Masha du Toit

I’m reading a lot of South African folk tales as part of the research I’m doing for my new book.  Today I found a book called “Boere Wysheid” which translates roughly to “Farmer’s Wisdom”.  This is a great resource for Afrikaans superstitions and folklore.

For example, I now know just what to do if I’m ever chased by a ghost.  You  pull a small shrub out of the ground and upend it so its roots point upwards.  Apparently the ghost will be so fascinated by this oddity that it will forget all about chasing you.  Not sure what to do about indoor ghosts, but maybe upside-down furniture will be equally effective.

Reminds me of advice I’ve heard about how to deal with a poltergeist.  Mix lentils and peas together and spread them over the doorstep.  The creature cannot resist them compulsion to separate and count them, and hopefully in the process forgets whatever mischief it meant to do.