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Introduction

This article is a revision and addition to the existing article about the Caleuche, a ghost ship of legend that is said to haunt the seas around Chiloé Island off the coast of southern Chile; this story is an integral part of Chilean culture. It is also known as the Magic Ship and is similar to the “Flying Dutchman” which is common in other parts of the world, although the Caleuche is a maritime phantasm said to be populated by deformed witches, while the Dutchman is a said to have an actual crew, although she is doomed to never make port again. The Caleuche myth in fact originates from the times of the Conquista and is European in nature, being partly inspired by the presence of marauding English and Dutch pirate ships in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is not a fishing vessel however; its purpose is to catch the unfortunate souls of those who perish in the sea, as well as ensnare unlucky individuals who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Geography and People

The island itself maintains its integrity from the mainlaind by the Chacao Channel which separates the two terrestrial bodies. This geographical isolation has spawned a cultural division as well between the residents of the Chiloé archipelago (called Chilhué in native tongues) and those of the Patagonian mainland. In fact,“…mainland Chilenos are apt to look down upon…Chilotes as a backward and ignorant people.”

From this solitude many unique beliefs and myths have been spawned, including that of the Caleuche. The people themselves are prone to vivid imaginations: “It is possible that there is no other nation that exists in the civilized world which is more superstitious than ours. Every crossroad…the sea, the land, the air, are all populated, for the island campesino (peasant), with evil beings.” The persistence of the legend amongst the Chilote people can be attributed to the belief that they can become demented or kidnapped by the crew even by gazing at the ship. Hence, it is to their best interests to be aware of the danger it poses but avoid intruding upon its realm. They believe that purchasing charms from the “brujos” or witches of the island will protect them from becoming casualties.

However, both uneducated as well as erudite Chilotes (including an author and professor, Antonia Cardenas Tabies, and a pastor, Aaron Gonzalez Garcia) have claimed to have seen the “Caleuche”, meaning that this is a cultural mystery that does not necessarily restrict itself to one side of the educational divide.

Background on Legend

According to legend, the Caleuche is a pirate ghost ship that moves surreptitiously underwater for great distances until it is ready to appear. It usually makes itself visible at night, and “…in the eyes of fishermen, crazy with fear, it manifests itself as a huge phosphorescent body, from bow to stern.” In lore it is known as a “Ship of Art”, which in other words means that it is controlled by the “art” of devilry or witchcraft to make it operate, as opposed to relying on sails or on an engine. In addition to the ability to complete subsurface travel, it has the ability to disguise itself by extinguishing its lights and appear to observers as nothing more than a nondescript large floating log of misshapen driftwood. Incongruously enough, the demonic crew of the ship hosts colorfully illuminated, alcohol-fueled parties on deck with enchanting melodies playing. This superficially innocuous phenomenon risks captivating the attention of innocent passers-by and drawing them into the curse of captivity aboard the mythical ship.

By inciting terror and wonder in people, the purpose of the ship is to preserve order in the seas. For example, the natives of Chiloe believe that the crew has the ability to change form into marine animals such as seals. As a result, they use this as an added incentive to treat nature with respect, since a careless act on their part could precipitate an act of terrible retribution by the crew of the “Caleuche”.

Mythological Characters

Two beautiful, blonde-haired mermaids, the Sirena Chilota and La Pincoya, are said to rescue drowned sailors from the seas and bring them to the Caleuche where they can be revived and live again on the vessel, although they will not get the chance to resume their previous lives. Their handsome brother (and in some sources the husband to La Pincoya) is El Pincoy. All three are demigod water apparitions whose beneficial purposes include spreading fertility among sea creatures and fish; fishermen try to win their favor by not overfishing particular areas and by staying merry. In the context of the "Caleuche", these three sprites are responsible for calling these souls forth to the ship using their witchcraft. However, all passengers who are returned to land are left both physically disabled- their bodies contorted unnaturally- and mentally affected- with their memories erased so that they cannot share the supernatural secrets that they have witnessed while aboard. Sorcerers and witches comprise the officers or leaders on board the Caleuche. The evil Warlock, or Brujo Chilote (plural) of Chiloe island are akin to medicine men or shaman of other Latin American cultures that practice spells and study supernatural knowledge, but different in respect to their moral alignment. According to folklore they sometimes utilize a caballo marino chilote or giant seahorse to travel from shore to ship. The workers aboard the Caleuche are controlled by these sorcerers and are said to be misshapen, both lacking full ambulatory powers- their left feet being fused to their spinal cords- and possessing abnormally short stature.

Representations in Popular Culture

A Disney movie about the Caleuche is in the works. Given the tremendous box-office success of Pirates of the Caribbean, a Spanish-language, Chilean-produced movie about the ghost vessel seems like a promising story and will likely bring greater attention to the legend of the Caleuche. It will star the Mexican-Brazilian actress Giselle Itié, is being directed by Jorge Olguín, a longtime enthusiast of the story, and is slated for a June 2012 release. Filming has already been completed. It is to be called El Caleuche: El Llamado del Mar which in English means “The Call of the Sea”.