Saci ( ) is a character commonly considered the best known character in
Brazilian folklore. He is a one-legged
black or
mulatto youngster with holes in the palms of his hands, who smokes a
pipe and wears a magical red cap that enables him to disappear and reappear wherever he wishes (usually in the middle of a
dust devil). Considered an annoying
prankster in most parts of Brazil, and a potentially dangerous and malicious creature in others, he nevertheless grants wishes to anyone who manages to trap him or steal his magic cap. However, his cap is often depicted as having a bad smell. Most people who claimed to have stolen this cap say they can never wash the smell away.