The Comprachicos (meaning "child-buyers") were a literary invention of Victor Hugo used in his famous tragedy "The Man Who Laughs" - they were based on folklore concerning travelling bands of people who were believed to kidnap and mutilate children. In "The Man Who Laughs" a gang of these criminals kindapped the main protagonist as a child and horrifically scarred him, making him appear as if he had a permanent smile (via removing large portions of his lips). Victor Hugo gave the following as a description of these gruesome individuals: