Subject:Shoes
Entries
Entry 2852
Ah take a black candle an' ah light it an' write his name, an' ah take me a red candle an' write his name an' ah put it down dere. Yo' understan? Den ah'd take lak ah got his shoes, an' ah'd take it an' turn it towards de west an' make yo' walk out dere. (Now you write his name on a piece of paper and you burn that piece of paper under the candle?) Yes.
(Do you burn this candle a certain length of time or?)
Yes, burn de candle nine days.
(All day long or just certain times of the day?)
All day long.
(You let the candle burn out?)
Shet dem off. Yo' don't burn out de nine-days candle.
Entry 3402
I don't want 'im to have nobody but me. An' I will have dealings wit 'im at night. [I do] not come, but I take dat piece, aftah I git up an' wipe wlt it, an' jis' cut dem pieces out an' put 'em into mah shoes an' wear it.
(In both shoes?)
Both mah shoes.
Entry 3756
(How would you take that away?)
Well, de first thing yo' would do, would git dis thing - it's in a powdahed form an' den it's in a lump form, but dey call it dragon blood. Yo' take dat an' yo' wear dat intuh yore shoes, jis' de same as ah wuz tellin' yo' 'bout dat othah thing. Yo' wear dat nine days. Den yo' suppose tuh take dat out, an' den yo' supposed tuh take it an' put it on a piece of papah wit dose names written jis' lak ah done tole yo' befo'. Now yo' write mah name in one direction [demonstrates]. Dat's one person's name nine times.
(What one do you write first?)
Write eithah one, don't make any diff'rence, jis' since dey crossed. Yo' undahstan', yo' cross de othah name wit de othah nine. An' aftah yo' do dat yo' supposed tuh take dis piece of papah an' sprinkle it wit dragon blood dat yo' wo' in yo' shoe on it. Den yo' supposed tuh put a half box of salt on dat. Now yo' know how cookstoves are made, dose dat burn wood. Yo' supposed to put it in de ashpan of dat. An' it ain't supposed tuh burn all at once, but as de hot coals drop down, yo' undahstan', den yo' supposed to be rid of dat. (That will get rid of this thing, that woman did to tie him up - [this re- stores] his nature.)
Entry 4105
If she wan'a hold a man she take a dishrag an' wash 'er ownself wit it, an' use it in de kitchen jis' lak she always [does]. He'll nevah cā'y 'is money from home. He'll bring it home jis' lak a chile. She cook 'im anythin' sweet, she'll put chamber lye or anythin' in dat, chew know, an' make him come home, bring 'is money in, see. Dat keep 'im 'umble [humble] undah 'er shoe. He'll always be lookin' up tuh 'er, yuh know. Yet he takin' cah [care] of 'er.
Entry 4233
(What do you put in your shoes, you say, to keep them from harming you. What do they put in your shoes?) Bathes 'em in chamber lye. Puts cayenne peppah an' sulphur.
Entry 4401
Jes' lak if yo' pull off yore shoes at night an' a person wanted tuh hurt chew or somepin othah lak dat. An' if he could git some of yore dung, yo' know, an' smeah [smear] it on yore shoes, an' put some salt an' red peppah in it an' fix it So yo' couldn't walk, yore feet would swell up. YO' HAVE SOMEPIN LAK DE RHEU- MATISM, CALLED DE DROPSY OR SOMEPIN OTHAH lak dat.
Entry 4519
Yuh kin take a man's hatban' [sweatband] an' use his hatband, weah it in de bottom of yore shoe, jes' a piece of it, an' 'is mine will always stay aroun' dat fiah [fire]. He nevah is contented nowhere. When he's where yuh at, dat's 'is contentedness time. (The outside or the inside band?) De sweatban'. Take hit an' fold it tuh yuh, split it, an' put it in de bottom of yuh shoe an' evahwhere yuh go, he rearin' tuh go.
Entry 4773
(What can they do to make the man come back?)
She kin take her [under] clothes an' put 'er clothes on de wrong side, an she'll go tuh de sunrise an' talk wit 'im. She has sulphur an' red peppah in er shoes. An' she kin talk wit 'im befo' de sunrise. In about three days aftah dat he will come home an' he don't know how he come home. (She turns her underclothes inside out and she has to wear them - while she is talking to him - turned that way.) Tuh de sunrise.
Entry 4947
It wuz a lady had - she took me.
(Who was this?)
It was a lady had 'em.
(These socks?)
Uh huh, an' she wanted tuh git rid of 'er frien'. So she take a pair of 'is stockings an' one of 'is ole shoes - it didn't make any diff'rence which one it wuz - an' [she put those socks in the shoe]. She taken a pocketknife an' she put dat knife [in the shoe]. (She put those socks in the shoe?) Yeah. (Now, don't forget, don't leave anything out.) An' she taken dat knife an' she put it in dat shoe wit de point tuh de toe. An' she buried dat shoe undah 'er steps dat he come in, [the shoe] goin' from de house. An' he left, he really left. He nevah did hang roun' 'er any more.
Entry 5081
Lak if yuh take a woman or man's - she take a pair of 'is socks an' dey kin take dem socks an' go tuh a drug sto' - anywhere yuh kin git it - an' git chew a bottle of toilet perfume. Yuh take dat perfume an' yuh take both of 'is socks, de right an' de left one, an' yuh damp it good on dere, an' yuh take dat an' put some whiskey on it an' wash 'em in dat whiskey. Hang 'em on de line an' let 'em dry on dere. Den aftah dey dry on dere, den yuh take an' yuh slip 'em back an' put 'em in 'is shoes befo' he know anythin' about it. Dey said, den he'll come back an' prob'bly put dis same pair of socks on, becuz dey be in his shoes, take an' put 'em on. An' aftah he put 'em on he'll start tuh wearin' 'em. an' dey says, lak if he goin' tuh leave, he'll start tuh walkin', an' jis' walk right on out an' he won' nevah come back no mo'.
Entry 5088
Yuh kin [take] yore shoes an' yuh kin put alcohol in yore shoes an' wrench [rinse] it roun' in yore shoes. Yuh kin take dat alcohol out an' yuh kin po' it into any kinda drink an' give tuh a person. Well see, when yuh take dat alcohol an' po' it intuh any kinda drink an' give tuh a person, why dat'll give him den - his mind, he'll lose his mind. HIS MIND GONE FROM 'IM RIGHT STRAIGHT.
Entry 5092
Den, if yuh got a fambly [family] an' she gone away from yuh an' yuh wan' 'er tuh come back, yuh take her shoes - both shoes, her ole pair of shoes - an' yuh kin burn it de same as yuh do's de ashes. An' yuh put 'em in a pan an' put 'em undahneath' de baid, an' in nine days time she'll come back home. Ah know dat.
Entry 5093
Yuh burn dem ole shoes an' git de ashes, an' yuh buries dat, if yuh know any cleahin' [clearing] lak on some concrete or somewhere, yuh know, eithah in de stove. [If you do not have a stove, look for cleared concrete like a sidewalk.1 Clean out all de ashes an' sweep it out. Yuh kin burn it in dere an' git all dem ashes of it, an' put 'em in a little bag an' sew it up. An' put it in some Jockey Club, Hearts Own Perfume in it, an' bury hit undah de do'steps. Dat'll make him stay at home.
Entry 5095
When I was a boy I was hunting a job here [at the Chamberlain Hotel] as bellboy and I had my mother to see a so-called fortuneteller. And he told her to burn some shoes and to get a few of the ashes, and sprinkle some of these ashes around Richmond's [the manager's] feet when I came to apply for the job. [This was the old Chamberlain, not the new one of 1936, when I interviewed informant, the head waiter there.] [Old Point Comfort, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 5105
[As we have seen under ASHES, there are many more shoe-burning rites than those given here.] If yuh got a husban' an' he won' stay at home, yuh git one of 'is shoes, de right foot of 'is shoe. Take dis shoe an' burn it up. Of co'se, yuh know de [there is] leathah on de shoe. Burn it until it gits kinda intuh a powdah form. Den take it an' wrap it in a piece of papah. Dig a hole up undah de front do' an' of co'se, when he walks in, yuh won' have any trouble 'bout 'im goin' out any mo'.
Entry 5110
Yo' git some sulphuh, yo' git a piece of ole shoe; but don' do dat, not until yo' dere by yuhself. Yo' set dat afire at twelve a'clock evah Friday. (In the daytime?) Yes sir, twelve a'clock evah Friday, an' burn dat slowly. An' aftah dat, yo' won' have no trouble. It may be slow in comin', but whenevah dey do come, dey come in a heap.
(You burn that at twelve o'clock in the daytime or at night?)
Twelve a'clock in de day, when dere nobody dere but chew.
Entry 5123
Yo' throw de person's shoes at [and hit] de head of de front steps in ordah tuh keep 'em at home, or eithah wheresoevah dey are tuh bring 'em back. [This two-purposes rite cast in a one action form must be some- what rare. Actually there is a second but unexpressed action, the intention either to keep home or to bring back.]
Entry 5133
De shoes, if yuh wan' tuh. yuh kin take 'em an' bury de shoes. But if she wan's yuh tuh come back, see she take 'em an' bury 'em at de front of de house comin' in, wit de toes comin' in. See. Den she let dose stay dere nine days. (Then what do you do?) Den aftah de shoes are dere nine days, she'll wrote a lettah. Den when he comes back yuh git dis heah [here] - write it [the name] nine times. An' git chew nine bran'-new needles an' pin it in dere. Stick 'em - see, yuh pin 'em like dis heah [demonstrates]. Yuh put 'em where he comes in. Put it [needle] undah dere, right ovah it [weaving the needles] in an' out [of paper with name]. An' he'll continue goin' [in] an' out. An' wit dose shoes buried, he comin' back.
Entry 5135
What chew do wit yore shoes? Jis' sprinkle a little bita dragon blood in dere an' a little sulphuh. Yuh know, jis' sprinkle it in dere an' let it [stay in there awhile] an' den shake it out so dat he cain't see it. Or eithah hole [hold] up dat little thin piece [insole] an' let it go tuh de bottom [all the way to the toes, letting the insoles then fall back into places] an' he cain't stay from yuh. He has tuh come home.
Entry 5139
An' den on de othah han', if yuh don't wanta [be bothered] - if dere's somebody dat come dere dat disturb yuh or somepin of de kin', de law or anybody else, take some ole shoes an' rags an' burn 'em evah Friday. Don't miss a week. Yuh'll nevah be troubled. Ah know dat's a fact. [This rite is merely an exten- sion of the belief Old shoes may be burned on Friday for luck (FACI, 2nd ed., 10676, p.485).]
Entry 5141
Yuh kin take yore ole shoes an' keep it in yore house an' burn it evah Friday at twelve a'clock - burn yore ole shoes evah Friday at twelve a'clock. Jis' burn it right in de middle of yore flo' [making a quincunx, see p.710) in somepin. Shut chure do' an' walk out. [In somepin means old bucket, can or pan. Even if these are raised on bricks this is a dangerous rite whether fire started with live coals or coal oil!l But it mus' be twelve a'clock. Yuh start dat a li'le befo' twelve. Start de fiah, see, an' it be burnin' at twelve a'clock.
(In the daytime or the night?)
Daytime - twelve a'clock in de day.
Entry 5169
Take a pair of shoes dat yo' have worn an' yo' kin take dose shoes an' carry dose shoes tuh yore house - carry 'em tuh yore house. Den aftah yo' carry dose shoes tuh yore house, turn 'em ovah on dey face an' den go out in a cow stall somewheres an' git chew some of evahy kin'a manure yo' kin pick up from diff'ren' animals, all kin'a manure yo' kin pick up, an' put in dat shoe. An' dat will drive yo' jis' as crazy as a bedbug. (That is, if you want to harm me, you would get my old shoes and take them to your house to dress them?) Yes.
(Then what do you do with the shoes after you put that stuff in them?)
Oh! Yo' take de shoes an' carry 'em away an' bury 'em.
(What would that do to me then?)
Dat would jis' fix yo' up so yo' couldn't walk or do nuthin - paralyze yo'.
Entry 5181
An' yo' kin take a new [right] shoe sole [inner sole]. Buy a new pair an' cut it half in two [see later], an' take a indelible pencil an' write chore name from lef' tuh right. Turn it [inner sole] around, write his name from right tuh left, [or backwards, his family name first and his given name in front of that] coming tuh yo'. The [inner] sole is split [lengthwise] so one half can be worn in each of the new shoes. Make wishes [for him to return]. They say that'll bring a person tuh yo, bring 'em undah yore control.
Entry 5184
If she's away from me and I want to bring her back, I'll get nine old shoes, burn one each night at midnight with [nine] ingredients: egg shell, sul- phur, ashes, salt, pepper, alum, saltpeter, cloves, ginger, and walk around this fire and say, Send me my wife, sister or friend or whatever it is, back. And the ninth morning take this ashes, all from the whole nine mornings, and throw the ashes toward the direction the person is. You must have the wind blowing that direction. [The wind blowing the right direction on the 9th morning could make this a difficult rite.]
Entry 5185
Dat's anothah way dat dey are supposed tuh bring a person back. Yo' supposed tuh have nine ole shoes an' yo' supposed tuh put sugah an' bluestone an' dis very brown powdah dat looks lak - ah don't know now whethah it's - it's not de same. It has de same smell but it's not de same kinda powdah, but it supposed tuh be de same kinda powdah dat chew put on yo' - dat de women use on dey face. But howevah, dey call it love powdah. An' yo' sup- posed tuh put dose three things intuh dis heah [shoe] an' yo' supposed tuh burn one of dose shoes evah mawnin' fo' nine mawnin's till yo' burn all de shoes up. An' dat's tuh show yo' special favors an' control. Supposed tuh be controllin' powah ovah some individual dat chew interested in.
Entry 5191
De only thin' dat ah knows of dey shoes, dey take an' jes' kinda burn or scorch it a little bit an' throw it ovahbo'd.
(What will that do?)
Dat will run 'em jes' about mindless. Dey'll have spells. Dey mind is goin' an' dey jes' cain't stay one place. Evah time dat shoe would be goin', flippin' back an' fo'th, dey mind will jes' be goin' lak dat, until dey jes' go crazy an' run away from yo' or somepin lak dat.
Entry 5194
Git holt of yore shoes, shoes or yore socks yo' know, an' jis'...
(What are they supposed to do with those?)
Supposed tuh git yore shoes an' yore socks, eithah one, an' mixes some of yorr undahclothes wit 'em, an' dese pins an' needles, an' buries 'em. Dat'll cuz yore feet tuh swell.
[Norfolk, Va., (453) 427:5.]
Entry 5195
[Red Pepper itself, or in combi- nation with other ingredients, is a common practice in hoodoo. Many examples appear elsewhere in the text of HOoDoo.] They can sprinkle something in your shoes, red pepper I think, and it will make them all crippled and lame.
Entry 5196
Take his shoes an' dress 'em. Dey put some sulphur, cayenne peppah an' all lak dat in it tuh keep him home an' right sweet. Keep 'im home wit dat, keep him from runnin' roun'.
Entry 5199
Ah've heard dat chew take shoes whenevah - if yo' wanta do anythin' tuh a person. Lak yo' wanta prob'ly git 'em out chure way - jes' lak if ah wuz a woman an' had a husban' an' prob'ly ah thought some othah woman wuz givin' me trouble wit 'im. If ah could git hold of 'er shoe, ah would take her shoe an' den ah would put snuff an' red peppah - ah take an' burn red peppah, an' take dis heah snuff an' red peppah an' put it in 'er shoe, an' dat would drive 'er aWay from 'im. AH SEE DAT PURTTY NEARLY EVAH DAY.
Entry 5200
Women take de shoes - why den dey a - if dey wanta keep a man home. Women mostly do dat. A man don't hardly do dat. Wanta keep )'im home, he always gone off some place. She goes tuh work an' put salt on 'er shoes an' - both feet, an' she buries dat shoes. Dat keeps 'im home - anywhere in de yard. Dat's fur as'h [as I] heard about dat.
Entry 5202
Well, dey take yo' shoes if dey wan'a do any- thin' tuh yo' - anythin' lak dat. Dey take - if dey don' wan'a bury de shoes dey'll burn dem. But dey git somepin tuh put in dere tuh burn 'em wit. Dey git some of dis here bluestone an' put in dere an' table salt. An' dat tear yuh all tuh pieces. Dat'll run yuh ragged.
(You put this bluestone and the salt in the shoe and then burn the shoe.)
Yes sir, burn de whole thin'. An' den when it burn, he jes' as foolish as he kin be.
Entry 5203
Hit's a whole heap a ways tuh nuse [use] de shoes.
(Just one way now?)
Yo' take mah shoe - yo' kin take salt an' [red] peppah an' put in dere an' dat keep yo' from puttin' anythin' in dere tuh hurt me.
Entry 5206
Yo' kin take dere shoes an' take 'em an' put 'em undah de do'steps, an' put a li'le table salt an' sulphur an' diff'ren' thin's - mix it up tuhgethah an rub it on 'em, an' put 'em undah de do'step. Yo' steal de shoe unbeknownst tuh 'em an' put 'em undah de do'- step, an' dey'll leave town - run away from town.
(Do you get both their shoes?)
Jes' one. If yo' can git one, jes' git de left-foot shoe; if yo' can't git de left-foot, jes' git de right foot - any which one of 'em.
(And if you got my shoe, you would bury it under my door?)
Yeah, under yore own do'step.
Entry 5210
[She was] a wild woman. Ah couldn't git rid of 'er an' ah went tuh another HOODOO. He tole me, say, "Yo' take two of 'er shoes, take 'em an' full 'em wit salt an' sulphur, an' put 'em down intuh a runnin' stream." An' yo' wouldn't have no mo' trouble wit 'er. Well, ah nevah had no mo' trouble wit dat woman. Got rid of 'er.
Entry 5211
Yo' kin take a person's shoes an' put a li'le sulphur an' a li'le salt in it an' dis heah Red Devil Peppah red peppah, an' yo' could take dat shoe an' yo' could bury dat shoe, but let it be de lef' feet. An' bury it in de back yard. An' dat person nevah be able tuh walk straight any mo'. [Red Devil Pepper is either a package of red pepper with a red devil on it, a commercial brand, or a special package sold by a hoodoo drug store or mail-order firm.]
Entry 5214
Git nine little seeds outa [a] red peppah, an' sulphur an' salt, an' put in yore shoes, an' whatevah dey wanta do - run yo' 'way, make it so hot yo' cain't stay where yo' are. (Put that in either shoe or both shoes?) In both shoes. Yo' know, in yore shoes yo' have a linin'. If yo' kin git up dat linin', git nine red peppah seeds an' git sulphur an' salt an' put in dere, dey not knowin' it's in dere, an' dey say yo'll be so hot yo'll jes' have tuh go. Yo' don't [know] where yo' goin' but yo' jes' got'a go.
Entry 5215
Ah've seen lotsa dat done. Take salt an' sulphur, take de ole shoes an' burn it. An' den dey take de ole shoes aftah dey burn it, an' den take it in de four cornahs of de house, er out in de yard an' bury it. An' ah've seen lotsa [people do it] but what it wuz in it [wheth- er this caused them to leave] ah don' know.
[I] seen 'em leave home.
Entry 5216
Dey take some cookin' salt an' sulphur an' mix it an' put it in a fire- place, 'nuff fo' de smoke tuh come out, an' burn it in yore chimley. Yo' kin take a shoe an' burn along wit it tuh make it mo' strong. An' burn it slowly in de chimley an' see dat'll smoke. Dey can't stand dat odor from dat smoke, an' it seems in a couple of week's time dey'll have tuh move. Dey couldn't stay roun' dere. [Burn] three time a day.
(That will cause the people next door to be moved.)
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 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 5229
Yo' kin keep from bein' hurt dat way, whut ah know. Yo' kin keep sulphur in yore shoes an' keep from bein' hurt lak dat. Evah time yo' git ready tuh go out, evah pair of shoes yo' has, sprinkle a li'le sulphur in dem. Well, yo' nevah ketches anythin' from any- body. It's hard fo' 'em tuh git on tuh yo'.
Entry 5232
Yo' take brimstone an' put a li'le sulphur wit it, an' wear a li'le in yore shoes, an' de tendency of dat would keep anybody from tryin' tuh do any- thin' 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 5254
An' den de nex' question yo' kin do wit a fellah's shoes. Yo' kin take shoes an' nail 'em on de carbox [boxcar], de train yo' know on de rail- road tracks. Yo' nail 'em on dere an' yo' supposed tuh go until yo' ketch up wit de shoes. (Which track do you take and throw over your left shoulder?) Yore left-foot track. (What about the shoe, the left foot?) Ah mean de lef'-foot dirt, from undah de dirt. But if yo' want me tuh go an' keep a-goin', take both of mah shoes an' put 'em on de railroad track, on de train.
Entry 5281
Den ag'in yo' could take a shoe - jis' lak yore ole lady leave yo'. Well, if she stay away an' ah don' ca' [care] how long she stay, well yo' take her shoe. An' IT'S REALLY SIMPLE. Yo' don' have tuh do so much tuh dat but rub yore han's in it. Rub yore han' until it git hot, yore right han', an' set 'em intuh de do', tuh de front do', an' turn 'em up. See. Well, de nex' day she'll be home or else dat night. She cain't stay.
(How do you turn those shoes up?)
Yo' have tuh turn 'em up, yo' see. Aftah rubbin' yore han' well, yo' turn 'em up an' have each one of 'em on each cornah of de do', jis' lak dis do' heah [demonstrates].
(The toe is pointing out of the house like that?)
De toe in. [The toe was pointing out because I was on the opposite side of the table and demonstration.]
(Why is that?)
Well dat's fo' tuh tuh walk right on in.
Entry 5282
Yo' kin take a person's shoes, if yo' in love wit 'em, an' call dere name three times. An' turn it undah de bed where yo' sleep at, an' sleep ovah it an' dat person'll come tuh yo'. (You turn that other person's shoes up- side down under your own bed?) Mah own shoes. Jes' lak if ah wuz in love wit a man an' ah wanted tuh see him. Ah turn mah shoes - jes' right foot, turn it down undah de baid where ah sleep an' call de name three times. An' dey'd come. DO DAT EVAH NIGHT UNTIL DEY COME.
Entry 5284
Yo' take a shoe, de left shoe, an' carry it tuh a stream of watah. Take it an' throw it in a stream of watah an' nevah look back. Nevah look back at it an' he'd go de same way.
Entry 5292
Heard dey could take yore shoes an' dey cut a piece outa each one of yore shoes. Cut a piece outa de toe an' a piece outa de heel, an' put chure right feet right behin' de left one, an' set it in a trench of runnin' watah. An' unless dey take de shoes outa dat runnin' watah, yo' won' be able tuh come back home. Yo' will have tuh con- tinly [continually] tuh travel.
(You take both your shoes?)
An' place one right befo' de othah, an' eithah a canal or a deep ditch of runnin' watah. Jes' set dem right down in dere. PUT A HOLE IN DE TOE AN' A HOLE IN DE HEEL, SO DAT DE WATAH KIN GO RIGHT ON THROUGH. [This iS my only example of holes in toe and heel.] (The water runs right through the holes. That sends them away.)
Entry 5293
They can take your shoes and carry 'em way back in the woods or swamp, or some place like that where they'll find running water, you know, and bury them. And turn one east and one west, and cause a person to linger. [No one can proceed in opposite directions at the same time.]1 Or, it can kill them by it. But I don't know what else they say, only no more than just make the wishes.
Entry 5295
Yo' kin take an' take a person's shoe an' have it fixed so dat he kin start walkin' an' dey jes' walk a step an' dey comes back. Well, dey jes' go 'head an' take some dis red pep- pah an' it's a gourd. Yo' know dese guts out de gourd dat be's inside of a gourd, take hit an' Parch it up an' take an' put it in dis shoe. An' throw dis shoe in runnin' watah, an' dat will fix a person so he jes' go crazy an' wandah 'way from home, an' wandah an' wandah.
Entry 5298
You can take their shoes and carry them down to the river at noontime and let the water run over them. Take them back and let them dry. On a full moon go down to this river, call, and keep calling them. And when they have them shoes on they'll walk into the river and drown them- selves.
Entry 5299
Dey burn shoes fo' luck. Dey'd jes' take de shoe - lak dey'd have a fiah in de fiahplace - jes' a ole pair of shoes, an' take an' make yo' a fiah. An' take an' put de shoes on top of de fiah, an' set dat [shoes] ovah dere an' den make yore wishes. An' as de shoes burns, keeps talkin' tuh 'em.
(That will bring any kind of luck?)
Yessuh.
Entry 5302
If a woman would wear a man's shoes - jes' lak IF MAH WIFE WUS TUH BE PERMITTED TUH WEAR MAH SHOES, dat, DAT WOULD PREVENT ME FROM 'SOCIATIN' ROUN' WIT OTHAH WIMMIN. In othah WOrds, SHE WOULD HAVE if she WOre mah shoes. If she wuz allowed tuh wear mah shoes, why she could manage me mos' any way she wants. In othah words ah'd be subject tuh her powah, if she's allowed tuh wear mah shoes. DERE'S SO MANY SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT DAT, DEY [MEN] WON' ALLOW DERE WIFES TUH WEAR DERE SHoES. [Sumter, S. Car., (1374), 2436:7.] [This is the sixth and last subsection of SWEAT, one of the functions of the physical human body. The following rites once presupposed tracks largely made by bare feet which left sweat and odor in the soil. For this reason, some of these rites will also be found under section MuRDER in volume 4.]
Entry 5360
If someone comin' tuh yore house an' yo' wanted tuh keep 'em away, well see, yo' kin git dere track an' burn peppah, sulphuh an' some ole shoes. An' go tuhwards de sunset an' say de same thing, In de Name of de Fathah, an' Son, go. Dey'll go. Yeah, yo' won' be bothahed wit dem no mo'.
Entry 5476
Takes dey tracks an' weah it in dey shoes.
(What will that do then?)
AH DON' WAN'A TELL NO STORY. Yes, yo' kin take dere tracks an' weah it in yore shoe. An' den yo' kin take brown sugah an' yo' kin take graveyard dirt, an' write his name an' yore name on a bran'-new envelope has nevah been used, an' put it undahneat' yore bed mattress. An' he's supposed tuh come back tuh yo' in three days.
(You put all this stuff into the envelope?)
Uh-huh.
Entry 6060
Lak yore fingahnails. An' yo' take a Woman's private, yo' know, de hair off a Woman's private, yo' know. An' dat, yo' kin wear dat in yore shoes, yo' know; an' den she can't git away from yo', ah betcha dat. (You mix your fingernails with her hair from down in there. Your fingernails or her fingernails?) Her fingernails, yo' know, an' 'er private hair.
(I see. What fingernails do you take of hers?)
Any - take any of 'em off, don't make any diff'rence in usin' 'em.
(I see.)
Entry 6109
Well, ah've heard dat dey kin take a lock of yore hair from yore head, cut it out right about de mole somewhere along in dere, an' take dat lock an' wear dat in dere shoes sometime to make yo', yo' know, care fo' dem - make yo' wanta know where dey is.
Entry 6118
She take his ole shoe, regardless tuh how long de shoe been dere or how ole de shoe is. She take dis shoe an' git some of 'er hair an' put it in dis. shoe an' she wear dat shoe her- self. She will bring 'im back kinda limpin', but he'll stay dere long as she'll continue tuh wear dis ole shoe aroun'. He'll stay home but Soon as she take dis shoe an' put it aside, an' take her hair out, he's gone back [away] ag'in.
(She takes either shoe, it doesn't make any difference?)
Eithah, ain't any diff'rence whut shoe it is.
(Does she wear both of them or just one of them?)
Wear both of 'em, wear both dese shoes.
Entry 6119
Git some of de hair out of yore haid an' put it in yore shoe, in de bottom of yore shoe. Well now, if it's a woman yo' put it down in de bottom of yore shoe an' yo' tote it, an' each foot Wrapped up in some news- Papah. Don't put it in no white papah, put it in a newspapah wit de lettahs on it. Put it in each foot an' yo' wear it. See dat's love. She got to love yo'. Dere's more diff'ren' ways yo' got to learn besides dat, but dat's about de bes' Wy dat it is.
Entry 6128
If anybody wanta git holt of yore hair, dey take dat hair an' dey'll plait it, work it into de linin' of dere shoes. Wear dat. Well now, yo' may wanta quit 'em, but long as dey wear dat hair in dey shoe, why yo' will always have a Lakin' fo' dem.
Entry 6613
Git a snake an' put a snake in yo'. Dey kin go ketch a snake an' kill it, cut 'is head off an' hang 'im on de limb [of a tree] by de tail. Tie a string aroun' 'is tail an' hang 'im up an' put a tin cup or tin plate undah 'im an' ketch 'is blood. Let 'im bleed in dat tin plate or tin cup, whutevah it is. Now dey take dat blood an' dey kin put dat blood intuh yore food or somepin tuh drink; or dey kin let dat blood dry until it comes jis' tuh a hard powdah. Dey kin sprinkle it in yore shoes. An' de perspiration from yore feet will such up de strength of dat blood an' cuz yore body tuh attract dat, an' it will go all through de body an' kill de body. An' it will be crawlin' jis' undah de skin, all about, mostly from de point where dey entered. Depends upon how long it is when it gits in de stomic an' come on up. An' he'll choke yo' tryin' tuh come on up.
Entry 6637
Ah heard 'em tell dey could git a snake, a poisonous snake, an' take kill 'im, see an' dry him. Dry him out an' dat would make a dust, yo' undah- stan'. An' take dat dust an' put it in dere shoes, an' it would kill 'em. Ah don't know how true it is, only whut ah heard. Jis' put in 'is shoes.
doubted report of harmful dust from an explicitly poisonous snake. Both Ah heard and Ah don’t know how true it is, only whut ah heard must remain visible. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 6697
Yo' go tuh a druggist or grocery sto', eithah one, an' yo' git chew some saltpetahs, some ammonia, household ammonia, bluein' [three ingredients]. An' yo' take all dat an' yo' fix dat ingredients tuhgethah, an yo' use it in de watah whut chew bathe in. But in de meantime yo' supposed tuh bathe three times a week: Mondays, Wednesdays an' Fridays. [For this three evenly spaced days a week, see p.830.]
(At any particular time of the day?)
Well, say, six in de mawnin', twelve at noon an' six at night. [For this evenly spaced time-of-day formula, see p.830.]
(Any one of those times or three times?)
Well, yo' kin bathe once but eithah one of dem hours yo' kin, yo' see. An' den yo' take dis saltpetah an' yo' puts it in yore shoe an' yo' weah it. Dat'll perteck [protect] yo' from any kinda home or anybody tryin' tuh do yo' harm. (Well, there's also some of that saltpeter in the bath water, too. Those three things are all in the bath water?) Yessuh.
(Then you save some of that saltpeter and put it in your shoe?)
Put it in yore shoe an' weah it in yore shoe fo' pertekshon [protection].
Entry 6752
Dey tell me dat chew git a po'tion [por- tion not potion] of rat- tlesnake dust, red peppah, gunpowdah in yore shoes, dat'll cuz [cause] yo' tuh have achin' an' swellin' j'ints an' stuff. Dat'll put a spell on yo'.
(Sort of swell up your feet or make your joints ache?)
Yeah, yore j'ints ache, an' swell yore j'ints up, too.
(Well, is there any way you can cure that, I wonder?)
Yessir, yo' go tuh a cow stall an' yo' git dat dung, dat rakin' of de cow stall where de cow trample.
(The cow manure?)
Yeah. Yo' take dat an' yo' boil dat an' yo' bathe yore feets in dere. Yo' dilute dat an' put a li'le salt in it. Bathe yore feets in dere wit dat. An' yo' take dat an' yo' THROW DAT SUNDOWN SIDE. DAT MEANS FO' DE MISERY TUH GO DOWN, de sweat of it goes down an' de mis'ry [misery] tuh go out. Yo' throw dat sundown side.
Entry 6906
Git a fresh box of salt, have nevah been used an' a box of red peppah, an' yo' mix a certain amount tuhgethah. Put some aroun' yore do' an' in front of gate an' yo' weah some in yore shoes. An' dat would keep dem from crossin' yuh, if dey wanta put hard luck on yo'.
Entry 6908
Yo' kin weah cayenne peppah, salt an' sulphur in yore shoes, an' yo' kin walk ovah anythin'.
(If you walked over this stuff they planted for you, it wouldn't hurt you then?)
No sir.
Entry 6909
Well, yo' kin put chew some red peppah, nine balls, [I mean] seeds of red peppah. Yo' have de seeds tuh put in dere. Grind dat peppah. Nine drops of spirits of turpentine, halfa tea- spoonfula salt, halfa teaspoonfula sulphur. An' put it in yore shoe an' weah it an' dat will kill dat.
(Anything they put down for you?)
Planted fo' yo'.
(Do you wear this in one or both shoes?)
Yo' kin put it in de shoes, or else if yo' want, yo' kin put it undah de steps, put it all tuhgethah an' bury it undah de steps.
Entry 6937
One thing you can do to keep anybody in the world from doing anything to you, you get a silver dime, grate it, put it in water and drink it. Put a dime in each shoe. I guarantee you that you'll never be hurt. That silver dust will stick to the lining of your stomach and remain there indefinitely, and if it is not right, it will come right straight back up.
[Fredericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 6964
Put a li'le saltpetah in yore shoe. Weah it in yore shoe an' sulphur in yore shoe. Dat'll keep de poison from gwine [going (into your body)], tetch- in' [touching yo'. See.
Entry 7065
Take fer a' instan' now. Yo' got a wife an' she wan'a go out - choo leor, tuh be wit anothah man, or go out somewhere. She don' wan' choo tuh wake up befo' she come [back]. Yo' layin' down dere asleep. She'll jis' take one of 'er [under] pieces of 'er drawahs, or somepin right nex' tuh uhself, yuh know, an' take it an' spread it ovah yuh face right while yuh asleep. An' yo'll jis lay right dere an' sleep an' dream, an' yo' wouldn't wake up fer de devil, until she come an' take dat thin' from ovah dere. She kin go on off an' stay long as she Want. BUT YO' MUST BE ASLEEP BEFO' SHE PUT IT OVAH DERE. [RichmOnd, Va.,
(343), 383:1 0r 286:1+86.]
Entry 7115
[As an example of the difficulties attending the arrangement of mate- rial in Hoodoo, please notice that the following shoe rites, quite a long list, could have been put under subsection SHOES, Nos.5087-5205, pp.2758-2781, vol.3 to Nos.5206-5302, pp.2801-2818, vol.4. Moreover, there are many other shoe rites in Hoodoo unlisted among the preceding num- bers.] Ah've heard dat chew take a person's shoe an' put it up ovah dere haid. Jis' tie it up ovah dere haid an' dat person will sleep sound until yo' went anywhere yo' wanta go an' return.
Entry 7120
Take 'em an' turn 'em down while dey sleep. (The shoes?) De shoes, an' dey cain't wake up until yo' turn 'em back up.
Entry 7121
(This is to make the man sleep while she's gone out.) Take his shoes an' take 'em an' turn de top down undah de haid of 'is baid, an' he'll sleep until she go an' come back an' moves dem.
Entry 7137
Yo' could take one of 'is shoes an' turn it down jis' somewhere at de side of de bed, an' den he sleep a long time. An' a woman kin take her skin- piece an' put it up ovah'at dis end of de bed, jis' hang it up ovah dere. Dey'll sleep sound lak dat.
Entry 7138
Ah tell yo' whut a woman kin do. Jis' lak if 'er an' 'er husban' gone tuh baid an' she wanta step out, she'll git up an' she'll take his shoe, turn 'em bottomside upwards in undah de foot of de baid. See, he cain't wake up until she come back an' turn dem shoes ovah. Den a man kin - he kin, jis' lak if he wan's tuh go out an' leave her dere asleep, all he's gotta do, jis' git up yo' know an' take his pants off or some of 'is drawahs, yo' know it's dirty, an' hang: 'em ovah de top of de baid ovah 'er haid dere, an go on off about 'is business. An' she won't wake up until he come back an' move dem things.
Entry 7145
Tell yo' whut dey do wit yore shoes. Lak if yo' go out an' stay out late at night, or sompin lak dat, an' dey wanta keep yo' home. Dey don' wan' chew tuh go out too much at night. Or if yo' layin' down sleepin' an' dey wan chew tuh sleep soun' an' don' wan' chew tuh wake up, take an' put some black peppah an' salt in de shoe, an' turn it bottomside upwards an' put it undah yore bed - both de shoes.
Entry 7146
She'll take his shoes an' turn 'em upside down...take his hat, pin it [up] over his head.
Entry 7147
Turn de shoes bottoms upwards - his shoes. (Where?) Well, jis' lak he's pulled dem off an' gone tuh bed, she take 'em an' turn 'em bottoms up - turn de' sole up an' de top down. Say dat'll make him sleep until she come back.
Entry 7152
If she gwine out - mean if she goin' tuh 'er girl fren' - dey kin jis' turn yore shoe upside down an' turn de toes undah de bed, an' he won' wake up till she come back.
(He turns his shoes upside down?)
Dat's right, de man's shoes.
(Both shoes, both pointed under the bed.)
Undah de bed.
(He won't wake up until she gets back?)
No, no!
Entry 7153
Dey tell me dat de women kin - 'fact a woman tried it on me - take her shoes an' turn 'em right undahneath de head of 'er bed, an' put a half a dollah undah each shoe, an' go out an' stay out, den come in, an' yo' won' know it. Yo' won' wake up until she come back an' move 'em.
Entry 7154
Take both 'is shoes an' turn 'em undah de head of de bed, upside downwards, fo' an' aft. (How do they turn them?) Foah an' aft. (That's the toe, one. And the heel?) Dat's right. Heah's a toe an' heah's a toe. See, dats de way. Undah de head of de bed. (Toe and heel, and heel and toe?) [Shoes are together upside down facing opposite directions.] Dat's right, an' he cain't wake up until she come back an' turn 'em up. An' he kin go an' do her de same way, if she's got low quartahs or top.shoes. But if she's got top shoes, dose high-top shoes, yo' have to put de tops undah, fold de tops undah, yo' see, so dey'll set straight. Jis' put 'em undah de head of de bed.
Entry 7155
Home at night? Take yore shoes, turn one tuh de head an' de othah back tuh de foot; yo' know, jis' de opposite ways, yo' see, wit sugah in each one of dem shoe, an' sleep lak dat. Tie one knot in 'uh undahskirt or 'er chemise, whatevah she has, an' sleep until she returns. She jis' has tuh keep it on, de one she has on. (Put one shoe with the toe pointing to the head and one to the foot. You put the shoes upside down, together, or one at the foot and one at the head?) Upside down, one at de head an' one at de foot. Set 'em nex' tuh each othah right in a row, right foot at de head of de man; one fo' de head an' one fo' de foot.
Entry 7296
Hear of 'em takin' cow manure an' hold a policeman back off from dem. Dey take an' put it on dere feets an' walk roun' an' roun' dere house nine times, an' through dey COW MANURE ON FEET - CIRCUMAMBULATE HOUSE 9 TIMES house nine times, an' take de shoes whut dey have on - scrape it away from de shoes an' bury it, bury it to sunrise. An' de policeman will nevah come upon dem.
(They burn the shoes or just the manure?)
Burn de manure. Jes' scrape de dust an' thing from de shoes an' burn it. Scrape it back to 'em, not away from 'em. Scrape it to 'em cuz dey want de help to 'em. An' burn it an' bury it to sunrise, an' de policeman will nevah come no place about 'em. (That is if they are running away from them [police] or something of that sort?) Dat's right.
Entry 7302
Graveyard dirt? Dog can't run yo' wit graveyard dirt.
(What do you mean dogs can't run you?)
You know, run-away time - yo' know, ah got all dis in slave-time and since freedom. But ah knowed of it in slavery times, when a man run away from 'is mah- stah. [This man said he was 107 years ola when I interviewed him in 1937.] Dey had dogs an' dey fetch a dog behind yo' track, an' dey will start it from right from where yo' started away from de house, but can't go no furthah cuz he done bur-ried [burrowed] his Way out. May care [carry] it tuh de graveyard [dog may care track as far as graveyard], but no furthah dan de graveyard will dey run - can't run. No, can't run. Dog played out right dere. Yes suh.
(What did this man do that was being chased?)
An' when he gittin' away from home, he take a hat or pocket [handkerchief], perhaps an' put it ovah his feet an' put dat graveyard dirt in dere. Well, he [dog] can't run 'im atall. He'll stay right around dere an' de dog will play out right dere. Ah knows dat fer a fact.
Entry 7308
Well, dere so many diff'ren' little things yo' kin do wit graveyard dust. Suppose yo' is in trouble an' yo' killed somebody an' yo' wanted git away. Yo' gits - go to de graveyard an' git some of dat dust. Put some in yore shoes an' put some in yore right pocket, an' dere couldn't no houn's run yo'.
Entry 7309
Ah say if a person kill a person - jes' lak de detectives is now - yo' could kill a person an' go to de graveyard an' git some of dat graveyard dirt. Go to a fresh grave, as fresh a grave as yo' could find, an' git some of dat graveyard dirt and put it in yore shoe. An' den git some an' put in yore left-hand hip pocket an' aftah yo' - don't go out of de gate, git ovah de fence. An' don't nevah look back, jes' keep a-goin' an' yo' kin git plumb away. Ah've heard dat.
Entry 7313
Jes' lak dat ah would kill yo', yo' see, an' ah wanta git away, see. An' yo' know it used [to] be at de time - AH DON'T GUESS YO' REMEMBAH IT. AH DO CUZ AH'M OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW, dat when a murderer killed a man, he goes to de graveyard. He goes to de left side or [and] to de head of de grave, and he goes dere an' he gits a handful of dat dirt - goes down an' gits 'im a handful of dat dirt from dat grave. An' he puts it in his left-hand pocket an' he puts it in his shoes, both shoes. No hound in de world kin trace him.
Entry 7317
[Ah] heard one thing about graveyard dirt, dat if yo' wus on de chain gang workin' an' could git to graveyard an' pull up de headbo'rd an' reach down in dere jes' as fah as yo' could, or anywhere in de grave dig down if yo' could, an' git de dirt an' put it in yore shoes, dat de dogs wouldn't run yuh, wouldn't track yo'.
Entry 7323
A fellah could - jes' lak he kill someone an' he wanted tuh git away - go an' git some of dat graveyard dirt of de fella dat he killed an' wear it inhis shoe, an' den endurin' [during] de time dat he wearin' dat in 'is shoe - dat is, if dey wus crowdin' 'im wit dogs or somepin lak dat, go on through some big bunch of cows [to step in cow manure] an' go on about 'is business. An' de dogs couldn't trail 'im.
Entry 7353
Well now, jes' lak if he done de killin', [he] say, "Ah wants tuh git away." Well, he'll go to work yo' see an' git 'im a pair of new shoes, he'll git 'im a bottle of turpen- tine. He'll take dat turpentine an' he'll pull 'is shoes off an' rub undah de bottom of 'is feet wit dat turpentine, an' he'll po' a little in 'is shoes. He'll go to work den an' he'll git 'im jes' about nine grains of black pepper, six grains of spice, an' git 'im jes' about a piece of bluestone a little bit biggah den a black-eyed pea. An' he'll put all dat togethah. He'll go to work den an' git 'im a dime bottle of alcohol, an' evah mawnin' regardless to where he goin', he'll take dat alcohol an' rub behin' 'is ears, rub across 'is fo'haid, an' he'll take dat turpentine an' 'noint 'is shoes - under de bottom of 'is shoes - an' he'll chew a grain of dat black peppah, one grain of dat spice, evah day, an' jes' a little crumb of dat bluestone mixed togethah. An' as long as he continue wit dat, he'll always keep a-goin'.
(Can't catch him.)
He'll keep a-goin'. [Waycross, Ga., (1097), 1771:5.] [Rites for catching a murderer are much more varied and interesting than those permitting him to escape, egg rites alone being amazing both in number and diver- sity. Everywhere the spirit of the murdered person is present or its presence assumed.]
Entry 7516
Dey take graveyard dirt an' put it in dey shoe an' dat will keep dem from interferin' in de family, an' it will cause dere death. Say, if yo' kill dat person yondah, well yo' bury 'em. An' ah'll go take some graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it ovah yore flo' an' put some in yore shoes, an' when yo' go out an' travel on, yo' tell it 'fore yo' know it.
(You'll find out on me that I killed that man. How would you find it out?)
By dat graveyard dirt. Yo' lay down an' go tuh sleep an' yo' know yo' did a bad crime. an' yo' - why den yo' go an' tell it. Dey go an' stick yore fingah in a pan of watah [while you are asleep] an' yo' tell evahthing about it. [Wilson, N. Car., (1474), 2654:7.] [This section contains merely a part of the many beliefs and rites in Hoodoo about death, burial and graveyard (see preceding section MURDER and everyvhere); therefore the subject matter here is not as complete as it could be. I have divided the section into three subsections, the first two concerned with grave- yard dirt: (1) HOW TO OBTAIN GRAVEYARD DIRT, and (2) WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT; and (3) COFFINS REAL OR MOCK - PHOTOGRAPH AND COFFIN - DOLL BABY - ANIMAL SUBSTITUTE - BONES FROM THE DEAD. This latter subsection (3) will be given in lettered subsubsections as we reach them.] [Graveyard dirt or dust, the most deadly and feared hoodoo substance, is act- ivated by the spirit of a dead person - a dangerous power to handle. An amateur would be wise to leave graveyard dirt in the hands of an expert, but if he or she desires a do-it-yourself experience or wants to avoid professional expense, here are the rules and procedures to be observed, beginning with a few words about the spirit itself.] [The Spirit in Graveyard Dirt is the same spirit we met at the beginning of Hoodoo (vol.1, Pp.19-164) and elsewhere in the text. Beliefs and rites in this subsubsection reestablish former atmosphere:]
Entry 7667
Dey said dey would take - jes' lak yo' kin go tuh de cemetery an' dey'd git dere a certain hour in de night, twelve a'clock in de night, an' git some dirt from a dead person grave. Dey moves de top of dat an' dig a hole about fo' inches deep, an' git some dirt den from dat, if dey wanted tuh make yo' sick or sompin. An' dey come tuh yore home an' be settin' down an' talkin' wit chew an' look undah yore desk or somewhere an' a pair of shoes or sompin othah dere. Dey jes' sprin- kle a li'le of dat dust, de dust of dat grave in yore shoe, an' it would cuz yore feet tuh become sore an' boily - break out in big sores.
Entry 7880
Go tuh de cemetery an' git some graveyard dirt an' put in both shoes unbeknownst tuh him - put it in dere. Git some red peppah an' salt a an' sprinkle it in both of yuh [his] shoes an' he won't be dere no mo' den about tro or fo' hours, an' he will have tuh go.
(That is to drive a person away from the house?)
Away from yore house.
The informant describes cemetery dirt in shoes and a separate pepper-and-salt treatment to drive someone from a house. The interviewer identifies that purpose; the bracketed pronoun is editorial. The reported departure and timing remain the informant's claims.
Entry 7893
Dey kin take yuh shoes an' dey kin break yo' out wit sores.
(How do they do that?)
Well, dey go tuh de graveyard an' dey git de dead dust - not graveyard dust - like here de grave an' dey send dat pipe down intuh de grave 'till it hits - till dey git, till de pipe gits full wit dat dust. [See piece of cane driven into grave, No.7812. p.3364.1 Dey takes dat dust an' use immaterial [material] from dat very grave, but evahwhere dat dust go on your feet, dat breaks yo' wit sores.
Entry 7896
Ah have learnt dat dey kin take yuh shoes an' carry 'em tuh de grave- yard an' put 'em in, turn 'em east an' west an' bury 'um, an' yo' die.
(They bury one east and bury one west?) Yes.
Entry 7947
Dey take yore shoes an' measure yore shoes. Take a needle, a needle dat's been sewed through a corpse - see, when yo' make a shroud an' dey [I inter- rupt]. (Use a needle that has been used in making a shroud?) Make de shroud tuh bury some- one, yes. Take dat needle an' put it through yore shoes, through de eyeholes yore shoes - see, three times. Den take dat needle an' carry it home an' stick it on de east side, an' yo'll stay dere wit 'em. Yo' cain't go nowhere. Yo' stay right dere at home an' be subject tuh dem in evahthing dey want.
(What about measuring the foot? Do they measure the shoe first?)
Dey measure de shoe first, den put dis needle through de eyehole three times. (Do they do anything with the measurement of that shoe? After they take the measurement of the shoe?) De measurement of dat shoe dey bury dat. Dey bury it undah de do'step.
Entry 8492
Put cinnamon an' sugah an' yo' weah it in both of yore shoes. Now if yo' know dere name, yo' kin take dere name an' put it in dere, an' whenevah yo' git tuh 'em dey'll give yo' a job.
Entry 8495
If yo' wants tuh be on de job or anything an' yo' want tuh stand in good wit yuh boss, yo' takes 'is name an' yo' git some loaf sugah, yo' put it in a bottle, yo' writes 'is name nine times, writes it tuh yuh, not from yuh. An' ah put's mah name on top of 'is, an' ah folds it tuh me, an' ah puts it in dis bottle. (You cross it or what?) Ah puts it ovah his'n an' ah crosses it, too. See, ah write his name first dis way an' den ah changes it an' write it dataway, an' ah switches ag'in - forward an' backward, undahstand.
(I see. All right.)
See, den ah folds it up an' ah puts it in dis bottle wit cinnamon an' sugah, an' ah buries it. An' ah weahs his name in mah shoe an' keeps it dere in mah shoe. An' when ah weahs it out, well ah puts anothah one in dere. See, dat's tuh stay on de job.
Entry 8770
Take dis bossman whut yo' got in yore mind - yo' got it in yore mind fo' tuh go tuh dis bossman. Yo' goin' dere tuh git a job. Yo' take dis man's name an' yo' write it an' yo' write de twelve apostle. Dese are de twelve apostles. Yo' write de twelve apostles first an' den yo' write dis man's name twelve time, an' each apostle [demonstrates] each apostle heah an' yo' write his name heah. Dis de 'postle heah, an' yo' write his [boss] name dere, dis 'postle heah, an' yo' write his name dere. Continue dat an' yo' put dat in de bottom of yore shoes, an' yo' weah dat three days 'fore yo' go tuh 'im. An' when yo' go tuh 'im, he'll give yo' de job.
Entry 8867
Well, ah have heard of 'em - said dat tuh make 'em come back, by takin' 'is lettah, if she could git 'im tuh write. She take his lettah an' sleep wit 'em undah 'er haid fer ten or twelve nights, dat he'd come on back.
Entry 9020
All right, if yo' got some of yore friends in trouble an' wants tuh git 'em out. Prob'ly yo' got a purtty bad case an' yo' wants tuh git 'em out. Well, yo' kin go tuh de graveyard at night, twelve a'clock at night - let it be daid on de minute twelve aclock. Yo' go dere at night at twelve aclock an' yo' run yore arm down in de graveyard as fur as yo' kin git it down dere, right in de centah [a quincunx rite]. Yo' git a han'fulla dirt an' yo' take dat dirt an' git chew a plain white pocket han'ke'ch'ef dat don't have any streaks atall about de pocket han'ke'ch'ef - so it's plain white. An' yo' take dat dirt an' tie it up in de cornah de han'ke'ch'ef, puts it in yore pocket an' brings it on back. Well, yo' bring it back tuh de house an' when yo' git back tuh de house, yo' git chew some sage or sompin at night. Do all dat dat night. Bring it back tuh de house an' git chew some sage or sompin an' tie it up in dere wit dis dirt an' yo' takes it up in de jail, wheresomevah dey's in jail at, an' give it tuh de person an' tell 'em tuh weah it in de bottom of dey shoes. Well, dey weah dat in de bottom of dere shoes dat night. Prob'ly dey goin' have trial tuhmahah. An' dat night befo' dey goin' have de trial, yo' have some of yore friends tuh go tuh dat co'thouse, dat nex' mawnin' or dat mawnin' befo' day - sometime befo' dey'll have de trial - an' throw three aigs on topa de buildin'. An' be shu' dat evah' one of 'em is bust. If dey don't bust, it's not any good; but chew have tuh be shu' dat de aigs is bust. An' let 'em weah dat sage an' dirt in de bottom of dere shoes, an' dat'll cleah hit up.
Entry 9161
Yo' kin look in de Bible an' git twelve men's names. Ah fo'git alla [all of] 'em but de name: John, Peter, Simon, Andrew, Matthew - these are haid- men [headmen]. An' if yo're in trouble or in law or anything - dat a lawsuit or any court choo know - to git doze names [of the 12 Apostles]. Put it on a piece of papah an' jis' befo' yo' go down - if yo're out on bond or any- thing - jis' befo' yo' go down. Yo' git doze names an' put it [them] on a piece of papah. Twelve names an' put chor name to de bottom, an' put in yuh shoe [us- ually both] an' weah dat. Well dat'll be twelve witnesses. An' turn dem names up dataway in de toe of yuh shoe where yuh name be down dis way an' dere names will be ahaid [ahead]. Dey is witness fer yah. Dey say dat'll bring yuh across, outa trouble. [For sage and 12 apostles or disciples, see Nos.9124-9137.] [Wil- mington, N. Car. (320), 252:7+85.]
Entry 9165
When yo' git 'rested, befo' de jedge try yuh, yo' take off yore shoes, take off both yore shoes. Take yuh socks off. Turn de bottom of de shoe down. Take de socks an' put all in one. Yo' know, take two de socks an' put all in omg shoe. Yo' jes' take off yuh sock an' roll it up an' den put it in de othah one. Makes a bundle outa it. Tie it ovah wit yuh shoes. Den when de cop come tuh remove yuh, take yuh tuh de judge try yuh, den'yo' put - take yore socks, yo' unfold it a put it in one back pocket, an' one in de othah back poa ket. An' den yo' put on yore shoes witout eny socks. Take de shoestring outa it an' put dat in yore [front?] pocket an' yo' walk on up tuh have yuh trial. Well, de case's [case is] out. It may be a mistrial.
Entry 9490
Yo' kin put red peppah an' salt - yo' weah dat in yore shoes, see. An' den yo' take salt an' put it in each cornah of de wall in yore rooms where yo' sleep at. An' if anybody [come] tuh yore house dat yo' don' want tuh come tuh yore house - dey come tuh yore house an' yo' don' wan' 'em dere - de time dey'd leave yo' sprinkle salt an' red peppah in dere tracks right out dere behin' 'em, an' sweep it out. See, an' dey won' evah come back a'gin. Well, we tried dat one time 'bout a police, about a law. Dey haven't nevah been dere tuh bothah us no mo'. (That first about that salt and pepper [in 4 corners of bedroom], that is to keep you from being harmed?) Yeah.
Entry 9519
Whut ah heard about de job proposition - whut chew kin do tuh make him give yo' a job or tuh make peace. Yo' undahstand me? Well, all yo' have tuh do is buy yo' a fresh box of Jack Frost [trade name] salt an' put it in yore pocket an' put some in yore shoes an' go on tuh him. (Go down to the boss and ask him for a job?) Yeah, dat'll make peace. Dat's right, dat's all yo' gotta do.
Entry 9520
People say dat yo' could take salt, fresh salt in de shoes - weah it in de shoes. Anybody put down anythin' ag'in yo', dey say it wouldn't take no 'fect. (If you walk over anything?) Yessuh, if yo' walk ovah anythin' why it won't take 'fect 'count [on account] de salt.
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 9525
Ah have, ah've heard of 'em takin' yuh shoe an' sprinklin' table salt m' things like dat or Epsom salts intuh yuh shoe. An' dat is if yo' are a per- son who believes in stayin away from home, lak if it was yuh husban' an' he'd lak tuh stay 'way from home all de time - always away from home. An' dey would put some- dhin'intuh his shoe lak salt or [Epsom] salts an' - undahneat' de linin' of de shoe - an' dat would cuz 'im tuh stay home.
(Either shoe? Both shoes or just one shoe?)
Both shoes tuh make him stay home.
Entry 9526
Den dere's anothah thing, if yo' wanta run a person off. Yo' kin take [get] table salt an' jes' throw it roun' in yore room fo' nine mawnin's. Put a li'le in de toe of dey shoe an' shake it down [into the toes] an' turn dat shoe down, one down at de foot - one of his shoes down at de foot [of the bed] aftah he's gone tuh baid. Yo' kin take dat shoe an' turn It down at de foot [of the bed] an' carry one [shoe] tuh de haid [of bed] tuh dat Odah off [opposite] post. Jes' lak de baid has fo' cornahs, lay one [shoe] down at dis cornah an' de othah one [shoe] down at de othah cornah, jes' lak dat [dem- estrates by pointing to bed in interviewing room].
(What will that do?)
Well, dat will run a man on away from yo'.
(That is to get rid of the man?)
Yes sir. (You put the other shoe catercorner from the other one, and you [also] put t salt around the room.) [This magic-of-the-diagonal rite is also known in New Orleans by laying a broom catercorner under the bed - see v.1, p.674, No.2425.] Yo' put jes' a least bit of salt roun' in yore room, jes' put a li'le bit in his shoes an' shake it down tuh de toe where he won' detect it when he go tuh put it on.
(That is to get rid of him?)
Git rid of him.
Entry 9580
If dey tryin' tuh harm yo' - yo' know, lak dey put down sompin an' yo' scared yo' walk ovah it - yo' kin take salt an' peppah, red cayenne peppah, an' weah it in yore shoe. (What will that do?) Dat'll - yo' cain't detect nuthin in yuh feet or anythin'.
Entry 9585
Suppose somebody wan'a poison you or put choo down an' fix you so you ain't able to move or walk. You go to work an' git choo de rock salt, an' you take that rock salt, you pound that rock salt up [as fine] as sugar. You take ciyine [cayenne] peppah w'at's never been used [a new box of cayenne pepper]. You put it into it [the pulverized rock salt] an' mix it, an' wear it in your shoe. An' nobody kin put nuthin down to harm you.
Entry 9587
[My informant gives the complete rite first and then much later during the interview adds a note about it.l And then they say you kin take and put salt and pepper in your shoe, if you wmta git a fellow. You know, take salt and pepper and put it in and wear it in ygmr shoes.
(In both shoes?)
Yes, in both shoes - yes.
(That's to get him?)
You know, they have a little saying about: If you want a fellow, I'll tell you what to do Just get some salt and pepper And wear it in your shoe Just red pepper, you know. Not black pepper, but red pepper you know.
(That's a little song, you say?)
Yes, but you wanta get a box of salt that ain't even been used out of, you see. Go to the store and buy you a brand-new box of salt. Then you wanta get you a strand of [red] pepper: [pep- per pods] where's never any been used off it. See, if there's any been used off it, it's not any good. See, get you a strand of pepper where there's none ever ben used off it. And then you get a pod - you get you three pods of pepper in your shoe. And you cut one up in one shoe and you cut the other up. You cut half a one [pod] in this one [shoe] and half in the other [shoe]. And each time you cut the pepper you sprinkle some of that salt, you see, and make your wish.
(In doing that you use three pods of pepper?)
Yes, you use three pods.
(You put half in one shoe and half in the other?)
Half in one and half in the other.
(And you cut the second pepper in half?)
Yeah, you... (I [you] cut the first pepper in half, then you put some salt on top of that in the shoe and make your wish?) And make your wish. (Then you take another pepper and cut it in half and put it in the shoe, and then put salt and make the wish, that way?) Yes, three times.
(I see.)
That makes just three times cuttin' [3 peppers or cut] and you make your wish co see him. And then you wait three days to see him. An' he doesn't do like you want him to do in those three days, why you do that again, you see. But you use tree pods of pepper then. Well, probably see, he might come but not up to like yoa'd like for him to come. Well, you'd use three more, see. That makes nine pods, see, and then that makes nine days. See, everything works at nine days. And you know, they say for the right conjuration and for it to do right like you wmt it to do, you wants to work it on the last quarter of the moon, when it's dark nights, and then you see the results on the growing of the new moon. You see, as the new moon grows, why he'll come to you. [This is often called a put- ting-together rite. In the following subsection see onion cut into 4 parts, No.9596.]
Entry 9600
Yo' kin weah red peppah in yore shoes an' salt an' coal oil [kerosene]. Dat keeps anybody else from doin' anythin' tuh yo'.
Entry 9631
If dey puttin' any- thin' down tuh hurt chew, yessuh, yo' could pertec' yo'self. Well, yo' could go ahead an' take sulphuh, red peppah an' salt an' weah it - put it in de bottom of yore shoe. Weah it up undah dat little bitta place, yo' know, dat's made in yore shoe - up undah dere, on de inside [under the insole]. Weah dat in yore shoe. Sat dat [cunjure] won' do yo' harm.
Entry 9635
Yo' kin take yo' some ground red peppah [cayenne pepper], sulphuh an' table salt. An' yo' kin throw dat roun' yore do', or yo' kin put dat in yore shoes - sulphur in yore shoes. Yo' kin walk on dat sulphuh an' nobody can't harm yo'.
Entry 9636
If dey put anything down fo' yo', yo' undahstan' to hurt chew or cripple yo' or anythin' so yo' can't walk. Yo' take dat peppah, cayenne peppah an' salt an' sulphuh, an' mix dat tuhgethah an' sprinkle it aroun' undah yore do'step, an' aroun' yore place whare yo' walk. Quite nec'sary [necessary] yo' weah some of dat in yore shoes. Well yo' see, dey can't do anythin' to yo', can't hurt chew when yo' got dat peppah in dere. It keeps dat down.
conditional threat of injury contrasted with a claimed protective negation. Preserve cripple/cannot-walk threat and can’t hurt negation; no diagnosis or proven protection. mixing cayenne pepper, salt and sulphur in a reported protective preparation. Keep the literal uppercase MIX destination, named ingredients, page order and the adjacent protection claim without efficacy. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Read full source (printed page 3812) · Read full source (printed page 3813)
Entry 9637
If yo' know anyone tryin' tuh harm yo' roun' yore home, yo' git chew some dis heah bluestone, an' sulphuh, red peppah, an' salt. Mix all of dat up togethah. Evah mawnin' [you] come outa yuh house, befo' yo' hit de flo', [I mean] hit de groun', yo' take dat dust an' go along wit [use] dat dust - evah anin' befo' yo' come up. An' aftah yo' do dat, why take a li'le bit of it an sprinkle it right in de bottom of yuh shoes, both shoes. Put on yuh shoes an' go anywheres. Dey can't harm yo' none, regardless [of what they put down for you].
Entry 9638
Ah tell yo' whut chew kin do. Yo' read de 54th Psalm. Yo' evah read de Bible? [Since I do not answer, did I nod my head up and down, or shake it sideways. Informant did not know he was talking to a clergyman.] An' yo' takes saltpetah, take cay- enne peppah, an' yo' takes table salt. An' yo' take each one-a yore shoes an' yo' sprinkle yore shoes wit dat sulphur, a teaspoonful'a sulphur. Jes' sprinkle yore shoes wit dat an' walk anywhere yo' want. Nobody can't do nuthin tuh yo' about chew walkin' on anythin'. Nevah min' [mind] about dat [walking on anything].
Entry 9668
Sulphur, table salt an' IN SHOES gunpowdah, jis' weah it in yore shoes. Use garlic in dat, chew laoc. Dey couldn't hurt chew tuh save dere life.
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 10671
Put red peppah in dere shoes; it's gotta be pod peppah. If yo' can't put red peppah in dere shoes [shoes guarded too well], yo' kin git chew some of dis asafitidy [asafetida]. Dat's plain asafitidy an' dis heah bor- acic watah, an' use it an' sprinkle it aroun' anywhere dat dey have tuh cross, anywhere in dere path. Yo' kin use dat to make 'em lose out [lose a job or have bad luck].
Entry 11168
Yo' kin take a person's shoes an' go ahead an' dress 'en an' have dey foots all swell up.
(How do you dress those shoes?)
How would dey dress dose shoe? Well, yo' kin take dose shoes an' yo' kin go tuh work an' git chew some John de Conkah an' devil's-shoestring, an' make yo' a powder an' yo' kin sprinkle it all in dose shoes. An' dat person will go an git dose shoes an' put 'em on an' dat'll hurt his foot.
(Make sore feet.) [Feet are more than sore! Only a root doctor can cure them!]
Entry 11352
Well, yo' know, as ah first said, if somebody yo' have somepin in fo' 'em - ain't goin' de way yo' want 'em - tuh puttin' 'em tuh walkin' or sompin othah, anything. Well, yo' go down tuh de rivah an' yo' fish an' try tuh ketch a eel. Yo' know it's a long ole fish look lak a snake. Well, yo' cut de haid off an' have a bottle or a glass or sompin ready, an' hit's one drop of blood dat will drop from dis eel's haid. So yo'll take dat an' yo'll take some honey. An' dey'll take some honey an' de root dey call de High John de Con- ' kah an' dere's one dey call de Low John de Conkah. Well, yo' take dis root an' yo' boil dat an' yo' make a kind of a syrup-lak, an' as yo' go tuh dis friend or whoevah it is, house, an' jes' lak dey shoes be's sittin' undah de dressah - somewhere yo' know, round de house. Well, yo' kin drop three drops in de shoes or anywhere jes' so long as it be's neah de shoe or a little bit git on de shoe. An' yo' kin say whatevah yo' want tuh be done, "In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost." An' in de limits of time, dey say it will come tuh pass.
(What did you do with that drop of eel's blood? What did you do with that?)
Yo' take dis drop of eel's blood an' yo' fixes it wit dis honey an' dis othah root - High John de Conkah.
Entry 11674
Go to the forks of a road and yo' can git dat dirt jes' as it turn off at de forks of de road, yo' kin git dat dirt an' yo' kin take it and bring it back an' sprinkle it in a person's shoes an' if dey wearing dat shoe an' yo' want 'em to go, that will keep them going.
(But you must get this dirt from the fork of the road.)
Git it from de turn, that's to make them leave. (It must be the dirt from their track?) Not from their track. Yo' go out to the forks of the road, you git dat dirt.
(Anybody's dirt or any kind of dirt.)
No, yo' git de dirt out of the road, not nobody else's track.
Entry 11742
Dey kin take an' dress 'em [shoes up with graveyard dirt an' cayenne pepper.
(How do they do that?)
Why, they kin put it inside of a shoe; or they kin take that little leather [insole] out at de bottom [of the shoe] and they kin dress up. Take that out an' bury it. [That makes] feet ache and hurt all de time. (Well, now, are those two different things you have told me or are they all the same thing; that stuff in your shoe and bury it? Do that at the same time or do they do them at different times?) Well, see, these are all right separate, but they be all right together. So one at de time probably dis month and next month, probably two, three months afterwards - something like that - but it be all right together. [This is a skillful piece of tact!]
Entry 12476
Well, if a person do sompin an' dey wanta git away an' dey got 'em trail'-lak, say fo' instance, dey put de policemen on dere track or put de bloodhoun's. Dey git bloodhoun's behin' 'em an' trail 'em. Dey git a piece of beef livah an' jes' rub dat blood in de bottom of dere shoes. Dey git 'em some garlic an' chop garlic up an' put it all in de bottom of dere shoes. An' wheresomevah dey makes a track, kin nuthin trail 'em.
Entry 12563
Under your foot track - just like people come along and say that they could hurt you by your foot track. But they couldn't hurt you by a foot track, but I tell you what they could do. They could take some dirt coming from your shoes: just like if you had a hole in your shoe like that [dirt would get into shoe through hole in shoe]. And your foot track they Would probably pick up [in that way]. And after [hole in shoe] picking it up, they could take that dust, what come from your shoes. And they could shake it, put it in a box with some of these here pigeon eggs, and beat it up like that. Anywhere you bury that, you have to leave town [be- cause pigeon flies!]. And anytime you couldn't stay nowhere, couldn't never come back into the place where you was. (You mean the dirt from your shoe, any of the dirt that sticks to the bottom of your shoes? What about that hole in your shoes?) Just like - you see, where I Was, this feet chere, how it was. How this feet chere of mine was [he evidently demonstrates foot or feet]. Well, then, gettin' a remedy for that? [Here is how it happened.] I walked out one morning and it had some kind of yellowish-looking stuff on the steps. But I didn't paid attention and I walked on out of there, going to my work. Well, it was in the summertime and it was right warm. Well, I had some shoes that cut, you know, like this [demonstrates].
(Had holes in the bottoms of them?)
Yes, sir. Well, then, what made me heed them then was my heel started to hurt. I comes on back. Well, that heel of mine was about that big [demon- strates]. So they carried me and they got some of this sugar, this white granulated sugar, and got some of this Palm of Christiandom.
(Palm of what?)
Palm of Christiandom. (Palm of Christian?) [I am not correcting informant but commenting for the future. Besides, the words are Palma Christi "hand of Christ, " the castor-oil plant.] Palm of Christian, yes. You get that anywhere through the country. And they takes that and they put that on, in hot water, just as hot as I could bear it. Then after that they take some cayenne pepper and put it there and they soak it. Then they take, after that - don't never wipe it off - you just take it and let your feet hangs over the water like that, and drain until it dries. Then you take some of the "Pp" oil.
(PP. Two "P's.")
Yeah, PP oil. Get it in the drug store. You take that PP Oil and you just take it like that, with a piece of cotton, you know, and 'noint it. But always 'noint it going down.
(Why?)
Well, that's to draw out all the swelling and all the pain leaves - whatever. You have to rub it like that. [Informant either did not know or did not under- stand my question. You rub downwards to drive pain or any crunjure out through the feet. Many examples of this occur in HOODOO, see No.981, p.377, vol.1.] Well, the swelling before I ever knowed, well they had all the - I'll just lift it up here. They had all this here and all down here. [Informant demonstrates all this.] And they told me how to use it. Well, I got relief of that.
(What did it do to make your ankle swollen that way?)
Well, I walked in some yellowish-looking powder.
(Oh, I see.)
That's where it came from. And it was somepin that makes your ankle itch, you see; and you scratches it, you know.
Entry 12616
Well, when yo' know [someone] goin' harm yo', comin' to yore house tuh harm yo', dere ain't nuthin fo' yo' tuh do, but jes' take yore shoes off, both yore shoes, an' put chew some sul- phur an' red peppah in 'em an' wear 'em, an' yo' kin walk ovah anything.
Entry 12619
Dey say yo' takes red peppah, gunpowdah, an' sulphah, an' mix dat to- gethah an' weah dat under de bottom of yore shoe an' anythin'.yo' walk ovah dat won't take no effect on yo'. Yo' see, red peppah, gunpowdah, an' sulphah.
Entry 12867
Now, yo' kin take for instance in yore clothes or in yore shoes, if dey's tryin' tuh git chew tricked. Yo' wear saltpeter in yore shoes - either shoe you put in - dat saltpeter in your shoes. An' whenever yo' go out yo' got dat in. Then you kin put a pod of garlic - garlic. They don't nevah beat the garlic. They cain't nevah do you nothin' atall.
(Where do you keep that?)
Anywhere about. Anywhere you go be sure yo' got dat garlic. Morning and night you keep it on yore person - de pod of garlic. An' dat saltpeter in de bottom of your shoe - any shoe. Jes' go an' sprinkle de bottom of yore shoe with saltpeter.
Entry 12932
Ah knows dat's all right about de shoes. Jes' say if yo' an' a woman wus in love tuhgether, an' by some means dat chew think dat dis woman is not de right woman fo' yo', an' yo' wants tuh git loose from her, yo' put on yore shoes an' jes' git out an' valk. Walk fast. Yo' know dat chure feet will perspire but not smelly. Pull den shoe off an' po' some wine in 'em an' drink dat wine. Dat'll separate yo' an' her. [For another drinking-out-of-shoe rite, see 12896, p.4412.
Entry 13095
Kin put different things in it to cause yo' feet tuh swell, such as rattlesnake's - take de haid of a rattlesnake an' go out dere an' dry it in a sack yo' know an' take dat dust - dat aw- ful poison yo' know - jes' a little bit of dat. Dat's de same way as dey do tuh kill yo' - right through dis country. Dey'll take dat rattlesnake haid an' dry it yo' know an' git a dust an' lak yo' vanted a drink, dey'd be standin' aroun' an' yo' happen tuh po' de likker out, dey drop de least bit of dat in dere, yo' know. Dat's rank poison. Yo' drink dat whiskey an' it kill yo' an' it hardly kin be detected. Or dey put dat in yore shoes an' cause yore feet tuh swell.
Entry 13233
They take a shoe - the bottom [insole] out of your shoe - and they can put some steel dust in there, you see. Steel dust! And you walk on it, you see. Well, that steel dust in there, you see, that's to swell your foot up. You see. (You put this in the bottom of the shoe, you say?) Right in the bottom of the sole of your shoe, you see, and you walks on it, you understand, when you get that.
(If they put that steel dust in your shoe, then you would see that?)
No, some of 'em could put it - you see that piece what goes in the bottom of the shoe, that leather rag, they puts it under the leather [insole]. See.
(I see.)
Entry 13256
Ah heard dat too. Lak if yo' a big bootleggah an' dere's several people dat chew want tuh come tuh yore house, an' yo' wanta keep de law away from yore house or somepin lak dat. Yo' take [and] burn dis sulphur an' ole shoes dat will stink, an' whilst yo' take an' burn dat sulphur an' dem shoes - git up first thin' in de mawnin' - take an' burn dis sulphur an' dem shoes an' aftah yo' burnin' dis stuff, yo' git up an' take a bath round about 'leven a'clock [at night].'Fore yo' take a bath, yo' take dis stuff an' put it in de watah dat chew take a bath in. Yo' take dis stuff an' put it in yore watah an' yo' set dere [until] ah reckon round twelve or one 'clock at night. Well, yo' git up an' yo' burn dis stuff ag'in - dis sulphur an' dis ole shoes an' sprinkle sulphur lak dat. Yo' git up an' den yo' put dis back in de same watah where de sulphur is. When yo' git up jes' about sunrise, jes' as de sun in peepin' up above de trees, an' yo' take dis tub of watah an' yo' go an' po' it out on de opposite of de sun - opposite where de sun rises, but de same side where de sun rise on. Yo' take dis watah jes' 'bout sunrise, dis tub of watah, an' yo' take an' dash it out on de opposite side of de sunrise. An' dis watah will jes' run right on down - dat drive 'em 'way lak dat.
(You do this early in the morning?)
Yessuh, early in de mawnin' jes' about sunrise. (Do you pour this water out on the side where the sun is rising up or where the sun sets down?) Where de sun rise - de same side de sun rise on, de same side yo' po' dis watah out.
(That brings in trade.)
Entry 589
Ah kin tell yo' a way dat he kin find out whether dat wus so. Jes' say dat wus his wife down dere - when he wants tuh go out with another woman, take his pocketknife, an' when him an' her git down to, yo' know - stick it right up in de ground or in de flo' by dem, an' if his nature won't come, why she's [wife has] got him tied [unable to have another woman]. Now to loose dat, ah don't know, but ah have been told two ways on dat - wear a silver dime in de left shoe fo' de woman. Den ah wus told another one - take a silver dime an' - see, dis is his private - fo' nine mornin's rub it up dere - dat silver dime once fo' nine mornin's. (Rub the silver dime on the side of his - once each morning for nine mornings. That is supposed to restore his nature.)
Entry 5171
Git de measure of dey shoe, an' put some powdah in dey shoe. Git some powdah, some cun, iure powdah, an put it in dey shoe. Well, dat will make 'em do anything yo' wan' 'em tuh do. [The term cunjure powder is rare. This may be my only ex- ample.]
Entry 7127
Dey kin use a shoe dis way. If it's in yore house an' if yo' wants tuh put a person tuh sleep, yo' take de lef'-foot shoe an' turn it down right at de haid of de bed, an' dey'll sleep dere clean until yo' move dat shoe. Yo' got a chance tuh do anything in de world tuh 'em an' dey cain't wake up.
Entry 4862
Yuh kin take dere shoes. Yuh kin git de inside sole [the insole], a piece of de inside sole of dere shoes, yuh undahstan'. Or git a piece outa dere shirt, yo' know, outa de back of it, or out de side of it or de undah- weah. Jis' cut a piece, yuh know, right out anywhere out dere unions [union suit], anything, an' wrop it up, yo' undahstan', an' put it in salt an' watah. Let it sits dere in salt an' watah an' let it stay in dere two days. Take it out an' put it in runnin' watah.
(That will run them away?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5159
Yuh kin take a man or a woman. An' yuh kin take a piece outa her lef'- foot shoe an' wear it in yore shoe. Yuh kin put it in yore right or eithah de lef'. But yuh put it down in de side of yore shoe an' wear dat piece in dere, an' she'll nevah leave yuh 'long as she live. Yuh kin keep 'er all de time. Dat's good fo' a woman. [A woman can do the same thing to a man.]
Entry 5274
YO' KIN TURN A SHOE DOWN UNDAH YORE BED, DAT IS, IF YO' DREAMIN', AN' IT'LL STOP YO' FROM DREAMIN' IN DE NIGHT.
Entry 562
Ah heard of people usin' shoes in runnin' watah, yo' know, bury it in de creek, whare de watah runnin'. Bury it an' let de watah run ovah it. Well, ah knowed a woman outen mah home, she come pinin' away tuh nuthin' an' she wus larger den yo' an' she jes' pine away an' died. An' aftah she died, well, her people went tuh some doctah, a two-haided person, an' dey tole 'em dat her shoe wus in de creek in runnin' watah, an' dey say it wus buried jes' about a half a foot in runnin' watah, an' said that whut caused her death, caused her tuh pine away an' she wus not sick or nuthin', an' she jes' went down tuh nuthin'.
[Informant cites another case surely taken to a two-header.]
(Whom did this happen to?)
Tuh mah sister's chile - de baby, yo' know - it wus walkin', jes' a little tot walkin', an' it jes' got weak in its back. Dey taken it shoe an' throwed it in de fiah an' burned it up. Dat's all dey done. Dey didn't nevah put nuthin' in wit it, jes' taken de shoe an' stockin' an' throwed it in de fiah, an' dat made him weak in de back an' in de knees, so he couldn't stand up, stopped him from walkin'.
Entry 563
Well, may I tell mah experience about it? Well, once ah was dressing a lady's hair an' I slightly took off mah shoe, de left one. Well, de lady was an ole enemy of my father and I didn't know any definite reason why she should do anything to me. But on June the 4, 1937, I immediately had a swelling around mah ankle. Ah didn't pay it any attention - ah thought it was probably from my shoe, and it continued to grow. Everything got swollen 'bout me 'cept mah arms, and I didn't know de reason why my daddy cared [carried] me to de doctor's - he [father] thought it was a touch of dropsy, but de doctor said it was dropsy an' gave me medicine. The more medicine-medicine [doctor's medicine] that ah took, de worse ah got. Ah only found out whut was de matter wit me by a dream - an' I interpret de dream mahself. I had a dream of mah mother. I dreamt she had a jade green earring - earring and necklace round her neck, and I asked her whut were they for. She say, "Darling, '' [she] says, "Gren signifies poison." An' ah immediately waked up - an' when ah awaken ah went downstairs an' tole mah daddy just whut ah dream an' interpret mah dream to him, an' so he carried me to a root doctor. An' de root doctor tole me dat ah was poisoned an' ah wasn't poisoned from de mouth - ah was poisoned from de shoe." An' he took de shoe an' dressed it fol me an' tole in five days ah would be able to wear mah shoes agin, an' ah was.
(Did he tell you how this shoe was dressed for you?)
He didn't tell me definitely how de shoe was dressed, but he tole me the lady had placed something in it. And he took this shoe an' sprayed it with salt. An' after spraying with salt, he told me tuh wear it. I wore de shoe an' immediately my swelling Went down within five days.
Entry 597
Jes' lak dey say somebody got chew down - yo' can't rise an' strive wit nuthin'. Dey got somepin roun' yore house fo' yo' an' de way yo' kin tell - dey say yo' kin nuse [use] dis bluestone an' red peppah while bathin' yore foot with it; yo' know, washin' yore feet with it. An' den yo' tote cookin' salt an' de red peppah in yore shoes - wear that an' make a pad like an' wear dat in yore shoes. An' if it's true, when yo' strike it yo'll know 'cause yo' give in to yore knee.
(You do what?)
Yo' give 'way - go down - give 'way tuh yore knees. Yo'll know when yo' run cross it.
(That is if you wear anything like this bluestone?)
Yeah, see, yo' have tuh nuse dis bluestone washin' yore feet an' it eat it up, an' ev'ry mawnin' befo' de sunrise, why yo' throw out chure night chamber lye yo know an' bluestone an' cookin' salt soaked in it, chew know - throw dat out - all round yore house - yo' know whut ah mean - put it all round yore house an' it kill it out. (Well, now what would cause you to sag in your knees - your knees get weak - what causes you to do that?) Say yo' run cross de root - de devilment ever whut it is dey got round dere fo'yo'- when yo' hit it why dat peppah an' salt weakens it but it let chew know yo' hit it 'cause yo go down. (In other words, as soon as you hit it, that pepper and salt will let you know by letting your knees get weaker.) Yassuh - go jes' lak yo' drop a curtsy.
Entry 615
Like sometimes you have a sore on your foot and it's hard to cure up, or you feet swells, give you a lot of trouble and painful. Then you take this bluestone...you boil this silver money in this water and if it jingles [to tell whether you have been conjuredl why then you mix this bluestone in that and then mix this sulphur. You take silver-water like that, they call it, then sulphur - you mix this sulphur with it and make a paste like, or you kin jest use it to soak your feet in and then bake 'em in de fire. You soak 'em for nine days or nine nights, then bake your feet by the open fire. You see, from the heat, and that draws out, they say, the poison. It's something like, they say, they dressed somepin they stepped on or dressed your shoes or dressed your stockings. And when that poison comes out it'll leave little white speck like places in your flesh. That's like if somepin you've powdered they've brushed on you or you've stepped over.
Entry 681
I have heard that cunjure doctors put goofer dust in your shoes to put affliction on you and sometimes it causes you to have a bad foot, a sore foot. It'll never be healed, a swelling or something, unless you go to another cunjure doctor. And he will give you another dust supposed to fight this dust and try to get it out of your system.
Entry 933
There was a lady living in the house with me who called herself a good friend, and her husband had two children by his first wife. She didn't care for his children. They got along so bad together, her husband asked me to take one of the children and I did. She got angry with me and hurt me in my leg. They say she either put it in the water cooler or in my stocking. The woman who cured me, she is dead. They said I was hurt with lizard dust and some kind of weed that blooms in October. I've been down ever' October for years, three weeks or four weeks, I didn't much bother about it because I didn't believe in it [conjuration] until the Lord showed it to me in the spirit. The woman that hurt me came to me as a witch and tried to ride me to death, and said to me that I had tried to hurt her. I said, "No, Mrs. B., I haven't done a thing to you but you are trying to kill me. You'll never kill me as long as Jesus lives." I got a hold of her ankle and said, "As long as Jesus lives her ankle's broke." So after this visioni I went to a fortune teller. She put a belt around my waist and my stomach went just like that [puffed out]. She gave me some stuff to put in my shoes, some dust, and a dime, and I could go over anything I wanted to. After that I got cured. [Fredericksburg, Va., (69), Ed.; woman conjured in Richmond, Va.,1896, and cured 20 years later.]
Entry 952
You can take their shoes and carry them down to the river at noontime and let the water run over them. Take them back and let them dry. On a full moon go down to this river, call, and keep calling them. And when they have them shoes on they'll walk into the river and drown themselves.
Entry 1108
You can get some assafitidee and gunpowder and wear it around your waist, and sprinkle a little in your shoes; that'll keep the spell off of you.
Entry 1123
I've heard of them taking black pepper and putting it in the shoe to keep a person from getting the dirt out of their footprint. They said the footprint won't register in the sand if they have black pepper in the shoe. [Snow Hill, Md., (83), 2:22; Nansemond Co., Va.] [Black pepper like red pepper usually occurs in combinations of ingredients; it being less frequently used than red.]
Entry 1202
My mother, she was hoodooed at Miss S's house. I guess, if you ever been up on Cherry Street to old S's - they Was Jews - but she had a woman there named Tuley[?] S. Well, my mother was a pastry cook - she was making twelve dollars a week, but this other woman she didn't like that 'cause she wasn't getting the money. But if she got rid of my mother that would be her job. She hoodoo her in her shoe. She put somethin' in her shoe - just poisoned her same as a rattlesnake. She was a hoodoo. And her [mother's] feet come to bothering her and was swollen. Doc come to my mother.
(Doctor Robey?) [Informant had mentioned him in another story.]
Doctor Robey, and told her to go out in the pasture and get some cow manure where it's done got brown just like - just done caked up, and make a tea out of it. Get her a beef gall and -
(What was that - a beef gall?)
A beef gall, and take that beef gall and squeeze a little of that syrup from out of there - whatever it is - squeeze it into that tea and drink it. That stuff come out of her black as your hair - from out of - you know, black as your hair. And she before that - she didn't die neither. That ole man cured her. [My hair was dark brown. Usually informants said, "As black as your hat," referring to an old black hat concealing a microphone on the table - see Intro- duction and in Index, Author, black hat of.]
(Just put the beef gall into this cow manure tea?)
Into the cow manure tea. Boil this cow manure.
Entry 1290
Yo' keeps garlic on yo' fo' hoodoo, keep it in yore shoe - that keeps people from hoodooin' yo'.
Entry 1296
Always put gasoline in new shoes before you use them and you can walk over anything.
Entry 1313
An old lady, she lives out there in [New] Kent [County, Virginia]. I can't call her name now, but she's a dark woman, she's got a daughter name Mattie about chore color, and she goes out to it every thirty days. She goes out to the graveyard and get about, I reckon about a half a pound that dirt. Ev'ry morning she changes that dirt in her shoes - says it keep the evil spirit out. And at nights when she go to bed she sprinkles it all around her door. [My informant, who intended no offense, is merely saying that a dark woman had a daughter name Mattie about as white as anyone could be.]
Entry 1315
I wouldn't do nothing but git one penny and carry it to the graveyard and git me some graveyard dirt and tie it up and mark it crosstowmways wit a piece of yallah homespun cloth - tie it dis way and tie it dat way.
(Tie it what way?)
You tie it across like dat [demonstrates]. (Across one way and across the other way.) [Two diagonal ends are brought to the center and tied; then the other two diagonal ends are tied.] Cross it. An' I'll take dat penny and I'll wear it in my shoe fer three days and den I take it and throw it ovahbo'rd. No one will harm yuh, dey can't harm yuh. De only way dey kin harm yo' is dey kin go ovahbo'rd and git dat penny, but dey can't go ovahbo'rd to git dat penny - dey can't harm you no way in de world. [Crosstownways means two city streets crossing at right angles - a cityfied version of a country crossroad. Yallah homespun cloth is normally homespun. YalZah equals unbleached.]
The printed account moves from tying graveyard dirt in cloth to wearing and throwing away the penny. The interviewer and Hyatt's gesture and word explanations remain separate; those explanations do not establish corpus-wide synonyms.
Entry 1405
If you take a red onion and cut it and put half up over your door or jes' anywhere where it could be kept and take de rest of it and burn it up to ashes and wear it in your shoes, that'll keep anyone from hurting you.
Entry 1430
They call it quicksilver. You wear it in your shoe, both of them. Nuthin will harm you, nuthin can hurt chew by walkin' across anything. But be careful how you eat. I've heard them say that they could draw a cross mark across the road. They tell me they put quicksilver in that mark and cover it up. If you cross over that, why you'll have to crawl until you have this spell taken off. [This quicksilver is scrapings from the back of a mirror. I have discussed through-the-looking-glass magic under Horseshoe in subsection Hands. In inform- ants first statement guicksilver is a reversing agent, reflecting evil back upon itself; in second statement guicksilver causes lameness because it is magically pieces of broken glass from the mirror - see margin-title Part of the Spirit Equals Whole of Spirit, p.21.]
Entry 1439
If somebody goin' put somepin down fo' yo' tuh walk ovah or somepin like that, yo' could use salt an' red peppah in yore shoes, or either a piece of root by de name of rattlesnake conker - put that in yore shoes.
Entry 1445
You kin take a pod of red pepper, ordin'ry pod of pepper, and take it and put one pod in each shoe. Leave it in the whole pod like it is. You put it in your shoe. You take a common newspaper and you'll cut a sole, and you'll put that on top of that pod of pepper and you know, that will make it too hot, nuthin atall will harm you - see, that will be too hot for anything they put down.
Entry 1446
Now, if someone's trying tuh trick yo' in de feet, yo' go an' git chew ten cents wuth of unbolted [not sifted] co'n meal - dat's de thin, de fine grade stuff. See. Unbolted, dat's de fine grade. Yo' parch dat an' sprinkle it in yore shoe, cover de bottom of yore shoe with it. Put two leaves of red peppah in each shoe, two pods - one in dis toe an' one in dis heel.
(That's two pods in each shoe?)
Dat's right. Yo' kin do anything dat chew wanta an' cain't nobody hurt chew.
Entry 1449
Dere's a protection measure dat you do in order to keep anyone from harming you. You takes a little sulphur inter a little sweet milk and you drink it, you see. Use a little red pepper and a little sulphur to keep in your shoes, you understand, and you contin'lly walk wit dat, you see. Well, tisn't likely that dere is anything dey kin ever do you. Dey kin put down things that will take effect upon you, but you would always get a shock - you'd be over it before there would be any great thing to it. [The informant says that despite "a protective measure...you Would always get a shock when passing over "put down things," but "you'd be over it before there would be any great thing to it." Another informant says, if you walk over some- thing buried for you, the ground will come up like a wave (No.717, p.239). The most frequent indication that you have walked over something evil is an immediate pain in your leg (No. 718, p.239, and Index).] (You take this drink and you wear this stuff in your shoes at the same time? Or are these separate things you do?) Well, now, I tell you, you drinks dis milk fer nine diff'rent mornings into sulphur, you understand. Think it make you sick, but get it straight - it's re'lly purtty good. Drink it - it's re'lly purtty good. And fin'lly, de next nine mornings you puts dis red pepper into your shoes, you see. Nuthin kin be done to you.
Entry 1450
Take red peppah an' sulphah an' gunpowdah an' put it in yore shoe.
(What will that do then?)
That'll keep any evil spirits that are tryin' tuh harm you or something away.
(You could walk over anything and it wouldn't hurt you?)
Yes, walk over anything, wouldn't take any 'fect.
Entry 1476
Oh, well, yo' take yore shoes now an' a person try tuh wear it - jes' lak ah try tuh wear yore shoes an' try tuh harm yo'. Take it an' sprinkle salt an' peppah - keep salt an' peppah black peppah in dat shoe an' wear it right underneat' yore socks all de time. Ah mean not changin' dat - jes' let it stay in dat de same. An' den take yore toenails, de end of yore toenails an' trim dat an' keep hit in dere, keep it dere. He couldn't put chure shoes on fo' nuthin.
(Why would you do that?)
Well, dat tuh keep yore spirit in de shoes dat his spirit couldn't connect wit yores. (These are my shoes - whose going to do that? Am I goin' to do that to my shoes? Or some other fellow is going to do it to my shoes?) No, yo' do it to yore own shoes.
(Why am I doing that - to protect myself?)
Yes sir. [Place and reference lost.]
Entry 1479
Yo' kin put sulphur in yore shoe an' wear it in dere or either go to some root man or -
(How do you mean you put sulphur in your shoe?)
Well, see, yo' kin either put sulphur or red pepper - red pepper an' sulphur. Git chew a box of red pepper - ah hear mah mother say dat - git chew a box of red pepper an' brand-new box of salt had nevah been used out of. Sprinkle it inside of yore shoe an wear it in dere. Don't use it fo' nuthin else but that. An' that'll keep anyone from - or either sulphur, wear it in yore shoe - keep anyone from tricking yo' or anything like that.
(Do you sprinkle that in both shoes or just one?)
Both of 'em, either one. Either put it ovah de do'.
Entry 1481
Well, ah heard if yo' walk along - jest whut dey put down fo' yo' to hurt chew some way, yo' jest git chew some sulphur, a few grains [seed or pieces] of red peppah, a little gunpowder, a little table salt, an' wear it in yore shoe. It will eat up everything whut chew walk ovah.
Entry 1483
And den, how you dress yo' feet. Yo' through wit dat part. How you dress yo' feet, you takes bluestone, beat up fine - not so much, just a leetle bit of piece and sulphur and salt. Put in each one of your shoes, put it under- neath the lining in your shoes. See. Well, you know what dat is fo'? That is for to keep dem from hurting you. See, dey kin hurt chew all kind of ways and dey can hurt chew on your feet so bad, if you don't hurry roun' and use dat chamber lye and things, saltpeter, you shore will get hit - you'll be out dere in de cemetery, for dey re'lly kin do it. Dat's de only thing whut kin pertect yore feet.
Entry 1484
Anybody put somepin down fo' yo': to protect yoreself, yo' kin get yo' some sulphur an' ashes out of de stove, jest de ashes - sulphur an' ashes an bluestone an' tablesalt, an' wear it in yore shoes an' nuthin won't harm yo'. Yo' kin walk over mostly anything.
(Do you wear that in both shoes?)
Wear it in both shoes, nuthin won't bother yo'.
Entry 1486
Take salt, table salt, an' black peppah an' hone, an' mix dat together an' grease yore foot wit it an' use dat in yore shoe. Dat would keep dis offa yo' - lak if dey wanted to hurt chew, dat would keep dat off.
(If you walk over anything?)
Yes.
Entry 1490
[Saltpeter is used in many healing or protective combinations - see Index.] Well, you kin get saltpeter. You kin go and get you a dime's of saltpeter and sprinkle a little in your shoes about every four or five days. Wear that in your shoes and there can't nobody harm you - not do it to the flesh or put nuthin down fer you. But, of course, it's quite natural that if somebody get aholt of something of yourn - your hairs or your clothes that you been wearing for several days, get something out of them - why they kin do you harm. But as fer as putting something down for you, they can't do you no harm over that saltpeter.
Entry 1496
Jes' lak some people - yo' know, as chillen [children] - some peoples says when people have fits, says some people done hurt dem. [Fits are caused by cunjure or hoodoo.] Yo' see, dat's de brains. Jes' lak chillen have convulsions after burns from high fevah, dey burn a ole shoe - yo' know, pull off de sole an' burn a ole shoe to git rid of dat.
(What do they do with that when they burn the shoes?)
Dey don't do nuthin with it. Dey jes' burn a ole shoe - say that will stop yo' from havin' 'em.
Entry 1497
Yo' kin take a ole shoe sole or 'nothah an' anybody in de house havin' a toothache, an' yo' kin throw dat ole sole on de fiah an' let it bur an' it will kill de toothache.
(What will they do with that when it burns?)
Well, dey'll take de spread, yo' know, an' take de smoke in yore nostrils - see, of dis ole shoe sole to yore nostril. Take de smoke an' inhale it. (Oh, you inhale the smoke and that kills the toothache.) [Spread = spreading smoke.]
Entry 1498
[The opposite of the preceding belief is also held.]
A lotta people don't burn dey ole shoes, dey give dem a toothache. If anybody burn dey shoes it will give dem a toothache. Say, fo' instance, yo' have a lotta ole shoes around an' ah take 'em out an' burn 'em, why it would give yo' a tooth- ache, an' my shoes would give me de toothache, too - make everybody toothache.
[This is song's toothache in the heel.]
Entry 1499
Yo' take a ole shoe an' sulphur an' asafitidy - yo' know, dat ole stinkin' stuff dat chew take. Dey say yo' take a shoe an' burn it an' make a ash with that - dey say, with the asafitidy an' sulphur, an' dey say it will cure de asthma. Dat's all ah know about de shoes.
(What do you do with that stuff after you burn it, then?)
Yo' have tuh put it in a pipe an' smoke it.
(After you burn the stuff?)
Yessuh, after yo' burns it.
(Then you smoke what's left?)
Yes.
Entry 1500
Take de ole shoes an' burn 'em for de backache - burm 'em to ashes and put 'em in a bottle an' put watah on 'em an' drink de watah off dem fo' de back- ache.
Entry 1501
Take bluestone, a ole shoe sole an' gunpowder. Yo' burn de bluestone good until, yo' know, till yo' powder it up, an' mix a li'l gunpowder along wit it wit some fresh hog lard an' kinda make salve outen it fo' healin' a sore.
Entry 1502
Dey tell dat if yo's livin' in a house that folks is died out of an' there's always been somethin' that's worryin' yo' round de house, that it will be their evil spirit comin' back to see whut's happened out de place since they wus gone from it, an' if yo' burn a ole shoe sole through this house, that'll drive dem 'way an' yo' won't have any mo' trouble with 'em.
Entry 1503
Well, now, if yo' moved in a ha'nted place an' yo' can't stay there in no peace but hearin' rackets in de walls, why yo' pick up all of yore shoes dat chew could find an' put some brimstone an' sulphur in it an' burn it - put it in a ole bucket an' burn it in all fo' corners of de house. An' dat will run ever' ole thing dat chew heah round dere.
Entry 1505
Ah heard dat chew take yore ole shoes an' burn 'em so no one kin iomo work yo'. Yo' always have good luck at chure home.
Entry 1506
Dat's fo' tuh keep yore enemies from yo', when yo' burn de shoes. Yo' cut out a piece of dat middle sole, jes' lak yo' take a ole piece of shoe. Yo' use de part dat chew walk on dere, de sandal [sole], yo' know whut yo' walk on. Turn dat back an' cut a piece of dat second sole.
(Underneath the shoe?)
Yeah, an' burn it. Jes' take an' burn it, dat will drive de enemy from yo'. Anyway, jes' lak if anybody botherin', anybody meddlin'. Dat's de way dey do with dat.
Entry 1508
A person's shoes - a woman's shoes - jes' lak if yo' figures somebody is workin' at chew, yo' hunt chew a throwed-way shoe.
(A thrown-away shoe.)
Uh-hmm, a man's shoe an' a woman's shoe. Well, if it's a woman, yo' wanta protect yo'self. Yo' take dat woman's shoe an' put it on top of dat man's shoe an' yo' burn 'em. Yo' put sulphur an' saltpeter, bluestone, gunpowder an' salt on there an' burn it - make yore wishes, whatever yo' want tuh come. An' dat'll protect yo'.
(What would a man do if he wanted to protect himself?)
He'll put de man's shoe on top of de woman's.
Entry 1509
Well, when yo' have a whole lotta trouble in de house - raisin' Sam, dey cain't git along - yo' kin take ole shoes wit sulphur an' cayenne peppah, yo' got fiah, jes' throw 'em in dere in de fiah lak dat, an' de fellah go to de do an' he stan' an' look at de smoke come out de chimley. Den after he go, yo' say, "Son-of-a-bitch, go." He'll nevah come in no mo' - won't come dere no mo'.
Entry 1510
That's for to keep anyone from your home and keep them from hurting you, this here. You take the shoe - now, if it's men and women both you want to keep away, why you take all the shoes of the family, all the old shoes and burn them. And you doesn't burn 'em complete to ashes, but chew burn 'em kin'a so tha' chew can mash 'em up. And you get chew a new box of cayenne pepper, and a new package of salt, and a new package of sulphur, and mix that all up together. Then you get chew a sifter - you put it [this mixture] in a can - then you get chew a sifter and just right after sundown you start from your back door and go on around the house and come on back to the back door right where you began dat. And just make your wishes. And if you want to name the persons in person, why you call those names. Just have like one or two or three individual persons you don't wish to come to your house. You do that for nine successful [successive] days. You do it in the morning and at night repeat the same thing. Well, in the morning you want to do that before sunrise in the morning - before sunrise in the morning and after sundown in the evening. And just repeat your wishes. And you can call, you know, the person's name just the same as if you were talking to them, and wish they'd stay away and not interfere with you. And repeat the Name of God. And you can also take river-shore sand. You take river-shore sand and put that in a sifter and sift it around the house. Mix these same things with it - the sulphur and the cayenne pepper and the salt, but be sure it's packages that never been broken. Just buy it for that especial. And you have the same amount of sand that chew do salt, sulphur, and pepper. See? You have a box of salt and you have the same amount of sand. See? Well, you take the package of sulphur and you take the package of pepper see, and mix with it. And see, that's enough to repeat the nine successful days. Well, you take the shore sand, you begin from yore back door and you go on around the house - like you have a walk away to the well and to the pump or at the gate, you take all the paths with it. You go to your outer buildings with the sand [the complete mixture] and repeat, you see, whatever you wish to be done. And if you think it's someone interfering with yeh, or your stock is dying, you go around the stalls, you know. You repeat and with the same thing may return on them and leave you be - in the Name of God.
Entry 1519
If anybody tryin' tuh harm yo' an' do a little stunt [= trick], take one silver dime - a silver dime an' some sulphur an' cut de bottom of de shoes inside an' lay dat dime's worth of sulphur in dere an' put dat dime on top of it, yo' see, an' wear dat dime right in de bottom of yore shoes all de time.
(You just use that in one shoe?)
No sir, in both of them.
(Both shoes - the dime in each shoe?)
Yes sir, with the sulphur underneath of 'em. [Dime and sulphur is laid under insole; sometimes a depression being cut in the sole for the dime.] [Savannah, Ga., (1271), 2151.1
Entry 1574
If people poison yo', goin' poison yo', wear sulphur in yore shoes an' yo' takes sulphur.
(What will that do?)
That keep the poison out.
Entry 1576
Yo' could use brimstone an' sulphur in de bottom of yore shoes an' walk ovah anything - nuthin won't worry yo', won't hurt chew.
Entry 1586
Dey say if someone bury somepin roun' yore house lak dat an' yo' got a idea who bury it roun' dere - yo' lookin' fo' someone tuh bury somepin lak dat roun' yore house - always keep yore bottle of turpentine an' keep yore shoes dampened inside with turpentine an' it'll nevah hurt chew. Yo' kin walk ovah it all yo' want an' it won't hurt chew.
Entry 1587
If you thought someone was tryin' to harm you, well I tell you about as good a thing you could do, if you thought somebody was trying to harm you. You just go to the drug store and get some turpentine, put nine drops in each shoe for nine mornings, and then get some aloes and work your stomach out good - cause nothing like that can't stand aloes.
Entry 1616
[Urine is frequently part of a hand (see subdivision Hands) and often by itself a hand.] And if you got a backward child in school and you can't get him to go to school and can't get along with him in school, you just take some of his urine water that he urinate and wash the soles of his shoes with it and I'll betcha you won't have no trouble with him.
(He'll improve.)
And makes him go to school regular. Wash the soles of his shoes - just the sole, not the heel.
Entry 1747
Yo' could take de bow out of a man hat an' put dat in a bottle of perfume an' keep it or either wear it in yore shoe an' that'll make 'em love yo'.
Entry 1801
You take nine penny nails and nail dat - like you would make a coffin. Understand. That, if you wanted to kill someone. (Well, how do you mean nail them? I mean fix [arrange] them? What do you dc with them then?) Well, if you wanted to kill someone, destroy someone, you'll take those nine penny nails and you nail 'em in de shape of a coffin.
(Oh, I see. You nail them in the shape of a coffin.)
In your floor, anywhere that you choose to nail 'em, you understand, and if you can, you try to get a piece of their shoe off the right foot on de inside of the ankle up at the top. And you'll take and then nail that down when you make de coffin and de last nail you drive you suppose that'll be through the center, which will be your heart, and you drive that there and they will pine away. I have known that doctors pronounced some had T. B., and everything, but no doctors can cure 'em. They just simply pines away.
Entry 1810
Well, it's to keep yore husban' at home an' tuh keep him from goin' wit de othah woman, an' tuh keep him from havin' connection wit de othah woman - is tuh go in de woods an' git a cross vine [see No. 765, p.255]. Dat de vine grows up a tree called de cross vine. Yo' take dis cross vine an' yo' carries it home an' yo' take his clothes an' yo' wash 'em, an' his underwear 'specially, an' boil dis underwear wit dis cross vine, an' when he goes to de othah woman he cain't have any connection with her, 'cause dat cross vine keeps him cross from her.
(It crosses them up?)
Crosses dem up.
(Does this cross vine grow around here? What does it look like?)
Yes, lotta 'em call it de cow eats vine. Uh-huh, it grows up a tree an' jes' crosses all up a tree. No othah vine grows up de tree lak dis one.
(Does it have flowers or anything on it?)
Has a yellah bloom on it. Then yo' take this vine an' yo' put it in de stove an' yo' git it real brown an' beats it up into a powder. Yo' take this powders an' put it in his shoes - see, dis powder be [like] dust aroun' an' he cain't see it. An' let him wear dat in his shoe an' he cain't cross wit dis woman. An' fin'lly she will quit him an he'll quit her, because her man will wanta go with her an' dey's in deep love an' dey have connection some way. (You do both these things together, wash his underclothing with this cross vine an' also make a powder of it?) Yes, makes a powders of dis cross vine.
Entry 1832
An' you know dey tryin' harm you. Well, all you got'a do - git chew a piece of devil's-shoestring and git chew some of dis salt and red peppah see, and devil's-shoestring and some sulphur. And you take it and wear some in vour shoes and take an' make a belt out of it, out of de shoestring, see, and wear it around your waist. But chew use a little piece of copper wire, you understand, mix a little piece of copper wire in it. If you ain't got devil's-shoestring, spread it [copper wire] out round your waist - see, you kin just ball de little piece of copper wire up and put it in dere amongst de red pepper, see. And then when you do that, you take and wear it around your waist. That would stop anybody, they couldn't do anything. They can't do nothing to you but put in your stomach, if dey goin' get cha. That's the only way they kin get cha.
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 1892
Fo' gamblin', ah heard 'em say, yo' kin git chew a frog - a toadfrog. Well, a frog is got a numbah undah his neck right undah dere. Take dat frog an' git one wit de even numbah. Don't git no odd numbah lak three or five, but git chew one got a two or fo' an' take him 'live an' put him in yore pocket an' go to de skin gome or any kinda gamblin' game an' yo's lucky in winnin'. An' if yo' think dat dere's somebody else dere dat's got some roots or somepin dat's tryin' tuh win too, yo' jes' take an' git chew some table salt an' put some sulphur in yore shoes, yo' see, 'fore yo' leave home an' go on there. Yo' take dat salt an sprinkle it on their haid an' dey'll lose. Dey roots won't be no good to em.
(That kills that?)
Dat kills dat.
Entry 1926
Graveyard dirt makes yo' lucky in gambling.
(How do you use it?)
Yo' take graveyard dirt. Go dere at twelve 'clock at night, go dere on some wicked person's grave yo' know an' reach yore hand as fur down in de grave as yo' could git it, an' take it an' bring it an' put it in yore shoe. Wear it in yore shoe. Long as yo' put it in yore shoe you will be lucky in gambling.
The informant describes dirt from a wicked person's grave after the interviewer's question. The gambling-luck claim remains source-reported.
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 1962
I was away in Baltimore [Maryland] one time and so a friend of mine - we wag workin' on a job, de foreman he fired us - and he said to me, 'Let's go down in Spring Street." I said, "What for?" He said, "Let's go down 'ere to a woman." I said, "What a you goin' down 'ere for?" He said, "Man," he said, "we can go down 'ere and git us somepin," he says, "you can git work agin." I said, "Man, no!" 'Yes you kin, too." So I went down 'ere with him on a Friday night. We walked in. She says, "You don't live here," she says, "You come across de Waters [Cheasapeake Bay], didn't chah?" Says, "You got but very little money. She told us what happened the day before, gettin' fired. So she says, "Well, I'll give you somepin now jis' fer a dollar, jis' because you're fired," she say, "and you ain't got no money but very little." And she gave him somepin look like a dust. She told him to sprinkle that in his shoes of mornings before he touched a drop of water. Told him three words to say.
(What were those?)
"Father and Son and Holy Ghost." I believe that's what he was supposed to say when he sprinklin' that. And even so, after he did that [next] mornin', it was re'lly a surprise to me. We both went back, we goes right back de next mornin', and before we got about a hundred yards of de job the man come oudt, commence to wavin' fer us. I said to him, I said, "Johnnie," I says, "he don't want us, because we got fired here yes- terday." And we keep on walkin' up to him and he walked up to us and said, "Does you want to go to work?" We told him, "Yes." So we went to work dere and stayed on de job until de job was complete.
Entry 2038
(What could I do to keep the law away?)
Go an' git yo' some John de Conker. Yo' could git it in liquid or yo' kin git it in pieces. Yo' kin take John de Conker, if yo' wants to keep him away. Pull off yore own shoe every mornin', dip yo' own finger in it three times and place it under yore feet, an' rub it back of yore own ear three times, an' yo' won't have no trouble with the law.
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 2152
(You get the boss's name?)
An' write it down, see. Well, yo' bring it home an' yo' take salt an' sugah an' sprinkle it ovah dis piece of papah whut choo got de boss's name on it... an' wear it in yore shoe fo' nine days, an' jis' keep a-goin' back, back tuh him. An' git chew some of dis heah oil of clover an' oil of bergamine [bergamot] an mix it togethah, an' Jockey Club perfume an' mix it together. [Three perfumes.] Git chew some root dey call John de Conker. See, aftah yo' got his name in yore shoe, well, yo' put dat oil of clover an' oil of bergamine wit dat Jockey Club perfume. Dat Jockey Club perfume keeps dat oil of clover and oil of bergamine from smellin' an' yo' sprinkle it on yo'. An' den yo' have dat John de Conker vine or root in yore mouth an' yo' chew it well, an' when yo' walk up to 'im talkin' about jobs, see he'll git de influence of dat odor, an' den yo' be jis' spittin jis' lak yo' chewing tobacco, an' yo' keep a-goin' dere an' event'lly he'll give yo' a job.
Entry 2153
You take the boss's name and write it nine times and fold it to you, and wear it in your left shoe under the - you know, under the strip in your shoe. Fur that makes the boss patient, you know, puts his mind on you, and it will natch'ly, if the boss get his mind on you, he's considerin' you fur work or fur raise of salary. Something that confuses the boss's mind in your favor.
Entry 2154
I don't know how to get him to give you a job, but I know how to hold a job.
(All right, how's that?)
Well, I use his name the same way. I write his name down nine times. I write my name down nine times across the other way. [A cross is made with the names.] I fold it to me, each time I fold it I make a wish, and I wear it down in the sole of my shoe.
(What shoe are you wearing that in?)
I'm wearing it in the lest shoe - in the left, I wanta say.
(The left shoe, I see. That's to hold your job?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 2156
He likes her and she don't like him, he can take and write her name nine times backward and wear it in his left shoe with a silver dime and that will cause her to be wanting him all the time. See, he can make her like him with his - with her name, cause he got her in his shoe, she can't help herself.
Entry 2157
One I lived with about six years - the first girl I lived with - she had my name writ all kind of ways, and cinnamon and sugar wearing in the bottom of her shoe. That's for peace.
(How do you mean she had your name written all kinds of ways?)
She had it seven diff'rent ways, cause I looked at seven diff'rent ways - Thomas Keeler, Thomas Keeler, Thomas Keeler, Thomas Keeler - just cross, cross. And had cinnamon and sugar wearing in the bottom of her shoes. When I found it I was just setting on the side of the bed, you know, and I picked up her shoe. I and her used to fight quite a whole lot.
Entry 2181
You kin take a red onion and put nine drops of spirits of turpentine on it and a half teaspoonful of salt, and a piece of homespun, and take dat, wear it on you. And beat it up real fine, if you're in any trouble [with the law]. I was goin' wit a man and he didn't like dat [using a whole onion], and he beat it up fine and squeezed dat juice in his shoe.
Entry 2249
A lady was telling me about that. She live in the neighborhood of people like that. And that it was an old lady told her that - to wear red pepper in her shoes. She told me that no law would never pass on that last. (What was that?) And she say that would object [obstruct] them from doing anything, long as you got that red pepper in your shoe. They say they couldn't do anything with you.
Entry 2290
Dat is known as de sensitive brier [Schrankia uncinata], grows practi- cally all ovah de worl' practically, an' it has a small blossom on it - a pink blossom, an' then yo' go to dis blossom if yo' think you have any enemies an' yo' kin say to de brier - jes' pass yore han' ovah it, say, "Be shamed" an' de brier - de leaves will faint as if dey close up. Den when dey close up yo' git six of those - put three in one shoe an' three in de othah, an' then nuthin won't harm yo'.
(You can walk over anything, it won't harm you.)
Entry 2295
When I was a boy I was hunting a job here [at the Chamberlain Hotel] as bellboy and I had my mother to see a so-called fortune teller. And he told her to burn some shoes and to get a few of the ashes and sprinkle some of these ashes around Richmond's feet, he was the manager, when I came to apply for the job. [The informant, headwaiter, began as bellboy at old Chamberlain; I interviewed him,1936 at new Chamberlain.]
Entry 2296
Ah say ah has learnt dis. If ah go to a man today fo' a job an' he turn me back an' he didn't need anyone, to go back agin tomorrow an' gwine with him agin. Well, he may turn me down dat time. Well, dey said if ah had a old pair of shoes dat ah wusn't wearin', to change mah luck tuh come back home an' git some sulphur an' take 'em to de back yard an' burn 'em an' it would change mah luck. [The third time succeeds.]
(Then you would go down and see him again to get a job?)
Dat's right.
Entry 2297
Yo' kin take an' take a person's shoe, if yo' wanted 'em tuh leave from home, an' burn it an' take dat an' throw it in de rivah. Jes' take an' carry it tuh de rivah an' throw it, say, "Yo' go." Jes' lak yo' throw it, holler, "Go." Dat person will have tuh go.
(You take either shoe?)
De left foot.
(And you burn it to ashes or just burn part of it?)
Yes, burn it up into ashes - de sole of it, not de whole shoe, jes' de sole into ashes. An' jes' git de ashes dust.
Entry 2298
To sober drunken man take off his shoe and rub it on the bottom of his feet. [I forgot to put this under Shoes (p.481), though it can be considered here a hand.]
Entry 2299
A woman had a 'fliction on her right side - would constantly 'flict her an' she thinks somebody had throwed after - whut de' called throwed after yo' - throwed a shoe after her or done something like dat. [This rite - with graveyard dirt, anything - is usually throw for.]
Entry 2300
Tuh make a man stay home, dat is, like women gen'rally do to make men stay home, all yo' gotta do is jes' blow yore breath in de right shoe three times an' turn it up, put it undah de bed.
(He'll stay at home?)
Tuh make him stay home - yeah, dat runs about at night.
Entry 2323
You want a job and you know the boss name. All you gotta get the boss name, just like it was John Henry Lewis. You goes to him for a job and you takes his name and you write it down on a parchment or anything and you wear it in the bottom of your foot - I mean shoe, and keep him under your foot, you see. And go to him and you get you some of these Paradise seeds and chew 'em, see. And when you go to him, you spit three ways - front, side and back, you see. And if he can't give you a job this morning, he'll tell you to come back tomorrow morning, and in nine days you'll have a job. But you gotta have his name on that parchment and put it and wear it in your shoe under the bottom of your foot.
Entry 2371
Drop nine drops of vinegar inside a bottle of white Heart Cologne an' yo' make a wish dat chew want a job an' yo' want to be lucky with a job, an' yo' take that Heart Cologne an' bury it at chure do'steps an' let it stay down dere fo' nine days. An' after nine days, yo' take dat Heart Cologne up an' jes' lak yo' - de time dat yo' wanta git dat job, yo' po' it every direction on yore clothes, yo' know, all in front of yo', an' po' a little bit in yore shoes, an' dey say dat known tuh make a person git a job. Say de man give it to yo' without any huntin' fo' it, but yo' must let it stay buried fo' nine days after yo' make a wish.
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 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 2633
Dey say dat whut dat is fer - tuh make mens come to yore house.
(What what is for?)
Burnin' ole men's shoe. When dey lonesome an' ain't got no company, say, "Well, ah'm goin' do so-an'-so. Ah'm goin' have some company." Yo' see, take dem ole shoes an' make a fiah an' burn em in de fiah, an' then throw some salt on it an' let 'em burn. An' that bring men.
Entry 1447
When you make a foottrack in the dirt, if you happens to keep from getting hurt - ah don't know what they put in the track, don't know about dat. But to keep from getting hurt, they tell me you take nine grains of red pepper - you know, seeds, and sew them up in a bag [thus making a hand] and wear it in your shoe. Then they won't hurt cha.
Entry 1453
If anybody's botherin' or worryin' yuh, yo' take saltpetah - yo' dress yo'self in saltpetah and peppah. Yo' put that into yore shoes. That's the old colored remedy that chew git saltpetah and red peppah. Mix that thing togethah and put it in yore shoes or on yore person.
Entry 1482
Dey go out dere and sprinkle some stuff down in front of the door and Sprinkle stuff where dey know you have to pass on dat, you see - some kind of powder. If you wants to kick [kill] dat, you get you some bluestone and salt and wear dat in your shoe. That'll stop any person - the stuff dey put down from affectin' you dat's ketching it in yore feet, you see, to keep you from walkin'. And if you ketch it yore feet, dey goin' set you down and you goin' be down in de house helpless and you can't do anything, you see, until - and if you don't know what to do, then you gotta go and get somebody that knows more than you know that get that off of you, you see. And if dey get dat off of you - but they ain't goin' tell you what they done, you see. But you always know dat they got it off of you, you know you wasn't in de fix you always was - they done something but they ain't going tell you. Dey'll give you some stuff to take - they won't tell you what dat is. If you don't know, you see, you just don't know.
Entry 1507
Yo' kin go out an' jes' lak yo' - yo' git chew some ole shoes anywhere in de streets or road, anywhere in town. Yo' burn dem - yo' take de soles off. Ah nevah have heard of 'em burnin' de whole shoe - take de soles offa dem shoes. Git chew some sulphur an' bluestone or brimstone - it's all near 'bout alike an' jest put chew a little fiah in de yard or put it in a tinpan or somethin' an' burn it out dere. An' dat keeps dem away from dere.
(What do you burn, the shoe or just the shoe sole?)
De sole - not de shoe. Burn de sole an' put dat sulphur an' bluestone or brimstone - either one, jest put it on dere. A woman showed me dat - ah couldn't tell yo' de name, but she burns dat.
Entry 1575
They say, if you take sulphur and burn it - you know in de powder, you know it be's in a powder form - jis' put it in de fire and burn it, and put it in your shoe, and they say dat ain't nobody can't work no kin'a roots on you regard- less to what it might be. They couldn't harm yah a bit, see. This sulphur would keep down envy and keep de people from yah.
Entry 1618
Dey say dey use red peppah, sulphur, chamber lye an' make yo' a bag an' ev'ry mawnin' befo' yo' go out yo' takes an' 'noint [feed] dat bag [a hand] good an' yo' rub it in each one of yore shoes an' dey say dat yo' kin walk ovah any- thing dat's put down fo' yo'. (You put this pepper and salt in this bag and then you anoint it with this chamber lye each morning before you go out. What do you do - just rub that bag on the inside of the bottom of your shoe?) Yessuh - in de bottom of yore shoe.
Entry 1802
Bore a hole in de tree - and I have seen it done. Just like I had a wife, see, and she runs off. If I want to keep her at my house, like dis here my - dis house mine. Well, if I want keep her at home. See, I'll take her left- foot shoe and take nine nails. See, fix it just like you fix a coffin, and you put one in de heel, and two in the middle, and two here and two here and two here - just like you make a coffin. And put dat in her shoe thataway and dig a hole right under those steps, under your bottom step and put dat shoe in dere, and den put dem nine nails in dere in de shape of a coffin. And I'll betcha she'll never run off from dat house no more.
(I see. Do you drive these nails through the shoe?)
Through the shoe - turn the shoe bottomside up.
Entry 1925
Yo' kin go tuh de drug sto' an' buy graveyard dirt an' yo' kin put it in dey shoes. All right, it will cause dem tuh either be cripple or yo' kin take it an' put it in de band of dey hat an' dey go stone blind from it.
Entry 1951
Get you some guinea seed - that's a little small seed just about as big, a little bit bigger than mustard seed, see. Get you nine of those little guinea seeds, see. You puts a small quantity of 'em in your shoe. You take nine of 'em and you put 'em in your mouth. See, hold 'em in your mouth. Every once in awhile when you round talkin' to 'em (ssphut - ssphut) [comment by transcriber because informant can be heard spitting]. Spit like that.
(I see.)
And I guarantee you he'll give you a job right away.
Entry 2631
If a woman wants a whole lotta men comin' tuh de house an' gittin' money out of 'em, on Friday burn 'em an' on Saturday dey'd all come dere an'.
(What does she burn?) Burn de men folkses shoes - de ole shoes. Git de ole shoes an' burn 'em. (They have to be shoes from men though - they can't be women's shoes?)
No, no women's shoes - men's. She wanta go out an' git money out of 'em. An' he'll come dere in her house - can't git clear of men. She gits whut she wants, an' den Monday mawnin' come, everybody's gone.
Entry 2634
Burn sulphur and one foot on de left shoes into a bucket from de front to the back. That would keep dem away. When dey get far as dat, dey will turn and go another way.
(That is to keep the law away if you are bootlegging?)
Yeah.
Entry 2635
Jis' lak if yo's a hustlin'woman, yo' know, an' want good business in yore home, yo' see, well yo' take ole shoes an' burn 'em. But 'fore yo' burn 'em yo' sprinkle sulphah an' salt on those shoes an' put 'em in yore cookstove an let 'em begin burnin'. An' den yo' take a shovel an' take 'em out on a shovel with this sulphah an' salt on 'em an' jis' care 'em all roun' in yore house - yo' see, in all de fo' corners of yore room an' jis' let 'em burn. An' let de odor - close yore house up an' let dat odor stay in dere. Den yo' take de ashes an' start at chore front do' an' sprinkle it from de front to de back an' dat draws trade. Den yo' take yore urinate an' put salt an' sugah in it an' jis' mop yore front po'ch an' out all on de street - out all on de sidewalk where peoples is passin', if yo's runnin' a assi'nation house, see. An' people when dey git dere dey'll jis' have tuh come in. Dat makes good business fo' yo'.
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 2638
If you was bootleggin' - you'd sit around, look like nobody much didn't come dere. So you kin take your old shoe, take you some onions and peel 'em and take de peelin' - dese dry hulls off de onions and put 'em in dat shoe. Take you a little sugar and put it in dat shoe, and a little salt and put in dere, and walk to de stove and take de heel part and turn it right up over de toe like dat, and put it bottomside upwards into de stove [upside down rite] and let it burn dere. In ten or fifteen minutes you have more people in your house den you kin wait on.
Entry 2640
Well, dat supposed to bring luck in business - to bring luck in busi- ness an' yo' know tuh drive any evil spirit away, de cops. Well, now, yo' do this on a Friday at twelve a'clock. Yo' take sugah an' sulphur an' salt an' yo' sprinkle it on some ole shoes, an' den when de whistle is blowin' fo' twelve, why yo' have a good while to lay it on, put it in there an' yo' burn it an' let de smoke go out. See, de smoke, well it will go out de chimley an' it will light up good. Why den yo' lift it out in a shovel or somethin' an' yo' carry it roun' in yore place of business an' let dat smoke circulate aroun'. An' den yo' take an' put it back in de stove an' let it finish burnin' up. Do dat each Friday. Well, dat's all to dat fo' good luck. (That is for luck in business - to bring in customers and also keep the police away?) Bring customer an' keep policemen 'way.
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 2644
Then yo' kin take shoes an' scrape 'em off at de bottom. Take that an' put it in a papah an' git some lodestone an' mix wit it, mash it up wit it, an' yo' read a verse in Psalms - yo' read de 27th verse of Psalms. An' yo' put that togethah an' yo' take dat an' put it down at chure do' or up ovah yore do' where dey has tuh pass in an' out. That's fo' gainin' fren's.
(Bringing in trade.)
Yes, an' fo' lawful business an' all lak dat. An' yo' kin burn incense 'bout three time a week. That's when yo' in busi- ness - lak a sto' or any kind of shop or anything. Yo' burn de incense three time a week. Yo' burn it Monday, Wednesday an' Friday. Dat's in yore business - dat's drawin' mo' customers.
Entry 3107
If she'd [some woman had] gone away from you, she'd [Zippy Tull would] tell you, "Bring me the right shoe an' the last track she made of goin' from home" - take the dirt from that track goin' from home, an' her right shoe, an' bring it to her. She'd take this shoe, she dressed this shoe an' had this shoe - you see, the toe wus goin' from the house, she'd have you to bury it, the toe goin' to de house; the shoe, you change it right around. She put that [track] in the shoe. An' in nine day's time she'd tell you she'd [be] there, she come very near bein' there.
Entry 3930
Yore wife run off from yuh an' yo' kin get holt of some of 'er monthly pieces, yo' take it an' put it between yore innah sole an' yore outside sole of yore shoe. An' yo' kin wear dat an' she'll be undah yo'. She'll have to come back an' be aroun' yo'. She can't stay away, she have to come back - yo' be wearin' dat.
Entry 3931
Dat piece she wears, yo' know, durin' de time all wimmins have dat. Yo' take a piece outa dat an' yo' cut a place in yore left shoe, an' yo' wear dat cloth in dere, an' all de time she cain't go outa de house. She gotta stay in de house whilst yo' wear dat.
Entry 3974
Well, he [my contact man when testing informant] ast me about did ah know about makin' a man love yo'. Ah tell 'im, yes. Yo' take de hair out of his haid an' wear it in yore shoe an' dat will make him love yo'. An' den yo' kin take 'bout runnin' anybody crazy. Yo' kin take dere, yo' know, ministratin' pieces an' wrap hit in de seat of a Woman's pants, an' wrap it togethah an' boil [ball] it until it's, yo' know, an' den put it in runnin' watah. Dat will run 'em crazy. (Well, do you throw those pieces in running water or [throw] the water that you boil them in?)
[They are not boiled but balled.]
No, yo' throw 'em in runnin' watah an' dat will run 'em crazy.
Entry 4351
Dey kin take his shoe an' take some dis same chamber lye an' po' it in de bottom of dey [his] shoe an' go tuh runnin' watah an' po' it in dere - any runnin' watah. Jis' throw it right in dere [the shoe], till yo' go to dat runnin' watah. Dat'll run a person 'way, too. (Suppose you want to run me away. You get one of my shoes, either one. And then what would you do?) Jis' take some yuh chamber lye.
(You get your chamber lye and put it in my shoe?)
[My question misleads me and informant.]
Put it in de shoe, eithah one of 'em. Jis' po' enough dat chew kin po' out into de watah. Not tuh run ovah, jis' de back part of de heel [of] de shoe. An' go po' it into de runnin' watah. Now, dat keeps yuh travelin', yuh don' stay one place anywheres.
(What do you do with the shoe? Bring it back home?)
Bring it on back. Yuh [the author as guinea pig] put de shoe right back on yuh. Yuh won't know whut happen. (All you do is pour my chamber lye into running water. But you have to pour it out of my shoe.) Othahwise, ah want tuh run yuh 'way. Ah'm ti'ed of yuh, don' want chew no mo'. Ah go tuh work when yo' go tuh sleep an' ah take one of yore shoes an' take some of mah [surely the man's] chamber lye an' go out dere tuh de ditch an' po some out it, an' come on back an' set dat shoe down, say, "Go on, So-an'-so, ah don't ca' a thing 'bout chew."
(You pour it into running water?)
Dat's right.
Entry 4530
Den dey kin wheel aroun' [change about] an' take yuh hat. Dey take yuh hat, dis ban' off yore hat, an' dey take de ban' tuh hurt cha. An' when dey take it off dere, dey keep dat. (They take that bow off.) Yes sir, dey keep dat. Den dey done take dat, dey keep dat. If dey kin git tuh yore shoes, dey take yore right foot shoe an dey'll burn it up tuh ashes, an' de oddah foot de same way. An' dey kin take dat ban' off de hat an' put it in deah, in heah, an' bury 'em an' keep yuh down.
Entry 4570
Yuh could take dat, de bow out dey hat. Yuh could take it an' sew it in any little thing, a Woman's britches or anything lak dat, where yuh could wear it. See what ah mean. An' den in othah words [another method], yuh could wear it in yore shoe. See, what ah mean, it would make him love yuh.
Entry 4653
Git de bow of 'is hat an' put it in yore shoe an' wear it in yore shoe. Dat will make him love yo'.
Entry 4654
Dey tells me dat yuh take dat bow out an' put it in yore right shoe an' wear it in yore right shoe, an' dey says dat'll keep 'im home.
Entry 4655
Take dis bow, see dat sits back dere in yore hat, an' put it in yore shoe an' wear dat in yore shoe. Wear dat an' make love.
(Who would do that?)
A man, eithah a woman. Dat whut ah use. Eithah one of 'em.
Entry 4656
Take dat bow an' wear it in de bottom of 'er shoe, de wimmins do.
(What does that do?)
Well, he love 'er. He goin' come tuh love 'er an' he follah 'er roun' or want tuh follah 'er roun'.
Entry 4657
Take dat bow an' wear it in de bottom of yore shoe. Wear dat bow in de bottom of yore lef' shoe. Dat'll make him crazy about chew.
Entry 4658
Take dat bow an' make him bring all 'is money home tuh yuh.
(How do you do that?)
Jis' take it out, see, an' put it in yore shoe, de bottom of yore left shoe an' wear it, an' dat'll make him bring all 'is money home tuh yuh.
Entry 4661
Take dat bow out of a man's hat an' put it in de toe of 'er right shoe, an' wear dat an' he'll always love 'er, until dat bow wears out in 'er shoe.
Entry 4688
Takes dat an' soaks it in chamber lye, de bow from de back of man's hat. Soaks it in chamber lye an' puts it in de bottom of 'er shoe. She got de man. Evahwhere she go, he's follahin' 'er.
(She can wear it in either shoe?)
Either shoe. Jis' de innah sole yuh know, take dat out an' soak it in chamber lye, eithah put chamber lye in dere an' put de innah sole down ovah it, an' he follah her evahwhere she wants tuh go.
(Whose chamber lye does she put in there?)
Hers. She use her own chamber lye.
(She puts that in the man's shoe?)
[My question or statement shows me napping, caught by the words he follah her, I momentarily forgetting what went before.]
Entry 4822
Take a piece of 'is undahgarment an' wear it in 'er left shoe an' he'll come back home tuh 'er.
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 5103
If yuh keep shoes undah de bed yuh'll be sick all de time.
(You mean you do that yourself, you'll be sick all the time?)
Yes.
(So you don't want to keep them under the bed. That the idea?)
No [not under bed].
Entry 5106
Git chure yore shoe while yore feets sweat - sweat up to de end of yore toes.
(What do they call that?)
Toe jam, toe jam. Yo' kin take dat shoe right down an' burn it an' dat will jes' give yo' a crazy mind. A mind wit - yo' wouldn't speak right no way. Yo' wouldn't talk right. Yo' wouldn't answer right. Yo' wouldn't act like a man dat had plenty sense. Yo' wouldn't.
Entry 5108
Ah've did it mahself. Yo' take a ole shoe an' yo' burn it. Dat's tuh keep snakes away from de house. Burn de ole shoes wit sulphuh.
Entry 5109
Take dey ole shoes an' burn 'em an' jis' like yuh burn dem shoes till dey burns intuh ashes, dat person'll withah down. Dey tell me.
(WHOSE SHOES DO YOU BURN?)
WHOSEVAH YUH MAD WIT.
Entry 5114
Ah kin tell yuh jis' whut chew kin do tuh make a person leave town. Yuh take dere left shoe an' bury it, if yuh kin git holt of it. All de time yuh cain't git holt of dere left shoe, but if yuh cain't, yuh git somebody else tuh git holt of it. An' yuh bury dat left shoe. Don' care if it's de only one dat dey nuse [use], bury it an' dey won't be seen in town aftah nine days or aftah yuh bury dat. It take 'em about nine days tuh git outa town. Dey gon'a leave out fo' some special cause. [Notice quaint all de time.]
Entry 5116
Yuh kin take a man's shoe, yuh kin take one of 'is ole shoes, jis' lak yuh got some steps dat yuh come up, lak yuh got stair [door] steps, if yuh kin git undah dem stair steps [doorsteps], yuh bury dat shoe in de ground. Put salt in dat shoe an' bury it in de ground. He'll be back dere.
(Either shoe?)
Eithah shoe.
(You don't bury it any particular way? Just so that you bury it?)
Yuh bring it back [point it towards the house], den he's gotta come back. Git 'im so he'll cross ovah dat shoe an' he cain't stay away. Dat shoe will bring 'im back.
Entry 5117
Bury dat. Take dat shoe, dat lef'-foot shoe an' yuh take dat piece out dat shoe - dat bottom, dat piece of cloth.
(That inner sole?)
Yeah, dat innah sole. An' yuh bury dat. When yuh bury dat, when dat shoe rots, yuh'll rotten - GONE TUH HELL AN' GONE! GONE TUH HELL! SHO' KILL 'EM! OH, YE-AH!
Entry 5122
Take a person's shoes an' make dem leave. Take dey shoes an' put 'em up, HIGH UP OVAH DEY HAID. Or eithah take de sole off 'em where dey walk at an' dey'll walk. Dey nevah will stay dere no mo'.
(What do you do with that sole if you take it off?)
Take it an' put it up ovah de do' where dey walks at a lots, an' dey'll leave dere.
Entry 5124
Ah heard about de shoe 'cuz ah tried it mahself; jis' lak yuh wan' yore man fren' or sompin tuh come tuh yo' an' not leave yuh. Well, ah take his lef'-foot shoes - dat's pertainin' tuh de heart - an' bury it undah de do'step, es- pesh'ly [especially] de do' where he comes in.
(Do you bury it in any special way?)
Yes, bury it comin' tuh de house, not goin' away, comin' tuh de house - wit de track down, de bottom of de foot down.
(You mean the shoe is standing up, straight up? Or you turn it upside down?)
Straight up. See, jis' lak yo're [you are] walkin' in de shoe.
Entry 5125
Take a person - jis' lak ah tole yuh 'bout de lef'-han' shoe or sock. Wus it shoe or sock?
(You didn't tell me about either one.)
Well, anyway yuh kin take a person lef' shoe - SEE, DAT'S DE HEART ON DE LEF' SIDE - an' take it an' bury it deep as yuh kin undah de step, tuh keep 'im from any idea 'bout it. Bury it undahneat' de step, so he cain't leave home.
Entry 5126
(Tell me how that's done to make a man stay at home.)
[I am repeating informant's statement after turning on recording machine.]
Yuh take his shoe or slippah or anythin', an' yuh bury it undah de steps, but comin' in. He won' go nowhere.
Entry 5127
Jis' lak if dey off somewhere an' yuh wan's 'em back, puts dat shoe undah a do'step an' yuh BRUSH OFF DOSE SHOES NINE MAWNIN'S. Dat'll bring 'em back. Yuh don' bury de shoe. Put 'em up undah de step, jis' undah de step.
(Then you brush them off nine mornings?)
Nine mawnin's.
(You put both shoes under there?)
Both shoes.
Entry 5130
Ah says like you separated from yore wife. Well, she take dat shoe, if someone done tole her about it. Yuh take yore shoe an' yuh puts it undah de step, facin' tuhward like yuh comin' in, an' turn it bottom upwards. When yore man's out, when he come back an' he walks ovah dat shoe, why when yuh walk ovah dat shoe, yuh continue stayin' dere. Yuh'll nevah leave until dat shoe is move.
Entry 5131
Take dat shoe an' yuh dress it. Yuh kin put a little perfume or jis any kinda little powder or anythin' in dat shoe. An' yuh take dat shoe an' yuh dress it, an' den yuh take dat shoe an' carry it out in de woods an' bury dat shoe. If yuh don' do dat, bury it right undah de do'steps where she'll walk ovah it. Bury dat shoe. Make 'em stay at home.
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 5142
Yuh take dat shoe - jis' take one of 'em, de one tuh de right foot. An' burn it halfway up. Den take it an' care [carry] it an' dig yuh a hole an' bury dat shoe. Pray ovah it. Go dah evah mawnin' an' throw a handful of dirt on dat, an' he'll leave yuh. Yuh won' have no trouble wit 'im, he'll go on whah he won' bothah yuh no more.
Entry 5144
Take yore shoes an' scrape, yuh know, some outa de instep. An' dey kin roll dat up in a piece of red flannel an' carry it right down tuh any cemetery, any grave in de cemetery, right at de foot, an' [bury it and] IT WILL MAKE YUH WALK YORE BRAINS OUT - keeps yuh walkin'.
Entry 5154
Yuh could take a person's shoe. Yuh could take dat shoe an' nail it up in de centah of de house, if de individual away an' yuh wan' dem back. Yuh kin take dat shoe an' nail it up in de direct CENTAH OF DE ROOM, an' dat will draw 'em back.
Entry 5157
Cut dat out dere shoe.
(What do you cut out?)
De linin' - yes, de innah sole.
(What do you do with that?)
Put it in yore shoes an' weah it.
(What will that do?)
Make him love yuh.
Entry 5158
If yuh wan' 'im tuh stay wit chew, take dat li'le sole, dat li'le thing on de inside of yore shoes. An' yuh take dat an' put it in yore shoes instead of 'is shoes. Yuh take it an' put it in yore shoes, an' yuh weah dat, see. An' long as yuh weah dem shoes wit 'is sole [insole] in dere, den yuh got 'i:.
Entry 5197
Yo' wear sulphur in yore shoes, if some- body put somepin down tuh harm yo'. Yo' git chew some sulphur an' red peppah an' put it in each shoe an' wear it, an' whatevah people put down fo' yo', it can't harm yo'. Red peppah an' sulphur.
Entry 5198
Yo' kin pertec' [protect] yo'self - yo' kin go ahead an' git chew a pod of red peppah an' sulphur an' put in de bottom of yore shoe, each foot, an' wear dat. Dey cain't harm yo', dey cain't harm yo'.
Entry 5201
Well, yo' kin take de shoes an' burn 'em an' dey'll come back.
(Both the shoes?)
Yes, burn shoes.
(After you burn them what do you do?)
Yo'jes' burn 'em wit salt. If yo' jes' take salt an' sprinkle it behin' a person dey will leave. Den yo' kin take de shoes an' burn 'em wit salt an' dey'll come back. [Burning the shoes with salt - both burning and salt - breaks the spell cast that send the person away.]
Entry 5204
Take red peppah an' salt an' put it in yore shoes tuhgethah. An' mix it in a li'le bag or papah an' put it in yore shoe an' weah it. Dat'll keep any- one from hurtin' yo'.
Entry 5208
People, yo' know, kin take an' weah sulphur in de shoes, an' as long as yo' weah sulphur in yore shoes, ah don' care who put anythin' down fo' yo', it wouldn't hurt chew. Sulphur an' salt eats up de poison.
Entry 5209
An' den ag'in yo' kin take de salt, de eatin' salt, an' sulphur an' yo kin take dat an' let it been in dat ole shoe. An' take it out dat ole shoe an' yo' kin go an' sprinkle it in mah house, or on de sill of mah house, or anywhere on de step, an' ah walk ovah it ah'll leave.
(Whose shoe do you put that salt in?)
Anyone who yo' wanta work harm wit or good.
(Well, then you would take it out of their shoe?)
Yes, when yo' take it out de shoe, den yo' put it in dat bottle. Sho'. Well yo' jis' take dat salt out as a powdah an' throw it undah mah house or eithah in mah house, if yo' kin. (Well, now, suppose you were running me away and you want to use salt to do it, you would put that salt in my shoe?) No, no suh.
(You mean your own shoe?)
No, nobody's shoe. Yo' jis' takes dat salt an' diff'ren' things whut chew wanta put tuh it, an' yo' throw it down. Yo' kin jis' throw it at de threshhold of mah do' an' ah'd move. Evah time yo' walk ovah dat, see, dat satisfies - dat settle it. Yo'll leave, yo'll git a mind tuh leave heah an' yo'll go.
Entry 5212
[Here is another version of preceding rite by same informant:]
Ah tell yo'. Yo' could take red peppah an' sulphur an' salt [3 ingredients], an' yo' could put it an' weah it in yore shoes; or eithah tie some of it in a piece of cloth an' put it roun' yore waist. An' nobody couldn't hurt chew tuh save yo' life.
Entry 5256
If dey wanted yo' tuh leave heah an' didn't wan' chew tuh come back heah, dey could take some of yore ole shoes or sompin or 'nothah an' put it un- dah a boxcar, but he supposed tuh have yore name in dat shoe. An' jes' lak he says tuh dat boxcar - well, when dat train leave mos' likely yo'll git uneasy. Yo' goin git fixed tuh gittin' ready fo' goin' yo'self.
Entry 5275
An' den ah heah dem say yo' kin take dey shoes. Lak if a person run off from home an' be runnin' aroun', an' yo' don't wan' 'em tuh do lak dat. Well yo' take de shoes, both shoes an' jes' turn 'em down. Dey mos'ly has mo' den one pair of shoes. Yo' take de shoes an' turn 'em down, yo' know, wit de soles up, an' dey say dat will make 'em stay at home.
Entry 5277
An' a man, tuh keep 'im from runnin' aroun', yo' kin take his lef'- foot shoes an' keep it turned down in yore dirty-clothes box. Keep it turned down in yore dirty-clothes box an' dat will keep 'im from runnin' aroun'.
Entry 5278
Aw dey kin take yo' shoes if dey wan' chew tuh stay home. Take yo' lef'-footed shoes an' turn it upside down. Dat's tuh make a man stay home an' make a woman stay. home.
(Where do they put that shoe then?)
In de left cornah of yore house, upside down, de lef' shoe. She got'a have more den one pair of shoes.
Entry 5279
Ah've heard of 'em takin' a man's lef' shoe, if he's away, an' turnin' dat shoe dcwn wit dat toe back in de house, an' if he's out he'll come back. Ah hear dat.
Entry 5286
Dey take yore left-foot shoes, de linin' outa dat. Well, SOME PEOPLE IS LOW ENOUGH TUH TAKE IT TUH DE CEMETERY or throW it in runnin' watah.
(What do they do with it out at the cemetery?)
Dey buries it.
(All right, what will that do?)
Well, dat will jes' keep yo' lingahin' sick.
(Then what about the running Water?)
Well, de runnin' watah, it jes' keeps yo' foolish.
Entry 5287
All right, yo' kin take dey shoe an' yo' kin throw it in de rivah. Jis' lak dat shoe goes away, dat's how yo' goes away. Den yo' kin take it an' yo' kin bury it. When it rottens, yo' rottens away. Den yo' kin take dat shoe an' yo' kin tie it on de side of a train, an' when dat train pull off yo' wonders
[wanders] away.
Entry 5290
Dey kin hurt yo' by burnin' yore shoes.
(What will that do to you if they burn your shoes?)
Jes' take de ashes an' put dem in a bottle an' put it in watah, airtight. DAT'LL KILL YO' IF YO' DON' GIT SOMEBODY TUH TAKE IT OFF YO'.
Entry 5612
Well, yo' take, if yo' have someone roun joo an' yo' don' wan' 'em aroun' joo, yo' kin take sulphur an' red peppah an' place it in de bottom of dere shoes, shoe track. [Informant should have put shoe track after an' following red peppah - 3 ingredients.] Jis' lak dey step on de soil down dere, jis' take some of dat soil, mix dat all up tuhgethah. Put dat in de bottom of dey shoe, dat will run 'em out.
(Whose shoe do you put that in?)
Put dat in de person dat chew wan' tuh leave.
(You mean in their shoe?)
In de one yo' wan's tuh leave.
(Put some of their own foot track in there?)
Yes, put some of deres - jis' lak if ah want chew to leave, see. Ah'd git soevhere yo'd been steppin', right 'long where yo's been goin'. Wouldn't git it where yo' comin' towards de house, git it as yo' goin' 'way from de house. Mix dat up togethah an' place it in dere shoes, see, ovahnight. De nex' mawnin' [I interrupt].
(Do you put it in both shoes or just one shoe?)
Jis' one shoe.
(And out of what foot track do you get this dirt?)
Out of the left track.
Entry 6938
Put sulphur an' a dime in yore shoe an' weah it in dere, an' dey couldn't hurt chew.
(If you walk over anything, it wouldn't hurt you?)
Yes.
Entry 6948
Yo' could take de shoe an' take it an' lie it undah de baid, bottosl side upwards, an' lie dere han' in a pan of watah an' make 'em tell whut de'
[dey = they] done aftah night. Tell evahthin'.
Entry 7119
Ah've heard people say yo' could put 'is shoes undah de bed an' turn 'em bottom upwards. An' long as dose shoes is bottom upwards, he'll lay dere an' sleep until she comes back.
Entry 7122
Yo' could take de lef'-foot of any- body's shoe an' turn it down, jis' lak yo' wanta turn a trick, an' yo' be sleepin', why yo'll sleep right dere till dey do whut de wanta an' come back.
Entry 7123
Yo' could take a person's shoe when dey sleep or anything, an' if yo' Wanta slip out - yo' could take de lef'-foot shoe an' turn it upside down.
Entry 7124
Turn person's left shoe bottom upwards an' lay that under bed. Won't Wake up.
Entry 7126
How, tuh keep 'im asleep while she's out at night, take his lef'-foot shoe an' turn it down undahneath undah de head of de bed.
Entry 7128
If yo' wanta make a person sleep, yo' kin [get] outa de bed from 'im while he's sleep. Yo' take his shoe, jis' only one. Take his lef'-foot shoe an' ease it down, an' turn it bottomside upwards right undah de side of de bed where he sleep on. Turn it bottomsides upwards undah dere. Yo' has a chance tuh go anywheres yo' wanta, 'cuz he's not goin' wake up 'long as dat shoe is turned bottom upwards.
Entry 7140
Take a person's left shoe when he goes to sleep, hold over his nose about 10 minutes. He won't wake up.
Entry 7143
Ketch a man asleep an' take yore right-foot shoe an' carry it ovah 'is face nine times. An' yo' kin go on where- evah yo' wanta an' come on back, an' he won't wake up until yo' come back. (How do you put that shoe over his face? Show me how you do that.) Jis' lak he's layin' perhaps on 'is back. Yo' take yore shoe an' yo' turn it. Yo' know, maybe it smell inside of it, he inhale dat. Yo' jis carry it ovah 'is face lak dat [demonstrates].
(In a circular motion.)
Nine times in a motion, nine times.
Entry 7144
Turn person's shoe upside down an' leave on chest or stom- ach. Keeps him asleep.
Entry 7148
Turn yore shoes upside down, if yo' tuh bed. Turn yore shoes upside down an' walk on out, an' yo' won' wake up until he come back an' turn de shoe ovah.
(Do you use both shoes or just one?)
Use both shoes. Put it crossways lak dat [demonstrates].
(On top of each other crossways.)
Entry 7175
Write his name three times an' take it an' stick it into his shoe an' put it under his head.
Entry 7287
To do away wit tracks whah [where] de bloodhoun's might cross, put it [chicken manure] undah de bottom of yore foot. Jis' git chew a big pile of it, yo' know, de sole of yore shoe, an' jis' wipe it aroun' in dere until yo' git a-plenty of it on. An' den leave it. Dat's so de bloodhoun's cain't even start.
(What kind of manure do you use?)
Dat chicken manure.
Entry 7300
Well, yo' kin take some spirits of turpentine an' wet chure shoe wit spirits of turpentine or undah yore feet, an' yo' kin - he won't bothah yo'. Eithah yo' kin run through a cow lot where a cow pasture is, an' dey ain't comin no fu'thah an' dat. De dogs cain't track yo'.
Entry 7301
(You mean, if they put dogs on your trail?)
Yes. All right. If yo' figure dey goin' to put dogs on yore trail, if yo' can jes' make it out of town, anywheres, jes' git a little turpentine an' put it in yore shoe. All right, de first place yo' can, git out in de woods where a cow at - fresh cow's manure dere. Yo' step in it an' yo' can walk right on anywhere yo' want to. Dere's nobody goin' to bothah yo'.
(Dogs won't track you?)
Naw, de dogs ain't goin' to track yo' atall.
Entry 7303
Ah heard dat jes' lak if yo' git in any trouble - anythin' lak dat - jes' lak if ah would kill a man or sompin othah an' ah wanted tuh git away, why ah would go den to a graveyard an' ah would git some graveyard dirt an' put it in both of mah shoes. Well, ah kin go - if it ain't nuthin but turpentine gum, it bes' tuh be turpentine spirits though, an' wet de bottom of mah foots in dat spirits. If ah can't git tuh de spirits, gits gum outa a car [truck collecting turpentine gum] an' jes' step in it. Go on, a dog can't trail yo' no way.
Entry 7304
Well, ah've heered 'em say dey do somepin sep'rate wit it. Dey take it an' kin take de graveyard dirt - now, jes' lak if yo' or ah wus on de [chain] gang an' ah Wanted [to] git away, why jes' if somebody git to a graveyard, ah would take dat dirt an' put it in mah shoes, right undah de sole, hollah of mah feet. Well, yo' see, a dog couldn't track dat.
The informant introduces hearsay and a conditional example. '[chain]' and '[to]' are editorial insertions within the printed speech; the tracking claim remains source-reported.
Entry 7305
An' dey put bloodhoun's in behin' yo' or sompin lak dat, yo' know, yo' kin go to de graveyard an' git some dirt out dere, all down to de elbow [dig in- to grave elbow-deep] yo' understan', an' take de graveyard dirt yo' know an' wear it in yore shoes. Keep sprinklin' it in yore shoes an' wear it.
The informant describes dirt from a graveyard in a hypothetical pursuit. The bracketed explanation of digging elbow-deep is editorial matter within the printed speech.
Entry 7306
Jes' lak if yo' would do somepin an' dey would git aftah yo', git de dogs aftah yo' or de hounds aftah yo' to ketch chew. Say yo' could go to a graveyard an' git some of de dirt an' git chure feet wet wit it. Wet chure feet an' put some of it in yore shoes. Dose dogs run yo' to de graveyard but dat's fur as dey could run yo'. Ah've heard dat.
The informant gives a hypothetical pursuit account and closes with 'Ah've heard dat'. The dirt and dog-tracking claim remains hearsay rather than a personal escape account.
Entry 7307
De reason yo' use graveyard dirt, lotta people jis' say fo' instance dey kill someone an' dey git away an' don't want 'em tuh track yo'. Yo' put some of dat graveyard dust in yore shoe. Well, de bloodhoun's won't trail yo' or nuthin. If yo' want git de bloodhoun's off yore trail [another method] den put red peppah in yore shoes.
(So that bloodhounds won't track you?)
Yes sir.
The informant reports hypothetical pursuit claims for graveyard dust and a separate red-pepper method. '[another method]' is editorial; the interviewer's question and the informant's answer remain separate.
Entry 7329
About de graveyard? Say if dey should do anythin' in de city an' dey wanta dodge de law or keep de dogs from trackin' 'em, dey go to de graveyard an' git de graveyard dirt an' put it in dey shoe; an' dey sprinkle a little turpen- tine, yo' know raw turpentine, in dere an' de dogs couldn't track 'em.
The informant describes a hypothetical attempt to evade pursuit using graveyard dirt with turpentine. The tracking claim remains source-reported.
Entry 7339
Takes a pod of red peppah an' gits nine grains [seeds] an' put it in both shoes an' wear it in dere. An' take yo' some salt an' sugah an' put it in de toe of yore shoe, an' yo' could walk anywhere yo' Wanted tuh go. If dey hounds wuz aftah yo', den yo' git chew some red peppah [cayenne] or eithah a piece of sock or sompin, an' rub it undah yore arms, undah each arm an' put it in yore shoe, den dey couldn't trail yo'. (Put those nine grains of red peppah in each shoe, so if you walk over any- thing it won't hurt you?) Dat's whut dat's fo'.
(This other is for the hounds tracking you?)
Yes.
Entry 7341
Ah jes' heard dem say dat dey wear salt, table salt, in de shoes an' nobody couldn't git dere track. Couldn't pick up dere foot track.
Entry 7346
All right, if a man kills anybody an' he wants tuh run away an' dey can't ketch 'im, he gits down an' he takes jes' a little bit of turpentine an' puts it in de bottom of his shoe, an' he walks on de ground till he git to a railroad an' he pull off all his clothes an' throw it all 'way. Well, dem dogs cain't follah him a bit fu'thah den dat railroad. When he gits on de railroad, dey cain't follah him a bit fu'thah den dat railroad track.
(Why couldn't they follow the railroad track?)
Cuz dat's cold - see, dey cain't.
Entry 7384
To bring a fellah back whut's went off an' done sompin an' run off, yo' go to work an' git a piece of dis fellah's clothes or eithah a shoe or sompin, an' yo' take dat an' carry it to yore place of [hoo- doo] business, see. An' yo' dress dat wit dis heah - git some of dis Heart Cologne, see, wit drawin'-love powdah an' some dis heah High John de Conkah root. An' yo' take dat an' yo' come back home den, an' yo' take it an' bury it undah yore house, see. Yo' take it an' bury it right undah yore house right behin' undah yore dohstep. Hell, fo' so many mawnin's yo' go round yore house, about nine mornings - one time evah mawnin'. Inside of dat time dat fellah goin' eithah be back or sompin be's happen to 'im.
Entry 7892
Said dey kin take an' git some dirt from de graveyard, an' if dey kin git one of yuh shoes an' put some of dat in it, dey kin hurt choo lak dat; make yo' cripple or lame or somepin lak dat.
The informant reports what others are said to do with dirt from a graveyard and a shoe. The injury claim remains reported rather than independently established.
Entry 8927
If a person come in here an' steal somepin from yo', he may steal five dollars or he may steal ten dollars. Well, now yo' go to bed. Yo' wanta go down an' put de law behin' [the thief], but don' chew do dat. Yo' ain't gotta put de law behin' 'em. Den go to work an' lay down in yore bed at night an' de fust thing yo' dream yo' git up. De fust thing yo' have in yore dreams, yo' git up. Yo' go an' take up yo' right-footed shoe. An' take it an' put it at de head of yo' bed, underneath chure head. Well, de fust thing yo' dream after yo' put it underneath chew head, yo' come downstairs an' take some soda, cookin' soda, in yo' hand. An' take some table salt an' put it in yo' hand, an' a little bit of red pepper an' put it in yore hand. Go to de do' an' call three names of de ones dat been to yore house. An' dat man will come back dat night an' bring dat back an' say he got it.
Entry 9053
Now, sometimes in case yo' in trouble, yo' take it an' put it in yore shoe - weah it in yore shoe.
(This graveyard dirt?)
Yes sir. Take it an' po' [pour] it in dere loose in yore shoe, graveyard dirt an' sul- phur, mix it tuhgethah. Now, dat in case yo' got in trouble, or eithah, yo' know, jes' lak if somebody break prison or sompin dat kind. Now, dey use it fo' dat.
Entry 9058
Well, anybody in jail git dat graveyard dirt an' a red onion, an' let dem sleep wit it undah dere haid dat night. Nex'l mawnin' turn dere clothes wrongsides out an' put it on, an' put dat graveyard dust in dey shoe. An' dey come cleah. Dey can't fine 'em, don't care whut dey do. It's de spirits [in the graveyard dirt] is worryin' de judge.
(Now, that night, you put that graveyard dirt under you in something?)
Yo' puts dat onion - undahstand, sleep dat night in de jailhouse. Yo' git up an' turn yore clothes wrongside outahs [outwards] an' pin dat onion on yo', an' sprinkle dat graveyard dust in shoe. Undahstan'? An' dey can't try yo' cuz de daid folks is worryin' 'em.
Entry 9063
Dey take dat tuh settle a case in co't chew know.
(How is that done?)
Well, when de case comin' up, yo' wanta break de case down, yo' take - walk aroun' de grave seven times, 'cuz Joshua walk aroun' de walls of Jericho seven times, yo' know. Call dey pusson name evah time [7 times] an' tell 'em whut chew want. An' pull up de haidbo'd an' care [carry] it down tuh 'is foot, an' tell 'em'tuh bring de case down fo' me - tuh break it down. Right at chew foot, yo' know. If a fellah got a case ag'in' [again- st] yuh, dat goin' break it down. (What do they do with that footboard then?) See, dey - den dey take de footbo'd up, yo' know, an' care it tuh de haid, an' tell 'em tuh he'p yo' ovahcome dem. Git me [understand me]? Yo' go back tuh de foot now, an' git chew some dirt frum de foot an' care it wit chew in yo' pants pocket. It tends tuh bring all yo' enemies beneath yo' feet. Eithah in yo' pants pocket or eithah in yo' shoe, eithah one. Care it wit chew. Ain't no one comin' ag'in yuh.
Entry 9072
You kin go to the drug store like the Crackerjack. That's a wonderful drug store for all hoodoo methods. You can go there and get you some Jerusalem root. You take that Jerusalem root, you beat it up, you put it the left shoe, and you make four signs of the cross with your back turned.
(Show me how you do that.)
That's the infidel sign, they call that. They make that four times like that [demonstrates]. And when you go and face this man, well you're not supposed to look off from him or nuthin like dat. Yo' are supposed to wave his conscience from 'is eyes, an' that dust is helpin' yo' more so to win 'im, becuz yo' got confidence an' faith in dat dust. Therefore he'll look over maybe $25 or $30 [theft] and give you a break. Yo' make that cross before yo' meet 'im. On your back. See yo' can't make de regular sign in front, yo' got to make it four times wit yore back turned. They call dat de infidel sign. [Did he make this cross on his back or backside?]
Entry 9102
Seventh Book of Moses, during trial let somebody read it and yo' think of what is de 7th Book, while dey were having yore trial. Or let some one slip it tuh yuh an' weah it in bottom of yore shoes during trial. [Since it would be impossible to wear this paper-back volume in your shoe, perhaps one of the pages or something copied from the book is worn.]
Entry 9127
An' den, too, dere's anothah story sompin de same thing, dat if yo' got a case in co't, yo' git twelve sage leaves an' yo' write de twelve apostle names, one on each leave. An' if yo' gotta meet co't, den yo' put six in one shoe an' six in de othah, an' de judge himself have tuh be in yore favor. Yo' see, if yo' do dat, den by God Almighty, it's a help tuh yo', yo' undahstan'. Here we are told what is unexpressed in the similar rites. These twelve names compel God Al- mighty's help!]
Entry 9128
To win a lawsuit in co't, yo' git chew twelve - listen tuh me good - yo' git chew twelve sage leave an' write de twelve apostles' names on dem twelve leaves, an' put dem in yore shoes jes' at sunrise an' weah dat in yore shoe. An' when yo' called up befo' de co't, why yo'll win out. (You wear those six in each shoe I suppose?) [This is not a leading question be- cause I already had enough examples of this rite. My only interest in this one were the words put dem in your shoes jes' at sunrise.] Dat's right.
Entry 9130
Well, yo' kin git some - git chew twelve sage leaves an' cut chew twelve pieces of papah jes' about de size of dose sage leaves, an' write de pro- phet's name on each one of dem. An' take an' weah six of 'em in one shoe an six in de othah shoe, when yo' go befo' de judge.
(What do you do with those papers?)
Jes' paste de papahs onto de leaves. [The names of these prophets are evi- dently those formerly called the 6 major and 6 minor prophets.]
Entry 10325
Measure man, wear string in shoe 9 days, then tie around right ankle [a remedy of the great George Jackson of the Eastern Shore, see Pp.912-915, v.1. Some of the material about him collected on Eastern Shore of Maryland, some from relative in Baltimore].
Entry 10351
Wipe man with dishrag, wear in shoe or on waist or hide in room.
[Elizabeth City, 407:5.]
Entry 11100
Put man's old dirty underwear or old shoes under bed to bring back.
[Wilmington 115:3.]
Entry 11397
Fingernails are worn in shoe to hold person. He specifies middle finger of right hand and finger next to little finger on left hand and dirt from under these 2 nails. [Vicksburg 1001:6.]
Entry 11600
Keep a pod of red pepper in the toe of each shoe if someone is trying to harm you. Or take enemy's footprint or footstep and tie up in red flannel with cayenne pepper. Or bury footprint under your doorsteps and that will keep them away.
Entry 12066
Handwriting is worn in shoes to bring person back. [Elizabeth City 403:9.]
Entry 12120
You should keep a hat bow shut up for awhile in a bottle with cologne and witch hazel and then wear it in your shoe for love. [Wilmington 133:3+85.]
Entry 12473
Ah heard of a man once dat wuz goin' wit a girl. He wuz a married man. An' dis girl wanted tuh go tuh de show. He didn't want her tuh go because a single [man] was carryin' her. So he called for her an' had her go tuh his office. An' he strangles her first. An' den he dismembered her body, cut de haid off first an' her arms, an' den he cuts her body off [up]: cuts her thighs off, den de laigs - jes' dismembered her dat way. Dere wuz nobody in de office, an' he lived about ten miles out. He carries her out past his home an' put [the parts of] her body different places, an' two weeks later de news got out an' he didn't say anything about it, when he heard de news. He went tuh her people about her. He hadn't seen her in a couple of weeks an' she was on a vacation. It was man seen him put de haid out - out of a truck. He know de man's face but he didn't know his name. An' when de news got out about her, dey go tuh dis place an' git de haid, an' roun' in dat settlement dey found all de parts of de body. He burnt her clothes an' shoes in his office. An' dis man, after dey got her back tuhgether, de man dat killed her, dat was her sweetheart. Dey carried dis man tuh de undertaker's shop tuh identify her. But it didn't seem tuh take any 'fect on him de first three times dey carried him. So de third time he wus dere, why dey used some kind of - dey called it perfume, but ah don't know de name of de perfume. It was tuh weaken him. De nex' time dey didn't have tuh carry him dere. He went hisself an' gave up. After he looked at her, he jes' broke an' telled dem.
Entry 12488
Graveyard dirt in shoes to keep dogs off trall. [Known everyvbere.]
[Newport News 506:3; Charleston 601:3; Vicksburg 1043:1.]
Entry 12604
So, well, ah goes on to another man den, an' he learnt me some things about how to run a person away from yore place of business. Lak if yo' loved a girl friend an' if yo' don't wanta be bothered wit dis fellah an' he look like he gitting de best holt [hold on her], dis fellah tole me to git red pep- per an' manage some kind of way to slip it into de toe of his shoe. See, an' dat will run him away from dis place, an' everywhere he go - everywhere he'd git to her jes' couldn't res', he jes' had to keep agoin'. Well, dat's de way to get rid of a person, if yo' bothered with 'em an' don't want to be bothered with 'em. Dat's de way to get rid of dem.
Entry 12640
Get some red pepper, put it in the bottom of your shoe; nobody can do you no harm. [Vicksburg 1045:4.]
Entry 12646
If somebody put somepin down an' dey want chew tuh walk ovah it. If yo' put sulphur an' peppah in yore shoes, if they put it down fo' yo', anywhere, an' yo' can't locate it. [Fayetteville 2523:10.]
Entry 12647
If yo' think someone tryin' tuh harm yo' an' yo' wanta protect yo self, wear sulphur an' red peppah in yore shoes. Dey can't harm yo'. [Bruns- wick 2060:6.]
Entry 12649
Wear red pepper and sulphur in your shoes as a protection against walking over cumjure. [Wilmington 228:6+85.]
Entry 12650
Git some red peppah an' sulphur an' wear it in yore shoe, or either yo' kin git a [silver] dime an' wear it round yore laig. That'll keep 'em from hurtin' yo'. [Waycross 1757:15.]
Entry 12651
Red pepper an' sulphur wear it in your shoe or either around your waist...nobody in de world will ever bother you; ah don't keer [care] how many roots you [the other person] got, it [what you do here] will kill 'em. [Jack- sonville 762:7.]
Entry 12677
Kin take de photograph an' if a person is away from home, an' yo' wanta see would dey come home, ah heard dat yo' kin take dat photograph an wear it into yore shoe - wear it in yore shoes on de right feet, an' dey say dey'll have tuh come home. [Wilson 2666:5.]
Entry 12782
Salt in left shoe gives you bad luck. [Avoid this by looking into shoe before putting it on.] [Richmond 335:4.]
Entry 12805
As a protection against conjure, wear salt in left shoe. [Snow Hill 2:2.]
Entry 12838
Protect yourself by wearing salt and pepper in your shoes. [Deal Island, Md., 18:2; Wilmington 175:3+85; Petersburg, 422:8; Norfolk 426:4; Elizabeth City 511:4.]
Entry 12839
Salt and red pepper are worn in left shoe for protection. [Wilming- ton, 168:8+85.]
Entry 12843
As a protection against evil, wear 3 ingredients in your shoes: pep- per, fish salt, and burnt alum. [Fredericksburg, by Ediphone.]
Entry 12849
To protect yourself against cunjure, wear salt and pepper in both shoes. [Wilmington 254:1+85.]
Entry 12860
You can protect yourself against roots or root work by wearing salt, black pepper and sulphur in your right shoe. [Wilmington 138:1+85.]
Entry 12861
Wear salt, red pepper and sulphur in both shoes as a protection against evil work. [Wilmington 208:2+85; Newport News 506:4.]
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 12937
Den she kin take one of his shoes if she in a position to have one an' tumn it down at de back do'step undah de step, but not - jest take an' turn it right ovah. Jest put a little sand to each - yo' don't have to bury it, an' that'il bring him back. Dat's a shore way.
Entry 12939
To bring person back home bury his or her shoe under the steps. [Deal Island, Md. 24:5.]
Entry 12943
Person's left foot shoe bury in front of steps with toe pointing to house to bring back. [Memphis 1580:1.]
Entry 12944
Take de shoe an' bury it. Dey bury de shoe in jis' de place where dey de only one has tuh travel, an' as de shoe rot, dey'll be runnin' 'way from home. Take de right-foot shoe. [Memphis 1516:8.]
Entry 12945
Jes' de sole off de shoe - one, de right feet, an' tie it up in a piece of new homespun, sew it up in it, an' bury it underneat' de steps. Dat why he couldn't leave yo'. [Sumter 2409:9.]
Entry 12946
Salt and pepper in a shoe buried on the "sunrise side" of the house keeps up a fuss there all the time. [Wilmington 274:2+85.]
Entry 12947
Put salt and black pepper in shoe and bury it under the doorstep: "it jis' aworry yo', keep yo' walkin', run yo' crazy, an' keep yo' mindless."
[Wilmington 257:4+85.]
Entry 12948
Into right shoe put salt, red pepper, bluestone and alum, and bury shoe heel out and toe to house. This makes wearer of shoe stay home. [Mobile 906:1.]
Entry 12949
To bring back, a woman buried her husband's shoe under the steps with heel down and toes up[ [Wilmington 256:1+85.]
Entry 12951
Bury left foot shoe 5 feet from doorsteps or at north corner of house and he'll come back.
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 12956
Put salt in old shoe, name him while burning this in fire, and he'll have to come back. [Wilmington 134:6+85.]
Entry 12957
Get a ole shoe of a ole man an' burn it up, an' then take de ashes am' red pepper an' salt, an' if de law comes, whenevah he leaves, to throw dis behind him an' he won't come back any more. [Norfolk 524:3.]
Entry 12960
Take an' burn ole shoes an' dey say dat will keep devilment 'way from roun' yore house. Ole shoes an' sulphur. An' burn dat roun' dere an' dat keep all devilment from roun' yore house. [Fayetteville 2557:2.]
Entry 12961
Or either, if yo' are bothered with some kind of spirit that comes in there an' yo' can't see it, why yo' burn an ole shoe in the stove, or either put sulphur in every corner. [St. Petersburg 1625:2.]
Entry 12962
Burn men's shoes for luck for gettin' men. Put sugar on while burn- ing. [Memphis 1551:6.]
Entry 12964
Put sulphur and cayenne pepper over his shoe. Burn it. Runs him away.
[Memphis 1560:13.]
Entry 12965
Burn an old shoe in store or fireplace for luck. [This is known every- where.] [Wilmington 252:6+85.]
Entry 12967
Throw both of person's shoes into running water to make him or her travel. [Richmond 290:3.]
Entry 12968
If you throw a person's shoe into running water, it will run that per- son away. [Elizabeth City 591:2.]
Entry 12970
Dey throw shoes in runnin' watah, git de right shoe an' throw it in runnin' watah. Well, he will go 'way - he'll go clean away. [Wilson, cylinder reference lost, but informant, No.1500, comes between informants 1499 (cyl.2667) and informant 1504 (cyl.2671).]
Entry 12976
Write name all over inner sole of shoe and wear to keep down and under control. [Memphis 1570:5.]
Entry 12977
You take and scrape de bottom of his shoe inside. Den dat'll make him evil and mean in de home. Jes' take and put it in his bedtick, rip a little hole and sew it up. [This comes from the well-known Doctor Frank Hall of Nansemond, Co., Va., in 1937, whose words I had to take down by hand. Was man or dog [to make mean) the original of this rite?)
Entry 12978
Cut a piece as big as a dime from the insole of a man's shoe, and with new nail, nail this piece to the floor under the carpet over which he walks. This keeps the man there. [Memphis 1551:4.]
Entry 12979
If someone cuts a piece out of your shoe and tacks it up under the house, you can't leave that house. [Mobile 903:2.]
Entry 12980
Left-foot shoe and sock, ball up, nail shoe on the carbox of train and turn your back and say, "Goodbye." [Memphis 1555:1.]
Entry 12981
To send person away it is better to put his shoe on the train engine than in a boxcar. [Memphis 1551:5.]
Entry 12982
Take man's shoes and set them under the bed like he be fixin' to come home [toes pointing under bed]...that'll draw 'im. [Memphis (960 excellent), 1545:7.]
Entry 12984
If he is sleeping, just take his left-foot shoe and turn it down under the bed, right under him where he is sleeping. Or she can pull off an underpiece of hers and hang it up on the bed over his head and he won't wake up. [New Orleans, 1347:10, a widely known rite and other examples in HOODOO.]
Entry 13060
Wear dime in shoe against cunjure. [Baltimore 48:1; Washington, D. C., 822:1; in either shoe, [Wilmington 131:12+85; in both shoes, Wilmington 73:1+85; these beliefs are everywhere.]
Entry 13061
Wear a dime and a piece of parsley under the insole of each shoe for protection or cure. [New Orleans 1232:4.]
Entry 13062
If you are tricked, wear 2 silver dimes, one in each shoe with a pinch of pepper and salt. [Memphis 1569:9.]
Entry 13112
Dust from rattlesnake rattle and graveyard dirt in your shoes make feet swell. [Norfolk 526:7.]
Entry 13113
If someone sprinkles snake dust in your shoes, in 9 days your feet will swell and you can't walk. [Norfolk 515:3.]
Entry 13210
Bury de socks and de shoes...to keep you at a certain place. [Jack- sonville 691:12.]
Entry 13275
Sulphur worn in clothes or shoes or rubbed on hands that might touch conjured articles is a protection against them. [Wilmington 189:6.]
Entry 13287
Wipe person's sweat on piece of new homespun, ball it up, and hide fn toe of your old shoe. [Wilmington 111:2+85.]
Entry 9582
If a person tryin' tuh poison yo', yo' kin take peppah an' salt an' weah it in yore shoes. Evah time yo' put chure shoe on, keep dat red peppah an' salt in dere [see that it has not leaked out] an' ah don' care whut dey put down, it cain't hurt chew.
Entry 9584
Weah peppah an' salt in yuh shoes tuh git a job. Gits boss's min' torn up [confused], an' if he hasn't nobody he'll hire yuh. [This rite is for luck in the sense that any cunjure to keep you from obtaining the job will fail.]
Entry 9615
Get a ole shoe of a ole man an' burn it up, an' den take de ashes an' red peppah an' salt. An' if de law comes, whenevah he leaves [you have] tuh throw dis behin' 'im, an' he won' come back any mo'.
Entry 9632
Put sulphuh an' salt an' red peppah in yuh shoes an' weah it in dere all de time. Den yo' kin step ovah it an' it won't do nuthin tuh yuh. [Sumter, S. Car., (1345 0r 1346), 2328:8.]
Entry 9633
If anybody tryin' tuh harm yo', yo' take some sulphuh, use some cayenne peppah, dis cayenne peppah whut's grind up [ground up] an' dis sulphuh an' some new salt - cookin' salt [not the coarse salt fed to animals]. Yo' weah it in yore shoe an' dey can't harm yo'.
Entry 11081
Woman cuts forked piece from his underwear, wears in right shoe; be can't rest until he comes to her. [Mobile 908:1.]
Entry 11808
If someone puts graveyard dirt in your left shoe you must leave town.
[Wilmington 238:1+85.]
Entry 11809
Graveyard dirt in each shoe of the victim starts the person to walk- ing. [Vicksburg 990:4.]
Entry 11889
"Take a plat of her hair...put it in your left...shoe...got her until yo're tyed [tired] of 'er. Dat holds her." [Little Rock 1460:9.]
Entry 11893
"I heard of people taking your hair and put it in a rag, jest tie it up in some way and put it in their shoe - wear it in their shoe; and it would be some Way that it would affect you, and it would bring you to attract your mind toward them."
Entry 12114
A woman can control a man by wearing the hat bow from his hat in her shoe. [Charleston 608:10.]
Entry 12635
Wear a pod of red pepper in each shoe as a protection against walk- ing over any "planted" cunjure. [Wilmington 143:3+85.]
Entry 12637
Wear red pepper in shoes and you can walk over anything. [New Orleans 1238:3.]
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 2930
Well, say for n'instance if you are in trouble - anything of that sort.
(Anything.)
If you in trouble, you take a red candle - for n'instance, you take a red candle and you get the judge's name. You get the judge's name and you write his name like I 'fore told you, but it's a diff'rent candle - you write on the red candle. You burn that candle. (You write the name down?) Yes, sir. Down. Now, say for n'instance that you goin' to go to trial - today's the day which is the 13th. All right, you goin' to go to trial, say the 20th. Well, you might get you a subpoena to go to trial - maybe today and get that sub- poena. You got the judge's name. Well, you start from today. You get you a red candle and you burn that candle daily. See, you write that judge's name down on that candle. Now, as you writing his name down on that candle and you burnin' his name, you take and you write the judge's name down nine times on one piece of paper, and you keep that in your right shoe. You wear your underwears on the wrong side until the day of trial. And on the day of trial you still got your paper in the shoe. If that paper should happen to wear out, which some people sweats in the feet aplenty - that wears out, well, then, you write that name over nine times and put it in the right shoe again and keep your underwears on the wrong side. When you leave on the morning of court to go to trial, you turn your bed upside down. You leave the whole house in fact in - you know, the whole house upset. See. And you go ahead on to trial. When you go to trial, it won't be nothing to that. That'll be over with - without lawyer, no money or nothing.
Entry 5134
Naow [now], dey kin take dem shoes - either one or two, but always seem lak tuh me dat lef'-foot shoe. Take dat lef'-foot shoe an' put some cay- enne peppah an' some saltpetah. An' if dey tryin' tuh hurtcha, gitcha down some way, tuh gitcha past walkin' or swell yuh up, yo' see, put some salt- petah in dem shoes, an' some cayenne peppah, an' some dragon blood. An' put it in dat shoe an' po' some kerosene on it, an' burn dat shoe grajly [gradually] about ten minutes evah mawnin'. An' aftah de shoe burn up, well dat individual will begin tuh suffah wit, 'is knees an' laigs, an' continue lak dat.
Entry 5148
Yuh take de lef' shoe an' cut a square outa de centah of de shoe.
(The center, the bottom or the top part of it?)
De bottom, jis' where yore feet fit right in de bottom of dat shoe. Yuh jis' cut a square outa de inside of de bottom of de shoe. [A square piece is cut out of the center of the insole.] An' yuh bury it.
(What will that do?)
Yuh cut de square outa de shoe an' put it in a li'le sulphuh an' red peppah an' graveyard dirt, an' yo' sew it in a li'le bag an' bury it. An' if yuh wanta hurt a person, well dat will cuz whatevah shoe it is, if it's de right shoe, why dey'll grow lame in dat side. An' dere's no doctah [M.D.] kin cure dem until yuh fin' de person dat has dat [square piece of insole] an' git it from dem. An' de only way tuh find out is tuh [see a] fortunetellah an' let 'em tell yuh how tuh git it.
(I thought it was the left shoe?)
Well, it's de left shoe dat ah'm speakin' about.
(This is out of the left shoe?)
Yes.
(You don't get the right then at all?)
Well, ah nevah learn of de right. It's de left.
Entry 11507
"If you wanted a person to move from a place [they say] that you get their shoes and put 'em to the back of the chimney - just put the whole track of the shoe on de back of de chimney...make a track in de back of de chimney... [and after the fire has burned away these impressions] that person will disappear from that place, they couldn't stay there." [Elizabeth City 411:1.]
Entry 12950
A woman can take a man's left shoe and wear it to hold him. Or she can take the inner sole, dry it and wrap it up and tie it up, and get a jimson veed, wrap it with that, bury it where man urine [urinates] for 9 nights. That keeps him. [Memphis 1557:12.]
Entry 12997
Dey could take his shoe sole an' jes' take up his shoe sole an' take a silver dime an' file it. File dis silver dime till... Jes' lak if he's got a lotta money. He jes' a business fellah an' some- body gotta grudge ag'in him, git a silver dime of his'n - any fren' yo' know, jes' lak makin' change. I jes' git holt dis dime of yore [man'sl money an' take it an' file it. Take dis shoe sole an' take all dis little dust offa dis dime an' puts it on dis shoe sole. An' dey'll take dat an' dey'll go bury dat under yore steps, right under yore steps where yo' goin' walk ovah it. An' wherevah yo' money is, as yo' go in an' come out, yore money'll jes' leave yuh - jes' fall down, fall right down to nuthin. Jes' come down to nuthin. (Now suppose I had this money and you were trying to do that to me. You would get my shoe sole, the inside sole or the outside sole?) Yes sir, take dis inside sole.
(You sprinkle the silver dust inside of my shoe, underneath that inner sole.)
Jes' take dis sole, de shoe sole - no sir, [take] dis inside piece [insole]. Yo' take it an' yo' fold it up [certainly away from you] dis [inner] sole, an' bury it under yore steps.
(You take this from either shoe?)
Yes sir, either shoe.
Entry 13034
As a prevention of or cure for cunjure boil 5 silver dimes and drink the water, and wear bluestone in both shoes. [Wilmington 113:6+85.]
Entry 5285
Throw de lef' shoe ovah dere lef' shouldah ovah in de stream an' dat man will soon drift.
Entry 591
Take matches, yessuh, an' put 'em in a shoe an' take his shoes an' place 'em undah de head of yore bed an', if yo' wanta find if it's a person whether yo' goin' tuh marry 'em or not, an' yo' cross those shoes an' place 'em jes' lak a T an' don't say a word to anybody when yo' goin' tuh bed, an' yo'll dream yo' goin' tuh marry dat person. Yo'll dream about 'em that night.
(You put matches in each shoe. How many do you put in each shoe?)
Yes, in each shoe. Yo' put three matches in each shoe.
(Lighted or unlighted?)
No - unlighted.
Entry 960
Ah remember a lady once lent a fren' lady her shoes tuh wear - she's a dear fren'. When she brought de shoes back - dis lady wore her shoes to church - when she came back she began to swell. She swole up so until she didn't even favor herself. An' so they got doctors fo' her and de mo' she would take doctors medicine, it seems like de worse she would git. An' so fin'lly someone tole her 'bout gittin' a root doctor. So this root doctor came - she was a lady - and she said, "Well, ah can't work on yo' today, see, ah have to work on you when de spirit tell me - ah'll come back maybe two days later." She came back and she brought some kin' of a tea and she heated dis tea and put this girl in terrible hot steaming water - jest was so hot seems like it was scalding. So she jest bathed her down - and she did that fo' three mornings and de swelling left her.
(Why did she bathe her down - why not up?)
She said by bathing her down that'll cause de misery to go on out - go on out
[through feet - see Downwards in Index.]
(Did that happen right here in Mobile?)
That happened in Mobile.
Entry 1348
Dere's a lady out chere dat ah went tuh once about that - like someone was tryin' tuh harm me, and she tole me to take mah sock.
(Both of them?) No, take one of 'em an' cut it up. (Which one - the right or left or both of them?)
No, jest any one my sock. Say, take one of de socks and split it up, and say paint it wit some iodine and den put it in de bottom of mah shoe and wear it. And dey say that nuthin never would - couldn't do nuthin with me.
(Was this a white woman or colored?)
Colored.
(Was she sort of a root doctor? Or something like that? Fortune-teller?)
Fortune-teller. She had hanging on her do' a sign - Madam Roose[?].
Entry 1478
Yo' kin take some salt - table salt an' sulphur an' red peppah, mix it together an' stir it with yore left hand. Sprinkle some of it in each of yore shoes an' yo' kin travel anywhere yo' wanta travel.
Entry 1584
Well, yo' - jes' lak yo' had germs in dis room heah, an' yo' wants tuh git shet of de germs, yo' take some tobacco an' put it into a pan or something an' set 'em afire, a slow fiah, an' let 'em smoke yo' see, but it will kill ever'thing in de world. If yo' ain't got no tobacco, take some ole shoes an' tear 'em up an' put 'em on top of sulphur - it kills. [Tobacco usually appears in compounds - No. 1551, p.491, and Index.]
Entry 1617
Lak yo' scared someone goin' hurt chew - yo' know, if yo' got enemies. Jes' take some red peppah an' salt an' sulphur - take an' sprinkle a little bit of chamber lye ovah dat an' wear dat in yore right-footed shoe. Yo' kin walk ovah anything in de world an' nuthin will evah harm yo'.
Entry 2275
Once dere wus a fellah went an' shot in de church - shot in through de church. All of us in de church preachin' an' ever'thin', an' he came up drunk an' he shot into de church. Some of de fellahs made him mad an' went in de church an' he went home - ran home all de way home an' got his shotgun an' come back - got his pistol an' come back. He's intendin' tuh break up de church - all of 'em drunk. Well, he come back an' shot in de church. He run dem all out, de preacher out de church an' ever'thin'. Well, when he ran dem all out he ranned on out hisself an' went tuh shootin' behin' dem. Well, his father says, "Well son, ah'm goin' git chew outa dis, if yo'be's good." He said, "Yes." He wus goin' to his father tuh git him out. [For man so mad at his church he threw graveyard dirt on congregation, see No. 655, p.221.] Well, his father went to a man an' got a root. It wus a root about that long, a blacksnake root an' dese heah lil roots yo' call de sand root - about that, so long. He give him that root an' tole him to put it - cut it an' put it in his shoe, an' take one piece an' put it in his mouth when he git up there befo' de judge an' chew dat root, an' if he'd chew dat root, he'd come clear or wouldn't have tuh make a oath for 60 or 70 or maybe 90 days. An' he taken dat root an' went up dere an' he tole him tuh keep his foot pattin' lak that while he wus up there an' while de judge wus tryin' him. Well, he taken that root an' put it in his mouth an' had one under each feet an' he's up dere pattin' de root an' de judge tried him. He tole him he could give him a life sentence or have him exe- cuted, but de best thing he could do fo' him wus let him go, tuh give him five yeahs out of town. Dat's whut he did with the root dat he had.
(All he had was the piece of blacksnake root?)
He had a piece of blacksnake root an' whut chew call de sand root. An' he had then cut it an' put in his shoe - in each shoe an' while the judge wus tryin' him he chewed dat root.
Entry 2637
All right. You got a place of business and you ain't had no luck. You get up in the morning before twelve or one o'clock and don't speak to nobody, if your wife or a friend in the house with you. When you get up don't say anything to them until after you get fixed. You take a left shoe of a woman and the left shoe of a man, two spoons of sugar, two spoons of camphor gum.
(Camphor gum.)
Camphor gum, and you mix that together. You burn that down till it's a ashes. You go to the back, you start at your back door - you start at your front gate coming in. You want 'em to come in, you don't wanta drive nobody away - you want 'em to come in. You sprinkle that, you sprinkle that all right on through. You start at your front gate or at the back - just where they got to come in and you go on through. All right. Take your bucket or whatever you burn that in and just shake the rest of it at the back door - that where they comes - through the house and on to the back door and lay it down. And you can go ahead on back to bed and sleep the rest of the night. And another man at the next place to you - you'll have plenty of trade and he don't know. He is wondering and studying how you doing it.
(What do you do with those shoes?)
You burn em.
(Oh, you burn them.)
You burn 'em till they are down to ash dust.
(That's before you mix up those other things?)
Yes, you put that other stuff right in there. (I see. I understand. Now, this other man. What does this other man do then when he sees you making out? Making all this business?) Well, he don't know how - he don't know what to do. Well, he gotta do the same thing.
Entry 2769
Well, sometime ah haven't got bread in mah han's, ah have set a light tuh St. Anthony an' ah pray tuh him an' ah gives him a light. Ah gives him a white light an' ah sets mah light at nine, twelve an' three tuh him. An' ah axe St. Anthony fo' bread an' ah keep prayin' fo' bread an' ah raps, an' he gives me a rap back. An' at de end of nine days mah way would be open. (Now, in this rapping. Do you rap just once each time you set that candle? Or just once during the day? Or just once altogether?) Ah raps when ah set the candle.
(Just once. And he raps just once. When would he answer?)
In de noon of de day. [St. Anthony answered my informant's rap by rapping back; but not all saints answer in the same manner, as we shall now learn.] St. Jude.
(St. Jude. What do they say about him )
Well, he's a good saint. Ah set lights to him. Now ah sets a green or either a yallah light to him, an' ah raps fo' St. Jude an' he would conquer yo' enemies. He would make de way smooth fo' yo' an' in all sickness he heals yo'. Ah set mah light at night or in de day fo' him an' ah raps, but now he sends me a light - lak a star appeahs in mah house. Anybody could see it.
(You say this light appears in the house someplace.)
[Light in many forms is probably considered the greatest manifestation of the spirit - see Spririt Light, p.43f., and for general folklore, FACI,2ed., Pp.761- 768.] Lak if yo' know dere name.
(This person you know has stolen something from you?)
Yeah, an' yo' call dat name, write dat name an' yo' set chew a St. Michael or a St. Peter candle, an' yo' rap, yo' see, an' each time yo' rap, yo' call his [thief's] name, an' he gon'a come. (He's going to come and tell you that he stole this article from you or bring it back?) Or either take de Bible an' put de key in de Bible. Yo' gotta take dat Bible an' dat key an' yo' put it in dere an' yo' say a sincere prayer - Our Father's Prayer, an' yo' take dat key an' yo' turn it all aroun' in dat Bible. An' yo' see yo' call de fellah's name dat took dat, dat key goin' move jes' lak dat. [The key itself will move.] Den it gon'a stop. In nine days dat party will come back. Ah would take me a candle an' light it. Jes' say dat dis wus mah saint, what- evah saint ah'm usin' - say it wus St. Espedee. An' ah calls his [the saint's] name an' ah would rap fo' him [the saint]. An' ah would call his name [husband's name], rap fo' him [husband]. An' den he's comin' home. Ef ah got any of his shoes, ah take an' turn it bottom upwards an' he's comin' home.
(You call your husband's name?)
Yes. [This woman is a professional hoodoo doctor with a little spiritual thrown in. Her husband, Peg-leg, did some work for me on my first trip to New Orleans, but she refused to see me - afraid until my second trip two years later. These four statements about rapping were taken from her long interview broken up years ago. More of her material probably appears in the text.]
Entry 3099
[Pauline lived on an island 6 miles from Brunswick, Georgia, where I Was then working. What an opportunity to have explored that marvelous coastline as I had done at Beaufortl But I resisted the tempta- tion, refusing to break my rule - not to interview white doctors. I have two accounts of Pauline, both taken from broken interviews. In the first, we had been talking about Pauline - I am unable to find this - and then later I ask the following question.]
(Are there any white people that work here now?)
[Informant returns to Pauline.]
She lives on Bly's Island.
(Oh! She is still here. I don't want to talk to her but I just wondered.)
[Brunswick, Ga., (1201), C400:7 = 2017:7.]
iTne second account of Pauline comes from a man who has already given us in- formation about Doctor Buzzard - see 3071, p.893.] A white woman.
(What was her name?)
Miss Pauline.
(Where does she live?)
She lives heah at Bly's Island, a large island right cross tuh de rivah on de road to Jacksonville.
(Oh, just near Brunswick?)
Yes sir - six miles out chere [on the road] tuh Jacksonville. Well, mah mother done taken me out dere. Well, soon as ah got dere she set down an' talk tuh me. She asked me if ah evah worked any place an' ah tole her where ah worked. She asked me, "Did yo' have any enemies round dere?" Ah said, one woman wus a cook dere an' she wanted concernin' me tuh have somepin tuh do wit her - me an' her had tuh make beds in dis, yo' know, to dis home ever' mawnin' together. Ah wouldn't say nuthin to her. She said ah tried tuh play cute. She de one dat put down de stuff at de back gate of dis white tourist home where we were workin', an' ah step on it wit mah right fut gettin' ovah de fence. She done put it right whar ah got ovah de fence at ever' mawnin'. Me an' her wus de first ones dere. So after she seen me - see, ah tried to step on mah left fut, if it done kilt me. See, after two yeahs an' a half ah wus dried up to 135 pounds. She [Pauline] tole mama tuh let me come dere an' she would give me medicine. She taken sulphur, turpentine an' some kinda cocklespur weed - cocklebur weed - taken de cocklebur weed an' made a medicine out of it. [Three ingredients.] So she made a medicine an' ah started to taken dat cocklebur weeds an' sulphur an' turpentine. An' tole me tuh wear three pieces of Irish potatoes - white potatoes in each one of my shoes. So after dey figured - it came on to 'fect mah othah fut an' mah hips, yo' see, an' ah wus dead from heah down [demonstrates].
(From your hips down.)
Yeah, from de hips down. So after dat ah wore de Irish potato an' thing. an' ah begin tuh git bettah. So she tole me not tuh drink no whiskey. So ah stop off from drinkin' some whiskey an' got tuh walkin' an' ah put down de crutches. Yo' know, ah could walk wit de walkin' cane. Ah put down de crutches. So ah begin tuh drink whiskey at night wit de othah boys roun' heah. So dat throw me agin. Dey had tuh take me dere agin. She tole me ah had been drinkin'. Well, when ah got dere dat time, it had done came up into mah shoulders heah - see [demonstrates], it had me, ah'm daid in mah left ahrm - come up mah left side. So she had tuh work fast. Dey had tuh keep me out dere tuh her house fo' three days. So we had tuh pay her wit three pieces of silver money - ah had tuh find three silver dollahs somewhere. She charge only three dollahs - don't care how big de case wus - had tuh pay her wit three silver pieces of money. That concernin' de three links of chain also.
(Of Mary - that Mary wore around her neck?)
["Dat concerning de three linked chain dat Mary wore pertaining tuh de Bible" - from his interview in INTERVIEWS.] Yes sir, dat [represents] three silver dollahs dat ah had tuh pay her wit. De firs' time paid her wit a silver dollah, an' after ah went three times, had tuh pay her de three silver dollahs. So dat's de whole case of it, until ah taken up dis last bottle of medicine. Ah didn't drink any mo' an' dey said ah wus cured of it. Den ah had a fren'. He wus poison by a girl on a piece of cake. But he wus crowin' lak a rooster - jumpin' up an' down. An' ah tole him concernin' dis same lady - tole his mothah. An' she taken him out dere an' she pay her with three silver piece of money - carried him three times. See, each time it wus a dollah. When she carried him de last time, dat's when she gave him some kinda medicine an' out of his throat came a frog, little small wiggle-tail, little small snake. [Three things came out of his throat.]
Entry 3250
If a man wants tuh fix a woman so she can't have any- thin' tuh do wit anybody else. At de time dat dey have fin- ished it, dey said if he uses a red pocket han'cheff an' cleans de woman an' den he folds it an' wear it in de bottom of 'is shoe, he'd have dis woman fixed so she won't be able tuh go out wit anybody else.
(He wears it in his shoe. Either shoe?)
Yeah, either shoe. [Folding is a confining rite like tying a knot.]
Entry 3272
If yo' have a man an' he don't give yo' money lak he should, yo' buy yo's a bran'-new pocket han'schuff an' yo's fool wit 'im when yo' use him an' have a intahco'se an' yo' take de pocket han'- schuff an' put a silvah quatah in de pocket han'- schuff. Fold de pocket han'schuff to yo' - lay it in dere an' fold de pocket han'schuff to yo' an' weah it in de shoe, an' he kin be mean to yo' but he'll give yo' his money.
(You wear that in either shoe?)
Eithah shoe, it don't make any diff'rence.
Entry 3312
Heard 'em say dey would use a simple little piece on dere shirt, yo' know, roun' by de tail of 'is shirt [near privates]. Yuh takes it an' dress it an' wear it de back of 'er shoes. (How would she dress that?) Dey tell me she dresses it wit some of 'er chamber lye, yo' know, fo' othah womens.
(What shoe does she wear that in, both shoes?)
She wears it in her left one.
Entry 3380
Or eithah take a dishrag aftah yo' use it washin' dishes wit it. Yo' kin take dat dishrag an' wipe a man wit it an' fold it up an' put it ovah yore do', or eithah put it in de bottom of yore shoe an' wear it. Well, he can't raise no heart fo' no one. (Which do you tie?) Jes' tie de dishrag in nine knots, or eithah yo' could fold it an' wear it in de bottom of yore shoe, or eithah up ovah de do'.
Entry 3708
The follow- ing informant gives 4 separate cures:] Dey say yo' kin take in measurin' a man - well now, in yore husban', if yo' don't want 'im tuh fool wit somebody, why yo' could take an' measure him when he's sleep, if yo' git a chance. Or eithah, yo' fix 'im to pay no 'tenshun - have connection wit 'im fo' a chance tuh measure 'im wit a piece of cord string, dis little cord string dat come off a wrappin'. An' take an' measure 'im wit dat - jes' de length of it. An' den yo' kin take an' tie nine knots in it, an' yo' kin wear it in yore shoe, or if yo' kin, put it down undah de innah sole of yore shoe, an' he can't have anythin' tuh do wit anybody else. Den yo' kin take a piece of new homespun. Jes' lak yo' be playin' an' yo' have a piece of new homespun about de bed, or sompin yo' wus sewin', an' dey kin use dat aftah dey git through. Put it undah yore mattress an' double it up in a piece of papah an' put it undah yore mattress an' he ain't goin' bothah 'bout anyone. An' den if a person gits where dey kin't bothah wit anybody an' wants it taken off dem, dey kin go an' steal a dishcloth - steal someone's dishcloth. An' if dey got greasy dishwatah dere, dey jis' skim off dat grease wit dat dishcloth an' squeeze it up in dere. An' den yo' kin take dat dishcloth an' use it an' wash it off yoreself an' dat will kill it out. An' den yo' kin take an' git some cedar - these cedar leaves. Don't chew know, yo've seen dese cedars in de cemetery. An' take sulphur an' sprinkle it ovah dem, an' put a little fiah undah it, an' yo' kin kinda stand ovah dat an' let dat smoke go ovah yo', an' dat'll kill it. (That will kill it, if his nature has been taken away from him - restore his nature. But you don't have to get that cedar from the cemetery, you can get it any place?) Yes, anywhere. Yo' ain't gotta git it from de cemetery. [Yet, informant prefers graveyard.]
Entry 4540
Dat woman she takes dat out [bow of sweat- band]. All right, she takes an' sew it right up under heah [demonstrates]. (Under her left armpit.) Undah de lef' one, jes' right up dere an' weah it. An' jes' as long as she weahs it, it's nobody in de worl' - whut ah mean, yuh ain't goin' worry wit nobody else - can't nobody git cha, can't nobody do nuthin wit chew. Yuh earnin's an' evahthin' yuh git yuh goin' take tuh dat woman. An' she kin take it from dere an' she kin weah it in 'er lef' shoe. Dat's undah yore [her] feet. When she do dat it's purtty [pretty] hard. Well, yuh see it jes' more den drive yuh crazy becuz she trampin' on yuh. See WHEN SHE WEAR IT HERE [IN ARMPIT] DAT'S FRIEN'LY LOVE, BUT WHEN YUH PUT IT DOWN HEAH [IN HER SHOE] DAT GOES HARD, MORE DAN APT - MIGHT CUZ YUH TUH KILL CUZ IT GITS YUH CRAZY ABoUT 'ER.
Entry 4583
Yuh take dis little bow here an' take some devil's-shoestring dey call it. Take dat devil's-shoestring an' dis bow an' some cinnamon bark an' salt [and] black peppah. An' dey takes dis bow an' put it in de sole of yuh shoe. See, like yuh got a shoe, a woman would do dat. Dat's tuh make her - make yuh stay. Yuh goin' tuh stay right wit 'er. An' she'll take dat an' put it in de sole of 'er shoe an' wear it dere. As long as she got dat thing in dere, yuh can't leave her.
Entry 4606
Dey tell me back in [the old days] de girls used tuh take de bows out chure hat tuh make yuh love 'em. [They still did during my collecting days.] An' dey said dat dey would take dose bows an' tie it into a knot an' dey would keep it. An' evah time dat chew feel dat yuh wanta be weanin' off, dat dey would renew it ovah, dat dey had somepin dey would fix it wit an' dat dey'd always double dat knot ag'in. Evah time it seem dat yuh pull- in' away, dey double dat knot ag'in. An' dey had a way dat dey wear it intuh dere shoes.
(What did they put on that knot did you say?)
Ah don't know whut de stuff dey would use, but dey jes' tell me it wus some stuff dey would use. Still ah figure dat it wus de stuff from deyselfs - de periods or...
(Something of that sort.)
Entry 4613
Well, yuh take dat out of a man's hat, chew know, de little bow dat's right back of de hat heah, out of de man's hatband. Den yuh git a little hair from de mole [mold] of de head - no, yuh git three strands right out of de mole of de head. Chew wrap dat aroun' dis little bow an' git chew a piece of new cotton cord, cord string, an' yuh wrap dat aroun' an' tie nine knots in dat string. An' den yuh put undah de little flap of yuh shoe - yuh know dat inner sole, or de heel of de left shoe. An' as long as it remains in dat shoe, dat person's supposed tuh remain dere.
(That's all for love.)
Entry 4622
Take dat little bow out de hat an' cut it out dere. An' take an' put it in de bottom of dey shoe an' wear it, an' write his: name nine times. An' make him leave, leave his home. He'll jes' walk an' walk.
Entry 4647
Take dat bow outa de inside of a man's hat an' yuh put de Hearts Per- fume on it. An' yuh take dat bow an' yuh wrap it intuh a red silk, a little piece of red silk cloth, an' yuh sew dat bow up. An' yuh put dat bow, if yuh wanta make a man love yuh an' stay wit yuh too, yuh put dat bow in de toe of yore left shoe an' yuh wear dat bow in de toe of yore left shoe.
Entry 4651
Tuh hold 'em, take de bow or de band of a man's hat. Yuh could take dat an' wear it in de bottom of yore shoe. [To wear a sweatband in the shoe could be a problem.] Jis' lak yuh want a sweetheart or tuh hold a man, jis' when he come tuh yore house yuh jis' take de bow outa his hat an' put it in de bottom of yore shoe an' wear it. An' dat'll hold 'im.
(Either shoe?)
Eithah one of yore shoes - yore own shoes. [Bottom of the shoe usually means in the hallah = palm = center or middle of the shoe, the article worn being con- cealed under the insole; and if no insole, a false one is made from paper or cardboard - even a cigarette paper can cover the hidden object.]
Entry 4660
Ah heered tell de woman would take de bow outa man's hat an' put it up in de toe of 'er shoes, an' she always keep 'im down underneat' 'er foot. He be dere an' she always keep 'im down. Ah've heer'd tell of it.
Entry 4665
Yuh kin take dat li'le bow out of a man's hat. Ah've tried dat mahself. Ah jis' tried it on a person tuh see would really [happen]. Ah didn't care nuthin about de fellah. Ah taken an' slip de bow out of 'is hat an' walks wit it two days in mah right shoe an' three in mah left. Dat's five days. Yuh know in six days it's broken [he fell in love with her].
Entry 4672
Ah heard dat yuh kin take dat little bow an' take it an' sleep on it. An' aftah yuh git through sleepin' on it - yuh heah whut ah say? Yuh take it out an' yuh wrap it up an' yuh put it in yore shoe an' yuh walk on it. Yuh see, yuh walk on it fo' a length of time an' dat makes de man crazy 'bout chew. (You put that in your shoe?) In yore left shoe. [Yuh heah whut ah say? in some form or other occurs often in HOODOO, because I was not supposed to hear well. Call this an unfair ruse, if you like, but I often had trouble with people talking too low or too fast for my comprehension, hand over mouth, mumbling, occasionally stut- tering, dialect, unknown plants and animals, etc.]
Entry 4674
Yuh could use yore chamber lye an' dat'll cause 'im tuh love yuh. Take yuh chamber lye befo' yuh speak tuh anyone early in de mawnin' an' yuh dampen dat little bow an' wear it. Wear it in yore right-foot shoe. Dat will cause de man tuh love yuh.
Entry 4687
Well, ah've heard dey take dat li'le bow out de hat an' put it in de bottom of yore shoe, an' keep it wet wit chamber lye, yore cham- ber lye, an' jis' wear it in de bottom of yore shoe, twixt de sole an' yore foot. (What will that do?) Dat will keep a man home; he won't leave 'er. She's lyin' onto [she can rely on] him all de time.
(Either shoe?)
No, de left shoe.
Entry 4706
Ah've heard dat chew kin take de bow out of a man's hat an' put it in runnin' watah, an' den wear it in yore shoe an' yuh won't have much trouble git- tin' rid of 'im. Ah heard dat. (You take this bow from his hat and put it in running water?) Yes, an' put it in runnin' watah. Firs', git it, jis' hold it in dere, an' den take it out an' put it in yore shoe an' wear it.
(Do you put it in either shoe?)
Eithah one.
(That's to get rid of him?)
No, dat's tuh make him love yuh. [Is holding it in running water a threat or warning of what could happen to him? Or is it a purification ceremony?]
Entry 4720
If she kin git any of 'is clothes dat he weah, she kin git 'im back. Now, if he done lef' home an' aftah he lef' home, if she want 'im back - she feel dat he didn't do right, an' she try tuh git'im back. She'll take de seat of 'is undahweah an' cut dat out an' den she'll fold it, blow 'er breath on it an' fold it. An' she'll sit down - wheresomevah he may be or where he live - if she writes 'im. She'll heah where he at, she'll git 'im a lettah. He's gotta git de lettah. She'll go tuh de sto' an' buy 'er some love powdahs an' put in dat lettah. An' den she'll fol' dat piece an' weah it undah 'er right-foot shoe, nex' tuh 'er flesh between 'er stockin' an' 'er shoe. An' five days from de day he sees dat lettah, he'll come home. (She puts the love powder in this letter, and she wears this piece of the drawers in her shoe.) Yes, in 'er right-foot shoe.
Entry 4721
If yuh kin git holt of 'is photograph or anythin', yuh kin git 'im back ag'in.
(Do you know just how they do that?)
Well, yuh git holt a piece of 'is clothin'. Now, if it's a woman dat wants 'im back ag'in, yuh git aholt of a piece of 'is clothes an' yuh dress it in cologne. Yuh take it an' fold it de way [direction] he is. If he is east, no'th, west, or south, yuh take dat piece of clothin', a small piece of it, an' fold it [demonstrates] an' make yore wishes.
(Fold it toward you.)
Towards yuh evah time. Points it de way he is an' fold it back evah time. An' yuh git yuh a couple of needles an' pin it each way, bottom an' top, an yuh split dat needle. Lets 'er wear one in 'er right shoe here, an' give her de othah one an' let 'er hold it in 'er han'. An' she kin walk - an' let 'er go straight tuh runnin' watah an' drop it ovahbo'd. Ketch de wind - she has tuh do dis on de grown [growing] of de moon an' ketch de wind blowin' towards de way she wants 'im tuh come. If she is in New York, ketch de wind blowin' disaway.
(Blowing south?)
Dat's right. Drop dis ovahbo'd an' walk backwards from it about nine steps, turn tuh left an' go on. Make her wishes an' he'll come right - in nine days he'll be dere.
(I didn't quite understand you about putting these needles?)
Yuh see, if yuh fold de clothes, prob'ly fold it dis way. Well aftah yuh git a little pad of it made, git yuh a needle on each side of it. Git chew a pair of keen - anythin' dat's sharp an' split dem needles in two.
(Oh, I see! You cut the whole package in half.)
De needles den will be on each side of it.
(Two halves of the needles will be in each side of the package.)
An' have dem needles so dey won't injure her foot an' let 'er wear it right in 'er shoe. Fasten it in dere in a way dat it won't slide backwards an' for- wards. Take dis half an' fold it in yore han' an' when it gits warm, when yuh go tuh de watah wit it - an' throw it ovahbo'd. Ketch de wind blowin' from de Way dat yuh want 'im tuh come home.
Entry 4821
Well, he cuts de seat out, out of 'er bloomahs.
(A man does that?)
De man cut de seat out her bloomahs. Den he takes an' put it in de bottom of 'is shoes an' wears it. Dat'll jis' tie her tuh 'im an' she can't git rid of 'im till she git dat thing out dat shoe. He wears it in de bottom of 'is shoe. [Sum- ter. S. Car. (1371), 2429:4.]
Entry 4876
Yuh take de socks when dey are soiled. Yuh git a person's soiled socks from dere feet when dey are real dirty. Yuh know how dey git when dey are dirty. Yuh git de sock an' yuh git de seats of dere undahweah, knitted undahweah. Or should dey wear any kind of one- piece undahweah, yuh git de seats of dis undahweah an'( dese socks. An' yuh roll 'em up tuhgethah wit de inside soles of de shoes, an' yuh bury dat undah yore steps or eithah put it in some secret place where dis person won't disturb it. Some people put it in de cornah of a mattress. But it's somepin dat chew know yuh are goin' tuh keep becuz, in moving, if yuh don' take dat up, yuh see, dat breaks a person up.
(Now, you take botn the socks.)
Both de socks. Yuh cut de sock off de foot. Den also de seats of de undah- weah. Co'se if dey have long sleeves yuh git de undaharms too. But yuh mus' nevah wash it. Yuh supposed tuh keep de perspiration in it.
relocating while preserving concealed soiled-clothing materials. Keep breaks a person up unresolved; do not invent death, relationship breakup or another precise result. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 4888
De stockin's an' de shoes or de socks. If yuh want someone tuh con- tinue comin' tuh yore place of business, if yuh kin git dere socks - not washed, let it be dirty. Or if it's a woman, let it be her stockin's, an' dey be dirty when she done wore it an' it ain't been washed. An' if it's a man an' it is sock, yuh take an' bury it anywhere aroun' de house- anywhere, don't mattah where. An' dey'll always be wit yuh - always be dere.
Entry 5089
Take yore shoes an' cuz yuh tuh fix 'em tuh keep yuh home, keep yuh from driftin' from pillah tuh post.
(How would they do that with your shoes?)
AH HAVE WELL EXPERIENCE OF KEEPIN' YORE MIND TUHGETHAH WIT SHOES. Yuh gO tuh de store an' git yuh a box of cinnamon an' a box of allspice. Take-a ole pair of shoes dat yuh have worn, if a person's mind have been drifted so dat dey cain't stay tuhgethah, an' take de cinnamon an' all- spice an' sugar, an' mix it tuhgethah an' put intuh each shoe. Take de shoe an' turn de shoes tuhgethah an' plant 'em [demonstrates]. (I see. You put the two mouths of the shoes together, and the soles away from each other, like that.) An' de sole away from each othah, an' den yuh kin [plant] dose shoes down in de centah of yore steps. Dat's tuh keep a person's mind from driftin' [away from home]. AH HAVE WELL EXPERIENCED DAT.
(Well, how do you mean, keep the person's mind from drifting?)
Jis' like if some one have put a spell on yuh, tuh be goin' from pillah tuh post, yuh see, an' by puttin' dis cinnamon an' allspice an' sugah in dat shoe, an' turn[ing] de soles of dat shoe tuhgethah [see later] an' plantin' it at de house where yuh live, it'll keep dere minds at home.
(You don't mean put the soles together, you mean put the tops together.)
De tops tuhgethah, yes. De soles go out.
(I see.)
[My correction of informant is one of the few times I ever did this sort of thing. I am not correcting her words but recalling her pantomimic actions I describe. Yet she was right the second time also, magically. What difference can there be whether the two MoUTHS of the shoes are together or the two soles (SOULS)? The significance is the same - love and peace. Significant also is the emptiness of the preceding magic. You are never responsible for any of your actions, because someone may have a spell on you. A perfect example of being irresponsible for your actions will be found in the alcoholic woman (No.78, p.33).]
Entry 5101
Has a sweetheart dat he may lak 'er. He may wanta git hold of 'er. Whut he'll do. He'll take - go tuh yuh front gate an' he may put 'er shoe on de right-han' side, take one of yuh ole shoe or eithah a sock, an' place it on de left. An' he'll git a bay bush, he'll stick it between dem shoe - jis' a li'le small piece. An' jis' as de wind blow dis li'le bush, den dey'll be agru- in' [arguing] an' quarrelin' - raisin' cain. An' de minute dat dis bush - de wind blow dis bush down on de ground, an' she [the bush] fall, dere's where dey part.
(That's when they'll part. That's if you want to separate these people?)
Separate dem, yeah. (But you must do that at the gate. You just get a bay bush and stick it in the ground?) Yeah, a li'le small piece of bay bush.
(A twig or something?)
Dat's de idea. Don' have it so large cuz dey might be able to find it befo' de wind blows it down. When it fall from de wind, dere's where yo' got 'em. [Norfolk, Va., No.466, Doctor Paul Bowes, see 300, p.89; 337, P.99; 410, p.122; 455, p.141;614, p.206.]
Entry 5104
Ef a person git one of yuh shoes, ef dey put bluestone an' sulphuh an' beat it all up tuhgethah an' git some of dis stuff from de drug store dey call de incense, dey put dat in de bottom undah yuh shoe. Yo' know de li'le piece dat be's up in yuh shoe [insole]. Put it up undah dere an' put it back down. Well, when yo' put dat shoe on, yo' goin' always stay sickly, an' yuh feets will start tuh swell.
Entry 5112
Says at sunrise evah mawnin', if yo' kin find an ole shce, tuh burn it in de mawnin' an' 'specially Mondays, Wednesdays an' Fridays, an' dey say things will come yuh way. (You burn this before sunrise.)
Entry 5113
[There are many more shoe-bury- ing rites than those given here.] IF HE'S ON A LONG VOYAGE, DE WAY MAH GODMOTHAH USED TUH DO, dey'd take her lef'-foot shoe. [This is the first appearance of the word godmother in HooDoO. Surely she took his shoe. Not necessarily 80. Everything in hoodoo bows before intention and desire.] In one instance, dey'd bury dat shoe right at de back of dere house like dat. Now, in anothah instance, dey would take dat shoe an' burn it. An' dey'd take de ashes of dat shoe an' wear it aroun' dere wais' an' continly [continually] pray.
(To make that man come back to you.)
He'll come back. (How would they bury that shoe to make that man come back, if that's what they do?) Dey would bury dat shoe wit de heel tuhwards de east, de toe tuhwards de west, jis' like ah'd have de shoe on an' it would be pointin' dataway.
Entry 5118
Yeah, dey kin burn shoe soles. Den [dey] kin take, aftah dey git through burnin' de shoe soles, dey kin take an' put it in some devil vinegah an' shake it up, an' in a length of time yuh goin' pass away or commit suicide or go crazy. [For devil vinegar, see p.547 and elsewhere.]
Entry 5129
Takes dey shoes an' put 'em tuh de steps. Bury 'em wit de toe comin' in undah de step, an' jis' curse 'em when yuh put it down dere. An' he kin always - don't care where he go, long as dat shoe dere, dat track dere, he'll come in dere.
(You just put one or both shoes?)
One, jis' one foot, de right foot. An' always turn it comin' in.
(That is to make him come on home?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5143
Well, now, dere one dat ah heah dey do wit a shoe, wuz take it an' jis' lak make 'em restless.
(How do they do that?)
Well, yo' take dat shoe an' yo' carry it an' yo' bury it bottomside upwards; jis' lak yo' dig a hole, jis' lak yo' diggin' a grave. Yo' put dat shoe down in dere - see, bury it. An' when yo' bury dat shoe in dere, yo' cuss dat person evah kinda dirty cuss dat chew kin think of, an' pack dat dirt. Well, dere's no Way in dis worl' fo' dem tuh rest, an' dey won' be heah no longah.
(You say you bury that shoe like you are digging a grave?)
Yeah, jes' lak yo' dig a hole. Put it deep, cuz sompin othah will scratch it up. An' bury dat shoe, pack de dirt on it. An' as yo' pack it yo' cuss it, jis cuss 'em jis' as hard as [you can].
(Either shoe?)
Dat's right. Any kinda shoe, jis' since it's a shoe dey done wore. But it got'a be wored, dat shoe, a good length of time. Den yo' bury it, see. Dat's right.
Entry 5147
Take de graveyard dirt. An' yuh git a ole shoe an' yuh parch dat ole shoe until yuh kin jis' powdah it up. An' yuh mix dat graveyard dirt wit dat shoe dust an' yuh put sugah in dere an' cinnamon. An' yuh sprinkle dat roun' ovah yore flo's an' lak dat. Dat keeps peace in de home. Dat's fo' success.
Entry 5150
Take yore shoes an' put some hot-foot powdah inside de inside sole of yore shoe. Dress dat shoe fo' yuh, dey kin put yuh walkin'. Dey kin dress dat shoe fo' yuh an' give yuh spells. Ah had a woman las' yeah dat went tuh a lady an' she tole her tuh - give her some oil an' tole her, say, "Now, yuh kin gain 'im if yuh git 'im drunk an' git dis in 'is shoes. Yuh git dis in 'is shoes. Git 'im drunk, unless dat he wise. He got plenty sense." Say, "Yuh git 'im drunk an' git dis in 'is shoe." An' say, "Yuh have 'im like yuh wanta." Say, "He'll leave his wife an' come an' stay wit yuh."
(What kind of oil was that?)
It was hot-foot oil.
(For you [the man] to come to her.)
[HOT FOOT POWDER (see p.590 and elsewhere) is used to run 'em 'way from dere. HOT FOOT OIL, not so common as hot-foot powder, runs a woman's husband away to a woman working the spell under the direction of a lady, a hoodoo worker.]
Entry 5168
Yo' git de inside sole of a man's shoe. All right now. Yo' git some lightnin'-struck wood an' yo' take some sweet milk, an' yo' soak dat three days. Den yo' make a dress of dat [dressing or hand of wood and milk] an' yo' go tuh de crossroad where hit like dat, see [demonstrates a crossroad]. Den yo' call - git some salt.
[Here is an example of details often omitted in an interview.]
(Wait a minute! What do you mean you call?)
Call 'is name, say, "Ah wanta run So-an'-so." YO' HAVE TUH CALL 'EM TUH RUN "EM. Git chew some salt an' yo' make a dressin' of dat an' yo' bury dat. An' YO' TELL IT WHUT CHEW WANT IT TUH DO. An' evah - in about three days yo' go back there an' make yore dressin' an' tell it whut chew want it tuh do. DAT LIGHTNIN'-STRUCK WOOD GIT'S 'EM CONFUSED IN 'IS MIND. Yo' haVe tuh work 'is mind to do anythin' wit it. [This piece of wood dressed with lightning, milk and salt, 3 things, becomes a hand.]
Entry 5170
Take a man's shoe, right shoe. Take de measure of it an' put some new pins an' needles in it, nine of each. An' yuh take [up] de sill [saddle] of de do'. Yuh know, pull [up] de sill of de do'. An' yuh put it [tape measure] down dere, tack it down dere. An' he have tuh cross ovah it, yuh see, an' [to] git inside. Dat will keep a person stayin' aroun' home.[Informant repeats for good measure:] Yuh git a piece of new tape an' take de measure of [right] shoe. Take it from yuh an' bring it tuh yuh. An' den yuh take dat an' pin de needles an' pins tight all de Way tuh yuh, an' as yuh put 'em in call 'is name. Den yuh take de sill [saddle] of de do' up an' yuh tack it [tape] down an' leave it stay dere. When yuh move out'a dat house, yuh take it up an' carry it wit chew. Evahwhere yuh move yuh carry it wit chew.
Entry 5173
Nail a person's shoe undah de person's steps where dey live an' drive nine nails in it, in de shoe; an' when dese nails rust completely, dey'll die. (Suppose I would want to do that to you, would I take my shoe or take your shoe?) Mah shoe. (And then put it under your house, put nine nails right through the sole. Drive them down inside or?) Yo' turn dem [shoes] upside down an' drive dem [nails] through dat way [demon- strates]. Dem [nails] come [through] on de inside sole.
(Up [out] through the inside of the shoe.)
Entry 5177
Den yo' git de shoes, yo' take - cut a li'le piece outa de bottom of dat shoe. When yo' cut a li'le piece outa de bottom of dat shoe, yo'll fix dat up in a li'le piece of cloth, a yellah homespun cloth. An' yo'll wind dat, yo' know, wit a string. An' yo'll have in dat nuthin but sulphuh an' eatin'-salt. An' yo'll put dat in dere, an' yo'll tie hit tuhgethah intuh dat li'le piece whut yo' cut out dat shoe. Well, now, if yo' hit [aim] tuh bring 'im back, well yo'll take a li'le piece of saltpetah an' yo'll put [make] dat in a powdahs - all dem into a powdahs, an' yo'll fix dat into dat li'le package. An' aftah, yo' wind dat li'le package up an' yo' bury dat at de back of yore house. An' when yo' put all dat in de back of de house, den yo' call 'im three times - woman or man - an' dey cain't he'p but follahin' back. Now, dat's fer as ah know 'bout dat.
(Do you wind it in any special way?)
No pahtic'lah way but jis' long as yo' know it tied.
(And can you send them away with the same thing?)
No suh, ah don' know if yo' send 'em away wit dat.
(You mean that piece in the shoe, that piece inside [insole] that you pul]
up?) Dat's right.
Entry 5178
Dey take de' lef'-foot shoe an' bury it undah de steps an' go out ev'y mawnin' fer nine mawnin's an' call 'im an' turn yore back. Call 'is name an' de ninth mawnin' he'll be back. (How do you turn your back? How do you mean?) Turn yore back - jes' like ah git up an' turn mah back tuh yo'.
(Do you turn your back to the house or do you turn your back some other way?)
Turn yore back towards de house [and face] in de way he's gone, de way he went. Yo' turn yore back dere an' yo' call 'im. Yo' call 'im nine mawnin's.
(You turn your back. You then face the way he's gone?)
Face de way he's gone an' call 'is name fer nine mawnin's.
Entry 5179
Yo' kin take a man's shoe an' take de inside of 'is shoe, take dat inside out an' wear it in yore nation sack, an' he cain't leave yo'. (Either shoe?) Eithah shoe. [For nation sack, see excellent account on p.1458, lines 7-44.]
Entry 5222
Now, yo' say fo' n'instant [for an instance] ef a man's lovah wus gone away, he could take - ef he kin git holt-a shoe which he knew dat she wuz gon'a wear again, he could pull up jis' dat thin papah in de heel, it doesn't make any diff'ren', an' take it an' weah it in 'is shoe. An' dey say dat is a good way dat she will come back tuh 'im.'
Entry 5223
[HERE FOLLOWS A RARE SIFTING RITE - SIFTING WITH A SIFTER.]
An' ah've heard 'em say dat chew take like nuthin but wimmen, take three or fo' wimmen here, or jis' me, one person'ly, say. Now, ah take all mah ole shoes now an' burn 'em up, but ah burn 'em on somepin dat ah kin save all dose ashes. An' burn tuh a charcoal an' den mash 'em up. An' den ah take salt an' peppah an' mix wit dose shoes now. An' ah take de siftah an' between nine an' twelve a'clock at night ah go aroun' de house an' sift 'em three times tuhnight.
(How do you mean, sift it three times?)
Jis' put it in a siftah, yuh see, jis' sift de dust [shoe ashes]. (You.mean you go round the house three times, or you sift the dust three times?) How - like ah begin now from de back door, from mah back door, an' ah go around dere an' make mah wish, yuh know. If ah wish fo' all men tuh come tuh mah house, or jis' one indivij'ly [individually], yuh know. An' if dere's some Woman dat ah think she's a enemy tuh me, yuh know, an' ah don't wan' 'er tuh come dere, yuh see, ah wish fer 'er tuh not come, an' wish fer 'im tuh come an' stay always wit me.
(I see.)
Ah'd go aroun' three times lak dat an' begin. An' de last wish, dat ah make right where ah begin dat, yuh see. An' ah wish dat he may come an' stay wit me always. See, when ah says always, ah'm [back] in de house den an' turns de sift- ah loose on de inside. An' den tuhmorrah - ah do dat tuhnight between nine an' twelve. An' tuhmorrah mawnin' now between twelve an' nine, well, prob'ly yuh kin do dat at three a'clock in de mawnin', fo' or five or six a'clock, any time befo' nine a'clock, but de bes' time dat dey do it is befo' sunrise. See, aftah twelve o'clock [and] befo' sunrise - roun' about fo'-thirty or five a'clock, an' yuh do de same thin' an' come back in an' drop de siftah right at de same place again.
(You sift it all over again?)
De same thin' all ovah again. An' dey say, when yuh do dat - well, dey say yuh don't have tuh have many shoes. Doesn't take much, take much siftin's fo' dat dust, 'fo' dat dust is gone. Well, yuh do dat till all dat dust is gone through dat siftah, yuh see, an' dey say he'll nevah leave yuh den. He'll nevah leave yuh.
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 5226
Yes, ah have heard of doin' sompin - takin' prackly [practically] nuthin but shoes. Bury dat shoe an' leave de top of it out, an' dat will kill 'em. (What do you mean leave the top of it out? You just bury the sole and leave the top part out?) Leave dis [top] part up, jis' so's all of it ain't in dere. Yo' kin do wit de sock de same way. Leave part of it up.
Entry 5231
Jes' lak if yo' an' a man separated, an' dey say dat if yo' kin git 'is lef'-foot of 'is shoe, an' take it out in de back yard an' burn de shoe wit sul- phur, dat he would came back. (Take the left sole, the whole shoe?) Yes sir, jes' de whole shoe an' turn it down an' sprinkle sulphur on de shoe an' said dat would bring 'im back.
(Then you burn the shoe?)
Yes sir, burn it - jes' make a fire an' burn it.
Entry 5233
Take dey lef'-foot shoe an' burn it wit sugah, black peppah, saltpetah an' bluestone. Dat'll call 'em back.
Entry 5234
Ah heard if dere any person dat chew don' wan' aroun' yo', in de mawn- in' 'fore de sun rise, yo' go an' sweep yore front yard. Well, when dey come dere an' dey walk in an' yo' sweep it an' yo' burn a ole shoe. Yo go roun' anywhere where dis person is an' git any ole shoe belong tuh dem an' burn it an' sprinkle it. Well dat will keep 'em 'way from roun' dere.
(You sweep first?)
Yo' sweep'an' den burn a ole shoe - jes' yo' sweep an' den yo' put some sul- phur in dat ashes of de burnt shoe. Sprinkle it in de front yard.
Entry 5244
(What do you do to make him come back?)
Take de right-foot shoe on a Thursday mawnin' an' burn it in yore fireplace.
(Whose shoe do you take?)
His - one of 'is own shoes.
Entry 5250
Take shoes of dey right feet, say, if yo' wan' 'em tuh ride or walk away. Take dat shoe an' take it tuh a carbox [boxcar], any kinda carbox or if it jes' passin' by de carbox. Take dat shoe an' throw it intuh any empty carbox an' as dat shoe travel, dey will travel, too.
(You mean like the boxcar of the freight train?)
Yessuh, de boxcar of a freight train. Takes an' throw dat shoe in dere an' curse it. Turn yore back tuh it an' let it go ahead on den, an' dat train tra- vels. An' don' nobody intahfere wit dat shoe. Dey got'a go, too.
Entry 5251
A pusson kin take yo' shoe - real spells. DERE SO MANY ANGLES WIT DE SHOE. Dey'll take yo' shOe an dey kin put chew tuh wondahin' [wanderingl. Take yo' shoe an' put a pusson tuh wondahin'. Take de shoe an' put graveyard dirt in de shoe so dey cain't tell. Go tuh anythin', a instrument dat movin', train or ship er anythin'. De individual be jes' lak dat train movin' place tuh place, dat ship go frum place to place. Dat pusson move dat same way. (You'd have to move away.)
Entry 5252
Well, now, if yo' wan'a person tuh leave, say leave town, yo' kin take 'is shoe. Take one of 'is shoes an' take it tuh de railroad an' turn de shoe de way de train's comin', de way yo' want 'em tuh go. An' when de train runs ovah dat, yo' call 'is name an' have some graveyard dirt. An' jis' drop three pinches down in 'is shoe an' slip dat shoe on de railroad an' de train will run, yo' know, hit runs ovah de shoe, an' he's wit dat [train] crew. Yes sir, dat will lose him. (You don't put that on the rail, you just put that on the track? Between the rails?) Yeah on de track - NO, PUT IT ON DE RAIL!
(Oh! the train actually runs over it.)
Yes sir, runs ovah it.
(Either shoe is all right?)
Don' make any diff'rence.
Entry 5264
If yuh'd find any of dere ole shoes out dere, git 'em an' bury dem on de railroad wit de feet turned - de toe turned whutevah way yuh wan' 'em tuh go.
Entry 5266
Git a fellah shoe dat he been 'custom tuh weahin'. Take dat inside sole outa dat shoe an' yo' tack it up undah a boxcar, or yo' would fo'ce it down in a coconut. Shet [shut] de coconut up an' put some turpentine wit it, tro' it in de rivah an' leave it drif' down de stream. As it drif' down de stream, his min' will git - regard- less tuh whut job he got, he'll start tuh driftin' an' leave away from de place dat's he [that he's] 'custom tuh be.
Entry 5268
Well, dey kin git yuh shoes. Dey will git a li'le piece of de innah sole out of 'em, jis' outa eithah one of 'em. An' take dat innah sole an' carry it an' use turpentine on it; may- be ten or fifteen drops, not undah ten an' not ovah fifteen. Take it an' put it in a tobacco can or snuffbox. Git dat an' bury it, jis' keep it buried dere. An' YO'LL BEGIN TUH TAKE PAINS IN YUH ANKLES AN' KNEES, JIS' AS LONG AS DAT'S BURIED, JIS' LAK YO' WUS A MAN WIT DE RHEUMATISM. YO'LL BE DOWN IN YUH ANKLES AN' YUH KNEES, AN' FINELY [FINALLY] IT WORK ON UP IN YUH HIPS. AN' WORK ON THROUGH YUH BODY. IT'LI WORK ALL OVAH YO'. IT'LL GIT YO' IN SICH A CONDITION DAT YO'LL HAVE DE STIFF- NECK AN' EVAHTHIN' ELSE.
Entry 5269
If de boss fire yuh - yeah, he fired yuh. Yuh goes tuh 'im an' ast 'im fo' a job ag'in, once mo', an' he says, "No." Yuh say, "Well, ah been work- in' mighty faithful fo' yuh an' yuh's not treatin' me right.' Sompin lak dat. Git chew some spirits turpentine an' if yuh kin git tuh 'is shoe or sompin lak dat, his right shoe - if yuh kin ketch 'im wit 'is shoe off sometime, rub it on de bottom of 'is shoe, yuh know. An' take a li'le dust dere from de bottom of 'is shoe an' mix wit some turpentine an' put it in a li'le can. An' stop it up an' carry it an' bury it undah yore do'step. An' yuh got a job wit 'im right on. Yes sir, yuh git de job back.
Entry 5271
[In the preceding rite and this one we have an object bent together before it is tied together. To bend, like to twist, is not a common magic rite.] Ah heard it said dat yo' could take de sole of de lef' foot of a man's shoe an' tie it in de middle - buckle it [before tying] - an' bury it tuh de steps an' dat'll keep 'im combined [bent up and tied, either to keep him home, or to cripple him.]
(How do you mean, buckle the shoe? The outside sole you mean?)
Yes, jes' take de sole an', yo' know, refold de sole lak dat [bend it to- gether] an' tie it, tie it real tight. Yeah, de outside sole - de one, jes' since he walked on it.
Entry 5272
He turned it bottomside upwards in de house when his wife lef'. Well, his wife lef' 'im one Monday mawnin' an' he turnt dat shoe up dat Monday aftahnoon when he came in, an' in about 24 hours aftah he turnt dat shoe up she came back; but now tuh whut [else] he done wit dat shoe....
(Which shoe was it?)
It wuz de lef' shoe, ah think.
(How did he turn it upside down?)
He turned de sides right upwards lak dat, lak dey's comin' intuh de house. She came right back.
[While recording stopped, informant says something about a corner.]
(Which corner did he turn it up in?)
In de right corner, as yo' comin' in de do'.
Entry 5280
Jes' lak yo' wanted tuh be lucky in keepin' dis job at dis place. When evahone is gone, take off yore left shoe an' turn it bottom upwards on de stove or somepin of de kind. Use a little tin pan, jes' somepin dat will keep from burnin' yore shoe sole. An' yo' put two or three drops'of cinnamon oil on de chairs. Git dese Ole Banum[?] Tears.
(You put some of these on this stove lid?)
Put chure shoe - turn yore shoe bottom upwards an' burn dat on dere, an' yo' make yore wish concernin' what chew want. If yo' want so much money, an' yo' make yore wish fo' dis or dat. An' it may be if dis person seem tuh be angry tuhwards yo', or treatin' yo' indiff'rent anyway, yo' wish fo' bettah coopera- tion. An' yo' burn dis an' yo' postively will see a change. An' if someone have dismissed yo' from yore job, yo' drop dese nine grains of spice in de bottle as ah have tole yo' [several days before in another rite]. Now tuhmorrah when ah come ah can demonstrate dat bettah tuh yo', jes' how dat is done. An' den all de times when yo' meet these partic'lah people, yo' wanta drop a drop or two on yore hands an' rub yore face before yo' come in con- tact wit 'em. [Mrs. Brady, one of my contact people in Mobile was a capable woman familiar with the hoodoo-fortune telling world. I had interviewed her several days be- fore, but the recording being bad she had returned for another interview.]
Entry 5288
Dey take de lef'-foot shoe an' carry it tuh any runnin' watah an' place it de way yo' want a person tuh go, an' turn yore back an' say, "Go." An' yo will go until dey go an' take it up. If dey don't nevah take it up, yo'll go until yo' die.
Entry 5291
Den he'll take his left-foot shoe. Dat'll he'p, too. Take his left- foot shoe an' carry it tuh a rivah an' tie it up in a rag an' put a brick tuh it an' carry it tuh a rivah an' throw it ovahbo'd. (What will that do then?) He can't stay dere, he'll leave town.
Entry 5294
Heard tell of 'em takin' de sole, de innah sole out de shoes. Take de innah sole out chure shoes an' put it in runnin' watah, put graveyard dirt wit dat in runnin' watah an' run 'em wit it - de innah sole out chure shoe.
The informant introduces hearsay about an inner shoe sole with graveyard dirt in running water. The movement claim remains reported rather than independently observed.
Entry 5300
Yo' take de lef'-foot shoe at twelve a'clock at night an' yo' make yore wish tuh de fo' cornahs of de world an' pray - jes' a prayah child-lak, in yore own mannahs, see. Yore own way of prayin', see. Den if yo' got anybody dat's gone, why dey'll come tuh yo'. Do dat nine times, pray dat prayer. Co'se yo' burn de shoe once, but yo' pray dat same prayah fo' nine times at de same hour. Yo' pray it an' dat's tuh bring 'em home.
(Do you pray nine times that same night you burn the shoe or afterwards?)
Afterwards. Yo' pray it one prayah dat night an' jes' pray it till nine nights. But yo' only burn de shoe once.
(But you only burn the shoe once.)
One shoe at twelve a'clock.
[A separate rite is now added to preceding one:]
Take dat shoe an' yo' kin put some sugah an' soda an' sulphur. Put it in de heel an' shake it tuh de toe, an' push de shoe in de burnah, stove or heatah. Put de toe in first an' let it burn. Yo' do dat about twelve a'clock at night. Now, dat's good. Dat's de same thing. See, yo' don' have tuh pray no nine times ovah dat. Jes' do dat. An' dat's tuh bring people.
(You use either shoe?)
De right foot.
Entry 5301
He kin take de inside sole of a woman's shoe an' burn it - burn it into a powder. Beat it up fine an' git chew some Heart Cologne an' peppermint candy an' melt it, lak yo' use a syrup, melt it, take dem things an' mix up in dat, an' git chew some red peppah an' wear it in yore shoes. Why he will git 'er back.
Entry 5365
Dey takes yore track up an' do somepin wit it, or fix it so yo' be lame or crippled or somepin.
(Do you know how they do that?)
Well, dey takes it an' carry it, bury it undah yore steps.
(Either track or both tracks?)
Well, eithah one of 'em. Dey bury it undah yore steps, an' dey dress de shoes tuh dat 'fect too. Dat cripple yo' up. (What do they put in your shoes to do that?) Dey puts some of yore whut yo' weah nex' tuh yore skin, a little piece dey cut from de clothes yo' know, an' take an' dress it an' put in dere, an' dat will make yo' lame de balance of yore days.
Entry 5452
Ah would go an' ah would fin' de foot tracks, an' ah would pick up de dust of de foot track - where de foot track made a print. Ah would go tuh de graveyard an' ah would git some graveyard dust, an' ah would mix it all tuhgethah, see. Den ah would place it in mah shoe an' walk on it. Dat would make yo' come - jis' like yo' hate me, are an enemy against me, undahstan', dat will make yo' come tuh like me.
Entry 5530
Dey take de length of yore feet, take it right from de toe back to de heel. An' aftah dey take de length of yore shoe, dey take an' wrap it. An' dey take dat an' go bury right at the bottom of each step, yo' see, intuh anothah shoe; not yore shoe but anothah ole shoe dere at de house. An' dey put dat down an' dey claim dat would cross 'im up.
([They take] that string and measure the shoe and also [take] the foot track?)
Jis' take de length, dey don't take the foot track. Jis' take de length. Now, dey take some dust right at de end of de shoe, where dey measure it. Take some dust from dat end, an' dey take some dust from dat [other end]. An' put all dat tuhgethah an' wrap it up, an' put dat in de ole shoe.
Entry 5588
Take out a piece of newspapah by yore track. Put chure foot down on de newspapah an' cut out dat track - understan', by de newspapah. An' take some sulphur an' red peppah an' sprinkle it in de bottom of yore shoe, an' set dat papah in dat, an' put chure foot in yore shoe. Yo' kin walk in it an' it [no cunjure or spell] ain't goin' hurt chew. Dat's right.
[Nothing planted for you to walk over will harm you.]
(After putting that stuff in your shoe, you simply put that insole of news- paper on top of it?) On top of it.
Entry 5797
An' den if yo' fall fer a man an' a man don't care very much about chew - eithah a woman kin do it or eithah a man kin do it - yo' take an' pull two stran's of 'is hair outa his haid an' yo' put it in each heel of yore shoe, an' yo' wear it in yore shoe fo' nine days. An' aftah yo' wear it in yore shoe fo' nine days, he'll start to fallin' fo' yo' an' he'll be so crazy about chewden dat he wouldn't even leave yore house. Yo' see de longah dis hair grow, de long- ah 'is love will grow fo' yo'.
(You take two strands of his hair and you put one strand in each shoe?)
Yes sir. [Florence, S. Car. (1322), 2266:2.]
Entry 5852
Ah heard dat dey would take yore hair an' dey could wear it in dere shoes until yore hair would rot. See, when yore hair would rot, it would run yo' in de insane asylum, in de crazy house. (They put that in both shoes?) In one, in de left shoe. An' den some- time yo' take it an' yo' put it in some vinegah, some devil vinegah. Don' fo'- git about de devil vinegah, an' yo' shake it an' use it.
(What will that do if you put this hair in the devil vinegar?)
It will run yo' crazy.
Entry 6034
If yo' wanta be wit a woman an' yo' laked 'er an' yo' wants to git 'er undah yore control, yo' could take nine plats [not plaits, pronounced plātes] of 'er hair, yo' see, an' jis' wear it in yore pocket, put it in yore pockets. Some of 'em have diff'ren' ways. Dey kin take dere shoes. Jis' lak if she wuz workin' fo' yo', kin put it in dere shoes, an' jis' where dat woman at, kin pass by 'er. Her mind will - her mind will attraction 'er to come to de do'.
Entry 6045
De hair out chure head, dey kin do sev'ral things wit it. Now, dey kin take de hair out chure head an' dress it an' dey'll have'yo' jes' lak dey wanta. Well, dey'll take dat hair an' dey'll tie it up, an' put a cord roun' dat hair, an' dey'll put dat hair in dere pocket. If dey wanta lead yo' de way dey go, dey'll put dat hair in dere pocket an' dey'll wear it in dere pocket. An' den dey kin take dat hair ag'in an' put it in dere shoes, keep yo' undah dey. foot. Dat gives yo' bad luck, keep yo' undah 'em.
Entry 6068
Dey kin take yore hair from down at chure privates. All right. Now, dis heah is love now. Whut dey drove in de tree is [to make you] crazy. All right, dis is fo' love. All right, yo' take it an' put it in somepin, wrap it up tight, an' put it in de lef' foot of yore shoe an' wear it. An' den yo' takes Hearts Cologne an' dress dat hair fo' nine mawnin's. Den yo' in love jes' as hard as yo' evah wanted tuh git in love.
[Savannah. Ga., (1252).2124:6.]
Entry 6111
Take his hair, cut 'is hair out chew know an' take it an' put it in de bottom of 'er shoes, an' she wear dat in 'er shoes. Dat's tuh make him love her.
(Which shoe would she wear that in you say?)
[This question is almost useless; the information should be volunteered.]
In de left shoe.
Entry 6112
Well, dey says dey kin take de mole of yore hair - wimmins could take it an' wear it in de bottom of dere shoe. Dat will make a man follow dem where- somevah dey goes.
Entry 6114
Jes' lak he'd be settin' down somepin lak dat, an' she'd git a little of his hair. She have to take dat an' wear it in de bottom 'er shoe, see. Well, dat'll stop 'im lak dat.
(Running around with women.)
Entry 6115
A woman kin take a stran' of yore hair an' put it in de collar of 'er shirt, jes' stick it in dere. Dat will make yo' love 'er. Sompin lak dat. Dere diff'rent places yo' kin put it, see, suh.
(You mean it [in the collar] itches him, that will make him love her?)
Yes. Den yo' put it in 'is shoes, in de bottom of de shoe, slip up dat sole-lak [insole] yo' know, an' stick it in dere, why dat will make yo' go way yo' know.
(Put it in his shoes?)
Yeah, dey put it on 'im both ways [to hold or send away], see.
Entry 6116
Dey kin take yore hair an' wear it in dere shoe an' keep yo' down undah den lak dat.
(You mean down in connection with love or something of that sort?)
No sir, jes' keeps yo' down, keeps yo' down underneat' 'em - lak if yo' tryin' tuh go up, why dat keep yo' down, keeps yo' from prosperin'.
Entry 6117
Yo' take an' git some of de hair, it don't make no diff'rence where yo' dt it from, jes' since it's de hair out of 'is haid.
(Out of the bosses head?)
Outa de boss' haid an' wear dat in yore shoe. See, dat's gittin' 'im undah yore feet, an' den he be kind an' do mos' anything yo' want 'im tuh do. Ah tried wit a lady mahself.
Entry 6138
Dey say dey take hair from de mole of yore head. Say women'll take dat, say, an' wear it into de left shoe, wit yore name written nine times in wit sugah. If it's not sugah, it be honey - somepin sweet. Wear it in dere left shoe nex' to dere feet, gee. But it must be written wit indelible pencil, nine times. Yo' could when- cah yo're writin' 'er name an' yo' want to draw 'er to yo', well yo' put yore on top, an' yo' put 'er name at de bottom. An' write it nine times straight. De yo' folds it, an' yo' fold it again, but yo' make a triangle of it. De small point of de triangle goes to de heel of yore shoe, de othah two points go to de gide - jes' lak dat [demonstrates]. An' dat othah stuff be right in de middle of yore shoe. (Where do you wear that stuff, in that piece of paper? Do you wrap it up or hat?) In dat papah - it's in dat papah. It's supposed to work in through dat. Dat's posed to sweeten 'er to yo'.
Entry 6139
Dey say dat chew could take a woman's hair out of de front part of 'er d an' wear it in yore right shoe, an' dey say dat would make her be in obedi- ence to yo', an' finely [finally] yo' could kinda handle de rule. An' fine- J she will come to love yo'.
Entry 6141
Well, now, if a fellah got a girl, a wife or sweetheart, whatevah he intend 'er tuh be, he go right tuh work, jes' lak mah haid or yore hair right dere an' git chew fo' strands of hair. Be combin', git roun' lak dat, or yo' kin fool wit 'er, make out yo' goin' play an' git it, an' git holt of fo' stran's right out de mole of 'er haid right dere. Dey kin take dat fo' stran's an' put it yore right shoe in de toes or de mouth of it up heah. Fold it tuhgethah an' put it up in dere an' yo' wears it in dere. Now, yo' wears dat in dere, undahstan', an' evahwhere yo' go she'll go. An' if she wants tuh quit - she kin git mad, yo' know - yo' got 'er tied. An' she gits mad an' stays off at some of de neighbor's house an' part up wit yo', lak she not comin' to yo' fo' sometime, well 'fore de sun go down she's right back wit yo'. Can't stay 'way atall.
Entry 6142
[Later during interview informant gives another version of the four- strands-of-hair rite:] Dat's wus'ah [worse-er] den de fo' strands of hair, undahstan'. Den yo' kin take - go git dat fo' stran's of hair. Take dat needle dat de lady sews wit an' wrap it up an' put it wit dat fo' stran's of hair, an' put it in de mouth [informant means toe] of yore shoe, an' wear it dere, yo' undahstan'. An' IF SHE LEAVE YO', DEN DE SUN AIN'T SHININ' OUT DERE - can't leaVe yo'.
(Put four strands of her hair in your shoe?)
Wear it in de toe of yore shoe, way up in de toe, put it up dere where it won't git lost when yo' pull off yore shoe or yore sock - jes' pack it in dere. Let it stay in dere. But it's de quickest way tuh git 'em - dat's it, yo' undah- Stan'. But now YO' MUST KEEP DAT UP ONCE A MONTH. DON'T DO IT JES' ONE TIME, IT DIE DOWN. DAT MEANS, SEE, DAT ONCE A MONTH DE MOON CHANGES. Do it OnCe eVah month.
(On the change.of the moon.)
Entry 6143
(What else do they do with the hair?)
Well, yo' kin take it an' use it in anothah way. Dey kin take yore hair - dey git it in certain places.
(Where?)
In de mole of yore haid, or in de temple, or down below, an' dey kin wear dat hair in dey foot - de shoe. Put it in dey right shoe. Put it in a little thin piece of cloth, yo' know, flannen cloth an' wrap it, an' yo' git some of dis what chew call van-van an' wet it wit it. An' puts it in de bottom of yore shoe an' put a piece of newspapah on top of dat an' wear daily in yore shoe. Well, dat kinda runs yo' crazy 'bout 'em.
(Hakes you like the person?)
Makes yo' love 'em.
Entry 6144
Well, yo' kin make a person do anything yo' want 'em tuh do, wit de bir of a person. Yo' kin take de hair off a person's haid, if it's not but one strand, an' if it's a woman, yo' put it wit three pieces of devil's shoestring a yo' could wear dat in de bottom of yore shoe, providin' yo' goin' wit dis an, an' she'll do anything dat chew want 'er tuh do, jes' as long as yo' let dat hair stay in de bottom of yore shoe of de right foot. Well, now, if a woman wanted a man, she gits a piece of 'is hair from de tem- ple an' wears it in 'er right shoe, an' keep it dere always, an' he'll jes' al- ways yield tuh her jes' lak she wants 'im tuh do.
(Where would the man get the hair from the woman?)
Hell, he kin git it off 'er haid if it's jes' a personal love affair, an dat'll make her jes' do anything he want 'er to do, but he puts it wit dis de- vll's shoestring - three pieces.
(But the woman only has to use the hair from his temple?)
De hair from a man's temple wit'out de devil's shoestring.
Entry 6575
Said dat a lady had some li'le lizards in 'er an' she wuz told by a hoodoo lady dat if dey caught dat lizard alive an' tied 'im in a dark cornah an' let 'im die. An' den took 'im an' parched 'im up, beat 'im up an' put 'im in de walk where she had tuh walk. So in de summah- time she'd go wit'out 'er shoes, an' de powdah would stick tuh de hollah of 'er feet, an' quite natchel [natural] 'er havin' life in 'er feets, she'd carry it on an' put on de shoe an' wear it, an' it create little lizards, an' de little lizards grew in 'er.
Entry 6602
Well, all right, ah've had de pleasure tuh meetin' a woman travelin through de country, an' five or six diff'ren' people of mah profession tole [her] dat dere wus snakes put intuh 'er. Now, dey wus Wondahin' how did dese snakes git intuh dis woman. Ah claim dat yo' kin take snake dust an' put snakes intuh a person. Yo' kin sprinkle dis dust over some of dere food an' if dey eat, dey claim dat snakes will grow intuh 'em. Ah've had de pleasure of gittin' one from a woman. Ah've taken de hair from de top of 'er head an' burn dis an' let 'er weah dis dus' in 'er lef' shoe, an it made dese snakes disappeah.
Entry 6620
Yo' git a snake bone an' take de shoes - yo' git de snake bone an' yo' take a person's shoe an' take dat li'le leathah piece outa it whut's in dere. An' yo' take dat li'le bone an' dry it up - yo' know, kinda make li'le powdah of it. An' yo' take de othah part, de tip-end of it, dat sharp part, an' put it down intuh de shoe an' place dat li'le cloth back ovah it. Yo' take dat powdahs an' sprinkle dat all roun' in dere. If it's yore shoe, if ah wanta kill yo' or put sompin in yo', put snakes in yo' where dey won' come out. Well, yo' see when yo' put dat shoe on, yo' goin' press yore weight ag'inst it; an' when yo' does, see, it pops up intuh yo', intuh yore heel. Well, yo' see, dat poison jis' goes right straight on up in yo'. An' aftah dat poison git up intuh yo', in about de ninth day it begin tuh make li'le snakes in yo'. It begin tuh make li'le snakes in yo'. Well, if yo' wanta git dose snakes outa yo', yo' git chew some sulphuh an' green peppah, black peppah an' mix it all tuhgethah. An' den yo' git chew dis milk of magnesia an' den yo' put dat in wit it an' mix it tuhgethah, an' jis' nine drops of spirits of turpentine. Yo' mix it all up tuhgethah an' yo' take dat fo' about eight days an' it will kill dose snakes. An' yo' go tuh de woods an' dere's one li'le sprig of stuff dat dey call dat Copras it bears one of de straight leaves an' de li'le j'ints [joints]. Dey got about four li'le white j'ints run up tuhgethah. [Does informant mean copperas, and does he think it is a plant?] Yo' take dat an' weah dat intuh yore clothes, an' dey say dat will really, surely run de snakes outa yo'. Put it all tuhgethah an' it will run dose snakes out of yo'. (You just wear this root though, you don't take either of those things - just wear it?) Yes.
(And that snakebone, can you get that any place about the snake?)
Yes, yo' kin git it from de snake, jis' any part of 'is body, jis' so it has dat li'le sharp end kind lak a pin.
Entry 6747
If someone is tryin' to harm yo', yo' take yore undahsuit an' turn it grongside out an' yo' weah it [that way]. An' yo' take some parsley, an' put it in each shoe. An' dey can't harm yo'.
Entry 6748
Yo' take a fellah or a woman or any age dat suffahs wit rheumatism. Put one piece of coppah in end of one shoe, one piece of galvanized iron in de othah, an' regardless of whethah he is walkin' in de street, tuhday he don't need no stick. Dat's providin' he takes de rubbah off de heel of de shoe. Gravity draws de pain right on out.
Entry 6824
Dey could take de dirt from de grave an' put it, weah in yuh shoes. It could be dust. Dust, dey say, is bettah dan de compoun' dirt. Yo' git de dry pulverized dirt an' put dat in yuh shoes, an' yo' kin weah dat if a person is seek- In' tuh put somepin down where yo' might walk ovah tuh [harm you] or cripple yuh in some way, or deform yuh from gittin' aroun' an' makin' a livin'. Why yo' weah dat, dat prevents dat, dat graveyard dirt.
Entry 6865
Chip poke salad root fine, wear in shoes for arthritis. [This is my original transcription of informant's statement made soon after it was collected. I identify informant by the words woman sells roots. Here I am listening to a woman who had been selling roots in the public market for years, who had even appeared in a newspaper article, and I took down none of her story, only a few brief remarks about cures! One of the men interviewed was a professional root digger, the man who supplied her with roots! I still failed to realize that my mission should be life itself, not brief beliefs arranged and numbered neatly on a printed page. But soon New Orleans would improve my vision and purpose.
Entry 7035
[If yo'] wuz a drunkard an' drinks a lotta whiskey. Well, jis' lak if yo' drink whiskey an' ah wants yo' tuh stop, ah wanta stop yo' from drinkin' so hard. Well, yo' take any ole part of 'is cap or 'is shoe an' yo' carry it an' bury it in de graveyard, an' let it stay in dere fo' nine mawnin's. An' den come an' git it an' burn it up, an' dat'll stop 'em from drinkin' so hard.
(After you burn it, you don't bring those ashes back?)
Yo' git de ashes, bring 'em back an' put 'em in de yard.
(Stop me from drinking.)
Drinkin' so hard.
Entry 7049
(How do you do that?)
Yo' kin even make 'em stop drinkin' whiskey.
(How do you do that?)
Now, yo' know a man dat drinks whiskey. Yo' take a man dat's a heavy whiskey drinkah, when he comes home, if he drink anythin' lak coffee or tea, or anythin' lak dat. Yo' go tuh 'is shoes, when he come in at night, an' take any dust - some dust off of one of 'is shoes. See, yo' jis' take de dust off of any shoe yo' git off of 'is foot. An' take dat dust an' powdah it. Powdah it up good an' fold it in a piece of paper, an' let 'im sleep wit dat undah 'is pillow. Evah time he come, whethah he come in sobah or come in drunk, take it away where - wrap dat good an' put it undah 'is pillah, an' let it stay undah 'is pillah fo' nine days. An' aftah it stay undah 'is pillah fo' nine days, yo' take it an' take dat same dust an' po' it intuh any drink dat he drinks - whiskey or gin or anythin' an' dissolve it an' mix it well. Jis' drop it in, jis' a li'le particle of dust on dere, from any one of 'is shoes. An' let 'im sleep wit dat undah 'is head fo' nine days, an' po' it in 'is drink. An' ah'll bet if yo' continue doin' dat - if dat don't give him de natchal [natu- ral] effect de firs' time, use it on 'im ag'in. An' ah'll bet dat he'll - it'll stop 'im from drinkin'.
Entry 7118
Take yore shoes an' turn 'em upside down right where yore bed is at. Yo'll put dat shoe in de groun' an' she'd put yo' in bed - yo' goin' tuh come dere an' go tuh bed, go tuh sleep. An' she'd git up dere, yo' won't wake up 'till she wake yo up. She kin git up any time of night she want, an' go where she want, an' come back an' yo' jis' sleepin' - can't wake up.
(Does she bury both shoes?)
One, yore lef'-foot shoe.
(Does she bury it in the ground or put it under the bed?)
Nope, she bury it in de ground, yo' know, right where de bed at; yo' know, lak dat. An' turn it upside down an' put dat shoe in de ground, see.
(She'd have to get under the house then?)
Yes, sir, she'd git undahneat' de house an' put dat dere right where de bedat.
(I see.)
Entry 7134
Git de right-foot shoe an' any piece he weah nex' tuh 'im - his undahclothes-lak. When dey go tuh sleep, take dat piece whut he weah nex' tuh 'im, an' put it ovah 'is face. An' take his shoe, de right-foot shoe an' turn it down. He'll continue sleepin' dere until dey go an' take dat from ovah 'is face an' turn 'is shoe back up straight in de night.
Entry 7135
If a woman's gittin' ready tuh go out, if she got sense, she'll lay on de bed wit 'er husban'. She pulls off 'er clothes an' while he's not lookin', she'll take and place her undah- weah undah 'is head. She'll take an' place her undahweah undah 'is head, an' he'll lay dere an' go tuh sleep an' he'll nevah wake up. Den she'll take his lef' shoe an' TURN IT DOWN IN UNDAH DE BED, AN' SHE KIN GO TUH HELL AN' COME BACK.
(And she must put the underclothes under his pillow - under his head?)
Her undahclothes undah 'is head.
(Under the pillow or under his head?)
Undah 'is head. Put 'er undahclothes undah 'is head. It kin be, as long as it's undah 'is head, she kin even put it undah de sheet. Yo' know, she put it somewhere where he can't see it.
(Oh, I see.)
Entry 7136
She'll take 'er drawahs an' pull 'em off whut she had on an' put 'em undah 'is haid; take her right-footed shoe an' turn it bottom upwards undah de foot of 'is baid, an' take his lef'-footed shoe an' turn it bottom upvards. An' he'll sleep dere until she come an' wake him up. (Where does she put his shoe?) Jis' turn it bottom upwards undah de baid. Put 'is shoe, one tuh 'er foot an' one tuh 'is, right side by side undah de bed.
(But she puts her drawers under the pillow?)
Ease it undah 'is pillah.
(And what would happen then?)
He jis' sleep.
Entry 7139
Wal, dey take de lef' of yo' shoes an' turn it bottom upwards on any kinda piece of bo'd, an' nail it bottom upwards. An' dat's de way yo'll be, jis' lak dat shoe. (How is that?) Becuz de shoe is bottom upwards. Why when yo' turn dat shoe bottom upwards, feet up an' de - in dat way yo'll be down. De only way yo' kin be right is pull dat nail out an' turn dat shoe back up.
Entry 7141
Take man's shoe an' pass over his face, then hang on bed; then her underwear pass over his face an' hang over bed.
Entry 7142
She'll take the left foot shoe an' jis' pass it over his face three times an' put it down...
Entry 7322
Yo' kin go to de graveyard an' git some graveyard dust. Yessuh, an' den dey kin put some in dere shoe, an' run on to a cow pasture an' keep on goin'. An' den dey kin come on back an' git yo' fingah- print or yore han'print an' dat'll work a long ways. (What do you go to the graveyard for - what's wrong?) Jes' lak if yo' happen tuh be in any trouble any way. (You go to the graveyard and get some graveyard dirt, and what do you do with that graveyard dirt?) Put it in yore shoe, so dey say, an' den run through a cow pasture, if yo' in any trouble or anythin'.
(What will that do?)
Dat will he'p yo' git away. Dat whut dey say. [Sumter, S. Car., (1378), 2448.
Entry 7324
Jes' lak if somebody kill somebody, well dey git de track dogs on dere track. Well dey kin go tuh de graveyard an' git graveyard dirt an' put it in de bottom of dere shoes. Well de track dogs couldn't track 'em. Also, dey kin git cayenne peppah an' put it in de bottom of dere shoes. Well dat cayenne peppah yo' know will strangle de dogs so dey git off de track.
Entry 7332
(You mean the knee from this dead man?)
De cap of de knee.
(How do they do that?)
Well, jes' lak if anybody kill a person, git in trouble an' wanta git away, so dey won't be caught chew know an' dey won't even look fo' dem; an' den, if dey run, happen tuh run 'cross 'em, dey can't handle 'em. All right. Dey kin go by a cemetery an' dey'll dig up a dead person, yo' know, if dey in trouble or sompin. An' dey want dat knee. An' dey:11 take dat knee an' dey'll tote it in dere pocket, see. All right. Befo' dey git dere, git dat knee - 'fo' dey git to dat knee, dey will take turpentine an' will rub it in dere shoes, see. Dat's tuh keep - jes' lak dey got dogs out aftah 'em or sompin, [keep dogs away] till dey git to de graveyard an' git dat knee. Take an' wrap it up or sompin an' put it in dere pocket an' go on 'bout dere business.
Entry 7337
It [red onion] will grow back hair. Yo' take it an' rub it on a bald spot an' it will grow back hair. An' den it's good to keep dogs from runnin' yo'. Lak yo' a prisonah, gits out of a [chain] gang or anythin' lak dat, yo' put de salt an' [red] peppah an' de red onion togethah an' put it in yore shoes, an' dey can't run yo'.
Entry 7350
Yes, in dis way: Ah don't know whethah it's fact dat de law couldn't find or not, but ah do know dis one thing. If yo' were tuh do sompin chere an' dey wus on yore - say, if dey had hounds runnin' yo' or sompin, yo' could put turpen- tine an' red peppah undah yore shoe sole an' dem dogs couldn't track yo' no fu'thah dan where yo' use dat material. Right dah dey'd lose track an' dey couldn't start it.
Entry 7397
Ah hear tell of 'em takin' yore shoes, yore left-footed shoe. Jes' lak anyone done a crime, jes' lak ah'd kill someone out dere yo' see. Well, ah'm a unknown party, yo' see de idea. Well dey smart enough to git somebody, yo' know, tuh git de left foot of mah shoe, yo' see. Well, yo' kin take de left foot of mah shoe - ah heard dat chew kin take de left foot of mah shoe an' bury it. Yo' know, jes' bury flat down lak dat yo' know, upside down, undah de left cornah of de house. An' a few days aftah yo' do dat, ah would return back, yo' see. Ah did de killin by unknown parties. Yo' see, ah'm de unknown party, but ah have tuh come back tuh dat house, yo' see. Ah heard dat to be de fac'. (Where would they bury this shoe? Under your house or under the house of the party that was killed?) De party's house which was killed.
(How would they get hold of your shoe?)
Well, jes' lak yo' may go tuh work, yo' see - jes' lak yo' may go tuh work an' have a ole footed shoe or sompin of de kind aroun', yo' see, an' yo' kin git hold of it. Yo' see de idea.
(That is to bring you back.)
Entry 7398
Take de dead man's shoe an' bury an' he'll come back. (You mean the fellow that killed him will come back. You bury both his shoes, you say, or one? Which one?) De left foot, yes.
(Where do they bury that shoe?)
Wit'in 'is grave, in 'is box [coffin], right in 'is box wit 'im. [Surely the murderer's old shoe is buried in the coffin, not the dead man's shoe.l [Jackson- ville, Fla., (553) 691:4+85.]
Entry 7399
If a man do any murderin' or anythin', yo' kin take dat ole shoe an' bury it bottom upwards; dey say, jes' in de ground an' bury it bottom upwards. Dey say he'll go crazy - wit 'is clothes.
(Whose shoes do you bury?)
Bury de ones dat done de murder.
(If you know who did the murder?)
Yes, yo' have to know he done. Bury dat shoe, he go crazy. Call dis man name all de time. (In this case you just suspected the man did the killing, and in order not to take any chances, you'd bury his shoe or either his clothing, calling his name, and if he did do it, then he'll go crazy.)
Entry 7400
Take yore shoes sometime an' lak if dey did anythin', yo' kin take dere shoes an' have 'em caught.
(How would you do that?)
Well, yo' take an' put - yo' git chew some quicksilvah. Well, yo' kin git some of dat an' put nine drops in each shoe. Dat's, if yo' wanta git dis person, put nine drops in each shoe. Den yo' take dese shoes an' yo' pray ovah dem fo' three days, an' yo' use de 26 Psalm on dat fo' three days 'fore sunup, an' put 'em undah de steps whence [where] he goin' back to. Bury dem undah dose bo'ds. An' in nine days he'll be back dere.
(If he has committed some crime.)
Entry 7401
Mah gran'fathah said, he was in slav'ry yo' see, he said dat when a person done kill a person dey goes an' gits dis person's shoes an' dey take 'um an' put 'em full of foddah an' den dey take some dis heah lye dey use to run an' make soap outa. Ah don't know whethah yo' remembah it or not. (The old-fashioned lye.) Yes sir, used to run it outa ashes. Put hit in dere an' dey turn dat shoe bottom sides upwards dey said, an' in five days evah who did it would come back.
(Do you do one of the shoes that way or both of them?)
Jes' one of 'em. Dat left shoe.
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 7891
Take dat graveyard dirt an' put dat graveyard dirt in a li'le bag an' sew it up. An' den dey'll, yo' know, dey put dis in a, yo' know, put some in - [if] dey kin git tuh yo', dey put some of dat grave- yard dirt in yuh shoe, put it in de shoe. Well, dat run yo' crazy.
Entry 7964
Take dat left shoe, yo' cut it, yo' jis' cut it all de way cross from dat heel. Yo' take dat shoe... [I interrupt.]
(From the heel to what?)
From de heel tuh de end of de toes.
(HoW would you cut it? How do you mean they cut it?)
[Just make a cut mark? Cut all the Way through? Etc?]
Yo' jis' take a knife an' cut it...
(Just make a cut?)
Yes, sir, jis' take a knife an' cut dat shoe all de way through, yo' see, de sole of it. Cut it all de way through tuh de heel.
(I see.)
An' den yo' take dat shoe an' git two cross-sticks, two cross-sticks [2 sticks to cross] an' yo' cross 'em lak dat [demonstrates].
(Like an X. All right.)
Yo' cross 'em lak dat, an' yo' goes right undahneat' of de house, of [belou] dere baid. Yo' see, yo' make somepin jis' lak a li'le coffin. An' yo' goes undahneat' of de house right undah de baid, jis' where de baid sets. An' yo' tacks de bottom of dat, dat inside of dat sole of dat shoe, [and] yo' tack it undahneat' of de house right undah de baid. An' dat person will jis' lingah, lingah, lingah - lingah until dey die. But yo' tacks it - see yo' tack it right undahneat' de bed. [Nail it to the fllor under the house:] Dat's really de truth ah'm tellin' yo' now. Dat's really de truth.
(Well, what would they do with that box?)
Evahthing ah'm tellin' yo' is really de truth. (Well, what would they do with that box that you made like a coffin? What do you do with that?) That? It all be's tuhgethah.
(Oh! you tack that box, everything. I see.)
But choo see, it all be's tuhgethah. Turn it bottom upwards.
(I see.)
An' yo' tack it right undahneat' of de baid undah de house; but choo see, yo' cross dem sticks.
(Where do you put those sticks?)
Yo' cross dem sticks right undahneat' of it, right undahneat' of de sole. An' yo' tack it an' yo' turn it all bottom ups, an' yo' tacks it right undahneat' of de baid.
(Well, now, you put these sticks in there across?)
Yes. (Then you put this piece of leather in there, from the shoe, and you turn it upside down, and tack it up under the bed, under the house? [I speak slowly and deliberately.] That leather is in there to hold those sticks, that are crossed, from falling down?) Yes, sir, keep dem sticks crossed. Don' put 'em straight, put crossed.
(I see.)
Entry 8249
I worked in a place and lost my job. The man went out of business. I vas living with a very old colored woman and got behind in my rent. She had been going with a man. This man got mad at her and stopped her. When she found out I could draw pretty well, so she had me to draw his picture as near his likeness as I could. She would put this picture in the bottom of her shoe and wear it until ft Was almost porn out, and have me draw another. I don't know whether that caused him to come back or not, but he certainly came back. [Ocean City, Md., by Ediphone.]
Entry 8251
Dat's if a woman's husban' should leave her, or sweetheart, anything lak dat, jis' take de photograph, see, an' put in 'er shoe an' jis' weah it. Beah it till it weah out. Den git anothah one an' den weah dat un', so long as yo' weah one, an' he'll follah yo'. He'll be so good tuh yo', he be too good tuh yo'. Yo' jis' put it - it's always bes' tuh put in undah de leathah of de shoe, becuz somebody else might see it, see.
(In what shoe does she wear it, either shoe?)
Yo' kin weah it in either shoe. Ah prefer de left shoe, though.
Entry 8252
Take dis photograph an' yo' kin put it in yore shoes an' weah it, an' if yo' want dis guy back, yo' kin git 'im.
(Whose photograph is it?)
It supposed tuh be de man or de woman or whosomevah dat chew want. If yo' a woman, yo' kin weah him in yore shoes an' yo' kin git 'im back.
(You wear this photograph in either shoe?)
In de right one, yo' mus' weah it in de right one.
Entry 8253
It's lak if a person mistreats yo' an' yo' wanta git even wit 'im, an' he's got yore pichure an' yo' got 'is. Ah mean if de girl is got yore [his] pichure an' yo' got one lak it, take it an' put it an' weah it in de bottom of yore right-foot shoe an' wear it, clean it...
(What will that do?)
Dat will make 'im sick.
Entry 8254
Git 'is photograph. She kin go tuh any place an' have anothah one taken. Put one in 'er right shoe, an' bury one undah de do'step. Bury it wit de face down, an' weah one in de bottom of 'er shoe, an' see whut results yo' git outa dat. (What do you do that for?) Dat's if yo' wanta bring 'im back, an' rule 'im, put 'im undah 'er command.
Entry 8397
Dey takes yore photograph, if dey wants tuh kill yuh or if dey wanta control yo'. Dey will take dat photograph an' dey will keep dat photograph in a place, where it's in dey shoe, an' dey weah it, if dey wants chew undah dere feet. But if dey Wants tuh kill yuh, dey will take dat photograph an' bury it on its face, an' leave it dere, an' take dere urinate an' wet on it, yo' undahstand. Wet on dat photograph fo' nine mawnin's an' dat's de end of dat. An' dey say as dat decay, when dat has fully decayed, why yo'll die.
Entry 8475
Say yo' takes 'er pichure. Yo' goes an' git a gun an' regardless tuh who she is or how much money she got, if yo' loved 'er, git 'er photograph an' turns 'er photograph on de desk, layin' de photograph an' call 'it 'er pichure, an' mark it wit a "X' - a cross, 'X'. Take an' folds it up in a piece of news- pahah an' put it in yore shoes. Hoids up de linin' of yore shoes an' put it in dere, an' turns de haid of 'er pichure down tuh de ground an' tuhward de back of yore heel. Weah it three days an' take it an' delivah it out. An' pertends [pretends] yo' drinkin' whiskey, two glasses. Drink yores an' name hers wit de pichure ovah it. An' let it stay dere fo' three days an' she'll return tuh yo'.
(After you wear this in your shoe, you take it, the third day, and then you?)
Put it in two drinks of likkah, put it in two separate glasses. Fulls [fill] de glasses up each, an' drink one. An' put de othah one back an' name it wit de pichure in it, ovah de glass wit de face down tuh whiskey.
Entry 8493
Takin' dat parchment papah an' puttin' de boss name an' wearin' it in de left shoe wit his name on top - wearin' it in de left shoe. Aftah takin' it, take a powder - can't commit de name but it's a high-class powder.... Takin' dat powder an' po'it in dat parchment papah an' foldin' dat parchment papah Wit de boss' name at de bottom an' yores at de top an' wearin' it in de shoes, an' yo' kin be standin' there in de audience wit 50 mens, an' by some reason, he will come an' pick yo' out an' give yo' de first preference.
(Is it some sort of a love powder or smelling powder?)
It's a controllin' powder.
Entry 8571
Fur ninstance [for an instance] yo' kin take an' yo' kin write a pusson name frontwards an' den yo' kin write it backwards. An' den yo' could take some salt an' put in dat an' yo' could keep dat pusson down by putting it under yo' feet. (What do you mean under your feet?) Well, yo' see, jes' like my name David. Yo' write David Chislow, den yo' write backwards Chislow David. [This is the normal writing backwards and not preceding margin title BACK- WARDS.] See what yo' mean. Then yo' take some salt an' yo' put in dat, a little piece of cloth, an' yo'll fix dem. Make a little flat piece of cloth an' lay it right in yo' shoe, an' then yo' put on your shoe, an' yo' put your foot right on that an' keep me right down.
Entry 8646
[To rub is an important magic rite we often ignore, despite our early acquaintance with Aladdin's lamp. In some cures rubbing - up or down, in a cir- cle, or number of times - shows its own importance. Even so, in the first edi- tion of Folklore from Adams County Illinois, the word mub does not appear in the Index! How could I have missed the well-known couplet: When your left hand itches Rub it on wood And it will come good. (No.3356) Moreover, there are other examples of rubbing in this division about HANDS: Nos. 3339-3342.] De shoe sole - if yo' don' want somebody at chure house, take de shoe sole an' yo' rub it till de bottom of de foot git hot. Yo' call de person name nine times. Yo' git a lemon an' yo' Write de name down nine times wit a indelible pencil. Sew it up wit black thread an' bury it undah any step or do' whut dey gotta come by. An' bury it undah dere. An' everytime dey go out, yo' take dat left-foot shoe an' yo' rub it until de shoe sole git hot an' call dere name nine times.
(Whose shoe sole do you rub?)
Anybody dat yo' don' want at chure house. Any individual, woman or man, any- body dat yo' don' want dere.
(And the name you say...?)
Yo' jes' writes it down nine times wit a indelible pencil.
(And put that in a lemon?)
In a lemon an' sews it up wit black thread, No.8 black thread, coarse black thread, an' then bury it.undah a do'step, or a step, anywhere where dey gotta come in.
(That is to keep them away from your house?)
Keep 'em away from your house.
Entry 8676
Yo' kin write his name nine times an' make a wish an' den yo' kin wear it in yore right shoe an' he'll come back.
Entry 8678
Take his name down nine times on a piece of papah an' yo' write her name down three times. All right an' she git her some sugah an' some cinnamon an' she put dat on dat papah an' fold it three times to her an' wear it in 'er left shoes. Dat's tuh git him back home. Now, when she gits him back home, tuh keep him from goin with any othah woman, she takes her fingernails an' her toenails an' git a part of her hair. An' grate dat all up togethah an' put it in whatevah she cooks, an' give it to him an' he cain't leave 'er.
Entry 8680
Then, what they would do to make yo' move out of that house, they would get yore - try to get some close friend of yours to get yore right shoe. They Would burn that right shoe. They'd get up before day in de mawnin' an' burn that right shoe. Before twelve or one o'clock, they'd take that, they'd sprinkle it at yore door, dat [shoe ashes]. (I understand.) Well, they'd go to work then an' they'd get oil of cedar. (Oil of cedar?) They'd take oil of cedar an' they would pour dat down. (Where would they pour that?) They pour it right at your door [where they put the shoe ashes], at yore front door, where yo' are bound to come out over. Well then yo' get 'em [they have you!]. They would take yore name an' they would write it nine times an' they would fold that from them. They'd take that name an' they would bury that. Yo' begin to drift. Yo' wouldn't like that place, yo'd want to stay away from dat place. Dat's de place they'd drive yo' off.
(Do they bury that in any special place?)
They'd bury it at de door where yo' - or in de path, so you'd have to come over. They'd bury it so you'd have to come over it. Yo' understand.
(I understand. That makes you move?)
That'd make yo' move.
Entry 8682
Yes, yo' could take a sheet of papah wit lines on it an' write. Now, if she wuz a married woman an' yo wanted her, yo'd write her name [demonstrates] on dis line an' yo' turn de papah ovah an' write his name on dat line. See, her name would be goin' disaway an' 'is name dataway.
(Which way would her name be going?)
Yo' see, both sides [of the paper] has lines. Well, yo' write 'er name on dis line an' yo' turn de papah ovah an' write his name [over her name]. Well, yo' see both names wouldn't run togethah. One would run dat way an' one dis way [in the opposite direction]. Well, dat's de breakin' up [opposite of putting together] part. An' yo' would wear these names in yore shoe fo' three days, an' on de third day yo' take it out befo' de sunrise an' jes' tear it in small pieces an' bury it. Yo' wouldn't bury it very deep. Jes' rake back a li'le dirt, enough tuh keep de wind from blowin' it away. An' ever' mavnln' befo' de sun rise, why yo' put jes' a li'le chamber lye on it, an' yo' would say a prayer. (What kind of a prayer?) Yo' would say, "Lord, ah'm doin' dis in Yore Name fo' peace." An' yo' see dat "peace" would mean yo' wouldn't mean de man no harm, but chew would jes' want dis woman. An' yo' would do that fo' nine mawnin's an' de ninth mawnin', why dis woman would come to yo'. An' de way her an' her husband would split up, why he wouldn't have any suspicions of anyone. Then her mind would go from him an' his mind would go from her, an' would [go] to the one that wuz doin' this, that she loved. An' she would nevah know, or he would nevah know jes' how they broke up. But then yo would git de woman that yo' wanted.
Entry 8695
Take some red peppah an' put it in his lef' shoe, an' write his name on a piece of paper an' lay it over that red peppah. Dat'll make yo' [a woman] get his money.
Entry 8709
(You want to stay on the good side of your boss?) Yes. Yo' wanta work continually wit chure boss. Jis' put his name in de bottom of yore shoe an' yo'll wear dat.
Entry 8719
(To get the job?)
Yo' write his name, de boss name, an' yore name, too, if yo' wants. If yo' don' want, yo' don' need tuh write chure name, but long as yo' git de boss name, yo' understan'. (You write his name down once?) Nine times. Yo' git chew cinna- mon [chewing cinnamon] an' yore sugah. An' git some cinnamon tuh chew [stick cinnamon] an' spit nine times goin' tuh 'im an' nine times when yo' git tuh 'im.
(After you have written this name, what do you do with this name?)
Yo' jis' keep dat name folded tuh yo' an' weah it in de bottom of yore shoe. Eithah shoe will do.
Entry 8731
[Three is a numeral we have already met in this section about nomes. Here I have gathered together a few examples temporarily overlooked or not easily placed elsewhere. The rite preceding this one, THIMBLEFULS 3, could have been included here, but I preferred to index it under thimble:] If she want 'er husban' tuh stay home, she goes tuh work an' get her a strip of papah, a little strip of papah. She puts her name at de top an' she puts her husband name right underneat' of hers." She gits her a thin piece of cloth, yo' know, lak in de linin', lak in de linin' of a coat. Stick it right in dere. An' she'll sew it down into de seat of her bloomers. Den she'll git de same thing, her name at de top an' his'n to de bottom, an' she'll wear it in her shoe fo' three days. An' if he don't leave off runnin', ah don't know what [she could do].
(She makes both those and puts one in her bloomers and one in her shoe?)
Yes.
Entry 8804
Jes' lak ah'd set down heah an' write a lettah. Well, me an' 'er [livingl togethah. Bell, perhaps ah may not send dis lettah nowhere, yo' see, an' ah'm gone. Ah run away an' leave 'er an' leave dat lettah dere. Well, if she wanted [to] git me back, why she would take dat lettah, yo' see, an' write 'er 'nitial on it; set dom an' burn it up in de fiahplace dere to ashes, an' take one-half of 'em an' at "em in de bottom of 'er shoe an' weah it, an' de othah half of 'em an' put in dat lettah an' send it tuh me. An' when ah git dat ah will come back tuh 'er.
Entry 8823
Ah'll take yore han'writin', whethah it's chure name or what not, it's chure han'writin'. Ah'll turn de fo' cornahs in, if it's a lettah, turn 'em all in tuh me. Den ah'll fold 'em an' put 'em undah mah shoe.
(Turn these four corners in, then you fold them over once. Just once?)
Yes sir, tuh me all de time.
(Once or twice?)
Yeah, any way fold it tuh yo' all de while [until you have a convenient pack- age].
(Just make a little package. Always fold it to you.)
Yes sir, an' ah weahs it undah mah shoes. Co'se, whethah yo' a woman or man ah'll handle yo'.
(What shoe do you wear that in?)
Yo' weah dat in de right shoe.
Entry 8864
Ah've heard a person kin write chew a lettah an' if yo' wan' dem tuh come tuh yuh, yo' kin take dat lettah of dey han'writin' an' weah it in yore shoe, or eithah roun' yore waist, jis' so yo' keep it on yuh where it'll keep warm, an' dey'll come where yo' at. Ah've heard of dat.
Entry 8865
De shoe - a person kin - yo' have to use a lettah wit dat.
(Well, tell me the whole thing.)
Well, ah wus correspondin' wit a girl one time an' ah used tuh write her all de time, when ah wus off from home, an' ah wusn't intendin' tuh come back right away. An' ah didn't experience dat until den but ah heered a lot of it. Ah had a good job. An' so me an' 'er would swap mail yo' know. So she kept awritin' an' beggin' me tuh come home an' ah wouldn't go. An' so ah wrote 'er up ag'in an' den about nine or ten days aftah dat ah got to de place where ah wusn't satisfied. So de man raised mah wages five dollahs mo' - ah wus git- tin' $25 a week an' he raised me tuh thirty. Ah couldn't be satisfied no way, shape, for or fashion. So ah went home. Well, aftah ah go home an' she say, "Well, yo' come." Say, "Yes." She say, "Well, ah knowed yo' wuz comin'." Ah say, "Why yo' say dat?" She say, "Well, ah want tell yo' sompin but if ah tell yo', yo' might git mad." So ah got her han's drub[?] [rubbed her hands?]. So she tole me. She say, "De las' lettah ah wrote chew, " she says, "ah taken it an' fold it an' put it in de shoe an' wore it fo' nine days." Ah says, "Where yo' learn dat?" She says, "Well, de rootman tole me." An' ah says, "Ah got back." So dat's why dey learn dat.
(That's all she did?)
Dat all she did.
(She Wore the letter that she wrote to you?)
No sir, she wore de lettah in 'er shoe dat ah wrote to 'er, mah han'writin'.
(Your handwriting she wore in the shoe?)
Shure.
Entry 8935
Yo' get yo' a old shoe somewhere, see, an' yo' take an' yo' cut it up good - jis' want de sole of it. An' cut it up good. An' yo' get yo' some brim- stone, see that's a powder, jis' like steel dust. See. An' yo' get yo' some sweet cinnamon an' yo' mix that up together. Yo' takes dat shoe sole an' yo' lights it. See, make a smoke out of it. An' get yo' a little bit of, small quantity of sul- phur, yo' see, an' sprinkle that on that shoe sole. That's to make it burn, yo' understand. All right, then yo' takes this other powder and sprinkle that on there, an' yo' wraps it up in a cloth, preventing it from burn- ing out so soon, yo' see. An' yo' lights it, yo' see. Well, that's goin' burn to a smoke, yo' see. Well, when that smoke starts to smoking, there's nobody gona fool 'round that house atall. See, ever'body comes there an' 'tempts [at- tempts] to go in there, it creates a fear on 'em. See, they losing no time in bothering 'round there atall. Yo' kin leave your house wide open, there ain't nobody goin' in, yo' see.
(That will keep the thieves away?)
Keep the thieves away - ain't nobody goin' in.
Entry 8958
Yo' take a portion and yo' put it in each shoe.
(You mean the oil. The oil?)
Yes, yo' put it in each shoe. An' there's three oils yo' get. Yo' get this oil of muritel.
(You get what?)
Murotel, yeah. That [is] if you out, yo' understand, goin' to meet co't. If yo're not in jail, yo' can take oil of murotel and cedar oil an' labena [ver- bena]. An' yo' mix them three oils together. [First oil is surely myrtle!] (What kind? Labena?) Labena [verbena], yes sir. An' yo' bathe yoreself in it that morning before going before the judge. An' if yo' have any witness, well yo' take a beef tongue. An' yo' know the right names, yo' writes the name upon dat tongue. An' if yo' got a chimley anywhere in de house, yo' hangs dat up in there, an' your witness can't speak clearly. (Well, what do you hang that beef tongue in that chimney for? What - how do you do that?) Just take it and [first] you roll it around with your feet [it is kicked in No.8956] and hangs it up in there and smoke it.
(Oh, you smoke it! I see.)
Entry 9030
Take his name and write it, the judge's name, [and] the district at- torney's name and all the high peoples names there. An' yo' write their name an' put it into yore left shoe, with that cinnamon, sugar an' steel dust, an' that sweeten 'em up. Put it in yore left shoe when yo' go in the courthouse. An' as yo' go in there, yo' cross yore fingers three times an' call their names.
(You do what with these fingers?)
Cross your fingers three times.
(Snap your fingers?)
Yeah, three times.
Entry 9107
Now, here's another way. If yo' goin' to de judge - sup- posin' yo' goin' down dere to Judge Landix, why yo' just take Judge Landix' name. Take parch- ment papah an' cut out just de sole of yore shoes, stick in your - sew it to de heel of yore shoe. An' yo' take his name an' write 'is name down nine times. He's a nine-months child, see.
(He is a nine-month child?)
Yeah, his mother carried him nine months. Yo' take yore name an' yo' write hit down dere nine times, over his. Yo'll say, "Judge, ah want yo', In de Name of de Father an' de Son an' de Holy Spirit, to have mercy on me today an' let me go. An' dat same thing, whensomevah dey call yo' up befo' de judge - yo'll have a lawyer dere to do yore talkin'. De judge goin' to ask yo' a few question an' de lawyer goin' to take part. Yo' just keep a-sayin' dat inwardly. De policeman get up an' make 'is testimony.'Don' yo' come back here no mo'." Ah say, "Thanks." Dat's fo' dat. Now, yo' use nine drops of Van-van fo' dat.
(How do you put that on?)
Yo' put dat right on - right in dat parchment papah an' den put it in yore shoe an' walk on dat, dat right shoe.
(Is Van-van an old oil?)
An ole oil, but yo' must know when yo' gettin' Van-van. Ah was kiddin' a boy here month befo' last, ah say, "Now, look, ah'm not in de business but, " ah said, "dis is fo' a personal friend of mine, an' she done gone down here [to where Van- Van is sold] an' got some [Van-van] perfume down [there]. Ah don' want dis othah stuff [she got]. Give me de othah stuff." Van-van [of good quality] is kind of
[hard to get]. [For Van-van, see p.662 and elsewhere.]
Entry 9112
Whut ah heard about goin' befo' de jedge: yo' take two red onions - understand me - an' yo' peel it. Yo' git de peelin' from two red onions an' yo' burn dese peelin', yo' under- stand me, intuh a powdah, an' yo' mix up sulphuh wit it, dis powdah from de red onion. An' put it in yore left-foot shoes an' go on befo' 'im. Dat's all yo' gotta do.
(When you go before the judge?)
Yeah, dat will conkah him, don't chew know.
Entry 9122
Git chew sage, yo've heard tell of sage, an' yo' git chew de seed of dat sage. Dere's so many seeds on it. Yo' see, dis is got out de Bible, de twelve [not 12 but 10] virgins [Matt.25:1] yo' know. [Rite has no con- nection with Bible.l Well, yo' git six of each one of dose seeds of dat sage, an' yo' put six in one shoe, an' six in de othah one. An' dey say whensomevah yo' go intuh de jailhouse fo' trial or somepin lak dat, why dey couldn't convict chew on dem sage. Yo'd come cleah regardless tuh whut kinda crime it wus or whut yo' wus 'cused of, or whethah yo' did it. Yo'd come cleah.
Entry 9123
[The statement in the following text about the tribes of Israel comes from hoodoo, not from a critical study of the historical sources.] De shoe business is lak dis: Dere's twelve tribes in de Bible an' dere's 56 tribes of de whole thing. In de third chaptah of St. Luke yo' find all de tribes, but dere's twelve special tribes of Israel in dose chapters. Well, yo' take dem. Now, dis is de way tuh handle things in co't an' handle things anywhere yo' goes tuh have peoples tuh go wit chew, yore way. Yo' read de 56 tribes, an' put down a green leaf of sage evah time yo' read a tribe. Yo' take green sage. Yo' undahstan' me. Ah don't mean nuthin but de pure sage. Yo' know, peoples take some othah things fo' sage. Well, ah means sage. Evah time yo' read a tribe, take a green leaf of sage an' lay it on dere. Now, dere's lak fo' leaves. Yo' understan' me. Until yo' read 'em all an' yo' [have] 56 leaves down dere. Well, de superior tribes is twelve. Yo' takes de tribes of Benjamin, take de tribes of Noah[!], an' de tribes of Moses[!] - dere's twelve of 'em. Jes' keep on till yo' - yo' know de special [12] tribe. De tribes of Israel is de main tribes, but dere's twelve of 'em - de twelve tribes. Well, yo' take dose tribes an' aftah yo' read de 56, yo' go back an' yo' skip fo' an' take one. Evah time yo' skip one, yo' see, yo' leave three an' pull out one an' place it ovah heah. Yo' skips fo' ag'in an' pull out one an' lay it ovah heah, an' when yo' git three yo' got twelve tribes. Well, take dem twelve leaves an' put 'em in de bottom of yore shoe an' go in jail, in de co'thouse, an' anywhere, yo'll come out. Yo' save de rest of 'em tuh buy up de crowd wit. Put dat in yore left shoe. Whut's left of de twelve yo' put in yore left shoe. An' ah guarantee yo' won't miss. (You put 56 leaves in this pile of all the tribes, and then you pull out four? Or, you leave four and pull out one.) Dat's right. (Leave four and pull out one until you get twelve leaves. Those twelve you wear in your shoe, and that other bunch you put in...) Twelve in yore right an' 44 in yore left shoe.
Entry 9124
Yo' kin take den, if yo' goin' be tried, yo' kin take sage, if yo' kin find it, de largest leaf sage dat chew kin find, an' write de twelve apostle name on dat sage an' put six each - write up de twelve apostle, put six in yore right an' six in yore left shoe, an' de jedge wouldn't have any case against chew. Dey'll acquit chew, even if yo' went tuh trial, but chew more den likely not tuh go tuh trial. An' if yo' couldn't git de sage yo' kin use jes' any or'nary white papah, but put some sage in each shoe. But write de names of de six apostle on each piece of papah strip separately, an' put six in one shoe an' six in de othah, an' make de numbah of twelve. Now, dat is true.
Entry 9125
Well, yo' go an' git chew twelve - git twelve sage leaves an' yo' puts six in each shoe. Now yo' go tuh a Bible an' git twelve disciples names out of it. Yo' know de twelve disciples, yo' know which ones dey wus. Well, yo' git - put six in each one of yo' shoes. (When you go before the judge.)
Entry 9126
Kin take de twelve disciples name an' yo' kin git some sage leaves. Git twelve of dose sage leaves an' yo' write one of dose disciples name on each one of dose leaves an' yo' sew it up in a little bitta bag. An' place it in each one of yore shoes - dem twelve disciples an' twelve sage leaves - an' yo' kin win any case dat chew go in. In any case, ah don't care whut kind...
(Don't you put twelve leaves in each shoe or six in each shoe?)
Put six in each shoe.
Entry 10248
She take an' tie nine knots in a string fo' her husban' so he couldn't have connection wit nobody else but her. She take nine knots - jes' lak mah [his] shirt, she'll take mah [his] shirt see an' tear a string out of it, an' tie nine knots in dere an' she wears it in her shoe. Dat will keep him from havin' connection wit any othah woman.
Entry 10769
An' den yore boss, seems lak he doesn't lak yo' - he doesn't lak yore work. Well, yo' go home an' yo' say, "Well, ah believe ah'll fix somepin fo' mah boss tuh make him lak me." Well, yo' go ahead an' yo' git chew some saltpeter, yo' git chew some table- salt an' some sulphur, [salt and sulphur to kill cunjure put down against you] an' yo' [put the salt] in dat sul- phur an' yo' bathes in dat saltpeter. But chew use dat sulphur, yo' takes a pinch of it, an' den yo' sprinkle some sulphur in yore shoes an' rub yore hands with it. Yo' know, yo' can't go round people with it. An' sprinkle Hearts Col- Ogne round dere [where you walk]. An' when yo' go out yo'll git affection. Dere ah'll come up, right chere, "Good mawnin', everybody, good mawnin', howdee dis mawnin'?" [They answer], "Jes' dandy." "Well, why'd yo' have sech-an'-sech a thing fo' breakfast?" "Oh, i enjoyed such-an'-such a thing last night."
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 10880
Heah's anothah instan' [instance]. Yo' kin take a black cat an' cut some of de hair from right undah his tail. Well, yo' take some Hearts Cologne or eithah whiskey. Well, yo' bury it. Yo' taked dat cat hair an' yo' sew it up, put it wit dat whiskey. But chew bettah, if yo' kin git any part of her undahweah, or if it's a man, any of his clothes, yo' kin make 'em go like dat. Jes' bring it right back dere an' jes' drop it right in de yard, any place dat he kin walk ovah it. Or eithah yo' kin git some of dere dirt. Jes' watch hin an' whenevah he come out - man or woman - git some of de dirt of one of de shoe where he track ovah an' mix dat. Mix it in wit dat hair. Yo' kin make 'em move out de house like dat. (This cat hair - suppose you are driving me away - you get some of my hair and the cat's hair and put this in some of my clothes and put it out where I can walk over it. That's to drive me away?) Dat's to drive you away. [Brunswick, Ga., (1188), 2002:8.]
[Two cylinders later informant returns to black cat hair:]
Ah always heah 'em say keep dat same black cat hair, keep it round yore place an' keep it wet in vinegah - ah mean in Hearts Cologne or good whiskey - dat black hair. Keep it round yore place. Tell me dat's lucky fo' yore business.
(How do you get that black cat hair?)
Why, yo' ketch a black cat, any black cat, an' jes' cut de hair from undah his tail or his belly part. [Brunswick, Ga., (1188), 2004:11.]
Entry 10968
Take that left shoe. You understand, take that left shoe - from the under part of it, from the foot part, you know, like you walk like it was stiff [take the sole] - and a egg and put out under the step, and she'll come back. (Stand up?) Yeah, just like you [informant demonstrates]. (Standing up - this way, toes point to the house?) [Here we are back to complete show again.] Yes.
Entry 11361
Dey tell me, say, yo' kin git de fo' names of de 'ciples [who wrote the 4 Gospels] an' write it yo' know, an' jes' like.... An' den take twelve fig leaves, sompin othah lak dat, an' wear it in yore left shoe, an' dey tell me de folks will come; yo' know, give up.
Entry 11852
To make love? All right. You kin take dere hair, some sugar an' some bluestone. You understand now? An' some lodestone. Put all of this together with a piece of John de Conkah root. [This root] look like two pieces [see ex- planation later]. Look now [demonstrates], cross that John de Conkah cross there
[these ingredients being mixed or laid in a container] and put it [John de Conkah]
crost de hair, you see, an' tie it at de ends with a little string. You under- stand, at each end you know, with a little string. An' put it [mixture] in a piece of paper, in a piece of brown paper, an' wear that in de bottom of your shoe. [This is a small package.] They kin nevah git away from you. [What does informant mean by saying John de Conkah root look like two pieces? On p.593 (Z.2, v.1) I say, "John de Conkah can be many things; and on p.595 (l.12, v.1) we learn you can git de he one and git de she one. I suggest my informant, a hoodoo woman, is identifying John de Conkah with an actual root called Adam-and-Eve, which has he and she parts, he the smaller, both looking like peanuts (see No.10609, page 4028f., v.5). Our present rite therefore ties our man and woman together with a thread or a string to make doubly certain, magically certain, they are tied to- gether. The sugar sweetens the situation or pays the spirit, the bluestone keeps away evil, lodestone is another drawing power, and brown paper is often used for black clients. My preceding statement about he and she parts among the roots of Adam-and-Eve is a hoodoo, not a scientific one.]
Entry 12104
I've heard 'em talk about they kin even git de bow out chore hat. Jis' like a girl got a boy friend and she love him and he don't love her. And she want him and he don't want her, she kin git a chance to tear de bow out his hat and wear it in her shoe - in her shoe, see - that'll run him crazy [about her].
Entry 12159
Dey put somepin in de shoes. It's a mixture of this ground up - they call it hog-hoof. Yes, dey grind it up lak meal an' dey mix soda an vinegah an' salt, but it's gotta be ground up very fine, jes' lak flaxseed meal, in a powder, so it won't be notice- able. An' jes' powder de shoe aroun' wit dat. Dat will keep him from goin' off. [A note of mine reads: this keeps the man from being hoodooed away by another woman.]
Entry 12377
Lak if yo' go roun' de cornah fo' a job an' yo' go de first day an' de man don' hiah yo'. yo' go de second day an he don't hiah yo'. Well, de third day yo' git dis- gusted, yo' see, an' yo' study some kinda remedy tuh git dis job. Yo' see. Well, yo' go dere an' de first thing yo' do, git chew nine roots of parsley, yo' see, an' put 'em in yore shoe. An' git chew a garlic a yellah garlic, a plug of garlic an' put dat in yore shoe. An' git chew a piece of cloth about that long, yo' see. An' put nine pins in that crossways, yes, straight pins, new pins. Put 'em in dere crossways. An' let each one of dem pins, lak yore name is George, well yo' put de 'nitials yo' see at dem pins. An' yo' go to dat jar...
(Where do you put those needles and those pins?)
Undah dere yo' see, undah de pins.... See where ah got dem nine pins cross. Yo' got de 'nitials dere yo' see.
(You put the initials down with what?)
Ink.
(On the cloth or on a piece of paper?)
On de cloth. See, de pins in de cloth, see, lak dat piece of cloth about dat long. Yo' see yo' jis' put de pins lak dat crossways nine times. Yo' see each on de bottom, yo' put lak his nine dere "George" yo' see wit ink, only each one dem 'nitials. An' yo' go dere dat mawnin' an' yo' git a seal de' [they] call de 'Lucky Seal.' Yo' go to de Crackerjack Drug Sto' an' git dat. Yo' see yo carry dat an' put it right down by de gate where de man hiahs up dere. Yo' press it down dere. He'll call yo' 'fore he calls anybodys else. Lak yore name Mistah Eddy, he'll say, "Well, Mistah Eddy, come on in an' go tuh work. Ah needs yo' dis mawnin'. (That is to get the job.) [See also SEALS in CHANNEL DE WORLD, v.5.1
Entry 12431
Git chew some dis mistletoe. De mistletoe grows in de woods, it grows upon a bush, a big.... Git some dat mistletoe an' put it in yore left pocket.
(What do you do then, when you put it in that pocket?)
Put it in yore pocket an' tote eight or nine days [probably 9 originally].
(I mean, what are you doing this whole thing for?)
So yo' will jes' win de case, won't be sentenced.
(You wear this before - when you go to talk to the judge?)
Yeah.
(That's what I wanted you to tell me.)
Yes sir.
(That's all you use is this mistletoe?)
Yes sir. Keep some in yore pocket an' some in yore shoe, when yo' go dere, an' yo' more den apt to come out. Yes sir, more den apt to turn yo' loose.
Entry 12497
Take his name an' write it 9 times, an' yores ovah it [the latter usually means turning paper upside down first before writing over the name.] Write it up real good an' wear it in yore shoe. He cain't leave yo'. Yo' write chure name ovah it 9 times jes' lak yo' did the othah one. Wear it in yore shoe, either shoe, umdah de inner sole of de shoe.
Entry 12742
Dey kin take yore shoes dat chew wear every day, if dey kin git holt of it an' if dey kin git a rattlesnake. Git de haid. Git him mad an' git dat rattlesnake haid an' dry it. Let it come so yol kin jes' compound it up. Understand, compound it up good an' put it in somewhere - inside de linin' of his shoe. It got linin' in dere, an' it surely runs yo' off. Or yo' kin put it in de band of yore hat. Either one. Den yo' can't see. It will blind yo', cause yo' know yo' sheds yore skin, an' yo' kin git blind from it. Jes' as shure as....
Entry 12896
Now, if you want to divorce her - if you want to break this up - if you get on to [suspect] her - you are suspicious. [If you suspect she had you tied up, has made you sexually impotent.] Jis' go on, put you on you some clean socks, walk on to a beer joint - some place. (To a beer joint?) Yeah. Get you a bottle of beer and go on walking. Walk far enough where you begin to perspire and when your feet get hot and you perspire, stop and sit down. Take the left shoe off. Pour this bottle of beer in that left shoe. Drink the beer out of the shoe instead of the bottle. Close the bottle. Stand this way [demonstrates] and turn your hands [this way] and throw it [bottle] straight out in front of you, with your wish [that your impotence leaves]. It [potency] comes back again.
(I see.)
Yes, all the affection is taken away from her. (I see. Take this beer bottle in the left hand, then, you bring it around to the back of your neck.) Yes, that's right. And take that [bottle] in your right hand and throw right directly in front of you.)
(I see. And that breaks the spell of that string around her waist.)
Sure. Yes, sir. [My preceding comment is a good example of my using in- formation informant had given before researching began. Woman had "tied him up by measuring him with a string and tying it about her waist.]
(It should do it?)
Sure. I've seen it do it.
(I see, I see.) [The wish is the power!]
Entry 12989
Or yo' kin take an' go to - if yo' believe in the root-working or hoodooing - go to them an' yo' tell them that yo' are out looking for a job. Git a cotton cord string an' take a dime an' put a hole in it an' put this string - run the string through that hole of the dime an' jest hang it around yore left ankle. Let it hang down so it can be in yore shoes, hang down in yore shoes, so anyone can't see it. An' yo' keep that around there an' that will give you luck to have work as long as yo' kin any time.
Entry 13064
Well, dey kin put walkin' spells on you with your shoes.
(How do they do that?)
Dey take jes' one of your shoes an' go get dem a snail, an' den get some of your ole clothes or somepin you wear. And take and cut it up - take some scis- sors and cut it up fine. Take dat snail and get some of dat snail slime off of dat snail. Put dat in de bottom of your shoe and you'll leave dere walkin'.
(What do they do with those clothes they cut up? What do they do with that?)
Dat clothes what dey cut up. Well, you see, dat's jes' somepin to help dat snail slime, make you leave dere.
(Well, do they put that cut-up stuff in that shoe or what?)
Yas suh, dey sprinkle it in dere, jes' cut it up fine.
Entry 13238
In the morning when you get up to go to your landlord, the fellah that owns the property [you rent], you take and put sugar and [in] a brown piece of paper, wrapping paper. And fold it to you 9 times and put it in the bottom of your right shoe. And any favor that you'd ask him to do for you, he would do it. He can't turn you down whether he's out [of] money or not.
Entry 9583
Git salt an' red peppah an' mix all dat up tuhgethah, see, an' put it in yore shoes. See, pertect yo'self anywhere yo' goes. See, nuthin cain't harm yo'. Well, ah've heard dat.
(When you walk in anything it wouldn't hurt you.)
Entry 9604
Take yo' some red peppah, sulphuh an' table salt, or eithah graveyard dirt, an' put it in a little cloth an' put it in de bottom of de shoe an' weah it. [That graveyard dirt is a part of preceding com- bination and not a substitute for it, see following rite about graveyard dirt from near headboard of grave.]
(What will that do then?)
Dey can't hurt chew.
(You walk over anything and it couldn't hurt you?)
Yes.
The informant describes a shoe-cloth treatment and protection claim, using the words 'or eithah graveyard dirt'. Hyatt's bracketed note instead treats dirt as part of the combination and refers to the next rite. Preserve that difference and the red pepper, sulphur and salt as distinct ingredients.
Entry 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 4652
She take dat bow out chure hat. Dat's a little bow in yore hat, de [sweat] band of yore hat. Chew [she] take dat bow out an' sew it in de bottom of 'er lef' shoe, an' when she sew it in de bottom of 'er lef' shoe, it's no woman in de world kin take yo'.
Entry 4662
Put it in de left feeted shoe, right in de heel. Walk on it an' he won' be so easy tuh leave yuh. He'll be awful good tuh yuh.
(This bow from the back of a man's hat.) De left foot of his shoe right in de heel. [Sumter, S. Car.,. (1384), 2459:13.]
Entry 6898
Fraid of any- one, afraid if dey fixin' tuh do yo' lotsa harm by walkin', yo' put down salt an' [red] peppah into yore shoes, say yo' prackly [practically] will walk ovah anything anybody have laid fo' yo'.
Entry 7133
Take the [his] right shoe an' turn it upside down until she come back. Keep him asleep.
Entry 7150
She take the left shoe off his foot...she turn it upside down under- neath the bed, an' then take his sock an' lay it across that shoe [making the shape of a cross]; either one of the socks, but she got to take that left foot shoe.
Entry 8866
They wear it [handwriting] in their shoes to bring them to them. If you have enough of it, you put it in both shoes.
Entry 9523
They say that they [an enemy] could take salt and put it in your left shoe and it'll give you bad luck for a certain number of years. [This and pre- ceding rite about salt in left shoe demonstrates the power of intention.]
Entry 12864
You spect [suspect] somebody put somepin around fer you, or give you to wear, sprinkle salt and pepper in this sulphir...wear it in your shoes fer 9 mornin's. [Jacksonville 701:11.]
Entry 7483
Yo' kin kill a person an' go to a fig tree an' git some of de leaves off dat fig tree an' put 'em in each one of yore shoe. No mat- tah whut chew done done, dey can't ketch yo' den.
Entries from source headings
These entries are listed under the following headings in the source volume:
- Shoes and Black and Red Candles — Volume 1, entries 2852. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → SHRINES: ALTARS - CANDLES - SAINTS; NEW ORLEANS AREA → (2) CANDLES.
- SHOES - PIECES OF BEDCLOTH WORN IN — Volume 3, entries 3402. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DISHRAG.
- (9) DISHRAG - WASH WITH - SHOES — Volume 3, entries 4105. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE → FOOD AND DRINK - URINE IN.
- RED PEPPER AND SULPHUR IN SHOES WASHED WITH URINE — Volume 3, entries 4233. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- SHOES - PUT IN - EXCREMENT - SALT - RED PEPPER — Volume 3, entries 4401. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → EXCREMENT.
- 9 SHOES BURNED - 9 MIDNIGHTS - 9 INGREDIENTS; CIRCUMAMBULATE FIRE - INCANTATION; 9TH MORNING THROW ASHES WAY SHE WENT; IF WIND BLOWING IN THAT DIRECTION — Volume 3, entries 5184. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- PARCH SHOES - THROW OVERBOARD — Volume 3, entries 5191. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- PINS AND NEEDLES - BURY WITH SHOES OR SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR — Volume 3, entries 5194. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- RED PEPPER AND SULPHUR IN SHOES — Volume 3, entries 5196. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- RED PEPPER IN SHOES — Volume 3, entries 5195. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- RED PEPPER - SNUFF - IN SHOES — Volume 3, entries 5199. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- SALT AND SHOES — Volume 3, entries 5200. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- SALT - RED PEPPER - SHOES — Volume 3, entries 5203. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- SUGAR AND SHOES BURNED — Volume 4, entries 5228. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- POWDER FROM POISONOUS SNAKE - IN SHOES — Volume 4, entries 6637. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- (1) CLOTHES: EXCLUDING SHOES AND STOCKINGS; FACE - CLOTHES OVER SLEEPER'S — Volume 4, entries 7065. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- SHOES - TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP; (1) TIE PERSON'S SHOE OVERHEAD — Volume 4, entries 7115. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- (5) BOTTOMS UPWARD HIS SHOES UNDER BED — Volume 4, entries 7120. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- (6) BELOW HEAD OF BED HIS SHOES UPSIDE DOWN — Volume 4, entries 7121. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- (27) SHOES - UPSIDE DOWN UNDER BED; SALT AND BLACK PEPPER IN — Volume 4, entries 7145. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- (29) SHOES HE TAKES OFF AT NIGHT; SHE TURNS BOTTOMS UP — Volume 4, entries 7147. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- (36) SHOES - UPSIDE DOWN - UNDER HEAD OF BED; TOES POINT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS — Volume 4, entries 7154. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- WALK THROUGH HOUSE 9 TIMES - BURY SHOES POINTED TO SUNRISE — Volume 4, entries 7296. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT IN SHOES AND RIGHT POCKET — Volume 4, entries 7308. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT ON FEET OR IN SHOES; OR WALK THROUGH GRAVEYARD — Volume 4, entries 7302. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT IN SHOES; AND LEFT-HAND HIP POCKET; LEAVE OVER FENCE AND NOT BY GATE; CAN'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 7309. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT FROM HEADBOARD - IN SHOES — Volume 4, entries 7317. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE.
- GRAVE OF MURDERED MAN - DIRT FROM - IN SHOES; GO THROUGH COW PASTURE IF DOGS CROWDING — Volume 4, entries 7323. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE.
- SALT - RED PEPPER - GRAVEYARD DIRT - IN SHOES — Volume 4, entries 7880. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- SHOES BURIED POINTING EAST AND WEST IN GRAVEYARD — Volume 4, entries 7896. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- SHOES - PUT IN GRAVEYARD DIRT OBTAINED; DRIVING PIPE DOWN INTO GRAVE - SORES — Volume 4, entries 7893. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- SHROUD NEEDLE THROUGH EYE-HOLES OF VICTIM'S SHOES; 3 TIMES - BURY ON EAST SIDE OF HOUSE — Volume 4, entries 7947. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → COFFIN REAL OR MOCK.
- CINNAMON - SUGAR - NAME OF BOSS - IN BOTH SHOES — Volume 4, entries 8492. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- 3 EGGS - AT MIDNIGHT DIG DIRT ARM-DEEP FROM; CENTER OF GRAVE - TIE DIRT IN CORNER OF WHITE; HANDKERCHIEF - ADD SAGE TO DIRT SAME NIGHT; RETIE - NEXT DAY LET PRISONER WEAR IN SHOES; NIGHT BEFORE TRIAL BURST 3 EGGS ON TOP OF JAIL — Volume 4, entries 9020. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- 4 CORNERS OF BEDROOM - SALT IN FOR PROTECTION; OR SALT AND RED PEPPER IN SHOES ALSO PROTECTS; SWEEP SALT AND RED PEPPER AND DEPARTING TRACKS — Volume 5, entries 9490. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- AUTHOR ADVISED ON HOW TO BECOME 'SLICK'; IN YORE BUSINESS... YO' CARRYIN ON NOW; BY WEARING SALT IN BOTTOMS OF BOTH SHOES — Volume 5, entries 9521. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- PROTECT YOURSELF WHEN WALKING OVER HIDDEN; CONJURE BY WEARING NEW SALT IN BOTH SHOES — Volume 5, entries 9520. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- HIS SHOES - WOMAN SHAKES SALT INTO TOES OR; RUNS THEM UPSIDE DOWN - ONE AT CORNER OF BED; HEAD - OTHER CATERCORNERED AT BED FOOT - THEN; DROP SALT IN ROOM 9 MORNINGS TO GET RID OF HIM; THIS IS A MAGIC-OF-THE-DIAGONAL RITE — Volume 5, entries 9526. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- SHOES - SALT OR EPSOM SALT IN - KEEPS MAN HOME — Volume 5, entries 9525. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- PULVERIZED ROCK SALT - NEW RED PEPPER - IN SHOES — Volume 5, entries 9585. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- SALT AND RED PEPPER IN SHOES - PROTECTION AGAINST CUNJURE — Volume 5, entries 9580. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- SALT - RED PEPPER - COAL OIL - IN SHOES — Volume 5, entries 9600. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- SALT - CAYENNE PEPPER - SULPHUR; SPRINKLE WHERE YOU WALK - WEAR IN SHOES — Volume 5, entries 9636. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- SALT - RED PEPPER - SULPHUR - IN SHOES — Volume 5, entries 9631. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- SALT - CAYENNE PEPPER - SULPHUR - SALTPETER; WEAR IN SHOES - READ PSALM 54; YO'EVAH READ DE BIBLE? — Volume 5, entries 9638. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- SUGAR AND SALT ON SHOES BURNED FOR LUCK — Volume 5, entries 9691. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- ASAFETIDA AND BORACIC WATER IN ENEMY'S PATH; OR RED PEPPER POD IN HIS SHOES - LOSE JOB — Volume 5, entries 10671. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SHOES: PUT ON - WALK FAST UNTIL FEET SWEAT - POUR; WINE INTO SHOE - DRINK - SEPARATES MAN FROM UNWANTED; WOMAN - ANOTHER DRINKING-FROM-SHOE RITE IS NO.12896 — Volume 5, entries 12932. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
Source passage
continuous interview or recording context · Source-local attribution; no resolved person identity is asserted.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
(Now, how did a person,
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
[if]
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
a person wanted, was in trouble, wanted to see Doctor Buzzard to work for him, how did he do it in the old days? How would he get to see him?)
informant · Speaker called Prophet in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
Now, nine
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
[times]
informant · Speaker called Prophet in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
out of ten thuh person was in bad trouble would be in jail. Some of thuh rel'tives would come.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
(How is that?
editorial recording or production note; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
[I ask about cassette.]
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
That can't be still...)
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
editorial speaker label; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
CUBBY
contact participant · Cubby (speaker in this passage); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
Yo' got jes' about anothah minute.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
(All right, then you turn it over, flip it over then. All right. "Sorry"
context only; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
[to Prophet]
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
. Ah, now, they send somebody that's in the family. Well, how would they get to him?)
informant · Speaker called Prophet in this passage; supporting excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
At tha' time, if he figgah thuh case was worthy of 'is service.... He would tell 'em tuh bring um somethin' belong tuh this individ'al, say a shoe, sock or even a suit of clothes. An' what he did wit tha' is a secret. But ah have tried it an' ah see tha' it does work.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
(It does work.)
informant · Speaker called Prophet in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
Um hm.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
(Now, when they came to him did he ever refuse to take people, to take cases?)
informant · Speaker called Prophet in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
Um hm.
interviewer · Hyatt (interviewer); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
(He refused to take cases?)
informant · Speaker called Prophet in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
Many of 'um too small. He tole me these secrets. He says,
reported or enacted speech · Speaker called Prophet in this passage · Buzzard (as recounted by the speaker); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4623
"The po' will
reported or enacted speech · Speaker called Prophet in this passage · Buzzard (as recounted by the speaker); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4624
always be with yo'.... If yo' are goin' to woik, give all tha' choo have tuh people yo' work fo', if dey abal
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4624
[able]
reported or enacted speech · Speaker called Prophet in this passage · Buzzard (as recounted by the speaker); context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4624
to pay."
informant · Speaker called Prophet in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4624
There
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4624
[then]
informant · Speaker called Prophet in this passage; context excerpt · Vol. 5, p. 4624
they come a cast, or a case, tha' choo know thuh circumstance, was...cause this trouble, then he'p this person. If they're hungry nevah turn 'em aroun'. Now, this is the way he worked. Like ah'm sayin' tuh yo'.
Nested source context: live recording logistics · Vol. 5, p. 4623
(How is that? [I ask about cassette.] That can't be still...) CUBBY Yo' got jes' about anothah minute.
Nested source context: reported quote opens across page · Vol. 5, p. 4623
He says, "The po' will
Nested source context: reported quote closes across page · Vol. 5, p. 4624
always be with yo'.... If yo' are goin' to woik, give all tha' choo have tuh people yo' work fo', if dey abal [able] to pay."
locally coherent printed subpassage
Cubby's recording interjection is distinct from the continuing informant called Prophet; Buzzard quotation is reported speech, not a live Buzzard turn.
closed_printed_exchange_with_live_recording_interruption
Cubby’s minute-left statement is live recording logistics, not Buzzard or the Prophet speaking.
The author addresses Cubby about flipping the cassette and then returns to the Prophet; bracketed addressee notes are editorial.
He says introduces reported Buzzard words; the passage does not let us confidently extend direct quotation beyond the printed closing quote.
I tried it is a claim by the present interviewee, not a demonstrated success during the interview.
Bounded passage retrieval, not complete corpus coverage or practitioner consensus.
Read the full source context: Vol. 5, p. 4622 · Vol. 5, p. 4623 · Vol. 5, p. 4624 · Vol. 5, p. 4625
Source passage
continuous interview or recording context · Source-local attribution; no resolved person identity is asserted.
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
Yo' kin use a simple thing, whut chew would nevah think - yo' kin use some fig leaves. Take yo' some fig leaves an' write de name of de judge on dere, an' if it de Superior Court yo' goin' be tried befo', write de judge name an' dis gentleman name. Watch de papahs an' git de jury's, an' yo' put down some of de jury's names on dere.
interviewer · Interviewer; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
(How many do you use - just one leaf?)
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
No suh, yo' use sev'ral leaves, yo' use twelve leaves - of dose little leaves, yo' know, suh. De whole leaf - jes' clip it off, yo' know, suh. An' den yo Write de name. Yo' see, if yo' evah noticed a fig leaf close - if yo' haven't, yo' take notice of it, suh. Or yo' might ask someone tuh bring yo' a fig leaf. Dey don't know why yo want it. Yo' look at it. It got veins jes' lak in our han' - on de sides, de veins. An' yo' write his name, write his name right in de centah. Den yo' turn roun' an' write yore name right heah, meetin' his - don't care if it go ovah it or in it. Yo' write it dat way, yore own name
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
[demonstrates]
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
.
interviewer · Interviewer; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
(You write your name across his name, making a sort of a cross.)
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
Write his name jes' lak yore veins is standin', lak mah han' is sot
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
[demon- strates]
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
. Write his name on dis one de same. Yo' notice dis fig leaf if yo' happen tuh git chew one, in de middle of it in de middle of it heah, dis middle fan is wider - it's fixed jes' lak a person's han', if yo' notice it close. Den yo' write de judge's name in heah
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
[demonstrates]
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
.
interviewer · Interviewer; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
(On that middle thing.)
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
Yes suh, on dis middle one. Den yo' write yore name, yore own name. Yo' turn it round dere. Turn it round. Let it be on somepin solid. Yo' tum it round an' den write yore name right into his'n. Ovah heah yo' write it an' yo' write it heah,
recited or prescribed formula · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
"God bless yore soul."
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
An' yo' write dose words, suh. If it's a hard case, yo' write de solictor general name an' yo' write some of de jury's name all like dat - dey draw 'em in de papah.
editorial gloss or commentary; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
[The names of these jurors are drawn and will appear in the newspaper.]
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
Yo' bound tuh ketch some of 'em an' yo' kin make a mistrial. An' yo' write it dat way an' den aftahwards, den yo' turn around an' yo' write jes' a reg'lar little prayah,
recited or prescribed formula · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
"In de Name of God de Father, Mr. So-an'- So."
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
An' yo' call de judge an' yo' write him anywhere's dere, an' yo' done got him, he'll bind to yo', says,
recited or prescribed formula · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
"In de Name of God de Father, God de Son,"
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
jes' on his name,
recited or prescribed formula · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
"God de Holy Spirit, be favorable wit me. Loose de man an' let him go. Ohl Oh! Oh! Let me go back home."
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
Write dat, write it wit ink. Yes suh, wit ink or a indelible pencil. Says,
recited or prescribed formula · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
"Home - home - home - back home."
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
If dat judge don't be favorable wit yo', den yo've nevah seen a dead boy in yore life.
interviewer · Interviewer; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
(What do you do with that leaf after you write those names on it?)
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1841
Well, yo' write 'em all ovah it an' den yo' turn round dere an' den yo' write de name on one of de leaf of de twelve disciples. Yo' write dose on dat fig
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; supporting excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1842
leaf - write dere name on 'em outa de twelve leaves. Yo' write de twelve dis- ciples on one leaf, one large leaf. When yo' done write 'em all, den yo' fold 'em in careful. Dat's a leaf dat dries fast. Yo' take dose an' yo' put 'em in de foot of yore shoe. An' yo' strip yore sock down - start from yore toe an slip dem in dere. It be about dat high but dey'll go down, but dey'll go down. Dere nuthin tuh hurt chure feet.
interviewer · Interviewer; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1842
(You take these two fig leaves - one like that - and you put those together and put them in your shoe. Or do you put one in your shoe?)
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1842
De whole thing, suh - yo' have twelve fig leaves.
interviewer · Interviewer; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1842
(You have twelve fig leaves?)
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; supporting excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1842
Yes suh, but yo' write de judge's - start him in de center as ah said an' den aftahwards yo' write de name of de twelve disciples. Yo' use twelve leaves. An' yo' take dose leaves an' pack 'em right on top of each othah an' den aftah yo' pack 'em on top of each othah den yo' kind of fold 'em in lak yo' figure undah yore feet. Den yo' take de sock an' put it on. Be careful. Den yo' git chure sock about long to heah, toward de hollah of de feet, den yo' slide dose leaves down in de sock undah yore feet an' pull de sock on up. Fix yore sock an' yore shoe. Go on tuh co't.
interviewer · Interviewer; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1842
(Then the judge will dismiss your case?)
informant · Current unnamed interviewee; context excerpt · Vol. 2, p. 1842
Yes suh.
Nested source context: interviewer hypothesis and informant correction · Vol. 2, p. 1842
(You take these two fig leaves - one like that - and you put those together and put them in your shoe. Or do you put one in your shoe?) De whole thing, suh - yo' have twelve fig leaves. (You have twelve fig leaves?) Yes suh, but yo' write de judge's
locally coherent printed subpassage
This printed instruction exchange preserves the interviewer’s two-leaf suggestion and the speaker’s twelve-leaf correction.
Twelve leaves versus two is a question-and-answer correction, not two equally asserted recipes.
Quoted prayer words are proposed written or uttered text within the interviewee’s turn.
The final dismissal is an elicited claimed result, not evidence of an actual adjudicated court case.
Bounded passage retrieval, not complete corpus coverage or practitioner consensus.
Read the full source context: Vol. 2, p. 1840 · Vol. 2, p. 1841 · Vol. 2, p. 1842 · Vol. 2, p. 1843 · Vol. 2, page image