Texarkana District
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	  W123	~~UBJECT~~
Narae ot fliterTiewer,	Mrs. W.M. Ball
Sub ject	Su~erstitious Be~J~tsArnong Ne~,oes.	(Npgro ~:teL

Story Information:



	Some aged negroes believe that many of the superstitious ideas th~tt are practiced by their race today had their origin in Africa. A practice that was quite common in ante belùmi day3 waS for each meniber

of the family to extract all of their teeth, in the belief that in do~ Ing so the family ~uld nover disagree. Fortunately, this and similar prnctices of 8elf rnutllaticn have about become extinct.

	An old custom practiced to prevent the separation of a husb~ind

?~fl~i ‘~iife was to wrap a rabbit‘s forefoot, a piece of loedatone, and 9

h~1rs from the top of the head in red. flannel, and bury it under the	f

front door steps.

	As a preventitive against being tricked or hoo~dooed, punch a hole through a dime, Insert a string through the hole, ~nd tie lt around the left ankle.

	To carry an axe orhoe into the house means bad luck. An itch— ing nose Indicates saine one is coming to see you, while au itchIng eye indicates you will cry.
Infoi~itlo~ given by	Doe~nn.	_______________ ______

Place of Residence	120?AshSj.,Texarkana,.Arkanses

Occupation ~-- ____~—~~pI~ -~-~ i_.  ---~.-.~--  -	Age 92~_~