an' put it in a papah, an' nailin' it tuh Le no'th side of a tree, an' attendin' it - go tuh it, say nine times, once a Lg. Go tuh dat hair an' jis' put 'is han' on it lak dat, an' dat's de way yo git results. (You just nail it up on the tree?) Yessuh, on de no'th side. (And you go there once a day for nine days Id just put your hand on it. That is all you have to do?) Dat's so if anybody would mess wit it. Yo' put it dere purposely.
(Well, what is that supposed to do to you?)
Well, it supposed tuh carry yo' down.
Entry 6230
If dey git hold-a some-a yuh hair outa yuh head, or prob'ly from any- dere about chew where dey could git hair - from undah yuh arms, maybe yuh pri- vate or somewhere. Yuh kin take dat hair an' go tuh a tree, an' yuh kin bo' a hole right in dat tree. See, say fer instance deep enough, say fo' or five fches deep on de north side of dat tree. An' git yuh a peg jis' tuh fit dat hole. Yuh put turpentine on dat hair an' put it in dat hole. An' take dat peg a' drive it on dat an' leave 'bout nine licks tuh covah dat peg up. An' go dere evah mawnin' between six an' nine a'clock an' give one lick on dat peg. De first mawnin' yuh start, dey starts wit a headache an' fin'ly - evah mawnin' he g dere an' hit it fo' nine mawnin's. An' evah mawnin' yuh hit it, yuh git wuce orse] an' wuce wit dat headache. Hit got so severe sometime - de last mawnin he hit it, yuh mind will leave yuh. Yuh supposed tuh die, CUZ HE DRIVE YUH UP IN DAT TREE AN' YUH DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS, AN' IT'S GONE, AN' YUH GROWS INTUH DAT SAP [hair grows in tree, see No.5804f.].
Entry 6231
Co'se ah didn't do it mahself, but ah seed a woman doin' it. She'd taken anothah woman's hair an' bo'd a hole in a tree an' she put it in dere. She cut nine notches on a stick an' evah mawnin' she go dere an', yo' know, nail it down a notch fo' nine mawnin's.
(What happened?)
Well, de woman she went crazy.
Entry 6232
Dey kin git some of yuh hair an' bo' a hole in a tree, an' stop it up in dere, an' go dere an' shoot nine mawnin's. Why yo' daid! Shoot dat hole where dey got chure hair stopped up in it.
(That will kill you?)
Yes.
Entry 6233
Dey could git chure hair an' go tuh a hole, if dey wanted tuh run yuh crazy. Go tuh a hole of a tree an' - bo' a hole in a tree an' put de hair in it. An' git some of yuh nurinate whut chew done, an' put in dat hole an' stick a peg in dere. An' drive dat peg fo' nine mawnin's. An' if yo' didn't go crazy, dey say it would kill yuh.
Entry 6234
Dey take a lock of yuh hair an' go tuh de west side of a tree, see. An' dey take a augah an' bo' a hole, jis' a little tiny hole in dere - say a quartah inch augah. An' bore it about half-a inch an' take dat hair, an' have it wropped up in a piece of red flannel, an' put it in dat hole. Take a eight or ten-penny galvanized nail an' place it right by dat hole, jis' about a quartah of a inch, sompin sim'lah [similar] tuh dat. An' fer nine mawnin's dey go an' hit on dat nail. An' dat will - it won't kill yuh but it will run yuh crazy.
Entry 6235
(Well, you tell me.) Well, they say, that you kin cut a piece of ha'h out de top of de haid here. Den wrap it, wrap it from them to the end of this ha'r.
(Wrap it from them?)
Wrap it from them.
(Away from them?)
From them.
(Yes.)
An' they leave a piece open here.
(Well, what do they wrap it around?)
Well, they would wrap it with thread - with a piece of thread. (Oh, they take this bunch of hair and they take a piece of thread and they wrap away from them - they Wrap this thread around that hair, away from them.) From them, an' they puts - leaves a place big enough to put a nail through it.
(I see, right through the [wrapped] thread?)
Through de ha'h.
(Through the hair. I see.)
Then you see, each wrap here an' there holds de thread - hold de ha'h here an' hold it here [demonstrates].
(Yes - oh, you put two wrappings around that?)
No, you wrap it like an' then yo' skip.
(Oh, you wrap and as you wrap, you leave a certain space.)
Yo' leave a skip jes' one place - big enough to put a nail in there.
(Skip right in the middle, I see.)
Well now, they wrap it from here to there, then they skip ovah there, then they come down an' wrap chere. Then they LEAVE THEM ENDS SWINGING an' leaVe yore ha'h in de middle of it. Take dat ha'h an' go to some place, some country place shere de sun - to a big ole tree an' drive that nail through de ha'h, an' says they leaves that de same, an' they goes there evah mawnin' fer nine days an' Yock on dat nail.
(Just once?)
No, sir, knock three knocks, they say, on that nail evah mawnin' fer nine days at sunrise.
(At sunrise.)
Then they - they knock it evah mawnin' till they git that nail - git that nail to de haid, then they knocks it nine times, they say, an' evah time they knock it they makes a oath. Well, then that nail is gone into de hair. Then THEY LEAVES IT SWINGIN' an' they say, so long as that nail is there an' de ha'h is there, yo oence to sufferin' wit de haid. An' yo' suffer wit de haid until yo' gone ooaplete crazy. Well, it's nobody to know but them that done it. That's one (I see. Now, just one moment. You go there nine mornings at sunrise and each oming you knock three times, and the last morning you knock nine times?) Nine times.
(The last morning?)
That's de last knock.
(And you knock it all the way in.)
Entry 6236
[I know] constantly from my own experience, that you could take your bair from de mole of your head and nine ten-penny nails, you see. (Nine ten-penny nails?) Yes, an' evahthin' is done in de ninth hour, an' nail it in de tree, undahstan'. Bell, an' inside of de nine months, you'll be beyond medical aid; the doctor couldn't bring you back to your recollection. You'll lose your mind. And if it stays there, you see, it will rotten away and so will you die. (I see. Well now, in this hair with those nails. you get this hair and ther chat do you do? With those nails then?) Suppose to use only nine [ten] penny nails. No other nails will do. (What do you do with them? I mean, how is that hair fixed with these nails yoa spoke of? What is done with them then?) You wraps it around there.
(You wrap this hair around these nails?)
Around de nails, each nail. You takes a portion of de hair, but from de mole of your head you see. An' you nails 'em in this tree.
(You mean, you wrap it around each nail?)
Yes, with nine [ten] penny nails, you see. An' you see, when you nail 'em in de tree, you nail 'em wit a curse word.
(You nail all these nine nails in at once?)
Yes - no, you nail 'em one by one.
(But all the same day?)
Yes, at de ninth hour; if it tis'n at de ninth hour in de mawnin', it is de ninth hour at night. An' you nail 'em wit a curse word. They says de blackest things they can about chah. (You put these nine nails. You put them all in there on one morning, one right after the other, all in the tree?) Yes.
(Any particular tree or any sort of a tree?)
Any sort of tree, but you try to git a tree that is not dying - you know, a half-dead tree. You see some of those trees that have leaves on one side and the one side it's like lightnen or thunderin' had done strucken it. Well, that will soon rot away, you see. Well, that's de side you'll choose to nail those nails, so that it'll soon rot away.
Entry 6237
Well, yo' kin take de hair out de comb if yo' cain't git it no othah Way, an' yo' kin go to a tree, a green tree, an' bo' a hole in dere an' stop dat hair up in dat hole when dat tree is yet alive an' de germ [sap] is passin' in dere up an' down, an' dat will run dat individual crazy. Dere no air kin git in dere wit dat hair.
Entry 6238
They kin take your hair from out of your temple. See, jis' a small pinch, two or three grains; that is, if they Wanta do you harm - make you sick, headache all de time. An' bore a hole in a tree befo' de sap rise, an' put it in there an' plug it up right tight. You'll have a headache an' die purtty soon afterwards.
Entry 6239
They say you can meet people that go deep into that [work you inquiring about] and involve their whole mind in it. They supposed to can get contact with Satan at the crossroads, but the words that they say in certain ceremonies they go through with, well I don't know that part of it.
[At this point I probably ask how I could protect myself against evil work.]
There are several things you could do to protect yourself, but in protecting yourself you sometimes have to hurt the other party. Now, if a person is going to get, say HOODOOING me, well he's got to make me lose my mind if he possibly can. Well, I can go to another per- son [fortuneteller, rootworker, hoodoo] and I can find out that he's trying to make me lose my mind. Well, I can make him lose his mind before he can make me lose mine, as my only means of protection in that case. Now natchly [naturally] I'm an enemy to this person and I can't get up close to them myself, but if it's a man I can put some woman up to stay with him all night and get just a teeny bit of his hair on the left-hand side of the temple, on the left temple. And we take that hair and write his name on a new piece of paper, and we put that hair with salt and pepper in that paper, and we fold it very tight. Then we go to the woods at the beginning of spring and we bore a hole in a tree, and we take a hammer and nail, and we nail that piece of paper just as far up in the tree as we can - upto Che end Of the naiI. AND THE IDEA IS, WHEN THE SAP RISES THIS PERSON WILL BEGIN TO LOSE THEIR MIND WHEN IT REACHES THAT PAPER, AND WHEN IT GOES COMPLETELY UP TO THE TOP OF THE TREE, THEIR LIVES WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY LOST; AND WHEN DE FALL COMES AND THE SAP GOES DOWN, THEY DIE.
Entry 6240
One woman said once dat chew bo' a hole in a tree on de no'th side, a red oak tree, scrape de bark off. An' scrape off de first bark an' den scrape off de second bark, an' den bo' dat hole in de so'th side of a tree. Dat's fo' de hair. An' dey take yore hair an' a bird feathah, sompin wild feather, lak birds are wild things, an' fix wit it an' stop it up in dere. Say dat will run yo' crazy. Dat's whut ah heard.
Entry 6241
An' dey take yore hair of anothah way now. Take yore hair an' run yo' crazy anothah way. Dey kin take it an' put it in a green tree, oak tree, an' make a slice up. A green growin' tree. Put de hir in dere an' see, it close back on de hair. Why yo' soon go crazy an' dere ain't no cure fo' yo'. (Go to a small growing tree and put your hair in there. And when that tree grous together again?) Yeah, de tree grows up, why de hair grows in dere, why yo' go crazy. [For bair growing though separated from body, see No.5804f.]
Entry 6242
Yo' kin take a person's hair - [even] a little hairout Le comb - an' take it an' go to a 'simmon tree an' split it. Take yore knife an split it down a little bit an' put dat hair in dat tree an' dey'll nevah part - dg'll nevah go from yo' until dat tree rot down. (Now, I would take some woman's hair and put it in there. Just her hair alone?) Yassuh, jis' 'er hair alone.
Entry 6243
[This split limb rite is similar to those under the preceding margin dtles STICK.] Sow ah here'd [heard] dat dey take yore hair an' go tuh a tree. Take a limb ff de tree an' split dat tree limb, take yore hair an' put it down in dere, bind it up. Dat run yo' crazy. (Bind up what?) Yore hair. (What are you binding up, the tree or the stick you cut off?) Take yore tree an' cut it off an' split de tree. Put chure [hair] down lengthways an' wrap dat up. Dey kin run yo Tary (You are cutting off a little tree. What are you splitting? This tree or the Lteb you cut off from the tree?) De limb yo' cut off de tree. (Then you tie up a limb, then. I wanted to find out whether you tied up the tree or tied up the limb.) De limb. All right. Take de hair again an' put it in de same thing.
(Wait a minute! Tell me the whole thing now.)
Take yore hair right on an' de limb lak ah 'fore said, [= I before said or I aforesaid]. Yo' take yore hair, an' a limb off de tree. Split it an' put chure hair down in dere. Wrap dat up. Yo' tote dat in yore pocket. Dat run yo' crazy - don't have, yo' know, no mind. (You either keep that stick in your pocket or what else do you do with it? What do you do with it in the first place - the first story you told me?) [WHAT LOOKS LIKE MY STUPID QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING SELF-EVIDENT IS NOW EX- PLAINED. INFORMANT HAD GIVEN THIS RITE OR A PART OF IT BEFORE I TURNED ON RE- CORDING MACHINE. REPETITION AS USUAL OMITS SOME OF THE DETAILS AND CLARITY.] Yo' take dat an' tote it in yore pocket. Don't do nuthin wit it but jis' tote it in yore pocket.
(What do you do with it the second time then?)
All right, de second time yo' take de same 'mount of stuff, go tuh a stream of watah an' take an' throw it in de watah. An' as it goes up de [tidal] stream or down de stream - which ways it may go - den yo'll follah, den yore mind will be jis' lak dat watah runnin'.
Entry 6244
They take your hair an' pluggin' it up in de sunny side of a tree an then your haid begin tuh ache. When de sun rises, your haid begin tuh ache an' ache till de sun go down.
Entry 6245
Yo' could take de hair ag'in an' put it on de sunny side of de tree. Ah mean where de sun would rise on dis side of de tree, put it in dere.
(How would you put it in the tree?)
Well, yo' cut a hole an' yo' place.it in de tree. An' den yo' put it in dere, yo' see, an' den yo' close it back up, see. Hit would run 'em crazy.
Entry 6246
Dey kin take yuh hair an' bury it, yuh see, an' dat'll run yuh crazy. Dey'll bury it wit de same hot stuff, gunpowder, red peppah. Dat's when dey wan'a run yuh crazy. An' dey'll take dat wasp nestes. Yuh know de wasp look lak dey goin' fly at chew an' goin' sting yuh. Yo'll take de wasp nestses an' take dat [wasp] powdah. Take dem little waspses outa de nest an' takes de dirt an' dey makes a little powdah. Dey makes a little powdah wit dat an' dey'll go tuh work an' dey'll.... Whut did yuh ast me? Uh-huh, yuh hair. An' dey'll take dat hair an' dey'll put all dat togethah an' dey'll bury it, or eithah put it in [a tree]. Dey'll go in de woods somewhere an' dey'll put it in a tree toward de sunrise, an' yo'll always have achin's an' achin's in yore haid an' be crazy.
Entry 6247
I've heard 'em speak about 'em cuttin' hair out de mole [mold] of de head an' takin' nine nails, nine new nails, an' care-in' [carrying] it tuh de sunny side of a tree - I've heard of dat - an' drivin' it in. Drive these nails in dis tree. An' I hear 'em say dey go nine mawnin's an' drive these nails in de tree [one each morning], at de last mawnin' dey said then you'd pine away, yo' know. Yo' don't die right at once. Dey stop this hair up in dis hole an' put de nail in de hole.
Entry 6248
They run yuh crazy.
(How do they do that?)
They take a tree - they take de sunny side of de tree, when de sun rises on de tree, makes a hole wit a auger, den put dat hair in dere. Den take a ten- penny nail, yuh got'a have a ten-penny nail, den put dat hair in dere an' drive dat nail in dere. An' aftah de ba'k [bark] begins tuh grow dere ag'in, de weak- ah yuh git an' craziah [crazier] and foolishah. Dat causes yuh tuh be foolish, dat makes yuh lose yuh mind.
Entry 6249
Anothah way - yuh kin take a woman's hair, if yuh wants tuh git inlove wit 'er. Jis' take 'er hair an' jis' take yuh a augah, an' jis' go tuh a tree jis' at sunrise, an' bo' yo' a hole in dere an' put it in dere, an' jis' take yuh a peg an' jis' push it right in dat hole in behin' it. An' jis' long as it stay dere evahthin' is okay.
(That will make her love you?)
Yes sir, yuh holdin' 'er dere. But if yuh put [pull] it out why it's allovah. Bou ah know dat tuh be positive [fact].
Entry 6250
Take dey hair an' go tuh a oak tree on de west side, an' bo' yuh a hole in dere, an' put dat hair in dere, an' aftah so long a time dat person will go crazy.
(This person's 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 6252
Ef dey kin git de hair from de mole of yore haid, an' take an' put it into a bottle, an' bury it beside de green tree where de sun die - de side of de tree where de sundown - an' yo' become to losin' yore mind.
Entry 6253
Well, anyone git holt of yuh hair, why dey kin take yuh hair an' dey kin go in de swamp tuh some tree anothah [or other]. An' take a augah an' bo' a hole in de tree, an' put yuh hair in dere an' put a plug back in dat tree. Yuh'll go crazy.
Entry 6254
I knew a girl. Shewuz goin' wit a boy an' dis othah girl wuz goin' wit 'im too. An' she didn't like it. So she says she got some dis girl's hair, see an' climbed a tree an' tied it on a limb. When de wind blow like dat [demonstrates].
(Swinging the hair back and forth.)
Dis girl jis' finally left town. Den she's crazy too, she ain't got goodmind.
Entry 6255
(What can they do with my hair?)
Well, I hear 'em say dey take yuh hair an' dey take it an' put it in de heart of a tree, an' dey say it runs yuh crazy.
(Is that all you have to do?)
[Informant misunderstands and gives another rite.]
Hang it up in a tree, yuh know, an' dey say dat runs yuh crazy.
(I see.)
Entry 6256
Dey would take de hair out de mole [mold] of yuh haid an' go hang it in a tree an' yuh'd go, an' as yo'd go....
Entry 6257
Take a person's hair an' git one dem green gourds. DID CHEW EVAH SEE A GOURD GROW? Cut a place out an' take de hair an' place it in dat gourd, an' put dat gourd back tuhgethah an' hang it up. Dat will make a fellah go crazy. (Where do you hang it?) Up in a tree, yessuh. When de weath- ah is calm, well of co'se dey won't rage much, but any time dere's a wind blowin', why dey have de fits. Dey jes' crazy. No less den a green gourd [will do this].
Entry 6258
Yuh wanta put 'em in de road - 'cordin' tuh how yuh want it. If yuh want 'em tuh stay home, yuh bury it. [Here, having heard buried hair so often, I turned off recording machine; but informant continuing with something about first hair, I restarted machine.] (Where do you take the first hair?) Git it from undah yo' arm, undah yuh lef' arm. Yuh put it in a tin can an' screw it tight. Hang it up in a gum tree an' evah time de wind blows an' blow it aroun' lak dat, an' when dat string pop loose an' it fall, den yuh gone.
Entry 6259
But dis story says, if ah hate chew, envy yuh an' ah wanta git rid of yuh, ah git a stran' of hair outa yuh haid. Put it in de feathah of a buzzard, wrahp it wit a wire an' 'tach it to a dead tree. An' as de wind blows an' de feathah waves wit dat stran' of hair, yuh mind will wandah. An' yuh'll go wit it. (Well now, how do they put that hair in this feather?) Jis' split de feathah, de stem of de feathah. Put it in dere an' wrahp it. [See splitting stick or tree limb, Nos.6243, 6242, 6158, 6157, 6156.]
(Inside of the quill?)
Yeah sir, dat's it zackly [exactly]. An' dey says, as dat wavahs in de wind, yuh mind goes lak dat - yuh wandah.
Entry 6260
[To swing, either oneself or something else, can be a magic rite.]
An' anothah way yo' kin git 'er, if yo' kin jes' git three stran's of 'er hair from de mole of 'er haid an' stick it into a cologne bottle an' let it stay dere. Don't airtight it, jes' let it stay dere, jes' so dat it, yo' know, kin be a li'l bit of air gittin' to it all de time. She'll love yo' right out. But if yo' wanta quit 'er an' don' want 'er be worrying aftah yo' an' follahin' aftah yo', de way fo' yo' tuh do. Yo' carry dat hair down tuh a stream of watah, where de watah runnin' swift; an' tie it an' let it swing dere. An' long as dat hair swing dere, she'll swing 'way from yo'. She won' gi' [give] yo' no trouble. Yo' kin go wit whoevah yo' want an' she won' say a harmin' word 'ginst yo' - have nuthin tuh say 'ginst yo'. [Please notice the man's Christian act of leaving the bottle open so that the Woman would not suffocate or lose her mind!] [This belief could also have been placed under the hair and running water rites given later.]
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 6262
[After that long parade of submargin titles about TREES, we now return to our normal alphabetical order with TWISTING, an important magic rite often Ignored. Probably ten or more examples of it will be found in HOODOO. Twisting, of course, is related to knot tying, also to bending - the bending of nails and plns for instance.] Well, yo' kin take hair from a person's haid - say ah like 'em, see, an' carry it in yore hip pocket. Yo' twist up an' twist up de hair an' put it in yore hip pocket an' carry it in yore hip pocket. [Informant gives another rite.] An' den yo' kin take an' go tuh a tree an' bo' a bole in de tree an' put dat hair in de tree an' dat person - whut chew mean? Tnyin' tuh drive somebody crazy or what? Well, dat whut dat hair do. Yo' kin cate dat hair an' jes' take yo' a lil' auger an' bo' a hole in de tree. See, jes' put chew a hole right in de tree an' put dat hair in dat tree an' stop it. where it airtight an' nuthin will git to it, an' dey'll suffer wit de head- ache. Dey will keep on wit it an' dey'll die wit it. DERE AIN'T NO DOCTAH IN LHORL' KIN CURE 'EM.
[We return to twisted hair.]
(Now what about twisting that hair and putting it in your pocket. What will
(dhat do?)
Hell, now yo' take de hair an' put it in yore pocket. An' well, dat will pt dem people tuh come tuh love yo'. Yo' carry 'em all de time. Make 'em lore yo'.
Entry 6263
Eithah a man or woman, eithah one, git holt of yore hair, undahstan', an' weah aroun' dem. Take an' wet it wit dere pee, yo' undahstan', an' weah it tuh a string, weah it aroun' yo'. Yo' wanta git 'er, yo' see, where yo' wanta. (What do you do that for?) Well, yo' do dat tuh keep anybody else from intahferin' wit yo' an' 'er. Urine de bes' stuff in de worl' tuh wet it.
Entry 6264
Dey tell me, say, jes' lak yo' got a wife, whut chew could do tuh make her stay home an' all. Jes' say, yo' could take a piece of 'er hair out, or yore wife cut yore hair off, see. An' put it undah de steps wit chamber lye, an' yo' gotta stay home.
Entry 6265
Ah heard dat dey kin jes' clip some outa de top of yore hair an' git dat an' some of yore urinate, put it tuhgethah an' stop it an' bury it undah de steps, fo' yo' tuh walk ovah it. Dey say dat will make yo' love 'em,
Entry 6266
Yo' git a Adam-an'-Eve [root] an' put it in a bottle, an' git a stran' off de haid, [or] down below - mostly [they get] de hair de bes' [best] way dey kin, if dey have any con- nection wit it, dey'll git a piece. An' dey'll put dat in a bottle an' urinate a li'le in dere. Den dey stop dat up an' put dat undah de fron' step. Dat'll make dem part.
Entry 6267
Now, jes' lak if dey wanted yo' or loved yo' or somepin, dey would take yore hair an' put it - yo' know, jes' put it in a li'le bag or somepin - li'le ole red flannel or somepin lak dat, sew it up. Put cologne on it, jes' a li'le Hearts Cologne, an' keep it - jes' weah it, keep it. An' den dey take dere watah - yo' know, pee on it. Dat's whut dey tell me dey do wit dat.
(Why Would they do this?)
To make dem love yo'; yo' see, care fo' yo'.
Entry 6268
Dey tell me dat yo' kin take hair yo' know an' tie it up an' put cologne on it an' yo' know, make watah on it, an' dat'll create love - make yo' love who- evah did dat.
(You would get my hair to do that?) Yes sir.
Entry 6269
Dey tell me yo' kin take a woman, she pluck yore hair an' git a plait of it. Ah know dat, ah've know'd of it bein' done. Plait of chure hair right in de mole of yore haid, an' keep it, an' yo'll nevah leave her - yo' can't leave her. (What will she do with it?) She keep it, yes sir. She'll take dat an' weah it. She'll put dat wit a little chamber lye an' she'll wrap it up, [or] sew it up. She'll git some of yore fingahnails.
(Are you telling me the same thing or something different?)
No, she goin' put dat in a sack.
Entry 6270
Well, yo' take - jes' lak yo' want someone go blind, or ah want chew tuh go blind, see. Well, yo' take mah hair an' some of mah urinate an' a little of whut pass from mah bowels, an' yo' put it in de stove an' yo' brown it. Well now, yo' brown it an' git it up tuh a good powdah. An' jes' lak [I] pass yo', yo' see, an' yo' standin' at a place an' ah see yo' pass. Well, ah may pass an' ah'll see.yo' an' ah'll throw mah han' lak dat [demonstrates]. Well, yo' see, when ah throw mah han' - have it in mah han' - an' ah do dat wit it. Yore eyes is - [changes person] dis is in mah eyes an' ah'm goin' blind.
(Makes you go blind.)
Entry 6271
Jes' fo' instance, say, if yo' were livin' wit a woman an' jes' say, yo' wanted tuh leave 'er an' she wanted yo' back. She had a lock of yore hair. Den she would put in some nails, rusty - dey'd have tuh be rusty - rusty nails an' about nine or ten rusty needles. Put 'em in a bottle an' urinate see on it. Den whenevah she's ready fo' yo', she'd prob'ly shake de bottle an' git it all upset. It won't be long 'fore yo' git back dere. [The shaking of bottled urine, also other substances is a common rite, shaking should be indexed as a magic rite.]
Entry 6272
Dey say dat yo' kin take some hair from undah yore arm, on yore haid, an' yo' know [pubic], put it in a bottle an' a little urinate in it an' put it, yo' know in some close place dey say in de no'th cornah of de room an' cause yo' tuh love 'em. (Take some hair from the head, hair from under the arms and hair below - hair from the three places?) Yes.
(Hair from under one arm or both?)
Yo' kin take some from each arm.
Entry 6273
Dere's a way to run a woman crazy so dey say. Dey take a small bottle an' put urine in it, an' put de hair down in it an' stop it up, an' throw it in a stream of water. It will go an' yo' will nevah git chure mind back unless somebody will discovah where dat bottle went an' bring it back an' uncork it. [For 2 remarkable examples of doctors recovering floating spells and destroying them, see 920, p.338; 921, P.339.]
Entry 6274
(Who would do this?)
A man or woman, eithah one. Dey take some of yore hair out de top heah an' put it in a bottle, an' put about fo' or five drops yore watah [urine] in dere, an' put it in some runnin' watah. Stop dat bottle up tight an' chunk it in dat rivah yo' see. Yo' couldn't come back no mo' an' yo' wouldn't know whut de cause.
Entry 6275
Dey kin take dat. (That chamber lye?) Yes, an' git a strand of a woman's hair an' put in de bottle an' den put dat chamber lye in de bottle.
(The man would put his own chamber lye on her hair?)
Yessuh, he puts 'is chamber lye on 'er hair in de bottle an' put fo' or five grains of peppah in dere - dat pod peppah, red peppah, see. Yo' put dat in dere an' yo' stop dat up airtight, an' if she leave, she'll come back. If she wants tuh go, she may go, but she cain't stay.
(That's to hold her.)
Entry 6276
If yo' want a person tuh be crazy about choo, yo' kin take dere hair an' a roun' piece 'bout dat big [demonstrates] outa dere sock, of each sock. (About the size of a dollar?) No, about de size of aquartah or half [dollar]. Den yo' ball dat hair up tight an' yo' put it in dose two pieces of sock an' yo' sew it up tight. An' aftah yo've done dat, yo' take dat an' yo' soak it in 'is urine nine days. Put it in today, let it stay, an' take it out; put it in tomorrah an' take it out, fo' nine days; an' den yo' weah dat about yore per- son, as close to yore privates as yo' possibly kin, an' dat'll make dat person automatic'ly crazy about choo as long as yo' weah it. An' of co'se if yo' happen tuh lose it or throw it away, dat breaks de spell.
Entry 6277
Now, one shuah way of makin' love dat ah do know. If a man git holt of a woman's hair, he kin urinate on it fo' nine times an' she will stick tuh 'im. Dat's a shuah thing.
(What do you do with that hair then?)
He keep dat wit him all de time.
Entry 6278
Well, dey kin take de hair from a woman haid an' make her hair come out. Yo' take hit an' yo' carries it an' yo' put dis heah hair in some of yore water - chamber lye. Put dat hair in dere an' let it stay in dere nine days. Yo' take dat hair back out an' carry it back an' wherevah kin yo' put it - in one of dose rooms dataway where she kin git holt of it an' burn it. Well dat make her hair come out.
(Well, now after you do that with this hair, you bring it back to her house.)
Jes' lak yo' got a frien' or anybody dat yo' kin sen' it back in dere an' git it back. Yo' have tuh take it out de chamber lye an' let it dry. Well, yo' jes carry it back dere where she kin git it off de dressah somewhere, an' she kin handle dat hair ag'in. Well, dat run 'er plumb foggy [not fogy as in old fogy, but her mind will be like a fogl.
(Well, how will she - will she burn that hair when it comes back?)
She'll burn it or eithah she'll throw it out. Anyway dat yo' kin git dat hair back intuh de house.
Entry 6279
Dey kin take yore hair an' run yo' crazy. Dey cut chure hair right out de top of yore haid an' take it an' put nine grains of red peppah an' nine grains of black pepper, an' git a cup of yore watah [and soil] where yo' wet [urinated] an' put it togethah an' bury it. (Get some of your urine.) An' bury it. or eithah put it in runnin' watah, or eithab stop it up in a tree. Dat will cause yo' - commence de haid tuh ache an' have misery in yo' haid till yo' go crazy.
Entry 6280
De way dey'll take dat hair, dey'll take dat hair an' dey'll call it [by name], will call yo', an' dey will make a dressin' of it an' will git chure mind. An' in gittin' yore mind dey got chew.
(How do you make a dressing of it?)
Dress yore hair?
(How do they dress it?)
All right, yo' take nine thimblefulla chamber lye an' yo' take nine thimble- fulla salt an' put it in a bottle an' yo' dress dat. Yo' do it up in a rag an geah it aroun' yore waist, an' evah three days yo'll dress it an' call it, say, Ah wants tuh rule, control So-an'-so." See, yo' callin' it. Well, QUiTE NAT- CHAL WHEN YO' CALL A PERSON YO' GIT DERE MIND. An' sO dat's de Way yo' do it.
(And you do this, as you say, for love?)
Fo' love.
Entry 6281
[Hair and water joined in a rite is fairly common in hoodoo. There are many kinds of water: ordinary (the Water in a bucket or still water), running, hydrant (considered running), rain, eaves, spring, well, tide, dew, etc. One example of gutter running water will be found (No.5695, p.2913). I do not recall any snow water or snow rites. Holy water, bathwater, dishwater, clotheswater, and scrubwater have been omitted because they do not occur in the following list of hair-water rites.] Take a strand of hair out de haid an' put it in a bottle of watah an' shet it up in a bottle of watah. It will run yo' crazy.
(Just ordinary Water?)
Jes' take it [hair] out an' put it in a bottle of watah an' stop it up.
Entry 6282
Yo' gits yo' [your] hair [not your own but the hair of your victim], Put it in a bottle an' den go tuh de Mississippi [River], a watah, a runnin' stream, even if it runs dirty, an' git dat watah an' put it in dat bottle an' yo' hair [the hair you are using from someone else], an' stop it up real tight an' it'll run yo' [the other person] crazy.
(Where do you put the bottle then?)
Tote [carry] it in yo' pocket. [To carry this bottled hair in your pocket normally suggests that the victim is run crazy with love for the person wearing the bottled hair.]
Entry 6283
Take yore hair, a lock of hair, an' put it in a quart of watah, yo' lmou, an' it would run yo' crazy.
(What kind of a quart of water?)
Yo' jis' - fresh watah, yo' know, jis' runnin' watah out of a branch, yo' tov, an' put it in a quart bottle an' stop it up. Dat hair will turn to - begin to go to work den an' run yo' crazy.
Entry 6284
Well, ah've heard sev'ral times if a person git hold of yore hair an' Put it in runnin' watah, don't yo' see. YO' [the author] HAVE SEEN A RUNNIN' STREAM OF WATAH? AH 'MAGINE [they] said, if dey carry it to a ditch or, yo' know, any place dat de watah continue runnin', a creek or sompin lak dat, oby it will run yo' crazy. [Hoodoo has many informants, especially doctors, down- talking to me. This sort of treatment is surely the greatest compliment I ever received, I being one of them.]
Entry 6285
A man or a woman kin ketch a stran' of yuh hair, one stran' an' ball it, an' put it in runnin' watah. [That will] lighten yuh brains, yo' nevah be standin' still any mo'. [This rite evidently sends you crazy and away at the tue.
Entry 6286
Dey say if dey git holt of yore hair an' throw it in de rivah dat'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 6287
Take a stran' of a woman's hair, anybody's hair dat chew be goin' wit lak dat, an' den throw it in runnin' watah an' it will run dem crazy. [Wilson, N. Car. (1461), 2650:9.]
Entry 6288
Well, ah've heard dat chew kin cut a small plait of hair in de top of yore haid, de mole of yore haid, an' put it in runnin' watah. It will run yo' crazy.
Entry 6289
Ah've heard dat chew kin take hair an' put it in a runnin' stream whicb would drive a person crazy.
Entry 6290
Dey take jes' a piece of yore hair an' put it in a runnin' stream of watah, an' dat'll cuz a person tuh lose 'is mind.
Entry 6291
Heard 'em say dey could git holt of yore hair an' run 'em [you] crazy.
(Well, how would they do that?)
Well, dey say dey could put it in watah, in runnin' watah.
(Run them crazy?)
Yes.
Entry 6292
Dey'll take yore hair an' put it in runnin' watah an' dat'll cuz yo' to leave home, cuz yo' to run away. Sometime, ah've heard 'em say, it'll cuz yo' to go in a 'sylum. But ah do know, dat it run yo' 'way.
Entry 6293
Kin take yore hair. Take yore hair an' take it an' put it in, chunk it in de rivah, in runnin' watah. An' dat will run yo' 'way.
Entry 6294
Take yore hair an' put it in runnin' watah. Dat make yo' go away, yo' know - leave, jis' wondah, yo' know.
Entry 6295
If yo' git holt of dere hair, why yo' kin put it in runnin' watah - anyone givin' yo' trouble - an' dey have to go outa town.
Entry 6296
Git some of dat person's hair an' take it an' throw it in a stream of watah, an' dat will run de person away, dey can't stay dere.
Entry 6297
A person could take a stran' of hair outa mole of yuh haid, direc'ly outa de mole, an' put it in a glass vial - sompin lak a li'le vial dey use at de drug sto' fo' dang'rous medicine. Put dat hair in dere an' cork it up right tight an' throw it intuh run- nin' watah. An' dey say it will run yuh wit a bad haidache all yuh live, an' almos' run yuh crazy.
Entry 6298
Wal, dey take yore hair, git it from de mole of de head in yore sleep. An' dey git dat out de mole of yore head an' bottle it up and take it to a run- ning stream, an' dey throw dat in a runnin' stream an' dey say dat got a bad effect on yore brains some way. (They bottle it up and just throw it in that running water.)
Entry 6299
Git chure hair an' kin stop it up in a bottle, throw it ovahbo'd an' it'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 6300
Dey kin git de hair out de mole of yore haid, an' dey kin take it an' stop it up in a bottle an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' dat'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 6301
If yuh git hold of it, yuh see, yuh kin take it, hair, an' put it in a bottle, stop it up: Put it in a bottle an' stop it up an' den yuh carry it an' throw it in runnin' watah. Dat way yuh could run 'em crazy.
Entry 6302
Ah heard dat dey kin take a stran' of yore hair an' close it in a bot- tle an' throw it in runnin' watah an' dat will put chew tuh goin', too.
Entry 6303
Heard dat dey says yo' take de hair an' close it up in a bottle an' all lak dat, an' put it in runnin' watah an' all dat stuff.
(What was that supposed to do?)
Ah dunno, drive a person crazy.
Entry 6304
Dey say yo' kin take hair an' stick it in a bottle, an' go to a run- nin' stream an' throw dat bottle in de watah, an' let dat watah on it an' yo' kin run a person crazy lak dat. Yo' kin take a plait of hair an' do de same.
Entry 6305
Take yuh hair an' dey bury it an' put - even dey kin put it in a bottle am' stop it up an' take it tuh driftin' watah. Dey'll throw it in dere. It'll keep yuh wit de headache an' make yuh drift.
Entry 6306
Take yore hair an' put it in a tight bottle an' stop it up in dere an' throw it in runnin' watah. Dat'll take yore mind, run yo' crazy.
Entry 6307
Ah kin take yore hair an' put it in a bottle, in tiny li'le bottle, an' ah kin throw it in de rivah an' yo' goin' move - sech a thing.
Entry 6308
An' if dey wanta drive yuh away, dey kin take yuh hair an' take it tuh a runnin' stream of watah. An' don't nevah go fa'wahds, go backwahds. Take dat hair an' go tuh a runnin' stream of watah an' throw it ovah de lef' shouldah an' nevah look back. Dat'll drive yuh away. It will cause yuh tuh wandah from place tuh place - all lak dat.
Entry 6309
Den yuh kin take some hair outa de mole of de head an' take an' go tuh a runnin' stream. An' walk down dere an' when yuh git down dere, jis' turn yuh back an' throw de hair in de stream an' walk right on away from it. An' den jis' as long as dat hair will run, why dey'll go.
Entry 6310
Why ah've know dat tuh be so. Take his hair off de mole of 'is haid, an' turn yuh back tuh a stream of watah an' throw it ovah in de watah, an' he'll travel an' nevah have no home.
Entry 6311
Dey tell me dat dey could take yuh hair an' put it in a bottle. Den. take de bottle out dere an' stop it up, an' take it tuh some runnin' watah, an' throw it in any runnin' watah wit'out lookin', an' let it float on down stream, see. Dat's dat.
(What will that do?)
Says dat will continue 'em wit a headache.
Entry 6312
Well, yuh take a lock of yuh hair an' yuh lef' track. Yuh take it from de heel. Pull it disaway an' git dat dirt [demonstrates]. (Pull it from the heel to the toe.) Yes sir. Put dat in a box. Fasten dat up an yuh go tuh de rivah, tuh a runnin' stream goin' out. An' jis' a li'le befo' yuh git dere, yuh walk - make nine [steps] backwards, an' throw it ovah yuh lef' shouldah. Den walk an' don't nevah look back. Well, dey won't have no mo' trou- ble wit yuh. Dat's whut ah'm tellin' yuh now. Lak if ah wanta do dat, seedat'l run yuh away. Dat'll give yuh a walkin' spell.
Entry 6313
[Take hair] outa de top of yuh haid, de mole of yore haid. Now dey kin take dat hair an' kin run yuh crazy. Dey take dat hair an' take it an' jis' sew it up in a piece of cloth, an' den take dat hair an' take it tuh de runnin' watah, an' dey kin throw it in dere. An' it will run yuh clean crazy - run yuh 'way from dere.
Entry 6314
Take it an' take his hair an' tie it up [in cloth or other article such as paper] an' putting it in running water an' let it go down a running stream, dat'll git chure mind all messed up.
Entry 6315
Aw yuh kin take it, ah heard 'em say, an' tie it up in a rag, a piece of red flannel, an' carry it tuh de rivah tuh runnin' watah, an' throw it ovah yuh lef' shouldah an' don't look back, an' dey say hit'll run yo' crazy.
(This is your hair?)
Yes sir.
Entry 6316
Well, dey kin git a-holt of a stran' of yuh hair an' wrap it up in a red flannen cloth, an' put a little red peppah in it, an' tie it up an' throw it in runnin' watah an' yo' goin' as dat - jis' long as hit run, why yo' gone.
Entry 6317
Ah heard dey take yuh hair an' put it in a bottle. Yuh know take yuh hair an' sew it up in a piece of white homespun cloth, bran'-new, an' put it in a bottle an' throw it down runnin' watah. An' long as dat box wit dat hair in it run, well yo' got'a run away an' yuh nevah come back no mo'.
Entry 6318
Dey kin take yuh hair, so ah learnt, an' yo' kin take it an' put it in a piece of new white homespun. Yuh kin throw dat in de rivah. Dat kin run yo' crazy.
Entry 6319
Cut de top of yuh hair off [from the mold] an' tie it up in a piece of rag an' throw it ovahbo'd.
(What will that do?) Dat'll run yuh away.
Entry 6320
Git a plait of hair an' plait it tuhgethah, an tie it wit a rag or string of any kin' an' throw it in de rivah, or eithah bury it undah yuh do'-steps.
(What will that do?)
Dat will cause yuh tuh fade away.
Entry 6321
Dey could take yuh hair an' tie it up in a rag an' wear it nine days in dat rag, an' throw it in runnin' watah an' dat run yo' crazy.
Entry 6322
Git dat hair an' yuh plat it. An' yuh plat it undah- han'. Don't plat it ovah-handed, plat it undah-handed. An' if yuh plat it undah-handed, when yuh git it plat undah-handed, den yuh git a li'le red piece of ribbon, li'le tiny piece of ribbon on dat hair, see. Yuh puts dat into a bottle. Den yuh stop it up tight an' yuh throw it in de watah, nmmin' watah, IN DE BIG MISSISSIPPI RIVAH. An' dat'll run yuh crazy or run yuh oata torn.
Entry 6323
Ah've heard dat chew take de hair an' git a lock of hair an' pat salt an' peppah wit it. How yuh wanta know about de hair? (Well, what are you going to do with that hair now, after you put that salt and pepper with it? To harm them some way? All right.) Dat's whut ah wanta know. Ah wanta know did yo' wanta know tuh harn dem or [hrt them].
(Burt them. Either one.)
Well, yuh put salt an' peppah in dat hair, an' den yuh git dat track an' put wit dat, an' den yuh take it an' sew it in a piece of new Sea Island cloth [see later], Sea Island cloth, an' den yuh throw it in de divah. Dat's if yuh want dem tuh not think anythin' about chew atall - jis' don' vorry wit chew, don't chew know, jis' don't bothah yuh. Do dat an' throw it in de rivah an' run dere min' away from yo'.
(You take either track?)
No, yo' take de left track.
(ou want to put all those details in, in telling your story.)
[Sea Island cloth, made from Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense), was so alled because this cotton with an unusually long and silky fiber Was grown on certain islands off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, until the boll wee- lll made its culture unprofitable. If I remember correctly, this (and some in- formant under BAT) is the only occurrence of the term in Hoodoo.]
Entry 6324
Dere's three thin's dat yuh could use of dis person dat would cause 'a tuh do dat. Yuh could use his track or 'is hair or any part of 'is clothes dere's any sweat in, an' put it dere, an' 'is mind will jis' begin waverin', an' he won't go crazy nor it won' kill 'im. Yuh wrap it up in a piece of silk cloth a' take it down tuh de runnin' watah an' anchor it dere so it could move about en de watah's runnin'. [For anchoring hair in running water, see elsewhere f text.]
Entry 6325
Take a person's hair right outa his haid, 'bout de mole of 'is haid, an' put it into a silk pocket han'ke'ch'ef, an' yuh kin drop it in runnin' watab. An' dat will run 'im plumb crazy. See, dat would run 'im crazy. [Fay- etteville, N. Car., (1407),] 2528:2.]
Entry 6326
Take yuh hair an' put it in a stream of watah runnin' east, an' dey say dat will run yo' away from yuh Lvn'. Yuh come tuh go dat way.
Entry 6327
Ah heard dat chew could take a person's hair an' run 'em crazy. An' yuh throw dat in runnin' watah dat run- da'no'th, dat run 'em crazy.
Entry 6328
Mos' streams, yuh know, run tuh de east, [they] say, but yuh go tuh a Stream dat run west an' it'll cuz a person tuh go crazy from a certain stran' - ah think it's nine stran's dey say dey git from de mole of yuh haid. Ah've heard dat story. (And they throw it in that Water, you say?) An' put it in dat runnin' rapids - put it in de run- nin' watah, an' dat'll cuz a man or woman tuh lose dere mind. [West-running Water means water flowing towards the sunset. It is a magic, not a topographical term, a term meaning trouble. Mos if not all water in South Carolina eventually travels east to empty into the Atlantic Ocean. However, even an eastward-bound stream can sometimes bend to the west for a short distance. The Mississippi River, for example, going south bends from north to east into Quincy, Illinois, and then immediately bends west away from the city to continue its journey south.]
Entry 6329
Yuh kin take a stran' out de mole of yuh haid an' carry it tuh a run- nin' watah an' throw it up de stream - don' throw it down de stream, throw it up de stream. Dat'll drive yuh crazy in two days. Yuh be jis' as crazy as a bug. [Here again, as in the preceding rite, we have a magic term, upstream, meaning against the stream. Upstream or its equivalent against the stream is a common feature of black cat lucky-bone rites - see Pp.74-97 and elsewhere.]
Entry 6330
I have heard stories about that. They would get a lock of your hair in a certain part near the top of your head [the mold] where the brain is more exposed. And they get that hair and put it with some other ingredients, and a piece of your clothes that you have happen to have worn very close to you. They tie it up tightly and throw it in running water. This is supposed, they say, to make you lose your mind and to go away from wherever you live. You will continue to want to go as long as this thing keeps in the water and keeps going. It will stop you from running if it will catch on something, a root, a snag; then they say you will stop. You will never want to come back from where you started from.
Entry 6331
I've heard dey kin git some of dere sweaty clo's an' take de dirty watah from dere clo's. An' dey use dat like dey use in a bottle. An' git some mol' offa his hair [hair from the mold of the head] an' put it in theah, an' some bah'k [bark] offa [birch] tree. An' put dat [bottle] tuh floatin'. An' dey say dat'll run 'im crazy.
Entry 6332
An' bury dat.
(This hair?)
Yeah. Take yuh hair an' bury it undah de watah. Dat where de watah runnin', [a hydrant]. It'll run yuh, make yuh mind go an' come [as the water inside the house is turned on and off]. (I see.) [There are several places in Hoodoo where waterpipes between street and house, and the fau- cet itself are considered running water.]
Entry 6333
Yo' kin take de top of yore hair out de mole of yore haid an' cut it out, an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up. An' first yo' take yore name an' put it in a bottle, an' put chure hair on top of dat, an' stop it up good in runnin' watah. Well, as long as dat bottle run, yo'll run. Well, when dat bottle bu'st, hy yo'll be gone.
(You will die?)
Yessuh.
Entry 6334
Dey git holt of yore hair an' dey take an' dey gits a - put it in a bottle, an' put red peppah, cayenne, an' salt in dere an' yore name, an' stop it up in a bottle. Dat'll make yo' have de headache all de time, an' make yo' feel if yo' ain't satisfied nowhere yo' move. In no time yo' go. Git dat bottle an' throw it. (What do you do with that bottle?) Yo' take an' throw it in de rivah. An' [or] den yo' kin take an' yo' kin put it up ovah 'is do' where [he walks under it] or if yo' [ain't] scared he'll find it dere, if yo' a friend of 'em an' yo' visit 'em, yo' take an' yo' git it in de mattress or undah dat [bed].
Entry 6335
Anybody kin do dat. Jes' take nine strands of hair out de top of yore haid, very perfect, an' put it in a bottle an' stop it airtight, an' put it in runnin' watah - jes' run 'em 'way, an' drown 'em.
Entry 6336
Well, dey kin git holt some of yore hair. It's 'cordin' to whut dey wanta do wit yo', why dey kin take dat hair. Now, if dey wanta partly run yo' crazy, frenzy minded, dey could take dat hair an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up an' pore watah on it.
(Any kind of water?)
Any kind of a watah po' on it. Let it stay until it become to be - DAT WATAH GOIN' MAKE DAT HAIR 'LIVE LAK A LITTLE LIVE WORM IN DE WATAH, yo' see. Well, WHEN DAT HAIR BEGIN TUH GIT 'LIVE, dey take an' po' dat Water out an' t'row dat bottle in de rivah. Let it float on de way down - on - on - on. T'row it away. Whenevah dey throw it down, dey [the thrower] jes' turns aroun', dey don't look back aftah it a'gin at all. Well, dat run yo' crazy.
(They pour the water out that bottle before they throw it into the river?)
Yes, 'fore dey t'row it in de rivah, dey must keep it nine days aftah yo' put de watah in it. Yo' keep dat bottle 9 days. Have it roun' yore house an' IN 9 DAYS DAT HAIR WILL COME TO LIFE. (Yes, but I mean, you leave the water [hair] in the bottle when you throw it into the river?)
[The word water in my question is a slip of the tongue for hair.]
Yeah, oh yeah. An' de bottle's goin' float on, be goin' right on doon wit de stream.
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 6338
Wal, dey kin take yuh hair. Git 'em on a piece of papah an' wrap it up an' put some salt an' black peppah wit it. Put it in runnin' watah an' yuh got-a git outa dis town. Dat will put chew a-travelin'.
Entry 6339
Ah heard dat chew kin take three stran's of a person's hair an' go tuh a runnin' stream of watah an' put it in dere, if yuh want tuh git 'em outa town - sompin lak dat - an' let it run down. Yuh know, dey put it in de watah in some kinda papah an' jis' let it go down de stream. Dat dey would leave de town.
(You said they wrap it up in some kind of paper.)
Wrap it up in some kind of paper an' let it swim, see. Let it swim downstream an' dat - dat person would leave town.
Entry 6340
Now ah tell yuh anothah thin' tuh send 'em away. If yuh kin git dis now. Now dis is purtty hard tuh git. Yuh don't git dis all de time. If yuh kin git a few strands of 'is hair, yo' undahstan', an' wrap it up in yellah papah an' put nine wrops in it, see [demonstrates by wrapping and counting] 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9.
(Wait a minute! Do you wrap it that way, the way you are wrapping it now?)
Comin' to yuh.
(It comes to you and goes out.)
Yes sir. An' yuh take dat an' put it in runnin' watah. Dat'll carry'i away.
Entry 6341
Dey could take yore hair an' run yo' crazy. Dey take it an' put it in runnin' watah. Dey furce set it in rainwater an' wiggle-tails git into de [rain] watah. An' dey'd drop dat hair in [the water containing wig- gle-tails] [and also] a horse- hair, suppose to make a worm. Den dey'll take yore hair an' Put it in a bottle wit rocks in there [to sink it], an' t'row it in running watah. [Wiggle-tail = wiggler or wriggler - larva or pupa of the mosquito.]
Entry 6342
Yo' go to de spring an' yo' git dat watah an' git a strand of a per- son's hair an' yo' put in dat - yo' put it in a bottle. Yo' ketch yo' some an' yo' put it in a bottle. An' yo' put dat in a bottle an' yo' take dat an' bring [it] back wit yo' home. An' jes' keep it all de time right in de cornah of yore bedroom. Keep dat in dere all de time.
(What will that do?)
Dat's tuh keep him at home.
Entry 6343
A lady tole me dat she run a lady crazy. An' she'd taken some hair out of 'er [other woman's] haid an' she put it in a bottle, jis' a bottle an' stop it up an' carry it to a runnin' stream of watah an' throw it in, an' talk an' tell it, "Ah want chew tuh run dis lady crazy." An' when dem nine days wuz up, she jis' foolin' crazy.
Entry 6344
Well, ah've heard dat yuh kin take a lock of a woman's hair an' throw it when de tide is goin' out - jis' so yo' knows de watah goes out an' comes in. Well, when de tide is goin' out why yuh throw dat bottle wit dat hair - stop dat fulla watah - an' let it go out. An' dat will run de man, ah mean dat woman, crazy.
Entry 6345
Dey take de hair an' put it in a snuffbox, an' goes tuh de rivah when de tide's goin' out an' throw it ovahbo'd. Evah time de tide go an' come, why dey - don't care where dey is, an' whut kinda job dey got, why dey jis' driftin' from place tuh place.
(They are drifting all the time.)
Entry 6346
If a man would take some hair out a woman haid, or eithah a man haid, an' jes' or'nar'ly - see, we got a sluggish slow tide chere. An' yo' stop it up [in a bottle] jes' as tight as it kin be stopped, see, an' put jes' enough water or anythin' dat sink dat bottle. Jes' let it swim wit de tide a piece, not [sink] right down to de bottom. An' she left town. She won't come, be back, but she won't be hurt. Dat de woman's hair, see.
(That's to run her out of town?)
Yeah, dat's to run her outa town.
Entry 6347
Take dat hair an' put it in a bottle of watah. Go down tuh de rivah when de tide be goin' out, yo' see, an' take dat hair an' git some of dat watah whut runnin' out - while it's floatin' - de tide be goin' out. Put some of dat watah an' stop it up an' throw dat bottle ovahbo'd an' say, "God damn, yo' son-of-a- bitch, yuh oughta been daid," an' let dat bottle run out, an' dat'll jes' run yo' crazy. See dat watah be carryin' it time de tide be goin' out, see. Dat watah carries it on out, yo' see, an' yo' jes' nevah would have no mo' good sense. Yo' jes' be crazy, don't know whut's de mattah wit chew. (Now, you put this hair in the bottle after you empty the bottle out, but you must get some of the water as the tide is going out and put in the bottle and cork it up, then throw it right back into the same Water.) Yes.
Entry 6348
Takin' yuh hair an' puttin' it in [can or bucket of] watah, an' dey take it out an' put it in a stockin', an' bury it undah de steps fo' three days. In three days dey take it up an' throw it in runnin' watah. (What will that do?) Say it will run yuh crazy. (What do you mean, put that hair in water? What kind of water?) Well, yuh know, sompin lak put it in a can or bucket or sompin lak dat.
(You mean ordinary water?)
Yes slr.
Entry 6349
Dey git de hair from de comb an' dey mix it up wit a little - put some salt in it, de way ah heard it. Now, put salt in it an' sometimes dey puts cham- ber lye in it. Put dat in de chamber lye in de bot- tle. Put dat in de bot- tle - put de chamber lye in it an' put de salt in it an' stop it up. See, an' goes tuh de rivah an' chunk it as de tide goin' out. An' dey chunk it as de tide goin' out, well, about from three tuh five tuh nine days, yore mind will be goin' - goin' till yo' go, an aftah while yo' find yoreself crazy.
Entry 6350
Dey could take yore hair an' stop it up in a bottle wit cay- enne peppah, peppah- grass an' take dat bottle at 12 o'clock hour on, an' chunk it ovahbo'd in de Mississippi River, an' jes' as she [bottle] drift, you'll drift aroun'.
Entry 6351
[The wearing of hair, a common love rite, is scat- tered throughout Hoodoo. In addition to' many examples given elsewhere, here are a few more:]
How tuh win yuh husban', yassuh [yes sir], if he wuz lovin' somun [someone] else. Ah had taken some of dere [his] hair outa de mole [mold of the head] an' weah [wear] it a couple mont's [months], an' ah have regained 'im back.
(You took some hair out of your husband's head and just [meaning nothing else]
wore it, and that brought him back.) [Wilson, N. Car.; (1500), 2668:3.]
Entry 6352
Git chure hair an' take dat hair - she kin take dat hair, an' if it's yore hair an' she wants yo' tuh love 'er, she kin take dat hair an' sew it up in a piece of cloth, an' take an' weah dat cloth an' wherevah dat he goes, why yo' [she] will long aftah 'im.
Entry 6353
Well, some people'll [people will] take haih. Jes' lak yo' take mah hair yo' know an' weah it, weah it on me [you], put it in a bag or somepin an' pin it tuh de clothes on de inside. [They] says dat'll make mah mind cleave tuh dem [you].
Entry 6354
Ah heard say if yo' take a person's hair an' sew it up in a li'le sack an' weah it somewheres aroun' [you], why dey'll love yo' fo'evah - dey nevah be 'way from yo'. [Wilson, N. Car., (1506), about 2673:4.] [The reason why I did not know the cylinder number here, there were two rites typed on the same tran- scription sheet, I forgetting to note here the cylinder number on the upper half. Since I have all separate rites in volumes 1 and 2 listed in numberical order, I know cylinder 1506 contains rites numbered 2673. The place number 4 on the cyl- inder is typed on the lower half of the original transcription sheet. The com- nent will explain other instances of unknown numbers in Hoodoo.]
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 6356
Take some of de hair an' some of de [foot] tracks an' weah it roun' yore waist, an' dat'll keep 'em down - some of dey right track. (Who would do that as a rule?) A woman would do dat. (Take some of the man's hair and some of his right foot track to keep him down?) Yassuh.
Entry 6357
Ah've heard dat dey kin take dat hair an' sew it intuh de bindin' of dey clothes. It mo' lak gittin' yore nature if dey keep dat hair sewed intuh de bindin' of dey clothes an' it become sweaty wit de nature of yo'. Den yo' kin come mo' lak managin' dat person. An' den ag'in yo' kin weah it [hair] in de bottom of yore shoe. Weah it in yore shoe an' walk on it an' dat person will nevah become a enemy of yo', becuz yo' got 'em undah yore feet.
Entry 6358
Yo' kin take de hair an' yo' git chew a lodestone wit it an' sew it up in a piece of red flannel an' weah it nex' tuh yo'. Dat's yore mind. Ah've got it, yore mind. Yo' weah dat an' dat's supposed tuh draw yore mind, see. Keep it always an' weah it on yo'.
(That will draw you.)
Entry 6359
[Mold or mould (the latter British) a term for a special place on top of the head, had few sayings or rites in Folklore from Adams County Illinois, lst ed. These few beliefs concerned the top of a baby's head, the still unjoined skull sutures which informants called the soft spot - anatomically the fontanel. An adult mold, sutures grown together and the center from which hair spread in all directions, informants knew as the crown or crown of the head. Some persons knew the name mold for the top of the head but no folklore about it. This top- of-the-head significance of mold appears in Websters New Intermational Dictionary of the English Language, 2nd ed., 1942; but The Random House Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged (1966) omits the definition. Does this omission indicate infrequent usage or obsolescence for a word as old as the Anglo-Saxon language? There are many hair-from-the-mold-of- the-head rites in Hoodoo.] An' den dey kin take de hair ag'in out de mole [mold] of yore haid an' weah it on de body an' make 'em love yo'.
Entry 6360
Tuh make love wit a woman, yo' cud [could] git - yo' cudn't git it anyway - git somebody tuh git some of 'er hair. An' take dat hair, put it in any kinda bag, but specially if it be a piece of new cloth. It be in de first piece an' den de pocket [bag] be roun' it. Put it roun' yore wais' an' den fasten it roun' dere. Firs' 'n'int [anoint] it wit Howthorne Cologne [Hearts Own Cologne, though for a long time this word sounded like hartshorn or hawthorne]. An' evah once a mont' yo' would 'n'int dat wit dat Hathorne [Hearts Own] Cologne. If yo' cudn't git de hair, anybody - jis' so anybody git it an' den give it tuh yo'. Dey cud fix it fo' yo' if dey wanted tuh. But tuh make her love yo', den yo' have tuh have dat hair an' weah it roun' yore wais'. "Nint it firs' wit Hathorne [Hearts Own] Cologne. When yo' see de love begin tuh git weakah, all yo' gotta do is 'nint it ag'in. An' jis' as long as yo' keep dat hair an' 'nint dat - even yo' cud take it off aftah yo' weah it de firs' nine days. But if yo' see etc.
Entry 6361
A fellah tole me, ah wuz a kid, a kind of a small lad of a kid, an' dere wuz a girl dat ah wuz likin', an' he had come, walked up to me one day an' says, "Whut chew stud'in' 'bout?" Ah say, "Well, ah jes' a studyin', ah don' har'ly [hardly] know."
[He] say, "Well, it's a woman yo' stud'in' 'bout?)
Ah say, "How yo' know?" [He] say, "Open yuh han'." An' ah jes' open mah han' an' he looked in mah han' an' he say, "Well, ah tell yo' whut chew kin do." Said, "Yo' take an' go git chew a [new] bottle of Heart's Cologne an' git fo' strands of dat woman's hair an' put it in dat Heart's Cologne an' weah it in de seat of yuh clothes [pubic region sug- gested by later armpit] nine days. An' if yo' don' wanta do dat, take some of 'er hair. Take a plait of 'er hair an' roll it up real tight an' weah it undah yuh lef' ahm [arm]. An' don' nevah git rida [rid of] hit." An' he say, "She'll nevah leave yo'."
Entry 6362
Yuh hair. Or tuh make love er any- thing, dey'll [take] dat an' fol dit [fold it] up an' den put some - weahzit [wears it] aroun' dere wais' [waist], see. Dat not tuh do no hahm [harm] dō [though]. Dat tuh make love, if anybody - yuh wife wan'a keep yuh in.
(Yes, what would she do then?)
Dey go tuh verk [work] an' yuh [dey] put dat in a bottle, [with] 9 needles an lak dat. Dey put 'em in. Dis ole man 'ave [have] tell me.
Entry 6363
[Paper is a magic substance in hoodoo: type of (including imitation parchment), color, new, ruled or unruled, shape, etc. Folding and wrapping and tying are magic rites.l If he's got othah woman roun' an' dey ain't got de habit of hittin' it off, she could jes' jes' git a stran' of hair out de mol' [mold] of 'is haid, an' wrop it up in a piece of papah, an' jes' make a sack fo' her tuh weah yo' know, jes' sew it up in some of 'er clothes she's gon'a weah. Why he couldn't leave dere no time, unless he goes tuh 'is business - couldn't stay no longah.
Entry 6364
If yo' have a piece of dere hair yo' kin git 'em back. Ah heard dey takes it an' wrap it in some peppah an' tote it, in red peppah. Bring a per- son back.
Entry 6365
Dey take yore hair, a stran' of yore hair, an' dey cut it an' put a li'le piece of it on 'em an' dey wear it roun' below... A piece of yore hair an' put a piece of dere garment an' wear it down below dere stomach. Yes - an' then - that makin' love. (They put a piece of any kind of gar- ment?) Yes a piece of 'er garment - de seat of 'er bloomers, yessuh. Yes - dat make a man love 'em.
Entry 6366
Yo' kin git some of dat woman's hair an' take an' put a halfa teaspoon- ful of salt intuh some watah an' a li'le bit of camphah tuh it, dey says. An' yo' kin shake dat up - de hair an' a li'le bita camphah an' watah an' dat table salt tuhgethah. An' she will leave from where she's at or leave de man she's wit.
Entry 6367
Ah heard people say yo' could take a person's hair an' tie it up in a rag or sompin lak dat, an' put salt an' ah think dey said spices in it an' carry it wit 'em all de time. Dat make 'em love dem, see.
Entry 6368
Jes' lak yo' wants tuh git in touch wit a woman an' cain't git in touch wit'er, yo' go tuh work an' jes' take yo' two or three stran's of hair out of 'er haid; yo' know, tie 'em an' weah 'en in de seat of yore undahweah - weah it three days. Well, dat gits dat yo' see.
Entry 6369
For instance, if I had a wife and she was in love with me and I was running around with other women and I vent to sleep, she would pull three strands of my hair and put them in a bag, and put sugar and lard, and make it just the size of a dime in a little pad, and wear it around her leg, either leg. I would have no more use for any other woman.
[Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 6370
Well, ah've heard dat chew could take de hair out of a woman's haid an' jes' take a string an' tie dis hair, if yo'd wanta harm 'em [her] some way. Weah it aroun' yore waist, weah it until de hair lose out. Say when de hair lose [is lost], yo' done lost de woman.
Entry 6371
Heard dem say dat chew kin take yore hair an' put it in some powdahs an', an' some Hawthorne [= Hearts Own] Cologne. Said dey take dat an' put dat an' tie it, an' put it in a clothan' tie roun' yore wais'. Dey said dat'll make mens love yo'.
Entry 6372
Yo' kin take a woman's hair an' a piece of 'er undah- weah an' a piece of new cloth, an' sew it up tight an' weah it in yore pocket, an' dey says she'll love yo'. Else [otherwise] she'll be extra mean tuh yo'.
Entry 6373
Take a man's hair, a strand of his hair out of his haid, an' put it ~ makea belt, chew know - an' put dat hair indat belt an' wear it roun' yore waits [waist]. Dat will make him crazy about chew too. Ah've tried dat too.
Entry 6374
Well, ah heard it said if yuh git nine strands of der hair an' yuh wrap dat aroun' a cord nine times jis' lak yuh tyin' up a [package] - jis' aroun' de hair, wrap it from yuh all de time. Den yuh git chew nine drops spirits of tur- pentine an' yuh put on dat, an' yuh wrops dat up in a piece of papah. [You put 9 strands of victim's hair in a piece of paper, add 9 drops of turpen- tine, and wrap a cord from you 9 times about this paper pack- age.] An' yuh go an' put it undah de [house owner's or renter's] doorstep. Yuh put it undah dere evah mawnin' befo' de sunrise fo' nine mawnin's. Yuh put dat undah dere an' yuh go back after sundown. Yuh put dat undah dere an' yuh go back aftah sundown. Yuh put it undah dere befo' sunrise an' go back aftah sundown an' git it, den put it back dere ag'in befo' sunrise. Yuh go it fo' nine mawnin'san' on de ninth mawnin' dey [owner or renter] goin' be movin'. [Wrapping and winding, two important magic actions have not always been indexed in the past. There are in Hoodoo many examples of the former, especially wrapping to you or away from you. True winding rites probably will also be found in Hoodoo, they appearing in love rites of general folklore (see BALL OF YARN examples, FACI, 2nd ed., p.439). [Wilmington, N. Car., (294), 217:4 - 85+.1
Entry 6375
If she wanta take him from 'is wife. Yo' see, he's got a wife an' she wanta take him. An' 'cordin' to dat, well, he'll go an' stay wit 'er all night. Well, while he's dere, she'll cut some hair out of 'is haid, see. She'll take dat hair out an' put it intuh a quart bottle an' good whiskey on it, an' put bluestone an' lodestone in dere. An' befo' she'll speak to anybody, she'll git up evah mawnin' fo' nine straight mawnin's an' shake dat up. An' at de end of de ninth mawnin' when she shake it up, dat hair will bejes' as black as a coal in dat bottle. An' dat man will walk right out of de house an walk ovah dere tuh her, an' 'is wife won' say an'thin' tuh him.
(That takes this man away from his wife?)
Yessuh. [Memphis, Tenn., (1530), 2736:4.] [These three parts of the human body appear separately, joined with one or the other, or all together, or in various combinations with various substances. About one-third of them concern food and drink. As always in these sections of special material, not all rites are here. Others will be found elsewhere, espe- cially in INTERVIEWS.]
Entry 6376
Yo' know, jes' lak we be settin' down filin' our fingahnail off, yo' know, an' yo' know people be settin' roun' talkin' tuh each othah an' ain't thinkin' about it. Well, dey watch chew an' dey git chure fingahnails. Ah'll take 'em up an' ah'll carry 'em tuh dis ant bed an' whenevah dey take yore fingahnails an' carry 'em tuh de ants bed, yo' know dose ants mo' den apt tuh take evahthin' dey kin an' carry dem in 'is hole. See, when he carry dat, den ah'll go back de nex' mawnin' an' if dat ant is missin', have taken dese nails, vell ah'm goin' stop de hole up. Well, dat's she's goin' bad, got somepin, jes' lak somebody got de TB [tuberculosis]. Jes' long as her fingahnails an' thin's is stopped up in dis hole, she dryin' away.
Entry 6377
Take an' put yuh toenail an' a piece of dis man's hair in dere an' yo' kin git 'im back. (Put it where?) In de ants nest, in a red ants nest.
Entry 6378
Yo' soak yore feet an' den yo' git a knife an' scrape dat skin off - some of dat dead skin. Make it up an' put it in sompin tuh drink. Nachurally ef yo' drink tea, put it in yore tea or in coffee. An' take yore fingahnails an' toenails an' parch dem an' beat dem up an' put it in coffee or tea. An' wash undah yuh arm an' put dat in de tea. Dat vill make 'em love yuh, make dem real jealous of yo', too. An' ef yo' don't min' 'en, make 'em kill yo'.
Entry 6379
Dey say a woman, eithah a man, if dey want dey husban' or dey wife tuh stay home. Yo' take yuh fingahnails - trim yuh fingahnails, trim de toenails an' wash undahneath each one of yore arns an' if dey drink likkah, put it in likkah an' let it set fer three days. Don' let 'em see it. Jis' conceal it somewhere. An' dey say dey would nevah leave, jis' hang right aroun' dere - stay home.
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 6390
It's gotta be close frien's tuh git dat. But dey kin take dem fingah- nails an' dose toenails an' dat dead skin off de bottom of yore feet. An' take some dragon blood, see, an' some John de Conkah powdah. It's a powdah an' den it's a root, but chew take de John de Conkah powdah. (Where do you get the powder?) Yo' gits dis powdah from New Orleans. De woman tole me, yassuh. An' take it, dat dragon's blood an' dat John de Conkah, an' take dat dead skin an' dem toenails [and fingernails]. An' if it's possible, yo' kin git a piece of de individual's hair. Now ah'm tellin' yo' a way tuh drive 'em clean on out of town. An' put some cayenne peppah wit dat an' roll it up. An' sprinkle some table salt on it an' roll it up tight, an' burn it graj'ly [gradually]. Don't burn it real fast. Jis' put it in a place where it kinda simble [simmer] all day long. An' den [after] hit git burnt up, de party would git jis' hot-footed, hot-headed to go.
Entry 6457
[That's a] powahful thing. Yo' kin take de fingahnails, de toenail, a lock of each individual hair.
(Yes.)
Takin' it an' put it in a li'le small can, see, lightin' fire tuh it an' leave it cook tuh a powdah. Sprinkle dat in any food of any woman an' no man kin git between yo' an' 'er. Or eithah way, yo' kin reverse it. If she do it tuh yo', no woman kin git between yo' an' 'er. (I see. I would simply take this woman's fingernails and toenails and some of her hair?) Yes, sir.
(Nothing from myself?)
Nope.
Entry 6458
All right, if yo' wants tuh run a woman crazy, yo' take some of 'er hair. An' cut 'er lef' li'le fingahnail, an' den git de middle fingahnail off de right han', an' some of 'er hair, an' tie it up tuhgethah an' go tuh a li'le saplin' tree. Bo' a hole intuh it an' place it in dat hole in dat tree. Ah guarantee yo' 'fo' a good while she be crazy.
Entry 6459
Yo' kin take yore toenails an' yore fingahnails an' yo' kin wrap dat up an' some kinda hair, if dey kin git yore hair. An' dey buries dat up undah yore back step an' dey say, den yo' can't stay in dat house no mo'. Yo'll have tuh move out. (You'll move out?) Yeah, yo'll have tuh Bove. Long as yore toenails an' things stay dere, yo' have tuh move.
(Well, now, if they were making me move, would they bury it under my house?)
No, dey bury it up undah yore house where yo' live in. Dey have tuh git yo' outa dat house.
(I see.)
Entry 6460
Jis' shave it off, take a little, yuh know - jis' a little bit off yeh fingahnails. An' take a razor an' shave a little bit undah yeh ahms, an' a lit- tle bit of hair down dere. An' take dat an' put it in a pot dat choo not gon'a use any mo', an' put it on de fiah; a pot choo're not gon'a use any mo', becuz yuh know nobody fix anything dat yuh wouldn't wana eat [from] it. An' git a pint of whiskey, somebody dat choo know dat love whiskey. An' take dat stuff aftah yuh cook it - it'll git thick - let it drain off. An' when it drain off, put jis' a little bit in whiskey, until de whiskey won't git so thick dat he'll pay mind tuh it. An' den dat's de way yuh kin draw a person wid jeh. If yuh can't git 'em no othah way, yuh kin git 'em in whiskey.
Entry 6461
(No, no, go ahead.)
Well, tuh make a man stay wit chew. Yo' cut all de side of yuh fingahnails an' yuh toenails, hairs undah yuh arms, hairs from yuh head, undah dere, an' yo' parch it brown, brown, lak de dust. When, if he drinks coffee, yo' put it in de coffee. If he don't, well yo' take it an' yo'll make it brown jis' lak it wuz black peppah. An' yo'll take it an' yo'll sprinkle it all ovah 'is fish, an' yo'll give it tuh 'em. Well, he'll come tuh lak yo' an' he'll love yuh.
Entry 6469
[The two rites following explain each other:]
They say, kin get your fingernails. If you kin get a man's fingernails, or his toenails, or a piece of hair, you know, say, you get a piece of red flannen, I think, an' sew that up. An' you get chew a bottle of Hearts Cologne. An' I think you get that on the day when the moon's on the last quarter, I think. An' you fix that up and sew that up between nine and ten, an' make your wishes. An' then I think they wear that somewheres near the body, near the heart.
[Informant starts another hair rite:]
(I see. And what do they put in that bag? What would they put in that?)
Well, they's put in that a bag, it's some kind where they got their finger- nails and toenails or some of the hair where they - it's a kind of root they get dey call de Eve-and-Adam. See, those roots are twin roots together. They name one the man and the other one the woman. And then they keep it saturated, I think, in Hearts Cologne. They wear that near the body and make a wish for every stitch they make, sewing up that bag. They makes a wish. They make a bag an sews on it. They make a wish an' puts nine stitches each way [demonstrates]. (Nine stitches in the bag. This is a square bag, nine stitches on each side, nine stitches on each of the four sides of the square bag. I see. And that wish would get them, or something of that sort?) Yes, then they wear that near the heart. (That's different from the - adding that root? That's different from the first thing you told me?) Yes.
Entry 6475
Yo' take nine of 'er fingahnails an' nine of 'er toenails, an' den git a red onion. An' git nine stran's of hair outa de mole of 'er haid an' dat on- ion, red onion. An' cut it open an' dig a li'le hole in it, an den take dem nine toenails an' [nine] fingahnails an' dat nine stran's of hair outa 'er haid, an' place tuhgethah an' put it in dere. An' stop dat onion up an' go roun' de house towards where de sun rise an' dig a li'le hole an' put it dere, an' den covah it up. [For a man to hold a woman.]
Entry 6485
If yo' kin git de nail offa each li'le fingah an' de big nail off each [big] toe of de person, an' a lock right out de mole of dey haid an' put it un- dah yuh right steps, dere ain't no way in de worl' fo' dem tuh leave until de house burn down. Ah don't ca' [care] who it be. Undah de right cornah of yuh step. Whutevah way it is dey is comin' in from de no'th is de right cornah of yuh step where yuh house settin'.
Entry 6496
Ah've heard dat dey'd git holt of yo' toenails an' fingahnails an' a lock [of] yo' hair, an' put vinegah in it an' take an' care [carry] 'em in de woods. An' bo' a hole in a tree an' stick nine pins in dat hole. An' take de toenails an' fingahnails an' a lock of yo' hair an' ball it up, an' put it in wit dat li'le hole yo' bo'd. An' cut choo a peg an' put it in dere, jis' lak yo' gon'a cork up anythin'. An' yo' go dere evah mawnin' jis' a li'le 'fo' sunrise an' give it two licks real light fo' nine days. An' yo've drived dat fo' nine days an' de ninth day yo' drive it clean up. An' aftah yo' drive it clean up de ninth day, den de person who yo' got, he ain't be here long. Dat'll cure dem away, but dat won' kill 'em.
Entry 6542
Tell me yo' kin take a dog hair, see, an' if dey cook it in yore bread an' git chew tuh eat it, it will fill yo' full of li'le things lak grubworms an' things. Eat chew up inside.
Entry 6543
Yo' take some dog hair an' put it in some whiskey. Mix yo' a li'le sulphur in wit it an' yo' give dat tuh a person to drink, an' it'll 'cumulate snakes in 'em. [Snakes are created because hair, usual- ly horse hair, will turn into snakes - see SNAKES later.]
Entry 6544
Dey take cat hair an' dog hair an' place it intuh a man's food, an' if dat'll remain dere 'bout nine days, well, it'll turn, yo' know, lak hair worms. An' den it'll stay dere 'bout six or seven months, den it beginnin' tuh form snakes. Whenever dose things get live, yo' know, dey jis' crawl an' crawl about. Well, it's quite natchel [natural] den dat'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 6571
Well, all right, in case if yo' wanta learn how tuh raise snakes - raise 'em. An' naow [now] ah mean raise 'em. Well, yo' go tuh a stud horse. Undahstan' good now. Well, yo' go dere an' yo' cut a stran' of hair outa his tail. Well, den when yo' do dat, yo' go tuh a li'le stream of watah an' drive yer stick down in dat watah an' tie dat mane - dat horse's tail roun' dat stick. An' yo' watch dat. In fo' day's time jis' same as de big moccasin, it commence tuh wiggle. Yo' see now, dese wiggle-tail in de bay [of Mobile], well dey make snakes.
(But you have to tie that into a stream of water.)
Entry 6602
Well, all right, ah've had de pleasure tuh meetin' a woman travelin through de country, an' five or six diff'ren' people of mah profession tole [her] dat dere wus snakes put intuh 'er. Now, dey wus Wondahin' how did dese snakes git intuh dis woman. Ah claim dat yo' kin take snake dust an' put snakes intuh a person. Yo' kin sprinkle dis dust over some of dere food an' if dey eat, dey claim dat snakes will grow intuh 'em. Ah've had de pleasure of gittin' one from a woman. Ah've taken de hair from de top of 'er head an' burn dis an' let 'er weah dis dus' in 'er lef' shoe, an it made dese snakes disappeah.
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 6659
Ah heard dat yo' could take de hair an' take it an' put it in - jis' urap it up or tie it up in a cloth or somepin an' weah it on yo' some place. Weah it on de firs' piece yo' weah [wear next to skin] an' dey say dat will cuz yo' tuh come back tuh 'em. An' den ag'in yo' could take de hair an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up. An' put it in runnin' watah an' den it would turn tuh a snake. An' when it turn tuh a snake it would kill yo'.
Entry 6687
They tell me that if you can get a hold of dog's hair and cat hair, and fix it so that it can get into the food of an individual, that after they eat it, if it stays in 'em for nine days, it turns to worms. And those worms get in their body on the inside and they finally die from the effect of it. [Elizabeth City, N. Car., (182), 554:9.] [Readers will notice I have changed the title of this subsection from the one originally given in volume 3 under CONTENTS FOR VOLUMES 3 AND 4. This change perely returns to my original title CURE AND PROTECTION in volume 1, pages 410- 519, emphasizing once again, as in the introductory comment that folk medicine in hoodoo or witchcraft has a protective or preventive side (p.3077). A com- plete list of cures and prevention of ailments and disease cannot be known until the completion of the INDEX to occupy all of volume 5.]
Entry 6782
If bitten by a dog, catch the dog, cut hair off end of his tail, bury under the steps. Keeps you from bein' poisoned. [This is an unusual version of 'the hair of the dog that bit you." Poison here does not mean hoodoo poison but rabies. Even so, persons could have been found who would have said some evil- ainded person sent a mad dog to bite the victim, thus making it a hoodoo poison affair.]
Entry 6878
Take a horse mane - dat's from back of de horse - yo' know dat long mane, an' yo' put nine knots in it. Lak if she gotta come out of 'er gate - an' bury it right at dat gate. An' if she walk ovah it, she can't birth 'er child. (You take the mane off the horse?) Yeah, yo' gotta take it off.
(You don't take the whole mane, just some of his hair?)
Yo' know, not de whole mane, jis' some of de hair, by 'is haid.
Entry 6984
[Here is a remarkable survival, perhaps my only example of the belief. This rite has survived not only time but also my notation doubtful, made only a few months after its collection out in the field!] Dey say if anybody wan'a try tuh poison yuh or anythin', or dey eithah try tuh run yuh crazy or anythin', dey say go tuh de runnin' spring [of water], an' git choo a stran' of [your] hair, an' turn yuh back to it [spring] an' t'row in de watah, an' nevah look at it, an' dey say dat'll kill dat [witch- craft]. [This is a substitution rite. The intended victim substitutes a strand of his hair, a part of his life, for the whole of his life. To earlier man, and even into the Middle Ages many springs or wells were considered holy, each well guarded by its own spirit. The Christian Church renamed these famous wells for saints. I lived for some months on a narrow winding street called Holywell, in Oxford, England. Further, the Old Testament tells us that songs were sung to wells and springs: Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it, " in Numbers 21:17.]
Entry 7036
Yo' take a man dat's been drinkin' all 'is days, or if yo' take dat [man] ain't bery long started, it easily done. But one dat's drinkin' all 'is days, most of 'em drinks whiskey or drinks [hard liquor]. De way she do 'im when he come in evah night - evah night when he comes in she goes tuh work an' clip off 'is, git 'is hair down dere.
(His private hair.)
His private hair, an' a li'le from 'is haid an' mix it tuhgethah. Den she takes dat an' puts it in a li'le bit of whiskey an' she keeps dat fo'.three days aftah she do it. Git dis li'le bit of hair an' takes dat fo' three days an' keeps it. Den she buys den a halfa pint of othah whiskey an' po's hit intuh dis whiskey, an' let 'im drink dat, an' he'll slack up on dat whiskey. Maybe he drink, perhaps it be fo' days, but it won't be ovah fo' days 'fore he come in, "Ah b'lieve ah'll slack up drinkin' whiskey, ah sho' do think it's takin' 'fect on me."
Entry 7228
[I met a galaxy of doctors in Charleston, S. Car., before I had suffi- cient experience to handle them. Two years later I would have been better pre- pared. Moreover the weather was excessively hot and the hotel rooms noisy at night. There was little rest. The fol- lowing doctor, Maguin or San Mongain was rather strange. At that time I thought all of them were! This man has already appeared in: No.1221, p.434; No.1417, p.464; No.1638, p.507; and No.2209, p.629.] (Well, now, how would a person harm me if they got a hold of my foot track? How would they hurt me with that?) How would he hurt chew wit dat? He'd take yore foot track an' carry it tuh de graveyard. An' tuh take it back from de graveyard, yo' gotta throw dis dirty watah undah yore house. An' tuh kill de spell from dere an' [to] drive de evil spirit, den begin burnin' dragon blood at twelve o'clock at night in dat ole shoe [this rite partially given in No.1221, p.434, v.1.]. (What would he do with this track if he took it to the graveyard? What would he do with it out there?) When he take de track to de graveyard, he put it tuh de haid of de graveyard [grave] an' pay dem one cent, calls yore name an' tole 'em tuh mind 'im. An' durin' de time dat he done take it tuh de graveyard, yore foot track, yo' come back home an' throw it ovah [under]neath yore house. An' go an' git dis gum-bush an' let it stay in yore house fer three days an' burn it. An' de pusson will come back an' go back tuh de graveyard an' git dis track an' turn yo' loose.
Entry 7256
(What do they do with that hair?)
Well, dey'll take dat hair an' dey'll tie it aroun' dere waist, yuh know. Tie dat hair wit string an' make nine knots in it. Aftah dey make dem nine knots in it, well in about fifteen days yuh'd go crazy, if yuh don't go see about chureself. Yuh'd have tuh go tuh some strong two-haided person an' see about chureself.
(Where do you get this hair from?)
Out of yuh ear.
(And what do they tie that to?)
Aroun' dey waist.
Entry 7284
Aftah he wuz killed, ah heard dat he could take an' step nine steps backwards, an' when he steps nine steps backwards, he would whirl round on de left heel an' pick up a strand of hair outa dat track an' call 'is name - name an' a lock of 'is hair. Ah heard dat's de way yo' git 'em back. (You call the man's name that wus kill- ed?) Call de nam dat killed 'im. (Well, how did they know it was that man?) Well, when dey step backwards nine steps an' whirl round an' dey git de strand of 'is hair, dey would know dat hair on account dey have seen dat man. An' den, his 'nitials - his 'nitials be cut in dat hair.
(You mean that would be the hair of the man that did the killing?)
Yessuh. [To whirl round on the heel (usually right) and find a hair in the heel mark is a common rite: In the hole you make by turning around three times on your right heel you will find a hair like that of your destined mate's (FACI 1st ed., No.7037; cf.7038-7039). For finding hair in shoe or stocking, see 2nd ed., 9105-9115.1 [Informant is describing the work of a doctor, who could recognize the hair and see the initials; a simple task for a gifted person, as anyone familiar with these volumes of Hoodoo knows.]
Entry 7409
Yes, sir, de firs' thing ah would do, git tuh de undahtakah. Dat's all ah want, git in touch wit de undahtakah - gotta git in touch wit 'em [him] or ah cain't handle de body. Ah'd trim dat man toenail an' fingahnails, an' take some of de hair out de haid [demon- strates], an' take some heah, an' take some heah, an' take some from down heah. An' ah'd put dose things tuhgethah.
[I now describe his preceding actions.]
(Take some from the top of his head, some from just at the bottom of each ear, and some down below.) Dat's it. An' trim 'is toenails an' hands [fingernails], put 'em tuhgethah an' mix some more stuff wit it. An' take it an' put it back in dat casket [cof- fin] wit a bran'-new red han'kachef, an' let 'em [these things] go in de grave wit it [the corpse]. An' if dat guy [murderer] don't be dere befo' dey bury 'em [him, the corpse], de people he work wit cain't git nobody tuh bury 'em. An' if he don't git dere, if he have tuh walk, he'll go in de graveyard an' stay dere until somebody go dere an' git 'em [him]. He gotta go dere, he cain't live.
Entry 7493
Well, dey takes 'im, de dead man who got killed an' bury 'im on 'is face. Den dey cut a lock of hair out de mole of 'is haid. Den dey bury dat near as dey kin find neah where dis man killed dis man at, an' dat man will be caught. An' den de person who bury him, de kinfolks, will walk ovah aroun' dis man three times an' bury de thing, dis lock of hair, an' he will be caught in three months or three years. (After they find this dead man they bury him and they walk around him three times and then bury his hair out where he was killed?) Yes. (Do they walk around the dead man as soon as he is killed or after he is buried or what?) After he is buried.
(Then they catch the fellow who has killed him.)
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 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 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 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 7939
[To kill her husband this Wo- man took the seat of his drawers and some of his hair [to a root worker?)
and buried it in the cemetery (in a little grave) and placed a stick at the head and another stick at the foot.] [This rite was "not transcribed, not much and too diffuse."]
Entry 7940
Yo' take a person's hair an' if a person dies.... If ah wanta take a plait of yore hair an' ah take de plait of yore hair an' ah plait it, an' if ah knows of a person dies, ah take de plait of dat hair yo see, an' ah puts it undahneath dat daid person's haid. See. An' when dat daid person begin tuh rot, yore hair will begin tuh rot, yo' see. Jis' lak a person, yo' know, almos' aftah a person dies, well yo' know dere hair rots offa dere haid. Well, dat's de very yay ah take dat plait of hair an' ah put it in dat coffin, yo' see, an' when dat person begin tuh rot, mah [that] hair begin tuh rot.
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 8011
Make doll baby, put in box like a coffin, with person's hair and quick- silver balls at stomic [stomach]. Person who cured victim shot the evil-doer with a spiritual gun. [Long story, not much detail, recheck.] [Doctor Bayhan (Bayhand), a white doctor on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, used a spirit- ual gun to harm persons as far away as Baltimore - see No.62, p.28; and another comment about him from Deal Island, Md., No.3069, p.891.] [Washington, D. C.,
(between 629-638), 816:2.]
[In this subsubsection we have an animal buried as a substitute for the burial of a person. Our first example will be a substitute for the substitute, an egg for the chicken.]
Entry 8031
Take yo' a bone - lak yo' go tuh de graveyard an' take yo' a bone an bury it. An' pound it up. Pound fine, fine. An' if dey wants tuh run yo' crazy, sprinkle some in yore hair. An' dey'll keep dat. Or eithah put some in yore food. An' den yo' come in a length of time, yo' begin tuh pass worms lak snakes.
Entry 8047
Yo' kin [take] a person's bone outa his laig, a li'le small one of 'is bones. Take a strand of 'is hair, live person's hair, whoevah yo' want, an' wrap it aroun' dat bone. An' yo' take dat bone, if yo' don' want tuh bury it, yo' kin put it in a close [or dark] corner wit de hair aroun' it, yo' know, an' whutevah yo' wish fo' - if yo' wish dose person tuh die or whutevah yo' wish fo', den at [after] de six week dat wish will come true. Wit de hair Wrapped aroun' dat bone, becuz if yo' wrap dat hair roun' de bone, it won't be long fo' dat DEAD BONE WILL TURN DAT STRAN' OF HAIR WHITE. Yo' kin notice it. It will turn dat stran' of hair white.
Entry 8148
Yo' kin take a person's pichure an' put it on a new piece of lumbah, an' put it up undah yore do'step, an' put a piece of dere hair in de toadfrog mouth, an' drive a nail in hit, in de toadfrog heart an' de pi- chure heart, on de new piece of lumbah whut chew got drive down. Drive a peg through 'is heart an' through de heart of de tin- type pichure. An' aftah dat toadfrog die, yo'll die. An' put dat up undah yore do'step so yo'll come out ovah it evah mawnin'. When dat toadfrog die, yo'll die. (You put this picture on a new piece of lumber, then you put the frog on the picture. Then you drive a nail [or peg] right through the hearts of all of them.) Right through both of 'em heart an' put a hair out 'is haid in 'is [toad- frog's] mouth.
Entry 8235
Jis' take a woman's hair an' pichure an' cut it all up an' put it in a bot- tle tuhgethah an' take an' po' dis Heart's Own Perfume on it. She'll nevah quit 'im an' she'll always run aftah 'im.
(What do they do with that bottle then?)
Well, hide it off in de loft of de house where she be goin' undah it or sompin lakdat.
Entry 8477
I have heard they take your photograph and get the hair out of your head, and wish anything would happen to that image, and attach that hair onto your pic- ture, and that wish will come true.
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 8576
Take yo' a thread string an' put chew nine knots in it an', as ah would say, use a cat an' a dog, an' yo' git some hair from de back of dere neck, an' jes' make a bundle of it, yo' know, altogether an' put chew nine knots in de thread an' bury it right in dat do' there. An' yo'll nevah come inside chere. Yo'll always pass by, yo' wouldn't nevah have no visitors to stop heah.
(That's to keep somebody from coming in or to make them leave the house?)
Dat's if yo' heah, yo'll leave heah an' yo' won't nevah come back heah; or if: it's anybody yo' don't want tuh come in heah, yo' do dat an' dey won't come in heah. But yo' should have dey name, de person name in that. (Now you tie the nine knots in the thread after you have wrapped it in this bundle?) [That was not a sensible thing to say, even though informant's words about the knots are ambigious.] Yeah, yo' tie nine knots in de thread an' put it in de bundle wit de hair of de dog an' de cat.
Entry 8623
Well, yo' see, jis' like a person asleep, they'll take this hair out de mold of yore had. Dey put it in a bottle. After dey put it in a bottle, dey take a lemon. Dey squeeze dat lemon juice in dat bottle, an' take yore name. Yo' write dat name nine times an' put it in dat bottle, an' shake it up, an' set in de sunrise side of de worl'. Jis' as de sun goes [from sunrise to sunset], dey say yo' lose yore mind.
Entry 8683
Dey kin take a person's hair an' bury it an' cause 'em tuh die. Cut de hair outa de top de haid. Yo' can't git any othah part of de hair. Yo' gotta git it from de top of de haid, understan', an' wrap it in brown papah. An' write dere name on dat papah, an' cause 'em tuh - yo' know, jes' anything dat chew wish would go wrong with de body. Dat whut chew do wit a person's hair.
(You just write that name once on the paper?)
Yeah - yeah, jes' once. On some different things yo' have tuh write it three times, but jes' with de hair yo' kin write it once, on brown papah. It's gotta be brown papah, jes' ordinary wrappin' papah, lak dat. {Memphis, Tenn., (1518), 2695:2.]
Entry 8819
Cut de cornahs off of it, all fo' cornahs off of it, an' yo' kin do somepin wit 'em dataway. Well, yo' kin take 'em jes' lak anybody writin' yo' a love lettah. Jes' lak yo' git a lettah - jes' lak ah got a fren' boy [boy friend] an' he got anothah fren' girl [girl friend]. Well, jes' lak he goin' wit her an' goin' wit me but ah don't know nuthin 'bout it. Well, suppose she goin' write 'im a lettah. Well, if ah happen tuh git de lettah an' read it, an' don't lak whut she say on it, don't even know he wuz goin' wit 'er, well ah take dat lettah an' burn all fo' cornahs. All fo' cornahs off dat lettah an' singe it wit chure hair. Yo' know, not [don't singe it] on yore haid, but yo' singe it wit dat, an' wrap it up an' sleep wit it evah night. An' dat'll soon make 'i an' dis girl break up. Yeah, jes' lak yo' take a match an' jes' stick a fire tuh de hair an' singe it an' burn all fo' cornahs off it, de lettah, an' den yo' seal dis hair up in de lettah. An' yo' take it an' put it undah yore pillah an' sleep wit it undah dere evah night. An' dat'll make him an' dis girl soon break up. (You take some of your own hair an' burn this hair over that letter and let this dust fall on that letter. Then you fold that dust in that letter and sleep on it?) Yes.
Entry 9151
To discharge the case against you?
(Yes.)
The best things you can do for the judge is to get you a thing they call spice. Get you a spice and after you wash your face, combed your hair, you stand with your back to the door - not with your face to the door - stand with your back to the door. Rub your hands, rub that powder, that spice on your hands and brush your face backward, back like that [demonstrates]. Brush it three times before you go out that door. And then wheel out that door, just turn and walk out that door be- fore you open your eyes. But brush your face backward three times after you ground that spice, wash your face, comb your hair and everything, be ready to go. Smooth your face three times like that and turn your back, with your eyes closed and go out that door. And I'll bet you won't have no trouble and your case will be done closed.
Entry 9368
Take de hair an' put it in a aigshell an' care [carry] it to runnin' watah an' dat'll cuz 'em - it'll run 'em off, run 'em away. (Put that hair in the empty egg- shell?) Yassuh.
Entry 9847
[This rite I preserved only in my own original notations made soon after the interview.1 Her sister, they found her hair and nine needles and nine pins in a cologne bottle - salt in the hair - buried under the house beneath the head of the bed. She broke out in sores and pains. A root doctor called in and told them the woman had been tricked. To prove his diagnosis he crawled under the house and came out with the bottle. He showed the bottle but would not let anyone touch it, especially the patient, who would have died!]
Entry 9947
About dis toadfrog, ah been heahin' about dat. Ah been heahin' 'bout a man dat stayed at Clinton [North Carolina] dat did dis. So 2vent tuh see 'im. Well, he tells me tuh bring 'im some de girl's haah [hair]. Bll, he takes dis girl's haah an' ties it roun' a frog's laig, an' he take 'im a ale junipah shingle.
(Just an ordinary shingle made from juniper?)
Yessuh. Yo' know hit won't sink. An' he carries it tuh de rivah an' throus I in nnnin' watah.
(hat does he throw in?)
He takes dis frog an' put 'im on dis shingle an' throw [lays] hit in runnin' watah, an' as dis frog leaves heah an' it goes down [the riverl, an' as dis frog leaves heah an' it hop ag'in, dis woman would hop - walk jis' lak dis frog hop. Dat's true fo' ah see it mahself. (He just put this frog on the shingle and put the shingle in the water, in the backwater; and as this frog hops out of that water [I mean] off that shingle and gets on land again, [so will the woman hop away].
Entry 10015
Dey says ketch a black cat wit not a white spot on 'is body an'- dat's a perfectly thing [cat is totally black]. An' says, put 'im in a pot live an' boil 'im live till all de meat come off 'is bones. An' he take dat bone, all dem bones tuh a runnin' stream of watah, an' de bone dat sink yo' git it. An' say he could do anythin'.
(The bone that sinks. What will the other bones do?)
Float on top.
(The bone that sinks you take?)
Yes sir.
Entry 10018
Well, ah hear'd dat dey take dis black cat - ketches a black cat wit not a white streak on 'im any place. An' dey takes 'im an' puts 'im on - starts 'im off tuh boil. An' when yo' git chure watah boilin', jis' drop dis live cat in de watah. An' den when yo' drop dis live cat in de watah, den yo' lets it boil all tuh pieces. Yo' take it tuh a swift stream, tuh a stream dat is runnin' swift, an' yo' po's it in dere. An' den de bone dat goes up de stream, yo' git dat bone. An' den dey say yo' kin go do anythin' dat chew wanta do.
Entry 10030
Dey tell me it's very lucky, it's de luckiest bone in de world. Ah tried it one time but ah jis' didn't have de ingredients. Yo' take a black cat an' have boilin' hot watah, an' have a cat wit not a white hair on 'im. When dat watah git tuh boilin' good, yo' grab dat cat in a sack or somepin an' throw 'im in dere an' put de top.on 'im. An' he'll boil an' he'll boil all tuh pieces. An' de bone whut chew want'll float an' de rest'll sink, but chew use dat wit lodestone. But now ah nevah did git de full ingredient but ah did cook de black cat an' got de bone. Dat bone shore will rise. Ah know dat. (It didn't work.)
Entry 10170
A friend of mine wanted tuh git rid of her husband an' she wuz in love with anothah man at de same time, an' so she took his picture, her husban's picture, an' she had some bergamot an' vinegah, salt an' peppah - jes' ordinary black peppah. And she kept it undah his bed.
(What did she do with these ingredients?)
Had them all together, folded togethah, an' even a piece of his hair. An' she folded that together an' she lighted a candle an' kept that burnin' undah his bed.
(The candle burning under his bed?)
Yessuh, little small tapers - white ones, very small. As soon as one would go out, she'd light the othah one. She kept a boxful, yo' know, continually. An' finally he left. [Some of the small tapers or candles are about the size of an old-fashioned wooden match.]
Entry 10176
A bird's nest - a person can take some of your hair and put it in that bird's nest, you see. And take some of that bird's feathers and put that in there and then take your hair and put it in there. And then every, every morn- ing they take and set a light [candle] right in there [the nest] but not burn the nest. Just take that light and set that light in there [in a drinking glass]. And if they want to do you harm, get you some coarse snuff [often leaf of dried tobacco rubbed in hands] some hot pepper [sauce] and put it in there. And burn a light on it for nine mornings - you see, one hour for [each] nine days.
Entry 10215
After she measures that [man's penis], she gets some of your [man's pubic] hair, mixes that together, puts it in a little bag and wears it between her legs down here, and thereon he's her man. [Freder- icksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 10218
Ah've heard dat if a man wanted to ketch his wife, why he would be dit her an' he would take a han'kerchief an' ketch de discharge from her, an' git I piece of her hair, an' he would put it in a cloth wit dat discharge an' dry it; br he yould wrap dis hair in wit dat an' wear it. An' if she have connection wit a man why he would swell so he couldn't git out of her, an' dat would cause de husban' tuh ketch her. (Then he would use the hair from her head.) [The discharge here is not menstrual blood but the substanceformerlythoughtto resemble man's semen and to cooperate with it in the production of life. Folk- lore knew nothing about a woman's ova or eggs. Elsewhere I have called her dis- charge 'female semen in accordance with folk belief - No.3196, p.2359, v.3.]
Entry 10222
De coconuts, dey got some of 'em two an' three holes [eyes] in 'em. Yo' take yore knife an' cut dat top [round black spot or eye] outa dat hole befo' yo', git to dat watah [or milk inside coconut]. Yo' take dat top [eye] yo' cut outa dere, an' let dat dry. Den yo' take dat an' yo' dry it." Yo' dry it. Aftah yo' dry it yo' burn it into a coal [by burning] an' yo' ground [grind] it up. Den yo' take de hair, yo' shave all de hair off dat coconut, an mix dat [hair and eye powder] together. An' yo' kin take dat in yore pocket an' if yo' got a woman, well when yo' use dat wit her, she cain't have nobody. Yo' take dat [coconut] hair an' yo' rub it in yore han' an' yo' rub it on her, an' she cain't have nobody. [She is impotent for all men by you.] If anybody [any man approach] her dey heart gonna fall.
(You just have this hair. All you use is this hair from the coconut?)
De hair an' de top [ground-up eye] of it. Yo' know whut ah'm talkin' 'bout, whut chew cut out, de hole where de [coconut] milk is gotta come outa dere. Well ah use dat wit de hair together. See, ah take dat an' when dat gits dry, well ah'll parch dat all up together wit de hair an' makes a ashes out of it. Dat de same as a powder.
Entry 10270
When mah husban' left home ah had some of his [pubic] hair an' ah taken it an' put it in de bottle an' stopped it up an' put it up undah de steps. An' jis' lak me an' him be to- gether, well ah got de string an' got some of it [semen] an' put it roun' mah waist; an' he always be's by me all de time. An' ah got de dishcloth an' put some [semen] on de dishcloth an' put it up ovah de do', an' whenevah he go out - he had been goin' out an' stayin' an' stayin' an' goin' off runnin' roun', an' he got so he jis' stayed at home all de time. An' den ah quit him. Aftah he got tuh bein' so good tuh me, den ah went tuh treatin' him mean. Yo' know, him treatin' me mean, ah went off tuh show him how it feel fo' him tuh do me lak dat. An' he jis' cry all de time tuh try tuh git me back.
(Did you go back to him?)
No, ah didn't go back to him. He in hospital now.
Entry 10713
Jis' lak yo' git someone's hair, yo' kin git de bird nest an' fold dat up an' throw it in runnin' watah. Well, dat'll run yo' crazy lak dat. Jis' makes yo' go crazy, yo' jis' always be on de path - dat's runnin' 'em. (You put this hair in the bird's nest and sew this up in some- thing?) Yes, yo' throw it in de watah.
Entry 10717
Ah'll tell yo', whether it's a woman or man, if she leaves yo' an' yo' wanta git her back, why yo' git chew three grains of cor [maize], an' three strands of her hair, an' if dere any way yo' kin git her track, pick up yo' [your] dirt out of each one of her track - three tracks. An' yo' put dat in yore shoe, umdah yore bottom shoe [insole] whut yo' wear. Lift dat [insole] up an' put it udah dere, an' yo' wear dat. An' she'll come back. See, an' when she come back, an' den, if yo' want her tuh stay dere, yo' go an' git chew a bird nest an' yo' put some sulphur an' salt in dat bird nest an' burn it. Make yo' a little fire an' burn it in de chimley so yo' kin git de scent of it, an' she can't leave yo' no way; can't go an' leave him, de man or woman, which one wanta do it.
(Do you wear that corn in your shoe also?)
Put dat cor an' de hair an' dat sand in yore shoe.
Entry 10743
An' what they'll do, they take lak a woman has ministration...an' put it in a bottle. They take it to that fo'k of de road an' turn it down on de haid an' bury it. (The head of the bottle?) Yessuh. Sometime they'll put their hair in there with that ministration and that will cause them to go crazy. An' they kin take that an' put it in swift runnin' watah an that'll make 'em wander aroun' somewhere an' git drownded.
Entry 10850
Well, if a person - dey's got good hair an' de othah one got bad hair, an' jes' keep on boastin', "Yes, yo' pick yo' hair. Let me pick yo' hair back, lak dis heah." "Well, now if it's a man, 'Well, ' he says, "ah'll fix yo' so's yores be's jes' lak mah hair, ' Dey'll go an' git dat buz- zard manure. Yes, an' dey cain't git to yo' deyself, but dey'll give it to yore friend. Dey'll pay yore fren' an' yore fren' will git to yo', be combin' yore hair, an' put dat in de hair. Lak, now, someone be combin' yore hair an' yo' spit in yore han' an' rub it on yore haid, an' yore hair'll go. (You mean spitting on your hand will take your hair out? The buzzard manure will do that also? And spitting on your hand will do it?) Jes' comb yore haid an' spit on yore han', be combin', an' take yore han' an' wipe down heah an' comb down. Dat take every bit out.
(Wipe your hand where?)
"Tween yore laigs. An' comb yore hair down. Take every bit out.
(That's two other ways of doing it. What do you do with that buzzard manure?)
Put it on yore haid.
(Then another way of doing it is to spit on your hand?)
Dat's right. (And another way of doing it is to rub your hand between your legs and put it on the person's head?) Dat's right. [See preceding rite for something similar.]
Entry 10858
( Git de hairs from a black cat's neck, right back of de neck an' take a aig. Take a black hen's aig, hairs from a black cat's neck - dat's if yo' wanta draw a person - an' write dat per- son's name on dat aig. An' put dat hair in dere, wrop it up, an' bury it undah yo' do'steps, an' dat'll draw 'em.
(Do you put the hair on the inside of the egg or just on the outside?)
Write de name on dere an' put de hair right on top of where yo' write de name on it, an' jes' put chew a little cloth around it.
Entry 10861
Like if you want a cat, you take his hair and cut it off from his head, and bury it under your doorstep and he will always stay wit you.
(Always stay home.)
Entry 10862
Take a cat hair, clip it off de end of his tail, if yo' got a wife dat's runnin' about an' yo' Want her tuh stay home. Yo' take an' bury it in de middle of de house an' she'll always stay round in de house. Yo' bury it down underneath de house in de ground. She will always stay round in de house. [As I have explained many times, these low- land houses are raised off the ground, a person can crawl under them. This is also a quincunx rite, a central or fifth point among four other points or cor- ners: see 9467 where mattress has 4 corners and the center has a salt bag; and No.9487 where salt is in 4 corners and the center is 2 sticks crossed - an un- usual quincunx! etc.l [Fayetteville, N. Car. (1415), 2549:7.]
Entry 10863
Cut hair from black cat's tail, mix with black pepper, if un- desired visitor comes, burn this on stove, won't come back; also keeps law away. [Norfolk, Va., 476:6.]
Entry 10864
Git de hair offa cat. Dey say yo' kin put dat in de food where dey eat an' dat makes hair grow in 'em an' dat'll kill 'em.
Entry 10865
Take de hair from a cat - hair from a cat an' salt an' throw it in a room an' start fusses an' fights in a room, but yo' supposed tuh git it from undah his tail.
Entry 10866
(What do you do with that black cat?)
See, jis' lak he's in de house an' come where yo' is, yo' jis' ketch a little bunch of that hair with chure finger thataway [demonstrates]. Jis' snatch it out that way an' snatch it towards his haid. An' yo' put that in with yore luck piece of yore lode- stone, whatevah yo' got, an' yo' carry that in yore pocket fo' success.
Entry 10869
You see, you take the cat's hair. (Where from?) Off her tail. (Off her tail, I see.) You take the cat hair off her ail and you see, you scrape this [demonstrates] but you scrape off four of 'en.
(Four corners of the table?) [The work table between us.]
Off the table. And you wrap it up in a little piece of [meat?] skin amd yoo yary that up under the back step. That's if you got a cat and done like it and nt it to stay home.
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 10872
Take the fur. (Cut the fur?) From under the black cat's left leg or the left quarter. (From the front or behind?) Behind, and let it get right dry and you kin fix in a way. Clip it fine and you kin throw it over somebody, but you gotta make the black cat laugh. (I see, before you cut that hair. And then when you throw it over somebody, what will that do?) Well, that goes in your flesh - sticks in your flesh.
(I mean, what is it supposed to do to you?)
It works in your flesh, they say it'll work in you and it effect the flesh so that you taken with a certain disease in your skin and you'll die.
Entry 10873
Well, de hair from a black cat - a real black cat dat ain't got no white spot on him. Yo' know a black bone is lucky. Well, now, yo' tote dat in yore pocket in a gamblin' game. Git de hair from under de fo' laigs. (Under the four legs? Each one of the four. Each one of de fo' laigs.
(The hair from this black cat?)
Dat's right. An' dey tell me yo' go right behin' his ear an' pull it out, an pull it to yo', an' clip it from each one of his ears.
(Each one of his ears. Do you cut off the hair or the ears?)
Cut de hair.
(Cut the hair from each ear?)
From behin' each ear, an' de tip-end of his tail. An' dey tell me yo' kin do anythin' yo' wanta do.
(Well, what do you do with that hair after you fix it up?)
Fix it up, jes' keep it in yore pocket. Yo' wouldn't need to have no big bag, jes' a little small bag. Have it in yore pocketbook, jes' lak yo' goin' tuh git in a big poker game - a big gamblin' game.
Entry 10877
Git two cats, yes- suh, an' rub dere haids tohl gethah till dey git nad l till dey git real mad at one anothah. Den yo' smarch a lock of hair outa each cat's hzid, yo' know, an' yo' fold it togethah. An' put some red peppah an' salt in it 血' care it an' put it in de no'th cornah of dere house. Dey'll leave, dey'll part. Dat's whut separate 'em.
(Separate this man and woman?)
Ub-hah.
Entry 10878
Yo' take a black cat, de same cat yo' got de [lucly] bope [froa]. Yo take dat hair an' yo' tie it up. Yo' gotta tie it in a rag an' yo' wear it in yore shirttail. When yo' wear it in yore shirttail, yo' kin conker anybody. (You get the hair from the top of his tail?) Right from de top of his tail, right from de butt of his tail. (And the man will give you a job?) "Cause him tuh give yo' a job or yo' kin git anything that chew want.
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 10881
Well, jes' lak dis, if ah wus de type of dis kind, dat ah wouldn't wanta see a woman an' a man gittin' along, see, an' ah wanted tuh part dem. Listen good - an' when dis dog an' ket. Yo' know kets an' dogs will quarrel some- time. Well, when dis dog make dis ket kinda angry, dis cat will bring up her fur on her back. Well, an' de same time yo' take a knife or scissors - shears, at least yo' should call 'em, an' cut a little piece of dat.
(Cut a little piece of what?)
De hair out de ket's back. Listen, an' a little of de dog, when dey in dat angry nood [mood] - jes' lak dey would be angry, yo' know. An' yo' take dat an' sew it up in piece of black cloth, whut chew would call broadcloth. An' bury it under de steps, an' dey couldn't git along nohow in de world.
Entry 10883
If yo' wuz in dis house an' ah wuz in dis house an' ah wanted tuh make yo' move. Yo' know a cat an' a dog can't git 'long, if both stay at de same place, unless dey's raised tuhgethah, an' dey enemies against each othah anyway. Well, yo' take de dog hair an' de cat hair an' put it together. Take yo' some Red Devil Lye an' cuss 'em out. Tell 'em, "Go, yo'all can't stay tuhgethah, mus' go." Call his Dame. Jes' yo' wanted tuh move 'em an' cuss dem out. Sprinkle it down where dey gotta walk at, see. Cuss 'em out.
Entry 10884
If you want to break up a person, you kin take the dog hair, you know; like the bristles of cat's neck. You know, where bristles up, you understand. Where she bris- tles up back there. And then oa the dog's tail you cut out some hair, like if you Wanta break up a person. And you take and put that stuff together and puts some salt and some cayenne pep- per with it. And you write their name down 9 times. And you go and throw it in the fire, you say, "I wan' choo to fuss, fight and bust up: In the Name of the Lord." That's wha' choo do with that dog hair and that cat hair and things. Or else you kin take doze things, the cat hair and that, and you kin take it, you kin make a fuss in the home. You kin break up a person. Put the sugar and cay- enne pepper with it. You kin throw it all through the house, under the house.
Entry 10885
Yo' know a cat an' a dog don' lak one anothah, hardly evah see one dat's friendly. Yo' take some hair offa de dog's back an' offa cat's, an' yo' could mix it together an' put it in yore fiahplace an' burn it, or in yore heater or whatevah yo; got, an' dat'll make folks fall out. (Would I burn that in my house or take it over to the house where the people are that I want to fall out?) If yo' at they house an' they gotten a fiah, put it in they house.
Entry 10886
Take a black cat hair, dog hair - don't make no difference whut kinda dog - an' nine grains of peppah an' some of dey urinate, an' put it in a bottle. An' if yo' wanta break up any- body, take dat nine grains of peppah, Heart Cologne, an' dat dog an' cat hair, an' bury it where dey walk, either one of 'em. Dey git so dey soon bust up.
Entry 10887
Take de hair out of a dog hair an' de hair out of a cat tail, or eit- her git it out of one of 'em's tail an' de other out one of dere haid - either one of dem animals. Yo' kin git dat an' put it together, an' when yo' put it together, yo' put it an' makes a ball of it. But den yo' wanta put it - yo' jes' have de least little bit of peppah in it, any kinda peppah, an' yo' make dat ball with a string to it. Put de string lak dat, but yo' take de biggest part of it now - chew git dat cat hair an' dat dog hair an' yo' put it in a piece of cloth an' den yo' git three pods of rat manure, an' yo' put dem in an' sew it up together. Yo' make dat ball together an' yo' kin come roun' - if it mah pump or mah bucket or any- thing, an' den yo' dump it in dere three times. An' den yo' throw it away. Dat'll broke us up fo' life, won't.enjoy life no mo'. Ah see dat done.
(You are supposed to go out and'drink that water?)
It jes' make us fall out fo'evah.
(If you drink the water?)
Entry 10888
( Git some of the hair off of a cat's neck an' git some hair from back of a dog's neck. You know a cat an' a dog will fight. An' put it together an git some pine straw [dried pine needles] and care it to the fork of a road an' burn it up. They say they'll go together no more; they say every time they meet one another they fight. [The male and female victims are not named here but the in- tention is there to identify them.]
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 10890
Take cat hairs an' dog hairs an' mix it together an' throw it around undah that house, an' nobody lives there. (Why won't they live there?) Why? Because when they git in there, it'll be confused so they cain't stay there. Dog and cats don' like each othah. Dat's whut chew call a black art trick.
Entry 10891
Yo' kin put cat hair in a person's whiskey or coffee or tea or somepin lak dat an' dey'll begin tuh have fits an' act lak a cat or somepin. Den too, yo' kin take dog hair an' do de same thing, an' de dog hair git in it [drink] an' it'll run yo' crazy.
Entry 10892
Well, the first thing that happened, this girl, other girl, was going with the woman's husband; and she [other girl] wanted the woman's husband for herself, and the woman wanted the husband at home. And she [other girl] told me that she was going to make them [husband and wife] get along bad. So she put some dog hair and some cat hair dat - you know, caught 'em fighting and cut the hair out of the dog and the cat, and put this hair together and put it in there, in his coat lining. And she say, whenever he go home that would cause he and his wife to get along bad, and they'd set up argue, fuss all the dune. Quite natural nobody wants to stay with anybody like that. After which, ohen they separated - the man and wife - den she wanted him back.
(The wife wanted him back?)
The wife wanted him back. And to get him back, she decided to get to him and soft talk, you know, love and talk to get him back home to have intercourse with hin, and then she was going to take part of his and keep it at home. She say she tie it in a rag and put a silver dime in the corner of the rag, and she stick it under her bed mattress, and that would make him to come back to where be left froa.
(Well, then, did he come back?)
Yes, he came back.
(Oh, he came back all right.)
Entry 10893
Take some of yore hair an' wrap it up wit some of your dfscharge an' put it on a dog's back or either a cat. Jis' take a strand of thread an' take yore hair an' tie it in a little knot right to their [the dog's] hair. (Tie to them in the back and the back of a dog?) Yessuh. (Well, what is going to ' happen then?) Well, the dog runs - he goes about an' dat puts chew tuh walkin' an' den yo' jis' wander on away.
(And the cat the same way?)
Yes. (That is all you have to do, use this hair and this discharge and tie it. What do you mean by discharge?) [I have discussed this problem elsewhere.] Yes. Well, it's jis' lak yo' know, yo' know if yo' have a interco'se, yo' see. (You do that if you want to get rid of the person? Who does this, the woman to the man or the man to the woman?) They both kin do it - de either one de same way.
Entry 10894
Any kind of cat hair and a he dog and a she cat to run a person away - break 'em up.
(How do you do that?)
You take this hair and you mix it all up together like that - the hair of the dog and the cat. The dog and cat don't mate together. Call this man John. Jis' say, Mary, you and John can't stay together. Well, then you get this gunpowder and you get nine pods of red pepper, and you put that all together. Don't burn it in de house. Make a fire out in de yard and burn it, and make your wishes and they gone apart.
Entry 10895
He cat hair, she dog hair, make man and woman love each other; tie them [their] hairs together, put urine and Hearts Cologne on, wrap in red flannel, wrap to you. At each wrap, wish. Wrap 9 times. At each wrap wish: "I'm tying my head and your heart together etc." Choose light or dark shade of Hearts Cologne [here Hearts Powder, box with hearts on outside and several shades mentioned] as near color of person [man] as possible.
Entry 10897
I've heard of dey usin' cat hair or dog hair or - I'll tell you. You kin take a dog and you git some hair right from her rear end, you understand; right near where at she do busi- ness, you understand. All right. You take dat hair and you swinge [singe] it, you see. You gits enough [hair] so you kin swinge it, where you kin find it after you done it. You put it on a piece of clot'. Why you jes' set a match to it and swinge it, see. "Fore [before] it burn too much, why you put it out, you smother it you see. After you smother it, de clot' you burn it on, why you don't take it off dat cloth. You jes' tie it up right in dat same cloth, you see. All right, you put nine knots in dat. After you tie it up you put nine knots in it, and perhaps you tie it around your waist, or you could make a sling and put it around your neck, or you could sew it up in your weskit [vest] lining, or sompin like dat, or coat linin', or dere's several ways to tote it. See. Why dat's de way you do wit dat [cat] hair proposition.
(What good will it do you to carry that hair?)
That stand fer a lotta things: dey kin pass poison [you] and it won't hurt you. You can do anything you want with it.
Entry 10899
[Here is another person whose cylinders were missed, an excellent pro- fessional worker:] Cat and dog, mix hair after making mad, put salt and pepper with, sprinkle across yard saying, "Niggers and whites don't agree, and cats and dogs can't agree, move."
Entry 10901
Well, you see you gotta ketch a bulldog when he is mad...a real furious dog - gotta ketch a bad dog, and you ketch a cat and take the hair off his [cat's] back and the hair off the dog's back and you mix them together and you will put gunpowder in that and you burn them down.
(Where do you burn that?)
Burn dat in your stove. If you got a fireplace in the stones.
(What are you supposed to do then?)
That supposed to make anger, fuss, the one who you want to break up. (Well, how do you know which one to do that to? Do you do anything about that?) Well, like if I know you and I wanted to break your home up, I'll take your name and put it down and write, you have to write your name practically with most of the witchcraft work. (Oh! I see, you have to burn that with the name then? This paper and this hair together.) All in there and the gunpowder. Makes them fighting and fussing. Just like the cat and dog will fight, dat's de way you will do. Well, one or the other of you going get tired and leave.
Entry 10902
You clip de hair off de dog W'ere he bris'led up, a bad dog, an' a he cat. An' yo' mix that hair together jis' like yo'd mix up salt an' peppah. Then mix that wit de person name. You kin use like that an' yo' kin make a per- son move. You take de dog hair an' cat hair, an' yo' mix it jis' like yo' do salt an' peppah, an' yo' put this red ciyine [cayenne] peppah wit it. Yo' git bitter aloes, Yo' git yo' some John de Conkah root; not the powder, yo' git de root, yo' boil that. Yo' mix this dog hair an' cat hair together, an' yo' have that in a big bucket with hot peppah [pepper sauce] in there and war watah. An' whosomevah it is you want to move you take it to de house an' sprinkle de porch, chuck it back under de steps. An' de next day they cross over it, de next mornin', comin' out. It jis' make 'em move.
Entry 10903
Well, yo' take de hair off a bad dog's back, de hair off a cat's back, an' take a woman's underwear when it's dirty, an' wash it, taking dat watah an' applyin' it wit dat hair off de dog's back an' off de cat's back, an' puttin' turpentine wit it, an' shuttin' de bottle up, an' throw it in de Miss'ippi Rivah. It will cause one de greatest rows in dat house yo' evah did see.
Entry 10904
Yo' kin cut dat out from dog's - out from back de dog's neck an' yo' kin cut it out from back of de cat's neck, an' yo' put it at chure do', yo' see. See, dat separates man an' his wife. See, de cat an' de dog squabblin'. An' yo' jis' tangle dat hair up together an' yo' jis' put it down aroun' an' dey will separate.
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 10907
Git de cat hair an' de dog hair an' mix it together, an'( den when yo' mix it toget- her, den yo' git chew some dis same brimstone; an' burn anywhere outdo's, an' it will 'sturb a community, 'cause confusion.
Entry 10909
Git a small puppy an' a small cat [kitten] an' yo' put dem - join 'em togethah an' make 'em mad wit each othah. Now dey bristle up." In de back of dat neck where dey bristle, yo' cut some hair from each an' yo' mix it togethah, an' yo' care it an' yo' sprinkle it down; yo' may say fo' in- stance, undah a mat or anything, dat dis individual constantly have tuh come ovah. An' in de meantime yo' make de expression on, "Cats an' dogs cain't agree. Go!" Den dey go. Move.
Entry 10910
Used for back luck, too. They take a dog's hair and a cat's hair and put it together, and the person's name with it, and sew it up together an' bury it close to that person's house. And they'll want to kill everybody in that house. They get together like cats and dogs and they're fighting and killing one another and scratching and biting going on something terrible.
Entry 10911
Dog manure an' dog hair - see, dey gotta git dat dog an' cat tuh fightin'; see, if yo' Wanta separate a man an' a woman. See, yo' git - lak mah, ah have two little white dogs now. Well, yo' git a cat an' git dem tuh fightin' an' clip de hair right quick while dey both mad. Yo' put dat tuhgethah, dat cat hair 'de dog hair, an' dog manure an' cat manure, an' rat manure. Well, yo' ba de three things don' git along, don't chew? Yo' know de cat hates de rat 'de dog hates de cat. So yo' throw dat in dere. It really separate any man wife an' it will make 'em move. Throw it in de room, jis' lak ah come in ah. Fo' instance, ah wanta have sompin in mah han'. Ah could be sittin' heah 'd coald be jis' sprinklin' it aroun'. [I replaced the original four-letter odd by amure.]
Entry 10914
I know what they do with that. Just like if you has a sweetheart and she done left you and is living with someone else, well you take this dog hair and cat hair and you mix it to- gether, see. And you get you a lemon. (A lemon?) Yes, and you cut this lemon open and you stick this dog hair and cat hair in there with their name - their full name. Put it in there and mix it together with cayenne pepper - in the lemon - and bury it and they never get along.
Entry 10915
Like if I got a woman and she living with another man and I want her to break up with him. Well, I take some hair from a dog and from a cat and I gets me a lemon. I cuts this lemon open and I put them two party's names in there - this woman and this man - names down in this lemon and this dog [and cat] hair. And I takes a candle and I light it, and I close it back up [see later] you know, so they won't fall from it. Close it right up and I bury it. On the dark of the moon, I do that. And they won't get along.
(Where do you bury that?)
I just take and bury it anywhere in my yard.
(I see. You seal that lemon back up with this wax from the candle?)
Yes, sir.
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 11040
Jist take de skin outa duh gizzard an' let it dry, an' den jest smash it up in yore han' an' make a powder out of it, an' sprinkle some in yore sweet- heart's hair - right up dere.
(What will that do?)
Make her love you.
Entry 11111
But they's got to have more to go with that skin to do you harm, besides just the skin off you feet. They can take the skin off the bottom of your feet and if they can get some of your hair, take that skin and some of your hair, and take a coconut, or either a bottle, and fill it up with vinegar, and throw it in the water where it will run and you start going and you'll never go back home again. In a bot- tle or coconut, but you gotta stop it up so it don't come out.
Entry 11291
[In addition to the following material, there are other dog rites scattered throughout HOODOO, especially in that long group of cats-and-dogs together, 49 rites: No.10881, P.4087 to No.10930, p.4096, v.5.] Git chew a stick, cut off de length of dog; nose, tail an' all - de measure of his body. Dis little bunch [of hair] de end of his tail, cut dis end of hair, tail [hair] off altogether an' take it an' bury it undah de do'steps. An' dey say yo' take de dog an' lead him outa town, give him 'way tuh somebody or tie him off [away somewhere]. Dem peoples will leave [town].
(That will make that person leave - out of town.)
(If I wanted you to leave town, I would get a stick. Any kind of a stick?)
A hickory stick, a green one. (A green hickory stick and I would measure that dog - any dog, no matter who it belonged to. I would measure this dog from the tip of it's nose, down to the tip of it's tail, and would cut the stick off just that length. I would cut off the hairs of the tail. Then I would take this dog out of town and tie it some place. Then I would bury this stick and this hair under your doorstep, and that Would make you leave town?) Yessuh.
Entry 11292
Take a piece outa black dog's tail an' yo'll take some dirt [including soot] outa de back of de chimley where yo' find dese ole clay chimleys. Take some dirt outa de back of a chimley an' den yo' put dat. If yo' be fortunate enough to git some of dey watah an' put it wit dat dog tail an' dat clay outa de backa dat chimley, an' bury at dey's do'step - at dey do'step. Den, ah don't care how bittah enemies dey been to yo' or whatsomevah dey've been like dat tryin' to up [to be upish, superior], yo' kin bring dem down to yuh command. Dat makes dem make friends wit yo', make any kinda bad enemies friends. Ah've heard dat 'bout de black dog tail an' dat chimley dirt an' a little bit of [their] urine [sometimes ureene but chamber lye vas still the usual word]. It'll make a friend. Put at dey do'step.
Entry 11294
Ketch a dog and git his - see, de place in a dog's face right heah where [demonstrates]. Pull dat hair out. An' jes' in de middle of his back, de same amount of hair dat yo' pull out of his face. An' put it into a rag, a spotless white cloth er rag. An' yo' put chew some sulphur an' yo' put chew some gunpowder in dere - gunpowder and sulphur. Yo' tie dat up in dere and make out lak yo' workin' in de yard. As yo' workin' roun' de yard, take a look an' see if yo' see either one of dem would have yore - ef yo' worried about yore husband. If yo' see either one of dem comin' past yore house, yo' jest take it up an' take it ovah to heah an' throw it dis way [demon- strates]. Jest drop dat thing down.. "Co'se it got a little gunpowder an' it will pop an' it will break 'em up. Dat will break dem up, ah know dat. (That is if this woman is fooling around with your husband, you do that to break them up.)
Entry 11296
You wanta man stay away from your house, sompin like dat, why you git a hair from one dese man [male] dogs. See. And jest - I'm making reference [giving an illustration] now - jest like you wants a man, you figure dat a man worryin' you, wit you and your family. Why you'd git some hair from a dog. You git it right off de - you know where his tether at, you git some hair right from de end of dat. All right, you git dat hair and you take a knife and you cut it up, cut it up fine. All right, after you cut dat hair up fine you carry it and you put it to dis.fellah door, right under de step. See, and bury it about three or four inches. See. After you bury it about three or four inches, you walk away from de house about ten steps. After walking away from de house about ten steps all right, you walk backward about five steps - backwards. See. You walk five steps backwards. All right, don't walk de way you walked de first time, dose ten feet. [Walk backwards at an angle.] All right, after you walk backward now, gotta walk side- Ways about 20 feet - sideways. And then you keep on about chure business and go on home. That'll keep him away from your house. See, he'll never come back. [Those preceding words hair right from de end of dat I understood at the time but failed to annotate their meaning to the cylinder. They could signify the end of the rope and hair from around the male dog's neck. These hairs then would have tied the victim down to his own home, kept him away. If so, surely the hairs would not have been cut up. Or would they? I still think these are phallic dog hairs cut up and buried at the victim's door. That leaving, the steps forwards, walking backwards at an angle, and finally sideways at a right angle, is my only example in HOODOO, though there are many examples of magic walking away.]
Entry 11297
If someone done any harm to yo', yo' ketch yo' a dog - not chure dog, neither yore cat - an' yo' take dis dog an' shave de hair from right underneath his tail, right dead up close to his tail as pos- sible. Shave it off an' take dat an' take an aig, an' break dis aig an' take de yellah out of it an' leave de white, an' den yo' put dis hair in dat shell. Den yo' set it in de stove wit a little sulphur in it an' parch it. Jes' set it in dere lak yo' bake a apple an' set it in dere till it's parched till it crumble down de center. Don't yo' have to mash it - jes' crumble down in de pan. Den yo' take it out an' bury it at de front step. Dis individual who have done somepin to yo' will come back - come back to yo' an' beg yore pardon - either [or] he will go so far away till yo'll nevah have no contact wit him any mo'. Dat's whut dat'111 do. (That is all you have to do - use that dog hair and that eggshell and the sulphur?) An' de sulphur.
Entry 11300
Got de hair from a dog - git it from right off his right hip - an' yo' take dat hair an' put it in some coffee. An' if yo' got anybody dat chew, chew dislike around yore house, yo' jes' give 'em dat an' let 'em drink de coffee up, off dat dog hair. Well, yo' won't have no trouble. (The right hip you say. The front or back?) De back one [the leg a dog lifts?].
Entry 11304
Dey use hair offa a dog fo' whut ah heard. Ah heard that if a person git a nail stuck in dey feet an' yo' shave de dog an' put de hair on dere, it's good fo' de poison. But fo' anything else ah haven't heard. [Read poison or hoodoo poison? The problem here is did you step on the nail accidentally or did someone cunjure the wound upon you - make you step on nail?]
Entry 11307
Take cat or dog hair an' take a piece of wood an' split de Wood. Stick de hair in dis wood an' nail it down at chure back steps, an' de dog will nevah leave home 'lessen someone taken dat away.
Entry 11309
Hair from top of dog's head and from top of tail [from head to tail] put in forked stick, buried under steps, keeps him home.
Entry 11310
Lak ah'd give yo' a houn' dog an' yo' want him tuh stay home, jes' take an' cut off about dat much of his - de tip end of his tail. Ah've done dis. An' cut a little of his bristles right between his shoulders an' carry it back home an' bury it under de steps. He'll stay home.
Entry 11311
Yo' kin take de dog hair - jes' lak if yo' want de dog to stay home. Yo' takes de hair off his - clip de hair off his tail an' yo' puts it undah de do'step, an' that would make the dog stay home or de cat.
Entry 11313
[Take] de hair from undah a dog's left laig, left hind laig, an' bury it down at de front do'step. He nevah will leave home. He'll stay right dere. Don't care if somebody steal him an' carry him off, he'll come back.
Entry 11314
Take a dog's hair if he's bad - mean, cut off de end of his tail an' bury it right down to de do'step, an' he'll be all right.
Entry 11324
Yo' kin go to a dogwood tree, yo' know, an git dis bark yo' know, an' do somepin to a person - a man eithah a woman. Yo' kin take somepin othah an' bo' a hole in dis tree. See, yo' take dis bark out an' bo' a hole in it [the wood part] an' git some of dat bark an' dat wood yo' understand out an' take an' mix it [bark and borings] up togethah, an' git some [of their] hair, an' den go back to dat place an' chunk [push] it [bark, borings and hair] back [in the hole] yo' undahstand. See, dat [hair] grow up in dere. An' take a - yo' know lak a person go to take a passage, yo' understan', take some of dat stuff [excrement] an' tie it up an' put it in dat hole. [Usually a hole with something in it is plugged up with a peg, perhaps not here.]
Entry 11633
They do this plenty of 'em if they want to start you to traveling, you know, something like that. Well, they take a strand of hair out your head or if they can't git it they git somebody what close friend to you to get it, you un- derstand if they can't get it themselves. A strand of hair from you, regardless of where it come from. Get something like a fish, you know and they'll thread it into his gills, like that, you understand. Leave the thread stay in there and throw that fish back into the water. Just like that fish go, you'll go, and the death of that fish will be the death of you.
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 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 11842
[THE LETTER "H" OF CHANNEL DE WORLD BEGINS HERE and SO dO some extra rites about human hair, a subject already largely concentrated in pages 2937- 3049, volume 4. For various reasons hair, not always the primary element of a rite, is widely scattered throughout HOODOO. The following beliefs about hair start with a few longer rites, which are followed by many brief statements with- out margin titles but with the key words being underlined.] And again they say if you take it [a hair from per- son] and put it [in] some kind of manure or somepin - like if you have a cow or somepin round the lot and they do fresh manure. Say, if you take this hair and bury it in there, and set this manure about in some shady place maybe it won't dry so fast, and say let it stay there. And you take it out of there and put it in a bottle of rye whiskey, a pint bottle of rye whiskey, and say in nine days it will be a snake. I've heard that. (But they don't put that snake in you though? That snake they don't put in you?) Well, if you drink the whiskey, if you drink the whiskey before the thing kin, you know, come to be whole, well hit will come alive in you.
(I see, but you have to put it in this cow manure?)
No, take the hair out it [the manure] if you know right where you put the hair in.
Entry 11843
You got to take and burn de gunpowder and get the scent - not de scent but de gas from this gunpowder - and take a stran' of yuh hair, or eithah a piece of cloth or sompin dat joo have, dat de person you tryin' to hurt had, and put it in this bottle. And shut it up in this bottle. And they say that'll make de person lose de min', or eithah make 'em sore in some parts of de body.
Entry 11844
I tell yuh jes' what 'tis. My uncle it was, was tellin' me this. That's why I was goin' tell yuh. A lady that he was courting, he was going with her, and of course this man [rival or hoodoo man] tole him that he was hurt, because he thought he was going with her. And he told him that the lady had put somepin in a bottle an' buried it under the doorstep. And that thing that she buried under the doorstep was some of his hair that she'd gotten from the barber shop and mixed it with some salt, pep- per and whiskey, and buried it under her doorstep, and that whenever he walked over it, would hurt him. [At least we know uncle liked whiskey!] But if he would take this up and put it in some boiling water, and if it floated, then he could ward off the spell that she had put on him, and that he probably could throw it back on her, on the parties who was puttin' it on him. He could take and just take this out and roll it under his arm. [then] roll it in some meal.
(Hold it under his arm?)
Roll it. Yeah, roll it under his arm.
(Oh, under his arm first.)
Yeah, and then put it in some meal and make it into a cake-like, and bury it underneath the steps, the same step where the other stuff was buried, and that would return it on her.
Entry 11845
Ah tell yo' this whut a man kin do with a woman, cos' [of course ah don't guess yo' wanta heah it. Do yo' wanta heah it? [Since I remain silent I probably nodded yes.] Well, ah tell yo' whut a man kin do wit a woman. A man kin git a woman, jes' git any strand from de left side of her haid or de right side, an' jes' stick it up ovah de do'. Jes' git her comb, lak ah comb her haid, an' take de hair an' jes' stick it up ovah de do'. An' if he ain't been with her fo' six months, ah [a woman] cain't keep from comin' back heah. Jes' stick it in de wood, in de trees, anywhere. [Usually a man would return to a woman rather than a woman to a man's house.]
Entry 11846
Dey takes a strand of your hair an' tie it in nine knots. Den dey vill have you just like dey wanta, anything dat dey want you to do. And dey got chure hair, such as [both places] or love lettahs, why you'll be behold [usually beholden] to dem. See, 'cause dey got dat hair down in dat perfume and it's stopped up [in a bottle]. You more den apt to [give in] to dem right away.
Entry 11847
I've heard that a man and a woman - a woman couldn't get along with her husband or any man, that she would like, you see, could take some of her hair. Take, get some of her hair and get some of de man's hair and put pepper between it, you see, and put it in de path where dey walk over dat. Dat would separate dem. (That is, if I wanted to break up these people, or if the woman wanted to break up the man?) Yes. Doesn't make any different [difference] who it is if you get some of each one's hair.
Entry 11851
Ah has a comb heah [she shows me the comb]. Ah has a man an' been livin' with him a long time, an' if he don't treat me right, ah takes dis comb. Dis 'lectricity comb wuz given tuh me. Now ah show yo' 'bout dis comb. Ah combs his hair on de left side of his haid wit dis comb an' any [hair] come from dis comb, ah gits it out. Well, ah wrap dis up in a thin piece of cloth an' ah keeps it. An' ah sleeps wit it undah mah haid for nine mawnin's an' dat will make him come up close an' love me mo'. Now, 'cause befo' ah got dis comb ah couldn't do nuthin with him. Every nine mawnin's ah comb his haid. Now sometimes he comes in a hurry, but yet an' still when he stays all night an' he sleeps in mah bed all night, then ah gits up de nex' mawn- in' an' combs his hair, see, wit dis comb, anyway fo' nine mawnin's, but ah combs dis side of his haid [demonstrates] mo' so den ah do's dis side. But ah always comb de left side.
(Then you keep this hair in a thin cloth in your bed?)
Yessuh, in mah bed undah mah pillah.
Entry 11852
To make love? All right. You kin take dere hair, some sugar an' some bluestone. You understand now? An' some lodestone. Put all of this together with a piece of John de Conkah root. [This root] look like two pieces [see ex- planation later]. Look now [demonstrates], cross that John de Conkah cross there
[these ingredients being mixed or laid in a container] and put it [John de Conkah]
crost de hair, you see, an' tie it at de ends with a little string. You under- stand, at each end you know, with a little string. An' put it [mixture] in a piece of paper, in a piece of brown paper, an' wear that in de bottom of your shoe. [This is a small package.] They kin nevah git away from you. [What does informant mean by saying John de Conkah root look like two pieces? On p.593 (Z.2, v.1) I say, "John de Conkah can be many things; and on p.595 (l.12, v.1) we learn you can git de he one and git de she one. I suggest my informant, a hoodoo woman, is identifying John de Conkah with an actual root called Adam-and-Eve, which has he and she parts, he the smaller, both looking like peanuts (see No.10609, page 4028f., v.5). Our present rite therefore ties our man and woman together with a thread or a string to make doubly certain, magically certain, they are tied to- gether. The sugar sweetens the situation or pays the spirit, the bluestone keeps away evil, lodestone is another drawing power, and brown paper is often used for black clients. My preceding statement about he and she parts among the roots of Adam-and-Eve is a hoodoo, not a scientific one.]
Entry 11853
Well, ah tell you dis one den. Well, dere wuz 'nothah boy goin' wit a girl an' he loved her, yo' know, an' she didn't love him atall. She didn't have a bit of feelin's fo' him. An' he loved her. He jes' loved her bettah an' bettah. Well, he'd buy pretty things an' give her yo' know, an' all lak dat, chew know. Yo' know, tryin' tuh win her dat way. But still she didn't love him. She two-time him wit othah mens. So he gittin' aroun' an' so he got tuh talkin', says, "Look lak de mo' ah do fo' her, de worster she treats me." Says, "Ah love her - oh, ah do love her." Says, "An' it look lak she don' treat me half way right." [Friend] says, "Well, ah tell yo', if yo' loves her, an' yo' don' put out a whole lotta money on her, spent money on her an' she look lak she goin' backwards 'stead a-comin', an' yo' say dat she's two-timin' yo' wit othah mens," says, "whyn't yo' tie her down. Tie her down. Tie her down." "Well, ah tell yo', yo' come he'p me out on dat." [Friend] say, "Well, let me tell yo' whut chew do right short on dat." Say, "Do yo' stay dere wit her?" "Yeah, ah stays wit her at night but she jes' fusses an' yowls all de time." [Friend] say, "Well, do yo' evah comb her hair?" Say, "Yeah, ah comb her hair at night." [Friend] says, "When yo' comb her hair, yo' git some hair out right from de mole [mold] of her haid. Right in de mole of her haid. Yo' gits jes' a lil' bit, if it ain' mo' den fo' strand [probably 3 strands originally] jes' so it come from de top [or mold of her head]. Yo' git dat, an' do yo'all cut her fingernails?" "Yeap." [Friend says] "Well, yo' set down an' cut her fingernails, an' git her finger- nails an' yo' put three off each finger [hand] in dere. An' yo' tote dat." Says, "She'll come on back to yo'." Says, "She won' love nobody else but chew."
Entry 11854
Yo' kin take a girl's hair an' black lodestone an' yo' kin lead her cross [cross what? I interrupt too soon]. (What would you do with that hair?) Totes de lodestone with the hair, with a piece of solid silver money, and she will follow [wherever you go and any time]. She'll git up an' follow if it's one a'clock in de night.
(You mix those together?)
Yessuh. Jis' keep 'em in a bag an' she will follow.
Entry 11856
To make the man stay home, you takes a piece of the strand of the hair right in the mole of the head, and get you two copper cents - but let it be two women's faces.
(Two pennies that have a woman on them. All right.)
And take the strand of the hair and then put it in between the women's faces. You get a piece of string or thread [demonstrates].
(You place these two pennies face to face.)
Face to face.
(And put that hair between them. All right.)
And then you wind the thread all around it until it holds together. Then you take a bag and you put it in a little bag with your name and his name in there, wrapped up in a single. paper, and every time you take a drink, you gotta give it something to drink. [There are a number of these rites in HOODOO of- fering food or drink or both to absent person.] (Water or liquor?)
Entry 11857
I could take just about three strands of hair of your head and go to a tree. And I would put it on the sunset side of that tree, where the sun goes down on that hair. And just take a long spike nail and bore a hole in that tree. And ball all that hair up on the sunset side of the tree, but it has got to be when the sap is up in the tree. By what I mean by the sap is when the leaves is on the tree. And bore a hole in that tree and stick that hair up in there, and drive that nail in there behind it. And when the sun commence to go down, that cause you to have headache, don't you see. And this headache will get worse every day, and from that it will drive you crazy, and from crazy it will kill you. [you do this] when the sap is up, because when the sap begins to go down you won't live very long.
Entry 11858
Dey carry dat to a tree.
(This hair from your head?)
Yes, sir. Take and put it in a tree, and bore a hole in de tree first, and put it in de tree. And I hear 'em say dey take it and make a peg, like a stop- per, you know, and put it in de tree and stop it up in dere. Heard 'em say dat, yes, sir. Stay in dere so many days. If you don't get somebody [hoodoo doctor] to take it off you, why you'll - you bound to go [die]. You're stopped up.
(Stopped up?)
Yes, give you what dey call locked bowels [which will kill you. No M.D. can help you. A common belief].
(I see.)
Entry 11860
I had another fellah one time tell me somepin about he's out down here at Greenville Sound, fisherman. [I failed to ask whether professional or amateur.] He was a great fisherman. An' he was goin' with a woman down there an' this woman knew his wife. Well, they were good pals. An' he said he would always go by this woman's house of a mornings before he'd go to an' fro to git in the water fishin'. An' also would take his lunches along with him. The most mornin's he went on back by there an' got his lunches. He said he didn't pay it no mind, he said. Nice hot buttermilk bis- cuits an' good breakfast an' lunch, you know, an' got on the boat [sounds like one of those commercial fishermen still about in 1936-37]. He said finally he got a little hungry. Later on, he said, he thought to himself he'd pull out his lunch an' take a bite an' continue fishing. Finally, after all, he said one mind jis' drivin' him to eat, an' one [mind] would drive him not to; an' one would drive him to eat an' one would drive him not to. An' after awhile, somehow or other his mind drove him to go ahead an' open up the package. An' he opened up this package an' spread it out acrost his lap, an' pulled open a biscuit, an' there was a big wild [loose] hair in it. An' he jis' close that biscuit right back up an' went to this same old man [root doctor] over here on North an' Wal- nut [about whom informant speaking had previously] called [something?] George. An' he told [the fisherman] he said, "If you eat [had eaten] that biscuit with that hair in there, " he said, "that's w'at it was put there for, to run to crazy, because she wanted to git between you an' your wife. An' she found she couldn't git you all by yourself, so she fix [hoodooed] it that way." An' he also told him he had been fed fer a long long time off of her ministration [menstrual blood]. He said she take it an' make it up in his bread an' gave to him to eat."
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 12304
I've heard that you could sprinkle lemon juice, juniper [berries?] and black pepper, and boil this a half an hour, cook it off, add milk to it, boil it again, put it in a white bottle, a bottle you can see through [a clear glass bottle] and hold it in your hand, and anybody you put it on their hair, all their hair will come out. [Fredericksburg, Va., Ediphone 50.]
Entry 12341
[This stone] get it in the eagle nest. There's a white lodestone and there's a black lode- stone. Well, the white lodestone is the female and the black is the male. Well, the female is no good. But it's no hair grows on those stone. [Some rites speak about hair growing on lodestone.] The only thing it is, its FUZZ still grows on it, just [like] the beard on my face - it grow on the lodestone. [This is from Doctor Buzzard of Norfolk, Va., part of whose interview given Pp.1515-1517 and elsewhere.]
Entry 12363
Now, ah tell yo' if a pusson git holta [hold of] yore hair. Dey kin [git] yore hair and dey kin take dat piece of hair maybe and wrap it up tight. Sew it up inna piece of cloth, use some oil on it, pin it down - jis' like yo' love a pusson an' yo' wanna make a pusson love yo', yo' see. Yo' git dat piece a hair an' yo' gits some dis powdah yo' calls love powdah. Yo' take dat love powdah an' yo' puts dat piece a hair an' dat love powdah in de clot', an' yo' sew it up tight an' yo' use cologne - a certain kin'a high-class cologne yo' use on it. An' evah day yo' gotta fed [feed] it [this hand] dat. Evah da' po' a lil' dat cologne on. Pin it right to yo' side; an' why yo' kin git dat pusson. Yo' want 'em.[ Charles- ton, S. Car., (?), 643:1.]
Entry 12448
"Specially dis time of yeah, dese mockin'birds. Dat's how come we take ca' of de mockin'bird's nest roun' de house. An' so jes' take dat man's hair or dat woman's hair an' put it in de bottom of dat mockin'bird's nest, an' dat man have de headache dat run him perfectly crazy.
Entry 12453
Yo' kin git de young uns [ones] an' raise 'em.
(The young mockingbirds?)
Yes, an' yo' kin take a man's hair - jes' lak ah tell yo' 'bout de fish. Say, yo' carry 'em from heah - carry dat bird from right heah tuh Columbia [S. Car.]. An' fasten dat man hair on dere, to his wing an' turn him loose. Yo' ain't goin' have no mo' trouble about Tom [owner of hair] until dat bird die or somebody kill him. Nou, dere's a good one [method] tuh carry people off from heah. Dat's de only thing ah know [about mockingbird].
(You said that man will die?)
No, if dat bird die, dat man will come back home.
Entry 12712
An' if dey wanta run yuh, dey take yore hair, cut hair out de mole [mold] of yore head. And sometime dey do be's fortunate enough to ketch a rab- bit live, split his hide, his skin, and put dat hair in dere. And sew it up in dere and turn him loose an' he [rabbit] run to briar. When dey fin' you [your hair in the rabbit], yo be having yo' head stuck in a briar patch.
Entry 13084
Take dat hair [from an enemy]. An' dey take dat hair an' put it in a blacksnake tail. Ketch a live blacksnake an' put it in his tail an' turn dat blacksnake loose, an' jes' as fur as dat black- snake goes, yo'll [the enemy] go too. Yo'll [enemy will] follow dat blacksnake. [This could be my only example of this unusual rite.]
Entry 13085
They say they take a rattlesnake and kill him. And they'll burn it or whip it like that and get that dust. [Long pause.] (Yes?) And they put that in your comb or in your brush and let you use it in your hair. And that'll take all your hair off.
(I see.)
Entry 13308
Well, you take the hair off the cat's back and you take any dirty piece that woman's got and wrench it [rinse] out in some clear water. Take that cat hair and that water and war water and throw it in the river. She keep no job nowhere, she can keeps no husband no time.
Entry 13309
Use de thresher [thrasher] feet.
(The feet from a thrasher, the bird. What do you do with those?)
Yo' take an' put that in a bottle. Yo' bottle dat wit chure hair, an' put milk in it, an' yo' put love powders in dere, an' put sulphur in it, an' put red peppah in it, an' yo' work it up airtight, an' dat'll do de work den. Dat will run 'em away. (What do you do with that bottle?) Yo' take dat bottle an' put it in de no'th or de east corner of de garden. Yeah, dat'll make him leave, or if yo' wanta run him crazy, that will run him away.