--- title: Opening, part 13 — Negro myths from the Georgia coast, told in the… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 13, «Negro myths from the Georgia coast, told in the vernacular» by Charles C., Jr. Jones: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: This preliminary operation concluded, Jack produced his forceps. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76586/13/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Negro myths from the Georgia coast, to…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76586/) / Opening, part 13 # Opening, part 13 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76586/13/) **2** For the capture of animals drinking at the water’s edge, or swimming in lake or river, the tail was employed.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") A stunning blow having thus been delivered, the victim was caught in the open jaws, and thence transported to the dwelling-place of the reptile, where it was guarded until decomposition had fairly supervened.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") It was then eaten at leisure and with apparent relish.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") Sometimes days were allowed to elapse before the slain animal or bird became suitably seasoned for the feast.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") While hogs, dogs, calves, sheep, geese, and ducks were often captured by alligators, they seldom attacked human beings.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") Of mankind they apparently entertained an inborn fear, and would quit the part of the river or lagoon in which men or even boys were swimming.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") Instances are rare in which human life has been sacrificed to the voracity of these monsters.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") The writer remembers several occasions, however, on which men and children were attacked by alligators.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") He will be pardoned for recalling one of them.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") Sawney had a wife who resided upon a neighboring plantation.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") It was his habit to visit his wife every Saturday night, and remain with her until Monday morning.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") On these journeys he would carry a bag containing provisions and such choice morsels as he had been able, during the week, to accumulate for his better half.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") Near the negro quarter, where he resided on the home-plantation, was a small creek, in which the tide ebbed and flowed.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") A large log furnished convenient means for crossing it.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") On the night in question, shortly after dark, Sawney shouldered his well-filled bag and set out for his wife’s house.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") The tide was flowing into the creek.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") Instead of crossing on the log, he saw fit to descend the gentle bank and wade through the water.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") It was not more than half-leg deep, and the creek was only some ten yards wide.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") When he was in the middle of the stream his attention was attracted by a movement in the water.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Instead of getting out upon the bank, which he could readily have done, he paused, and began to parley with what, in the darkness, he conceived to be a “sperit.”[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") “Tan back, Mossa Sperit, an lemme pass.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") Tan back, Mossa Sperit; me do you no harm.”[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") In this idiotic and frightened manner he stood idly talking, until what proved to be a large alligator approached and laid violent hold of his right leg.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") He was quickly thrown down by the reptile.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") In the confusion which ensued, and amid the struggles and yells of the negro, the alligator for the moment relaxed its hold, and was attracted by the fallen bag, which it tore in pieces.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Sawney had so completely lost his wits, was so terrified, and was suffering so much pain, that he neglected to improve the opportunity thus afforded, and betake himself to flight.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") He remained rooted to the spot, howling, praying, and calling for help.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") Having in a little while disposed of the bag, the alligator renewed its attack upon the frightened negro, threw him down, broke his left arm, and frightfully lacerated it and one of his legs.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") The negroes at the quarter hard by, hearing the noise and cries for help, armed with torches, hoes, axes, and billets, rushed to the spot just in time to save the life of the unfortunate man.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") The alligator was beaten to death.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") It measured nearly eleven feet, and was very stout.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Sawney’s wounds proved well-nigh fatal.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") He was confined to his cabin for quite three months, and, during that time, required and received the careful attention of a competent surgeon.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") The lazy way in which the negro was in the habit of fishing, perched upon a tussock, with feet and rod trailing in the water, somnolent and in utter silence, did sometimes invite and receive a flirt from the tail of the reigning alligator, defending its preserves against all poachers.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") The old memories are fast drifting away into the shadows, and the modern negro and the alligator of the present are but partial types of things that were.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") LX.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") SPERITS.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the negroes of the coast region of Georgia and the Carolinas a belief in the existence of ghosts, “sperits,” and superhuman influences was very general.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Especially did it obtain among the ordinary field-hands and those least educated.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Comparatively few there were who could lift themselves entirely above the superstitious fears born in Africa and perpetuated by tradition in their new home.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Memories of Fetichism, of Totemism, and of Anthropomorphism were strangely mingled with the teachings of Christianity, and in their religious exercises the emotional predominated over the intellectual.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") The potency of charms and philters was freely admitted, and it was necessary to restrain the practice of Fetichism by positive inhibition, or by labored persuasion of its utter absurdity.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") The fabrication of Fetiches, and their sale to those who desired to utilize the powers of the deities which they were supposed to represent, were monopolized by old women, who derived considerable gain from this calling.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") The idea was by such means to conjure the neighbor against whom enmity was cherished, and thus subject him or her to the malign influences of the spirit or demon whose power was supposed to inhere in the evil charm.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") The ordinary Fetich consisted of a bunch of rusty nails, bits of red flannel, and pieces of brier-root tied together with a cotton string.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") A toad’s foot, a snake’s tooth, a rabbit’s tail, or a snail’s shell was sometimes added.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") In price it varied from twenty-five cents to a dollar.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") To insure the efficacy of the desired spell, it was necessary that the charm should be secretly deposited under the pillow of the party to be affected, placed upon the post of a gate through which he would pass, or buried beneath the doorsteps of his cabin.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Once persuaded of the fact that he had been thus conjured, the patient became possessed of superstitious fears, and often complained of bodily “miseries,” which apparently defied the power of the healing art, and were wholly dissipated only when some atonement was made for the alleged wrong, or payment offered to have the spell broken through the intervention of the conjurer who had devised it.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") In the conduct of plantations, difficulty and annoyance were not infrequently experienced from the interference of these old negro women,--conjurers,--who, in plying their secret trade, gave rise to disturbances and promoted strife and disquietude.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") To the apprehension of the common field-hand there was no gainsaying the fact that the spirits of the departed walked the earth and revisited the scenes of their former occupancy.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") It was not accorded to every one to see and to commune with them.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Only those “born with a caul” were capable of doing so.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Such were never terrified by these ghostly visitors.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") By their fellows they were held in special esteem.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") To this favored class did July belong.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") I inquired, on one occasion, whether he believed in ghosts and could see spirits.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, Mossa,” was his reply, “me kin shum.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") You know me bin born wid caul.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") People wuh no bin born wid caul kin yeddy sperit, but dem cant shum.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Sperit kin skade um, too, but dem cant skade me.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") Me kin walk long um der road, talk ter um een de bush, see dem een me bed, and yeddy um een de grabe yad.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") Me an sperit good fren.”[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76586/13/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76586/13/) - next →: [Opening, part 14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76586/14/) - ↑ back to [Negro myths from the Georgia coast, told in the vernacular](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76586/)