Class 10
English
Ch. 9. Mijbil the Otter
EARLY in the New Year of 1956, I travelled to Southern Iraq. By then it had crossed my mind that I should like to keep an otter instead of a dog, and that Camusfearna, ringed by water a stone’s throw from its door, would be an eminently suitable spot for this experiment.
When I casually mentioned this to a friend, he as casually replied that I had better get one in the Tigris marshes, for there they were as common as mosquitoes, and were often tamed by the Arabs. We were going to Basra to the Consulate-General to collect and answer our mail from Europe. At the Consulate-General we found that my friend’s mail had arrived but that mine had not.
I cabled to England, and when, three days later, nothing had happened, I tried to telephone. The call had to be booked twenty-four hours in advance. On the first day the line was out of order; on the second the exchange was closed for a religious holiday. On the third day there was another breakdown. My friend left, and I arranged to meet him in a week’s time. Five days later, my mail arrived.
I carried it to my bedroom to read, and there, squatting on the floor, were two Arabs; beside them lay a sack that squirmed from time to time. They handed me a note from my friend: “Here is your otter...”
II
With the opening of that sack began a phase of my life that has not yet ended, and may, for all I know, not end before I do. It is, in effect, a thraldom to otters, an otter fixation, that I have since found to be shared by most other people, who have ever owned one.
The creature that emerged from this sack on to the spacious tiled floor of the Consulate bedroom resembled most of all a very small, medievallyconceived, dragon. From the head to the tip of the tail he was coated with symmetrical pointed scales of mud armour, between whose tips was visible a soft velvet fur like that of a chocolate-brown mole. He shook himself, and I half expected a cloud of dust, but in fact it was not for another month that I managed to remove the last of the mud and see the otter, as it were, in his true colours.
Mijbil, as I called the otter, was, in fact, of a race previously unknown to science, and was at length christened by zoologists Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, or Maxwell’s otter. For the first twentyfour hours Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly; he was simply aloof and indifferent, choosing to sleep on the floor as far from my bed as possible. The second night Mijbil came on to my bed in the small hours and remained asleep in the crook of my knees until the servant brought tea in the morning, and during the day he began to lose his apathy and take a keen, much too keen, interest in his surroundings. I made a body-belt for him and took him on a lead to the bathroom, where for half an hour he went wild with joy in the water, plunging and rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater, and making enough slosh and splash for a hippo. This, I was to learn, is a characteristic of otters; every drop of water must be, so to speak, extended and spread about the place; a bowl must at once be overturned, or, if it will not be overturned, be sat in and sploshed in until it overflows. Water must be kept on the move and made to do things; when static it is wasted and provoking.
Two days later, Mijbil escaped from my bedroom as I entered it, and I turned to see his tail disappearing round the bend of the corridor that led to the bathroom. By the time I got there he was up on the end of the bathtub and fumbling at the chromium taps with his paws. I watched, amazed; in less than a minute he had turned the tap far enough to produce a trickle of water, and after a moment or two achieved the full flow. (He had been lucky to turn the tap the right way; on later occasions he would sometimes screw it up still tighter, chittering with irritation and disappointment at the tap’s failure to cooperate.)
Very soon Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I called his name. He spent most of his time in play. He spent hours shuffling a rubber ball round the room like a four-footed soccer player using all four feet to dribble the ball, and he could also throw it, with a powerful flick of the neck, to a surprising height and distance. But the real play of an otter is when he lies on his back and juggles with small objects between his paws. Marbles were Mij’s favourite toys for this pastime: he would lie on his back rolling two or more of them up and down his wide, flat belly without ever dropping one to the floor.
Oral Comprehension Check
1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
5. Tick the right answer. 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?
III
The days passed peacefully at Basra, but I dreaded the prospect of transporting Mij to England, and to Camusfearna. The British airline to London would not fly animals, so I booked a flight to Paris on another airline, and from there to London. The airline insisted that Mij should be packed into a box not more than eighteen inches square, to be carried on the floor at my feet. I had a box made, and an hour before we started, I put Mij into the box so that he would become accustomed to it, and left for a hurried meal.
When I returned, there was an appalling spectacle. There was complete silence from the box, but from its airholes and chinks around the lid, blood had trickled and dried. I whipped off the lock and tore open the lid, and Mij, exhausted and blood spattered, whimpered and caught at my leg. He had torn the lining of the box to shreds; when I removed the last of it so that there were no cutting edges left, it was just ten minutes until the time of the flight, and the airport was five miles distant. I put the miserable Mij back into the box, holding down the lid with my hand.
I sat in the back of the car with the box beside me as the driver tore through the streets of Basra like a ricochetting bullet. The aircraft was waiting to take off; I was rushed through to it by infuriated officials. Luckily, the seat booked for me was at the extreme front. I covered the floor around my feet with newspapers, rang for the air hostess, and gave her a parcel of fish (for Mij) to keep in a cool place. I took her into my confidence about the events of the last half hour. I have retained the most profound admiration for that air hostess; she was the very queen of her kind. She suggested that I might prefer to have my pet on my knee, and I could have kissed her hand in the depth of my gratitude. But, not knowing otters, I was quite unprepared for what followed.
Mij was out of the box in a flash. He disappeared at high speed down the aircraft. There were squawks and shrieks, and a woman stood up on her seat screaming out, “A rat! A rat!” I caught sight of Mij’s tail disappearing beneath the legs of a portly white turbaned Indian. Diving for it, I missed, but found my face covered in curry. “Perhaps,” said the air hostess with the most charming smile, “it would be better if you resumed your seat, and I will find the animal and bring it to you.”
I returned to my seat. I was craning my neck trying to follow the hunt when suddenly I heard from my feet a distressed chitter of recognition and welcome, and Mij bounded on to my knee and began to nuzzle my face and my neck.
Oral Comprehension Check
1. How was Mij to be transported to England?
2. What did Mij do to the box?
3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?
4. Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?
5. What happened when the box was opened?
IV
After an eventful journey, Maxwell and his otter reach London, where he has a flat.
Mij and I remained in London for nearly a month. He would play for hours with a selection of toys, ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruit, and a terrapin shell that I had brought back from his native marshes. With the ping-pong ball he invented a game of his own which could keep him engrossed for up to half an hour at a time. A suitcase that I had taken to Iraq had become damaged on the journey home, so that the lid, when closed, remained at a slope from one end to the other. Mij discovered that if he placed the ball on the high end it would run down the length of the suitcase. He would dash around to the other end to ambush its arrival, hide from it, crouching, to spring up and take it by surprise, grab it and trot off with it to the high end once more.
Outside the house I exercised him on a lead, precisely as if he had been a dog. Mij quickly developed certain compulsive habits on these walks in the London streets, like the rituals of children who on their way to and from school must place their feet squarely on the centre of each paving block; must touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or pass to the outside of every second lamp post. Opposite to my flat was a single-storied primary school, along whose frontage ran a low wall some two feet high. On his way home, but never on his way out, Mij would tug me to this wall, jump on to it, and gallop the full length of its thirty yards, to the hopeless distraction both of pupils and of staff within.
It is not, I suppose, in any way strange that the average Londoner should not recognise an otter, but the variety of guesses as to what kind of animal this might be came as a surprise to me. Otters belong to a comparatively small group of animals called Mustellines, shared by the badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, mink and others. I faced a continuous barrage of conjectural questions that sprayed all the Mustellines but the otter; more random guesses hit on ‘a baby seal’ and ‘a squirrel.’ ‘Is that a walrus, mister?’ reduced me to giggles, and outside a dog show I heard ‘a hippo’. A beaver, a bear cub, a leopard — one, apparently, that had changed its spots — and a ‘brontosaur’; Mij was anything but an otter.
But the question for which I awarded the highest score came from a labourer digging a hole in the street. I was still far from him when he laid down his tool, put his hands on his hips, and began to stare. As I drew nearer I saw his expression of surprise and affront, as though he would have me know that he was not one upon whom to play jokes. I came abreast of him; he spat, glared, and then growled out, “Here, Mister — what is that supposed to be?”
Oral Comprehension Check
1. What game had Mij invented?
2. What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
(i) school children
(ii) Mij?
3. What group of animals do otters belong to?
4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?
2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?
3. Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?
5. Read the story and find the sentences where Maxwell describes his pet otter. Then choose and arrange your sentences to illustrate those statements below that you think are true. Maxwell’s description
(i) makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy.
(ii) shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does.
(iii) shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does.
(iv) of Mij’s antics is comical.
(v) shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully.
(vi) shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter.
(vii) shows that he thinks the otter is very unusual.
Q. What was the event full journey of Mijbil? Ans. Te author wanted to take it to Camusfearna. So he was upset because British Airline did not allow the animals in flight. The author booked to Peri’s them to London on another airline. The airline said to keep it in the box of 18 square inches. He put it in the box for accustomed after sometimes this box was chinks, blood and looked tore. He went into the flight. Mij was out of the box in a flash in high speed aircraft the squawks shrieks and streaming started all trying to catch failed the air hostess said to take the seat after some time it come and began to nuzzle my face and neck. Thus it comes to me and author caught it. Q. How did Mijbil live in London? It Londoner recognize it or not? OR What was the Mijbil routine in London? It Londoner recognize it or not? Ans. Mijbil and author live in London for a month. Mij would play with his favorite toys. The terrapin cell brought from his native marshes. He could keep busy with Ping-Pong ball for half an hour. He use the damage suitcase its slop form was used with Mij like a game. He used to put the ball on the high end it would run down the length of the suitcase. He would dash around to the other end to ambush its arrival, hide from it, crouching to spring up and take it by surprise, grab it and trot off with it to the height end once more. He exercised like dog on a lead. He walks squarely on centre of each paving block. He touched every second lamp post. Mij would tug me to wall of school jump on to it and run full length of its thirty yards, to the hopeless disturbing of pupils and of staff within. Londoner should not recognize an otter they called it Mustellines, baby sear, a squirrel, walrus mister outside of a dog someone called it a hippo. A beaver, a bear cub a leopard that had changed its spot and a brontosaur Mij was anything but and otter. A question which I awarded the highest score come form a laborer who laid down his tools and asked me staring what is that supposed to be? |
Mijbil the OtterQ. 1: What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for? Ans. : Maxwell wanted to have an otter as a pet. This would have been a new experiment for him as people usually keep dogs or cats as pets. Otters are wild creatures and people seldom keep them as pets. It would have been a new learning experience for Maxwell to tame and train the otter. Q. 2: Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why? Ans. : Maxwell went to Basra to visit the Consulate General to get his mail. He had had to wait there for five days. To start with his mail didn’t reach on time. Then he tried to make a telephone call. This incident is of those days when one had to book an international call 24 hrs in advance. The telephone line was not working properly on the first day. Next day it was some public holiday so it was not working. Finally after a tortuous wait of five days his mail arrived. Q. 3: How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this. Ans. : One of Maxwell’s friends probably requested a local to get an otter for him. Two people came with an otter and delivered it to him. The way the author explains every small prank of otter shows that he liked the otter. Q. 4: Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’? Ans. : The zoological name of that species Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli indicates to the fact that it was named by some scientist called Maxwell. Or the suffix ‘maxwelli’ may have been given by the author himself. That is why the otter can be simply called ‘Maxwell’s Otter’. Q. 5: What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that? Ans. : Otters live near water and water is their favourite playground. Mijbil enjoyed the sight of water in the bathtub. It enjoyed the water to its fullest. Mijbil splashed water all around the bathroom. Two days later Mijbil developed confidence to go all alone to the bathroom. It jumped up the bathtub and after some effort turned on the tap as well. Q. 6: How was Mij to be transported to England? Ans. : As British airlines did not allow animals to be taken by plane so the author decided to take it by another airline to Paris and then from Paris to London. The airline’s directive said that Mij could be carried in a box which should not be bigger than 18 square inches in dimension. Author was allowed to keep the box near his feet in the plane. Q. 7: What did Mij do to the box? Ans. : The box was lined with metal sheet. Mij didn’t find it comfortable to be there so tried to escape. In its attempt to escape, Mij tore into the metal lining of the box. As a result it hurt itself and started bleeding. Q. 8: Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this? Ans. : As there was no other way to carry Mij to London so the author had put it back into the box. He must have felt pity on the way the otter had hurt itself. Moreover, he must be worried as well. Q. 9: Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”? Ans. : The airhostess not only allowed the injured otter to be taken in, she also allowed Maxwell to keep the otter the way he wanted. She had been cooperative and generous to the core. That is why she is referred to as a queen, as kings and queens usually have big generous hearts. Q. 10: What happened when the box was opened? Ans. : The moment Maxwell opened the box Mij darted out of it vanished somewhere. Then it ran all over the place scaring all passengers. It created a chaos and most of the people in the plane started praying for their lives. Q. 11: What game had Mij invented? Ans. : Mij invented a game of playing ball in a unique way. One of author’s suitcase which was damaged during journey was Mijbil’s play arena. The suitcase top was having a slope. Mijbil would drop the ball from the height of the slope and would hurriedly catch it on the deeper end of the slope. Q. 12: What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of (i) school children (ii) Mij? Ans. : Compulsive habits are usually strange act or behaviour which a person does without clear reason. For example a cricket player may put on his right shoe first as he believes it would bring him good luck or a kid jumping over a fence, instead of going through the passageway. Usually compulsive beahviour of children are full of childhood mischief and those of adults are of incorrigible type. (i) As per this story, children must place their feet squarely on the centre 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 to home would jump over the boundary wall railing and run at full speed throughout its length. Q. 13: What group of animals do otters belong to? Ans. : Otters belong to a comparatively small group of animals called Mustellines, shared by the badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, mink and others. Q. 14: What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was? Ans. : As otters are not found in England so Londoners made wildest possible guesses about Mijbil’s identity. Their guesses would range from a baby seal, a squirrel, a hippo to a brontosaurus. Q. 15: What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love? Ans. : The way Mij learnt to open the tap shows that it is an intelligent animal. Mij is always in a playful mood; doing all sorts of pranks. Mij prefers the company of the author. These facts show that it is a friendly and fun-loving animal. Q. 16: What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text? Ans. : Some of the things we come to know about otters from this text are as follows. Otters are small creatures with dark brown fur all over the body. Otters live near water and enjoy playing in water. Otters are very active animals and can be easily tamed. Q. 17: Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter? Ans. : It can be the association of some scientist; named Maxwell who discovered this species. It can also be the association with the author who is named Maxwell. Q. 18: Maxwell in the story speaks for the otter, Mij. He tells us what the otter feels and thinks on different occasions. Given below are some things the otter does. Complete the column on the right to say what Maxwell says about what Mij feels and thinks. Ans. :
Q. 19: Read the story and find the sentences where Maxwell describes his pet otter. Then choose and arrange your sentences to illustrate those statements below that you think are true. Maxwell’s description Q. 1. makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy. Ans. : He spent hours shuffling a rubber ball round the room like a four-footed soccer player using all four feet to dribble the ball, and he could also throw it, with a powerful flick of the neck, to a surprising height and distance.
Q. 2. shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does. Ans. : Incorrect
Q. 3. shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does. Ans. : I watched, amazed; in less than a minute he had turned the tap far enough to produce a trickle of water, and after a moment or two achieved the full flow.
Q. 4. of Mij’s antics is comical. Ans. : But the real play of an otter is when he lies on his back and juggles with small objects between his paws.
Q. 5. shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully. Ans. : Mij discovered that if he placed the ball on the high end it would run down the length of the suitcase. He would dash around to the other end to ambush its arrival, hide from it, crouching, to spring up and take it by surprise, grab it and trot off with it to the high end once more.
Q. 6. shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter. Ans. : Incorrect |
II. Noun Modifiers
To describe or give more information about a noun (or to modify a noun), we use adjectives or adjectival phrases. Look at these examples from the text:
(a) An eminently suitable spot (c) Symmetrical pointed scales
(b) His wide, flat belly (d) A ricocheting bullet
Nouns can also be used as modifiers:
(a) The dinner party
(b) A designer dress
(c) The car keys
We can use more than one noun as modifier. Proper nouns can also be used:
(a) The Christmas dinner party
(b) A silk designer dress
(c) The Maruti car keys
In the examples below, there is an adjectival phrase in front of a noun modifier:
(a) The lovely Christmas party
(b) A trendy silk designer dress
(c) The frightfully expensive golden Maruti car keys
1. Look at these examples from the text, and say whether the modifiers
(in italics) are nouns, proper nouns, or adjective plus noun.
(i) An otter fixation (iv) The London streets
(ii) The iron railings (v) soft velvet fur
(iii) The Tigris marshes (vi) A four-footed soccer player
1. Match the words on the left with a word on the right. Some words on the left can go with more than one word on the right.
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