The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THERE WAS A FAMILY WE MET IN 1973 IN SAO PAULO.
THEY HAD MOVED INTO A HOUSE THAT ALWAYS HAD BAD LUCK.
ALL THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE KNEW ABOUT THE BAD
LUCK WITH THIS HOUSE. THEY COULD NEVER KEEP A MAID
FOR VERY LONG. THEIR CHILDREN WERE ALWAYS SICK AND
HAVING PROBLEMS. THEY LIVED WITHOUT A MAID FOR
THREE YEARS. AFTER HAVING ALL THESE PROBLEMS THEY
FINALLY HIRED A WITCH FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO
COME IN AND EXORCISE THE HOUSE. AT SEVEN IN THE
EVENING A LADY COMES WITH HER FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER. THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS HOME. THE WITCH
STARTS PERFORMING A RITUAL AND CHANTING AND THE
DAUGHTER WENT INTO A TRANCE. THE DAUGHTER THEN
TOOK ON THE IDENTITIES OF THREE MEN AND THREE WOMEN
WHO HAD LIVED IN THE HOUSE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SHE
REINACTED EACH PERSONALITY. HER VOICE SOUNDED LIKE A
MAN'S VOICE AT TIMES WHEN SHE TOOK ON A MAN'S
PERSONALITY. THIS LASTED FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
AT FOUR IN THE MORNING THE GIRL STARTED
VOMITTING AND WENT INTO SOME SORT OF CONVULSIONS.
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
LEAVE SAYING THAT THE HOUSE HAD BEEN CLEANSED OF
ALL THE EVIL SPIRITS. AT EIGHT IN THE MORNING
A MAID CAME TO THE DOOR LOOKING FOR WORK. EVER
SINCE THEN THEY HAD NO MORE HOUSEHOLD PROBLEMS
OR TRAUMAS AMONG THE FAMILY. THE MAID THAT CAME
ON THAT DAY THE WITCH HAD BEEN THERE STAYED.
THE MAN THAT LIVED IN THE HOUSE WITH HIS FAMILY
WAS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF EASTMAN KODAK.

Where learned: BRAZIL ; SOUTH AMERICA ; SAO PAULO

Date learned: 00-00-1973