Cunjah Maum and the Healing Roots
On a rice plantation along the South Carolina coast, an old Gullah woman named Cunjah Maum was known as the most powerful rootworker in the Lowcountry. When the master's daughter fell ill with a mysterious fever that no doctor could cure, the master reluctantly sent for Cunjah Maum. She came to the big house and asked for three things: a lock of the girl's hair, water from the spring that flowed east, and privacy. Cunjah Maum ground roots and leaves into a paste, mixed it with the spring water, and sang songs in an African language over the mixture. She rubbed it on the girl's forehead and fee