American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Alan Lomax Collection (AFC 2004/004)
folder 12.02.49
field work
Haiti, 1936-1937
research documents

Courtlander-Drum & the Hoe, 1960
Courtlander says "lé lé" is a 
nonsense form.

Glossary
CREOLE TERMS USED IN TEXT
Abobo or ai bobo. A ritual singing phrase
meaning "the end."
Agida. A bowed drumsstick used on the 
middle-sized Arada drum.
Ago. An exclamation in Vodoun songs
signifying "I am here."
Alfor cousin. A woven straw knapsack,
from the Spanish alforja.
Arrête. Protective magic
Asson. The cult priest's ritual rattle with 
external strikers.
Assot. A board used for striking as a percussion instrument.
Assotor. the largest drum of the Arada
rites.
Badji. Altar.
Badjican. Keeper of the altar.
Baguette guinée. A grotesquely twisted 
drumstick.
Baka. (1) A kind of evil demon. (2)
Name of the larger Pétro drum.
Baksor. Another name for the asson.
Bamboche. A "good time" dance.
Bamboché. To dance or have a good time.
Banza. Formerly a stringed instrument
resembling a banjo or a trough zither. 
The name is now used for a fiddle.
Basse. A finger drum resembling our
tambourine.
Bassin. A pool, usually referring to a 
special pool sacred to a diety.
Batonni. Stick dancer.

Bébé. Baby, used to designate the smallest
 of the Vodoun drums.
Bizango. A form of loup-garou seen in the
 form of a dog.
Bocô, or bocor. A cult priest, one who 
works with magic as well as with the
loa and the dead.
Bois bourrique. A bamboo trumpet, also 
known as a vaccine.
Bondieu. God.
Bossale. Wild. A hounsi bossale is an 
"untamed" hounsi; a loa bossale, an
"untamed" loa.
Brulé zin or bouilllé zin. "Boiling pot,"
the name of a ritual in which the hounsi
is elevated to the rank of kanzo.
Bula. (1) The smallest drum of the Arada
rites, also called bébé. 9@0 A verb meaning
to play this drum.
Bulatier. Drummer of the bula.
Caco. A bandit, or a mercenary soldier
who hires himself out to political adventurers.
Sometimes known as a 
machete. Numerous revolutions were accomplished
with armies of cacos.
Caille. (1) House. (2) The Haitian version
of the game known in West Africa
by such names as wari or mungalla.
Canarie. A clay water vessel.
Canzo. The rank of hounsi whose loa have
been "tamed" or controlled.
Capla. Another name for the houngan.

Courlander- Drum + the Hoe, 1960
134  Dancing and Dance Drama
form is heard most often during carnival days.  In all variations of the 
Meringue, the dance is performed by couples in ballroom style.  Among
the elite, it is restrained.  Elsewhere it is much more animated, with
free and uninhibited pelvic motions similar to those seen at the Saturday
night bamboche.  Although the Haitian regards his Meringue as a national
popular dance, Spanish-type music has infiltrated heavily from the Dominican
Republic, Cuba, and other islands of the West Indies.  Thousands 
of Haitians returning from contract labor in Cuba have brought with
them not only Cuban songs and rhythms but Cuban instruments as
well.  It has not been a one-way affair, however, for the Arada cults of
eastern Cuba have been built substantially around immigrants from
Haiti, and in the Cuban mountains you may hear music and see dances
of Afro-Haitian origin.
Still other kinds of dances are to be found in remote villages of 
Haiti--the old folk dances of Europe.  The villagers still know and
perform the waltz, the polka, the mazurka and the quadrille, usually
to the accompaniment of violins or guitars, or possibly an accordion.
But the influences are not all ancient ones.  Jazz has infiltrated the
Meringue.  And some years ago a small boy asked me wih some concern
whether I had taken proper account of a very important dance
called le black bottom.
Following is a list of dances known to Haitians today.  Some of them
are found throughout Haiti, some are known only regionally, and a
few are on the verge of extinction.
DANCES CONNECTED WITH VODOUN RITUAL
Arada, or Rada:  One of the main dances of the Vodoun service, named after the
Dahomean city and cult center, Allada.
Anago, or Nago:  Named after the Nagos, a branch of the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria.
For deities of Nago origin.
Mahi:  Named after the Mahi people of Dahomey.
Dereal:  A Mahi dance of northern Haiti.
Parigale:  Another Mahi type of dance.  Possibly from pas regal (royal step).
Jenvalo, or Yenvalo:  A supplication dance, variously called Jenvalo Doba (dos bas,
low back), Jenvalo Jenon (genoux, knees), and Dobado.
Zepaule:  A supplication dance in which the movements are made primarily by the
shoulders (les epaules).  It is sometimes called Jenvalo Zepaule or Jenvalo
Debout (standing Jenvalo).
Flavovodoun:  Another type of shoulder dance known in the north.
Banda, or Chica:  A gay and sometimes ribald dance, said to be much favored by
the loa Cousin Zaka and the loa Gede.
Mazonne Rada:  The "Masonic" Rada dance, often danced for the loa Gede.
Carabienne or Crabienne:  A rest dance, interspersed into long-drawn-out Arada

Dancing and Dance Drama 135
rites to break the tension. The name appears to have come from the word "Caribbean."
Magie: A dance accompanying a magic-making ritual.
Pouin: A dance accompanying the making of a pouin.
Calebasse: A dance accompanying the calabash ritual, for the dead.
Dahomé: One of the principal dances of the Vodoun group, named after Dahomey.
Bambocha: Another rest dance, from northern Haiti. Carried over into secular 
dancing, it has become the commonplace Bomboche.
Bouleverse: From northern Haiti.
Manuba, or Maniba: A dance associated with Dahomey rites, accompanied by
percussion music played on small drums hung around the neck.
Assotor: A dance accompanying rites for the assotor drum.
DANCES CONNECTED WITH CONGO AND PÉTRO RITUAL
Pétro, or Dan Pétro: The principal dance of the Pétro cult.
Kitta Mouillé: The "Wet Kitta," danced for the Simbi family of loa, patrons of
rain and the spring. Sometimes called Danse Simbi. On rare occasions the
Kitta Mouillé is accepted a Vodoun rather than Pétro.
Kitta Chêche, or Sêche: The "Dry Kitta," danced for loa of the Kitta group other
than the patrons of the spring. Sometimes identified with Vodoun rites rather
than with the Pétro.
Bumba, or Limba: Named after Congo tribes.
Moundongue: A dance for the loa Moundongue. Named after a tribe in northern
Congo.
Salongo, or Kinan: From southwestern Haiti. Salongo is the name of a tribe in
Angola.
Bambarra: Named after the Bambarras of northwestern Africa.
Congo Loangue, or Congo Franc: Named after the Loango in the Congo.
Congo Mazonne: The "Masonic" Congo dance, known also as Congo Larose and
Congo Créole. Some informants believe the dance originated in a hounfor
called Société La Rose, from which it derives one of its names.
Pastorel: A Congo rest dance.
Mousondi: A battle dance.
Moutchétché: A dance of northern Haiti for paying a debt to a loa.
Mayoyo: This dance is nearly extinct.
Mazonne Pétro: The "Masonic" dance of the Pétro rites.
DANCES ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE VODOUN GROUP
Ibo: Named after the Ibo people of Nigeria and used in rites for the Ibo family of
Ioa.
Kanga or Capläou: Named after West African tribes.
DANCES OF THE JUBA GROUP
Juba, or Martinique: Danced on the occasion of Last Prayers, when the spirit of a
newly deceased person has been sent on its way. It is also danced on various
coumbite occasions, and sometimes at the special request of a loa or an ancestor.

136       Dancing and Dance Drama

Baboule, or Bamboula: Danced on the occasion of building a new house.
Mascort: Danced by a societe after communal work on the land of one of its
       members.
Ti Coumba: Another societe work dance, sometimes closely related to Vodoun
       ritual. Known in Brazil as Macumba.
Koune, or Coundjaille: A dance connected with communal work celebrations.

RARA AND CARNIVAL DANCES
Rara, also called Charopie, Lwalwadi, and Vaccine: The perambulating dances of
       the Rara festival.
Mascaron, or Cocoye: Danced for the Mardi Gras.
Paillette: Any carnival dance in costume.
Batonnie: A carnival stick dance with West African precedents.
Trese Riban: The carnival Maypole dance.
Congo Paillette: The "Straw Congo," or "Costume Congo," the carnival dance of
        the societe Congo. It is also known as Ciye and Congo Mardi Gras.
Rabordage: A Mardy Gras perambulating dance.
Chaluska: A Mardi Gras dance in which the participants are dressed as nineteenth-
       century generals. Comic mimicry. Also referred to as Charles Oscar.
Zizipan
Roboto
Mayousse

OTHER SECULAR AND MISCELLANEOUS DANCES
Zesse: A gage dance of northern Haiti.
Calinda: A mock battle dance. Also a dance of the Calinda "secret society."
Ka: A dance which takes its name fro the ka, a secular drum.
Bele, or Belair
Mangouline
Ti Crip: This is regarded by some informants as one of the Petro dances.
Malfini: "The Hawk," a dance or northern Haiti.
Pinyique: A simple "good time" dance.
Bambile: A simple "good time" dance.
Bamboche: A "good time" dance. The term is often used to designate any social
       dance. As a vern, bamboche means "to dance" or "to have a good time."

SECULAR DANCES OF EUROPEAN TYPE
Meringue: There are three main types of Meringue--the drawing-room Meringue,
       the ordinary "ballroom" Meringue, and the Meringue Counjaille (which is
       fast and agitated). A development of the last decade or so is the jazz Meringue.
Ti Bobine: This is a sort of square dance, though it is sometimes danced in Meringue
       style.
Menwat, or Mwenwat: The minuet.
Polka
Waltz
Quadrille
Mazurka
Contradanse

358 Glossary
Carré. A type of coumbite, or community
work group.
Carreau. A measure of land, about three
and one-third acres.
Cata. To beat the basic rhythm for a
song or dance.
Catalier. The one who catas.
Cayambouque. A container with a tight-fitting
lid made from a large gourd or
calabash.
Cha-cha, tcha-tcha, or kwa-kwa. A small
gourd rattle used for keeping time for
singers and drummers.
Chardette or chadèk.. Grapefruit, grapefruit
tree.
Chimin dleau. "The water road," by 
which loa come to and depart from the
scene of a service.
Clairin. An alcoholic drink.
Claves. Wooden sticks which are beaten
together as a percussion instrument.
Clochette. The tiny hand bell of the
joungan, used along with his asson.
Cocomacaque. A kind of dwarf palm. 
Sticks made of this tree are called by 
the same name, or sometimes baton 
cocomacaque.
Connaissance. "Understanding." Used to 
indicate a houngan's mastery of his 
profession.
Corvée. A variety of coumbite, identical 
with the carré.
Couis. A bowl made from a half gourd or 
calabash.
Coumbite. The community work gathering
which shares planting, harvesting,
weeding, housebuilding, and other tasks.
Coundjaille. The name of a dance. It
signifes "fast" or "agitated."
Criche. An earthen water bottle.
Debois. A marionette seen during carnival 
days.
Démon. A variety of malevolent demon.
Déssounin or déssouné. The rite of dispossessing
a loa from the head of a
deceased person.
Diné machette. "Machete dinner," a kind
of coumbite.

Diri. Rice
Divineur. One who divines, used for
houngans.
Djab. A kind of demon.
Djablesse. A female ghost or demon.
Djaillé or djaille. Excitement motions,
tension, in the religious dances.
Djévo. An inner room of the hounfor.
Doça. The first child born after twins, if
it is a girl.
Docteur fé. Leaf doctor, pharmacologist.
Doçu. The first child born after twins, if
it is a boy.
Douvant jou'. An early morning coumbite.
Drogue. A drug or magical potion.
Dundun. A name sometimes given to the
smallest Arada drum.
Engagement. A compact with a demon.
Escorte. An association of loa, related or
otherwise, whom assist each other in
their work.
Expedition. Aggressive magic in which a
loa or a spirit is sent out by a houngan
to work against some person.
Frete cache. Cracking the whip before the
Pétro hounfor to "wake up" the loa.
Gage. Games played by children, usually
with the objective of making someone
"it." Sometimes used as synonymous
with Last Prayers or Nine Night,
when children play gage games.
Gamelle. A long wooden bowl used for
washing clothes or for storing.
Garde corps. A protective charm, often
worn by the owner.
Garde habitation. A charm devised to
protect a household and it surroundings.
Gembo. A decorated shell devised to
slide on a cord, used by houngans for
divining.
Govi. An earthen or glass bottle in which
loa and spirits are kept in the hounfor.
Grage. A sheet-metal scraping device used
in secular music.
Grand famille. The eldest person in the
family.

Glossary  359
Grand gout. Hunger. Moin grand gout,
I am hungry.
Grisgris. A bird used for the making of
charms, etc.
Grondé. (1) Grumble. (2) Middle-sized
Arada drum.
Habitant. A farmer.
Habitation. A farm.
Hounaié. Another name for a loa.
Hounfor. The Vodoun temple or shrine.
Houngan. The Vodoun priest.
Houngénicon. One of the assistants of
the houngan.
Hounsi. The servitors of a loa.
Hountogri. Another name for the largest
of the three Arada drums.
Hountor. (1) Spirit of the drum. (2) The 
largest Arada drum.
Joucoujou or joucjou. A battery of gourd
rattles carried on a pole.
Jugement de baguette. A system of divining
a guilty person through the use of
a rod.
Kwa-kwa. Another name for the tcha-tcha,
or common gourd rattle.
Lacour. A group of dwellings inhabited
by related families. A hamlet.
Laillé. The swirling of the skirts in a 
dance.
Lambi. A conch or conch trumpet.
Lampion. The metal candelabra carried
by marching bands at carnival time.
Langage. This word usually refers to the
"tongues" spoken by the houngan or
possessed persons during Vodoun rites.
It may mean language in the ordinary
sense also.
Laplace. Chief assistant of the houngan.
Lavé tête. A ritual for removing a loa
from a person's head.
Loa. The spirit or deity which possesses
people during religious rites.
Lou-garo. Loup-garou.
Lutin. The spirit of a child that died
before receiving baptism.
Mabouya. A small ground lizard.

Machete. The long all-purpose work
knife. See Caco.
Magie. Magic.
Maît' conte. A "master" or professional
storyteller.
Maît' tête. The loa who resides in one's
head.
Major jonc. The baton or machete juggler
of the Rara troupe.
Makanda. A specific kind of aggressive
magic.
Maljok. Evil eye.
Mambo. Vodoun priestess.
Mambo caille. One of the assistants of
the houngan.
Mangé. (1) To eat. (2) A feast.
Mangé diri or gouté diri. A rice harvest
festival.
Mangé loa. A feast for one or more loa.
Mangé marassa. Feast for twins.
Mangé mort. Feast for the dead.
Mangé yam. A yam harvest festival.
Manman. (1) Mother. (2) The largest of
the Arada drums.
Marassa. (1) Twins. (2) The spirit of
twins.
Marimba, malimba, manimba, marimbula.
The modern Haitian version of the
African thumb piano.
Marré loa. To "tie" a loa, that is, to
prevent him from entering one's head.
Mayamba. A gambling game using four
chips for heads and tails combinations.
Mayo or manyo. A special shirt worn to
counteract the evil eye or some other
magic.
Mayoyo. A battery of rattles carried on a 
tall pole in some Congo services.
Metté n'âme. The process of restoring a
soul that had been taken from a body.
Morts en bas dleau. The spirits of the
dead "below the water."
Moune. Man, person.
Moyen. The middle-size Arada drum.
Mwé, moin, or m'. I, me.
Mystère. Another name for loa.

360  Glossary

Nanchon. Nation. Usually refers to a 
"nation" of deities, such as Anago, Ibo,
and Pétro.

Ochan. A musical salute to the loa, or
to an important personage present at
a service.

Ogan. The metal percussion device that
accompanies the Arada drums. Traditionally,
a forged iron bell, but it may
be a hoe blade or any other piece of
resonant iron or steel.

Ouanga. Aggressive magic.

Ouvri bayè pou' moin. "Open the gate
for me (us)." Addressed to the loa
Legba, to make contact with the other
deities possible.

Papaloi. A term sometimes used to
designate the Vodoun priest. A corruption
of the Yoruba babalao.

Passage d'alliance. A method for divining
a guilty person by means of a ring
suspended on a string.

Passé. (1) Surpass. (2) Pass.

Passé balé. A method for divining a
guilty person by the use of a specially
prepared chair.

Pavillon. The court of the hounfor.

Payé sorti. The gift that is given to a Rara
troupe when it stops to play before a
man's house. Literally: "Pay-to-go."

Pé. Altar.

Peristyle. The roofed court of the hounfor.

Pierre-loa. The stone in which a loa is
believed to reside.

Pierre-manman. A large, rounded stone
regarded as a super loa stone and a
protector of the habitation.

Pingé. A form of wrestling that is seen
at Rara time.

Piquette. A spear or sharpened stick.

Piston. Any instrument resembling a
trumpet.

Plaçage. The system of polygamy practiced
by some peasants.

Plaçée. A second or third wife of a man
under the system of plaçage. The first
wife may be plaçée also.

Po'teau mitan or po'teau planté. The
center post of the hounfor court, around
which most of the rites take place.

Pot tête. Another name for govi.

Pouin. A form of protective magic.

Prêt' savane. "Priest of the plains," or
"bush priest." This may have been
originally pret' savant, "learned priest."
The functionary who reads or recites
Catholic prayers in a Vodoun service.

Rara, or lara. The rural Lenten festival.
The word rara is also used for a wooden
noisemaker.

Refraichi tête. A ritual bath for refreshing
the loa in one's head.

Reposoir. A small area, sometimes surrounded 
by a low wall, sacred to a deity.

Retiré n'âme. The act of removing the
soul from a body.

Revenant. The troublesome spirit of a
dissatisfied dead person.

Roi Lwalwadi. "King of Lwalwadi." Title
given to the leader of a Rara troupe.

Ronde. A form of coumbite.

Rubaniers. Maypole dancers.

Samba. The singing leader of a coumbite.

Servi dé main. To serve with two hands.
That is, to work with the loa of the
Arada and Pétro "nations," or to work
with the loa and with aggressive magic
at the same time.

Simidor. The singing leader of a coumbite.

Siro' A sweet drink.

Société. A society. Refers usually to the
association gathered around a cult
temple, or an agricultural work group.

Tafia. An alcoholic drink.

Taille bas. "Low hips." A dance posture.

Tambour. Drum.

Tambourine. "Mosquito drum. A miniature
two-headed drum.

Tambour maringouin. An earth bow, or a
portable model of the earth bow.

Tambouyé. Drummer.

Tchancy. A metal rattle used in Rara and
in some Congo rites.

Ti baka. (1) Little demon. (2) Name of
the small Pétro drum.

Ti kanmbo or ganbo. Bamboo stampers
used as a substitute for drums.

Tonnelle. The covering of the hounfor
court.

Trois-sept. A card game.

Tuyé-levé.  Witchcraft in which the practitioner
kills someone, then takes him
out of the grave, restores him to life
and makes him a servant or slave.

Tymbale. A large cylindrical drum with heads at both ends.

Vaccine. A bamboo trumpet; also known
as bois bourrique.

Vèvè. The meal or flour drawing made
by the houngan on the ground.

Vodoun. (1) Rites and beliefs of the
Arada "nation."  (2) Rites and beliefs
of all the cults except those of non
African origin. (3) A loa.

Glossary  361

Ti kanmbo or ganbo. Bamboo stampers,
used as a substitute for drums.

Tonnelle. The covering of the hounfor
court.

Trois-sept. A card game.

Tuyé-lèvé. Witchcraft in which the practitioner
kills someone, then takes him
out of the grave, restores him to life,
and makes him a servant or slave.

Tymbale. A large cylindrical drum with
heads at both ends.
Vaccine. A bamboo trumpet; also known
as bois bourrique.

Vèvè. The meal or flour drawing made
by the houngan on the ground.

Vodoun. (1) Rites and beliefs of the
Arada "nation." (2) Rites and beliefs
of all the cults except those of non-African
origin. (3) A loa.

Von-von. A bull-roarer.

Wari. A large inedible red bean or seed.
Also the name of a game in which
wari beans are used as playing pieces.
See Caille.

Woy, waille. An exclamation.

Yamingan. A curative medicine bundle.

Zandolite. A small climbing lizard.

Zange. Another name, used regionally, for
loa.

Zeaubeaups. According to lore, a society of
cannibals.

Zin. The iron pot used in Vodoun ritual.
It may, on occasion, be of clay.

Zombie. A creature supposedly disinterred
from the grave, dispossessed of its soul,
and made to work for a malefactor.

Zozo bef. A leather whip used on horses
and burros. Literally "bull penis."

St. Joseph, given to
Thomas
St. [Sauveur?] ave' St. Joseph  ---C
                              Papa L

St. Joseph -- S. G. from M.
St. Joseph Petro _ M.

St. Mary Conceived Without Sin
The Merciful Child Jesus of Prague 
St. Charles Bonomee'
Mater Dolorosa     

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
DIVISION OF MUSIC
ARCHIVE OF AMERICAN FOLK-SONG

Monsieur Lomax,
Je vous announce que les musicians qui ont joue avec
noir chez vous l'autre jour ont porte plainte pour
noir, ils m'ont demande chacun cing[?] pour
leur soiree, ils son au nombre de cinq musiciens
ils veulent m'assassiner en pleine rue pour les
payer de [?] travaux, alors touchez de m'envoyer
la somme pour les payer regulierement.
Bien a vous,
Granville Lessomid.
Touisance 1 Mars 1937.
 

McAlande Lomase Gamlbe

Ray Wood
bamboucher = bon bouche = tid-bit = sweet meat = good time =
con bien = con nous ye =right now, just then, just about, etc. 
radi = hardi
French "h" at the beginning is usually changed to "r"
rad' = hardi, old Fr. for clothes
d'Haiti Thomas - the Haitian reynaud the fox in the North 
formerly a popular song - used for propaganda

Le Vengance du Mama
Frederick Marcelin

J. Therisson - 
La Famille des Petites - Caille
Fernand Hibbert - Sina
- S Thazar
- Romulus
- Les Simulacres
- Masques et Visages
- La Reclamation Hopton
(Supplement de la Revue de la Tigue de la Jeunesse Hatienne)
20 Apr. 1916

1 - R.P. March 15
When you go to a service
you say - ago
"Bon dieu m' mander ou permie de faire."
Apres you call - Sf. Ouverture
"M' mander ouvertment pou' faire"
You call Papa Legba
Nago dit vata, vata çe un coin.
Ago neg' silibo, li ba bo, neg' bon pied 
neg' bon plan, nou boulouvigan, now
congo, nou' mafoubin. Chaud [qui - quo]
kwi kwi coutador o sobo lé nous
y masa et vata.
A houngan that serves with too houds says:
Ago a moin [se] sin dou balsa [gain]
I'm the thorn devil I
vain parlez insolent si ti moine pas mouri
I'm chiefli insolent if children don't die
{I'm more than God} la [terne pas] gras neg ban pied bon plan
the ground won't have grease {I'm a man that's strong & cunning from the sacrifice}
neg un boloviga nou congo y nou hada
{knows everything}[Congo] we serve Congo [*Congo Petro - with two hands*] [nou] and Rada
jo kwi kwi é con tador o Sobo lè nous
You [hurry] hurry, hurry don't talk, don't talk Sobo its our time
Nago dit rata [c'en] sans point --
(moin Nago dit moin même vata without limit].
When you've said this you put a big
[The] cross
P. N. rata = rada

R. P. - March 15

                          Chante pou' Nago, un gros loi

Nago, nago, o vin we' cote m'demeuver
Ou a' vin we' cote' demeuvent 
Ou faut payer' m  un  bon bon pou' ca

R. has Nago in the hounfort of his
     mother
Papa Opan Badagri, special loi of R's
mothers' hounfort   -- comes to the
house, puts ason on the tables, &
nobody knows he's there, somebody
takes the ason [for] to treat a
sick child, when Osan comes to make aswanga [?]
for a sick child the head of a [other?] man, he sings
to make everyone the man who fools the ason know
that he suspects him -- the man thinks Papa
Osan won't know because he put the ason back
Oson - yo, o le' le' [?] lz
Yo prend ason loi - moin [servi?] [ge'risou?]
Ou pas we pecheun mauvois

ORAISON A SAINT BENOIT

Croix du Saint Pere Benoit
Croix Sainte, sois ma lumiere.
Non, Dragon, ne sois mon Directeur.
Va retire-toi, Satan, non, jamais' tu ne me persuaderas,
a moi, de suivre tes Vanitee.
Ce sont des maux que tu lachee sur nous comme l'eau;
toi-meme garde tes Vennins et Bois-les

I.H.S.

Spirit-Protection and Remedies, collected by Emanuel Joseph
one of the guards at Pont Beudet and written down by Dr. Reiser,
January 12, 1937.

1) Trois ti calbas', perse, lavi. Un peu de ensance, unpeu
de sulf'e. Un lit' d' l'eau la mer. Meter toutt  nans un calbas',
secque. Chanter couplet a la mort. Prend un calbash, prend
l'aut' la, frapper sous mouna-na. Epi fait moune-na , deposer
calbash charger nans calfou , le meme temps , li gains pour
voyer l'auto la deriere do li , sans par gardi.
To remove an evil spirit from a dead man.

2) To assure your position. . . . Prend [sept blanche] un assiette
blanche avec un verre d'l'eau. Prend un ti morceau papier,
everiviez  au nom de Papa Dumballa "je vais rester." Prend 
papier face nans bas [l] nans assiette la, meter verre d'l'eau
sous li.

3) To rest a bad spirit. Dit prieure: Jesu ave Maria polissimo
au peca , conserviat de Maria Jose, ma divine person, Jesu Ave
Maria, Jesu Ave Maria. Amen.

4) For gangrene: Sept pacquette fe [fait] caymain, buis jusqu'a
[rauit] redui[r] un tasse . Un peu de l'huile palma Christi avec
sel a manger: donner ca a boire trios jours suivi.

5) For headache. [Tris] Trois fe' cocom sombri. Fait un croix
depose sur la tete.

6) Mal aux yeux.   . . Prend blanc ze, un ti graine sulphat di 
cuiv'e poudr' il ba[t]t--llo ensemble bien bat', [??????] ouvri
yeux -a , epi passer su graine yeux-a avec un plume poule.

7) Pour gonflerment. Trois fe [feit] ti-ayo, trois fe [ti??m] thyme
marron, trois fe gros tete, fait te, ba moune lap bwue-li.
Li bon meme.

8) Pou' zyeux. . .Un goute laouser, sous fe bahane, faut [beau] bo
banane la.

9) Un tonique. . .Couper un orange si sour, semer un peu sel, quitter
dormi un [syringe] serain, epi bwe -l' pendant trois jours.

10) Pou' faire dormi. . . Meter sept fe korosol en-bas zoreille
prend trois fe coton violet te fait tea zon. Bwe pendant trois jours.

11) Colique---Ecos marron, ti fe bayonne, avec un peu di sel, 
fat un tase di te, bwe li.

12) For hernia. . . [Pe] Prend morceau root racine  banane pouri, un patate
jaune, bouyi ensemble jusqu'a li reduis un tasse, meter un peu
syrop [serom] miel la-dans. Fait meme chose trois jours. Herni va disparait.
[p?rete]

13) Pou' racher dans selon systeme moune morne. . .Tie the tooth
with [copper] wire and tie other end of the wire to a stump. Light
a pile of straw at the foot of the stump and let the dentist turn
his back. It's the man or the tooth, usually the tooth.

You take a glass
A mirror with a cover
Poud' ta ule' - from drugstore
You put this in the mirror [glass], you put this on
the edge of a hole where a snake lives, the
snake comes & looks at himself, he's made,
he dies in agony (thinking its another snake,
li [be] goumé laitre, you hide & watch (if
he sees you he chokes you to death)
you take the glass, close it, put it
in your pocket for seven days never moving
it -
If you're in love with a girl, you go
& talk to her, you open the mirror &
the girl looks into it, you close the mirror
- everywhere you go, she follows you
calling you everywhere you go

ORAISON
A ST BARTHOLE
SE VEEND A PORT AU PRINCE

ORAISON
A ST JACQUES
SE VEND A PORT A PRINCE

ORAISON
A
SAINT BARTHOLE
Aussitôt que le coq chante Saint
Barthole s'est réveillé d'un profond
sommeil.
Il prend ses souliers et après
avoir lavé ses yeux il prend son
chapeau ainsi que son habit puis
armé de son baton martial, il sort
et regagne le grand chemin, il fit
jonction avec le bon et tendre Jésus
qui dit à l'homme. Retournez on cite
votre nom dans un endroit en 3
fois le matin et trois fois le soir de
cet endroit vous faites cadeau.

L'ouragan et tout ce qui viendra 
demain, vengeresse n'arrivera
pas jusqu'à vous la femme enceinte 
sera délivrée et les malades ne
périront pas sans confession générale. 

Ceux qui connaissent la prière
de Saint Barthole et ne veulent la
réciter, ceux qui ne la font pas cher
cher l'apprécier pour eux et suprême 
jour du jugement dernier et
dans la conviction de ceux qui arrivera.

Vive Jésus, vive la paix

ORAISON
A
ST. JACQUES
Glorieux Patron du calice, nous
élevons la voix vers vous pour vous
prier d'intercéder Dieu près duquel
vous êtes par vos vertus, afin que
nous obtenions sur cette terre la
perfection qu'il nous faut avoir
pour parvenir jusqu'à vous Eloignez 
par votre intercession, le mal
près de notre maison faites que
nous élevions nos enfants dans la
crainte du Seigneur, donnez leur
santé.

3
Préservez nos parents des maladiees 
et des infirmités, faites qu'à
notre dernière heure, nous ayons
bonne mort et que noue en dormions 
du sommeil de justice.

St Jacques intercedez, glorieux
patron du calice qui avait été en
des premiers à précher l'Evangile
priez pour nous, afin que nous ayons
la foi qui nous ouvrira le royaume
du ciel.
Ainsi soit il

[*Cristian G*]

Sur La Passion de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ

Or écoutez,grands et Petits,
S'il vous plait de l'entendre,
La Passion de Jésus Christ
Qu'il est triste el dolente

Il a jeuné quarante jours
Sans prendre soutenance,
Et le jour de Pâques fleuri,
Qui était un dimanche.

Il entra dans Jérusalem
A sa main une branche
Rencontra quantité de juifs
Lui faisant révérence

Alors, dit St Pierre à St Jean:
Oh? quelle reconnaissance,
Aussitôt, leur dit Jésus Christ
C'est trahison bien grande

Avant qu'il soit vendredi nuit
Par eux vous me verrez prendre
Vous verrez mon corps dépouillé
Flagellé tout ensemble

A grand coups de verge et de fouet
Faisant mon sang répandre.
Vous verrez votre chef couronnre
De l'aubépine blanche.

Et vous me verrez foutter
D'une arme de fer étrange
Vous me verrez souvent tomber
Sous une croix pesante

Vous verrez ma face essuyer
D'une charité grande.

Puis vous me verrez attacher
Sur une croix sanglante.
Vous verrez mes pieds cloués
Et mes deux bras étendus

Vous verrez mon coté percé
Du fer d'une lance.

Vous verrez mon sang ramassé
Par quatre de mes anges
Vous verrez ma Mère à mes pieds
Bien triste et bien dolante.

Vous verrez la terre trembler
Aussi les pierres se fendre
Vous verrez la lune et le soleil
En combattant ensemble.

Vous verrez mon corps détaché
D'une croix et descendre,
Puis vous le verrez embaumé
Par une Pénitente

Vous le verrez ensevelir
Par deux vieillards fort tendres
Vous le verrez mettre au tombeau
En grande révérence.

Voua irez pour le visiter
Vous trouverez deux anges
Qui vous diront la vérité
Tous vous y faudra rendre.

Enfrin je ressuciterai
Le troisième dimanche
Et puis au ciel je monterai
Avec tous me saints anges.

4
Sur ce noble bois, puissant ses
loueur la divine fois.
Longue est sa souffrance, ardente
sont ses vœux, son àme
s'étend vers Jésus aux cieux.
Jusqu'à nous rayonne l'éclat
des radieuses lumière dont Dieu
nous environne, ô Saint bien
heureux.
Votre cœur d'apotre en était
de faire verser dans son cœur
votre amour pour Dieu. Proté
gez sans de ses matelots au jour
des dettes au milieu des flots.

A
SAINT ANDRE
Se vend à Port-au-Prince

4
Litananie de la sain'e croix. Dieu
tout puissant qui avez souflert la
mort sur la croix en particulier pour
nos péché ayez pitié de moi sainte
croix de Jésus-Christ repoussez de
moi touse arme tranchante. Sainte
Croix de jésus Christ Versez en moi
de tout bien jésus de Nazareth ayez
pitié de moi faites que les esprits
malins me fuit.

ORAISON
A
St RADEGONDE
SE VEND
A
PORT-AU-PRINCE

ORAISON
A
SAINT ANDRE

Sainte bonne Croix, lorsque
sur le bois Saint André mourant
pour Christ, son roi, à chacun
de nous il montrait le roi, le che
min des cieux et la croix, c'est
à Belsaide que naquit André, St
Jean fut son guide dans la verité.
Lorsque Jean Baptiste fit nom
meɹ Jésus, rien ne lui résistait
ses vertus. Il conduit son maitre
Pierre, son ainé. lui fit connai
tre l'ange bien aimé.
Tous deux sont à genoux. Sei
gneur les voit pour une pêche:
Prenez, suivez moi, de votre nar
celle, laisse les filets, Jésus vous
appelle.

3
Quittez votre barque, pauvres
matelots, si Jésus vous marque
c'est pour d'autres flots.
André, Simon, priez, pauvres
pécheurs priez la lumière de ra
viver leur cœur répondant des
années. André vrai hérosparcourt
les coutrées, sans repos, il com
bat limpie, rejettes ses dieux.
Le juge en fureur fait souffrir
André et lui prenant la vie, il
rend martire.
Oui comme ton maitre meure
sur la croix donc je sais connaitre
ce qu'est notre croix précieuse.
Puis, au ciel, j'irai avec mes
urreaux la louée

ORAISON
A SAINT RADEGONDE

Le jour du Brave est le lundi et le
samedi. vous irez au cimttiére alla
mez les bougies et dites votre priére
en la terminant ainsi. brave je mets
ma personne entre vos mains cher
brave puis tout est dit.

Saint radegonde brave baron samedi
gardien du cimitiere grand saint
vous qui avez le pouvoir detraverser
le purgatoire pre ervez moi.

3
de tout donnez à mes ennumis uns
occupation quelcongque afin qu'ils
puissen me laisser en prix. Jésus qui
est maitre de tout les vivants et les
morts. Jugez cette cause pour moi et
mes enfants renversez les complots
sur eux, méme litanie de la sainte
Coix sanctifiez 1rs Juges converis ez
les Pècheurs, gɹande saint radegonde
dé ivrez moi de ceux qui me haisseet
je vous promets un pater et un
avu en priant votre mére qu'il me

déivre. 3 AVE MARIA

Pere Codada
[Monsieur Lomax et je]
[Notre des]
[Depu]
Puisque notre devoir pour le midi
[a et] est ajournée inopinément nous voluons
renouer notre [devoir] engagement pour diner avec vous
[pour diner si] si il n'est pas trop
tard.
Votre bonne amie
Mme. Lomax

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
DIVISION OF MUSIC
ARCHIVE OF AMERICAN FOLK-SONG
Rada
mama givên dodo
congo
3 martinique drums
mama 
with 2 pitits

Martinique
mama  Joseph Pierre

1060
[1075, 76] String Band
[1086] [?Drums?]
1093B Vandou [?temple?]
1095A
[109]
1101-A
1109-B
1111A
[*1060
        72
     1132*]
1114B Gloria & Vandou
1117B Damballa [?Nedi?]
1132A Mardi [???] Bar[??]
1134A Soloi? - Ergalic?
1137A So??? anti?
1143B Cane field
[*1143
   1060
       83*]
1166A Mardi [?]as
1163B    "           "
1175 Vandou
x 1177A Ag[???] tawajo[?]

[*1060
152
=1212*]

[*1060
150
=215*]

1193 B St. Bard Plaisance
[1204 A Vaudou Plaisance]
[1209 A Vaudou Plaisance]
1212 B         "         "
1215 A         "         "
1242.1B [Pelele} terrace la Bobo caye
1244 A
1251 A & B Rapp
1279 A & B  "
1288 A         "
1304 Vaudou-- Leoyan
1325A

[*1060
166
=226*]
[*1060
182
=1248
1060
154
=4?
1060
190
=1250
219
=?79*]
[*1060
244
=1304
1060
265
=1325*]
1226 B Fodstale

[*4*]
[*(1) (2) (3) - (6)*]
[*0 4 Accession #*]

CODE SHEET - The Musical Situation - Source:
Group or Song: Language: Location:

[*7 8*] 1) Vocal Gp. 1 2 3 4 5. 6 (7) 8 9 10 11 12 13 ø LN LNA -L   L/N N/L   L//N N// L L+N N+N L(N N(L N(N W 
[*9 10*] 2) Orch.Relationship 1 2 3  5 6  8 9 12 13 ø /o /O  O/ O  //o  //O (o (O
[*11 12*] 3) Orch. Gp. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ø LN LNa -L L/N N/L L//N N//L L+N N+N L(N N(L N(N
[*13 14*] 4) Vocal Org. 1 4 7 10 13 ø M U H P
[*Bld?*] 5) Tonal Blend-V 1 [2 3] 4 7 10 13 ø b b B B
6) Rhy. Blend - V 1 4 7 10 13 ø r r R R
7) Orch. Org. 1 4 7 10 13 ø M U H P
8) Tonal Blend-O 1 4 7 10 13 ø b b B B
9) Rhy. Blend - O 1 4 7 10 13 ø r r R R
10) Words to Non. 1 4 7 10 13 WO wo wo-no wo-NO NO
11)Overall Rhy.- V 1 3 5 6 8 9 11 13 o R1 R-R-v R* R*v Ri Rpa
12) Grp. Rhy.-V 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 o Ru RH RA Rp Rpm Rc
13) Overall Rhy-O 1 3 5 6 8 9 11 13 o R1 R-R-v R* R*v Ri Rpa
14) Grp. Rhy.-) 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 o Ru Rh Ra Rp Rpm Rc
15) Mel.Shape 1     5    9     13 A      T         U            D
16) Mel. Form   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 t+St*V St*v St*StV Stv StI.*V L*vL*LV Lv L C
17) Phrase Length 1    4       7         10          13  P  P  P  P-  P
18) No. of Phrases 1  3   5  6 8 9       11       13 8+ 5/7 4/A 4/S 3/A 3S 2/A 1/2S
19) Pos. of Final      1    4            9       11       13 f    f                           F    F    F
20) Range                1    4      7         10          13  1-2    3-5    5-8      10+     16+

Transcribed and reviewed by volunteers participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.