The Magic Feathers of the Caburé

Tajñí Lelé is a forest elf from the world of the Wichi-Mataco indigenous people, the most well-known and powerful, famous for his magical powers. He was called “Cabeza de Sajasta” (Sajasta Head) because of his curly, tangled hair, similar to the lichen that grows on the leaves of trees. He wore a green hat with two holes through which his pointed ears protruded, which moved in the direction of the sounds he heard. He had dark skin and long, hoof-like nails.

He always carried an axe on his shoulder and a quiver full of poisoned arrows. When he walked, a cloud of horseflies, bees and wasps buzzed around his head.

As part of his outfit, he wore a cháguar bag across his body, where he kept the katchá, the magic he used to fulfill his wishes and do his pranks that made him die of laughter. His behavior caused discomfort to the other inhabitants of the forest, who were already fed up with his jokes and pranks.

Tajñí Lelé had three talismans, each with its own magic:

The horn, an instrument with a reed that was placed inside the mouth and that, when moved skillfully with the fingers, resonated like a music box. It produced an enchanting melody, so beautiful that it hypnotized everyone who heard it.

While playing the horn, Tajñí Lelé walked along the riverbank and the fish, along with all the aquatic creatures, including the frog family—the field frog, the burrowing toad, the dwarf frog, the tree frog, the stone-colored toad, the cururú toad, and many others—fell into a trance that made them jump over the water. The mischievous goblin then took advantage and caught them.

Chilaj, the Owner of the River, was upset and very angry at the harm that the evil one was doing to his children.

Another talisman was a round crystal stone that shone with shades of different colors. Tajñí Lelé liked to go out with it at night because in the thick darkness it shone like a star, attracting the curiosity of nocturnal animals and causing a commotion that woke everyone up. The mischievous goblin took the opportunity to catch the prey he wanted and laughed and made fun of the frightened and half-asleep animals.

The Mothermount, who protected her children, went mad with fury against the goblin, throwing arrows of curses and stone fragments at him.

A perfume made from the flowers of a plant called *roe's tongue* was Tajñí Lelé's other talisman. She made it using flowers and fruits from a vine whose leaves had a rough shape and texture similar to that animal's tongue.

She kept her magic perfume in a tightly closed leather bag, and when she opened it, an intense fragrance escaped that filled the entire forest with its aroma. Women were the victims of this spell, as it impacted them. When they smelled it, they felt as if an arrow had hit them directly in the heart. It caused them a strange restlessness, a deep desire to cry and to love. As if in a dream, they began to follow the trail of the perfume that led to Tajñí Lelé. When they saw him, they gave in to his whims. This was the talisman of Love, of falling in love.

The Owner of Love, Kosacaíl, did not know how to stop the blatant abuse of power that Tajñí Lelé exercised without measure.

The atrocities committed by the cunning goblin put the inhabitants of the forest in a situation of conflict, so it was decided to call an assembly. No one missed the meeting, and after a long debate, they concluded that the only solution was to take away the three talismans that gave him his magical power.

“Yes!” –they all said–, but how are we going to do it?”.

They knew that Tajñí Lelé was evil and that he always carried his axe on his shoulder and his quiver full of poisoned arrows.

Chustaj, the owl asked to speak:

“I know Tajñí Lelé's customs, and I know the best time to steal the bag with the three talismans.”

“And when is that time?” –asked an iguana, who was very upset because the evil goblin always woke her up during the best part of her sleep. “After eating, just before the Sun goes to sleep, he falls fast asleep in the hammock he has under a quebracho tree.”

“But who can approach him so silently and softly like the flight of a feather so that he doesn't hear it?” asked a green frog who lived tormented by the music of Tajñí Lelé.

“Me!” said raising one wing the caburé. -Ferruginous Pygmy Owl-

“You?” asked everyone, because the little owl of prey was very unsociable and generally didn't participate in anything.

“Yes! I'll steal the bag with the amulets!” he said.

Everyone agreed, because there weren't many candidates for the task.

The caburé watched Tajñí Lelé for several days, and one day, when he was sure that the goblin was sleeping soundly in his hammock, he flew towards him, grabbed with his beak the bag where he kept the three talismans and flew away until he disappeared into the endless sky.  

Fearing that Tajñí Lelé would find him, he hid the three talismans among his feathers. On his right wing he placed the crystal ball that the goblin used to attract and hunt the forest animals. Around his neck he placed the musical horn that he used for fishing and in his left wing he hid the bag with the perfume of love.

The cabureí or caburé is a small owl that lives in forested areas, particularly in the Chaco plains of Paraguay and Argentina, and is credited with supernatural powers. Some call it the “King of Birds.”

It is a small bird, almost the size of a fist. Its legend says that with its song it summons all the birds of the forest, which come to its call, and from among them it chooses its victim.

The Wichi-Mataco Indians believe that their feathers have “katcha,” magical powers, so they use them as talismans. To have luck in love, they take a feather from their left wing; for success in hunting, they take a feather from their right wing; and to fish, one from their neck.

The Creoles also use their feathers as amulets to attract luck in gambling, work, war, and love.