Buck

A Buck is a little or short man who is kept and used by people in order to gain monetary success. They are spirits of small stature with sharp teeth and long claws, believed to possess magical powers. This is a very popular folklore character in Trinidad and Tobago that is often referred to especially in cases where businesses or persons gain extreme success in a short amount of time.

The owners of these creatures must provide them with food and shelter in order to keep them under their control. In exchange, the Buck will perform evil deeds that are beneficial to its owner and makes them very wealthy persons. They are fed milk and bananas at fixed times and is said to be kept either in a bottle or the attic of the owner's house.

Mostly active at night, they are loyal to their owners once they are provided food and shelter. However, if the owner stops providing for them, the Buck will attack the owner as well as anyone else and bad things will happen to the wealth seeker.

This character has ties with both Guyanese and African folklore. Believed to have originated in West Africa where the short races (pygmies) were believed to have magical powers. They were referred to as "Baku" which in many West African languages means "little brother" or "short man".

They were then brought to Guyana were the short races were still regarded as having magical powers. Referred to as Buckoo in Guyanese folklore, it is known as a member of a fictitious tribe from the rain forests of Guyana. Stories are told of their existence in Georgetown and other parts of Guyana.