El Trauco — The Cursing Dwarf of the Forest
El Trauco is a legendary figure from the folklore of Chiloé, Chile, but his legend has traveled through Latin American diaspora communities into the US Southwest. Described as a small, ugly, deformed dwarf — no more than three feet tall — who wears a hat made of a type of vine, has no teeth, and carries a wooden club or axe. He lives in deep forests and is known for two terrifying powers: his gaze can deform or curse those who meet his eyes, and his breath is believed to possess the power to impregnate young women who wander alone in the woods. According to legend, if a young woman has an unex