Tunda

Spirit in myths of Colombia and Ecuador

The Tunda (Spanish: La Tunda) is a myth of the Pacific coastal region of Colombia and Ecuador,[1] and particularly in the Afro-Colombian community of the Chocó department,[2] about a shapeshifting entity resembling a human woman that lures people into the forests and keeps them there.

The Tunda is described as being capable of changing its shape to appear in the form of a loved one, such as in the likeness of a child's mother, to lure its victims into the forest and feed them with shrimp (camarones peneídos) to keep them docile. This deception is referred to as entundamiento and a person in this state of pacified stupor is called entundado(a).[3]

Her shapeshifting abilities are said to be imperfect, as this doppelgänger of sorts would always have a wooden leg in the shape of a molinillo, a wooden kitchen utensil used to stir hot drinks such as chocolate or aguapanela. The monster, however, is very cunning when trying to hide this defect from its would-be victims.[4] In other versions, it appears to male loggers or hunters working deep into the jungle as a beautiful woman that tries to lure a man away, so it can reveal its hideous nature and suck his blood and drink it or devour him as a wild animal like bears.

## See also[edit]

* Sayona
* Patasola
* Deer Woman
* Sihuanaba
* Baobhan sith
* Leanan sídhe
* Huldra
* Soucouyant

## References[edit]

1. ^ Leyenda “La Tunda”
2. ^ La Leyenda de La Tunda
3. ^ González Cortés, Flover. 2001. Fantasmagorías. Mitos y leyendas del Pacífico colombiano
4. ^ Puertas Arias, Esperanza. 2000. Del Pacífico colombiano, La Tunda: Mito y realidad. Sus funciones sociales

## External links[edit]

* La leyenda de la Tunda
* La Tunda se convierte en gallina
* Leyenda: La Tunda de esmeraldas (with picture)

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