THE INVUNCHE

The Invunche or "Machucho de la Cueva" ("Machucho from the cave") is a monster that protects the gate of the "witches cave". When witches want to have a "guardian" for their cave, they kidnap the first-born from a family...It is said also that many times the father of the child sell the kid to the witches or gives him unsterd of some witches fovors.

The way to transform a child into an Invunche is to take the child, break his leg and twist it over his back. The witches put a magic cream over the boy's back. This cream makes thick hairs grow on the boy's back. The witches split the boy's tongue, like a snake's tongue.

It is said that witches feed the boy with dead flesh. It is said also that witches feed the child first with milk from a "gata" (this means female cat, but this makes reference to a "Indian wet-nurse"); later they give to the child "cabrito" flesh (this makes reference to little child flesh), and after this they give him flesh from "chivo" (flesh from an adult person).

The Invunche can't talk, only emit guttural, harsh and unpleasant sounds. The Invunche obtains food from the witches, and only when the food is scarce, the witches let him go out from the cave that he protects, looking for food.

Walking on three feet the Invunche watches the witches' cave gate. When someone wants to come into the witches' cave he or she has to pay homage to the Invunche and give him a kiss in the ass.