Subject:Luck
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Entry 895
She kin bring dis man back. She kin take some sulphur, she kin take three ounce of potash, an' den she kin take some salt - about a teaspoonful of table salt - an' put all dat together. Why, ah seen dat done. Ah seen de lady when she was mixing it up - see, cause she was calling herself learning me. She takes dis stuff an' she goes out an' she make a oath - cuss, see. Ah say, "Why yo' do dat?" She say, she's dumping all de hard-luck spirits away from her, see, an' gittin' things out de way. An' sure 'nuff shortly after den - about a week or somepin like dat - de man appeared. See.
(What did she do with this stuff then?)
She took this stuff an' buried it under her do'step. See.
(Bring this man back.)
Yassuh tuh bring him back.
Entry 1914
You got a house out [vacant] an' yo' wanted people to go in dat house. Well, yo' jes' go - yo' takes a - de person whut chew wanted to go in it, jes' whosomever it is - yo' go there an' yo' dress that house, yo' see. You kin dress the house. Yo' kin go in an' take this dust powder - take it an' dust it jes' lak that. An' it's jes' lak if yo' take a person tuh show him de house an' then if he gits de odah of that, he takes de house - pays de price regardless.
(What kind of powder is that?)
It's good luck perfume powder. It hasn't got a special name - yo' order it.
Entry 2080
If you wanted a job, I've heard that you kin go to work and there's diff'rent things which you kin use to get a job. You use a powder. There's a powder that you calls luck powder. You kin get that powder and put on you and you kin go and present yourself to the boss and as he gets a scent of that powder, I've heard that he will give you something to do pref'rence from anyone else.
Entry 2440
Ah'll git me some powder, luck powder - dat brown luck powder, call fo' brown luck powder, an' ah'll fix mah do', mah do'sill. Den ever'thing will be all right, ever'thing will turn in yore way. (You mean the customers will come in?) Yeah. [Brown luck powder is like the use of brown sugar and brown paper; see latter two in Index.]"
Entry 2475
Do something to git renters for that house. You know what you do?
(No.)
All you just go - for that you go to the drug store. You go there and you get you some mixture. Now, you just ask for mixture. They going to give you the mixture for it. Now, it somethin' smells like perfume. It's called fast luck. You go there and you get that fast luck and you bring it there, sprinkle it right in front of that building. There be people there - ah don't know - there be a crowd of people. Just as though if you had a place that you'd already rented [and were in business] and couldn't get a crowd for it, go there and get you some of that fast luck and sprinkle it. But you gotta sprinkle, you gotta know how to walk with it. See, you sprinkle it - walk backwards. You don't walk forwards and sprinkle it, you know. Start out at the front and walk backwards.
(I see. That'll bring a crowd - bring a crowd.)
There - there even be people there that will rent that house and look for - rent in a day.
Entry 2622
Yo' take lak if yo' have a scissors layin' down there an' lak if yo' have a nice business, an' ah wanta stop yo' from havin' it, why ah steal yore scissors or yore fingernail file. An' ah'll take those right to mah home an' ah'll put - as ah told yo', take that there perfume an' ah'll put mah 'gredients in there which is the sulphur an' nine grains of red peppah seeds. Put that in there an' ah'll put de scissors lak if ah got dem fo' nine mawnin's an' ah take 'em an' junk 'em down in de ground. All yore luck is cut, yo' haven't got any mo' business.
(You use perfume you say?)
Yessuh, Heamt's Perfume.
Entry 2938
To kill dat out, why yo' jest go right on back home an' burn yore can- dles. Take yore lucky piece [that is losing its power] an' set it right between dem candles, two candles, an' set it right between dem candles for maybe two or three times yo' know a week, an' den go an' try yore hand again. Yo' see, dat do's away wit it. It will come back to yo'. (I see, if some other fellow has a stronger hand than mine, I take my hand home and put it between two candles.) Dat's right, an' put chure lucky piece - dat's right, put one dere an' one dere [demonstrates]. Shet chure room up - jest shet up yore room an' go ahead an' Jest burn 'em long as you wanta.
(Any color candles?)
Any color. [I believe this is my only example of a worn-out hand being re- charged between two candles. For time limit on hand, feeding it, and renewing its power, see pp.577-580.]
Entry 3634
Dey say snails is hard luck to have roun' yore home. If yo' bring any of 'em roun' yore home, yo'll have a lotta misfortune, yo'll lose lotsa things dat yo' git hold of.
Entry 3995
Ah have tried it workin' on mah han's in dealin' wit de cards an' ah have been prosperous. (You found it lucky?) Absolutely.
(You mean peeing on your hands?)
Yeah. (Well, now that's something I asked and you thought you didn't know.)
Entry 4159
Well, it near about de same thin'. Yuh kin take yuh watah an' Hearts Cologne an' sprinkle it aroun' intuh yuh place. Have it intuh yuh pocket an' where yuh wit de cards. Dat'll bring yuh luck.
Entry 4768
Why dey turns dere clothes befo' dey go tuh bed, whatsomevah dat piece dey gon'a wear nex' tuh dem. Why when dey gits up in de mornin', dey jis' picks up dat garment an' puts it on. Dat undah garment, jis' put it right on 'em, jis' like dey find [it].
(They put that on wrongside out for luck.)
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 5048
Jis' say, if yuh wanta bust up [broken-home remedy], see. A woman kin take his socks an' take her stockin's an' put 'em tuhgethah, heel tuh heel an' toe tuh toe. Use de lef' foot. Some say de right but de lef' foot is bes'. An' yo' put some sugah in dere an' some peppah, black peppah: if it's white person, put white peppah; an' if it's a black person, put black peppah. An' den yuh put a little cayenne peppah in it, see. An' den yuh roll it to yuh, lak dat [demonstrates]. An' aftah yuh roll it tuh yuh, den yuh git chew a bran'-new co'd [cord] string an' yuh wrap it nine times.
(How do you wrap that?)
Tuh yuh. Yuh roll it tuh yuh an' wrap it tuh yuh. An' den git chew a needle an' git chew some red silk thread an' sew it on each end, nine stitches. Pull it tuh yuh all de time dis way [demonstrates]. Pull it tuh yuh all de time.
(You put nine stitches on each end.)
Dat's tuh bring peace.
(What do you do with that then?)
Well, yuh kin wear it in yore pocket or put it where yuh kin evah day jis' dress it. Yuh know, jis' take yore han', don' have tuh put nuthin on it. Jis' take yore han' or jis' put a little perfume on it - good-luck perfume, any kinda good-luck perfume an' jis' rub it in yore han'. An' den yuh kin sleep on it. Or yuh kin put it where nobody won' go by [near] it but chew. See.
(That is for them to live together in peace.)
Yes.
Entry 5102
[Take] de lef' foot of yore shoes an' put it unnerneat' chure foot of yore baid, an' make a spirit stay away. Tuh give yuh good luck, dey [you] take yore shoes, one yore ole shoes, an' yuh put some sulphur in it an' throw it in de fiahplace, an' burn de sulphuh an' shoe tuhgethah. Dat will give yuh luck in yore home.
Entry 6808
(Suppose I have come to you about taking a spell off?)
Well, ah nuse [use] dis salt, peppah, sage an' stuff - salt, sugah, sage, alum an' saltpetah. Ah got dat ovah in a box, see. An' ah take some new string, nuthin have been worn, an' ah tie dem, an' whatsomevah ah Want chew tuh do [demon- strates]. (Just tie a knot.) Yeah, tie a knot, an' den ah take dat, dis stuff an' sprin- kle it ovah dere, see. An' den if dis spell [is] on me [you], see. An' whosomevah put it on yo', if yo' know dere names, yo' jis' call dere name an' tell 'em yo' want 'em to take dis spell offa yo'. Well, if dey don't, yo' wish bad luck onto dem, see. An' yo' burn dis stuff. An' den YO' STRIP BUCK NECKED [NAKED] AN' DEN TAKE DIS BLANKET AN' PUT IT: OVAH YORE HAID. AN' DIS SMOKE, YO' CAIN'T HAR'LY [HARDLY] STAND IT. If dere's anything in yo' in any way, shape, form or fashion, it'll come out, see. [The preceding term suck necked [[naked]] may be its only use in Hoodoo.] An' den yo' take a li'le whiskey glass an' yo' boil dis heah gourd tea - yo know gourds - an' yo' boil dis gourd tea an' yo' take three glasses of dis gourd tea evah day. An' dat'll take de spell off yo'.
(Especially if they have something inside of you.)
Entry 6828
Goes tuh de graveyard an' git dirt fo"luck: An' yo' kin git it fo' bad luck. If anythin', yo' kin git it offa certain grave, if yo' kin remembah de certain grave; an' if yo' cain't remembah de certain grave, git de dirt, but it's gotta be at night. Yo' cain't go in de daytime an' git. Some peoples have tried it in de daytime when dey goin' tuh de funeral an' git it, but chew'll have tuh go at night, when only de gravediggers are dere.
(What do you do with it then?)
Yes, yo' kin use it fo' luck. Yo' kin take dis graveyard dirt an' git chew some of de flowahs dat's in de graveyard. Yo' kin git some of de rose - yo' cain't use it unless yo' has some kinda flowahs - rose. Yo' kin git chew a flow- ah from de graveyard an' use dis graveyard dirt or eithah fern from de graveyard; or eithah some kinda sprout twig - not any dry. Yo' cain't use any dry twigs, yo' have [to] git 'em all sproutin' when de sap is in 'em. An' place 'em tuh- gethah an' wrap 'em in any kind of cloth yo' wanta. An' wind 'em roun' yuh waist fo' luck, or eithah yo' kin have 'em fo' peoples havin' spells. Or eithah yo' kin use it fo', if yo' have a person sick in yuh home, it's bettah fo' dat. If a person's sick in yore home an' yo' figure dat dey're not goin' git well, de doctors an' evahthin' have given 'em up, use dis graveyard dirt fo' dat, but chew'll have tuh cook it in dere food. Regardless tuh how dirty it is an' all lak dat, yo'll have tuh cook it in dere food, fo' de condition dat dey are in - fo' dere health.
Entry 7255
Dem [= them = hel wus a hoodoo doctor. [I] knew all dat. Dat's all dat wus. [He] gived me one an' it looked lak it wus a toby tuh me or somepin, [a piece of] cattle [ani- mal] heart. It wus nuthin but a plain dried cattle [animal] heart, which dey [he] had placed in it [bag with] luck pins, looked lak it wus. (What did you carry that for? You carried it? Were you supposed to carry that?) Yes, ah carried it. It looked lak ah would git a job. An' ah played - if ah played politics ah would git it [the job], until ah lost it [the bag].
(Well, how did you carry that?)
Jis' tied it up in a red bag.
(In a red what?)
In a red bag, rag, a li'le small piece, yo' know, an' ah wore it around mah waist.
(I see.)
[This toby was a small piece of dried animal heart [chicken?] with several luck pins in it, carried in a red flannel bag.] [Vicksburg, Miss., (772) 991:4.]
Entry 7607
Take dat penny an' put it in de graveyard. Yuh go dere at twelve clock at night, yuh [dig] undah an' take dat penny an' put it in, bury it an' let it stay dere fo' 24 hours. Twelve clock yuh go dere an' git it up. An' den when yuh take de penny, whut chew wanna do wit de penny, whatevah way yuh wanta treat de person, if yuh wanta treat 'em good or treat 'em bad, why yuh turn dat penny tuh de east, ran de haid of it tuh de east, see. An' dat fellah will come tuh be successful. An' if yuh turn it to de west, he'll go down.
(Well, does it happen to know that you are getting the right fellow?)
Well, yuh know. Yuh know de fellah yuh aftah [intention]. Yuh already know de fellah yuh aftah. (After you go out there and get this penny: for good luck I turn this penny to the east, or for bad luck I turn it to the west.) Dat's right.
(Well, do I do that at any particular time of the day?)
No sir, twelve.clock at night. Yuh go dere an' put it down at twelve clock at night, an' den yuh go dere an' git it up at twelve clock at night [24 hours later].
Entry 7618
Ah heard 'em say dat yuh kin go tuh de graveyard - lak dat, if ah Wants tuh change mah luck - dat ah kin go tuh de cemetery an' dig right up on de right-hand side of de grave jis' about where ah think de heart oughta lay, an' dig a hole down deep an' git me out two han'fulla dirt. Bring it out. An' when ah git dis dirt, ask fo' luck - jis' ask of de dead fo' luck, an' drop from five tuh eight pennies in dat hole an' plug it up. An' when ah rise up from off mah knees, tuh thank 'em [a rare courtesy!], an' walk away an' don't look back. Well, ah take dis dirt an' carry it tuh mah house an' sprinkle it roun' dere, an' dey say dat will give me luck.
(That is to change your luck. In anything?)
In anything.
Entry 7641
Dey go out tuh de fo'ks of de road, an' ah think dey speaks fo' times [recite an incantation of some sort] an' turns tuh de lef'. An' dey goes tuh de graveyard an' dey gits some graveyard dust from de left, from de head of de grave, an' put it in a li'le bag an' weah it in dey pocket- book. (What is that supposed to do?) Dat supposed tuh give yo' luck. (That will give you luck, I see. You go out to this crossroad and speak four times?) Yes, sir.
(What time do they go out there, any particular time or just any old time?)
Naw, five an' six o'clock in de mawnin' an' twelve o'clock at night, an prob'ly three o'clock in de mawnin'. [This means midnight or after, or before daybreak - the usual dark hour.]
(I see, and from the crossroads then they go to the cemetery.)
Yes, sir.
The informant thinks four utterances at road forks and a left turn precede taking dust from the left head of a grave and carrying it for luck. The account gives several possible hours; Hyatt summarizes a usual dark hour and interprets the utterances as an incantation. Keep the informant's uncertainty and times distinct from those editorial summaries.
Entry 7645
Way dey does it is dey take de dust from de footboard an' some of dem jes' tote it in dey pocket. Dat's tuh give dem good luck.
Entry 7663
( Git some graveyard dirt outa each end of de grave, yo' undahstan', an' den yo' kin take an' tie it up an' put it in de east end of de cornah of yore house. Dat fo' tuh bring luck. [Memphis, Tem.
(952), 1538:4.]
Entry 7692
Ah heard 'em say if yo' wanted luck, dat chew would go tuh de grave; but chew wouldn't have tuh git no dirt dis time. But yo' would go tuh de grave an' yo' would make a prayah, an' yo' would ask fo' yore luck, In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost.
(That is all you have to do?)
Yassuh, dat's all.
Entry 7696
[He can take] de haidbo'd an' footbo'd, see, dem two li'le pieces, one at de haid an' one at de foot at de graveyard, dat [belong to], some of 'is rela- tives. Kin take dat at home an it will be lucky tuh 'im. (You mean the relatives of this dead man will go out and take these boards, and that gives them luck?) Sho' [sure].
Entry 7701
Dey'll go tuh de graveyard at midnight jis' befo' de clock strikes twelve, an' dey'll make a cross mark - dat is a X - right acrost de footbo'd an' de haidbo'd [that is 2 crosses]. Dey go tuh de foot firs', den dey take nine steps backwards, back de way yuh come in [the graveyard], den yuh kin come on out. Dat's fo' luck.
Entry 7842
Dey go tuh de graveyard an' dey git some dust. Dey go tuh de store an' dey buy a new pack of needles whut ain't be used. All right, dey take dose needles an' dey cross dose needles, an' den dey sews 'em up intuh a piece of red flan- nel. An' dey: make whut dey call a bag outa it, an' dat's fer good luck.
(How many needles do they cross?)
Two of 'em, jis' two needles. Dey cross 'em. When dey put dose two needles in dere, dey put's a piece of lodestone about so big [demonstrates] in dere wit it, see. Dat's fer good luck.
Entry 8023
Dey take 'em an' make luck pieces an' things. A man kin take an' weah 'em in 'is pocket fo' tuh gamble wit an' things lak dat. (This bone of a dead person?) A dead person bone.
Entry 8051
Ah heard dat yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' git one of dese bones. If it's a sinnah, yo' kin take de bone off 'is right foot, de big-toe bone, an' take it an' put some black peppah an' salt an' cayenne on it. Dat's fo' gamblin'. (How would you handle that, then?) Well, yo' jis' go an' dig it up, see. Ah ain't nevah tried dat now. Go an' dig it up, see, an' cut dat bone off. Yo' have tuh git a saw an' saw if off. Saw dat bone, dat j'int dere. Saw dat off an' git chew black peppah, salt an' bluestone, see. Well, yo' car- ries dat home dere an' let it stay undah yuh step fo' nine mawnin's, see. Well, yo' take it den an' put it up ovah de do' - jis' lak yo' sleepin' in dis room, an' put it up ovah de do' an' let it stay dere den contin'ly [continually]. But yo' have tuh sew it up intuh a black rag, see. Let it stay dere contin'ly an' den yo'll be lucky in gamblin'.
Entry 8052
Yo' go in de woods. Yo' make it tuh de woods, way outa town, an' yo' turn in an' git chew a black line, a thread line - a thread line dat's black, a spool of thread. (Like a black fishing line?) Dat's right, lak a black fishin' line. An' yo' turn in an' git chew two needles. Yo' bring it [demon- strates] from heah an' yo' roll dat lak dat, reel it out from heah, jis' lak yo' stealin' dis whiskey. Jis' lak yo' in dere stealin' dis whiskey, yo' draw dat fishin' line, see, right on out. Yo's right in heah. Yo' be settin' heah, an' yo' draw dat fishin' line right on out. Well, yo' git den an' yo' stop an' yo' have a li'le yore watah in a tin can, yore pee in it already, an' yo' po' [pour] dat right down. Evah time yo' stops it [the line] po' it down. All right, yo' keep right on runnin' [out the line] an' go a certain distance. Ah [would] say yo' go about, aw jis' a short step, yo' know, aroun' an' den yo' stop an' yo' drop a li'le bit of it [urine]. Well, yo' keep right on a-runnin' [the line] an' see, yo' stop an' yo' drop a li'le of yore pee dere. An' yo' keep right a-rumnin' an' yo' stop ag'in an' yo' put a li'le pee dere. An' yo' git right back where yo' started off an' put some mo' yore pee dere.
[The urine is sprinkled in a circle about his liquor. This is to protect it.]
All right. Den yo' look aroun'. Well, ah did dis In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, dat ah may rest from all evil, an' dat ah may die [several words], an' chunk it on away. All right, den yo' back up an' yo' git up on dis lak dis heah. Yo' back up off it, see, where yo' stop at. Yo' backed up an' yo' look at it [your whiskey]. Yo' stop five minutes an' yo' don't say a word. Yo' look at it. Den yo' walk back up to it an' yo' look at it ag'in. Den yo' back up. Den when yo' back up yo' look in dat direction an' jis' turn an' look an' jis' walk in dat direction. An' when yo' git out in dat direction, yo'll have a seat an' set down dere jis' a few minutes an' look at it. Don't say a word. Jis' look jis' fo' a few minutes. Den yo'll leave from dere an' yo'll go tuh a graveyard. An' if yo' kin git holt of a man's toes, yo' git holt of about fo' or five of de toes tuh fo'k [fork into the ground] roun' [the goods for sale]. Yo' stick 'em in de ground, yo know, round [the liquor], yo' see. An' den yo' say, Ah hope dis will be a fence fo' all [to keep everyone away], In de Name of de Fathah, Son an' de Holy Ghost. Well, devils [evil spirits] will be dere, see an' dat will keep dem dere [those] mens [low men] from comin' in lookin' fo' yo' makin' dis whiskey. Dey drove [are driven] away [by this protection] but yo' dere, but yo' know who dey are. See, yo' keep 'em drove away, but chew stay dere, but dey cain't stay dere. DEY'LL BE FRIGHTENED. WHEN DEY COME AN' CREEP AN' STOP, BEGIN TUH LOOK, DEY'LL GIT FRIGHT- ENED. SOMPIN WILL HIT 'EM ON DE BACK, SEE, AN' DEY'LL GRAB DEY PISTOL AN' TURN ROUN' AN' DERE'S NUTHIN. YO' HAVE HEARD OF THINGS SLAPPIN' PEOPLE. AH KNOW YO' KNOW.
(You said you get two needles. What did you do with those needles?)
Yo' take dose two needles - yo' take dose two needles an' yo' put 'em up on top of dis heah stove, jis' set 'em up dere. See, dat's tuh mean fo' sharp luck. Yo' carry dem needles fo' sharp luck. Yo' put dem needles up dere an' yo' cross 'em, see. Now, dem needles is dere fo' dem devils. See, dem needles is dere fo' dem devils, undahstan'. Dem needles is goin' p'int [point] at dem devils, undah- Stan'. WHEN AH CALLS DEVILS, DEM GUYS COMIN' IN DERE GOIN' TRY TUH RUN YO' OUT. WELL, AH WANTA HAVE DEVILS DERE STRONGAH AS DEY IS, an' dem needleS goin' hold 'em, dey is crossed, undahstan'. Well, ah'll look roun', see, an' put it dere, an' den got de stuff from de graveyard, yo' see, done got dem folk's toes, dem daid toes if it ain't nuthin but de bones. Ah got de toes. Well, ah done named dem, see. Ah name, jis' say, de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost, dat dey may keep 'way all devils. Well, when dem othah devils [law men] come, see, up dere tuh ketch me an' carry me down an' lock me up in jail, dese things will keep dem PartieS Off. DEY CAIN'T NEVAH GIT IN DERE, DEY'S ALWAYS SCARED OUT. AN' EVAH TIME DEY PULL OUT DEY PISTOL AN' GO TUH SHOOT, DEY'LL LOSE IT OR SOMPIN, DEY CAIN'T SHOOT.
Entry 8247
I have heard of boys and girls being inti- mate together, and if this girl would have a pic- ture of this boy, and if she had any feelings of any kind against him, she would take this picture and scratch it all up to give him bad luck.
Entry 8742
If a person's in a house an' yo' want 'em tuh move or somepin like dat, yo' go in de woods an' cut a hole in a tree an' wish 'em some [bad] luck an' come back an' throw it [the sawdust or shavings from the hole] on dere house an' dey'l] move.
[Name is implied in the wish.]
(What kind of a tree do you go to?) A pine tree or oak tree or any kinda tree. (You cut a hole in that tree, you say, and what do you do then?) Yes sir, yo' wish dis person bad luck, an' come back home an' throw it under dere house.
(What do you throw on the house?)
Whatsoevah yo' cut in de tree. (You mean that sawdust and stuff from the hole. I didn't know what you were throwing under the house. You throw this stuff from the hole under the house. That's to make them have the bad luck, whatever you wish them.
Entry 8985
Yo' take beef tongue an' dries it. Yo' make a dust out of dat, under- stand. Yo' take that an' dries it. Yo' take it - just like yo' take it an' lay it, let it just wither up. Hang it so it wither up, yo' see. Well, yo' take it, yo' take blood of dragon - dragon's blood. Yo' take lodestone. Yo' take that an' grind it up. An' yo' takes a piece of red flannel an' yo' puts them in there an' makes yo' a bag out of that. An' yo' sew it up an' yo' tote it in your pocket. He always be's lucky an' successful man, never being bothered or worried or caught up when he's out walking around. See, he ain't got no job or nothing, he's out hustling for his living. Laws and things don't pick him up an' ask him a lot of questions or any- thing. If they ask him, all he's got to do is to tell him, why he's goin' tend- ing to his business, an' they let's him go.
Entry 9146
Well, suppose if yo' done anythin' wit'out...why yo'd have sense tuh see a root worker an' git somepin dey call a han', yo' know, fer pertection. It would pertect yuh in case yo' was tried in court, an' if yo' Would ask fer mercy, yo Would git it. See? [While recording machine stopped, informant says something about seven lucky herbs. This is not a common name and may be my only example.]
(There are supposed to be seven lucky herbs?)
Yo' gathah 'em out de woods. (That is all, make just a hand? Do you have to know what those herbs are? Do you know the names of them?) Ah know de names of about five of 'em ah 'pect [expect].
(What are those?)
Southern [John de Conkah] an' High John de Conkah, de fo'-leaf clovah, de nex', Eve-an'-Adam Root, anothah root dey calls de leathah herb, lovett herb. Dat's fo'. De nex' is devil's-shoestring, five.
Entry 9189
Dey say yo's kin git a black hen aig, dat wus fo' bad luck. Dey say if yo' git a black hen aig an' somebody take it an' break it, an place it roun' where yo' gotta travel ovah, say dat will put bad luck on yo' bad luck will follow yo'.
Entry 9466
Yo' kin take a box of salt an' jes' t'row it all de way roun' yore house evah mawnin'. Don't use nuthin fo' dat but jes' t'row it roun' de house fo' nine mawnin's. An' dat will give yo' luck.
(Luck for what?)
Luck fo' business, peoples comin' in an' tradin' wit chew.
Entry 9524
And he [root doctor] told me to wear salt in my dight shoe and take a little salt and sprinkle up under the bed every day. He uay it would change your luck.
Entry 9640
Ah heard dat chew take yore chamber lye an' dis salt an' peppah, an' throu it evah mawnin' befo' sunrise at chure do'. Dat'll keep de laws from run- nin' on yo' an' all fren's will come to yo'. An' don't sweep no, none of de dust out chure house, out chure front do'. Don' nevah throw none out; throw it in de fiahplace. Dat always brings in luck. But nevah carries out any [sweepings]. (If you are in business of any kind, especially bootlegging?) Yes, bootleggin' an' gamblin'.
Entry 9641
It was once a rootworker told me to take some urinate some cayenne pepper and salt - half full from the urinate to de top of the bottle and the other [half fill] with sugar. An' take you a piece of cotton and stick down in there, and stick two needles in there, and keep that. That's luck to you.
Entry 9691
Well, yo' kin burn shoes fo' luck. Jis' put 'em in de stove an' burn 'em. Sprinkle salt an' sugah on 'em fo' luck.
Entry 9694
Anyone take salt an' li'l' sugah an' sprinkle it rom', an' dat brings luck tuh yo'. Dat's tuh keep a job, so no man kin mow yo' doon - tuh hold a job.
Entry 9695
Git some sulphur an' some table salt - not physic salt - table salt, an' lay it in yore shoe when yo' certain... [informant is re- peating].
(They can't put anything down for you to walk over it.)
No sir, dat sulphur an' salt supposed tuh...
Entry 9739
On dat person's premises, if dey drive tenpenny nails intuh a tree - on dat person's premises - why yo'll change dere luck. Dey jes' lak a fellah dat won't have good luck. (Just one nail?) No, seven tenpenny nails.
Entry 9770
Have five cents worth of new nails. Don't ase 'em fo' anything else an' nail 'em on de do' facin' [saddle] right [upright] 'em right down dere, right straight down at dat piece, dat crosspiece. Dat make luck.
Entry 9846
(What's that?) Take nine needles... [I interrupt.] (You take nine needles.) Put 'em in a cross [form] - see, right across dataway; jis' dataway, see. An' put 'em intuh a bag of red flannel an' keep it 'nointed; good perfume, not de cheap, yo' umdahstan'. Put it intuh a bag an' put anothah bag aroun' dit. An' keep it 'nointed wit incense in dat red-flannel bag. [This red-flannel bag here represents the heart. Small needles can be placed head to tail or point, a symbolical crossing; or actually cross them through material in the bag. For this type of hand or mojah, see No.2163, p.621, vol.1 and elsewhere.]
Entry 9861
Yo' kin trim a fat-lightah splintah, lak a peg outa it, an' yo' ketch dat toadfrog befo' de sun rise. Anyway, kill 'im befo' de sun rise. Yo' push dat peg through 'im an' yo hold 'im dere until he dies. Den yo' take de peg outa dere an' tie a cord roun' 'is feet, an' yo' kin hang 'im up any- where on a bush. Or jis' take a stake an' put 'im on it an' make yore wish, In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an'Holy Ghost. If yo' wan'a person tuh move, yo' kin stick it up an' make dem move; if yo' want luck, yo' kin stick it up an' make yore wish fo' luck.
Entry 9904
Well, you take a frog, you take you a nail, or take a knife and peg him down alive jes' like that with a peg right at your house. Take some sugar and just sprinkle it good, you see. The worms, the ants and things will eat all the flesh off it. And after they eat all the flesh off it, you will find a forked bone at the back tail of it. Then you take that oil of clover, van van and fast luck, see. Now you take that and sew them together and make you a little bag, and put it in your pocketbook. But that fast luck. you must keep a little bit out when you going out, on the side, and scrape in your hand like this [demonstrates]. That gives you gambling hand; power in gamb- ling.
(Is fast luck a liquid or a powder?)
That's lickrish [liquid]. When you put it on your hand it burns shoe [burns you]. Now, when you look at it, when you put it on your hand and rub it, you see that curl up, sort of yellowish. It gives you satisfaction.
Entry 9907
Dey say yo' kin take a red ants bed an' cut a frog up an' let de red ants eat up dat frog - eat all of 'em [pieces]. An' den yo' could take cer- tain bones from 'im, lak a laig bone, lak dat an' carry it fo' luck. Dey say dat's very successful fo' a luck charm.
(Luck in anything?)
Yes sir, luck in anything.
Entry 9930
And then you kin take, ah - now this is self experience. Not for my- self but when I was a kid growing up; I guess round about fourteen, twelve, thir- teen, fourteen years. See, I was raised in the country and worked on a farm. My father died when I was small in 1903 and nothin' but a woman raised me. My mother and I didn't have anything, she and me had to work. Well, this was a ageable [elderly] nan and he was able to pay high wages for, you know, a full-grown man and he'd work lotsa children, you see. You see, where those large farmers didn't bother with we children, he'd work us in turnin' [sweet potato] vines and settin' out his potatoes like that. And this was a green frog. It's not a bullfrog. It's between a toadfrog and a bullfrog. I expect you've seen him. He's green and has those black specks on his back. It's long-legged though. Some say eventually after they get old they turn to a bullfrog. But he used to ketch those frogs and he'd tell we children to catch 'em. But if he didn't tell us to ketch, we could ketch 'em. But he'd tell us to ketch 'em and we would ketch 'em and he'd put it in his pocket and it wouldn't jump out. And he said you take those frogs and put it up in a bottle and make your wish. And set him on de stove and dry him out and take that and do anything you want to do with it. Well, of course, dis man I knew was pretty good and he always seemed to be lucky. He tolt another girl and I one day - we was pretty good in settin' out potatoes. So he asked us to ketch every one of those frogs that we could see. See, we'd have to go to the ditch to dip out water, you know, to water those sprouts that was planted there. So we come to him, we asked him. "Well, '' he says, "Well, I'll tell you-all something if you'll [not] tell." Ah says, "Well, What's that?" Ah says, "Never is a long time." He says, "Well, if you-all want those boys you going with," he say, "why go ahead and marry 'em, '' says, ''but I'll tell you, '' says, "Viola," says,"'this boy you going with, '' he says, ''he ain't goin' make you any good husband at all." Says, "They is fast, but you get these little spring frogs, you see, these little green frogs where you kin squeeze 'em and they goes way up into water." He says, "You catch every one of those you Kin find." He says, '"If you all have a fig bush, you kin get plenty of 'em in there." And he says, "And you get that frog," he says, "and put him in a box ad make your wish." And he says, "And set him in de stove or onto the back of the stove." He says, "In a small can like a five-cent or ten-cent baking-pouder box [can] where you kin close it up. Put him in there alive," he say and he Bys, "you doesn't open him in nine days," he says, "but each day make your wish for this man." He says, "When you open that frog, '' he says, "you have you a piece of yellow cotton. Go to the store and buy you five-cent piece of yellow Cotton, or you might buy two or three cents worth if you kin get it." Three oeats worth - that was during wartime [World War I] - was just about as wide as yoar chin[?]. He says, "And make you a little bag and make it four corners, ' be says, "jis' so it won't be anything but the form of the frog." He says, "Sew all that dust in there," he says, "and you'll always have good luck, and get any man you want and go anywhere you want to." And ah know hr made it for real. She really did it. An' she came there and she bought five dollars worth of figs when she got one of those frogs. We [man informant worked for] had a large fig orchard, and she come there and threw the money down. [Elizabeth City, N. Car., (438), 391:5+].
Entry 9959
Yo' take fo' an instant [instance] a gamblah is gonna go out fo' a big game tuhnight or today, an' 'is luck is bad. He goes out an' he finds 'im a frog. He takes dat frog an' he holds 'im in 'is hand tuh 'is eah [ear] an' dat frog will - yo' know dey don' holler lak no othah li'l' creatures on earth. Dey say, "Quank, quank, quank." An dat'll change yore luck.
Entry 9963
Kill a frog while he's hot. Take a frog while he's hot an' kill 'im an' split him open while he's hot. An' take an' rub yore han's on 'im an' rub down yore han's lak dat. An' yo' go out tuh any card game yo' wanta an' yo' be successful. Git chew a live frog an' split him back open, an' rub yore han's on 'im down dere.
Entry 9964
Take a toadyfrog an' yo' split 'im open, see, an' jis' tote him aroun' in yore pocket, an' yo' kin have all de luck yo' want.
(In gambling.)
Entry 9966
Ah hear'd dat if - jis' lak if a man wants tuh be a swift gamblah, an' he wanted tuh be lucky in 'is gamblin', dat he'd ketch a toadfrog an' he'd cut 'is hin' guartah off - 'is left [hind] quartah - an' put it in 'is pocket. De longah yo' tote dis heah hin' quartah, dey say yo'd be lucky in gamblin'. An' den if yo' evah lose yore luck, why yo'd lose yore love. [The preceding folk- lore or hoodoo penalty was and still is new to me, uhich may be the reason why I failed to ask an obvious question. What do you Dean by love? Would you lose your lover or sexual potency? Could these final words be a proverbial saying?]
Entry 9971
If yo' git de laid of a frog an' weah it in yore pock- et, dey say yo'll always be a lucky person. (That's lucky for anything?) Yes.
Entry 10040
De way ah've heard it, yo' ketch chew a black cat. It must be black cat an' when yo' ketch dat cat, yo' take it to de fo'ks of de road at twelve a'clock. Have yore watah hot. Don't kill 'im. Dive 'im in dat pot of hot watah an' shet it up, an' let 'im cook till hit cook de meat off 'is bones. Den yo' take all dose bones an' taken 'em down tuh de runnin' stream, de stream goin' dis way [demonstrates]. Dat's down, backwards is upwards. An' yo' po' dem bones intuh dat runnin' stream one at de time. An' de bone dat goes back up de stream, dat's de lucky bone an' yo' git dat.
(What do you do with that bone?)
Well, dey tell me yo' kin take dat bone an' tote it in yore pocket an' it brings good luck in love affairs, gamblin' an' sech lak as dat.
[While machine turned off informant says something about disappearing.]
(Use that same bone you say?)
Yes sir, yo' put it in yore mouth an' it makes yo' invisible, people can't see yo'.
Entry 10053
After killing black cat and sucking bone, go to three- pronged road 7 mornings before day, you will meet devil. Luck for seven years..[Deal Island, Md., resumé, 19:3.]
Entry 10060
Ah hear'd if a man wanted any luck, wanted tuh learn how tuh be a ex- pert or a musician, or if he wanted tuh be a expert gamblah or what not, dey goes out tuh dat crossroads fo' nine mawnin's. An' de ninth mawnin' when he go out there - but befo' he go out dere, he goes den an' he git 'im a black cat. Ah bettah [begin again] so yo' kin undahstan' it good. Befo' he goes tuh de crossroads dat nine mawnin's, he goes de firs' mawnin' an' he git 'im a black cat. An' he takes dat black cat an' he cares 'im out dere wit 'im tuh de crossroad nine mawnin's. An' when he cares 'im dere nine mawnin's, de ninth mawnin' when he git dere, dey says dat de devil 'imself meets 'im dere. An' dey says he'll tell 'im anything dat chew wan'a do or anything yo' wan'a know. Says, he'll give me anythin' between de sole of yuh haid an' de crown of yuh feet. [With a mixup like this between sole [soul] and crown, devil still must have been working.] He says, "It shall be granted tuh yo'." An' so when- evah he do dat, he takes dis black cat, which he's got alive, an' he gits 'im a pot.
(After he has gone there nine mornings, he takes the cat and gets this pot?)
Yessuh. An' when he gits dis pot, den he goes den tuh a stream of watah dat's runnin'. He makes 'im a fiah on de hill right up above de watah. An' when he makes dis fiah an' git dat watah boilin', he throws dat black cat in de pot alive an' lets dis cat cook alive. An' when de cat cooks until all de flesh has come off de bone, he takes de carcass of dat cat an' throw it in de runnin' watah. An' all de bones an' all de ones dat goes down de stream, he let 'em alone. He takes de - an' de bone dat runs up de stream, dat goes back up de stream de object [opposite] way, why he takes dat bone den an' he totes dat in 'is lef'-breas' pocket. An' when he tote it in 'is lef'-breas' pocket why anythin' he desires den, he'll git dat.
Entry 10096
I heard one fellow tell that too. As near as I can recall what he said. You take a black cat at twelve o'clock at night, boil the cat in hot Water until the flesh is boiled away from the bones. The first bone that floats up to the top of the water, you say certain words - I don't remember the words. You tie a string to the bone and keep the bone in your outh a certain length of time. Then tie that string around your neck with the bone hanging to it. That puts the person in the power of what they call...in ocher words he sells himself to the devil. He can work wonderful miracles. Be can do anything he wishes. It gives luck in gambling, too. [Fredericksburg, Ta., by Ediphone,62.]
Entry 10106
Take de black cat an' git one of 'is eyes, his lef' eye, an' take it an' boil it an' yo' git dat bead. Yo' know it's a li'le white hard bead in it, dat's whut dey sight is. Yo' take dat an' mix it up wit - put some lodestone in it an' put some lucky oil, an' take dat an' weah it. (What do you wear that for?) Dat's fo' tuh keep any luck, a job or anythin' yuh wanta keep. Dat's fo' tuh be successful in mos' anythin' yo' want. [For eye of black cat and its hardness, see No.10046.]
Entry 10115
First you catch the cat, kill it, then you take the bone out of the front right leg. Take this bone and let it dry and tie it around your leg, either leg, and wear it all the time. That'll bring you luck.
[Fredericksburg, Va., Ediphone 50.]
Entry 10116
There was a fellow who used to say - a long time ago a fellow was not so very lucky, and another man told him to go and git hisself a black cat bone. He told him to go over into the graveyard and find whatsoever he could of a bone from a person, and then come back and git a black cat bone, and keep them in his pocket. He told him to git the fore right-hand arm of the black cat and keep it and the other bone in his pocket and his luck would change.
Entry 10125
They say you catch a black cat and boil him alive. And you take the bone from the left hind leg and wrap it in a piece of rag, and always carry it wherever you go. That makes you lucky in gambling always. If you do that you've sold yourself to the devil. [Petersburg, Va., first collecting visit there, Ediphone 34.1
Entry 10127
Take a [black] cat and cut off its hind leg, either [one], and wear it in a bag for luck. [Fredericksburg, Va., Ediphone 60.]
Entry 10139
I have heard of the scalp of a black cat being used. They take that and sew it in a bag and keep it for luck. [Ocean City, Md., Ediphone 14.]
Entry 10141
Dey go down an' take a black cat an' take an' boil 'im. Take him down side of a creek an' boil 'im. Boil 'im all tuh pieces an' take his bones out an' throw 'im intuh three streams of watah. (You throw these bones into three streams of water?) Yessuh, throw 'em in intuh three streams of watah an' de third bone dat come up tuh de top, an' yo' take dat third bone. Yo' take dat bone an' carry an' take it an' have it beat up, jes' groun' up lak yo' would shavin' somepin othah. Aftah dat, yo' take peppah an' take salt, an' yo' does dat way [sprinkles] ovah it fo' ten times. Den yo' take dat an' put it in a red flannel rag. Aftah yo' take dat red flannel rag an' put it [this mixture] in dat. den yo' take it an' tote it in yore Watch pocket al] de time. If yo' decide tuh gamble, yo' take it out chure watch pocket an' put it in de pocket where yo's money's in. Dat's lucky.
(That's lucky in gambling?)
Yes.
Entry 10144
Black cat ashes [surely a preparation sald by a hoodoo dealer!], left hind foot of rabbit.9 claws from rabbit. 9 needle points, 9 pin points, all in red flannel bag, which is fed with Jocley Clob per fe. Wear when gambling.
Entry 10148
You kill a black cat, boil it, then dry the bones. Put it in a luck bag and carry it around your neck for good luck. [Fredericksburg, Va., Ediphone cyl.45.]
Entry 10190
Burn candles fo' luck. You take the candle, an' put it in each of the four corners of your house an' on that you sprinkle a little of that sulphur. As ah said, sprinkle a little sulphur on it, and in a few minutes that sulphur will be burned away, but that atmos- phere is still there. You light each one of those candles and burn them, and while those candles are burning you says your prayers, an' that create luck in your house that way.
(What kind of luck do they do that for?)
Any kind of luck.
(What color candle did you say they use?)
Jest a plain white candle.
(Do you burn them at any special time?)
Twelve 'clock at night. You get more results out of those things at that time of night.
Entry 10196
Dey burn dose an' den dey read de Bible.
(How do you do that?)
Dey jes' sets 'em all round, but one will do.
(One candle.)
Yes, one will do. Set it in de room an' den yo' git chure Bible an' yo' read a verse, de firs' verse dat chew [see when you] open de Bible. Den yo' read dat. (And what color candle do you use?) Well, yo' kin git de red candle. (What is that supposed to do then?) Yo' burn it fo' luck. (What kind of luck?) Well, luck in anything come in, any kind of business yo' got, dat yo' wanted tuh increase.
Entry 10588
Ah heard of anothah thing in gamblin' but it's a hard thing tuh git. But ah believe dis cus' de man dat tole me, cos' he's daid now, but he used tuh be a great gambler. He tried tuh git me one dem once. Yo' ketch a leather-wing bat. Dey say if yo' kin ketch a leather- wing bat an' kill him, an' take his heart an' wrap it in a silk han'kerchief, an' wrap it round heah [demonstrates], yo' can't be caught in no poker game yo' play in.
(Wrap it in a silk handkerchief you say, and tie it around your arm.)
Tie it round yore arm an' wear it jes' whilst yo' playing. Dis fellah gambled wit 'em. Ah didn't gamble wit 'im, an' he gambled wit white people, wit colored people, an' ah've known him tuh have as much as two an' three thousand dollahs at one time. [I turned off machine too soon. Informant mentioned name of hotel where this gambler had worked.l
(He was working at the.... Hotel?)
Yessuh.
Entry 10602
Now a fellah tell me fo' a fact dat chew kin ketch a bat an' yo' kin carry dat round wit chew jes' like: yo' would take dem wings off him an' don't have nuthin but de bat, jes' de little ole skin. Ain't nuthin but skin nohow. Take de little ole bat, de little haid, an' put him in a papah sack or a cloth. Tie it up - sew it up jes' lak yo Would sew up a little bow, an' carry it out in yore pocket. An' yo' kin go an' do most anything yo' want. Ah don't know whether dat's true or not.
(You take just the wings off the bat though?)
Take de wings off.
(And just tie up the body?)
Tie up de body.
Entry 10623
De Adam-an'-Eve root, yo' takes de Eve [part] an' yo' takes it an' yo' weah it in yore pocket. If not dat, chew take a lil' root chew call - dat lil' root chuh call Adam. [Adam-and-Eve are on the same root.] Yo' take dis lil' root an' yo' take dese three needles an' yo' break 'em all three in three pieces, each one needle broke in three pieces. Well, dat supposed tuh be nine pieces. Yo' takes dis root an' dese needles an' let 'em stay in dis root three days. Takes dese needles from dis root an' throw it in runnin' watah [I inter- rupt]... (You throw the needles in the running water?) In runnin' watah. Yo' take dis dime an' puts it wit dis root an' tie it back up, an' if yo' goin' out fo' luck or anything, yo' wipes it 'cross yore face - wipes it 'cross yore face an' haid. An' takes de root an' puts it up, keep it from bein' annoyed - [anyone] git atter [get after] dis root - if yo' wanta have any luck.
Entry 10629
Take Eve-an'-Adam root an' Queen Elizabeth root an' five-finger grass an' bind dem together an' put on [them] whiskey, an' let it soak fo' seven days to abstract dere pow- ers. An' yo' take yore- self: yo' bathe yore body, anoint yore body [with this concotion] an' dey say dat will bring back love an' luck to yore lose ones, put man an' wife back together.
Entry 10662
Anvil dust mixed with guicksilver [often tinfoil, sometimes the scrap- ings from back of mirror, rarely real quicksilver] worn in pocket for gambling luck.
Entry 10676
Ah hear'd dey take a axe an' carry it down tuh de fo'ks of de road an' throu it back ovah yuh haid, ovah yuh shouldah, an' don't nevah even look back at it. Clain den dat'll dhmge yuh luck.
Entry 10697
Yo' go to a fortuneteller or Hoodoo and pay them a certain amount of money to have what is known as good luck to follow your home while you are gone. And it is said that she would tell you for this amount [of money given to her] to buy de Bible and not open it. Open it in de house [itself] and find de 17 division of Psalms, Psalms of David, [close Bible] and walk in yore garden and git as near de center as possible [here is a quincunx rite!] not yet opening Bible. And turn yore face as near towards de east as possible, and valk 17 steps and stop, and read de 17 division of de Psalms, and den close de book. And no harm will befall yore home or nuthin will happen to yore wife. (This is to sort of to protect your family; especially if a man is going away from home?) Yes, that's on leaving home. The same thing holds good, de wuman tole me, if a man's wife leaves him and he wants her to return.
Entry 10759
After you have a bath in that water, you put household ammonia and some sugar and some blueing [in the used] water, and that will uncross your bad luck, and bring you success- ful. An' yo' take that and you throw it where the sun rise.
Entry 10773
Ah heard sompin 'bout a broom. Now, yo take a broom now - dey claim dat yo' take a broom an' yo'll sweep with it. Well, now, if yo' take a broom an' lay it down an' step ovah it, it will give yo' bad luck. Always, if yo' step ovah a broom forward, step backwards ovah it an' dat give yo' good luck.
Entry 10787
If yo' see anybody comin' tuh yore house, throw a broom 'cross de do' like dis [demonstrates]. Step ovah it [demonstrates]. Dat's bad luck.
(To the person that is coming in?) Yes sir.
Entry 10795
Put a person in bad luck, yo' take de broom an' sweep him down every morning.
(How do you do that?)
Jes' take - leave him stand up in de house an' take yore broom an' sweep him down. Put him in all de worstest luck in de world. Or let somebody sweep 'cross yore foots [feet] wit a broom, dat de same thing.
Entry 10801
Keep de broom, de part chew sweep wit, let it stand up an' be in de right cor- ner of yore house. Dat's lucky fo' yo'. (What do you mean, the right corner of the house?) Jes' lak yo' come in, de right side of de house.
Entry 10802
Yo' take a broom. A broom is a concern, jes' say fo' instance, yo' vorkin' wit someone, yo' know, an' dey smart or sompin lak dat, an' yo' jes' haul off an' hit 'em wit de broom. Dat will make a person have bad luck. Put bad luck on dem. Dey'll either git fi'ed [fired from his work] or sompin vill bg pen to him. [For hitting person with broom, also see JAIL margin title under BROOM later.]
Entry 10818
If yo' use yore own broom to sweep yore house an' [somebody] else's that's a little bad luck on that. An' don't sweep yore yard wit de same broom yo' sweep yore house with. Dey say that's bad luck. They always say that if a person use de same broom to sweep de house with an' dey use the same broom to sweep de yard with, that brings about a little difficulty wit de family.
Entry 10839
About de vulture - de buzzards. Ah heard dat chew could git de redhead buzzard an' cut his head off, an' boil it an' git his brains, an' put it in a cup or in anything, jest confine it an' dig to de clay [dig through the top soil] an' bury it. Said dat would give you luck.
(Where do you bury that?)
On de no'th side of de house.
(Do they have any buzzards around here?)
Dey had red [head] buzzards heah, yes sir.
Entry 10842
Git de buzzard feath- ers. Burn dem all around yore place or jest burn 'em in yore yard - anything. Now, dey are very lucky.
Entry 10854
In gambling, yo' take an' git chew a dime worth of dat Georgia Pure Syrup [perhaps brand name] an' sprinkle a little sulphur in it an' cook it an' jes' pull it to a candy. An' when yo' git it to a candy, take a little piece - about dat much [shows a finger] an' wear it. After it git dry, yo' grease it an' wear it. An' ever' time yo' git in bad luck, yo' pull off an' yo' scrape a little of it in de bottom of yore shoe an' go on. Yore luck's always on.
(Luck in what?)
Fo' gamblin'.
(And you have a piece of this candy about the size of one of your fingers?)
Yassuh, a little piece about dat long, about de size of yore finger. An' old-fashioned candy, yassuh. An' ole reg'lah syrup candy. But chew put dat sulphur in it.
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 10874
If yo' happen to see a cat - if it passes dat road, if it's a black cat, walk backwards, dey says, an' yo'll always succeed. But if he's a gray cat or a white cat, says step right on ovah it. (Over the cat.) Yeah, step right on ovah where he walks, but walk backwards if he's black an' yo' shore will have better luck.
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 10934
Catfish blood is supposed to be lucky fo' a gamblin' hand. Well, dey take de catfish an' cut him, an' de blood comes out, see, bleeds out. Den yo' take dat blood an' yo' wrap it up into a rag an' yo' bury it an' let it stay buried fo' eight days, so ah learnt, an' den take it up out of there an' put it in yore pocket an' dat supposed tuh be lucky [probably if you gamble on the 9th day].
Entry 10962
Dat chicken blood an' de bat heart, an' yo' take it an' put it in a bottle. An' take de chicken blood an' po' it into de bottle an' dat makes yo' lucky in yore home...an' de heart of a bat an' use de chicken blood.
Entry 11025
Dey use chicken feathers dey say fo' bad luck. Probably if yo' got some chickens or sompin lak dat an' ah wanta make yo' have bad luck, ah kin take de feathers from yore chick- ens and burn 'em in mah stove. See, an' use de ashes an' dese chicken fea- thers an' take 'em an' sprinkle 'em all round yore house. Dat will cause all yore chickens tuh die, or someone in yore family to die, or sompin lak dat. Dat's whut de' call a re- buke to a family. Or either if ah should happen to have tuh buy a chicken or sompin lak dat, ah kin git some of yore dirt from roun' in yore yard where yo' have travel on, an' use it an' burn it an' cause yo' tuh have bad luck to some of yore family or either probably to yo'.
Entry 11037
Take a chicken foot, take de right foot an' hang it up. Yo' take all of his toes an' yo' bend 'em down an' den yo' go into de [backhouse] an' hang it up, an' whatsomevah one jes' straightens out, dat's de one. Take dat along an' wear it in yore pocket an' in all yo' travels yo' always have luck.
Entry 11045
De rooster, ah know a little sompin 'bout him. Yo' kin take a rooster three yeahs ole an' kill him. Take his haid. Yo' see a ants' bed haven't yo'? Jes' take dis ole rooster's haid an' jes' put it in dat ants' bed an' let it stay. Yo' know de ants will shore eat de meat off de skull. An' let it stay dere jes' long enough fo' dose ants to git all de meat off de skull, go through his haid an' git all de brains an everything till it come to be testified [petrified?] an' ole. Well, dat's luck.
(How would they use - what would they do with that?)
After den, dis ole fellah tells me, yo' goes tuh de 67th [6th and 7th] Book Of Moses an' den he'll give yo' de direct answer.
Entry 11135
That's to keep you from [leaving the house]. (How do they do that?) Dey put it [cow manure] out and let it get dry. [I shut off machine too soon.]
(Crumble it up?)
Yes, sir, crumble it up, dry out and sprinkle it into your house. That will harm you, that will put chew in bad luck.
Entry 11166
(What do they do with the devil's-shoestring?)
Dey take dat and put it down in a bottle of perfume with some garlic and ies keep it in a bottle, you see. And if you got it at home, well every time you leave out of home, why you take it and rub it on your hands. Dat's fer luck. And fer your protection op de streets, you git dat devil's-shoestring and you take it and put it around your waist right to your skin. You tie it around your waist.
(What will that protect you from?)
Dat's to protect you from de law. All you gotta do is tie it to yoar shn.
Entry 11187
(You get what?)
Somepin lak de' call de devil's toothpick, dat's a root, an' keep dat in mah mouth 'long as ah'm roun' de house. Well, dey nevah bothah yo' an' nevah have nuthin tuh say tuh yo'. Jis' soon's [as soon as] yo' git out de house yo' kin take dat out yore mouth an' put it in yore pocket, but ah keep it always in mah pocket.
(Why do you keep that in your mouth when you are round the house?)
Well, yo' see, dat call fo' mah luck, yo' see, an' dey won't bothah yo' an' won't have nuthin tuh say tuh yo'. (I asked you if they could make me move out of the house. And if I don't want to move what can I do?) Aw - yo' ah use dat devil's toothpick - dat's if ah didn't wanta move. Yo' kin git dat in de woods yo' see. Very few people know what it is.
(What does it look like?)
Have yo' evah seen Italian [something?] whut made outa pipes [something?] a little root? [Does he mean brier?] It's sompin lak dat [demonstrates].
(It runs along the ground. Is it the same thing as devil's-shoestring?)
No suh.
(Where is the toothpick, on the vine or under the vine?)
It grows in knots jis' lak Italian [brier?].
Entry 11213
Take the dirt dauber and take dis man's name.
(Yes?)
And you write the man's name and you set this in the bottle, and when you puts this in the bottle...
(Now what do you put in the Bible?)
You puts - in de bottle!
(Oh, in a bottle. You put all this in a bottle?)
All this in a bottle. Well, I call a bottle a jar - one of these pickle jars - and put the vinegar in there with the man's name in there. That's the dauber dust. Then you takes this man's name and you just put the pin and the tacks and the needles in there. And then you put it in there, and every day at twelve o'clock you shake it up and call this man's name. Every day you do the same thing until the ninth day that you see that you get your wishes.
(What kind of wishes do you make?)
Well, the wishes that I would make, would be the bad destruction on him. That'd be bad luck for him to have. That's the bad wishes.
Entry 11215
Dirt dauber nest, pound, put piece of garlic with, in purse for luck. [Garlic is lucky because it is a witchcraft deterrent.]
Entry 11230
For real good luck - real shure 'nuff good luck - yo' kin steal a dishrag outa dere house. Jes' slip [in] unbeknowst to 'em an' steal a dishrag, an' go ahead an' bury it some place way out [where houses and people are few] an' yo' git all de luck an' dey won't have any. Dey have yorn bad luck an' yo' have dere good luck.
Entry 11343
Take dragon blood an' dress it with Hearts Cologne, sompin lak that, a' jes' use it in yore home. That would make it lucky fo' things lak that. (If you were selling liquor or anything of that sort.)
Entry 11369
Dey say de fig tree leaves is good fo' luck. See, yo' take dem an' put 'em in yore cifforobe [combination of wardrobe and chest of drawers (U. S. A.) or yore trunk or put 'em in yore billfold, de fig leaves. Dey are nice fo' luck. Jes' take a leaf yo' know, lak a little young leaf-lak, a little young one, yo' know, not one de great big ones. Put it some- where yo' kin handle it, jes' spread it out.
Entry 11371
Dey take de root of a fig tree from de no'th side an' hang it up ovah de do' dat chew go in an' out de most, an' it would make yo' be lucky in havin' a job or anything yo' wanta undertake tuh do.
Entry 11372
Ah know if yo' go to a fig tree an' cut a root outa fig tree - cut dat root 'bout large as yo' could hold it in a pocketbook - well, it's luck to yo'. An' den in any kinda games - yo' are lucky in any kinda games wit fig root. Yo' know, put it in yore pocket an' tote it lak dat. It's lucky.
Entry 11642
Now mah sister, she gambled - she used tuh gamble. She don' gamble no mo'.... But fo' luck fo' gamblin', tuh eat herrin's or sardines, dat'll give 'em [luck]. (Luck for gambling?) Yes.
Entry 11666
Yo' go down to de fo'k of de road an' yo' kin take a fresh aig - jes lak yo' in bad luck. Git a fresh aig an' a penny an' throw it cross yore shoulder at de fo'k of de road an' walk on an' don' look back. After while it put chew in good luck. (You throw that penny and
[WHY EGG? THAT IS PAYMENT FOR SPIRIT OF THE FORK] the egg over it [shoulder]?)
An' de aig ovah - both of 'em together, an' throw it cross yore shoulder an' walk on - de left shoulder and walk on. An' why dat put chew in good luck? An' de one dat come an' find dis penny, it put dem in bad luck. [This is a tranference rite, very common in wart cures.]
Entry 11671
When yo' go to a forks of de road, make a cross mark an' go. If yo see a fork of de road, make a cross mark an' go [on your way]. Said yo' more den apt to be lucky. Dat's whut ah heard, yo' more den apt to be lucky. [For luck by making cross at fork of road, see No.11668.]
Entry 11686
Yo' go out dere 'fore day in de mawnin' an' git a twig offa tree at de fo'ks of de road an' use it. Yo' kin use it fo' luck, fo' bad luck, an' dey use it with dis red flannel. Ah 'magine yo' seen red flannel. Yo' use red flan- nel. An' git chew a twig while de sap is in it, but chew cain't git it when it's dry, at de fo'ks of de road. Dat cause people tuh has spells, fallin' outa beds, agony in de haid, agony in de feet, athaletics feets an' all lak dat. (What do you do with this twig? How do they work that?) Well, yo' git chew a piece of red flannel an' git chew some turpentine an' asafetidy an' boil it all tuhgethah in 'bout, jes' say 'bout a cup of watah an strain it an' po' all dat drugs [dregs], let say yo' has drugs tuh it, an' strain it through dat red flannel. An' aftah yo've strained it through de red flannel, den yo' use only de watah, understan'. Set dis watah in a dark place in a closet an' keep dis twig in dis red flannel wrapped. Yo' kin weah dis roun' yore neck fo' luck fo' yo'self. An' de watah fo' bad luck yo' kin sprinkle around a person's do'steps tuh cause 'em tuh move. If yo' wanta sprinkle it fo' luck, if yo' Wanta sprinkle it, yo' kin sprinkle it tuh cause 'em tuh move. Yo' kin sprinkle it fo' a person dat's sick, tuh make 'em have iller health. Yo' kin sprinkle it where a person is sick, tuh make 'em have bettah health; accordin' tuh whut chew magic' but chew gotta git it from de fo'ks of de road 'fore day in de mawnin'.
Entry 11687
Yo' go tuh de fo'k of de road - fo' luck yo' mean? [I probably nodded yes.] Fo' luck. An' yo' turn around twice [stand- ing in same place] an' on de right han' side, not on de left-han' side. An' yo' succeeds dere on de right han' of de road. Don' nevah look back, jes' keep right on on de right han' side, yo' understan'. An' right at de bend of dat fo'k of de road - dere's three fo'ks of de road. Well, at de second fo'k of de road, yo' look right at de second road.
Entry 11721
(What is goofer dust?)
Well, it's not a particular thing. It's sompin jes' lak whut chew say, a reefer. It's not a twig, it's mo' of a flour [ = powder-like] but it's ground, ground into a powder, an' they use it fo' sprinklin' fo' luck an' they throws it on peoples' po'ch fo' bad luck. (What is a reefer?) reefer is somepin lak a cigarette; dey smoke reefers - uh-huh, jes' lak hops.
(Drugs?)
Uh-huh.
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 12136
Dat's usin' dis heah, whut chew call oil of peppermint an' Hearts Cologne. Yo' kin take dat an' mix it together an' every morning when yo' git up, before yo' speak to anyone, yo' kin put it in yore hand an' rub it in yore hand, an' den jest say, "De Lord is my shepherd" - hold yore hands touards de sun an' say, "De Lord is my shepherd an' I will"... [demonstrates]. (Hold the palms of your hands up like that.) Yeah, de palms of your hands up towards de sun an' say, "De Lord is my shep- herd an' I shall not want." An' you will be very lucky all that day an' things will come to yo' whut chew wouldn't a thought would come to you, see. It gives yo' better luck all dat day.
Entry 12165
Well, yo' uses holy watah lak fo' somepin good. Yo' kin use it lak fo' sprinklin' round yore house, yo' see. An' then yo' kin git a bottle of holy watah an' keep dat on de back- side of yore bed. Lak de bed. An' ah put a leetle string [on the bottle] an' keep it hung on dere [behind bed]. Dat's luck, yo' know. It's successful [brings success] in yore home, too.
Entry 12189
Ah heard dat chew could take a horseshoe off a grey horse an' turn it up, de p'int up ovah yore do', an' yo'll be lucky an' de home will be lucky.
Entry 12204
Ah've heard about horseshoe nails. Dey tell me yo' git nine horse- shoe nails dat's mighty good luck. But de way ah've heard about de nine horse- shoe nails, yo' take them nine horseshoe nails an' wrap them up in a piece of flannel cloth. Jes' have de head this way heah, jes' change 'em disaway [informant demonstrates].
(You put one head one way and one the other.)
Yes sir. An' then yo' - after yo' put a piece of cord, yo' tie it tight. An' dey say yo' keep dat in yore house. That's mighty good luck in yore home.
Entry 12205
De horseshoe - git nine horseshoe nails, an' yo' tie 'em head an' tail, an' yo' name 'em, an' put 'em ovah yore do', an' dat's fo' luck.
(What would you name them?)
Well, yo' name 'em fo' jes' whut chew want 'em tuh do.
Entry 12207
Sech as ah heard people take horseshoe nails. An' dey take 'em an' make a [finger] rind out of 'em tuh give 'em luck.
(Lucky for what?)
Fo' gamblin' or fo' anything. (A horseshoe-nail ring?) Yes.
Entry 12216
Well, yo' goes tuh work an' yo' git chew some incense an' yo' burn it in yore lamp or anywhere, roun' evah mawnin' 'fore de sun rise. An' yo' talk tuh de incense whilst it Smokin' - whilst it burnin' - an' say whut chew want it tuh bring toward yore place, an' dat will bring yo' good luck.
Entry 12238
Git a piece of lodestone an' a piece of John de Conkah root an' a piece of Eve-an'-Adam root [Adam and Eve] root an' sew it up in a red piece of flannel an' wear dat. Dat's fo' luck an' jobs.
Entry 12280
Yo' kin tie a knot in a rope or either in a pocket han'ke'ch'ef or sompin lak dat an' yo' kin use it. Dat's whut dey call a jinx to peoples. Ah could tie a knot in yore pocket han'ke'ch'ef an' dat could be a jinx to yo'. An' aftah [that] ah wash it an' den pressed it out. Dat's ohut dey call a jinx to a person. It's no luck to nobody, a pocket han'ke'ch'ef wit knots in it. Or either some peoples passes by yo' might seen clothes line hangin' out. Peoples could put knots in dat fo' a jinx to peoples which dey call bad luck. An' den dey kin fix it in dere fo' luck fo' peoples. It's a certain way dey tie it. Some of 'em tie it in a bow knot an' some they call it in de crawfish oot an'....
Entry 12291
Wal, say yo' tie twelve knots in a cotton string an' wear dat string right on - next to yore flesh. Quite natural yo' dresses dat string wit not a thing in de world but Hearts Own Perfume an' wear it right nex' to yore skin.
(What do you wear that for?)
Well, yo' see dat give yo' luck - keep hard luck away from yo' an' bring good luck to yo'.
Entry 12306
When you receive a letter, rub it with a four-leaf clover and wear the letter and it will affect the writer's hand. My original pencil transcript attached to original manu- script comments "doubtful," showing how critical I was at an earlier collecting day. A clover of 4 leaves, a good-luck symbol would counteract any bad luck! If you believed it did.
Entry 12337
Ah tell yo' what ah used tuh use. Git de horseshoe - yo' know when dey are shoein' de horse, yo' take de hoof [cut off] an' yo' take a stuff dey call limestone, an' red onion peels, an' red pep- per an' burn it together. Why dat brings luck. See dat bring yo' luck.
Entry 12375
Lak now, say, if yo' wuz mad wit me. Well, if ah go to one of dese iucky men's, see, an' git me some of dis hoodoo stuff. Well, now, yo' don't come tuh mah house but Sarah ovah dere comes. Well, yo' give dis tuh Sarah an' Sarah vill come to mah house an' de fireplace is broken up heah or down heah. [Sarah vill] poke dat stuff in dere. All right. I got tied because it's in mah house all de time.
Entry 12405
All round where you live [here in New Orleans they throw] the dead- head matches - not the matches that ain't struck - the matches that are al- ready struck. Thrown all around. Will put you in the worst kind of luck, same thing [as something else we were talking about]. Throw them all around your door.
Entry 12426
Talking about anything of that sort [informant shows me something].
(Oh, yes, un huh. That's to be worn isn't it? For protection, isn't it?)
It's for protection. See this is a picture of...
(Of our Lord?)
Of our Lord, yes. Now, this is for protection. This is for protection, you wears this to your heart, you know, right around your neck here, you see [demon- strates]. But of course I totes it in my pocket and that's for luck. I HAVEN'T GOT ANY OF MY OTHER MEDALS AND THINGS ON ME, but now, I never knowed they take and use medals for harm. I know of 'em using medals for to do good - to do good, you see. [New Orleans, La., (832), 1245:1.] - Hoodoo - Conjuratfon - Witchcraft - Rootwork -
Entry 12470
Yo' git some mule hoof an' burn it, cross it [make sign of cross with it] fo' yo' luck, right lak that. An' sprinkle a little salt an' a little sulphur. An' in burnin' this yo' calls fo' rich man's name. An' even to that chew ask fo' yo' luck. An' yo'll be successful in whut chew tryin' tuh do.
(If you are trying to rent something or sell something?)
Yessuh.
(If you are trying to sell liquor or anything?)
Yessuh.
(Now, I'll take up this ashes [cigar ashes in tray on interviewing table]
and you put them in the shape of a cross like that [I demonstrate]. You sprinkle them in the shape of a cross?) Yes, yo' sprinkle that, then yo' sprinkle this. Then yo' make the second cross an' sprinkle that. (But you make one cross with the mule ashes first? Then the other crosses you make with this other stuff?) Yes, yes.
Entry 12519
Take de red onion an' git de outside peelin', dat hard part, off. Put sugah intuh de onion an' put it on a hot stove an' let it jis' burn. Burn till it's all gone away. Dat supposed to make luck in yore house. Say, fo' instance if yo' were sellin' whiskey, dat supposed tuh bring customers.
Entry 12522
At six 'clock in de evening and six 'clock in de morning, you git up and yo' take a onion an' sprinkle red pepper on it. An' put it behind yore front door and you put it on a paper and sit it down and burn it. Don't let nobody come bother you or no one know you doing that.
(Well now, what will that do then?)
It bumn aad supposed to bring luck to you [in business].
Entry 12524
As I told you a while ago, you use that just like you do garlic, but you cut the onion up fine and put it in hard water, and you put salt in there instead of sugar. And you, just like a person tell me to mop their house, I'm sup- posed to keep their house mopped out with that, and instead of having good luck, it's bad luck. You get arrested or anything. That Salt jinX them. [AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER, THIS IS THE ONLY HARD WATER RITE IN "HOODOO," and it Was given by that professional hoodoo woman from Shreveport, La., the woman who said, "They tried to run me out of Louisiana." Little did either of us realize that within a few hours I myself would be chased out of Memphis!]
Entry 12534
Yo' take a red onion fo' yo' luck, dey say. Yo' tie it up in somepin tight - sompin lak dis heah [informant has handkerchief or something]. All right, yo' put a cord or sompin around it an' wear it round heah [see later], but if yo' scared dat somebody see it round heah, wear it round heah.
(Wear it either around their neck or around their waist?)
Entry 12535
(What do you do with the red onion?)
Well, dey say if yo' break de skin of it an' jes' carry it in yore pocket, some of it, or either throw it away, jes' throw it away, dey say dat's lucky. If yo' boil it, boil yo' three dimes in it an' den drink de watah, dat's lucky fo' yo' - yore in- come will be good.
Entry 12544
Dey tell me yo' git some lodestone an' git chew some sen-sen an' a red onion. An' yo' peel dis red onion an' take de hull an' drop de sen-sen down in it. [Sen-sen Was or is trade name of small lozenges to suck to sweeten breath.] An' yo' look in de east an' ask de Lord tuh move yore enemies an' bring yo' luck an' peace. An' den yo' sprinkle de sugah ovah dis same thing an' dis red onion. An' yo' walk to yore front do' an' walk back- vards to yore back do' nine times, aftah yo' fire it back. Dat will bring yo' peace an' yo' be's successful wit chure friends.
Entry 12572
[The former silver dime of the United States of America Was the magic lord of money during my collecting days - the 30's and early 40's - but not far behind was the lowly copper- based penny or one-cent piece. This remarkable coin as an awesome object I first heard about from my Pullman porter on the former Pennsylvania Railroad between Chester, Pa., and Baltimore, Md., in rite No.2108, p.6ll, v.l. An early list of penny rites is given in Nos.2108-2127, Pp.6ll-615. In the rites now following most of them are new, others merely show the ubiquity of the beliefs. I shall begin with the new]: Take de brown money we call de pennies, lil' pennies, yo' know, an' burn it till it git real black, one penny. An' git some spirits of rosin - it grows when de turpentine run yo' know - an' put in some flour. Mix it together, flour dough, an' mix it together an' then tie it round yore waist, an' carry it wit chew an' yo'll be lucky.
(Lucky in what?)
In gambling.
(You just burn this penny until it is black?)
Yes.
Entry 12575
Fo' luck. Yo' jes' take a penny an' yo' tack it right under de piece right by yore do' - right in front de do' ~ where de folks walk backwards an' farwards cross it. Yo' jes' tack it where nobody won't take it up, where dey wouldn't see it [or step on it either, because it is under the overhang of the tread. Normally this coin is reposed, if trade is wanted].
(What will that do then, for you?)
Make luck fo' yore house.
(For customers?)
Yes, an' keep yore house lucky. Jes' lak ah 'fore tell yo' [told you before] about dat same potash an' 'bout dis penny, dat makes luck fo' yore house.
(Keeps the law away.)
Yes sir, de revenuers.
Entry 12623
A man said if: I could take a needle and 3 grains of pepper, red pepper, de seed of it, and some water and put in it, and salt, and then a few grains of black pepper. And take that needle and stick it down in that bottle. And when you get ready to go out, you go and take that bottle up and jis' shake [a magic act] it up and say, "Good luck and good prospire" [prosperity]. And go out. And he said, "You get a job." The man that told me that...and I declare I went and did it, I fixed it up, and I declare I git the job, the one I got now. And I've been with it over a year.
Entry 12705
Take de quick- silver an' melt it up an' put it in a bottle an' put bluein' in dere an' carry it 'long [with you]. Dat's fo' good luck.
(Quicksilver? You mean that paper that comes around plug tobacco?)
Yessuh.
Entry 12717
Take graveyard dirt an' dey would go an' git it an' put it in a bag. Co to de head of a sinner's grave, dat is someone in hard luck [goes]. Dey go to de head of dis sinner grave an' dig down to de marshy dirt. Yo see dat on top is dry an' den why when you dig down in de ground it's marshy. An' dey dig down an' git some of dis marshy dirt off of a sinner grave from de head. An den dey would put it in a bag an' git whut dey call a rabbit foot an' put in dere with it, an' dat would cause to bring good luck. (If you are out of luck, you wear it or carry that. What foot do you get from the rabbit?) De left foot, de back.
Entry 12723
Then yo' take - now if yo' a gamblin' man, yo' kin take a rabbit an' ketch him. Take his left front feet an' cut it off right in de knee joint dere, an' git chew a bottle of Hearts Cologne am' put on it. Keep it up tlll it git dry, yo' take it an' put it right in yore fob pocket up heah on yore pants, an' go to a gae an' rub it in yore han' lak dat [demonstrates]. Rub it in dere. Go in dere am' vin whut chew wanta win. Dat de way ah did.
Entry 12754
Ah heard dat chew could [take] a raven's aig. Go find his nest an' take de aigs outs his nest an' boil 'em. Say, cook 'em, an' return 'em back to dat nest, an' dat raven would go somevhere an' git a stone, an' bring it back an' jes' put it in dat nest. Den yo' go dere an' git dat stone, an' yo' have all de luck yo' wanta fo' anything. [This egg-substitution rite in various forms is told about different birds in HOODOO.]
Entry 12758
How, [of] course I Was bootlegging myself and I had a powder that I used to use. Of course, this pow- der come from Germany [which may nor have been true]. (What was it called?) Well, I don't know the name of the powder, but it was mixed up with a simple thing, some Gretna. (Oh, you called it Gretna?) [This could be something sold by someone in Gretna back in 1938.] Gre tna.
[I turn off machine but restart it at word sugar.]
(Yes, and you mixed it with sugar, you say?)
Mix it with sugar.
(And it turned what?)
It would turn red, and after [that] you would burn it, you'd have to burn it With solid white paper. And after you would burn this, about ten minutes after that, you wouldn't have to worry. You could be sitting down and people would come from all, every direction, to your place to buy stuff there.
(How much did you pay for that?)
One dollar.
(One dollar, I see.)
Yes, sir.
(They made it in Germany. What color powder was it?)
It was a red powder. [This is an interesting illustration of hundreds of special or isolated mixtures floating about, compounds that never came into general use. I am guessing that this Was a cheap incense, though a dollar dur- ing the Great Depression Was money!]
Entry 12775
[Letter "s" in this long CHANNEL DE WORLD division begins perhaps with the largest sentence in HOODOO:] They say, if yo' take the Twelve Apos- tle's names like I told joo, an' write 'em on a piece of paper, or each Apostle's name on a sage leaf, an' have the Apos- tle's names on another piece of paper, fold them toward joo all the time, an' keeps 'em in your pocket an' have 'em whensomever yo' go for a job, they say he'll [you will] more than apt to be lucky. [For sage leaves and court see also No.9117-9137, some of which also contain 12 Apostles, v.4.]
Entry 12779
Ah heard you could take - get some kind of oil and stuff and use like that, and then, if anybody [in the game] had any wager in dere against you, or you was playing against wager or somepin like dat, why you could take dat. Take a frog - use a toadfrog and carry 'em in dere, and take that salt and pepper and sprinkle it.... [Here I turned off machine but decided to continue.]
(How do you...)
[You are having bad luck because someone:]
Done went to somewhere and got somepin stronger than what you got dere - Luck.
(What do you do with that frog?)
You put him in your pocket.
(I see. And what about the salt and pepper?)
You take that salt and pepper and sprinkle it around in your house where you playing at.
(I see. That's to break up that wager.)
Wager that luck against you.
(That weight [luck] against you.)
Entry 12879
Take de scissors an' don' close 'em up, open dem out yo' know, an' stick dem [them] down jes' undahneath yore bed. Stick de points up lak dat [demonstrates]. Keep yo' in good luck.
(Have the scissors open and the points sticking up under your bed?)
Yes. Yo' know, jes' lak de scissors open dis way, an' jes' stick dem down dat way [demonstrates]. [Points of scissors stick down into floor.] Or eithah a glass of watah. Yo' see, dat glass of watah, jes' have enough watah in it to know dere's watah in de glass undah yore bed. Dat's for luck.
(The points of the scissors are sticking down to the floor under the bed.)
Entry 12884
Scrub it out good with Red Seal Lye, got the red seal [trademark] on it...an' yo' wrench [rinse] it good this day - like today - and tomorrow you go there and you use nine buckets of water. And the ninth bucket of water you put sugar and cinnamon and Burben fast luck in it, and it'll be lucky and you'll, can rent the house.
(What kind of fast luck?)
Berb - bur - I believe - Burbeans - you know that spells beans.
(Burbean's?)
Yeah, Burbean's Fast Luck.
(What is it, an oil or a powder?)
It's a oil-like. You gets that outa the drug store.
Entry 12929
An' some say yo' git dis heah Be Shame Root, Be Shame Brier an' git hit an' cut it up an' put it in dere an' put dis heah Hearts Cologne wit it.
(What do you put that root in?)
In a cloth an' sew it up an' wear it. Say dat will make yo' be lucky in any- thing yo' put chure han' tuh do. [Root became a normal hand for any kind of luck.]
Entry 12987
De best luck is a silver dime. Git chew a silver dime an' git chew some dis heah stuff yo' cut outa a hank[?] - cheap boxes yo' know. Take dat dere stuff [packing] an' dat silver dime... [interviewer interrupts].
(Is it sort of sawdust or shavings?)
An' put hit an' de dime an' some salt an' a piece of red flannel, an' sew it an' wear it round yore laig.
(What will that do?)
That will keep you lucky...
[I ask what kind of luck and restart machine.]
Any kind of luck - most any kind of luck.
Entry 12999
Well, if a man want luck in gambling, well, he'd wanta got Lost John powder. [This could be my only example of Lost John.] (What kind?) Lost John. (Lost John?) Lost John powder, it's good luck. You take Lost John powder and you put it in your pocket. All right, you go get you some pulverized bluestone. You take you five dimes and you boil that in two quarts of water. You boil that water down to one quart [magic of diminishing amount.] You put it in somepin and measure it. You put it in somepin and you boil it until it comes down to one quart [diminishing amount] one quart of water. You gets one quart of water, you pout one teaspoonful of pulverized bluestone, one teaspoonful of granulated sugar, one teaspoonful of sulphur, and well shaked [shake well]. You take your five dimes out of that water after it's boiled and put 'em - you can use them again, you can spend them. [Often articles used in rites cannot be used again, they are dangerous.] You take that and you shake it up - well shaked. You can take that and rub it in the band of your hat, and you go anywhere in town and you can have luck: with the laws, the police, or anything like that. They ain't going to worry with you.
(What do you do with that Lost John root powder? What do you do with that?)
That Lost John root you tote that in your pocket. Tote that in your pocket.
Entry 13001
Ah've heard of a person dat gambles, if dey want 'em to have good luck in gambling, take a silver quarter [25c], a silver halfa a dollah [50c] an' dey fix dat up in a package or rag or some way, an' tote it with 'em. Keep it on 'em an' that will give 'em luck fo gambling. Use Hearts Cologne on it [to feed it].
Entry 13003
Usin' a bull dollah - a silver dollah.
(They call it a bow dollar? Why do they call it a bow?)
Dey always claim they could work roots with it. (That's what they call a silver dollar: a bow dollar - bull dollar? Do you mean like a bow - like this kind of a bow?) [I demonstrate either by holding and drawing a bow, or drawing design on paper.] Ah don't know how yo' spell it. It jes' a bow. Git chew a bow dollah an' go to any sto' an' git chew a bottle of Hearts Cologne. An' yo' take this heah bow dollah an' yo' take an' rub it with this heah Hearts Cologne. An' take an' put it in a red flannel sack an' wear it round yore waist, where it will 'cumu- late money to yo', bring happiness to yo', an' yo' jes' be lucky all de time.
Entry 13240
Take a little bit of sugar and a little bit of coffee and tie it up in your handkerchief - or bread, either one, it's very good. It's luck, if you put it inside of your handkerchief and carry it around on you. It's very good.
(That's for good luck?)
Sugar is drawing you know - they all is drawing you see, because the spirits 11kes those things.
Entry 13251
Well, ah heard dat chew burn sulphur in yore house dat wus luck tuh yore enemies and den it wus bad luck tuh yore neighbors, because it's 'cordin' tuh de way yo' burn dat. Yo' burn dat sulphur certain hours in de night fo' luck fo' yo' friends, an' den yo' burn it certain hours fo' luck fo' yo' enemies. Dat means dat yo' enemies whut chew burn fo' dem will cause dem tuh be in hard luck. An' whut chew burn fo' yore friends dat'll be good luck, but it be certain hours of de night - from 12 to 4 in de mawnin'. Yo' burn sulphur in de night about 12 a'clock. When yo' burn dat sulphur why yo' burn dat sulphur fo' yo' friend providin' if her enemy tryin' tuh harm her an' tuh keep her enemy from harmin' 'er. Well, 4 'clock in de mawnin' yo' burn de sulphur fo' de enemies. See.
Entry 13252
Ah've heard of dem using sulphur. Dey kin burn sulphur in a house fo' good luck. An' den, if dey uses de bluestone long wit de sulphur, an' take it to people's house, dey take it an' burn it in front of dey doorstep at night. Dat will bring dem all kind of bad luck.
Entry 13437
[Here is a simple, unusual and probably rare rite:] "If some people do things to you like that, an' you in bad luck an' things like that, well the best thing to do is to walk acrost a pond - a pond where clear water at. You go acrost that pond an' it will change your luck." [This of course is a substitute for running water, the reason for the insistance on clear water. One hears little about ponds in HOODOO, I was not seeking general folklore.]
Entry 13449
Well, now a persimmon - de persimmon ain't much good as dat. But de weepin' willow tree, it's mighty fine fo' luck. A weepin' willow tree, is mighty lucky.
(Well, how do you do that?)
Well, yo' take dat an' gits de leave of it, de roots of it, an' dry it. When yo' shake it dry, den yo' jes' put it in a bottle an' set it up on de mantel- piece. About once a month yo' take a taste of it. An' ah declare hit'll bring luck in yore home fo' hit shore brought it in mine. [Since the weeping willow is a tree of ill-omen and generally considered unlucky, our present rite is unusual, one of defiance of fate, or one based upon contraries, or the well- known poison kills poison doctrine.]
Entry 10132
Get a black cat's tail and wear it between your shirt and breast and no one can cross your path [put a spell on you or make you unlucky]. [Fredericks- burg, Va., Ediphone 48.]
Entry 36
Don't leave de daid sticks of a match in yore house, cuz it gives yo' bad luck.
(What do you do with them?)
Yo' burn 'em up in de fiah, burn 'em up.
(Why do they give you bad luck, have you any idea?)
Cuz dey ain't good tuh be in de house, dey same as de daid - dey's not live matches, dere daid matches.
Entry 225
They said they were going down a woods road one night and they said this dog ran up and ran through the legs of the horse and right on between the buggy wheels and ran on off into the woods. They thought it was someone trying to put bad luck on them. They thought it was a spirit, they didn't think it was a dog. They thought it was some spirit someone had sent out for you know, to kin'a cunjure them. [The reader can see at once that this dog was not an ordinary prowling animal meeting by chance a horse and buggy. A natural dog would never have met a horse head on, running between the four legs and then the four wheels, two legs and two wheels each side of him - quite a feat at night! This dog Was going in the opposite direction to cross the occupants of the buggy.]
Entry 257
" The old people always say you ketch a black cat about midnight and run him around the house three times, cut his tail off and put it under the doorstep. The next night run the black cat around the house three times, kill the cat and take him to the swamp and bury him. Let him stay three nights. Go back and take the cat and put him in boiling water and the lucky bone of the cat will come to the top at midnight. You have to be dere sharp at midnight to get this bone. That's called the good luck bone of a black cat. I hear that about twelve miles from here [in Spotsylvania Co., Va.] from the old people.
Entry 269
Ah used to gamble - co'se ah got to be a ole man now - ah don't gamble - ah 'way up in age - de eighties. But now, if a man wants to be a lucky gambler - ah did dis mahself. Yo' kin ketch a black cat an' stroke his tail seven times - ketch his tail an' pull it seven times [see No. 2771, counting it each time dat chew pull it, an' yo' kiss dat cat once in de mouth, no matter how he rears. Grab his four foots an' hold it an' yo' kiss it an' den chunk dat black cat as fer as yo' kin send him an' blaspheme at 'im. Jest lak dis, say, "Go, God damn yo' an' whirl yore back on him. An' yo' be successful in all yore evil doin's. Ah did dat an' ah was lucky.
(In gambling?)
In gambling.
Entry 334
Well, dat's a small matter. You go to de fork of de road and jest like you is a rich man and I want a job from you or something like dat - wanta git you mah way so I could manage you, see, I'd go to de fork of de road about four o'clock in de morning. I'd git on mah knee and turn my face to de sunrise, you see, and I would say mah prayers and I would axe de Lawd to do what I want to be done, see; and I would turn around to de sundown, you understand, and den I'll axe satan. See, I'll beg de devil - beg 'em both, see; but I'll serve de Lord first and then I'll turn around to de sundown and beg de devil. Well, I'll axe 'em fer just what I want. Well, after I done dat I'll turn mah face across de World - see, perhaps I might turn my face to the east - might be to the west, see - might be to the north and to the south, see - but I'll turn my face and I'll axe de Lord twice and I'll axe de devil twice, see. Well, after you done axe de devil, you done sign up with 'im see, fer a certain length of time - and you sign it wit de devil fer a certain length of time well, you'll have good luck for dat length of time, see - and everything will work your way for that same length of time you beg for.
(Well, what happens when that time is up?)
Naw, you jest fall in bad luck - dat's all I kin tell you. Everything will be just laid on you, that's all - can't git nothing going or coming.
Entry 601
Yo' wants luck, wants re'l good luck, say yo' go ahead an' yo' ketch chew a rabbit an' yo' cut his foot off - cut off his front left foots whilst he's 'live, don't kill dis rabbit. Take him an' cut it off an' turn de rabbit loose. Wrap dis heah up - let it cure good an' wrap it up an' put it in yore pocket. An' dey says, while yo' got de rabbit, yo' keep de rabbit - put him in a pen-like a garden-like where yo' kin keep dis rabbit. An' says whenever yo' git ready to go to gamble somepin lak dat, yo' go an' yo' look at dis rabbit. If dis rabbit's a-movin' about in dere an' busy in dere, jes' movin' about, well yo' know yore luck's on. An' then yo' go any- where in de worl' to gamble then, an' yo' gin to gamble, an' whenevah yo' starts to gamblin', dey tell me de boys jes' wants tuh leave right then. The boys then, who yo' be's gamblin' with, jes' wants tuh quit becus' yore luck is on.
Entry 741
Ah tell yo', since ah've been in Savannah - ah've been heah now, if ah make no mistake, ah think ah've been heah now 'bout fo'teen-fifteen, fo' sixteen yeahs. Ah think ah have - sixteen yeahs if ah make no mistake an' if anything it may be a little longah. Well, ever'where ah have stayed, people have done me bad, have done me dirty, an' look lak tuh me it because ah tried to treat people nice - look lak dat dey jes' fall out wit me. Well, since ah been ovah heah - ever' street ah would move off hit would be somepin else - but since ah been ovah heah on "L" street ah've had de best luck ah've evah had, looked lak to me, since ah've been big enough tuh know mahself. Well, ah tell yuh, ah walked one day about six miles, me an' anothah lady. Ah went with her to her auntie's aftah some plums. An' when we got out dere she give us de plums an' then she had a great big bunch of gwah-lic [garlic]. Ah says, ah say, "Ah shore would like to buy a piece of dat gwah-lic from yo'." She say, "Awh - that's too much, ah wouldn't sell it." Say, "Go on pull yo' up a bunch." She says, "When yo' git home jis' stick it out." She didn't know whut ah want tuh did. Ah says, "Ah shore will." When ah got home ah clipped de root of it off an' - hit [there was] a tassel had de seed. Ah took dat root part an' ah took it an' tied a string on it an' hung it up ovah mah front do'. An' dat othah seed part [tassel] ah tied a string on hit an' hung it up on mah middle room do'. An' ever since den it looked lak to me ah've been havin' pretty good luck. Ah been havin' pretty good luck - pretty good. An' people tells me, says, "Cer'inly looked lak since yo' moved roun' heah dat yo' has good luck." On dat gwah-lic. So ever' nine days ah goes to dat gwah-lic an' sorta whack on it, yo' know, an' let de scent git ovah de house, yo' know. An' ah has pretty good luck, heah in dat gwah-lic. Ah shure do.
Entry 814
(You are a prophet and you see these things before they come to pass?)
Ah lay down tuh sleep an' see diff'rent things befo' dey come tuh pass.
(Well now, could you see things for me before these things happen to me?)
Yessuh. Ah see where yo' have great luck befo' yo' an' where yo' prospers yo' make a great fortune. Yo' reach de elemental elevation very sho'tly. It take a sho't while - ah mean, a few yeahs.
Entry 856
Around Charlestown, South Carolina, the cunjure man blesses these big earrings and they're supposed to wear them all the time. It brings good luck to them. Sometimes they have pearls in them.
Entry 942
De sign dat dey's bo'n undah - jis' lak ah or yo' wus bo'n undah a sign lak, dat's de way yo' work dese things.
(Give me an example.)
Fo' yore luck yo' gota work yore problems on time dat yo' wus born - yo' know, on de month an' de day an' lak dat. Den yo' kin go [to the] almanac an' yo' kin see whut - ah cain't call it plain lak some people [can't say Zodiac] but anyhow each one of those - see, lak those fishes an' de woman an' those things. Well, yo' kin go to that an' yo' kin tell whut sign yo's bo'n undah. An' it show yo' in de almanac whut days to do that on. (In other words if you were doing this work for somebody, you do it according to the sign he was born in.) Dat's de best time tuh do it in - de time dey is bo'n in.
(The sign of Zodiac you were born in. What about the moon?)
Well, de moon - it's de time dat de moon rises befo' day or somethin' lak dat. Yo' always ketch a full moon for stillness on a yellah moon see that's growin'. A growin' moon is fo' prospects an' when de moon's 'bout on de waste away, dat's de time den dat yo' do fo' not a good success, yo' understan'.
Entry 1057
It shore a sign of bad luck, if yo' goin' some place an' dere's some reason fo' yo' tuh turn roun'. Why if yo' don't [do] make a cross-mark an' spit in it, why dere's nuthin to it. An' then too, dere's anothah superstition among men dat if yo' urinate an' don't spit in it - ah learned dat from childhood, ah can't help but take dat forward when unwittingly I will do - ah learned dat from childhood an' ah will do it. But somebody kin do somethin' tuh offset chew, yo' understan', if yo' don't do dat.
(To harm you?)
Yes, to harm yo'.
(Where did you live during your childhood? Where did you hear that?)
Ah wus born in Fairfield County, Winnsboro [county seat], South Ca'lina, 'bout three miles from de village proper.
Entry 1078
But on mah husband's side, he went to a woman in Tampa an' she gave him some holy oil an' she tole 'im to put that holy oil - make a cross in his hand in de mawnin' an' make a wish an' wish de bad luck away, an' make cross on his feet at night fo' goin' tuh bed, an' in de mawnin' when he got up tuh read the 37th Psalms fo' nine mawnin's, an' that would kill de bad luck; an' read de 35th Psalms if he wanted something to happen to the person that did it. An' so he tried that an' his luck begin tuh change.
(Did he make this cross in both hands?)
Well, yo' kin make it in both or yo' kin make it in the strongest hand, which would be the right hand. (What about the cross in the palm of the feet?) [Palm of the feet, a common expression, shows she is retelling rite and I am repeating unrecorded words of hers.] Both feet an' make a wish.
Entry 1219
Now a thing dat brings luck - something fo' bringing luck that's good, yo' kin protect a person from being witchcrafted - something dat goes high an' low [high and low covers all contingencies - a dirt dauber flies high and low]. He kin take that dirt dauber nest an' he take sweet spices - jes' a whole grain spice an' he beat up de dirt dauber nes' an' de spices an' he sprinkles or throw it up in de air an' dat brings luck an' also keep away the evil spirits from dat person's premises or wheresomevah they are dwelling.
Entry 1281
If any harm done to a person in de bed, yo' put dis frog in dere 'live an' when de frog dies, dat disease dere he would have consumed dat - whatevah dey have spread in de mattress fo' yo', fo' tuh make yo' sick or tuh make yo' in bad luck. Den dat's all ovah. When he dies he supposed tuh carry it away with him. Yo' put him alive yo' see.
Entry 1346
To give you bad luck, if yo' have a enemy or somepin like dat. Dey come to your house - dey got stuff dey call de insent [incense] - yo' kin burn dat incent in yore house an' drive dat evil spirit away from yo' out de house. Ah've witnessed dat mahself. Yo' kin buy dat at de drug store.
Entry 1353
Low John de Conker, dey tell me dat's mighty good tuh drive away evil spirits an' bring good luck to yore home - even in other affairs, money affairs.
(How would you use that?)
Yo' totes that in yore pocket.
Entry 1465
Yo' kin dress yore home tuh keep evil away from yoreself.
(How do you do that?)
Well, now yo' kin take salt an' put it in de fo' corner of yore house, "In de Name of de Father, Son an' de Holy Ghost," an' make yore wish for good luck an' yo' know, good things, an' dat keeps dat evil from ovahpowahin' it. It's re'lly good. Ah believes it.
Entry 1712
Yo' kin git baby's slobber an' put that in a pocket hans'scuff an carry it with yo' - lak yo' wipe a baby's nose, a little baby. Co'se it'll kill de baby, but chew kin do that an' git luck. An' then yo' kin ketch a leatherwing bat. (Wait a minute. Do you mean the slobber from a baby's nose or from his mouth?) From his mouth.
(Well, why would it kill the baby?)
Well, it will kill de baby cause when de luck take effect on yo', well dat kills de baby - that throws bad luck on the baby an' kills the baby. (When you become lucky in gambling, the baby will die. What about the bat now?)
Entry 1760
Say yo' go to some kinda tree in de woods an' git somepin whut dey call a buckeye an' carry that with yo' all de time. Yo' have good luck.
(Good luck in what?) In gamblin'.
Entry 1772
Take a black hen aig an' open it an' take de yellah out of it an' close it back up, an' keep dat in yore pocket an' cain't nobody beat yo' in gamblin'. Dat's one de luckiest things in de worl' fo' gamblin'; jes' de yellah part, dat's de luckiest thing in gamblin'.
Entry 1775
Well, dey take a chicken an' kill 'im, a black chicken an' kill him, and take dis heah breastbone. They git de breastbone and dey take it and dey go together an' yo' pull dis end and ah pull dat. Well, when yo' do dat, it's fo' yo' to be lucky. De one dat pull an' break de most, splits de most on it, gits lucky, he's lucky. Well, if mine is shorter den yours, well, ah ain't goin' be lucky. See. Den yo' take dat - yo' takes it an' sew it up an' put it in yore pocket. Den, any kind of game yo' go in a'ter dat, you'll be lucky in dat.
Entry 1779
Making a little box lak a coffin, to do evil with. Well, yo' make a little box lak a coffin an' yo' call yoreself buryin' a person. Yo' would git some of de hair or git dat [foot] track an' go an' git some things that belong to them an' put it in dis little box an' yo'd bury it. Dat buryin' dere luck an' everything. Yo' done bury it. Lak if ah'm goin' well an' yo' wanta bury me, "Well, ah'm gonna bury her." Well, yo'd git somethin' of mine - if yo' could git a piece outa mah underclothes an' put it into dat, dat would bury mah luck.
Entry 1854
De gaspergou - yo' know dere's two rocks in his haid. Dat's a feesh [fish]. Yo' git dat fish anywhere out de rivah. It looks lak de buffalo - yo' have tuh look close tuh see it's not buffalo. Some people sell 'em fo' buffaloes dat don't know de diff'rence. It's a goo - gasper goo. De rock outa - those two rocks out of his haid, wearnin' 'em in dey pocket is supposed tuh be lucky. [This is the fresh-water drumfish (Aplodinatus grunniens) of the Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley - weight up to 50 lbs. Gaspergou [gou = goo], similar to the French gasparot (a kind of herring), is the local name in Louisiana.]
Entry 1875
Ketch a frog an' put him in yore pocket, a live frog, an' run yore han' in yore pocket an' no one else kin win. Sometimes boys jes' fo' devilment throw him on de table an' let him hop round dere. When he hop, he goin' hop right back to yo', an' yo' put him in yore pocket an' nobody can't beat chew.
Entry 1877
Ah've heard of 'em usin' frogs fo' luck. Yo' know, jis' lak yo'd be shootin' craps, yo' know, an' yo'd ketch yo' a live frog yo' know an' put him in yore right pocket an' tote him roun'. Dat's luck - yo' use dat fo' luck. See, yo' keep him in yore pocket an' when he dies, yo' see, dat makes de luck. An' yo' tote him roun' den an' aftah he dries up an' ev'rything den he ain't no mo' good, see. But as long as he live in yore pocket yore lucky, see. An' aftah he dies, he ain't no mo' good - yo' have tuh git anothah one.
Entry 1883
Take a toadfrog an' put him in yore right pocket an' go to a skin game. If this frog will nevah kick, yo'll win; but if he'll kick, yo' can't win.
[Fayetteville, N. Car., (1407), 2530:3.]
[The kicking or puffed up frog in the preceding beliefs is a type of Diagnosis
(p.165f.) or Jack (p.190f.).]
Entry 1884
Ketch a toadfrog and put it in yo' pocket and keep yo' hand on it and as dey play, you know, and turn de cards why yo' hand will be on de toadfrog and that will bring yo' luck.
Entry 1885
De mos' ah seed done fo' it, yo' take one dese ole toadfrogs [some kind of] toadfrogs an' dry him up an' take de dust yo' see an' keep it in dere pocket, an' when dey shuffle de deck of cards once in a while, dey run dere han's in dere pocket an' git dat dust an' shuffle it through de cards. Dat gives 'em luck.
Entry 1921
Tell yo' re'lly fac' about it. Ah know a little 'bout graveyard dirt. Ah knew dis much, suh, dat graveyard dirt kin put chew in bad luck.
(How would you do that?)
Well, if yo' take a sewin' thimble an' yo' go tuh de graveyard an' de very freshest grave dat's buried, anyone dat's buried yo' understand, an' yo' git nine thimbles of dirt off de grave an' yo' carry 'em back. Well, de re'lly fac' about it, yo' git nine triin's of de person right track an' yo' kin put it into a sifter together an' yo' mix it. Put it in de sifter jes' lak yo' were goin' tuh sift meal or anything of de kind dataway, an' yo' kin take an' spread it anywhere across de crossroad or anywhere wherein dis person walks at, an' dat puts dem in tough with bad luck - see, jes' from hand tuh mouth. See, dat person makin' five dollahs a day an' spendin' ten.
(That puts them to walking you say?)
Puts dem tuh walkin', but chew gits dat an' put it into a sifter.
(And you sift it out there at the crossroads?)
Dat's right.
(And that give them bad luck of some sort?)
Oh yeah, puts'em in bad luck. Re'lly fac' about it - round an' round dey goin'.
Entry 1961
Well, 'twas two round here, root doctors, and they made stuff up. And we boys would all go to 'em and give 'em fifty cents and they'd give us a hand, they call it, to gamble with. And they tell us for three weeks to not use it inside of three weeks. And we found out when they was goin' away. They was goin' away about in two weeks and they told us not to use the hand inside of three weeks. And so in about two weeks we went and used it. And the more we'd gamble off it, you see, it looked like the worse luck we got. So we opened it and found it full of rocks. And we went back to 'em and give 'em the rocks back. So then they give us the fifty cents back.
Entry 1974
Black master is supposed to be a root too. A lot of men keep it in a little bottle of whiskey, and women [keep it] in Hearts of Cologne and they carry it around in their pockets. That's to bring luck too.
Entry 1985
They say they have two kinds of these hands. The first one I told you about was supposed to be a hand that would give a man good luck and anything he desires. There's another hand that they could talk to that will direct them, where to go, when to go, and when not to go, to keep out of trouble. That is the one they talk to. There's one that hangs around the neck and hangs down right here in front of them. The one that gives them their wishes they carry in their pocketbook. The talking one they hang around their neck. [This taZking hand is a Jack - see Nos. 581-588, pp.190- 193, and Index.]
Entry 1988
I'll tell you of an experience that I have had. I heard of a lady who Was supposed to be able to issue a change of luck. She gave me a little red bag sewed very tightly. I never opened it to see what was in it. The process in which she went about making this bag was this. She had me to place my hand on a piece of paper and drew a print [an outline] of my hand. She wrote my name on one end and the man's name, from which I was pursuing a job, at the other end. And she was supposed to dress it in some way and put it in this bag with some other things. And my luck was supposed to have changed. However, I didn't see any change because I didn't carry this as a guard. [I never found an example of what would have been the most wonderful hand of all; an inkprint of a person's complete hand. Perhaps my imagination is too impractical, for such a hand would have been too much like taking fingerprints.]
Entry 2066
Yo' kin fix yo' a lucky han' fo' tuh gamble with. High John is good tuh conker. Yo' kin fix a good lucky han' tuh gamble wit. It'll work wit it. (What do you do, just put High John in this or what?) Put some lodestone. Dey got several kinds, white an' black-lookin' lodestone. Be sho' it's lodestone an' git John de Conker an' put it in yore pocket, an' if yore playin' cards, dere ain't no harm in yore han' in yore pocket ever' once in a while.
Entry 2137
At a certain time of de moon - new moon dey call it, three days befo' an' three after, they git up ever' mornin' befo' sunrise an' look towards de east, an' they will speak a few words in prayer an' their luck will come to 'em that way. Now I tried that once on a numbah ah wanted tuh play an' it came lak ah said.
Entry 2171
Mighty good fo' that.
(How do they use that?)
Well, yo' use that on yore face an' han's after yo' git through with yore toilet in de mornin' an' yo' breakfast an' everything. Yo' let that be the last thing yo' do befo' yo' goin' tuh yore business, an' yo' jes' take a little olive oil an' rub it ovah yore face an' ovah yore han's like that in the mornin's an' that brings luck an' brings friends to yo'. That's mighty good.
Entry 2179
Onions is very lucky things to use. Yo' take a red onion an' you take the outside offa dat onion, den yo' burn dat onion in yore house fo' nine days - it's lucky. Yo' always burn yo' onion - dat's very, very lucky. Yes, a red onion is lucky. Den yo' kin carry dat onion an' dat'll make yo' lucky. If yo' steal a red onion - yo' go an' pick up a red onion quick, steal it, an' use dat in yore pocket. That's lucky.
Entry 2205
Take three navy beans - ah mean pinto beans, dese gray beans, pinto beans, an' repeat de Lord's prayer ovah 'em three times an' put dem in yore han', yo' know, an' shake em lak dat an' call, "De Name of de Father, Son an' Holy Ghost." Yo' use 'em in yore pocket fo' luck - fo' good luck, fo' gittin' a job or gittin' money. Yo' know, jes' money will come to yo' promptly - not goin' to excess, yo' know. [Pinto = mottled. This mottled bean, grown in southwestern U. S. A., resembles a kidney bean in size and shape, both belonging to species Phaseolus vulgaris.]
Entry 2238
Yo' take for a' ninstance, yo' take a rattlesnake - yo' know, he's called to be a rattlesnake master.
(You're talking about rattlesnake master?)
That's right. Dey have a bush, too - it's climber bush, it's very nicely, it's silkish. An' yo' take dat an' yo' put dis - it's not Hearts Cologne. "Yo' git another cologne - it cost yo' $5 [during the Great Depression!]. I'll bring it down to yo' sometime an' let chew see it. An' yo' sprinkle that an' put it in de bottom of yore trunk. If you haven't got chure clothes, put chure clothes in there. Yo'll have good luck the balance of yore days - yo'll be successful in yore jobs, always ever'body will want chew to work for them.
(Rattlesnake master is a root isn't it?)
Yes, it's a root. [I rewrite the underlined words: If you haven't got (all) chure clothes (with you), put chure clothes in there (after you go home)...always ever'body will want chew to (root) work for them. Once again I am a doctor - see Hyatt, H. M., in Index.]
Entry 2263
A man kin go ketch one dese heah sandomingos (salamander) in Georgia. [Comment later.] He look jes' lak a white rat. He stays in de ground lak a mole. He's got a pocket lak a 'possum an' he's got it fulla yerbs, all kinda yerbs outside in his pocket. An' yo' ketch one of dem an' git de yerbs outa hit, outa his pocket, an' dey ain't nobody in de world kin beat chew.
(What would you do with those herbs?)
Yo' carry 'em in yore pocket wit chew. An' rub de cards wit 'em. Yes, that's luck fo' gamblin'.
(And you say the sandomingo - does it run around down in Georgia, you say?)
Yessuh, sandomingo, jes' lak a white rat, got red eyes. He stay in de ground jes' lak a mole an' travel, but he comes out.
(And he has a little pocket?)
Yessuh, he has a pocket on de outside - jes' lak dis shirt, his pocket is on de outside.
(And he carries some roots in that pocket?)
Yessuh, he carries it full. [Even my transcriber realizes informant is trying to describe the pocket gopher, because she added the salamander parenthesis. Since this animal is not a marsupial, it has no outside pocket - only cheek pouches. Whether an albino has been seen or exists, I do not know.]
Entry 2280
Over heah on mah property had a friend boarded an' his wife quit him, an' she was tryin' to do him harm an' he writ to dis person [doctor] an' he sent a little article. Ah got one dem little articles now, but ah have nevah tried it. See dat.
(What is that?)
[He didn't know, so I describe it for the microphone.]
(It's a square piece of heavy parchment [imitation] - it's a seal - it's about 1 1/4 inches square on heavy brown parchment. [Printed on it is] Seal from the Book of Moses. What did she give him that for?) Wal, to git his wife back to give him luck.
Entry 2285
Ah heard that they could take the periods of a woman an' tie it - yo' know, jes' has it on a cloth an' put it in their pocket, in the right pocket, an carry that dice into that pocket an' it would give them luck. They nevah lose...
(They just carry this [these] dice right on this piece of cloth?)
Dat's right, an' they'd be always lucky in gamblin'.
Entry 2286
Said to be lucky - dey puts dere han' up undah a woman's dress fo' luck. Well, dat's all ah heard dem say dey do - jes' place dere han' up undah de Woman dress an' go right back. An' ever' time dey fall [lose], dat's whut dey do an' dey gain. Ah nevah been roun' anyone talkin' on dat line very much, but ah hear dat much.
(That is if they are playing cards or dice, or anything of that sort?)
Playin' cards an' shootin' dice an' all. Dat's whut ah heard dem 'splain of it. Ah nevah has had much experience about gamblin' atall.
Entry 2318
(This is for shooting dice?)
Yessuh. Ah'd take 'em an' ah'd wear 'em fo' 'bout nine days right between mah laigs where ah sweat in. Wear 'em till dey git kinda slick an' ah take 'em out an' put 'em in mah pocket, an' dat would make me lucky.
Entry 2452
Yo' kin go git a frizzled hen aig [see margin-title Doctor Frizzly, p.59f.], git chew a penny, take it in yore han' an' hol' it tight till yo' git to a crossroad an' throw it ovah yore shoulder an' don't look back. Jes' don't come back dat way - go on roun' an' yo' come back. Den yo' have luck. (With a frizzled hen egg - that's to retain your luck. That is if you want to bring in customers to buy from you. For bootlegging or anything like that.)
Entry 2453
If yo' want good luck in yore house, if yo' runnin' a beer house or Zikker house or gamblin' house or poker game house or lak dat, an' yo' want de boys tuh come an' de law stay behin', wanta bring 'em in dere tuh leave dere money in dat house, you takes three hen aigs an' throw 'em up on top an' hit de roof of de house, smash 'em an' let 'em bust up dere. Yo' take two of 'em an' let 'em bust top de house. Den yo' take de othah one an' lak dat one is dey do' an' yo' carry dat one in yo' han's dere an' stan' off heah fo' or five steps, an' break dat one on top de do' - jes' bamm, right up dere ovah de center of yo' do', cast dat aig lak a ball an' let it bust de aig.
(Over the door?)
Right ovah de do', de front do'. See, bust de aig an' see dat aig will run down, an' when she run down don't have nobody wipe it up - don't wipe it up or nuthin, let it stay dere. An' den dat gives yo' all de power an' luck to yore house an' dat room dat chew want. Yeah, dey come in dere. Yo's de boss of de house an' has ever'thing - hit goes yore way ever' bit of it. An' now, when yo' do dat ever' time - but chew gotta keep it up - yo' mus' do dat on ever' change of de moon. But chew gotta git fresh hen aigs - don't git de cold storage aigs, git fresh aigs dat de hen jes' laid lak today. Git dem fresh aigs, yo' know dere fresh, use dem aigs lak dat.
Entry 2462
Have John de Conker root and you chew it. They got stuff to throw by the name of oil of clover.
(Oil of clover?) Yeah, oil of clover - it's a green-looking oil. (And how would they throw that?)
Well, they throws that around the place.
(This place of business.)
For luck, yes.
(Just for luck. And that'll keep the law away?)
Yes, for luck and for protection against the law.
(I see. And you have to chew that John de Conker root the same time?)
Yeah, they chews it all the time. That root, many people think it tobacco
[you are chewing] lots of times. [New Orleans, La.,9782), 1084:1.]
Entry 2470
Like this-a one wanta bring in customers. Yo'll take you de devil's- shoestring an' yo' take that devil-shoestring an' yo' git chew dis heah green mistletoe. Yo' put dat togethah an' yo' bury dat down at yore sto' do' an' everyone comes in dere. Only de one whut come in [if only one comes in], he'll care de news an' em- brace yore business. Well, dat'll draw. They say everybody will come to them. Yo' can't wait on yore customents [customers] so I understand about dat, cause yo' have plenty trade through dat business if yo' put dat shoestring, devil's- shoestring and dat mistletoe undah yore do'step of yore business. Bury it down dere at least twelve inches in de ground an' all dat pass ovah dere will be good luck to yo'.
Entry 2484
To pay a bill on Friday gives yo' bad luck. (How does that give you bad luck?) Wal, since it's a business proposition - dey say it's not good luck to put out money on Fridays lak dat, to pay up debts on Fridays. Always pay yo' debts on Mondays an' Saturdays. Jest lak if yo' owe a bill, yo' understand, dey say it put chew in hard luck to pay it on Friday.
Entry 2541
Jes' lak yo' got a place an' yore business is dull. In de mornin when yo' open up yore store, sweep de sto' from de front do' to de back - sweep yore trash out de back: An' about every night a little befo' yo' close up yo' burn a Lucky Star. Yo' kin go down to de drug sto' an' git 'em. Ah think yo' git about six fo' a dime. An' yo' put it on a little tray an' set it in yore store an' burn it. It smells kinda like perfume. Dat give yo' all de luck dat chew want.
(For bringing in customers.)
Yessuh. [See Lucky Star, p.607.]
Entry 2543
Ah use tah burn de Lucky Stahs. An' some of these things, understan', ah would burn de Lucky Stahs fo' diff'runt [times]. An' ah would burn five fo gamblin' an' ah would burn 'em befo' twelve a'clock - any uneven numbah, becus ah found fo' mahself that uneven numbahs wus luckier fo' me then even numbahs. If ah would burn 'em aftah noon ah would burn 'em at a unlucky [even] hour, an' it use tah bring me lotsa good luck.
(For gambling?)
Dat's it.
Entry 2549
It's kind of like a stick that they made or something like that. Well, they has a little concern like - like where he cut - it just about a little cup - just sits there just like a finger I hold up.
(I see.)
Well, you set that [stick] in here and burn it and the smoke goes up and after the house is full of smoke, why, they puts that out and let that smoke settle in the corners. That's the way they does that.
(What do they do that for?)
Do's that for luck.
(For luck? What kind of candles do they burn?)
Yes - they call it the lucky candle.
(What color is it?)
It just about the color of that cigar [I am smoking].
(Sort of a brown color?)
Yes, sir.
(I see. Luck for what? What kind of luck?)
Luck for your home - you know, to keep, to make friends come to your home. [Informant is describing what some persons call a lucky candle, a stick of incense or joss stick which stands in a holder "like a finger I hold up" with "a little cup."]
Entry 2551
(Candle is used for what?)
Lucky fo' yore house, tuh bring peoples in yore home. Yo' burn it at seven a'clock, 'leven a'clock an' seven at night. Dat's de way yo' burn dem. Yo' burn two. If yo' want a big crowd, yo' burn seven an' yo' have 'em in a row right there. Yo' have 'em in a thing tuh burn 'em on. An' it's 'cordin' to how many yo' want, yo' burn dem many candles. Ah don't mean de candles, burn dem many incense [sticks].
Entry 2556
Dere lucky, so ah heah de womens say. Ah wouldn't nevah fool wit 'em, but ah've seed women buy 'em. Ah've see 'em pay high as a $1.50 apiece fo' dem. [They were cheaper 50 years earlier - see No. 2417, p.672.]
(What kind of crabs?)
Dey call 'em a he an' a she.
(What are they body crabs or head crabs?)
Yes, crabs off of 'em.
(From the body. What do they do with them?)
Put 'em on 'em. Dey say dey gives 'em luck - dat makes 'em lucky if dey keep dem on 'em. But ah've nevah used none of those. Ah always try tuh git rid of all dat git on me.
Entry 2683
If it's a lucky person, say yo' takes a sample of their watah. Yassuh, if it's a lucky person; yo' know, jes' lak if it's a woman an' she could git mens. An' yo' take it an' scrub down yore front do step with it. An' de first person dat [enters] shut de do' after yo' go back in - if it's a woman, don't let her come in de front, let her go roun' to de back; if it's a man, make him give yo a nickel or dime befo' he come in. An' yo' kin take dat nickel or dime an' put it behin' dat do' an' let it stay dere dat day. Ah bet chew five dollahs by all dis time yore house would be so full, yo' wanta git rid of some of 'em. (That's new. I never heard that before. You take this chamber lye from the lucky woman.)
Entry 2884
You kin burn candles for luck and you kin burn 'em fo' peace. Jes' like if you wanta see somebody, some special somebody whut chew care fo'; if you want 'em to come, you kin burn candles fo' dat. (How would they do that?) Well, de white candle and de pink candle is for luck and you burn 'em both together. Burn at night - in de morning at six 'clock and at night at six 'clock. Dat's fo' luck. (Now that white and pink candle you say you burn for luck. How long do you burn that or when?) Wal yo' burn it ten minutes de two candles. You burn 'em ten minutes six 'clock in de morning and six 'clock at night. If you happen to miss six 'clock in de morning, you burn it twelve 'clock at noon. But just burn it twice a day. (And these candles they burn to bring somebody back, this white candle. How long do you burn that?) You burn it five minutes.
Entry 3011
Ah know 'bout St. Joseph. Well, if yo' pray tuh St. Joseph, he'll give yo' bread. Yo' pray an' ask St. Joseph tuh help yo'. He'll give yo' some kind of luck or yo' ask him an' yo' make a sacrifice fo' him an' he'll give yo' some luck or if yo' want him tuh help yo' an' yo' wanta do somepin against a person, well St. Peter always will help yo'. [Here is our hint of what we shall learn later - St. Peter in hoodoo does not always act like a Christian.]
Entry 3024
(A green candle is money? How do you do that?)
You see, you burn it at the same hours, six o'clock in the evening, especially in the morning [six] for success, and you burn it to Mother of Petry [Perpetual] Help. That's for luck. She helps you for work. [Thinking she had finished, I stop my machine and miss the first few of her continuing words.] [You buy pictures of the] saints and you have them blessed by the priest, and you have you a little altar in the house. You have any saint you have a prefer- ence to, you see. And if you have children, you git diff'rent saints for chil- dren. And if you want work, the Mother of Petry Help, she helps you - she opens the way. The Sacred Heart of Jesus, that's for children, and you got one burnin' in de home. And St. Peter he opens the way for you - he has the key and he opens the way for you.
Entry 5121
Ah heard dey burn dem ole shoes fo' luck. An' den ah heard ag'in, said yuh could take dat shoe an' put it ovah a do' where a person - yuh know, a person have lived at. An' it's a certain length of mawnin' dat shoe Would stay dere.[ Wheresomevah dey at dey would come back. (You would take - this person who had left, you would take his shoes?) Take his shoe an' put it up ovah de do'.
(Either shoe?)
Eithah shoe. An' it's a certain time dey say dat dat shoe would have tuh stay dere. An' aftah dem days, dey tell me, whethah yuh had yore [train] fare or whut; but aftah dat date go by, yuh'd have tuh come back.
Entry 6914
Ah'm fo' good luck. Ah'm a seven months chile, an' dis palm of mine cain't be read. (Why can't it be read?) Well, 'cuz ah'm seven months. [Ida Bates of New Orleans, also a doctor, was another seven-month child.]
Entry 7569
A man dat were a playah of cards, sich as dat.
(Go to his grave?)
Yeah, go tuh 'is grave an' take a little of 'is dry sand, yuh know, off de grave an' put it in yore lef'-han' hip pocket, an' yuh be lucky, dey claim, de balance of yore days, long as yuh carry dat. Co'se yuh have tuh take it, yuh Ygu, an' sew it up in a little piece of cloth where, yuh know, it won' git away from yuh. Dey claim dat's awful lucky tuh yuh.
(For what purpose would it be lucky?)
Well, prack'ly [practically], yuh might say, card playin' an' like dat.
Entry 7588
People say dat if yuh be's in tough luck an' haven't got a success, go [to] de graveyard at de midnight hour an' git some graveyard dirt, an' put it in little bitta sacks - little bitta ones - an' weah it roun' yore wais'. An' from time tuh time yuh will be mo' successful dan yuh would if yuh didn't do it. [Midnight is the usual time - see following rite and elsewhere.]
Entry 7757
Bring it [graveyard dirt] from de graveyard an' bury it upon yore front do'step an' dis will bring yo' luck.
The material name “graveyard dirt” is supplied editorially in brackets. The speech itself says it comes from the graveyard.
Entry 8857
Jis' lak if ah mail a lettah tuh mah husban' down in Flō'da [Florida], well he kin git mah han'writin' an' he kin git de oil of cinnamon. An' he kin put it on dis lettah an' dress dis lettah an' weah it, an' dat will cuz me tuh go where he is.
(He just puts some ordinary cinnamon on it?)
Yeah, an' tote it. See, dat's awful lucky an' it's fo' luck.
Entry 10000
Take fo' instance, we had a carnival - a show. All right, in ordah to have luck an' win with pract'ly evahthing dat chew have in de show, whenevah ah would go tuh throw at de darts or try tuh win a doll or somepin, well ah would jis' slip a frog in mah hip pocket or eithah a turtle or toad or somepin. Well, quite natchral evahthin' dat ah would take a chance on ah would be successful in it.
(Do you kill this turtle, frog?)
No, jis' keep im live.
Entry 10004
Ah down at de Fair Ground heah las' yeah, throwin' den dere rings, yo' know, it's verah seldom a puhson kin win dat five-dollah bill dere at one time. So ah got me a toadfrog an' put 'im in mah lef' pocket an' car'es 'in dere, an den fasten ah pocket up so he couldn't git out - car'es 'in on in dere. Well, ah had one ten cent [a dime, then of silver] an' ah taken de ten cent an' ah goes up dere an' ah play. Ah pays a nickel fo' de ring an' throws it dom, say, "Ah want [to] throu fo' dis [aumber] five." So ah throved fo' hit an' ah von dat. Well, ah throvs a'gin an' ah win a dollah. Ah wouldn't nevah win no fifty cent. Well, evah tire ah'd win, see, ah'd take dis money an' drop it in mah pocket - de hip Pocket back dere - on dis frog. Well, it's quite natchal, yo' kin take a ten cent or a nickel, eithah one, an' drop it on a frog back an' yo'll see sparks fly up; sparks fly off 'is back, 'long as dat money stay one. [As a small child I occasionally on a winter night took our cat into a dark closet to rub his back so that electricity would sparkle in those days of oil lamps. That phenomena I can vouch for, but sparks flying from a frog's back when touched by silver money is beyond my experience.] An' so ah kept right on till ah win roun' $25 an' he goes an' gits de law an' has 'im put me out; tells 'im dat ah have a frog in mah pocket. So de law wouldn't search me an' dey tole me go on out. Ah goes on an' puts de frog, throws de frog away, an' goes back in dere, an' goes roun' dere where dey wuz knockin' down dem dolls. An' ah knocks down two of dem but ah didn't have a frog in mah pocket at dat time - but ah still had de luck. When yo' got 'em in yore pocket dey goin' wet all ovah yore pocket. [Frog urine causes warts - see 9924, p.3896.] Well, dat lodestone or whatsomevah it is, dey leaves dat in dere. An' ah been roun' at skin games an' lost thirteen dollahs an' twenty dollahs. Go tuh a woman or a man an' borrow a dollah from 'im an' take an' go tuh a woman an' take de dollah whut ah git from de man, an' tell de woman ah'll give her mah dollah fo' a dollah she got, an' go back tuh de game an' set down an' start gam- blin' ag'in. Well, ah carry me a frog back in dere an' see, evah time ah'll take de money whut ah git from de woman an' put it in mah pocket on dis frog, an' ah'll pick me a card whut ah'm goin' bet.... Jes' lak folks say, "Ah'm goin' bet de dollah at one time, '' an' den ah'll ketch 'em. Well, when ah ketch 'em, ah'll raise 'em. Well, evah time ah raise an' win, ah'll drop dis money on dis frog in mah pocket. An' den ah'll break de game or eithah git tired an' git up an' quit, an' dere won't be nuthin done or said about it.
Entry 10008
Take a toadfrog an' keep 'im roun' dere [your home]. Ketch 'im tuh yuh house. It's good luck. An' yo' carries a lotta trash wit 'im. Yo' kin take dis frog an' keep 'im in yuh house an' fasten 'im roun' anywhere roun', an' dere people doin' dis magic - pitchures, dat chew cain't see - yo' take dis frog an' put 'im in yuh pocket, if yo' goin' tuh de show or circus anywhere. An' dis frog, evah thin' dey showin' dere'll come natchal - whut it is. Look lak a bat totin' a sawmill log. If yo' have dis frog in yuh pocket it'll show up dere jis' a bat flyin' roun' wit a straw all hitched tuh 'is feet.
Entry 10929
Yo' kin take the right ear of a black cat an' boil it in a black cow's milk and dry it, an' make a thumb pad out of it an' wear it on yore thumb. Dat's mighty good luck in gamblin'.
Entry 12169
[Put holy water] in de fo' corner of de house, dey said, twice a day - six in de morning and six at night - de holy water an' ask fer luck.
(Where do you get this holy water?)
Wal I - yo' kin buy dis holy water at de drug store. [Jacksonville 769:4.]
Entry 12208
Yo' git a used horseshoe nail if yo' want to an' make a ring. It's good luck to wear for a ring.
Entry 12458
I heard that if you borrow money from a person that doesn't gamble and get in a game that you will win because the person that doesn't gamble will give you good luck. [Norfolk 446:6.]
Entry 12551
If they lay onion around in yore house is bad luck.
(Just to put it down any place?)
Yeah, you have tuh bur it. It's re'lly bad luck.
(Oh, you mean the peeling's.)
Yeah. [Waycross 1747:1.]
Entry 12561
Yo' kin take an owl's claw an' dat's good fo' luck off de right foot, dat's jes' luck fo' anything dat chew undertake. [Memphis 2712-2713:19.]
Entry 12701
To have good luck befo' sunrise read the 33rd Psalm - read it befo sunrise. Jes' git up an' light your lantern an' read the 33rd Psalms. Ah do's that now. An' it gives yo very good luck an' blessings through de day.
Entry 12730
Git de left-hin' laig of a rabbit foot and you git all de good luck de worl' you want. [Jacksonville 696:8.]
Entry 12777
Well, yo' have St. Peter in yore house. St. Peter, he's a good saint, see. [Put his picture or small statue] right ovah yore do'. That's luck fo' yo'. [Algiers 2900:3.]
Entry 12877
Ah've heard a person kin steal yore scissors an' put chew in bad luck, take yore luck from yo'.
(How do they do that?)
Ah don't know how they do that!
Entry 12963
(When do you burn your shoes?)
On Friday fo' luck fo' people come roun', yo' mo' successful in money.
[Memphis 1515:11.]
Entry 9494
Yo' kin take pot salt an' carry it tuh a [skin game], jes' lak if yo goin' gamblin', an' throw it right where yo' at or where de people at till it connect me wit all de money. Have good luck an' successful. An' throw it an' talk to it. Dat why yo' have good luck an' successful. Good luck in gamblin'.
Entry 9976
Git a frog if yo' wanta be successful in gamblin'. Ah have did dat. Git a frog an' put 'im in yuh pocket. Wrap 'im up in a papah sack an' put in yuh pocket. An' jis' about evah time yo' know, yo' be on de turn or somepin lak dat, he would jump. An' if yo' pay 'tenshun dat frog when he jump, why den yo' would nevah bet nuthin tuh lose. Yo' would always bet on de right horse. He wouldn't jump only when it's time fo' yo' tuh win. [The words right horse are merely an expression here. I never heard of a jumping frog used at a race track, the time lapse between jump and bet being too great.]
Entry 9977
Git a toadfrog when he's young an' take 'im an' put 'im in yore pocket 'live. Evah time dat frog jumps, yo's lucky. When dat frog start tuh hollahin'- see, he goin' start tuh hol- lahin', dere ain't nobody goin' beat chure [gambling] han' in gamblin'. Evah time when dat frog go tuh jumpin' an' hollahin', well dere ain't nobody goin' ketch a gomblin' hand. Dat all yo' want. [As soon as your hand begins to work by jump- ing and hollering, all other hands in the game are powerless. Imagine a game during which all toadfrogs hollered at once!]
Entry 9978
Hear dem use it fo' nuthin but luck. Yo' kin take a frog an' carry 'im to a game an' put 'im in yore pocket, chew know, an' go dere an' jes' bet jes' as much as yo' wanta. Long as dat frog kick in yo' pocket, yo' win evahthin' yo'self.
Entry 156
If it goes straight up, everything is clear.
(This whirlwind - everything is clear.)
If it goes up an' keep a-gittin' less an' less, dat clears up - dere's no impediment on yo' gen'ally.
(You generally will be lucky - something of that sort?)
Yes.
(What if it falls down?)
An' jes' goes towards a branch [a brook], why things goin' be boist'rous fo' yo'. [This is based upon the weather significance of whirlwind.]
Entry 2000
Dey say, take Hearts Cologne an' rub it in yore han' an' drink it like dat, yo'll have good luck in gambling; but ah nevah haven't tried it, see. (You mean you rub this Hearts Cologne in your hand and then you drink some of it, after you've rubbed your hands. That gives you good luck in gambling. Ye ssuh. [On one of my visits to Savannah, I interviewed a man with a slightly befud- dled mind. Afterwards I heard he was a perfume drinker, having acquired the habit during prohibition.l
Entry 11762
"Go to a grave where a fellah jes' buried at an' git some of dat dirt. Run yore han' down in dere, like ah put it down dataway [demonstrates]. Bring hit [up] an' tote it in yore pocket. Dat's fo' all different kind of luck." [Waycross 1929:5.]
Entry 11800
"You kin take you a little graveyard dirt an' put it in your [poc- ket]...git it out a colored cemetery...throwin' de craps, see. Yo' git it on your han' an' rub it, see. Dat's your luck. Now, dat's dose spirits, but dey colored." [Author asks: Why couldn't you use some of the dust from the white cemetery?"] "Well, de white rules de white an' de colored rules de colored."
Entry 12210
To get a job, he showed me a nut. Keep in pocket when talking to boss. Called a horsenut.
Entry 253
Well, de tell me dat chew kin go out in de woods an' git chew a black cat, solid black cat, an' yo' kill him. An' yo' boil him till yo' boil all de bones - boil all de meat off de bones. Take to a runnin' branch an' po' dem bones in dat watah, an' de lucky bone will swim, an' de bone dat no good - de bones whut no good will stay on de bottom of de watah. An' yo' take dat bone an' bring it on back home, an' yo' say three words an' de Lord's Prayer. Den yo' take an' sew it up in yo' sack an' tote it - wear it [this hand] in de right hand of yore pocket an' yo'll have all de luck in de world dat chew want.
(You say three words - what are those words?)
"Lord have Mercy."
(And then you say the Lord's Prayer after that?)
Yes sir.
Entry 264
Ketch yo' a black cat an' yo' boil 'im. Put 'im in a pot, he be alive, an' while dat cat cookin' until he dies, why yo' has to be cursin' him, saying ever'thing till he die. Well, after he die, why a lot'a things - well, a certain time yo' has tuh cook, when it's at night. Do it at twelve a'clock at night an' cook it. After yo' git him cooked, why yo' take it an' strip all de meat offa his bones. Take him down to de branch or any running stream where de water's running - if de water's goin' south [correction later], an' yo' po' all dem bones, yo' has 'em in a pan, an' po' all dem in dere. An' de bone dat goes up de stream, why dat's de bone tuh git - git dat bone. Yo' git a piece of lodestone an' keep near yo' a bottle of hearts cologne. Wear dat bone undah yore left arm all de time. An' yo' kin have any kind - all kinda luck. [This bone, here a hand, is periodically anointed with the hearts cologne; this anointing being called feeding - see Feeding in Index.]
(This stream in which you throw that bone, must the water be running south?)
No sir, de water be running north - de water supposed to be running north, an' if de water goin' north, de bone will go south.
(Any particular stream or any kind of stream?)
Any kind of stream if de water goin' north.
(If the water is going north the bone will go south.)
De bone will go south.
(If the water was going east or west you couldn't throw the bones in there.)
Yo' could throw 'em in dere but it wouldn't work. (You said you came from up around Beaufort. What do they call doing this sort of thing?) Why they call it hoodoo - witchcraft.
Entry 267
One time mah father did dis an' made him real lucky. Ah don't know how he done it, but he went tuh work and he took a black cat. Ah didn't believe in it. He went an' boiled it; put him in de pot live - if you don't do dat yo' ain't going be successful. Yo' put a top over it. Dash him in dere and put a top over it. Hol' him in dere and let him boil down. Den yo' take dem bones whut's in dere and carry 'em down to a running stream, not no great big stream - jes' a running stream of water passing through a little road like, yo' know, a little ditch or something. Well, yo' put all dem bones in dere, an' when yo' put dem bones in dere, dat stream, all dem bones whut ain't goin' do - yo' know, do de way you want 'em - dey goin' down de stream an' de lucky bone coming up, see hit comes up. Well, yo' git dat bone, and den when yo' git dat bone, yo' turn round three times and cuss, an' when yo' cuss, well yo' got de luck. When yo make dat oath, yo' already fixed dat. Den yo' take dat bone an' covered it wit yo' know, sew it up in a bag and put it in yore left pocket an' den yo's lucky. Den yo' done sold yo'self to de devil fo' luck. An' den yo' lucky in any kind of business, any kind of gambling game - any kind of game in de world yo' want, anything.
Entry 276
Well, yo' git chure cat an' yo' stew him up an' git the bones.
(What bone do you get?)
Ah wouldn't know, but it towards heah somewhere up heah in de front part of his body. But anyway, tuh git that bone you have tuh try them all.
(How do you do that?)
Jis' brush 'em [like a toothbrush] in yore mouth an' yo' contin'lly lookin' in the glass, until yo' disappeah. An' when yo' git to that bone yo'll disappeah an' yo' take it to the fo'ks of the road an' turn roun' three times. Yo' do that fo' nine evenin's or mawnin's. An' then yo' take it to a cemetery an' yo' make a crossmark on someone's grave.
(What do you make the crossmark with?)
With that bone. An' then yo' take yore bone back an' yo' wrap it up with some silver money an' lodestone, an' yo' put chew a flannen rag aroun' it an' wear it in yore pocket. That's fo' luck an' that's tuh keep anybody from bothering roun yuh, an' yo' kin do most anything that yo' want tuh do.
Entry 329
I knows of several gamblers aroun' here who carries one of those bones. They say [that] whut it is an' that's why they so lucky. They said take a hot pot of boilin' water an' sit it up there on the range, an' put it to boilin'. Grab a black cat right off de floah, you might say, an' dash him right in there an' have somepin to hold 'im in there. An' he gits in there an' let him boil all to pieces while he's alive. Then take the cat an' carry him down to a runnin' stream of water, after this water is boil down to a quart. An' you got to drink this quart of water. An' take the cat an' carry him down to a runnin' stream of water an' pick those bone. That stream be runnin' from you to the left. An' try to git as near sunrise as you know an' as you pick those bones you repeat the 'Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.' An' after you fin' tha' choo got this right bone - an' fer you to know tha' choo got it, it's the third bone tha' choo pick an' throw in that stream - will go from you an' you got the right one. An' when you git the right one it'll turn aroun' an' Come back to you. Then you will - you repeats another verse tha' says, "Three dead men looked out of a windah - one was deaf an' the other was blin' and the third one could not see. In the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen." Then your luck's on you right then. [Three dead men is used in a variety of rites.]
Entry 348
Dere wus mah ole granddaddy, ah used tuh hear him tell it de way he had a uncle doin' it - dat he wanted to be good wit his boss. He would go out to a road-crossin' [crossroad] befo' day in de mawnin' at fo' 'clock - well, when it is winter in de fall of de yeah. An' he'd go dere fo' so many mawnin's an' stan' in dat road-crossin' an' make his wishes. He'd go dere de first mawnin' an' he'd make his wish an' he would go back fo' de second mawnin' an' make his wish; he went back dere de third mawnin' an' he made his wish an' he didn't see anything. He went back de fo'th mawnin' an' made his wish an' he wus tole tuh turn aroun'. When he turn aroun' he seed a man, a great big black man, an' dat man ast him whut did he want. Said he tole him dat he wanted luck. He said, "Well, go back, an' come back fo' nine mawnin's. An' he went back an' de ninth mawnin' he met dis man dere agin an' he ast, "Whut chew come fo'?" He said, "Well, ah come fo' luck." He said, "Well, it's one thing yo' will have tuh do." Said, "Yo' will have to not serve nobody but me." An' he ast him, he says, "Kin yo' say, God isn't all?" An' he tole, says, "Well, ah will serve yo'." Dat whut wus called sellin' yo'self to de devil. Well, de devil ast him, says, "Do yo' believe in God?" He says, "Yes." He says, "Yo' cain't serve me." Den he went back an' ast him agin. He says, "No, ah believe in yo'." An' he tole him den, says, "Ah'm goin' make yo' a part ruler ovah de whole earth as long as yo' serve me, an' yo' must cuss God three times." Say he cuss God three times. An' he tole him tuh go then an' git a black cat an' throw dat black cat into boilin' watah. He tuk dat black cat an' throw it in boilin' watah, an' de bone dat come on top, he took it. An' he says, "Now, when's [when it's] de time tuh git ready fo' a piece of money, git where it is, an' says yo' jes' take dis piece [bone] an' put it in yore mouth an' go an' git de money an' walk on out." An' said, dis uncle [went] down dere [a bank?] one day an' dey all wus sittin' in dere countin' out money, he put it [bone] in his mouth an' walked in dere an' git de money an' walked on out. An' well, ah 'member de time - lota people used tuh tell it dat he used tuh go down to de sto's an' git things in de name of G. Berry. His name was G. Berry. Said G. Berry would go down to de sto's an' git shoes or anything he wanted an' come on out an' de wouldn't see him till he take dat bone out his mouth. See. Dey git atter him an' put de houn's on him, de dogs on him. An' he'd ran an' ran an' put dat thing in his mouth an' de dogs turn roun', dey nevah could run him back. He'd run an' de dogs couldn't see him. De dogs jes' runnin' an' howlin' an' jes' goin' on. An' one time dey put him in jail - dat wus in mah days when ah wus a boy. An' dey put him in jail an' when dey come out - dey locked him up an' come outa jail, dere G. Berry sittin' right on de steps.
(Where did he live?)
He lived in Tifton, Georgia.
Entry 355
He wanted to become a dice-shooter, an' he was to go to dis holly [tree] nine mornings an' play, you know, [with] whatever come. An' I think prob'ly de firs' mornin' come was - prob'ly - I think it was a rooster, a big dark rooster. Well he played craps with him. An' then the nex' [second] Sunday come - why a -
(He had to go nine Sunday mornings?)
Nine Sunday mornings.
(Any particular time?)
I think it was nine o'clock. An' de nex' [third] Sunday mornin' he played with a drake. See, wouldn't be no females; always be males there they played with - would come to him. An' the nex' Sunday mornin' 'twas - it went up a little from a fowl and went to - a dog come. An' at de fo'th Sunday mornin' he says a - it went a little futher - he said a bull come. An' he said he played with him an' he was gittin' along good; said he won all - they played craps. An' the nex' Sunday mornin' he said a white horse come with no head, an' eyes at de shoulders. He said he hadn't got scared yet. An' he said he played craps with him. An' de nex' [sixth] Sunday mornin' he says a - I don't know - he says de image of a man came but he jes' couldn't zackly figure out. But anyhow, he jes' took a chance an' played right on' an' he said he beat him. An' he said he played on an' on till de ninth Sunday mornin' an' when de devil came hisself, he didn't git scared. He said he heerd a great - act like de win', you know, comin' in a whurl [whirlwind]. He says, "I know," he says, "that mus be de Ole Man hisself." Well, then [he] shuck his dice an' throwed eleven - that was a winnin' pint [point]. An' when he got there, he said, played craps with de devil; said he was a lucky man gamblin' ever since. [For devil in whirlwind, see Nos. 167-183, and No.361.]
Entry 358
Whenever somebody wants some help, dey go to the forks of the road for nine mornings and carries some kin'a music piece with 'em - a banjo box or either some, you know, record. And the sun'll move jis' like dis here [demonstrates].
(Sun swings back and forth like a pendulum.)
You'll meet de devil dere every morning for nine mornings and de ninth morning dey'll be some form dere to show you da' [dat] chew want. And after the nine mornings you'll have anything you want and you'll be lucky. If you be gamblin', yo' go to a skin game and you'll win every time, see. But, if you turn back and startin' doin' any, you know, things dat de Lord would wan' chew to do, you can't ast de devil for nothin' else. You couldn't curse and get nothin' else da' chew want [one relapse and you are unsold to the devil].
Entry 782
They said there wus a ole man an' his wife. They wus livin' lovely togethah fer about forty years an' nobody ever known no disagreement or nuthin' between 'em. So one day he wus workin' in the field an' there come along a ole man an' says, "I want to know if you want your fortune told?" He says, "Well, no." He says, "Yes, I'll tell you your fortune," he says, "for a quartah [twenty- five cents]. = He says, "Well, I don't - I ain't got de money, but I don't care about it." He says, "But you ought to have your fortune told becuz there some things you ought to know." So he says, "Where's your wife?" He says, "She's home." He says, "Well, now, your wife has got somepin against you." And he said, "Now, I'll tell yo' whut choo do." He say, "Well, where do you keep yore razor?" He said, "I'll tell you," he said, "I keep it home over the doah in a little box." You know, in the country where they had jis' a little one-room house like they - specially they did about twenty-five or thirty yeahs ago [before 1936] - they use'ly had a little shelf up ovah de doah, an' a rack with a gun, an' a little shelf to put the boxes where maybe they had little chains, and then maybe nails an' diff'rent things like that. So he said that's where he kept his razor. So he says, "Well, now, you got to wat-chore [watch your] wife," say, "she may try to hurt choo if she got yore razor." He says, "I see," he says, "you got a mole there - that's a lucky sign. You got a mole there," he say, "on your neck," he says, "but if you wat-chure wife," he says - "well," he says, "I jis' want to tell you to be careful." So he tole 'im good-by. He got the quartah. So he went on to the house. When he got there the old lady she wus in there fixin' up her husband's dinner [midday meal]. You know, he tole 'im, "Now, you mind too, how you eat" - whut she fix it fer 'im - "if you don't mind, she'll trick you." So when he got to the house he met her, [he] pleasant an' nice, an' tole 'er, "I want to tell yore fortune - you need yore fortune tole." She say, "You don't know anything." She say, "I don't wan'a spend mah money." So he says, "Well, I'll tell you, I'll tell yore fortune for ten cents." She says, "Well, all right." He says, "Where is yore husband?" She says, "He's in the field." He says, "Zhoo know, '' he says, "yore husband got a big big mole on his neck." She says, "He's got a mole on his neck." "You see, I tell that much; you know I know somepin, don't choo?" She says, "Yes, that's the truth. He sure has got a mole on his neck." He says, "Well, now, I'll tell you whu' choo do, '' he says, ''don't he keep his razor right over the doah?" She says, "Well, I declare, you sure do know things, don't chew!" He say, "Well, now, I tell you that much." He say, "Now, you take that razor at night when he lay down - you take that razor an' cut that mole off an' you kin git every dollah he's keepin' from you; you'll find out somepin or othah you ought to been knowin' long along." He wus so earnest that she said, "Well, I'll do it." So he says, "Now, I'll tell yeh," he says, "when he come, don't choo say nuthin' to 'im, you jis' watch 'im an'," he says, "when he goes to sleep, you go an' take that razor an' you cut that mole off." Now, he done tole the ole man out there in the field that his wife gon'a try do somepin or othah to trick 'im. So when the ole man come, he looked all up an' down. You see, both of 'em wus curious now, 'cause they'd heard somepin. So she - in order to keep from sayin' somepin or othah to 'im - she goes an' gits 'er mouth fulla watah, 'cause she's a great talker an' she couldn't keep nuthin'. An' she wanted to tell 'im so bad that this ole man had been there an' tole 'er all this. But she gon'a wait until he gits to sleep, you see. So she filled her mouth fulla watah. An' when she filled her mouth fulla watah, he come in an' he said, "Well, you got mah dinnah done?" She wouldn't talk. He wondered whut in the world wus the mattah wit 'er. She nevah said nuthin'. He wondered whut the matter. An' so he went on an' eat his dinnah. Night come an' not a word. He couldn't imagine not to hear from his wife - this man said somepin a mattah wit his wife. "Now, whut in the name's the mattah." So fin'lly, at last he laid down. An' when he laid down he says, "Now, I'm not goin' to go to sleep. So he pretended that he wus asleep. An' she waited an' waited an' waited for him to snore. Well, directly he made a little noise like he's asleep, an' she gits up an' goes to git the razor. She got the razor. He looked right at her. She got the razor an' started to the baid. Jis' as soon as she started to - this ole man jump up, he didn't wait choo see. They said he jumped up an' says, "Yes, you started to kill me." That jis' made a great big disturbance an' broke 'em up. [Wilmington, N. Car., (215), 123:5+85.] [This trick by the fortune-teller says my informant happened years ago in Effingham County, Georgia - on Savannah River and next county above Savannah. But it is a folk story. My note while transcribing original reads, "Also heard this story in S. C., use (this) as separate appendix and refer to in Intro. I have not yet found this extra version. A note about third version reads: "Story of the old woman and the razor - badly recorded - recheck - on the full moon at midnight (wife to) get hair from behind husband's left ear and had to be done with his razor - (the trickster called) cunjure doctor - badly recorded but last part well recorded, so know what story is about - wife was going to cut his throat to get insurance money to get this young man - gave this as an actual occurrence (Richmond, Va., 418,369:7)" - Introduction Notes.]
Entry 997
A silver dime in the bath-water - taking a bath in the tub at nighttime, not no day - zinc tub, a washtub. After bathing, keeping the water in the house all night, throwing it out in the middle of the street where someone pass at. The man or woman passing picks that up, picks up all your bad luck and everything that went wrong with you. You git along fine, you as anybody else.
[I stop the machine to ask for a clearer account.]
In the bathtub that you goin' bathe in, you see, you take de water, you put the silver dime and a nickel which is fifteen cents, odd money. Heat the warm water, pour it on the fifteen cents. After takin' this solution - with parsley, granulated sugar, with Karo syrup, ammonia and Jockey Club perfume, see - pour it in the water and bathe from head to feet, leave it stay in the house all night. That next day you throw it out in the middle of the street near to 4 o'clock that morning with the fifteen cents. Of course you know, if anybody passes money on the street, they will pick it up. The one who picks it up, well they picks up your bad luck and you start a new true life again. [For cures, see Transference in Index.]
Entry 1572
This is when they build a new house and you are getting ready to move in. They got old shoes, rags, sulphur, and made a smoke, fumicated [fumigated] the house. That was for to keep evil spirits away. And then they get a green pine bush and sweep the floor. That was the first thing they would sweep the floor with. That was for luck. [Ocean City, Md., (21), by hand; 40 or 50 years ago, before 1936, in Sussex Co., Va.]
Entry 1756
Git brimstone an' burn it with some feathers an' yo' have good luck.
(Good luck for what?)
Anything yo' wish to. (You have to make a wish when you are burning them?) [Informant had said so while Telediphone turned off.] Yes, yo' kin parch it - it be a kinda brown stuff, yo' powder it up. Ah wish ah had some now.
Entry 1773
Well, yo' kin take a black pullet - ah ain't done dese things, ah'm tellin' yo' whut ah heard about dem. Yo' kin take a black pullet - well yo' kin kill 'im an' git his gizzard out dere, an' yo' know dat skin in dere whut yo' peels off, yo' take dat skin an' sprinkle some salt an' black peppah on it, an' sew it up dere in a little rag an' wear it next to yo' skin an' sweat it through, an' dat'll make yo' lucky.
(Lucky for what - anything in particular?)
Yes sir, in most anything. [Every statement made by this informant ended, "Ah ain't done dese things."]
Entry 1874
Now, ah'm goin' tell you dis one from experience. Dis is mah own - heah's mah han' tuh God. God don't like - He don't like a liar, neither do yo' an' me. If yo' ketch a frog, yo' will have luck. Ah used to try tuh shoot dice. Ah was in Georgia, what chew call Macon, Georgia, about loO miles from Atlanta. Ah worked on a farm wit a man that had big skin games. Yo' evah know whut skin games are?
(What is a skin qame?)
Jis' have a deck of cards an' split [cut] 'em off an' ah turn yo' seven spot an' I got a ten, I'll bet chew a dollar dat mah ten falls, yo' win; if de seven fall, ah win. Dey call dat skin game. An' yo' wanta be lucky now.
[For skin game, see margin-title Frog - Georgia Skin, later.]
Ah was pickin' cotton fo' a man an' he wasn't payin' but 4Oc a hundred, an' swindlin' me wit de game, an' ah had to cook fo' mahself [buy his own food and cook it]. So Saturday night come an' we'd check up an' maybe whut ah done bought an' had cook, ah'd have 'bout two-three dollahs fer de skinning, an' ah jes' losin' mah money. One de boys said, "B, ah'm goin' put chew onto something - ket' chew [catch you] a toadfrog an' keep in yore pocket." Well, ah'd seen a little ole toad in de road dat hops about at night an' ah picked up one an' he wet in mah han' - ah always hear dem say dey make warts - an' ah put 'im in mah pocket. He felt cold as ice when ah got 'im, an' ah put him in mah pocket among some quarters an' nickels an' dimes what ah had an' ah went. De people had a big candle in de woods settin' down in de road - no, dey didn't have a candle, dey had a bottle wit a rope in it an' oil in de bottle makin a wick wit it, setting dere. Dey was down on dere knees gamblin'. Well, ah went dere an' held mah two hand - ah cleaned up ev'ry nickel an' dime dere was. Ah put so much money on dat frog until ah mashed 'im - killed 'im in mah pocket. Ah had all de silver, wag nuthin but silver at dat time - it wasn't no 20, 30 or 40 dollahs but ah broke ev'rybody dat night. An' ah always thought a frog was lucky. Ah had so much on him he got tuh jumpin' in mah pocket right in dere on mah money. [A frog or toad does not jump because the money is heavy; he is giving a warning we shall learn later.] An' ev'ry time ah got down dere to make a bet, ah more den apt to ketch 'em - if ah fall twice ah'd ketch it three times. That was luck.
Entry 1878
Use a toadyfrog for lotsa luck an' fo' gamblin' or somethin' lak dat. Yo' kin take a frog an' put him in yore left pocket an' when yo' take an' put him in yore left pocket, yo' take dat cologne an' yo' kin jes' kinda sprinkle it on him in yore pocket. But chew have him tied so dat de people would [not know you had him] - have him tied up. An' jes' whenevah dat yo' go to de gamblin' game or anythin', if dat frog start tuh jumpin' or somepin lak dat, well yo'll be suc- cessful in whut chew doin'; but if he's not, dere won't be anythin' to it.
Entry 1936
Take graveyard dirt an' put it in yore pocket - graveyard dirt an' Sampson snakeroot an' blacksnake root an' measure it. [Three ingredients.]
(Measure what?)
De blacksnake root when yo' take it up. Yo' measure it de length of yore finger, de blacksnake root.
(Which finger?)
It either be's [these] two or dese two - this or the other one [demonstrates]. Ah don't know, don't want be positive.
(Either two of the fingers of the right hand.)
Yes sir. They take three of those Sampson snakeroot an' measure 'em, den dey take three of blacksnake roots an' measure 'em, an' weave 'em together with raw cotton thread, weave 'em together, an' put 'em in dey pocket, an' git some grave- yard dirt an' put in it.
(What is that supposed to do then?)
That is luck - luck to win. Or way back in slavery time that was luck to keep yo' boss from whuppin' yo'. Ole people carried dat - dat's all dey had to pertek deyself. [Informant born 1858.]
Entry 1976
Well, I bought one in Washington [D. C.] from a ole lady, she was blind in one eye, and I'd been gambling you see, had been losing everything dat I could beg, bahrry and steal. Now, this is jis' as true as I'm sitting here. And so I heard about this ole lady but I never had no confidence in her. So when I went to her, you understand, she told me, she says, "Uh huh," she says, "you lost everything you has and now you come here to me." She says, "No use me giving you nothing, cus you ain't gon'a believe in me nohow." Well, that jis' was mah min' when I walked in de house. I told her, "Oh yes, Miss Sarah, I believe in you." So. "Well, I can't fix you up today, she say, "you have to come back a couple few days from now." [Magic delay.] So I went back again and she wasn't fixed up then. I went back again. The next time I went back she was fixed up. She give me a little pale-blue book jest about dat square, jest like a square block, jest as wide as it was long. She told me, she says, "You go ahead and you wear that in your right-hand pocket," she says, "and whenever you go to gamble," she says, "ever once in awhile you put your hand in your pocket," she says, "den when your pocket begins to sweat," she says, "you bet everything dat joo can beg, bahrry and steal." Well now, whurther dat dis was right or whurther it wasn't, anyhow, I pays ten dollars for the Hand. Well, it was about a week before I could git hold any money, much together. Course I could gamble with a little game, but I was always wanting to git in a big game. So I gits in de game dis Sunday evening - de boys was shooting craps, plenty of money. So I gits in there. And I didn't have but a dollar and a half, all the money I had. So I gits in there. And de boys was shooting fer fifty cents. Well, you know my dollar and a half wouldn't lass long in that. Some boy shoots fifty cents worth, two or three of them faded in, you understand, and he hit 'em. I don't know whurther to fade dis dollar and a half or whurther to wait and shoot it. I didn't know what to do. I rubbed my hand in my pocket and it sweat. I take it out. So I gets some quarter bits, a couple of quarter bits, lost them. I lost them right out. "Guess I'd better stop now." So when de dice got to me I taken de dice, I don't know whurther to shoot a quarter or what to shoot. A mind comes to me shoot a dollah. Now dat's all I've got. So I says, "I'll shoot fifty cents." A fellah says, "You'll loose for a dollah." Oh, de game was bigl Money backed up you know for goodl And I wanted some of it so bad. I thought I'd shoot de dollah. And I roll de dice out. But dey got a fashion of gauging dem, you understan', ketching dem when dey come out. So I throwed de dice out and de fellah caught it. I throwed de dice out again, de fellah caught it. He caught 'em three times. With mah hand in mah pocket, my hand begin to git moist, after she told me my hand begin to sweat, I shot de dollah. I throwed a 'leven, I shot de two, I throwed a seven. I said [to myself], "I guess I'd better take down this time." So I taken down three dollahs. And shot de one, come out wid a ten. A fellah says to me, he says, "I'll bet two to one you don't ten." I says to myself, "Now dat'll bring me two dollahs." I drop right down, right straight back, jest as straight wid de ten as I could come, and I got ten for four shots and made one right after de other. Then my hand was jes' as wet inside dat ev'ry time I take hold de dice, you understand, dey'd be wet. I taken dat game. And when I come out dat night I had a hundred and forty-three dollahs. Now, whurther it was de hand or whurther it was just luck, my luck come to me, or what it was. That's right. Dat was de first hand I ever bought. De second hand I bought I was in Baltimore. I bought it from a blind man. This is a little bag, a little red flannel bag. He told me, he says when he give me this bag, he told me, he says, "Now you get some whiskey. And don't throw de whiskey on this, but put it in your mouth and spit it on it," he says, "and don't gamble with this, don't put no money much on this bag until you keep it a day or so." All right. That cost me ten dollars. Dat's in a place in Baltimore called Hollandtown. And I goes in a game in Hollandtown that night and breaks it. And the next one I bought was in Norfolk [Virginia]. Dat was a black cat's paw, de paw of a black cat. And I lost dat somewhere. I don't know where I lost dat.
(How do you carry that?)
In your pocket where your money is.
(What did you pay for the third hand?)
Ten dollars.
Entry 1980
You take a pair of Adam and Eve and you put it in a bag, you put a piece of John de Conker in dere, and you put a piece of Gall of Earth, and you put a piece of King Solomon - dem dere three in dat bag, and put a dime in dere. [See margin-title Three Roots, later.j Dat bag gotta be made outa red flannel or pink silk. Well you sew it up tight after you put dat dime in dere. Den you take some of dis conker root and boil it. Well, you make 'bout a quart. Or either you git yourself a bottle of Hearts Cologne. You put a lot of dat cologne in dere but keep it. Den you git a ole glass and put a little water and put dis conker root juice into it and one or two drops of your own urine - dat's fer to draw - and saturate dis bag in it [this is feeding the bagl. Dat'll do business, too. Dat make so many people lucky on de numbers and things.
(Well, what's the bag supposed to do? Just luck for numbers?)
Naw, lucky bag. Yeah, you gotta carry it on yo'. Don't let nobody put dere hands on it - ain't let nobody know it's on yo'.
Entry 2010
You kin take a horseshoe nail an' you take it an' make you a ring for your finger an' you kin wear that. An' then [a second method] you kin git choo three horseshoe nails. An' you know this hoof where they cut off the horse's feet; an' you kin git that little dust. An' you take an' put that in your pocket, an' put them three horse- shoe nails in there, an' put that little dust in, an' you'll have real good luck. Ev'ry time you git ready to shoot dice or play cards, you take an' rub that stuff on your hand.
Entry 2035
Well, yo' go - dere's a High John de Conker, yo' kin dig it out de woods, High John de Conker root. Yo' dig dat out de woods. An' if yo' can't dig it, yo' kin order it - High John de Conker. Yo' take that an' yo' sleep with dat undah yore haid nine nights an' yo' put dat in yore pocket, an' when yo' go to skin game, yo' jes' rub yore han' lak dat onto it, onto de flesh an' make yo' wishes, an' dey tell me yo'll win lak anything.
(You just rub your hands over that root?)
Yeah, jes' rub yore han's ovah this root an' yo'll win lak anything.
Entry 2036
Fo' gamblin' yo' kin git chew John de Conker - dat's a root. Git de he one an' git de she one. Yo' git chew some oil of verbena, yo' git chew some van-van - de perfume kind, not de oil kind. Yo' git chew some Jockey Club an' yo' git chew some lodestone, any silver dime, an' yo' take those things an' yo' make yo' a little bag an' sew it up in dere, an' wear it aroun' yo' fo' yore luck in gamblin'.
Entry 2045
Dragon's blood and High John de Conker and a little bit of devil's- shoestring and five-finger grass, Adam-and-Eve, King Solomon Root - put that all together. (That's the charm that will get you a job.) That's a charm works about five or six diff'rent ways.
(What else will that charm do?)
It will hold your job and people will like you a great deal, and then people that have been enmity against you will be more friendly to you. And you see, then it makes you very lucky in coming in contacts.
Entry 2123
A person dat is runnin' a gamblin' house - well, yo' take a person dat is runnin' a house, dey is de boss of dat house, see. Well, lak dey Want money to stay in dey home, see - jes' lak if yo' comin' in tuh gamble, see, an' de person want dat money tuh stay in de home. Well, nachur'lly, dey'll git a can of potash an' yo' dig a hole right tuh yore front steps. Well, yo'll put one can of potash down an' yo'll take nine pennies an' sew it up into a little bag an' into sulphur, an' yo'll leave dat on top of dat can of potash an' yo' cover it. Well, dat brings luck into yore home. No policeman kin do yo' no harm. De money'll still be in yore home, see. An' then yo' take some of dat potash an' yo' po' it into a basin of watah an' yo' go round to eve'y one of yore room windah an' throw it up an' let dat watah dreen down, see. Well, jes' lak dat watah dreen down de people'll be comin' in. Well, jes' lak dey come in, well, dat money's leave into yore home. (Just a moment. You throw this water on the windows. On the outside or the inside?) On the outside an' let it dreen down.
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 2189
I have hear tell of 'em usin' onions wit nine pins in 'em - stickpins. Well, yo' take a red onion an' yo' bo' yo' a hole all de way through de onion in de middle part of it, an' yo' put a string in dere an' yo' tie dat string around your neck an' let it hang somewheres roun' yore waist an' put nine stickpins in it, an' yo' jes' wear dat roun' dere until it git to de place yo' know, dat it dries up, an' yo' have to rechange it. But when yo' rechange it, conceal it wit de same nine pins dat yo' put in it at first, whether it be de same onion or not; but which an' evah it gits so small an' dryin' up on yo', gitin' hard, yo' take de nine pins out whut yo' put in de first an' put in de second one. Continue wit dat - keep it dataway. But soon as one dry up, why exchange wit anothah one.
(What will that do for you?)
That's supposed to be luck fo' selling whiskey. [Stickpins are not ornamental pins but ordinary pins; likewise straight pin in following rite.]
Entry 2289
If you wanta have luck in gamblin', if yo' married or got a wife or got a girl fren', jes' git a piece off her bloomers an' a piece of her hair an' a hairpin, an' put Heart Cologne wit dat an' a piece of garlic, an' sew dat into a cloth together with a dime an' keep it in yore pocketbook or in yore pocket. Yo always have luck in gamblin'.
Entry 2339
[A toby is a hand. The following informant uses these two terms as synonyms. Toby belongs to the New Orleans area and is little known along the Atlantic coast - unknown in the country districts.] If yo' wanta make a han', yo' kin make a han' fo' fellah tuh carry in his pocket or if he wanta wear it roun' his neck. Yo' git chew a piece of John de Conker vine. Dat's used often in a lot of dese cases. Yo' take yo' some soda, cookin' soda, an' yo' take yo' some lodestone, a she an' a he, an' sew dat together. Don't have tuh take a great big piece - jis' a small piece. Yo' sew dat up, dat soda, John de Conker vine an' oil of clover. Yo' wet [feed] it wit oil of clover - yo' buy yo' some oil of clover an' yo' wet it. That brings luck. Yo' buy yo' a bottle of Jockey Club Perfume. Wash an' scrub yore han's. Wit dat toby yo' bound tuh win.
Entry 2354
Ah have tried dat once but ah didn't make no luck at it. Dey tell me dat chew git a dead man's bone [see p.543f.], one of his finger bone an' one of his toe bone an' keep dat in yore pocket, dat chew would be successful in all evil doin's - underworld work. Well, ah did that. Dey had lynched a fellah up heah right at [near some village] a piece up dis road heah, an' dey found a skeleton. Ah mean ah wus cooking tar den, I run across it in de swamp, an' all de meat was off his bone - nuthin but his toes an' fingers, nuthin but a skeleton yo' understand. Ah'd take one of fingers off, a joint of his finger bone, an one of his toes an' put it in mah pocket. An' ah kept it a while but ah wasn't successful in it. Ah don't think it was much to it. Now yo' kin go to a graveyard an' if it's a man of de world - a wicked man an' man dat gambles an' do all evil things - yo' go to dat graveyard an' pull yore sleeve up to yore elbow an' tell dis wicked man - de spirit - lak ah'm a wicked man an' ah'm buried heah - well - an' yo' wants some of mah dirt. Well, yo' know mah name. Yo' say, "Mark, ah wants some luck." Run yore han' down in dat grave - see, till it git to de elbow an' git some of dat dust. Say, "Well, sir, ah've got some of de dirt an' now ah'm goin' pay yo'." Yo' put two pennies in dat hole an' cover it up. See, dat pennies is tuh pay him fo' dat dirt. Yo' take dat dirt an' yo' put it in yore pocket an' yo'll be lucky gambling. Yo'll be lucky in any kind of underworZd work, sech lak sellin' likker, or if yo' thief an' yo' steal an' dey ain't goin'ketch chew. An' if yo gamble, why yo' successful in dat gamblin' - playin'poker, set-back or anything. Now, ah did that fo' gambling. Ah got some of dat dirt, put two pennies in dat hole. Tell 'im, says, "Well, ah'm paying yo' now fo' dis dirt, ah want it tuh be lucky tuh me." [My transcriber says they knifed a fellah. Above knifed I wrote lynched when checking the transcription. In either case the man died a violent death, making his bones more powerful magically.]
Entry 2368
To make luck for gambling, there's quite a few articles you get to put together. Well, you get you some - get you some red flannel and you get lode- stone, steel dust, you see, and cinnamon. You put this together and a silver dime - put that in that little - put it in a little red bag, right in there. You sew it up. After you sew it up and [then] you pass it in a saucer in some luck you buy in the drug store.
(Luck?)
Yeah - it's luck, they call it. It's van-van. You put it in there and roll that in there like that. Then you present [sell] it to the person and you tell them ev'ry two or three weeks it have to be rubbed in some of this luck. That'll make 'em come to you. You'd have to get you - rub it over, you see, that luck.
Entry 2414
In gamblin' tuh give mahself luck ah have taken burnt sugah. Burn it perfectly brown an' kinda let it run down tuh candy, an' git me some bluestone an' mix that together, an' git me some saltpeter an' put that together, an' git me some alum an' put that together, an' make me whut chew may call a bath, a bath 'lution [solution], an' po' it into mah bathwatah an' take me a bath with it. Well, dat supposed tuh be lucky which it always has been tuh me when ah wus gamblin'.
Entry 2415
Wash yore face in sugah de first thing in de mawnin' with yore han' first [not with washcloth] an' go out an' meet de person an' den yo'll have good success. An' yo' know, take consecrated [concentrated] lye an' mop yore place 'fore de do' heah an' don't say nuthin to nobody while yo' takin' care of dat. Dat'll bring luck to de place an' yo' sell a lotta liquor.
Entry 2418
I'm tellin' you now how to bring 'em - you see, if you are bootleggin' and you want to bring a crowd to your house. You take the nine pods of red peppers, you'll take you three ounces of sugar.
(Three what?)
Three ounces.
(Three ounces of sugar.)
Of sugar and you put that in the water. And you get you some nutmeg already ground up - you put that in your water. And then you take and get ammonia - you put that in your water. And then you'll take and scrub. And you'll get you some fast luck and put it in there and you take the broom and sweep all in the corners of the house then. Never sweep it, de dirt out de front - always let everything go to the back. And when you use that essence - that water you scrub with - you always carry it all to the back. And that draws a crowd in your house. Then, as soon as you are done, you take the beer or a little wine, anything what you got, and you put some of that in the water and scrub. But let your scrubbing always go to the back.
Entry 2461
I would get me some cinnamon and I would get me some lump sugar and get me a spice. I would go and mix it all up together - see, grind the spice up. Take that and make a tea out of it, understand. Then I would take that tea and I would sprinkle my house, and then I would take me some water, see and I would take nine buckets of water and I would scrub my house. But I would take the Water and not throw it out the door but in the door toward my house. Then I would scrub that and I would take after I scrub my house, I would take and Sprinkle me some sugar, see, brown sugar made out of pure syrup, and sprinkle it at the bed. Well that for luck. That will bring you somebody - a tenant to rent your house.
Entry 2467
Take codfish - you know codfish, and boil it and strain the water off, see. And you can put sugar and van-van and oil of geranium and fast luck - put those three in there and some sugar and you can use oil of cinnamon. And put that in a bottle and shake it up and just sprinkle it after you get it scrubbed out good with ammonia water. Just sprinkle it from the front to the back. That'll draw a crowd to spend money - and all with you.
(If you are a bootlegger.)
Entry 2506
Well, ah tell yo', fo' good luck like that yo' git the good luck insane [incense]. Yo' want mah ideas? Yo' git the good luck insane an' yo' burns that with the holy oil every morning fo nine mornings. An' yo' take six drops of Hearts Cologne, one teaspoon of sugar to a gallon of water. Yo dust yore house down, yo' take yore linen off yore bed, clean up one room at a time. Pick up that dust an' put it on a piece of newspaper. Clean up yore next room an' take all de linen if you got a bedroom. Do the same room like that. Put all that dust, all yo' create, git it up off de floor on that one paper. Then buy yo' a box of table salt an' yo' use one cup of that table salt on all that dust that chew taken up. Take yore linen out of doors an' yo' wash it. Clean up everything. Wash yore bedsteads an' yore springs off an' put on clean linen an' everything. An' take that trash that yo've gathered up in those rooms and take one cup of table salt, take it out an' take a shovel an' dig a hole, an' place it in de ground an' kiver it up. Fust one go tuh sleep that night will dream a good dream an' it will be a good luck dream, be a game in it. If yo' play a game of chance yo'll win.
(Now you do all this cleaning up in the house for luck in the home?)
Fo' luck in yore home. (That is if you want to bring in customers to rent your rooms or something of that sort.) An' then when yo' go out, before yo' go out, yo' take that Hearts Cologne an' yo' sprinkle yoreself with it. Every time yo' go out yo' do that an' yo'll advance with everybody - influence with everybody. Anything yo' go after yo'll have influence with the people.
Entry 2639
Dat's fo' luck. Well, on Mondays an' Fridays yo' supposed tuh burn red onions. Yo' git a man's left shoe an' yo' put a piece of garlic an' yo' put some of de hull of a red onion an' yo' put some sulphur an' yo' put some sugah an' yo' put some Hearts Cologne in de heel of that man's shoe. Well, yo' put all de rest of that - some of everything yo' put in de heel - on top of de stove at twelve a'clock an' yo' burn it.
(What will that do?)
Dat's supposed tuh be lucky - jes' whatevah yo' want, jes' lak if yo' want luck in de home, or yo' tryin' tuh ketch de policy, or yo' tryin' tuh git some money or somepin lak dat. Yo'll burn dat Fridays an' Mondays.
(You burn that shoe on top of the stove, too?)
Yo' burn de shoe in de stove, an' den put de rest of de stuff on top of de stove an' let dat go through de house, an' let de othah whut's in de heel go out in de ash.
Entry 2666
You burn brimstone. Yo' use brimstone, bluestone, sulphur, rattlesnake marster, an' yo' git lowbush mercury[?] [myrtle?] - lowbush[?] - dat's a bush dat grows out. in de woods dey call it lowbush[?]. Well, yo' burn dat Sunday mornings three a'clock. Yo' burn that Wednesday night, Wednesday as the clock strike twelve. Yo' burn dat Wednesday. (Twelve o'clock night or noon?) At night. Three a'clock in de morning [Sunday], twelve a'clock at night [Wednesday], an' three a'clock Friday morning. Yo' burns dat in de middle of yore house. Yo' have yo' a pan dat chew use regu'ly [regularly]. Yo' use de brimstone, sulphur, bluestone an' dis lowbush[?]. Yo' burn dose things together. Yo' do dat fo' at least three munts. Den yo' skip an' de next three munts ketch it. [This is skip or staggered magic.] But if you are running a house, why yo' do that ev'ry week. Ev'ry week if yo' runnin' a house, if yo' have gambling, so on, don't chew see. Yo' runnin' yo' house, yo' do that ev'ry week.
(What is that supposed to do? Bring luck or what?)
Yeah, bring luck an' keeps ev'rything goin' smooth. Yeah, bring yo' plenty luck. Yo' have no trouble if yo' sellin' likker, anything lak dat. Yo' have nc trouble a-t a-l-l.
Entry 2690
Dat good to make a linament out of it - anything of garlic lak dat. Git six red onions an' she kin boil all dat up some day when dere ain't nobody dere, an' git a bunch of cedar [branches] an' mop yore flo's wit it; keep it secret yo' know from anybody. Mop up flo's an' dat's luck - make her have hustlin' luck - customers, anything she wants - sellin' whiskey or anything.
(Now what would she boil up together, you say?)
Cedar, garlic - one dose little burr of garlic, an' git a nickel worth of red onion an' jes' chop it up, an' chamber lye - git a whole quart of chamber lye. Mop dat flo' wit it. Don't mop outside an' don't sweep de dirt out de room out- side - take it up on a dustpan an' burn on de flo'. Always go backwards wit de mop. Don't mop out. Yo' know a lotta people mop out. Dat's yore luck goin' outdo's - mop back.
Entry 2696
Yo' kin take a person's chamber lye an' put sugah in it an' lye an' oil of anise, an' sprinkle dat an' make yore wish. Sweep yore po'ch back to yore house an' that brings good luck to yo'. Do dat fo' hustlin' people - bring money in yore house.
Entry 2700
Ah have used - ah used tuh do this. Ah would wash mah house out on a Wednesday an' Friday with brown sugar an' lye an' urinate. [Three ingredients.] But ah would mop twice a week. Wednesday an' Friday would be mah days.
(At any particular time of the day?)
Yessuh. De first, early in de mawnin' when ah first git up, 'fore anybody would start tuh comin' around, ah would do that.
(That is to bring any kind of customers in?)
Yessuh. An' den fo' luck, ah would then take an' wash mahself an' ah would use Jockey Club Perfume an' oil of bergamine [bergamot]. Oil mahself good, yo' know, up undah mah arms an' back of mah ear lak that. Dat would be fo' mah luck then, yo' know, fo' havin' dealin's with diff'rent men.
Entry 2702
In de mawnin' when yo' wake up lak dat - if yo' livin' a hustlin' Zife, git up early of a mawnin' an' take yore urinate an' don't let nobody else urinate in dat bucket an' scrub de po'ch with it. An' den on Fridays, well yo' kin git dis same stuff whut ah wus tellin' yo' 'bout - dis oil of bergamine [bergamot] an' put 'bout two or three drops of it in a bucket of hot watah an' mop de house on Friday with it, an' dat draws luck fo' bootleggin' and hustlin', too, but yo' mustn't speak to nobody until twelve a'clock. Don't have nuthin tuh say to no- body when yo' git up an' mop yore house. An' on Monday mawnin's don't let women folks come in yore house because it's bad luck to yo.
Entry 2703
She kin go and git brown sugar, coated tacum [talcum] - coated face Powder - and she'd mix 'em together. Then you git oyster shells and then they pound it together. And when they pound it together, well then if they do ketch a trick, well ev'rytime they ketch a trick, they [the woman] urine, they put 3 drops in this little vial where this brown sugar and this coated powder and the oyster shell. If they can they kin jes' urine in a glass, and take a eye dropper and you know and drop 3 drops in when [until] they get to 9 drops. An' then, after they do that, why then they git their own luck. And then after they get the 9 men - why then after the 9 men go, then you [the woman] take a dropper whenever you wanta get a date - you see you take the same eye dropper - and jis' take one drop out [the vial], jis' drop it on the bed. Of co'se when they out [the vial is empty] they still got that powder, but when they urine over, they kin do the same thing over again.
Entry 2741
Go out there an' git that an' send that off, see.
(Get this graveyard dirt?)
Yes sir, git dat. Gits it outa de head part - de face, see, but chew have to know personally dat dose people - how dey buried. If dey buried on dere back, yo' see, an' yo' gits dat right out de face of co'se. Den yo sends that off - yo' sends it off to dose Seven Brothers in New York. Ah reckon yo' heard talk of dose Seven Brothers, an dey'll dress dat an' send it back to yo' an' de red flannel, see, an' put nine pins in dat an' dis Heart-Home Perfune - keep it perfumed [fed] wit it, helps yo' to do de work. [The mail-order firm sells ingredients only; you must make the bag - a hand.] It will give you luck an' keep yo' - it's jest lak de powders, too, it keeps yore enemies away from you an' yo' successful in business of any kind that chew wanta start.
Entry 2762
Well, my wife.
(You what?)
[He's a little hesitant, nervous at first.]
I had went there over the river for my wife - to Miss Helen. [Long pause.]
(Yes?)
Yes, sir. My wife had left me. [Long pause.]
(Yes. All right.)
So, when she left me, I went over in Algiers to a lady by the name of Miss Helen.
(Miss Helen?)
Yes, Miss Helen.
(I see. All right.)
So she charged me $50. So ah paid her $25 down. So she called me in a room like this [my interviewing room at Patterson Hotel]. So she sat me down and so she made me take everything out of my pockets.
(How was the room - was it decorated or furnished with anything?)
It had candles. It had an altar - like an altar. It had candles.
(How many candles were there?)
They had about twenty diff'rent candles.
(Different?)
Some reds - some blue - black - green.
(Anything on the walls?)
Anything on the walls? No, they didn't have anything but some pictures on there. [Pictures of saints?]
(I see. Was she dressed in any special way? This Miss Helen?)
Yes, she was dressed at that time when she called me in. They told me to wait a minute she Was busy, but in a short while she dressed and she called me in. Well, she had a hat like a cap on, a silk cap, and a big robe - a robe on. You know, a robe.
(A robe?)
A robe, yes sir.
(Any special color - different colors?)
It was a purple robe.
(Purple robe?)
Yes, sir, with a big key - a chain with a big key like the oldtime door key hanging in front of her. (I see. Now, tell me when you went to visit her, just exactly what she told you - everything she told you to do, now. All right.) Well, when she told me, she say for me to go ahead and burn a candle.
(Wait a minute. What about your pockets? She told you about your pockets?)
Yes, sir, she told me to take everything out of my pockets and I done taken everything out. And I left some silver money in my pocket and when I left the silver money in my pocket, she say, "You ain't right, ' says, "ah cain't do any- thing for you 'cept you take everything out."
(Why did you keep that silver in your pocket?)
[I was trying to discover whether silver was for protection.]
I didn't want to come up with all my money.
(Oh, I see. I see.)
And so, after I take the silver money out, I lays it on the table. All right, she takes the other money out of the pocketbook and she lay it all down straight. She asked me, did I stay in town or did I stay out of town. I told her I was staying out of town. Then I was in Vicera. I was staying out of town at that time. She say, "Well, how much is your train fare?" I told her my train fare was $3.35 at that time.
(You were staying where?)
In Vicera.
(In Vicera, Louisiana. I see. All right.) [Nearest I can come to name.]
So she asked me what was the price of the train fare. So I told her the train fare. So she put the money aside and so, she said, "Well, I charge you $50." I say, "I haven't got $50." She say, "How near up to $50 you can come to?" I say, ''$25." She say, "Well, all right." And so she writ me out a receipt and when she writ me out a receipt she give me the receipt but it didn't have no price on it. So she tole me, "Don't send no money by the mail, just send it in a plain letter." So I sent her money just like she said. I sent $5.00 on the first pay- ment. She asked me how I got paid. I told her I got paid according to what I was doing - that I was picking, picking cotton. And so she said to me, "Well, all right." She said, "Don't send the money in no letter - registered letter. She say, "Send it just like - put it in there - a bill - you put it in there." She say, "I'll get it all right." So, I says, "All right." So, I written back to her to lets see if she got the money. So I didn't get my wife back at that time. See? But finally I got her back, but now I don't know if I got her back through that way or not. (What did she tell you to do? To do anything special? What did she tell you to do? Did she do anything?) Well, she told me to send a pictchure back.
(Her picture back.)
And she said I was crossed - see, the reason my wife left.
(Did she tell you how?)
She say how I was crossed. She say the woman had taken my thing and measured it and tied nine knots and put it around her waist. And say that there was some- thing buried - my pictchure was buried underneath the steps, beside the steps'. So she told me where I could find that pictchure. But I found that pictchure though.
(I see. Now, who took that measure? Your wife or some other woman?)
The wife takes it - it's supposed to be my wife what taken the measure of it on the cord. See. Nine knots they put in it. (Now, this woman Madam Helen, she didn't do anything - give you any treatment or anything when you were in her room did she?) No, she give me some powder.
(What did she call that?)
It's luck powder.
(Iuck powder.) )
She give me some other stuff they call van-van. (Well, what did she tell you? How to handle those or anything? What you were to do with them?) She say that when I pass by the house I throw it - throw it over my shoulder. And she give me another thing by the name of John the Conker root. She told me to chew that, see. And she give me another oil to keep and rub, see. She say nobody could hurt me after that.
(I see. What kind of oil was that?)
That was a green looking oil.
(It had no name?)
No name.
(I see. And your wife finally came back?)
She finally came back.
Entry 2927
Yo' git up every mawnin' at 'fore six a'clock an' scrub an' den yo' burn yore candles. Yo' scrub wit chamber lye an' oil of anise, sugah an' lye an' saltpetah, an' garlic an' cinnamon. Yo' do dat aroun' six 'clock in de mawnin'. Yo' buy all dese things. It'll bring luck to yore place. [Many examples of scrubbing for business, as well as the ingredients used here, will be found in subsection BUSI- NESS AND CUSTOMERS, pp.669-744. Candles are usually not added to the scrubbing.]
Entry 2929
Yo' take some of dis same solution yo' know, salt watah, an' put it all in de room yo' know, all aroun', an' then yo' burn those little [white] tapers, too. Burn that all aroun' an' yo' git this bergamot an perfume de room with that, yo' understan', an' that's good luck.
(That will rent the room for you.)
Ah've had experience in that mahself.
Entry 3025
The Blessed Mother. Now, she is a motherly saint - she loves children. But anything you promise her, you have to give her, such as flowers you know, them lights - that's what you have to give. But she is a bless- ed saint. Anything that you want, you can go to church and put a light, if you want to. If not, you can put a light at your home, but be sure and have a Blessed Mother picture there, but the priest have to bless it before you bring it in your house and set those lights. And if you promise her a light for nine days, she have to give it to you, and in three days she have to give it. Now after you get your promise, if you promise her a bou- quet of flowers, you better be sure and carry them, too, because if you don't, it'll be just too bad and such bad luck will fall on you that you wish you did.
Entry 3038
Well, it's according - you can burn a pink one, you can burn a yellow one, you can burn a white one, for luck.
(Well, how do you burn those various candles?)
Now, you take - say for 'n'instance like when I was on my truck. I had a truck. I used to get me those yellow candles, you see. Either yellow or white will do. I get my candle and I'd light my candle in the mornings 'fore seven o'clock. I used to go to church for them. And 'fore seven o'clock I'm got my candle, I'd light my candle on my truck. I wouldn't got out of my truck. I'd burn the candle and whilst burning my candle, I'd use cinnamon and sugar. I'd burn that in my truck. I'd put that in the candle and I'd burn that in mv truck. I had St. Peter and I had St. Joseph. I'd light my candles to them and I'd pray to them.
(In your house?)
No sir, on my truck.
(Oh, you did this in the truck?)
In the street, no house at all - in the street, anywheres in the street, when the time comes. I would burn that. That was for my luck. All right. Twelve O'clock, I'd burn it - burn my candle again at three o'clock and during that day I never had a misfortune at all. During that day I made - if it wasn't but five or six dollars, I made that.
Entry 3086
[Madam DeLong is a hand-maker and of the dime-a-dozen variety. She must be included here because my informant visited both women. Besides, her name interests me for a reason given later. Aunt Sally is a master of her craft - original, brilliant.] At Savannah, Ga. (What were their names?) Aunt Sally - Savannah, Ga. Ah first went to Madam DeLong - she was white. Ah went to Madam DeLong.
(In Savannah.)
Dat's right - on Jerome Street in 1914. But ah went to her fer gambling hand.
(What did she do for you?)
Jest a minute, now. Ah don't recall [everything] - a piece of root and some black peppah; yes, it was, and if ah understand well, three grains [seeds] out of a green pepper, cayenne pepper. She had three grains. She took dat root dey call John de Conker and she [didn't] cut it up and [but] she cut another root which is called blacksnake root and a little gypsum [ginseng]. [Three roots.] [And she did them] jest like she did de seeds, like de three seeds dat she took out of de pepper, and she grates it into a flannel. But she had another rag in dere befo' she put it into de flannel. And she sewed dat up and she give it to me for luck in gambling.
[John de Conker was not cut up but worn in one piece.]
(This was the white woman, Madam DeLong: How do you spell that?)
Madam DeLong, dey call it. She's dead now.
(How do you spell that name?)
Ah jest don't know. [I heard this so'often!] [If I remember rightly, there was a curio mail-order firm in Chicago by that name. This woman - a possible agent of theirs or buying some of her hoodoo sup- lies from them - may have used DeLong as her professional name. We have a good example of name-adoption from a firm in G. H. Smith & Company (2740, p.746).] Ah went to Aunt Sally, dat was one of mah race after dat. Le'me see, 'twas about a year after dat, ah reckon. I did [it]. [It] worked very well in dat year cause I was runnin' pract'ly a kitchen gambling house - dey gamble in de kitchen - an' nobody didn't bother me. Well den, after she died, I went to Aunt Sally. Well, I went to Aunt Sally and she give me a fishing hook and she made me step three steps right out in front of her do'. Den she sont a little boy out after that and she told him to pick up her some sand out of each one of those [three] tracks. She told me when I got to de last track, "Don't make no other step." She said, "Jis' swing around." I swung around. And ah noticed dat dat last track - de little boy brought in de sand. She put de other two sand to- gether out of de other two tracks, but dis sand heah, dis last track, she didn't put dat sand in dere. She put it into something look like a sifter and she sift- ed it into a white piece of cloth. After sifting it into a white piece of cloth, she laid it up on de sheft [shelf] and she said, "Now, you sit down fer five minutes." Ah sat down five minutes and when she rech up dere and got it agin, instead of it being sand, it was ants. It was ants! Ah looked at it myself. It was dem little antses. Den she tuk it and put it into de same package. Ah don't know whether de dirt turned to ants or not, but when she did lay it up dere five minutes and den when she looked at it, and I looked at it too, and it was ants instead of de sand. Den she fold it into de other package and fold it up. And she hand it to me like dat [demonstrates].
(With her fist down.)
Yeah, jes' dat way, with her fist down. Ah never will forget it. And den she tuk it back. Dat's how it was done. And she said, "Now," she say, "I won't give yo' dis." Ah said, "Well, why?" She said, "Yo' ain't able to pay fo'it." An' ah asked her, ah said, "What do you want fer it?" She said, "Fifty dollars." Ah say, "Ah'll pay fer it twice." And she wouldn't take de $50. She tuk $5 but she never did give me de package. She say, "Yo' go on you'll be all right.
(What was that for?)
That was for running business, a place of business - help yo' business.
(Or in ganbling.)
Yes, actually that was my business - running a gambling [business]. ["Go on you'll be all right is a common trick (see 885-886, p.319), but to change footstep-dirt into live ants and refuse a large price for them displays the hand of a master. I need not explain that some doctors work upon the theory: if you give nothing, there can be no evidence. The ants? Simple - two packages
(see bottle substitution,792, p.265).]
Entry 4012
Well, it's a powdahs dat ah have used but ah don't know de name of dat powdah. Dey use de chamber lye fo' two-three diff'ren' things.
(Tell me one of them first.)
Well, yo' kin take - if yo' kin ketch any of dey own, jis' lak, yo' know, dey go in a bucket at night. Well, yo' kin go dere an' git it. Yo' go dere an' git it an' boil it. Yo' gotta boil it thoroughly. Yo' take de white of a aig an break it in dere. An' yo' take de white of de aig an' let it stay in dere till it cook up, an' take it right back an' put it in a bottle. Take some Hearts Cologne an' po' in dere wit it, an' yo' go right back an' bury it right at de gate where dey have tuh walk ovah it.
(What will that do?)
Well, dat's fo' givin' people luck when stayin' at a house, where dey been in bad luck an' been havin' confusion.
Entry 7577
(To keep the law away, you take this same dirt and instead of throwing it into the house.) [I am repeating what informant had said while recording machine was turned off.] See, when yuh throw it intuh yore house, dat's fo' yore luck. Dat's bringin' all de peoples tuh yuh. Dat's tuh make yore business big. An' when yuh git ready tuh keep de law away, yuh go roun' yore house in de mawnin' between eight an' nine a'clock an' yuh draws yuh a cross an' makes yore wishes, tell it whut chew want.
(Where do you draw the cross?)
At each do' 'fore dey kin come in. Well, dey might come out dere but dey nevah comes ovah dere. Put it tuh yore front do' an' yuh put dat down in de cross jis' lak dat an' dey won't come in.
(You put this dirt down in the cross?)
De dirt, sulphur - graveyard dirt an' yore table salt.
(Graveyard [dirt] from the infant's grave.)
Yessuh.
Entry 10046
Well, dey tell me if yo' wanta have good luck, git chew a coal-black cat an' take him out tuh whah de roads crossin' some ole faraway road an' take yuh a pot an' take dis cat an' cook 'im, evahthin' but 'is eyes. Dose is de two thin's dat chew have yuh a [some- thing?] right wheah yo' put chure fiah, jis' enough tuh not burn de eyes. [See comment later about these eyes.1 Cook it tuh wheah it'll be hard, an' cook dat cat. Dey claim dat diff'ren thin's [spirits] come up out de pot but dat ain't true. (These things [appearance of spir- its] really don't come about?) Dey don' come about, but it is true tuh mah knowledge about de cat. An' yo' cook dis cat tull [till] he's per- fek done; ev'ry stran' of de meat's offa de bone. An' go tuh some spot-a watah where de watah is standin' perfekly [perfectly] still an' yo' drop dose bones in dere. An' dere's one li'le certain bone, dat's jis' a small bone, dat'll stay on topa de watah, an' de resta de bones dey goes down tuh de bottom. Dat bone yo' kin take it an' keep it fo' maybe ten or twelve days, an' take it tuh some place tuh where yo' kin dress it wit strong alkihol tuh wheah it has a strong scent. Have it wheah yuh kin smell dat scent. Den yuh kin keep it in yuh pock- et, lak yuh's a gamblah or some kinda card playah, an' it re'lly brings luck tuh yuh.
(What would you do with those eyes of the cat?)
Aftah yo' dress yore bone yuh git dose eyes an' place dem somewhah whah yuh's, in yuh residence whah yuh live at, whah dey kin stay whah nuthin'll bothah 'em. An' dose eyes - yuh know he [cat] has a gray eye. Dey'll begin tuh turn green. An' de whole thin'll git jis' as green as a gourd. Den yuh keep dose fo' yuh- self; not fo' nobody else but chureself. [Those preceding cat eyes are interesting! At the moment I do not recall anything quite similar in HOODOO. The fact that these natural eyes turn hard and then gradually change color from gray to green, shows we are concerned here with two cat's-eyes: gems exhibiting a chatoyant [[reflecting a single streak of light ohen cut in a cobochon]] luster, especially a variety of chrysoberyl, the ori ertal or precious cat's-eye. Though this is my only example - compare following rite - could present rite be an attempt to sell glass cat's-eyes as devil stones? Years ago at the turn of the century a cat's-eye shooting marble was alast a Superstition with some marble shooters. Perhaps an antiquarian could infona us.]
[For another example of black cat's eyes, see No. .]
Entry 10063
Now, if it's a hand dat he wants, he'll go in de fo'k of de road 'fo' day in de mawnin' at fo' 'clock. He'll be dere by foah. Well, he take jis' thin's. Yo' evah heah talk of dis root dey call John de Conkah? Well, it's de root dat chew git - it's a blacksnake root also. Well, yo' take de root. Well, it's a bone. It's lak a chicken bone. It's on a black cat. Ah could almost tell yuh where tuh git it from. [I too can tell where tuh git it, wishbone from, but you wo won't find it in a black cat! I have discussed this matter elsewhere in HOODOO.] Yo' take dis cat an' yo' kill de cat, see. Yo' take de bone, it's long lak a chicken. Well, yo' take dis bone, de blacksnake root an' yo' take dis John de Conkah, an' yo' takes dis bone, an' yo' goes in de fo'ks of de road. An' yo' draws somepin in de Way of a triangle. Dis way [demonstrates] in de mawnin' at fo' 'clock when- evah yo' make yuh wish. An' yuh hand dat chew wants, yo' sellin' yuhself tuh de devil, also, whenevah yuh do dat. Den yo' take de sinnahman's dirt from 'is grave an' nine pennies which yo' pays de devil fo' 'is work. Yo' give him dis stuff an' leave it dere. An' he'll come up jis' de same as a natchal man. An' when yo' give him dis, he give yuh a hand an' dere's nobody kin break it up.
[All hands can be broken by counter charm or powerful doctor.]
(This is the hand for gambling. Where do you put all this in this triangle?)
Right in dis triangle. Jis' lak in de fo'ks of de road: one comin' dis way an' one goin' dat way an' one's behin' yuh. Well, yo' stands right in de fo'ks of de road an' yo', yo' know, so nobody cain't git it up. Yo' know, dig it up, an' yo' stand right dere, if yo' have nerve enough, an' yo' fix all of dis in heah [demonstrates].
(In this hole?)
In dis triangle in de hole [in the hole in the triangle]. An' whenevah yo' do, yo' talk tuh hit, yo' know, jis' talk jis' lak ah'm talkin' tuh yuh: Ah wan' chew tuh do so an' so, an' ah wants a "hand, " an' ah wants tuh win evahthin'. Well, whenevah yo' do dat, well, dere's yuh luck right dere. Well, den yo' kin take, when yo' git ready tuh leave, yo' take a piece of each of de roots an' de black cat bone, an' put it in a ten-cent vial of Hearts Cologne. [This ten-cent vial of Hearts Cologne as hand we have elsewhere.] An' when yo' go in yore game yo' 'n'int chureself wit it, an' dat'll cuz evahbody tuh come right tuh yuh.
(Where do you put these pennies?)
Yo' take dose pennies. Well, see, yo' bury dose pennies. Yo's payin' 'im [devil] fo' yuh hand.
(Where do you put those pennies?)
Yo' put it right in de triangle an' yo' bury it. See, yo' won' take dose pennies [away] wit chew, yo'll leave 'em dere.
(You take the roots with you?)
Takes a piece of de root, jis' a piece. See, de roots join. Jew evah seen a piece? De root's [root is] join [has joints].
(You take a piece of it and you leave the rest of the root in the hole.)
Leave de rest of de root. Jis' take a piece of each piece of dis heah, but chew takes dat bone an' put it in de jah [jar], right in de jah, an' den yo' put chure - den yo' stops it up, each piece of de root. Den yo' 'oint [anoint] yuh- self when yo' git ready tuh go on a game.
The informant describes a four-o'clock road-fork triangle rite with named roots, a black-cat bone, grave dirt and pennies, and later carrying parts in Hearts Cologne for gambling. Hyatt disputes the bone identification and indestructibility claim. Preserve the source's shifting root description, represented request, payment recipient and editorial qualifications without equating roots or bones globally.
Entry 10064
If yo' wanta have yuh way anywheah in de world yo' go, wanta do any- thing yo' wanta do, yo' git chew a jet black cat. Don't let 'im have no spot on 'im atall - jet black. An' yo' take dat cat an' take yo' a kettle, an' yo' go down heah tuh de swamp alone, by yo'self, no one wit chew. Put dat cat in dat kettle of watah an' put sompin on de lid tuh hold 'im down in dere. Make yuh up a fiah an' bile it [kettle] till de meat come way from dat cat bone. Aftah doin' dat yo' take all of 'is bones an' yo' go tuh a crossroads. All kinda things comin' tuh yuh, but don' chew git frightened. Don't chew git scared. Jis' stay right dere. All kinda things comin' tuh yuh: things wit no haids, no laigs, no ahms - comin' tuh yuh. But chew stay dere. An' aftah yo' stayin' dere yo' take dese bones an' yo' go back tuh runnin' watah an' throw dem in, an' de one yo' see travel up - up - yo' git dose bones. Aftah gittin' dose bones, yo' go tuh a graveyard. An' when yo' git tuh de graveyard, why yo' put dese bones down dere an' let 'em stay down dere fo' nine days. Aftah nine mawnin's yo' go back dere an' git dem bones an' yo' left yo' [you leave] nine pennies. [For paying spirits of dead in graveyard, see pp.3316-3323, v.4 and other places in HOODOO.] Dig yo' a hol' an' let dem nine pennies down dere - at de graveyard, attah yo' git de bones. Yo' put nine pennies dere. An' when yo' take dem bones, yo' take dem bones an' yo' wrap 'em up in a piece of red flannel. An' yo' weahs dese bones. An' yo'll be all right anywhere yo' done go. Nuthin'll worry yo'. Nuthin'll trouble. If yo' in trou- ble, yo' kin git out. Nuthin will hindah yuh atall. [I put in italics that wonderful expression: alone, by yourself, no one wit chew!]
Entry 12521
Ah heard of people if dey wanted luck in dere homes, dey git up befo' sunrise in de morning an' take some onions an' some sulphur an' salt, an' set it on de fire in de stove, an' jes' de scent - de incense go through de house- round about. An' read a cer- tain Scripture. Ah don't know whut it is, now, in de Bible. An' dat'll bring yo' luck.
(Luck to the house?)
Yes sir. Dat's good, too. Mah auntie does dat all de time.
Entry 12874
Mix a tablespoonful of saltpeter with Jockey Club perfume an' rub over hands for luck in gambling. The saltpeter kills any cunjure and Jockey Club sweetens the luck.
Entry 12936
Dey burn de left-footed shoe an' dat will bring luck.
(Where do you burn it - at any particular place or time?)
Burn it in dere home - in dere rooms dat chew want de luck to come into.
(Just the shoe alone?)
Well, nope, some people use a - peels off an onion an' a little sulphur. Yo' burn it inside de shoe, yo' know.
Entry 249
Ah haven't heard 'em say nuthin' much about it, but ah has understandin' in dis way. Ah've been travelin' wit roots purtty good fo' awhile [for a pretty good while]. Ah'm twenty-eight years old an' ah had about eighteen years in it. See. An' ah went tuh a root man an' he explained it tuh me in dis way: Jes'if yo'wanta have luck yo' kin tote some de roots, dey say, "De Lawd is mah green pasture - -ah shall not want. He'p me to de green pasture." An' walk around de house three times befo' goin' tuh bed. Seven steps from de do' walk in back- wards, an' den he give de stuff to rub ovah yo' - yore han's, an' den yo' go to bed. De next mornin' yo' go roun' one time - dat's fo' luck.
[I did not record his story; now I want him to repeat it.]
(What kind of luck?)
Well, fo'gambling.
(You went to this fellow to get this luck?)
Ah went tuh him fo' two kinda lucks. Ah went to him fo' gamblin' an' ah went to him 'cause ah wus runnin' a business.
(This is what he did for you - told you what to do?)
Yes sir.
[Cylinder changed - I talk while changing.]
(You went to this root man for luck in gambling and luck in business. Now, just what did he do when you went there? Tell me the whole story.) When ah went dere, it was a good while befo' ah could see 'im, an' after ah went in an' tole mah position an' tole him whut ah needed an' everythin', he grabbed me in de pam of mah hand an' when he grabbed me in de pam of mah han' he tole - tole me de history of mah life an' tole me whut kind of shape ah was in - whut wus gon'a come an' whut was gon'a be happen, an' he say it'd [it would] take twenty dollahs tuh stop it. So after ah paid him, he fixed up de little bag of roots an' give 'em tuh me, an' ah left. An'befo' ah left he wrote me a story tuh tell [Psalm 23?] an' so after ah left den, he wrote me den fo' tuh come back up dere an' ah went back up dere an' ah tole him dat de officers wus givin' me right smart of trouble. An' he tole me, said, "Well, it will cost yo' eight dollahs to stop it." An' he wrapped me up a bag of dat tuh stop de officers, an' dey did stop. Dey stopped botherin' me any atall, after ah used it, an' he tole me how to use it. Drink three glasses of watah.
(Well now, wait a minute - the story. I want to straighten it out.)
The whole limit [?] of it?
(That's right.)
Well, mah uncle come from Florida an' he wus goin' down dere an' he tole me, said, "Come on, git in de car an' let's go down dere." So ah went down dere wit 'im. He went in dere first an' he give me twenty dollahs tuh go in dere. So after [afterward], ah went in dere an' explained it to de fellah an' he explain it back tuh me 'bout how much it cost.'Well," he say, "yo' be fixed up an' ah guarantee it - if yo' don't, yo' git chure money back." So after he [doctor] went in dere, him an' his wife fix up de stuff, a snake - whut ah mean, he brung a cup in dere but it turn into a snake an' it crawled through mah han'. An' he said, "Don't git nervous - if yo' do, it won't work so good." An' after ah did it, did whut he say, ah wus a little nervous; but ah kinda changed it when he brung de second snake in, an' ah got brave an' ah left. So dat worked pretty good. (Forget what you told me before. I want to begin right at the beginning and tell the whole thing. I don't know a thing about it, now. Now, tell me right from the beginning, all the details, the whole story. First, why did you go down to see this man? Tell me from there.) ['My voice a little exasperated" - this is my notation when I listened to the cylinder to check the transcriber's tran- scription.] Well, ah wus in bad luck, an' mah uncle come by an' ah told him 'bout it. An' he say, "Well, ah'm goin' tuh see a man to he'p me out on mah bolito in Florida. An' us went down dere an' after us got to de man, he [uncle] went in first. An' he give me twenty dollahs fo' me tuh go in. An' ah went in dere an' den de man commenced tuh workin' on me an' tole me how much he would charge. An' after he tole me how much he charge an' ah tole him it would be all right, he got de Bible an'read a verse in it. An' he went back an' got his wife. She brung a cup in dere an' it turnt into a snake or de snake wus in de cup. De snake crawled through mah han' an' he tole me not to git nervous. Well, ah did got nervous.
(Why did he tell you not to get nervous?)
Well, he said it wouldn't work, if ah got nervous - dat it wouldn't work. So de second time ah did not git nervous of de snake. So he fixed up fo' de gambling an' ah come on out.
(What did he give you?)
He give me a little root - a little bag full.
(Well, didn't he tell you how to use this stuff - or something?)
Yes sir.
(Well, tell me what you told me before - how you were to use this stuff.)
Well, yo' take it an' yo' walk around de house three times, walk seven steps away from de steps an' walk in backwards an' go in an' lay down. De next mawnin' vo' hol' a quarter up to de sun or a dollah - either one, it don't make not much diff'rent. An' after you hold dat quarter up dere yo' say, "Lawd he'p me through de green pastur [pasture]." An' after yo' say dat, yo' walk around de house one time - yo' say, "Lawd is mah shepherd, ah shall not want." Den run yore han' an' take some of dat stuff - yo' put it [the root bag] in whiskey [this is feeding the hand] an' den yo' rub it ovah yore face, yore arms. An' dat's for de luck in gamb ling.
(Then what happened - you said you went back the second time?)
Yes sir.
(What happened - you had a little trouble again?)
Yes sir - de polices wus givin' me trouble 'bout selling whiskey an' gambling. Well, ah went to him de second time an' ah told him. He wrote to me an' ah wrote him dat ah would be up dere on a Wednesday. Ah went up dere on a Wednesday an he tole me - ah tole him dat ah wus havin' bad luck from de polices runnin' me an' getting me fo' whiskey. An' he say, "Well, ah got a idea fo' dat." An' so ah went on in den - went in dis little room an' he got a room to tell yo' every diff'rent thing in. So ah went in one room an' ah tole him how de polices did tuh ketch me, an' so he tole me, say, "Well, it take eight dollahs to stop it." An' after he tole me it would take eight dollahs to stop it ah paid him, an' he give me a little hand to tote in mah right pocket all de time, an' when de polices - during de time dey supposed to travel dat beat, jes' roll mah jomoo an' dey'd pass on by. Well, ah tried it an' it worked. So ah left.
Entry 2213
Well, yo' takes dat lodestone and git chew a little piece of flannel an' sew it all up together, an' yo' buy Hearts Cologne an' jest feed it on it - hit grows as yo' feed it, 'noint it a lot. Ah had a piece once a long time ago an' de more yo' feed it wit dat Hearts Cologne why de bigger it grows, an yo'jes' use dat chew see, jest rub it in yore hand an' tote it in your right hand pocket, den yo' go on tuh gamble. Well, it's lucky anyway, jest all de time getting holt of something.
(Why do they carry it in the right-hand pocket?)
Well, dey tell me dat's de place to carry it, say if yo' tote it in yore left pocket, anything leaves yo' - de right fo' coming in an' de left fo' goin' out.
[See margin-title Three Pockets.]
Entry 7993
They put a image in a coffin an' put it at your door an' put chew in bad luck, make yo' drift.
Entry 8077
I heard that they could take your photograph and, if the person wanted to harm you, they could take your photograph and bury it; and that they thought you'd have bad luck or some ill omen would befall you.
Entry 8109
Dey git hold of dat photograph so as tuh do yo' any harm. Well, dey could take it an' take it home wit 'em an' bury it an' keep it about, say two or three days sompin, somewhere round de do'step. But it ain't nuthin tuh kill yuh or nuthin lak dat. But it will, yo' know, put chew in bad luck or give yo' a bad feelin' or somepin othah lak dat.
Entry 292
Git de black cat an' boil dis black cat and git five of dem little bones an' yo' crosses dem lak Joseph's ladder [surely Jacob's]. [He demonstrates.] (You take two parallel bones and two more parallel and you cross them like that?) [This sound like a ticktacktoe (or noughts-and-crosses) diagram.] Yes. (That's Joseph's ladder?) Yes. An' yo' cross 'em lak that an' yo' make yore wish - lak yo' want luck or make money or somepin, wish it on Joseph's ladder fo' nine times. [He holds up an imaginary ladder.] Dat called Joseph's ladder, say, "In God we trust - luck - luck - luck" - fo' nine times, with that black cat bones.
(What do you do with the fifth bone?)
Well, yo' takes hit an' yo' wears hit - yo' wears hit down in yore bosom, dat fifth bone. (When you are making these wishes, what do you do - you hold the bones up like that?) Yo' hold de bones up in de east an' yo' call Joseph's name - Joseph's ladder name nine times, den yo' wish fo' luck.
(How do those bones stay together that way?)
Well, dey takes a little fine wire - wire 'em togethah. Den yo' make a mattress, kinda lak dat, of 'em [demonstrates] - kinda take a little sawin' knife, so yo' kin file [something like this #].
(Make it like a [rustic] picture frame?)
Yes, kinda lak a little picture frame an' hold it up to de east an' make nine wishes.
(What part of the cat do you get these from?)
Yo' git 'em outa the hin' laigs. (Either hind leg?) [This sort of question is usually conversational - not investigative - and meaningless, see Introduction.] Yessuh, in de hin' laig - that part of the thigh, de small bone - git dem bones, de thigh bones.
[Two cylinders later the black cat bone reappears.]
(I have to go down before the judge - now, what do I do?)
"Fore yo' go yo' have dis heah wishbone - dis heah black cat wishbone.
(Where do you get that?)
Dat's de one ah wus tellin' yo' 'bout when yo' boil de cat an' git dat othah bone - yo' know, dere's five of 'em. Well, yo' only use but fo' of 'em, an' yo' keeps one an' yo' has it on a black cord around yore neck. Well, yo' takes it out an' when dey brings de - yo' settin' dere waitin' an' yo' make a wish nine times in de east - lookin' in de east an' make a wish. Den yo' take de lode- stone an' rub hit on dere an' make yore wish an' put it back in yore pocket. An' when yo' go out, go out with this heah lodestone in yore han', an' de judge will make yore fine light an' he liable tuh dismiss de case.
(What did you say about passing something over my teeth or lips?)
Ah said, nine times, take dat wishbone ovah yore face nine times lak dat - while yo' makin' yore wishes.
(You said you had to look a certain way when you do it?)
In de east, an' make yore wish.
Entry 297
Now, fo' gamblin', it's a black cat yo' must git - a jet black cat, de only thing white on him should be his teeth. Yo' ketch dis cat but have him penned up fo' six days. Fo' instance, have a little cage or somepin lak yo' have fo' birds. Keep him penned dat he must git mo' fury - yo' know, tuh git angry, mad, angry fo' human bein's. Git him dat-a-way. Now, de seventh day, dat mawnin' yo' git up at dawn dat seventh day an' put on a boilin' pot of watah - a large, large pot. Keep dat watah boilin'. Let it boil dere till yo' see it bubblin' an' dere's a foam ovah it. Git dis cat. Event'ly [eventually] yo'll have tuh have someone tuh work with yo', 'cause quite natchral yo' couldn't handle a cat in a wild fury - take him outa dere an' put him in dere. Have some- body dere tuh take dat lid off dis pot yo' got. Have dem take it off, unpen an' dump him down in dere in dat pot an' put dat lid on it, but chew must have a lid heavy enough to keep him down, 'cause yo' know if a person - say, if a person is in a fury an' are bein' killed or somepin, dey have super-strength. Yo' know whut ah mean - dey be evah so strong. Now, yo' put de top on dat pot an' let him boil dere fo' three hours. Aftah he's boiled there fo' those three hours, let him cool off. Soon as it da'k, whut we call dusk heah - don' know how yo' call it up dere [in the North] - aftah it's da'k, yo' take an' yo' separate all those bones. Be somewhere where yo' kin reach, but be in a dark room befo' a mirror. An' standin' befo' dis mirror, yo' take bone fo' bone an' hol' yore teeth dat-a-way. [Demonstrates, baring teeth.] Jes' pass it - now, it's one of those bones in there dat's goin' sparkle an' yo'll see it befo' de glass. Now, dat bone is de bone yo' must wear, an' there's no special place tuh wear it, but secure it in a place dat yo' won't misplace it. An' yo'll have all de luck in de world fo' gamblin'. Dat's all it is to dis black cat.
Entry 305
Ah heerd mah people talk about a black cat. Dey said if yo' wanta be lucky, yo' go ahead an' yo' cook dis cat, see. An' yo' would take ev'ry bone an' pull it through yore mouth until yo' git to de right one an' when yo' git to de right one, dat right one would drop out chure mouth - dis black cat bone. Yo' would have to pull ev'ry one through dere till yo' git to de right - den de right one, when yo' git to de right one, dat right one would fall out chure mouth.
(Well, you would be holding it - how could it drop if you are holding it?)
Well, yo' draw it through see - one will go one way and de other ones will go de other, an' dat main bone would fall out. Dat s de way yo' finds de luckiest. [This is the magic rite of alternation - draw a bone right to left across your mouth, then the next bone left to right, and keep repeating this alternate process.]
Entry 308
Jes' take a black cat in de house an' jes' have a hot pot of water on de stove an' jes' stick him in dere. An' dey say when he boil up, say yo' jes' take it out an' go to de water an' throw de bones in - in runnin' water. De one float up de stream, dey say yo' git dat out an' dey say have it dressed an' dey say - yo' know, was luck. (How do they dress it?) Say, well, yo' take it to a root man an' have him to dress dis bone fo' yo'.
Entry 319
Ah don' know how dey git dat separate, but dey say dey take de left leg an' yo' boil it, an' den yo' always - yo' boil it an' tie a red string on it an' tote it in yore left pocket. Dey say that will give yo' a lucky hand.
Entry 427
(The Rev. Young is going to tell his story again about his experience in New Orleans.) [The preceding words are not for Mr. Young who heard them, but for the concealed microphone - a notation to remind me later that his story the preceding day had not been well recorded. My previous knowledge of his adventure is the reason why I can prompt the rerecording.] This man was named Scott - that lived at Moundville, Alabama - an' he came to New Orleans and was stopping at de Chicago Hotel, run by a man by the name of A. O. Smith on de corner of [name began with P] and Liberty Streets. He come to New Orleans to see one of these wizards as they call them [never so called], or either fortune-tellers or hoodoos, and he was talking to the proprietor, Mr. Smith, relative to having someone who knew New Orleans who would take him around. He [Smith] told him he knew a young man who was in school at Leland University, and that he would possibly be there and that he was just the man he was looking for. So, while they were talking, I happened up that afternoon. I simply happened up and Mr. Smith says, "Here's the very man we Was talking about" - introduced me to him and said, "This is Mr. Scott from Moundville and he wants to go with someone who knows New Orleans, to go about with him." Well, first thing he explained the nature of his business to me, and said whatever ah charged him for mah time, he would give it to me. He was looking for a man that Would help him to find some money that was supposed to be buried on his premises, on his property. The first thing he wanted to do was to find him some of those barrooms where he could find him some gin, and he claimed that gin was lucky to him, and after clearing about a quart of this gin - drinking it - why we went round sight-seeing in New Orleans and visited a deal of places up until about possibly ten-thirty or 'leven 'clock that night. Then we went out, way out Bienville - near Galvers Street - way out - seventy-five blocks away, possibly - way out in New Orleans, Way out to Bienville Street - dat's about two blocks from Canal Street, parallel to Canal Street. We got out there, ah suppose about ten-thirty or 'leven 'clock and knocked on a door and dey - mostly all downtown houses in New Orleans have dese blinds and shutters, and de people is very superstitious - it's a very hard matter to find anybody round New Orleans. If you knock on a person's door and dey'll ask you who you looking for and sometimes you's talking to dis party, and dey won't answer you. And if dey are somewhere else in de house dey'll call 'em and perhaps yo' gone, and if you wanta see dat person perhaps they'll call you back. So [before] we went in and - his wife said, "Oh, sure it's you, Percy?" Ah said, "Yes." She said, "Come on in." Ah said, "Ah got company, someone to see Professor Frank." She say, "Why he's in bed asleep." Ah said, "Well, this is rather important and I would be glad should you call him." She say, "All right." So she went and called Professor Frank and he came out dressed in a very gorgeous robe, seem'ly made of red velvet and large arms - had a cap on same as that which a priest wears, and had dis man to come and kneel. [Since I did not ask for a description of this cap "same as that which a priest wears," I evidently assumed that it would be a biretta rather than a zucchetto and that the color would be black; this article and color being more accessible to him at a Roman Catholic religious shop. But I had not yet visited New Orleans and had much to learn - the cap was probably red.] De room was lighted with two large candles on either side of the mantlepiece - red candles - de carpet on de floor was red, and then they had a large altar over in de corner. It seem to set the room off katycornered, and there was a stool [prie-dieu] by which a man could kneel down upon as the people do in some of the churches to pray. This man knelt down on this stool and he told him to put his right hand on his heart and his left hand on a book which was supposed to be the Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses of witchcraft and superstition. Then he mumbled some words, turned his back to dis man and looked up as in meditation and mumbled something and turned and told him dat he would seek what he was lookin' fo'. This altar I didn't describe it as I had yesterday - the robe [frontal] on de altar was of deep, dark red velvet with fringe all round and worked wit gold and various colors of stars, and de moon. It had a large gold and silver horseshoe mingled with seem'ly various colors - ivory.
(You spoke of that awning [his word] being held up, yesterday.)
Yes, this awning [canopy] over the altar was caught up right in de center in front, seem'ly by dis horseshoe and den draped down to a point on either side and went almost round de - in fact, it covered de altar. This altar Was made very similar to that of a pulpit - suppose it was about two and a half or three feet and about eighteen inches wide - something like dat - and he stood with dis heavy robe on him - this large robe girded round him in fringes on de end.
(It was the kind of a robe that a priest throws around him?)
Yes sir. And he had the bottom of his hand up this way - his right hand - he was seated in front of a table. Now dis table was something similar to a living- room or a parlor room mahogany table, seem'ly about four feet possibly and about eighteen inches in width, very heavy carved, de legs - I didn't say dat yesterday but it was large ole antique furniture. On this table was a large red covering with fringes that went up and down in the center. It didn't exactly cover the table. On this table was a large reading lamp with a shade seem'ly probably of gold, and he went behind dis table and sit down in large reclining revolving chair. But before he sat down in this chair - no, after he sat down in de chair, he pulled out a drawer in dis table and got out a kind of pipe - seem'ly it was gold - had a little crooked pipe stem to it [surely a calabash - my first pipe] - got some what we call moss tobacco or cut-plug - something similar to cut-plug tobacco and filled his pipe with tobacco continuously looking at this man, who sat dere and seem'ly half out of his wits and trembling - looked upon dis man as some supernatural being or some man dat was extraordinary - out of the ordinary person. He continuously looked at him searchingly, and dis man would look up at him guardedly. After he had filled his pipe with tobacco, still looking at dis man, he got out a - out from underneath his robe - the robe was lined with heavy satin - ah don't think I said that yesterday - he pulled out dis gold match- lighter and some way pushed a spring and out come a blue flame which seem'ly had something else in it - resembled that of lightning - still continuously looking at dis man. After lighting his pipe, put this cigarette lighter out and stuck it back in his pocket. He sat down and looked at this man and told him what he came there for. First he told him that his mother was dead and that he lived with his father; that he Was in a business and that he was very successful in this business, and he had a large amount of money and had come to New Orleans looking for him and that he Would find there was heap much money on this property of his buried. Seem'ly it was probably buried there by the Indians who seem'ly had formerly owned - lived in that settlement before it was thickly inhabited or populated.
(Then he sent you away for the night, didn't he?)
Yes sir. He had us to leave with the understanding that at ten 'clock de next morning he would come back and not say a word to anybody and bring $75 with him, which dis man did. We meets at de hotel and de next morning ah brought him back, since he didn't know New Orleans, and we came back - made it our business to be there exactly at ten 'clock. Came there and then he took him in his back yard. They had a rod that resembles a lightning rod, something like a lightning rod.
(What was the shape of this rod?)
Hit was round and at the ends it went down in an inner case and was made so it went down in an inner case and was made so it would go up and down at a certain length, a certain depth.
(Yesterday you said it was like a drill.)
Yes sir - it was like a drill in one end and it was curved like curved wire - like a curved lightning [rod] wire.
(How long was it?)
Oh it was possibly - probably six feet near as ah kin judge. And he went in his back yard and had some wires attached to it [the drill] - he apparently had these wires [also attached] on de wall of his house [in] back- yard, but it seems he attached them to some other wires connected with, possibly the electric wires, and place this machine out in de middle of de yard. Had it to drill itself - worked it a certain way that it worked itself down in de yard, and stood off from it, waved his hand like magic and said some peculiar words three different times, and then flames of fire like lightning flamed up at the top of [this] rod - flamed up three different times at de top of this rod. Well, the man as well as mahself, we stood there amazed because it was - well, now you understand it. We, when we went out of his house - dere was a little alley between his house and the next house - the houses in New Orleans are built very closely together - went out in the street and right in front of his home was a gutter that jes' carries off the Water, a ditch, very seldom cleaned out and there was Water in it, stopped up - stagnant water dere most all de time. Stuck dis rod down in de Water, but he never left the rod off the wire as he went through the yard - that wire was coils you know.
(He kept on to this wire - the wire was still attached to the house?)
Yes sir - still attached to the house and he uncoiled it. as he went on through the alley and sent this same rod - it was made to go down in de ditch of water, and said those same words he said in the back yard and waved his hand over this wire and then the flames came up seem'ly out of the.water through this wire. Jes' how it was [done I] don't know [!ii]. But after that he said to this man that regardless of where dis money was buried, if it was an old well, if it was in Water anywhere, or it was on dry land, dis machine would be sure to find it. And this man gave him the $75. He gave him that when he first went in the house the second day. And he was to go to this man's home at Moundville, Alabama - this side of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, up on de Alabama Great Southern Railroad between Meedan [?] [Meridian, Mississippi] and Tuscaloosa [Alabama]. And sometime that afternoon they left all of a sudden for Moundville where he was supposed to go to find dis money.
(This man went with him?)
Yes sir, this man went with him. [As the reader has already suspected, when the professor "waved his hand like magic his wife inside the house pulled the switch!] (You were telling me yesterday about this candle-burning: You said it is very prevalent along the Gulf here and New Orleans to burn candles.)
[This was several weeks before I reached New Orleans on my first trip.]
Yes sir. (What was your idea about why they burn candles in other parts of the country; you told me that yesterday.) Well, because de religious idea seem'ly is borrowed from de Catholics who burn candles in their religious ceremonies. A deal of dese people are persuaded, some of them are Catholic persuasion and some of them belong to the Catholic Church. Those who do not belong to the Catholic Church, as the Catholics to some extent predominate along the coast and in New Orleans, through Mexico, down through Central American - these peoples ideas are molded by their religious worship. These superstitious get the idea that they use these candles - they use highly perfumed candles. (You were telling me about the perfume they use over there in New Orleans - what was that?) Van-van they name it. The name is van-van - it's a highly perfumed powder jest a little above the odor of oil of peppermint - oil of cinnamon. It has a Wonderful pleasing effect on people who smell it. The people around New Orleans, white and black, around certain districts use that in scrubbing their doorsteps and houses, and even pouring this van-van which is very expensive oil - perfumed oil in the water with which they scrub their floors and even sweept off the brick pavement around their doors. They claim that it brings good luck. Racehorse men and racehorse women who play lots on racehorses are known to use this perfume greatly on their clothes. It's a very frequent thing to meet people with their clothes highly perfumed with this van-van odor. (You were telling about the women in the fast houses; do they use that in some way?) Yes sir - very much so. How do they use that? They use it perfumed in their bath water - they use it also in having their maids to scrub their houses. It's also used in these candles. Some of these candles that they burn, they are very expensive and they are perfumed. They burn that candle and practically shut that room up practically all day. Well, everything in dat house is perfumed with dat incense or whatever they call it.
(What do they do that for?)
That brings luck - that makes dem very successful or lucky, and nine times out of ten luck comes their way.
[After my informant left, I comment to the microphone.]
(This is the Rev. Mr. Young telling some of the things he told me yesterday - I just wanted to make sure I got them down.)
supposed buried-money premise in a rerecorded treasure-search account. The story was rerecorded with prompts based on a poorly recorded prior telling; no verbatim-audio fidelity. narrator-described apparent flames in a wired demonstration. Preserve the rerecording and separate Hyatt wife/switch explanation; the editorial mechanism is not an independently witnessed fact. reported repeated unknown words during a criticized demonstration. Preserve staged/criticized context, narrator uncertainty, wires and Hyatt separate switch explanation. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Read full source (printed page 128) · Read full source (printed page 129) · Read full source (printed page 130) · Read full source (printed page 131) · Read full source (printed page 132)
Entry 547
We had a team, the name of it was Blue Caydex - a baseball team, an' we had chalunge of a very hard team, an' we were told to go to an ol' lady, that she could give us somepin that we would win. Anyhow, we goes an' tries the luck out. An' she gave us a little bottle - cut glass. It had eighteen little balls an' somepin [a liquid] into it. One [group of nine balls] wus dark, an' the others wus light, an' they were representin' each team, you see; an' when one of the nine would go down to the bottom, nine would come up to the top. That wus representin' the teams, one goin' down, an' one comin' up wus us. An' she told us to take that an' rub a little bit of it in the sand [of the baseball diamond] before we entered de game. An' we did lak she said an' we didn't have any trouble either.
Entry 587
(This is the lucky hand you say - and how is that made?)
It made with peppah an' salt an' a penny or a dime.
(A penny or a dime?)
Yes - an' sew it up in a piece of red flannel. An' dere's a string left to it an' when yo' git ready to - fo' anything to happen in yore favor, you hold it by de string lak dat an' talk to it. An' when yo' git ready tuh go 'way, yo' say, "When ah git ready tuh leave heah - when ah git ready tuh leave dis country, ah hope ah nevah come back."
(That thing will revolve?)
If yo' de nerve tuh go. When it stops, den yo' go. Well, ah tried dat once mahself - ah heard it an' ah tried it.
(What do they call that little bag?)
Dey call dat a lucky hand.
(You ask questions of it?)
Yeah. An' hit goes certain ways, an' whatevah it says, yo' do.
Entry 596
Yo' kin take a fellah whut had a peg-laig yo' know an' he die, an' when he die why yo' git dat knee-cap off an' use hearts cologne an' whiskey on it, an' tote it in yore pocket, an' yo' know, when yore luck come on hit would jump, an' then, yo' know that would give yo' more attention to bet mo'.
Entry 682
The way I have heard it, that a hoodoo bag is a bag that one carries and it contains a dust called goofer dust, and whatever they put it on they can conquer. Some wear it in their bosom and some in their pocket. They get these goofer bags from root doctors or cunjure doctors. You give them a certain sum of money. Some call them roots, some call them rabbit's foot. Some people wear these roots around their legs sometimes for luck.
Entry 683
Yo'.take de dust from a ant hill an' sprinkle it on anybody, it will make dem be in bad condition an' give 'em bad luck, because a ant will rustle fo' his food. Well, dey will practi'lly git lazy an' dey won't try tuh feed demselfs. [Here is contrary or opposite magic.] Dat always keep dem from han' tuh mouth all de time. Dey nevah has anythin'.
(You take that dirt from the ant bed - out of the ground.)
Jes' de dirt from de ants - jes' lak, yo' know how dey is, weaves up dere dirt aroun' dere little hole. Well, yo' jes' rakes dat dirt into a piece of papah or on a piece of pastebo'd an' take an' put it in a cloth an' carry it on wit chew. Wherevah anybody is doin' fine, doin' well in life, throw dat dirt an' dat starts dem tuh travelin'. [Here is similar (sympathetic) magic - ants travel, your victim travels.] Dey jes' continue tuh goin' an' always will be from hand tuh mouth an' nevah has anything.
Entry 732
De devil's-shoestring[s] an' den it's anothah certin sort of a root dey call Jerusalem root an' anothah one dey call de Adam an' Eve. Dey very peculiar roots chew know - not ever'body would know 'em 'cause dey very peculiar. Well, yo' take all those roots an' put 'em together an' yo' go to de Ten Cent Sto' an' buy some sort of ten-cent perfume, an' put 'em in dere an' let 'em stay fo' so many hours - jes' lak ovahnight. An' aftah dey dissolves yo' shakes 'em lak dat, an' naturally yore luck will gradually come back. Now, ah have know it tuh be a fact, because ah have done it mahself.
(That is for luck in gambling?)
That's fo' luck in gambling.
(What do you do with that stuff in this bottle? Do you carry it or what?)
Oh yeah, yo' carry it in yore pocket. An' co'se den, everybody don' use it alike. Some of 'em jes' takes it, slyly yo' know, an' sprinkle it around in de room lak dat in dere han'. An' some of 'em takes it an' holds it in dey hand an go by yo' an' put it on yo' or somepin lak dat, chew know. Dat put chew in bad luck an' put him in good luck. Jes' lak dat.
(What is peculiar about the Adam and Eve root?)
Well, it has a very strange particular odor which it carry-, In fact, those. three diff'rent roots dey grows diff'rent from any othah root dat's grown.
(What did you say about those three roots that people say?)
Dey [people] means, dey talk to each othah lak dat: Yo' know, Adan an' Eve, devil's-shoestring, an' de ruler of de earth [Jerusalem root?] dey talks to each other. Yo' put 'em in dat perfume an' puts 'em all togethah. In fact dey grows in diff'rent parts of de woods no doubt, but aftah dey all be brought togethah, ah 'magine dey have [are sort] of glad to see each othah, somepin lak dat. Dey all git togethah an' jis' talk lak dat, chew know. [These three roots in a ten- cent bottle of perfume are glad to see each othah and talks to each othah!]
Entry 734
Jockey Club [perfume] an' John de Conker root an' yo' keep 'em in yore pocket all de time an' put chure numbers in dere with it.
(Policy numbers?)
Yes sir, an' yo' keep dat stuff undah yore haid where yo' sleep an' yo' mo' den apt tuh dream 'bout policy, if yo' crazy 'bout playin' 'em all de time yo mo' den apt tuh dream somepin, an' if yo' git up an' play 'em yore shore lucky, 'cause ah've done it. Ah've caught a-plenty money playin' policy. (You keep this tuff - you don't keep it in there loose do you, this John de Conker root?) No suh,- yo' got it in a little bag folded up.
(And you sleep on it?)
Yessuh. Dat Jockey Club is really lucky - it's got a horseshoe on de bottle. Put it on de men when dey come in - jis' lak yo' know - perfume - dey wouldn't know no bettah. On de person whutevah come in yore place of business where yo' sellin', tryin' tuh make money - put it on dem when dey come in an' dey always wanta come back agin, yo' know, an' be kinda nice to 'em. Treat 'em nice.
Entry 736
The way I have heard it, that a hoodoo bag is a bag that one carries and it contains a dust called goofer dust and whatever they put it on they can conquer. Some wears it in their bosom and some in their pocket. They get these goofer bags from root doctors or cunjure doctors. You give them a certain sum of money. Some call them roots, some call them rabbits foot. Some people wear these roots around their legs sometimes for luck.
Entry 739
It's a root in de woods dey call de shame bush root. It's a brier, see. It run away off like dat, an' de bushes on it, yo' kin tetch it anywhere on de end - jest tetch it - all dem bushes will, yo' know, will shet up. Dat why dey call 'em de shame bush - yo' know, de leaves on it. [This very common root in hoodoo is called the shame brier; outside hoodoo circles it is usually known as shame vine. This is the sensitive brier Schrankia uncinata.] Well, yo' go dere an' dig dis root up. Hit grows a pretty good piece down in de ground - ah reckon 'bout three-fo' foot deep. She grows an' hit's a prong, see, on de end of it. Well, yo' go on down dere till you git to de prong. Well, yo' bring that on up an' cut it off right to de prong, see. Well, yo' take it den an' sew it up in a rag an' git chew some John hearts cologne an' puts it into another little bottle an' po' dat John hearts cologne onto it, an' dat's whut chew do wit de rest.
(What will that do?)
Dat make yo' lucky in anything - success in anything.
Entry 794
[The preceding margin-titles, Live Things in You and Roots (see No.720)
left opportunities for a doctor's ingenuity, but the following trick at the end of informant's account is one sold by the hoodoo trade:] Ah tell yo' 'bout dis hoodoo. Ah spent money an' spent money an' ah lak tuh lost mah home an' wife on account dat. Ah spent money fo' dat to git love wit other women an' buy whole lotta ole junk - dirt, graveyard dirt an' stuff an' put in a rag an' tie up, an' git mah home, git mah mind all tore up by thinkin' 'bout whut he says. An' quit mah home, mah min' all tore up an' there won't be a thing in de worl' tuh ut. It's jes' git chure min' all tore up an' yore family goin' crazy an' yo' be worried 'bout dat. Den yore home jest be tore up fo' nuthin. Ah tell yo' one thing ah've had done. Ah've had a person heah - ah paid a person five dollars year befo' last to give me luck. He had me tuh go to a - he had me tuh go git a bull bat - bull bat dat fly, a leather-wing. He had me git him a leather-wing bat - dat's fer hoodoo. An' ah put out a 'ward [reward] for him to a little boy - give him fifty cents 'ward an' he find him one night. An' ah tuk him an' cut his heart out wit a - he's livin'. Ah put mah foot on his head an' cut his heart out, an' den ah carried it back home, den went to a grave- yard, dis graveyard right ovah heah, one dark night, dark night, an' reached in dat grave wit mah han' like he said, in it an' got some of dat dirt an' carried it back home an' put it in dis bull bat, wit dis bull bat an' tied it up in a piece of red flannen an' dat's [a hand] fo' mah luck. An' ah like tuh went crazy, an' to de chain gang an' ever'where there. Dat's one of badest lucks ah've never seen. Ah've spent thousands an' thousands of dollars. [This is like I've had every doctor in town.]
(Did you go to the chain gang because of that?)
No, sir, like to went. Yes, sir, ah nearly did gwine jes' on account dat dirt Dat hard luck.
(He had you do that to give you luck?)
To give me luck. Yo' wants tuh know about somepin 'bout gittin' yore wife back. Well, yo' go buy yo' ten cents bottle of hearts cologne. He buy a ten cents box of talcum powder an' he put dat wit dat perfume an' den he puts it on yo' - dat's gittin' yo' wife back. Dere no sech thing as that. It's all 'magination. Well, it's some kind of root, it's a kind of a root that goes off in sprouts. Yo've seen dis heah stuff called lodestone - kinda dirt, de rock dey dig up wit fur on it. Dey'll git dat, den dey goes out an' gits some kind of a root with little ends on it - call High John de Conker. Dey git dat an' dey tie it up - it be's all lak together an' den dey'll give it to yo' fo' to tote in yo' pocket, an' ah paid $25 for it. Ah tote it in mah pocket an' tote in mah pocket an' lost everthing. [Lodestone or loadstone is magnetite, an iron oxide and important iron ore. What the hoodoo trade uses I do not know, though I have seen numerous pieces of it - all looking different. A stone having fur, being fed, and growing - this is beyond my visual and tactile experience.] Now, dere one'll come dere. He'll have somepin he kin burn; he jest 'maginat' [working on the imaginations of the] people, see. He may call dis woman outa de crowd an' she'll come dere an' he'll make her think she's got her head hurtin'. She ain't got a head hurt. Den he'll splain to her den, her head hurt an' some- body done somepin to her. She'll say, "Yeah." Say, "A long time ago in yore hat." She say, "Yeah." It won't be a thing but he jes' git dere 'magination. Den he have some kind of a root den, an' he'll burn dat root an' dat root curl up jes' lak a snake. Den he'll make lak dat'll come out of her haid - make lak dat come outa her haid an' den he won't let nobody pick it up but her. Den dey carry it back heah an' throw it out. It ain't nuthin but a root burn an' curl up lak a snake. [A chemical, not a root, is burned - an old trick.]
Entry 797
(How did you happen to learn this work - did you pick it uP yourself or did someone teach you?) Naw sir, ah was gifted to dat. All ah'm talkin' about ah was gifted - took it up mah ownself. When ah was twelve years old ah was showed de spirit - diff'rent herbs jes' fer about twelve-thirteen nights, until ah could go to 'um and tell dem, go to 'em. De five-finger grass dat's one of de luckiest grasses in de world - jes' like yore han'. Juh evah seen dat? (No, I never saw it.) Wall, dat's in dis country - it's hard to find without yo' know dere's some at. An' ah kin go to it right now. (Well, you were shown in this spirit. Did you make any effort to let the spirit teach you these things or what?) It showed me. Den ah went anywhere in de woods to find the same stuff what ah seed in mah sleep and bring it back to de house and showed de people and de older people say, "Well, dat [boy] must goin' be a doctor [or] somepin." Wall, then another night ah lay down and them things arrive befo' me agin and ah see lest little things, but ah go in de woods and ah couldn't find them. Wall, de. same thing arrive befo' me de next night; ah go in de woods an ah keep ahuntin till ah find that thing - dig it up and carry it back to de house. Sell dem jes like he [spirit?] said untul a doctor [which kind?], a white man who Was a doctor, said, "Well," he said, "how old is he?" Said, "He is twelve years old gwine on thirteen." He said, "Well, I would like to have this boy wit me." Wal, ah did not have no mother an' no father. Ah was jest a motherless child, jes' like ah am now - ain't know mah mother and mah father, be's a step-baby. But he's mah step-daddy. So he raised me - ah wasn't no, but get de idea. They knowed mah father and mother when they died and vo' see mah mother and father was under slavery. So dese people have dere freedom dey just taken us and raised us after dey give us freedom. An' so dey didn't have nowhere to go and so fer several nights - ah kin remember as good, we slept in de woods until de lady, name some- thing or other, that they knowed, let 'em have a ole log house to sleep in. Ah remember ah was on de floor. An' so ah kept on selling dem herbs to de white party. So den de doctor tole 'em, said, "Let him stay with me, ah'll give him good wages." And then he'd taken de roots after ah showed him how and tested 'em out and made medicine out of 'em hisself. And yo' see, he wasn't -
(You were born in Como, Georgia?)
Yes. You've heard talk of dat? [I certainly said Como, unless while my machine was turned off he had said something like Comah - in either case, it must have been Comer, a village 75 miles northwest of Augusta. My following yes to his question shows me thinking of two things at once - Lake Como in the summer of 1923, and don't interrupt.] (Yes, but you spent your manhood mostly in Augusta - you went there after you started to grow up.) Mostly in Augusta and here.
Entry 813
Yo' kin go to what chew call a fore-knower - go to a fore-knower and she give 'em somepin dey call de lucky perfume and de John de Conker root; puts one piece in de bottle and she give yo' de rest of it to chew. And when you go to de gang you chews a piece and rubs yore hand with this perfume, and you spit de juice - dat's to give you good luck and put bad luck on de rest of de gamblers.
(Where do you spit this juice?)
Jes' spit it anywhere around de game.
Entry 879
I went to a lady and I was crossed. I used to be very luckv and I got crossed. So when I went in there she told me, she says, "Girl, vou is crossed." So I didn't know what she meant. So she told me, she say, "You is crossed in money." She say, "You give a lady fifty cents." And I had give a lady fifty cents 'cause the lady didn't have nothing. I say, "Yessum." She say, "Well, when you give her the fifty cents," she say, "she took your money. You give it to her out of your hand, a piece of silver money, and she took your money and she got it buried up under the steps with a weight on it." And she said, "That's to keep you down. You'll never be lucky no more unless you get it up. S Well, I didn't know how to get it up myself. So I went to another lady [man] and he told me the same thing. He told me that I was crossed and I start crying and he told me, "You going to be in bad luck all the time." Ah say, "Well, could you tell me what could I do to help myself."
(Did he tell you how you were crossed?)
Yes sir. He tole me I was crossed in money. He tole me a lady what I had a lot of confidence in, I gived her my money. Well, I used to give her money. He say, "She crossed you in the money. Ah say, "Well, could you tell me how I can do to help myself." He say, "You get you some saltpeter and some ammonia and," he say, "you take a bath in it for nine mornings." And he say, "After taking a bath in it, you throw your water to the sunrise." And he say, "You meet me in prayer [at] nine, twelve and three," he say, "and you ought to get that condition off you." So I did that. That been two years ago. So I did that and I got all right.
Entry 962
If they had an idea of traveling, like if they wanted tuh go north or wanted tuh go to California or Oklahoma - well, they haven't got the money to go with. So they goes, walk out tuh the forks of the road an' turn dere face eastwards and would pray for the Lord to give. them that directional star in their mind that they might be able to get ahold of the luck that would - even if they didn't have the money, that would give them that trip. An' ah've had them to say that - why they shortly after doing that, why they would meet up with some rich person who would wish for them to go as a chauffeur or as a cook or as a maid to such a place, to such a state. And they would go with that person to that state, make a trip jest by going to de cross of the road - dem forks of the road an' looking eastward and making that prayer while they were standing there looking eastward, for that luck.
Entry 1055
Dey always tole me, that chew git up in the mawnin' on Friday mawnin' an' blow yore house out - whut call blowin' yore house out - git up in de mawnin an' put sulphur in dat corner, sulphur in dat corner an sulphur in de fo' corners of your house. See, dat blowin' yore house out. Take de sulphur an' put it in a little somepin an' blow it tuh death. Say dat makes yore house lucky. (They call that bZowing out your house. After they put the sulphur in the four corners?) If dey put.sulphur in de fo' corners of dey house, den dey takes somepin in dey han' an' blow it all ovah de house lak dat. Den take dat in de corners an' burn it.
(You burn that in the corners?)
Yessuh, burn dat right in de corners. See, dat blows yore house out.
Entry 1080
Take de graveyard dirt an' carry it an' git de black cat's bone an' carry it fo' luck.
(For gambling?)
For gambling. Ah sells stuff dey call lodestone an' ah sell another one call High John de Conker, an' each satisfies 'em. Ah explains it so dey jes got faith in it.
(How do you prepare that? How do you fix it up then?)
How yo' prepare de High John de Conker? Well, yo' wear dat chew know. It's a root somepin 'bout dat long an' yo' put it in yore pocket an' wear it wit chure money. An' de lodestone yo' puts dat in a purse. Yo' know dere's a purse goes with it. Den ah has anothah stone dat comes in de oil called de holy oil. When yo' go in at night, lak if ah wanted to have luck, yo' uncork dis. It's in a little jar lak dat an' set it up ovah de mantelpiece an' when ah'm goin' out, take de lode- stone out an' wrap it up an' put it in mah pocket. When ah come back in at night, ah go to de jar an' drop it back in de holy oil. [Informant is a small- time curio products salesman: "Wilson, N. C., Fri., June 16, 1939...1468 - man 50 - sells articles - ng [[= no good, meaning he knew his own work but little about hoodooll" - Numbers Book 1291-1515. For an expert seller of curios, woman in Jacksonville, Fla., see Agent for Curios in Interviews Section.]
Entry 1148
Say, if yo' ketch a buzzard an' kill 'im an' boil 'im an' git de grease out of 'im an' rub yo'self with it right good, dey say yo' lucky an' prosperous in all whut yo' goin' undertake. Jes' rub it on yore hands. It 'vaporates right in. It's got a bad odor, but as it 'vaporate in yo', continue in yo' - if the job gives out, kill another buzzard an' git his grease. Dey say it's good fo' yo' - it keeps yo' jints [joints] loosened, it's good for rheumatism.
Entry 1156
Go to a buzzard. Well, now ah have heard of a lotta people dat seen it but ah have nevah seen it done yet. Dey tell me dat chew kin go to a buzzard nest when dis hen is on her nest layin' - ready fo' hatchin'. Dey tell me dat a buzzard nest is made on de ground, not built up high in de trees. Yo' go to dis nest an' yo' takes yo' a stick - a long stick dat chew kin stand about five feet from dis nest - an' yo' push de aigs out dis nest. An' she has one big aig in de middle - a large aig in de middle. See, yo' take dat stick an' yo' rake dat aig to you, an' yo' puts dat aig in yore pocket. Den yo' takes dose othah aigs an' yo' takes yore han' an' put 'em back in dere. Don't put 'em back with de stick, jes' put 'em back wit chure han'. Now when she come to git on dis nest, yo' see, she ain't gon'a git on dis nest 'fore she know dat somethin' wrong 'cause dat big aig not dere. An' after she git on de nest, [if she doesn't see the big aig], she gon'a git off an' she gon'a fly away, an' when she come back she gon'a bring whut dey call a male or man buzzard back with her. An' after she bring him back he gon'a have a root. Dey tell me he gon'a have a root in his mouth an' he gon'a test de aigs by dis root. Now, if anybody put dey hands on dose aigs, dat root is to let him know and he ain't gon'a let 'er git on de nest. Well, now dey tell me if yo' kin git a chance to hit 'im hard enough to git dat root dat he put down dere, dey says dat root's good fo' diff rent othah things. But ah don't see how it could be good fo' somethin'- - yo' don't put nuthin with it, jest a lucky root. Jt jes' lak a person use a black cat bone or lak dat - if yo' don't put nuthin on it, dey tell it's better luck wit hit.
Entry 1207
Dat devil-shoestring [goat's-rue - Tephrosia virginiana] - well, if anyone hurt chew, why yo' jis' git it an' jis' wear it in yore purse or pocket- book an' also dat John de Conker root. Yo' jis' wear it round yo'. An' den it's lucky, too.
Entry 1303
Well, heahs another good one. Now, it's sech things as evil spirits. If a person luck have been taken away - now, dis is something dat most people dey don't know but it's true. If a fellah's luck have been crossed any way through de witchcraft way, it doesn't make any diff'rent if he's sick or a spell's been cast on him. Yo' kin take a simple thing which is gourd. Yo' take dat gourd an' yo' break it up an' put it into a pot containing saltpeter, sulphur an' salt - cooking salt an' yo' boil dat good. Then yo' take a bath with that. The person take a bath with it but dey don't bathe up - dey bathe down, see. An' after he finish dat, den he takes it to de rivah an' he throw it near de middle of de channel in a running stream of watah, an' dat relieve dat person of dat spell, whatsomevah that may be - crossing of luck or anything, sickness or anything.
Entry 1310
Ah hear about dat too an' ah knows of it. But chew have to pay three pennies but chew gotta go to someone's grave dat chew knows well. Jes' lak, yo' know, some of yore family dat's been buried an' yo' go to de head of dis grave an' yo' pay dat dead man or dat dead woman - whoevah yo' knows -.de three cents. An' den yo' take some of de dirt an' den yo' tell dem to give yo' luck, don't let nobody harm yo', an' yo' bring dat graveyard dirt - git a han'ful of de graveyard dirt an' bury it undah yore steps. Bury it undah yore step an' den nobody can't do yo' no harm cause de dead will pertec' yo'.
Entry 1345
Yo' makes a ring outa it an' wear it fo' luck. An' then yo' take it, too, an' wear it in yore haid [hair] fo' headache. (If you have the headache.) Yes, the horseshoe nail.
Entry 1352
[John the Conqueror or John de Conker - plain, high or low - is not the name of a root; it is the commercial label of several roots - identity depending upon digger or seller.] Yo' cud [could] git John de Conker. Yo' writes to New York an' gits dat John de Conker. Yo' git John de Conker an' - why yo' keeps it perfumeded wit Hearts Cologne an' dat's whut dey call de root, King Of de Worl', an' hit'll bring happiness, good luck to yo'. Everything that chew undertake to do, that chew'll have successful at. Yes, ah've tried that mahself.
Entry 1385
Yo' kin take the dust from a ants bed an' it's lucky to yo', because de ant dey say is got de busiest body of de creatures dat lives or somepin lak dat an' yo' kin use the dust fo' luck. Yo' don't have tuh use anything with ant's dust fo' luck, jes' perfect luck. But if yo' wanted it fo' gamblin' or somepin lak dat, yo'll have tuh take de ants dust an' take May-watah, yo' gotta use jes' one month - see, May-watah, whut it rains lak when it first rains. Yo' git this May-watah an' use it in a bottle an' use this ant's dust in it an' it's lucky fo' gamblin'. Yo' have tuh stop it up real tight an' let it set in a dark place, see, fo' luck.
(You don't carry that with you when you gamble or anything?)
No, yo' washes yore han' in it - wash yore han' in it befo' leavin' home.
(The May-water is the first rain in May?)
De first rain in May, yo' gotta git dat fo' luck but chew cain't use it. Jes' lak if it already done rain in May, don't git de second watah, yo' gotta git de first watah.
(Anything else you can do with May-water?)
Yo' kin use fo' eyes, yo' kin use it fo' sore places, use it fo' any kinda 'fected part of disease. If a person prob'bly have de siftic [syphilis] or gon'rhea 'bout de body, yo' kin use dis May-watah but chew gotta use othah things with it. [See May-water, No. 986, p.381.]
Entry 1577
Jest git chews - like ah said wit dat cologne stuff an' sulphur, an' sprinkle it around yore place. That kills all the bad luck an' de good luck comes in [cf. margin-title Begin Rite By Removing Hard Luck Spirits, p.328].
Entry 1621
They took urine and sprinkled it around the doors of any house to keep away bad luck and evil spirits.
Entry 1634
Yes sir, ah hear it. Well, yo' take de chamber lye an' yo' take it an' place into a can, an' yo' take some sulphur an' yo' take cooking salt an' place into dis heah pot [can], an' yo' take it an' put it into de house an' take yo' a little old sprayer like an' jest spray it all round into de house (see No. 1630). An' dat would bring luck.
(Any particular kind of luck?)
Bring luck into yore home, see.
Entry 1646
[Take] that there snakeroot and John de Conker root and boil it and take de urine after boilin' it and put some of that in it, and Hearts Perfume, and boil it so it git de odor through the house, and sprinkle in de front do' and back, mornin' an' night.
(What would they do that for?)
That would bring luck and stop de man from puttin' yo' out.
(Putting you out of the house.)
Yes, an' ah didn't have de money - didn't give a cent and he didn't put me out. Suah stopped that.
Entry 1717
Well, yo' kin - yo' ain't gotta keep de whole bat. Yo' kin git jes' even de two right wing off it, yo' see, an' yo' jes' kin sew it up. Keep it yo' see an' use dis same Heart Cologne.
(What is that good for?)
Good fo' luck - good fo' gamblin' - good fo' success in work an' all lak dat.
(Just the wing?)
Yes sir - de right wing - or yo' kin git two or three of dem, yo' see, jes' enough tuh make a little package yo' know - dey ain't large nohow. [Brunswick, Ga., (1249), 2123:7.] [These bat hands with many variations are everywhere and too numerous to catalogue here.]
Entry 1731
Tuh git a job. Well, now yo' git chew some lodestone an' yo' set down an' yo' git chew a screenin' wire - lak dat screen up dere. (The screen in the window.) [Hotel window.] Co'se it take yo' a long time tuh do it but yo' set down an' yo'rub it an' rub until dat lodestone come tuh dust an' yo git chew some cologne - yo' know dis heah Jockey Club. Yo' take it an' put it in a bottle lak ah got heah now. See, dat lodestone. [He shows a small bottle.]
(What is the liquid you have in there?)
That's that Jockey Club Perfume. And den yo' could put yo' - if yo' wanta, yo' kill you a black cat an' git his bone an' grind dat up jis' lak yo' do de lodestone. Put it in dere an' den yo' kin go to a man, talkin' to him, an' he'll git ovah tuh yo' - give yo' a job.
(You have that black cat dust in this bottle? Both of them together?)
Yessuh.
(Any bone from the cat?)
Any bone? Yo' see yo' gotta git a bone from roun' his shoulder - up heah, de left shoulder, from in front. Grind it to a powder an' take dis heah bone an' rub it on dis heah screenin' wire until it comes [to a powder]. It goin' take yo' a long time tuh do it. But hit'll do it. Ah use dis fo' luck in gamblin an' luck an' successful in meetin' mah fren's an' everythin'. Ah make fren's, ah don't make no enemies. [If this man had black cat powder in his hand, it was surely a talcum or similar powder with a label showing a black cat and reading Black Cat Powder (see No.1377, p.459).]
Entry 1733
Yo' take gunpowder an' yo' take a black cow's milk an' yo' compound, yo' know, yo' mix all that together - that's really lucky an' yo' scrub with that. (What sort of luck is that supposed to give you? What do you do that for?) Yo' do that fo' jes' fast luck - yo' know, spo'tin' luck an' all lak that. An' it's good fo' gamblin' han' too, an' yo' wash yore han's - jes' wash yore han's in de black cow's milk an' jes' keep it. Jes' do lak that if yo' want to, yo see, jes' ovah yore han's when yo' git ready tuh gamble. Dat's really lucky.
[Here a liquid is a hand.]
Entry 1737
Yo' go to the woods an' git a piece of blacksnake root an' tie it up in a little hand'chief, put it in a cologne bottle and tote it in yore pocket three days and den take de bottle an' bury it. After three days yo' take it out chure pocket an' bury it under yore doorstep and dat will give you good luck. [Here is a buried hand.]
Entry 1739
Yo' use black stars an' oil of cinnamon an' oil of bergamot an' mix that together, an' rub it in mah han'. Jes' lak ah'm goin' out now an' ah wanta, ah open mah han' an' ah carry it back that way. Ah'm goin' out fo' good luck now, ah put a drop or two in mah han's heah - ah'm goin' out fo' luck. Ah put dem three things - mix 'em together.
(That is for luck in gambling?)
Yessuh.
(What is that black star?)
That's - hit's black but it's incense.
Entry 1745
You can cut that little bow out and put this stuff on that little bow and put it in your pocketbook or a little toby - make a little toby and you keep it in your pocketbook and you'll keep him following you all the time. You'll never get rid of him.
(Well, how do you dress that little bow?)
The little bow? Well, you get the good luck stuff that I just told you about. You sprinkle that on that little bow and you put a little piece of Conker Root on it. You pin that in there, sew that up and put it in your pocketbook. You keep it - somebody just think it a little toby: And you always have good luck.
Entry 1754
Yo' kin take de gunpowder an' de brimstone an' put dem together an' yo' kin tote dat - put dem together in a little sack. An' git a piece of John de Conker root, put dat in dere wit dat an' a little sulphur an' sew it up. Put dat Heart Cologne on it an' tote it wit chew. Dat's luck. If yo' go tuh anybody an' ask fo' anything dey won't turn yo' down.
(If you ask for a job or anything of that sort?)
Dey won't turn yo' down.
Entry 1771
If yo' see somebody - some folks dat want a lucky piece, dey goes to work an' take a eggshell wit [from] a hen dat nevah went wit a rooster, see. Take dat hen dat nevah touch a rooster an' yo' boil dat aig an' after yo' boil it, yo' take de top offa dat shell an' yo' put it in dat little bag an' po' some Heart Cologne on it, an' keep it long as de money's wit chew - whut chew workin' in de game. See. Well, dat have happen - ah don't know whether dat's real but ah've seen it done.
(That's for luck.)
Yeah, dat's fo' luck. (Now, you take this egg and after you boil it, take the shell off the egg? Or do you take the egg out of the shell?) Yo' take de egg outa de shell an' eat de egg if yo' wanta eat it - throw it away if yo' don't want it. But take dis shell an' yo' kinda bundle it up yo' know an' mash it up an' put it in a piece of bag yo' know - leather bag or shoe tongue or somepin like dat. It jes' make a small thing. An' yo' po' Heart Cologne on it - somepin dat it will go through. An' keep it lingering round wit chure money. But dat aig - de rooster not supposed to touch dis individual hen. Yo' rubs it in yore han' yo' know like dat - dat little package yo' know.
(This little package you made?)
Yeah, rub it in yore hand like dat an' go off somewhere [to gamble]. An' yo' lay dat in yore han' an' rub it - rub it down yore pants if yo' want, an' yo' go in to gamble. Dat's all yo' do fo' dat.
(All you do is put some dirt on it.)
Yassuh, each time - jes' like yo' comin' in dis game now.
Entry 1776
You runnin' a house or whiskey or anything, to keep the law away I hear'd people say you could nail on top the door a chicken bone up with some tacks under the doorsill. They say that keep law from you an' you won't have to go to court or nuthin.
(What sort of chicken bone?)
It's a little bone right on the backbone-like - join on together, whut people call a luck bone. Some people say if two people be right together an' break it, the one who had the longest bone has good luck.
Entry 1807
I've heard though of taking nails from a coffin and wrapping it in red flannel, and give it to a person either for luck or ill luck, whichever you want them to have. They sell from twenty-five cents to a dollar.
Entry 1808
Coffin nails is good luck. You nail three of 'em ovah de top of yore door where you come in at. Each and every morning and every night you stop under these nails and make a wish and they claim that will keep all good things coming to you.
Entry 1814
Yo' kin sew it yo' see, aftah it's petrified - yo' kin sew it in a rag.
(This bone from the dead person?)
Yes, an' dress it ovah wit whiskey an' oil of cinnamon an' yo' be lucky fo' anything that chew be's trying tuh run.
Entry 1829
All right, yo' kin take Hearts Cologne. Yo' git chew Hearts Cologne an' yo' go to de - yo' know de devil's-shoestring. Yo' git de devil's-shoestring an' yo' cut it in fo' pieces to a inch - one inch long, an yo' put it into yo' little sack an' yo' keep dat devil's- string. Wear it in dat Hearts Cologne, keep it where it'll smell loud, an' whensomevah yo' go to gamble why yo' renew it ovah wit dat Hearts Cologne. Keep it where it will scent - where everybody kin git de scent of it. Dat's lucky in gambling.
Entry 1846
(What do they do with the shoes?)
They kin dress your shoes.
(How do they dress them? Do you know?)
Well, how would they dress your shoes? I had a pair of shoes dressed for me, but it was dressed for my good - for luck for me. An' then the lady made a leather pad for me.
(Why was that?)
She made another pad. She had inside this [pad], she had a silver dime.... My husband was away from me. All right. An' from the way things was workin' out - he were workin', he were makin' plenty money. The way things Was workin' out, I wasn't gittin' whut I's suppose to git. An' from the way things were, he sent for me to send belongings of his'n away from here that should of stayed here. You understand. So I went to see about myself. So she explained everything to me. So she told me, she say, "I'm gon'a make you a pad to wear in your shoe.
(Pad?)
Yes. New leather. An' she made that. She put a silver dime, put some he and she todestone, some steel dust in there, some drawin' oil she put in there. She sewed that up. She give it to me to wear under the bottom of my feet. An' she give me a bottle with some drawin' oil, an' ever' day to put one drop on the pad; take an' put three drops here - under the door [on the saddle], an' there.
(Oh, the hinges - on the top and lower hinges.)
Yeah. And in thirty days time, she say, he would be knockin' on the door. So, all right. The day when the thirty days was up, he didn't come that day. He come that night.
Entry 1851
If yo' wants tuh be lucky in a game, yo' gits a hen aig an' each one who's in dere, yo' know, dat playin' in dis game - dey go dere an' look at it, an' write each one name down on de aig, an' take it an' put it in yore pocket an' go on. Yo'll be lucky in de game. (Well, who - you mean the people who are playing in this game?) Well, jes' lak ah wants to git - yo' know, go in dis game an' somebody wanta give me somepin fo' luck. Well, he'll jes' git a hen aig, yo' know, an' go up dere an' see who all in de house playin' in common - see whut dere name. Write each person down dat playin' in de game on de aig. Well, go out [to write these names] an' come back an' put de aig in his pocket. He'll be lucky in dat game.
(Any kind of chicken egg?)
Yes sir - hen aig, any kinda aig.
Entry 1858
De catfish haid - de rock out de haid, yo' know. Ah always see dese women in dese loose houses git them an' put 'em in dere pocketbooks - says it draws de men an' keep luck to 'em. Ah've caught catfish fo' 'em fo' dat busi- ness.
Entry 1859
Dere's a fish he's got two stones in his head. Outa dem two stones, you wanta be sure when you open him to git de right-hand stone. Dere's two white stones. You'll take dat right-hand stone and you'll put it in yore pocket and put some red pepper with it - put red pepper with that right-hand stone. And take de left-hand stone and take a handful of sulphur, nothing but sulphur, and you'll wrap dat up good and hid it and put it down by yo' bed - on de left corner of yo' bed, de north corner of yo' bed inside of yo' mattress. But de right-hand stone, you wants to tote dat - gains everything you wants and everything you go after. Actually you got'a git it.
Entry 1873
Dey take that fo' leaf clover and whut chew call wish bean - wish bean. (Like a bean you eat?) It's somepin similar to dat but it's made altogethah diff'rent chew know an' it grows altogethah diff'rent. It's kinda - it's pretty good size. It's kinda round but it's fat an' lopsided an' it has speckles on it.
(Does it grow in the ground or on a tree or what?)
Well, jis' how it do, ah don't know, but yo' know yo' go to those places yo' know an' yo' git it. [I do not know the identity of this commercial product.] Den yo' put that wish bean an' that fo' leaf clover with yore name written three time on dere. Yo' make a bag of it an' jis' lak dis is de back of yore bed heah, yo' fix yo' some way to hang dat so it hangs behin' de bed where dat yo' sleep. Dat supposed tuh bring special luck to yo'.
Entry 1876
Take a toadfrog an' put him in his pocket an' keep him in dere an' dat will give him plenty luck an' plenty money - dat toadfrog. If he's not lucky at all why dat toadfrog won't stay wit him; an' if he is, why dat frog will continue stayin' with him.
Entry 1880
They catch them a toadfrog and puts him in their pocket and the money - the first bet that they win, they put that money in that pocket with that frog, and as that frog swell in his pocket, well you going to be winning the game.
(If that frog swells in the pocket?)
In that there pocket - yes, sir.
(You mean - how do you mean swells?)
Just - you know how they get - they just puff out that way. Well, as he begin to puff out, you just win and win till you break the ante.
Entry 1893
If yo' gamblin', yo' take yo' a toadfrog - ketch him alive. Yo' know a toadfrog is got numbers on him - jes' lak if yo' kin be lucky enough tuh ketch yo a toadfrog with seven on him, it's a lucky frog. If yo' put him in yore pocket alive an' he stay in dere, ain't no way nobody kin win no money from yo'; but if yo' don't - if he don't stay in yore pocket, yo' kin tell whether yo's in good luck or whether yo' in bad. De minute dat chew put him in yore pocket, he's goin' holler an' jump out. But if yo s goin' have really good luck, take dat from in dere an' put him in yore pocket an' he stay in dere, yo' win de whole time dat frog is in yore pocket. [For putting numbers on frog, see No. 575, p.186.]
Entry 1895
Use toadfrogs fo' luck lak if yo' wanta go to a spinnin' wheel an' win lak in dese carnivals - in dese big shows dey have dose spinnin' wheels. Says yo' take a frog an' go to de spinnin' wheel an' jes' befo' yo' go tuh turn dat spinnin' wheel, run yo' han' in de sack an' git chew some of de money off de toadfrog an' yo'll be lucky with it.
Entry 1909
Yo' jes' wear garlic fo' luck. Yo' kin take it an' jes' wear it in yore pocketbook. Co'se yo' know yo' eat it, it's good fo' yore nerves - hot
[cooked with food].
Entry 1911
Yo' kin git chew a piece of garlic, yo' know whut dat is, an' yo' takes dat garlic an' yo' git nine pieces of garlic an' make yo' a little sack like if yo' were canvassing. Yo put that garlic in yore pocketbook. Quite natural it's gon'a smell. An' anything yo' doin' an' wants tuh bring luck in yore place, why yo' use that garlic. Tote it in yore pocket or in yore pocketbook or in yore sample case or anything like dat.
Entry 1912
An' also yo' can have luck by goin' to a store an' stealin' a piece of garlic. Don't let 'em see yo' git it an' don't buy it an' don't ask fo' it. Jes' steal it from de store or anywhere an' put it ovah the door or put it in yore truck or most anywhere, or carry it in yore pocketbook - anywhere. Yo'll always have luck with yo' business.
Entry 1934
Dey tell me dat chew kin go to work an' if a man dies - jes' lak a gambler. We all could be in de gambling hall an' jes' gambling. Prob'bly dis man will be shot off, prob'bly ah may be shot off in gambling. Well now, dey tell me dat if he has a ring on his finger - if yo' got any money in yore pocket an' he has a ring on his finger - any kind of ring, doesn't matter if it's jes' little ole ten-cent ring - yo' gits dis: ring offa his finger. An' in pulling off dis ring yo' tell him - jest call him name, tell him, "John or Henry, ah'm buyin' dis ring fo' yore luck on gambling." Well, dat's gittin' luck offa dead man tuh gamble. Now, in buyin' dis ring yo' puts dis ring in yore pocket an' puts de money whut chew goin' tuh give him in his pocket. Well, after he'd be buried, yo' goes back to his grave den an' git chew some dirt - about three or fo' months after he done laid dere in de grave. Git chew some dirt an' tote dis dirt in yore pocket wit dis ring, yo' see. Well now, dat gives yo' a hand.
The informant introduces hearsay about acquiring a dead gambler's ring and later dirt from his grave. The quoted purchase words are prescribed speech; the gambling-luck claim remains reported.
Entry 1935
Ah've heard tell of 'em using, gittin' a chip off de headbo'd, gittin' a piece off de headbo'd of de grave an' using it fo' luck.
(Well, how do they use that?)
Well, yo' scrape it. Yo' take a knife an' yo' scrape de - shave it off de lefthand side of it. Git dat off de lefthand side, yo' scrape it tuh yo'. Yo' scrape it to yo' an' yo' say, "Lord, let dere be luck. Lord, let dere be luck." Yo' say dat three times an' yo' scrape dis knife to yo' - yo' bring it to yo'. Yo' bring yore knife to yo', not from yo' - dat's lucky.
(Well, what would you do with it after you get those scrapings?)
Well, yo' take dat scraping an' wear it. Yo' take yore little fine scraping an' put it in a little bag an' yo' wear it round yore waist, if yo' a person out fo' luck in numbahs or somethin' lak dat.
Entry 1939
Dat graveyard dirt, why ah've got it mahself to be lucky. Why ah take it an' some Hearts Cologne an' git me a silver dime an' put into it, an' wrap it up in some red flannel an' wear it in mah shoe fo' nine days - in mah left shoe fo' nine days. An' ah change it out an' put it in mah right shoe fo' nine days. An' de tenth day, why if ah felt like it, if ah had a job or gambling, ah'd go back to gambling, why ah'd always be lucky.
Entry 1953
Well, yo' take de gunpowder an' lodestone an' nine seeds of red peppah [three ingredients] an' sew it up in a yarn rag. That's fo' tuh draw luck to yo', too, fo' money. Yo' know, if yo's a gambler, why yo' kin win an' if yore a policy player why yo' win lak that. Or if yo' a busi- ness man, why yo' know, yore business will be.mo' urgent. [Gunpowder appears in many combinations.]
Entry 1965
De onliest time when ah used to be gamblin' ah went to a fellah an' he sold me a hand, an' in that hand he had a piece of charcoal an' had three fish- hooks an' it had two hairpins in that wropped up wit a piece of flannel. Then yo' had to dress it with cologne - with this heah Hearts Cologne. So ah found out that the Hearts Cologne was luckier den the other stuff. Ah found out that.
Entry 1971
You kin go right ovah heah to Mt. Pleasant - I guess you heard talk about dat.
(Where?)
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. You kin go ovah dere and dere's a man ovah dere has a little bag about dat roun' - cost yuh five dollahs, and you'll be in luck fer de next six months.
(What is this man's name?)
His name ls William Green.
(Where does he get these bags from?)
He can't get enough of 'em.
(This Doctor Green over here at Mt. Pleasant - what does he call those bags?)
Iuck charms.
(Luck charms - and how much did you say you paid for them?)
Five dollars. You wear it around your neck. (I see. And he's probably got dust or something in there. [He said this while Telediphone turned off.] And they only last six months?) Only last six months at a time.
(And then you have to get a new one?)
You have to get a new one every six months.
(Well, what would you do if you don't renew it then?)
You jes' in bad luck again - that's all there is to that, your luck is gone.
Entry 1973
Go to a graveyard for a gambling hand, git dat graveyard dirt and sew it up into a bag, and puts dat lucky lodestone into hit - into that bag. Yo' feeds dat lodestone. If yo' went to de graveyard, yo' feed it with whiskey, yo' puts whiskey on it; an' if you didn't go to de graveyard an' uses de lucky lodestone, yo uses de Hearts perfume on it - it'll 'vaporate, it keeps that lodestone damp and it makes yo† lucky.
(In gambling?)
Shore.
(Well, why do you use whiskey when you use graveyard dirt?)
Well, dat's a wicked person - yo' git de graveyard dirt from a wicked person. Use dat Hearts Cologne on de lodestone. Dat's de diff'rence.
Entry 1977
Dere is dis garlic - gits dat garlic an' yo' takes some dis seven finger root an' de King of de Worl' [magic three ingredientsl, gits dat an yo' put dem together. Dat is to carry yo' through an' good luck. (What do you mean you put them together? How are you going to put then together?) Put dem three pieces into a vial together, or sew 'em up together into a seal- like [unusual use of word seal], an' den yo' feed dat - yo' feed dat with red whiskey. Yo' kin git red whiskey now [now that Prohibition has ended] - yo' feed dat wit red whiskey [instead of moonshine white whiskey]. But now yo' could jes' feed it wit rose perfume in de place of de red whiskey, if yo' can't git de red whiskey. But while usin' dat fo' yo'self yo' don't drink dat red whiskey. Whut chew feed dat on, don't drink it. Yo' kin drink any othah kind 'scusin' red whiskey. Dat's fo' luck, carry yo' through an' he'p yo' in trouble - plenty of fren's, yo' have mo' white friends den yo' do of any othah.
Entry 1979
Mostly they give them to gamblers. It's a little square bag of no particular color. And they tell them to wear it next to their skin and that you will win. They don't tell you what's in that. They tell you if you open it you will have bad luck.
Entry 1987
It's lodestone, a white lodestone - yo' fix that with a piece of stolen garlic. Lak if yo' wanted this thing fixed fo' yo', yo' would steal the garlic - not ask anybody fo' it, steal the garlic without dem seein' yo', an' yo' place this white lodestone with a ten-cent piece an' dis piece of stolen garlic into a red flannel an' yo' sew it up real tight an' every nine days yo' dress [feed] this thing with whut dey call van-van oil. That supposed tuh bring yo' special luck.
(What kind of luck?)
Well, such as yo' - yo' supposed to do things an' come out of 'em clear. An' in yore dealings from person tuh person, yo' supposed to git results. Dey are supposed to pay special attention to yo'. It should be jis' de gen'ral run of all yore luck - fo' luck in de gen'ral run.
Entry 1991
Gambling? Well, the thing that I was told that I would be lucky in gambling with - the first thing I ever did in my life was to buy a luck hand. The hand was sold to me for five dollars cash. That hand was supposed to be treated with diff'rent kinds of oil and linaments, and then when you go to a game, that you would be lucky. The first hand that I bought, I went to a game and I got broke. I cut this luck piece open. And when I got broke I cut it open and I found one thin dime in it, and I'd taken the dime and spent it - bought me some gin with it. And so the next luck piece I bought from a fellow, he give it to me on a guar- antee of trial - if I don't win, I didn't have to pay for it. I had taken that luck piece and I won $35 with 256. So that begin to kind of make me believe that there was something to that. But after that $35 I wasn't able to win no more. Right chere in this Vicksburg, I paid $12.50 for one of the same things. The first time I won was the $7. Then next - I never has won. Then I realized that the confidence that I had in myself - had I not had that luck piece, I would have won just the same. But the imagination.
Entry 1993
Dey would go to a man fer to get good luck. So when dey go to dis guy, dis guy would tell 'em you know. It would be a little black bag, have a whole lot of little things in it. It would look somepin like little pieces of stone, and a little piece of dried leaf Would be all cut up, you know, in there. I seen 'em. I seen one of 'em and I tore de thing open, I didn't know what it was, fer to see what it was. It was a little fine pieces of stone and it looked like some little leaves was into it and some little gravels looked like offen de ground. So they said de fellah says fer to hold it tight, keep it in your pocket all de time; an' if you leave it to git loose, it would git away from you and go back to 'im and you wouldn't have no luck.
(What do they call this bag?)
A qood-luck bag. You kept it in your pocket where you keep de money. You know, it would be mos' fer a man. Well, if a woman would carry one, they would have to keep it in de pocketbook.
Entry 1996
It's something mostly in the shape of a heart, but what's in it I don't know. This is a hand for good luck. Most of those I have seen are made out of red flannel.
Entry 1999
Dis Hearts Cologne - ah seen a lady had some. She had it - she would not let anybody nuse [use] it but her, an' see she'd nuse it. But she had it settin' where yo' could see it, but she wouldn't let anybody nuse it but her. Well, see if anybody else nuse it, it would give dem bad luck.
(What did she use that for?)
Good luck - to keep de policeman off from yore house, or to draw customers.
(How did she use that perfume?)
She puts it on her.
(On herself?)
Yes sir.
Entry 2001
It's lucky about gamblin' and business an' all. Yo' jes' git chew a bottle of Hearts Perfume an' a bottle of cinnamon oil an' mix dat together an' rub dat ovah yore han' and face. Rub that ovah yore han's and face an' undah both yore arms, an' dat's lucky for spo'tin' wimmins an' gamblin' an' all lak dat. Ah've tried dat mahself an' know it.
Entry 2009
Take dat 'nure [manure] an' put lodestone with it an' people sell dat fo' lucky han's. Dey gits hoss manure an' cow manure an' mix all dat together an' lodestone an' salt an' that makes him be lucky. An' 'noint it down wit whiskey. See, dat'll make yo' have a lucky han'. An' yo' kin carry dat an' rub it - jis' lak yo' want a job or somepin, yo' carry it an' rub dat an' yo' mo' den apt to git chew a job.
carrying the described lucky hand while seeking work. Keep mo’ den apt as a qualified claim, not actual employment or a guarantee. combining horse/cow manure, lodestone and salt before whiskey anointing. Do not turn whiskey anointing into an unspecified extra ingredient proportion or combine neighboring recipes. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 2020
[I have already given some hands called Jack, divining hands (pp.190- 193 and Index), but in the following example Jack does not divine, he does some- thing else:] Ah have heard in times past dat a fellah gamblin' - co'se he would take his money an' he would take it an' put it wit sulphur an' red peppah an' alum, table salt an' wear it next to him, see, fo' so many days 'fore he start tuh gamblin', nine days. An' den when he goes in an' gambles, why he would be lucky. An' den, if he would happen tuh have a little bad luck, he would take an' put a little Heart's Own Cologne on it. An' co'se he would name it Jack. He would name that hand, Jack - that would be a hand. He would name it Jack. An' if he would begin to fall [to lose] he would take it off an' say, "Jack, Jack, three times, an'he would go back agin an' he start agin. But he supposed to keep it loaded wit dis heah cologne. [Calling Jack three times is a part of recharging the hand.] (He would put this money in a little piece of cloth or something of that sort. He doesn't gamble with that? He would just keep it all the time on his person? On his body?) On his body.
Entry 2034
High John de Conker root is fo' gamblin'. Yo' kin take it if yo' want tuh be lucky an' successful in gamblin' an' yo' could put it in a small glass an' po' some whiskey on it fo' about fo' or five days. An' if yo' let it stay dere de fo'th day an' de sixth day, yo' take de High John de Conker root out an' yo' bite off de tip end of it an' turn to de sunrise an' make yore wishes. An' yo' go tuh de game an' yo begin tuh gamble an' yo' begin tuh win. An' if yo' want 'em tuh lose - if a person want a man tuh lose all of his money, he wanta be lucky in gittin' all of his money, he git him a box of salt any time de day of de cards an' he take some of dat salt an' sprinkle it on his back. He'll lose his money. (And that other thing about biting off that end of John the Conquer. What do you do when you bite that off?) You chew that up.
Entry 2048
Dis wus a man dat wus buried in de undertaker [was at undertaker's place]. An' she took a long string an' she wet dat an' measured dis man from his haid tuh his toes, see. Den she, yo' know, jes' fold dat string up tuhwards her an' tied nine knots in it, an' she wear dat round her waist. She had dat round her waist when she died an' she tole de wumman tuh take it off. [Auto horn.] Well, she turned round den an' she measured [horn] a live man - see, jest lak yo'd be lyin' down an' somebody come in dere an' measure yo' an' she done hit de same way. An' now you talk about lucky woman - she wus lucky a wumman as ah evah seen in mah life.
(What did she do with the other string then?)
She wear both them strings.
(She measured the live man from his head to his feet?)
Yes sir, an' de dead man from his head to his feet. Ah wus scared tuh do it, you see. And she kept it. An' she tole a wumman befo' she died - if she died first, fo' her to come an' git her strings offa her. She took it off her. So ah went down dere an' ah ast her did she git it off her an' she say, "Yes." She had done it.
Entry 2056
Git a piece of dis common lily dat grows in de yard an' a lil piece of red cloth an' a silver dime an' sew it up together an' yo' always [have] somepin. An' yo' always have money an' luck.
Entry 2057
[The best known of living hands is the toadfrog, but there are more - chicken, louse (human), snake and others.] Git chew nine - git chew nine red ants, put them in a red bag, use them fo' luck. Go to de red ant hole an' yo' git chew nine red ants. It's luckier tuh git 'em as dey come out de hole. Yo' set there an' ketch yo' nine. Ketch yo' nine red ants an' sew 'em up in there live. That'll make yo' luck fo' anything - yo' jis' be lucky in gamblin', anything lak dat.
Entry 2058
Use Hearts Cologne an' lodestone fo' luck. Well, yo' take yore Hearts Cologne. Take yore lodestone an' jes' sew it up in a piece of flannel. Yo' feed that lodestone with that Hearts Cologne. That's for luck. [This is a simple lodestone hand - nothing else in the bag.]
Entry 2068
In gambling, you wanta have luck in gambling, you got to - of course, you can go to church and make your wishes there for anything you want. I have did it and I was successful too. And now like you wanta be lucky in gambling, you go to a drug store wherever you can find - you get you a piece of John the Conker Root. You get some John Conker Oil and the root. You take this root, you put it in a bottle, you pour this oil on it. You get you a piece - if you are a man and wanta gamble, you get you a piece of she lodestone and you get some per- fume and pour on this lodestone and that'll make life in it. What I mean by, by it make life in it - it would make a lodestone as thick as this key [she shows] when you pour that perfume on there. It will grow and little spangles come out all around it, but you gotta keep it corked up good.
(Little spangles. Little hairs?)
Yeah, that what it do. That's the life in it. And if you are a man and you gamble, you use she lodestone. If I would gamble, I would use he lodestone. I would get the he Conker Root and you should get the she Conker Root. But now when you go on gamblin' and you come home, you always take it out of your pocket and put it in the bottle and shut it up, where the oil won't evaporate. And when you go on out you can take a piece of that Conker Root and chew it and spit it around whenever you gamble on the floor and you will be lucky.
Entry 2077
I was stealing a ride on a train and as we went into the yards the railroad detective made me get down out of the train [boxcar] and they put me in jail. That was in Florida. The penalty from riding on a train is ten days. The charge was trespassing on private property, so they put me in jail in a part known as the bull pen where there were about twenty-two fellows. The fellow that slept in the bunk above me had a little disk-like of metal in his pocket. When we went to bed that night it fell from the top bunk of my bunk. I picked it up and looked at it, I lighted a cigarette, but I couldn't make it out. Next morning when I looked at it good I saw that it was something in the shape of a luck piece and I put it in my pocket and it has been with me ever since. It's hard for me to lose it. Not because I think it does any particular good. It fust stays with me. I have lost it sever- al times and each time I get it back again. I don't look for it however, it just seems to come back to me. I lost it one night and I couldn't find it anywhere. So I went home thinking I had lost it. When I went to pull my pants off I found it in the cuff of my pants. I don't know what became of the boy that dropped it. I only stayed there ten days. After I left there I came straight here [to the Atlantic Hotel, Ocean City, Maryland]. I was some weeks getting up here. The same night I entered this town I got my present job. You know what a hobo looks like, ragged and dirty. After I got here to his hotel, I had nothing like money or the shape of money, only this luck piece I found in jail. And my boss went and got me some clothes after giving me a job. Any time I want to go out at night, if I knew I was going out at night for a good time, I somewhat depend upon this luck piece. I put it in my left-hand pocket and go on and think no more about it. [I ask informant to lay luck piece on the table so that I could describe it. Since I was then using an Ediphone, not Telediphone, I had to speak into the Speaking-tube, adding the note about superstition after informant had departed:] (This luck piece is about the size of an English penny or an American dollar and being stamped out of copper [brass] with a dye classifies it as an article sold by mail-order firms catering to the superstitious. On each side of the medal, in the center and occupying.one half of the space, is a large open hand raised above the surface. The inscription on one side says HELP, HAPPINESS, PEACE, SUcCESS around the edge of the disk. In the center of the hand it says THE LUCKY HAND. Below the hand it says AND LUCK and below that IS MINE BY RIGHT. On the other side of the medal at the top I SHALL BE GUIDED BY THE HAND OF and below that THE SPIRIT. Below that LOVE IS MINE. Below that PEACE HAPPINESS PLENTY.)
Entry 2095
I heard when I was a child, my grandmother heard, that if you take a man's shirt and put it under the bed and keep it there, that it would bring luck to the house. So my grandmother tried this and always kept the shirt under the bed.
Entry 2111
[Use a penny fo' luck.
(How would you do that?)
Well, yo' kin take an' drill yo' a hole right in de center of it an' drive it in de center of yo' do' - inside of yo' room. Let de head of it be facing inside an' wet fo' nine mornings wit Hearts Cologne an' that will bring yo' luck.
(Well, what kind of luck?)
That's fo' luck fo' winning money on games.
Entry 2112
Take two pennies an' nail 'em right up to de bottom of de do'sill - yo know, under dat crosspiece.
(Under the sill of the door?)
Yes sir, under de sill of de do'. Dat's lucky to yo', too - two pennies, two rusty pennies.
(That's to bring in trade to the house?)
Yes sir.
Entry 2116
Take a penny an' nail a penny down to each one of yore do's, den take it an' drive it down wit one dese little keen nails. Take an' drive dat down les' as fur as yo' kin undah de edge of dat do' - dat front do', an' dey said dat brings luck. An' one up ovah de top.
(One up over the top of the door, too?)
One up ovah de top an' one down to de foot.
Entry 2121
Wearin' seven pennies roun' yore neck, dat's good luck tuh bring folks money. Yo' kin take an' bo' a hole - drill a hole in 'em. Ah got a little gold piece heah now. It not a gold piece but it a piece dat look lak a gold piece dat ah wus wearin'. [I evidently looked at it.]
Entry 2124
An' a penny, yo' take a penny and cut a penny half in two, if you wanta be lucky wit money. Yo' take a penny an' cut it half in two and put one-half in yo' left pocket and leave de other half home, and yo' goin' be lucky den in get- ting money in any kind of business yo' go at. Dat's luck - ah've test dat out that's 'streme luck.
Entry 2125
Fo' good luck, take one penny an' cut it into fo' parts an' take two parts off de head part an' put it in yore hair - jest in a little band crost yore head jest lak [demonstrates] - let it come down 'long heah, an' wear it jes' long as yo' have plenty good luck.
(What do you do with the other two parts of the penny then?)
Jes' throw dem away - dey's no good.
(You cut two parts of the penny. Indian head penny?)
Indian head penny, yes sir. (And you wear one part at one side of the top of your head and one at the other side, and you hold them there with a band. That is for luck. Any kind of luck?) Any kind of luck.
Entry 2130
I knew a mans once, he gwine to a man to git in de gamblin' game. He gi' de man ten dollahs an' de man gi'd him 26ç back, an' he wear a penny in de left shoes an' de quarter he had all cut up, he keep dat in his pocket. De penny he wear it in his shoes.
(And what did he do with that 25c?)
Keep dat in his pocket - see, he had it all jes' scratch up.
(That was all he had to do? What did he do that for?)
Yes, say dat wus luck fo' gamblin'.
Entry 2162
Put nine needles round yore neck.
(Tell me the whole story. How would you do that?)
Well, now dey tells me - yo' know, they said dey git nine needles an' put 'em on a string an' then git a stopper an' stick 'em down in there, yo' know, tuh keep it from stickin'. They tell me that brings luck on in yore house. (Where do you keep this?) Let 'em hang down - let 'em extend from - put 'em on a string yo' know an' then take yo' a stopper an' stick de point of it down dere - let 'em extend right down dere [demonstrates].
(Hang down to the middle of your stomach. What do you do that for?)
That's to bring luck in yore house.
Entry 2175
She burn incense. An' then she take de peelin' offa red onions, she burn de peelin'. An' she put 'em on de stove on a brown piece of papah an' sprinkle sugah an' let 'em burn ev'ry mawnin'. She say dat bring luck. (You mean just that dry peeling off the onion? She burned the dry peeling - just the dry peeling?) Jis' de dry peelin'.
Entry 2194
Jes' like yo' in business like sellin' whiskey or somepin like dat, yo' put a red onion ovah each one of yore do's, an' de Lord Prayers have it written, if yo' don't want nobody tuh pay no 'tenshun to it chew know. Git chew a small onion, de smallest one, an' jes' tack it up ovah de do' dere an' take de Lord's Prayers an' put it undahneat' yore carpet on yore floor right at chure do'. Well, yo' know yo' can't walk ovah God - dey can't go but so far ovah Him - yo' know yo' can't go ovah Him atall. Yo' take de Lord's Prayers an' put it down undahneat' dere. Co'se ah always use nine or ten.
(What will that do then?)
Dat will give yo' good luck an' no evilness kin come aginst yuh.
(That will give you luck for selling whiskey and keep the law away?)
Shore, an' people commence tuh envious against yuh. Dey'll come an' 'stead of bein' an enemy to yo' dere min'll [mind will] change an' dey'll be yore fren's instid of a enemy.
Entry 2221
I went to a man when I was in North Carolina when I didn't have no work to do, an' he told me to go get somebody to kill me a rabbit, get me the right feet and tie that right feet up in a piece of red flannel, and get me a bottle of Heartshorm Cologne and makes some of my water and mix it together and pour it on that rabbit feet, and for me to go out and go from door to door and ask people if they don't want nobody to do some Work. And I have got jobs like that, and that luck did me some good.
(Well, now which foot did you use - the right foot?)
His right feet.
(Both of them or just one?)
One of them - his right feet [foot].
(I see - the front or the back one?)
The front feet [foot].
Entry 2222
Ah used tuh gamble an' ah have all kinda han', but de only lucky han' ah evah had wus a rabbit's foot - a lil tiny rabbit's foot. Now ah paid him fo' it. Aftah he gave it to me, ah take dat foot an' wrapped one end of it tight - put three buckshots between his toes an' wrapped it tight, an' soaks it in Hearts Cologne. An' yo' wrap red thread around it wit de bones stickin' up. An' he give that to me. Long as ah carried, nobody in de worl' could beat me gamblin'.
Entry 2227
Say, fer an instance, yo' wanta be a gambler. All right, chew go to de graveyard an' yo' take an' yo' roll up yore sleeve an' yo' go to one certain grave - he's a gambler. Yo' go dere to de graveyard an' yo' run yore arm down as fer as yo' kin, an' git graveyard dust, an' yo' take dat graveyard dust an' yo' go on home. All right, if yo' wanta be lucky, yo' take dat graveyard dust - yo' do dat first, den yo' would see a rabbit dat it would be a rabbit coming towards de graveyard, yo' see, an' yo' kill dat rabbit an' yo' cut [off] his left foot.
(He has two left feet you know - which one do you take?)
De left one - see, de back. An' yo' take dat an' yo' would take dis dust an' tie it up in a rag an' tote it in yore pocket, an' yo' would be lucky all de time fer gambling. Any kind of a rag.
Entry 2228
Yo' git de rabbit foot - de front left foot.
(Now, just how do you prepare that?)
Yo' git dat rabbit foot an' yo' take it as it is an' put three needles in an' yo' put it in flannen, red flannen, an' keep it wit chew all de time. Yo' sew it up in dere - keep dis rabbit foot with yo' all de time.
(What do you use that for?)
Dat's fo' luck in games - gamblin'.
Entry 2229
Fo' luck in gamblin' yo' kin git chew a rabbit foot an' dress it. Well yo' take dat rabbit foot - yo' git de left foot, de back left foot. Yo' take dat back left foot an' yo' gits a brand-new cord string an' yo' wrap de top of it nine times, wrap it to yo' nine times. Den yo' git chew some kinda perfume an' yo' put on dat. Yo' git chew some lodestone dust an' wrap it - dress it an' den yo' wrap it. See. Den yo' put dat good perfume on it - good luck perfume, real good. Den yo' wear dat. Dat's good tuh tote. Yo' carry dat in yore pocket, carry dat around fo' gamblin'. An' den yo' kin git chw some diff'rent perfumes an' put on yo' fo' luck.
(What kind of perfume?)
Oil of bergamot, van-van oil.
Entry 2230
Take a rabbit's foot an' tote it in yore pocket an' keep Hearts Cologne on it fo' nine days an' yo'll have good luck in gamblin' - anything, in almost 'anything.
(What foot do you take from the rabbit?)
His right foot - back.
Entry 2232
Ah heard yo' git a rabbit foot, left hin' rabbit foot, an' tote it in yore left hip pocket an' dat will bring in luck in gamblin'. An' den always his money he win in his left pocket wit de rabbit's foot.
Entry 2233
Yo' kin take a rabbit an' kill him an' take his left hin' foot an' take it an' soak it in salt an' sugah. Mix salt an' sugah together an' soak it in salt an' sugah all night an' git it up de nex' mawnin' an' put it in yore pocket an' let it dry out in yore pocket. Den yo' have a lucky han' fo' gamblin'.
(What foot do you take?) [A check, not tricky question.]
De left-han' back foot.
Entry 2235
Like he wus down on his business. It's a thing look like a lily, name of rattlesnake master. Dat's one of de luckiest roots dey is out for business. Take dis heah rattlesnake master an' set it out in a bucket like yo' would a lily - or pot - an' take some water an' spit on it ever' mornin'. Business will come to yo'.
Entry 2242
Perfume - why yo' use it fo' luck. Yo' takes de rattlesnake marster an' John de Conker an' de three fingers an' put all in dat Hearts Cologne. [A three-roots rite.]
(Three fingers?)
Yes sir, an' put it in dat Hearts Cologne and yo' know, like sportin' womens put it all ovah dem. Dat's gon'a grow money fo' dem.
(Take this juice off those roots and put in that perfume.)
That's right.
Entry 2254
Ah told him [my contact man Edward] absolutely dat ah believed in dese things an' dey could do - dese things could be done. Dere is roots dat ah know of dat ah've got faith in. Yo' take de rattlesnake marster, dat's one of de wonderfulest roots dat will bring luck an' carry it fo' yo' - keep yo'. Ah have experienced whut ah'm tellin' yo'. Yo' take it - yo' kin an' have it round yo' an' yo' kin hold a job. Ah know that - ah believe it - got faith in it. Yo' take de blacksnake root - dat's a good root an' in usin' it with whiskey yo' kin keep love. Yo' kin love them.... Then there's a root dey calls de shoestring - devil's shoestring. Yo' kin wear it - dat'll keep luck. Dat's good fo' luck. Den yo' take the - ah've got faith in it 'cause ah've tried it. Yo' take - dere's a bull nettle. Well, whenevah a man an' a woman - a woman kin fix a man so dat he kin have nuthin tuh do with othah women.
(How would she do that?)
How she do it - dey tell me dey take worms, these earthworms, an' fry 'em an' git de grease an' rub it on him. He can't have nuthin else to do with no othah - take it an' use de grease an' he can't have nuthin tuh do wit a woman. But now, if he take dat bull nettle, he kin overcome it. Nuse [use] it by puttin' it on whiskey, gin whiskey [= white whiskey, either gin or moonshine (uncolored) whiskeyl, puttin' it on gin whiskey an' drink it. He'd overcome it. Well, dere's a butterfly root. Now dat's a wonderful root tuh keep a woman with yo' jes' as long as yo' want her.
(How would you do that?)
Yo' kin use de root dis way. Take hit an' boil it, git all de suction [juice] out of it, an' put it in a vial an' keep it with yo' all de time in that vial - a small vial, jest as small as yo' kin git it. Keep it with yo' all de time an' she nevah will leave yo'.
(You don't use it?)
Don't use it - jest keep it with you....
(What is the name of the root?)
Shoemake root. Dey tell me if yo' take hit an' git tuh de person an' git it somewhere dat dey have tuh step ovah it - they will have tuh come back. Dey tell me if yo' take dis heah thing - ah calls it [Graney?] Greybeard.
(Graney Greybeard.)
Take hit an' use it or wear it. Soak it ovah night de first night yo' git it an' use it gamblin'. Ah tried dat. Ah know dat. Soak it ovah night in some kinda cheap cologne - perfume it an' use it. Do dat once a month an' ah believe it's luck. Ah tried it.
(You just wear that thwn you go to - )
Wear it dat way - soak it once a month.
Entry 2262
(This animal - what's the name of it now?)
It's de salamander dey call it. He's got skin kinda like one dese brown puppy dogs, an' long claws - dey gits about dis long, see. He's got a pocket [pouch] on each side of his haid, see, an' a little root jest about dat long in dose pockets. An' natchly yo' kin git dose roots outa his pockets - dey jest about de size of a penny, an' yo' wear dose roots jest natchly in yore pockets, or yo' sew it up into somepin - course yo' kin sew it up into a piece of flannel if yo' wanta, so yo won't lose it. It'll shore give yo' good luck. Ah've tried dat. An' ole lady told me about dat. Ah nevah had seen one befo' ah come down heah. Since ah been working down heah we found one out on de job while we was workin', an' quite nach'l it shore has got two little pockets one on each side of his haid. Well, ah got dose two roots - looked in dere an' found dose two roots an' ah got dose two roots. Ah didn't do anything wit 'em but ah got 'em on me heah in mah pocket now. Ah wears them in mah pocketbook every day an' ah has pretty good luck.
(Just general good luck.)
Yes sir. [I evidently looked at them. A pocket gopher (Geomys tuza) is called salamander in southeastern U. S. A.]
Entry 2267
When yo' gamblin' yo' have a buddy, a fren'. Well, dis fren' he'll be 'long wid joo an' when de crowd git tuh gamblin', yore fren' will have yo' some salt in his han' an' some red peppah or black peppah - jes' so's it peppah. An' dey go roun' de othah people, not both together, fes' his fren' go roun' to de othah people an' jes' throw a little down deys back - three times up an' down his back wit dat salt, an' de last one of dem who he put dat salt on dey'll fall, dere luck will fall.
(That kills the luck of everybody there.)
Kills it.
Entry 2270
Take salt and burn it, then dampen it, let it become hard, put it in a paper, wrap it up tight, wear it in your left pocket, and they say you'll have good luck.
Entry 2308
Kin get snake bones and tote them and that makes 'em be lucky. And I hear that people totes some root called black marster and that would be lucky and make'em get jobs.
Entry 2309
Ah've tried it mahself as ah first tole yo'. If yo' should go home tonight an' - ah gotta go tuh co't - been speedin' or somethin' like dat an' gotta go tuh co't in de mornin' an' tuh let de judge come wit chew. Yo' must find a dead spider an' have yo' a brand-new han'chief - maybe two if yo' kin. Yo' know a dead spider dat hangs around de wall. An' wrap dat spider up an' carry dat 'long with yo'.
(What will that do?)
Dat will help yo' luck - he won't hardly fine yo'.
Entry 2319
Fo' luck in gamblin' yo' go in de woods, an' it's a weed dat chew git in de woods it has a little yellah flower. Some people call it candyweed, an' some of 'em call it peppermint, but it's real sweet - de root, when yo' pull it up. De flower ain't got no scent 'tall, but yo' pull hit up hit got a sweet root. Now yo' put dat Heart Cologne an' yo' rub it in yore hand an' go amongst de people in de game. An' then yo' kin take salt, table salt, an' yo' rub it in yore hands until yore hands sweat from rubbin' that way. Why den, if it's necessary, yo' go into a game; but if yo' don't sweat, why den don't go into de game 'cause yore luck is not on.
Entry 2327
He told me go and get some fast luck oil. (What kind?) Some fast luck oil, oil of van-van and olive oil, and mix it up and rub your hands and it bring luck to you.
(In gambling?)
In gambling.
Entry 2329
Well, from mah own experience, ah have a couple of things dat ah know of in gambling: Ah git some root dey call de High John de Conker, an' Ruler of de Worl' an' King Of Man - lak de king of anything, lak de King of England, somepin. An' ah have anothern dey call de Eve-an'-Adam [Adam-and-Eve]. An' ah experience of de High John de Conker an' Ruler of de Worl' an' King of Man - ah've gambled wit dat. (How would you fix that up? How would you prepare that?) [I tried to avoid prepare - see what he does with it.] Well, it be compared up wit Hearts Cologne in a little bottle [this is a bottle hand] an' as yo' go into de game - befo' yo' go into de game yo' take some of it an' po' it in de palm of yore han', rub it, see [demonstrates]. Rub it on yore han' an' rub it on yore face. Yo' might take de bottle lak yo' put perfume on yo' an' tetch it on heah couple of times. Den yo' goes on in de game an' if anybody have put any cookin' salt on yo' or somepin lak dat, yore luck won't be no good. It can't be touched by no othah man but jes' de one who handles it - yore wife, yore husband, or yore sister or nobody lak dat. If dey do, why den yore luck begin tuh change - it's bad.
(If somebody would put cooking salt there, it would kill that luck?)
Kill it - dat's right. Or either yo' kin take a red pocket han'kerchief an' band dat roun' yore waist with one dose ole hoppy toadfrogs. If anybody got roots or anything lak dat of de kind in de game, why yo' kin tell it by dis frog.
(What will the frog do?)
He will holler jes' lak it rainin' or somepin lak dat - jes' lak a frog holler when it's rainin'. Dat's to notify yo' dere's somepin dere wrong.
(There's something wrong in the game?)
Dat's right. An' if it any kinda root - de King of Man, or either de High John de Conker, or Eve-an'-Adam, dey won't stand no salt or no othah han's on it but yores after yo' git it. If yo' do, yo' conceal it wit bad luck. If yo' kin keep it without anybody han' on it, without anybody puttin' de cookin' salt on it - lak folks standin' in de game behin' yore back dey sprinkle salt on yo'. Dat's tuh put chew in bad luck.
Entry 2338
Jes' lak yo' smokin' any cigars yo' kin take some of dis Hearts Cologne an' po' about nine drops in dere on dat cigar an' dry it about, say two or three hours. An' dat will give it a sweet smell an' dey say dat's lucky to yo' - yo' be lucky in gambling. (You just pour it on this cigar before you light it an' let it dry.) About a couple of hour. Den smoke it, or either de cigarette. Yo' kin do it wit cigarette if yo' wanta.
Entry 2342
Luck piece - you carry de luck piece on you." You get you a John de Conquer root, put dat in your pocket and you carry dat along. You use Noonsum oil.
(Use what?)
Noonsa oil.
(Noonsa?)
Yeah.
(All right. What kind of oil is that?)
That's a lucky oil.
(Where do you buy that?)
You buy dat - you order dat.
(Oh, you order that. Oh, I see.)
And you take dat and pour it on dat. You make you a toby, see, and put dat on dat and carry dat in your pocket, see. Well, dat influence de man's [mind] you see, where you tryin' to get a job - he give you a job pref'rence anybody else. You got his mind, you see. You [got] de influence of him, you see. He'll work you where maybe he'll turn off maybe four or five more - he'll take you, you see, and let the other fellow go.
(Now will you tell me the name of that oil once more?)
Nooso - Noozoo Oil.
(Noonzoo oil?)
Yes, sir.
(Do you know how they spell that?)
No, sir - I don't know how you spell dat Noonzoo. (Noonzoo oil.) [See Spelling, difficult to get a, in Index.]
Entry 2344
Get some turpentine and brown sugar. Put as many drops as you is old on this brown sugar and hold it in the palm of your hand whilst you're talking.
(Talking to the boss?) Yes. And that's luck for a job.
Entry 2347
Dat's 'cordin' to whut kinda luck yo' mean. Ah know de gamblin' luck an' whut bad luck is given on dat, if a man's a gambler, see. Well, yo' kin take some turpentine an' red peppah, mix it, an' black peppah, an' mix it together. Now, if a man got a lucky hand, you kin put dat in his pocket, it will turn his luck. Dat's fo' gamblin' luck.
Entry 2349
The foot of a turtle, you see.
(The foot of a turtle?)
Yes. Take the foot of a turtle and they make hands out of 'em - luck hands out of 'em, see.
(How do they do that?)
Well, you see they cut that foot off the turtle and dry it out, you see. They dry it out and they takes and beat it up and put lodestone in and make a bag with it, see, and put a medal in that bag, you see.
(What kind of a medal?)
One of them holy you know, holy medals. They puts a medal in that bag and sew that bag up, see. And they sew that bag up and they puts perfume on it - oil of cinnamon perfume and they sells it.
(What is it supposed to do?)
It supposed to give you luck.
Entry 2386
[Here and in the several following margin-titles I have grouped a few statements about the terms hoodoo, conjuration, witchcraft and rootwork; more material will be found in the Index. Sorry about indexing Wise Man after Wishbone, but it goes with this group.] Go in de wood down on de rivah.
(Do you get it from somebody, this bottle?) [Bottle hand?]
Me an' 'nothah fellah out in de country went an' got it togethah. Ah know dis when ah see it. Well, yo' take dis Adam-and-Eve, an' it's one is Adam an' it's one is Eve, see. An' yo' put one of each in de bottle.
(Those are two different types of roots? Take the plant?)
Yessuh, two diff'rent plants. [See preceding margin-title, Root - A Triple.] Yo' kin put fo' of 'em in dere if yo' wanta. See.
(Two of each?)
Yessuh, two of each. An' den yo' put yore gunpowders in dere. An' yo' go downtown an' yo' git some Heart's Cologne in a bottle jes' lak dat, an' den yo' po's de whole bottle in dere if it will hol' it, an' stop it up tight. Ever time when yo' git ready tuh leave yore home, shake it up lak dat an' po' it on dere - put a lil of it on yo'. That throws yore trouble behin' yo, see. Yo go to a game an' very seldom yo' ain't winnin'. Go tuh ask fo' a job an' very seldom yo' miss gittin' it - somepin tuh do if it's nuthin but a day's work. Dat's all dere is to that, only it will keep yore home together an' happy - live happy in yore home an' yo' won't hardly be hard up fo' anything 'long as yo carry dat in yore pocket. Ah know dat mahself.
(You fixed: this bottle up yourself?)
Me an' de othah fellah did. He intend tuh be a wise man. Ah've heard dat he's been ovah heah tuh see yo.
Entry 2402
Ah've heard a lady say. She tole me tuh do it. Course ah never did experience it mahself, but she tells me like dis - to take on a Wednesday morning before twelve, never let twelve get dere befo' doing it, which ah said ah was gon'a try it mahself to see was she telling de truth. Yo' git chew a half a cup of sugah, allspice and put it into yore scrubwater.
(You get a half cup of sugar. And how much spice do you get?)
Yo' git about a tablespoonful of allspice. Yo' put it into the water that you scrub with. Yo' put chew a little piece of saltpeter with it and start at de front of your house and scrub before twelve to de back. They say that will draw any kind of luck into yore house yo' want.
Entry 2404
I've been around places where I've seen it done. They always dress the front of their house and the front of the house is kept - is supposed to be kept perfectly clean, scrubbed every day with lye and ammonia. And after scrubbing your house with lye and ammonia, you have a thing that you burn - a couple of the incense. And then after you burn that, that's in the house and your house is perfectly clean - you uses that in there - causes for the luck to keep the law away.
Entry 2411
If you wants to take a bath in water for success, you see, you put sea salt in there and oil of geranium - any kind of that you prefer for perfume you see - in that water. Sea salt. Wash yourself down and throw it at [towards] sunrise. Well, that'll keep you in good luck.
Entry 2423
I had a woman one time give me bluestone to put in the watah to wash up mah house. That make luck in the house, that help you build up trade in the house. I was sellin' liquor. [Bluestone is usually used in a combination of ingredients.]
Entry 2439
If dey wanted tuh take roomers an' all lak that an' business wus kinda dull, an' take an' git whut is known - dere's a powder dey call it Good luck Powder. Take it an' use that powder - take an' use that with some of the dust that is swept outa de house. Says dey go an' git that dust that's swept outa de house - lak dey go to de end of the walk when dey sweep back, dey git that an' when they git it there, dey take [and] work it together an' sprinkle it about de house. An' they burn incense with that. An' that would draw his customers.
Entry 2443
Now buzzard feathers is de luckiest kind of feathers - dat's something dat's very prosperous to a person tuh do, jest to burn de buzzard feathers. Git a buzzard, or either he kin burn de whole buzzard if he could, fo' luck. (Where would he burn that?) He kin burn it - if it's in a business place, he could jest burn it late at night in some kind of a pan or somethin', jest de feathers. If he had a place where he could burn de whole buzzard - if it be in a heater or somethin' he could burn it dere. But it don't make any diff'rent, jes' since he burn it around his dwelling place or business - place of business.
Entry 2450
Said yo' could take a aig from a black hen an' jes' peck a hole in it an' run de stuff out of de aig, an' dry de shell or either pound it - cook it an' pound it up an' wear hit in yore pocket, in yore left pocket. Said dat would give yo' luck in business.
Entry 2451
What you kin do to keep it there. You kin take a black hen eggshell - black hen, no other hen now, this a black hen. You take the shell, that white shell, and you put it in your oven of de stove and you'll toast it brown, and you put it under your steps. No one knows that but you. They will circle around but it's very seldom they kin come in. See, if they do, they can't find nothing - you'll be lucky. You'll get through it all right just as long as you keep dem eggshells under de front of your steps, or if you have no steps, just put it under dat doorsill. But it have to be a jet black hen with no white feathers at all.
(That's if the officers are trying to get something on you?)
Yes.
(What was that?)
[My question shows I had turned off machine and now want informant to repeat the lost words. This situation will be found many times in the text.] I said, if you was in bad luck and couldn't pay de collectors - you haven't got no money for to pay de collectors, but you say, "Well, I'll pay the Weekly man some way. Wait till I get some money." Well, you put 'em on back, he wasn't worrying you.
(You use these same eggshells for that?)
Yes. And didn't have no front, you keep 'em in your oven.
(Keep them right in the oven?)
Yeah, keep 'em right in your oven.
(If you are living upstairs?)
Yeah - keep 'em right in your oven.
Entry 2456
You runnin' a house or whiskey or anything, to keep the law away I hear'd people say you could nail on top the door a chicken bone up with some tacks under the doorsill. They say that keep law from you an' you won't have to go to court or nuthin. (What sort of chicken bone?) It's a little bone right on the backbone-like - join on together - whut people call a luck bone. An' some people said if two people be right together an' break it, the one who had the longest bone has good luck.
[While my machine is turned off, he says something about tacks.]
I hear'd that you had to nail thirteen tacks.
Entry 2458
You git you some oil of clover [I mean] oil of cinnamon, and when you mop up your house you put that in the water.
(Both of them or just one of them?) [To check the correction.]
One of them.
(What's that?)
Oil of cinnamon.
(All right.)
And you put that in your water when you mop up your house, but chew always, always be sure to have the floor already cleaned before you put dat down. You take lye and scrub everything clean, clean first. And after that dry then you get your oil of cinnamon and water and mop all over your house, and that will draw you luck.
(That will bring in trade?)
That will bring in trade.
Entry 2459
Well, you got to get you some - if you want to scrub out door, you mean? Something to put at the door? Oil of cinnamon. You get you some [some- thing - this is mentioned later], pour in a clear bucket of water. You take that bucket of water and set it up there and do like this over it and say the Lord's Prayer [demonstrates].
(You put your right hand up to your brow.)
Yeah, right over the bucket.
(And look down into the bucket.)
That's right.
(And then say the Lord's Prayer.)
Yeah. Then you say - when you finish you say, "In the Name of the Father" - look at me [this addressed to me].
(Yes.)
"Of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
(Make the sign of the cross.)
Yes. "Amen, for luck and success." (Yes. Now, wait a minute. You have water in that bucket. What else do you use in that bucket?) Nothing but the water and the oil of cinnamon.
(Oh, all right.)
Pour it in there. Then you pray over it. And you say - the last you say, "In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, for luck and success."
(While you make the sign of the cross.)
Yes. You right at your door like that, you go outside where the people coming in at and you bring it in with the broom - just have somebody washing in with the broom come in with it. Then mop all around neat with it. but alwavs bring it in the door - you bringing the luck in your door.
(I see.)
Anything you handle, whilst handling it, rub your hand in that oil of cinnamon when you go to send it off to the people. What you do for de people [customers], rub it [oil of cinnamon] on your hand, it coming back to you [in luck and money].
Entry 2480
Well, if he drinking or anything like that, you mean? Well, they come in - the man who is drinking - and they's [men customers who drink are] coming in. You always have something to eat in your house. You keep a fish in your house - you always will keep water, clear water. You always will be successful and lucky and you - you change water with your fish, you know. Well, you keep your fish there. He will swim around, you see. Well, there be somebody always coming in - going and coming out your house. Keep a fish cause he's lucky and successful. ["Goldfish in the house are lucky say some; unlucky say others" - FACI,2ed., No. 1539, p.61. J
Entry 2487
Chip it up. an' put it in mah scrubbin' watah, make yo' lucky. (This garlic?) Jis' chip it up an' put it in watah jis' lak yo' would a onion yo' see. Don't let nobody cross in dis house whare ah done scrubbed until it dry out.
Entry 2514
The horseshoe is luck to bring in customers. Just get you a horseshoe and nail it up over your door outside. A horseshoe and a four-leaf clover, that brings you customers. That'll draw anybody. Haven't you went along by a man's store and seen a horseshoe?
Entry 2526
Oil of cinnamon, dragon's blood, an' den devil's-shoestring. [Three ingredients.]
(Well, now, how do you prepare those? What do you do with them?)
Yo' buys dat right out de druggist. Yo' burn 'em, burn 'em all together an' put 'em in de fo' corners of yore house - jes' same as yo' in heah now in dis house heah.
(What would that do for me then?)
Give luck - good luck an' successful.
(Bringing in customers to buy from me.)
Entry 2535
Well, you will have to get some incense, lueky incense and brown sugar, and mix all that together and take - scrub the house out in the four corners and you burn your incense in the four corners in each room. You burn the incense in each room and then you wash your house out with oil of cinnamon and brown sugar and you scrub it out with that. Don't put no washing powders or nothing in it - just scrub it out with the clear water.
(What will that do then?)
That will give you luck to get your house rented.
Entry 2539
Burn candles - they's fer luck too. See, then you kin burn incense too. See, some burns these little incense they calls Black Men and some burns red and some burns de orange blossom - diff'rent kinds. But if they have perfume in 'em those incense is very good.
Entry 2546
Heard of that. Well, now, pract'lly ah noticed - ah learnt all dat since ah been heah. Ah notice dat dese fellows, dey git dis Hearts Cologne, yes sir, an' den dey use dis sen-sen whut dey burn. Dey say it's fo' luck. Dey take dat sen-sen an' put it in dere pocket an' saturate dis round dere chest an' dey hat wit dis Hearts Cologne.
(When they go for a job?)
Yes sir.
Entry 2558
[Lye, a protection against evil (p.459f.), is used by itself and in many combinations.] If yo' got a enemy anywhere roun', yo' gits a box of potash - jis' lak if ah wus fixin' it up fo' someone, ah have them tuh bring me a box of potash. If they thought they had a enemy round wus goin' do 'em any harm, anything, ah would have yo' bring me a box of potash an' ah would take this potash an' fix it up in a liquid an' den put so much of it in a bottle an' give it to yo'. Yo' would take dis home an' git up in de mawnin' befo' de sunrise an' yo' would sweep yore steps wit it - sweep yore steps an' repeat de Psalms about de Lord makin' me lie on green pastures. De mawnin' yo' git up an' sweep yore steps wit dis lye- Water, yo' put a little bit in a basin or somepin an' jes' dip yore broom in it an' sweep it an' say de Psalms. An' dat will keep anybody from doin' any harm to yo' - keep yo' havin'" good luck.
Entry 2580
Take cinnamon, brown sugah, reddenin' - it's jis' lak a powder but it's red, an' yo' scrubs with that. Yo' scrub with dat powders an' dat brings yo' luck. [Three ingredients.]
Entry 2582
Yo' kin dress de house, 'sposed tuh be wit rice - raw rice. House kin be dressed wit raw rice - whole grain rice, no breaked rice. Yo' kin go tuh work an' yo' kin take a teaspoonful of raw rice an' put it in each one of yore shoes an' wear it in dere 72 hours an' then yo' kin take an' sprinkle it all ovah yore flo'. Dat's one of de highest luck things dat ah evah used, an' ah'm goin' on 50 yeahs in it. (That's to bring in customers. Well, do you use that with this water or use it separately?) Well, dat's separately.
(That water is one way of bringing them in? And the rice is another way?)
Rice is one of de highest. Ah don't reckon yo' heard 'bout dat.
Entry 2624
If you wants to take a bath in water for success, you see, you put sea salt in there and oil of geranium - any kind of that you prefer for perfume you see - in that water. Sea salt. Wash yourself down and throw it at [toward] sun- rise. Well, that'll keep you in good luck.
Entry 2628
That's Seven-Eleven.
(How would you handle that?)
You puts two drops behind each ear and five drops right chere in each shoe.
(In each shoe or just one shoe?)
Just one shoe.
(Which shoe do you put it in?)
Your right foot. But you put two drops behind each ear.
(What do you use that oil for?)
For luck.
(What kind of luck?)
Well just, you know - just like you selling something and you wan'a be suc- cessful with it. Whatever business you into.
(I see. That's all you have to do?)
Yes - just use Seven-Eleven.
Entry 2632
Well, ah heard of 'em burnin' men's shoes. Put sugah in 'em an' burn 'em on a Friday mawnin', burn 'em at seven a'clock an' 'leven. Dat's fo' luck. Dat's fo' good luck fo' yo' house or people comin' in fo' yo' makin' money - anything lak dat. Dat's whut dat fo'. [Memphis, Tenn., (1548), 2811:6.]]
Entry 2636
Well, yo' take de shoe, de man's shoe, de right foot, an' yo' put some sulphur in it an' a piece of bluestone an' yo' burn it. Put it in de middle of de floor an' burn it, an' dat will give yo' luck in yore home. Draw the crowd.
(If you are selling liquor or something of that sort.)
Dat's right.
Entry 2641
Take a man's left-foot shoe - dat's luck, see, in de gamblin'. Yo' take a man's left-foot shoe an' yo' go tuh town an' yo' buy yo' five cents worth of brown sugah an' yo' buy yo' five cents worth of white sugah, an' yo' take that sugah an' yo' put a tablespoon of sugah in yore left shoe - of de brown sugah, an' yo' put a tablespoon of the white sugah in de othah shoe. Then yo put em in de heater. See, that's why yo' gamblin'. Yo' turn one this way an' yo' turn de othah one this way.
(Here are the two shoes. Now, how do you turn them?)
All right [demonstrates], yo' put a tablespoon of brown sugah in this left- foot shoe. Yo' turn this one this way, see; an' yo' take the othah one an' turn it ovah [not upside down] that way. (Make a cross with the two shoes. They are standing up though.) [I comment on demonstration. Remember, these are old battered shoes being crossed.] Yessuh, make a cross. An' yo' burn that. Let that burn grad'lly in de house. Dat's fo' gamblin'. Dat jes' brings people - dat's luck.
(But the sugar must be in the heels of the shoes?)
Yassiree, must be in de heels of 'em, a tablespoon of sugah in each one.
Entry 2653
When you sweep, sweep your trash to your business and burn the sulphur with it. Don't never sweep it away from your door; sweep it to your door every morning and burns the sulphur in it. That just draws them to you - that will cause the luck to come to you. (I see. That's to bring in business.) Yes.
Entry 2661
Well, yo' kin keep de law away from yore house wit sulphur, an' yo' kin have de luck to sell. Everybody come in yore house if yo's a whiskey seller, anything. Yo' git up ever' Sati'day mawnin' soon an' git chew a tray an' use some sulphur. Clean yore house out an' burn yo' some sulphur. Den everybody comin' in dere goin' spend somepin if dey got anything. Jes' burn dat sulphur an' let it perfume de house all ovah, everybody come in goin' spend something.
Entry 2677
Ah know jes' lak if a person sellin' whiskey an' if he wants luck to his house, why ah know a lady she used tuh - ev'ry mornin' she'd git up yo' know an' she'd jis' sprinkle right round wit chamber lye - sprinkle round de corners of de house on de inside. Said dat would hold yore luck wit de laws an' bring customers.
Entry 2682
Take the chamber lye, that is yore own chamber lye an' let it set up three days, an' a little salt in it an' wash yore house good, an' that will bring luck to the house.
Entry 2685
Dey take dere urinate an' fo' nine mornings an' sweep off de back steps wit it.
(How do they sweep?)
Yo' know wit a broom. Po' it on dere step and sweep it, yo' know, jest lak yo' sweeping off de step. (I mean how do you sweep it. Sweep it away from the house or toward the house?) Sweep toward de house.
(You sweep toward the house. Why do you do that?)
That to bring luck to bring people in. (It must be done at the back steps though. You do that when you are selling whiskey.)
Entry 2688
Dirt dauber nest is awful lucky tuh women (see p.432). Women kin take dirt dauber nest an' dey kin take it an' Hearts Cologne an' alum, an' dey kin use dat in de mornin' at dey front. Dey use chamber lye wit it too. An' use dat at dey front an' back do' an' dat place - women [do] dat, spo'tin' women dat way - plenty men will come round dere an' give it to 'em, have plenty friends.
Entry 2691
If you want to have good luck, you kin take your chamber lye and yo' sprinkle it - burn incense and put it in there, the ashes, and sprinkle it every morning before you speak a word, out in front of your door, and that will give yo' good luck and bring people to your house.
(Bring trade to you, if you are selling something?)
Yes, sir.
(I see, if I were bootlegging or something of that sort.)
Yes, or running a rooming house - renting a few of the rooms.
Entry 2711
Take yore urinate an' put sugah in it an' wash from face an' yore haid, down on down, an' give yo' all de luck in de worl'. Everywhere yo' go yo' kin sell anything or jes' git money jes' lak dat [snapping the fingers). [Comment by transcriber who heard fingers snap. So do I hear them.]
Entry 2731
Go to work and put on some bathwater in the morning.
(Bathwater?)
Bathwater. She go to work and she get her some saltpeter, just a little piece of saltpeter, put in that water and some red tape lye. (Red tape?) [Red Seal?] Yes, sir. You know, I mean concentrated lye, and she bath in that water. She don't dry at all. She just get out of the water wet and turn ev'ry piece of hern wrong side outwards, wear it from the morning until four o'clock in the evening and then she throw it off. Then she get the Book of Psalms and read the tenth verse and her luck'll come.
(Saltpeter mixed with lye. That'll bring in men for the night?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 2772
She tole me she had been kind of worried. She, you know, have a busi- ness - a cook shop, she had. An' it wasn't no real good business. She was doing this to help support her children and herself, and she tole me that she had a lotta competition. Dey was trying to make her go in [into the city arrangement] you know and she Was paying license [to someone] you know out in de suburbs, and of course de city men hadn't come out tuh her yet. Dey turn her up dat she hadn't paid her city license and she was just worried to death, she tole me. She went to see this fellah and while she was there she wanted some luck. She told him she wanted some luck and she wanted him tuh help her out on dis case - see whut he could do fo' her. So he tole her if she would give him three pieces of silver, which that [is] three fifty cents - er [or] a dollar and a half, that he would burn a candle. Now, he read cards fo' her and told her this: And in these cards she saw where it was three pieces of silver - de silver dollar mixed up in dere - [and he] fixed it out [interpreted] so she'd have to pay the three pieces of silver [to him], and he tole her that this man what was in the cards would come in at the time [soon] and speak to her. He say in the cards - he was reading the cards.
(She had to give him three pieces of silver - fifty-cent pieces.)
An' everything would come out all right. He guaranteed it, he told her, and she wouldn't have to pay dis heavy fine.
(How much was the fine?)
$10. An' dat dis man [in the cards] would come in [court] an' speak for her. And jest as she got in there, she had to wait till others paid and de others went off - and instead of closing her up like they had threatened to do, she didn't have all of her money - jest as it was her turn to come, this man, the policeman that served her de warrant, came in and while he was there an' she was telling about herself, he heard it. He came in and told her it was jest a little kitchen affair - was not a big display of it but if she could help her family. An' then he tole her to pay him $2.50 and then pay him a dollar a week or pay him a little bit along, he would be lenient towards her, an' she could open her a big shop if she wanted tuh, but he would give her that chance for the effort that she was trying to make fo' employment. An' of co'se she had all confidence in this man [hoodoo fortuneteller] because he told her that at ten 'clock when she reached this place that he would be burn- ing the candle.
(He would be burning this candle while she was in the courtroom?)
While she was in the courtroom. And he guarantee that this would happen. [I would not say the doctor actually burned the candle, but I am guessing that his psychic power knew the policeman "would be lenient towards her" in court - "a little along each week.]
(Did that happen here in town?)
Yes.
Entry 2796
Yo' kin go to drug sto' an' buy whut chew call dese lucky candles an' yo' light 'em an' yo' burn em. Go tuh de drug sto' an' yo' ask fo' lucky candles - see, jis' lucky candles. Some of 'em are blue an' some of 'em are red - jis' any color, but jis' ask fo' lucky candles. Well, yo' take it in yore room an' yo' burn it - see, from seven a'clock in de mawnin' until nine in de mawnin'. See. An' den yo' git some of dis heah - git some of that oil that drip from this candle an' put chew some kinda loud perfume on it dat smell - yo' know, 'tract peoples' 'tenshun. An' when yo' go aroun' 'em - jis' lak it's a man, yo' know, why he'll fall fo' yo'. Yo' 'tract his 'tenshun. Well, yo' go tuh talkin' to him an' de closer he git to yo', de mo' dat odor yo' git. See, he'll fall fo' yo'.
Entry 2875
If de' burning on you for bad luck or to kill you, dey burns black can- dles. And if dey burning for good luck, you burns white candles or blue candles or yellow. But dark blue is bad luck and black ones kill you. [Dark blue is sometimes called dark purple - it is almost black and somewhat rare.] (Well now, suppose I was trying to kill someone. What would - what have you heard I would do? Just how would I burn that black candle? How would I go about it?) Well, if in a certain length of time you wanted to kill a person, you set it for nine days, and you fix dat candle and put dese folks' name under it, and course you put nine new straight pins in it, and you burn dat candle for about five minutes for nine days.
(What time of day would I burn it for five minutes?)
Well, just the time you'd have to set it for. Whatever hour you have it set for.
Entry 2876
Well, den yo' go an' git chew nine candles, nine candles, an' yo' cut dere name on dem candles nine times. Well, an' yo' light dose candles, bum 'em fifteen minutes. In 24 hours dey come back dere and put dose [stolen] things back on de gallery where he got 'em from, or come back dere an' put 'em in de yard.
(What kind of candles do you burn?)
Black candles. See, black candles is fo' death an' make yo' return - anything yo' want it tuh do it will do it, except luck. It ain't goin' give you no luck, but it'll run and make you bring things back.
Entry 2878
Ah burns white candles on Monday, ah burns pink candles on Wednesday, an' ah burns red candles on Friday. Ah burm 'em fo' luck an' success in mah hou e an' keep mah roomers an' all.
Entry 2879
Yo' gits a pink candle an' write de boss name on it all crossways an' all down - jis' write all ovah dat. An' burn it in sugah fo' eight days or eithah eight weeks, an' yo'll find luck on yo'. Yo' burn it at six in de mawnin' an' twelve at noon an den yo' burn it at nine a'clock at night.
Entry 2922
Say, when you giving a party and you wanta have luck and success in your party, say, just 'fore your party starts, you get you seven candles. (What kind? What color candles did you say?) Red, and set 'em on your table in a round row [circle] and you light those seven candles. Well, you let 'em stay lit, say about twenty or thirty minutes. Well, you blows 'em out. Well, all right, after the crowd is gone - well, say the party break up at eleven o'clock; just about nine-thirty, well you start 'em burning again and burn 'em about thirty minutes. Say that brings luck and success to you.
Entry 3000
St. Espidee is fo' luck an' St. Espidee is fo' unfortunates. Lak if a man is unfortunate, well fo' luck he kin burn a candle. Dey got cup candles dey call 'em. Dey sell dem in cups. Yo' burn a light tuh him eight days. Yo' burn a light tuh St. Espidee eight days an' yo' have some kinda luck in eight days, but dat's providin' if yo' make a promise to him. If yo' make a promise to him fo' luck an' success, he goin' give it to yo'; but if yo' lie to him, he'll take yore success away from yo'. Well, dat's de candle burnt to him dey call de cup candle, an' dat's whut he's fo', luck an' success.
Entry 3007
(What do they say about St. Expedite?)
Well, they say St. Expedite is lucky, but you gotta pray to him - certain things you gotta give to him for luck. You gotta have him up in your house and have a little altar-like and burn them little tapers to him for luck. Well, if you make him a promise or anything and don't give it to him, well you falls in bad luck.
Entry 3032
St. Peter, he opens the doors for anybody - you know, who has bad luck and can't get anything. You have to get a key and put it up over the door, you see, and put a light to him. You put a green light for him, that's for money. They do this in the house, and then you can put it in the church too. [Informant does not mean Roman Catholic Church but the private church I call a public shrine (pp.770-773).] But you can keep all that I'm telling you in the house. But in the church too you can make your prayers. You can make the prayers at the house, it's all the same thing.
Entry 3034
(You say if you don't give him [St. Peter] this promise.)
Promise what you give him - just like if you promised him a flower or any kind of a piece of money. At that day when you make him the promise, he'll give you enough to go out and get just what you ask for. Well, you see - well then, you failed in giving him what you promised him, then he'll set fire. That candle - you see, you have some little candles setting under the saint.
(Under the saint, yes.)
Yeah, well, the saint [is] over [above candles] that - well then, everything you promise him, if you promised to give him a flower or give him a rose - well then, when the time comes to you to give it to him - and you done be successful what you have asked for - well, you come and you put that flower there, you know, in some water. Well, then you'll always have luck. But the minute that you fail in giving him what you promised - that what you - that junk what you got around there, probably you may have some paper around there on the mantelpiece or wher- ever you got it, or in the corner - you might have a curtain or something like that - well, there's some kind of way it going to blow into that and ketch on fire - burn down - and after that you have worse luck than you ever had.
Entry 3046
Ah know somepin 'bout St. Raymond. St. Raymond is de saint he's lucky fo' money: Some people makes a novena to him fo' nine Tuesdays, Thursdays an Saturdays. Dey gives him a green candle, if dey use a candle. If yo' want flowers, yo' gives him any kind of flowers. He's fo' money.
(You make that on nine Tuesdays?)
Nine Tuesdays fo' St. Raymond, or nine Thursdays, or nine Saturdays. Them his days. Yo' burn it [candle] straight, lak yo' would go into a church [and burn it] or anything - jes' lak yo' buy it in a sto', where yo' see de wick at, yo' jes' put a match to it an' light it. But chew don't blow de match out. See, take yore han' an' dampen it wit some spit, eithah one, an' mash it out. Yo' don't blow no light out when yo' light it lak dat, see.
(Where do you burn this candle?)
Right in front of St. Raymond [in your home].
Entry 3811
Dey claim dat brings yo' luck.
(What do they do?)
Well, dey takes dis chamber lye, yo' know, an' let it set, set fo' five or six mawnin's, yo' know, an' take a axe an' heat red-hot an' drop into it, an' throw it out de way de sun rise, an' dat bring yuh luck. (They throw this chamber lye out there. They put the axe in it?) Yes, put de axe into it. Well, de same story ah jes' spoke about, de axe an' de chamber lye, yo' know. Yo' take dat chamber lye an' leave it cuinate [cumulate] in de bucket, an' let it set fo' nine mawnin's, an' git chure axe an' heat it red-hot an' throw it out - put it in dat chamber lye until it git cold an' throw it out de way de sun rise, an' dat will bring yore nature back fo' de wimmins.
Entry 4013
In my house ah had a ole lady livin' dere an' she'd come downstairs every mawnin' early. So ah asked her what she's comin' down dere fo'. An' she had some of dat conkering root [John de Conker] an' salt an' some red pepper an' a little other stuff an' chamber lye an' boil it all together. An' every mawning she'd start to sweep, she'd sweep from de back on out to de front. She said that would give yo' good luck. [An old penciled note of mine reads: The process wrong, do not use unless something similar from elsewhere, this is only idea [[along this line]] from Washington, D. C. Normally a person sweeps good luck (customers) into the house, but here good luck comes by sweeping out bad luck any spell dropped in the house.]
Entry 4169
Take chamber lye an' scrub yuh house out, say dat'll bring yuh luck. (chamber lye and what?) An' Blue Eagle Lye. (Blue Eagle Lye, I see.)
Entry 4170
Burnin' sensen [incense] in yuh house an' chamber lye an' lye. Yuh know, have chamber lye an lye mixed tuhgethah, constratin' [concentrated] lye. Dat bring luck an' keep folks passin' in. An' burn sen-sen.
(Keeps the law away?)
Sho'. [As the preceding and following rites show, chamber lye and lye are used for scrubbing.]
Entry 4802
Put a leak in yore pocket, jis' lak yuh hang yore clothes up. An' dey kin go dere wishin' yuh bad luck, an' put a little pin hole in yore pocket, jis' lak anythin' kin leak through. Not enough fo' a nickel tuh git through, neithah a penny, but jis' a small short one. Well, yuh nevah pro- tected, an' yuh'll nevah hold no money. (They simply put a little pinhole in my pocket and I'll never be able to hold any money.) Yuh cain't drop no money in de pockets. Evah time yuh git it, it gone.
Entry 4969
(You take this man's sock?)
Yessuh, de left sock off de left feet, an' cut it up right fine an' put it in a new piece an' wear it in yore shoe, an' it will give him good luck an' he have de best luck to be shore [sure]. (The woman wears that or does he wear his own sock?) Well, he will have tuh take a woman's sock, tuh fix dis up, see; an' a woman, she kin take his sock.
Entry 5090
Dey take de shoes an' a little sulphuh an' burn it down tuh ashes. Dey'll take de ashes an' dey put allspice an' dragon blood wit it an' jis' like powdah. An' sprinkle it right in dey place. Dat'll bring luck.
Entry 5140
Yuh take a man's right-foot shoe an' burn it on a Friday mawnin' befo' sunup tuh give yuh good luck, whatevah yuh wanta wish fo'.
Entry 5190
Dey say dat chew could take a li'le shoe sole an' burn it, an' den scrape it aftah yo' burn it, an' it wus good fo' good luck.
(Just how would they prepare that? Then, after they have got it scraped?)
Well, ah don't know sir, only jes' know dey put it in a little bag an' wear it.
(You mean the shoe sole, that thick sole at the bottom?)
Yessuh, yo' parch it lak yo' would peanuts or anythin' lak dat. Well, yo' kin scrape it tull [till] yo' scrape a dust off it.
Entry 5218
Ah've heard dat yo' could take two ole shoes, two ole workin'-men's shoes, an' burn 'em. Take some salt an' po' on 'em, an' a li'le sugah an' po' on 'em, an' burn 'em an' dat will make yo' have luck.
Entry 5224
De lef'-footed ole shoes from a man. Now, lak if yo' be in business lak sellin' whiskey or anythin' lak dat, yo' could burn it in yore home at six a'clock evah mawnin'. An' dat's good luck.
(That is good luck to bring in customers?)
Bring in plenty customahs an' all lak dat.
Entry 5228
" Yo' would burn shoes fo' luck. Jis' git sugah, ord'nary sugah, an' sprinkle it ovah dem an' put 'em in de fiah an' burn 'em fo' any kinda luck.
Entry 5237
De shoes - dat right foot of shoes, dey kin burn dat up intuh a powdah an' put sulphur in it. Have dat sulphur an' dat powdah an' dis cloves. AH KNOW YO' DONE HEAR TALK OF SPICES. Have all dat burnin' tuhgeth- ah an' mix it up an' burn it in yore house. Dey says three times a week: jis' Wednesdays, Saturdays an' Mondays, say dat's luck.
(What kind of luck? Luck for what?)
Bring good luck tuh yo'.
Entry 5243
Wit de shoe - yo' kin take ole shoes an' compel good luck wit 'em one way.
(Well, how would they do that?)
Well, yo' kin git chew three ole shoes an' JES' AS DE SUN IS RISIN' - YO' KNOW DE SUN HAS A MIGHTYFUL POWAH - an' jes' as de sun is risin' yo' take yo' a little sulphur an' put it in all three of dose shoes, right up in de heel part, an' set de toe of dose shoes tuhwards de house. An' yo' burn dose three shoes jes' as de sun risin' in de mawnin', an' dat'll certainly bring yo' good luck. Yo' kin do dat wit de shoes.
Entry 5270
Take yore left-foot shoe an' git chew a piece of wire - don't git no string, see. An' tie - put two li'le holes in de shoe, yo' undahstan', an' tie it back tuh yo'. Always tie de toe part back tuh de heel part, yo' undahstan'.
(With the wire?)
Yessuh, an' dat bring in luck from de do'. Tie it right in de middle of de flo' [a quincunx, see p.7lO] it's comin' in de do'. An' den take an' put a little coal oil on it an' set it afiah an' burn it up. But let it gon'a be a ole shoe, now - jis' about wo' [worn] out, chew undahstan', an' do [work] wit it. Dat's luck. Dat smoke will go an' stay up in de wall.
(What do you do with that shoe then?)
Aftah it burn up - it jis' burn up - it's luck in yore house. Ah done tried dat.
(Won't it leave some ashes on the floor or something of that sort?)
Whut li'le ashes be lef' on de flo', ah take mah shovel - don' nevah throw it outdo's - ah take an' throw it in mah cookin' stove.
(You burn this on the shovel?)
Nahsuh [no sir], ah burns it in de middle of de flo' - see, comin' intuh de do'. But ah takes mah shovel an' take dat ashes up an' put it in mah cookin' stove. Ah don't nevah throw it out yo' undahstan' - out de house.
(What do you burn the shoe on, to keep the house from burning down?)
Ah burn it on a piece of tin.
(That wire will hold the toe of the shoe back to the heel?)
Yessuh. Throw dat shoe back dis way an' dat smoke will go right straight up, see.
(When you tie it with that wire, why do you tie it?)
Why dat tyin' yore luck back in de house.
Entry 5444
Dey kin take yore foot track up...throw it in de cemetery...dat will give yo' bad luck...put yo' tuh driftin'.
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 5515
A sock - lak yo' would take any of yore sock an' git chure track an' put it in, up ovah de house an' den yore laigs go bad, give yo' somepin lak de rheumatism. (Would they take either sock to do that?) No suh, dey take de lef' sock, becuz in othah words de lef' sock is fo' any bad luck.
(What do they put in that sock now?)
Dey put chure track. Lak yo' step down heah, well dey jes' pick up yore track an' throw it ovah de house. No suh, ovah yore house.
(But they have put this stuff in your sock first?)
Have tuh put chure track in yore sock. (In other words you would get my track and put it in my sock and thrcw it over your house.) No suh, ah'd git chure track an' yore sock, an' put chure left track in yore sock an' throw it ovah yore house.
(I see, I understand. All right.)
Entry 5739
A pinch of dirt outa twelve tracks from a woman, dat's good luck.
(What do you do with that dirt?)
Take it an' sew it in a rag an' tote it. [St. Petersburg, Fla., (1017, 1647:3.]
Entry 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 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 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 6490
(Now what do they do with that stuff from the bottom of your feet?) Well, yo' takes dat an' yo' dries it. Dat's if dey're washin' [the feet], yo' know. Yo' take dat. Dey soak dere feets an' dey take de scissors an' instead of scrapin' it down - an' dey scrape it up.
(They scrape it up from the heel to the toe?)
To de toe.
(Well, why do they do that?)
Well, dat's de way dey do it, from de heel tuh de toe. Dey dries dat. Let it dry an' roll it lak a powdah. Put it intuh de sugah an' let yo' sweeten it intuh yore coffee or intuh yore food. Dat's fo' makin' people lak me, yo' know. Bring on luck, brings all dat, see.
(I see.)
Entry 1763
Dey say yo' take a buzzard an' yo' kill him an' yo' bury him an' yo' let him stay buried three days. Then yo' take him up an' yo'll cook him down to lard. Jes' cook him an' jes' take his own lard, an' then yo' put that in a box. That's fo' gamblin'. That's a gamblin' hand.
(What do you do with that lard?)
Yo' take that lard an' yo' jes' mix it up - see, jes' mix it all up. Yo' don't have tuh put anything in it. Jes' mix it up an' put it in a box an' dat's tuh use fo' gamblin' - fast luck.
(How do you use it?)
Jes' rub it on yore left han' lak dat, an' then from yore left han' go ovah to yore right han' lak that. See [demonstrates], rub up this way - rub up all de time. (Rub up on the hands.) [For upward rite, see No. 1074, p.405.]
reported fast luck for gambling. No demonstrated success These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 2384
Oh, de willow tree root, yo' goes an' git, say about seven a'clock in de mornin', an' cut a piece of root from one of de sunrise [side]. Then yo' git chew a piece of red flannen wit salt an' sulphur, black peppah, an' a needle an' some Heart Perfume, an' yo' sew dat up yo' understand. Yo sew dat up an' yo' keep it 'nointed with dat Heart Perfume an' wear dat in yore pocket. If yo' git it yoreself, name it after yo'; if somebody else git it, name it after them. (Carry that for luck. You get this root from the willow tree. Which side do you get it from?) Yo' git it from de sunrise, yes sir.
interviewer-supplied luck purpose in a compound question, without informant endorsement. No blanket assent to compound question sewing the named red-flannel material combination. No stitch type, bag shape or unmentioned sewing procedure is inferred. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 4767
Dey turns dat fo' luck.
(Their clothing Inside out?)
Yes. If dey puts dere clothes on in de mawnin' on de wrong side, dey keeps it on till twelve. Keep it on till twelve. An' when twelve comes, den dey'll take 'em off an' change 'em back on de right, wish fo' whut yuh want, an' durin' dat week yuh'll git it.
informant-stated luck from reversed clothing, timing and a wish, with clothing referent confirmed in dialogue. No guaranteed outcome changing wrong-side clothing back to its right side at twelve. Keep morning wrong-side wear until twelve, then changing back; no all-day or nine-day import from neighbors. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 6772
Use dirt daubah's nest fo' delivahin' babies. Dey makes a tea of dat. Weah it in yore clothes an' bring yo' good luck. Put dirt daubah whah yore sweetheart is an' he'll give yo' money an' be good tuh yo'.
Entry 6955
If yo' think dat yo' goin' be tricked or wuz tricked, well ah tell yo 'bout de luckiest thing dat ah know tuh he'p yo'self. Jes' use sulphur. Jes' put sulphur in each cornah of yore house an' burn de sulphur at night. No roots. It's umpossible tuh work ovah sulphur.
Entry 7200
[Informant says something about a locust tree.] (What do they say about the locust tree?) Ah heard dat de locust tree wuz a tree - de ole lady tole me dis - IT'S A TREE DAT CHEW READ IN DE BIBLE AN' IT WUZ HANDED DOWN FROM GOD. IT'S A HERB YO' GIT FROM DE LOCUST TREE DAT NOBODY KIN CONKAH BUT GOD. An' she give me dat herb.. "An' dis herb," she say, "ah'm not chargin' anythin' fo' it, but yo' a man ah lak." Ah loaned her ten dollahs Once. An' SHE CROSSED HER BREAST [with this herb]. [Somewhere in Hoodoo I tell the story about my contact man Edward Bufford, while we. were working in Savannah, Georgia. He had sealed some money in a letter to send home to his wife but feared she might not receive it. His landlady, where I interviewed during the day, took the sealed envelope and crossing it over her breast, said to him, "Mail it, now your wife will get the money." The money ar- rived safely.] Ah asked, "Whut kinda herb dis?" She said, "Dis is a herb from de locust tree, " an' she say, "ah want chew tuh keep dis herb fo' as long as yo' kin."
(Is this for luck or something?)
Fo' luck.
Entry 7226
Git diff'ren' kinda stuff an' put it in a bottle, an' take dem matches an' put it in dere aftah dat stuff is strong enough - jis' lak... [I interrupt to rename some of the ingredients mentioned before recording began.] (You take camphor gum and Listerine and?) An' bluestone, lodestone, steel dust. Put all dat stuff in dere an' mix 'um; mash it, yo' see. Dat gits strong, yo' see. Dat cuts dem matches, yo' see. Yo' shake it up, yo see, an' it sparks - jis' sparks. Slap it down. Evah time yo' shake it up, it'll spark.
(What will that do for you?)
Dat gits choo luck fo' a man whut gambles, yo' see.
(What do they call that in this part of the country?)
Call it a Joe Mo - Jomo.
(A Jomō, I see.)
Yeah, dat's a Jomo. [A jomō is a hand, a luckpiece, a toby, a guard, etc.]
Entry 7241
It's experience, ah knows. Ah wus goin' tuh a place one time tuh a skin game, an' so de boys says, "Whutcha got?" Well, de day befo' dat ah went an' caught me a rabbit, caught 'im alive. An' ah took de rabbit an' cut de lef' foot off an' lef' 'im still livin'. (Which left foot, the front or back?) De back foot. See, got de back foot on de left-hand side an' put it in mah pocket. Well, ah wus goin' tuh dis game an' ah didn't have but one nickel. Well, ah got down dere. Ah says, ah ain't got but a nickel, ah chance dis. Well, de firs' drop ah caught de firs' fellah an' ah still had mah rabbit in mah left pocket - dis rabbit foot. So well, we went tuh work den an' we gambled an' we gambled an' we gambled. An' so when de thing ended up, ah win de money. An' ah had faith dat vus mah rabbit de cause of it see, cuz it's lucky, de lef' hin' foot. [Doctor Nelson of Charleston, S. Car., says the left hind foot of a graveyard rabbit, No.2226, p.632.]
Entry 7562
(How do they do that?)
See, dey'll go tuh de graveyard an' dey'll git some dirt from a new grave - it must be a new grave from a sinful person, a person dat nevah prayed none. Dey'll go an' git dat dirt off dat grave, out of de grave- yard. Den dey'll take dat dirt an' dey'll put it in a box, dey will leave dat dirt stay dere fo' two or three days. An' den dey'll sprinkle dat dirt wit stuff all aroun' yore house, an' dat will make yuh disagree, an' put yuh in de worst kind of luck.
Entry 7598
Dere's lotsa people always say dat if yuh go tuh de graveyard 'long about - well, 'fo' [before] day in de mawnin' an' dig down right about de heart of de person, right about de breast of de person, dig down way down deep intuh de grave an' git de graveyard dirt, no doubt, an' put it in yore shoes or wrap it in a rag an' tote it in yore pocket, dey always say - dat anothah sayin' - dat is good luck fo' gamblin' also.
Entry 7613
They take a little graveyard dirt, gather it just like I explained an' [I interrupt].
(With the three pennies, you mean?)
Yes sir, and a little cat manure and they mix that up together and you put it anywheres around in de yard - where the're [they are] bound to step into it, and they will be in one of the worst lucks they'll ever Wanta be in all their life. They will always be desti- tute for everything.
Entry 7624
Now, if yo' wanta go tuh a cemetery, somebody daid dat chew know, take 25 cents 'long wit chew, tuh de haid of de grave an' push yore arm down as fur as yo' kin git it. An' leave dat quartah down dere an' bring up yore three fingers of dirt, an' take dat long wit chew. Dat'll give yo' luck. [Instead of picking up a pinch of dirt with two-fingers, thumb and index fin- ger, a method mentioned elsewhere, some other informant says pick it up with three fingers: thumb, index finger, and middle finger.]
(What do you do with that after you get it?)
Wrap it up in a piece of paper or a piece of brown cloth an' put it in yore pocket an' keeps dat 'long wit chew. Well, dat's one way tuh git chureself luck.
The informant describes paying a quarter at the head of a known deceased person's grave, taking three fingers of dirt and carrying it in paper or brown cloth for reported luck. Hyatt compares two-finger and three-finger collection methods, referencing another informant; that comparison remains editorial.
Entry 7630
Yo' kin take graveyard dirt if yo' is a gambler, if yo's a bolito player or if yo's a poker player or somepin like dat. Yo' kin dig down an' git some graveyard dust an' tie it up in a red bag - see, understand, a red bag an' yo' carry dat in yore pocket. Now, we often wins wit dat, 'cuz dat's where we come from [from the dust of the earth]. An' tote it in yore right-hand pocket. If yo' won't git lucky from dat yo' won't git no luck.
Entry 7670
Well, yo' kin take graveyard dirt. Run yore arm down in de grave tuh yore elbow an' take graveyard dirt. Make yo' a li'le sack. It makes yo' lucky, yo' kin jes' weah it in yore pocket. Dat make yo' lucky.
Entry 7722
Go tuh de cemetery an' make de changes wit de bo'ds out dere. Put three pennies intuh de groun', intuh de grave. Bring some of dat dirt back wit chew an' put some red peppah an' some cay- enne peppah in dere wit it, an' burn it intuh de fire, call- in'; In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, dat yo' may have luck in gainin' de influence of all of yore frien's. An' yo' will have luck.
(That is to get customers if you are bootlegging?)
Yes.
Entry 7723
See, yo' 'sposed tuh go tuh de graveyard twelve a'clock at night, an' yo' git dis dirt, an' when yo' start gittin' dis dirt, yo' supposed tuh say, "Dead spirit, ah didn't come tuh rob yore grave, ah came heah fo' luck In de Name of de Father, of de Son an' of de Holy Ghost." An' if yo' put money tuh dat grave or a corn or either some fresh rice, anything, yo' supposed tuh pay dem An' jes' lak if yo' want chure luck changed, yo' go dere in de nighttime at twelve a'clock an' yo' take de haidbo'd an' throw it tuh de feet an' take de feetbo'd an' throw it tuh de haid. An' yo' git dis graveyard dirt an' yo' sup- posed tuh put sulphur in it - supposed tuh put red peppah an' yo' supposed tuh put sompin yo' kin git at de drugsto', but yo' don' specially have tuh have dat, an' salt in it. An' yo' burn dis dirt three times a day. If it's wet yo' put it in de sun an' let it git dry, an' when yo' make yore fiah [fire] it gonna smell funny when it be burnin'. Yo' shet up in a room tuh yo'self an' yo' burn dis heah dirt. An' jes' lak if yo' want - if anothah party livin' next do', yo' want 'em out chure house, yo' burn dat dirt on dose people an' tell 'em dat chew want 'em tuh be out. Yo' know, move out de house. An' burn it three times a day. An' jes' lak if yo' runnin' a joint or anything, an' if no one will visit chure joint much, yo' kin burn dat dirt, an' in about ten minutes time yo'll have a crowd at chure house. An' if it's a woman yo' wants tuh see, an' yo' cain't see her, an' yo' burn dat dirt, dogged if she wouldn't be dere in about five minutes' time.
(You make your wishes when you burn that dirt.)
[This was not a leading question. Somewhere while recording machine had stopped this had been mentioned.] Yeah yo' make yore own wishes In de Name of de Fathah, an' de Son an' de Holy Ghost. (What is the stuff that you would get at the drug store if you wanted to use that and add that to it?) It's sompin, but chew specially [don't] have tuh have dat, becuz ah ain't nevah didn't nuse [use] dat. (You don't have to have it. What is it, if you do want to use it?) [Either no answer or I turn off machine too fast.]
Entry 7751
An' ah've heard of 'em takin' graveyard dirt an' put it up ovah yore dō' an' it will make yo' lucky.
Entry 7753
Dey git graveyard dust an' sprinkle it on yore stoop, put it all roun' yore step, an' dat'll cuz yo' bad luck, cuz yo' have tuh move, cuz yo' tuh pine away, cuz yo' tuh pine away an' tain't long fore yo'll be in yore grave.
Entry 7766
He tole me one time, he says: Jes' lak yo' knew a person dat died re- cently, it don't make no diff'rence how long he's been [dead]. Dat's providin' if he's a gamblah, a man or a woman. It don't make no diff'rence, if he's a gamblah an' yo' wanted tuh git a "lucky hand" or sompin lak dat tuh be successful in gamblin'. Ah have nevah tried it but he tole me, said he wus successful. Ah noticed he handled plenty of money. Said, jes' lak yo' knew a person dat died, woman or man, an' dey wus a gamblah or pokah playah or sompin of de kind, an' yo' Wanted a little luck. Well, whutevah 'mount of money yo wanted tuh give 'em - yo' have tuh pay 'em firs'. Jes' lak yo'd git up, why it be twelve a'clock at night. Yo' go tuh dis pahtic'lah grave of de person yo' knew, yo' knew tuh be de gamblah, an' git so much dirt - jes' a little pinch lak dat. Jes' dig yo' a hole in dere an' git it, an' 'fore yo' close it back up, put some money in dere. Pay 'em fo' it an' take it an' wrap it up in yore little rag. An' tote it in yore pocket where yo' money at an' dey say yo' be lucky.
Entry 7767
Ah've tried. It give luck, if yo' go tuh de graveyard twelve o'clock in de night an' run yore han' down on dere, right in de centah of dat grave, an' git out some dirt. Put it in yore pock- it. Now, dat is if yo're a gamblah, put it in yore pockit wit chure change an' yo' kin go tuh de skin game an', long as yo' got dat money, yo'll have all kind of luck yo' want. Ah done tried dat.
Entry 7770
Go tuh de graveyard an' dig in a grave late at night tuh gamble. Go out late at night, midnight, an' go in a grave an' he git a handful of it an' throw it ovah 'is shouldah an' den take some back in a can or pot. An' den he goes an' gamble, shoot crap or throw cards or anything. He will be lucky in winning. (What does he do with that pot of this graveyard dirt - what does he do with it then?) Jes' keep it in yore pocket.
(What shoulder do they throw that dirt over?)
Right shouldah [demonstrates].
(With his right hand over his right shoulder.)
Entry 7771
Well, ah heer'd, if yo' wanted graveyard dirt fo' luck, tuh go tuh some bad man. Jes' lak ah wanted tuh git some graveyard dirt fo' luck fo' gambling, go tuh 'is grave an' call 'im by his name. An' dig down in 'is grave an' tell 'im dat ah want some of dis dirt fo' luck an', "Ah'm goin' pay yo' fo' it." An' drop two cents in dat hole an' pay him fo' it an' kivah hit back up. Take dat dirt an' go on gamble wit it. Dat is lucky.
(How do you carry it?)
Take dat dirt an' tie it up in a rag an' tote it in yore pocket.
Entry 7782
Dat make yo' - dat make somepin fo' luck in gamblin', some way.
(Tell me what way to do it.)
Only one way yo' do dis, wit graveyard dirt. Git some of de dirt outa de graveyard, outa de middle de grave. Yo' take dis dirt an' put it in somepin fo' a man, if yo' wanta hahm [harm] 'im, an' yo' let 'im git holda some-a dat dirt tuh eat - in some-a his food or somepin lak dat, dat graveyard dirt. Dat'll put 'im undah affliction whut would take a hard time tuh git 'im ovah.
(I see.)
Entry 7805
Now, yo' see yo' take a house dat is unlucky dataway. Yo' say now, de house is unlucky, ain't good luck tuh yo'. Well, yo' go tuh, say a graveyard, an' yo' git some of dat graveyard dirt. Yo' gits right ovah.a grave an' stretches out on it, an' reach as fer down wit yore right ahm [arm] as yo' kin. Yo' take a dime in yore han', go dere an' reach down in dere, an' yo' turn dat dime loose an' yo' takes dat dirt up, an' carries it back home an' sprinkle it all aroun', allroun' yore do' - all aroun' yore house, yo' see. Well, when yo' sprinkle it roun' dere, well evahthin' den will come yore way. Dere's no hahm [harm] tuh be done. Yo'll come lucky. (That is if somebody has crossed up my house and I'm leaving, moving out, that is to uncross it.) Dat's right, dat'll uncross it.
Entry 7863
Dey git graveyard dirt an' sew it up in a li'le piece of red flannen an' wet it fo' nine mawnin's wit Hearts Cologne an' weah it in yore pocket. Dat brings yo' luck in gamblin' an' on dese [playing] cards.
Entry 7952
I've heard though of taking nails from a coffir and wrapping it in red flan- nel, and give it to a person either for luck or ill luck, whichever you Wanted them to have. They sell them from twenty-five cents to a dollar.
Entry 8041
Well, ah've heard fo' luck, if a person wanted to git lucky an' make plenty of money, yo' know, jes' if someone died yo' know. An' cut dat li'le [fingers] right in de second joint, cut dis fingah from de second j'int [demon- strates]. (The left hand.) Yes, from de left hand, an' burn it until it come jis' uhite, jis', yo' know. An' jis' take it an' put it in a eel skin, fresh eel skin, an' [or] jis' keep it round [wrapped up] wit snakeskin. Plenty good luck long as yo' iive.
(Keep it where?)
Round yore neck, yes in a piece of skin.
(You tie it around your neck with a string or something?)
Yes, sir, let it hang down around about de middle of yore chest. See.
(What sort of luck is that supposed to give you?)
Well, it be fo' luck tuh git a job, or win money, or speed-up doin' anything yo' wanta do.
Entry 8044
Git a dead man's fingah in gamblin' or anythin', any luck; can't beat 'em or nuthin. (Which finger do you take of that dead man? Any finger?) Yo' take dat one [demonstrates]. (You take the index finger of the right hand. By the way, what is the dog finger? What is it? You have heard of it?) Heah's de dog fingah.
(Oh, that is the dog finger, the index finger.)
Entry 8049
Ah hear'd about dey gittin' de bone, de haid part.
(A bone from the head?)
Yes, sir. Ah hear'd dat dey go out an' git dat, goes out dere an' dig it up. Git de haid of a pusson. An' when dey git de haid of a pusson, beat up dat an' make some kinda diff'ren' li'le thin's dey calls hands, so dat dey have good luck an' all dat. Dat's what dey do wit dat. [For headbone see also pp.38,282 & 283.]
Entry 8263
If someone wanta give yo' real bad luck, says dey kin take - if dey got a grudge ag'inst chew - dat dey kin go an' git chure pichure an' take dis pichure an' build a fiah, an' set de pichure behin' de fiah. Dat's [demonstrates] de pichure an' heah's de fiah. Dat's de pi- chure. Set it off lak dat. Yo' git ovah heah. Yo' [they] take a gun an' dey shoot through dis pichure, through dis fiah an' hit de pichure. Take a shotgun, scattah shots. An' shoot through de fiah an' shoot a hole through dis pichure. Well, when dey shoots a hole through dis picture, dey says den, dat gives yo' bad luck. It'll take dat - on dat time in evah yeah an' evah month, on dat day, yo'll have pains. Whatevah day of de month it was, dey say yo'll have pains, sharp pains jis' lak if yo' were shot. (Now this is the picture across the fire, and it is looking at you - face towards you?) Yes sir.
Entry 8278
Yo've heard of de oldtime gun waddin'? Dey put dis pichure [torn up] in dis gun waddin' an' dey care [carry] it tuh a tree in some lone isolated place. An' dey shoot de gun off. Dey shoot de tree. Instead of powder, yo' know, lak dey shooting someone. [Gunman pretends that this mixture of gun wad- ding and torn-up picture is a shell and the tree is the person being shot.] An' dey say dat'll cuz dat person tuh have bad luck.
Entry 8401
I've heard that you can take a person's photograph an' soak it in warm water and vinegar for sev- eral hours, so much so that the paint leaves the photograph. And take it out- doors and put it in some old outhouse, and turn the face to the wall, and leave it there for twenty-eight hours. Then bring it back and put it where it was at first, and bad luck will happen to this person.
Entry 8809
Den ag'in, ah heard a boy say dat he was goin' wit a girl an' dis girl Wrote 'im a lettah, an' he wasn't on such good terms wit dis girl. An' he took dis lettah an' burned it on de fo' cornahs, an' sent it back tuh 'er tuh let 'er know he didn't want to be bothered. Dat's supposed tuh give her all kinds of bad luck.
Entry 8821
Burn it in de centah - jes' take yo' a match an' burn it, burn a little hole in de centah [of letter]. Burn on de fo' cornahs an' den mail it any place. An' dat's bad luck tuh yo'. [This creates the 5 points of a quincunx.] (That is, this letter that you received from this person?) Dat's right. Dey don't have tuh send it back tuh yo'. It's bad luck tuh dis man at any place. It kin go back tuh de dead lettah office. It's bad luck tuh yo' [the writer].
Entry 9031
Well, dey say tuh git a person's shoes, dey always say burnt shoes is good luck. Burn 'em anywheres right in yo' wash-pot in de yard or anywhere in yore house. Burnin' yo' shoes is good. But dey say de shoes is good fo' good luck, dey is good also fo' bad luck, 'cuz if yo' wanta do sompin fo' a person what- somevah yo' goin' do tuh 'em - jes' lak now, say a person uptown in de jailhouse. Well, now, yo' wanta git dat person outa jail. Or in fact, yo' wanta addle de judge an' evah'thin' dere [where] he tryin' 'im. Well, yo' take all dose judge names [officials concerned] an' yo' write 'em on a piece of papah. Yo' take yore gunpowdah an' de sulphuh an' de red peppah, an' yo wrop dat up in dose people names. Yo' stick dat down in de man's [client's] shoe an' yo' turn it bottomside upwards an' yo' burn dat. While yo' shoe burnin', yo' put yore han' tuhgethah tight, lak dis Way [demonstrates] lock yore fingahs tight.
(You interlock your fingers?)
Yes, an' yo' make yore wishes tuhwards he comin' free. Well, dey say dat will free a man.
Entry 9061
When yo' go tuh dat co'troom, dat co'thouse, dat yo' goes tuh somebody dat yo' knows dat's real wicked. An' go tuh de graveyard an' run yore han' down an' git chew some graveyard dirt. An' as yo' go out, go left-handed, left-handed tuh de jail, de co'thouse, all de Way roun' it, an' jes' throwin' jes' lak yo' do fertilizuh. An' stroll right on tuh de place where yo' start in, an' den back in, an' jes' stop it all right in dere. Well, yo' go in dere, say dat's luck fo' dat. [According to my following question informant demonstrated.]
(YOU THROW IT WITH YOUR LEFT HAND?)
YESSUH AN' GO DE LEFT WAYS ALL DE TIME.
Entry 9082
An' yo' gits dis John de Conkah root, an' yo' gits a piece of devil's- shoestring root. An' yo' split dat devil's-shoestring root, split it in half, in fo' halves [quarters]. An' yo' cut dat John de Conkah root round. An' yo' puts hit [both roots] intuh a vial, an' yo' put dis Jack of Clubs, Hearts Cologne [2 perfumes] on it. He totes dat in his right pocket.
(For what?)
Dat's fo' luck in trouble. (Now what does he do? He puts that John the Conker piece, cut round, puts it in the bottle. What does he do with the devil's-shoestring?) Mix it wit it, put it right in de same bottle - put dat in de same bottle. (Wait a minute! You didn't put that round piece and that split part of John the Conker then?) No.
(Separately?)
Jes' separate dem.
(Why do they split that John the Conker root? I mean the devil's-shoestring?)
Ah don't know, jes' tuh split de enemies dey say. Dey put dem two into a bottle.
(How many pieces of John the Conker do you put in there, you say?)
Three piece, three round pieces.
(Why do you put three round pieces in there?)
Dat is fo' de jedge an' de solicitor an' de lawyah, ah 'spose.
(That goes in with that devil's-shoestring.)
Yes.
(And you feed that you say?)
Jes' feed dat, Hearts Cologne, Rose Van [Rosewater] or Jack of Clubs.
Entry 9093
If a person have a fight, a purtty bad fight chew know, an' ah know de man's goin' git me - all of it fell on me becuz ah done mo' den 'nuff, an' ah know it's goin' fall on me, an' dunno [don't know] whut tuh do. Aw, ah'm jes' cryin' an' a-grievin', ah dunno whut tuh do. "Lawd, ah know ah'll gits a whole lotta time." An' ah don' wanta [get time]. Heah comes somebody, says, "Oh, dat's so bad. Ah heared of yore troubles." Says, "Well, ah tell yo'," says, "yo' ain't got no money an' yore po' an' yo'll pay fo' it." Says, "But chew kin git a li'le, prob'ly a dollah or two, but chew will git chew some luck." "Well, where will ah go?" "Ah know a man [doctor] live right ovah dere, right straight ovah dere. Ah know he'll fix yo' up." "Well, ah shore hope so becuz ah'm fed up. Ah dunno whut tuh do." Says, "Yo' go ovah dere. He's a good man. He's a high-class man. He knows stuff." Yo' walk in an' he [doctor] says, "Hello, dere. Yo's in trouble dis mawnin', ain't chah?" "Yes." Says, "Yo's in trouble," says, "yo' goin' have a lawsuit an' yo' come out heah fo' he'p?" [For some of the methods used by doctors when greeting patients, see CONSULTATION TECHNIQUE, PP.307-319.] "Yes." Okay. "Well, ah tell yo' right now, it goin' cost chew five dollahs, an' ah give yo' somepin othah. An' yo' take dis an' yo' go up dere [to court]. Dey jes' ast yo' a few questions. Den come on out." He goes back an' gives 'im a li'le piece of root about two inches, ah reckon. Dere's three notches cut intuh dis root, an' de notch is cut in dere to represent de Fathah an' de Son an' de Holy Ghost. Dat takes ca' [care] of dat. Yo' know whut dat means. Dat's [case is] out. Dat's throwed out. Dey jes' say, "Out."
(That's in a court case?)
Dat's throwed out.
Entry 9141
Git some salt an' cinnamon an' yo' weah dat in yuh right pocket, an' when yo' talkin' wit de judge, why jis' empty salt as yo' talkin' an' dat'll bring yo' peace, luck.
Entry 9367
Take a hen aig an' weah it intuh yuh pocket an' yo'll have luck wit mos' anything dat chew want tuh do. (How do you mean, wear it in your pocket? This whole egg or just the egg shell or what?) Jes' de shell of de aig. If yo' even eat de aig, take de shell an' jes' weah it, wherevah yo' go an' yo'll have luck. Even if yo' go tuh de circus an' yo' want [to] be seein' how dey win dese things, yo'll [have]luck.
Entry 9465
Put some cookin' salt right in de do', in fron' of de do' yo' see; an' put some backwards tuh de kitchen where dey be walkin' in. An' dey walk in ovah dat salt, he'll have good luck de balance of dey days.
(Who would do this?)
De man, or anybody wus runnin' de house.
(Of any kind [of business] - selling what?)
Sellin' moonshine or....
Entry 9483
[Dey kin] bring salt from dere home an' put it intuh your place [house] - salt, cookin' salt, see. An' de same thing dey says dat dey'd [they would] com- pare salt. It gives yuh hard luck as being a means of good luck by puttin' it in de fo' cornahs. [Salt brings bad luck and good luck.]
(What will that do, putting it in the four corners?)
Say dat brings luck. An' yo' names each pile de kinda luck dat you'd lak tuh run in. Fo' instance you'd lak tuh have dis [demonstrates] as de money pile, dis is some othah prosperity, dis is love, an' dis is biggah business.
Entry 9498
In othah word, if yo' wanta give him bad luck, yo' could give him bad luck by puttin' salt on him. Tuh cross his luck yo' po' salt on dis man. Dat's bad luck tuh anyone gamblin', enythin', so forth.
Entry 9521
Den yo' kin take table salt an' weah it in de bottom of yuh shoes, jes' lak yo' got dis business goin' on now [informant will return to dis business of mine later]. Yo' kin take table salt an' weah it in de bottom of yore shoes, an' go roun' dat by day wit dat undah de bottom of yore feet, an' yo' come tuh be slick an' yo'll come tuh be lucky in yore doin's an' successful.
(You say wearing the salt in your shoe makes you lucky in all sort of things?)
Jes' in all sorts of things dat chew carry on. TAKE TABLE SALT AN' PUT IT IN DE BOTTOM OF YORE SHOES DAT YO' WEAHIN'. DAT'S SO'S YO' GIT SLICK AS GLASS. YO' HAVEN'T NEVAH TRIED DAT?
(NO.)
WELL, YO' TRY DAT IN YORE BUSINESS. JES' LAK DIS BUSINESS YO' CARRYIN' ON put table salt in de bottom of yore shoe, yo' be lucky an' suc- cessful. Yore feet git slick as glass.
Entry 10013
I've heard of that but I've never committed that sin. My grandmother has spoke of it several times in front of me, how you sells yourself to the devil, that you go in the woods and get you a black cat and kill it. And you get a boiling pot of hot water and you throu this cat in that water. And if yon can stand there and watch that cat cook to death, that you will be lucky and success- ful. Take the bones and throw them in a creek and the bone that float8 upstream, that's the bone that you take. And long as you wear that bone you slll be lucky.
(I see.) [Boiling cat in the woods is rare.]
Entry 10014
De way dey git de black cats lucky bone, kill de cat alive an' put 'im in a pot befo' he dies thoroughly dead - in a pota boilin' hot watah. All right. Let 'im boil till all de meat come off 'is bones, an' po' all de meat an' bones all in de [stream of] watah. An' de bone dat go upstream, take dat. Dat's de lucky bone, de black cats lucky bone. [Presumably cat is knocked senseless be- fore being dropped into hot water.]
Entry 10034
Ah have information concerning that, how a person sells theirself to the devil, but ah have never [done that]. They tell me what you do to sell your- self to the devil. They say, you take a black cat alive and boil him. Drop him in hot boiling pot of water and boil him, you see. And after you boil him, you take out all those bones, the different bones, and you drop them in a running stream of water. Now, the bone that runs [floats away], you see, you pick up that bone. And you make a oath to the devil that you sell your soul for so many years to be successful. Not forever, you know. You sell your soul for ten years, you see. You be successful and can get everything your heart desires. But othervise, you oouldn't have no luck. If you dies, you couldn't go to heaven. You belong to the devil and all [heaven can't save you].
Entry 10049
Put a black cat in a pot of water and boil it until all the flesh comes off and the lucky bone comes to the top. Then take that lucky bone and go to the forks of the road and there you'll meet the devil. If you can stand him you can do anything you want.
Entry 10067
Tell me dey go down in de graveyard 'bout twelve a'clock in de night an' carry dat black cat out dere. An' have mah watah boilin' at twelve a'clock, an' jis' at twelve a'clock throw dat cat, dat black cat, in dat boilin' watah alive. Throw 'im in dere 'live an' let 'em boil till all de meat come off all de bones. An' care [carry] de bones tuh a runnin' stream an' put 'em in dere. An' de bone dat comes tuh de top, pick dat up an' tote on 'em. Dat bring a person luck.
Entry 10068
Yo' kin go tuh a graveyard. Git chew a black cat an' go tuh a grave- yard an' stay out dere till twelve 'clock in de night. An' boil dat black cat in de graveyard. An' aftah yo' boil 'im good an' hot, why run tuh a li'l stream an' po' 'im in de stream; an' de bone dat comes up de stream, git dat an' dat's good luck.
Entry 10075
I heard yeh had to kill a black cat. A certain bone yeh had to git. I think the story went yeh had to suck that bone. And then you had to go to a three-prong road, a crossroad - [dem- onstrates] a prong this way, and a prong that way, and a prong this way - seven mornings before day, and yeh supposed tuh meet the devil there. That's people that is trying to git Over for to do anything they want to do. And he [devil] was supposed to meet yeh at a certain time. And yeh meet sompin other dere dat was supposed tuh be the devil himself. And he was to set jeh free [to do anything]. And then you could do anything, have any kind of luck you wanted for seven years.
Entry 10088
You get a real black cat, jet black, and throw him in a pot of hot water and let him stay there until the bones all come to pieces. You take all the bones out then and put them in your mouth, one at a time, and when you strike that bone, the lucky bone, you'll become blind. Then you have struck the right bone. You carry that for luck. [This is a tricky rite! After I draw each bone through my lips and still see, what happens then? Are some black cats without lucky bones? Am I supposed to continue in rotation or haphazardly redrawing the bones through my lips ad infinitum? Is this merely a folk trick? A practical joke?] [Hampton, Va., Old Point Comfort, Ediphone cyl.30.]
Entry 10111
Jis' lak if yuh wan'a git a bone from a black cat. Jis' lak if yuh got a black cat shut up tuh yuh home heah. Yuh cud take dat black cat an' kill in. An' jis' lak if yuh got a li'l assafitadee [asafetida]. Yuh ought tuh shet 'im up an' let 'im stay dere nine days [with asafetida - a bad or good smell for the devil]! An' dey say in de nine days ven [when] yuh take dat cat an' yuh'll kill dat cat, an' yuh git dat bone from right out 'is hip, right heah [demon- strates]. Yuh kin git two of 'em out one cat, outa each hip. An' yuh take dat bone den, an' yuh cud take yuh a li'le roun' sumpin - got [to punch] a hole in it, see; yuh know, a roun' sompin, yuh punch a hole - jis' lak a icepick, yuh see. An' yuh take it an' yuh punch holes in it. An' yuh go tuh de drug sto' an' git chew some a -w'ut-a yuh call dat sweet thin'? Some a -w'a chew call it? But anyhow it jis' a root [John de Conkah?] yuh found in witchcraft, yuh know. Yuh put on de bone, yuh feed dat bone wit dat. (You put this stuff in that hole in the bone?) Yes sir. Ah'll remembah it [dat sweet thin'] in a few minutes. Yuh take dat bone den - jis' lak if yuh wus gamblin', yuh kin take dat bone. An' jis' as long as yuh feed it befo' yuh go. An'yuh take a li'le bit of dat an' put it in yuh left pocket. An' yo' couldn't lose.
(How do you carry this bone?)
In a li'le sack in yuh lef'-han' pocket. Yuh put some salt in yuh right-han' pocket. An' don' nevah let nobody see de bone an yuh'll be lucky.
(What do you get at the drug store?)
Foom. Foom. Yuh go tuh de drug store an' call fo' a bottle of foom - de sweetest thin'. He giv't yuh.
(Is it perfume?)
Yes sir! Yuh go dere an' call fo' a bottle of foom an' he'll give it tuh yuh. It looks lak watah in a bottle, but it's de sweetest thin' yuh evah did put on yuh in yuh life. [The fisherman from down the Sound was difficult to understand. My contact man felt sorry for him saying he was so backward - un- educated and naive, primitive.]
Entry 10149
Ah've heard dat chew kin wear a certain charm called black cat bone dat will ward off all evil an' bad luck.
(Where do you get this black cat bone?)
It is possible dat chew kin take a black cat, dey tell me, an' cook 'im until tuh pieces at least. Aftah yo' cook 'im yo' take dis bone an' threw 'em in a runnin' stream, an' it will come back tuh yo' at a certain place. Yo' supposed tuh take dis bone an' wear it on yo' as a charm.
Entry 10197
Yo' kin take candles if yo' want luck in yore house. Yo' kin take it an' burn it, burn it at de length of time, wit chure saltpetah an' some cinnamon an' sugar. Dat will bring yuh luck.
(Where do you put these ingredients?)
In a saucer an' den put chure candle on top of it. [Or fix candle in center and ingredients around it.]
Entry 10199
A candle for luck and success you burn to St. Peter. He hold de key in his hand. All right dat opens. They call that open the way for you, you see. St. Raymond that's money. You burn to him and he keeps you with a piece of money; and you got to give him a piece of money, and he keeps you with a piece of money. That's the Way that is. (Do you know any other saints? St. Micahel? Any other saints they burn candles to?) Yes, St. Micahel. They burns to St. Peter, St. Raymond and St. Anthony.
(What do they burn to St. Anthony for?)
They burn to St. Anthony for to bring people back, mens back to - women back when they done quit. You make a wish and burn that light to him. Go to the church anywhere and light a light, if you don't have the saint at the house. If you have had the saint blest and put at your home and you prays to it three times a day, that's to bring anybody back to you what done left you.
(Do you mean three times one after the other, or?)
Three times a day, twelve - say six in morning, twelve in the day, and six in the evening. That's three times, you pray to this saint. And have your light burning. It'll - in nine days you see an improvement.
Entry 10573
Yo' kin take a bat an' yo' kin put him in a stove, yo' know, an' bake him until he git kinda crusty like dat. An' put it in a little bag an' put a piece of lodestone in dere, an' dey tell me - say, dat will give yo' good luck.
(Good luck for what?)
Gamblin' an' shootin' dice.
Entry 10604
I've heard, once upon a time that if yo' - dere's an old sayin', I seen it established in a book once, that if yo' wants tuh have good luck in gaml bling, is to git a leather-wing bat, wrap it into a piece of flannel an' tie it round yore waist. (They take the whole bat and tie it around the wrist.) No, the heart of the bat. (What was the name of the book?) Well, this book is related to - handing out from a doctor. Ah don't know the name since - it's right help- ful literature. [St. Petersburg, Fla., (983), 1590:3.] [The title of this long division comes from one of the activities of a Jack or Smruel or any name you want to call this personal and living fetish - a divination devise fully described by my MOJO ExPERT on page 1254, one of the great pages of EOODOO. Do not confuse this spirit object with the impersonal ouija and planch- ette, which spell out answers to anyone. Jack belongs to and works for its owner only. Jack can have any shape. Years ago somewhere in HOODOO a man's Jack to find cunjure was a child's mechanical toy! Our Jack here is ball-shaped - hence called Jack-ball - held up in the air by a string. Our operator addresses it as Sqmuel. Any name could be used. The present Jack-ball answers questions by cer- tain movements: trembling, standing still, swinging back and forth, weaving, and hirling in a circle. This latter movement, called channel de world, describes the contents within, a little of everything - a final catch-all. Therefore, inl stead of our former sections and subsections, the following material has been ar- ranged alphabetically, beginning with the letter A and word ABORTION.]
Entry 10633
Git a piece of alum an' a piece of saltpeter an' sew it up in a little Nammen rag together, an' dey tell me dat'll make yo' lucky - lucky in gambling. Tote it in yore pocket. [After machine turned off informant adds with Hearts Cologne.] Yes sir.
Entry 10637
Go to a ants' nest an' git de dirt from roun' it an' put it in sulphur, red peppah an' table salt, an' wear it in yore pocket; dey say dat gives yo' luck. Brings luck to yore home.
Entry 9541
Tuh do yuh harm? Well, dere's sev'ral ways dat a person could harm yuh. At times a person would take red peppah an' salt an' stir it an' sprinkle it aroun'. At times dey could throw it on yo' shouldah or enywheres about chah an' make yuh have ill luck. (Well, what do you mean by throwing that salt and pepper around?) Jes' take it, yuh know, lak dey got it in de hand, yuh know. Jes' have it lak dis [demonstrates]. While yo' standing dere dey could sprinkle a li'l on yuh back. Well, sometimes, yuh know, dey come tuh yuh wit dey han' an' jes' rub on yuh, yuh know, an' say, "How yuh is?" Dey parts it [salt and pepper] down [on you] de same time, see.
(What will that do to you then?)
Dat'll give yuh ill luck.
(That will give you ill luck?)
Dat'll give yuh ill luck. Yuh wouldn't be a success fer nuthin, prob'ly fer de rest of yuh days.
Entry 9544
.. Take de peppah an' salt an' press it tuhgethah an' burn it, an' put it in yore pocket an' carry it wit yo' when yo' goin' tuh look fo' a job, if yo' want luck. An' if yo' talkin' tuh yore man, yore bossman, dat's yo's tryin' tuh git a job wit, have dat in yore han' an' [they say yo'll git yo' a job if anybody gits one. [Wilson, N. Car., (1486), cylinder 2660: item No?]
Entry 9593
Ah heard dat chew could take some red peppah, cayenne peppah, an' some bluestone an' some salt an' black peppah. Dat's fo' luck. Well, yo' take an' sew hit up into a rag an' wears it in yore shoe an' dat'll keep yo' hot, dey say. [Does cayenne pepper explain red pepper or is the latter broken pieces of a pepper pod?]
(That's for luck?)
Fo' luck.
Entry 9596
If de law's bothahin' yo', yo' kin take de onion an' de garlic an' cut it in fo' equal parts. Yo' jis' take de garlic, yo' don't cut it all; yo' jis' take diff'ren' pods, pieces [cloves] yo' know. An' yo' use eithah de white or de red onion, an' yo' kin jis' cut it yo' know, in fo' parts: An' go an' yo' po' a whole box of table salt ovah it, an' den yo' po'a whole box of red peppah ovah it, an' sprinkle a li'l saltpetah an' a li'l bluestone on it. Dat'll keep de law out chure house.
(What do you do with that garlic?)
Well, yo' take dat garlic an' burn it. It's fo' luck. Yo' take dat garlic an' put it in a li'l bag an' fold it up an' wit all kinds - all kinda diff'ren' li'le pieces of stuff dat chew use wit it. Weah it. Yo' know weah dat garlic. (How do you keep the law away with that onion after you prepare it? What do you do with that onion?) Yo' take dat onion an' continue tuh burn it till de third mawnin', an' dat'll keep de law away.
(Where do you do that - burn that?)
Well, yo' take it de firs' night an' let it burn up dere, yo' see. Sprinkle it all round yore house. [In preceding subsection see 3 pepper pods halved, No.9587.]
Entry 9597
Well, now, yo' see, jes' lak yo' had a house. Yo' wanted tuh rent it an' yo' wanted tuh be lucky on it. Well, yo' take an' go tuh a person, say, "Well, ah'll rent yo' dat house fo' so much." Well, now yo' wants tuh be lucky in rentin' it. Yo' go tuh work den an' yo' take yo' some black peppah, some salt, an' take yo' nine pods of red peppah, an' yo' take yo' three grains of calomel.
(Is that the stuff you take for your bowels?)
Dat's right. Take dat an' yo' put it all tuhgethah an' yo' put dat in a bag [making a hand]. Yo' take den an' yo' carry it tuh yore home an' yo' lay it right up ovah de do', or eithah put it right undah de right cornah of yore do'- step. Well, yo'll always be lucky in dat home.
Entry 9607
Ah've heard dat dey take salt or sulphur an' gunpowdah an' red pep- pah [and] by puttin' it down at yuh do' makin' yuh fortunate - make yuh have luck.
Entry 9659
Now we come tuh love affairs. Dis heah's anothah item ah'm gona give yo'. Ah've tried dis on mahself. Yo' kin take yo' some salt an' some cheese an' flour an' make a powdah outa it. Mix it all tuhgethah. An' yo' kin take dat Poodahs. Jes' say fo' a instant [instance] dere's a girl stayed heah dat yo' thought a whole lots of, an' yo' jes' can't get 'er lak yo' wan's tuh do. But chew kin visit 'er an' have all de fun othahwise dat chew want. Yo' kin take dat powdahs dat chew've made an' dust it aroun' in 'er room, an' dat'll bring 'er love tuh where yo' kin handle huh an' she won't deny nuthin dat chew ask. De same thing is mighty good luck in gamblin' too. Dat salt an' cheese an' flour, dat's good luck in gamblin' too. An' den it's a lodestone dat chew kin use dat's mighty good luck in gamblin', a lodestone called magic lodestone [trade name]. Dat's mighty good luck in gam- blin'.
Entry 9696
One of the greatest things for luck, you get a little sulphur an' a little lard an' a little salt, an' put that together an' wear that in a bag around your neck. That will keep all hoodoos, all cunjures and all evils away from you.
Entry 9706
If yo' stayin' in a house an' de rent man wanta come dere tuh put chew oot an' yo' don' wanta git out, why yo' ain't gotta git out. Yo' kin fix a way tuh stay dere. Yo' kin go evah mawnin' jes' 'bout time fo' him tuh come - jes' lak if he dowp dere an' yo' see him comin', yo' jes' go tuh work an' take some sulphuh an' salt an' throw it in de fiah. Boa't let no one see yo' an' make a path. He'll ride right on by yuh house. "Caz why ah know dat? "Cuz de girl ah stayed wit she done dat, an' we didn't pay rent fo' God knows how long. An' ah axed 'er why she do dat, an' she say dat's luck.
Entry 9779
To make a fellah unlucky, take a needle an' pin it in his coattail an' turn de point right down an' it'll make him unlucky.
(Turn the point down.) [Waycross, Ga., 1095, 1765:16.]
Entry 9880
Yo' take a toadfrog an' yo' split 'im open in de back, see, an' put 'im tuh [point head to] sunrise an' dry 'im out. He's de bes' luck in de world.
(Luck for what in particular.)
Gamblin'.
(Then what do you do then after he is dry.)
Stuff 'im back wit incense an' sulphuh.
(What do you do to him then?)
Put 'im in yore pocket.
Entry 9958
Ah hear'd dat yo' take a frog fo' gamblin'. Anyhow, yo' take dat frog am' throw 'im down, an' yo' be - make yo' lucky, have all de money in de house.
(You turn that frog loose where you are gambling?)
Yes, right undahneat' dat table where yo' gamblin' at.
Entry 9975
Fo' luck in gamblin', why yo' kin take a toadfrog an' sew 'im up in a sack an' put 'im in yore inside pocket some- where an' dat'll make yo' lucky in gamblin'.
Entry 10683
They just shake their finger a' chah and you'll have bad luck as long as you live, if you act impudent to an old person. They call that putting a bad mouth on you. [For other bad mouth express- ions, see margin title BAD MoUTH, Pp.255-257, v.1.]
Entry 10781
De only thing ah know, nevah take a broom an' turn it upside down in yore house. Dat bad luck. [Algiers, La., (1593). 2994:21.]
Entry 10816
Yo' take a new broom, yo' see. Yo' take a new broom, if yo' go move in a house, an' always have a new broom an' have a loaf of bread an' a box of salt. An' it's lucky, a new broom, if yo' sweep yore house. An' nevah tuh go, tuh go [to] work an' leave it [when you move]. Nobody will have it, because it will bring evil into de house. A new broom.
Entry 10821
Yo' kin take a broom, dey says it's bad luck tuh sweep trash out de house aftah de sun goes down.
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 10868
See, ah kin be walkin' down de street. An' jes' lak ah walk down de street an' a black cat would cross de road to de right, ah'm goin' have good luck somewhere in mah travels 'fore ah git back home. Now, ah have been goin' tuh games tuh gamble an' didn't have but ten or fif- teen cents in mah pocket, an' a black cat would cross goin' to de right, 'fore ah go back home ah have $25 maybe or $30.
Entry 10876
Ah heered people say tuh ketch a black cat, hold him back of his neck an' strip yore han' down de tail seven times an' count 'em, an' throw him from yo' an' cuss at him, an' don't look back at him. An' dat as good a luck fo' work as a man could do. (Well, after you have done this with the cat, then what do you do?) After ah throwed de cat away, yo' [ah] cuss at him. Why zh'd git out an' go an' ask some man fo' a job, an' ah would be lucky enough to git a job by dat.
Entry 11028
Ah've heard of 'em usin' dem jest tuh bring luck to de bome.
(How do they do that?)
Dey burn de chicken feathers, yo' know, jest lak ah'd have me a pan an' ah jest git me some of dat same sulphur an' brimstone an' dem chicken feathers. Now, they are lucky. Ah know dat fo' a fact, ah've tried it. An' yo' burn dem around de house. Now, dey are lucky.
Entry 11061
Keep some sugar and cin- namon in a piece of paper, wrap- ped up in your pockets all the time. Awful lucky in gambling. Yes sir.
Entry 11152
Dead man's finger, keep rolled up in flannel, blow on and rub, put back in pocket, for luck when gambling. [Petersburg, 2nd trip 419:6.]
Entry 11155
A piece of skull bone or dust ground from skull bone is pat in a bag with roots: John de Conkah, St. Elizabeth root, devil's shoestring, etc.; and kept wet with Hearts Cologne for gambling luck. [Charleston 609:10.]
Entry 11162
An' a little devil's-shoestring, yo' wear it or carry it on yore person, an' dey say yo'll have luck in gambling - most any games dat chew go to. And it brings love also.
Entry 11170
A piece of de devil's-shoestring an' put it down at de do' where de person gotta travel back an' farwards, an' dey'll have bad luck an' can't git hold of no money much.
Entry 11249
He roomed with me.
(This man that was ill.)
He roomed with me an' he tole me that ah had mah - mah luck wuz crossed. An' be tole me, "Ah kin fix it so de rentman won't come heah an' git yore rent, he'll fo'git about yo'." An' so now whut he had did ah don't know, but anyhow ah paid him. [My question lost by turning off machine.] No. he didn't tell me whut he goin' do.
Entry 11284
Ah went to a hoodoo an' he tole me to git a silver dollar. Ah don't know why ah should 'splain diz or not. Whut [ah] am goin' say now, yo' know it's kinda bad thing to explain. He tole me say, "Yo' git on a woman an' while yo' on dat woman, yo' have her to tie dat knot into yore shirttail on yore back. An' dat's de best experience ah evah had in mah life.
(Tie what knot?)
Tie a knot into my shirttail - dat silver dollar tied up into mah shirttail in dat knot. Dat's de best experience ah evah had. She did it. Ah did dat.
(What kind of luck did that give you?)
Well, ah wus lucky all de time.
(In all sorts of ways?)
Yes suh.
(You mean you had to be actually on her while she tied that?)
While she tied dat knot ah'd have to be on her. An' ah tole her whut ah want to do, a silver dollar. [For a man to tie 9 knots in a string and to tie it on woman's back while loving her, compare 10678, p.4044, v.5.]
Entry 11591
I heerd [heard] in dis mannah [manner] way. Dey say let 'em Walk outside de dōah damp weathah in spring, dat w'en sap arisin', see. An' aftah dey walk two step, go in de left-foot track, aftah dey make de third step, an' git dat piece of mud out it. An' go to a peach tree w'ich jes' begin to have sap in it. An' mix it up togethah wit de strengk [strength] of dat. Dey tie it [dirt] up in a sock an' keep it till Friday. Dis is a bad unluck day. An' den dey walk t'ree [three] steps from dere doah an' care [carry] it to a wondrin [wandering] stream [throw it in] an' [as] it goes up or down. Dey say it'll make him go away.
(What did you get from this peach tree and put with that dirt?)
They put High John de Conkah an' de devil shoestring wit it.
(Do they get anything from this tree?)
Yes sir, dey git de leaves, de peach-tree leaves; dat's de sap in dat leaf, see. An' w'en dey git dey foot step wit de sock - wit de strengk of de sock - so dey say dey got de sap rising. See! An' dey conkah him by his feet.
Entry 11662
Say yo' go down to de fo'ks of de road fo' good luck, nine mawnin's, an' after nine mawnin's yo' always have good luck... (What do you do when you go down to the forks of the road - what do you do down there?) Ah don' know! [The just going down gives the good luck.]
Entry 11699
Use a piece of garlic.
(Do you carry that?)
Yes, sir. Wear that in your pocket. That's an awful lucky piece for gambl- ing. Now, honest to goodness. [It is lucky because it keeps away witchcraft and therefore hoodoo].
Entry 11700
An' in gwine in gamblin' rooms, yo' kin jis' take a piece of garlic or a live frog in your pocket an' yo'll have luck throughout de game. [Memphis
(937) 1517:4.]
Entry 11701
Take garlic an' tote it in yore pocketbook an' it bring good luck to yo'.
Entry 11703
Take a pod of garlic, put that in your pocket for luck.
(Just for plain luck?)
Plain luck.
Entry 11705
Jis' steal yo' a piece from de sto' anywhere an' wear it in your pocketbook, jis' a ordinary piece of garlic. Dat's lucky. [Memphis (930), 1512:5.]
Entry 11708
Yo' kin take garlic an' if yo' wanta have good luck, take garlic an' put it in a bottle an' put some Hearts Cologne [in it]. Dat kills de odor of it. Take fo' instance, yo' go out an' yo' wanta git a job or anything or any kind of success. Jes' take some of dat garlic like dat an' rub it on yore hands an' on yore face, den yo' go out. An' yo' be - oh, yo' be too lucky. [Waycross (1093) 1762:12.]
Entry 11710
Now to get a job. Well, if you going out to hunt you a job, you always get up in the morning, don't be angry, get up with a good pleasant mind. And you always keep you some sugar or the middle part of garlic. Tote that in your pocket. Take and pull all the garlic out and just the little mid- dle - that part that's in the middle - tote that in your pocket.
(What will that do?)
That will give you luck. See.
(I see.)
Fast luck.
Entry 11712
Well, garlic's for luck for skinning.
(For what?)
Any kind of card games. You take garlic and antiphigestin. They have a' 'nointment, a salve-like they calls aniphigestine. People use it for sores. Well, you take garlic - take those little buttons of garlic - take one of 'em and cut it up into nine pieces. (Nine pieces.) Nine pieces of it. Take this - a whole tube of anamjestine... (Ana - anamajestine?) Anamajestine. Yes, sir. (All right.) Then you take it and wrap it up in a nice clean ohite cloth - just so the cloth is nice and clean. Then you take and take a piece of white - red flannel and wrap it up in that. And take this stove coal - hard, hard, you know, and beat it up just like a powder.
(Black coal?)
Black coal, yes, sir. And take some vinegar and put this coal in some vinegar, nalf a glass of vinegar. And put about a teaspoonful of that coal dust in that and steel dust - a small amount of steel dust. And put it on and boil it down i real low. And then you take and soak that garlic and anamajestine in it. That akes a toby.
(What's a toby?)
For cards - that tells you when your cards is on the table, when to turn 'em D. Tell you when to set.
(How will it tell you that?)
Well, when it's....it'll jump in your pocket.
(Do what?)
It'll jump.
(It'll jump to tell you to do that.)
Entry 11731
Lak dis house - yo' got a house. An' dat grapevine, yo' takes off so much of it [indicate length] an' burn it. An' dem ashes yo' put around dat do', in front of de do', an' sweep [ashes out door] an' use dat grapevine fo' dat. An' yo' kin take a bath with grapevine.
(What does that do?)
Dat's fo' luck. Keep people 'way; bring folks in an' he'p yo' undertake [overcome], yo' know, de devil.
(Overtake the devil.)
Keep de devil away.
Entry 11741
Well, jes' lak now probably dat ah wuz sellin' likker. Well, ever' time ah turn roun' an' somebody knock at de do', ah think it's a customer come in dere. Ah open de do', "Ooh! It's de law." Well, ah goes tuh mah neighbor, yo' know, sell a lotta people roun', "Ah ain't got no luck. Ever'- time ah open mah do's, it's de law comin' in. Ah don' unnerstan'.: Seem lak de law gotta pick at me. Ah want dat law quit comin' tuh mah house." "Well, "' ah declare. "May[be] it's hard luck put on yo', '' [he] says, "dey's things lak dat." Well, jes' lak dat, talk along an' talk along. Ah wuz sellin' right along, gittin' on all right, thinkin' ever'thing wuz okay. Oh, makin' mo' money, yo' know, an' jes' gittin' 'long. Fus' thing ah knows, "Knock, knock." "Who's thah?" Twarn't nuthin but de [wind?] but still it wuz a lil' strange. Goes opens de do'. Who but it is de law ag'in. Well, ah sigh to mahself, "Well, ah taken dese chances but ah don't wanta take nO mo' chances." Ah goes tuh talkin' fo' fair den. So ah got one mah best fren'. Ah call her mah best fren'. So mah best fren' says, "Well, ah tell yo' whut chew do," say, "yo' go git luck, 'cause dere's bad wishes put on yo'. Yo' gotta have luck. Dere's a bar ovah dere" [someone over there could recommend a hoodoo]. Okay. An' so ah goes an' git luck. So fo' de luck he tole me, says, "Go tuh de cemetery an' git chew a lil' graveyard dirt, an' yo' git it on de off side - cf side of de right. Yo' dig down an' yo' pay. Yo' pay him an' yo' git dis dirt. Dig a hole jes' lak dat an' let chure han' go down in it, jes' lak dat [demonstrates] an' dig yo' up jes' a lil' dirt jes' lak dat. Den yo' put three pennies down in dere where yo' got dis dirt at. An' yo' take it home an' don't look back. When yo' git dis dirt jes' take it an' come right on home an' don' look back. When yo' git home, yo' put a spoonful of sulphur in dat graveyard dirt an' yo' sprinkle jes' a lil' bit of black peppah in dere. An' den yo' jes' put dat - yo' put some right under de front steps, an' den yo' go round an' put some undah yore back steps. An' den yo' gotta speak three times tuh hit, 'Name of de Father, name of de Son an' de Holy Ghost, stay an' nevah come no mo'." Dat'll do it.
(That keeps the law away.)
Keep de law away.
Entry 12047
You take a piece of red flannen [flannel] and you dampen that with kerosene and turpentine. Then you take a piece of John de Conkah and Jockey Club [perfume] and a piece of saltpeter. (Jockey Club perfume?) Yes, Jockey Club, and then you take all that and you put it into a little new piece of paper, but I mean brown paper. Put it onto the brown paper first and then put it in - put the devil's - annimum [an- vil] dust. Put annimum dust in there with it. And then wrap it up in that brown paper [brown paper for black person, white paper for white person is the rule]. Wrap it to you. Wrap it right to you. And then put it in a brand-new piece of 'lastic [elastic]. And then you get a new spool of No.8 thread, and then you wrap that good. You wrap it to you. See, you wrap it to you. See, that's bringing you luck. Just wrap it to you. And then you get you a new needle that you've never used - out of a new case [package]. And then you use that brand-new thread and you sew it to you, you know, and make your wishes. You sew it to you. And then you takes that
[package] and tacks it onto your [elastic] belt. You know, that piece of [red]
flannen, you know, and you put that kerosene and turpentine on there, and then you put it round your waist, just wear right round your waist right next to your meat. That's to keep anybody from harming you.
(I see.)
Annimum - an-n- (Wait a minute - annirmum dust.) [I am making a final effort to record this vord correctly. Anim and various things until later in New Orleans I knew it was anvil dust.]
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 12133
Heard of 'em usin' a hawk's right foot. Well, yo' take de hawk's right foot, de one dat carryin' a claw [what the other one did I forgot to ask!]. Got a claw like a rooster have on his feet. Yo' take dat foot an' yo' take an' wrap it in a piece of flan- nel cloth wit sulphur an' den wit peppah an' salt mixed [3 ingredients]. Well, dat's fo' good luck in gamblin' an' things lak dat. An' ag'in dey takes de bird [hawk's] head or snake head. Take snake head an' beat it up into a powder an' dat will cripple someone, because ah wus crippled once on dat mahself.
(Just how would that cripple them?)
Dat will cause snakes an' things in dem - sompin of that kind.
Entry 12171
A hoodoo bag you're supposed to drop it either in the house or under the steps of those you wish to bring ill luck to. Of course the hand you carry for good luck. A hoodoo bag doesn't look like a hand at all. It looks like a sache bag. You sew them and you put them around the waist or around the leg. [These definitions are too absolute, too exclusive. Some persons would call a nand a hoodoo bag, or this latter the former.] [Fredericksburg, Va., No.43, by Ediphone.]
Entry 12172
Hoodoo doctors put needles and pins in these bags. They tell you it gives you sharp luck. [Fredericksburg, by Ediphone.]
Entry 12173
Mostly they give them to gamblers. It's a little square bag of no particular color. And they tell them to wear it next to their skin and that you will win. They don't tell you what's in that. They tell you if you open it you'll have bad luck. [Fredericksburg, No.43 by Ediphone.]
Entry 12179
Dey could burn sulphur an' salt. Salt an' sulphur is good fo' any- thing, good fo' killin' poison an' it's good luck. [Having turned off machine because material did not sound promising, I now restart machine by repeating what had been lost.]
(Is it good for, if they want to rent the room or rent the house?)
Yes. Well, ah tell yo' sulphur an' cayenne peppah an' salt - yo' burn dat an' yo' kin git de hoofs off a shoe, yo' know de hosses hoof, an' burn it every night befo' yo' go tuh bed an' yo' stay dere an' inhale dat. Well, den whatevah kind of luck yo' want or whatevah yo' ask it tuh do, why it mo' den apt tuh come out all round...
[Again I turn off machine too soon and must restart it.]
(If you are selling anything or anything of that sort? Would that help bring in trade?) Yes. Keep de police off yo' if yo' sellin' whiskey.
Entry 12180
Well, if yo' want good luck an' success, yo' know, yo' go to de black- smith shop an' git hoof from de horse hoof, an' yo' take it an' lay it down. Yo kin take three pieces. Have 'em all three de same length. An' yo' take an' lay 'em [demonstrates]: One fo' de Father, one fo' de Son an' one fo' de Holy Ghost. (You cross them when you are doing it.) Yes. An' then yo' put sulphur an' salt on top of that, an' while it's burnin' - burn it - an' while it's burnin', yo' jis' talk to it an' tell it anything that yo' want to have - if yo' want any good luck or anything yo' want done. [For this same design in other rites see those listed at end of rite 11879.]
Entry 12201
Nail dat horseshoe nail fo' luck up ovah yore do'. Yo' take dat horseshoe [nail] an' nail it up dere ovah yore do' on de inside. Dat's fo' luck to a home.
Entry 12226
Jockey Club and White Rose perfumes rubbed on 3 places for luck in gambling: on hands, forehead and behind ears.
Entry 12228
Wal, yo' kin git dat John de Conker, called de King of de World. Ah've tried dat an' dat's not so good. Wal, yo' take it when yo' git it an' git chew a piece of red flannen, see, an' sew dat up in a piece of red flannen. (Sew this John de Conkah up in this red flannel.) Dat's right an' den git chew some Hearts Perfume [bottle has 2 or more small red hearts on label] an' put chew 9 drops on dere. An' put chew twelve pins in dat, see, right out a bran'-new package of pins. Wear it in yore left pocket every day yo' go. An' in a cer- tain length of time, dat odor - yo' has to perfume it ovah ag'in - dat means every 3 weeks. It'll work fo' yo', too. Ah've tried dat.
(What do you wear this little bag for? What is that supposed to do?)
Well, dat's to keep yore enemies away from yo'. An' if yo' wanta start any business, yo' have success an' good luck after dat - no cops to bother, nuthin atall [at all]. Dey might come to yore place but when dey come to de place dey'll sit down an' talk with yuh.
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 12234
If you is gambling and you wants luck, well you'll git you some steel dust. See. You git you a dime - a silver dime. Git that dime and you put it in a piece of flannel, and you take it and you git a piece of John de Conkah root. See, that John de Conkah root. You takes all that and you put it down in there. Steel dust, and then you get you some of that cinnamon powder. You understand. And you takes that down [from shelf] and put it in there, and then you git you some Van- van. You ever heard of that. Or some good Jockey Club Perfume. And you put it [flannel package or hand] in your pocket. See, that steel dust draws. Then you put it in your pocket and every time you wants to gamble with somebody, you take it and rub it like that in your hand. You see. Take it and rub it in your hand but don't let 'em see you. And whatever you doing, you going to be lucky.
Entry 12260
Tuh have luck in gamblin', why yo' git dat root, dey call it John de Conkah, an' yo' chews dat root while yore gamblin', yo' see. An' in chewin' dat root, yo' have tuh spit. Yo' spit three or fo' times lak dat in yore han's. Well, den dat gives yo' luck. [Algiers 2898:12.]
Entry 12269
Git some High John de Conkah root an' chew it as yo' talkin' to the bOSS an' HE'LL NEVAH NOTICE THAT YORE CHEWIN' SOMETHIN' TUH CAUSE YO' LUCK, an' when yo' git ready to walk out why yo' jis' spit dat root whut yo' chew right round his feet. [Memphis 1517:6.]
Entry 12271
If you jes' fin' a key - if yo' fin' one, dey say it's good luck if yo' keep it. [Florence 2198:13.]
Entry 12272
A good luck key or luck key, these are sold everywhere, carry in pocket or purse. [Wilmington 243:7+85.]
Entry 12344
(Lodestone.)
Keep it wet with perfume and tote that in your pocket. That will give you lock to get a job like that, even be able lucky for anything - luck for anything like that.
Entry 12347
Lodestone is de luckiest thing there is in de world fo' gittin' money. Yo' kin be standin' heah talkin' tuh me an', if yo' got a piece of lodestone in yore pocket about dat big, it will draw any money ah got in mine out. [Did in- formant have a piece of lodestone in his pocket?]
Entry 12358
Dey use dat fo' luck fo' anything. Lodestone is used fo' mos' any- thing. It's jes' a lucky stone that's all. [Sumter 2345:9.]
Entry 12367
Get luck powder - love and luck powder.
(Love and luck powder. And what do you do with that?)
Sprinkle it down - keep it sprinkled down around the house.
(And what will that do?)
Make them love you.
Entry 12392
If yo' wanta bring luck into a home, ah heard of someone goin' tuh Work an' buyin' sompin yo' call Red Devil lye. Ah guess yo've seen that. An' yo' go tuh work an' buy Red Devil lye an' this Heart Cologne. This Heart Cologne is a [perfume]. An' yo' go tuh work an' yo' scrub yore home, yo' know, befo' sunrise in de mawnin', yo' see, an' dey say that will bring luck in. Ah nevah have tried it. Ah heard about dat, yo' see.
Entry 12461
Wit silver money dey have good luck. An' show it to de moon, an' he Walk back fo' so many - 'bout nine steps backwards; an' then yo' turn roun' an' hit those steps wit dat money, an' say de moon give yo' good luck. [This is a tricky rite to perform in moonlight. I suggest it could be come as follows: facing moon and holding silver coin in right hand, if you are right-handed, step backward with right foot, kneel down, touch track made with coin. Now step back with left foot, kneel down, touching this track with coin. Continue for the 9 steps and tracks.]
Entry 12515
If yo' want very much luck, yo' kin take de peelin's an' begin tuh burn 'em each an' every mawnin' in yore place an' all. Bring luck to yore house. Or, if yo' runnin' big bō'din' house, take ole onion peelin's an' burn 'em. (Any kind of an onion?) Sho', 'long as yo' burn 'em vithout fallin' in yore tracks. [I should have asked a question here even if I knew the answer at this time. Surely any ashes falling into spellmaster's footprints would have killed the spell.]
Entry 12517
(You can be selling whiskey or gambling you say?)
An' yo' kin take it, take de red onion an' burn de peelin's of it on de stove, an' dat will make someone come an' buy likkah. An' dat will make yo' have good luck. [Fayetteville 2640:1.]
Entry 12520
Take a red onion an' put it in yore mattress an' yo' take de skin off de onion an' burn it on yore stove, an' dat put good luck in yore house. An' jes' - ah don' know de name of de thing, it look kinda lak sulphur - anyhow yo' burn it on yore stove every mawnin' when yo' cookin' an' dat put good luck in yore house.
(But that onion is enough - that onion alone.)
Yessuh.
Entry 12523
Well, yo' bum that red onion with sugah fo' luck: Mondays, Wednesdays an' Fridays at eight [A. M.] always between six an' nine. [Memphis 1503:15.]
Entry 12525
Dey say yo' could take a red onion - well, ah know dat's a fact. Ah nused [used] tuh buy 'em an' peel 'em. Mah ole lady she'd go to cook an' peel 'em an' jes' throw de skins out - out de do' an' yo' can't stay in nobody's house. Dey uill put chew out.
(Why?)
Why? Don't know. Say, jes' yo' throw dem skins - onion skins or hull whut yo' peel - jes' keep throwin' 'em out de do', roun' de do', an' dat man will soon have yo' to move.
(You don't mean it's because of the odor of the onion or anything do you?)
Naw sir, but ah don't know. It's jes' bad luck.
Entry 12549
Ah heard if yo' tote red onions in yore pocketbook it would bring about luck. [Sumter 2327:8.]
Entry 12550
Take de onion peelin' an' burn dat in de cookstove an' dat luck, too, in de home. Burn de onion peelin'. [Fayetteville 2599:18.]
Entry 12588
Ah've seen dis tried, takin' a penny an' bo' a hole in de penny, an' put dis penny right at de do'step. An' yo' always will have luck an' de law will nevah interfere witcha - not constantly. Sometime dey come by - dey have to, see. [Waycross 1742:9.]
Entry 12589
De people, dat run dese gamblin' ioints an' all, plays wit a few little gamblahs. Dey take a penny an' put - nail one in de centah heah at de front do', jes' where de people goin' in an' out - see. Dey do dat fo' luck. Dey say if de money comes in it stays.
(Just the one penny on the door?)
Yeah. [Florence 2182:5.]
Entry 12652
Git red peppah an' saltpeter an' elm an' Epsom salt an' sulphur. Dey mix it all up together an' jis' put aroun' where they bees [are] an' that eats up their luck. [Little Rock, 1467:3.]
Entry 12720
Well, dey tell me fo' luck in gamblin', dey'll go out an' dey'll git 'em a rabbit foot. An' dey cut it off jes' right above de - right above de knee up dere, de left knee. An' dey take dat dere rabbit foot an' dey dress it. Dey dress it with lodestone an' keep it dissolved [fed] in Hearts Cologne. An' dey tote dat in dey watch pocket, an' if dey go out den dey kin win. (You say they use the left hind leg?) [Left hind leg must have been given before recording began.] De left hind one. (And they keep that in this Hearts Cologne so they will win in a gambling game? Yes.
Entry 12721
An' anothah thing, yo' ketch a rabbit an' yo' cut his foot off, his left foot, an' turn him loose an' let him go. An' git chew a piece of devil's- shoestrings an' a piece of five-finger root. An' yo' put them three things tol gethah. An' yo' jes' take it an' wrap dat devil's-shoestrings round dat rabbit foot, an' yo' sew it up in a piece of red cloth, an' yo' make a sack out of it, bag-like, an' yo' feed hit on Hearts Col Ogne. An' dat's anothah thing fo' a job - good luck. Long as yo' tote dat yo'll git a job anywhere.
(You get the left foot. Which one? He had two left feet.)
De left front feet.
Entry 12722
Take an' wear dat [rabbit foot].
(From which foot?)
De left foot.
(Which one, front or back?)
De front 'cause de back is longer, de front is a little short foot. Dey take an' run a string - yo' bo' a hole in it if yo' kin, an' yo' wear it round yore waist or either round yore neck. All right, yo' got a rabbit foot den, an' whoever yo' wearin' dat foot fo', 'cause den yo' be dealin' wit dat person an' yo' goin' keep dat foot rubbed up fo' dem.
(How do they rub it up?)
Hearts Cologne.
(What will that rabbit foot do for them?)
Aw, that's luck, sech as gamblin' an' all, playing bolito...
Entry 8788
[Here we are concerned with the great magic rite of wrapping, folding, rolling, turning, and twisting something to you or from you. I have added infor- mant's foot-track rite to show the "from you" aspect of the action.] Concernin' de moon, yo' wants tuh pick de new moon, growin' early, when de moon is in its infancy. Den yo', when yo' cravin' fo' luck, write chure name on a piece of papah, see, an' yo' begin tuh fold it. Roll it tuhwards yo', yo' undahstan'. An' yo' roll it tuhwards yo' an' den yo' wrap anothah piece of papah askin' or expressin' yore desire. Ask dem tuh be good enough tuh accomplish whut chews aftah. An' yo' wrap dat in a sepa- rate paper towards yo' den. Den yo' make a wish on de third papah. Roll it tuhwards yo', fold it up all de time. Yo' understan'.
(You make this wish on the third piece of paper. You write that down.)
Den yo' take dis piece of papah wit yore wish on it an' yo' bury it at chure front do', see. Bury it exactly at de centah of de steps so dat yo' could always walk ovah it, even if yo' not thinkin' of it at dat time. Yo' do dat especially fo' three mawnin's in succession, one right behin' de othah. Try to arrange tuh have tuh do all dis in de time of de new moon. Dat's de end of dat person.
(What do you do with those other two pieces of paper then?)
Dese two pieces of papah dat yo' have first written, yo' wrap dem up tuhgethah den in anothah piece of papah. Fold dat outer papah towards yo' ag'in at de same time. Den yo' repeat de 37th Psalm three times, an' each mawnin' yo' undahstan', but in de meantime yo' weah dat in yore right pocket. Keep dose two writin's in yore pocket, whilst de othah one is layin' at chure front door. (Then, how long are you supposed to wear those papers and keep that other paper under the steps?) Let dose papahs stay dere until dey have exhausted. Only yo' kin every mawnin' make yore urinate an' pour it right where yo' have dat buried.
(And what do you do all this for?)
Fo' good luck, tuh accomplish, tuh be successful in anythin' dat chew Want.
[Foot-track or "from you" rite begins:]
Dey will take dat, dis foot track an' dey will try to git every bit of it; yo' undahstan', don't leave any of it. Git dat an' put dat in a piece of papah - yes, papah. Wrap it up in three wrappin's, an' if dey wants to run yo' away, dey will take dat an' put it in de nearest runnin' stream of watah an' throw it ovah- bo'd an' den dey go ahead.
(What do you mean, wrap it in three wrappings - just one, two, three?)
Yo' wrap dat from yuh. An' den dey'll wrap it in three different papahs, see. Dat same wrappings. An' den take dat an' throw it ovahbo'd. An' dey do dat, too, in de new moon.
(And they get this dirt out of how many tracks or any particular track?)
Out of yore right track. (And do they take these three pieces of paper altogether, one, or just throw them separately into the water?)
[I knew what was done. This is merely a search for further details.]
No sir, put dem togethah, wrap 'em up. Dat is, ah mean dey wrap all dese three tuhgethah. An' every one of dem dey wrap, dey will wrap 'em goin' from dem. An' when dey wrap de last one, dey wrap it goin' from dem. An' den dey throw dat in a stream dat is goin' from de do' [throw downstream]. Dey don't throw it de way dat [stream is coming]. Dey always throw it behin' de stream. Yo' see, dey throw it so dat wrappah - so it goin' from yo', not comin' to yuh. Yo' undahstan' whut ah mean?
(I understand.) [St. Petersburg, Fla., (1051), 1705:6.]
[Closely connected with the preceding section NAME is the present section LETTERS AND HANDWRITING, the letter part of the latter title being concerned with the names of the writer and the person to whom the letter was written. Here in the written word we have magic action second only to the spoken word. As usual in hoodoo or witchcraft or magic, nothing belongs exclusively in one action, condition or location. Both letters and handwriting, therefore, are scattered throughout the complete text.]
burial of the written wish at the center of the front steps in the first rite. Preserve new-moon timing and three mornings; do not merge burial with the later from-you track rite. repeating the specifically named37th Psalm three times each morning in the first rite. No psalm text, translation, verse interpretation or outside scripture is supplied or consulted. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Read full source (printed page 3588) · Read full source (printed page 3589)
Entry 9373
Den ah know a woman she tole me how ah could put mahself in good luck, an' ah ast 'er how. She tole me tuh git a new fresh aig from a nest an' write on it jis' whut ah want it tuh be. Yo' know, whut ah want tuh tell it, an' black it wit sut [soot] an' bury it undah de house. An' aftah nine days why ah'll git a result. Good luck in anything dat ah wanted tuh happen, dat will happen.
Entry 10898
[Here are two versions of the same rite by the same informant, an excellent professional worker, they being on separate cylinders:] Version (l) Ketch you a black cat that's a rambler an'... (That's a what?) Tha's wha' choo call a rambus, that's wha' choo [call] rambler, or black cat, he's the luckiest thing you kin do. Pull out vha' choo got an let him lick right - jis' lick it right well.
(What do you pull out?)
You know, wha' choo got between your legs.
(A man?)
Or either a woman. Let her lick it [instead of the cat]. Then she wet in this bottle. Yo' want to cross de house up don' choo? Well, yo' get the persod's Dame whoever in the house. Yo' got to know the name, yo' see. Write it down an put it in this bottle. Yo' see, take it right out them back doorstep an' bury it chere. Yo' wan'a cross the house, yo' wan'a start disturb[ment] in the house don' choo? [Memphis, Tenn., (967), 1562:7.] Version (2) A similar version: If you want to have luck in the house you git choo a black cat, they call that a rmbler. An' every morning before the sun rise for nine mornings, take it. if it's a woman, let him lick dat, an' if it's a man let him lick it. Nov he ain't gon'a bite choo. An' turn him loose and luck you wana git hold of sill be right dere in that house. Yo' won't have a bit of trouble. [This woman. born in Borth Carolina, able, excentric, tough, gave an excellent and long interview. a transcriber missed all these cylinders. I transcribed a feu rites by band - dese scattered through HOODOO - intending to return to them. Similarly I lost another informant in Memphis, and my best one in Jacksonville.] [Memphis, Tenn.,
(967).1563:3.]
Entry 11374
Well de fig tree is always goin' tuh be good. Yo' work good wit dat. Anything, yo' understan', tuh do or whut chew want it tuh do. (How would you do that?) Well, yo' jes' only put it at de root, anything whut chew wanta use in dat. Jes' lak if yo' wanta do ne good, an' wanta give me even good luck on it, yo'll put it at de foot of a fig tree. Yo'll jes' take me an' name me. An' den when yo' name me, why, co'se den yo' jes' only write mah name an' den yo' write whut chew want done. An' den yo'll put dat down at de fig tree root, but chew put it in dirt. Dat's all ah know 'bout dat.
Entry 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 12782
Salt in left shoe gives you bad luck. [Avoid this by looking into shoe before putting it on.] [Richmond 335:4.]
Entry 12865
Sprinkle salt, pepper and vinegar in your house and on the doorsteps to prevent people from giving you bad luck. [Washington, D. C. 822:2a.]
Entry 12935
Well, jes' lak yo' wanta, probably, yo' might be goin' out gamblin' or sompin lak dat, an' yo' wanta have luck fo' that, or maybe yo' goin' out tuh play cards an' yo' wanta have luck fo' that. Accordin' tuh whatevah yo' want... Yo' kin burn a little coal oil an' sugah on 'em an' dat's fo' luck on dice... dat's fo' a man's shoes.
Entry 12953
Well, yo' kin burn a woman's shoes fo' luck on cards. Dere's differ- ent kind of shoes for luck on either cards or dice. [Memphis 2703:3.]
Entry 12962
Burn men's shoes for luck for gettin' men. Put sugar on while burn- ing. [Memphis 1551:6.]
Entry 12965
Burn an old shoe in store or fireplace for luck. [This is known every- where.] [Wilmington 252:6+85.]
Entry 12992
You tie you a piece of - some sugar, you takes a piece of lodestone, and you put you a silver dime in that, you see. And you sew it up. You sew it up in a red piece of flan- nel. You make it like dat and you carry it in your pocket, but you won't have no luck though if you have the cheat against you. As long as you keep the cheat off you, you have luck.
(What do you mean "have the cheat against you?")
"Cheat, '' of course, if you [someone] put down loaded dice or anything, you can't beat it. See, you can't beat anybody that have [loaded dice].
(Oh, they cheat against you.)
Yeah.
(Oh, I see.)
If they cheat, you can't beat a cheat, you see. It won't do no good, you see. [This theme of "unless someone cheats is rare in HOODOO, since it would destroy confidence in ganbling "hands."]
Entry 13006
Git dat dime an' jes' keep a dime in yore pocketbook dat same dime, all de time. See. Dat's fo' luck. Jes' keep dat dime. Don't spend it fo' nuthin.
(Any dime?)
Jes' any dime. [Memphis 2817:2.]
Entry 13007
Dey tell me dey take a piece of silver money an' put it in a red sack - flannel - an' put a piece of garlic to it an' tote it on yo'. That be fo' good luck. [Brunswick 1992:6.]
Entry 13087
Belts have roots in 'em fo' luck. Or yo' kin git a blacksnake-skin belt an' dey say dey fix it in a way - grease it - grease it with...an' yo' kin git up in de morning day- light an' do anything yo' wanta do. Can't no man hole [hold] yo' - slick
[you are too slippery].
Entry 13138
Well, dere's a boy an' a girl dat's goin' tuhgethah. See. Dey got in good love. Yo' know, she got tuh lovin' him an' he got tuh lovin' her. Dey got big ages [they were grown up] yo' see. "Oh, ah got him so ah want him [to] stay wit me," an' "ah don't want him [to go nowhere." [Notice incomplete infinitives.] Well, he come tuh stayin' dere at night, see jes' lak man an' wife. Jes' stay an' stay an' stay. Well, somebody else got betwixt dat, "Ah want [to] tear dat up, ah don' lak dat. He ain't ma'ed tuh her. He ain't a much right man. He ain't much good. Ah'm goin' tear dat up." Undahstand. Well, so dey got mad an' so decided dey want tear hit up. So dey throws baa luck in dey way. So she says, Cora says, "Well, yo' know, he wuz so good tuh me an' all at once he's got bad. Ah don' know whut in de worl' mattah wit him." Say, "Ah cain't undahstand it." "Well, maybe somebody else is got a bettah haid den yo' are an' to' [tore] it up." "Well, ah'll find out." Says, "Ah knows a thing or two mahself. Ah'll take ca' of dat. Ah'll take ca' of dat." Okay, all right. She goes an' she takes his sock - de sock he weahs - de dirty sock he been Weahin'. She takes dat sock an' washes it, washes dat sock, yo' know, in jes' a leetle bit of watah, yo' know. Well, yo' might say, in a boil [water just coming to a boil]. Yo' take dat sock an' yo' boil it, yo' know, an' git dat dirt off whut he's been weahin'. An' take dat watah an' jah it up [put it in a jar] an' yo' put - ah dunno whut chew call dat kin'a powdah, it wuz a lucky powdah, she [hoodoo woman] put in dere an' 9 drops of Hearts Cologne. Yo' put dat tuhgethah. Yo' know, yo' boil dat lil' watah down right low, yo' know till it be jes' a lil' bit. Den yo' put nine drops of Heart Cologne in dat. Den yo' put it in a lil' bottle an' yo' stop it up. An' fo' 9 mawnin's yo' take dat an' yo' daubs yo'self wit dat fo' 9 mawnin's. Yo' all right. Yo' won't have no mo' trouble.
Entry 1247
Yo' go to a fig tree an' dig yo' some roots from three diff'rent ways of de world - take some from de no'th, some east an' some south. Yo' don't want nuthin from de west - don't want nuthin tuh carry yo' down, yo' wanta build yo'self up. An' tote dem roots in yore pocket - pocket book. An' de longer yo' tote dem roots de better it will smell. Anybody will tell yo' to put Hearts Cologne on dere, but chew kin take dem fig tree roots an' long as yo' tote dem de better it will smell. Den yo' kin let chure wife or somebody else smell it an' yo' can't smell it - it's dead. [As in any hand, to let anyone touch it, smell it, even sometimes to see it - kills its power.]
(Why do you carry these roots?)
Fo' luck - protection - fo' friends.
(Would this protect me against any bad luck?)
Yes, it's good. People whut will hate yo' will come to be yore friends.
Entry 2276
If a fellah gits in bad luck altogethah an' ev'rythin' he git, he jis' run away an' he jis' lose it - jis' nuthin come fo' him atall. Well, if he'd go uptown an' buy him a piece of red flannen, an' go in de woods an' git a blackberry root - git a blackberry root an' he git him a root dey call sassafras. Yo' know, yo' see people takin' sassafras tea. Well, yo' git de sassafras root an' de blackberry root, yo' come on back to town wit 'em an' yo' git chew some sulphur, an' take dat root an' sulphur an' put it together an' sews it up in dat flamnen cloth. [Three ingredients.] An' 'stead of yo' puttin' it in yore pocket - don't wear it in yore pocket, wear it roun' yore waist, hangin' in front of yo' all de time. Well, quite natch'l it bring plenty of luck to yo' all de time. Yo'll have a job all de time.
Entry 2278
Have tuh bury 'em or eithah put' 'em undah de bed or put 'em in a pillah or: somewhere.
(This pair of scissors? What is that done for?)
Dat's fo' sharp luck, yo' know.
Entry 2293
Yo' kin go out on de railroad track an' it's a lil vine dat grow out dere dey call de Shamin' Judy - yes, Shamin'. Some calls it Ashamin', but it's a Shamin' Judy. See, if yo' touch it, an' it close up - when yo' touch de bush de leaves close up. An' yo' dig dat root an' carry it in yore pocket an' take a piece - if yo' wants a' job, yo' takes a piece an' carry it in yore pocketbook - have good luck all de time. But if yo' wanta go see a man for a iob, chew dat root an' eye 'em - yo' know, jes' look him right on de eyes an' den he wouldn't turn yo' down.
Entry 2890
Get the rose incense, you know, and smoke your house up for luck and use dragon's blood. Have you ever heard talk of dragon's blood? [I must have nodded yes, because I mention dragon's blood in FACI, 1st ed.,1935, No.9379, p.501.] You take that [demonstrates] and scratch it like that on the stove, and like you Wanta wish for something at the time, you set your purple light and you know, use the dragon's blood. Like you got a stove or any hot oven, you know, just scratch it on the stove just like that - it smokes at the time, you know, and that's very, very lucky.
Entry 2892
Git a white an' a black candle an' burn that. Jis' burn it soon every mawnin' 'bout five or six a'clock an' de same time at night. See. An' yo' hol yore han' ovah dat smoke an' make a wish, an' prob'bly no doubt yo' li'ble tuh be lucky an' den yo may not. Dat's in gamblin (You burn both these candles together?) Uh ah - yo' burn one at de time. If yo' burn a white one dis mawnin', yo' burn a black one dis evenin' [alternate magic]. See. Burn a black one now an' de white nex'.
(You just simply reach your hands over the smoke?)
Yeah. Jis' make a wish. [See margin-title Smoke 'Em, p.723f.] [Memphis, Tenn., (930), 1512:1.] '
Entry 2893
On de job where ah am now, some of de girls burn candles in de service where dey change dere clothes and they say they do that to hold their jobs - to keep luck with the bossman dat dey working with. (What kind of candles do they burn? Have you seen them burn them? They burn them where they change their clothes on the job. In a factory or something of that sort where they work?) A hotel. (And they burn these in the room where they change their clothing. What kind of candles do they burn?) Ordinary candles. (Do they burn them at any special time? Or say anything while they are doing it like that?) They burn de candle and jes' befo' they begin to burn - jes' befo' they light the candle [demonstrates] they carry they han' ovah their head like this and say, "Lord, help me tuh keep luck," an' then they light the candle.
(They make a circle over their head just like a halo.)
That's right. [For a halo rite three times clockwise and three times anti-clockwise with three waters, see p.16, line 1.]
(How long do they burn that candle? Have you any idea?)
Jest about an hour.
(Do they burn these right in the hotel?)
Right in the hotel.
Entry 2899
Now, a black candle is fer enemies, a white candle is fo' luck. Yo' kin buy a 25c candle. Anything yo' want, yo' kin git down on yo' knees and pray and ask de Lord fo' it. Ah be's in de habit fo' sometime to fast and pray, an' you'll really git it. An' if you have enemies removed, you could get a black candle and put it in a dark place and burn it. Burn it fo' nine nights and ask de Lord to move them, and he'll move them.
Entry 2905
A pink can'le is lucky - a pink can'le will bring yo' prosperity. A blue candle is fo' health an' prosperity in de home. Black candle is death. Dat's bad - a black candle is bad. An' a white can'le brings a beautiful life - all de way down yo' past life, happy times. (Do you know how people burn these? Any special way?) Yassuh. Now yo' kin burn de can'les and after - when yo' start tuh burn 'em, say, "Name of de Father, Son and Holy Ghost." [Informant makes sign of cross.]
(Cross yourself?)
Yassuh, and after you say that you git down [on your knees] and ask fo' jest whatever yo' want - makes yore wishes, yo' know fo' whatever yo' want and that will sho' bring it tuh yo'. Burning de candle will sho' bring it to yo'. An' then yo' burn on Thursday. Always yo' burns a green candle fo' money, understand. But you always have to make the sign of the cross.
Entry 4218
Well, yuh kin git dis chamber lye an' oil of cinnamon an' lye an' scrub yuh house each an' evah mawnin' an' dat brings luck tuh yuh house jis' as yo's - whut yuh'all desire.
Entry 4286
Fo' good luck yuh take dat ovahnight - lak yu'd use yuh slop jar in yuh house, well mawnin's yu'd git up 'fore de sunrise an' po' it undahneath yuh step an' roun' in de front where yuh fren's have tuh walk in an' out comin' in yore do'. An' dat's fo' good luck an' fo' peace.
Entry 13248
She [hoodoo - rootworker - fortuneteller] told me whenever ah take a bath, take two tablespoonsful of sugar into my bathwater and don't dry mah- self. Let it dry into me. That give you luck and a good trade. [Mobile 947:3.]
Entry 13264
Yo' burns dat in yore house every mawnin' IN DE FO' CORNERS OF A ROOM, de sulphur, in de fo' corner of a room every mawnin' at six an' every afternoon at six. That's luck an' draws business. That's really good.
Entry 13266
Dey builds han's wit sulphur an' gunpowder. Sew it up in a piece of flannen, yo' know, an' have a...keep it damp [feed it] every mawning yo' wake up wit Hearts Cologne...dat's de han' dey builds fo' luck.
Entry 13370
Well, it's lak if yo' wanta have luck in business, yo' wanta have luck in business, yo' git chew some consecrated [concentrated] lye an' yo' save yo' own chamber lye. If yo have roomahs in de house let dem save deres. See, jes' lak, yo' tell 'em fo' in- stance whut chew want, yo' know. Yo' want tuh use it fo' somepin or somepin lak dat. Git chure friends, if yo' ain't runnin' a roomin' house, or eithah fo' yo'- self. Yo' use yore chamber lye an' git chew some consecrated [concentrated] lye an' git chew some sugah an' put it in dere an' boil it. See. An' aftah it boils - yo' gotta boil it outdo's, yo' cain't boil it in de house - an' scrub yore house all de way through wit it an' yo'll have roomahs.
Entry 13371
Well, befo' sunrise in de morning - dat's another luck proposition, befo' sunrise - if yo' gotta a, yourself or jes' yore wife or family, if yo' got a slop bucket dat dey use, yo' take dat slop bucket. No! Yo' do dat jes' as de sun rise. Yo' take dat slop bucket an' go an' throw on de ground whichever Way de sun rise. Well dat will be yore lucky day. Yo' can't help but have luck dat day. Yo' do dat fo' luck.
Entry 13375
Use chamber lye fo' luck, chamber lye an' lye. Scrub yore house all with that an' throw it on yore front po'ch an' on yore yard, on de concrek in de front of yore yard, where peoples have tuh walk across. [Memphis 2695:8.]
Entry 13402
Take it an' jis' t'row it all aroun' yah house - jis' de chamber lye - to have yeh good luck. [Wilmington 209:5+85.]
Entry 13457
Dis pullin' bone in a chicken, yo' take dat bone an' yo' do a lotta different things wit dis bone. Yo' take dis pullin' bone an' keep it in yore pocket an' it gives yo' good luck. Sometimes yo' git a job or yo' find money. An' yo' take dis pullin' bone again an' break it an' stick it through de do' at de first man dat come in. Dat'll be yore husband.
Entry 158
Yo' will have bad luck, dat if yo' be in de center of dat, yessuh. Yo' know sometime it be right near to yo' an' dey say yo' have bad luck if yo' be in dat lil' whirlwind. Yessuh, if yo' git inside of it.
Bad luck is reported as conditional on being inside the whirlwind; merely being nearby is not asserted to cause it.
Entry 660
Well, dey say for ninstance, dat you go to de cemetery and de first seven grave dey come to, at de foot of de seventh grave, dey git down about seven inches and get out some of de dust. See. Den you take it home and put it into some salt and den you make seven steps into de home.
(Into whose home?)
De home dat you wanta put de bad luck on, see. And den you begin de seven steps back you begin sprlnkling yo' [your] whut dey call goofer dust. See, dat's de beginning of de hard luck. An' den to offset it it's practi'lly de same way.
(How do they do that?)
It's de same graveyard dust, see, to offset it. And den to make it stronger, why you puts salt into de four corners of de home and you make a wish to each corner and name dem. You see, dat's where you have salt. And den some people dey so much suspicious towards salt dat dey won't loan salt. I myself, you know, I won't loan salt. I'd rather give you a nickel and let cha buy some salt.
The account reports an intention to put bad luck on a home and a separate counterprocedure; neither is verified.
Entry 862
[How does a doctor start into business? Find work? The answers are scattered throughout this book. Here, I am primarily concerned with intimidation of prospective patient and created situation caused by fear of hoodoo:] A cunjure come to my house in Fredericksburg and she told me she was a fortune teller. She said she came from Richmond to the fair, she thought she would do good business. We used to have it every year. So she cam in, I asked her in, and she sat back for some little time. Then she asked for a cup of coffee and I gave her a cup of coffee. And then she went away. She came back on the next day and she wanted to tell my fortune. I told her I didn't have much patience with fortune-tellers. So she went away again. And the next afternoon she came back again and my husband was there that time. And she asked me to gave her some money and I told her I didn't have any money. And she told me if I didn't gave her some money I wouldn't have good luck [this is a bad mouth]. I got mad. I run her out of my house and she went up the street. We didn't have a cement walk then, it was a dirt walk, and she took a stick and made a round ring [see margin- title Marks]. And after she made the round ring she stepped over towards it and started to drop something out of her fingers in this ring she had made. And I Was so close behind her with a broomstick that she didn't get a chance to finish. She told me that she would get me [another bad mouth]. I didn't give her time to finish her little stuff. Then I went on in the house. And my husband said, "Don't bother with them kind of people. They might do something to you." I said I wasn't afraid of them. The last thing I saw of her was her coat tail going around the corner. I ain't seen that woman from that day to this. [Near Fredericksburg, Va., (72), by hand and light from kerosene lamp.]
The narrator reports a money demand backed by a conditional threat of losing good luck; no loss of luck is established.
Entry 945
It works by de moon.
(What does?)
Dis thing - dis charm [or hand] works by de moon.
(That he gave this woman.)
An' says dat, if you live twenty [years] longah, dat only make it dat much strongah. Says ev'ry time de moon goes ovah dat, she [the charm] strengh'nin' up, gittin' strongah. An' he says dat it'll weigh like a pound [if] your luck comin' right [to] yeh good.
Reported words link a charm's weight with luck coming right; the bracketed connecting words are editorial.
Entry 12335
Ah said dey tell me if yo' goin' anywhere an' lak if two people be together, an' if a storm split a stob of tree or anything, why dat's bad luck.
[Wilson 2650:7.]
The informant reports a conditional bad-luck belief involving two people together and a storm splitting a stob of tree or anything.
Entry 13047
Jes' wear it roun' yore laig. Bo' a hole in it an' tie it round yore leg fo' luck.
(The dime.) [Florence 2181:6.]
The informant describes tying an item around the leg for luck; a separate parenthetical interviewer clarification calls it a dime.
Entry 2079
Ah got a little somepin ah been wearin' for a good length of time an' ah haven't been broke since ah had it. Ah don't guess yo' mind lookin' at it.
(No, no - let's see it.)
(You wear this right over your heart - in this little bag - little tobacco sack. There is also a [metal] cross near it - and that's for luck, for money?) Yes sir - through life. (And this [cross] begins: Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil mam. Preserve me from the violent man.)
(That is a Psalm. Do you know what Psalm it is?)
[I wait, he does not answer.]
[I suggest] (141?)
Yes sir.
[He agrees with my error - it is 140.]
(Do you dress it in any way?)
No sir, jes'[wear it].
Luck and money are proposed by the interviewer and followed by 'Yes sir - through life.' The asserted prosperity and object details remain unverified.
Entry 2668
(Can you tell me what you do?) Well, ah go to the drug sto' and buy oil. (What kind of oil do you buy?) Why ah usu'lly jes' put it in de watah an' wash de flo' off.
(That's for luck in bringing in customers.)
The interviewer characterizes the floor washing as luck in attracting customers. This entry prints no following informant affirmation; the result remains unverified.
Entry 3008
St. Raymond's for lucky things, but St. Expedee ain't. He's for devil- ment.
The statement associates St. Raymond’s with lucky things and contrasts St. Expedee; the claims are unverified.
Entry 9497
In gamblin', to drop salt down in [on] each othah back an' dat will cause 'em tuh lose. (That is if someone was lucky in winning. If you drop a little salt on him, that will kill his luck?) Dat's right.
The interviewer introduces 'kill his luck'; the informant replies 'Dat’s right.'
Source passage
printed interview with editorial and production layers · Source-local attribution; no resolved person identity is asserted.
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
see me all de time, don' choo? [Asking Cubby.]
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Yeah. I see you all de time.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
(Well, just tell Mr. Cubby and tell these people I'm not a policeman, you can see that.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Dere's a lotta dem [healers]. Dere's Zeffie Hill.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
I was tellin' 'im about her.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
MIFFIN
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Tha' Zeffie Hill is good.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
I was tellin' 'im about them. Those are the people who say they heal. That's those yo' were tellin' about comin' in on Sundays.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
MIFFIN
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); supporting excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Yeah. Dey don' do nothin' but heal, give yo' numbahs to have luck an' things. But dese othah people - dey supposed to be good.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
I heard also there was some good ones down in Clewiston.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
MIFFIN
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Yeah, dere's some good ones in Clewiston, Florida. But where at in Clewiston, Florida?)
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
I know I could find that out from her. She gits in on the weekends. She lives in Clewiston but she lives in...
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
[Mrs. Miffin breaks in before Cubby finishes statement.]
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
But yo' know whut, if Jera
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
[?]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
hadn't o' died - I know one lady tha' he'ped them a lot. But Jera died and Jera always say,
reported or enacted speech · Miffin (speaker in this passage) · Named speaker in the recounted account; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"I'm goin' give yo' this woman's address if anythin' evah happen, give her my name an' tell 'er I sent yo'.'
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
But I didn't get to Jera before... Yo' remembah Jera Jones an' she died?
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
[Asking Cub- by.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
She say,
reported or enacted speech · Miffin (speaker in this passage) · Recounted woman whose identity is unresolved; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"I could git yore son out of trouble.
reported or enacted speech · Miffin (speaker in this passage) · Recounted woman whose identity is unresolved; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
I don' know why I sat down so long, I didn't have the money to pay an' go like dey was goin' an' I jis' lef' ev'rythin' in the han's of the Lawd. Tha's jis' how I wus 'cause I didn' b'liev' in 'em, but now I do. "
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Cause I see too many things happenin' now. Tha's true, don' choo think so?
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
[To Cubby.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
In some cases.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4497
In some cases, yes.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
[A pounding noise here - apparently it is her children pounding their fist on the car door glass]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"Darrell get away from there!"
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"Go ahead home!"
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
I've seen some things happen I can't explain them myself so it would tend to make yo' sorta believe it.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
(Well now let me give you an illustration - that man you talked to that said he was going to put warts on your arm. Now if you were in the proper frame of mind it's just possible that he could put them on you. See what I mean?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Sho', look what I did about 3 weeks ago. I went to a house - me an' this girl was goin' wid dis same boy. Dis woman, ol' 'nuff fo' my Momma now. This stuff from spirits from whut I know fo' myself. Okay, dey kep' sendin' fo' me an' I know I don' drink no likker. I know good and well I don' drink likker. An' I goes up there - sit there - de bar. Dey had a ha'fa pint settin' up there on de table an' I said to 'er, I said,
reported or enacted speech · Miffin (speaker in this passage) · Speaker quoted in the local account; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"Well, look, I don' drink no likker."
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
reported or enacted speech · Miffin (speaker in this passage) · Speaker quoted in the local account; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"Yeah, drink some."
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
An' the devil tol' me to drink tha' likker an' boy I'm tellin' yo' - my little daughtah could tell yo' - I came back downstairs, I be- gin to git real sick. She po'ed the likker an' she po'ed the Coca Cola in. The Coca Cola floatin' in the likker an' I came back downstairs an' in about 30 rinutes I got deathly sick an' I got so sick I jis' layed across de bed. An' dis same little girl whut was standin' right dere
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
[she may be referring to one of the children who earlier was pounding car window]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4497
. I sta'ted vomitin', an' san, dese li'le things - white an' dey are wrapt up jis' like a worm. Jes' like a worm an' dey come outa me for about 30 minutes an' I wus so sick! Yo' lmou I got a fo'k an' I took one out an' I tried to unwrap it. Ev'rytime I try to unwrap it they wrap back up an' there's about 30 of 'em in dere an'I gen' to de doctah an' yo' know whut he tol' me? I was likker poisoned!
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(You were what?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Likker poisoned. Dat likker was poison.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(Uh huh.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[At least I am noncommital!]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
An' yo' know right today she come right dere an' sit on dat step, dat bench right dere ev'ry day. An' I JIS' HATE 'ER TO MY HEART. An' I jis' came right - an' I tol' 'er de othah day,
reported or enacted speech · Miffin (speaker in this passage) · Speaker quoted in the local account; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
"Don't come to my house no mo'."
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
She ol' 'nuff to be my momma an' she goin' wid dis young boy.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(Well why did she do it to you? Is she jealous of you?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Goin' wit de same main. I mean, yo' know she's do dese hot things yo' know, dese lookin' things an' dat woman couldn't see me ag'in no mo', 'cause dat guy is good an' I could git dat money an' a lot of women can't see no man takin' care of no woman. Dere Some Women dat cain't. AN RIGHT DEN AN' DERE I MADE UP IN MY MIN' UNLESS IT'S JESUS, BABY, DAT'S THE ONLIEST PERSON CAN GIVE ME A DRINK - JESUS. If I drink it I be by myself. It's somethin' I bought by my- self, not wit nobody 'cause I been deathly sick from likker. I won' bother wit it. An' she go to dis main up here all de time but he don't do nothin' but heal, yo' know?
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Heal.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Up in Tumesea[?], yo' heard of 'im?
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(What's his name?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
I don' know his name.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Tumesea
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[?]
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
, Georgia?
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Yeah. Doc - dey call him Doc.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(Where is it now, what's the town?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Tha's in Tumesea
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[?]
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
, Georgia.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Dat's in Thomasville.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[Now it sounds like they are saying Thomasville.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(Thomasville?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Yeah. But Honey
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[Who is called Honey?]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
yo' know he got his church, but he do not do no nasty deal. Tha' man's straight. He's a healer, he's straight.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(Just a healer. In other words he doesn't put any conditions on you but he will remove evil conditions.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
He will move evil conditions but he will not put nothin' on you.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(I see.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Now, I def'nit'ly knows dat.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(Well ther'e
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[there are]
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
some of these people I'd like to talk to just to get their experience.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[My desire will be granted in some of the following interviews.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Yeah. But dere's a lot of 'em yo' go to yo' git a good cussin' out, dat's whut yo'll git 'cause most people don' wan' choo to know dey doin' things like dis. A lot of 'em don', do dey?
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[Asking Cubby.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
No, dey like to keep it a secret.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Lak to keep it a secret.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
CUBBY:
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
They have quite a few 'roun' here, but yo' can't fin' out.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Dere's a lot of 'em roun' here. I'm lookin' at one dere...yo' know who I'm talkin' about, lookin' at one dere right yonder. I mean yo' don' git nothin' dere an' I know yo' don' git nothin' from 'er but a good cussin' out. Oooh, cause she don' - she will not talk to yo'.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(In other words you just have to take it along easy.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Yeah.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(And they have to really trust you and know who you are and all that sort of thing.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Yeah, yeah. Dese people roun' here do not trust yo' too much, yo'd better b'lieve.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Well, I don't blame them. I tell you today the way the world is...)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Mos' of 'em - yo' tell 'em somethin' they go on an' tell the pollece, don't they?
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[Says to Cubby.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
That's right.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4499
De pōleece dey turnin' up givin' yo' all kin'a dirty things. An' yo' jis' cain't blame people fo' tryin' to pertek [protect] themselves.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Well years ago there were a lot of stool pigeons. Are they dropping out?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
No...dere's a lot of 'em bein' dropped, dere's a lot of 'em bein' kilt.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Well, certainly as sure as a white man came around they ran and told the police that some fellow was out there working...)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Yo' fin' a few. Well, yo' don' fin' - yo' wus young when there wus stool Pigeons. Boy, that Abraham, Abraham, uh Alford... It was so many of 'em dat... dat fellow got kilt... James. Dere's a lot 'em got kilt, them gangsters from Tampa had dem kilt off. Yo' can't be bothahed...dose b'lievers...dose people don't b'lieve in things. Aw, they had them dropped off.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[She rambles on and on in this paragraph. I was uncertain of most of this. Mrs. Dyel.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(What about those people who give you lucky numbers? Have you ever gone to anyone to get a lucky number?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
I'll go to one. I go out dere on Hamm Road ev'ry week to get me one
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[laughs]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
The lady I took you to the other day.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[Meaning Dr. Hyatt I believe. Mrs. Dyel.]
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Ev'ry week. An' yo' know what...
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Oh, oh, which one was she? The white woman or the colored?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
The white Woman.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Oh, she gave numbers - from Palmetto?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Yes. Yo' know I went out dere an' yo' know whut she tol' me? She tol' me to play a one-six an' a five-six. Yo' know whut, I didn't have but $5. Yo' know that I stood up dere an' let dat one-six came by an' paid $85. I wen' out dere a Thursday an' do yo' know it came out on Friday night an' I stood up dere - I didn't have but $5. I stood up dere an' said,
reported or enacted speech · Miffin (speaker in this passage) · Speaker quoted in the local account; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
"Dere ain't going to be no one- six, de odds is too high."
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
An' here comes one-six. $85... I was sick. She gave me dat number. I gave 'er $2. She gave me a one-six and a five-six. The five- six came in de las' race. $85...an' I wus dead broke. An' she gave me the two- eight, the two-eight came...
editorial recording or production note; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[Transcriber Mrs. Dyel says, "The paragraph was dif- ficult to transcribe. She is talking very fast."]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Well how would she get those numbers?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
I don't know...she wus a min' reader. She read 'em.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Do you know I talked to that woman. Yeah, isn't that right Mr. Cubby?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Did she talk all right?
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(She wasn't doing much talking to me.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
She was lookin' at yo' do'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[though]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
wasn't she? Studyin' yo'?
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Well this is the white woman, isn't it?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Yeah, yeah, but I like tha' main
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[man]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
bettah.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Is there a husband, that man in the same house?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Yeah. I like that main
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[man]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
bettah than I do tha' woman.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(Well, I think she's clever.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
She is re'ly clevah.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(She's quite a talker and quite intelligent. What was her name? Something? Something?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
editorial recording or production note; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[Name purposely omitted.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Yo' know what else she do? Now I've knowed people to git into a little trouble an' dey have to pay her so much, about $37. But she's straight dey say.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
(I think she was a little bit frightened about me.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Yeah, she prob'ly was.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(She may talk to me again. I don't know. She was verv nice about it. I think if these people knew they were not going to be personally involved, that there is no name given or anything of that sort, I think they would really talk, don't you?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Yes. I think they Would. That's the main problem.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4500
But there is so many things bein' goin' on when dey wus tellin' de po-leece ev'rythin' - I mean yo' can't blame 'em, can yo'?
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(Oh, I know. Well, how is Palmetto? Years ago you used to always...)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Oh, no, no. It's no mo' o' dat now. Now, if yo' hear of a number, ev'rythin' comes strictly from de dogs. Yo' cain't even fin' none 'roun'. People got so bad in turnin' dem up dey jis' had to give it up.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
[Cubby says something and she repeats it. I cannot tell what they say.]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Cubie stop an' people stop wit it, yo' see?
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
That's right.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4500
When they stopped dat over in Cuba they automatically...they prob'ly be doin' some kin' of ol' mess from the dog. But they don' bothah wit it. I don' know nobody over here [in St. Petersburg?] playin' no Cuba anymo'. Dere's no sech word as a Cubie no mo'.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(Cubie?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Cubie.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(Cubie? What's that?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Jes' a number, dat's wha' dey call it at Palmetto
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
[Florida]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
.
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Jus' a number. Jus' a new name.
uncertain turn attribution; attribution alternatives: Miffin (speaker in this passage), Cubby (speaker in this passage); attribution is uncertain; context excerpt; unresolved source attribution, context only · Vol. 5, p. 4500
An' boy I used to know some people used to write [or ride] it 6 or 7 hundred dollars a week but all of 'em gone, dey jes' forgot 'bout it.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(People who sold numbers?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
If dey were throwin' time on yo'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
[giving prison terms]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
like dey wus throwin' on dose people, yo' would've stopped too. 10 or 15 and 20 years. Who want dat time? Nobody!
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(In other words you can't go around to shops - years ago you could go around and buy numbers any place. You could get them for a penny a piece.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Ooh, no. Yo' can't buy 'em here no mo'. Know
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
[Do you know]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
where ev'rybody go at night? To the dogs. Ev'rybody
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
[go]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
to the dogs
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
[dog races]
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
now. An tha's fas' money too.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(I see. Did you ever get a lucky number that worked?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); supporting excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Who, me? No, 'cause I'm a lucky dreamer. See, I can dream my own numbers, see. I'm my own...
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(What do you mean dream a number?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Well, don' choo dream?
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(Yes.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); supporting excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Well, I jes' dream. I have good dreams. I'm a good dreamer.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(And do you remember any numbers in the dream, things of that sort?)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Who me? I remember ev'rythin' I dream.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
(I evidently don't sleep well. I don't remember my dreams.)
informant · Miffin (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Yo' know wha' I did Thursday night? I had my rent - $60! The rent man there put up a sign to move. I wusn't workin'. Sixty dollahs behind in de whole time I been dere. At leas' I got my four kids home. Here he comes wit a sign. I layed down We'nesday night - I'm jis' goin' to tell yo' what I did. An' I wen' to bed. I wus so disgusted We'nesday night. Yo' know whut I dream? A main [man] whut I use to go wit came an' tol' me, I said, "Where yo' been so long?" He said, "I got in some trouble." I say, "Yeah?" I say, "What kin' o' trouble?" He say, "For a cell mate." I say, "How much did yo' git?" He say, ''$42, 000." I got ready - I had $3.00. This jis' to show yo' yo' got luck on yo'. [She
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"Well, look, I don' drink no likker."
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"Yeah, drink some."
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Dere's a lotta dem [healers]. Dere's Zeffie Hill.
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4497
In some cases, yes.
Nested source context: continuing window edge · Vol. 5, p. 4497
see me all de time, don' choo? [Asking Cubby.]
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4498
"Don't come to my house no mo'."
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Up in Tumesea[?], yo' heard of 'im?
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Yeah. Doc - dey call him Doc.
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Dat's in Thomasville.
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Lak to keep it a secret.
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Dere's a lot of 'em roun' here. I'm lookin' at one dere...yo' know who I'm talkin' about, lookin' at one dere right yonder. I mean yo' don' git nothin' dere an' I know yo' don' git nothin' from 'er but a good cussin' out. Oooh, cause she don' - she will not talk to yo'.
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4499
"Dere ain't going to be no one- six, de odds is too high."
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4499
De pōleece dey turnin' up givin' yo' all kin'a dirty things. An' yo' jis' cain't blame people fo' tryin' to pertek [protect] themselves.
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Yo' fin' a few. Well, yo' don' fin' - yo' wus young when there wus stool Pigeons. Boy, that Abraham, Abraham, uh Alford... It was so many of 'em dat... dat fellow got kilt... James. Dere's a lot 'em got kilt, them gangsters from Tampa had dem kilt off. Yo' can't be bothahed...dose b'lievers...dose people don't b'lieve in things. Aw, they had them dropped off.
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Ev'ry week. An' yo' know what...
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4500
"Where yo' been so long?"
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4500
"I got in some trouble."
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4500
"Yeah?"
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4500
"What kin' o' trouble?"
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4500
"For a cell mate."
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4500
"How much did yo' git?"
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4500
But there is so many things bein' goin' on when dey wus tellin' de po-leece ev'rythin' - I mean yo' can't blame 'em, can yo'?
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Cubie stop an' people stop wit it, yo' see?
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4500
When they stopped dat over in Cuba they automatically...they prob'ly be doin' some kin' of ol' mess from the dog. But they don' bothah wit it. I don' know nobody over here [in St. Petersburg?] playin' no Cuba anymo'. Dere's no sech word as a Cubie no mo'.
Nested source context: unlabeled live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4500
An' boy I used to know some people used to write [or ride] it 6 or 7 hundred dollars a week but all of 'em gone, dey jes' forgot 'bout it.
Nested source context: continuing window edge · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Yo' know wha' I did Thursday night? I had my rent - $60! The rent man there put up a sign to move. I wusn't workin'. Sixty dollahs behind in de whole time I been dere. At leas' I got my four kids home. Here he comes wit a sign. I layed down We'nesday night - I'm jis' goin' to tell yo' what I did. An' I wen' to bed. I wus so disgusted We'nesday night. Yo' know whut I dream? A main [man] whut I use to go wit came an' tol' me, I said, "Where yo' been so long?" He said, "I got in some trouble." I say, "Yeah?" I say, "What kin' o' trouble?" He say, "For a cell mate." I say, "How much did yo' git?" He say, ''$42, 000." I got ready - I had $3.00. This jis' to show yo' yo' got luck on yo'. [She
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"I'm goin' give yo' this woman's address if anythin' evah happen, give her my name an' tell 'er I sent yo'.'
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"I could git yore son out of trouble."
Nested source context: live aside to present children · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"Darrell get away from there!"
Nested source context: live aside to present children · Vol. 5, p. 4497
"Go ahead home!"
Nested source context: present recording context · Vol. 5, p. 4497
[A pounding noise here - apparently it is her children pounding their fist on the car door glass]
Nested source context: unresolved place and addressee qualification · Vol. 5, p. 4498
[Now it sounds like they are saying Thomasville.] (Thomasville?) Yeah. But Honey [Who is called Honey?]
Nested source context: healer scope qualification · Vol. 5, p. 4498
(Just a healer. In other words he doesn't put any conditions on you but he will remove evil conditions.) He will move evil conditions but he will not put nothin' on you. (I see.) Now, I def'nit'ly knows dat.
Nested source context: transcription uncertainty qualification · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[She rambles on and on in this paragraph. I was uncertain of most of this. Mrs. Dyel.]
Nested source context: transcription difficulty qualification · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[Transcriber Mrs. Dyel says, "The paragraph was dif- ficult to transcribe. She is talking very fast."]
Nested source context: name suppression qualification · Vol. 5, p. 4499
[Name purposely omitted.]
Nested source context: transcription and voice uncertainty · Vol. 5, p. 4500
[Cubby says something and she repeats it. I cannot tell what they say.] Cubie stop an' people stop wit it, yo' see?
Nested source context: cross page production qualification · Vol. 5, p. 4500
[She
Nested source context: cross page production qualification · Vol. 5, p. 4501
continues with this story, speaks rapidly and in incomplete sentences, does not speak clearly - impossible to transcribe]...an'
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4497
Dere's a lotta dem [healers]. Dere's Zeffie Hill.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4497
In some cases, yes.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Up in Tumesea[?], yo' heard of 'im?
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Yeah. Doc - dey call him Doc.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Dat's in Thomasville.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Lak to keep it a secret.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4498
Dere's a lot of 'em roun' here. I'm lookin' at one dere...yo' know who I'm talkin' about, lookin' at one dere right yonder. I mean yo' don' git nothin' dere an' I know yo' don' git nothin' from 'er but a good cussin' out. Oooh, cause she don' - she will not talk to yo'.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4499
De pōleece dey turnin' up givin' yo' all kin'a dirty things. An' yo' jis' cain't blame people fo' tryin' to pertek [protect] themselves.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Yo' fin' a few. Well, yo' don' fin' - yo' wus young when there wus stool Pigeons. Boy, that Abraham, Abraham, uh Alford... It was so many of 'em dat... dat fellow got kilt... James. Dere's a lot 'em got kilt, them gangsters from Tampa had dem kilt off. Yo' can't be bothahed...dose b'lievers...dose people don't b'lieve in things. Aw, they had them dropped off.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4499
Ev'ry week. An' yo' know what...
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4500
But there is so many things bein' goin' on when dey wus tellin' de po-leece ev'rythin' - I mean yo' can't blame 'em, can yo'?
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4500
Cubie stop an' people stop wit it, yo' see?
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4500
When they stopped dat over in Cuba they automatically...they prob'ly be doin' some kin' of ol' mess from the dog. But they don' bothah wit it. I don' know nobody over here [in St. Petersburg?] playin' no Cuba anymo'. Dere's no sech word as a Cubie no mo'.
Unresolved source context: exact live turn attribution unresolved · Vol. 5, p. 4500
An' boy I used to know some people used to write [or ride] it 6 or 7 hundred dollars a week but all of 'em gone, dey jes' forgot 'bout it.
partial continuing interview window with context only edges
These pages contain part of the continuing Miffin, Cubby and interviewer conversation; neither the complete interview nor every topic is included.
The opening address to Cubby continues from the preceding page and is included as context only.
The closing dream and rent recollection continues on printed page 4501 and is included as context only. The following context reports that transcription was impossible; no dream-number account is reconstructed.
Unlabeled switching turns retain localized Miffin/Cubby holds; explicit labels do not qualify every following unlabeled line.
Transcriber uncertainty, name suppression and literal place-name alternatives remain visible.
Honey question and Thomasville suggestion do not resolve identity.
Reported healing/poisoning/success and healer/harmful-working distinction remain attributed historical claims; privacy/police qualifications retained.
Bounded passage retrieval, not complete corpus coverage or practitioner consensus.
Read the full source context: Vol. 5, p. 4496 · Vol. 5, p. 4497 · Vol. 5, p. 4498 · Vol. 5, p. 4499 · Vol. 5, p. 4500 · Vol. 5, p. 4501
Source passage
printed interview with editorial and production layers · Source-local attribution; no resolved person identity is asserted.
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
fold away from you. Here we have a special magic rite of overlapping or corre- sponding or accordion folds.]
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(You put his handkerchief in the pot and you put this piece of paper in, too?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
In too - into it an' tie it nine times.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(Tie that handkerchief nine times.)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[Make nine knots in it.]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
But yo' put dat sugah in dere now, remembah. An' yo' put de sugah in dere an' put it on in watah an' start it tuh cookin'. Den yo' call 'im by 'is name, say,
recited or prescribed formula · Current practitioner speaking in this passage · So-an'-so (prescribed addressee); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
"Come on back heah, So-an'-so, "
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
an' so on.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(After this water has finished cooking, you take it out and scrub with it.)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Scrub yore front steps. He'll come on back. Yo' take de right-foot sock an' put it right up in de front of de do' an' yo' pee on it nine mawnin's an' yo' leave it dere. Dat's tuh keep 'im from gittin' away. Dat's one way of
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[doing]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
it.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(Do you put it down any special way?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Put de toe tuh de do' an' spread it out wit de toe tuh de do', wit de nail in de middle of each toe, so it will be smooth. Ah don' take no 'mount of nails. Ah jis' nail it down till it's smooth, so it won't be no wrinkle undah yore rug, becuz de man is a superstitious
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[suspicious]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
thing. Yo' have tuh look fo'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[watch]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
hin as well as he do yo'. Yo' pee on it fo' nine mawnin's. Dat's one way. But de way ah have of doin', ah bear
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[bury]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
it undah de steps, de same way
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[with the nails]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
, but ah druthah
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[rather]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
bear it undah de steps becuz he won't hunt it dere.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(He won't see it there.)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Yo' kin pee in front of dere fo' nine mawnin's. Yo' kin run people away wit dey shoe. Yo' kin go on down heah to de railroad an' git abo'd one dem flatcars, an' take yo' five 20-penny nails an' nail it down dere jis' tuh de box
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[over the hotbox]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
, an' when dat car roll yo'll roll - yore an'will roll an' keep yo' rollin'. Ah burn 'em.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(What do you burn the shoe for?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; supporting excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Aw, fo' luck. Ah take sulphah, sugah, cinnamon an' bluestone an' burn 'em an' puts money an' burns money in 'em - take some nickels or dimes, pennies or Ohatevah yo' got. See, de money is jis' as good as it evah wuz. Put it in dere am'take a little oil of cedar an' put in dere an' burn it - see, opposite de do' lak dat
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[demonstrates]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(Right in the middle of the front of the door, the saddle of the door. What Ls that supposed to do?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Fo' luck - spo'tin'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[sporting]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
houses, fo' transits
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[transients]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
, anythin'. If he's done quit chew an' gone off - see, dis bed heah.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[On my first trip to Memphis, I interviewed in a bedroom of the down-town hotel for black people, Eureka Hotel - see INTRO., v.1, p. XXxl11.]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Yo' take his pichure an' git chew fo' pins. Yo' turn 'is haid down, undah- stan', pin it on de back of dat bed, an' go on an' lay down. Dat keeps 'is min on yo' in dat bed.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(Which way do you stick it, looking outside
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[away from]
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
or facing the bed?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Tuh de bed.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
[The man in the photograph at the back of the bed, his head down, looks chrough the bed headboard at the woman on the bed!]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(What else can you do with the picture?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Well, yo' kin take it an' put it ovah watah an' draw 'im back.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
(How do you do that?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1863
Take de glass an' take de pichure an' set de watah lak dat, but if it's a
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
small one, smallah dan de glass, den yo' know whut chew do, yo' git chew a little whiskey glass an' put watah in it but don' let de pichure tech it. An' yo' double dat lil pichure on dat lil whiskey glass an' set it in de inside - yo' know, let it spread out enough dat it will hold itself. Put it undah yore bed.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(Do you put that.picture in
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[the glass]
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
just any way or do you put the head standing up?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
On 'is haid alway8. Dat
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[dragon's blood]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
one de greates' thin's yo' kin use. Yo' kin use it fo' peace or yo' kin use it fo' de devil. Fo' peace ah use it wit sugah, but dragon blood will stop it
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[devil work]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
. Any time yo' don' want a fuss, yo' gotta put sugah in it.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(What do you do, burn it?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Burn it. Den yo' covah it. Dere lotta thin's yo' mix wit it tuh keep people from knowin' whut it is - Balt. An' yo' dig roots, but chew don' wan' people tuh know whut de roots are.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[The FOLLOWING STATEMENT ABOUT THE UNUSUAL BLACK CAT ASHES IS AMAZING. My informant first tells how she or rumor says these ashes are made and then, after our brief digression with the black cat bone we return to the use and price of black cat ashes.]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Git chure own black ket aahes, Yo' git some undahtakah to take de ket
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[cat]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
an' fill it fulla fohnenhide
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[= foam-en-hide = formaldehyde]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
, joo know, an' den yo' go where dere de crematory an' git 'im tuh burn dat, an' den yo' ketch all de ashes. See, yo've made yer own ashes. An' jis' git chew a ket yo'self an' kill 'im
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[and take him to the undertaker]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(What about the black cat bone?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Aw, well, yo' put 'em in boilin' hot watah an' cook 'im an' de bone dat rises tuh de top, yo' take it tuh a gtream of watah. All de rest of dem will sink, sho'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[sure]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
as ah'm livin', but chew mus' sell yo' soul tuh de devil tuh mastah dat.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(How do you sell your soul to the devil?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Ah've nevah learn tuh do dat. But sellin' yo'self to de devil, yo' know whut dat is don' chew? Yo' don' believe dere is a God, dere nevah wuz a God.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(How do you use these black cat ashes?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Dat black ket ashes ia 'bout one de highest
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[hoodoo ingredients]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
yo' kin buy. Yo' cain't buy undah five dollahs right roun' at de cornah heah.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(You mean at the drug store?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Five dollahs.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(What do they use it for?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Well, sometime dey use it fo' success - dey fo' drawin'.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(Mostly hands?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Gamblin' han's.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(How would you make a good gambling hand?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Well, sometime ah'd git bat hearts, dry 'em. Yo' know dey'll dry if yo' jis' take 'em an' lay.'em in de sun an' dey'll wizzle
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[= wizen]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
up. An' yo' take dat bat heart an' yo' take nine needles an' yo' break dose needles off at de top. An' yo' stick nine needles right aroun' dat heart. Yo' take yo' a piece of lode- stone - it's cordin' tuh whut colah it is, whoevah yo' makin' a han' fo'. When yo' read
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[the cards]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
fo' 'im yo' kin
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[tell]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
what he needs. Yo' kin take white lodestone or black lodestone an' dere is a she lodestone made lak a woman. Dat's a she lodestone
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[demonstrates, or does she show me one?]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
(Just in the shape of a woman.)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Yeah. Yo' kin git dat at Dahinton
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[Darlington?]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
Bros., Natchez, Miss.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[She lodestone in the shape of. a woman is rare in my experience. This would
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
be powdered she lodestone pressed into the semblance of a woman, a very small form so that it could fit into a hand. This figurine appears to have been a spe- ciality (or specialty) of this business firm. See margin-title LODESTONE: HE AND SHE, Pp.601-603. [We now return to the gambling hand made with a bat heart.]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
Yo' take de nine needles, yo' break 'em off sho't
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[short]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
yo' know, but yo' stick 'em in de heart. Den yo' put yore heart in cloth, silk an' flannen - red flannen
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[flannel]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(You use both of them?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
Uh-huh, one's de inside bag an' one's a' outside bag. Some of 'em use shammy. An'den yo' take dat
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[heart]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
out an'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[as a substitute]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
yo' put dat lodestone in dere an' yo' keep a silvah dime in dere. Dat silvah dime, dat'll las' yo' a long time, not gratin' it. An' yo' put a lil dat silvah money in dere, an' yo' put dis lodestone an' nine needles, an' yo' put a lil piece of John de Conkah, an' yo' take a lil piece of devil's-shoestring, an' yo' sew dat bag up an' wish. An' den yo' dress it. Wish success tuh yo'.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(What do you use specially to dress it?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
Hell, ah use - sometime ah use bergamine
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[bergamot]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
an' wintahgreen mixed, but ah us'lly use oil of cedar an' Jockey Club
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[Perfume]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
. But yo' see in some in- stance, tuh make yore stuff go fur
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[further]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
, yo' git chew toilet watah an' halfa bottle of Jockey Club, becuz it's
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[a full bottle is]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
mo' expensive. But chew Hn make it
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[go further]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(The inner bag is of silk and the outer one is the flannel?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; supporting excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
No suh, innah bag is flannen, an' de outah bag is de silk. Take a bath in sweet spirits of nitre fo' nine days an' garlic. Yo' take it an' po' it in yore bath watah. Yo' take a little Red Seal Lye, yo' know. a lil lye on a knife. Yo' put it into yore bath watah an' den yo' po' de sweet spirits of nitre in dere an' nine pods of garlic cut up, an' take a bath in dat. Den yo' Hn go tuh de rivah an' take a bath in runnin' watah, an' dat's luck.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(After you take the bath?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
Bo, ah say eithah one of dose. Dey are two diff'ren' thin's dat ah'm tellin'. One if yo' in a stream of bad luck an' yo' want chure bad luck
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[to change]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
. Some people
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[doctors]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
send dere customahs to de
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[Mississippi]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
rivah tuh take a bath in runnin' watah tuh wash de jinx off an' it'll roll on down
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[the river]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(Hou of ten do you do that?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
Fell, one or twice, but yore luck will change.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
{For bathing in the Mississippi River at New Orleans on May 1, see p.381, No. 986.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(For this luck in gambling
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[I mean]
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
for this bath nine times, do you take it at any special time?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
Any time you kin make it
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[= any time you get ready]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
. De furse thin' yo' do, yo' git chew some love powdahs, yo' kin buy 'em at Mff'ren' places,
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[and]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
peace powdahs. Den anothah way yo' kin do, if yo' know de man's name. Den jis' lak yo' know bo yo' goin' tuh work fa', well yo' go dere, an' yo' go to de icehouse an' yo dt chew a dime piece of ice, an' write his name an' put it in dat ice, an' wrap at ice up tight an' don' 'low
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[allow]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
nobody tuh break dat ice. Dat cools 'im Ian' he'll talk wit yo'.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(hat do you do with that love powder in the meantime?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
gell, dey use it sometime an' women use it tuh make men love 'em, tuh make boevah yo' meet be cool, peaceful.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
Do you make your own love powder?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1865
Bo suh, ah don't make mah own love powdahs but ah do makes some powdahs.
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; supporting excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
Yo' kin go - jis' lak yo' git up in de mawnin' an' take jis' nine clear buck- ets Of watah. YO' DO SOMETHIN' DIFF'REN' EVAH TIME YO' MAKE LUCK IN BUSINESS.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[This is an unusual rule, probably informant's own, one that will keep an expert operator like the informant mentally agile. For this type of luck, see BUSINESS AND CUSTOMERS, Pp.669-744.
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
Yo' throw nine buckets of watah on yore front po'ch an' sweep. Don' nevah sweep yore po'ch off, always sweep it back. Cleah watah from de hydran'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[con- sidered running water]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
. But don' speak to nobody while yo' doin' it. But evah time yo' do somethin' diff'ren'. Well, de nex' time ah do it, ah use bergamine an' wintahgreen mixed; scrub mah front wit it, dat an' one bucket of watah. A dime's worth will be enough fo' two scrubbin's. Go an' git chew some pure hick'ry an' take dat hick'ry an' burn it in de stove, an' yo' rake it out an' git chew some bluein', de stick bluein'. It blue clothes, yo' know. Yo' wanta keep de blues away
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[cops wearing blue suits]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
. Yo' take dat hick'ry an' bluein' an' mix it togethah an' yo' put it ovah yore do'. Put de ashes an' de bluein' ovah yore do'. Pulvahize it tuhgethah, in any- thin' yo' want. Eithah put it in a lil box so it ovah dat do'.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
(That will keep the law away.)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
Den lak yo' wanta win a suit or anythin'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[any court case]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
. Yo' go down heah
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[the market]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
- yo' know whut double pansy whut grows in gardens an' thin's.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
(Double pansy.)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
Well, yo' git chew nine new leaves of double pansy an' yo' put it in yore shoe an' yo' write six Disciple names an' wrap dat double pansy up in dat papah where de six Disciple names are in. Yo' write de Twelve Disciple name an' weah six in each shoe an' put a piece of double pansy in each shoe. Undahstan' me, but chew fold it in papah an' den put it in yore shoe. Now, de furse six take an' put it in yore right shoe, de nex' six yo' put dem in yore left shoe, when yo' go into co't Or anythin' lak dat. ANYTHIN' DAT CHEW WANTA MASTAH, YO' WEAH DEM TWELVE DISCIPLES. De way tuh do lak yo' got a lotta enemies. In dat case an' yo' wanta git rid of 'em so dey cain't talk, yo' go git chew a beef tongue. Yo' take dat beef tongue an' yo' write dere name, all dere names, an' yo' stick a hole in dis part of de tongue - de tip of de tongue - an' yo' stick dose names up in dere. Dat's used personal, understan'. Den yo' take it to a flue an' let it down dere an start chew a hot fiah, an' go on to co't
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[court]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
. Yo' kin jis' put it on a wire yo' know, so it will hang dere. Yo' hangin' 'em.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
(Well, why do you want to warm then?)
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
Ah'm hangin' 'em
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[not warming them]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[This rite causes a hung jury.]
informant · Current practitioner speaking in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 3, p. 1866
Ah know from experience. Yo'll laff when ah tell yah. A fellah killed mah uncle heah, two of 'em, an' ah drawed em back heah. Ah tole 'em, ah said, "Dey goin' ketch 'em, ah ain't goin' put mahself tuh no trouble." See, yo' gotta have fo' aig an' dey mus' be de aig of a black hen. Dey cain't stay 'way. Yo' put two undah his [murdered man's] arm, two undah his haid. Yo take yo' a pair of scissahs an' cross it in his back - steel. [To open the closed scissors makes a cross of steel.] It done wit steel, an' shet dem han's up an' let dem arms tight down on dem aigs. When dem aigs bus' he cain't stay still. Dey'll git back heah. He'll come back hisself, yo' don' have tuh hunt fo' 'im. (This case with your uncle, did you get the man?) Yessuh. (Did that happen right here in Memphis?) Right heah in Memphis. Dere a piece in de papah about hoodoo hero[ine] dis
Nested source context: recited or prescribed formula · Vol. 3, p. 1863
"Come on back heah, So-an'-so, "
Nested source context: continuing window edge · Vol. 3, p. 1863
fold away from you. Here we have a special magic rite of overlapping or corre- sponding or accordion folds.]
Nested source context: reported quotation · Vol. 3, p. 1866
"Dey goin' ketch 'em, ah ain't goin' put mahself tuh no trouble."
Nested source context: continuing window edge · Vol. 3, p. 1866
Ah know from experience. Yo'll laff when ah tell yah. A fellah killed mah uncle heah, two of 'em, an' ah drawed em back heah. Ah tole 'em, ah said, "Dey goin' ketch 'em, ah ain't goin' put mahself tuh no trouble." See, yo' gotta have fo' aig an' dey mus' be de aig of a black hen. Dey cain't stay 'way. Yo' put two undah his [murdered man's] arm, two undah his haid. Yo take yo' a pair of scissahs an' cross it in his back - steel. [To open the closed scissors makes a cross of steel.] It done wit steel, an' shet dem han's up an' let dem arms tight down on dem aigs. When dem aigs bus' he cain't stay still. Dey'll git back heah. He'll come back hisself, yo' don' have tuh hunt fo' 'im. (This case with your uncle, did you get the man?) Yessuh. (Did that happen right here in Memphis?) Right heah in Memphis. Dere a piece in de papah about hoodoo hero[ine] dis
Nested source context: cross page editorial continuation · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[She lodestone in the shape of. a woman is rare in my experience. This would
Nested source context: editorial expansion · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[con- sidered running water]
Nested source context: rumor or informant qualification · Vol. 3, p. 1864
[The FOLLOWING STATEMENT ABOUT THE UNUSUAL BLACK CAT ASHES IS AMAZING. My informant first tells how she or rumor says these ashes are made and then, after our brief digression with the black cat bone we return to the use and price of black cat ashes.]
Nested source context: condition and negation qualification · Vol. 3, p. 1864
as ah'm livin', but chew mus' sell yo' soul tuh de devil tuh mastah dat. (How do you sell your soul to the devil?) Ah've nevah learn tuh do da
Nested source context: substitution qualification · Vol. 3, p. 1865
[heart] out an' [as a substitute] yo' put dat lodestone in dere an' yo' keep a silvah dime in dere. Dat silvah dime, dat'll las' yo' a long time, not gratin' it. An' yo' put a lil dat silvah money in dere, an' yo' put dis lodestone an' nine needles, an' yo' put a lil piece of John de Conkah, an' yo' take a lil piece of devil's-shoestring, an' yo' sew dat bag up an' wish. An' den yo' dress it. Wish success tuh yo'.
Nested source context: answer correction qualification · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(The inner bag is of silk and the outer one is the flannel?) No suh, innah bag is flannen, an' de outah bag is de s
Nested source context: alternative baths qualification · Vol. 3, p. 1865
(After you take the bath?) Bo, ah say eithah one of dose. Dey are two diff'ren' thin's dat ah'm te
Nested source context: editorial interpretation qualification · Vol. 3, p. 1866
[This rite causes a hung jury.]
partial continuing interview window with context only edges
This passage contains part of a continuing interview; neither the complete interview nor every topic is included.
The opening editorial discussion of folding continues from the preceding page; it is included as context only.
The closing recollection about an uncle and a murder continues on printed page 1867; it is included as context only.
Missing bracket/brace and malformed prompt delimiters remain literal; authored bounds distinguish editorial and live source.
Hyatt explicitly frames cat-ashes preparation as informant or rumor; do not infer personal practice.
Retain cat-bone sell-soul qualification and never-learned answer; bat-heart/lodestone substitution; reversed bag correction; alternative baths.
Local practitioner identity only; no resolved person, plant or business identity.
Bounded passage retrieval, not complete corpus coverage or practitioner consensus.
Read the full source context: Vol. 3, p. 1862 · Vol. 3, p. 1863 · Vol. 3, p. 1864 · Vol. 3, p. 1865 · Vol. 3, p. 1866 · Vol. 3, p. 1867
Source passage
continuous interview · Source-local attribution; no resolved person identity is asserted.
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
An' I goes in the swamps an' I gits mah 'erbs. I know w'a' to go in
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[for]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
. I goes in ole fiel's
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[fields]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
an' git mah 'erbs.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(I see.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
I know w'a' to go an' git.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[Here he showed his shield - nine articles wrapped up in a very dirty hand- kerchief.]
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Oh yes. Uhuh. You keep those wrapped up in a handkerchief.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
I keeps these with me.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Uhuh.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
The're suppose to be in a bottle. I dropped mah bottle an' broke it. Those
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[are]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
diff'rent kind of 'erbs.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[Bottle instead of bag shows that the contents of this hand were constantly kept moist, that is fed in a liquid (p.578) - here, a perfume.]
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(What's the round thing?)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
This here?
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Yes.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
That's a Jeruzlum bean.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Jerusalem bean.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
Yes sir.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Uhuh.)
informant · Current interviewee; supporting excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
That's for luck in gamblin'.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(I see.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
This is a devil-shoestring.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Devil's-shoestring.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
That's a piece of High John the Conker.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(High John the Conquer.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
That's a piece of bloodroot.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Bloodroot.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
Yes sir. This here's a Samson
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[or Sarpson - sometimes called Sampson snakeroot]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Samson.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
Samson This here's the bub
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[bulb]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
off of w'a' choo call the live-an'-everlastin'.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Life-everlasting.)
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[His live pronounced Zyve.]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
Yes sir. Now, this here right here. See w'a' this is right here? You see that little small piece?
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Uhuh.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
Why that's a little piece of w'a's
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[what is]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
called devil's-bit.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Devil's what?)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
Devil's-bit.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Bit?)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
Devil's-bit. That's a root. I've got over nine diff'ren'
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[different]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
'erbs in here.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
(Uhuh.)
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
Now, I'll git nine differn' 'erbs that I have. You see I cares
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[carries]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
this daily.
editorial recording or production note; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 934
[Side one will continue later.]
informant · Current interviewee; supporting excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 935
You kin smell the perfume on 'em. I cares this daily - cares it on me. That is I had it jes' because I was comin' up here
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 935
[to see you]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 935
because there's mah fish an' mah reels an' ev'rything right there. I've got about sixteen pounds of fish hangin' on the porch out there neigh mah fishin' tackle. Tha's the reason why I'm not - didn't make no change
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 935
[of clothing]
informant · Current interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 935
.
locally coherent subpassage
Recording-side notes do not close the semantic unit. Botanical glosses remain editorial; informal pronunciation is not taxonomic identity.
bounded_demonstration_account_with_recording_continuation_marker
Nine versus over nine is retained; the passage is not an exhaustive inventory.
The bottle/liquid-feeding explanation is editorial interpretation, not the informant explaining why it is fed.
Printed names supplied or repeated by the interviewer remain interviewer speech.
The Side one continuation marker does not authorize reconstructing any absent recording.
Bounded passage retrieval, not complete corpus coverage or practitioner consensus.
Read the full source context: Vol. 2, page image · Vol. 2, page image · Vol. 2, p. 933 · Vol. 2, p. 934 · Vol. 2, p. 935 · Vol. 2, p. 936