Subject:Water/Part 2
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Entries
Entry 6980
[The following rite I reduced to a note because I say do not use, have similar example and recheck before using. I wanted to transcribe the story later for the term hoodoo man:] Yo' kin turn it back on the person by throwing the thing into running Water.
Hyatt marks this reduced note 'do not use' and calls for rechecking before use; the following running-water instruction is not a verified outcome.
Entry 11543
Tie up left foot track and throw into running water to run person out of town. [Wilmington 78:2+85.]
The printed instruction places a tied left foot track in running water with the stated aim of running a person out of town.
Entry 11544
To throw your left foot track into running water runs you away.
[Wilmington 116:6.]
A short printed statement connects throwing a left foot track into running water with running 'you' away.
Entry 11587
Sift foot track into running water to send away. [Vicksburg 1067:2.]
The printed instruction names running water as the destination for a sifted foot track and states only 'to send away'.
Entry 6685
Yo' take dat an' yo' ketch dem little worms an' yo' dry 'em. Yo' got'a dry 'em an' yo' put 'em in watah, whutsomevah anybody whare [where] dey drinkin'. Yo' put dat in de watah an' dat'll turn tuh little worms in dey belly.
The account names water as the medium. The claimed bodily consequence is reported belief; the bracketed wording remains editorial.
Entries from source headings
These entries are listed under the following headings in the source volume:
- Water — Volume 1, entries 636–638. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → DIAGNOSIS.
- Drinking Water Tested: Cost Double Money — Volume 1, entries 893. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → Consultation Technique.
- Bewitched Objects into Running Water — Volume 1, entries 982–984. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING.
- Drink Running Water — Volume 1, entries 987. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING.
- Running Water - Healing Bath — Volume 1, entries 985. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING.
- To Cross Running Water — Volume 1, entries 988. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING.
- Water Thrown Towards Spellcaster — Volume 1, entries 989. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING.
- Rain Water — Volume 1, entries 1431. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → CURE AND PROTECTION.
- Water — Volume 1, entries 1648–1658. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → CURE AND PROTECTION → Urine.
- Water — Volume 1, entries 2721–2724. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → BUSINESS AND CUSTOMERS.
- Water Thrown — Volume 1, entries 2725–2730. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → BUSINESS AND CUSTOMERS.
- Three Names and Candles, Cup of Water — Volume 1, entries 2828. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → SHRINES: ALTARS - CANDLES - SAINTS; NEW ORLEANS AREA → (2) CANDLES.
- Names Crossed, Cup of Water — Volume 1, entries 2829. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → SHRINES: ALTARS - CANDLES - SAINTS; NEW ORLEANS AREA → (2) CANDLES.
- Drink Muddy River Water; Throw over Shoulder — Volume 1, entries 2931. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → SHRINES: ALTARS - CANDLES - SAINTS; NEW ORLEANS AREA → (2) CANDLES.
- Against Burning Candle Use Water — Volume 1, entries 2980–2987. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → SHRINES: ALTARS - CANDLES - SAINTS; NEW ORLEANS AREA → (2) CANDLES.
- SPIT 3 TIMES INTO A GLASS OF WATER...; AH JES MADE LAK AH CARED MO FO' HIM; DAN GABRIEL DID DAT TRUMPET HE'S GON'A BLOW ON JUDGMENT DAY — Volume 3, entries 3275. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- URINE - BOTTLED - WITH JOHN DE CONKAH; 4 STEPS FORWARDS - 10 STEPS BACKWARDS; FACE THE WATER - THROW BOTTLE IN — Volume 3, entries 3315. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- WATER FROM DOUCHE - TAKE TO HERB MAN — Volume 3, entries 3321. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- WATER FROM EAVES — Volume 3, entries 3322. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- WATER DRIPS; HYDRANT - PUMP - SPIGOT - WELL — Volume 3, entries 3323. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- WATER RUNNING — Volume 3, entries 3324. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → MISCELLANEOUS.
- 9TH DAY SHE USES ON HIM AND HER; DISHRAG SOAKED 8 MORNINGS IN COLD WATER; WITH WISHES AGAINST OTHER WOMAN — Volume 3, entries 3397. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DISHRAG.
- (3) WATER THAT RUNS - THROW INTO — Volume 3, entries 3410. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DISHRAG.
- WATER AND DISHRAG:; (1) WHERE DE DEW... KIN FALL ON IT — Volume 3, entries 3408. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DISHRAG.
- WATER ON BEDCLOTH 9 MORNINGS - HOT SUN — Volume 3, entries 3508. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → KNOTS AND TYING → KNOTS TWO.
- BREAKING - BOTTLE - RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 3703. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- COW MILK - BATHE DOWN 9 MORNINGS - OR BATHE IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 3719. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- CROSS MARK - MADE BY MAN MEASURING OVER HER OWN; AFTER SHE HUNG HER GOWN ABOVE HIS HEAD - MEASURED HIM; TIED KNOTS - AND WORE MEASURE ABOUT HER LEG OR WAIST; MAN WIPES SELF DOWN WITH WARM WATER - SALT - CEDAR OIL — Volume 3, entries 3726. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- DISHRAG - STEAL AND USE - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 3741. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- DISHRAG - USED AND WEIGHTED; THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 3742. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- NAILS - 5 - WATER; TO COUNTERACT MEASURING AND 9 KNOTS — Volume 3, entries 3769. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- WATER CROSSED BY WOMAN TYING MAN; FREES HIM FROM SPELL — Volume 3, entries 3819. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- WATER - NEW WHITE HANDKERCHIEF; WASH HIMSELF DOWNWARDS 3 TIMES; THROW HANDKERCHIEF AWAY — Volume 3, entries 3818. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- WATER THAT RUNS; OBJECT TYING MAN THROWN INTO; TIE INTO BALL OBJECT TYING HIM; FACE RUNNING WATER AND THROW INTO; WHEEL ON HEEL WALK AWAY — Volume 3, entries 3820. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- BATHE 9 MORNINGS; AMMONIA - CINNAMON - 3 WATERS; RIVER WATER - RAIN WATER - WELL WATER; THROW USED WATER OVER SHOULDER TO SUNRISE — Volume 3, entries 3826. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- TIED-UP WOMAN GOES TO WEST-RUNNING WATER; 9 MORNINGS TO ANOINT SELF DOWN — Volume 3, entries 3825. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CURES FOR SEXUAL IMPOTENCE.
- NEEDLE - BLOOD - WATER; IN BOTTLE - UNDER DOORSTEP — Volume 3, entries 3843. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → EVERYDAY BLOOD.
- WATER, TIDE: BURY BLOOD ON SHORE AT EBB TIDE — Volume 3, entries 3848. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- WATER, OUTGOING TIDE - THROW HER BOTTLED CLOTH INTO; "GO, YO' DAMN SON-OF-A-BITCH" — Volume 3, entries 3969. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- WATER, RUNNING - BURY BOTTLE MINISTRATE ON BANK OF — Volume 3, entries 3970. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- WATER, RUNNING - CROSS - BURY SANITARY CLOTH — Volume 3, entries 3972. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- WATER, RUNNING - 'PEARANCE RAGS THROWN INTO — Volume 3, entries 3973. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- WATER, RUNNING - TIE BOTTLED BLOOD AND TRACK - TO BOB ON; AFTER SUNDOWN AT "FIRST DARK" — Volume 3, entries 3971. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- MINISTRATION BLOOD - BOTTLED; INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 3979. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- (28) WATER FOR DRINKING — Volume 3, entries 4129. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE → FOOD AND DRINK - URINE IN.
- (6) SEW INTO CLOTH - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 4148. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- (7) BOTTLE AND THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 4149. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- FRIDAY BEFORE SUNRISE - ALSO AT NOON - SCRUBBING WITH; URINE - CEDAR OIL - WATER — Volume 3, entries 4294. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- (3) EASTWARD - BOTTLED URINE - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 4347. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- WATER (1) - RUNNING WATER; (1) BOTTLED URINE THROWN INTO — Volume 3, entries 4341. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- (14) URINE - BOTTLED - IN CIGAR BOX WITH DIRTY SOCK; WRAP UP LIKE PACKAGE - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 4358. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- FACE AND HAND WATER THROWN OUT IN FRONT - WISH — Volume 3, entries 4501. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → BATH WATER.
- WATER THAT RUNS; THROW BATH WATER INTO — Volume 3, entries 4506. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → BATH WATER.
- SEA WATER AND BATH WATER — Volume 3, entries 4509. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → HAT AS A WHOLE.
- SPIDERS AND GRANDDADDIES BOILED; WATER IN SWEATBAND - BLINDS — Volume 3, entries 4528. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → SWEATBAND OF HAT EXCLUDING BOW.
- WATER RUNNING - BOW AND HEARTS COLOGNE AIRTIGHTED - THROWN INTO; OVER LEFT SHOULDER - WISH - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 3, entries 4705. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- WATER RUNNING - BOW HELD IN - THEN WORN IN SHOE — Volume 3, entries 4706. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- WATER THAT RUNS — Volume 3, entries 4703. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- WATER - TO CROSS RUNNING - GIVES TRICKED PERSON HEADACHE — Volume 3, entries 4709. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- BLOWING OF WIND - PIECE OF HIS CLOTHES - DRESS IN COLOGNE; POINT IN DIRECTION HE LEFT - FOLD TO YOU - 2 NEEDLES IN; SPLIT IN 2 PARTS - ONE IN RIGHT SHOE - OTHER INTO RUNNING; WATER ON GROWING MOON - WIND BLOWING IN DIRECTION HE WENT; WALK BACKWARDS 9 STEPS - TURN LEFT - HE RETURNS IN 9 DAYS — Volume 3, entries 4721. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → CLOTHES EXCLUDING HAT, SOCKS AND STOCKINGS, AND SHOES.
- SILVER DIMES 9 - IN HER GARMENT - STAINED WITH SHEEP BLOOD; BURIED IN MUDDY WATER — Volume 3, entries 4823. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → CLOTHES EXCLUDING HAT, SOCKS AND STOCKINGS, AND SHOES.
- WATER - RUNNING; (1) CLOTHES THROWN INTO — Volume 3, entries 4859. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → CLOTHES EXCLUDING HAT, SOCKS AND STOCKINGS, AND SHOES.
- (8) TIE CLOTHES TO ROOT UNDER WATER — Volume 3, entries 4866. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → CLOTHES EXCLUDING HAT, SOCKS AND STOCKINGS, AND SHOES.
- (9) DRIVE STAKE - THROUGH CLOTHES - INTO MUD UNDER - WATER — Volume 3, entries 4867. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → CLOTHES EXCLUDING HAT, SOCKS AND STOCKINGS, AND SHOES.
- NAME - RATTLESNAKE MASTER - IN SOCK - RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 4985. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- NEW STOCKINGS - WORN ONCE - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 4993. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- THREE INGREDIENTS: SALT - RED PEPPER - SULPHUR - ON SOCK; OR STOCKING - IN NEW WHITE HOMESPUN - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 5035. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- UPSIDE DOWN - HANG STOCKING BY TOE; NAME 9 TIMES COMING TO YOU; IN BOTTLE OF WATER WITH LODESTONE; AT RIVER TURN BOTTLE UPSIDE DOWN — Volume 3, entries 5055. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- WASH SOCK IN BOILING WATER - AIRTIGHT - UNDER DOORSTEPS — Volume 3, entries 5066. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- WATER - RUNNING - SOCK INTO — Volume 3, entries 5076. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- WATER - RUNNING WEST - HIS TRACK IN LEFT SOCK INTO — Volume 3, entries 5079. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- NAILS 9 - FOUR-CORNERED OR SQUARE-HEADED - TIED; TOGETHER - AND SHAME BRIER - BOTH WRAPPED IN; PIECE OF LEFT INSOLE - TALKED TO ALL THE TIME; PUT IN BLUE OR GREEN BOTTLE - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 3, entries 5174. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- SALT AND SULPHUR IN BOTH SHOES - SET THEM IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5210. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- 3 HOLES IN LEFT INSOLE; TO SEND - IN RUNNING WATER; TO KEEP - BURY AT HOME — Volume 4, entries 5238. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - SHOE IN - POINT TOE WAY TO GO - "GO!" — Volume 4, entries 5288. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - BOTTLED SHOE ASHES INTO — Volume 4, entries 5289. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - DITCH OF - TWO SHOES RESTING IN; ONE BEHIND OTHER - HOLE IN TOE AND HEEL OF EACH — Volume 4, entries 5292. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - LEFT-FOOT SHOE INTO - BRICK WEIGHTED — Volume 4, entries 5291. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - SHOES BURIED IN; ONE POINTED EAST, OTHER WEST - WISHES — Volume 4, entries 5293. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - THROW INTO - SHOES; FILLED WITH PARCHED RED PEPPER AND GOURD GUTS — Volume 4, entries 5295. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - THROW INTO - BOTTLE WITH; BOTTOM-OF-SHOE SCRAPINGS AND 3 INGREDIENTS; 3 NEEDLES - 3 PINS - GRAVEYARD DIRT — Volume 4, entries 5297. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- ANTS 9 AND TRACK IN JAR - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5313. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- BLACK RUNNING WATER - FOOT TRACK IN RED FLANNEL — Volume 4, entries 5332. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- BOTTLED TRACK - THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5342. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- BOTTLES 9 OF CORKED UP WATER - 1 AT TIME ON STOVE; UNTIL IT BREAKS - EGG BURIED IN HIS TRACK - COVER HOLE; BY RAKING DIRT TOWARDS HOUSE - SALT BREAKS SPELL — Volume 4, entries 5341. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- BOTTLE - PINCH OF TRACK IN - BURY NEAR RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5349. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- BUCKSHOT 9 - TRACK - 5 STEPS - BACKWARDS - WATER — Volume 4, entries 5352. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- BUZZARD QUILL - TRACK IN; RUNNING WATER - 7 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 5367. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- CAN - TRACK - AIRTIGHT - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5368. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- CEMENT WALK - TRACK ON - WIPE UP - WITH HANDKERCHIEF; IN EAST CORNER OF TIE SPOONFUL OF NEW RED PEPPER; ALSO HIS NAME CROSSED TELLING HIM TO GO - CUSS WORD; BEFORE SUNRISE THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5371. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- CUSS - RED PEPPER - TRACK; RUNNING WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 5376. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- CUSS - TELL PERSON TO LEAVE - RIGHT TRACK - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5375. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- EAST-RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5392. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- EGG - NAME ON - BURIED - NAME CALLED 3 TIMES; NAME NAIL-SCRATCHED ON BAR OF OCTAGON SOAP; FOOT TRACK BOTTLED - SOAP AND TRACK INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5395. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- EGG - SHE PUTS IT IN SUGAR AND LEFT TRACK GOING FROM HER; PICKED UP HEEL TO TOE FROM HER - THROWS EGG AT SUNDOWN; INTO RUNNING WATER WITH 3 CURSE WORDS — Volume 4, entries 5397. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- EGG - FOOT TRACK IN - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5401. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- EGG OF BLACK HEN - TRACK IN - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5402. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- FINGERS 2 - INDEX AND LITTLE - PICK UP TRACK TOE TO HEEL; RIGHT ONE TO BRING BACK - TIE IN NEW HOMESPUN - WISH; OVER RIGHT SHOULDER INTO RUNNING WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK; TO SEND AWAY - LEFT HAND, TRACK, SHOULDER - BAD WISHES — Volume 4, entries 5409. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- FORKS OF ROAD - 9 TRACKS PICKED UP AT; HOLLOW OF FOOT TO TOE GOING AWAY; THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER IN SWAMP — Volume 4, entries 5426. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GOURD - FOOT TRACK IN - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5434. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - SULPHUR - TRACK - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5449. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - TRACK - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5448. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - SALT - SULPHUR - TRACK GOING AWAY; WRAP UP - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5465. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - WICKED MAN'S - TRACK - INTO WATER; "GO, DEVIL! DON'T LOOK BACK DIS WAY NO MO'" — Volume 4, entries 5469. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - LEFT TRACK - SALT - RED PEPPER - SUGAR; AIRTIGHT IN BOTTLE - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5471. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- MEASURE LEFT AND RIGHT TRACKS - 1 GOING, 1 COMING - WITH; 1 NEW STRING - PICK UP ON CARDBOARD - OWNER'S NAME ON; OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO WATER - IN 3 HIGHEST NAMES — Volume 4, entries 5538. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- MEETING PERSON - PICK UP HIS RIGHT TRACK - THEN YOURS; WRAP IN NEW CLOTH - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5550. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- MEETING - FOLLOW PERSON PASSING; ON A RUN - PICK UP BOTH TRACKS; ADD SALT AND BLACK PEPPER; THROW OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5551. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- MEETING PERSON COMING TOWARDS YOU - EARLY MORNING; DIRT FROM HOLLOW OF HIS TRACK - TOE TO HEEL; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - REPEAT THREE HIGHEST NAMES — Volume 4, entries 5552. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- NAILS 7 3 HEADS UP - 4 HEADS DOWN - PINCH OF LEFT TRACK; OVER LEFT SHOULDER - INTO RUNNING WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 5562. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- NAME - TRACK - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5567. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- NEEDLES - AS MANY AS POSSIBLE - CROSSED IN BOTTLE WITH; SWEETHEARTING WIFE'S TRACK - WOOL CLOTH - UNDER DOORSTEP; HER PARAMOUR'S TRACK SAME WAY - BUT INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5581. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- NEEDLES 9 - PINS 9 - TRACK - IN NEW CLOTH - INTO WATER — Volume 4, entries 5583. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- 9 DAYS - AFTER TRACK TIED IN CLOTH; BURIED - THROW INTO WATER — Volume 4, entries 5591. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- PERSIMMON - NAME IN TRACK - THESE 3 SEW UP IN CLOTH; OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO RUNNING WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 5603. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- RATTLESNAKE POWDER - TO DRESS LEFT TRACK - KEPT 13 DAYS; IN HOLLOW TREE - THEN OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5608. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- RED PEPPER - PICK UP TRACK - HEEL TO TOE - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5614. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SALT - IN TRACK - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5622. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SALT - IN TRACK TOE TO HEEL - IN NEW CLOTH - OVER LEFT SHOULDER; INTO RUNNING WATER - WISH - SAY "GO 'WAY" - DON LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 5624. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SALT - RED PEPPER - TRACK - BOTTLE - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5627. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SALT - RED PEPPER SULPHUR - TRACK - BOTTLE; OVER SHOULDER INTO RUNNING WATER - CALL NAME - TELL TO GO — Volume 4, entries 5634. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SILK RAG - TIE UP TRACK; THROW INTO WATER RUNNING NORTH — Volume 4, entries 5645. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SPOON OF SILVER - PICK UP TRACK; INTO BOTTLE - INTO WATER — Volume 4, entries 5653. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SPOONFULS 9 - TRACK 9 FROM HOUSE - BOTTLE - WATER — Volume 4, entries 5656. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SULPHUR - TRACK - SEWED INTO WHITE HOMESPUN - INTO WATER — Volume 4, entries 5663. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SWEEP TRACKS AWAY WITH BUCKET OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 5677. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SWEEP UP TRACKS AT 9TH HOUR - CURSE - OVER LEFT SHOULDER; WITH LEFT HAND - INTO RUNNING WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 5678. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- THIMBLE - SCOOP LEFT TRACK TOE TO HEEL - TIE INTO NEW CLOTH; OVER LEFT SHOULDER - RUNNING WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 5684. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- THIMBLE - TRACK - 9 NEEDLES - BOTTLE - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5685. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- 3 PINCHES FROM RIGHT TRACK: TOE - CENTER - HEEL; 1 PINCH BURY AT FOOT OF GRAVE WITH GRAVE-FOOT PINCH; 1 PINCH BURY AT HEAD OF GRAVE WITH GRAVE-HEAD PINCH; 1 PINCH INTO RUNNING WATER WITH GRAVE-CENTER PINCH; WISHES MADE — Volume 4, entries 5691. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- 3 DAYS - CARRY TRACK - THEN THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5698. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- 3 TIMES - DRAG TO YOU - RIGHT TRACK - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5701. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- URINE - TRACK - BOTTLED - OVER LEFT SHOULDER - WATER — Volume 4, entries 5757. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WATER, RUNNING: TRACK INTO — Volume 4, entries 5763. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WATER, INTO RUNNING - THROW CENTER OF LEFT TRACK LEAVING; SENDS AWAY - TO BRING BACK - CENTER OF RIGHT TRACK COMING; TIED IN NEW HOMESPUN UNDER DOORSTEP - THEN IN SHOE TO RULE — Volume 4, entries 5776. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WATER, INTO NORTH RUNNING - TRACK - "GO FROM ME" - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 5777. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WATER, RUNNING - THROW INTO - LEFT TRACK IN RED FLANNEL; AH'M TIRED OF BEING DEVILED WIT CHUH' — Volume 4, entries 5778. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WATER, RUNNING - THROW TRACK INTO; "GO, AH DON' WAN' CHEW TUH COME BACK ANY MO'" — Volume 4, entries 5779. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WATER - TIDE TRACK INTO — Volume 4, entries 5782. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WATER - TIDE - MEASURE TRACK WITH STRING; TIE TO STICK AND DRIVE INTO LOW-WATER MARK — Volume 4, entries 5784. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WATER - TIDE - TRACK SEWED UP — Volume 4, entries 5783. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- (35) SPRING - WATER FROM - BOTTLED; KEEP IN CORNER OF BEDROOM — Volume 4, entries 6342. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- GRAVE - FROM CENTER OF - DIRT A DIME WILL HOLD; DIRT - DIME - FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - IN SNUFFBOX; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6451. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- WASH FEET TWICE - THIS WATER INTO FOOD OR DRINK — Volume 4, entries 6505. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- WATER FROM BATHED FEET - IN FOOD; TO REDUCE PERSON'S HIGH SPIRIT — Volume 4, entries 6506. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- WATER RUNNING - FINGERNAILS AND TOENAIL CLIPPINGS INTO — Volume 4, entries 6508. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- WATER AT EBB TIDE - THROW INTO; FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILS SEWED INTO CLOTH — Volume 4, entries 6513. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- WATER THAT RUNS - BOTTLED TOENAILS INTO; YO'... DRIFTIN'... THROUGH DE WORLD MINDLESS — Volume 4, entries 6510. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- TO DRINK FROG BLOOD IN RAIN WATER; PUTS A FROG IN YOU — Volume 4, entries 6549. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- KEEP SCORPION POWDER IN BOTTLE OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 6584. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- WATER OR SPIT FROM TERRAPIN PUT IN YOU — Volume 4, entries 6674. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- WATER THAT STEAMS — Volume 4, entries 6679. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- (10) LET MARE CROSS 9 TIMES ROPE TIED TO HER; CUT OFF - PUT IN PREGNANT WOMAN'S ROOM; IF SHE CROSSES IT TWICE - CHILD BORN CROSSWAYS; TO PREVENT IT - TWO-HEADED DOCTOR AT MIDNIGHT; TIES 9 KNOTS IN THIS ROPE - NAME IN EACH KNOT; THROWS INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6880. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- RED SHANK ROOT - RED CHERRY BARK - QUEEN OF LIFE; SARSAPARILLA - GALLON OF WATER BOILED TO QUART; THE MAGIC OF DIMINISHING AMOUNT — Volume 4, entries 6903. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- SLEEP-TALKING - PAN OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 6947. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- SPIDER - WATER BATH FOR FEVER — Volume 4, entries 6953. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- (2) WATER - HAND IN PAN OF — Volume 4, entries 6967. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- WATER THAT RUNS — Volume 4, entries 6979. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- WATER THAT RUNS - WALK BACKWARDS TO - OVER LEFT SHOULDER; THROW RUNNING FROM VENEREAL DISEASE — Volume 4, entries 6981. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- WATER, IMITATING RAIN - POURED FROM WINDOW OF; SECOND STORY - ON SPRAINED ANKLE OF MAN BELOW — Volume 4, entries 6983. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- (3) 3 TIMES WAVE OVER HIS FACE; BLOOMERS JUST WRUNG OUT IN WATER — Volume 4, entries 7079. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- LAY SLEEPING PERSON'S LEFT HAND IN WATER — Volume 4, entries 7181. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → TO KEEP PERSON ASLEEP.
- HIS HAND DOWN IN PAN OF COLD WATER; HER WASHED STEP-INS STILL WET OVER HEAD OF BED — Volume 4, entries 7182. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- PINT OF WATER AT FOOT OF BED; OVER HEAD OF BED DRAWERS OR BLOOMERS — Volume 4, entries 7185. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- WATER IN PAN UNDER BED — Volume 4, entries 7183. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- WATER WITH SUGAR AND SALT; UNDER BED — Volume 4, entries 7184. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- PAN OF WATER DIVINATION REVEALS SPELLCASTER'S PICTURE; AND MAGIC-MIRROR BRINGS SPELLCASTER IN PERSON; TWO GOOD TRICKS BY HOODOO DOCTOR — Volume 4, entries 7234. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- WATER - A GLASS OF COLD - BOILS WITHOUT HEAT; THIS DOCTOR'S METHOD FOR DIAGNOSIS — Volume 4, entries 7259. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- DIRT FROM CENTER OF MURDERED MAN'S GRAVE; SEWED INTO RED SACK - 9 NEEDLES STUCK INTO TOP; THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER BRINGS BACK MURDERER — Volume 4, entries 7316. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN ESCAPE.
- BLOOD OF SLAIN MAN IN PAN OF WATER UNDER HIS BED — Volume 4, entries 7373. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN BE CAUGHT.
- COFFIN - CORPSE IN - SPRINKLE WITH MIXTURE OF; DRAGON'S BLOOD - COME BACK OIL - SANG-SANG POWDAH; SALTPETER AND WATER - MURDERER RETURNS IN 3 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 7408. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN BE CAUGHT.
- CORPSE - WATER FROM WASHING - BOTTLED - IN GRAVE — Volume 4, entries 7412. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN BE CAUGHT.
- 2 BLACK HEN EGGS; LET THEM STAY IN HOUSE BEFORE THE WAKE; DURING WAKE BURY THEM UNDER WATER — Volume 4, entries 7465. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN BE CAUGHT.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - 2 PENNIES - IN BOTTLE OF WATER; SHAKE - BUBBLES SHOW MURDERER'S MIND GITTIN' BAD — Volume 4, entries 7500. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → MURDER → HOW MURDERER CAN BE CAUGHT.
- NAME OF MAN CALLED AT HEAD OF OLD GRAVE - BURY THERE; BOW OF HIS HAT SWEATBAND FOR HEADACHES - SAY TO SPIRIT; KEEP DIS TILL AH COME FO IT; OR CALL WOMAN'S NAME AND BURY AT FOOT OF GRAVE; HER DIRTY STOCKING - SAME INCANTATION - PUTS HER MIND; ON HIM - TIRED OF HER - STOCKING INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 7841. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- NAME WRITTEN 9 TIMES BACKWARDS - EACH CROSSING OTHER; BOTTLE WITH WATER AND COFFEE IF YOU LIKE LATTER; THIS WILL MAKE YO' COMMIT SUICIDE — Volume 4, entries 7839. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- WATER RUNNING - GRAVEYARD DIRT OVER SHOULDER INTO; TO SEND AWAY OR BRING BACK - DO NOT LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 7924. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES.
- NAME - RATTLESNAKE MASTER ROOT - FOOT TRACK; WRAP TIGHT - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER; SWIFTAH DE STREAM... QUICKAH DEY WILL MOVE — Volume 4, entries 8211. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (6) DRAIN COCONUT - NAME IN - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 8513. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- (8) EYES OF COCONUT - NAME - INDELIBLE PENCIL; IN COCONUT - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 8515. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- CROSSED NAMES - HIS AND HERS WRITTEN 3 TIMES EACH; KEEP IN ANYTHING HOLDING WATER - SUGAR - CINNAMON — Volume 4, entries 8537. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- FAST AND PRAY ALL DAY LONG; WRITTEN NAME IN GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8545. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- FISH A PERCH - SPLIT - DRY WITH SALT - PUT; IN 2 NAMES BACKWARDS - MAN'S AND OTHER WOMAN'S; CROSSING ONE ANOTHER - LAY BESIDE THEM 2 NAILS; HEADS OR BACKS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER - SEW UP; THROW FISH INTO RUNNING WATER - SENDS AWAY — Volume 4, entries 8551. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- FOLD NAME TWICE - THROW IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 8557. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- FOLD WRITTEN NAME INTO 4 CORNERS - KEEP FOLDING; PUT IN BOTTLE - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER OR W. C. — Volume 4, entries 8558. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- (33) WATER: THROW INTO RIVER LEMON CONTAINING; NAMES OF MAN AND WOMAN BLACK PEPPER; BLUESTONE - CAYENNE PEPPER - SALT — Volume 4, entries 8655. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- SHAKE BOTTLE - WITH WATER - SUGAR - YOUR NAME; WRITTEN 9 TIMES NORMALLY ACROSS UNWANTED; PERSON'S NAME WRITTEN 9 TIMES LAST NAME FIRST; SHAKING KEEPS AWAY ANYONE - INCLUDING THE LAW — Volume 4, entries 8706. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- SHINGLE - NEW - NAME WRITTEN ON; THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER; MAKES PERSON NAMED LEAVE TOWN — Volume 4, entries 8707. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- TERRAPIN OR TURTLE - WRITE ON - NAME OF PERSON; TURN ANIMAL LOOSE IN WATER - PERSON LEAVES TOWN — Volume 4, entries 8727. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- TERRAPIN - PUT IN MOUTH OF - NAME OF PERSON; WRITTEN 9 TIMES BACKWARDS [LAST NAME FIRST]; THROW ANIMAL INTO WATER - NAMED PERSON DRIFTS — Volume 4, entries 8729. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- 9 SWITCHES FROM 9 DIFFERENT KINDS OF TREES; THROW THESE SWITCHES ONE BY ONE INTO RUNNING; WATER - CALLING PERSON'S NAME EACH TIME; 9 TIMES - SAYING "AH HOPE TUH GOD SO-AND-SO; LEAVES IN DE NAME OF DE FATHER AN DE HOLY; GHOST" - DO NOT SAY "DE NAME OF DE SON" — Volume 4, entries 8744. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- WATER - GLASS OF - UNDER CENTER OF BED; 5TH POINT - MAGIC PLACE - CREATING A QUINCUNX; CALL HER NAME 3 TIMES - RETURNS IN 3 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 8779. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- WATER - INTO RUNNING - NAME WRITTEN 9 TIMES — Volume 4, entries 8778. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- WATER - INTO RUNNING - NAME WRITTEN ONCE — Volume 4, entries 8777. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- VICTIM'S HANDWRITING BURN - WRAP IN HIS TOWEL OR; HANDKERCHIEF - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - CRAZY — Volume 4, entries 8806. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - IN GLASS OF WATER CONTAINING; 9 NAILS CROSSED AND LUCKY HEART POWDER - ALSO; DIRT AND POWDER IN LETTER TO MAN - CALL HIS; NAME - AFTER RECEIVING LETTER HE WILL RETURN — Volume 4, entries 8845. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- MATCHES - SMOKE FROM 9 - HANDWRITING - AIRTIGHT; IN BOTTLE - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - BLOCK; YORE GAME IN GAMBLING OR MAKES YOU MONEYLESS — Volume 4, entries 8853. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- WATER - BOIL LETTER IN; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 8877. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- WATER - BOTTLE OF - NAME FROM LETTER IN; AFTER TACKED 24 HOURS ON EAST SIDE OF TREE — Volume 4, entries 8875. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- WATER: RUNNING - LETTER INTO - AFTER BURNING; 4 CORNERS - YOUR TREMBLING HAND CANNOT WRITE — Volume 4, entries 8879. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- WATER: RUNNING - LETTER INTO - WITH WRITER'S INITIALS — Volume 4, entries 8878. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- WATER DIVINATION OF THIEF - HYDROMANCY — Volume 4, entries 8949. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- FINGERNAIL TRIMMINGS - FOOT SKIN - DISSOLVE 9 DAYS; STRAIN - KEEP IN WATER - POUR THIS WATER INTO; PITCHERS FROM WHICH JUDGE AND JURY DRINK; THIS WILL KEEP YOU FROM GOING TO CHAIN GANG — Volume 4, entries 9032. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- WATER: CROSS - CARRYING CHAIR - AT MIDNIGHT; NIGHT BEFORE TRIAL - NEXT MORNING ABOUT 5 O'CLOCK; TURN EVERYTHING IN HOUSE UPSIDE DOWN - BEGIN; TO CHEW JOHN DE CONKAH ON REACHING COURTROOM — Volume 4, entries 9169. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- WATER FROM DISHES [DISHWATER] - IN CENTER OF FLOOR; A QUINCUNX RITE - UPSET EVERYTHING IN HOUSE; ESPECIALLY BEDROOM - PILE CHAIRS ON BED - NAMES OF; JUDGE - DISTRICT ATTORNEY - HOSTILE WITNESSES; BURY THEM BEHIND YOUR HOUSE IN CORNER WHERE NO ONE; CAN WALK OVER THEM - IN COURT SAY TO YOURSELF; "NOT GUILTY" - ALOUD "I AIN'T GOT ANYTHING TO SAY" — Volume 4, entries 9170. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- WATER - HYDRANT RUNNING - "STOVE EYES" UPSIDE DOWN; "BACK POCKETS" WRONGSIDE OUT - "INDIAN PENNY" — Volume 4, entries 9171. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- CROSS SAME NAME OVER ITSELF ON EGG; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - DIRECTION TO GO; WITH WISHES - CURSE: GO, GOD DAMN YUH — Volume 4, entries 9202. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- EGGSHELLS - IN GLASS OF WATER 9 DAYS; LET PERSON DRINK TO LOVE YOU — Volume 4, entries 9235. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- HALVE AN EGG - DRAIN - WRITE HIS NAME INSIDE; PUT HALVES TOGETHER WITH ADHESIVE TAPE; INTO RUNNING WATER: IN DE NAME OF DE FATHER, GO! — Volume 4, entries 9274. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- PERSIMMON SWITCHES 3 - 2 IN BED - 1 AT DOORSTEP; THIS RITE USED BY WOMAN TO GET MAN'S MONEY AFTER; SHE LEARNS BY DIVINATION FROM EGG WHITE IN GLASS; OF WATER - IDENTITY OF WOMAN TAKING HIS MONEY — Volume 4, entries 9339. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- "ROOSTAH'S AIG IS LONG... HEN'S AIGS ARE ROUND"; TAKE 2 HEN EGGS AND SALT AND BLACK PEPPER; WRITE ON THESE HEN EGGS WHAT YOU WANT DONE; 9 STEPS TOWARDS RUNNING WATER TO DIG HOLE AND BURY; EGGS - SALT - BLACK PEPPER - TO BRING PERSON BACK — Volume 4, entries 9348. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- SALT: SOAK A BLACK HEN EGG IN SALTY WATER 2 DAYS; BURY EGG UNDER DOORSTEPS OF PERSON TO BE MOVED — Volume 4, entries 9364. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- SHOE DUST - PUT IN EGG - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 9371. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- 2 EGGS - NAME ON - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 9415. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- WATER RUNNING - NAME ON BLACK EGG - THROW INTO; DAT'LL RUN 'EM OFF — Volume 4, entries 9432. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- BEHIND UNWANTED DEPARTING PERSON THROW; EITHER SALT OR EPSOM SALT MIXED IN WATER — Volume 5, entries 9448. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- EPSOM SALT - SALT - IN WARM WATER OVERNIGHT; BATHE WITH NEXT DAY - NO ONE CAN HARM YOU — Volume 5, entries 9664. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- FISH - SALTED ONE LIKE HERRING - CLEAN; THROW THE CLEANINGS OR MERELY THE WATER; IN FRONT OF DOOR TO BRING IN CUSTOMERS; OR THROW URINE AND SALT TOWARDS CROWD; REPEAT LATTER RITE 9 MORNINGS — Volume 5, entries 9666. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- 3 RUSTY NAILS - IN BOTTLE OF URINE - 9 MORNINGS; TURNS SPELL BACK ON PERSON TRYING TO HURT YOU; THEN EMPTY BOTTLE - THROW IT INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 5, entries 9730. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → NAILS - NEEDLES AND PINS - TACKS.
- 9 NEEDLES 9 PINS BURIED AT GATE RUINS FAMILY; LIFE - TO KILL SPELL - DIG UP ARTICLES - THROW; INTO RUNNING WATER - DO EVERYTHING IN SILENCE — Volume 5, entries 9840. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → NAILS - NEEDLES AND PINS - TACKS.
- SMOTHER FROG IN TOWEL - CUT AND LET BLEED; 9 DROPS IN WATER OR WHISKEY FOR VICTIM WILL; CREATE IN THE DRINKER YOUNG FROGS OR TADPOLES — Volume 5, entries 9877. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → FROG AND TOADFROG.
- WRITE NAME OF PERSON WANTING TO HARM YOU; TIE ROUND FROG - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 5, entries 9892. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → FROG AND TOADFROG.
- ENEMY GIVEN TOADFROG ASHES IN WATER WILL WITHIN — Volume 5, entries 9937. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → FROG AND TOADFROG.
- TUB OF WATER SUBSTITUTED FOR RUNNING WATER; SURELY HAND SWISHED IN TUB TO SUGGEST MOTION — Volume 5, entries 10017. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- USE WATER FROM RUNNING STREAM TO BOIL CAT; BOILED CAT MUST BE THROWN INTO SAME STREAM — Volume 5, entries 10016. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- BAKE LIVE BLACK CAT IN CLOSED OVEN - CALL CAT BY; NAME - HE'LL ANSWER - HE'LL TELL... WHAT BONE TUH; TAKE A SHORT BONE - CARRY ALL BONES TO SWIFT; WATER - POUR THEM IN - GRAB BONE GOING UPSTREAM — Volume 5, entries 10019. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- BOIL A LIVE BLACK CAT ON BANK OF RUNNING WATER; UNTIL FLESH AND BONES SEPARATE - THROW BONES; INTO THE STREAM - BONE RISING TO SURFACE AND; SWIMMING WITH CURRENT IS LUCKY BONE - GRAB IT — Volume 5, entries 10032. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- MIDNIGHT AT FORKS OF ROAD - BOIL BLACK CAT ALIVE; THROW BONES INTO RUNNING WATER - LUCKY BONE GOES; UPSTREAM - CARRY FOR GOOD LUCK - LOVE - GAMBLING — Volume 5, entries 10040. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- CROSSROAD AT MIDNIGHT - BOIL LIVE BLACK CAT; OWN COFFIN AND SPOOKS OF ALL SORTS APPEAR; BONES INTO RUNNING WATER - LUCKY BONE UPSTREAM — Volume 5, entries 10044. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- TOSS BONES OF BOILED BLACK CAT INTO RUNNING WATER; BONE RIDING UPSTREAM IS LUCKY BONE - GRAB - CARRY; 9 MORNINGS TO FORKS OF ROAD - THERE TELLING THE; LORD YOU HAVE SOLD YOURSELF TO THE DEVIL - NOW; YOU CAN DO ANYTHING - NO ONE CAN STOP OR HARM YOU — Volume 5, entries 10058. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- BOIL A BLACK CAT TO PIECES - POUR OFF WATER; DASH BONES INTO COLD WATER - BEFORE A MIRROR; RUN EACH BONE BETWEEN YOUR TEETH UNTIL YOU; DISAPPEAR - THIS IS LUCKY BONE - ALL IS YOURS — Volume 5, entries 10091. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- BOIL LIVE BLACK CAT - BONES INTO RUNNING WATER; BONE UPSTREAM AND BACK - IN MOUTH TO DISAPPEAR; YOU CAN WALK UNSEEN INTO ANY BANK AND ROB IT — Volume 5, entries 10092. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- INFORMANT SAYS THROWING BLACK CAT BONES INTO; RUNNING WATER IS A MISTAKE - LIFT BONES FROM; POT AND WASH THEM OFF IN CLEAR WATER - LAY; EACH BONE IN MOUTH - ONE BY ONE - ON REACHING; RIGHT BONE... GOIN' TUH TURN YUH BLIND AS A BAT — Volume 5, entries 10099. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- TAKE A BLACK CAT - POT - PIECE OF GLASS TO RUNNING; WATER - BOIL THE CAT - LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS; BITE MEAT OFF EACH BONE - WHEN YOU REACH RIGHT; BONE GLASS WILL DISAPPEAR BEFORE YOUR EYES - THEN; YOU DO SOMETHING ELSE UNKNOWN TO INFORMANT - WHICH; PERMITS YOU TO SLIP OUT OF YOUR HIDE - THIS IS; WHAT A WITCH DOES TO SLIP OUT OF HER SKIN - SUCH; INVISIBILITY MEANS WHUT CHEW CALL... WITCHCRAFT — Volume 5, entries 10100. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- TO BECOME INVISIBLE - USE ANY CAT - BLACK CAT; UNNECESSARY - WHEN WATER BEGINS TO BOIL - EMPTY; INTO IT HALF CAN OF LYE - TIE 4 FEET OF CAT; DROP HIM INTO POT ALIVE - SEE THAT LID IS TIGHT; BONE YOU WANT COMES FROM THROAT - LOOKS LIKE; CHICKEN WISHBONE [IMPOSSIBLE!] - SOAK IN SALT; WATER ONE HOUR EACH MORNING 9 DAYS TO PETRIFY; LAY IN SUN 3 MORNINGS TO DRY - SEW UP IN WHITE; SILK OR LINEN [YOU HAVE USABLE? HAND OR JOMOH; CAUTION! YOU DISAPPEAR AS SOON AS YOU TOUCH BONE; CAREFUL ABOUT AUTOMOBILES! DRIVER CANNOT SEE YOU!] — Volume 5, entries 10105. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- BLACK CAT SCREAMS ONCE BEFORE DYING - RELEASE LID; BODY RISES IN POT AND BOBS - SPIRITS ALSO APPEAR; THROW ONLY LEG BONES INTO RUNNING WATER - ALL; GO DOWNSTREAM EXCEPT ONE TURNING ROUND AND ROUND; THE LUCKY BONE - TIE UP IN BLACK CLOTH THEN IN RED — Volume 5, entries 10114. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- BOIL BLACK CAT ALIVE IN CAN OF WATER WITH LID; DAT'S DE DEVIL - COOK HIM ALL TO PIECES - TAKE; BONE FROM RIGHT HIND LEG - THROW INTO RUNNING; WATER - IT WILL RUN UPSTREAM - COME BACK - STOP; TURN AROUND - DON' FIN' DAT DONE EVAH DAY — Volume 5, entries 10119. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- ROUND BONE IN CAT IS LUCKY BONE; KEEP WRAPPED UP AWAY FROM DIRT; DAT NOT THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 5, entries 10131. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- 8 NAILS - PAPER OF NEEDLES - 8 BIG PINS - ALL NEW; IN SAUCER OF WATER - OVER SAUCER TURN FACE DOWN; PIECE OF MIRROR - ON TOP OF MIRROR SET BLUE CANDLE; AFTER OLD WICK CUT OFF - NEW ONE PUT AT BOTTOM; MAKE WISHES - START BURNING CANDLE FROM TEN TO; TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES - SHE WRITES WITHIN 25 DAYS — Volume 5, entries 10165. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → MORE CANDLE RITES.
- 9 TIMES WRITE NAME - STOP UP IN BOTTLE - THROW; OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO RUNNING WATER - DON'T; LOOK BACK AND SAY I WAN' ZHOO TO GO - TAKE A; RED CANDLE - STICK IN 3 PINS - BURN AT MIDNIGHT; SAYING: I WISH MY ENEMIES WOULD LEAVE ME ALONE; IN THE NAME OF THE LORD — Volume 5, entries 10186. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → MORE CANDLE RITES.
- 9 TIMES WRITE LAW'S NAME - PUT UNDER GLASS; OF WATER - TAKE 3 SWALLOWS 3 TIMES EACH DAY; FOR 3 DAYS - YOU ARE DRINKING WITH THE LAW; REMOVE GLASS - BLUE CANDLE ON LAW'S NAME; BURN BLUE CANDLE SYMBOLIZING LAW'S UNIFORM; LAW NEVER BOTHERS HIM WITH WHOM HE DRINKS — Volume 5, entries 10194. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → MORE CANDLE RITES.
- MAN UNABLE TO HAVE OTHER WOMEN BECAUSE WIFE; BY SPELL MADE HIM IMPOTENT FOR THEM - LET; HIM SOAK WIFE'S MENSTRUAL CLOTH 9 DAYS IN; RAIN WATER TO RESTORE NATURE FOR OTHER WOMEN — Volume 5, entries 10211. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SEX AND IMPOTENCE REAPPEAR.
- SNAIL DUST - WATER FROM SILVER DOLLAR; AND COPPER CENT - RUBBED ACROSS WOMAN — Volume 5, entries 10265. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SEX AND IMPOTENCE REAPPEAR.
- BOTTLE FILLED WITH WATER — Volume 5, entries 10413. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → HAG AND WITCH RETURN.
- BOTTLE - GREEN LEAF IN - CALL VICTIM'S NAME; HE ANSWERING - STOP UP BOTTLE - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 5, entries 10414. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → HAG AND WITCH RETURN.
- FLAXSEED AND BUCKET OF WATER — Volume 5, entries 10426. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → HAG AND WITCH RETURN.
- WATER - PAN OF - ON FLOOR NEAR BED — Volume 5, entries 10495. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → HAG AND WITCH RETURN.
- WATER UNDER BED: GLASS OF; PAN OF - BUCKET OF — Volume 5, entries 10493. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → HAG AND WITCH RETURN.
- KILL BAT - CATCH BLOOD IN SMALL BOTTLE OF WATER; CARRY IN PURSE - DRY BAT - HANG IN NORTH CORNER; OF HOUSE - COVER UP - LUCKY WHILE YOU LIVE THERE — Volume 5, entries 10555. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BAT - THE LEATHER-WING.
- ABORTION: BREW HOT GREEN COFFEE; ADD WHISKEY AND TURPENTINE - DRINK; SIT OVER BUCKETFUL OF BOILING WATER; USE NEW LEAD PENCIL - BUY ONE — Volume 5, entries 10605. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WEAR EVE PART OF ADAM-AND-EVE IN YOUR POCKET OR; USE ADAM PART WITH 3 NEEDLES - EACH BROKEN INTO; 3 PIECES - TIE UP THE 9 PIECES WITH ADAM 3 DAYS; THEN THROW 9 PIECES INTO RUNNING WATER - TIE UP; SILVER DIME WITH ADAM AND FOR LUCK WIPE PACKAGE; ACROSS FACE AND HEAD - TO KEEP THIS HAND "FROM; BEING ANNOYED" MEANS LET NO ONE SEE OR TOUCH IT — Volume 5, entries 10623. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SIFT ANT-NEST DIRT - ADD WATER - MAKE DOUGH; SUN BAKD - BREAK OFF PIECE - THROW WHERE; VICTIM LIVES - CANNOT REST - MUST LEAVE HOME — Volume 5, entries 10651. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WATER RUNNING - BOTTLE PERIOD BLOOD - THROW INTO — Volume 5, entries 10753. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WATER RUNNING - THROW INTO - BOTTLED MONTHLY BLOOD; WOMAN CANNOT GO WITH OTHER MAN - THROW DOWNSTREAM; TO SEND AWAY - THROW UPSTREAM - SHE'LL GO CRAZY — Volume 5, entries 10755. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- DOOR - NEVER SWEEP DIRT OUT - ALSO SCRUB IN; WITH LYE AND BOILING WATER - BOTH FOR BUSINESS — Volume 5, entries 10788. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WRAP INTO RED FLANNEL CLOTH A FRESH BLACK HEN EGG; ALWAYS WRAPPING TO YOU - TIE WITH 3 WHITE STRINGS; EGG A PERSON - THROW PACKAGE INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 5, entries 10966. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- EGGS 6 - WHITES FROM - HORSETROUGH WATER - ASTHMA — Volume 5, entries 10969. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- EGG BOIL - HALVE - REMOVE YELLOW - FILL WITH SALT; EAT WITHOUT DRINKING WATER - DREAM OF FUTURE MATE — Volume 5, entries 10970. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- ENEMY STEALS YOUR PILLOW - SCATTERS THE FEATHERS; THROWS THE PILLOW INTO RUNNING WATER - YOU GO — Volume 5, entries 11030. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- GARMENT YOU HAD ON THAT DAY - PIECE FROM ENEMY; TIE TOGETHER WITH AN OLD PIECE YOU DO NOT WANT; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - OTHER PERSON POWERLESS; HIS EVIL THOUGHT OR SPIRIT CANNOT HARM YOU AT ALL — Volume 5, entries 11073. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- IF DEPARTED MAN LEFT ANYTHING BEHIND - TAKE IT; TO RUNNING WATER AND THROW IT IN WITH A WISH — Volume 5, entries 11072. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- COCONUT WATER OR COCONUT MILK KILLS HOODOO POISON — Volume 5, entries 11117. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WHOLE DIRT DAUBER NEST - DO NOT BREAK - PUT IN CUP; COVER WITH WATER - IT WILL DRAW IN 15 MINUTES; DRINK FROM IT - WOMAN KEEPS HUSBAND UNDER HER FEET — Volume 5, entries 11209. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SHE MAY USE ANY OF HIS GARMENTS TO WASH HERSELF; MAYBE USE HER DISHTOWEL TO WASH HERSELF - SHE; USES THIS WATER TO WASH DISHES - KEEPS HIM HOME — Volume 5, entries 11234. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- INFORMANT 960 - PROFESSIONAL HOODOO WOMAN OF MEMPHIS; 4 RITES: WATER - CANDLES - SCRUBBING - FOOTTRACK — Volume 5, entries 11265. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HUMPADEE [= HUMPTY] - LAST NAME DUMPTY NEVER SPOKEN; JOLLY WOMAN - ABLE ROOT DOCTOR - MY FIRST OF HER SEX; APPROPRIATELY MENTION HER IN INTRODUCTION TO THE; LAUGHING DOCTOR OF WAYCROSS [v.2, p.1470] WHOM SHE; RESEMBLED - AND REMEMBER HER: A WOMAN'S NOT MUCH; BUT A MAN YOU KNOW IS THE 'TOP PIECE OF THE EARTH'; [v.1, No.1711, p.521] - HER RITE NOW FOLLOWING CURES; GOITRE: COLD SPRING WATER DRUNK AS MOON WASTES AWAY — Volume 5, entries 11285. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WORK SCARCE - BOSS MIGHT FIRE YOU - WRITE PSALM; ON FIG LEAF - IN RED BAG - IN RUNNING WATER 8 DAYS — Volume 5, entries 11370. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- NAME OF VICTIM WRITTEN IN HIS OWN FOOT TRACK BY; ENEMY USING FINGER - SCOOPED UP - STOPPED UP IN; SNUFFBOX - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER TO RUN HIM — Volume 5, entries 11564. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 9 PINCHES OF RIGHT TRACK - ENEMY PICKS UP - SEWS; INTO BAG - WEARS - IMMEDIATELY YOU BEGIN TO WORRY; AFTER 9 DAYS YOU JUST WANDER... AIN'T SATISFIED NO; PLACE - VISIT WITCHCRAFT PERSON USELESS - CULPRIT; GETS AHEAD OF YOU... BY THROWING IT IN RUNNING WATER; INFORMANT MISTAKEN - SPECIALIST COULD HAVE FOUND BAG; See SPELL FLOATING ON RIVER CAPTURED BY DOCTOR P.338F — Volume 5, entries 11579. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FOOT TRACK - MUDDY ONE - PICK UP IN SPRING WHEN; TREE SAP RISING - AFTER STEPS LEFT AND RIGHT THEN; PICK UP THIRD - LEFT - ADD SAP FROM PEACH LEAVES; HIGH JOHN DE CONKAH - DEVIL'S-SHOESTRING - TIE IN; SOCK - KEEP UNTIL FRIDAY - TOSS INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 5, entries 11591. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- IF SEPARATED FROM YOUR WIFE - ANOTHER MAN AFTER HER; CATCH A FISH - CUT IT OPEN - PUT MAN'S NAME IN - SEW; UP FISH - TURN LOOSE IN WATER - THAT ENDS CONFUSION — Volume 5, entries 11624. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FISH - CATCH - CUT OPEN - PEN AND RED INK - WRITE; VICTIM'S NAME ON INSIDE FLESH OF FISH - DO NOT SEW; UP FISH - THROW FISH INTO RUNNING WATER - SAYING:; FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY GHOST; THEY'LL BE DRIFTIN'... STAY NOWHERE... NOT SATISFIED — Volume 5, entries 11625. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FISH - UPPER AND LOWER JAWS OF - AN OVAL AND 2 LIPS; DRY - PUT IN WATER WOMAN DRINKS - SHE WILL LOVE YOU; SYMBOLISM AND INFORMANT PLAYING THE WHALE AND JONAH — Volume 5, entries 11639. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MAN'S HAT BOW THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER BY WOMAN — Volume 5, entries 12130. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HICKORY TREE - NORTH SIDE - DIG DOWN - GET ROOT; BOIL 30 MINUTES - WATER IN FOOD - CAUSES WORMS — Volume 5, entries 12149. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MOON: IN NEW MOON ON SIGN BALANCE DO GOOD; DO BAD WORK IN DARK OF MOON UNDER ANY 12 SIGNS; FOR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP SET CANDLES UNDER TWINS; FOR EARTH WORK [BURYING THINGS] UNDER BALANCE; WATER FROM RIVER - USE BALANCE [SURELY 'WATERMAN']; INFORMANT'S PERFUMED POWDER: ALOES - CINNAMON - MYRRH — Volume 5, entries 12462. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MOVING POWDER SPRINKLED AT YOUR HOUSE MOVES YOU; 9 BUCKETS OF HYDRANT WATER [RUNNING WATER] KILLS IT — Volume 5, entries 12467. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- PALMA CHRISTIE HERE PALM OF CHRISTIAN - BOOTLEGGING; SALT - SUGAR - CINNAMON - FRESH GREEN LEAVES; AMONG THEM PALMA CHRISTI - IN A BOTTLE - WITH WATER; SPRINKLE PLACE WITH LIQUID - INFORMANT AVOIDED LAW; HAS INTERESTING COMMENTS ON LAW DURING PROHIBITION — Volume 5, entries 12562. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 3 RED PEPPER SEED - FEW GRAINS BLACK PEPPER - SALT; IN BOTTLE - ADD WATER - DROP IN NEEDLE - ON LEAVING; HOME SHAKE BOTTLE WHILE SAYING, "GOOD LUCK AND GOOD; PROSPIRE" [PROSPERITY] - YOU WILL REALLY GET A JOB — Volume 5, entries 12623. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- ODOR FROM UNDER EITHER ARM OR FEET - CONQUERS PERSON; GIVE IT IN WATER OR WHISKEY - YOU CAN ALSO DRINK IT — Volume 5, entries 12669. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- PINE NEEDLES [DRY ONES ON GROUND - CALLED SHATTERS]; AND OAK ASHES - PUT IN CAN SIEVE [CAN WITH SEVERAL; NAIL HOLES IN BOTTOM] - POUR WATER OVER - LET OIL; RUN OVER MAN DOES THIS TO CATCH HIS WOMAN AND MAN — Volume 5, entries 12691. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SCRUBS: RED SEAL LYE - SCRUB TODAY - TOMORROW USE; 9 BUCKETS OF WATER IN 9TH BUCKET ADD SUGAR AND; CINNAMON AND FAST LUCK - LUCKY CAN RENT HOUSE — Volume 5, entries 12884. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- 5 DIMES BOIL IN 2 QUARTS OF WATER DOWN TO 1 QUART; LET COOL - INTO IT PUT: SUGAR - SULPHUR - BLUESTONE; ONE TEASPOONFUL EACH - SHAKE WELL - RUB THIS IN YOUR; HATBAND AND POLICE WILL NOT BOTHER YOU - YOU MAY; SPEND THE DIMES IF YOU LIKE - CARRY LOST JOHN ROOT; OR LOST JOHN POWDER IN YOUR POCKET FOR LUCK — Volume 5, entries 12999. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SOILED SOCK BOILED - WATER INTO JAR - ADD; LUCKY POWDER - 9 DROPS HEARTS COLOGNE; STOP UP 9 MORNINGS - WOMEN TO CONTROL MAN — Volume 5, entries 13138. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- MAN'S SOILED SOCKS WASH - BOTTLE THE WATER - KEEP TO; CONTROL HIM - AT DOOR POINT TOES OF HIS SOCKS INTO; ROOM - HIDE THEM UNDER LINOLEUM OR CARPET AND SOON; HE WILL COME A-HELLIN' IF HE DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN — Volume 5, entries 13140. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WASH OUT MAN'S SOILED SOCKS - BOTTLE WATER - BURY; WHERE HE MUST CROSS OVER IT - HE HOT-FOOTED DEN — Volume 5, entries 13139. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SPIRIT: PEGGING A SPIRIT - IF A SPIRIT WORRYING YOU; GO TO BRIDGE CROSSING SMALL STREAM OF RUNNING WATER; HAVE WITH YOU 2 FAT-LIGHTER-PINE PEGS - DRIVE ONE PEG; DOWN AT YOUR LEFT TOE - CALL SPIRIT'S NAME 3 TIMES; SPIRIT BOTHERING YOU COMES AT ONCE YOU MAY NOT SEE; IT - THEN WALK BACKWARDS ACROSS BRIDGE - CONFUSING; SIMPLE-MINDED SPIRIT WHO DOES NOT REALIZE YOU ARE; WALKING AWAY FROM HIM - HAVING CROSSED BRIDGE AND; STILL FACING SPIRIT - DRIVE OTHER PEG AT RIGHT TOE; THIS IS PEGGING THE SPIRIT - SINCE A SPIRIT CANNOT; CROSS RUNNING WATER - YOU ARE FREED FROM IT FOREVER; ATTENTION: OUR INFORMANT SAYS SPIRIT FOLLOWS VICTIM; ACROSS RUNNING WATER - PEGGED ONLY BY SECOND STAKE; OUR DOCTOR HERE IS MAGIC LAW - HE DEFIES TRADITION — Volume 5, entries 13218. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SPIRIT: TO BRING MAN BACK WOMAN MEASURES LENGTH OF; HIS BODY BEFORE HE LEAVES OR ENTICES HIM BACK - ALSO; TAKES A SHORTER MEASUREMENT - TIES 9 KNOTS IN LONG; MEASUREMENT AND TIES IT LENGTHWISE ON SPRINGS UNDER; HIS SIDE OF BED - SHORT MEASUREMENT WITHOUT KNOTS SHE; WEARS ABOUT WAIST - ALWAYS HAVE A SPIRIT TUH BACK YO'; UP... SPIRIT DAT CHEW PRAY TUH; SCRUB HOUSE WITH SWEETENED WATER — Volume 5, entries 13221. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- TRUMPET ROOT - GROWS IN MIDDLE OF POND - NOT AROUND; HERE - TRUMPET LIKE BUGLE - LATTER ABOUT 4 FEET LONG; GREEN WINTER AND SUMMER - POUR PUMP WATER INTO FLOWER; DRY - BOIL TRUMPET ROOT ALL TOGETHER - TAKE A DRINK; GO TO CAPTAIN AND ASK FOR A JOB - UNABLE TO IDENTIFY; "MIDDLE OF POND" MAY BE MYSTIC ROOT SPECIALLY SOLD — Volume 5, entries 13329. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WOMAN TAKES MAN'S URINE FROM NIGHT SLOP JAR - 3 OR 4; DROPS OF KEROSENE - FAIR AMOUNT OF SULPHUR - FACING; STREAM THROW INTO WATER - TURN BACK - WALK AWAY - OR; THROW OVER SHOULDER - DON'T LOOK BACK - HE'LL LEAVE — Volume 5, entries 13368. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SLEEPER'S HAND IN WATER TO HEAR SECRETS CAN KILL HIM — Volume 5, entries 13433. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WATER: AT MIDNIGHT HAVE ON TABLE CLEAN GLASS FULL OF; WATER - BEHIND THIS SET A LIGHTED LAMP WITH PLAIN; SHADE - AT MIDNIGHT YOU CALL ABSENT PERSON'S NAME:; JOHN, COME HOME, I WANT TO SEE YOU - DO THIS 3 TIMES; JOHN APPEARS IN WATER [FOR HYDROMANCY SEE WATER p.215] — Volume 5, entries 13431. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WATER - HAND HELD IN - SLEEPER TALKS IN SLEEP — Volume 5, entries 13432. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- IF A WOMAN STEALS A PIECE OF CLOTHES FROM MAN AND; WASHES IT IN A SPRING - RUNNING WATER - WEARS IT; CLOSE TO HER - HE WILL ALWAYS HAVE A RAMBLING MIND — Volume 5, entries 13435. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WATER FROM CREEK = RUNNING WATER: BOIL IN IT JOHN DE; CONKAH ROOT - SPRINKLE IN PERSON'S YARD - MOVES HIM — Volume 5, entries 13436. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WATER IN CLEAR POND - WALK ACROSS - CHANGE LUCK - RARE — Volume 5, entries 13437. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WHILE HOLDING SLEEPER'S HAND IN WATER FOR SECRETS; IF THE WIND SUDDENLY CHANGES - SLEEPER WILL DIE — Volume 5, entries 13434. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- Eaves Water Hair Tonic — Volume 1, entries 990. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING.
- Glass of Water and Photograph — Volume 1, entries 2814. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → SHRINES: ALTARS - CANDLES - SAINTS; NEW ORLEANS AREA → (2) CANDLES.
- 9 TIMES - AFTER HE DRINKS WATER FROM THE DISHRAG - WIPE HIM; WITH IT - FOLD TO YOU 9 DIFFERENT WAYS - PUT OVER DOOR — Volume 3, entries 3391. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DISHRAG.
- (4) WATER THAT RUNS OR SUGAR IN BOTTLE OVER DOOR; SPELL LASTS FOREVER OR 30 DAYS — Volume 3, entries 3411. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → CAUSES OF SEXUAL IMPOTENCE → DISHRAG.
- HAIR - WATER FROM SANITARY THINGS - HEARTS COLOGNE — Volume 3, entries 3898. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- NEEDLES 9 - IN HER PIECE - GO TO RIVER; WALK BACKWARDS 20 FEET TO WATER - THROW OVER; SHOULDER - FOLLOWED BY SILVER DIME - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 3, entries 3918. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → BLOOD → "HER PRIVATE TIME".
- CIRCLE - WALK IN - AFTER SWALLOWING COLD WATER; FOLLOWED BY HOT WATER WITH SALT - INCANTATION; DUST - TURPENTINE - URINE — Volume 3, entries 4040. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → URINE.
- SWEATBAND - BOTTLED WITH HOT WATER - INTO RIVER — Volume 3, entries 4532. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- WATER RUNNING - BOW TIED IN - HEAD RISES OR FALLS WITH TIDE — Volume 3, entries 4707. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- WATER RUNNING - TWISTED BOW - STICK THROUGH HOLE IN; STRING ON EACH END - LOWER STICK EACH DAY INTO WATER — Volume 3, entries 4708. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → HAT - SWEATBAND - BOW → BOW FROM SWEATBAND OF HAT.
- FROG TIED IN RIGHT-FOOT STOCKING - BURIED CENTER PORCH STEPS; HOLDS HER - THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER SENDS HER AWAY; HIS URINE IN HER WHISKEY ALSO HOLDS HER — Volume 3, entries 4930. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- THREE WISHES - WHILE THROWING OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO; RUNNING WATER - DIRTY STOCKING - HER HAIR - FAST LUCK - SEWED; TIGHT - WALK 9 STEPS FORWARD BEFORE LOOKING BACK AT WATER — Volume 3, entries 5038. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- WATAH... DAT RUN OVAH ROCKS - PIECE OF GARMENT - NOT LARGAH; DEN A POCKET HAN'KE'CH'EF - WASH 3 TIMES - FOLD - POUR; VINEGAH OVAH - GRAVEYARD CLAY - WRAP IN 3 LAYERS OF BROWN; PAPER - TWIST - WRAP IN NEWSPAPER - BURN OFF - WRAP IN; TURKISH TOWEL - BURY IN RED CLAY 7 DAYS - THEN BURY BY; ROCK IN RUNNING WATER 21 HOURS - THROW AWAY - 21 DAYS — Volume 3, entries 5080. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SOCKS AND STOCKINGS.
- WATER, RUNNING - SHOES INTO — Volume 4, entries 5284. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - INSOLE WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT INTO — Volume 4, entries 5294. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - SHOES TAKEN TO - NOONTIME; LET THE WATER RUN OVER THEM - LET DRY; ON FULL MOON REVISIT RIVER - CALL OWNER — Volume 4, entries 5298. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- WATER, RUNNING - SPRINKLED ON; INSOLE CHIPS - SULPHUR - BLACK PEPPER — Volume 4, entries 5296. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → SHOES.
- BAG - TRACK IN - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5328. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GRAVEYARD DIRT - TRACK - BAG - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5466. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GRAVEYARD - 2 SINNERS GRAVES - 2 NEW TEASPOONS - 2 PENNIES; FOOT TRACK WITH THIS GRAVEYARD DIRT IN NEW HOMESPUN WITH; GUNPOWDER - "THUNDER-STRUCKEN" WOOD - RED PEPPER - IN 2 RED; "CHUNK BOTTLES" - ONE BURY IN EAST - OTHER OVER SHOULDER; INTO RUNNING WATER - 3 HIGHEST NAMES - INCANTATION — Volume 4, entries 5474. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- GUNPOWDER - RED PEPPER - TRACK - IN TOBACCO SACK - INTO; RUNNING WATER - "GO AN' DON'T NEVAH RETURN ANY MO'" - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 5492. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR-RED PEPPER - LEFT TRACK - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5507. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- HAIR FROM HEAD - TRACK - TIE IN BAG - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5508. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- RED PEPPER - BLACK PEPPER - TURPENTINE - SLOAN'S LINAMENT; ANYTHING HOT - TRACK - OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO WATER — Volume 4, entries 5617. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SALT - RED PEPPER - RIGHT TRACK - RAG - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5625. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- SULPHUR - TURPENTINE - BLACK PEPPER; TRACK - TIE - WATER — Volume 4, entries 5664. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- 3 PINCHES FROM TOE - 3 FROM MIDDLE - 3 FROM HEEL; RIGHT TRACK - IN RAG - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5692. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- WISH: TO BRING - BURY INCOMING TRACK UNDER STEP - OR; TO SEND AWAY - THROW OUTGOING TRACK INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5796. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → SWEAT → FOOT TRACK.
- CHICKEN FEATHERS - HUMAN HAIR - RUNNING WATER - LEFT HAND — Volume 4, entries 5840. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- FISH - THREAD NEEDLE WITH A HAIR AND TIE; STICK THROUGH FISH - OVER SHOULDER INTO WATER - "GO" — Volume 4, entries 5877. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 4 NOT 3 STRANDS OF HAIR - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5892. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - RIVER WATER; IN CAN - KEEP BEHIND LAVATORY — Volume 4, entries 5905. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (9) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5910. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (10) GRAVEYARD DIRT - HAIR - 3 PENNIES - 6 PINS; BUCKSKIN OR RED FLANNEL - LEFT HAND RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5915. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEAD - LEFT SIDE OF - HAIR FROM - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5933. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEAD - LEFT TEMPLE HAIR - CLOVER OIL - HEARTS COLOGNE; 3 INGREDIENTS - BOTTLED - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5934. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEARTS COLOGNE - HAIR - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5944. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HEARTS COLOGNE - HAIR - FOOT TRACK - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5948. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS TIED IN PUBIC HAIR; STOPPERED IN A JUG OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 5957. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 9; RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5971. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 9 - IN 9 STRANDS OF HAIR - THREAD WRAPPED 3 TIMES; AT 11 O'CLOCK IN MORNING - INTO RUNNING WATER - INCANTATION — Volume 4, entries 5973. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 9 - STRANDS OF HAIR 9 - RUNNING WATER - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 5974. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- KNOTS 9 - TIED ABOUT FLANNEL RAG - HOLDING HAIR; HEARTS COLOGNE - TURPENTINE - WISH AT EACH KNOT; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 5972. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NAME WRITTEN - HAIR - SALT - RED PEPPER; BOTTLED - OVER LEFT SHOULDER - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 5990. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- NEEDLES 3 - PINS 3 NIPPED OFF - 3 PODS RED PEPPER - HAIR; INTO RUNNING WATER - FIRST NEW MOON - QUICK DEATH — Volume 4, entries 6004. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (33) 3 HAIRS: BOTH ARMPITS AND HEAD - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6084. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SALT - HAIR - BOILED IN WATER; BOTTLED - BURIED 6 MONTHS — Volume 4, entries 6106. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SALT - HAIR IN BOTTLE OF HOT WATER; BURIED NECK OUT - UNDER DOORSTEPS - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6105. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR WEDGED INTO SPLIT STICK - WRAP AND TIE; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6157. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- SPOOL - HAIR IN EMPTY - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6154. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR ABOUT GREEN STICK WRAPPED IN CLOTH - TIED IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6161. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR IN WOODEN PEG - PEG UP IN BOTTLE; OVER LEFT SHOULDER INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6159. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- START ASH PEG INTO GROUND UNDER SWEET GUM ON BANK; OF CREEK - EACH MORNING - 9 DAYS - THROW 2 STRANDS; OF HER HAIR INTO WATER AND TAP PEG UNTIL DOWN — Volume 4, entries 6160. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR BOTTLED - TIED TO STICK IN RUNNING WATER - LET BOB — Volume 4, entries 6164. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- HAIR IN SACK - TIED TO STICK - IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6162. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- STRING TIED ABOUT HAIR; INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6165. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- 3 HOLY NAMES - USE WHEN BURYING IN PINT OF WATER; HAIR - RED PEPPER - SALT: 3 INGREDIENTS — Volume 4, entries 6176. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE - 5 DROPS OF - HAIR - BOTTLE - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6274. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- URINE AND HAIR BOTTLED - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6273. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (2) RUNNING WATER IN BOTTLED HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6282. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (3) HAIR THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER MAKES CRAZY — Volume 4, entries 6284. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- WATER AND HAIR; (1) ORDINARY WATER IN BOTTLED HAIR — Volume 4, entries 6281. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (4) HAIR THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER SENDS AWAY — Volume 4, entries 6292. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (5) BOTTLED HAIR INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6297. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (6) BACK TO RUNNING WATER; HAIR OVER LEFT SHOULDER - NEVER LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 6308. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (17) SILK CLOTH - WRAP IN - HAIR - FOOT TRACK; SWEATY CLOTHES - ANCHOR BOTTLE IN RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6324. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (19) DIRECTION: EAST RUNNING WATER - HAIR INTO — Volume 4, entries 6326. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (20) NORTH RUNNING WATER - HAIR INTO — Volume 4, entries 6327. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (21) WEST RUNNING WATER - 9 STRANDS OF HAIR IN — Volume 4, entries 6328. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (26) NAME - HAIR - BOTTLED - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6333. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (27) NAME - SALT - RED PEPPER - HAIR; BOTTLED - THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER; OR PUT OVER DOOR OR UNDER MATTRESS — Volume 4, entries 6334. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (29) 9 DAYS LATER - HUMAN HAIR BOTTLED IN WATER; BECOMES ALIVE; THROW INTO RIVER NOT LOOKING BACK — Volume 4, entries 6336. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (30) 9 INCHES BURIED - BOTTLED HAIR - FORK OF ROAD DIRT; 9 DROPS HEARTS COLOGNE - DIG UP 9 DAYS LATER; THROW OVERHEAD INTO WATER - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 6337. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (34) RAINWATER ATTRACTS WIGGLE-TAILS; PUT BOTH IN BOTTLE - ADD A HORSEHAIR AND; VICTIM'S HAIR - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6341. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (36) TALKING TO HAIR - BOTTLED - RUNNING WATER - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 6343. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (40) WATER - OF OUT-GOING TIDE - IN BOTTLE WITH HAIR; THROW INTO OUT-GOING TIDE WITH A CURSE — Volume 4, entries 6347. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (41) 3 DAYS BURIED UNDER STEPS; THEN INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6348. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (43) 3 INGREDIENTS: RED PEPPER - PEPPERGRASS - HAIR; AT 12 O'CLOCK THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 6350. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- (14) SALT - CAMPHOR - WATER - HAIR - SHAKE — Volume 4, entries 6366. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → HAIR.
- RUNNING WATER AND TOENAILS IN BOTTLE UNDER DOOR — Volume 4, entries 6512. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- WATER - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN [RED] PEPPER - HOT FOOT — Volume 4, entries 6511. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FINGERNAILS - TOENAILS - FOOTSKIN.
- HAIR BOTTLED - PUT IN RUNNING WATER; TURNS INTO SNAKE - KILLS OWNER — Volume 4, entries 6659. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → LIVE THINGS IN YOU.
- DRAGON'S BLOOD OR INCENSE - FUMIGATE SELF WITH; HYDRANT WATER - SCRUB STEPS WITH 9 BUCKETS OF; THROW 8 BUCKETS DOWN - 9TH BUCKET UP; SALT AND URINE ABOUT STEPS — Volume 4, entries 6786. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- EXCREMENT - HUMAN: FOR BITE OF BLUE-GUMMED PERSON; BURN SULPHUR - PUT ON BITE - RUB BITE ROUND; INSIDE GLASS OF WATER - BLOW BREATH INTO 3 TIMES; BITER WILL SUFFER WITH PYORRHEA - LOSE ALL TEETH — Volume 4, entries 6790. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- WATER THAT FALLS; RAINWATER - CORNMEAL - TURPENTINE — Volume 4, entries 6982. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- WATER, IN A SPRING - HAIR INTO OVER SHOULDER; NOT LOOKING BACK - KILLS ATTEMPT TO POISON YOU — Volume 4, entries 6984. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → CURES FOR AND PROTECTION AGAINST AILMENT AND DISEASE.
- MAGUIN OR SAN MONGAIN - A DOCTOR OF CHARLESTON; IF FOOT TRACK IN GRAVEYARD - DIRTY WATER UNDER HOUSE; BURN DRAGON'S BLOOD AT MIDNIGHT IN OLD SHOE; LET GUM-BUSH STAY IN HOUSE 3 DAYS AND BURN; FOR SPELL ON PERSONS HAIR - ANOINTS 3 MORNINGS WITH; URINE - SALT - RED PEPPER - VINEGAR - KEROSENE; FIGHT SPELLCASTER AND DRAW BLOOD — Volume 4, entries 7228. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → FOLK MEDICINE → A FEW MORE DOCTORS.
- NAIL: SHORT PERSON SHORT NAIL - TALL PERSON LARGE NAIL; NAME ON PAPER - WRAP ABOUT NAIL - PACK IN BOTTLE; OF GRAVEYARD DIRT - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 7837. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- QUICKSILVER - SPIDERS - EGGSHELL - GRAVEYARD DIRT; IN OLD-TIME HAND PUMP FOR WATER — Volume 4, entries 7861. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → WHAT TO DO WITH GRAVEYARD DIRT.
- HOLE DUG OBLONG OR SQUARE - FILL WITH WATER; LAY PHOTO IN - WALK AWAY - DON'T LOOK BACK — Volume 4, entries 7982. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → COFFIN AND PHOTOGRAPH.
- (7) WOOD SHINGLE OR PAPER - CUT PERSON'S IMAGE FROM; WRITE NAME - WISH - INTO RUNNING WATER OR BURY; OR HANG INTO TREE FOR WIND TO BLOW AWAY — Volume 4, entries 8001. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → COFFIN - DOLL BABY - BURIAL - BONES → DOLL BABY.
- BOTTLE BURIED WITH PHOTO WATER; BOW OF CAP - TOENAILS - PERFUME — Volume 4, entries 8064. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- 4 ELDERBERRY LEAVES 1 ON EACH CORNER OF PHOTO; WRAP - THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - TO SEND AWAY — Volume 4, entries 8146. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- MIRROR - PUT FACE OF PHOTO AGAINST FACE OF; IN RUNNING WATER 2 OR 3 WEEKS DRIVES CRAZY — Volume 4, entries 8200. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- NAME - HIS AND HERS HE WRITES 3 TIMES - CALLS HER; NAME - GETS HER PHOTO AND GLASS OF WATER - LAYS PHOTO; ACROSS - DROPS PAPER WITH NAMES INTO WATER - IF PAPER; AFTER SINKING SURFACES - SHE WILL RETURN IN 3 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 8210. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- NINE DIFF'REN' WAYS - CLIP PHOTO - CUT OFF 4 CORNERS; DAT'S FO' WAYS - LEAVE PHOTO 1 PIECE - RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 8228. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- PINS - 9 INTO HEART OF PHOTO - RUNNING WATER; AFTER 9 DAYS PERSON IN PHOTO FALLS DEAD — Volume 4, entries 8239. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (10) FOUR CORNERS OF PHOTO; EACH SHOT IN TURN WITH PISTOL; THROW PHOTO INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 8268. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (13) WATER - NEAR RUNNING - PHOTO ON TREE - SHOOT — Volume 4, entries 8296. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (14) WATER - PAN OF - SHOOT PHOTO IN — Volume 4, entries 8297. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- STOCKING OR SOCK - PHOTO WORN IN; OR LAY FACE DOWN OVER GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8300. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (18) 3 HOLES BY NAIL IN PHOTO AGAINST TREE; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - VICTIM LEAVES — Volume 4, entries 8335. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (54) WATER - TREE NEAR - PHOTO NAILED TO — Volume 4, entries 8376. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (56) WATER - 3 TREES NEAR - 12 FEET APART; TREE NEAREST WATER - NAIL PHOTO ON; FACING WATER - EACH LICK YOU HEAR A POP — Volume 4, entries 8378. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- WATER (1) - BASIN OF; (1) PHOTO FACE DOWN IN — Volume 4, entries 8406. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- WATER (2) - GLASS OF; (2) PHOTO FACE DOWN OVER — Volume 4, entries 8407. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (3) BED - UNDER THE; PHOTO FACE DOWN; OVER CUP OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8411. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (4) UNDER HEAD OF BED; PHOTO OVER GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8412. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (5) PHOTO UNDER HEAD OF BED - HEAD DOWN INTO GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8413. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (6) TIE TO HEAD OF BED - PHOTO; BOTTOM UPWARDS OVER GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8414. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (7) BEHIND BED - PHOTO FACE DOWN; OVER GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8415. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (8) NORTH SIDE OF BED - IN DARK PLACE; PUT PHOTO ON TOP GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8416. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (10) DARK CORNER - GLASS OF WATER IN; HOLDING PHOTO HEAD DOWN — Volume 4, entries 8418. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (12) MIRROR - ON TOP OF PHOTO FACE DOWN; ACROSS GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8420. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (13) 9 DAYS - PHOTO - FACE DOWN; ON GLASS OF WATER UNDER BED — Volume 4, entries 8421. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (14) CORNER OF PHOTO DOWN IN GLASS OF WATER; IN FACE OF WASHSTAND DRAWER - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 8422. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (9) HOT BOILING WATER - GLASS OF - PHOTO OVER — Volume 4, entries 8417. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (15) 9 DAYS KEEP WEIGHT ON PHOTO; FACE DOWN OVER GLASS OF WATER — Volume 4, entries 8423. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (16) 9 DROPS OF HEARTS COLOGNE OR BLUE MOON PERFUME; IN GLASS OF WATER - GLASS NEVER TO BE USED AGAIN; PHOTO FACE DOWN OVER - UNDER HEAD OF BED — Volume 4, entries 8424. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (17) SPICE AND CLOVES IN GLASS OF WATER; SET PHOTO FACE DOWN OVER - 9 DAYS; IN A DARK CORNER — Volume 4, entries 8425. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (18) 9 NIGHTS - PHOTO OVER GLASS OF WATER; UNDER EDGE OF BED - IN 3 HOLY NAMES — Volume 4, entries 8426. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (23) SET GLASS OF WATER IN DARK CORNER OF HOUSE; CALL HER NAME 3 TIMES DAILY - 9 DAYS; TURN PHOTO FACE DOWN OVER THE GLASS — Volume 4, entries 8431. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- WATER (3) - MARSH OR SWAMP; (27) PHOTO FACE DOWN IN MARSH WHERE; A LITTLE WATER RUNS OVER IT — Volume 4, entries 8435. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- WATER (4) PAN OF; (29) LOVE DIVINATION WITH PHOTO — Volume 4, entries 8437. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- WATER (5) - PITCHER OF; (30) SET PHOTO BEHIND - CALL NAME; 3 TIMES DAILY - 9 DAYS — Volume 4, entries 8438. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- WATER (6) - RUNNING; (31) PHOTO THROWN INTO - MAKES PERSON WANDER — Volume 4, entries 8439. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (32) PHOTO THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER - DROWNS YOU — Volume 4, entries 8444. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (33) PHOTO THROWN INTO RUNNING WATER - MAKES CRAZY — Volume 4, entries 8446. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (34) PHOTO FACE DOWN INTO RUNNING WATER; KEEPS YOU GOING — Volume 4, entries 8450. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (37) PHOTO FOLDED IN WHITE RAG - A SINK ON IT; THROW IT INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 8453. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (40) PHOTO - QUICKSILVER ON - IN BAG; INTO RUNNING WATER - TURN BACK TO — Volume 4, entries 8456. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (41) PHOTO CUT IN HALF - 2 PIECES BOTTLED AIRTIGHT; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - SENDS AWAY — Volume 4, entries 8457. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (42) PHOTO CUT INTO SMALL PIECES - INTO SACK; SALT AND SULPHUR - MIDNIGHT - DARK AND CLOUDY; BLINDFOLD EYES - THROW SACK INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 8458. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (43) SOUTH-RUNNING WATER - PHOTO THROWN INTO — Volume 4, entries 8459. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (44) TO SEE WHETHER WOMAN IS FAITHFUL; WATER (7) - IN A SPRING; MAN TAKES HER PHOTO TO BUBBLING SPRING; 3 OR 9 MORNINGS BEFORE SUNRISE; REFLECTION OF PHOTO IN THE WATER; AT DAYBREAK GIVES THE ANSWER — Volume 4, entries 8461. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- WATER (8) - TIDEWATER; (45) WRITE VICTIM'S NAME AT BOTTOM OF PHOTO; YOURS AT TOP - CARRY TO TIDEWATER STREAM; TO TREE UPON WHICH WATER RISES AND FALLS; TACK PHOTO HEAD DOWN TO IT WITH RUSTY NAIL; SO THAT IT WILL RISE AND FALL WITH TIDE; AS TIDE COMES IN VICTIM WILL GO CRAZY; AS TIDE GOES OUT HE SLEEPS ALL THE TIME — Volume 4, entries 8462. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → PHOTOGRAPH.
- (31) WATER: BOARD FERRY AND THROW OVER LEFT; SHOULDER INTO RIVER - NAME 9 TIMES IN; LEMON - RUN THEM CLEAN OUT OF THE CITY — Volume 4, entries 8653. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- ROLLING AND KICKING: BOTTLE WITH VINEGAR; CAYENNE PEPPER - NAME ON PARCHMENT PAPER; ROLL AND KICK - BACK DOOR TO FRONT - SAYING; AS THIS BOTTLE RO' AH WAN' CHOO TO DO DE SAME; BURY - SIGN OF BALANCE - WHEN EARTH HAS POWER; NEXT MORNING BEFORE SUNRISE POUR HOT WATER ON; THAT BURSTS BOTTLE AND THEY WILL LEAVE HOUSE — Volume 4, entries 8698. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → NAME.
- CROSS-WRITE YOUR HANDWRITING BY TURNING IT; UPSIDE DOWN AND WRITING OVER IT - REFOLD PAPER; DIFFERENTLY - DRAW IT WITH HEAT OR WATER - ADD; SALT - PEPPER - ALUM - UNDER STEP - HAND SWELLS — Volume 4, entries 8831. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- DRAWING PERSPIRATION FROM HANDWRITING OF LETTER; BY LAYING PAPER OVER IT AND IRONING IT - TWIST; THIS PAPER INTO 8 TWISTS - PUT IN BOTTLE - ADD; 8 PINCHES OF SALT AND COPPERAS BOILED IN WATER — Volume 4, entries 8836. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → THREE SUBSTITUTES FOR HUMAN BODY → LETTERS AND HANDWRITING.
- (2) WRITE NAME OF SUSPECTED THIEF - GO TO; RUNNING WATER - SMEAR SLIME ON NAME; CALL "THREE GREAT NAMES" i.e. IN THE NAME; OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST; MAY HE; BRING THIS BACK TO ME - PAPER OVERBOARD — Volume 4, entries 8921. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THEFT.
- (3) PAY ODD MONEY FOR BEEF TONGUE - PUT IN; THROAT PART NAMES OF 75 POSSIBLE JURYMEN; 9 NEEDLES AND 9 PINS - HANG IN CHIMNEY; BENEATH SET PAN OF WATER - PEPPER - COARSE; SNUFF - DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S NAME - ADD; LIGHTED CANDLE BY NEW TRICK ON THE BOTTOM; [THIS IS CALLED LIGHTING CANDLE UPSIDE DOWN]; JUDGE'S NAME - ICE IN PAIL - SWEETEN; LIGHT CANDLE - STAND IT UPRIGHT IN PAIL; IN THIRD CONTAINER - A GLASS - NAMES OF; THOSE AGAINST YOU - LIQUOR THEY DRINK; SET UPRIGHT AS MANY CANDLES AS ENEMIES; ALL OF THEM WILL GO TO COURT DRUNK — Volume 4, entries 8980. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → COURT CASES.
- BACKWARDS 9 STEPS TAKE TO RIVER - HOLDING; EGG WITH PERSON'S NAME ON 9 TIMES; THROW INTO WATER - CALLING PERSON'S NAME; WITH INCANTATION IN 3 HOLY NAMES — Volume 4, entries 9183. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- FOOT TRACK RIGHT - DIRT FROM HOLLOW OF - NAME; ON BLACK HEN EGG - WRAP BOTH IN PAPER HAVING; HIS NAME - THROW WITH WISHES INTO RUNNING WATER; RETURN HOME - LOOK OUT DOOR - WISH HIM FROM THERE — Volume 4, entries 9242. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- SHELL OF EGG - HAIR IN - INTO RUNNING WATER — Volume 4, entries 9368. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- WAR WATER - CAYENNE PEPPER - BLACK HEN EGG - THROW; AT DOOR 9 MORNINGS - MOVES YOU OR SENDS TO JAIL; WATER RUNNING - EGG WITH NAME INTO - RUNS CRAZY — Volume 4, entries 9430. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- WATER RUNNING: RUN THROUGH YOLK - HERE CALLED; RED OF DE AIG - 3 NEW NEEDLES - WRAP IN RED; FLANNEL - THROW OVERBOARD - TO MAKE YO' WANDER — Volume 4, entries 9434. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → THE AMAZING CHICKEN EGG.
- SCRUB WITH SALT WATER - DAMPEN HIS HAT WITH IT — Volume 5, entries 9518. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → SALT AND ITS COMBINATIONS.
- YOU YOURSELF MUST CATCH BLACK CAT WITHOUT ONE WHITE HAIR; PUT ALIVE IN BOILING WATER - AFTER FLESH FALLS FROM BONES; THROW THEM INTO RUNNING WATER - BONE SINKING IS LUCKY BONE — Volume 5, entries 10015. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- CATCH A BLACK CAT WITHOUT A WHITE HAIR - WHEN; WATER STARTS TO BOIL DROP HIM IN ALIVE - AFTER; HE FALLS TO PIECES - TOSS BONES INTO RUNNING WATER; GRAB THE BONE FLOATING UPSTREAM - CAN DO ANYTHING — Volume 5, entries 10018. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- HAVE WATER BOILING - CAT WITHOUT A WHITE HAIR; GRAB CAT IN SACK - THROW INTO POT USE LID; BONE ONLY ONE FLOATING - USE WITH LODESTONE — Volume 5, entries 10030. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → BLACK CAT LUCKY BONE AGAIN.
- 9 TIMES WOMAN WRITES ABSENT MAN'S NAME ON NEW; PARCHMENT PAPER - HER NAME OVER HIS 9 TIMES - THIS; PAPER SHE LAYS UNDER NEW GLASS FILLED WITH WATER; SHE THEN LEANS HIS PHOTO UPSIDE DOWN AGAINST GLASS; HEAD DOWN FEET UP - FACING OUTWARD - IN FRONT OF; GLASS WITH NAMES AND PHOTO - SHE SETS NEW WHITE; SAUCER - IN WHICH SHE BURNS NEW RED CANDLE DAILY; 3 TIMES: 6 A. M. - 12 NOON - 6 P. M. - HE RETURNS — Volume 5, entries 10157. Source context: ADDITIONAL RITES AND BELIEFS → MORE CANDLE RITES.
- BIRD NEST - FOLD ON PERSON'S HAIR - THROW INTO; RUNNING WATER - PERSON ALWAYS BE ON DE PATH; A MORE COMMON EXPRESSION: DAT'S RUNNIN' 'EM — Volume 5, entries 10713. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BIRDS 2: HOLD OVER RUNNING WATER - KILL ONE - LET; OTHER FLY AWAY - IF WOMAN FORNICATOR - SHE SWELLS — Volume 5, entries 10718. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BIRDS 2: MUST BE MATES - HOLD OVER RUNNING WATER; CUT THROAT OF ONE - BLOOD DROPPING INTO WATER; LET OTHER BIRD LOOSE - AN ENEMY SWELLS UP - DIES — Volume 5, entries 10719. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FORK OF ROAD - BOTTLED MINISTRATION - BURIED; HEAD DOWN TO UPSET - ADD HAIR TO DRIVE CRAZY; INTO RUNNING WATER MAKES TO WANDER AND DROWN — Volume 5, entries 10743. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- INSIDE DIRT OF HOUSE - NEVER SWEEP OUT - SWEEP IN; THEN SCRUB FLOOR WITH CINNAMON AND SUGAR IN WATER; AND WITH OIL OF CLOVER AND BOTTLE OF BEER IN WATER; SPRINKLE FROM FRONT DOOR THROUGH HOUSE TO THE BACK — Volume 5, entries 10803. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- PEPPER - BLACK - THROW OUT WHEN YOU SEE UNWANTED; GUEST APPROACHING DOOR - AFTER GUEST LEAVES; THROW BLACK PEPPER - SALT - BUCKET OF CLEAR WATER — Volume 5, entries 10819. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BLACK CAT HAIR - SULPHUR - SALT - RED PEPPER; GRAVEYARD DIRT - WRITE ON PAPER WHAT YOU WANT DONE; ALL IN CONTAINER THAT WILL FLOAT ON RUNNING WATER — Volume 5, entries 10870. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- HAIR FROM BAD DOG'S BACK - CAT'S - BACK - WATER FROM; WOMAN'S WASHED UNDERWEAR - ADD TURPENTINE - BOTTLE; THROW INTO MISSISSIPPI RIVER - CAUSES FAMILY FIGHT — Volume 5, entries 10903. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- VICTIM'S NAME 9 TIMES - WRITE ON PARCHMENT PAPER; CUT OFF PIECE OF LIVE CATFISH TAIL FIN - PUSH PAPER; AND FIN INTO MOUTH OF FISH - TURN FISH LOOSE IN; RUNNING WATER - RUDDERLESS FISH - WANDERING VICTIM — Volume 5, entries 10936. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FISH - CATCH - CUT OPEN - PUT INSIDE PERSON'S NAME; IN FULL WRITTEN ON PARCHMENT PAPER - ADD 3 DROPS; OF MOVING OIL - CAYENNE PEPPER - SEW FISH BACK UP; THROW FISH INTO RUNNING WATER - SAY: AS THIS FISH; GO, I WANT YOU TO DO THE SAME - VICTIM DRIFTS AWAY — Volume 5, entries 11626. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FISH - CUT OPEN - VICTIM'S NAME IN - ADD 3 THINGS:; MOVING OIL - CAYENNE PEPPER VINEGAR - SEW UP AND; THROW INTO RUNNING WATER - USE THE THREE GODHEADS; ... GOD THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT - I WISH AS; THIS FISH FLOAT - I WANT YOU TO DRIFT THE SAME WAY — Volume 5, entries 11627. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FISH - MUST HAVE SCALES - CATCH IN RUNNING WATER; TO DRIFT AWAY VICTIM - WRITE HIS NAME 3 TIMES ON; SAME LINE OR IN COLUMN - AFTER EACH NAME MAKE DOT; WITH ONE DROP OF FISH BLOOD - PUT PAPER WITH NAMES; IN FISH - TURN YOUR BACK TO RUNNING WATER - THROW; IN FISH OVER SHOULDER - WALK AWAY NOT LOOKING BACK — Volume 5, entries 11628. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- FORK WOMAN BUYS NEW - NAMES IT MAN SHE WANTS TO; SEND AWAY - BACK HOME SHE WRITES HIS AND HER NAMES; [SURELY HER ABOVE HIS - EACH IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS]; WISHES - WRAPS AND TIES PAPER ON FORK - TURNS BACK; TO RUNNING WATER - THROWS FORK OVER LEFT SHOULDER; AND WALKS AWAY NOT LOOKING BACK - MAN SOON LEAVES — Volume 5, entries 11657. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- BEFORE DAY CUT TWIG HAVING SAP - FROM TREE AT FORKS; OF ROAD - BOIL THIS AND TURPENTINE AND ASAFITIDY; 3 INGREDIENTS - STRAIN THROUGH PIECE OF RED FLANNEL; LIQUID KEEP IN DARK PLACE - TWIG WRAP IN RED FLANNEL; WEAR LATTER ABOUT NECK FOR LUCK - LIQUID FOR SPELLS; THIS LIQUID WILL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT - GOOD OR BAD; FALLIN OUTA BED, AGONY IN DE FEET, ATHALETIC FEET; SPRINKLE THIS WATER AT DOORSTEP TO MOVE PERSON; SPRINKLE TO MAKE A SICK PERSON SICKER - SPRINKLE; TO GIVE BAD HEALTH OR TO HAVE GOOD HEALTH - IN FACT — Volume 5, entries 11686. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- INCENSE - BURN MONDAY - WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY; FLUSH STEPS AND SIDEWALK WITH SALT WATER; THIS BRINGS IN TRADE AND PROTECTS THE PLACE — Volume 5, entries 12217. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- ONION CHOP FINE - SOAK IN HARD WATER - MOP HOUSE; USING SALT INSTEAD OF SUGAR - BAD LUCK TO HOUSE; THIS DONE BY SERVANT TO GET EVEN WITH MISTRESS — Volume 5, entries 12524. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- QUICKSILVER IN BOTTLE OF WATER; LUCKY IN HOUSE — Volume 5, entries 12704. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SCRUBS: AT BUSINESS CLOSING TIME - MOP FLOOR WITH; HEARTS COLOGNE IN WATER - DON'T SWEEP DIRT OUT FRONT; DOOR AFTER 6 P. M. - ALL THIS MAKES BUSINESS PROSPER — Volume 5, entries 12887. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- KILL SNAKE - HIDE POWDER IN WATER - SNAKE IN DRINKER — Volume 5, entries 13083. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- IF WOMAN RUNS AROUND - MAN TAKE HER DIRTY STOCKINGS; WASHES TOES AND HEELS ONLY - STOPS UP WATER IN BOTTLE; BURIES UNDER DOOR - SHE WILL STAY HOME ALL THE TIME — Volume 5, entries 13137. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- YOU ARE A BIG BOOTLEGGER - WANT TO KEEP THE LAW AWAY; FIRST THING IN MORNING - BURN SULPHUR AND OLD SHOES; THAT NIGHT AT 11 O'CLOCK GET OUT OF BED - PUT BURNT; SULPHUR AND SHOE ASHES IN A TUB OF WATER - TAKE A; BATH - SIT THERE [AT TUB?] UNTIL 12 OR 1 - BURN MORE; SULPHUR AND SHOES - PUT IN BATHWATER - RETURN TO BED; BUT JUST AT SUNRISE "DASH" WATER TOWARDS RISING SUN; RITE WARMS LAW'S FEET TO GO - CUSTOMERS' FEET TO COME — Volume 5, entries 13256. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- SWEEPING RITE: TO INFORMANT BY ROOT DOCTOR - BUCKET; OF WATER AND BROOM - AS UNWANTED GUEST GOES OUT DOOR; SWEEP FROM WHERE VISITOR WAS SITTING TO AND OUT DOOR; SWEEP WHILE MAKING 9 DIPS OF BROOM INTO WATER AND; THEN WISHING: I HOPE YO'LL GO AN NEVAH COME NO MORE — Volume 5, entries 13289. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- URINE - OF MAN AND WOMAN IN BROWN BOTTLE - UNDER; STEPS - DRIVES MAN ACROSS WATER - WILL NEVER RETURN — Volume 5, entries 13353. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WAR WATER DILUTED IN 1/2 BUCKET OF WATER AT STEPS MOVES — Volume 5, entries 13419. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
- WATER [RUNNING] - IF YOU HAVE FAINTING SPELLS - HAVE; BEEN TRICKED - GO TO SUSPECTED PERSON - IF HE OR SHE; UNABLE TO LOOK YOU IN THE EYE - THAT IS CULPRIT - GO; TO SWIFT WATER - BOIL IT WITH CAYENNE PEPPER AND; GINGER - THAT'S POWER - STRONG - TAKE TO CULPRIT'S; DOOR - WITH SALT - POUR LIQUID AT HIS STEPS - TURNS; TRICK BACK ON CULPRIT AND HE GETS WHAT HE GAVE YOU — Volume 5, entries 13430. Source context: "CHANNEL DE WORLD".
Entry 636
Mah ole cousin - she's dead now - she used to could look in a glass of Water and she could concentrate with the spirits in this glass of water and she have tole some things out of that. She'd knock on de table and she would hold her head down and she would look in that glass of water and she could jest tell you most anything. Ah know, ah have heard - she have told me that. Ah went to her whenevah ah'd git worryin' or vexed - you know, any way aroun' home. Ah would go to her an' ah'd say, "Cousin Net, tell me some- thing - ah'm jest worried to death, ah don't know what will be mah outcome." But co'se, in mah faith [Roman Catholic] we're not supposed to believe in witchcraft or anything like dat. An' ah - ah didn't pay her anything - she jest consolatin' me and that's the way ah looked at it. An' so she say, "Everything's all right," she say, "but de people in yo' house yo' got'a watch out - dey gon'a try tuh skip yo'rent."
Entry 637
One time when I was cunjured I was about sixteen years old. And another girl invited me to go to a party, and to the party they served ice cream, and on the way back home I taken sick. And mah mother got ev'ry doctor she could in de town to try to do me some good and he wouldn't [couldn't]. And so she told me - mah mother said dat dey told her - she said ev'rybody kept tellin' her - to get a cunjure doctor for me. And so she did. And when she got the cunjure doctor he told her if she had a waited twenty-four hours longer to gotten him that he couldn't of saved me. And so he got some pokeberry root and boiled dem and made a poultice and put it to mah stomach, and taken water off of nine dimes that had been boiled fer nine hours, and I drank that first. Then after I drank that, he gave me some salts and sodee [soda] - takin' salts [Epsom salts] and sodee warm, and I drank that and that started me to get sick. And after I got sick on mah stomach he got two fars, half-a-gallon jars, one with muddy-lookin' water in it and the other was clear. And when I would vomit, he said the poison that I had taken would go in the muddy jar or the clear jar. He had to have both. And so when I vomit, it was a little snake about that long and it went in the muddy jar of water.
(Could you see it?)
I could see it after they show it to me. Of course I was so sick then still I couldn't see it. And after I taken that to stop mah pains, I had to have some silk-root boiled in a quart of water down to a pint, and some spirits of turpen- tine in it, to keep the misery out of mah stomach and take the soreness out - and still wear the poultices until I was better. [And I wore a] silver dime and salt in my shoes for about two years after dat - I wore a silver dime round my ankle, round both of 'em, and salt in both shoes. And he said that I could wear it on, if I wanted to; but I would be out de danger of those people hurting me again. He didn't say ev'rybody, just those people. [Wilmington, N. Car., (268), 273:7; Rose Hill, Duplin Co., N. Car.,1929.]
Entry 638
Graveyard dirt kin be used in many different things. It kin be used in love cases. Well, graveyard dust, if yo' wanta use fo' protection in love cases, yo' use it wit de wonderful water.
(What is the wonderful water?)
It's got from a spring runnin' dead no'th, a spring runnin' no'th - lak dis Way, de stream dis-a-way an' de spring heah runnin' no'th. (You get this wonder water and you get this graveyard dirt. How do you prepare this thing now?) Well now, we'll come on down an' prepare it fo' yo'. Yo' git the stream runnin' no'th - de spring is ovah on whut ah would call de south side of a stream runnin' dead no'th. Be sure dat chew find a spring wit de stream runnin' no'th. Well, we takes our graveyard dust an' we gits it in a clear bottle den wit a stopper to it dat we kin stop up, an' we goes an' puts some of de dirt in de bottle an' we gits our spring wit de watah runnin' no'th - we gits dat an' put it in dere. Den when we's goin' pull a deal of any kind, we sits our bottle with this heah graveyard dust in it. Well, quite natch'l, de dust will settle to de bottom of anything. Whatevah we gits our mind on, what de object we got befo' us - whatevah it may be, whether we make good or whether we lose out. Well, we handle dis bottle - we sets it on de table so de top of it will come clear. Yo' know spring watah is clear as a crystal, an' since [if] it clear as a crystal, why we knows everything whatevah we goin' do, we know we'll put it through. We put it ovah whatsomevah it may be. Well, den, if it's not dat way clear, it not fo' our luck tuh change right at dat time, dis heah graveyard dust will come up dere an' cloudy dat water jes' lak a cloudy day - change - de skies will change. It will change within de period of fifteen minutes. It will come on up an' cloudy dat water so yo' can't be sure atall. Den we jes' keep it dere, an' whenevah we goin' tuh do anything - in love cases or whatevah we may do, we goes an' git our bottle an' set it on de table in a quiet place. It's a great magic watah - it's a magic gift. Den we use dat tuh conquer spirits, yo' see, for sech things as whut dey call hants. We use dis heah spring watah wit de graveyard dust in it.
(How would you conquer a hant in that case?)
Well, if we conquer a hant in dat case, we put a little add into dat watah - we add somepin to dat watah, we'd add sulphur. We'd add burnt sulphur, we'd burn it - we'd burn it on de watah, somepin tuh form a little clond on de watah. Den we go up on dere an' git de cloud off an' put de cloud in dere on top of dat. Dat give us mo' force to conquer de spirit - we'd keep spirits away from anything we'd go tuh do. How to make a man come back. Yo'd have tuh use dis same watah in a case lak dat - it's a mind drawin' thing: First, yo' gotta git chure mind on whatevah object yo goin' tuh undertake tuh do. An' aftah we git our mind pin on dis heah, then we sits de watah befo' us an' we looks at de watah. We naturally sits dere an' looks - sometimes it takes us hours, until we kin git contact with the party whosomevah dey may be. They mind an' mah mind contact wit each othah, an' den he'll come tuh me, at de same time whether dey wants me or not. Den if ah want tuh draw 'em back, ah'll turn de watah, ah'll git de square bottle - see, ah'll turn de square side to me, an' ah'll give dem three days tuh roll in. Dey come back an' dey send fo' me. De same watah draw 'em back - draws through de mind, yore mind an' dis othah party's mind would come in contact together an' why, quite natch'ly, yo'll see 'em in three days aftah that. That is, if yo' stay on it dat long.
Entry 893
[The following story from my original pencil transcription is about as exact as I could reproduce the recorded text. It shows some of the difficulties of transcribing; a matter I have discussed in the Introduction:] Mah a'nt [aunt] vus [was] name Ella. She vure [were] pyzon [poisoned] on branch watah [water] dey [there] vure she drinked de vatahs from. A lady didn't lak [like] 'er. De lady's name vure Rebecca. She ain't lak 'er. Mah a'ntie had took 'er husban' away from 'er an' she vure mad vid mah a'nt an' she tole 'er, she say, "Ella, ah'm goin' git choo fer dis if it be las' t'ing ah do." An' she done it. She ain't had no idee she goin' put nuttin [= nothing in] de watah way [where] she drinked. An' she vent down tah de branch an' put somepin [something in] de watah. (What she put in the water.) [I unknowingly dropped my did showing I was concentrating in an effort to understand him.] Well, when de [root] doctah test[!!!] de watah [he said] dey [Rebecca an' her doctor] put some 'erb medicine in de watah. Aftah she [go] down dey an' got a dose of it - she drink-dit - she vent tah fallin' off, got poah, got bony, ain't know whut [what] tah do fer huhself. Nobody cain't do 'er no good - [medical] doctah cain't do 'er no good. An' un [one] day a colored fellah come 'long an' tole 'er - a root doctah. He tole 'er, He sayed, 'Lady"' - he ain't know 'er name - he sayed, "Lady, yah hurt." He say, "Ah kin curah [cure] yuh fer jis' a little 'mount of money." An' she sayes [says, not sez], "All rightee, vhut's de mattah wid me?" He say, "Ah kin tell yah." He say, "Yah pizoned." He say', "Yah got yoah dose from watah." She say, "Vhure de watah from?" He say, "Ah don't [know] way de watah from, but yah got pizoned in some watah," he say, "an' yah pay a little 'mount of money, a dollah down, ah'll put chah on yah feet." She say, "Well, come on in de hahse [house] an' le' me talk tuh yuh." He tuck 'er on in de hahse an' he doctah on 'er. [He says] "vell, yeh go down long 'bout a mile from heah an' yah git yuh some alder root." An' she say, "Ah don't know whut alder root is." An' he say, "If yah come on an' go wid me an ah'll show yeh," he say, "if ah go, it goin' cost double money, an'[that is] why ah tole yuh." She say, "Well, ah [don't] caah [care] how much money it cost 'cept so I git on mah feet agin." An' aftah [that] dey vent on down in dere tuh de fahk [fork] of de road, run way down in de voods, an' got alder root an' tuck dat an' made tea of dat. An' she drinked it. Aftah he made dat tea, verms an' bugs come from uh to [through] uh bowels. An' roun' 'bout mont [month] aftah dat she got a relief from it, an' [he] tole uh keep on drinkin' dat root tea. An' aftah while she got huh feet so she could lay aroun' de hahse an' dat same 'uman [woman] come to huh doah an'tole uh, she say, "Ella," says, "yah gittin on yoah feet, ain't choo?" 'Yesuh," she say. "Well, if yuh say I hurt yuh, but I ain't hurt choo; but I vill hurt chah if yuh do me back talk about anyt'ing. An' she run an' pushed de doah, close it in huh face an' say, "Stay away from mah doah cuz yah done cause me lak to die on 'count of pizon me.' She say, "I ain't pizon yeh." She say, "Yeh did pizon me,"' an' she cos [close] de doah right in huh face. An' den she knock off de doah an' say, "Dat'll be all right." An' de same doctah come dere dat same day an' tole huh, he say, "Dat's de 'uman dat pizon yah.' An' aftah dat she lef', he turnt it back on de 'uman, an' de 'uman died in roun' 'bout two year aftah dat. ["A Negro down on the Sound - this happened down on the Sound - his voice is clear but difficult to transcribe" - comment written on my original pencil tran- scription; which is attached to final MS; both comment and transcription made soon after interview. The Sound was Pamlico: "3ll Willie Jones - New Bern, N. C.
[[region]] - fair" - Numbers Book 136-317.]
Entry 982
Now listen, mah pastor, he wo'a little black cap on his haid, see. All right. He often walks along de streets 'sleep. He couldn't git his health back no way, see. All right. De doctah had ordered him tuh diff'rent parts of de country tryin' tuh raise his health back agin. He couldn't git his health. See, he lived on de othah [New Orleans] side but de doctah ordered him on dis [Algiers] side - see, fo' his health. De doctah didn't do him no good.
(On the other side of the [Mississippi] river, you mean?)
On de othah side de rivah. See, but dey [doctors] all came tuh Algiers. All right. So one day he wus passin' on Crownlet[?] Street, dat's ovah de rivah, an' it was noon when de people standin' in front of a do'. It wus a man dere, see - a colored fellah tellin' fortunes or tell yo' 'bout whut's de reason. So he said tuh de othah preacher dat wus wit him, say, "Let's go down dere an' take a look." So when he walked in, by him bein' so tall, he wus standin' lookin' in de do', de man looked at him an' beckoned tuh him tuh come heah, see. He said tuh de preacher, "Dat fellah tellin' me tuh come 'head." He say, "Well, go see whut he wants." See. All right. So when he walks in, de man says, "Let him pass." So when he went in, de man shook han's wit him an' tole him who he wus. He say, "Yo' been sick a long time." He say, "Yes." He said, "Yo' cain't git chure health." He say, "Yo' been travelin' diff'rent places dat de doctahs been sending yo' an' yo' cain't git health." So he say, "Yo' see dat little black cap yo' got on yore haid?" Yo' see, he had his hat lak dis on his haid. See, he say, "Yo' wears a little black skull cap on yore haid." He say, "That skull cap is got so many diff'rent grains of stuff in it, an' fo' gold-haid needles crossways in dere."
(What kind of stuff did it have in it?)
Diff'rent kinds of stuff, see. So he said it had some lodestone, red peppah - dat upstirrin', see. So he said, "Yo' go home." Yo' know he had a church on dat side an' he lived on dis side, but back in de back. He said, "Yo' go home an' look undah dat front steps goin' tuh yore dwellin' an' yo'll find yore underwear, de drawers part, a left-foot sock, undah there, in a shoe box." So he say, "Yo' go back into yore alley, by de step goin' up in yore house, if yo' look undah dere, it got a shoe box got yore left-foot shoe, an' got a left-foot sock." Say, "Go inside an' yore wife got two moss mattress [two mattresses stuffed with Spanish or long moss] on de bed - two moss mattress on de bed." So, he said, "Yo' turn dat mattress back, de first one back," an' he say, "it's a little box an' yore picture whut chew had taken tuh put in de church, dat picture got away from yo' an' yo' didn't know whut become of it?" He say, "No." So he say, "Yo' has yore little black skull cap whut chew dress jis' lak de preacher will dress wit chure Bible in yore hand." He say, "She had dat picture taken in a small picture de same way. She's got dat picture put in a little box in de shape of a casket." He say, "Yo' lays on dat little casket [coffin] all de time an' yo' cain't git chure health. When yo' lays down yo' almost passes out." See. "She fix everything to make yo' convince." He say, "Yo' don't drink coffee, yo' don't drink chocolate - yo' drinks tea." Den he say, "Every time yo' tells her yo' wants a cup of tea, she takes a teaspoon of black-looking medicine an' puts it in yore teapot, makes yore tea an' gives yo' dat tea. Dat's tuh ruin yore inside tuh hurry yo 'way from heah.' An' he say, "Yo' has a dresser set between de middle do' an' de backroom do'." So he say, "Set dere an' yo' call her an' yo' tell her tuh fix yo' a cup of tea fo' yo' an' de othah brother. So she say, 'All right.'" He say, "Now yo' watch her when she goes tuh fix dat tea yo' goin' see de act." So mah pastor say when he call her, says, "Sally, come heah." So she say, "Whut chew want?" He say, "Go fix a cup of tea for me an' Reverend Brown." So she say, "All right." So she went on through an' he say he took his chair an' he sat dis way. Sho 'nuff he could look through dat mirror-glass right to de kitchen. So she goes an' takes a little bit of teapot an' she puts de tea in it an' she reaches ovah behin' de pots an' things she got an' she got a little bottle an' measured a teaspoonfulla dat. An' he call Reverend Brown tuh look at it. See, dey both wus lookin'. Say she stirrin' it up, an' say she steeped de tea. All right. So she took anothah teapot an' put a little bit of tea in it an' po'ed watah on it an' steeped it up. So she took de waiter [demonstrates] an' put it dere [on the table] but a cup dere an' a cup heah [on the waiter]. She put a small cup dere - she put de small fo' Reverend Brown an' his [her husband's cupl wus a large cup cus' he drank plenty tea. She put it dere an' she put de sugah an' milk dere. See, when she started in wit it, dey both turned deyself lak dey wus [before they looked into the mirror]. When she come in she walks tuh Reverend Brown first an' had de waiter. She say, "Heah, Reverend Brown, yo' take de small cup cus' yo' don't drink much tea, ah know." He say, "No." See, she didn't put none de stuff in his cup. So Reverend Brown took de tea an' so she say, "Heah, Henry, heah yo' tea." So her husband took de tea an' sot to be side wit it, wit de sugah an' ever'- thing. An' she wus standin' dere talkin' - dey wus busy talkin' ovah things. So she.say, "Whyn't yo'all drink yo' tea, it's gon'a git cold." Dey say de wants it git cold, it so hot right now. So she left an' she went tuh de back. So he turned an' he brought all de stuff up to de church. He had de shoe box tuh show de members whut she wus doin' tuh him. So she had her bed made up pretty nice an' everythin', so he searched through de bed an' he looked at de bed. He caught de mattress, bedclothes an' all an' whirl it ovah de foot of bed, an' sho' 'nuff, dere wus de little casket - de black casket trimmed. Somebody musta made dat fo' her - trimmed a black casket, a little small one jis' about that long. An' sho' 'nuff dere it wus layin' right in de center of de bed - see, between de mattress.
(What was in that casket?)
His picture. So he took it out an' he open it an' she had had his picture drawed in a small size picture jis' enough tuh fit in dere, de full length of 'im. Dat's why ah nevah git a picture took full length - see [they can't lay you out in a coffin]. See, she had him wit his Bible an' his black cap jis' lak he wus wit fo' gold- haid needles crossed. So he say, "Well, look Reverend Brown, look dere." So she wus busy talkin', so he shut de do' an' latched de do'. He wanted tuh git all de stuff. So he went out dere an' he looked up undah de steps an' he didn't see nuthin, an' Reverend Brown say, "Do lak de man tole yuh." So he got a shovel an dug down up undah dat little shelf an' say, sho' nuff he dug up de pastebo'd box but it hadn't got rotten yet. It wus still dere an' so he shook it up an' he Say, "Well, dis is mah shoe ah been lookin' fo' an' ah couldn't find it" - de left-foot shoe an' de sock wit gold-haid needles. See. So he put dat in de room an' he went undah de front an' his underwear, a pair of sho't underwear an' a left-foot sock wus undah de front steps. He got it all. So Reverend Brown, he say, "Well, man, is dat de kinda wife yo' got - dat's how she got chew tricked up. So he say, "Dat's why ah cain't git mah health back." So he say, "Whut's chew goin' do?" He say, "Now, ah'm goin' call her." Dey had a back entrance. Yo' could see out de back way of her place cus' ah went dere. (Wait a minute now. At the front door they had his underwear and the left- foot sock; at the back door she had a left-foot shoe and left-foot sock.) An' see, he open de do' an' he call her. See, he had all de things on de table - dey hadn't teched de tea, see. He say, "sally." She say, "What?" He say, '"Come heah." So when she walked in she looked at de bed, he say she change color. She wus a bright umber [amber] - say she got blue-lookin'. So she say, "Oh, but chew upset de bed!" He say, "Yeah, we upset de bed. Whut should yo' doin' wit mah picture in a casket ah'm layin' on it. No reason ah almos' passes out at night. Dat stuif yo' got ovah behin' dat pot shelf whut chew put a teaspoonful of it in mah cup an' didn't put none in Reverend Brown." Say she didn't give him chance - she whirl, she left. She didn't give him chance tuh tell her nuthin else. She whirl an' she flew tuh de back. Nobody didn't know where she wus. Dat Friday night he came tuh church an' we had church dere. He come wit de shoe box an' he say, "Well, members," he says, "it may be mah last time ah'm tellin' yo' all dis, but ah wants every member, every friend tuh come up in de rostrum." He say, "Dem who's unseen, let othahs see whut mah wife had me layin' on. How she had me fixed de reason ah couldn't git mah health back, an' ah wus dyin' off." So he say, "Dis underwear an' left-foot sock, yo' all know how mah house situated, ah got dis undah de front steps. Dis left-foot sock an' left shoe, got dat undah mah back steps, comin' in mah do'. Dis little casket wit mah picture [I found] in de mattress - ah wus layin' on dat sleepin'. A cup of tea," he say, "de tea whut chew see in dis bottle." He had po'ed de tea in a bottle. She put a teaspoonful of some kinda black stuff in it, but de tea whut he brought up dere dat night looked blue-lookin'. It didn't look lak tea, it looked blue- lookin' - see, from de stuff she put in it. He say, "Dis whut ah been drinkin'." Dat man tole me, "Ever' time yo' drinks tea, yo' drinks yore death." An' he say, "Ever' time yo' eats, yo' eats yore death." See. Well, yo' know whut it was. He had a lot of property an' brown stuff. He had one boy. See, she wus aimin' to git him out de way, so she could have ever'thing fo' herself. He say, "Now, members an' friends," he say, "ah'm goin' an' ketch de ferryboat in de mawnin', fo' 'clock an' ah'm goin' let dis whole box go down in de middle of de rivah." "An'," he say, "mah property an' stuff, befo' ah leave de world, ah'm goin' fix ever'thing fo' mah boy. She don't git a pinch from me." When he died that boy had everything in his possession. Dat wus mah pastor.
(Where was his church?)
On D'Iberville[?] downtown an' Rochambeau - de French part of town. Den he had one church up on Crown. It settin' dere right now - a concrete church on dat side an' it's got a Catholic church behin'. Dat's de church he built. All right.
Entry 983
[To throw objects into running water as in the preceding story is among the great magic rites, but this throwing must be done in various specified ways:] Now, aftah it's been discovered - whut happen tuh put chew in de luck yore in, tuh make sick - take dis thing whatevah it might be an' go to the runnin' watah, an' turn yore back to it an' throw it ovah an' nevah look back an' come on away. Dat supposed tuh be gittin' rid of dis fo'evah.
Entry 984
It's a very broad expression, yo' can't - dere blood unless yo' put a person, unless a woman, yo' know - yes, her ministration.{She was uncertain about using the word.] Well, once in a while - this is mah experience with mah- self. I'm not givin' you an' idea whut ah hears. I had a cotton mattress yo' know - yo' didn't pack dem, an' my ministration was taken up from my - ah worked at a hotel, see, an' it was taken up an' that piece was cut clean out an' honest, it was fold jes' lak this - 'bout five times an' outa de five times, they have five needles in it, an' beside the five needles they have something it looked kinda like a black snake, it had a little teeny head like this - like that. I found that in mah mattress. An' then they had another one to go 'cross that an' dis little head was in dere. [Two snakes were crossed.] Then they had that wrapped up - it was sprinkled with something - it had been there so long. Then they had it wrapped in one cloth, yo' know, white duck. Then the next was red flannen. An' those things ah didn't see myself at all until ah found it an' ah'd taken it to a doctor. He says, "Oh, they had jure ministration." Ah didn't take it to a medical doctor - ah took it to a root doctor - ah had never believed in them [medical doctors]. An' they had lotsa my hair in there with it - ah had long beautiful hair - an' how they got it I does not know, but I guess from combing mah hair an' leaving or de dresser.
(What did this doctor do for you?)
Whut did this doctor do? He'd taken it with him. Ah say, "Now, what is yo' goin' do with it?" He says, "Ah tell yo' whut ah'm goin' do. Ah'm goin' take it to a runnin' stream an' ah'm goin' put it in there an', '' he said, ''the same person that did joo like this, they'll come an' ast chew the next morning, How yo' feelin, Miss Davis?" Anhe say, "Now, don't look ugly an'don't look nasty, jes'say, "Jes' dandy an' how yo' feelin'? Ah did so. An' he say, "In nine mornings when it come yore time, yo'll jes' come jès' lak yo' always." So it has - ever since ah never had no mo' trouble.
(He cured you?)
He did - but he done something else, but he did it to himself [he did not tell her what he did].
Entry 985
Well, this party had a shawl and she loaned it to another friend of hers and when that friend brought it back - she Worn it over her head and whutever was in that shawl caused her to lose all of her hair. She became bald and blind. And she went to a so- called hoodoo doctor and that doctor gave her something to take, and then she went to running water nine mornings and washed her eyes, and threw that bag over the left shoulder and in the running water, and she began to have sight. She was to wear that for nine mornings but she must Wash her eyes in this running water with this bag around her neck.
Entry 987
Lak a baby got de stretches.
(What's that?)
Lll' baby jes' stretch - like yo' do early in de mawnin' 'fore yo' git up, yo' stretch lak dat. Well, yo' take dis baby to runnin' watah an' take a thimble. All right, when yo' go tuh sew yo' sew with a thimble. Yo' give 'em some watah wit this thimble out dis runnin' watah, out of a creek. De first watah he go 'cross, yo' goin' stop an' give him some watah out dat creek or branch watah - whut it is, runnin' watah. An' dat will cure de stretches.
Entry 988
Then I hear of a man having a cap. Where he worked at a man didn't like him on account of his job and every time he put this cap on his haid - see, he kept this cap where he worked, he wore his other hat home. And the minute he come and put this cap on his haid, he'd fall out with head trouble. So he went to an old man and this old man told him to take this cap and in crossing dis Water throw his cap over his left shoulder and don't look back - cross the water, cross the bridge. So he did that and that head trouble went away.
(That cured him?)
That really went away - 'cause that was my husband did that.
(Well, did he use the cap again or just - )
He used it - he tried it once more - he put it on his head that morning and the pain came back.
Entry 989
Go to do' an' throw some water, dey say, in de east or either in de south - jes' which way yo' think yo' are hurt, see yo' throw dat watah dat way. In de mawnin' early, jes' de way dat chew think dat yo' was hurt or de stuff was put out fo' yo', yo' throw dat way.
(What kind of water - plain water?)
Plain water in a glass - clean water.
(What will that do?)
Say dat is drivin' it away from yo'.
Entry 990
Yo' kin cut chure hair out an' burv it in de leak of de house, an' it would make it grow - make yore hair grow.
Entry 1431
That how they use the toadfrog. (How do they use that?) The toad - you know what the toadfrog best to do? You can take a toadfrog and burn him - take him alive and put him in something and burn him till he turns to real coal, and powder that up and feed that to a person. I'll bet you, if they won't have more little diff'rent things in their stomachs than you ever heard of and I'll betcha a doctor can't cure em.
(Is there any way of getting that out at all?)
Yes, you can even get that out of a person.
(How?)
It's a simple thing to get out of 'em. There's but one thing you can get it out of them with, that's pure sugar and rain water; but you must not get no water out of anything 'cepting glass, no kind of metal.
(How would you fix this rain water and pure sugar?)
Just ketch pure rain water like when it's rainin' - just put something out there to catch it - any container - and just fill that full of rain water and just keep that rain water, and instead of getting that person water that come from the hydrant, feed 'em that pure rain water. That's all they gotta have.
(That will bring these live things out of them?)
Bring them live things out of 'em. That's all - just pure, pure rain water - nothing else used but that rain water.
Entry 1648
Ah have been livin' close roun' people where they would throw down diff'rent things. Ah know of a lady was staying second door from me, she used to throw water fo' nine mornings. (Water? What kind of water?) Go to de hydrant and git clear water an' throw it fo' nine mornings towards de sunrise, yo' understand.
(Well, what would they throw that water to the sunrise for?)
Ah don't know why they throw it to de sunrise, but dey say at de end of the nine mornings dey would be rid of dey enemies.
Entry 1649
Yo' could take de same thing ah tole yo' about de success an' den yo' could take three buckets of watah an' pitch out yore do' an' yo' scrub it - yo' know, right in front yore do', lak yore steps in front. Take that an' that'll keep 'em from doin' yo' any harm.
(Just three buckets of water, that is all you use?)
Jis' three buckets of watah, clear watah. Jis' keep throwin' dat out dere ever' mawnin' roun' six a'clock - see, aftah yo' say yore prayers. Yo' git three buckets, if yo' got a hydrant in yore home - yo' know whut ah mean, inside yore house, jis' pitch out de three buckets of watah an' make yore wish. See, any evil works - cus lotsa people work de evil yo' understan'.
(That will keep down the evil?)
De three buckets of watah - dat's supposed tuh be the Father, Son an' de Holy Ghost.
(Say that when you put it down?)
Yes.
Entry 1650
Why she was down sick an' dey couldn't fin' no remedy 'tall fo' 'er so Uncle Winston, dey sont fo' 'im an' he found a crossed piece up under de left side of her bed. It had some of 'er hay [hair] in it and some of 'er raimints - near raimint dat go close to de body, an' he put it in de runnin' stream and dat family runned off and dey nevah been seen no mo'. [Word raiment lingers on from King James Version of Bible.]
Entry 1651
One dat I have seen in mah lifetime to be - ah've seen dis. My mother she was visiting a neighbor across a milldam and, well, ah don't know whut [quarrel] rise against [between] them. But anyway, ah was a little baby fellah - ah could remember dat - ah was about nine years old. An' she goes over that evening to visit and on her way back, why all at once she got weakened down on de milldam so much so dat she couldn't cross - had to go right down to her knee an' crawl. An' dere was an' ole man met her. She was on de way home an' dis ole man lived across de milldam, why he was on de way tuh his home an' he met her on de milldam. An' he ast her whut was de matter, he says, "Whut is de matter wit chew so much so dat yo' gotta crawl." She say, "Ah don't know. Ah got weakened down when ah got on de milldam - ah got weakened down so much so ah can't stand up." He say, "Aw, stan' up anyhow." She say, "Ah can't stand up." He caught her an' he kinda lift her up an' he looked at her. He'd taken de bonnet off her haid an' throw it in de milldam, throw it ovah in de water an' de bonnet went swimming off down de milldam like unto a bird - quick jes' like a bird right on down de milldam. An' he said, "Now git up an' go on home." An' jes' whut - dey say dat if you take the hat of a person an' throw it into de running water, why dat person will travel all along during de time.
(Well, why did he throw this hat of your mother's into the milldam?)
Say dat the trick that worked on her, worked on her through her bonnet - well, de water would take it an' carry it away an' event'ly [eventually] all de evil.
(That was in her hat - caused that trouble.)
Caused that trouble. (He told her that the trouble was from her hat, didn't he?) [He says this but I am trying for a better statement and any additional detail.] In de hat. An' he'd taken the hat off an' throwed it into de water. WelI, de water had taken it an' carried it on off, an' immediately she got up an' went on about her business.
Entry 1652
They claim that they can make you step over most anything to hurt you. They claim if you're an enemy to him, he will put down something under the door for you; and if you step over that, then they got you like they want you. In four or five days you feel an ailment coming to you. Then you go to a hoodoo doctor and he'll explain to you what happened to you. He'll say there's some- thing planted at your doorstep. You go back home and get it up and bring it back to him, and he'll do something to it [dress it] and give it back to you to carry to running water, south running water, and that will go back to the person after you to hurt you.
Entry 1653
(You think this was an actual fact?)
I believe it's a actual fact because the young boy lives right in this town now, but he's not here in this house. Well, the reason why I believe that to be a fact. They say that a person does things to you like that and you crosses running water, why it does away with the Spell as long as you stay over - across that water. Well, there's a young fellow lives right here [in Elizabeth City] and he's been to the asylum, I guess, four times. Every time he crosses Albermarle Sound going to Goldsboro, when he gets there he's more sense than the man that carries him. [To cross Albermarle Sound on the way from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to Goldsboro, could sound strange today, but back in the early 1930's a mental patient would take the train from Elizabeth City to Edenton, ferry some miles across Albermarle Sound to Skinnersville, and continue by train to Goldsboro. As I have noted elsewhere even my train trip from Waycross to Brunswick, Georgia, was a slow and tedious affair.] And he's there now. He's there now and getting along well and waiting on the tables - no more the matter with him in the world than when he first started. He married a girl here and this girl's mother seemed to be one of those fixers, you know, and she put those spells on this boy - that's what they said, and she died, and they say if a person dies that put those spells on you, you can't never be cured. You can be cured as long as they live, but if they died without you being cured, why it's an impossibility [see p.396]. That's what they tell me.
Entry 1654
See, when a person's luck is crossed an' yo' wants tuh uncross yore luck, yo' go cross watah but den yo' don't come back de way yo' go across. When you git middleways of dat watah, yo' git chew three pieces of any kind of money any three, anything yo' got three pieces of money, an' yo' throws it ovah yore left shoulder an' make yore wish. But when yo' come back - if yo' go 'cross, see, on dis side, right 'long heah, well yo' come back. Well, yo' don't come back on dis side, yo' go 'cross de right side goin' 'cross an' den come back across de right side - leave yore left side be back when yo' comin' back. Don't come straight 'cross back dat same spot where yo' went across, cause yo' bringin' luck back with yo'. But if yo' go across dere an' den come across anothah place, yo' breaks yore [crossed] luck - crossin' any kinda runnin' watah. (You cross - now, for example, if we cross on the ferry coming over here - we come across on the ferry, throw the money into the water. Then, how do we go back? Right back on the ferry again?) No. If dey got anothah ferry, if yo' got any kinda way, don't go back on dis same ferry. Go back on anothah faster even, but if dere's anothah ferry some- where an' yo' kin git to it, go on anothah ferry at closer distance and go cross dat watah.
(And you go to your right or to your left?)
To your right. (You turn and go to your right. If I cross on the ferry over here, I would go to my right going back?) Yassuh.
Entry 1655
Well, jes' lak if dey put anything down fo' yo' an' yo' finds it. Lak if dey buries anything down for you - yo' know, dat cunjuration dey calls it, make it little plainer to yo'. Well, yo' take that chew see when yo've found that - don't put chure han' on it. Jes' take a little iron or somepin other an' take it out an' put it in a paper sack an' carry it to a runnin' stream of water an' throw it ovah yore left shoulder. Turn around three time on yore heel an say, "In de Name of de Lord, drive mah enemies away from me." An' dey can't do yo' any harm.
Entry 1656
A man who dug up a bottle at his house threw it into running water, threw a handful of salt behind it and said, "Go, you devil, go."
Entry 1657
A boy in de country said dat somebody gave 'im some whiskey. He had a snake into 'um. He said ev'ry now an' then it would turn in 'im. An' he said he went to somebody an' dey tole 'im to take a egg an' fifty-cents an' walk 'cross some runnin' wadah. He said he did dat an' he said it was all ovah. He jis took de egg an' when he got ready to go 'cross de wadah, he broke it an' suck it; he took de fifty-cent an' held it in [left] hand an' went on 'cross, went 'cross an' then came back. [The word "left" within brackets is in my original pencil transcription attached to MS; also a later note, "Check [[recheck]] for left." This means I asked, "Which hand," and informant replied, "Left," showing that I eliminated question and answer to save space. My failure to recheck indicates my later conviction that "yes or no" or "two-choice" questions are meaningless.]
Entry 1658
I've heard that if you - if somebody is trying to harm you - well, like you know me, you come to me if I know anything and you ask me about it. Well, I'll tell you what to do. Now, you go to the river, turn around, turn your back to it.
(Turn your back to the river.)
First, to the running water, then you turn your face.
(Oh, then you turn your face to the river.)
Like this [demonstrates].
(Put your hands over your eyes.)
Over your eyes and ask de Lord, "Lord, please help me."
("Lord, please help me.")
It's all gone - it's all gone.
Entry 2721
Dey use what dey call down heah - dey use still watah. Yo' use still watah an' jes' go out dere at chure do' - 'sposed tuh be in de mawnin'time befo' yo' open yore sto' to offah yore business - go to yore do' an' yo' drop nine drops; 'sposed, at chure do' befo' de do' is opened in de mawnin', befo' yo' open yore place of business, nine drops at yore do'. Keep it airtight, de watah. Keep airtight an' take a eye-dropper an' drop yo' nine drops of still watah - de watah whut chew use tuh bath wit, or watah dat yo' ketch from de sky; yo' know, rain watah, ketch it in some glass or 'nothah befo'. [For luck in business that day.]
Entry 2722
For bootlegging or something like that, well you use cinnamon, rain water, or any water from any river.
(What do you do now?)
Get clear rain water and van-van - a oil you get from the drug store, they calls Van-van. You put three drops in there.
(In this rain water?)
Yes sir. And then scrub the place before the sun rise. You scrub it all round before the sun, but always scrub it coming in, not going out - see. And the law won't even trouble you, from my understandin'.
Entry 2723
Well, you have to take and - just like you scrub, you have to keep scrubbed up all the time. Then you take and write his name. You got to get the officer's on the beat, see, and write his name nine times. Put it into a bucket of water. You gotta throw - you throw eight buckets of water and scrub with that cinnamon and stuff, and then after that last bucket of water you have with his name, and talking to five people, and throw it in front of the door and that washes him away. (I see. Well, now, what do you put in those nine buckets of water? What solution do you put in that water, now?) The same things - cinnamon, steel dust, van-van, fast luck and white rum.
(White what?)
White rum.
(Is it liquor? The liquor rum?)
Well, it's rum. You can get that from the drug store. It's the white rum. I always bought it at the drug store.
(Is it [something]?)
It's licris [liquid]. Use that for drawing - it's for drawing [customers?].
(White rum?)
White rum.
(How do you spell that?)
R-O-N-E.
(It's made from sugar? Is that the liquor that's made from sugar cane?)
I don't know.
[He means white rum. White rum is used in candle rites later.]
(Eight buckets with this mixture - this water - and then you tear this offi- cer's name out and put it into?) Into that last bucket.
(Into the last bucket.)
[Talking to five people? After the eighth bucket, operator had to speak - good morning or something - to five persons passing by or within speaking dis- tance. If five were unavailable within reasonable time, an experienced operator would name five persons and pretend-talk to them. You tear this officer's name out? This can only mean the informant - either in a previous rite or while machine was turned off - pretended to write a name in an imaginary paper tablet and to tear out the sheet. Did my small Numbers Book with spiral binding in front of me suggest the idea?]
Entry 2724
[The preceding informant gives a similar rite as follows:]
Well, just you scrubs it. You gets van-van, steel dust, cinnamon, fast luck and scrub your house from front to back. Start at the front door and then you take and pour nine buckets of water and blueing, and throw that nine buckets of Water in front of your door, and that's to draw in a crowd.
(Either for bootlegging or [men for] women?)
Anything. It the same thing.
Entry 2725
We going to scrub the house out first with that Red Seal Lye. That's if anything is crossed in the house - the building is crossed before you occupy it. After scrubbing with that Red Seal Lye, you get you some cinnamon powder, you get you some oil of verbena, then you get you some granulated sugar. If you wants white and colored trade, you get that white syrup and you get that red syrup, mixing well, scrubbing from the front porch on to the rear, throwing a glassful in each direction of the globe after scrubbing, and I guarantee you burning cinnamon powder and burning incense in the building when you in there alone, leaving it smoke well, open up the door, and you can't keep the gang out of there.
(I see.)
[After machine stopped, I ask about keeping law away.]
The same though.
(The same thing will keep the law away from there?)
Absolutely.
Entry 2726
If yo' runnin' a place an' want luck fo' customers, yo'd git chew some cinnamon an' yo'd git some sugah an' git yo' some oil of verbena, an' take pars- ley - yo' know parsley whut chew season food with. Yo' put it in a bucket an' put it on de stove an' boil it well. Aftah it boil, yo' start tuh scrubbin' yo' business from de front to de back. When yo' git through scrubbin' it goin' to de back, dis same watah dat chew scrub wit, throw a glassful to each way - one tc de east, one to de west, one to de south. [Presumably, unlucky north purposely omitted.] All right. When yo' git through that, yo' take yo some cinnamon agin an' yo' take yo' three of those good incense, an' yo' let dat burn very slow. Take some sugah an' mix it up well, an' throw it right in front of de do', an' throw three buckets of watah on dat. Den de place won't be able tuh hold the people.
(What do you do with that incense?)
Burn it. Mix it wit de sugah. Have tuh sterilize de'sugah aftah yo' burn it, see. Well, throw it out an' throw three buckets of watah on it.
Entry 2727
Well, yo' git chew some incense from de drug store an' a bottle of Van-van and yo' burn de incense in de house and open de front do' where it will go in de street. Well, everybody dat pass, well dey takes a notion to stop by.
(What do you do with that van-van oil?)
Yo' take that van-van oil and yo' put it in yore scrubbing water and mop yore front porch with it. After yo' git through mopping yo' chunk de water out in de street an' it cause a congregation.... That van-van - po' it in yore scrubbing water, yo' mop yo' front porch an' steps with it, when yo' git through yo' take an' chunk it out in de street. Dey might pass de street, but dey ain't coming in de house.
(That will keep the law away?)
Yeah.
Entry 2728
Go to de drug sto' an' git some van-van, oil of clover, oil of winter- green an' Heart-horne Cologne, an' mix it together an' scrub with it, and always throw yore water at de gate. [Informant means Hearts Own Cologne; not Hawthorne Cologne or Hartshorn Cologne.]
(Throw the water at the gate?)
After yo' git through scrubbing an' dat will draw de crowd. (You told me about the oil of wintergreen and Van-van. You use that to get a job, too?) Yassuh, yo' use all that.
Entry 2729
Take one penny an' nail it down here [demonstrates].
(Under the doorsill.)
Under de do'sill. Won't put chew out cus he [Indian of penny] standing on it - he standin' on de do'sill. Ev'ry mornin' when you git up, take yore chamber lye an' throw it out dere. Dat's if you runnin' sportin' house an' men's comin' dere an' ev'rythin'. Take dat runnin' water [from the faucet] an' throw it out. Dat'll bring 'em all in an' den de customers will come an' de law ain't comin' dere. Dey can't come over dat. If you walk around Charleston, you wanta see dese pennies dere. (On the doorsills.) [For this use of penny, see p.6llf.]
Entry 2730
You can go to the east and make your wish, "In the Name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit," and throw three glasses of water and make your wish for anything you want - to make a success and get it.
(Do you face the east or turn your back to it?)
No, you face the east.
(And throw the water?)
And throw the water.
Entry 2814
Take dey photograph, lak a photograph pitchure [not a tintype], if yore ole man is away. Tuh bring him back, yo' git a black candle an' write his name on de black candle, an' put a glass of watah down 'side de candle. Light de candle an' den lay his pitchure 'side de candle, an' let de candle burn an' yo' make a wish. Dat's tuh git him back if he's gone, if yo' got his pit- chure.
Entry 2828
Well, you get the name of the policeman that 'rrested you. Take his name, the judge's name, and the district attorneys name. You write it nine times on a piece of writing paper with ink that never has been used. Buy you a bottle of ink and a new pen, and you write their names nine times. You write your name nine times over that. You understand? You get you some honey and put it in a saucer and you burn it with those candles. You take those white candles, three of 'em, and cut the tip off and turn 'em bottom up upon there and let those candles burn out.
(When do you do this?)
You do this like if you got arrested today and you get a subpoena to go to court next week. You do that three days before you go. And the morning you've got to go to court, you go to the hydrant, or pump or well, whatever you got, wherever it be, and you catch you a cup of water. And you start out the gate, have that cup of water - and you're facing the street - throw it over your left shoulder and make your wish and never look back, just keeping on going to the court house and you'll get discharged.
Entry 2829
If yo' git de names of those persons - if yo' know de names of de ones yo' think stealed it, well yo' write their names nine times and write chure's across it. (What do you write it on?) Yo' write it on a plain piece of paper, white paper - write the name nine times. Write chure's across it an' then yo' take it an' git chew a cup of clar' water and put it down in that water. See. An' yo' put a can le on top of it. If yo' don't put de can'le on it, yo' take it an put it in yore lamp. Yo' have a oil lamp, an' put it down in that lamp an' keep that lamp continuously burning on top of it, and dat'll worry 'em so - with that name on there it'll worry 'em so, they'll have tuh come back and they'll confess to yuh.
(That they have stolen this?)
That they have stole. They'll come to yo'.
Entry 2931
Lak if ah wus goin' tuh co't today, ah'd go tuh de rivah an' ah'd git me - lak if ah had tuh go tuh co't tomorrow, ah'd go tuh de rivah tonight, see. Well de watah's muddy. Ah'd git me a quart bottle of watah. An' ah'd take me about a nickel of sugah, white sugah, an' ah'd put in dere. Ah'd take a lemon an' ah'd open it an' ah'd squeeze de juice of dat lemon in dere. Ah would take de judge's name, see. Lak if his name is Judge Andrews, ah'd take his name. See, dat'd be fo' mahself, an' some honey an' some sugah. Write his name an' git me a white candle.
(Would you write his name just once?)
Well, dat's all jis' in a co't case. Er, no, yo' write his name nine times on de piece of papah.
(How would you write it?)
Well, yo' kin write - fo' de judge, yo' write it [demonstrates] disaway an', write it disaway an' that way an' come back an' write it that way.
(Cross it.)
Yes. An' yo' leave that burn at night, an' leave dat lemon - dat watah from de rivah set there to that lemon. Tomorrah mawnin' when yo' git up tuh git ready tuh go tuh co't, yo' take some of dat watah an' yo' drink it, a glassful, of dose little glasses - take one lak dat full [demonstrates] an' drink dat. An' when yo' be goin' out, yo' leave from de house, yo' take de rest of de watah an' throw it behin' yo', but don't nevah look aroun' - jis' throw dat behin' yore back, see. An' when yore case come up, well, he'll keep on settin' it back. He'll nevah call yo', jis' keep on settin' it back until yore case nevah be called again. Dat makes yo' win de case - it nevah be's called. (Now when you burn that candle, do you burn it just a little bit or burn it all night long?) Yo' let it burn all night long till, yo' know until it burns down.
Entry 2980
I know once someone was burnin' a candle on mah brother. A two-headed person told him. So he told us what to do to put de candle out. You git chew a quart bottle. Yo' fill dat bottle with water and put dat stopper in dere jes' as tight as yo' kin git it. Yo' turn dat bottle up on de neck and leave dat way, and de candle can't burn.
(Where do you put that bottle?)
At de head of de bed.
(You turn it upside down.)
On de neck and stop it so dere won't none of de water git out [demonstrates].
(Turn it just like that [upside down].)
An' de candle cannot burn. Ah believe dat. Dat's one thing ah believe because he was sufferin' wit de headache an' 'bout to go crazy and ah declare de minute dey did dat, it stopped. Ah believe dat. Now dat's one thing ah re'lly believe.
Entry 2981
If yo' close to de rivah an' [or] yo' is heah [in New Orleans] go to de Miss'ippi Rivah an' git a quart bottle of watah, an' put a brand-new stopper on it an' turn it upside down in de corner of de house. Dey cain't keep it lighted; same as de watah po'ed on it. (You set it down in the corner of the house. In the inside of the house or on the outside?) Inside.
Entry 2982
Take yore pitchure an' burn candles on yore pitchure. Well, if dey Want it fo' good, dey use it wit sugah or honey. If not, if dey want it fo' bad, dey take dat candle - dey take de bottom part of dat candle an' cut it an' dat's de part dey light, light it bottom upwards. Dey put dat candle in a lemon an' set dat lemon on yore pitchure. Dat's whut dey do when dey wanta burn it tuh give yo' a headache or any kinda misery or anything lak dat - burns de candle bottoms upwards on top of dat pitchure.
(Do they use any particular color or does it make any difference?)
Well, dey - yo' kin use white. It's jes' as good as any othah color. Yo' use black if yo' wants tuh run 'em away.
(Do you light that candle at any particular time?)
Six in de mawnin', twelve at noon an' six at night. Ketch watah. Take an' leave yore haid - hol' yore haid down anywhere where yo' kin have some watah run on it. Ketch it in a pan an' take dat watah an' put it in a bottle. An' git chew nine needles an' nine tacks an' nine pins dat's nevah been used. Write dere name down nine time an' take dat bottle an' put some cayenne peppah an' table salt in it an' turn dat bottle - stop it up an' turn dat bottom upwards an' dat will put any candle out. An' yo' take yore left-foot shoe an' turn it bottom upwards under de side of de bed where yo' sleep at night. An' draw a glass of watah befo' de sunrise, an' put dat glass of watah undah yore bed an' when de sun goin' down, yo' throws it ovah yore left shoulder.
(What will that do?)
Dat puts de candles out. (That's another way of putting it out. Those are two different Ways of putting the candle out?) Both. All those ingredients goes tugethah. Yes, yo' see, when yo' usin' de watah, when yo' got de name in de watah, yo' gotta have dat shoe. Yo' take dat shoe an' turn dat shoe bottom upwards undah yore bed on de side where yo' sleep. Yo' draw a glass of watah befo' sunrise an' yo' leave it stay undah de side of de bed where yo' sleep till aftah de sun goes down. When de sun goin' down, yo' stan's an' yo' throws dat watah ovah yore left shoulder an' don't cross it [walk over it] - no suh, yo' don't look back at it.
(All that will put the candle out.)
Entry 2983
You go to de rivah an' gi' choo a bottle of watah. You come back an' you take you a glassful fer nine mornin'. You stan' in de back do' or windah an' say yore prayers ovah it. You t'row it ovah yore haid. An' you use St. Raymond pitchure an' burn a white light to it. An' dat'll put de can'les out.
Entry 2984
You could make the candle go out easy. It's a simple thing. Get to running water. Go there three times a day - any running water you go to, if you can get to the river. You can tell w'ah [whether] ah got a candle burning or not on you, because your head's done always feel hurted. Regardless of what you use, it's not going to stop your head from hurting. But if you think of it, go to the river - that's running water. Bathe your head three times. I mean - you see, just put your head - take your hand and throw water and let it run back to your neck and run on down there. It's nothing if you wet your clothes. Just let it run on down, see. Three times. You just duck your head three times and let that water run back on you like that. You do that three times a day and that will put the candles out.
Entry 2985
(How do they make them go out?)
Well, for my way - my understanding is that you wash your head with running water for nine mornings, and you take [two] matches of the same color, and a needle, and you cross 'em right in the mole of your head.
(You take matches and a needle and cross all three of those things.)
Right in the center of your head.
(Do that in addition to the running water or is that separate?)
That's afterwards. Do that after you wash your head with this running water. Then you cross 'em in your head.
(I see. To make the candles go out.)
Entry 2986
Work on yo'self, yo' know. Yo' tell me how yo' feel an' yo' say, "Well, ah feel - well, numb an' lak dat." Well, yo' git chew a bath, an' yo' git a whole box of Arm an' Hammer Soda, [arm and hammer a trademark of Armour Co.], whole box, an' put every bit of it in yore bathwatah, an' a little - an' Jis' two or three drops of bergamine [bergamot] an' a little salt. Dat makes yo' feel bettah. Den yo'll mo [more] know - den yo'll know whut tuh do. Den yo' wash yore face in runnin' watah [from a hydrant] an' let de hydrant continue tuh run. Wash yore face an' let it dry in de runnin' watah - jis' don't dry it on a towel or anything yo' know. Dat makes it feel bettah. (Well, how do I know then whether I was tricked or whether I was just ordinary ill? How do I know then?) Why, yo' usin' de trickin' stuff, dat'll make yo' know.
(You mean after you do all this, if you are not feeling better?)
Oh, yo' feelin' brighter.
(If you are not feeling better than someone has tricked you?)
Yessuh. Den yo' feel bettah. Den take dat agin - take dat same treatment ovah - take that agin an' go back to the runnin' watah. Take that about nine mawnin's an' yo'll find yo'll feel all right.
Entry 2987
Get two glasses of water and set one on each corner of the mantelpiece [often used as altar]. And if you have a idea who it is, jest call their name and knock three times and leave the glasses of water set up there. And you see, gradually, if the water be seeping out the glass, the candle's goin' out. The water goes out, jest shifts out like somebody poured it out. (If the water in the glass goes down, that's a sign the candle's going out. I see.)
Entry 3275
[Ah] broke up a man an' 'is wife.
(Tell me the whole story.)
How ah did it?
(Yes.)
Well, de reason ah'd taken a min' tuh do it, she messed wit a man of mine, an' 'er husban' wus away [in the army]. Durin' de time when dey got bonus [World War I] he come back. An' ah started goin' wit 'im. She start- ed runnin' roun' fo' tuh 'rest [arrest] me - put me in jail. Ah wus workin' fo' de law durin' de time [she was working in jail]. Well, ah jes' put in de ticket. Den aftah she made me pay a fine. An' ah would take 'im off an' ah would buy thin's fo' him. Ah would give 'im GON'A BLOW ON JUDGMENT DAY. Ah'd do anythin' in de worl' dat he'd ast me tuh do an' dat he didn't ast me tuh do. Well, ah jes' gained love wit 'im. Ah didn't stop 'im. Den ah told 'im to go tell 'er dat he didn't wanta take me up den, an' tell 'er dat he didn't wanta right befo' mah face. Well, he did. Dat was cold blood on gen'ral principles. Dat wus nuthin, jes' lak witchcraft fo' money. But dat wus jes' cold-blooded. But if ah hada done it [retaliated] ah woulda [here is what I could have done]: Ah'd have taken a string an' measured 'im an' tied nine knots in it an' wore it roun' mah waist an' he couldn'ta have nuthin to done wit 'er tuh save his life. He woulda had tuh go wit me. If ah couldn'ta got In gen'ral principles, ah knowed whut ah could git 'im wit. Why ah coulda took a snail - yo've seen dose snails. Yo' kin take a snail an' break de shell, break 'em in yore han', an' wipe de man down [wiping down is a magic rite] wit it an' he can't have nuthin tuh do wit nobody but chew. Yo' kin spit three times in a glass of watah an' give him tuh drink an' he can't have no love fo' nobody but chew. Dat'll break up a man an' a woman quick- ah den anythin'. WHY DESE WHITE PEOPLE WHUT RAISED ME, A WHITE WOMAN BROKE UP 'IM AN' 'IS WIFE DE SAME WAY. AH SAW WHEN SHE DID IT. SHE'D TAKEN DE DIRT OUT FROM UNDAH HUH FINGAHNAILS AN' SHE CUT 'EM.: SHE PUT IT IN DAT GLASS OF WATAH AN' SHE SPIT THREB TIMES IN IT, an' she carried it to Mr. H. D. [name in original mamuscript]. He wus in de bed sick down heah at OOO Teaboe [Thibault?] [address In origlnal manu- SCript]. SHE CARRIED IT TO HIM TO DRINK. HIS WIFE WUS SICK IN DE HOSPITAL, AN' WHEN 'IS WIFE COME OUT, HE DIDN'T PAY HER NO MO' 'TENTION DEN HE DID HE - AN' AH WUS A NIGGAH. He's wit dis woman in Miaml now - married. Daisy B. [last nane in original manuscript]. He sent 'er to de south. [Notice that informant of Georgia calls Miami de south.]
Entry 3315
Well, if a person wanted to trick yo' some way in de chamber lye. All right, yo' have to eithah ketch dere natchal [natural] chamber lye or either ketch where dey put de chamber lye at. It's lak if he go out dere an' he let it on de ground some place it will always leaves a little hole in de ground. Well, yo' prob'bly take a pocketknife or sompin an' cut dat hole out. Den yo' take itan punch it into a bottle, an' yo' take aftah yo' punch it into dat bottle, yo' git some John de Conkah root an' yo' put dat John de Conkah root in dat bottle an' stop it up. Den yo' walk fo' steps farwards, eight steps backwards, an' turn facin' to de watah stream, an' walk to de watah stream an' throw it in dere. Dat's de last of yo'.
(Well, just what would that do to me?)
It will take yo' courage clean from yo'. Yo' wouldn't have any courage fo' no woman whatevah, no mo', long as yo' live on land. No doctors kin bring it back, unlessen. (These steps forwards and backwards, do you do that before you go down to the running water? Or do you go down to the running water to do those?) Yo' go to de runnin' watah, an' den, aftah yo' git to de runnin' watah, yo make - jes' close enough fo' yo' to throw it in. Yo' make three [four] steps backwards, den eight steps farwards [informant inverts or transposes number of steps] an' den throw yo' bottle ovahbo'd.
Entry 3321
Yo' take dis Lysol, dat whut woman douches [with].
(From the drug store, Lysol?)
Yes. De woman - now if a woman fix it up, she put a teaspoonful of it in a quart of watah an' douchin' wit it. Well, yo' [a man, if you can obtain this water] kin take dat watah an' carry it to a herb man. Well, he kin fix it so she can't fool wit nobody but chew. [Lysol is a trademark name for a solution of cresols in soap used as a disinfectant and antiseptic.]
Entry 3322
A man an' woman can't git along togethah an' he can't have sexual in- tahco'se like he wants to wit 'er, [the reason] is becuz some othah man is got 'er mind along wit 'im. An' de way she do to hold dat good husban' at home, she'll go to work an' have it wit 'il, intah- co'se wit 'er husban', an' she'll take dat rag an' go an' bury it undah de leaks of de house where de watah falls off de top, an' dat cuts 'im down wit any othah woman, an' she kin go have all she want wit de othah man.
Entry 3323
If yo' have a spigot - lak yo' got a spigot out in de yard, a hydrant or a pump, or a well, she do yo' dis way. She take dis heah same pocket han'ker- chuf or towel, she dry yo' off, jes' lak dat - damp it. All right, she fold it an' stick it in undah de bed lak dat. An' yo'll go ahead. Now, she'll take dat, aftah yore gone, she'll take dat thing long as it rolled up an' fresh an' wet, take dat thing an' go tuh dat hydrant, or spigot, or well, where yore watah hits de ground. Where it hits de ground dere a moist place dere all de time. Take dat thing an' bury it down in de ground, right down dere jes' lak dat. Dig a hole an' bury it right down udah dat watah. An' as long, undahstan', [as] dat watah hittin' dat rag dere, untll hit rot - co'se dat will rot in a yeah or two - yo' ain't no mo' good fo' nobody but 'er.
Entry 3324
I know a lady dat wus livin' wit 'er husban', dey were livin' very comfortable. An' he came in contact wit anothah lady, an' on evah Sundah aftah- noon he would go an' meet dis lady, an' tell 'is wife he wus goin' prob'bly tuh de show or goin' tuh see diff'ren' fren's of 'is. Well, fin'lly dis came tuh such an extent till he couldn't stay home at all, at night an' at certain times. So fin'lly he left. He jes' left home wit'out lettin' 'is wife know - all of a sudden. An' he left 'er in a bad state. An' when he left, he left tuh git rid of dis lady becuz she wus beginnin' tuh break 'is home up: No, he didn't leave tuh git rid of 'is wife, he still takes care of 'is wife. Dis is real. He still supports 'is wife an' wants tuh live wit 'er, but it was said dat he wus run away. Somepin in connection wit 'im an' dis lady put 'im - she throwed it in a stream of watah an' put 'im on de wandah [wander], aftah she couldn't git 'im. (Well, now just what did she do to make him leave that way? [Informant was evidently taken aback by my question and I surely turned off the recording ma- chine for a moment before beginning to talk again.] Why it's quite all right. You can say anything you want to. I've heard of ways that they do that, but you might know a different way.) Well, de way she got 'im wit 'er, she gave him a drink of wine. She'd pull 'im tuh 'er house dat way. An' den she gave him - while dey had connection wit each othah, she kept dat so many times.
(How many times?)
Nine times. An' den she would throw it in a stream of runnin' watah, an' of course he begin to worry, an' worry, worry more about leavin', leavin', aftah he wouldn't give her all 'is time. An' den he worried so much about leavin' until he jes' - it jes' looked like all 'is works an' evahthin' began tuh be a strain wit 'u. An' he left.
(Did he ever try to do anything to get rid of that spell?)
He didn't know fo' sure it was a spell. He didn't know what it wus. Dis wus unknown tuh 'im even till now. (Well what did she put that stuff in? Did she do anything special? Just take that stuff and throw it in running water, that all?) She wus supposed tuh have put dis in runnin' watah an' dey say dat would give him dat goin' mind; if he couldn't stay wit 'er, he couldn't stay wit 'is wife.
Entry 3391
Whut could yo' do wit a greasy dishrag. Well, if yo' got a man an' yo' don't want 'im tuh care fo' anybody else, yo' kin take a greasy dishrag an' let 'im drink off an' yo' don't. Take dat greasy dishrag an' wipe him fo' nine times wit it an' den fold it in nine different Ways tuh yo', fold it all de time tuh yo'. Den yo' put it up ovah anywhere dat he's gotta walk in an' out undah. Dat'l keep 'im from goin' wit othah women.
Entry 3397
It's a ole story. Ah reckon so many [times] yo' heahs about dat. So many people do's it. Well, de only thing ah've heard dat a wumman take, use a greasy dishrag, an' she would take dat dishrag aftah she'ud [she would] be wit 'im an' use it. Co'se she'd soak it in cold watah an' make her wishes on de wumman dat she had trouble 'bout, fo' nine mawnin's, an' she use it on 'im den de ninth day, see. Aftah she use it eight mawnin's, de ninth mawnin' she must have some connection wit 'im, see. An' den she use, an' den she would take it an' de nature from de othah wumman, an' den she use on 'im, an' use it on herself. Well, dat bring 'is nature to her. Ah've reckon yo' heard it dat way. (First she takes the dishrag and she put it in cold water and makes her wishes on it for eight days. The ninth day she takes that rag and uses it on him.) Use it on 'im an' den she uses it on 'erself, an' makes 'er wishes dat he wouldn't have anythin' wit no othah wumman but 'er. See. An' she takes dat rag an' den she buries it, see. Jes' as long as dat rag stay buried, why he wouldn't want nobody else.
Entry 3408
Ah don't know how true dis is but ah heard whut wimmins tole me, dat if a woman got a husban' an' don't want 'im tuh be wit no one but 'er - jes' lak he goin' [a] bit [little] wit 'er. Well, she gits a dishrag an' she will wipe 'i wit dat dishrag an' throw it out undah de bushes where de dew an' evahthin' kin fall on it. He stay limbah all de time. Why he couldn't be wit no woman but 'er. Well, den durin' de time dat it wuz out dere, if de sun happen to strike it an' dry it off, why he wuz jes' as good fo' anybody else as he wuz fo' her.
Entry 3410
Yo' take an' go in dere an' take dere dishrag. Take dey dishrag an' use it on yoreself an' de man's self an' take it an' throw it in runnin' watah.
(What will that do?)
Well, dat will separate 'em. Dat's whut ah heard. (Separate a man and his wife?) Separate dem. (That is, some other woman that would want to separate a man and his wife, she Would take their dishrag - go to the house and get their dishrag. Then she would use it on this man and herself when they were together, and throw it into running Water. That would separate a man and his wife?) That's right.
(So this woman would get the other woman's husband?)
Dat's right.
Entry 3411
An' a woman take a man, if he mess wit anothah woman, an' she take a dishrag tuh wipe him wit it. If she want it tuh last always, take an' soak it in sugah, den wipe him wit it. Den yo' put it in a quart jar an' throw it in runnin' watah. Well, it jes' work fo' about thirty days. Jes' take de dishrag an' put it in a bottle up ovah 'is haid, yo' know, where no one won't git to it. It lasts thirty days.
(Where do they usually put it over his head?)
Jes' lak yo'd go out dis do' an' lak yo' comin' in from work, yo' come in dat do' - go back an' come in dat do'. He cain't mess wit no othah woman. Ah know dat's tuh be true. (You put that over the door, but if you soak that dishrag in sugar before you use it on him, then throw this into running water it will last all the time.) Yes. [Fayetteville, N. Car. (1504), 2571:11.]
Entry 3508
All right, chew take a white had- ke'chuf an' jes' lak a man an' a woman is - urinate togethah [see later], well yo' take de urinate an' tie it in de middle of de han'ke'chuf, tie it in a hard knot an' den yo' wet it evah mawnin' fo' nine - wit watah fo' nine mawnin' an' keep it in de hot sun.
(What will that do?)
Dat makes [them] love yo' an' dey can't git rid of yo'.
[URINATE USUALLY MEANS URINE BUT NOT ALWAYS.]
(You don't use their urine, do you?)
Yes suh, dat's whut ah mean.
(How do you mean that?)
Jes' lak if dey go wid yo', yo' jes' take dere urinate an' jes' tie it in de middle of a han'ke'chuf. (WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THEIR URINATE? DO YOU MEAN THEIR PEE WATER OR WHAT?) No sir, dey come. (You mean the other stuff [semen from man] that comes out.)
Entry 3703
An' den ag'in, anothah thing dey kin do, lak if yo' have intahco'se wit 'em, dey kin go to work an' take dat an' put it in a bottle. An' jes' lak if yo' wanted go fool wit anothah woman, why evahthing would stan' all right until yo' got dere, an' de moment yo' git dere, evah- thing would fall dead. De way dey handles dat - de way yo' would have to do to stop dat, why yo'd have to search de place where yo' stay, where yo' eatin' gen'ly [generally], an' yo'd fin' dis bottle. Dey got it airtight in a bottle. Dat is de way dey puts it up, airtighted in a bottle. An' long as it airtight in dere - co'se he kin have, be in action wit 'er all right, but he can't have no action wit no othah woman. Evah time he go to have one, evahthing will go dead on 'im. An' de way dey do to git dat, why yo' has to search de place an' git it, an' break it an' throw it in running water.
Entry 3719
(Is there anything that a man can do to get his nature back?)
Well, ah've had a woman took a dishrag an' kinda fixed me so ah couldn't have no othah woman but 'er. Ah've tried othah women. Ah've been a railroad man all de time, lak ah runnin'[from here] in to At- lanta. No mattah how badly ah wanted dis woman, how much powah ah had, de minute ah lay down on dis woman - be wit 'er yo' know - come to be jes' as limbah as de end of mah fingah [demonstrates] dataway. But de onliest way dat ah evah cured mahself of dat, git me some sweet milk an' bath mahself down wit it nine mawnin's Dat'll give me as much power as ah evah did have. Or ah'll go to some runnin' watah, watah dat's runnin', an' bath off dataway. Dat'll give yo' powah.
(You go to running water and bathe?)
Bathe, or bathe in sweet milk.
(How could you bathe there in running water?)
Evah nine mawnin's.
(Do you bathe up or down?)
Down, bringin' yo' out all de time. Yo' don't want nuthin tuh draw back. Let it stretch out.
Entry 3726
An' de dishrag in de same lak mannah. Take dat dishrag an' she'll wipe it, dry off wit dat dishrag. Don't make no diff'rence if it's dry or if it's been used in grease, an' dat takes 'er courage away. Takes all de nature away from 'em. Now if a woman ties yo' lak dat now de way dat she do, she'll wait till he's asleep an' she'll mess roun' wit chew an' she'll hang her gown or sompin ovah yore haid till yo' go tuh sleep yo' see [common rite]. An' she'll git a cord string an' she'll measure de length of yo', an' den when she measure de length of yo', she'll tie dat many knots in it, see. Den she'll tie it roun' 'er laig, right around de [calf] of 'er laig, or else roun' 'er wais'. Most of de time she tie it aroun' dere. Well, yo' find it an' yo' mistrust dat. Well den, yo' don't know whut tuh do, yo' tried evahthing, go to de doctors [M.D.'s] an' still dey ain't done any good. Well, yo' lay awake until yo' ketch 'er asleep, an' den yo' slip to her an' take dis cord string off of 'er. An' den when yo' take dis cord string off of 'er, while she's 'sleep, yo' kin take dis same [string] in lak mannah an' measure it [her] dis way, see. An'when yo' measure it dat way, an' den dis way, an' yo' tie it in string in dat shape.
(In a round shape?)
Yes, an' den yo' take dat same string an' yo' sew it; see, sew it from dis heah, dataway. Jes' cut it out an' sew dat togethah. An' dat will git off yo an' git on 'er. Den yo' take yo' some warm watah, as warm as yo' kin bear it, an' put table salt in it an'.wash yo'self real good. An' git cedar oil an' rub - jes' yo'self real good. An' take yo' a dry rag an' wipe down. Dry it off real good an' dat'll do away wit it.
Entry 3741
"Cuz ah have tried it. Dey tells me dat chew kin take de cloth - yo' kin have connections wit a woman or couldn't have it. If yo' couldn't have it, jes' couldn't have - jes' got limp, couldn't do any- thing. Well, yo' take a dishrag, stole it - even from your wife or from someone else, an' wipe wit it. Wash wit it an' throw it in runnin' watah.
(What will that do?)
Dat will raise yore nachure.
(Bring it back?)
Yes.
Entry 3742
Well, he have tuh go tuh work den an' jes' be sharp enough to know whut it 'tis, an' when she bring dat rag back to him de nex' time, do dat den he shet it off 'im. He have to take dat rag an' keep it, an' when yo' git dat rag yo' has to go to swift runnin' watah. Put sompin to it to make it sink, go to swift-runnin' watah an' put a weight in it an' chunk it from yo' right out in de stream. Dat'll carry dat right off yo'.
(That will carry that spell away and have his nature back again?)
Yes.
Entry 3769
Whilst he's asleep at night, takin' a cord an' takin' de full length of 'is private, tyin' nine knots in it, wearin' ti aroun' 'er waist, an' he'd lose all ambition fer outside women. He kin go.... (What did you say?) He'll be dataway, no use fer outside women, until he take some penny nail - five penny-nails.
(Wait a minute! The penny-nails, you take five of them?)
Five of 'em.
(Yes?) = [Continue.]
Put 'em in a quart bottle of watah an' drinkin' de watah off it. Dat will release him.
(That will give him the advantage, take that away from him?)
Absolutely.
Entry 3818
(How could he get his nature back?) If he not too ole, why dey kin. He kin go tuh de sto' an' buy 'im maybe five-cent white pocket han'ke'chuf, an' git 'im a pint of clear watah an' wash 'isself down three times wit dat bran'-new pocket han'ke'chuf, an' don' use it any mo'. Throw it away. He kin go an' mess wit anybody he wanta den. (That is if this woman has taken his nature away, he can do that and then his nature will come back to him.) Yeah, if he not a ole man.
(Just use clear water?)
Yes.
Entry 3819
[The sense of this badly recorded cure can be restored:] If woman has man tied up by measurin' an' wearin' [measuring] string, [if she] cross watah - when yo' [she] cross watah, she [nature] come back to yo'. [But otherwise] as long as she wear dat [you won't have any nature except for her.] [For a better insight into crossing water in witchcraft, I recommend an unusual rite, which I will quote in full because it comes from an out-of-print and limited-edition book to be found only in university, college or large library:] [When my boy was little we lived up here near Ursa [[Adams County, Illinois]]. We had an old aunt that was terrible. Well, the truth is, she was a witch. She often said when she milked her cow, she milked every cow in the neighborhood, which is true. Everyone knew it, for if she was milking her cow, no one around could get a drop of milk. Everyone was afraid of her too, afraid she would put a spell on them. I didn't think she would hurt us, but she did. My little boy was strong. He took sick in the legs, he got so weak he could not walk at all. We would put him down and he would fall right over, could not stand on his legs. We took him to the doctor in Ursa, he could not find anything wrong with my boy. We waited several days, then we brought him to Quincy to Dr.x. He could not find a thing wrong. Then I started to thinking maybe our aunt had a spell on our boy and had him in her power. My husband said, "We will take him to one more doctor and if he does not find anything wrong, we will know he is bewitched and will have to take the spell off some way. Well, we took him to the third doctor [M.D.]. It was just the same answer, nothing wrong. It's an old saying, a witch can't follow you over a body of water, if you go one way and come back another way. As soon as you start over the water, she loses her power; but if you come back the same way, she gets her power back. We came to Quincy with the boy, went down to the river, took the ferry boat across the river, carrying my boy - he could not walk, was so weak. Then we walked up to the old bridge and started to walk back to Quincy on the wagon side of the bridge. WHEN WE GOT HALF OVER THE BRIDGE THE BOY WANTED DOWN. WE PUT HIM DOWN. I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH, HE STARTED RIGHT OUT TO WALKING AND WALKED ACROSS THE BRIDGE WHEN HE HAD NOT WALKED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. The spell was broken and he was strong in the legs again. Right after that, the old aunt - I should say witch - got down sick and could not walk for several years. So we knew she was the one that had our boy in a spell. She is dead now [[FACI, 2nd ed., p.893.]].] [If I am not mistaken, another crossing-water rite will appear in volume 3 or 4 of HOODOO.1
Entry 3820
Cuz I had it happen to me, see. I wuz goin' wit a woman an' I'd stop- ped. Well, she got hold of de tape measure, yo' know, an' she took mah nature an' put it in a bottle an' wore it in 'er stockin'.
(Wore it in her stocking?)
Wore it in 'er stockin'. Like dis is, right in de middle, right at de knee of de stockin' - yo' know, here [demonstrates - in hinge of knee]. (I see.) Yes, put it in dere an' put a string below de knee an' one above de knee. An' she had me about six or eight months. Dere wuz anothah thing she wuz doin' too. But aftah dat I got - somebody told me about it, told me to get dis bottle soon as I could. Dey says dat would get mah nature back. I wuz in bed wit 'er an' jes' took it off. Told me took it an' put it in runnin' watah. I keep away from her den.
Entry 3825
Yo' have tuh go den to de runnin' watah. Yo' should go tuh runnin' watah fo' nine mawnin's an' let dis watah be runnin' west den, fo' nine mawnin's an' stick 'er fingah intuh dis runnin' watah an' 'noint 'erself down dere nine times fo' nine mawnin's - nine times, once each mawnin', fo' nine mawnin's. Aftah de nine times den 'er feelin' come back jis' lak it evah wuz. Anythin' dat's tied it up, maybe it somepin else.
(That will bring her nature back or bring his nature back?)
Eithah way, eithah case.
Entry 3826
Bath [not bathe] yoreself wit runnin' watah an' ammonia fo' nine maw- nin's - dis cleanin' ammonia an' cinnamon. Bathe yo'self fo' nine mawnin's wit three diff'ren' mixed watah. Whut I mean by three diff'ren' mixed watahs' yo' git rivah watah, rain watah an' well watah. Do dat fo' nine mawnin's, an' aftah yo' finish bathin', yo' takes an' throws it ovah yore shouldah towards de sunrise. (Which shoulder? [Demonstrates.] That right shoulder?) Yes, sir. Your right shoulder. [The reader will notice this rite has no purpose, an omission that rarely happened. If I turned on my recording machine too late or stopped it too soon, I always managed to add the purpose to the cylinder. I have two written comments in the original MS about the present instance: the one, an early pen- ciled note small piece added to this, the other, a recent self-evident note transcriber omitted my comment. Here it is:] (Now, you just gave me one [a cure] of this - for when a woman has a man tied up. That [3 waters] will bring back his nature. That's the idea isn't it?)
[True, I am asking for a yes answer, but the answer is in the rite itself.]
Yes, sir.
Entry 3843
If a man's runnin' aroun' an' so yo' git a needle an' put it in some watah an' some of 'is blood. Why ah'll mix dat togethah. Put de needle in dere, in a bottle wit some watah [and blood] an' bury it undah de do'step. Dat'll cuz 'im - dat'll keep 'im from runnin' aroun'. (This woman has to stick the needle into him and get some of his blood, and put it in this bottle of water - plain water?) Uh-huh, an' bury it undahneat' chure step, down beside de do'step. Dat'll make him stay home.
Entry 3848
I have heard of a class of people who would get a hold of your blood. They get that from any part they can get it: from your finger, your feet or your head. And they would bury it on the shore at ebb tide, an' when the tide came in, that would flow with the tide and make them crazy. [Hampton, Va., (24, informant 8 when Civil War began), by Ediphone.] [The preceding words, all meaning the same thing, are a few of the terms to be found in the following material. White people used the same and other expres- sions. Remember, these names were collected a generation ago (before the present moment, March 1973) and are not exhaustive for their time. A careful examination of HOODOO will show that sex was not gathered for the sake of sex, but as a part of the total study.]
Entry 3898
If it's a woman, yo' kin git some of 'er sanitary things of hers an' keep 'em yo' know. Jes' keep 'em in a close place an' put - either jes' wash 'em an' put de water in a little bottle or somepin, an' mix it wit dis Heart Cologne. An' den if yo' kin git some of de hair, put it in dere an' keep it. She goin' come back.
Entry 3918
I can send 'em away in dis mannah. Now, if I would - say fo' ninstance if I wanted to kill a person or somepin of dat sort, why den, man or woman. If it wus a woman, I could take an' - I'd take her pieces, yo' know, when dey dirty. I'd fold 'em up an' put nine needles in 'em. I'd take an' I'd go to de riv- ah, but when I get to de rivah, when I gets jes' about twenty feets of de end of de walk where I'm goin' to stand at - dere's de wall [of the room] heah, when I get jes' about twenty feets right heah, I'd back myself back to dat, see. An I wouldn't look back, jes' back up to dere. When I gets dere I throws dat over mah left shouldah. When I throw dat in de rivah ovah mah left shouldah. I throws a silvah dime behind me, an' dat'll make her drift. She'll pine away to nuthin an' when yo' look again, why she'll be in de cemetery.
(Well, what do you throw over your shoulder?)
[I know, but I am continuing for the dime later.]
I throw 'er pieces ovah my shouldah.
(Oh! What do you mean, her monthly pieces?)
Yes, sir.
(Her monthly pieces?)
Yes.
(Well, why do you throw that dime over your shoulder?)
Dat dime is fo' death. Dat dime is to carry her on - see, dat dime is to carry her on. She's got to go.
(Does anybody get that dime? Pay her?)
[Informant already has said that dime is: for death, but I am trying to obtain a fuller statement without suggesting what I want - the dime pays the spirit for doing the desired work.] No, no, sir, nobody gets dat dime. Dat dime goes in de rivah. Nobody gets dat dime.
Entry 3969
Ah tell yo' anothah thin' - jes' lak if yore wife goin' wit a man an' yo' try tuh make her stay home an' not run around so much, an' yo' say, "Well, ah druthah see her daid den tuh be wit anybody else." An' when, yo' know her periods is on. Well, yo' know womens gen'a'ly [generally] have a little sack dat dey put de intahco'se rags in an' thin's lak dat. Yo' wait until yuh git a good fresh piece she jes' pull off, see. Jes' take dat an' squeeze jes' as much of dat out as yuh kin in a little ole cup, or sompin whut chew ain't goin' use no mo'. Stop dat up in a bottle jes' as tight as yo' kin, an' yuh go tuh de rivah where de rivah's goin' out [with the tide] an' throw it jes' as fur as yuh kin git it in de middle an' tell 'er, "Go, yo' damn son-of-a-bitch." See! Won't be long 'fore she be gone cuz dat'll stop it - bam! - on 'er. See, she won't become umwell any mo'.
Entry 3970
If yo' got one [a woman] on hand an' vanta git rid of 'er, git some of 'er period, ministrate, an' put it in a bottle an' carry it to a runnin' stream an' bury it right on de bank of it, an' dat'll put 'er mind tuh vanderin'. An' jes' lak dat she'll be gone.
(She'll leave you.)
Entry 3971
Dere a man, his wife wuz runnin' roun', an' aftah she got de ronin' fit, she didn't want 'im. An' he wuz wondahin' how would he do tuh make her wanta leave 'em off. So he jes' got tuh thinkin' roun' an' he said, "Well, ah'll know whut ah'll do." He says, "Ah'll git even wit 'er. Ah'll put 'er away." So he got a li'le dirt outa her laig track - got dat. Den he got a li'le of 'er monthly periods an' he put dat in a bottle, an' he stopped it up an' he taken dat tuh runnin' watah. He taken it down dere about sundown, right aftah it wuz dark, an' it wuz tied dere. An' as long as dat bottle bobbled [bobbed] on de watah, her mind would go. An' she finely [finally] went until she run crazy. Huh mind run clean away from huh. An' he nevah seen [her] from dat day he did dat until she died.
Entry 3972
If a man gits tired of a woman an' wan'a git out 'er way an' wan'a make her leave town, he'd go to work an' take dat sanitary cloth - yo' know whut dat is - if he kin git holt it, be wise 'nuff an' [get] hol' dat sanitary cloth. Take dis cloth, go 'cross any runnin' stream of watah an' bury it, he'll nevah have no trouble wit 'er in dat town or country or village or wheresomevah she live. [A part of this woman's spirit (the blood and the cloth that touched her), which can be the whole of her spirit (see margin title PART OF THE SPIRIT EQUALS WHOLE OF SPIRIT, p.21), has been carried across running Water. Her spirit can- not come back across this running water. Besides, her spirit was buried. What remains of.this woman will either try to join the other part of her spirit across water, or the ensuing spiritual conflict will soon kill her.]
Entry 3973
Dey tell me if yo' take one of woman's 'pearance rags, yo undahstan', while she ministratin', an' take it an' ball it up an' take it down to a running stream of watah an' throw it in it, dat runs her crazy.
(In what way will it make her lose her mind?)
Make her lose her mind, yeah.
Entry 3979
An' den yo' kin take de ministration blood, or eithah when a man have a connection wit a woman, jes' if yo' kin ketch dat. Yo' jes' ketch dat an' take it an' put it in a bottle, an' stop it up tight an' throw it into de runnin' watah, an' dat'll run 'em crazy.
(You don't do anything with the blood?)
Yeah, yo' kin do it wit dat.
(Oh, you do a woman the same way with her blood.)
Yes sir. [Florence, S. Car., (1324), 2268:9.] [As always in a section like URINE, more material is scattered through the text of HooDoO. What we have here will give us a general idea regarding the vastness of the subject. These rites are given in alphabetical order.]
Entry 4040
Use some cloth dat yuh have, if de party don't wash fo' yuh. Nobody'll evah wash fo' yuh, dey can't make yuh move out, 'cept come tuh yuh do' roun' five a'clock in de mawnin' an' throw de night- watah roun' de do' see. An' dey put salt in de night-watah, yuh see. Dat's fer tuh make 'em move out - an' de smell of de watah. Den yuh go an' dig up some dust an' put on de watah in de back of de house, an' taken some turpentine an' throw it on top of it, an' yuh cannot go.
(That is, if you don't do it, it will make you move.)
Yes, [if] yuh leave it stan' out dere.
(I.see. But if you do that, they can't make you move. I see.)
An' if anybody comes tuh yuh an' tell yuh dey comin' tuh 'rest [arrest] yuh fer dat crime, [you] say, "Dey won't come here." Yuh take yuh a mouthful of cold watah, undahstan', an' take a mouthful of hot watah behind dat wit a little salt in it. Salt in de hot watah aftah drinkin' de cold watah an' walkin' in acircle. AH'M GIVIN' YUH FAX [facts].
Entry 4129
Yo' kin take yore chambah watah an' put it in a little bit of watah. Jis' lak someone comin' to yore house dat chew think a lot of an' wants dem tuh love yo', yo' take dat an' put it in a little watah an' stir it up - not put enough in dere dat dey kin tell it. An' jis' keep doin' dat an' dey'll come to de place dat dey'll think a lot of yo'.
Entry 4148
Yo' watch dere where dey makes watah. Yo' go dere an' git dat li'le hole where dey make it. Jis' git dat li'le hole an' carry it on back wit yo' an' sew it up. An' stop it up [in something] an' carry it tuh runnin' watah an' dat'll stop dem up.
(How do you mean, stop them up?)
It stop 'em from - jis' lak de bottle will - stop 'em from makin' watah jis' lak de bottle will.
Entry 4149
A woman will take an' wet, pee on de groun', an' dere's be lak a hole. See, yo' take dat hole an' stop it up in a bottle an' throw it in a runnin' stream of watah, an' she can't pee.
Entry 4294
( On a Friday mawnin' befo' de sun rise.
(Yes?)
Yuh kin buy some [kind of] oil, use yuh chamber lye - don't evah empty yuh chamber lye [don't throw it away uselessly] - an' what yuh wash yuh face wit [water]. Mix dat [water] wit yuh chamber lye an' dis oil. An' scrub yuh house wit it - dress yuh house wit it in de mawnin', an' den at noontime right at twelve a'clock on a Fri- day. But be sure tuh scrub yuh house an' use it wit dat - dat's de inside. But in de mawnin' yuh-use dat prakly [practically] on yuh front.
(I see. What kind of oil is this, they get?)
Secret.
(Secret oil?)
Yeah.
(Secret oil. I see. And that's to keep the law away.)
[The oil is identified later.]
Dat's protection where yuh are at.
(What else do they do outside in the morning?)
[Scrub] yuh steps an' right on yuh sidewalk, right in front of yuh do'.
(And then [at noon on Friday] you scrub inside?)
Yes, sir. [Here I stop my recording machine to prepare for a repetition of details a clearer account of the rite.]
(All right.)
[We start all over again.]
In de mawnin's when yuh wash yuh face an' han's, well yuh slop jar dat yuh use durin' de night, jis' yuh po's dat [face-and-hands] watah intuh it. Den add dat oil intuh de same pot.
[There are the 3 ingredients of the "scrub".]
(What kind of oil was that?)
Cedar.
[We had worked out the oil problem while machine stopped.]
(Cedar oil, all right. Now, go ahead.)
In de mawnin's den, yuh use it right in front of yuh do'.
(What mornings?)
Well, dat's on Friday mawnin', but prakly evah mawnin' in front.
(I see.)
But de [main thing] is Friday mawnin' an' in yuh house. It's Friday at noon dat yuh scrub inside. (I see. You said you scrub your outside in the morning and the inside about noon.) Yes sir, on Fridays.
[The special inside scrubbing on Friday is for weekend customers.]
(I see.)
[Here after stopping machine, I decide to ask a question about protection.]
Use dat same oil.
(Cedar oil?)
Yes sir, dat same oil in de same way. Put it intuh a bottle an' shuttin' it real airtight [demonstrates] an' bury it. (Jerk the bottle from you [and bury it at the door to keep anyone from harming you].)
Entry 4341
Dey take yuh urine an' dey put it in a bottle. Aftah dey put dat urine in a bottle, dey'll stop it up wit a rubbah cork [rubber cork is unusual]. Yuh'll stop dat bottle up wit a rubbah cork an' care [carry] it tuh de Mississippi, tuh de rivah yuh know - tuh any rivah where dere's runnin watah, so it only runnin' watah - an' throw it in dere. Dat'll stop yuh from urinatin'.
Entry 4347
Tuh work in [on] yuh mind, cause yuh tuh lose yuh mind or somepin like dat, why dey could git hold of yuh - well, if dey git hold of yuh urine or any- thin' of dat kind, why dey will put it into a bottle. An' dey carry it tuh runnin' watah an' dey throw it in dere. An' by washin' it dataway, why it takes yuh mind from yuh, cause yuh tuh become mindless.
(Do they throw that any special way or just throw it in?)
Yeah, dey claim dey throw it towards de east.
Entry 4358
I've seen this experimented to get rid of a man. I mean to make him leave town. Get a little of his urine, be sure it's all his, put it in a bottle, get a cigar box, put it in that, and one of his socks, just one of his socks, in the box, let it be dirty, wrap that box up, wrap it just the same as a piece of paper, throw it in running water so it'll go down the stream, it will not sink, and he'll leave town. Both the bottle and sock in there.
Entry 4501
Jes' like yuh wanta have control an' influence ovah people. Aftah yuh wash yuh face an' han's, jes' throw it out de front [door] an' make a wish. Wish tuh be successful in yuh wishes - of being, like man- agin' an' gettin' dere mind in influence.
Entry 4506
An' throw it [bath water] in runnin' watah an' yuh'll drift - you'd drift, you'd drift from dere. (You throw my bath water into the water?) Yeah, in de watah, in de runnin' watah. (I see.) Dat's tuh put yuh on a draa tuh drift an' wandah. Yuh won't be satisfied no place. Yuh drift.
Entry 4509
Dey take dis watah dat yuh bath in, if dey wanted tuh hurt cha. Dey git holt of dis watah dat yo' bath in. Dey take an' make some sea watah an' mix it wit it, dis watah yuh bath in, an' dig a hole durin' de night an' po' it down in dere. Dat'll put yuh down in bed.
Entry 4528
(How do they fix the sweatband?)
Well, dey'll git dese diff'ren' spidahs an' gran'daddies [see laterl an' all lak dat. Dey'll poison 'em [the victim]. An' dey'll put 'em in a little watah an' cook dem. An' when yuh lay yuh hat down, dey'll take it an' wet all undah yuh hatban' [sweatband] good in front. An' when yuh git out an' git tuh sweatin', an' dat hatban' git sweatin' yuh know, dat thing goin' a-mix wit yore sweat. When dat sweat run down in yuh eyes - an' dat'll run yo' blin'. [Granddaddy = daddy longlegs = a harvestman or arachnid of the order Phalangida.]
Entry 4532
Dey kin git 'is sweatban' too an' give him anothah spell. Git 'is sweatban' outa his hat an' put it in a bottle. Yassuh [yes sir], take a bottle an' put it in a bottle, an' put a cork stoppah in dis heah bottle an' fasten it up an' keep dat ban'. Jes' roll dis heah ban' up real tight de way yuh fold it back double. Twist it real tight an' put it in a bottle. Put some hot watah in it. Let it be jes' hot enough not tuh break yuh bottle, an' let it set in dere. An' den dey go take dis heah den an' put it in de rivah, any kinda watah dat watah runs ovah. Dat'll give him anothah feeble mine [mind].
Entry 4703
Well, dey kin take dat bow an' dey kin put it in a piece of cloth, anythin' dey wanta put it in. Take dat bow an' carry it to runnin' watah an' dey kin throw it in dat. Long as dat bow stay in dat runnin' watah, yuh will be runnin'.
Entry 4705
Well dey say dey takes dat bow. Take dat bow out an' dey puts dat in Hearts Cologne. Aftah dey put it in Hearts Cologne, git it in somepin airtight where no watah cain't git in it. Dey put it [in] sompin lak a rivah dat's runnin' an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah, make yore wish an' walk away from it an' don't look back. Dey say dey'll go crazy. (That is to make that person go crazy? Who owned the hat that the bow came from?) Yes.
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 4707
Dey take dat little bow out chure hat an' carry it an' put it down to de edge of de rivah an' tie it wit a string, an' jis' like dat watah is raisin' dat bow in dat hat, dat de way yuh hair will be raisin', long as somebody don't git dat bow. Yuh will be sick in yuh haid an' yuh wouldn't nevah come tuh yuh right senses no mo'. But de sweatban' of yuh hat is jis' like dat, jis' about de same [you can do the sweatband the same way].
Entry 4708
Yuh take de little bow. Yuh take de little bow an', if they kin git it out of dere jis' as it's in, dey take dat bow an' dey'll make what chew call a twist. Yuh see, if dey kin twist it like dey want, tuh keep from tyin' it, dey'll twist it. An' if dey kin git de edges, de ends, de way dey want it, dey take dem ends an' dey twists until dey cut - till dat end is jis' as thin as one stran' of yore hair, jis' by twisting it, but it'll be locked. [The weave of the bow will still be there, twisted into one thin string.] It'll be locked an' yuh twist till it gits thin as one stran' of yore hair. Now, if yuh leave [you do leave] a hole in between, see [demonstrates].] Now, yuh leave dat hole in between dere an' yuh take an' yuh git yuh a stick, an' yuh cut dat stick as roun' as yuh kin an' yuh put dat hair [twisted bow] on dat stick. When yuh put dat hair [twisted bow] on dat stick, yuh put it in de centah of de stick. Put dat hair [twisted bow] in de centah of dat stick an' carry it tuh where dey got runnin' watah, an' yuh take an' yuh hang - yuh git chew a string an' yuh put it on each end of de stick an' yuh let it hang in dat runnin' watah, but don't sink, yuh see. Evah day yuh go dere, evah twenty-fo' hours, see, yuh go dere. When yuh go, yuh let down on dat, see. Yuh let it down evah time - evah twenty-fo' hours yuh go an' yuh let it down until de length of yore thread would give out, which would be about two feets of string dat yuh would have on each end of de stick. See. An' when dat thread give out, yuh see, yuh go an' yuh give de same party dat yuh got dere hair [twisted bow] you git dem, an' yuh carry 'em jis' about two blocks tuh dis runnin' watah. See. Well, when yuh carry dem de two blocks tuh dis runnin' watah where yuh got dere hair at - see, dey goin' tuh go wit chew all right, dey'll have good intentions. Dey'll go, but when dey git jis' about two blocks from dere, dey ain't goin' tuh go. Dis party, dey goin' tuh turn aroun' an' come back. See. Now, when dey come back, yuh know yuh got 'em den. Dey goin' tuh come back. Don't beg 'em, don't force 'em tuh go at all. If dey want tuh come back, let 'em come back, but dey goin' tuh come back dere own indi- vidual self. Dey'll come back demself tuh see what it's all about. Dey'll jis' have - yuh want tuh lead 'em tuh come back, see. An' dey'll go dere an' dey'll set. Set right dere an' dey goin' tuh wondah maybe fo' days an' days, jis' stay dere wit'out nuthin tuh eat or nuthin, maybe prob'ly sleep. People will be won- dahin' where dey at, wondahin' what's de mattah, tellin' 'em dey're makin' a tramp of yoreself an' all sech things as dat, but dey won't know what it's all about, see. But dey'll stay dere as long as dat hair is dere an' until he die. He would not move from dere - starve tuh death.
[I stop recording to ask a question or two, then start machine again.]
I'm got it on a stick.
(The little bow from the hat?)
Yes, I'm got it on a stick, see.
(What about the hair?)
I'm talkin' about de bow of hair - yuh see, de hair an' de bow.
(Talking about the hair and the bow?)
I'm got it wrapped up on de stick, yuh see. I'm got it wrapped up an' I'm got a hole in dere an' I'm got de stick. Yuh see here?
(Yes.)
I'm got dat stick 'tween dat dataway an' I've thread on each end of it - jis' about two [feet on each end].
(You've got hair in that bow?)
I'm got de hair in dere.
(Oh!)
Yes.
(And did you put a hole in the stick or did you split the stick?)
De stick is not split, I'm only got de stick. Yuh see like dis here ridge in mah fingah [demonstrates]. I'm got de stick. I only got a ridge [groove] jis' all de way round it dataway.
(I see.)
An' I'm got thread on each end of it. See [demonstrates], on each end I'm got jis' about two feets of thread - on each end of de stick. (And you hold the stick over the water and it swings? You hold it and it swings over the water?) Yes, jis' let it swing. But evah twenty-fo' hours, evah twenty-fo' hours, go dere an' lowah it down until de two yards - or rathah de fo' yards of thread is gived out. Undahstan' (I see. YOU HAVE THIS BOW WRAPPED AROUND THAT STICK THEN? THAT YOU LOWERED DOWN IN THE WATER?) Yes, sir.
(I see.)
[This informant is not lying, he has a confused mind - often from long addic- tion to alcohol. Versions of this rite - lowering or floating objects in running Water - occur elsewhere in HOODOO.]
Entry 4709
She likes yuh very much an' she wants tuh keep yuh. Well, she takes dat bow out see, an' she puts dat in a rag. She puts it in 'er mattress an' keeps it. She do dat in ordah tuh keep yuh. An' if yuh go away from 'er, evah time yuh go tuh go across watah, why it will cuz yore head tuh have an ache in yore head all de time. [That hat bow contains a part of the man's spirit and therefore his whole spirit (see HooDOO p.21). A spirit cannot cross water (see FACI, 2nd ed., p.754, and several places in HOODOO).l (If you go across water, you will get a headache; then, while she has this bow tied up in the mattress, you will come back to her.)
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 4823
Now you can take a piece of the oldest lamb, a piece of his right ear, and get that.blood and get a piece of her garment and stain it. And get nine ten-cent pieces and take and carry them to a muddy branch, and make a fold of this piece of garment and bury it [blood stained garment about 9 dimes] in the muddy branch, and she'll just follow you anywhere.
Entry 4859
I heard also that if you have something against a person and you want to harm the person, you take some of their clothes and throw it in the river and it will run the person crazy. [Snow Hill, Md., (85, a school teacher from near Richmond, Va.), 1:4,5.]
Entry 4866
Yuh take a piece of yuh garment dat choo weah nex' tuh yuh skin, an' go tuh a runnin' stream of watah, an' wade in dere up tuh yuh knee, an' take dis piece of garment an' tie it tuh.one dem roots down in de watah, where it will stay undahneat', yuh know. Dat'll drive yuh away from home.
Entry 4867
Dey tell me dat if yuh wanta drive a person away wit dey own clothes, dat yuh kin take an' care it tuh a runnin' stream. An' take a stave an' stob
[or stahb] it up through de [mud]
an' let it stay down on de mud at de bottom wheresomevah dat it hit. An' whensomevah dat it stay dere an' rot, an' keep afraging away, dat dey will jis' be walkin' - driftin' de balance of yuh days.
(They drive that down into the mud with the stave.)
Entry 4930
Yuh take yore stockin' - if de man wants a woman, he takes 'er right- footed stockin' an' he'll put a frog, a life toadfrog, an' he'll put dat frog in dat stockin', tie him up in dere, carry 'im tuh de sunpo'ch[!] an' put 'im right undah de steps, right in de centah of de steps an' bury it, bury dat right down dere. (This man puts the toadfrog in her right-foot stocking and buries it right in the center of the steps. Is that all he needs to do?) An' den git holt of candy or dope or sompin an' wear it. Yuh kin tote de stockin' but yuh have tuh tote de stockin' wit'out de frog in yore pocket.
(But what would that do then, after you bury that stocking under the step?)
That will hold 'er undah 'is - not 'er, but undah his'n feet. Dat keeps 'er.
(What did he do with his pee?)
Kin take dat - if she drinks whiskey or dope or anythin', give her some chqmber lye in dat. Dat will change her, dat'll keep 'er. Dat stockin' an' all dat goes tuhgethah. De stockin', yuh kin take it den - de stockin', yuh kin take dat an' de frog, an' yuh kin put 'em tuhgethah in - kin carry 'em tuh watah an' throw 'em ovah- bo'd. Dat will [make] 'em leave yuh.
(You keep that live frog in the stocking?)
Dat's right, dat'll make 'em leave.
Entry 4985
Yes, dere some work dat people do wit 'em, an' jis' say fo' instan' if maybe yo' wan'a man jis' de same as yo' say jis' awhile ago. If a woman wan'a man tuh leave 'er, she take 'is socks an' carry 'em tuh a stream of watah. In othah words, wit de same thing, de rattlesnake mastah. Ain't de rattlesnake mastah, but dey calls it de rattlesnake mastah - but it supposed tuh be a mastah of all roots an' herbs in de woods. An' if yo' place his name on dat in 'is sock, he compel- led tuh go. But de reason ah spoke of de same jis' awhile ago, if yo' want me tuh move from nex' do', yo' could quickah git mah track den yo' could mah sock, see.
Entry 4993
Dey take a woman's stockin', bran'-new stockin', aftah she'd wo' [wore] it one time. An' yuh git hol' dof [hold of] it an' put it in runnin' watah. Why she'd leave an' would nevah come back where yuh at. (Either stocking?) Dey take de both stockin's.
Entry 5035
Yo' kin take a man's sock an' run 'im, an' yo' kin take a wo- man's stockin' an' fix it an' run 'er wit it. Yo' take 'em an' yo' put dat sulphur an' red peppah an' table salt [three ingre- dients] - dat whut dey tell me yo' do - an', yo' know, roll it up in some new white homespun. Well, yo' take dat an' throw it in runnin' watah an' dey com- pelled tuh follah dat stockin' yo' see. An' jis' wherevah it lodges, dat's where dey'll lodge.
Entry 5038
Yuh could fix 'em diff'ren' ways in dat if yuh got dere stockin' or anythin', cuz dere [they are] dark stockin'. Well dey - well yuh take a dirty sock or stockin' from 'em like dat. Well dey got dirt in dere. Yuh could take dat dirt an' if yuh want tuh do 'em harm, yuh could take it an' bury it or do anythin' yuh want wit it - jis' depend what yuh wan'a do it fo'. See, dat's how dey do's wit dat. Now, yuh could take her socks or stockin's from a woman an' run 'er crazy wit it.
(How would you do that?)
Well, yuh see, yuh take her stockin' an' it got dirt in it. Yuh git a piece of 'er hair an' yuh sew it up wit what yuh call dis fast luck [perfume or powder] an' sew it up tight. Yuh walk tuh any creek or any runnin' watah - an' sew it up tight - an' when yuh walk back from down tuh de creek or anywhere de running [water] is, yuh jis' turn backwards an' make three wishes - any wishes yuh want. Jis' like if yuh wanta run 'er in dat fast watah or run 'er out of town, or run 'er any part of de worl' dat yuh feel like. Jis' make de wishes fo' dat. Throw it backwards. Walk nine steps befo' dat yuh evah look back tuhward dat watah. Jis' long as dat turnin' in de water, she go on.
(You mean, you throw it over your left shoulder?)
Yeah, ovah yore lef' shouldah an' walk nine steps befo' yuh evah look back. But yuh make de three wishes, jis' de wishes yuh want.
Entry 5055
Now de woman is gone, she's gone. She jis' pick up 'erself an' gone out. She boun' tuh leave somepin in dere. Now, dat's whut she lef' in dere - dat be a cloth, a blood cloth. Well, yuh might ketch it. She might leave dat. Well, yuh ketch dat an' yuh kin take dat an' bury dat. Now, dat stockin' when she leaves, yuh take dat stockin'. Don' pin it up lak by de laig, yuh pin it up by de toe, yuh undahstan'. Yuh git chew a bran'- new - a pack of bran'-new safety pins, but don' take an' let dat git away from yuh. Jis' keep dat perfec' [perfect] fo' dat. Take it an' shove it [pin] back dere, right in de stockin' foot.
(Where do you hang it up?)
In yore dressah or in yore chiffahrobe [chifforobe], or whutsomevah yuh got. Yuh got'a hang it in dere, but hang it upside down. Now de name. Write her name nine times. Now yuh take an' yuh write de name an' yuh put dat in a bottle. Write de name nine times comin' tuh yuh all de time, not goin' from yuh, comin' tuh yuh nine times. Yuh fol' dat an' yuh put dat in a bottle. Yuh git chew some lodestone an' put dat in dere in dat clear watah, an' carry dat tuh a rivah or bayou. Ah don' care where yuh carry it; tuh de creek or anywhere. Don't set it up, turn dat down. When yuh turn dat down, dat bottle goin' turn lak dis [demonstrates]. Turn comin' tuh yuh. De mouth of it will turn comin' tuh yuh all de time. It's be comin' tuh yuh an' it'll be goin'. In nine days yuh'll see 'em right dere. [Algiers, La., (193, 2993:2.]
Entry 5066
Take a man's sock or eithah a woman's sock an' wash it. Jis' take it an' put it in boilin' watah an' boil it. Wash it out an' take dat boilin' watah an' airtight it, an' put it undah de do'step an' dey'll nevah leave yuh.
(You take this water from the dirty socks?)
Yessuh, de dirty watah, an' he'll nevah leave yuh.
Entry 5076
If it's possible dey kin git intuh yore room an' git one of yore socks, dey kin easily have yuh go away. It's GOTTA BE DIRTY, though - GOTTA HAVE SOME OF DE MOISTURE FROM YORE BODY IN IT. An' dey take it an' fold it an' put it in a cloth, sew it up an' put it intuh a runnin' stream of watah an' dat will carry yuh away.
(That would send me out of the house.)
Entry 5079
Tuh make 'em leave town ah've heard people tell how yuh do dat. Yuh take de lef' sock, an' take some of yore [foot] track an' put in one of yore lef' socks, an' carry it tuh watah dat's runnin' west an' throw it ovah- bo'd. An' dey say in nine mawnin's dey'll be gone.
Entry 5080
(Get a piece of the garment?)
De sock.
(Of the person who is gone?)
Yes, an' he takes it NOT LARGAH DEN A POCKET HAN'KE'CH'EF. Taken dat piece not largah den a pocket han'ke'ch'ef an' take it tuh a runnin' stream of watah, tuh where rock run ovah - a stream from nature, earth, dat run ovah rocks. Wash it three times an' fold it up when it's wet, an' po'l vinegah ovah it, an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some li'le clay. Wrap it tight, real tight, an' put it in brown papah, three layahs of brown papah, an' turn it, twist it, an' den put news- papah round it, an' burn de newspapah off it an' let de brown papah covah it. An' den take it aftah dat an' wrap it up in a flesh [soft] towel lak dat. A towellak dat, one dose turkish towels. Take an' bury it in red clay an' let it stay dere seven days, an' den move it. Aftah seven days yuh'll move it. An' when yuh move it, den go an' bury it right by de rock, by dat stream, an' let it stay dere 21 hours, an' den move it - throw it away. She'll be back in 21 days.
(Where would you throw that away?)
Anywhere.
Entry 5174
Well, now, de piece when yo' intendin' - when yo' wanta send 'em away, now yo'll take dat piece [insole] an' cut a piece out of it. An', yo' know, yo' have tuh talk tuh it in a diff'ren' way all de time. Well, when yo' take dat piece out de shoe, yo'll git de lef' foot. An' when yo' take dat outa dat, dat's de same as 'is [foot] track. An' yo' take dat out an' den yo' git chew nine of dese fo'- cornahed nails, ah jis' call 'em. An' den yo' git chew a piece of thread an yo' tie all nine of dem nails. Yo' tie 'em tuhgethah. An' when yo' tie dem tuh- gethah, den yo' git a piece of shame brier [see p.646], an' yo' wrop dat tuh- gethah. An' den yo' put it in a blue bottle or a green one, eithah one lak dat, but let it be dark. An' yo' kin throw it in any runnin' watah. He cain't he'p from leavin', he got'a follah dat. (Now about those nails. You wrap those nails up in this piece of the old shoe. That the idea?) Yessuh, jis' a li'le piece whut yo' got outa de ole shoe, but yo' let 'em set a li'le while. An' den, when yo' set it dere, all yo' have tuh do, throw dem ovah yore lef' shouldah an' it go in dat watah. Yo' see, dey goin' as fur as dat watah run. Dey follahs den an' dey compelled tuh go in dat direction.
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 5238
De inside sole from yo' shoe - dat little piece yo' walk on - dey cuts three holes right in de centah. Now dat's if yo' wanta, yo' kin drive a person or yo' kin hold a person wit it. If yo' wanta drive 'em, yo' got'a fix it in sompin light [weight], an' put it in runnin' watah wheres it will jis' keep agoin'. An' if yo' wanta keep 'em, yo' take dat an' bury it at chure home.
(Do you take both those inner soles?)
One, de lef' one. DAT'S WONDAHFUL FOOT, DE LEF' ONE.
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 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 5289
Dey take dat left shoe of yores an' burn it, an' git de ashes an' stop it up, an' put it in runnin' watah. Yo' drown.
(What do you stop it up in?)
Stop it up in a bottle.
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 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 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.
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 5296
Eithah one of yo' shoes, take de inside sole of dat shoe. He takes a knife an' he'll chip it up real fine, an' he'll take some sulphur an' some black peppah, an' he'll mix it all tuhgethah. Aftah he mix it tuhgethah he'll take it an' carry it tuh a stream of watah dat's runnin'. An' he kin sprinkle de least bit of it in dat sole an' he cain't stay nowhere. He start tuh travel. He cain't be satisfied nowhere he goes.
Entry 5297
He uses track, same ah tell yo' tuh use tuh run a person off. Kin use de sweat out de bottom of yo' shoe, lak yo' use de innah sole out de bottom of yo' shoe, yo' know. Cain't have dat. Some people rathah have de track yo' know. (Like picking up your tracks.) (What would she do with that sweat out of the bottom of your shoe?) Scrape dat out an' put it in a li'le bottle wit some needles an' pins an' li'le graveyard dirt [3 ingredients] yo' know an' throw it in runnin' watah. Dat will send de man away.
(How many needles and pins does she put in there?)
Put three of each.
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 5313
Dey take yore tracks an' dey don't pick it up from yo' - [I mean] dey don't pick it up tuh yo', dey pick it from yo'. Pick it from yo'. An' dey take yore track an' put it intuh a jar. An' den dey says dey take it an' dey takes some antses, red antses, an' put dat in dere an' stop it up. An' aftah dey stop it up, dey takes it an carries it tuh some runnin' watah, an' cast it intuh de runnin' watah an' dat'll start chew tuh goin'. See de idea?
(Now what do you mean they take this track up from you?)
Take it up from yo' lak dis [demonstrates].
(You start at the heel and take it up like that. Both tracks?)
Take it up from yo' - jest one, dat's de right track. Dey put nine big red antses intuh yore track.
Entry 5328
Dey take yore foot track an' put it in a little bag, see. Throw it in derivah down de stream de way de rivah run. An' fur as de rivah carry dat, why yo' would go dat distant. Yo' would have tuh leave dat place wheresomevah yo' wus at.
Entry 5332
Dey take mah, yo' know, pick de dirt up. Ah'm walk- in' dis way an' co'se ah wuz told dat dey pick de dirt up of me goin' dis way [demonstrates].
(From the toe back to the heel.)
Yes, pick mah dirt up lak dat. Well, ah wuz told it wuz put intuh a red flannel cloth an' throwed intuh runnin' watah - BLACK RUNNIN' WATAH.
(Why black?)
Ah don' know about dat.
[This is my only example of black running water.]
(What did they do that for?)
Well, dat wuz tuh make me jes' travel an' wandah.
Entry 5341
Yo' put 'em tuh ramblin', see. Well, now, heah's whut ah mean by dat. Yo' takes a fresh hen aig see, an' hit will be jes' fresh laid. An' wheresom- evah yo' transfah [walk] at on de natchal [natural] groun', yo' take dat an' bury it in de hollah of dere track. See. An' yo'd be sho' [sure] not tuh bury it mo' den three inches deep, an' in place of rakin' de dirt ovah lak dat, yo' rake it ovah back tuhwards home, where yo' wan' 'em tuh come. See. See, yo' rake it back de way yo' wan' 'em tuh come. An' den yo' take dat an' yo' git chew cleah watah an' put it in nine bottles at chure home. An' yo' take dem bottles an' put 'em on a grate or heatah or whatsomevah yo' have, one at de time. An' have a co'k stoppah in dat [bottle] so it wouldn't burn out, an' dat would bust in dat fiah, see. An' dat will break dat trouble an' draw 'em back. (The woman, when he leaves home, she would get one of his foot tracks and put that egg in that foot track. Bury taht egg in that foot track. And after she does that, carries it back toward the house. Then she gets her nine bottles of clear water and puts one on the hearth...) Puts 'em dere one at de time.
(And each one must break.)
Each one must bust, explode, jes' pops.
(And after she has done nine of them, then he'll come back to her.)
Will come back. If he knew dat she wuz doin' dat an' he still wanta stay 'way an' not go, well he'd have a way tuh keep from doin' dat. Well, now, he'd do dat wit de same thing - salt. He'd burn dat salt and put it in a little bag, see, an' keep dat in his pocket. Dat would break dat.
Entry 5342
Ah've heard de story about, if you are angry with someone or somepin... ah've heard people say, mah mothah an' oldah people say, dat people have told 'er about, dat yo' kin take dis dirt where de person walks. Take dat dirt out of dere track an' put it in a bottle an' throw at in runnin' watah, an' dey'll lose dere mind. [Snow Hi11, Md., (86), 4:8.]
Entry 5349
He'll take yore track - yo' know, jes' take it up right whole an' carry it away. An' aftah he carry it away, he'll take it an' he crumble it up, an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up right tight. See, dey put it in a bottle - takes it pinch by pinch aftah he gets it away, an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up right tight. Well, he'll take dat bottle an' bury dat bottle anywhere close by runnin' watah. Right close by runnin' watah, jes' don't put it in de runnin' watah. An' if yo' kin evah find where dat bottle is - or git somebody tuh tell yo' where dat bottle is. Or yo' kin git somebody tuh take it offa yo' an' turn it back on dem, an' dey'll know what it is, an' go an': git de bottle deyself. (So, what is that supposed to do to you, if that bottle is buried with that track? What will that do to you?) Well, it will jes' dwindle yo' down - drag, dwindle yo' down. Yo' can't walk. Dwindle yo' down till yo' jes' go all away tuh nuthin, till yo' git so weak yo' jis' die.
Entry 5352
If yo' take up a man's track an' put nine buckshot in a little piece of cloth wit dat track, an' go tuh runnin' watah an' walk off five steps from de stream, an' den walk backwards an' chunk it ovah yore lef' shouldah - let him go.
(Which track do you get?)
Either one, jes' so it's dey track.
(Do you get that any particular way out of there?)
Grab it from de toe an' drag it back tuh de heel.
(And you put it with nine buckshots into this little cloth.)
Yes.
Entry 5367
Yo' takes a person an' yo' wanta drive 'em or any- thin' lak dat, yo' gits de hollah outa his left foot - a pinch of sand. Yo' takes dat an' yo' dress it. Yo' takes it an' gits chew a BUZZARD feathah. Clips it dis way. Takes dat sand. [I want a better demonstration.] (How do you clip that buzzard feather?) Yo' cut it dat way [demonstrates]. (Oh, you cut it sort of a diagonal way. You don't have the bone sticking out? Cut off that bone sticking out there.) An' put dat sand in dere an' den yo' slips it back on dere an' go tuh runnin' watah. In seven days he's gone. (In other words, you clip that buzzard feather right in half and then you put that sand inside the quill. And then he's gone, when you throw that in running water.) Yes, in seven days he'll leave town.
Entry 5368
Dey tell me yo' kin [take] de hollah of de foot track, airtight it in a can an' throw it intuh runnin' watah, an' it will make yo' walk away.
(You use either track?)
De left-foot track.
Entry 5371
Yo' kin take a person's foot track an' ran 'em away. Well, perhaps some time we cain't find 'em [tracks] an' sometimes it be's so dat we cain't git de dirt from undah 'is track. Yo' might watch an' see jes' he put his feet on de concrete. Yo' kin take a clean pocket han'- ke'ch'ef an' yo' kin go dere an' jes' wipe dat track tuh yo' - wipe dat track tuh yo'. An' den yo' kin take dat han'ke'ch'ef an' yo' kin take it home. Set down wit it an' buy yo' a bran'-new box of red cayenne peppah, an' yo' kin take a teaspoon of dat cayenne peppah an' tie in de - yo' might say in de east corner of dat han'ke'- ch'ef. Dat track is all ovah dat han'ke'ch'ef [because] quite natchly [naturally] yo' wipe it lak dat, see. An' yo' take dat teaspoon of cayenne peppah an' yo'tie hit up in dere wit 'is name wrote. Yo' cross 'is name an' yo' tell 'im tuh go an' yo' put a bad name - yo' put a bad word tuh hit, on dere name. '[Bad name] an' ah wish yo'd go an' don' stay nowhere yo' go in peace." An' tie it up an' carry it tuh de rivah 'fore de sunrise. Throw it in runnin' watah an' he'll leave.
Entry 5375
Dey take de dirt out of a right-foot track, an' yo' take it an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' cuss de person an' tell 'em tuh leave out of town. (Get the dirt from the right foot track?) Yes.
Entry 5376
Ah heard 'em say dat dey kin git chure right-foot track an' run yo' 'way from town. Dey kin take chure right-foot track an' sprinkle some cayenne peppah in dat dirt an' mix it up good. Take it tuh a stream of runnin' watah an' jes' throw it in de watah an' jes' cuss. Make a mean cussword an' pitch dat sand in de watah an' walk off from it an' don't look back at it.
(You pitch it up over your shoulder?)
Dat's it, up ovah de shouldah. Jes' pitch it an' don' even look back at it, jes' walk on off from dere.
Entry 5392
Well, now if dey picked chure track up goin' de same direction dat chew goin', an' take it an' 'vide [divide] it up in a li'le vial, wrap it right nice in some cloth, an' take it tuh runnin' watah an' throw it ovah dey shouldah, an' let it run on - an' dat watah runnin' east - why yo'll keep a-goin'. But if dey git in front de track an' snap it back tuhwards de heel, an' brings it back an' preserves it, tighten it up tight an' bury it undah de steps, why dat'll bring yo' back an' yo'll stay dere. (This water must be running east, you say, and you throw it over either shoulder?) Yassuh, throw it ovah yore right shouldah.
Entry 5395
Take dere track don't chew know an' stick it - an' put all of it in a bottle. An' den aftah yo' git it in a bottle, yo' stop it up an' take a aig an' write de name - de individual's name on de aig an' bury it in de groun' an' call dem three times. An' take a bah [bar] of Octagon Soap [trade name] an' take off de top wrappah an' de othah [inner] wrappah. An' take yo' a nail an' write de name on de bah of Octagon Soap, an' wrap up dat slick thin' on it [rewrap soap in slick thin', inner wrap- per], don't chew know, an' throw it in runnin' watah an' dat will mun 'em.
(You do all these things together?)
Yes sir, dose tuhgethah.
(You throw all these things at once into running water?)
No sir. Yo' take de aig an' bury de aig roun' yore do'step. An' den git de bah Octagon Soap, don't chew know, an' take de top slip off an' den dat [presum- ably inner wrapper, but I interrupt].
(What do you do with that soap then?)
Take dat soap an' git chew a nail. Write de name of dat individual dat chew wanta run. An' den put dat slick thin' back on dere an' throw it intuh runnin' watah.
(And what do you do with the foot track?)
Take hit an' stick it in a bottle an' throw it in de watah too.
(You do all these things together?)
Yes sir. Hit concludes tuhgethah.
(What do you bury that egg for?)
Bury dat egg tuh make 'em go. [To bury the preceding egg in the ground to send a person away looks more like a rite to hold the person. Yet similar burial rites with the same purpose will be found in Hoodoo. As always, intention is everything. Here the egg belongs to a tripartite rite; the other two parts being definitely send away rites. Is the egg a possible recall rite? If the sender away regrets the sending away, the egg stands ready to bring back the person. We must also note the egg has a double dressing; the name written on it, and the name called 3 times.]
Entry 5397
Ah tell yo' whut she could do. She could even take dat track an' git a aig an' she could take dat track an' put some sugah in it an' push it down in a aig an' carry it an say three words to it - curse it [with three words] an' throw dat aig on dat sun- rise. An' yo'll go. She'll git rid of yo' jis' lak dat. Ah mean not sunrise, tuh sundown, in some runnin'.watah. Dat's right in runnin' watah. An' she goin' git rid of yo'.
(She can take any track you say?)
No suh, got'a take yore lef' track, de one nex' of yore heart - yo' know on de lef' side. An' put dat track intuh a aig... (Well, does she take that track up when I am leaving her house or coming or what?) Goin' from 'er. She'll rake dat track from 'er. An' den she'll walk on tuh it an' pick it up.
Entry 5401
Git chure track when yo' go outa dere house. Go out an' take yo' a aig an' bust it an' keep dat skin on de inside de shell. An' take dat 'ere [= dere = there] track, take dat dirt up an' put it in dere, an' carry it tuh a stream of runnin' watah an' throw dat in. Dat 'ere is tuh keep a person from yore house, too.
(What will that do to them if I throw that in running water?)
Dat jes' tuh keep 'em goin'.
(Which foot track do you take up, either one?)
Eithah one of 'em.
(And you put it into this eggshell?)
Yessuh, jes' keep dat shell all tuhgethah an' jes' git dat air [= dere = there] - yo' know, dat egg outa de shell. (You make a little hole in the egg and get all that stuff out inside. Then you put this foot track in the egg. Any kind of an egg? Chicken egg?) Yes.
Entry 5402
Say yo' could take any kinda chicken aig an' make 'em move. Ah heah yo' could take a black chicken aig an' sees where dey walk, an' git dere track an' crack de aig, an' put de track in dis aig an' carry it to de runnin' watah, an' throw it ovah in dere an' dey be goin' off.
Entry 5409
Yo' take yore fingahs lak dis an' draw back from de end of de toe, back tuh de heel an' git de track, if yo' kin git de right foot. An' tie it up an' take it tuh a runnin' stream of watah an' - a new piece of home- spun - an' make yore wishes an' throw it ovah yore right shoul- dah. An' walk away an' not look back aftah it. An' dat would make yo' be in love wit 'im right on, make him come back tuh yo'. If he quitted yo' or sompin lak dat, yo' could do dat. (You just get his foot track between your two fingers, your index finger and little finger. Of the right hand.) Yeah. Say dat would draw 'im back. If yo' wanted tuh run 'im or drive [him away], say yo'd take yore lef' han' an' make bad wishes.
Entry 5426
Dey goes tuh de fo'ks of a road an' gits de track of a person. Lak yo' pass by dere, dey git chure track, eithah of dose track. Dey'll git nine tracks, nine steps yo' make, an' dey'll git from de hollah [hollow] of yore feet tuh de toe goin' dat way. Dey'll bottle dat up an' throw it in de sea - in de swamp where it runnin' watah, an' dey shoot yo' right in behin' dat. Yo'll go right on behin' dat track, behin' dat bottle, an' yo'll nevah stop until dat bottle stops.
Entry 5434
Ah heard if yo' want someone tuh leave heah, yo' know yo' wan'a git rid of someone, an' dey way dey do, dey said dey'd git chure foot track from yore toes - git chure right-foot track from de toes an' bring it tuh yo'. An' yo' put it in a green gourd an' stop it up, an' go tuh runnin' watah, where dere's runnin' watah, an' throw it ovahbo'd. Throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah, ovahbo'd. An' dey say dat will shore run 'em away. Dey'll go somewheres.
Entry 5448
She will git 'is track an' go tuh de graveyard an' git some graveyard dirt an' put it in a piece of cloth, an' carry it tuh a rivah an' chunk it down de stream, an' tell 'im tuh go, an' he'll go.
Entry 5449
Take de foot track an' mix it wit sulphur an' put it in runnin' watah - an' graveyard dirt, an' dat will run 'em off.
(Either foot track?)
Well, it's best tuh git de lef', nex' tuh de heart.
Entry 5465
Well, DIS GRAVEYARD DIRT IS ALWAYS A DIRT TUH CARRY YO' AWAY OR SEND YO' OFF.
(How do you use it?)
Well, yo' takes it - yo' takes de graveyard dirt an' put a li'le sulphur wit it, yo' undahstan'. An' table salt. If a person roun' yo' dat chew wan'a move 'im, pick 'is track up an' put it wit dat. Jis' take 'is track if he's goin'. If yo' wan' 'im tuh go, jes' take an' walk in 'is room, jis' lak ah walked in heah; an' ah start out, yo' take mah track an' git it goin' out. An' put it wit dat sulphur an' dat graveyard dirt, an' wrop it up an' carry it tuh runnin' watah an' drop it [in] dere. (That will send him away from around here. You take up one foot track or both of them or what?) No sir, jis' one.
Entry 5466
Now, if a person is a enemy tuh yo' an' yo' wanta git shet of 'em, yo' take dat footprint an' go tuh de graveyard an' git chew some graveyard dirt. Yo' sews dat up in a bag an' yo' goes tuh a runnin' stream of wa- tah an' yo' takes dat dere bag an' throws it in dat runnin' stream of watah an' keep yore face farwards, an' yo' nevah be bothahed wit 'em any mo'. [The admonition to Keep face farwards is rare. Usually it is don't look back.]
Entry 5469
An' den ag'in, dey say yo' kin take dis track up an' pull it goin'. Pull dat track goin' an' take dat track an' go tuh de cemetery. An' run yore han' down in a grave, a wicked man's grave, an' git some dat clay out dere an' mix it wit dis track. An' care [carry] it tuh de great watah an' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' say, "Go, devil, don't look back dis way no mo'." An' dey say dey shore will go. Yes sir, mah sistah-in-law tole me she done a woman dataway 'bout 'er husban', an' say, she jis' went adriftin' jis' lak dat track.
Entry 5471
Well, yo' kin ketch a person's lef' track gwine away from yo' an' draw it tuh yo'. An' den yo' kin put it in a bottle an' put graveyard dirt wit it an' cayenne peppah, an' a li'le sugah an' some table salt, an' air- tight it an' throw it in runnin' water. An' den if dat bottle drift away, why yo' drift away wit it.
Entry 5474
If dey wan' chew tuh leave town - if yo' givin' dem trouble an' dey Wan' chew tuh leave town, why dey'd ketch it [your track]. If yo' goin' dis way, dey'd ketch it disaway. Den dey would take dis dirt - take it an' put it in a new piece of home- spun. When yo' go tuh a graveyard, git chew two bran'- new teaspoons. Go tuh a graveyard wit two bran'-new tea- spoons. Git chew two teaspoonsfulla dirt offa two sinnahs graves. Well, yo' takes two pennies an' pay each one of dese sinnahs fo' de dirt. Well, yo' takes dat gunpowdah an' thundah-strucken wood, red peppah, an' mix it all tuhgethah. What ah mean thundah-strucken iw where lightning struck a tree. Well yo' take it an' divide it intuh two parts. Yo' put one in a red chunk bottle [bottle with long neck] an' bury it in de east, an' yo' put de othah one in a red chunk bottle an' yo' go tuh runnin' watah, an' yo' pitch it 'cross yore shouldah - turn yore back, pitch it 'cross yore shouldah. Befo' yo' pitch it 'cross yore shouldah, yo' say, yo' do dis, In de Name of de Father, an' de Son an' de Holy Ghost - fo' yo' tuh go an' nevah return. An' in three days time yo'll be left town, yo' can't stay. Yo'll tread dat watah until yo' drown.
(You say you put all that stuff in a red chunk bottle?)
In a red bottle - quart bottle [the ordinary brown beer or whiskey bottle one "chunks" or throws away.]
(Which shoulder do you throw that over?)
Ovah yore lef' shouldah.
Entry 5492
Well yo' see yo' kin take his track an' pick it up in de hollow part of 'is feet, jes' lak he make it, an' put it in a li'le ole tobacco sack. Den yo' git some gun- powdah an' also some red peppah [in the sack] an' throw it in a runnin' stream of watah, an' say, "Go, an' don't nevah return any mo'." An' dey say in nine days time he'll be missin' out de town.
(You put this other stuff in the sack with the track?)
Yes sir, mix it all tuhgethah.
Entry 5507
If yo' wan' anybody leave home an' wan'a send 'em away fo' good, jis' git de dirt undah de lef' foot an' mix it wit cayenne peppah an' carry it tuh a stream of watah. An' git some of de hair, if yo' kin; but if yo' cain't, jis' git de track. An' yo' take dat an' cayenne peppah an' go tuh a stream of watah, a runnin' sorean of watah, an' throw it in de stream of watah. An' dey'll go jis' de way d atah will go.
Entry 5508
Well now, if yo' got a man an' yo' wan's tuh drive him away - ah mean, If yo' wan'a git rid of 'im, yo' git some dirt outa his shoe track an' git some Wdr out of haid, out de top of 'is haid, an' tie dat intuh a rag an' throw it ia rummin' stream of watah, goin' downstream, an' dat will carry 'im away.
Entry 5538
Ah'll answah yo' dis guestion. (All right.) Dey'll take yore foot track an' dey'll take a cord string, a bran'-new piece of cord outa de store, an' dey'll measure yore foot track. Dey will measure each one of 'em, right an' left. Dey goin' tuh put one foot track goin' dis Way an' dey goin' tuh put de othah goin' data way [demonstrates]. An' dey goin' tuh write yore name on a bo'd - it goin' tuh be on a bo'd [symbol of graveboard]. Dey goin' tuh write yore name on dat, an' dey goin' tuh take an' throw it ovah de lef' shouldah in de rivah [Mississippi] or in de lake [Ponchartrain] air [either] one of dem two go; if it go in de lake, it's all right an' if it go in de river, it's all right. Well, dat's tuh - dat is so yo'll jis' git sick, lingah sick, an' yo' don' know whut's de mattah wit chew. Firs' thing, a pain'll take yo' an' yo'll git paralyzed-lak, but yo' isn't paralyzed, yo' is tricked. See. Yo's [you has] no control of yore feet an' jis' puts yo' in a dragon [dragging] con- dition. (Now, they turn one foot track that way and one this way [author demon- strates]?) Yes, sir, jis' lak dis [demonstrates].
(Do they use the same string for both or two different strings?)
It's de only one string. Dey wan' dat track.
(Do they dig up that track or do they [merely] measure it?)
Dey takes 'em up. Dey takes 'em up, de whole measure of it. But how dey do, dey take 'em up - dey have a li'le flat bo'd an' yo' see, dey take dat dust an all up tuhgethah.
(They just slip it under those tracks?)
Dey slip it right undah dese tracks, an' now dey goin' tuh put one track goin' dis way an' [demonstrates] - one feet goin' out dis way an' de othah feet go dis Way. An' dey goin' tuh write yore name on a pastebo'd.
(Pasteboard?)
Shoe pastebo'ds whut chew buy shoes in. Dey goin' tuh write yore name on dat. An' aftah dey write chure name on dat, dey takes it an' dey goes tuh de rivah or de lake, an' throw it ovah de lef' shouldah.
(Well, wait a minute. Do they throw these foot tracks in with the pasteboard?)
Yes, sir. Dey throw dat ovah de lef' shouldah an' In de Name of de Fathah, an de Son, an' de Holy Ghost.
(I see.)
Dat's goin' tuh make yo', in nine days time, yo' goin' tuh come, be loose of yore limbs. No more service tuh yoreself. (What do they do with that string they measure it with? What do you do with the string?) Dey takes dat string - dat's de - dat so as - yo' see when yo' be - if yo' be pickin' up - yo' know, if yo' pick up dust, it's bound tuh crack, huh? But chew got de full length of it wit dat string.
(I see.)
Well, dat string goes wit it. It's tied right across dat bo'd. An' throw it ovah de lef' shouldah In de Name of de Fathah, of de Son an' de Holy Ghost.
Entry 5550
I learnt dat if yo're meetin' me an' ah'm meetin' yo', dat ah pick up yore right track, an' den turn roun' an' pick up mah right track. An' den [I] turn off an' walk off from yo', an' take dat right track an' carry it back [home]. Wrap it up in a piece of new cloth an' take it tuh runnin' watah an' throw it in dere. An' dat would cuz yo' tuh go, jis' keep agoin', yo' know.
(What would you do with your right track then?)
Well, de both of 'em - mine would be wit me yo' know, but ah mix mine wit yores, an' dat would make me stay an' yo' go.
(If you are walking toward me and I'm walking toward you?)
Uh-huh.
(And after you pass me you turn around and get my right track?)
No, Wait jis' a minute. WOULD JOO ALLOW ME TUH SHOW YO' Yo' see, here yo' come, meeting me, an' we jis' meet right up tuhgethah like dat an' dere we're standin'. An' we'll talk. An' well, aftah yo' pass by me or yo'll turn off tuh go some place, ah'll reach down an' git chures an' ah'll git mine.
(Just a little bit out of each one?)
Yas. An' den ah puts 'em tuhgethah. Now, deres anothah idea tuh be put wit dat but still ah haven't happened tuh learn it yet. Yo' put 'em tuhgethah an' den yo' take dem home an' yo' put 'em in dat new cloth yo' see. An' yo' tie dat up, so dey say, an' den dey'll throw it intuh rumnin' watah an' turn off like dat an' go on off. (After you throw it into running water, you turn your back and don't look back at the running water again.)
Entry 5551
Yo' be walkin' 'long an' pass by 'im. Yo' gwine down de street disa- way, ah'm comin' disaway. All right. An' when yo' pass by me yo' turn right roun' de first time yo' walk past, take up 'is track. Run down an' pick up de track. Yo' have tuh git it run- nin' an'... (How do you mean get it running? What do you mean by that?) All right, now ah'm walkin' down behin' joo, an' yo' lookin' dat way an' ah'm lookin' de same way yo' is, but ah'm lookin' at chure track an' ah'm goin' walk in a hurry. Yo' know, jis' take a little fast trot an' stoop down an' pick dem tracks up, runnin' like dat. An' take 'em an' put some salt in'em an' black peppah. An' take 'em tuh de rivah an' turn yore back an' throw 'em ovahbo'd, an' yo'll go crazy.
(What shoulder do you throw them over?)
Throw 'em ovah yore lef' shouldah.
(And what tracks do you pick up?)
Yo' jis' pick up two tracks, each foot - each one of yore foot.
Entry 5552
Now ah have heard dat if yo' wanted tuh vanish a person, in uddah words, dat's runnin' 'em off, drivin' 'im on. Yo' git up early in de mawnin'. Say ah were goin' dis way, but chew don't go in de direction ah'm goin'. Yo' come from de direction ah'm goin'. An' git a little of de dirt right out de hollah of mah track.
(How do you scoop that up?) From de toe [demon- strates]. (From the toe to the heel.)
Right in de hollah of it. See, yo' take dat sand tuh a runnin' stream, an' throw dat sand in dat runnin' stream, an' repeat de Three Highest Names. Jes' throw dat sand in de runnin' stream.
(What will that do then?)
Dat will run dem off.
Entry 5562
You get a pinch of dirt out of their left-foot track, bind that in a package, an' put seven nails in that package. You put three nails with the point [head] up, and four with the head down. Take that to running water and throw it over your left shoulder. Go on away and don't look back. And you won't be both- ered with them no more, so I have heard old people say.
Entry 5567
Now, if someone wanted tuh harm yo' 'bout dat, wantedtuh harn yo', dey would git chure track an' put it in a bag, an' write chure name on it an' put it in runnin' watah, an' yo' be goin' de balance of yore days.
(Get my foot track and put it in a bag.)
No suh, jis' put it in a piece of cloth yo' undahstan'. Jis' write de guy's Dame who yo' want tuh be gone.
(Where do you write that name?)
Yo' jis' write it on a piece of papah an' put it in dat dirt wit dat track in dere.
(You take either track?)
Eithah one of de tracks, it doesn't make any diff'rence.
Entry 5581
Well, say fo' 'ninstance [an instance] ah had a wife an' ah wuz doin' all dat ah pos'bly could do to make life happy fo' her, an' jis' as soon as mah back wuz turned she prob'ly had - she wuz sweetheartin' on me, see to someone dat didn't mean anythin' to her prob'bly, but would put her name in de streets. Well, ah prob'bly would git aftah 'er about it, tell 'er dat ah heard dis an' dat about 'er, prob'bly se purtty straight evidence. She seem tuh give it de lie all de time. Well, oog ah'm gon'a look out fo' mahself, see, an' see if ah kin ketch 'er. Whut ah know about dis? Well, prob'bly time mah back's turned she's always cat in de street somewhere. Well she's comin' home. Well ah prob'bly gon'a take de dust of 'er shoetrack - de print of it. Well ah'm gon'a take it an' ah'mgon'a aooceive it into a bottle - jis' de dirt of 'er track, 'ceive [conceive] it in de bottle. Git me a bunch of needles, git me a little piece of wool cloth, an' stuff in dat bottle. [But first], put jis' as many needles in dere as ah could git Orossvays. Den ah take dis bottle an' will conceive it tight [with the wool cloth aa cork?] an' put it undah de do'step. Dat'll end 'er rompin' de streets so h. Well, now, ah'm goin' ketch dis man [my wife was rompin' de streets with so much]. Ah'm goin' ketch 'im goin' away an' ah'm gon'a take his track an' ah'm gon'a conceive it in a bottle, jis' as ah have said about mah wife - needles an' de cloth de same way. An' ah'm gon'a conceive dat, an' ah'm gon'a take it den to some deep runnin' watah, an' throw it in a place where it will nevah grow dry - watah dat'll nevah be still. Dat'll keep 'im always driftin' an' nevah is contented an' nevah successfully through life. Dat's in ordah fo' me tuh have peace an' respect of dat kind.
Entry 5583
Dey say dey takes 'is track an' put it in a piece of new cloth. Dey say yo' kin git chew nine needles an' nine pins an' put in it. Dat will run yo' crazy. (What do they do with that then?) Put it in runnin' watah an' shet it up [in bottle or can].
Entry 5591
Yassuh, take yore foot track an' tie it up into a cloth an' bury it fo' nine days, an' aftah nine days go back an' dig it up an' put it in runnin' watah.
(What will that do to me?) Dat supposed tuh make yo' go jis' as long as dat goes. (Would either track of mine be all right?)
No, de same track. Dey take yore lef' track.
Entry 5603
"Simmon [persimmon] tree. Ah've heard dat yo' kin take 'simmon, yo' kin git a half-green root - yo' kin git a half-green 'simmon an' yo' kin take a li'le cloth, ah reckon about a yard or half a yard wide. An' yo' kin take dat half-green 'simmon an' dat half a yard of cloth, an' yo' kin take de tracks of a person an' write his name in 'is tracks. Put 'em in dat li'le cloth an' sew it up, an' care [carry] it tuh de rivah an' throw it ovahbo'd; but chew wanta throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' yo' leave dere walkin'. Don't nevah look back at it. An' dat'll run dem crazy.
(What do you do with that persimmon?)
Well, ah says yo' put dat 'simmon [track] in dat.
(Oh, you put that in that [track] too.)
Entry 5608
Take up yore tracks yo' see, yore lef' track. Takeit up an' yo' goin' - see, jis' lak yo' spotted a person goin' dat way, pick up yore track an' dress dat track, an' dat'll keep yo' goin'.
(How do they dress that track?)
Well, dey dress it wit powdah - yo' see, dis snake powdah dat ah started tuh tell yo' 'bout awhile ago. Snake powdah. Dey call it rattlesnake powdah. It come already compounded yo' see an' fixed up. Dey git some of dat yo' see an' put it in dere. An' pick up yore track an' put yore track intuh a hollow tree. Jis' lak a tree got two forks [trunk of tree branches into one fork], yo' see, it's got'a hollah in de middle of it. An' let dat stay dere fo' 13 days. See, an' dat'll keep yo' goin'. If yo' don't fin' somebody fo' yo'self, fine'ly [finally], evently [eventually] hit'll run yo' crazy. It be bu'stin' headache yo' see, keeps yo' worried all de time.
(Well, after 13 days what do you do with that track then?)
Well, dey take it den outa dere. See, dey has it in somepin, wrapped up in somepin lak a rag. Dey take dat outa dere den an' carry it tuh de watah, see an' throw it ovah de lef' shouldah in de water. Well, see dat'll keep yo' goin' an' jis' keep yore mind jis' flusterated, jis' lak yo' cain't stay in no one place long, yo' jis' worried tuh death all de time.
(Where do you get this rattlesnake dust? Do you buy it some place?)
No sir, see if yo' ketch a rattlesnake, yo' kin take an' skin 'im an' parch 'in up. Parch 'im, bake him lak yo' bake anything, an' yo' make a powdah of dat.
Entry 5614
Ah hear of 'em usin' red peppah an' stuff lak dat yo' know. [They] says dey mix it in dere track. An' says dey go an' dey take de track from yo' an' - start at de heel an' go tuh de toe, an' put it in runnin' watah. Say dey'll keep awalkin'. Nevah come back. (In other words you would get some of the dirt out of my foot track as I was walking away. You take it from the heel to the toe, and you mix it with red peppah and throw that into running water. That will keep me walking. Do you take either track?) It don't make any diff'rence.
Entry 5617
Take a fellah's track. Git right 'long behin' 'im an' take his track, if he be walkin', movin'. Yo' know right whilst he's movin', git 'is track from right behin' 'im. An' dey say dey'll take dat track den an' dey'll go git some black peppah, red peppah, turpentine, Sloan Linament - anything real hot whut'll burn yo' know. Says dey'll put it in dis track den an' dey'll take it den an' go tuh a runnin' stream of watah. Dey'll stan' wit dere lef' shouldah tuh dis stream of watah, an' dey'll throw it ovah de lef' shouldah an' den dey'll walk away. Well, dey say den dat track as it floats down de stream, say dat'll take, carry yo' on off - will run yo' away from home, jis' make yo' go on where- evah dat goes. Yo' jis' go on off till yo' die.
(How many tracks of mine do they take - or just one?)
Jis' takes one track - eithah one.
Entry 5622
Take up dere track an' put it in [put in it] some salt, cookin' salt, an' throw it in de runnin' watah - lak a rivah yo' know. Throw it in de runnin' - be sure an' throw it in de runnin' watah an' dat will run yo' 'way from yo' home.
Entry 5624
Dey git de dirt outa yo' track an' put salt in wit dat, an' go tuh rnnin' watah an' throw it ovahbo'd, an' yo'll move an' can't he'p yo'self. Dat uhut dey tell me. Said dey could run 'em wild - dat whut dey tell me - wit it. Said dey take dat an' tie it up in a new cloth, an' go tuh runnin' watah, throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' make a wish, say, "Go 'way." Yo' mind will go, sompin lak dat. (That track you got up thefirst time, you get it from the toe to the heel?) Uh-huh, an' yo' walk tuh de runnin' watah. An' put salt in it an' walk tuh de runnin' watah, an' throw it ovah yo' lef' shouldah an' don't look back, an' make yore wish an' leave on away. An' don' have nuthin tuh say.
Entry 5625
Take de dirt from undah a person's right feet an' put it in a rag, an' put red peppah an' salt intuh it an' put it in runnin' watah. Dat will cuz a person tuh bust - goes mos' anywhere yo' wan' 'em tuh go.
(That will send him away.)
Entry 5627
Yo' kin take a person track an' take red peppah an' salt an' put it in a halfa pint bottle, an' chunk it in runnin' watah de way yo' wan' de person tuh go an' dey'll leave. Dey won' evah come back.
Entry 5634
Dey say yo' kin take dere track an' put it wit some salt an' [red] peppah an' sulphur an' put it in a bottle, an' go to runnin' watah an' throw it in backwards, an' tell de person - call dere name - tell dem to go jis' lak dat track go down dere, down de rivah. An' long as dat watah runnin' carr'in' dat track, why dat person always wundahin' [wandering] roun' an' goin'.
(You use the dirt out of either foot?)
Either one.
Entry 5645
Ah heard dat when dey take up yore foot track, yo' tie it up in a silk rag an' throws it in runnin' watah; run a man from his home or a lady. (Put it in silk rag - just wrap it up in there, and you must throw it in water running north?) De watah runnin' no'th... [I turned off recording machine too soon to catch the final words watah runnin' no'th, because informant was slow in adding them. This sudden addition is quite common while interviewing. That is why I comment or ask question hoping informant will repeat. Sometimes he does, other times he does not.]
Entry 5653
Dey kin take yore foot track up. Jis' go out an' jis' lak yo' stan' in de sand, take it up wit a silvah spoon. Jis' take it up real lightly an put it in a bottle, an' stop it up an' throw it in runnin' watah an' it will carry yo' away.
(Either track?)
No suh, have tuh be yore lef' track.
Entry 5656
Ah heard dat chew have tuh take nine spoonfuls of dirt outa dis per- son's track as dey go 'way from de house. Jis' go 'long an' take nine tracks of dey tracks, nine of dey tracks, yo' know, jis' lake one, two, three - nine. Git nine pinches of dirt outa each one dose tracks, dey said, an' bottle it up an' dey nevah would come back any mo'. (You get nine pinches out of these nine tracks or you get nine spoonsfuls. Which do you get?) Dey said nine spoonfuls.
(You take nine tracks, one right after the other.)
Yes sir, de way dey goin' from de house.
Entry 5663
Take yore foot track an' sew it up in a piece of white homespun an' put sulphur to it, an' take it an' go throw it in runnin' watah. Dat makes yo' tra- vel. Yo' can't stop until dat bag hits some part of de rivah, yo' see, where it stop at, can't pass.
Entry 5664
When a person is doin' anything tuh yo', yo' take dey track an' take it - if dey goin' dis way, yo' take de track dis way; if dey goin' dis Way, yo' takes de track dis way [demonstrates]. (You take the track right from the toe back to the heel?) Take de track from de toe. Don't take de heel, take from de instep tuh 'is feet, from de instep of 'is feet. Take dat goin' dataway an' go an' git chew some sulphur, spirits of turpentine, black peppah an' tie it up in a ball. An' go tuh a runnin' watah an' throw it in.
(What will that do?)
Well, dey'll leave.
Entry 5677
If anyone come in de house an' yo' didn't wan' dem enemies to come dere any mo', as soon as yo' step out on de outside, yo'll git a pail of watah an' throw de watah down behind 'em an' sweep it ot [out]. An' dat's de sign da' chew [that you] won't come back dere any mo'. Throw it on de flo' an' sweep dere tracks off. Yo' do dat on de sly.
Entry 5678
Well, yo' kin take dat dust from de feet, if yo' wanted a person in yore neighborhood ~ an' yo' had a fuss wit 'em - an' yo' wanted tuh run 'em away. Yo' goes at de ninth hour, yo' see, tuh runnin' watah an' yo'll take dis here dast, whut yo' have swept up at de ninth hour, an' yo' throws it ovah yore lef' shouldah wit yore lef' han', not tuh look back, wit a curse word. An' yo' are forced tuh leave unbeknown tuh yore ownself. Yo'll pack up. Yo'll jis' leave. Yo' have tuh walk away.
Entry 5684
Now, yo' kin take a sewin' thimble whut chew have on yore han' an' yo' kin put it tuh de toe of a person track. Dat is de lef' track. An' yo' draw dat sewin' thimble back tuh de heel wit whut dirt, yo' know, [so full of dirt] dat it wouldn't even draw, yo' undahstan'. An' yo' tie dat up intuh a piece of new cloth dat nevah been used. An' yo'll step tuh a place where watah runnin' an' yo' throw it ovah yore lef' shouldah an' don' look back at it. Dat'll run 'em away from dere.
Entry 5685
[You] kin take yore foot track an' take a thimble. Take it from de toe of de foot back to de heel. An' dey kin kill yo' wit dat. (Just how do they do that?) Well, dey take dat an' dey put nine needles in. Dey take de thimble an' dey puts a thimbleful of it, an' take it an' put nine needles in dat stuff an' put it in a jar, a bottle, an' drop it in floatin' watah an' yo' die from dat.
(Which track did you say they take, both of them?)
De lef' track. (Take a thimbleful of the dirt and put nine needles into and put it into a bottle. Do you cork it up or leave it open or what?) Stop it up tight as wax. Dat will kill de person.
Entry 5691
You can take a pinch of dirt out of the hollow of anyone's right-foot track, and take a pinch out of the heel, and one out of the toe. Then, go up to the foot of a grave, take a pinch out of the foot of the grave and mix it with one of them parts [from the foot track], and then bury it at the foot of the grave. And take up another pinch of the head [of the grave] and mix it with another part [of track dirt] and bury that at the head of the grave. And take up another pinch at the [grave] center and mixit with the last part [of track dirt], carry it and throw it in strong running Water. And make your wishes, wish you would go away. That'll run any of them away. [From Doctor Frank Harris, out in country, near Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va., by hand. For this man, see INTRO., v.1, p. XXIX, line 24f., and elsewhere.]
Entry 5692
Ah heard dey could, yo' know, lak dey say yore right foot, chew know, an' it wuz in de sand where yo' could git it good. Say dey'd take three pinches out de toe, an' den three out de heel, an' den dey'd go tuh de middle an' git three pinch- es. An' aftah, dey wuz sup- posed tuh take dat, chew know, an' put it in a rag an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' turn yore back an' not look back. An' den yo' wuz supposed tuh travel. Yo' nevah supposed tuh be satisfied nowheres yo' go, yo' know.
(That's the right idea [that's what I want].)
Entry 5698
Mah gran'mothah said dat yo' could take dat track up an' wrap it up, an' yo' could tote it roun' in yore pocket fo' 'bout three days, an' throw it in a stream of watah. As long as dat watah runnin' why yo'll be crazy, an' as long as dat watah runnin' yo' be goin' places. Yo' won' stay in one place, yo' be goin' jis' keep goin'; jis' keep yo' upset an' worried until dat watah stop. In othah words, long as de watah run yo' upset.
(You take either track?)
No sir, yo' take de lef' track.
Entry 5701
Yo' gits a person's foot track. Yo' drag it back three times - gits it from de top of de right track, an' drag it back tuh yo' three times. Gits some from each time, an' carry it tuh run- nin' watah an' throw it in dere. An' yo' kin run dat person away from town an' he'll be gone fo'evah.
Entry 5757
Why yo' kin take a person foot track an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up wit chamber lye an' throw it ovahbo'd an' run dem outa town. (Either foot track or both of them?) De right track an' part of de lef' track. Put it in a bottle, put chamber lye on it an' stop it up, an' throw it ovahbo'd 'cross yore lef' shouldahs.
Entry 5763
Dey says tuh git holt of yore foot track. Dey would git chure left- foot track. Dey'd start at de toe an' bring it back tuh de heel, an' den dey would take dat track an' carry it tuh de rivah, if dey wanted tuh run yo' away. An' dey would throw dat ovah de lef' shouldah in de rivah, an' walk off an' not look back.
Entry 5776
They say they kin take your center part from yo' left foot, if yo' goin' away from home, an' put it in runnin' watah an' run yo' away from home. Get it if yo' goin' towards home. Take a young man - like if a lady Wants a man, yo' see, wan' 'in tuh come tuh 'er home. Why, tuh get sand from out de hollow of 'is foot, see.
(Which one?)
Out of the right foot, goin' tuh 'er home, yo' see. An' tie it up in a piece of new yellow cotton or homespun, something like that - where it nevah have been used, you know, an' they bury it undah the doorstep [to bring him to her home]. An' then they wear it in their shoes fer tuh hole 'em down [after he comes]. Bury it under the doorstep between nine and twelve o'clock.
Entry 5777
Well, if ah disliked yo' an' didn't wanta be around yo', an' didn't wan' chew tuh be roun' me, why ah take yore track an' jes' pick it up. (Both of them?) Jes' one, yore lef' track. Take it tuh a stream of watah dat's runnin' no'th an' throw it in dere. An' ah throw, ah turn roun' back an' says, "Go from me." Why in nine days dey would leave, have to leave off.
Entry 5778
Yo' kin take his track an' move him from outa town. Take his left-foot track an' git it, bind it up in a piece of red flannel. Take tuh de watah, a stream of watah, run- nin' watah an' throw it in dere. An' tell 'im tuh go, "Ah'm tired of bein' deviled wit chuh." He'll be gone.
Entry 5779
If she wan's tuh run 'im away, well yo' take his track. Start at de toe an' draw it back, de right - draw it back. Carry it tuh runnin' watah an' throw it ovah. Dat will run 'im off. Tell 'im tuh, "Go, ah don't wan' chew tuh come back any mo'." An' he keep agoin'.
Entry 5782
Dey pulls it [foot track] back. An' ah've heard 'em pull it back, an' den dey take it an' some- times dey Wan' chew tuh go way. Yo' throw it in de runnin' watah, when de tide's goin' up, an' den dey goes out. Ah have know 'em to do dat.
(They pull this foot track back toward them.)
Yes, pull de sand back.
(Yes, which one, either one?)
De left.
Entry 5783
(Now, if they want to run you away, they do something else, did you say?) Dey'll take dat track an' dey'll eithah sew it up tight an' dey throw it against de tide - like if de tide is goin' out, dey'll throw it out, see. An' de tide carries [it out] an' den yo' go away an' nevah return.
Entry 5784
They measure your track with a string and send you out of the neighborhood. And stick it down at the low-water mark. They tie it to a stick and stick it down at the low-water mark. That's to put you on a drift, to send you away from home. When the tide comes in, that covers the stick; and when the tide runs down [out], that's carrying you away from home.
Entry 5796
If they want chew to be with them, why they bury it under the doorstep. Like if they want chew to come to my home, see, I bury it under the doorstep. And if they want to run you away, why put that in running Water and make a wish. (Which tracks do they use?) Get de dirt from under de right foot. Like, just if yo' want 'em to come to your home, see, yo' take it when they're coming to de home. If yo' want 'em to leave, yo' git it out of that track when they leave home. [Elizabeth City, N. Car., (438), 401:3.] [The sixth section Of division THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF is HAIR. De- spite the hundreds of hair rites that now follow, hundreds more are scattered throughout the text of Hoodoo, because hair is often only one ingredient in a compound rite containing other important substances: URINE, BLOOD, GRAVEYARD DIRT, etc.] [The lO submargin rites under this margin title recall the well-known belief that hair continues to grow a long time after death - FACI, 2nd ed., 15415, p.714; 1st ed., 10367, p.595. Not so well known are the following beliefs about living hair continuing to grow, after it has been taken from the body:]
Entry 5840
Co'se yo' kin take, really. [a person's hair] an' ball it up wit hen feathahs an' throw it into runnin' watah wit yore left hand. Dat will run a person off. Yo' kin [take] hair, anybody's hair yo' know, an' knead it wit hen feathahs an' throw it into runnin' watah an' run any- body off - any kinda hen feathah an' throw it wit chure lef' han'.
Entry 5877
Dey kin put choo in bad wit de hair. Dey take a strand of yore hair an' go to de creek an' ketch a fish. An' take a needle an' stick dat hair in dat needle, an' leave it prong [see later] out, an' throw dat fish back up ovah yore shouldah [into the creek] an' say, "Go!" An' dat fish evahwhere he go yo'll go.
(You put the hair in the needle and push the needle through the fish?)
Dat's right.
(And leave the hair in the fish?)
Yes sir, leave de prong [point] stickin' out, choo know. Evahwhere he go dat'll [prong will] hit against somepin, yo' know. He'll jis' be in dangah evah- where he go. He can't stay no place.
(A piece of hair will be sticking out, outside of the fish?)
Yes' sir. Tie it so it won't come out. Leave de needle stickin' out de prong, de sharp point.
[The prong or point of the needle sticks out of the fish.]
(You tie the hair in the needle?)
Yes sir, in de eye of de needle.
Entry 5892
Git a plait of woman's hair an' plait it into fo' strand - jes' plait it into fo' plaits, not into three an' put it in a bottle an' put it in runnin' stream of watah. Drive yo' crazy. [The number 4 sends the hair to the 4 corners of the earth - see for symbolism, The Revelation of St. John The Divine 7:1.]
Entry 5905
Now, so fer as de woman proposition - lak if yo' got a woman, or any man got a woman, an' yo' don't want 'er tuh leave, yo' understan'. Whut he do, he gits - dat mawnin' when he gits up, he'll call 'er Sweetheart an thin's, yo' know, an' job an' all wit 'er. Well, she might be havin' some outside man on 'im, see. De firs' thin' he'll do, he'll git up dat mawnin an' he'll plait 'er hair an' he'll take a couplah [couple of] grains of 'er hair, yo' see, an' put 'em in a can. Den go to de graveyard an' git some graveyard dirt an' put in dere, an' go to de rivah an' git some watah, an' git some of de rivah watah an' let it soak. An' aftah it soaks in dere, yo' take an' carry it back to de lavatory an' put it back of de lavatory an' leave it stay dere. [Lav- atory here is a fancy name for outdoor watercloset.] She'll nevah leave, yo Tdahstan'. YO' AN' 'ER GIT ALONG JIS' LAK TWO PEANUTS IN ONE SHELL.
Entry 5910
De graveyard dirt dey said take it an' throw it in de rivah, mix it wit yore hair an' throw it in de rivah. Dat's whut dey said, dat's if a woman wanta git away from a man or a man wanta git away from a woman. Well, ah know dat cuz ah know a woman done mah uncle dataway. She got rid of 'im, see.
Entry 5915
Yo' kin take yore own hair, take a man's hair or a woman's hair [a man or woman can do this], put [wit it] graveyard dirt, three coppah cents, six pins - no needles - six pins - an' put it eithah in buckskin or eithah in red flannel. An' go to a runnin' stream, throw it wit yore left hand in dat watah. If it sink it's all right. But as long as dat stay in dere, yo've got to travel. Yo' ain't satisfied nowhere, yo've got to leave yore own home.
Entry 5933
Den if yo' wan'a woman tuh leave yo' or if yo' wan'a git rid of 'er - lf yo' goin' wit a woman an' yo' ti'ed [tired] of 'er - take a stran' of 'er hair eff de lef' side of 'er hair, two stran's ah say, an' go to some runnin' watahan throw it in dis watah, an' it'll go upstream. [Informant probably means hair will float upstream rather than throw it into incoming tide.] An' if she don' leave, she'll eithah die. Yo'll git rid of 'er some way. She goin' do one 'tothah [one or the other].
Entry 5934
Uh-huh, fer love. A person takes two stran's of yore hair, see; dey pulls it if dey kin by de roots, see. But if dey can't, at night when yuh are asleep, especially if yore wife or husband dat's sleepin' wit yuh, dey jerks dat out as quick as dey kin. Dey take two stran's, see.
(From where do they pull it now?)
Uh-hah - right heah, see.
(The left side of the temple.)
Uh-hah, takes it from de left side of de temple, an' dey jerks it out. An' dey gits dis clovah oil an' dey puts dat into a bottle. Dey gits Hearts Cologne an' dey puts dat - an' mix it up intuh a bottle. Dey carries it to runnin'watah an'( dey throws it in. An' dat's tuh make yuh love, see. But dey want it tuh go down de stream, instead of up. If it go up dat's fo' bad. See, if it goes down de stream dat's fo' good. Dey want chew to love 'em. Dey got chew all at dere command, see; an' dere's nuthin yuh kin do. [Normally the throwing of hair into running water is not a love rite, as we have seen; but our informant, marked excellent, turns it into a rite of love by adding Hearts Cologne and clover oil to the bottled hair, and by using A BELIEF OCCASIONALLY FOUND ALONG THE TIDEWATER REGION: ANYTHING GOING DOWNSTREAM OR OUT WITH THE TIDE IS A RELEASE OR GOOD WORK, AND ANYTHING GOING UPSTREAM OR COMING IN WITH THE TIDE IS A CONFUSION OR BAD WORK.]
Entry 5944
Ah've heered 'em say - well, lak ah heered a guy say once he wuz goin' wit a girl an' he fell in deep, in love wit dis girl, an' she didn't seem tuh care anythin' much about 'im. He wuz very much in love wit 'er. So he tuk a stran' of hair out de mole of dis girl's haid, an' he tuk it an' put it in a bottle of Heart's Cologne, an' throwed it in a stream of strong runnin' watah. An' he said in about two months or three months aftah dat he tuk dis hair an' throwed it in a stream of watah in dis Hearts Co- logne in dis bottle, it wuzn't long 'fore dis girl wuz crazy.
Entry 5948
Well, mah sistah, dey nevah did git along, dey'd always be hollerin' an' goin' on an' fussin'. I guess he got between 'er an' some man. She wuz tuh marry someone else an' dis fellah tol' 'er dat he wuz gon'a have 'er. Of co'se she nevah would - she took it tuh be a joke. An' sure enough he got revenge. So he taken, I guess by goin' tuh bed or somepin lak dat, he taken an' cut some hair from de top of 'er haid, an' 'er track, an' raked it fo'ward lak dat, from de heel to de toe, an' put it in some Hearts of Cologne an' put it in runnin' watah. An' she went crazy an' fin'lly she died.
Entry 5957
All right ah'm gon'a tell yo'. Ah known a frien' of mine run wit one of mah frien' [friend's] girls, women, heah yeah befo' las'. He had 'er to git, to steal some of her hair down heah, some of her hair while she - an' she sick, yo' know. An' she got dat, she got dat an' tied it up in a - put it in some watah. Put it in a jug an' tied it up an' run 'er crazy. She nevah did git bettah. She had to leave home an' she died right den in de hospital.
Entry 5971
Ah heard dat dey could take a stran' of yore hair an' tie it into nine knots, an' dat will make yo' leave.
(What will they do with that hair then?) Well, dey puts it in de rivah for tuh drive 'em.
Entry 5972
Now if dere a ole lady yo' can't git away from yore house- dere a ole lady dere or someone roun' dere an' yo' want 'em tuh leave an' yo' can' git rid of 'em, stick roun' wit 'em where de man git 'is hair cut or sompin lak dat. Git some of 'is hair, see. Git some of 'is hair an' put 'is hair in a little flannel rag an' use some Heart Cologne. An' yo' take dis hair an' dis Eeart Cologne an' yo' do it up in dis rag. Don't sew it, yo' tie wit cotton string an' yo' do it up good. An' jes' befo' yo' do it up, tie nine knots in it, jes' about a inch from de end of de cotton string. Tie nine hard knots in it an' 'noint 'em all good in spirits of turpentine, an' make a wish evahtime yo' make a tie. See. Evahtime yo' make a tie in it, wrap it aroun' an' make a tie. Well, yo' make a tie fo' nine times, an' den jes' put it in yore pocket an' walk on tuh a runnin' creek an' throw it in dere, an' don't look back, keep a-goin'. Yo' won't have any trouble wit 'em atall no mo'.
(Runs him away.)
Yessuh, he gone.
Entry 5973
If someone wuz tuh take yore hair tuh run yo' crazy, dey'll begin tuh take yore hair - takes nine stran's of yore hair. Dey wouldn't take ovah nine stran's of it. Dey'll tie around it de third time - take it jes' lak yo' wrap yore hair wit a string, a thread wrop aroun' it de third time. An' dey'll tie nine knots in it. Den dey'll take it an' take it at 'leven a'clock in de mawnin' - no, dey go in de mawnin' at 'leven a'clock, an' be dere at 'leven a'clock, to any runnin' watah an' throw it in dere. Dat's jes' all tuh git chw 'vay from heah. Throw it in dere, says, "Take him away, take him away, take him aaay. Nevah return. He's trouble long enough." Yo' goin' leave dere.
Entry 5974
Yo' kin take some of a person hair an' put in a bottle an' stop it up an' yo' carry dat bottle wit yo' evahwhere yo' go. An' dat person, nowhere dey go - an' dey keep a headache, dey keep sick - an' nowhere dey go dey would be satisfied. Yo' kin take nine stran's of a person's hair an' Put nine knots in it an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' in nine days dat person sull die.
(Take nine strands of their hair and you tie nine knots in that hair?)
An' yo' kin throw it in runnin' watah an' in nine days dey'll be daid.
Entry 5990
Dey drive yuh crazy. Yuh kin do good an' yuh kin do bad. Well, dey take dis hair an' dey put it in a bottle, an' put a little salt an' red peppah. Dey write de person's name on dis slip of papah an' put it in de bottle an' stop it up tight. Yuh go tuh runnin' watah an' throw it ovah yuh shouldah backwards into dat watah. An' jis' since dat watah always runnin', why dat person will jis' go an' jis' go. Evah time dey git a place, dey stay a little an' dey not satisfied. Dey'll go ag'in. Finely [finally] dey'll jis' go an' quit.
Entry 6004
Of co'se dat hair - dat hair is very controllin', it's very 'fective, an' it's very dang'rous. Dey kin take dat hair, if dey don't lak yo' an' wants to destroy yo' or make unfit fo' yo' own good. Dey take dat hair an' dey'll wrap dat up wit three whut chew call needles, see. Dey git three needles an' dey gits three pins. But dose pins dey always have de heads of dose pins nipped off. An' dey wrap three needles, three pins, an' den dey git three pods of red peppah, yo' undahstan'. YO' GOTTA HAVE THREE OF THREE. Git three of de red peppah an' put in dis, dis hair, an' dey wrap dem togethah. An' when dey wrap 'em togethah, dey takes dat an' eithah jis' - if dey want a quick death [both quick death and slow death are not rare] in any way, or to run yo'( crazy, dey will take dat an' put it in a runnin' stream of watah on de first new moon. In a runnin' stream of water, an' jis' as dat stream carry yo' [hair] away, yore mind goes.
Entry 6084
Well, ah heah 'em say dat dey take de hair from undah yore arms an' de top of yore-haid, an' dey say take an' tack it on a piece of pastebo'd - put it in a little bag an' tack it on a piece of paste- bo'd. Den throw it in runnin' watah an' dey say dat'll, jes' lak if yo' wanted tuh drift 'em away from yo', dey say dat would make 'em walk off in de rivah.
Entry 6105
If dey git holt of some of yore hair, dey kin take dat hair an' put it in some hot salty watah, yo' undahstan' an' bury it undah yore step wit de bot- tle neck turnt out from - yo' know, from de way yo' come out de house. Well, dat'll cuz yo' tuh have addle brains. If yo' don' fin' it - if it stay undah dere nine days, dat'll cuz yo' tuh have addle brains.
Entry 6106
Dey take a strand of hair out chure haid an' it kin run yo' crazy. Well, dey take dat hair an' dey bury dat hair. Dey take dat hair an' put it in warm salt an' watah an' bile [boil] it. See, dey'll take a bottle, a quart bottle lak dat, an' dey take dat an' put salt in dere, an' dey put warm watah in dere, an' dey take dat bottle an' bury it about, well say about a foot deep, about a foot deep undah de top of dat bottle, an' let it stay in undah dere six months. Dere ain't no way fo' yo' tuh stay wit chure mind.
(That runs you crazy.)
Yeah.
Entry 6154
Well, ah heard dat dey could take dat an' put it in a spool, take dis hair an' put it in a spool, into de spool dat de thread comes from. Stop up each end [of spool] an' throw it ovah de shoul- dah in runnin' watah. An' dey say dat'll make a person lose his mind an' travel. Dhroc it ovah de lef' shouldah an' don' look back.
Entry 6157
Yuh take a person's hair from 'is haid an' put it in a stick. Wrap it tight an' throw it in runnin' watah. Dey say as de watah runs, dere mind goes from 'em - will cause dem tuh go crazy. (How do they put it in the stick?) Jis' take de stick an' split de stick open an' put it [hair] in it an' wrap it tightly [and tie].
(Any kind of stick.)
Any kind of stick.
Entry 6159
Yuh take a person's hair tuh harm 'em. Yuh kin put it in a bottle an' put a peg in it, a wooden peg an'.- - yuh take dat hair an' put it in a wooden peg, an' put it in a bottle or anythin', an' put a wooden peg in it [peg the bottle]. An' yo' kin chunk it in de rivah ovah yuh lef' shouldah an' dat will harm 'em. (What will that do?) Dat will harm yuh, kill yuh. Dat will run yuh crazy.
Entry 6160
Ah wuz goin' wit a girl oncest an' ah quit dis girl, an' dis girl didn't Want me tuh quit 'er at de time. But den, yuh see, ah stayin' [with] anothah girl dat ah feel tuh mo' den ah did 'er. An' evah time ah'd go wit dis othah girl, well ah'd have trouble wit dis girl dat ah'd guitted. So ah went tuh a doctor, a 'erb doctor, an' inquirewhut could ah do tuh git rid of 'er. He tole me tuh go back [to quitted girl] an' bring 'im jis' as much of 'er hair as ah could git. So ah, ah do dat. Ah went back an' played wit 'er until ah got a chance - ah had me a ole Jem City razor blade - until ah got a chance tuh clip dat hair off. Jis' cut it off so she wouldn't miss it, cut it off jis' here [demonstrates].
(Above the ear.)
Ah give it tuh 'im. He got a peg six inches long. It wuz jis' a lil ole ash peg. He give me de peg an' tole me tuh go down by a creek, down dere aside of a sweet gum tree, an' stick dis peg in de groun', an' take two stran's of 'er hair an' throw in de watah. An' evah mawnin' - he tole me tuh keep enough of de hair- so evah mawnin' ah go dere fo' nine mawnin's tuh throw two stran's of hair in dis watah, an' drive dis peg jis' a lil evah mawnin'. An' evah mawnin' - ah went down fo' nine mawnin's - ah throwed two stran's of de hair in de watah an' driv de peg, an' jis' driv it fer enough so on de ninth mawnin' yuh kin driv it down [completely]. I did dat fo' de nine mawnin's. On de ninth mawnin' - an' ah smack de peg [all the way in]. From den on ah didn't have no mo' trouble wit 'er. He say dat would divide us. He say dat watah wuz runnin', he say dat would divide us. [Wilmington, N. Car., (283), 198: l; this happening at Whiteville, N. Car., in 1929, the doctor's fee being $15.]
Entry 6161
Dey tell me if yuh git a person's hair, even if it's not but one stran', dat chew kin take dat one stran' an' cut a little green stick about a inch long an' wrap dat stran' roun' it, band it up in some cloth an' tie a string on it, an' put it in some runnin' watah, an't [and it] will run 'em right into de 'sylum.
(Run them crazy?)
Yes sir.
Entry 6162
Kin take a person hair an' put it into a sack an' tie it on a stick in runnin' watah an' run 'em crazy. S'long as dat hair stay on dat stick in runnin' watah, why dat person is crazy until yuh take dat hair off an' let it git dry - dat hair.
Entry 6164
Take de hair an' take it in a bottle, if yuh want 'er tuh be absent- rinded - runnin' away, cain't stay wit nobody an' bein' contented. Take dis hair an' put it in a Coca- Cola bottle. Stop it up an' put it in run- In' watah an' tie a string tuh it an' jis' let it bobbin' dere, an' s'long as de watah runnin' cross dat bottle, she be absent. She cain't stay no place. Jis' got'a be goin' all de time. (You have this string tied and this bottle tied to this stick, so that it cm't float away?) Yessuh.
Entry 6165
De way ah heard it - said dey take dey hair an' tie a string roun' it an carry it tuh runnin' watah an' drop it in runnin' watah. An' dey tell me dat will run yuh crazy. Now ah do not know [how true that is]. (How do you mean, run you crazy? Make you lose your mind?) Bake yuh lose yuh mind.
Entry 6176
Take yore hair an' put it into a pint of watah an' put some red peppah an' salt in it an' bury it in de groun' In de Name of de Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, an' dey'll shure leave de worl'.
(Well, how do you put that water into the ground - won't it run away or what?)
[Evidently it is stopped up in a pint bottle.]
Entry 6273
Dere's a way to run a woman crazy so dey say. Dey take a small bottle an' put urine in it, an' put de hair down in it an' stop it up, an' throw it in a stream of water. It will go an' yo' will nevah git chure mind back unless somebody will discovah where dat bottle went an' bring it back an' uncork it. [For 2 remarkable examples of doctors recovering floating spells and destroying them, see 920, p.338; 921, P.339.]
Entry 6274
(Who would do this?)
A man or woman, eithah one. Dey take some of yore hair out de top heah an' put it in a bottle, an' put about fo' or five drops yore watah [urine] in dere, an' put it in some runnin' watah. Stop dat bottle up tight an' chunk it in dat rivah yo' see. Yo' couldn't come back no mo' an' yo' wouldn't know whut de cause.
Entry 6281
[Hair and water joined in a rite is fairly common in hoodoo. There are many kinds of water: ordinary (the Water in a bucket or still water), running, hydrant (considered running), rain, eaves, spring, well, tide, dew, etc. One example of gutter running water will be found (No.5695, p.2913). I do not recall any snow water or snow rites. Holy water, bathwater, dishwater, clotheswater, and scrubwater have been omitted because they do not occur in the following list of hair-water rites.] Take a strand of hair out de haid an' put it in a bottle of watah an' shet it up in a bottle of watah. It will run yo' crazy.
(Just ordinary Water?)
Jes' take it [hair] out an' put it in a bottle of watah an' stop it up.
Entry 6282
Yo' gits yo' [your] hair [not your own but the hair of your victim], Put it in a bottle an' den go tuh de Mississippi [River], a watah, a runnin' stream, even if it runs dirty, an' git dat watah an' put it in dat bottle an' yo' hair [the hair you are using from someone else], an' stop it up real tight an' it'll run yo' [the other person] crazy.
(Where do you put the bottle then?)
Tote [carry] it in yo' pocket. [To carry this bottled hair in your pocket normally suggests that the victim is run crazy with love for the person wearing the bottled hair.]
Entry 6284
Well, ah've heard sev'ral times if a person git hold of yore hair an' Put it in runnin' watah, don't yo' see. YO' [the author] HAVE SEEN A RUNNIN' STREAM OF WATAH? AH 'MAGINE [they] said, if dey carry it to a ditch or, yo' know, any place dat de watah continue runnin', a creek or sompin lak dat, oby it will run yo' crazy. [Hoodoo has many informants, especially doctors, down- talking to me. This sort of treatment is surely the greatest compliment I ever received, I being one of them.]
Entry 6292
Dey'll take yore hair an' put it in runnin' watah an' dat'll cuz yo' to leave home, cuz yo' to run away. Sometime, ah've heard 'em say, it'll cuz yo' to go in a 'sylum. But ah do know, dat it run yo' 'way.
Entry 6297
A person could take a stran' of hair outa mole of yuh haid, direc'ly outa de mole, an' put it in a glass vial - sompin lak a li'le vial dey use at de drug sto' fo' dang'rous medicine. Put dat hair in dere an' cork it up right tight an' throw it intuh run- nin' watah. An' dey say it will run yuh wit a bad haidache all yuh live, an' almos' run yuh crazy.
Entry 6308
An' if dey wanta drive yuh away, dey kin take yuh hair an' take it tuh a runnin' stream of watah. An' don't nevah go fa'wahds, go backwahds. Take dat hair an' go tuh a runnin' stream of watah an' throw it ovah de lef' shouldah an' nevah look back. Dat'll drive yuh away. It will cause yuh tuh wandah from place tuh place - all lak dat.
Entry 6324
Dere's three thin's dat yuh could use of dis person dat would cause 'a tuh do dat. Yuh could use his track or 'is hair or any part of 'is clothes dere's any sweat in, an' put it dere, an' 'is mind will jis' begin waverin', an' he won't go crazy nor it won' kill 'im. Yuh wrap it up in a piece of silk cloth a' take it down tuh de runnin' watah an' anchor it dere so it could move about en de watah's runnin'. [For anchoring hair in running water, see elsewhere f text.]
Entry 6326
Take yuh hair an' put it in a stream of watah runnin' east, an' dey say dat will run yo' away from yuh Lvn'. Yuh come tuh go dat way.
Entry 6327
Ah heard dat chew could take a person's hair an' run 'em crazy. An' yuh throw dat in runnin' watah dat run- da'no'th, dat run 'em crazy.
Entry 6328
Mos' streams, yuh know, run tuh de east, [they] say, but yuh go tuh a Stream dat run west an' it'll cuz a person tuh go crazy from a certain stran' - ah think it's nine stran's dey say dey git from de mole of yuh haid. Ah've heard dat story. (And they throw it in that Water, you say?) An' put it in dat runnin' rapids - put it in de run- nin' watah, an' dat'll cuz a man or woman tuh lose dere mind. [West-running Water means water flowing towards the sunset. It is a magic, not a topographical term, a term meaning trouble. Mos if not all water in South Carolina eventually travels east to empty into the Atlantic Ocean. However, even an eastward-bound stream can sometimes bend to the west for a short distance. The Mississippi River, for example, going south bends from north to east into Quincy, Illinois, and then immediately bends west away from the city to continue its journey south.]
Entry 6333
Yo' kin take de top of yore hair out de mole of yore haid an' cut it out, an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up. An' first yo' take yore name an' put it in a bottle, an' put chure hair on top of dat, an' stop it up good in runnin' watah. Well, as long as dat bottle run, yo'll run. Well, when dat bottle bu'st, hy yo'll be gone.
(You will die?)
Yessuh.
Entry 6334
Dey git holt of yore hair an' dey take an' dey gits a - put it in a bottle, an' put red peppah, cayenne, an' salt in dere an' yore name, an' stop it up in a bottle. Dat'll make yo' have de headache all de time, an' make yo' feel if yo' ain't satisfied nowhere yo' move. In no time yo' go. Git dat bottle an' throw it. (What do you do with that bottle?) Yo' take an' throw it in de rivah. An' [or] den yo' kin take an' yo' kin put it up ovah 'is do' where [he walks under it] or if yo' [ain't] scared he'll find it dere, if yo' a friend of 'em an' yo' visit 'em, yo' take an' yo' git it in de mattress or undah dat [bed].
Entry 6336
Well, dey kin git holt some of yore hair. It's 'cordin' to whut dey wanta do wit yo', why dey kin take dat hair. Now, if dey wanta partly run yo' crazy, frenzy minded, dey could take dat hair an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up an' pore watah on it.
(Any kind of water?)
Any kind of a watah po' on it. Let it stay until it become to be - DAT WATAH GOIN' MAKE DAT HAIR 'LIVE LAK A LITTLE LIVE WORM IN DE WATAH, yo' see. Well, WHEN DAT HAIR BEGIN TUH GIT 'LIVE, dey take an' po' dat Water out an' t'row dat bottle in de rivah. Let it float on de way down - on - on - on. T'row it away. Whenevah dey throw it down, dey [the thrower] jes' turns aroun', dey don't look back aftah it a'gin at all. Well, dat run yo' crazy.
(They pour the water out that bottle before they throw it into the river?)
Yes, 'fore dey t'row it in de rivah, dey must keep it nine days aftah yo' put de watah in it. Yo' keep dat bottle 9 days. Have it roun' yore house an' IN 9 DAYS DAT HAIR WILL COME TO LIFE. (Yes, but I mean, you leave the water [hair] in the bottle when you throw it into the river?)
[The word water in my question is a slip of the tongue for hair.]
Yeah, oh yeah. An' de bottle's goin' float on, be goin' right on doon wit de stream.
Entry 6337
Well, ah kin go out tuh de fo'ks of de road, if ah wants tuh go out dere an' put down a little magic work for business. Ah kin go out dere tuh de fo'ks of de road an' git me a little dirt [see FORK-OF-ROAD DIRT, p.688, and elsewhere]. De fo'ks of de road comin' so [demonstrates]. Prob'ly one comin' - Memoirs.of Alma Egan Hyatt Foundation - east an' one comin' west. Well, ah gits right in de middle of dat fo'k of dat road. Ah don't git very much of dis, jis' a li'le bit of it, dat dirt. Take dat li'le dirt an' has me a li'le bottle, or cup or anythin ah wants tuh put dat dirt in, an' go on back home. Well, ah kin fix dis right up out tuh de fo'ks of de road. Aftah ah git dis dirt an' put it in dat bottle, den ah has me a ten-cent bottle of Hearts Cologne. Put dat Hearts Cologne on dat - nine drops, see. An' aftah ah po' dat in dat bottle, den ah puts anythin' - any othah article ah got lak hair or any- thin'. Ah'll fix dat up. Well now, heah's what all goes in dere: Dat dirt out de fo'ks of de road. Buy a bottle of Hearts Cologne jis' about dat big [demonstrates], a ten-cent bottle. Yuh po' dat intuh dis dirt or whatsomevah dat chew got tuh put dis dirt in, a bottle or cup. An' aftah yuh put dat in dere. den yuh takes hair. Don't care whut part it come from - come from out yore haid, puts it in dere. An' aftah yuh put dat hair in dere, yuh stop dat hair up airtight an' takes it back to dese peoples' home an' bury dis fo' nine inches under de ground. Dat represent de nine mawnin' dat she'll leave dere. [She'll leave on or before the ninth day.] Den go back an' take it outa dere an' goes to a runnin' stream of water an' throw dis in a runnin' stream of water. An' when yo' throw dis, throw it high enough to give a splash tuh dis bottle. Don't look back - jis' throw it ovah yuh haid, don't look back atall. An' jis' long as dat watah an' dat bottle floats - it don't be a big bottle, a little bottle, so [demonstrates]. So long as it goes, dat person dat yuh's aftah, dey is gone.
(You throw it high enough?)
High enough tuh make de splash be heard [over] dat curse words. [My transcriber ommitted dat curse Words; a common practice to end a rite with a cursing incantation. Why the splash had to be heard during or after the curse words is a sort of So be it or Amen.]
Entry 6341
Dey could take yore hair an' run yo' crazy. Dey take it an' put it in runnin' watah. Dey furce set it in rainwater an' wiggle-tails git into de [rain] watah. An' dey'd drop dat hair in [the water containing wig- gle-tails] [and also] a horse- hair, suppose to make a worm. Den dey'll take yore hair an' Put it in a bottle wit rocks in there [to sink it], an' t'row it in running watah. [Wiggle-tail = wiggler or wriggler - larva or pupa of the mosquito.]
Entry 6342
Yo' go to de spring an' yo' git dat watah an' git a strand of a per- son's hair an' yo' put in dat - yo' put it in a bottle. Yo' ketch yo' some an' yo' put it in a bottle. An' yo' put dat in a bottle an' yo' take dat an' bring [it] back wit yo' home. An' jes' keep it all de time right in de cornah of yore bedroom. Keep dat in dere all de time.
(What will that do?)
Dat's tuh keep him at home.
Entry 6343
A lady tole me dat she run a lady crazy. An' she'd taken some hair out of 'er [other woman's] haid an' she put it in a bottle, jis' a bottle an' stop it up an' carry it to a runnin' stream of watah an' throw it in, an' talk an' tell it, "Ah want chew tuh run dis lady crazy." An' when dem nine days wuz up, she jis' foolin' crazy.
Entry 6347
Take dat hair an' put it in a bottle of watah. Go down tuh de rivah when de tide be goin' out, yo' see, an' take dat hair an' git some of dat watah whut runnin' out - while it's floatin' - de tide be goin' out. Put some of dat watah an' stop it up an' throw dat bottle ovahbo'd an' say, "God damn, yo' son-of-a- bitch, yuh oughta been daid," an' let dat bottle run out, an' dat'll jes' run yo' crazy. See dat watah be carryin' it time de tide be goin' out, see. Dat watah carries it on out, yo' see, an' yo' jes' nevah would have no mo' good sense. Yo' jes' be crazy, don't know whut's de mattah wit chew. (Now, you put this hair in the bottle after you empty the bottle out, but you must get some of the water as the tide is going out and put in the bottle and cork it up, then throw it right back into the same Water.) Yes.
Entry 6348
Takin' yuh hair an' puttin' it in [can or bucket of] watah, an' dey take it out an' put it in a stockin', an' bury it undah de steps fo' three days. In three days dey take it up an' throw it in runnin' watah. (What will that do?) Say it will run yuh crazy. (What do you mean, put that hair in water? What kind of water?) Well, yuh know, sompin lak put it in a can or bucket or sompin lak dat.
(You mean ordinary water?)
Yes slr.
Entry 6350
Dey could take yore hair an' stop it up in a bottle wit cay- enne peppah, peppah- grass an' take dat bottle at 12 o'clock hour on, an' chunk it ovahbo'd in de Mississippi River, an' jes' as she [bottle] drift, you'll drift aroun'.
Entry 6366
Yo' kin git some of dat woman's hair an' take an' put a halfa teaspoon- ful of salt intuh some watah an' a li'le bit of camphah tuh it, dey says. An' yo' kin shake dat up - de hair an' a li'le bita camphah an' watah an' dat table salt tuhgethah. An' she will leave from where she's at or leave de man she's wit.
Entry 6451
(What do they do with those fingernails and toenails?)
Ah hear'd 'em say dat dey cut 'em an' put 'em in a snuffbox, an' go tuh de cemetery an' take a dime, an' reach yore han' as fer as yo' kin in de centah - ah mean in de centah of de grave - an' take jis' as much of dat dust as dat dime kin hold. An' ah hear 'em say yo' kin put it in a snuffbox an' throw it in a runnin' stream. An' dat's all ah know about it.
(What will that do to you then?)
Run yo' away, dat's whut dey tell me.
Entry 6505
When yo' go intuh a bath, yo' wash yore feet good an' clean, an' den yo' wash 'em ovah a'gin, an' yo' take dat watah an' yo' put dat intuh coffee or sompin lak dat fo' de person tuh drink.
(What will that do?)
Dat keeps 'em, keep 'em lak yo' want 'em tuh be, yo' know, roun' yo' or sompin lak dat.
Entry 6506
Providin' - if yo' wuz a disagreeable person, well dey will use de watah from de foot, from de bath or somepin lak dat. An' sometimes dey use it in dere food, an' dat's why dey does dose tricks. (What do you mean by that? I didn't quite understand that.) Yo' see, jis' lak if yo' wash yore feet in de watah, see, an' de watah is cleah, well den some people dey'll take it an' dey'll cook de food in dat watah. See, an' aftah cookin' de food in dat watah, why den de person who eats dat food, if dere spirit is high, [a cross person] dey mostly will bring it down lak dat. Uh-huh nominal [= make person normal.]
(I see, the temperament.)
Entry 6508
Go right on an' let 'er cut 'er toenails an' 'er fingahnails. An' yo take dat an' care [carry] it right on in de crick [creek] where runnin' watah at. An' yo' t'row right in dat watah. Dat watah be runnin' evah day. She nevah would love me no mo'.
Entry 6510
Ah heah yo' [they] kin take yore toenails - ah don't know nuthin about chure fingah - but chew kin take yore toenails an' stop it up in a li'le bottle an' throw it in nunmin' watah. Dat will cause yo' tuh be driftin' about through de world mindless.
Entry 6511
Take yore toenail an' scrape from de bottom of yore feet an' put [red] peppah in it, an' throw it intuh run- nin' watah an'yo'always achin'. Yore feet an' things always achin' - hurt chew. Dat de hot foot.
Entry 6512
De toenails - de trimmings of yo' toenails an' put it in, git some run- nin' watah an' put it in a bottle an' bury dat undah yo' do'. Dat'll give yo' bad luck, makes yo' ail in de feet or sompin lak dat. (You have to take the running water though and put it in a bottle.)
Entry 6513
Dey kin take yore fingahnail an' run yo' crazy. Dey kin take yore fingahnail an' also dey kin take dis - de skin from de bottom of yore feet. Yo' know, de dirt from de bottom of yore feet, an' put dat tuhgethah, see, sew it up an' take it down tuh de rivah on de ebbtide, while de tide goin' out tuh de sea, an' throw it ovahbo'd.
(What will happen then?)
Yo'll have tuh follow it.
Entry 6549
Wal, tuh git de frog intuh de body, dey said dey takes an' use rain watah. Take de frog an' cut de frog while it live an' use rain watah. An' let de rain watah jis' - let de [frog] blood drop intuh de [pool of] rain watah. An' aftah gittin' dis blood from dis [pool of] rain watah, dey po' [pour] dis [blood and rain water] in dere [a container], an' partly covah it [container] an' den mix de [another] watah tuhgethah - de drinkin' watah tuhgethah. An' prak'ly [practical- ly] dem frogs will go intuh de body an' dey come tuh form life. [The frog blood having dripped into a puddle of rainwater is scooped up and poured into drinking water.]
Entry 6584
Git 'em - an' yo' take dese heah stingin' scorpions, too. Git 'em an' parch 'em up. Let 'em git good an' brown. Cook 'em an' den powdah 'em up right good, an' put 'em in a bottle of watah an' stop 'em up real tight fo' awhile. An' den if yo' wanta poison dat indi- vidual, why yo'll po' some of dat out intuh 'is watah.
Entry 6659
Ah heard dat yo' could take de hair an' take it an' put it in - jis' urap it up or tie it up in a cloth or somepin an' weah it on yo' some place. Weah it on de firs' piece yo' weah [wear next to skin] an' dey say dat will cuz yo' tuh come back tuh 'em. An' den ag'in yo' could take de hair an' put it in a bottle an' stop it up. An' put it in runnin' watah an' den it would turn tuh a snake. An' when it turn tuh a snake it would kill yo'.
Entry 6674
Ah tell yo', if yo' kin git a little of de watah or de spit from de terrapin - if yo' kin git de watah or eithah de spit from de terrapin, an' yo' kin use it in a person. Yo' kin put it in dere watah, anywhere yo' kin put it tuh git it in 'em. It will run 'em wild jis' lak a terrapin.
Entry 6679
Ah know a girl dat wuz caught in some whiskey somehow or 'nothah. She ruz a frien' girl of mine, she stayed down heah. She wuz goin' wit a woman's husban' an' she [wife] didn't wan' 'im tuh go wit 'er. An' she [friend] drunk a lotta whiskey. An' so dis woman [wife], de way dis woman did tuh git dis snake in 'er - it wuz a li'le bit of snake jis' about lak a fishin' worm, an' she wuz poisoned wit it. She got dis snake inside a [of] dis girl. So dis girl commence tuh fallin' off. She commenced tuh gittin' po' an' it look lak dis snake would come right up tuh 'er [throat], come chokin' 'er or somepin lak dat. She couldn't eat nuthin; she pouldn't have no appetite or nuthin. So dey cared [carried] 'er tuh doctors an' de doctors couldn't do anythin' tuh [for] her. An' ah tole 'er, ah says, "Why don't chew go tuh dis root doctah in Orangeburg [S. Car.]? Prob'ly be might know whut tuh do." She said, "All right, ah'll go. Ah'll git mah mothah tuh take me." SHE HAD DONE FELL OFF TILL SHE WEIGHED ABOUT 80 OR 90 POUNDS - JES' NUTHIN BUT SHITCH. So she [mother] said, "Could ah [you] git someone tuh take mah daughtah up dere?" [She] said, "Ah'll pay yo' fo' gittin' 'im an' den ah'll pay 'im. Cos' dat's de only chile ah got an' ah'm crazy 'bout 'er an' ah jis' didn't want nuthin tuh happen tuh 'er." ". [She] say, "Ah believe [they] done somepin tuh 'er." So, well, we went attah [after] dis man, went on up dere. Dis man [owner?] said anybody could come in de house dat wan' tuh. So we went on in dis house an' dis man [doctor] wuz up dere [upstairs?]. He [doctor] tole us - de firs' thin' we set down. He went in dere an' he fixed up a hot - some hot boilin' watah, jis as hot as she [patient] could [stand it]. Said, "Pull down 'er [your] dress an' set ovah it." He said, "Yo' sit down on it." An' she set down on dis chambah of watah. An' he said, "Jis' set right dere till ah call yo'." An' he gone in de front. An' dis girl set down on dis chambah of hot steamin' watah, an' it wuz somepin she had in dis watah - she set on dis chambah of steamin' watah, she stayed in dere fo' fifteen or twenty minutes. An' he tole 'er. said, "Now. when yo' git up off dis watah, dere's goin' be a snake in dis chambah of watah." Says, "Don' be scared, don' git frightened."
Entry 6786
Yo' scrub yuh steps wherevah yo' may be, yo' know, down wit de nine buckets of hydrant watah; [I mean] eight buckets down, yo' know, an' de las' bucket throw it up. An' smoke yo'self in dragon's blood an' wash yo'self down wit linseed oil. (What will that do?) Dat'll keep 'em from harmin' yah. An' keep yuh salt throwed aroun' yah steps, wit chamber lye - yah know, yahurine. [There are many scrubbing rites in Hoodoo, most of them from New Orleans, some of them complicated. For a few of these beliefs see margin titles WATER and WATER THROWN (pp.740-743) and SCRUBBING in INDEX (vol.5). The present 9 buckets of hy- drant water - considered running water and therefore of magic power - are for rinsing what has been scrubbed. Eight buckets are dashed down; the ninth bucket is tossed up into the air, either all at one time or a particular number of times.]
(You do all these things together?)
Yo' mix dat [salt and urine] but yo' smoke yuhself in a new can by itself wit dragon's blood; or insant [incense], dat's good. [This is a protection rite against hoodoo of any kind.]
Entry 6790
If a person bites yo' wit blue gums, yo' kin take a li'le of yore action, yore action an' put it on dere an' rub it in dere roun' good. (Rub it into the bite?) Yeah, an' go git chew some sulphuh an' burn it an' put it on dere, an' slip tuh 'is house. When yo' git dere, an' jis' lak yo' wanta a drink of watah, say, "Git me a glass of watah - git me some watah." An' carry a li'le dat burnt sulphuh wit chew an' - now, lak yo' wan' some watah. Rub it roun' intuh dat glass an' blow yore breath in it three times an' set it down nice, an' tell 'em tuh 'ave a drink of watah. He'll take a drink of watah an' he'll start tuh sufferin' wit de pyorrhea, los' [lostl de teeth outa his haid. (That burnt sulphur that you use in putting on your arm, that is out of the same batch of stuff?) Yes.
Entry 6880
Well, a woman kin be in de family way an' aftah she in de family way, why den yo' takes whut yo' call a mare rope. Listen good. (I understand.) An' aftah dat mare rope dere, it's tied. Yo' takes dat mare an' let 'im [!!!] cross de rope nine times. Yo' fix dat, run 'em cross. Den yo' cut dat rope, cut it off from dat mare an', if yo' kin, put it in 'er room anywhere dat she livin' at. An' any time dat she cross dat rope dere twice, she shall have dat child crossways in 'er an' dey have tuh take it from 'er.
(All right. Now, how can you take this off of her?)
Well, aftah yo' go tuh work an' fin' dat, dat is a fact dere. DEN YO' BEIN' WHUT YO' CALL A "TWO-HEADED DOCTOR" DERE, an' yo' wanta git 'er off it. Den yo' go tuh work an' yo' go down tuh a runnin' stream, an' yo' git dat same rope. De people goin' tuh bring yo' de rope, yo' know, when dey come tuh do yo'. Den yo' take dat rope dere an' yo' wait 'till night, twelve o'clock at night. Den yo take dat rope an' tie nine knots. An' de people dat she say dat put dat rope dere, down dere fo' her, take dere name an' put it dere nine times in dis knot. Yo'll throw it dataway [into the running streom] an' let it go down. Yo'll find dat de rope will pull a li'le bit tuh yo', but dat ain't nuthin 'bout dat dere. It'll go right on. [That Pull a Zi'le bit tuh yo' by the rope, is that the spir- it within trying to prevent being thrown into the water?]
(And the spell is off?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 6903
Ah heard 'em tell if yo' have a vener'al disease or a bad case of de POps or somepin lak dat, chew kin take red shank root, wild cherry bark an' Queens of Life. [He probably means Queen's - delight = greenroot (StiZlingia sylvatica) of the southern U. S. A., see p.630.] (What is that?) Dat's a weed dat grows out an' it's a root too.] It's in de woods. Wild cherry bark root an' de Queens of Life, an' red shank, an' sasparilla [sarasparilla]. An' take all of dat an' put chew 'bout a gallon of watah an' boil it down tuh a quart [magic of diminishing amount]. Dat's a good Dedicine fo' any case. It'll run it out but it'll kill - run it out chure blood an' cure it up. Den yo' kin cure it up on de outside yo'self.
Entry 6947
Jes' lak she runnin' out on yo' an' doin' bad things an' yo' know it. She comin' in an' she kinda drinkin' a little. If she don't come in too high [drunk or intoxicated] an' don' let 'er be [something]. Yo' take a basin of watah an' take an' put 'er ban' in it, an' ast 'er a question while she's sleepin'. She'll talk wit chew jes' lak she wide awake an' tell yo' ever'thin', where she been an' whut she done an' all.
Entry 6953
Spidahs are good fo' fevah. Say yo' take de spidahs an' yo' boils 'em an' bath [not bathe] patient's body in de watah, an' dey'll recovah from fevah.
Entry 6967
She'll take a cold pan of watah an' put 'is han's in it whilst he sleepin' an' den ask 'im diff'ren' questions. An' when she ask 'im dem ques- tions, den he answah dem. Do dat tuh a woman or a man, it don' make no diff'rence. Jis' put 'is han' in dis watah. Why she kin say, "Bob, yo' went sech a place las' night, didn't chah?" An' ah'll [he'll] answah de qoestion.
Entry 6979
Whut dey put on 'em, ah don' know, but ah've known of socks bein' gotten out of a mattress. Den put it in runnin watah. Dat'll take de bad luck on off, if dey have it.
Entry 6981
If you have a [social] disease and have a running, they claim if you take some of that and go backward to a stream of running water and throw it over your left shoulder, it will cause that running to stop. [That word social within bracket, originally a parenthesis, is mine. What it replaces I no longer remember. Above it I have a note copy myself! Back in 1936 when this belief was collected, everything about a venereal disease was taboo. A final note of mine reads My original [[pencil]] copy never typed, dated H. M. H. note Aug. 1971.]
Entry 6982
Ah've had de claps so bad until ah didn't do nuthin but a solid stream of blood evah time ah made watah. An' ah went tuh Dr. O'Leary here an' he vashed mah bladdah out an' he tole me, he said, "Yo' got a sore on de end of yo' bladdah. Yo' been havin' dat - yo' been ovahstrainin' so long until it's worked back up intuh yo' stomic." (This doctor, was he a medical doctor?) Yes, an' he nevah did do me no good. So finely, ah one day, ah wuz workin' at de shop down dere, ah ovaheerded someone, a fellah, talkin'. An' ah says, "Well, ah'm goin' tuh use dat remedy. Ah went right on home an' tried it. He says get a pint of, a bottle, an' fill it half-fulla meal.
(What kind of meal?)
Half-fulla cornmeal.
(Half-full of cornmeal.)
An' put nine drops of turpentine in dere. Den git chew some rain watah an' fill dat bottle up. An' den shake it up right good 'till it all resolve [dis- solve] an' yo' know - when it resolve [dissolve] down de meal, dat brings it down about dat low [demonstrates]. Den yo' see it sinks down in dat watah. Yo' shake it up an' take a good swallah outa dat three times a day, an' dat cleah yo' out. Ah don' care whut's de mattah wit chew. Well, ah had it so bad dat ah couldn't hardly walk, it burned me tuh walk. [I fixed] dat jah [jar] mahself, yo' know. An' ah say, "Ah'm goin' home an' try dat." Now, dis, dis is by ex- perience. Ah've done it twice. Evah time ah have it an' I've tole othah men about it. Ah know a frien' dat done dat. Ah fixed 'im a bottle of it an' it Cured 'im. Ah carried - ah goes home an' ah gits me a pint bottle, an' ah fills it half fulla meal, an' ah gits dis rain watah. [Here, thinking that informant was merely repeating, I stopped recording to save cylinder space; but immediately realizing that he was adding something new, I restarted machine to ask what he did with the cork.]
(What did you do with that cork?)
Put a trench in dat stoppah so de air will jis' sour dat meal, sour it where de air kin git out an' it won' blow de cork out or eithah bus' de bottle.
(I see.)
Or put chew a papah stoppah or somepin, so dat it won't be so tight. Well, in about three days dat will be good an' sour, an' it have a good taste from dat tarpentine. An' dat'll rid yo' - ease yo' an' cure yo' up.
Entry 6983
[Rain water, water from heaven as one informant called it, is the sub- stance of my following transcription note: Sprain, pouring water on it from Becond-story window! I remember the occasion slightly because a younger man being interviewed at the same time laughed. This much I re- member. My informant said years ago he knew the man who did this amnd cured his sprain, despite the absence of a second story to his house. He leaned a ladder against his one-story shack, had his wife with a bucket of water climb the ladder, while he flattened himself beneath. Naturally a considerable ount of water missed the.ankle but not the entire man. This is actually a Sort of rain-making rite! Could it or something similar have come from the Amer- ican Indian? Is it the remnant of a humorous folk tale? Has anyone collected a parallel? Those were two great days of my life I spent of Deal Island in the home of the Whites, who happened to be Blacks - see two pictures of this home and us in ILLUSTRATIONS at end of Hoodoo, volume 2.]
Entry 6984
[Here is a remarkable survival, perhaps my only example of the belief. This rite has survived not only time but also my notation doubtful, made only a few months after its collection out in the field!] Dey say if anybody wan'a try tuh poison yuh or anythin', or dey eithah try tuh run yuh crazy or anythin', dey say go tuh de runnin' spring [of water], an' git choo a stran' of [your] hair, an' turn yuh back to it [spring] an' t'row in de watah, an' nevah look at it, an' dey say dat'll kill dat [witch- craft]. [This is a substitution rite. The intended victim substitutes a strand of his hair, a part of his life, for the whole of his life. To earlier man, and even into the Middle Ages many springs or wells were considered holy, each well guarded by its own spirit. The Christian Church renamed these famous wells for saints. I lived for some months on a narrow winding street called Holywell, in Oxford, England. Further, the Old Testament tells us that songs were sung to wells and springs: Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it, " in Numbers 21:17.]
Entry 7079
If he's runnin' out, tuh take her bloomahs an' dip it in a pan of watah, an' wring it out an' wave it ovah him three times. (Over his head?) Yeah, ovah 'is face an' hang it on de head of de bed. Take a sheet an' spread ovah de bed, most anythin', an' hang de bloomah fur 'nuff ovah 'is head so he can't pull 'em off.
(Is he in the bed all the time she is doing that?)
Yes, he's jis' lyin' dere 'sleep. He jis' didn't wanta git up yo' know. It make him he wouldn't wanta git up.
(That will make him stay asleep?)
Yeah, make him stay asleep. She kin go off where she please an' come back.
Entry 7181
An' dey kin [go] right straight along ag'in, an' yo' kin go tuh sleep. An' yo' have any money, yo' kin go tuh sleep, an' if ah kin git tuh yo' - yo' done dead tuh de worl' when yo' drop tuh sleep. Dere's dis han' layin' on de kivah [cover], dis han' - dere's de right han' [demonstrates]. De lef han' is jis' lak dat [demonstrates]. An' yo' sleep dere till ah git anythin' dat ah want in yo' home.
(What do you do with that left hand?)
Git a basin of watah - an' yo' be sleepin' now - an' set it right side de baid an' lay yo' han' in it jis' lak dat [demonstrates] in yo' sleep, an' yo' sleep right on dere until dey git jis' whut de wants. Den when dey gits whut dey wants, dey'll make a li'le racket an' throw de watah out an' yo'll wake up. Ah knowdat, mahself.
Entry 7182
She could take her step-ins an' hang 'em up ovah de head of de bed. Wash 'em an' hang 'em up ovah de head of de bed an' put 'is han' down in a cold pan of watah. He'll sleep dere until she come back. (She must wash those things first?) No sir, jis' hang 'em. An' den she kin take her undah- Weah an' spread 'em ovah 'is face, an' put 'is han' in a cold pan of watah an' he'll tell evahthin' he done dat night.
Entry 7183
Take some clear water an' put it underneath of his bed, while he's sleepin', an' see he won't be able to wake up.
Entry 7184
Take de watah an' sweeten it an' have salt in it an' set it by de bed, an' he'll stay asleep until yo' come back. (You put each of these in a separate thing or?) No, yo' put a little watah in a little bottle eithah a little glass an' set it undah yore bed. Dat'll keep 'im asleep.
Entry 7185
Yo' kin take yore drawahs, yore bloomahs, an' hang 'em ovah de head of de bed, an' yo' take a pint of watah an' yo set de pint of watah down tuh de foot of de bed. Den yo' kin go on out an' go anywhere yo' Wanta, an' come back in an he's still asleep, 'cuz ah've tried it.
Entry 7228
[I met a galaxy of doctors in Charleston, S. Car., before I had suffi- cient experience to handle them. Two years later I would have been better pre- pared. Moreover the weather was excessively hot and the hotel rooms noisy at night. There was little rest. The fol- lowing doctor, Maguin or San Mongain was rather strange. At that time I thought all of them were! This man has already appeared in: No.1221, p.434; No.1417, p.464; No.1638, p.507; and No.2209, p.629.] (Well, now, how would a person harm me if they got a hold of my foot track? How would they hurt me with that?) How would he hurt chew wit dat? He'd take yore foot track an' carry it tuh de graveyard. An' tuh take it back from de graveyard, yo' gotta throw dis dirty watah undah yore house. An' tuh kill de spell from dere an' [to] drive de evil spirit, den begin burnin' dragon blood at twelve o'clock at night in dat ole shoe [this rite partially given in No.1221, p.434, v.1.]. (What would he do with this track if he took it to the graveyard? What would he do with it out there?) When he take de track to de graveyard, he put it tuh de haid of de graveyard [grave] an' pay dem one cent, calls yore name an' tole 'em tuh mind 'im. An' durin' de time dat he done take it tuh de graveyard, yore foot track, yo' come back home an' throw it ovah [under]neath yore house. An' go an' git dis gum-bush an' let it stay in yore house fer three days an' burn it. An' de pusson will come back an' go back tuh de graveyard an' git dis track an' turn yo' loose.
Entry 7234
Ah wus goin' wit a girl about six yeahs ago an' ah quit dis girl. An aftah ah quit dis girl, ah started goin' wit anothah girl. An' dis othah [first] girl got acquainted wit dis othah [second] girl. An' so she [first girl] got acquainted wit de girl ah wus goin' wit, dis othah [second] girl. Co'se [Of course] ah didn't tell 'er dat ah had evah been wit dis girl. An' so dis [first] girl had a party one Satiday night an' she got me dis girl dat ah didn't wan' 'er tuh know of. Quite natchel ah wen' tuh de party. So she had a Victrola, wusn't no radio den. In fac' [fact] she didn't [would- n't?] have one no way. An' she had a li'le whiskey fer de party dat night. An' so, all de while ah wus goin' wit 'er de ole Victrola, de spring 'ud [spring would] jump off sometimes an' ah used tuh fix it fer 'er, while ah wus goin' wit 'er. So she, aftah de music stopped, she tole dem dat ah could fix de Victrola. An' she'd [she had] taken de Victrola in de kitchen an' put it on de table. An ah went in dere an' see zactly [exactly] whut wus de mattah wit it an' fixed it. An' she put a pint of whiskey on de table up dere. Well AH DIDN'T PAY NO 'TEN- TION 'CUZ AH NEVAH DID BELIEVE IN DIS STUFF [HOODOO]. SO AH DRINK SOME OF DIS WHISKEY. MATTAH OF FACT AH'D TAKEN SEV'RAL DRINKS OF DIS WHISKEY. An' so, aftah ah got de Victrola completed an' evahbody got tuh dancin', an' den ah started takin' a couple a dances mahself. Well, when ah started takin' dese few dances mahself, ah got dizzy; got a li'le dizzy an' got a haidache an' got out mah haid some. An' de girl frien' ah wus goin' wit den, she'd taken me tuh 'er apartment. Aftah she'd taken me tuh 'er apartment, ah woke up nex' mawn- in' an' found mahself dere. So ah kinda come tuh mah haid a li'le bit. An' den she rent de cah [car] tuh take me home. So dey'd taken me home. An' when ah got home - ah don' remembah when ah got home or nuthin of de kin' lak dat. So 'bout nine o'clock Sunday mawnin', well ah started havin' fits, one right behin' de othah. So dey tell me, ah don' know anythin' about it. Ah fell unconscious den. So dey spent dat Sunday. DEY HAD ALL KINDA DOCTORS. DEY SPENT $74 ON ME DAT SUNDAY ON DIFF'REN' DOCTORS AN' NOBODY WOULD TAKE DE CASE. SOME DOCTORS WOULD COME IN AN' TREAT ME FER SOMPIN - DIABETES AN' DIFF'REN' THIN'S - AN' MAH REG'- LAH FAMILY DOCTOR, HE COULDN'T TAKE DE CASE. So he tole mah uncle an' evahbody dat he didn't know whut wus de mattah. It wus a case tuh 'im. So den ah stayed unconscious from dat Sunday mawnin' at nine o'clock until dat Monday night at half past eleven. Well a frien' of mine - didn't tell me - ah wus still unconscious, but he tole mah uncle. "WE DONE TRIED EVAHBODY ELSE CHERE [HERE], SUPPOSE WE TRY A HOODOO DOCTOR. IF HE DON' DO NO GOOD, WE JIS' WON' PAY 'IM. He [this doctor] run worms out mah mothah, but she [mother] said, "Ah know anothah good lady [but she is too far away], but anyway, by he bein' so bad off, we'll go up an' see dis one firs'." So dis fellah came in - so dey tell me, see ah wus still unconscious - said, "Yes, " S SAID AH WUS POISONED, AN' HE WOULD HAVE ME ON MAH FEET IN 45 MINUTES. Well, it wus about eleven-thirty den.
(In the morning or night?)
In de night. An' dis wus on a Monday night. Ah had been unconscious since Sunday mawnin' nine o'clock till ovah dat Monday night at eleven. SO HE COME IN AN' COMMENCES TUH WORKIN' ON ME. SAYS MY BOWELS WAS LOCKED AN' DIFF'REN' THIN'S. HE GIVE ME SOAP AN' BITTAH ALOES...
[I interrupt.]
(How did he give you the soap?)
He taken de soap an' he jis' mixed it up in a glass; yo' know, jis' watah enough tuh make de soap dissolve. Yo' know, Octagon soap, an' made somepin lak a pill outa it an' jis' held mah mouth an' rubbed mah throat - so dey tell me - until ah swallah dat. An' den dey give me bittah aloes an' dat unlocked mah bowels. AN' SOON AS IT UNLOCKED MAH BOWELS, AH COME TO. When ah cOme to, ah knows mahself. When ah wus on de party ah wusn't able tuh go tuh de bathroom. AN' [AFTER MY BOWELS MOVED] DEY SHOED ME A ANIMAL COME OUTA ME 'BOUT - AH GUESS ABOUT DAT LONG [DEMONSTRATES].
(As long as your little finger.)
YEAH AN IT LOOKED SOMEPIN LAK DE COLAH OF A ORANGE PEELIN', AN' IT RAN UP ON DE MEDICINE GLASS TRYIN' TUH GIT OUT. Ah [had] come tuh, den. Co'se ah wuS weak aplenty. Ah wus weak aplenty from havin' dose fits. Ah wusn't any good. De fact is, he tole me it would take aroun' a couple a yeahs tuh git so ah wus well ag'in. In fact it did. So ah commence tuh askin' question Who did it. HE'D TAKEN A NEWSPAPAH AN' PLACED IT IN A PAN OF WATAH AN' LET IT SET IN DIS PAN A WATAH SOMEWHEAH ROUN' ABOUT AH THINK - IT WUS NINE MINUTES AH THINK, AN' DIS WOMAN'S PICHURE COME ON DAT NECKED [NAKED] JIS' LAK SHE WORN NUTHIN ON 'ER - NECKED ABSOLUTELY.
(The woman that did this to you?)
Yeah. So he ast me did ah know dat woman. Ah say, "Yes." He say, "Well do yo' wan' tuh have her tuh come here an' confess tuh yo'?" DE PICHURE APPEAHED ON DE NEWSPAPAH RIGHT LAK DAT AN' HE TOLE ME TUH LOOK AT IT QUICK. AN' AH LOOKED AT. IT QUICK AN' AH RECOGNIZED IT AN' IT JIS' FADED AWAY AN' JIS' STAYED LAK DAT. [Before proceeding to the doctor's magic-mirror trick, let me pause in an attempt to explain his pan-of-water trick, the latter an excellent example of hydromancy. The doctor had brought in his usual medical kit a newspaper folded into folds about 3 inches wide; the top fold containing type only, the bottom fold also the picture of a scantily dressed woman. He then holds the newspaper several inches under the Water, type side up and picture side down. Patient is instructed to free his mind of all thought except the identity of the spellcaster soon to be revealed. Gaze at the water constantly without blinking. After a long period, as much as 9 minutes, the doctor begins to rotate the newspaper so that the picture suddenly appears and disappears. He tole me tuh look at it quick an' ah looked at it quick an' ah recognized it an' it faded away.] So he said, now ah'll have her tuh come here an' confess tuh yo' dat she did it, if yo' want me tuh. Ah tole him, ah said, "Yeah, ah'll be glad tuh." He'd taken a mirrah an' turn it bottom upwards; taken a mirrah an' turn de face up lak dat [demonstrates].
(The face of the mirror up.)
Lak dat. An' he said - ast me whut wus 'er name. An' ah tole 'im 'er name. Ast me whut wus mah name, an' ah tole him mah name. He wrote mah name at de top an' 'er name at de bottom.
(On this mirror?)
On a piece of papah an' placed it on topa dis mirrah. An' den he'd taken a clock an' turned it face down, almos' right on topa de mirrah, an' let dat stay dere fo' five minutes. An' he'd taken it up in fo' an' a half minutes, an' put it down fō' a few seconds, den picked it up. He tole me she would be dere in five minutes. Ah don' know where she wus. She wus away cross town, somewhere. But he tole me tuh watch out fer 'er, she would be dere in five minutes. Ah Wus wondahin' how she goin' tuh git dere. She lived on Marshall Avenue 'bout fō' or five blocks from dere. Well in fō' an' a half minutes from de clock she wus dere. She come up on - man had a automobile, a taxi. Ah don' know whethah she wus on 'er way dere or whut, but in fō' an' a half minutes she wus dere. She tole me dat she did it an' she wus sorry. She says she didn't do it 'erself, said she got somebody else tuh do it, an' tole me his name an' evahthin'. (Do you know what they put in the whiskey to hurt you that Way? What she put into the whiskey?) Yes, dis fellah had taken two grains of snake dust an' put in de whiskey. But dat wasn't did dat Satiday night. Had it been did dat Satiday night, it wouldn't a worked so fast, see. She had did it somewhere roun' about three months agO, an' DAT LIVE ANIMAL HAD BEEN PERFORMED FROM DAT SNAKE DUST. An' den ah had been away from 'er fō' fō' or five months, an' had been goin' wit anothah girl an' had passed 'er up. Well dis girl wus teachin' school. Well ah wouldn't let dis girl know dat ah had evah been wit 'er, cuz ah thought dere would be a lot a jealouSy dere. WELL, WHEN AH WENT BACK DAT NIGHT, DEY STIRRED IT UP, YO' SEE, AN' DAT MADE DIS LIVE ANIMAL LOCK MAH BOWELS. AN' IT HAD TUH PASS THROUGH OR ELSE AH'D A LIVED SO MANY HOURS HAVIN' DOSE FITS AN' DIED.
Entry 7259
Years ago my mother walked acrost the yard one time going to the well. A pain taken her in the foot. She was as well as she could be before. And she became sick. A white doctor 'tended [her] and she became nothing but skin and bones. We saw he couldn't do nothing so we got a cunjure, some lady. I don't know who she was. She came back [with us to our house] and said I was the only one to go and GET WATER FROM A HIDDEN PLACE. If somebody saw us going we had to change and go somewhere else. I was just a little girl. She came back [a second time] and brought something in a box - I had to rub [on] her [the mother] in a bath. No one could do anything for her but me: You're the only one to rub your mother, nobody else but you. You have to do all the cooking, everything she eats. No one else is to cook it. We [I] had to go some- where in the Woods and get HIDDEN WATER AFTER DARK.
[The mother's situation became worse.]
She was going [barefoot] acrost the floor one night and stepped on a splinter. [This of course was the work of an enemy.] In the meantime [before this] a [strange] man came in. [After he left] that kitchen sprung up. [The floor buck- led causing the splinter her mother stepped on.] I don't know what it was. Every time that spell would come upon her she would rage. One day [some years later] as I was going to work this woman [cun.iure] came around the [corner of the] house and we happen to meet at the same time. And she said, "You're hurt. All your misery is right there." And she put her hand on your [my] stomach. She said, "You're hurt with your hair and with your pic- chure." And I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to said a word to her. And she said, "Let me go in and I'll tell you." [I took her inside.] "Give me a glass of water." I gave a glassful. SHE SET IT ON THE FLOOR. "IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET WELL, I'LL SHOW YOU BY THIS WATER. THIS WATER WILL BOIL." We sat there and looked at the water. And the water boiled over the glass. IT WAS COLD WATER. And she said, "You're hurt." She said, "If you don't say anything about it when you feel better, you'll get well; but if you tell anybody, you'll die." And every time mama felt better and would say something about it, she'd get worse. Just a week before she died she up and got out of bed. She said, "You all think I'm going to get better but I'm going to die." That evening, Friday evening, she Was taken speechless and stopped talking. She called for fish and corn bread. I gave it to her. I was upstairs and I would hear a funny noise. I went down and called her. She said, "No, nothing is the matter with me. I'm just eating. That was just a little while before she stopped talking. She coml menced eating and stopped talking and couldn't say a word. She died that night.
Entry 7316
Go to de cemetery right where he [murdered man] wuz buried, yessuh, an' git some of dat dirt right off de top right middleways, an' put it down in a red bag an' sew it up, an' den take dese heah nine needles an' jes' stick 'em all de way roun' de top, an' throw dat in runnin' watah, an' dis man [murderer] he would come back.
(This man who killed this other man?) Yes, he's comin' right back where he left from.
Entry 7373
Fac' [in fact] ah heard of a man got killed, an' shortly aftah he got killed de law come up to fin' out who wuz dis man dat he got killed an' who wuz it dat killed dis man. He [the law] caught some of 'is blood an' aftah ketchin' it he took de washpan wit some watah in it, an' caught some of 'is blood an' set it down in [under] de bed where dis man wuz at. An' de man dat killed 'im, he had tuh come back an' give up.
(Under whose bed did he put that pan?)
Under dis man's bed dat wuz dead dat dis othah man shot.
(The dead man's bed?)
Yes, dat's right. (That is, the dead man was lying on the bed an' he [the law] took some of this blood and put water with it, and put it under the dead man's bed to bring back the man that killed him.) Yes.
Entry 7408
Jis' lak ef a puson wus tuh kill anothah one an' dey can't nevah ketch 'im. Well, dey go on an' dey gits - dat coffin have tuh be dressed whut dat in- divid'l is in tuh cuz dese othah parties tuh come back. An' tuh dress dat coffin dey'll git some dragon's blood an' whut chew call - well it's a oil whut chew call de come back oil, an' dat dragon's blood an' dat Sang-Sang Powdah. [This is probably the same thing as Sen-Sen or Sen-Sen Powder mentioned elsewhere.l An' take it an' put it in a half a pint-a watah, an' put two tablespoonsful of saltpetah in it, an' shake it up good an' sprinkle dat individ'l good in dat coffin. Sprinkle de corpse real good an' dat individ'l, whosomevah it is. An' in about three day's time dem parties will be back.
Entry 7412
Well, if anyone kill a man an' den run 'way an' dey didn't know who kill 'im. Well, when dey wash dis man, dey takes de watah an' puts it into a quart bottle an' stops it up tight an' bury it in de grave tuh [with] him. Well, he cain't go. He have tuh come back. He have tuh pass dat place evah day, back- ward an' farward. He have tuh pass dere, dat place. (They wash the dead man and that water they wash him with, they put it in a bottle and put it in the grave.) Yes. [Sumter, S. Car. (1367), 2419:10.]
Entry 7465
Yo' kin take, yo' see, lak if a man would kill a person, go to a stream an' take three eggs, jes' git yo' three eggs an' bur' 'em in de watah in somepin dat de eggs'll stay down dere 'til dey rot. Take dem eggs an' bur' 'em until dey git soaked in watah. Take three eggs while dis pusson is bein' waked - lak at a wake. An' bur' 'em. Bury dat per- son wit dem eggs in dere han's. Put de eggs in dere han's. An' when dat pusson is buried, if dem eggs bu'st in dere han's, aftah dey are buried - when dem eggs bu'st, aftah dem eggs bu'st, dat pusson dat kill dat pusson is comin' back to dat same scene at where he committed de crime.
(What did you bury those eggs in the water for?)
Yo' take dose eggs an' bur' dem in de watah, if yo' don't bur' dem, don't git a chance to bur' dem in de pusson's han's when he's bein' bur-ried, yo' kin take dose eggs an' wrap 'em in somepin an' bur' 'em in de watah. Yo' undahstan'?
(Oh! I see.)
An' bur' dem in de watah. But be sure dat de eggs dat yo' use come out of de house where's de pusson who is waked. Dat's been - dat's in dat house dat night, dat pusson who is waked in dat house. An' bury 'em undah watah, bury 'em in somepin so dey can't come up on de top of de watah. An' when dem eggs bu'st undah dat watah, dat pusson'll come back jes' de same if dose eggs were buried in de han's of dat pusson.
(How many eggs did you say you used?)
Take yo' three if yo' bury 'em in de watah. If yo' bury de pusson [use two eggs], put a egg in each han' - in each han' of de pusson.
(Well, why do you take three if you bury them in the water?)
Becuz yo' got no body - yo' buryin' two eggs wit de body. But when yo' bury de three eggs, one egg represents de body, an' de othah two eggs represent de han's of de pusson dat dey in.
(Oh! I see.)
Yo' undahstan' now? How it is?
(Yeah, I undahstan'.)
Yo' got no body in de watah.
(Any particular kind of eggs?)
Hen eggs.
(From any kind of a chicken?)
Take a black chicken. Eggs from a black chicken. Git yo' three eggs from a black chicken.
Entry 7500
An' jes' lak if a murdah' [murderer] have did somepin, why go tuh de cemetery tuh a fresh grave, de freshest grave dat chew kin fin'. Go dere an git chew some graveyard dirt an' take two pennies an' some watah an' put it into a bottle an put that graveyard dirt in dere an' shake it up an' set it aside until yo' see bubbles come from it, until bubbles from dem pennies in dat watah. When dem bubbles start, 'is min' is gittin' bad. He'll come right straight back tuh where he killed dis fellah.
Entry 7837
Wit graveyard dirt. Jis' lak, yo' see, yore ole man is left wit anoth- ah woman, yo' kin go tuh de graveyard an' yo' kin git some dirt. An' yo' git a nail jis' about 'er size an' den yo' write her name on a piece of pa- pah, an' yo' wrap it aroun' dat nail. An' den dat graveyard, yo' git a bottle, an' yo' pack it [graveyard dirt] in a bottle an' yo' put dat nail wit 'er name wrapped in it. Dat's called buryin' 'em. Yo' kin take dat [bottle, now a symbolical coffin] an' throw it ovah in runnin' watah, an' dat supposed tuh break 'em up.
(WHAT DO YOU MEAN A NAIL HER SIZE?)
Jis' lak if it's a small person, a low [short] person, den yo' kin git a small nail; an' if it's a tall person, yo' git de tallest nail dat yo' kin find. An' put de graveyard dirt in a bottle an' pack it jis' as tight as yo' kin pack it - dat graveyard dirt in de bottle - an' den yo' write 'er name on a piece of papah an' yo' wrap it around dat nail. Dat nail supposed tuh be her. An' yo' stick it in dat graveyard dirt whut's in de bottle an' stop it up real tight, an' yo' throw it in de rivah. Dat supposed tuh break 'im an' dat woman up.
Entry 7839
Ah heard dey kin take graveyard dirt an' sprinkle it all roun' yore do' an' make yo' move. [I stop machine so that we can begin on something not so well known.] An' yo' kin take graveyard dirt an' yore name an' put it in a bot- tle wit some watah, an' if yo' drink coffee, put coffee in dere an' make yo' commit suicide. (How many times do I write that name, just once on that paper?) No, nine times. (How do you write it?) Write it back dis way [demonstrates] dat's if yo' wanta do harm wit it, yo' write it backwards. Lak yore name's John Henry, ah write Henry John.
(Write it nine times?)
Yeah. Den yo' write it chere [here] an' yo' write it 'cross dere [demon- strates]. (Always keep crossing it up all the time.)
Entry 7841
Dey kin take dat bow an' keep yo' wit a headache all de time. Dey odll take dat bow an' take it tuh de cemetery tuh a ole grave an' go tuh de haid of de grave an' call yore name an' bury dis dere, an' say tuh de spirit in de grave, "Why, keep dis till ah come fo' it." An' until dey come, why yo'll have de head- ache. If it's a stockin' dat's been worn, if it's a dirty sock, not one been washed, dat dirty, dat have de sweat or presparin' [perspiring] from 'er feet, don' chew undahstan', den yo' kin take dat an' take hit tuh de cemetery. An' put [it] down at de foot of de grave, not de haid but de foot, an' say tuh dat spirit: Keep dis till ah come back. An' dat puts dis woman's mind on yo'. Now, when yo' git tired of 'er, yo' have tuh go an' git it up an' throw hit in runnin' watah.
Entry 7861
Take graveyard dirt an' spidahs an' eggshell an' dis stuff yo' call quicksil- vah, an' put it tuhgethah an' put it in person pump where dey pump. An' dey drink dat watah an' it will kill 'em. De ole people [in the country] uses pumps. Yo' put it in dere an' it kill 'em. [Somewhere we have a rite about quicksilver drying up a pond.]
Entry 7924
I have heard of people giving graveyard dust. You throw it in running water. The person you want to go away or come back will come or go. You throw it over your right shoulder and don't look back but keep walking and have the person in mind.
Entry 7982
If they wanted you for to stay, they wouldn't take dose leaves [4 el- derberry leaves in a preceding rite]. Dey jis' take de back off yuh pitchure an' - jis' lak, dig a hole about, say as large as dis table [that is, an oblong or a square hole, a cof- fin symbol] an' put watah in it, which it can't run [away], an' dey'd put dat pitchure in dere an' let it stay.
(How do they take the back off a picture?)
What? Take the back off a pitchure?
(You said they take the back off a picture?)
Dey take de back off de pitchure - de back be, yo' know, de back of yuh pit- chure, if it's in a frame, an' jis' leave dat pitchure in de form dere an' dig a hole an' put dis stale [still] watah [in the hole].
(How would they put it in that water?)
Jis' drop it down dere an' don't look at it. Turn around an' walk off.
(I see.)
Entry 8001
You can cut out of paper or you can cut them off from shingles and make the image of a person, and write the name and whatever you wish. Well, you can take this shingle and carry it and throw it in running water, or you bury it, or you can take it and hang it upon the side of a tree and let it blow away. That's if you want to run 'em away.
Entry 8064
Yo' know dese cheap photograph where all de stuff kin come off. Ah mean de tintype. Well yo' put dat down in some watah an' all dat stuff shell of. Yo' don't put in so [too] much watah, a li'le bit of watah - see, jis' a li'le on it tuh soften it. Git all dat out an' yo' put dat in a bottle, see. An' yo' put some perfume in dat, an' den yo' put dere toe- nails, an' yo' puts de bow of de cap [3 ingred- ients added to photograph water]. Yo' know dat li'le bow at de bottom of 'is cap, li'le roun' bow. Take dat an' put dat in de bottle, an' yo' stop dat up an' bury dat.
(What will that do to you?)
Dat will kill yo'.
Entry 8146
(And then what?)
Dey could take yuh pichure an' take fo' leaves.
(Leaves?)
Yes, lak green leaves.
(What kind of leaves? From what? From a tree in the woods?)
Yes sir, a tree.
(What kind? Any particular kind?)
Yes, sir. Dem ole tree ovah here. Tree ovah here, dat eldahberry tree [I am looking atl right where ah'm settin' here now. (Elderberry tree. Take four elderberry leaves?) Yes, sir. (All right.) An' wrap 'em around each cornah of dat pichure, an' take it tuh runnin' watah. Yo' go tuh any watah whut's runnin', not de rivah only, a bayou, an' chunk it in. An' dat will run yo' away if dey didn't want yo' fo' tuh stay.
Entry 8200
(What would they do with my photograph?)
Take yure photograph an' place it intuh a small lookin'-glass, face intuh de glass lak yo' would look intuh de glass, an' put it intuh a runnin' place of watah two or three weeks, an' it will run yuh crazy.
Entry 8210
Now if a man's wife leave him, or 'is sweetheart leave him an' he can't git her back, he takes an' he git a piece of papah an' he write her name. Write his name first an' hers second an' he writes each name three times, an' den call 'er by name. An' he goes an' he git 'er photo an' he goes an' git a glass of cleah watah. An' take dat pichure an' turn it head foremos', turn it head down tuhwards dat watah, jis' don' let it tech de watah. An' in three days why she'll be back.
(What do you do with that paper?)
[A rite of diagnosis (see pp.165-217) follows:]
Take dat papah an' yo' drop it in de watah first, an' if she's comin' back, why dat papah will, when yo' drop it in dere, yo' know, it go tuh de bottom when yo' drop it. When - if she comin' back, it'll rise up tuh de top an' it rise up tuh tech dat pichure. In three days den she'll come back.
Entry 8211
(How would you make a person move out of the house?)
Well, de way ah would do dat - dere's two or three diff'ren ways of doin' it, but de plain way, dey say, fo' instan' maybe yo' live nex' do' tuh me, well ah'm gon'a wait until night, see. An' den yo' kin git some sulphur - in othah words some sulphur an' gun- powdah an' mix dat up. An' about de noon hour of twelve at night, midnight, well yo' kin sprinkle dat befo' de do' an' let it goes in de do'. An' undah nine days time dey'll move. An' dere's anothah way dat chew kin take dat track. Yo' kin take dey track or eithah dey photo or eithah dey name, an' put a rattlesnake mastah root, an' wrap it up wit dey name in it an' dat track. Dey tie it up real tight an' have it so dat it wouldn't sink, not immediately, an' cast it in a runnin' stream of watah. DE SWIFTAH DE STREAM IS DE QUICKAH DEY WILL MOVE. Some people says sompin about aigs, but ah don't use dat. (Well, now, to make them move fast, do you put that rattlesnake master and the photograph together and the foot track or just one of those with the root?) Well, yo' take rattlesnake mastah, de name, an' de dirt dat chew git. Well quite natchly [naturally], if yo' wrap it up in wool, it take quite a bit fo' dat watah tuh soak in dat wool, yo' know.
Entry 8228
If yo' kin git aholt of someone's photograph an' yo' got it in fo' dem, why yo' take dey photograph an' yo' clip de photograph in nine diff'ren' ways.
(How do you mean, cut it nine different ways?)
Yo' cut de fo' cornahs offa it. But yo' ain't gotta cut it plumb up. When yo' cut de fo' cornahs, dat's fo' ways. Well, yo' kin take it an' cut it five mo' diff'ren' ways. Cut it all de way round, but jis' don' cut it up [photo must be left inone piece]. Den take dat pichure an' carry it to runnin' watah. Well, dey'll be harmed, gits in a car wreck or sompin. Dey goin' git out chure way.
[Stopped machine. Informant added a remark. Restart to repeat the addition.]
(They get cut up or something of that sort?)
Yes.
Entry 8239
Yo' take a person's photo- graph an' take nine pins an' stick 'em in it, right through de heart, an' take an' carry it tuh runnin' watah an' throw it in. Why dat person will fall daid right anywhere dey at. Aftah nine days why dey'll fall daid.
Entry 8268
Take de tintype an' point de fo' cornahs an' shoot it an' yo'll soon die. (They do what to the four corners?) Turn it round, de fo' cornahs, dey meet de cornahs of it. (Show me. Say that's the tintype there.) Take de pistol dis way an' turn it ovah an' shoot it [this corner], an' yo' turn dis cornah an' shoot on dat cornah.
(Shoot it in all four corners turning it around?)
Turn it roun' an' den throw it in runnin' watah.
(What will that do?)
As dat go down yo's goin' go down den too.
Entry 8296
Yes sir, yo' kin take a pichure, take it down tuh runnin' watah an' tack it on a tree an' shoot it, if yo' wanta kill 'em. Well, now, yo' kin kill 'em lak dat. Yes sir, jis' take it an' carry it tuh runnin' watah, jis' tack it on a li'le tree right by de runnin' watah, yo' know, de face of it. Shoot it. Well dat kills 'em. Dat's whut ah learnt from an ole man.
Entry 8297
They put them [a tintype] in a pan of water, with the face up, and shoot at them. That disfigures their face and makes them moult away. [Fred- ericksburg, Va., by Ediphone.]
Entry 8300
Well, yore photograph, dey kin weah it in de hose tuh make yo' love 'em or eithah put it ovah a glass of watah, if yo' off from 'em an' draw yo' tuh 'em. (You just lay this photograph over the water?) Yes sir, turn it down ovah a glass of watah an' dat'll draw yo' tuh 'em.
Entry 8335
Well, yo' kin take her pichure an' carry it tuh a tree an' nail it three times, nail a hole in it three times. An' take it an' put it in runnin' watah, an' dat will make a person leave yo'. (You take this picture to a tree an' you take one nail?) Yeah, yo' nail it three times. (Against the tree?) Against de tree, an' den yo' take de pichure down an' put it in runnin' watah an' dat person will keep goin'.
(You only use one nail though? Just make three holes in it against the tree?)
Yes, against de tree, an' den yo' jes' take de pichure out an' put it in run- nin' watah. (This is the woman that went out when the root doctor came in.)
Entry 8376
Git chure photo- graph an' nail it - carry it in de branch [stream of water] or in de swamp an' git small nails an' nail it tuh a tree an' it'll kill de person.
[This tree must have its roots in water.]
Entry 8378
Jes' lak a woman or anythin' got yore pichure. DAT'S WHY DERE SO MANY PEOPLE TUHDAY DEY'S ALWAYS 'STURB [DISTURBED], DEY AIN'T GOT NO STEADY MIND. DEY LEAVE DERE PICHURES TOO MANY PLAC[ES]. A woman kin take yore pichure an' yo' be a hunderd miles away, an' she'll take it an' go in a swamp where dere's runnin' watah, dere's a branch across it, where dere's a tree right in de middle of de place, an' a tree outside, an' de watah don' be but twelve feet each way - three trees. An' she kin take dat tenpenny nail, or any 'mount nail, jes' so dat she hit de heart of dat tree [picture] an' nail yore pichure [face] tuh- ward it. Wherevah she nail yore pichure at, see yo'll hit a bump evahtime she's drivin' a nail intuh dat pichure.
(What does she do that for?)
If she's mad wit yuh, wanta kill yuh, she could do dat. (Now what about these trees down at the branch? They have to be near each other?) See, de way it is dey cain't be ovah twelve foot apart - twelve foot. It don't make no diff'rence if it ain't no big branch, but de watah gotta be six- teen inch, an' if de fellah is a hunderd mile off, dat'll count sixty percent of one hunderd.
(What do you do? You only put that picture on one tree?)
Jes' one tree.
(And where is that one tree?)
Well, de one set nex' tuh de watah, closah tuh de watah, put it dere, but turn it facin' de watah, see. An' whenevah yo' drive a nail, yo'll heah sompin pop.
(This tree has to be near the water?)
Yes, neah de watah, an' have de pichure facin' de watah.
(And this tree has to be twelve feet from the water?)
No, dey has to be three trees, but dey has tuh be twelve foot apart.
(And you only put it on one of those trees, though?)
One dose trees an' de one closah tuh de watah. (You must find three trees near a branch, and the trees must be twelve feet apart, but the tree that's nearest to the branch, you put the picture on?) Dat's right, an' turn it neah tuh de watah.
Entry 8406
If ah wanted tuh hurt anybody really bad - well, if yo' have anybody photograph an' dey don't want chew, yo' want dem, yo' take it an' turn it on de face in a basin of watah. An' if yo' want dem tuh die, yo' could repeat dis word, "Let I be true, In de Name of de Fathah, Son an' Holy Ghost." (Will that kill them?) No, not tuh kill 'em, but dey'll come back tuh yo'.
Entry 8407
Well a man tole me - lived right heah in town, supposed to be a expert root doctor - he tole me dey take yo' pichure an' put it in a glass of watah. Tip it up, wit chure face turned down. He claim dat it kill yuh in so Bany days, say it would surely kill yuh.
Entry 8411
(Tell me the whole story about the photograph.)
It have tuh be tintype - not pastebo'd - tintype. An' lak ah have yores right tuh mah baid, ah kin take it an' put a cup of watah. Now ah've tried dat, don't want yo' say nuthin, but ah've tried dat. An' put dat cup of watah undah mah baid an' take dis tintype pichure an' turn it down lak dat. Ah don' care where yo' at, yo' shore comin' soon. It ain't goin' be ovah twenty-four hours. Ah know dat, ah've tried dat.
Entry 8412
Well, fo' instan' yo' could take, if dis photograph is on a tintype, if yo's off some place, say, "Now, dere's a gurl, ah want 'er back tuh me, she's gone." Or a man gone or a woman wanta bring 'im back. Yo' take an' put dat photo- graph on a glass of watah undah de haid of de baid an' set it, if it's on a tintype, an' set down undah dere, an' purtty soon he'll 'vance [advance] back.
Entry 8413
Jis' lak ah'd have a man's photograph an' wanted dat man an' he had quit me, say. Why ah kin take dat photograph an' carry it - take it an' put it in a glass of watah. Put it undah de haid of yore bed turnin' de haid down, intuh dat glass, an' dey say dat makes de man come back tuh yo'.
Entry 8414
Dey take yuh photograph an' turn it bottomsides upward over a glass of watah, an' tie it tuh de haid of yer baid. Turn yer haid downwards in de watah an' dat'll make a man love yuh.
Entry 8415
Take a glass of watah an' put it behin' de bed, an' turn de face down on de glass of watah - ovah de glass of watah. (This photograph?) Yes, dat will keep dem home, but ah don' know about runnin' 'em crazy. [Sumter, S. Car. (1353), 2363:4.]
Entry 8416
Well den, if he leave home lak dat, yo' kin take a glass of watah an' set it tuh de no'th side of yore bed lak dat, in a dark place an' put 'is photograph up ovah de watah, see. An' when dat photograph, dat pitchure change, lak dat 'is face be goin' off it, ah don' care where he is, well dat'll draw him back home, if he not daid some place.
(How do you put that photograph glass? Show me.)
See, jis' lak dis de glass of watah. Yo' put it on de no'th side of de bed lak dat, in de da'k right behin' dere. Well, yo' take dat pitchure an' put it ovah de glass of watah, see on top de glass of watah jis' lak dat, wit de face down tuh de watah.
Entry 8417
Or yo' kin take yore pichure - ah heah mah ole grandmothah talk about dat often. Yo' kin take a pichure an' put it ovah a glass of hot boilin' watah an' - in othah words yo' sterilize it - an' den yo' go crazy. Dere isn't anything yo' kin do fo' dat. Aftah yo' git dat pichure sterilized see, when dat pichure fades away, well dey say den yo' crazy. Yo' be upset an' yo' be wantin' tuh go places all de time.
Entry 8418
If ah want chew tuh come back tuh me, well ah would put it [photo] in a glass of watah an' set it in a cornah, in a dark cornah, an' let it stay down dere. Turn de haid, heel foremost Iturn head where heel should bel yo' know. So ah jis' let it stay in dat dark cornah an' yo' is comin' back home.
Entry 8420
Take yo' pichure now - if yo' had a fellah's pichure an' wanted tuh draw 'im back tuh yo', take dat pichure an' turn it down ovah a glass of watah. Put a lookin'-glass on top of it.
(You turn that face down over the glass of water.)
Face down. (Then you put a mirror over that? A mirror ovah it. Dat'll draw 'im back tuh yo'. Dat's all yo' have to do.
Entry 8421
An' ah hearn dat chew kin take one [photograph] - jes' lak somebody's Way off at somewhere in a furrinah [foreign] country or sompin an' yo' want 'em tuh come back - take it an' turn it down on a glass of watah, an' push it undah a bed an' let it stay nine days, an' in de tenth day dat person will come. Ah've seen dat happen.
Entry 8422
Yo' kin take a person's pichure an' set it in a glass of watah an' put it in a washstand right facin'. An' set de pichure down in de cornah of it. [Set corner of picture cater- cornahed in glass of water.] Don't kear [care] how long dey been gone, if yo' way in New Yawk somewheres, yo' mind will fall on de people whut's back heah an' dey'll [you'll] come. (You put this glass of water on the dresser. Where do you put this picture now?) Put it in dere [glass] katyfied [catercornered]. Put de cornah of it [photo] kinda lak dis.
(What we call cater-cornered. Do you put it in the glass of water?)
An' set it right in de face of de washstan' drawah, an' let it set dere fo' nine mawnin's. An' dem folks will come in less time den two weeks.
(Do you put this picture in the glass of water or behind it?)
Set it [photo] down in it [glass]. Let one cornah [of photo] be in de glass of watah, an' dat pichure will fade away, but hit'll come back. (You put that glass in that drawer and close that drawer so as to hold the photograph?) Yes sir.
Entry 8423
Yo' take de man pitchure, if yo' wan'a draw 'im back, an' put it on a glass of watah, face tuh de watah, ovah top'a de watah an' put a heavy weight on, an' let it stay dere fah nine days, an' he'll come back.
Entry 8424
If yo' wan' tuh make a boy love yuh, yo' take a glass of watah, a glass dat choo're not gon'a evah use ag'in, an' turn dat pitchure down ovah dat glass an' put nine drops of Hearts Cologne or Blue Moon perfume, eithah one is jis' as good, in dat glass of watah. An' let dat pitchure stay ovah dat glass of watah until yo' see some results of dat boy comin' towards yuh. If de boy has turn ag'in [against] sho [you] all tuhgethah an' yo' kin git 'is pit- chure, why dat'll bring 'im back. Put de glass under de haid of yuh bed.
Entry 8425
Dey say dey kin take yuh photergraph an' turn it ovah a glass of watah intuh a dahk place. Put it in a dahk cornah, an' turn yuh photergraph de haid up tuh dis watah. An' put some spice an' cloves in it, an' let sit dey [there] fo' nine mawnin's. Well dey say, well, if's anybody leaves yuh, anybody da'choo [that you] want, dey say he'll come back tuh yuh.
Entry 8426
Ah take de photograph an' put it ovah a tumblah of.watah an' set it undah de edge of mah bed, de watah an' de pichure undah de bed. "In de Name of de Fathah, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, ah want chew tuh love me."
(You - how often do you do that?)
Fo' nine nights.
(You say that once for nine nights?)
Yes sir.
Entry 8431
De reason ah know dat, a woman, she tell me dis. Her husban' went away an' leave her an' she want 'im tuh come back home. An' she had a pichure of his'n an' she take a glass of watah an' set it in a dark corner in de house an' turn de pichure down ovah it an' call his name. An' when dem nine mawnin's wuz up, he came home. (Did she just call his name once?) Three times. (How did she call his name?) She call his name three time. (Just that one time when she put that picture over there?) When she put dat watah, de glass of watah in a dark cornah, turn de pichure down ovah it an' she call 'is name three times.
Entry 8435
Ah heard a lady said dat she knew a frien' dat a woman taken 'er photo- graph, 'cuz she wus mad wit dis woman about 'er own husband. An' she'd taken dis photograph an' taken it tuh a branch, yo' know a marsh place where a li'le watah runs all de time. An' said dey turned dis photograph ovah on de face an' let dis watah run an' run ovah it until all dat - all de person, yo' know, de flesh be, yo' know, cain't see any of 'em, until all of it's gone. An' dey say when dat's gone, say yo'll go on away from here. Gone, she say, "cuz she know a friend of hers says dis woman's taken 'er an' showed what she'd done.
Entry 8437
Yo' take de photograph when in love an' put it in a basin of watah, an' if it floated on top, yo' an' 'er will be in good love; but if it goes tuh de bottom, she wan' tuh run away from yo' jes' as fer as she kin git. (Now, which is which?) Yo' couldn't git 'er if she goes tuh de bottom, no. See, becuz de watah washin' 'er offa dat pichure, yo' see, washin' 'er photograph 'way from yo'. It nevah will be on dat card atall, it will wash off.
Entry 8438
Lak if yo' 'way an' dey want chew tuh come back. Dey kin take a pitchah of watah an' take dis pichure an' set it be- hin' dis pitchah of watah. An' fo' nine mawnin's befo' sunrise, dey git up an' call yo' three times - call yore name three times. In nine days yo' mo' den apt tuh be back.
Entry 8439
An' den yo' kin again take dis pichure an' put it where runnin' watah run ovah it, an' dis person will jes' have tuh go, can't stay in one place - dey jes' have tuh keep goin'.
Entry 8444
An' den dey kin take yuh photograph an' throw it ovahbo'd. Dat will drown yuh. But dey got'a read de 108 Psalm.
Entry 8446
An' yo' kin take dat picture an' go to a runnin' rivah an' throw dat picture ovah your haid an' don't look back, an' go off, an' it will run 'em crazy.
Entry 8450
Dey would take dat pichure, dat photograph an' turn it down, an' throw it in runnin' watah. (What will that do?) Yo' would go long as dat pichure was runnin'.
(What do you mean? Would [it] run you away or kill you or what?)
No, it wouldn't kill yo' but yo' be goin'.
Entry 8453
Dey takes dat photograph, lak if dey wants yo' tuh - ah may say run yo' away or maybe sometime have yo' daid or somepin lak dat. Dey take it an' fold it up in a piece of white rag also an' put a zinc [see later] on it an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' dat supposed tuh make yo' mindless. [Zinc = sink = sinker, a lead weight used in fishing.] If dey don't do dat, dey'll take an' bury it on de face. When dey bury it on de face it supposed tuh kill yo'.
Entry 8456
Yore photograph is yore pichure. Well, ah've heard dat people have taken yore pichure an' some quicksilvah an' throwed it in watah an' run yo' crazy or make yo' leave home. (Well, what would they do with that quicksilver?) Dey taken an' put it on de pichure [quicksilver here probably tinfoil] an' put it in a li'le sack, an' throw it in a stream of cleah runnin' watah. Jes' lak dis watah's runnin' downstream an' throw it in dat stream of watah, an' turn yo' back on it an' go on back. An' it'll eithah run yo' crazy or make yo' leave home.
(You just spread that quicksilver on the picture? The back of it or?)
On de back of it.
Entry 8457
Dey kin take dis pichure heah an' cut dis pichure half in two an' put it intuh a pint bottle. Don't put nuthin dere but jis' put dat pichure in dat pint bottle an' stop it up airtight. An' go tuh de rivah or any place where de watah's powahful strong an' throw it ovahbo'd. Jis' throw it ovah dere an' dey's gone, dey's gone.
Entry 8458
Yes, ah've heard 'em tell of dat. Lak if yo' got dey pitchure an' yo' wanta git rid of a man, want 'im tuh leave or somepin lak dat, yo' take dis pitchure an' yo' cut it up. Jes' take an' cut it up in fine pieces. Take an' cut it up in a jumple. Well, yo' take an' fix yo' a kinda a li'le sack, kinda lak a woman has fo' change - keeps a li'le money sack about dat long an' it got a zippah on it. Dey take dat pitchure an' dey chip it up fine an' take yo' some salt an' jes' mash it on dere. Sprinkle dat salt intuh dat pitchure. An' den take yo' some sulphuh an' put dat sulphuh intuh it. Den yo' take an' put dis zippah on dere an' tie it up good an' tight. Well, yo' leave home, ah reckin, 'bout twelve aclock, jes' long as it round midnight on a dark, cloudy night. When yo' leave dere, go right straight tuh a stream of strong runnin' watah. An' yo' take dis zippah [sack] whut dis pitchure an' stuff is in, an' yo' take yore pocket han'ke'- chef an' yo' blindfold yo'self. an' den yo' throw it right in dat stream of run- nin' watah. An' dat's de way yo' git rid of 'em.
(That's to get rid of them. That means to run them away, send them away?)
Dat's right, tuh drive 'em outa dere.
Entry 8459
Take dat photograph an' throw it in dat stream where dere running water, it goin' so'th, an' dat will run yo' crazy.
(Runs you crazy. Must the water run south?)
Runnin' so'th, yeah.
(What if it ran north?)
Well, ah haven't heard about dat.
(It must be water running south.)
Entry 8461
Well, dey say dat if yo' kin git a person pichure, say if it's a woman an' she has not been faithful tuh 'er husban', or if she's, yo' undahstan', goin' wit some othah man, an' he kin take her photograph down tuh some bubblin' spring befo' sun- rise an' stay dere until it's light enough fo' him tuh see de reflection of dat pichure in dat stream, in dat bubblin' stream. Why do dat three diff'ren' mawnin'. An' some says nine diff'ren' mawnin's. Now ah don' know de truth of it. Ah'm jes' tellin' de truth but dat's whut dey say, dat dat woman would event'ly [eventually] turn 'er face back tuh dat man.
(You say you hold that picture over the water?)
Ovah de watah, ovah a bubblin' spring. It gotta be where de spring is, don' chew know. Yo' go befo' sunrise an' stay dere until it's light enough tuh see de reflection of dat pichure in dat stream, yo' see. [This is undoubtedly a divination rite, a part of which informant has forgotten. Any suggestion on my part would have been a suggested answer. What the reflection revealed can be guessed. If the reflection showed a woman, she was faithful to her husband; if a man, unfaithful. The bubblin' spring of course complicated the answer!]
Entry 8462
Ah kin give yuh two practices on dat. Now, dey kin take yure photo- graph, yo' know, what yo' have already gotten yureself, since dat's yo'. Write chure name at de bottom first, write chure name on de top an' tote chew right down tuh any stream of watah dat goes up an' down [tide- water stream], you git tuh a piece of wood [= woods, collection of trees] where dere a tree what de watah comes up on. Yo' know, as it comin' up it looks lak dat [water covers a part of the tree trunk].
(As the tide comes up?)
Dat's right. Turn de haid right down an' take a rusty nail an' nail it right in dere. Don't drive de nail haid in, don't drive de haid in. Jis' drive it enough tuh hold it. Evah time when de tide comes up, why yo' know yo' will jis' be all crazy, evahthing looks funny tuh yuh. An' when de tide's goin' out, why yo'll jis' set in one place - lie down in one place an' sleep all de time. Sleep comes ovah yuh jis' lak dat.
Entry 8513
Open it [coconut], yo' know, tuh get de juice out of it. An' dey can put yuh name in dere an' stop it up an' throw it in runnin' watah. Dat'll keep yo' runnin' all de time. Dat's coconut.
Entry 8515
Dey use coconuts fo' diff'ren things. Yo' kin kill a person wit a coconut an' yo' kin kill 'em wit a lemon.
(Well, how would you kill them?)
Wit de coconut? Well, say fo' instance, if somebody is got a grudge 'ginst yo' an' dey don' lak yo', an' dey wants tuh git up tuh yo' an' put chew tuh death. Dey gits de coconut an' take one of de eyes out of it, an' write chure name in dere wit a indelibin [in- delible] pencil. [The name is written on a piece of paper, which is inserted through eye hole into coconut and corked up.] Shet it up right tight [close opened eye] an' throw it in driftin' watah an' let hit go. Well, when dat in- delibin pencil [written name] commence tuh meltin' away [because of the coconut milk or juice] yo' begin tuh takin' a pain heah [demonstrates] see.
(Up in the head.)
Yassuh. Begin tuh take a pain in yore haid an' when de last lettah's [last letter of name is] gone, yo' gone. De same way wit a lemon, de same thing wit a lemon. A lemon will knock yo' out mo' quickah, kill yo' mo' quickah.
(Why is that?)
Well, it's de acik [acid] in it. See, de acik in it.
Entry 8537
Go to this place and keep it sweetened down with sweetened water and cinnamon and sugar. (How would you do that?) Well, you'd take and write his name three times and write your name three times, see.
(How would you do that?)
Write your name three times up over his'n and write his name three times across, see. And put it in - fold the paper three times to you - and then put down into a glass or anything with water, sweetened water and cinnamon. And that keeps his name, his mind drawing for you all the time.
(Keeps drawing toward you. I see.)
Entry 8545
Like if I love anybody, I'd take his name and write it and put it in a glass of clear watah. Well ah don't eat anything all day long, just fastin' an' just prayin'. Pray to de Lord that he'll come back tuh me. (That's all you have to do?) That's all I ever heard them doin'. An' I've known girls that do so an' I knowed de boy come back. (Just his name on this piece of paper in a glass of water and then you fast and pray all day long.
Entry 8551
Take a fish an' yo' write a person's name backwards, de two parties, if it's two, lak yore husban' is wit a woman.an' yo' cain't break 'em up, an' yo' wants 'em clean away from round yo'. Yo' don't wanta see 'em. Den yo' gits yo' a fish an' yo' dry it, but chew dries it into a perch fish. Dries hit into salt, yo' know, lak yore mack- eral - salt 'em down. Now - but chew have hit open already. Now, yo' takes dem nails backwards lak ah told yo' concerning de lemon, an' put it into dat fish an' sew dat fish up. An' carry 'im an' put 'im into runnin' watah, an' dat run de two away - dey couldn't stay dere. Dey have tuh go.
(The fish is killed before you put it into salt?)
Yes.
(How do you write those names on that?)
BACKWARDS. ALL RIGHT, MAH NAME IS VIOLA DORSEY. DORSEY VIOLA, DAT'S BACK- WARDS. Yores [if it] is Freddy Jones, [write] Jones Freddy. Dat cuts across dere.
[Freddy bisects Jones, the two names forming a cross.]
(That cuts across dere, cross the names?)
Dat's de idea, an' backwards. Cain't be straight fo' good.
Entry 8557
Ah heard dat chew kin take a man's name, if yo' doesn't want him. Write his name down an' double it up [fold it] twice in a piece of papah, an' walk down like there some runnin' watah somewhere, yo' know, roun' in a branch. An' yo' take it an' throw it ovah yore left shoulder in this runnin' watah, an' yo' won't have no mo' trouble with this man. Whosomevah it is harmin' yo'.
(How do you fold that paper now?)
Fold it lak that and fold it lak that [demonstrates].
(Just as though you were almost folding a letter, in three parts.)
Yo' doesn't have tuh fold it no mo'.
Entry 8558
Ah heard 'em say dey write chure name down on a piece of papah an' den dey fold de fo' corners, see. Dey fold it jis' lak yo' take a piece of papah lak this [demonstrates], yo' know, yo' fold it lak this an' den turn [it] round an' yo' fold it [like this]. (You keep folding it in four corners? Folding it in half?) Yeah, lak dat. An' den jis' lak if yo' want them tuh leave. See, yo' want them tuh leave all ways round, well yo' take dat name an' fold it dat way, an' put it in a bottle an' stop it uP an' gO tO any runnin' watah OR DRAP IT IN DE LAVATORY ANYWHERE, an' dey jis git on all away. Dey jis' cain't stay there.
Entry 8653
Yo' take a person's name an' write it nine times an' put it in dis lemon an' get in de middle of de ferry - [I mean] get on de ferry an' get in de middle of de rivah an' throw it ovah yore left shouldah. Dat will run dem clean out of de city. Or eithah yo' do it wit a coconut...de same way.
Entry 8655
They use bluestone into a lemon, an' salt, black pepper, an' cayenne pepper, an' the woman's an' man's name, an' throw it in the river. That makes them drift. (You put this all inside the lemon?) Yes, sir.
Entry 8698
Then you can git a bottle of vinegar an' write de name upon a piece of Venrick parchment.
(What kind of parchment?)
Venrick [a trade name?] parchment. An' they put this in this bottle of vine- gar with cayenne peppah, see. An' they roll this bottle aroun'. Go to de back door an' roll it all de Way tuh de front. (Just a moment. Do they roll it with their hands or feet?) De feet. Dey kick it wit de feet an' as dey kickin' it, dey use de words, "As dis bottle rō' [rolls] ah wan' choo to do de same." (I see.) An' they take it an' dey bury it on de science [signs of the Zodiac]. Dey will do this work by science, by de twelve science [signs].
(Well, what sign would they use on that?)
On de Balance.
(Oh, the sign of the Balance.)
Yes, on de Balance; yes, sir. See, dat's when de earth has power. An' dey buries dis bottle bottom upwards. An' de next mawnin' they get up before de sun rise an' dey pour dat hot water on dat an' de bottle busts [bursts]. Den dey move.
(I see, it will make them move.
Entry 8706
Yo' take dey name. Yo' kin find out dey laws' name or people whosoml evah botherin' yo' aroun' in dat neighborhood. Yo' git chew some loaf sugah, dat dey call Domino Sugah [trade name] dat's in de block. Yo' take dat an' yo' put it in a bottle an yo' write dis individual name down wit a indelible pencil. Yo' Write it down nine times but yo' orite chure name - write dere name down nine times. Lak say if it wuz Sam Jones, yo' put Jones an' den put de Sam behin' it, see. An' den yo' write chure name jes' lak yo' wuz goin' [to] back a lettah. If yore name wuz James Joseph, see yo'd write James Joseph, jes' lak yo's backin' a lettah. Write it on a piece of Papah. Yo' write de individual name down nine times straight, an' yo' write yore name down nine times across it, see. But chew put chure given name first. An' yo' take dat sugah an' put it in a bottle in some watah. An' when yo' put it in dere wit dat watah, yo' put it in a cornah somewhere where nobody kinnot tech [cannot touch] it. An' every now an' den yo' take dat bottle an' yo' shake it up. Dat sweetens dere min' an' keeps dem from bothahin' yo'.
(Do you use any number of lumps of sugar or just....?)
No, yo' jes' puts enough tuh make it sweet, jes' enough tuh make de watah sweet.
Entry 8707
(Will you tell me that again?) Ah said, that if yo' wanted to run somebody away from a town, ah've heard dat yo' could write dere name on a shingle an' throw it in runnin' watah - a new shingle an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' dey would leave de city.
(I see, leave town.)
Yes.
Entry 8727
Yo' kin take a turtle or terrapin an' yo' kin write a person's name on dat turtle dat, yo' know, dat yo' don't want to stay in town. Go write dere name on dat turtle an' turn 'im loose in de water an' every time dat turtle move dey'll move.
Entry 8729
Yo' see, yo' can take a terrapin an' write-like my name nine times backwards, if somebody don't like me, yo' know. An' catch 'im alive an' open his mouth an' put dat down in his mouth, an' den throw 'i back in de watah. Jes' as long as he stay in de watah, dat will make yo' drift, drift up an' down de watah, jes' make yo' go first one place to anothah.
(Just write this on a piece of paper?)
On a piece of papah.
Entry 8744
Yo' know trees, a switch offa each tree, dat is not alike an' go tuh a runnin' watah an' throw dese switches in dere one by one an' call de person name, jes' lak yo' want 'em tuh leave, an' jes' say, "Ah hope tuh God So-an'-so will leave, In de Name of de Father an' de Holy Ghost." An' yo' repeat it ovah, ovah an' ovah, till yo' throw de last nine switches in de watah. [You take one switch from each of nine trees: maple, oak, pine, etc.]
(That's all you have to do. You don't say, The Name of the Son?)
No suh, jes' De Name of de Father an' de Holy Ghost.
Entry 8777
Dey could write chure name on a piece of papah, plain piece of white papah, an' take it in [to] any runnin' watah, yo' undahstan', an' jis' throw it ovah yore left shouldah. An' den yo' 'sposed [supposed] tuh be out in about eight [nine] days. (That'll run me out of the house?) Yessuh.
Entry 8778
Write person's name nine times on paper, throw into running water. Runs crazy. [To write a person's name 9 times occurs in many rites. This is a simple and basic form of the rite.]
Entry 8779
Jis' lak if yer girl is away an' she's in de same town yo're in; but if she's outa de town, why ah don't know way [whether] it'll work or not. But yuh kin jis' take a glass of watah. Yo' puts de glass full of watah, jis' as full as yuh kin tote [carry] it, an' set it undah de baid, middle-way de baid, in de centah of de baid, an' call 'uh [her] name three times; an' in three days dey'll be dey [there].
Entry 8806
It's one thing they do to you. (What's that?) Dey kin take yore handwritin'. Dey'll take a plate or saucer or somepin an' burn it jes' lak yo' did dat othah a while ago, an' den get somepin - jes' a face towel or pocket han'ke'ch'ef - somepin yo' use about yore face, an' tie dat up in it, an' take it to a runnin' stream an' run yo' crazy.
(How will it run you crazy? You mean they throw that into the running stream?)
Yes, sir.
(And that will run you crazy, I see.)
Yes, sir. [See also later margin title WATER-RUNNING.]
Entry 8831
And they knows yore handwritin' - get holt of it, dey can.
(What will they do?)
Well, dey will take dat han'writin' an' dey kin cross-write yore han'writin', yo' see, so ah'm told. Cross-write yore han'writin', jes' like yo' write a lettah straight; well, now, dey'll go 'cross it.
(I'll write it straight?)
Straight, an' dey'll turn it [the paper upside down] an' go across it. (I see, just cross it - just turn the paper around and cross it.) Cross it, see. Dey turn de Papah aroun' an' cross it. Well, when dey cross it, den dey'll fold dat papah differently, yo' see. An' dey'll puts it in a draw, draw it with heat or watah, see. An' aftah drawin' it with heat or watah; de sweat from dat papah is what dey uses, yo' see. Well, if dey use dat sweat, dey got yore han' jes' de same, yo' see. An' dey put it in a bottle an' use it, cause yore han' tuh swell up. Dey put salt, peppah an' alum in it an' dey'll lay it in a place undah de step, an' it will cause yore hand to swell.
Entry 8836
They take yore han' - lak ah git chure han'writin' an' ah'll take yore han'writin', even if ah don't know whut tuh do, yo' git somebody else. Yo' take yore han'writin' an' put a smoothin' iron down on it an' take a smooth piece of white Papah an' put chure han'writin' down on it. Well, take a hot iron an' put it on de top [of the handwriting] an' dat'll draw jes' lak yore han' is kinda wet on de papah, dat will draw de dirt from yore han' on de clean papah. [For another example of drawing, see No.8831.] Yo' take dis clean piece of papah dat chew had de han'- Writin' in it. Den yo' take dis papah an' twist it lak dat once [demonstrates]. Git it jes' long as yo' kin till yo' git eight rolls [or twists] in dat papah. Yo' take dat papah an' yo' junk it down in a bottle. An' yo' take dat bottle dat chew put dat down in, in dere. Den yo' take salt in de pinch of yore fingah lak dis [demonstrates] eight times an' put in dere. Well, yo' take some watah lak yo' take a cowpas [see later for this word]. Boil de watah an' po' in dere off a cowpas. Yo' buys it, a cowpas, yo' buys it from de drug sto'. Dat's if somebody gittin' poisoned, yo' see, cowpassin'. Yo' buy it from de drug' sto'. (Is that what they give dogs? Something like that, what they give to the dogs?) Well, ah guess, but ah nevah see dem give it to de dogs. [I think informant is speaking about copperas, a word pronounced in many ways and occurring frequently in the text.]
(What color is it?)
It's jes' lak silvahwhite, funny-lookin' stuff. Well, yo' boil it an' puts it on dis papah. Well, see, dat stuff is tuh - eat, chew know, de papah by de- grees. Well, as it eat dis papah by degrees, dat's eatin' yo', puttin' de spell on yo' jes' as de papah eat. But yo' gotta put dis back in runnin' watah. Yo' can't keep it out until finely [finally] de papah's et [eaten] up an' de bottle is all busted an' yo' see it all gone tuh watah. Well, it's no cure fo' yo'.
(That eats you up, you say?)
It jes' eats yo' up. Yo' see people look lak dey has some kinda vener'al disease. Yo' know, look lak a sore break on yo' dere an' a sore break on yo' heah, an' when yo' git dat healed somepin else broke out on yo'. Firs' thing yo' know yo' pass away. (You put this clean piece of paper on the letter in order to draw out the perspiration - around this perspiration.) Wit a hot iron, not too hot iron, but jes' a...
Entry 8845
Yo' kin take nine nails every - [on the] night dat chew write dis let- tah, an' yo' take nine nails an' lay 'em in a glass crossways wit watah [lay them crossways in a glass of water] an' put some dirt [identified later] in de bottom of de glass an' sprinkle a little bit of dirt in de powdahs [identified later] in de envelope, an' dey say dat'll bring 'em back. Bring 'em back an' dey'll stay wit chew long as yo' keep it up.
(What sort of dirt do you use?)
It's graveyard dirt.
(What kind of powders do you use?)
It's some Lucky Heart Powdahs. [Lucky Heart is name of firm selling the powders - see interview AGENT FOR CURIOS (Jacksonville, Fla.) pp.1075-1085, first few paragraphs of text.] (You send the letter after you put these nails in the glass of water. You put this graveyard dirt in the water and this lucky powder. Then put this letter in the water, too?) No, yo' sprinkle some in de lettah, if yo' goin' send it tuh anybody.
(What do you put in the letter, just put dust?)
Yessuh. (If you write a letter to somebody, you put [in it] this graveyard dirt and this lucky powder. What do you do with these nails in the water? What do you do that for?) Dey say de nail keep dere till dey git dere or somepin lak dat, ah hear'd de ole people say.
(You keep these nails in the water.)
Until dey git de lettah, yeah, an' dey'll come. (They'll come back. But all you do is just put the nails in the water, nothing else?) De nail an' dat dirt.
(The dirt and the powder. Then you don't put anything in the letter?)
Yes sir, see yo' puts dat powdah an' a li'le dat dirt, an' call dere name.
(You put some of that dirt and powder into the water and also the letter?)
Yeah, an' call dere name.
Entry 8853
Well, ah knew dis much about it, dat dere mo' way 'sposed tuh be of usin' de smoke of nine matches. Dey use de smoke of nine matches intuh a bot- tle an' airtight it. Go tuh work an' git chew a han'writin' an' put it intuh a bottle, an' cut out nine matches an' git de smoke of dose nine matches intuh dat bottle an' airtight it. An' kin throw it intuh runnin' watah. Ah know dat's anothah thing dat will upset chew, block yore game in gamblin'. (HoW will that affect me if they took my handwriting and put in that bottle with that smoke? What would that do to me?) WELL, DAT WILL - DE REALLY FAC' 'BOUT IT, SUH, WILL PIZEN [POISON] YO' WITH ANYONE, 'SPOSED TUH BE DAT CHEW COULDN'T MAKE A TAP [OR TOUCH, PUT THE BITE ON ANYONE] COULDN'T GIT NO ENDS TUH MEET IN [COULD NOT MAKE ENDS MEET] NOWHERE. [I would be in a bad financial condition; could not mub two dimes together. That preceding expression cut out nine matches merely means, take 9 matches out of the matchbox, surely a new box of matches.]
Entry 8875
Take de han'writin' - jes' lak if yo' got mine an' if yo' want me tuh suffah wit mah han'writin'. Ah tell anyone tuh jes' [bring] me de han'writin' an' ah take dat han'writin' an' ah copy it off tuhgethah, jes' copy it off. An' ah take dem copies an' work 'em out, yo' see, intuh lettah a - b - c - till ah spell yore name. See, ah takes dat lak yo' got dem same two trees ah tole yo' 'bout. Yo' take it an' tack it tuhwards sunrise, facing de 8unrise, an' let dat stay dere roun' twenty-fo' hours. An' yo' take it back tuh de house den an' yo' puts it in a bottle of watah. Puts it in a bottle an' stops it up airtight. Well, yo' wants tuh bring dem back tuh yo'. Dey'll come. Yo' see, dat copy is in dere, but it gotta be a copy of it. Don't chew write it down dere. Don't take de same han'writin' as dere's. Yo' kin copy it off yo'self.
(How do you copy that?)
Copy it off, takes de abc's [letters of the alphabet], yo' undahstan'. Don't have tuh take it all, jes' take de name in de abc's [write name with the neces- sary letters of the alphabet], jes' lak if mah name Edgah [Edgar], sompin lak dat, copy it off in abc's. Git 'is name on it an' take it home an' tack it up.
Entry 8877
Ef it's by ink, dey takes dat lettah an' dey boil dat lettah. Dey boil dat lettah until hit finely [finally] come tuh soup. An' jes' as hit come tuh soup, dey'll go on down tuh de rivah an' throw it down intuh de rivah. An' den dat man he'd go crazy.
(They just throw this soup into the river?)
Yes, suh.
Entry 8878
Tuh run yo' crazy.
(How do they do that?)
How dey do dat? Well, dey jes' goes tuh runnin' watah an' lets dat stay dere fo' so many - yo' know, a while. An' dey take it up an' dey takes dey 'nitials an' put de 'nitials on dere in a piece of cloth, an' throw it intuh de rivah, see. Dat jes' keep yo jes' all stirred up. (They simply take my handwriting and throw it in the water. That's all they do?) Throw it in de watah. Put chure 'nitials if dey kin git de - yo' know have yore 'nitials off de lettah. An' dat keep yo' goin'.
Entry 8879
Well, if a person kin take yore han'writin' an' if dey kin take it an' throw it in runnin' watah, an' burn it on each end [4 corners] befo' dey do, evah time yo' go tuh write, yo' hardly kin write. Yore han' will be zig- zag on de papah. Yo' couldn't hardly write, yo' tremble so bad till yo' git somebody tuh write fo' yuh. Becuz ah know a gentleman dat wuz lak dat.
Entry 8921
Now, if anyone has stole anythin' from yo', yo' go tuh some runnin' watah an' yo' write his name on dat piece of papah an' put slime or mud, whatso- evah it 'tis, an' call de Three Great Names - dat's de Father, Son an' de Holy Ghost, "may he bring dis back to me, ' an' throw it ovahbo'd. An' dat runnin' watah hit'll run back to yore house, bring it back to yore house. He pick some chance tuh bring it back, 'thout [without] chew seein' 'im. [The preceding expression Three Great Names is rare compared to the more usual ones of Three Highest Names and Three Holy Names. (If you think that's the person that stole the article, you write his name on a piece of paper, and you put this mud on the piece of paper.) Right on top of his name.
Entry 8949
They say that you can go to a brook where the water runs continuously, nice, clear brook and you naturally have suspects. You get water from the brook right there and you put sand in the bot- tom of the container, sand from around the place, and you put the names of all the suspects in that container. When they get wet they'll go to the bottom but the guilty person's name will rise to the top.
(To find out the person who stole from you?)
Yes sir.
Entry 8980
Now if yo' go before de iudge, de judge goin' to discharge yo', ac- cording to what kind of case, yo' know, yo'll have. Well, if yo' got people against yo', yo' know, an' yo' don't want to have dem part of de jury. Yo' going before de judge, like if it's a criminal case, yo' know, yo' got to have de jury. Yo' see, dey have [a panel of] 75 jurors [to select jurors from]. Well, yo' don't know what people [will be on the jury]. They don't pick out but twelve. Now, yo' don't know what twelve dey going to pick out. Dat makes yo' gotta use de whole panel. Yo' see, ah [in my work] done use 'em all.[ Well, now, de person - what jurors is against yo'. Yo' go an' get yo' a beef tongue, a fresh beef tongue. Pay odd money fo' it, not even money - 25 or 35 cents or somepin like dat. Let de money be odd money. An' yo' go an' take dat tongue an' yo' get these peoples names what is against yo', what done harm yo', don't yo' see or what yo' done harm. Yo'll take dat tongue, yo'll write de names on a piece of papah, an' yo'll write all dem jurymen's names, de dis- trict attorney.
(The whole 75 of those names?)
Yeah, just put de whole 75. Yo' have to use de 75, because outa dem yo' get twelve.
(I see. All right.)
Now, yo' get de district attorney what is de man to prosecute yo'. Yo'll get his name an' put it on dere, but not de judge in dat part. An' yo'll -git yo' dat tongue. Yo' get yo' nine needles an' nine pins. Yo'll get yo' dese people names an' yo'll put down on dere an' yo'll put dat down in de throat of dat tongue. Yo'll take dat tongue an' yo'll hang it up in de chimney. An' den aftah dat, yo'll take an' git yo' some watah an' yo'll get yo' some peppah. Yo' git yo some coarse snuff an' yo'll burn a - light a candle.
(Coarse snuff?)
Coarse snuff, dat coarse snuff; not dat in a box. An' yo'll light dat candle an' yo'll put it.in dere. Now, yo' want to come clear an' yo' want de judge to be lenient wit yo', so yo' take de judge's name. An' yo'll take de judge ame, den yo'll git yo' a block of ice, 'bout fifty pounds of ice. Yo' put it in a little pail an' yo'll sweeten it. Den yo'll light de candle, but yo'll light it straight up [the candle will be standing upl. An' den yo' see, sweeten de judge. But this othah part what yo' do, yo' take an' yo' put de candle - yo' turn 'em upside down, yo' get dat coarse snuff an' all dat, an' put in dere. Well dat make de district attorney be fightin' against dem. An' de people, what he got fo' witness, goin' to speak against yo'. Anything dey drink, perhaps dey drink whiskey. Some might drink gin or somepin like dat. Well yo'll get dat [liquor] an' yo' put dere name an' set yo' a little glass. An' put dat candle on dat [name and liquor in the glass] an' ah'll guarantee every one of 'em will go to court drunk. An' yo'll come out clear 'cause dey'll be drunk. Dey won't know what they're sayin'. They'll be lying backwards and forwards.
(What'll that ice do?)
Well, yo' see, de ice, dat's to cool, dat's fo' yore part. De ice makes yo' cool. Yo' know ice makes yo' cool. [Usually ice freezes apponent's tongue.] Well, de judge won't be fiery wit yo'. See, he'll be cool an' calm. But on dis othah side, yo' get dat snuff an' yo' put dem names in dere an' yo' get dat beef tongue. Yo' put dem things in dere an' shove dat tongue, all down in de throat, an' just hang dat tongue up an' den yo'll see. Yo'll see an' dey'll be lyin' an' dey'll be drunk. Just what dey drink, yo' set dat candle in dere [in the glass]. An' dey'll be lyin' an' dey won't say a thing against yo'. What color...just what candles you select. Don't try de black candles.
(Anything but black?)
But black candles.
(How many do you burn?)
Yo' burn - see, if dere's five people, yo' put five candles. An' if it's three, yo' put three; just accordin' to how many is against yo', yo' put dem many candles. An' den what they drink, yo' get a little glass, just what fit de candle an' put dat [liquor] in dere, an' ah'll guarantee yo' every one will be drunk.
Entry 9032
De nex' thing, tuh mah idea, whut's good, take some of yore fingah- nails. Trim yore fingahnails off. Go tuh some watah an' git dat daid skin undah yore feet. Scrape it down. Put it in sompin an' let it dissolve fo' nine days. Den take dat an' strain it. Have it in watah, an' jes' lak de jedge would have a sep'rate pitcher he drink out of, put dat ovah dere in his pitcher. Jes' lak yo' de jedge of de co't, put dat in yore pitcher. See, de chance is de co't goes up dere soon an' dey have evah-thing lined up, de jedge an' de jury. Put sompin in [the pitchers of] both of 'em. Ah'm de crim'nal. Ah'm de crim'nal, yo' know, an' yo' goin' try tuh send me tuh de chain gang. Git tuh arguin' on dat thing. Aftah while dey gits sorry fo' yuh. Things is workin' mah way. Whut chew want 'em tuh [do, that will do it]. Yo' couldn't do it. Simple things whut ah learnt wit de business [of being a hoodoo doctor].
Entry 9169
Ah have a John de Conkah root. Yo' take - ah give yuh a li'le piece of dat. Yo' use jis' - it ain't got a thing tuh do about magic. Put it in yuh mouth, jis' a very li'le bita piece. Walk tuh de co'thouse, talk wit de judge an' evahthing. Yuh case come tuh come up. Yo' talk about a case proposition. On de firs' jam [serious trouble] wit de law dat yo' know dat yo' got a case at de co'thouse. It supposed tuh be very bad in any kind of way. De day befo' de case is supposed tuh be tried, dey show up. Dey say, "Yeah." Anyway dey show up dere at nine o'clock nex' mawnin'. An' yo' wake up dis mawnin' jis' about five o'clock. Evah chair yo' got in yuh home, turn it upside down. Evah chair. Now, jis' lak las' night, jis' about midnight las' night, if yo' got de courage, yo' stay up; 'cuz yo's de one in co't, choo see. Yo' take one of dem chairs an' cross de watah. (Cross what?) Cross de watah. (Cross what water?) Any way [anywhere], jis' So yo' cross de rivah. Any wa watah jis' so yo' cross it. Move dat piece of furniture outa yuh house, an' turn all de chair - rockin' chairs an' evah'thing upside down: Yo' be very cold tuh dat co't. Gotta be verah [very] cool fo' dat, 'cuz yo' know yuhself, from nine o'clock maybe until ten o'clock, dey may call evah'body aroun'. An' yo' continue chewin' dat piece of John de Conkah, dey call it. When it comes tuh yuh time, yo' still lookin' fo' it, dey throw yuh case off de side. Neithah yo' or neithah dem know how he have dem tuh be.
(I see, dismiss the case?)
Yes, dismiss de case. [This crossing of water the night before the trial, is surely a witchcraft prevention tacked onto a court rite. If the arrested person or anything in his house had been bewitched, this journey across running water would break the spell - see Folklore from Adams County Illinois, 2nd ed., p.893f. especially the remarkable story about carrying bewitched child across Mississippi River at Quincy, Illinois, and recrossing the river farther upstream. No.16426, a treasure!]
Entry 9170
Well, now you go in at your house where you stay, and you make your wife wash all her dishes. She wash all her dishes and leave the dishwater right in the middle of the floor [latter a quincunx rite]. You upset all your house, especially the room you sleep in [this is unusual]. You take your chairs and you pile 'em all up in the bed [another rare device]. You take the judge, the district attorney and the parties that will accuse you [hos- tile witnesses]. You gets their names. You carry it back of your house and you bury it. And where you bury it. You bury it up there in a corner where nobody don't walk over it. Say, like I'm going to court this morning, you do that. Keep all - have all the house, like you got the truck [odds and ends] in the bed, you put the chairs on top of it. When you go there, you sit down 'fore the judge and the judge going to ask you if you are guilty or not guilty. You say, "Not guilty." But just say it for [to] yourself. Say, "Well, I ain't got anything to say. I know I'm not guilty." The judge is liable to turn around and twist, you know. Well, you got his name and the district attorney name down so deep in there [in the ground at home] that they can't - and your house all upsetted, they got their mind all upSetted, yOU See. THE WAY YOU GOT YOUR HOUSE, THAT'S THE WAY THEIR MIND IS. They can't say, "Guilty." They can't say, "You're guilty." Well, you see, when their mind gets all messed up, when he look at you, he say, "Aw, discharge this fellah until furthah notice." When they say, "Until further notice, " you are absolutely discharged, you don't have to go no -more. They say that's to blind the court.
Entry 9171
Leave the hydrant running slowly, turn all the "stove eyes" up [lids of old-fashioned kitchen stove burning coal or wood]. You turn your "back pock- ets" [= hip pockets] wrongside outwards. You carry a "Indian head penny. [As I said somewhere in the text, water coming from a faucet is considered running water. Even the pipe carry- ing water from street into house has been called running water. There are a nun ber of these rites scattered through the text to support this statement.]
Entry 9183
If somebody is troublin' yuh an' yo' don't wants 'em aroun' heah, yo' take a aig an' yo' write dey name on it nine times. An' yo' go tuh runnin' watah an' turn yuh back tuh it befo' yo' git tuh de watah, an' yo' make nine steps backwards tuh de watah an' yo' tell 'em, jes' call dey name: "Ah wants chew tuh go an' stay from aroun' me, In de Name of de Fathah, Name of de Son, an' Name of de Holy Ghost." An' throw it ovah yuh left shouldah jis' as fur as yo' kin. Don't look back. Yo' walk right on off. Now, dat'll work. Dat will run yo' off.
Entry 9202
Dere's tuh [two] ways dat yuh cud [could] use dem. Ah kin take - see, yo' know a fresh egg dat yo' see a hen jis' got [up] from de nest. Yo' know, fresh egg jis' lak dat. If it's warm it's best. Well, yo' wo'd [would] take it. Yo' kin write a person name on dat egg. Write it dis way [demonstrates]. Turn de egg aroun' an' write it dat way [demonstrates]. (You write it one Way, then turn the egg upside down and then write right across.) [The two names are written in the form of a cross to cross up the vic- tim.] Uhuh, write it again [the second time] across it. An' yo' kin care hit [carry it] tuh runnin' watah, jis' dat egg, make yuh wishes. Any way yuh wan' 'em tuh go, why jis' say, "Go. "~ Any which way yo' want, jis' go tuh cussin' an' say, "Go, God damn yuh." Sompin lak dat. Throw it in.
Entry 9235
Wal, yo' take de eggs from a chicken an' yo' take de shell an' yo' grind 'em up, jes' mash 'em up real fine. An' yo' take dose shell - eggs out dem shells an' yo' put 'em intuh a glass of watah an' let 'em set fo' nine days. An' den yo' take dat glass of watah an' yo' strain it out until it come tuh be perfect cleah, an' den yo' give dat to anyone. Jes' lak someone come tuh yore house an' want a drink of watah, yo' take some of dat watah an' po' in anothah glass, an' put some mo' watah intuh it an' give it tuh dem tuh drink. Dey'll certainly love yo'.
Entry 9242
And then you turn around then and want to run him away from her, yo' get a coal-black hen's egg an' yo' write his name on de egg. An' den yo' turn around and get a pinch of dirt out of the hollow of his right-foot track, and write his name on a piece of paper, and put that egg and that dirt in that paper, carry it and throw it in strong running water, all run one way [meaning not a tidal river], an' make yore wishes. An' go back to yore house an' get in yore door an' turn yore face out of the door an' wish 'im from yore house, an' he'll go away. [Out in the county from Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va., (Doctor Frank Hall, called by my tired mind Frank Harris! in v.l, INTRO., p. XXIX. I hadn't thought of Frank Harris in years! Material from Hall was taken down by hand.]
Entry 9274
An' den if a woman wants a man tuh leave ag'in, why she kin git a aig an' she break dat aig jis' roun' - roun' jis' as neah as she kin, yo' know, in half a shell, an' po' de inside of it out. An' when she po' it out why take dat shell an' write his name in dat shell - inside of it. Yo' see yo' drēne [drain] all dat out an' den take yore fingah an' wipe it out, so yo' kin write. An' write it on de inside of dat shell an' git chew some 'hesive [adhesive] tape an' put aroun' dat shell so it won' - stick it back tuhgethah an' den put dat 'hesive tape, so no watah kin git in it. An' den walk tuh a stream of watah dat's runnin' an' throw it in dere an' say: In de Name of de Fathah, go! An he'll go an' won' evah come back.
(Does she do anything with that raw egg she has taken out?)
Nawsuh, she jis' use it fo' anything she want. She only use de shell, dat's all.
Entry 9339
Yo' kin take a aig an' yo' kin do dis, if yo' have a husban' or any niggah man dat chew want money outa 'im. [My transcriber, Miss Hayes (her work- ing name, actually a married woman with young school children) put a question mark over the word niggah, being surprised that one black person would call an- other black, niggah. The word niggah probably appears about 3 times in Hoodoo.] Yo' git chew a hen aig. Some says dat, but de' way ah know of it, yo' takes a hen aig if yo' husban' uh [or] man is colahed, an' git chew yo' two switches an' yo' git dis aig. Some say dat chew...but dis de way ah knows. Yo' take dis aig an' yo' care [carry] it tuh de house an' yo' set it up tuh de side of it. Git chew a glass-a watah an' hold de egg ovah de glass wit' watah in de glass. Yo' pop dat egg an' let jis' de white run intuh dat watah an' dat egg [white] will show [di- vine by initial or other form] whoevah been givin' yo' trouble wit dat man. She'll come down [come round] jis' lak she mah friend. Dey'll sprung up, de switches [as soon as informant sees in the egg white the woman causing trouble and pretending to be a friend, the use of the following switches springs up in her mind.] Den yo' go an' take dem switches, two perslmmon switches, an' put 'em in yore baid where he's gotta go tuh baid at. Put yo' one undah de steps where he's comin' in. Put chew one, jis' [lay] it down across lak dat [demonstrates].
(Put it across that door.)
Yes, he comin' right in de do' an' de othah two is in de baid. Well, he'll git in dat bed an' start tuh talk wit chah an' he's goin' step on dere, dat one comin' in de do'. An' when he goes tuh baid, yo' an' 'im will lay down right on dat switch [2 switches] dere. Well, ef he got any money, ah assure yuh, he'll han' yo' evahthin'. He goin' pay yo' what money he got.
(How many of these switches do you git?)
Git two fer de baid an' one fer de do'.
(That is all you have to do and he will give you all his money?)
Yes, sir, an' he'll give it tuh yo', too.
Entry 9348
Well, yo' see, de aigs, dere are two kinds of aigs. A roostah's aig is long an' de hen's aigs are round. Well, yo' git two hen aigs an' some salt an' black peppah. Well, yo' git on dis hen aig whut chew want done. Den yo' go an dig a hole de way yo' want tuh run it - tuhwards runnin' watah. Yo' dig a hole to- Wards runnin' watah an' den yo' put dis aig down in dere an' de black peppah an' salt, an' tell it evah whut chew want it tuh do. An' dey'll come back.
(You leave it there. You use two eggs though?)
Yeah, yeah, two aigs. Dey're round aigs. Yo' see, a roostah's aig is long an' de hen aig is round [the words long or round being words based upon sexual symbolism, not biology]. Well, yo' use de hen aigs. [For long eggs and round eggs see also following rite, and for round eggs and square eggs see also No.9284, p.3738.]
(You dig a sort of a ditch?)
No, a hole tuhwards runnin' watah. Yo' know, sometime yo' have ditches run- nin'. Well, yo' kin tell which way de watah is runnin'. Well, yo' dig de hole tuhwards runnin' watah.
(You mean between your house and the running water?)
Well, if de ditch is runnin' between yore house, yo' kin dig it right in front of de ditch, jes' so's it's runnin' which way de watah is runnin'.
(You mean you dig the hole away from you, down the way the water is running?)
Yeah, well, yo' take nine steps tuhwards de runnin' watah an' dig yore hole, an' den aftah yo' dig yore hole, yo' put chure aig an' salt an' black peppah down in dere. Co'se dis aig already has on it whut chew want it tuh do. An' den yo' have it bring 'em back.
(That is to bring them back?)
Yes.
Entry 9364
Well, now, yo' git a black hen, yeah. An' git dat aig from a black hen, yo' undahstan'. Yeah. An' den yo' take dat aig an' keep it in salty watah fo' two days. An' den yo' git dat aig an' care [carry] it. Yo' go tuh de steps, though, yo' know, an' bury it undah de steps. Dat's whut yo' do wit dat aig, if yo' wanta git 'em 'way from dere. Yo' undahstan' dat.
(That's all you have to do?)
Yes.
Entry 9368
Take de hair an' put it in a aigshell an' care [carry] it to runnin' watah an' dat'll cuz 'em - it'll run 'em off, run 'em away. (Put that hair in the empty egg- shell?) Yassuh.
Entry 9371
Dat chew kin take de chicken aig an' de dust offa man's shoe, an' pick a hole in de chicken aig [and put the shoe dust in the egg] an' take it tuh de rivah an' throw it in runnin' watah. Run 'im off from a place, run 'im away, lak he was here in town an' yo' wanted 'im tuh leave.
Entry 9415
Den yo' kin take two aigs an' write dey name on 'em, jes' lak yo' Wanted a person drove away from heah. If dey cain't do yo' no good, dey won't do nobody else. Yo' kin take two aigs an' write dere name on 'em an' throw 'em in runnin' watah. Go tuh de rivah an' throw 'em in runnin' watah. Dat'll keep 'em goin' all de time, dey min' [mind] goin' all de time. Dat'll fin'ly run 'em crazy.
(Any kind of chicken egg?)
Fresh chicken aigs.
Entry 9430
They take a black hen egg an' cayenne peppah an' guinea watah - er, yes - an' chuck it at yore door.
(What is that? What else do they take, now?)
Cayenne peppah, yes; a black hen egg...
(A black hen egg and then what?)
An' guinea - not guinea. Aw shucks they call it...
(A black chicken egg.)
A black chicken egg, cayenne peppah...
(Yes, all right.)
An' yo' mix dat togethah.
(What do you mix now, what kind of water?)
War water!
(Oh! All right!)
An' yo' take an' yo' chuck it at dere door. Now, yo' see, yo' take a black hen egg by itself an' yo' chuck dat at yore door fo' nine mornings, an' dat makes yo' move an' makes yo' an' yore husband or yo' an' yore neighbor fight until yo' go to jail. (I see. All right.) Now, dat war water, just sprinkle it all around yore door. An' yo' just take a whole bottle of it an' mix it wit cayenne peppah an' den chunk it an' it busts at yore door. Yo' are sure to go to jail.
(I see.)
Entry 9432
A black hen aig. Yo' take a black hen aig an' where dere a person yo' don' lak, yo' write dere name on dat aig an' throw it into runnin' watah, an' de person leave town. Don' care whut time dey goes, dey not satisfied in dere min' - keep dere min' stirred up an' down. Dey cain't rest nowhere dey go. Dey goin' tuh wandah all de time.
Entry 9434
Yo'll take dat chicken aig, de red[!] of de aig. An' den yo'll git chew three needles, new-bran' [brand-new] needles, an' yo' run it through dat, de red of de aig. An' yo' wrap it wit red flannen an' den throw it ovahbo'd. Well, it don' kill yo', jis' make yo' wandah - wandah aroun'.
(How do you know that you have the right person?)
Oh! well, yo' go tuh work an' pick up de right person through a card [having fortune told by cards]. Write de name of de person on de aig.
(On the outside of the egg, before you break it and get the yellow?)
Yeah, yeah, git dere name an' jes' write it - write dere name. [These 3 new needles, symbolizing the 3 Holy Names are here worked through yolk taken from egg, but I now believe the yolk was left in the egg and the needles worked through the shell and crossed inside - see No.9272, p.3736.]
Entry 9448
Yo' would have tuh go...no, yo' kin take table salt. Now, lak dey'll come lak, say tuhday, an' yo' don' wan' 'em tuh come no mo'. Yo' take yo' a han'fulla table salt an' when he turn tuh go away from yo', an' throw dat salt behind 'im an' put it an' say, "Go, yo' son of a bitch an' don' come back here no mo'." Dey won' come back, dat salt'll keep 'im away. Or even, yo kin put watah an' Epsom salts an' throw dat watah behind 'em. For throwing salt behind departing person and shaking your apron, this near Snow Hill, Md., see No.1468, p.477, vol.1.1
Entry 9518
[New Orleans was the scrubbingest place of them all, special prepara- tions often being called a scrub.] She take some salt watah an' evah mawnin' befo' day - it wouldn't be quite light yo' know - she'd take dat watah an' scrub de whole place an' scrub 'er room. An' when he'd come she'd rest his hat, lak anyone would do yo' know. An' she'd have a soft damp rag wit de same solution, an' when he'd be readin' or othahwise lak dat, she'd dampen his hat, jes' take it lak dis [demonstrates] an' dampen it.
(Just dampen the hat with the rag. What is that supposed to do then?)
Keep him dere, yes. [To keep him from being taken away would have been a better answer.]
Entry 9664
All right. Well, first, if they trying to harm you, you get you some Epsom salts, take you some table salt. All right. And you take you some warm water and let that set overnight. Then you take you a good bath with that. Well, they can't do anything with you.
Entry 9666
Yo' take an' git a salt [salted] fish an' put it in watah an' scale de fish an' clean 'll. If yo' wants tuh [have?]'i open or sompin lak dat an' take all dat [insides out] - if yo' don' wanta throw de guts an' all intuh yore, in fronta yore do', take dem out an' throw de fish watah an' evahthin' right out in front [of your house] an' de people will come tuh yo'. (That is for customers?) Yessuh. (For what - what kind of a business?) Well, any kinda business yo' want, whethah it's a whiskey business, or whethah it's business in a sto' or whut. Anythin'.
(You say you take a salt fish?)
[Informant's opening words: git a salt fish...put in water and scale...an' clean 'im had confused me, especially the words put in water.] Takes salt fish, scale 'im.
(What kind of a salt fish?)
We gen'ly use salt herring, or any kinda salt fish. We generally gits de real cheap ones. [Informant definitely means salted fish.in a can or tin. One fish at lease is soaked in water to obtain the brine, scaled or skinned, and then split open sad cleaned. The fish essence in the water fishes for customers, the salt in the water kills anything put down by an enemy to stop the arrival of customers.] An' den, ag'in [another way for trade], take urination an' put salt in it an' throu it de direction where yo' see big crowds. [Just as the urine of a dog attracts other dogs, likewise human urine attracts people or customers.] Do dat fo' nine mawnin's. De crowds will come right towards yo'. Ah saw dat done.
(If you are selling whiskey you do that?)
Yes.
Entry 9730
Lak somebody have did somepin tuh someone an' dey wanted tuh change it onto dem - turn it back ontuh dem. Dey kin take three nails, rusty nail, an' put in dat bottle a chamber lye. An' let it set dere fo' nine mawnin's an' den take an' throw it intuh runnin' watah.
(This will turn the spell back on the person that put it on them?)
Yes sir.
(Whose chamber lye do you use?)
Yo' kin use yore chamber lye. See, if yo' wanted tuh take it off yoreself, use yores.
(That is if you tricked me, I would use my own chamber lye?)
Yes sir. [Informant would not throw his own stopped-up urine into running water, he throws emptied bottle.]
Entry 9840
Take nine needles an' nine pins an' bury 'em in yore gate, see. Well, dat will cause yo' an' yore family tuh bust up an' put chew in hard luck so yo' alone. But chew must go an' git dem nine needles an' things an' don't talk to nobody when yo' leave. An' carry 'em to de runnin' watah an' throw 'em ovahbo'd. An' dat family will be busted up an' won't nevah give yo no mo' trou- ble.
Entry 9877
A green frog. All right, yo' kin put dat green frog - take him an' othah 'im in a towel. (Smother him in a towel.) Smothah 'im. Jis' smothah 'im an' yo' take dat same - den yo' take 'im an' cut 'im an' let 'im bleed, an' drop jis' nine drops in watah, er in whiskey, an' let 'em tuh drink it. An' dat frog'll come in 'im, jis' hatch in 'im jis' lak it would in de watah. [Live frogs will be born in the victim.]
Entry 9892
Yo' take dat frog an' yo' write dis name on a piece of papah. (What name?) Anybody's name. An' yo' tie it roun' dis live frog an' carry it an' throw it in de runnin' stream of watah. Tie it tight where de papah won't git off in a runnin' stream of watah. Dat's a party dat yo' wanta do harm tuh. Well, dat'll carry him right on off in dat rivah.
Entry 9937
Yo' kin take a toad- frog, an' in takin' dat toad- frog, yo' kin bake de toady- frog an' take his ashes. An' yo' kin rub lak yo' rub yore han' on a piece of papah, rub it right lak dis [dem- onstrates], an' yo' kin drop dose ashes in watah. See. If dey have enemies, dey give 'em dat. Give 'em tuh de person dat dey wanta give 'em tuh, yo' kow, an dey drink 'em. Well, perhaps in a few days dey'll be coughin' up toadfrogs, spittin' out toadfrogs.
Entry 10015
Dey says ketch a black cat wit not a white spot on 'is body an'- dat's a perfectly thing [cat is totally black]. An' says, put 'im in a pot live an' boil 'im live till all de meat come off 'is bones. An' he take dat bone, all dem bones tuh a runnin' stream of watah, an' de bone dat sink yo' git it. An' say he could do anythin'.
(The bone that sinks. What will the other bones do?)
Float on top.
(The bone that sinks you take?)
Yes sir.
Entry 10016
[In the preceding rites we are not told where the person boiling the cat finds his water. Since one cat is boiled in the woods, we must assume that water was near in a running stream, or a not too distant well, which is running water. Similarly another cat apparently, though not neces- sarily, was boiled near running water. We now come to what originally was prob- ably a fundamental requirement]: In boiling black cat you must use water from a rnning stream and throw the bones back into the same stream. [Wilmington, N. Car., resumé, 133: l+85.] [This rule is maintained in some of the following rites in which the black cat must be boiled on the bank of a running stream.]
Entry 10017
De man paid another fellah, but dis wuz a culud [colored] fellah comes up from [some place south of us]. An' he got acquainted wit me, or he got tuh learn of me, an' ah took 'im home wit me [to rent him a room]. Well, he had de dice [money to pay]. An' he said, did ah could git holt'a [hold of al black cat. "Can yuh find a black cat? Don' tell no one." So ah tell 'im, "Well, ah'd see." An' we got holt'a de black cat, right black cat wit not no white spot or nuthin about 'im. We put dat cat in a pot an' boil 'im down, all de meat off 'is bones, an' den taked tuh de watah, a big tub of watah, an' empty all dat [boiled cat] right in dere. An' he says, "Well, Butch, ah'll tell yuh whut ah'll want. Now, yo' mus' take dis han' [surely left hand] an' de bone dat swims on top of de watah, dat's de lucky bone." Dat black cat, ah heah 'em talkin' about it, but ah've never seen [the use of] it tried. [Since running Water is required, surely our operator before boiling commenced swished his hand about in the tub to suggest motion; or, if these men used city tapwater, we must remember that the latter when turned on becomes run- ning water many places in HOoDO0.]
Entry 10018
Well, ah hear'd dat dey take dis black cat - ketches a black cat wit not a white streak on 'im any place. An' dey takes 'im an' puts 'im on - starts 'im off tuh boil. An' when yo' git chure watah boilin', jis' drop dis live cat in de watah. An' den when yo' drop dis live cat in de watah, den yo' lets it boil all tuh pieces. Yo' take it tuh a swift stream, tuh a stream dat is runnin' swift, an' yo' po's it in dere. An' den de bone dat goes up de stream, yo' git dat bone. An' den dey say yo' kin go do anythin' dat chew wanta do.
Entry 10019
Take a black cat an' have oven heated hot, dat's got a lid on it, an' take dat black cat an' put 'im in dat oven, see. An' put de lid on it an' cook 'im. Call 'im [cat] by name whutevah it might be. It may be Tom an' it may be Jim. Dey have diff'ren names. Whatevah 'is name be, yo' call it, an' he'll answer yuh! He'll tell yo' 'zakly what bone tuh take. Dey tell me he'll tell yuh tuh take de short bone. Take all de - aftah yo' burn 'im up, take de bones an' carry 'em tuh swift watah, see. An' pour all dese bones in de watah. An' de bone dat goes up de stream, dat is de bone fer yuh tuh take. Dat's whut chew do. [This is probably the only black-cat-bone rite in which the name of the cat is called! Lid on an Oven is unusual!]
Entry 10030
Dey tell me it's very lucky, it's de luckiest bone in de world. Ah tried it one time but ah jis' didn't have de ingredients. Yo' take a black cat an' have boilin' hot watah, an' have a cat wit not a white hair on 'im. When dat watah git tuh boilin' good, yo' grab dat cat in a sack or somepin an' throw 'im in dere an' put de top.on 'im. An' he'll boil an' he'll boil all tuh pieces. An' de bone whut chew want'll float an' de rest'll sink, but chew use dat wit lodestone. But now ah nevah did git de full ingredient but ah did cook de black cat an' got de bone. Dat bone shore will rise. Ah know dat. (It didn't work.)
Entry 10032
Yo' take de black cat an' yo' take 'im down by de run- nin' watah. An' yo' boil 'im until all de meat come off 'is bones. Den yo' take all de bones an' dump it into de watah, an' de bone dat swims - dat comes up an' swim down de stream wit de watah - why dat's de bone dey gits.
Entry 10040
De way ah've heard it, yo' ketch chew a black cat. It must be black cat an' when yo' ketch dat cat, yo' take it to de fo'ks of de road at twelve a'clock. Have yore watah hot. Don't kill 'im. Dive 'im in dat pot of hot watah an' shet it up, an' let 'im cook till hit cook de meat off 'is bones. Den yo' take all dose bones an' taken 'em down tuh de runnin' stream, de stream goin' dis way [demonstrates]. Dat's down, backwards is upwards. An' yo' po' dem bones intuh dat runnin' stream one at de time. An' de bone dat goes back up de stream, dat's de lucky bone an' yo' git dat.
(What do you do with that bone?)
Well, dey tell me yo' kin take dat bone an' tote it in yore pocket an' it brings good luck in love affairs, gamblin' an' sech lak as dat.
[While machine turned off informant says something about disappearing.]
(Use that same bone you say?)
Yes sir, yo' put it in yore mouth an' it makes yo' invisible, people can't see yo'.
Entry 10044
All right, if yo' wan's tuh be a man dat chew kin do anythin' dat chew want, yo' git chew a black cat an' yo' boil 'im. Go down tuh a crossroad at twelve a'clock at night an' yo' boils 'em. An' when yo' boil dis cat yo' see evahthin' all aroun' dere, maybe yuh coffin, or yo' may see all kinda spooks. Go down tuh a runnin' stream of watah an' throw dese bones in it. Well, all dose bones dat no good, dey go downstream, but de bone, dat lucky bone, it comes up- stream. Yo' take dat bone an' put it in yuh pocket, an' yo' kin do anythin' wit dat bone dat chew want.
Entry 10058
Take a black cat an' throw it in a pot of hot watah... [I turn off machine here be- cause rite did not appear to be promising. This was a frequent habit of mine to save time and cylinder space. Once more I shall stop machine before letting it continue to the end. My questions show what had been omitted.]
(After they boil this black cat what do they do?)
Take 'is bones, all de bones an' carry it down tuh de...
[I stop machine and then begin again.]
(After they get this bone that goes up the stream, then what do they do?)
Dey take it an' goes tuh de fo'ks of de road fo' nine mawnin's an' pray tuh de Lord an' say dey sell deyself tuh de devil. An' den dey kin do anythin' dey wan'a do an' can't nobody hahm 'em.
Entry 10091
That fer stealin' also. Yo' take a black cat with notta white spot on it. Yo' understand what I mean. Yo' take this black cat an' yo' have a hot boilin' pot of water. Yo' put this black cat in there. Cover him up, and let him cook all to pieces. After he cooks all to pieces, then you take him out and pour that water off of it. Dash them bones in some cold water and take a looking glass, and put that stuff before this looking glass. And take ev'y bone and pass it between yore teeth and look in this glass. An' the bone that yo' pass between your teeth and yo' can't see yourself in this glass, that's the right bone. Yo' can tote that bone and do anything you wanta.
Entry 10092
Dey ketch a black cat with not a spot on 'im an' put it in a pot, put 'im in a pot 'live an' boil 'im till all de meat, yo' know, drop off de bones. An' den dey go to a runnin' stream, a swift runnin' stream of water, an' dey say dey chunk dem - pitch dose bones [into the Water]. An' dey say de one, yo' know, dat comes back down de stream - not go up it - de one dat come back down de stream, turns an'. comes back down de stream or runs back against de water, say dat's de one. Yo' kin put it in yuh mouth an' yo' disappears. Say yo' kin go
[unseen] into banks [and rob them].
Entry 10099
Dat black cat by de watah's got tuh be at twelve 'clock at night. An' if dey ain't good, dey can't stay dere. Cain't stay dere. Ain't no way fer yuh tuh stay dere. Yuh take dat black cat bone. Yuh take dat black cat an' yuh boil all de meat off 'is bone. Dey says yuh goes tuh a runnin' stream of watah an' put dat cat bones in dat place an' do dat business. Well, ah believe dat's a mistake. Dat's mah belief. But chew take dat black cat bone an' yo' boil dat black cat down, an' when all de meat fall off de bone, yo' take dat black cat up [from the pot] an' yo' wash dem bones off wit cleah watah. Aftah yuh wash dem bones off in cleah watah, yuh take evah bone, evah bone dat Was in de cat, an' put 'em in yore mouth. An' de right bone is goin' tuh turn yuh blind as a bat. Dat's de bone.
(That's the bone you use.)
Entry 10100
Now, dis is not mah personal experience. Dey take a black cat down by a stream of runnin' watah an' a pot, piece of glass an' so forth. An' put de cat in dis pot full of watah. Aftah yo' build a fire an' de watah begin gittin' warm, put dis cat in dere an' have a top on it. Now, yo' must hol' dis cat in a certain way an' slip 'im in dis pot, an' git dat lid down befo he hollahs as yo' do dat. An' den let 'im boil den until he's thoroughly [done] an' de meat absolutely floatin' aroun' in de pot. Den yo' take dat glass an' look through it [it is a piece of glass and not a mirror] an' jis' take up each bone in dere an' bite it. Bite de meat offa it umntil yo' come tuh de right bone. An' yo' git dat bone an' de glass will dis- appeah from befo' yuh. Then yo' take...
(Then you get the right bone. How do you know it's the right bone?)
Well, at de disappearance of de glass. Den yo' take dat bone an' do certain articles wit it. Ah don' know jis' zac'ly what dat is. An' it will enable yo' tuh become in de knowledge of how tuh slip out of dere hide. [I turn off machine too soon.]
(Whom do you say does this? Do the witches do this?)
Yes, den dey become de witch when dey become so dat dey kin slip outa dere hide. An' yo' can't ketch 'em. Yo' know what ah mean.
(You can catch them?)
Yo' know what ah mean. Lak if he'd kill somebody out dere. He come in de store an' steal somepin or othah lak dat. Yo' can't run 'im down an' ketch 'im. So law kin ketch 'im. If dey ketch 'im an' put 'im in jail - dey locks 'im up in dere - an' den walk down de street an' he's standin' aside of 'im pattin' 'im an de shouldah. Walk along an' say "Hello' all dose kinda things. Now dat's vbat chew call tuh mah knowledge witchcraft.
Entry 10105
Well, you could take a cat - some people say a black cat, but it don't have to be a black cat. Take any kinda cat. Understand? Take this cat. You put you on some water - a big pot of water - boils it up good. When that water gets to boiling good, get you a can of lye. You empty about half of it in that water, as it boils, you see. You takes this cat and tie all four of his feet togeth- er like that, see [demon- strates]. Tie all four of his feet together, but don't kill him - let him be alive. You takes him - but you'll have to have a top over him, you understand. You takes him and you slams him down in that water while it's boilin', see. Set your top down good so he can't get out. You let him boil in there awhile. Well, it's natchal that lye is going to cut all the meat off the bones, you see. As soon as you've boiled all them bones clean and everything, it's a certain bone that you get. It comes from right under here [demonstrates].
(Right from the throat?)
Right under the throat chere.
(Right under the throat.)
It's a forked bone and it's got a piece cross it like that [demonstrates]. Lays jest like that right under his throat chere. You gits that bone out.
(Like the yoke of an ox, like a wishbone?)
Yes, sir. Yes, sir, it is. [A chicken-wishbone shape in a cat is impossi- ble.] You gets that bone out. After you take that bone out, you get you some salt.] Put it in some water. You soak that bone in there for nine mornings - about an hour every morning. That salt water will harden it. See. Then it will petrify, so it won't spoil. [This is curing the bone as you would a ham.] After you soaks it in that, then you take it and you lay it in the rays of the sun, for three mornings. Let the sun dry it, petrify it. After then, take you a piece of white silk linen [silk or linen?] and you sew it up in that, and wear that bone on you.
(What will that do then?)
Well, you'll be invisible then - can't see you.
Entry 10114
Ah have heard dat yo' kin take - ah had a fellah tell me, he wuzn't goin' do it, but ah have known fellahs dat have done it. Yo' undahstan'. If yo' wants tuh be lucky in yuh life, jis' take yuh a black cat an' take 'im, carry 'im down to a rivah or any runnin' watah, yo' undahstan', an' take 'im an' hold 'im down in de pot. Hold 'im down in de pot until he die. An' take him an' hold 'im down tuh de bottom of de pot until he hollah 'fore he die. Turn 'im loose den - turn de pot loose, de lid on de pot loose. An' 'is body den will rise up, his body will be bobbin'. "Cos [of course] though, by an' by de things will be comin'. All kinds of things be comin' up dere; de devils an' cows an' hogs an' all kinda things lak dat will come up, see. But yo' jis' don't bothah. Let 'em go right on until yo' bile [boil] dis black cat up, yo' undahstand. An' when yo' bile 'in good, yo' take den de bones outa dere - de laig bones. An' take 'en tuh runnin' watah an' any bone dat go down stream, don' chew bothah wit it; but de bone whut [you] take, turn roun' an' roun'. All de rest of 'em no good dat go an down, but de bone whut chew want will turn roun' an' roun'. Well, yo' take dat bone, dat black cat bone. An' take it den an' tie it up in a piece of - black piece of cloth. When yo' gits de bone, tie it [in] black, den yo' tie it red. Git dat an' tote it in yuh pocket. An' dey tell me yo'll nevah have ooh vorry any mo' about livin'. Dat's whut ah know 'bout dat.
Entry 10119
Ah've had a fren' of mine - ah've seen dat. Ah've had a frien' of mine kill a cat, black cat. Jis' taken an' put 'im in de watah live - jis' put in de watah live an' let 'im cook all tuh pieces. But dat's de devil [devil's work]. Let 'im cook all tuh pieces an' put a lid ovah 'im, [keep] dat down. Let 'im cook all tuh pieces when he's live. He took dat cat, when he cook all tuh pieces, he took de right hin' laig of 'is bone den an' throw it in de watah. Hit'll run up [stream]. It shore do. Hit'll run up an' den come back, an' stop an' turn aroun' [and surely bows to you!]. Dat's de lucky bone. But chew don' fin' [find] dat done evah day.
(The right hind leg.)
Dat bone by de j'int [joint].
Entry 10131
Ah hear'd 'em say dat dey take a black ket wit not a white spot about it anywhere. An' take it an' put it in a pot alive, an' b'il it till de meat falls offa de bones. [Bones not thrown into running water.] An' take dose bones an' dat Zi'le roun' cur'ous bone dat's in de ket, take it an' weah it in yore pocket. Keep it in dere wrapped up from all dirt an' evah- thin' an' dat wuz good luck tuh yuh, couldn't nobody harm yo' or do nuthin tuh yuh.
Entry 10157
You take the photograph and you take a new glass of water [new glass fllled with water] and a new saucer, white saucer, and you take the photograph yoa turn it upside down on top of [against] the glass of water. You take a F] red candle and you light it and write [on new paper] his name nine times demeath and write yours nine times on top, and you burn that [candle] three das a day. (What'll that do?) That is to bring him back, bring him to you. (Now I place the glass of water and this photograph I turn it upside down?) You hand [lean] it up with the feet up [head down] and the glass of water in the center of the photograph [photo centered against glass] and the name underneath it and the candle right in front of it. The name is under the glass. You write the name nine times on a piece of parchment paper, and nine times write yours on top. See, you always got yours on top and you got him underneath you. And put the paper under the saucer, and the water in the glass, and the picture upside down. And you burn that candle three times a day - a red candle. You burn it at six in the morn- ing, at twelve o'clock [noon], six in the evening; only three times a day.
Entry 10165
If yo' got a gurl - it's dis way. Ah got a gurl an' she runned away from me. She done lef' me. She's gone. Well, lak [I] say, dere's a lotta watah 'ween heah an' New Yawk. Say she's gone tuh New Yawk. She jes' jumped up an lef' me an' ah haven't did anythin' tuh 'er an' want 'er back. She won' come bach tuh me by writin' tuh 'er. All right. Ah go tuh de drug sto' an' ah gits me a 15-cents blue candle. Take de same nails an' needles an' put in dat.
(How do you put them in there now? How many do you get?)
A nickel wuth of ten-penny nail. Put eight nails, an' de whole papah of needles, an' about eight big pins. Yo' git dem ovahsize sticky pins yo' know, dem ovahsize one. Some packages dey sell two fo' a nickel. Dey are de small size. An' de large package it's got one long one dat way; dey sells dem one fo' a nickel. Yo' git chew a piece of lookin'-glass lak dat an' yo' tum de part dat chew look it, an' git chew a saucah of watah or git chew a bowl or cream saucah, or anything dat will hold watah. Den turn dat [looking] glass down ovah dat way. Take dat candle an' take de end of it which yo' is gonna set down, take a match an' light it dat way. Don' light de top part where de stem is; light de bottom part an' put it on dat glass.
(With the top part downward?)
Yessuh, on top of de glass, an' let it set dere an' make yuh wishes fo' hit. But yo' start hit at ten minutes an' burn it fo' twenty-five. In twenty-five [days?] yo' receive a lettah from her, to send aftah her or send her ticket. She's on her way back tuh yo'.
Entry 10186
An' then here's another thing. There's - some things are over others zhoo know. You see? Well the nex' thing to do, if you wanted to make 'em leave town or anything like that, you Write their name down 9 times. Understand? An' stop it up in a bottle an' go to the running water, to the river and throw it in. Throw it ovah the left shoulder an' don't look back, an' says, "I wan' zhoo to go." An' then you take a red candle. You get a red candle, you understand now, an you stick you three pins in it. You burn that at 12 a'clock at night, see, an' you make a wish. You says, "I wish my enemies would leave me alone In the Name Of the Lord."
Entry 10194
[Informant has a good rite here but fails to explain it.]
Write that name down and put a glass of water - write that name down over a glass of water nine times. Then put that glass of water before dat, put the... Now, I take and I put that glass of water there over that paper and take three swallows out of that glass of water nine mornings [see correction lat- er.] (Drink that water for nine morn- ings.) For nine mornings take three swal- lows out of that glass of water - I mean for three mornings. You take nine swallows out of that glass three mornings. Do that for three mornings. Den after you do dat for three mornings, get you a blue candle and let it burn right over dat man name. Don't you worry about him.
(After you burn that candle over his name.)
[I am merely making a comment to myself.]
What?
(I say, all right, go ahead.)
Well, you just - like I explain. Like you burning that candle over his name, perhaps you don't want the man - you don't wanta see him. You drink three swal- lows of water out of there for three days!!! That keep him away. See you drink three swallows each three time a day, twice in the day, and three [the third] at night. That'll be nine swallows. You take those glasses of water. Then you... see, like you agreein' with him, see you drinkin' with him. Then, you put your candle there and let it burn. Set that candle there and let it burn there.
(What will that do then?)
Well, he can't come there.
(The law can't come there?)
Yes.
(You write the policeman's name down on that piece of paper.)
Shore. (Well, how do you burn that candle? Do you put the candle down in the glass to burn?)
[The shaky answer is according to my following comment.]
(You take the glass away and put the candle on the name?)
That's what you do.
(Long as that candle burns, it keeps him away?)
Shoh, he keeps away, too.
Entry 10211
Well, yo' take one of 'er socks, jes' one of 'er stockin's, if yo' kin fin' dit, or eithah her menst'ration cloth. Well mos' people take de menst'ration cloth an' take a quart jah see, an' ketch [rain] watah. Jes' set yore quart jah out in de yard when it rains an' let it run full of watah [see comment later] an' take dat menst'ration cloth an' put it down in dere [the rain water] an' keep it [in the rain water] for nine days. An' aftah de ninth day she be - well, she'll go crazy for you. (Well, that breaks the spell, she had him tied up, when she ties up your [a man's] nature.) Yes sir. [First an empty quart jar set out in the yard during a rain is not going to fill up with water, despite the hoodoo powers of my informant. Finally: if a woman ties up a man, takes away his nature for all women except her, the present rite restores his nature completely.] [Rain water, like running Water, is a magic substance: see No.1431, p.467, v.1; etc.]
Entry 10265
They say that chew can take the water off of a silver dollah and also the water off of a copper cent, and sprinkle a little bit of that with some snail dust in a woman's place there, and when a man comes there he'll get stuck just like a dog. [Following rite 10266 by same man.]
Entry 10413
My mother told me once there was a woman, she had another woman. This lady took a bottle full of water. She [hag] came in that night. The lady put the stopper in the bottle and caught her in there, and she didn't live very long.
Entry 10414
Do somebody dat way - take a bottle an' put a green leaf in it.
(Any kind of a green leaf?)
Any kind of a green leaf. Call dis fellah an' he answer yo'. Stop it up, den yo' got his voice in dere. Take some runnin' water an' throw it in dere [throw the bottle into run- ning water], an' he'll be gone. (But the fellow must answer you, you call and he must answer you?) [He had said this on first giving the rite.] Yes.
(Why do you put that green leaf in there? Do you know why it's done?)
To hold his voice.
Entry 10493
"Glass of water under the bed keeps hag away" [Wilmington, (254), 174:3+85].
Entry 10495
Dey say, if dose hags wear yo' out ev'ry night overnight, to put a basin of water right in de line about halfway of de person an' den sleep wit de Bible under dere head. (Where do they put that water?) Dey put de water on de floor right in front of de bed. In de front of de bed on de floor about half- way to de bed but it be's outside, not under de bed. [This is a broken bone rite!] An' den sleep with de Bible, or a good-reading book, under yore head. [This is my only example of a good-reading book!] Dey will also stop bothering yo'.
Entry 10555
Take a bat an' kill him an' ketch de blood in a bottle of watah an' carry it in yore purse. An' let de bat dry an' hang it up in de no'th corner of yore house, an' cover it up, an' it always bring luck to yo' as long as yo' live there.
Entry 10605
[Out in the field I rarely if ever asked directly for self-perfor ed abortion rites; what I wanted was miscarriage, delayed birth, malforation or death caused by an enemy's witchcraft. The rite now following is a piece of folk medicine or practice a hoodoo doctor, fortuneteller or wise womas ooeld sggest to a client:] Some green coffee, coffee what you drink, she'll make a tea out of that and put some whiskey in there and turpentine and drink it hot - hot, hot as she can. And take a slop-bucket of hot boiling water and sit over it. Go to the store and buy her a lead pencil, brand- new, have never been used. And take that pencil and open her womb and spill that water. And when that pencil - the mouth of it is closed, you know. She take that pencil and put - she can do that herself better than anybody can, you know. Take that pencil and shove it until the mouth of her womb is open, where the heat can get in there, stay in. When she take the pencil and shove it, well she going to take the end of the pencil and make a little hole to open it, you know. And when - while she's doing that, she still over the bucket. Well, you see, the heat is going in there. You see, that heat hit there, that make the womb open like that and there come all - what was in there, going to come out. You see. Well, now, after hit come - well, it's according to how many months she be. Well, if it be four months, it's a baby. Now, it done come and she got to get that afterbirth out [and if] she can't get nobody [to help her], she take her fist and blow hard as she can. And still stay over that. After while that afterbirth come.
Entry 10623
De Adam-an'-Eve root, yo' takes de Eve [part] an' yo' takes it an' yo' weah it in yore pocket. If not dat, chew take a lil' root chew call - dat lil' root chuh call Adam. [Adam-and-Eve are on the same root.] Yo' take dis lil' root an' yo' take dese three needles an' yo' break 'em all three in three pieces, each one needle broke in three pieces. Well, dat supposed tuh be nine pieces. Yo' takes dis root an' dese needles an' let 'em stay in dis root three days. Takes dese needles from dis root an' throw it in runnin' watah [I inter- rupt]... (You throw the needles in the running water?) In runnin' watah. Yo' take dis dime an' puts it wit dis root an' tie it back up, an' if yo' goin' out fo' luck or anything, yo' wipes it 'cross yore face - wipes it 'cross yore face an' haid. An' takes de root an' puts it up, keep it from bein' annoyed - [anyone] git atter [get after] dis root - if yo' wanta have any luck.
Entry 10651
Jes' take it ovah heah. Yo' know where dey [ants] make a bed, yo know. An' yo' go dere an' git dat bed. Gotta sift de ants, not let 'em be in dere. An' git some watah an' make 'bout enough lak yo' make corn bread, yo' know, an' lay it out somewhere in de sun an' let it bake, git hard. An' den yo' take it up an' break off a piece of dat dirt, an' lak yo' wrap it up in a papah heah, an' yo' takes dis man, whoevah 'tis, not let him see it, an' tro' it where he live at. Why he couldn't rest, yo' know, jes' lak de antses, he couldn't rest nowhere he'd be, aftah dat place. (You simply take this ant's [nest dirt] after you dry it up and scatter it around his house, to make him all upset like the ants. And he has to leave?) Yes.
Entry 10713
Jis' lak yo' git someone's hair, yo' kin git de bird nest an' fold dat up an' throw it in runnin' watah. Well, dat'll run yo' crazy lak dat. Jis' makes yo' go crazy, yo' jis' always be on de path - dat's runnin' 'em. (You put this hair in the bird's nest and sew this up in some- thing?) Yes, yo' throw it in de watah.
Entry 10718
Ah nevah heard of 'em using a fish, but ah've heard of 'em using a bird. Dey take de two birds to find out whethah a woman is guilty of fornication or not...a man with his wife. Yo' take de two birds - yo' ketch de two an' take [hold] dem ovah runnin' watah, an yo' kill one an' let de othah one go, an' if she's guilty she swells up.
(What two birds do you take?)
It didn't say any certain birds, jest two fowl of de air. [This rite comes from a book, as informant's last statement shows. Nine informants preceding present one, this two-bird rite Was given in a different and expanded form. Rei versing this order, the longer rite now follows this present one.]
Entry 10719
An old note of ine in red ink reads: Good ills- tration of "intention"[[pover of what you intend to doll & my difficulty trying to have informant say without putting my words into his outh.] Yo' could take a bird - yo' know birds mating, yo' know birds, an' take too of 'em whut mates an' take an' cut one of 'em's throat an' let de blood run in de nmnin' watah, an' loose de othah one. De othah one, dat will svell up an' die. Dat jest de way de man do, whensomevah yo' have an enemy dat gives yo' any- thing lak dat. Dey'll swell up an' die. (Well, how do you know that anyone will die? Do you have to do something else with that?) He jest take sick. Yo' put dat blood in dat runnin' watah. Ketch 'em both, but when yo' git 'em to de watah, cut one of 'em's throat an' let de blood run in de watah, an' loose de othah one. An' de one whut's a bad enemy against yo'; dey'll take sick - go to swelling up. (Well, how do you connect these birds with the enemy? Don't you have to con- nect them in some way?) Well, yo' kin jest tell de enemy, yo' know, he take sick. Yo' know who is by his taking sick. He takes sick den an' he keeps alingering an' he swell up an' die.
(When you are doing this, you have to have the enemy in mind.)
De enemy in mind, whosomevah is a enemy against me. Yo' may not know jest who it is, but yo' know yo's [you hasl a mortal enemy about. Yo' know lak dat. Yo' have it in yore mind lak dat.
(You take any kind of birds that are mates.)
Dat are mates.
Entry 10743
An' what they'll do, they take lak a woman has ministration...an' put it in a bottle. They take it to that fo'k of de road an' turn it down on de haid an' bury it. (The head of the bottle?) Yessuh. Sometime they'll put their hair in there with that ministration and that will cause them to go crazy. An' they kin take that an' put it in swift runnin' watah an that'll make 'em wander aroun' somewhere an' git drownded.
Entry 10753
Dey'll take a woman's periods. Well, dey take it an' stop it up in a bottle an' throw it in runnin' watah, dey tell me, an' dey says de woman will jes' dwindle away to nuthin.
(They take her monthly pad?)
Yessuh.
Entry 10755
Den, too, yo' kin take a woman's sick clothes. Yo' kin take dem an' yo' kin take, if dey already dry, yo' kin take an' wet 'em. Kinda mash 'em, yo' know, wit a little bit of dat on, an' cork dat up. An' she can't go wit no othah man. Or eithah, yo' kin take 'em, dey tell me, an' chunk it down de stream [to send away]. Chunk it upstream, says, an' she'll go( crazy.
Entry 10788
Or you kin take just plain lye and boiling water and go and scrub your house and scrub yore steps and brush it in. And every morning sweep your steps down. And when you walk through your house, wherever you go, sweep the dirt in. Never sweep it out.
(What will that do?)
Bring you luck.
(What kind of luck?)
Like if she would want to take in roomers, she would want 'em to come in, if it was business, she... (Both of those things. Onions do the same thing.)
Entry 10803
You get you some cinnamon and sugar. All right. You sweep. you go to sweep, don't sweep your dirt outside, you sweep your dirt in [into] the building. And you get this cinnamon and sugar and put it in the water, amd you scrub your floor. And then when you get through scrubbing that floor, you just take - get you some oil of clover. See, you buy some oil of clover at the drug store and you put water in there [scrub bucket] and you put a bottle of beer mixed in with it. (Bottle of beer?) Bottle of beer, yes. And you takes - start at the front door and you sprinkle it all the way back into the place, and your place will be packed.
(The place will be packed?)
Yes, sir, your place will be packed with people, all through the day.
Entry 10819
Yo' use black peppah when dey comin' to yore house, an' as dey go out use black peppah an' salt an' yo' throw it behin' 'em. An' den yo' git a broom an' yo' sweep out de do' dey goes, an' git a clear bucket of watah [bucket of clear not scrubbing water] an' throw it behin' 'em. Throw de watah right out in de street right aftah dey go out de do'; throw a clear bucket of watah right behin' 'em.
(What will that do then?)
Dat will keep 'em away. Dat drives 'em away from yore house.
Entry 10870
Git a black cat an' git de hair. Git a strand of hair out of a black at an' - don't git as many as yo' kin, but yo' kin git 'bout one or tso scraods of hair out of a black cat. An' take somepin that kin float on de vatzh. Take at hair, sulphur, salt an' red peppah an' graveyard dirt, an'srite oo a piece of papah whut chew want done, an' put it with cat hair; all dat in a container dat will float on de watah. An' throw it in de watah, runnin' watah, whichevah watah yo' want it. An' whichevah yo' want done, it will be done. Ah've tried that.
Entry 10903
Well, yo' take de hair off a bad dog's back, de hair off a cat's back, an' take a woman's underwear when it's dirty, an' wash it, taking dat watah an' applyin' it wit dat hair off de dog's back an' off de cat's back, an' puttin' turpentine wit it, an' shuttin' de bottle up, an' throw it in de Miss'ippi Rivah. It will cause one de greatest rows in dat house yo' evah did see.
Entry 10936
Write de name nine times on a piece of parchment [paper] and you take it to de water and throw it in de water. And den you take a live catfish and take his tail and cut de tail [cut piece of fin off]. And write de nane of dis Person and put it on - cut de tail of de fish and put de paper in de catfish sooth, but it must be done when de fish live. And de tail of de fish and de name dat is wrote on dis piece of parchment nine times and take it to de swift running water and throw it away and dey will leave. (I didn't understand how you do that. You put this in a live catfish?) Yes, get de fish live and you cut de tail off. To cut off piece of tail fin keeps fish from steering itself; in like manner victim wanders about aimlessly.] Den you write de name nine times of de person which you wanta leave - on parch- ment [paper] nine times. Put it in de mouth and take it to de deep water and throw it away, and don't look at it [turn your back]. Let de fish go. And you'll visualize it. Den you'll jest see 'em going.
(What about the tail of the fish?)
Put dat down in de mouth, too.
Entry 10966
If yo' livin' in a house an' ah want chew tuh move, yo' [I] git a black hen's aig an' let it be fresh, an' go to a ole cow lot an' git some fresh cow manure. An' wrap it in a piece of red flannel cloth an' wrap it tight an' tie it with three white strings. (Just how do you tie that with three white strings?) Take yore aig an' put it [manure] all ovah it an' wrap it. When yo' wrap it up in de center, always turn it to yo'. Don't turn it from yo', turn it to yo' and fold it up, an' den git chew three white strings - oh, about dat long [demonstrates].
(Several feet long.)
An' wrap it to yo'. Den wrap it round dis way. Den yo' take dat aig...
(You make a little parcel out of it?)
Yes. (You wrap it one way and then turn around and wrap it the other way, always wrapping it to you.) An' den yo' take dat aig an' go tuh a runnin' stream of watah an' put dat aig right down in dat watah, an' leave it, an' jes' de same as dat watah wash dat aig away, it'll wash yo' from where yo' are. (Well, now what connection has that egg with me? Has it some connection with me?) [The connection I wanted expressed was that the informant was trying to send me away. The rite is legitimate as it stands.] De connection ah don't know, but ah'm jes' tellin' yo' whut ah heard.
(This will make them move out of the house, make them move out of town?)
Yessuh.
Entry 10969
For asthma, take water from horse trough and white part of raw egg, hite of 6 eggs in quart of water, but catch the water while horse is drinking. [Richmond, Va., (404 = "Humpadee," a professional worker, woman of hugh size and frequent laughter, whose material is scattered throughout HOODOO; see Bo.1338, p.453; No.1711, p.521, v.1, etc.), 358:4.]
Entry 10970
Take a aig an' boil it, cut it half in two, an' take de yelloo part out an' fill that up with salt, an' take it an' eat it without drintdn'gyatah at all. An' ask to see de man dat chure goin' tuh marry or the w yo goin' tuh marry, an' yo'll see 'em when yo' drink dat watah. [You vill see the that night in a dream. This is ordinary folklore. I have included it bere becamse divination is part of a hoo- doo or root doctor's work. He or she might offer this advice to a client.] [Fay- etteville, N. Car., 2572:16.]
Entry 11030
Like you sleep on dis pillah, well if I kin git a chance to steal dat pillah while you away, well I will open dis pillah up and git de feathers out of it. And I will leave them all over and I will slip it down to a running stream. (What do you do with those feathers then?) With de feathers, wrap them up in dis bag or rag, dish- rag, bundle 'em up, an' ah throw 'em in de running stream and dey go away.
Entry 11072
But she says if he leaves, she says don't worry about him going. If you wanta bring him back, if you got anything in the world that belong to him, [she] say you just make your wish. And if your wish is for him to come back, take it to any stream that is contin'ly running and put it in there. Then you turn around and come back, and atchly [actually], in a short while he'll return. He'll never be satisfied nowhere he goes, he's bound to come back wherever he left from.
Entry 11073
Well, if you wants to stop 'em, if yo' goes out, from the law getting in connection with you. That's very easy to do that, too. Here's whut chew do. Yo' [go] an' git chure own garment, git a piece of your clothes that you had on this day, that has perspiration on it, an' git a piece of theirs. Take those two pieces together an' tie 'em with a piece that you don't want. Tie 'em together and put 'em in a running stream of water. And they never will do nuthin to yo'. That nmning stream takes away the evil thought between you an' him. Run that away. Run that spirit away. [I had asked about keeping the law away from the house, but informant turns my question into anyone seeking to harm you. You begin your protection with a piece of clothing you wore that day, because the perspiration in it is a part of your spirit, hence the whole of your spirit (see PART OF SPIRIT EQUALS WHOLE OF SPIRIT, p.21-23, v.1). Next, you obtain something recently worn or handled by the enemy. Then, using a spiritless piece of clothing you have discarded, you tie your spirit and enemy spirit together, making a tight knot. And immed- iately and finally you rush off and throw this package into running Water. Run- ning Water kills or purifies evil work. You understand, of course, that the evil spirit permitted itself to be tied only because it was being tied to you, now even an easier prey. This rite is called a trick. I did not understand this rite when I heard it back in 1939; the reason why my note about informant on the original transcription reads, use with care! This rite is logically illogical!]
Entry 11117
Some people dat suppose tuh be poisoned, yo' know, dey'd drink dat coconut watah - not de coconut itself but de watah [or liquid in unopened coco- nut]; an' dey suppose tuh drink it fo' a certain ml ber of days an' nuthin else, no food or anything else, an' dat jes' kills de poison. [Poison here is boodoo, not chemical poison.]
Entry 11209
Take de whole nest - she say, git it down whole, de dirt daubah nest. Take it whole an' don't break it. An' put in a cup or anything an' put some watah on tt, an' jes' about time it draw - in about fifteen minutes - jes' keep it an' drink off of it. (What will that do?) She says dat brings yore [her] husband down an' puts him undah her feet. Well, she shore got her'n [hers] undah her feet. She say dat's whut she use, she say dat's de best it is.
(Does she drink that water herself?)
Drinks dat. An' she say dat's shure fo' him. Ah know one thing, he's undah her feet all right.
Entry 11234
If she have a husban' or either a fren', a man or sompin lak dat an' he runs around, she kin [take] any piece of his garment an' use it. Take an' wash any part of her body jes' lak she want to. Maybe use her dishtowels tuh wash any part of her body, an' wash it in de watah where she gotta wash her dishes, an' dat'll keep him home. Let him eat out of any pan or any pot, or sompin lak dat, an' dat'll keep him from runnin' roun' outside.
Entry 11265
[Here is one of three interviews from Memphis, lost because my tran- scriber missed them and I failed to return to them. I did transcribe a few rites and made abstracts of a number of others. My original sheet, attached to this selection, reads: "960 - will use the best of her material beginning with her: I works with water. Use all her candles. Pencil transcriptions attached."] I works with watah. I blesses mah watah... I works with watah. (In what way do you use this water?) This watah. All right, now. Jis' like if you were in a place of business [usually your own house] an you wan'a keep down evil spirits - in your home or anything like dat - yo' take a glass of watah. Yo' say the Lord's Prayer ovah it an' yo' set dat watah up. You understand? Yo' change that watah ev'ry 3 days. Yo' throw it [the water changed] out of a side windah [this is new in HOODOO] a side windah, you see, that ketches all the evil spirits an' things. An' then, jis' like if yo' wan'a favor - yo' know, understand, like dat, dat yo' wan'a favor - yo' git a glass of watah, yo' pray ovah it. Yo' pray ovah this glass of watah. Yo' say, "In the Name of the Fathah an' the Son an' the Holy Spirit, " please let me obtain sich- an'-sich thing, that I wan'a do. Please let me be successful all my route or what I gon'a undertake to do. See, you understand. An' then you drink that watah down. Well, all right. Then yo' kin use the watah in this way. At 12 a'clock at night, jis' like if yo' got some people you're workin' for. Your people, yo' know, in business. You write all of those people's names down on a piece of papah. An' yo' take the glass of watah, fill it up, an' put it on the 23rd Psalm, open your Bible. An' say the Lord's Prayer. You understand? You say, Lord, please enlighten these people's brain. Let them be lucky, successful. Let dem have their wishes. Take care of 'em, jis' whatever you want done. An' Dlease let me be successful. Don't let nothin' overthrow me. Please show me so- an'-so. An' then you drink [a little of] that watah down. You do that 12 a'clock at night, but you keep this watah settin' up [there]. That [trouble] goes away as that watah go [evaporates] away. Yo' see, that drives them things [enemies, evil spirits, etc. away]. A person may come in the house to try to do somepin to you and that ketches all the evil spirits. That water ketches all the evil spirits. [Repeats] That watah ketches all the evil spirits. Then you kin sprinkle it over your place [house or place of business] an' say the Lord's Prayer [walking] from the front to the back, jest as you sprinkle that [water] that draws you in trade, if you're in business; an' keeps peace in the home, too; to keep peace, you understand.
Entry 11285
Yeah, a goiture [goitre]. You kin go to a spring [running water] an' if it's [goitre] is bad, it might care [carry] you away [you could die]. You kin take - now, you go to a spring an' get choo some watah an' ever' momin', well, you'll jes' take that spring watah an' put it in a pan. Well, when you put it in a pan, you put a piece of ice about so big [demonstrates] in this watah an' wait till it git real col'. You kin put it on ice that night, if you wan'ta. Then in the mornin' pour it in a pan, then put a piece of ice on it an' you know it be plenty col'. Well, then you jes' take that like this here, look [demonstrates] put it right on that goijure [goitre]. Well, put it on there as the moon hit [it] waste away. But choo got ta do it when it [goitre] first begins. You can't let it git large on you. If you do, tain't no cure for you.
Entry 11370
Ah heah mah grandfather say dat evah yo' workin' fo' a man an' felt lak he wanted tuh git rid of yo' or somepin othah, it slow on de job, yo' jes' go an' take a fig leaf an' Write de 23rd Psalm, ah think, an' put it in a lil' red bag an' keep it an' let it stay in a stream of runnin' watah fo' about eight days. Say he won't fiah yo'.
Entry 11564
Yo' write chure name in it 'cordin' to whut chew want done. (In this foot track. AND TALK LOUDER.) Yo' write chure name in de foot track an' stop it up. Put in a snuffbox an' stop it up an' go throw it in a run- nin' stream of water. An' it's 'cordin' to whut chew wanta do, run 'em off or...
(Yes, what will that do, if you do that?)
That will run 'em off.
(Well, what do you write this name on?)
On the track.
(How do you write it on there?)
Write chure name on dere...
(With what?)
Lak ah'm goin' write mah name, ah start wit a "D"...
(I mean do you write it with pen and ink? Or do you write it with a stick?)
No sir, write it wit yore finger. (If you want to send me away, you write my name in my foot track, take it up and throw it in running water to send me away. I want you to give me all those details. I cannot read your mind!)
Entry 11579
Get a person's foot tracks and cause 'em to wander away, and that they don't want nothing atall.
(Well, what would they do with that track?)
They take about nine pinches of it from your right foot and that causes you to gettin' worried, you wanta go. And in nine days, if somebody don't do somepin fer you, you'll just wander - you ain't satisifed no place you go.
(After they get the dirt out of the track, what do they do with that?)
Well, you see when you [they] get those nine pinches of dirt out of the track, they take it and they sew it up in a bag. Well, the person, you know, don't care for you, they'll wear that with them. Well, you can't get it, but if someone gets ahead of you [some- one tries to get it for you], like you go to some witchcraft person [who] is ahead of you, they [culprit] can avoid [him] by throwing it in running water.
Entry 11591
I heerd [heard] in dis mannah [manner] way. Dey say let 'em Walk outside de dōah damp weathah in spring, dat w'en sap arisin', see. An' aftah dey walk two step, go in de left-foot track, aftah dey make de third step, an' git dat piece of mud out it. An' go to a peach tree w'ich jes' begin to have sap in it. An' mix it up togethah wit de strengk [strength] of dat. Dey tie it [dirt] up in a sock an' keep it till Friday. Dis is a bad unluck day. An' den dey walk t'ree [three] steps from dere doah an' care [carry] it to a wondrin [wandering] stream [throw it in] an' [as] it goes up or down. Dey say it'll make him go away.
(What did you get from this peach tree and put with that dirt?)
They put High John de Conkah an' de devil shoestring wit it.
(Do they get anything from this tree?)
Yes sir, dey git de leaves, de peach-tree leaves; dat's de sap in dat leaf, see. An' w'en dey git dey foot step wit de sock - wit de strengk of de sock - so dey say dey got de sap rising. See! An' dey conkah him by his feet.
Entry 11624
Jis' like if yo' - like if you are separated from your wife and the man is always getting in trouble about it, you catches a live fish and you write his name on it. And cut that fish open while him alive and sew him up with that name in it, and throw it in the pond where you catch him from. The more the fish go, the more they going.
(What do you do that for, now? If I'm separated from my wife and she's what?)
And uh - you and your wife - this man is always keeping your wife on distur- ban', in confusion all the time, and always with him. Write his name and catch that live fish and cut him open and sew him back up with that name inside of him and turn him loose.
(This other man - that will send the other man far away from your wife?)
Yes, it will run him away.
(When the other man's running after your wife.)
Entry 11625
Just like if [you wants to make drift].
(Make them drift, you said?)
Yes, anybody you wants to make drift. Well, you catches a live fish, or any kind of fresh fish, and you take that fish and you split that fish half in two. Then you take a ink [pen], pin but let it be red ink. You write that name down in that fish and you take that fish.... (Wait! What do you write it on? On a piece of paper or on the flesh?) On the flesh of the fish. (All right.) Then you take that fish and throw that fish back. You use the three words: Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, and throw it in any running water. They'll be driftin, couldn't stay nowhere. Everywhere they go they're not satisfied.
Entry 11626
Like if I want a person to go on a drift and don't stay anywheres they go. Well, I ketch me a fresh fish and I cut him open. And after I cut him open, I take the full name and I write it upon this Venrick parchment and I puts it in that fish [a parchment-like paper made by or called Venrick (this may not be the exact name) and sold by a hoodoo shop]. And after I put it in this fish, I get some moving oil and I drap three drops on there. [And I goes to the river afterward.] And I sew the fish back up - put cayenne pepper in it and I sews it back up. And I goes to any - where it's a running stream, you see, and I throws it out in there and I speaks, I say, "As this fish go, I want you to do the same."
Entry 11627
Well, you can take a fish and make a person drift from one place to another, never will stay nowhere or know where they going. You take this fish and you cut him open, and you takes their name and you put it up in there, and you pours moving oil and cayenne pepper and vinegar in there, and sews this fish back up. And you go to any running stream of water and you throws it in there, and you use the three god- heads, which I mean are: 'God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: I wish as this fish float, I want you to drift the same way."
Entry 11628
Like someone you want to drift away, you write the name three times; ooman or man, three times. You go to running water, fresh water, and you ketch you a scale fish. (What kind?) A scale fish, any kind of fish that's got scales on it - a small fish. All right, you write her name down three times and you take that blood from that fish and you dot each one; you understand, dot them periods. You go to running water and turn your back on it and throw it away. Turn your back, don't look back at it - but turn your back until you get so many paces off from it and go. All right, they commence to drifting - you understand - they don't know. Just like you want 'em out of your way, you understand. They commence to drifting. (Now, look. You only put three drops - you put a drop on each one of these names - from the fish.) Yes, you know, just drop like that period; just like you writing a line, you know, you put a period on each one of them. Well, you dot a period.
(You dot each name with one drop of fish blood.)
Yes.
(Well, what do you do with the fish then?)
The fish? All right I fixin' to tell you. When you get through with that, you take that fish and stick that paper, that name in there and go to running water and throw it, and turn.your back. When you throw it, don't throw it with your face toward the water. Always when you walk there - if you [came] in your car or whatever you in, on the bridge, over the running water - you throw it backwards.
Entry 11639
You take the fish, you take the front part of his mouth and let it dry - dry good, perfect. And then maybe when yo're [yo'll?] be goin', it will come apt to be some kind of a rain, or somepin other like that. Then if you kin get [it] into the water where the woman drinks, uhen you [she] will come to love you too. The front part of his mouth, you know, iis' take the front part, that ring around his mouth. [Probably demonstrates by ruing a finger around the mouth.]
(Part of the upper and lower jaw there.)
Yea, that whole thing - jis' like that. And take it out, and then you let that dry. You put that away and let that dry. Then [put it into] the water that a woman drinks. Then you make wishes over that, you understand. Or any- thing that she drinks or eats, why then you use that fish mouth over that. Then she will come to love, too.
Entry 11657
Yo' kin go tuh a sto' where dey sell dat fo'ks an' yo' kin buy it, an' name it when yo' buy it, this individual. Then yo' come back home an' yo' take a piece of papah an' write their names on it, an' make a wish, an' wrap that name right on that fo'k, an' yo' might tie it [name] on there. Then yo' kin carry it to some runnin' watah an drou it in there, an' don' look back at it, an' yo'll [person named will] go crazy. As that watah run, yore mind an' that sharp fo'k - yo' know, yore mind is on things an' off lak that.
(How do you throw that in the water?)
Throw it ovah yore left shoulder an' jes' keep awalkin' [away never looking back].
Entry 11686
Yo' go out dere 'fore day in de mawnin' an' git a twig offa tree at de fo'ks of de road an' use it. Yo' kin use it fo' luck, fo' bad luck, an' dey use it with dis red flannel. Ah 'magine yo' seen red flannel. Yo' use red flan- nel. An' git chew a twig while de sap is in it, but chew cain't git it when it's dry, at de fo'ks of de road. Dat cause people tuh has spells, fallin' outa beds, agony in de haid, agony in de feet, athaletics feets an' all lak dat. (What do you do with this twig? How do they work that?) Well, yo' git chew a piece of red flannel an' git chew some turpentine an' asafetidy an' boil it all tuhgethah in 'bout, jes' say 'bout a cup of watah an strain it an' po' all dat drugs [dregs], let say yo' has drugs tuh it, an' strain it through dat red flannel. An' aftah yo've strained it through de red flannel, den yo' use only de watah, understan'. Set dis watah in a dark place in a closet an' keep dis twig in dis red flannel wrapped. Yo' kin weah dis roun' yore neck fo' luck fo' yo'self. An' de watah fo' bad luck yo' kin sprinkle around a person's do'steps tuh cause 'em tuh move. If yo' wanta sprinkle it fo' luck, if yo' Wanta sprinkle it, yo' kin sprinkle it tuh cause 'em tuh move. Yo' kin sprinkle it fo' a person dat's sick, tuh make 'em have iller health. Yo' kin sprinkle it where a person is sick, tuh make 'em have bettah health; accordin' tuh whut chew magic' but chew gotta git it from de fo'ks of de road 'fore day in de mawnin'.
Entry 12130
Yo' know whut yo' kin do wit dis bow a'gin. Well, yo' kin take dis bow heah yo' understand [again he refers to my hat on interviewing table]. An' yore wife will jump off today or tomorrow an' marry to de othah man. Two yeahs yo' livin' wit her, see. She don' mean yo' no good. She leave a little out. Look heah, she leave a little out dis high. Yo' know dis top, dat high on yo'. Say, dat ah'm yore brothah. Ah ketch yo' an' take dat. Understand, see. Yo' take dat bow lak ah tell yo', lak dis heah. Understan', goes right tuh de rivah. Ah don't mean no stop-watah, ah mean runnin' watah - dat be goin', runnin' 'long lak dat. An' she'll run yo' off, right on down [to the sea]. Well, when yo' git tired, yo' don't wanta run so far, cause yo' don' know where dey stop. Dat bow may stop at de sea.
Entry 12149
Go to a hickory tree an' go on de no'th side of a hickory tree, an' den dig down an' git de roots. An' take dis root an' put it in some watah an' boil it fo' thirty minutes. Then yo' kin take it an' put it in bread an' yo' will cause things to grow in 'em - worms.
Entry 12217
Well, sometimes yo' kin take incense. Yo' know what dat is. Yo' burn it Thursdays an' Wednesdays. An' yo' take an' wash yore front steps wit dis salt dat chew makes ice cream out of. Den yo' throw de water inside an' let it run outside. Let it run back outside. Den yo' Wash dose things. Ah know dose are lucky.
(Then you wash what?)
Yo' wash yore front out [sidewalk off]. Stand in front an' po' yo' water up [to the building] an' let it run back down [to gutter and] out. An' wash de place all out good an' burn it [incense] Thursdays, Wednesdays an' Mondays.
(Any particular time those days that you burn that incense?)
Well, it's best tuh burn it 'bout five [usually 6] an' twelve.
(Five when?)
In de evening, twelve in de day.
Entry 12462
If you want a woman, there's two or three ways that you can bring people to you. Just - the question you've asked me - there's two or three ways that you can do these things. It's always worked on the dark of the moon. See, just like if you want to do good, you do it on the new moon - of course, it be on the new moon and on the Balance. And if you want to do bad to them, you do that on the dark of the moon, work under the signs, the twelve signs. See.
(The twelve signs of the zodiac?)
Yes. See, just like if you want to make love or friendship, you set candles on a person that get the tendence[?] the two little Twins, at least. See. And if you want to do earth work, say, if you want to bury anything, you do that on the Balance. If you want to use any water from any river or anything, you use that on the Balance [surely the Waterman]. Just like if I want to break up a man and a woman. She done left me and I want her to come back to me. Well, I takes a linen sheet and I has it on the bed, after I done set my work[?] for her to come there, and I get morris [myrrh], aloes and cinnamon. [Preceding vord tendance = attention?]
(This myrrh, and what else?)
Aloes and cinnamon.
(Cinnamon?)
Yes, mixed in together. And I makes a powder and perfumes my bed with that. And she come there and [lay on] my bed, I ain't got to worry about her no more. See. She ain't going nowhere.
(She is going to stay right with you?)
Yes.
Entry 12467
(Well, suppose I didn't want to move, yes?)
Why, you would have to move.
(Well, what would they do to make me move out?)
Well, your next-door neighbor would - could move you out, if they wanted to move you out.
(How would they do that?)
Well, they would get what you call moving powders. They'd go to the drug store and buy what you call moving powders and when you be's asleeping, your next-door neighbor would sprinkle it around your house. But if you didn't want to move out of that house, why you just, every morning you wake up and just go to your hydrant and get you nine buckets of clear water, and throw it on your steps, and you can stay in that house as long as you want to - providing you [recording stops].
Entry 12524
As I told you a while ago, you use that just like you do garlic, but you cut the onion up fine and put it in hard water, and you put salt in there instead of sugar. And you, just like a person tell me to mop their house, I'm sup- posed to keep their house mopped out with that, and instead of having good luck, it's bad luck. You get arrested or anything. That Salt jinX them. [AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER, THIS IS THE ONLY HARD WATER RITE IN "HOODOO," and it Was given by that professional hoodoo woman from Shreveport, La., the woman who said, "They tried to run me out of Louisiana." Little did either of us realize that within a few hours I myself would be chased out of Memphis!]
Entry 12562
(Well, nog, suppose I'm bootlegging amd I want to keep the lay aoay from the place, what would I do to keep the lay away from the place?) Well, you use this here sugar. You get this sugar, you get some of this saltpeter, and every time that you think of the law or anything, at night, you do it yourself or the one that be's in [the shop] there. You fix it up in a bottle with any kind of green leaf - you know, any kind of green leaf - but leave it be different leafs: might be willow leaf or Palm Of Christian or any kind of leaf. Just a differ- ent leaf. You take it in a bottle with this sinimond [cinnamon], sugar...
[I interrupt. Palm of Christian had to be explained!]
(Now, wait a minute! Where does this Palm of Christian grow?)
That Palm of Christian? Well, just put it in there like that, but stop... (Where does that grow? Here in Louisiana? Does it grow here?) [In New Orleans?] Yes, sir, it grows here - find it everywhere - in the country - they got some right uptown there. (It grows out in the woods - you mean that little palm - that little short palm?) It grows up about that high but with wide leaves.
(Oh! I see.)
[I did not know what it was at the time but I soon found out!] Well, you could take some of them leaves and sprinkle like that - get different leaves, just so its green. And you put it in a bottle and you take - put that sugar and cinament in the bottle like that. Every morning - that's when you thinking that the law's is [= 's & is here] coming and interfere with you, you see - coming and made a raid on your place. Every night and every morning, through the day, re- gardless of how many people are in there [your illegal liquor joint] don't say anything to nobody. Jest take your bottle [of green leaves] like you cleaning up and walk at the end of your property and jest like you'd take the broom and you shaking that bottle, you know, jest like sprinkling to keep the dust down - on back in [into] your place. Any time the law coming there, when he get to your property, he - he jest as pleased as ever. He'll come in there - probably be like this - he'll drink. He'll ask you to give him a [free] drink, a [free] cigar or somepin of the kind like that. And he'll tell you, remember that [a boss] be's over him. He'll tell, too, he'll say, "Well, you be particular, you can git what you want. I was just passing by this way. Well, you jest keep that sugar and ciniment right at your steps, wherever you comes down. And re- gardless of who comes there, he'll never do you no harm. And in prohibition time, well, the time the town went dry, I sold liquor here - I hit on [which he does, you can hear him]. Never had been caught yet. Never have been scared about no law - no prohibition or nothing of the kind... never have. [See margin title PALMA CHRISTI, No.2199, P.626, v.1, and my long comment there.]
Entry 12623
A man said if: I could take a needle and 3 grains of pepper, red pepper, de seed of it, and some water and put in it, and salt, and then a few grains of black pepper. And take that needle and stick it down in that bottle. And when you get ready to go out, you go and take that bottle up and jis' shake [a magic act] it up and say, "Good luck and good prospire" [prosperity]. And go out. And he said, "You get a job." The man that told me that...and I declare I went and did it, I fixed it up, and I declare I git the job, the one I got now. And I've been with it over a year.
Entry 12669
If someone is kinda cranky with someone - dat's mean, kind of mean wit someone. Well, a man or a woman kin naturally go tuh work an' dey dissolve [wash out] a rag - dese clothes [cloths], yo' know whut dat means. Yo' kin wipe undah yore arms but yo' must not do it aftah a clean bath. De odor undah yore arms must ketch in dis dissolve [water from rag] either arm. An' yo' don' have tuh wipe undah de arms. An' yo' kin take - naturally yo' kin take de same cloth an' wipe 'tweer yore toes. Den yo' kin wipe in undah de bottom of yore feet, but chew gotta git de odor from dose feets. An' yo' kin drink de same stuff right along with 'em, an' dey'll follow yo'.
(What do you do with that, after you wipe that stuff off?)
Put it in some water or whiskey or anything else, since [just so] yo' git it down 'em. Ah had a boy one time - mah mothah wuz a Indian woman, an' he used to beat me every day. An' mah mothah knowed a whole lot about things, an' she learnt me how to do it. [And I did this.] An' ah beat it in good, an' he followed me. An' he follows me up to today, an' dat's been ovah fo'ty yeahs ago.
(This boy?)
We wuz boys then.
(That is how you conquered him?)
De same way ah tole yo' jes' now.
(That is the way you conquered that boy, made a friend of him?)
Why shore, an' we friends today.
Entry 12691
If a man wanta ketch 'is wife, jes' lak in some act or 'nothah, den yo' takes oak ashes. Take oak ashes an' pine straw [dried needle on ground, also called shatters in the South]. An' yo' take an' put dose oak ashes ovah dem an' yo' puts one hole in de can an' let de can leak aftah yo' puts watah in dere. Den yo' takes oil an' yo' puts oil - po's oil ovah dat an' let de oil run through, an' den as de oil meets wit dis heah straw an' oil an' straw mix wit dis watah dat he has po'd on dere, den dat will cause dis man an' woman tuh go tuhgethah. An' de day he would po' de oil in - see, he done put de watah in dere an' let de watah drip through de straw an' oak ashes. Den he puts de oil in dere, an' den at de minute dat he puts dis oil in dere an' de oil drip through tuh de ashes, den dis heah woman she'll be wantin tuh git tuh dis man, but now de woman she'll have tuh burn dese ashes. See, he'll git huh tuh burn de ashes fo' him. An' den she'll be wantin' tuh git tuh dis othah man, an' whenevah she gits wit him, den he goes where dey's at...tuh fin' dem den. Wheresomevah - if he fin' dem dey'll be tuhgethah.
(Just associating together.)
Yes.
Entry 12704
Ah told him take quicksilvah, lak mah name would be Goldie[!l. Well, ah tolt him take dat an' put it in a lil' bottle of watah lak dat an' set it up an' have all kinds of luck in yore home. (What kind of luck?) Luck fo' anything. Jes' lak if yo' move in a place an' peoples don' want chew dere an' yo' Want de place an' want tuh stay dere, yo' put it in dere an' nobody kin move yo'. [Quicksilver can be mercury but usually it is scrapings from back of mirror or tinfoil from around tobacco.]
Entry 12884
Scrub it out good with Red Seal Lye, got the red seal [trademark] on it...an' yo' wrench [rinse] it good this day - like today - and tomorrow you go there and you use nine buckets of water. And the ninth bucket of water you put sugar and cinnamon and Burben fast luck in it, and it'll be lucky and you'll, can rent the house.
(What kind of fast luck?)
Berb - bur - I believe - Burbeans - you know that spells beans.
(Burbean's?)
Yeah, Burbean's Fast Luck.
(What is it, an oil or a powder?)
It's a oil-like. You gets that outa the drug store.
Entry 12887
In de business line - fo' customers, if yo' runnin' dis place of busi- ness. Now, yo' kin take when yo' knock off [close] dis place at night, put some of dis Hearts Cologne in de water an' mop dis buildin' out dat night. An' don't sweep none of yore dirt out at night after six a'clock, outa yore front atall. Dat'll make business an' yo'll prosper mo'.
(Brings customers in.)
Entry 12999
Well, if a man want luck in gambling, well, he'd wanta got Lost John powder. [This could be my only example of Lost John.] (What kind?) Lost John. (Lost John?) Lost John powder, it's good luck. You take Lost John powder and you put it in your pocket. All right, you go get you some pulverized bluestone. You take you five dimes and you boil that in two quarts of water. You boil that water down to one quart [magic of diminishing amount.] You put it in somepin and measure it. You put it in somepin and you boil it until it comes down to one quart [diminishing amount] one quart of water. You gets one quart of water, you pout one teaspoonful of pulverized bluestone, one teaspoonful of granulated sugar, one teaspoonful of sulphur, and well shaked [shake well]. You take your five dimes out of that water after it's boiled and put 'em - you can use them again, you can spend them. [Often articles used in rites cannot be used again, they are dangerous.] You take that and you shake it up - well shaked. You can take that and rub it in the band of your hat, and you go anywhere in town and you can have luck: with the laws, the police, or anything like that. They ain't going to worry with you.
(What do you do with that Lost John root powder? What do you do with that?)
That Lost John root you tote that in your pocket. Tote that in your pocket.
Entry 13083
If yo' didn't like nobody an' yo' wanted to fix 'em some kind of way, says yo' kin go out in de woods an' kill a snake an' let its hide dry. An' dey say if yo' want dem to have snakes in 'em, go dere an' put it in dey water off dat hide. Dey'll have snakes in 'em.
Entry 13137
If you got a husband that runs around, [or] if a man got a woman that runs around, he can take her dirty stockings and wash the toe and the heel - not the whole stocking, wash the toe and wash the heel. In about, well, I'd say about two ounces of water - that's suffi- cient, two ounces of water. And take that water and pour it in a bottle and stop it up, and bury it underneath the steps and that party will stay home all the time.
Entry 13138
Well, dere's a boy an' a girl dat's goin' tuhgethah. See. Dey got in good love. Yo' know, she got tuh lovin' him an' he got tuh lovin' her. Dey got big ages [they were grown up] yo' see. "Oh, ah got him so ah want him [to] stay wit me," an' "ah don't want him [to go nowhere." [Notice incomplete infinitives.] Well, he come tuh stayin' dere at night, see jes' lak man an' wife. Jes' stay an' stay an' stay. Well, somebody else got betwixt dat, "Ah want [to] tear dat up, ah don' lak dat. He ain't ma'ed tuh her. He ain't a much right man. He ain't much good. Ah'm goin' tear dat up." Undahstand. Well, so dey got mad an' so decided dey want tear hit up. So dey throws baa luck in dey way. So she says, Cora says, "Well, yo' know, he wuz so good tuh me an' all at once he's got bad. Ah don' know whut in de worl' mattah wit him." Say, "Ah cain't undahstand it." "Well, maybe somebody else is got a bettah haid den yo' are an' to' [tore] it up." "Well, ah'll find out." Says, "Ah knows a thing or two mahself. Ah'll take ca' of dat. Ah'll take ca' of dat." Okay, all right. She goes an' she takes his sock - de sock he weahs - de dirty sock he been Weahin'. She takes dat sock an' washes it, washes dat sock, yo' know, in jes' a leetle bit of watah, yo' know. Well, yo' might say, in a boil [water just coming to a boil]. Yo' take dat sock an' yo' boil it, yo' know, an' git dat dirt off whut he's been weahin'. An' take dat watah an' jah it up [put it in a jar] an' yo' put - ah dunno whut chew call dat kin'a powdah, it wuz a lucky powdah, she [hoodoo woman] put in dere an' 9 drops of Hearts Cologne. Yo' put dat tuhgethah. Yo' know, yo' boil dat lil' watah down right low, yo' know till it be jes' a lil' bit. Den yo' put nine drops of Heart Cologne in dat. Den yo' put it in a lil' bottle an' yo' stop it up. An' fo' 9 mawnin's yo' take dat an' yo' daubs yo'self wit dat fo' 9 mawnin's. Yo' all right. Yo' won't have no mo' trouble.
Entry 13139
Yo' kin put a man tuh walkin' wit his socks, if yo' kin git dem when dere [dey + are] dirty. Take a man's stockin' when it's dirty an' wash it out, an' put dat watah in a bot- tle. An' take it an' bury it where he has tuh travel ovah, an' he'll start tuh walkin'. His feet git hot, he hot-footed den. He cain't stay nowhere.
(You bury it out in the road somewhere?)
Bury it somewhere whah he transfah at - goes on.
Entry 13140
Well yo' take de socks tuh bring a man back home. Now, lak yo' got a odd square, a odd square on yore flo'. A old square on yore flo', see, lak dis square heah [square of linoleum in floor of my inteviewing room at the Patterson Hotel for Blacks where I inter- viewed in New Orleans]. All right. Well, yo' take dat sock an' yo' put both toes together an' bring dat sock in - de feet, lak ah walk in heah. Yo' see, de front of mah feet is comin' in. Well, yo' bring dat in an' put dat, an' put dat at de end, an' yo' tack dat undah dere [linoleumlundah de carpet. Dat's right. An' he will come a-hellin'. Yessuh, lak if he's away an' don' wanta come home.
Entry 13218
Dat's done dis Way. Say, fo' ninstan' now, dat a spirit is worryin yo', maybe yo' done perhaps kill somebody maybe yeahs ago, an' dey spirit keep worryin' yo'. Yo' go to a small stream where it's a bridge an' yo' git a lighter [fat-lighter stick] an' peg, an' drive it down at chure left toe, den yo' walk backwards cross dat stream an' drive an- othah peg down at chure right toe, an' yo' tie dat spirit betwixt dere - cross de water an' dey won' follow yo' no mo'. (What do you mean you tie it across the water?) Well, yo' see, when yo' drive de peg down, an' yo' call de person's name three times, den yo' know he's wit chew, dat de spirit is. Den when yo walk backwards, cross de bridge, he still following yo' in front, but when yo' stoop down an' drive anothah peg at chure toe, yo've got him. In othah words, dat's whut chew might call dat chew bury de spirits. [As I say in margin title, our doctor here is a law unto himself, since a spirit cannot cross running water; but here doctor pegs sprit across running water so that his client can return to his own side of the stream. Nice Work!]
Entry 13221
If a man leaves home an' a woman wants tuh make him come back, well - vell, ah understan' she could take de measure of his whole body an' dat she could take de measure of his- self, an' tie nine knots aroun' it. An' den at de bed where he sleep, de side dat he sleep on, tie it de whole length of de bed. An' den whatsomevah... Yo' know yo' always have a spirit dat chew pray tuh, well are him tuh back yo' up, yo' see. An' make yore wish whut chew want him tuh do. If yo' want dat man tuh come back home, make yore wish an' den scrub yore house oat wit sweeten watah. (What do you do with that length from the head to the foot? What do you do gith that length, that string?) Yo' measure it...yo' tie it de full length of de bed, yo' know, on de spring- Lak, from de haid tuh de foot.
(You don't tie nine knots in it do you?)
Yeah, nine knots.
(And you tied nine knots in the other string too?)
No, yo' tied nine knots in dat string.
(What do you do with that short string?)
Well, dat othah short string yo' wear aroun' yore waist.
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 13289
A root doctor told me that. He said you git choo a bucket of watah a'a broom, an' as they goes on out de doah, he says - like aftah dey gone out, h say - he jis' go back from w'ere they's settin' at, an' gits his broom an' dip it in that bucket nine time an' jis' sweep with it. An', every time yo's make [each of] dem nine [dips], sweep it [from the visitor's chair] right on out [of the house] and make you a wish: "I hope yo'll go an' nevah come no more." He said they'll nevah come back to your house no more [mō']. [That allitera- tion go and mo occurs several times in HOODOO, it appearing to be an uncon- scious folk expression.]
Entry 13329
You go out here an' git this trumpet root. That's a root that grows - it don't grow now'ere roun' here. It grows in the middle of a pond. When you git to that trumpet it's like a bugle. It's about that long [4 feet], it stays green winter an' summer. You take that trumpet root an' you pour some water in it [the flower] from a pump. Nuthin mus' be but de pump. An' take that water an' boil it. Yo' see, yo' boil that trumpet root all together. Well, when yo' git that water, yo' bottle it up an' take a drink. An' take that trumpet an' cut it up, an' put it out there an' let it git dry. Either put it in de stove an' let it dry. Well, yo' powder dat up. Yo' take that then an' yo' go to captain: 'Captain, I'm out of a job an' I wan'a job." Put some that [dust] on yo' [and take a drink of trumpet-root tea before you go] an' yo' got a job.
Entry 13353
Take dere chamber lye an' let it set fo' days an' put it in a brown bottle an' bury it undah de steps, an' den dat'll run 'em away from home. Dat run de man away. (Whose chamber lye do you put in the bottle?) Yores. Mix some of yores and some of deres together - some of de woman's an' some de man's together. An den dat'll drive him 'way from home. It still make him go 'cross watah an nevah come back. [Either informant dropped something out of this rite or the desire of the magician is sufficient. There are other examples of 2 persons buried together, giving victim a sense of security.]
Entry 13368
If yo' wanta con ah a man, when he use de slop jar at night, says if yo' git dat an' take it wit yo'. Git chew some, about three drops of kerosene - about three or four drops of kerosene in it. An' puts chew quite a bit of sulphur in dere, in dis water [urine]. An' say yo' take dat an' throw it in a stream of water, turn yore back, dey say, an' walk away, or throw it over yore shoulder dis way [demonstrates] an' walk away. An' say if yo' home an' dey don't want chew dere, why yo' constantly will go away.
Entry 13419
If yo' wanta make me move. All right. Well you get some war water. All right. You take that and you put that in some water - half a bucket of water - not too much. Well, you don't have to put it in the house nowheres, but put it around on the steps.
Entry 13430
If you been tricked and have dese fainting spells - any kind of spells been put on you. See, dere's a way fer you to do - is fer you to go to de person dat you think put 'em on you. Speak to him about it. Well, you see him den and you tell him how you been tricked and all like dat. Say, dey can't look at you straight to save his life because he put it on yo'. Den after yo' git dat, den you go to swift water, ah've been told. And git dat swift water and bring it back and boil it and put cayen- ne pepper in it. See, cayenne pepper and ginger. See, dat's power - dat's strong. See, dat have a great odor to it. Take dat and boil it and salt, an' carry it to his doorsteps an' yo' kin take yore time. Let it be 'way in de night, way about twelve or one clock an' pour it at his doorstep. An' it will turn de trick right back on it. Yo'll git well and it will go right back on him.
Entry 13431
Jes' lak yo' may have people in New York or othah foreign distance place, an' yo' want 'em tuh come home or yo' want tuh see 'em. Yo' take a clean watah glass an' yo' full dat glass wit watah an' yo' take dat, glass right be- hin' de lamp - see. Dat lamp should be shaded very plain - no flowah or nuthin', jes' a plain white shade, yo' know, a plain glass. Jes' have it clean. Yo' know, sterilize it so yo' kin see through it. An' have dat glass full of watah, an' yore lamp shade is clean so yo' kin see through dat. Den yo' take a lookin' glass an' put behin' dat watah, understan'. An' yo' jes' always say, "Come home." Call dem by dere name, 'Come home, come home. Ah vants tuh see yo', ah wants tuh see yo'." An' dey'll appeah right in dat watah behin' dat lookin' glass. Ah'm tellin' yo' dem things, ah've done it mahself.
(The lamp is lighted?)
Yessuh, gotta be light. An' do it midnight in de night.
Entry 13432
Take fo' instance if yo' married an' yo' go out without yore wife, an' yo' done a misdemeanor, an' yo' tave a tendency to talk in yore sleep. Well, if you have done anything, well when yo' go to sleep an' begin snoring, why she kin put chure hand in a cold pan of water an' everything that chew have done, you'll tell it.
Entry 13433
Take a glass wit some watah in it an' yore wife is sleepin'. Jes' stick her finger down in it an' she tell yo' everything, every place she been, she'll tell yo'. But chew can't keep it too long, 'cause she'll die. (Why would she die if you keep it too long?) Ah don't know. Dat take her nerve or take her breath away, but long as she sleepin' yo' kin go dere. But if yo' ain't [careful] when yo' git it from her, she liable tuh go off [die].
Entry 13434
An' if a person 'sleep an' be layin' in de bed an' yo' want 'em tuh talk tuh yuh, yo' git chew a pan of watah an' put dere han' in it. Jes' put doon dere fingahs down in de watah an' dey'll tell yo' jes' whut dey done durin' dat day. Dey talk in dere sleep. But if de wind would change de time dey got dere han' in dere, well it would kill 'em. (If the wind outside would change it would kill them?) It would kill 'em. [My only example of this belief. Presumably spirit of sleeping person to recall scenes of day must revisit them. A sudden change in the wind prevents him from returning to his body.]
Entry 13435
If a woman take your underwear or anything closely, an' take it to a spring [running water] - see, steal anything like the linin' out of yer hat, anything like that - an' wash it in spring water, you'll have a wonderin' [wandering] an' a ramblin' mind. An' keep it close to her body at all times - sich as to put it on a belt an' wear it aroun' her waist - an' that would ca zhoo [cause you] to have a wonderin' [wandering] mind.
Entry 13436
Ah've heard dat yo' kin go to a creek an' git some of a creek's watah - where [there is] a runnin' creek - an' git some of de watah an' bring it back an' sprinkle it in de yard. Jes' po' it round in de yard but in po'in' dat watah round in de yard, yo' gotta git some of dis heah John de Conkah. An' take an' boil dat watah good an' boil dat John de Conkah an' sprinkle it all round yore yard. An' dat's tuh make any man or woman move. Move them outa de house.
(Why do they use running water?)
Ah don't know. Ah always heah people talkin' an' ah have used it mahself. [Answer to my question; run you away like running water.]
Entry 13437
[Here is a simple, unusual and probably rare rite:] "If some people do things to you like that, an' you in bad luck an' things like that, well the best thing to do is to walk acrost a pond - a pond where clear water at. You go acrost that pond an' it will change your luck." [This of course is a substitute for running water, the reason for the insistance on clear water. One hears little about ponds in HOODOO, I was not seeking general folklore.]