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From SCIFIPEDIA
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Illustration by Michael Lee (2007)
The Pombero, or Pomberito as it is affectionately known by local residents, is a small, reclusive, implike creature said to dwell in rural areas of Argentina. It is short and squat and is often said to be covered by a large, straw hat. El Pombero is one of a number of imps and goblins that inhabit the Rio Corrientes river basin. A protean imp, it is reputed to possess supernatural abilities, such as being able to turn invisible and shape-shift, allowing it to squeeze through impossibly narrow spaces.
Described by locals as lascivious, El Pombero prefers to follow pregnant women, especially those that are carrying female children. The women of the Corrientes river basin believe that the appearance of El Pombero is a sign that they are pregnant with a female child, and believe that for the first few months of their pregnancy, the creature escorts them when they walk at night.
El Pombero is rumored to walk noiselessly, and is known for engaging in various brands of mischief, including setting cattle loose; stealing eggs, chickens, and honey; and frightening horses and causing them to throw their riders. It is believed that El Pombero's mischievous tendencies can be tempered by leaving the creature gifts, particularly rum and cigarettes. Legends say that it answers to the sound of someone whistling.
Over the course of three days in February 2004, repeated El Pombero sightings graduated into an attack on a woman who claims that a "black imp" attacked her and attempted to carry her away (see link below).
There are legends among the Aracuan, indigenous people of Chile, of a Peuken, a creature similar to El Pombero, that inhabits the southern, forested regions of the country.
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