The Sacred Eels of Waai
Waiselaka Spring in Waai Village is a place where nature and culture flow together. Known for its crystal-clear waters, the spring is home to one of Ambon’s most intriguing residents: the revered freshwater eels, locally called morea. Their presence gives the spring an aura that is at once enchanting, drawing both visitors and locals into its sacred story.
Even the village name hints at its intimate connection with water. The word wai or waai in Austronesian, the ancient root of many Indonesian languages, means “water.” It is a fitting name for a community at the Salahutu hills of Ambon Island, where springs shape both the landscape and the lifeways of its people.
But Waai’s eels are not just remarkable for their biology. In this village, they are venerated, subtly perceived as sacred ancestors, woven deeply into cultural memory. Unlike their saltwater cousins from the Muraenidae family, found widely across tropical seas, the morea dwell in freshwater, surfacing from the spring’s depths when properly enticed.
Visitors are often amazed to see these creatures: two meters long, smooth-skinned and slightly slimy, emerge with an almost ritual calm when offered eggs, revealing their tame and gentle nature.
For the villagers, however, the eels are far more than a spectacle. They are guardians of well-being. The prosperity of Waai is believed to be tied to their continued presence. This reverence finds expression in the ritual of Kunci Negeri, where they were honored as living symbols of ancestry and continuity. Anthropologists often describe such bonds between humans and animals as “totemic,” echoes of ancient worldviews in which nature and culture were inseparable.
To visit Waiselaka Spring is therefore more than a visit to a scenic site, it is a glimpse into a living tradition, where clear waters reflect both the island’s natural beauty and the enduring spiritual ties between people and their environment.
But Waai’s eels are not just remarkable for their biology. In this village, they are venerated, subtly perceived as sacred ancestors, woven deeply into cultural memory. Unlike their saltwater cousins from the Muraenidae family, found widely across tropical seas, the morea dwell in freshwater, surfacing from the spring’s depths when properly enticed.
Visitors are often amazed to see these creatures: two meters long, smooth-skinned and slightly slimy, emerge with an almost ritual calm when offered eggs, revealing their tame and gentle nature.
For the villagers, however, the eels are far more than a spectacle. They are guardians of well-being. The prosperity of Waai is believed to be tied to their continued presence. This reverence finds expression in the ritual of Kunci Negeri, where they were honored as living symbols of ancestry and continuity. Anthropologists often describe such bonds between humans and animals as “totemic,” echoes of ancient worldviews in which nature and culture were inseparable.
To visit Waiselaka Spring is therefore more than a visit to a scenic site, it is a glimpse into a living tradition, where clear waters reflect both the island’s natural beauty and the enduring spiritual ties between people and their environment.
Ambon, 24 September 2025
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