The Sources:
Montague Summers :
"The Vampire in Europe" [1929]
reprinted by University Books, New York, USA, 1968
Adrien Cremene:
"Mythologie du Vampire en Roumanie"
Editions du Rocher, Monaco, 1981.
The Case:
Both Montague Summers and Adrien Cremene give us translations of this story. Cremene informs us that he found the story in Tudor Pamfile's "Dusmani si
Prieteni ai Omului", which was published in Bucharest in 1916.
A couple of years ago (from 1916) in the village of Afumati, one of the
villagers died. His name was Marin Mirea Ociocioc. Soon after his death
people found that the dead man's relatives started dying, one after another.
One night, a local sorcerer, who was known as "Badea Vrajitor", went and
dug up Marin's body. He took the corpse to a field and left it there, hoping
that it would be eaten by the wolves. And, indeed, the wolves came and
devored the body. The next day, the villagers collected Marin's bones,
washed them in wine, and reburied them in the cemetery where they also
had a religious service.
It is amusing to find that in Montague Summers' version it is Badea Vrajitor
who is eaten by the wolves. Well, what can I say ? It would not be the first
time that Mr. Summers presents us with inaccurate information. Personally,
I have much more faith in Adrien Cremene's translation.
The Date:
From what we are told, things appear to have happened a couple of years before 1916.
The Place:
Cremene tells us that Afumati is situated in Oltenia. On the internet, I found no less than 4 different Romanian places that are all called Afumati. The most likely one is supposed to be somewhere in the area between Dragasani and Pitesti. Unfortunately, I could not find it on any of my maps.
Personal Comments:
It is interesting to find that a village sorcerer is involved. Also, there is the somewhat unusual method of feeding the vampire corpse to the wolves. And of course I am shocked to find that wine can be used for other purposes than drinking.
Further reactions:
Then I received a message from someone called Paul who told me to "go to http://www.multimap.com/wi/479.htm, click half-way between Dragasani and Pitesti, then click half-way between Leleasca and Fagatelu. You will find Afumati south of the 67B highway." I followed his instructions, and there it was.
Possible Follow-Up:
As always, the obvious... We have been given names, wich should give us something to follow up upon. There is the challenge of trying to make sure that we have found the correct village of Afumati. And, as always, let us find and check all mentioned sources and see if any further information can be found in there.
© 2007 by Rob Brautigam - NL - Last changed 03 October 2007
