Mijbil the Otter

 Oral Comprehension Check Page 106

1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

After the death of his pet dog, Maxwell wanted to have some other animal as a pet. He visited Southern Iraq in the year 1956. He got the idea of keeping an otter as a pet. This was the experiment. Otter’s natural habitats are swamps.  Camusfearna was surrounded by water, so it would be an ideal spot for this experiment.

2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?

The writer, Maxwell went to Basra to collect and answer his mail from Europe. He had to wait there for five days as his mail did not arrive.

3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.

His friend bought the otter for him and sent it to the place where he was staying. The author liked it. This is seen in his narration when he says that he made a body belt for him and took him to the bathroom to let the otter play with water.

4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?

The otter belonged to a race unknown to the scientists then. The otter was named by zoologists as Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. In short, it was called Maxwell’s otter.

5. Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was

* aloof and indifferent (This is to be ticked) [In the beginning, the otter was aloof and indifferent.]

* friendly

* hostile

6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?

When the author first took Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter first went wild with joy in the water. He plunged and rolled in it. He jumped up and down the length of the bathtub. After two days, the otter suddenly disappeared and went to the bathroom to play in the water. Interestingly, he opened the tap on his own.

Page 108

1. How was Mijbil transported to England?

As British airlines did not allow pets on board the author had to book a ticket on a different airline from Iraq to Paris and then Paris to London. Mijbil was packed in a box as the airlines had directed the author.

2. What did Mij do to the box?

In order to take Mij to England he had to be packed in a box as per the directions of the airlines. A box was made and it was lined with a metal sheet. Mij didn’t feel comfortable in the box and tried to escape. In his attempt to escape, Mij tore into the metal lining of the box and hurt himself.

3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?

There was no other way to carry Mij to London, other than packing him in a box. So, Maxwell put him in the box again. He must have felt pity on the way because the otter hurt himself. He must be worried as well.

4. Why does Maxwell say the air hostess was “the very queen of her kind”?

The air hostess was very sympathetic after listening to Maxwell’s story. She understood how he might be feeling and then gave him permission to take the otter out of the box. Due to all this, Maxwell referred her as “the very queen of her kind”.

5. What happened when the box was opened?

Short Answer: As soon as the box was opened, Mij ran out. Then it ran all over the place scaring all the passengers. It created chaos and most of the people on the plane got scared.

Long Answer: As soon as he opened the box, Mij flashed out of it and disappeared. Everyone on the flight panicked and a lady even climbed her chair. Finally, when he saw Mij’s tail disappearing beneath a turbaned man, he tried to catch hold of him and in the process, ended up covering his face with curry. After having created such chaos, the air hostess advised him to go to his seat while she brought Mij back to him.

Page 110

1. What game had Mij invented?

Mij invented a game of playing with the ball in a unique way. One of the author’s suitcases was damaged and had a slope on the top part. Mij would put the ball on the high end and run to catch it as it slid to the other end.

2. What are ‘compulsive habits"? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of i. school children ii. Mij?

Compulsive habits are usually strange acts or behavior which a person does without clear reason. For example, a player may put on his right shoes first as he believes it would bring him good luck, or a kid jumping over a fence, instead of going through the normal way. Usually, the compulsive behavior of children consists of mischief.

i. As per the narration, children must place their feet squarely on the center of each paving block; must touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or pass to the outside of every second lamp post.

ii. Mijbil while on its way home would jump over the boundary wall railing and run at full speed throughout its length.

3. What group of animals do otters belong to?

Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustellines. The other animals of this group are badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, mink, and others.

4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?

As otters are not found in England Londoners are not aware of them. Londoners made wild guesses about Mij. Their guesses ranged from a baby seal, a squirrel, and a hippo to a brontosaurus.

Thinking about the Text

(Pages 110, 111)

1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly, and fun-loving animal who needs love?

Mij invented his own game out of ping-pong ball and a worn-down suitcase. He loved water, and once he understood that on opening the tap water came out of it, he would get into the tub and play with water. These things show that he is an intelligent and fun-loving animal.

He had gradually formed a special attachment with Maxwell. He was desperate when Maxwell left him in a box and wanted to come out as soon as possible. This shows that he is friendly and needs love.

2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?

Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustellines, shared by badgers, mongooses, weasels, stoats, mink, and others. They are found in large numbers in marshes. Arabs keep them as pets and tame them. Otters love to spread water and splash in it. Maxwell’s otter was of a race previously unknown to science and was named Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli.

3. Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?

The otter belonged to a race unknown to the scientists then. The otter was named by zoologists as Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. In short, it was called Maxwell’s otter.

Mijbil - The Otter

Gavin Maxwell-Naturalist

Mijbil - The Otter

Introduction

Otters are found in large numbers in the marshes near Basra, a town in Iraq. The narrator wanted to bring an Otter from Iraq to England and keep it as a pet. This lesson tells us about the author and his pet otter.

About the author

Gavin Maxwell was born on 15 July 1914. He was a naturalist and author. He is best known for his work with otters. In his book, ‘Ring of Bright Water’, he described how he brought an otter back from Iraq and raised it in Scotland. The book went on to sell over a million copies and was made into a film.

Summary

The author lived in a cottage in Camusfearna in Scotland. He had a pet dog Jonnie. When Jonnie died, he did not keep a dog again for some time. But life without a pet was lonely. So he decided to have an otter as a pet instead of a dog. His home in Scotland had much water around it. So it would be suitable for an otter.

The author happens to go to Iraq and he shared this idea with a friend who was travelling with him. His friend suggested that otters are found in the Tigris marshes of Iraq. The author had to wait in Basra for his mail. While he was waiting for his mail, an otter was brought to him by two Arabs in a sack.

The otter was a small dragon-like creature. It was covered with mud from head to tail. Under the mud, it had a soft velvet skin. It took the author many days to completely remove the mud from his body. He named the otter `Mijbil’. At first, Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly. He was simply aloof and indifferent. On the first night, it slept on the floor. The next night, he slipped on the author’s bed and slept between his knees. Gradually, Mijbil started taking interest in its surroundings.

When Mijbil was taken to the bathroom, he enjoyed his bath. He went wild with joy in the water of the tub. The author knew that otters are fond of water. Soon the otter became habitual of being called as ‘Mij’. He followed the author when he called his name.

It spent most of its time playing with a rubber ball and marbles. He would throw the ball like a soccer player. His real play was when he lay on his back and played with small objects between his paws. He could throw the ball a flick of his neck. His favourite toys were marbles.

Eventually, it was time for the author to return to Camusfearna. He knew that the British Airline would not fly animals to London. So he had to book a flight to Paris in another airline and another to London. The airline advised that Mij should be packed in a box. To get him accustomed for the same, the author put Mij into it the box an hour before he started for the airport. When he returned after his meal he noticed blood trickling from the air holes. As he opened it, he found Mij troubled and covered with blood. Mij had torn the inner lining of the box. It was just ten minutes to the flight and the airport was five miles away. So the author put it back in the box and hurried to the airport.

The aircraft was waiting to take off. He rushed in. Inside the flight, he covered the place near his seat with newspapers. He gave the parcel of fish to the air hostess for the otter. She cooperated with the author and advised him to keep the pet on his knee. But soon Mij was out of the box. He disappeared and soon chaos followed in the plane. There were squawks and shrieks all around. The author found the otter beneath the legs of an Indian passenger. When he tried to catch the otter, his face got covered in curry. The air hostess assured him that she would find the otter. The author returned to his seat. After some time, the otter came to him and sat in his lap.

The otter and the author remained in London for nearly a month. Mijbil used to play for hours with toys, ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruit, etc. He would place the ball on the sloping top of the suitcase. Then he would hurry and catch it before the ball fell off the suitcase. The author used to take Mij out for exercise and walk. Mij developed certain habits on those walks. He went with the author like children playing, running and touching things in the streets.

In London, many people had not seen an otter. When they saw Mij, they would make guesses about what kind of an animal it was. The author faced a stream of questions filled with guesses. The people guessed that it could be a baby seal, a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard, etc. But nobody could guess that it was an otter.

Character Sketch

Mijbil, the Otter: Mijbil the Otter was an extremely lovable creature. He was intelligent too. It took him only a couple of days to get accustomed to the new surroundings with the author. Mijbil was intelligent enough to respond to the calls of the author. Also, he learnt how to turn on the water tap in the bathroom. Mijbil was extremely fond of water. He would splash. Plunge and roll about in any amount of water that he came across. The otter also comes across as a very sensitive creature. When the author leaves him inside a box, Mijbil is panic-stricken and in his attempt to escape from the box, he hurts himself grievously. His playful nature could be seen, when he escaped from the author’s lap and travelled all over the plane much to the surprise and fear of the other passengers. Thus, we see that Mijbil, the Otter was an extremely lovable and playful creature but also sensitive at times.

The theme of the story

The story clearly reflects the love that the author had for animals, especially, the otter. After having lost his pet dog, the author decides to keep an otter as a pet. Naturally, handling an otter or for that matter, any animal out of its habitat, is not an easy task. One has to be well aware of its habits, nature, food etc. Owning a pet is a lifetime of commitment involving considerable responsibility. The decision to acquire one, therefore, should be made by the whole family. Without full agreement by everyone, the pet could end up unwanted. Unfortunately, cute looking animals often suffer disadvantages, because people purchase them without consideration and the knowledge on how to take proper care of them. Hence, it is very important to read and research before adopting or buying a pet.