El Pombero

In Paraguay and the Guaraní regions of Argentina and Brazil people respect and fear the Pombero, a short, ugly, very hairy being with large backward-turned feet who can turn invisible and imitate birdsong and the whistling of the wind. Also called Karaí Pyhare, 'lord of the night', he is the guardian of the forests and wild animals. He is said to walk barefoot and soundlessly, and to punish anyone who hunts birds for sport, fells trees needlessly or wanders whistling at night. He can steal tobacco and honey, frighten cattle, lead astray children who play during the siesta, and even impregnate women who sleep alone. To keep him content, country folk leave offerings of tobacco, rum and honey on a tree trunk or beside the house. If respected he protects the harvest and drives away snakes; if offended he brings bad luck. The Pombero remains very much alive in rural Guaraní culture as a spirit of nature.