It was called king river eel. This fish was called king predator of freshwater fishes and crustaceans. In Visayan beliefs this creature know as sili or kasili, or bais evoked mystery and the capture of the oldest known eel species can reward a person with supernatural power.
King river eel lived on the deepest part of the river or lake. They usually live in underwater cave where they burrowed hole on the wall of the cave as their habitat. On dark night, they hunt for their food. The fish was carnivores and fed on small fishes, but it also fed on slow moving crabs and shrimps.
Many people were interested to capture the king river eel. Many failed and succumbed to drowning because the eel, who reached the size of a banana tree and have ears as big as the plate fought back and drowned their attackers.
There was a belief that a person who captured this fish will acquire its power, like the slippery body. This person cannot be wounded by any bladed weapons. He can also breathe underwater for a long time, to which he can use this ability in spear fishing underwater.
The meat of the fish were valued by the shamans so it was smoked and preserved and used as invigorating elixir to those persons who suffered ailments.
From the practice of Visayan shaman retold.
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