"One day Edna come to see Liza, after she had stayed away for 'bout three weeks, and she was more lovin' than ever. She hung around 'til she got a chance to put somethin' in the water bucket, then she left. People can put somethin' in things for you and everybody else can eat or drink it, but it won't hurt nobody but the one it's put there for. When Liza drunk water, she said it tasted like it had salt-peter in it. When she went to bed that night, she never got out 'til she was toted out. She suffered and suffered and we never knowed what was wrong 'til Edna told it herself. She took very sick and 'fore she died she told one of her friends 'bout it and this friend told us, but it was too late then, Liza was dead."
COMPILATION RICHMOND COUNTY--EX-SLAVE INTERVIEWS
Written by: Louise Oliphant Federal Writers' Project Augusta, Georgia
Edited by: John N. Booth District Supervisor Federal Writers' Project Augusta, Georgia
Belief in charms and conjurs is still prevalent among many of Augusta's older Negroes. Signs and omens also play an important part in their lives, as do remedies and cures handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation.
If a wrestler can get dirt from the head of a fresh grave, sew it up in a sack, and tie it around his waist, no one can throw him.
To make a person leave town, get some dirt out of one of his tracks, sew it up in a sack, and throw it in running water. The person will keep going as long as the water runs.
To take a hair out of a person's head and put it in a live fishes mouth will make the person keep traveling as long as the fish swims.
If someone dies and comes back to worry you, nail some new lumber into your house and you won't be bothered any more.
When the hands of a dead person remain limp, some other member of the family will soon follow him in death.
When a spider builds a web in your house, you may expect a visitor the same color as the spider.
If a cat takes up at your house it's a sign of good luck; a dog--bad luck.
If a spark of fire pops on you, it is a sign that you will receive some money or a letter.
To dream of muddy water, maggots, or fresh meat is a sign of death. To dream of caskets is also a sign of death. You may expect to hear of as many deaths as there are caskets in the dream.