Nguruvilu

 

The nguruvilu is a monster from Mapuche legend in Chile. It looks like an elongated fox, which can coil around like a snake. It's still fur covered like a fox. It has long sharp claws. The name nguruvilu means fox snake in Mapuche.

The nguruvilu lives an amphibious life in rivers and can hide itself in the form of common water creatures. It's a dangerous trickster who drags people underwater and drowns them. The nguruvilu can make the water deep or shallow. It can make the river look inviting to lure people in and can also make whirlpools and rapids at will. It delights in drowning lone victims and watches the village morn.

The only way to get rid of an nguruvilu is through the efforts of a machi, the Mapuche version of a shaman. At the river's edge the machi will make offerings to the gods and good spirits to protect him. Then he will dive underwater and guided by good magic will capture the nguruvilu in the form of a fish, frog or snake. He then threatens the nguruvilu with a sharp knife and tells it he will cut and mutilate it if it ever harms another human. After he lets the fish go again. This ceremony must be witnessed by everyone, so the whole community comes out to watch. Afterwards the community has a celebration. It's believed afterwards the nguruvilu will move onto a different area, away from where people traffic the river. Although it's also possible it will move onto another village and torment the people there.