Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Harm returned 23 results.
Belief
The pishtace are nocturnal murderers of Indians. The pishtaco murder Indians in order to obtain human fat to be sold as lubricants for machinery and to be used in pharmacuticals.
The legend derives from 16th and 17th centurey Spanish practices of using human body fats as treatment for wounds and diseases. the people who tell this tale are poor Indians and the pishtaco are usually wealthy industrial men in the area. The tale helps draw lines of social class.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Journal of American Folklore ; The Pishtaco: Institutionalized Fear in Highland Peru
Keyword(s): BODY ; Cultural ; Culture ; Fat ; FEAR ; HORROR ; INDIAN ; INDUSTRY ; Kill ; Lubrication ; Machinery ; MEDICINE ; MURDER ; Native American ; Peru ; Peruvian ; Pharmaceutical ; Pishtaco ; Poor ; Social Class ; Wealthy
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
CHARMS AGAINST GHOSTS
CANDLE LIGHT IS A POWERFUL PROTECTION AGAINST GHOSTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHARMS ; GHOST ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; Ward
Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-25-1969
TO CAUSE ILLNESS IN WITCHES
TO MAKE A WITCH SICK YOU NEED TO DO THESE THINGS.
GET THREE NAILS FROM A COFFIN AND STICK THEM INTO A SAUCE
OF BUTTER AND WINTERGREEN.
SAY THE WITCH'S NAME WHEN YOU PLACE
THE SAUCE IN A HIDDEN SPOT WHERE NEITHER SUNLIGHT NOR MOONLIGHT
WILL PENETRATE. YOUR WITCH WILL BE SICK FOR SIX MONTHS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): Coffin ; Harm ; ILLNESS ; Nails ; RECIPE ; WITCHES
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 10-00-1969