The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE WHITE WITCH OF ROSE HALL

THERE WAS ONCE A WOMAN WHO WAS CALLED THE WHITE WITCH OF ROSE HALL.
SHE WAS CALLED THIS BECAUSE HER HAIR AND SKIN WAS VERY WHITE AND
AT NIGHT SHE WOULD RIDE AMOUNG THE SLAVES DRESSED IN WHITE AND ON
A WHITE HORSE TO FRIGHTEN THEM. SHE WAS MISTRESS OF A BIG
PLANTATION AND WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE KILLED FOUR OF HER FIVE
HUSBANDS. SHE HERSELF WAS KILLED BY THE FIFTH WHEN HER FATHER
TOLD HIM WHAT SHE DID TO HER HUSBANDS. THE WHITE WITCH BURIED HER
HUSBANDS NEAR THE HOUSE AND PLANTED A COCONUT TREE ABOVE THEM.
IF YOU GO TO THE RUINS OF THAT PLANTATION YOU WILL SEE FIVE
COCOANUT TREES IN A ROW WITH NO OTHER TREES AROUND. SHE IS UNDER
ONE OF THEM.

Submitter comment: DONALD LEE HAS VISITED THE RUINS OF ROSE HALL AND HAS SEEN
THE FIVE COCONUT TREES.
DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY, JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BLUEBEARD: SEX REVERSAL ; COLOR ; NUMBERS

Date learned: 10-31-1975

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