MIJBIL THE OTTER

Mijbil the Otter- Introduction

In this lesson, the author tells us how his life changed after he decided to domesticate an otter after he lost his
pet dog. He takes us through his journey of adjusting, playing and travelling with Mijbil (or Mij) the otter, from
Iraq to London and how during this journey, he developed an inseparable bond with him.

Mijbil the Otter- Summary

The story begins with the author travelling to Basra along with his friend. During their journey, the author
expresses his desire to domesticate an otter because after he had lost his pet dog, life had become lonely for
him. His friend suggested that he should get one from the Marshes along river Tigris in Iraq. When they reached
the destination, they found that only the friend’s mail had arrived. After a few days, the friend left while the
narrator was still waiting to receive his mail. Upon receiving it, he went to his room only to find an otter
(brought to him in a sack), accompanied by two Arabs with a note. It was a gift from his friend. He named the
otter Mijbil or shortly, Mij. It took some time for Mij to open up and get acquainted with his surroundings. He
was covered in mud to an extent that it took almost a month of cleaning and washing to reveal his actual colour.
Mij loved playing with water so much so that he even learned to open the tap on his own. He believed that each
drop of water should be squished and splashed till the bowl had been emptied. Everything was going smoothly
in Basra, but now it was time to fly back to London. British airlines did not allow animals, so he had to book
another flight that allowed Mij with a condition that he had to be carried in a box. The narrator put him in a box
an hour before the flight so that Mij could get accustomed to it and then left for a quick meal. When he returned,
he found that the box was still and Mij had created a mess by destroying the inner lining. As a result, blood was
dripping out of the holes. Scared as he was, he hurried. They were far away from the airport and there were only
ten minutes left for the flight to take off. He cleaned it all, hurried in a cab and managed to reach just in time.
He explained the series of events to a very kind and generous air hostess who advised him to keep the box on
his lap. Gavin developed extreme admiration for the air hostess for she was very kind to him. As soon as he
opened the box, the otter leaped out and disappeared thereby creating a chaos. Passengers were frightened. A
lady climbed up her chair and in an attempt to get a hold of Mij, the author got himself covered in curry. The
air hostess offered help and brought him back to Gavin and finally, they reached London. Mij was fond of
playing with ping-pong balls and marbles. He even developed a game with the author’s damaged suitcase. It
could keep him engrossed for a long period of time. Narrator took him for walks while taking the lead and
played with him. People of London, being unfamiliar with otters, had wild guesses about what Mij was. Some
thought it to be a baby seal, squirrel or even a hippo. The most shocking reaction came when a labourer digging
the hole asked the author, “what is that supposed to be?”

Oral Comprehension Check

Page 106
Question 1.
What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Answer:
The writer had gone to Southern Iraq in the year 1956. He took a fancy to the idea that instead of keeping a dog
as a pet, he would go for an otter. Camusfearna was surrounded by water, so it would be an eminently suitable
spot for this experiment.
Question 2.
Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
Answer:
The writer went to Basra to collect and answer his mail from Europe.
He had to wait there for 5 days as his mail did not arrive.
Question 3.
How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
Answer:
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 “The second night Mijbil came on to my bed in the small hours and remained
asleep in the crook of my knees….” “ I made a body-belt for him…”.
Question 4.
Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
Answer:
The otter was named by zoologists as Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. Hence, it was called Maxwell’s otter in
short.
Question 5.
Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was
1. aloof and indifferent
2. friendly
3. hostile
Answer:
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
In the beginning, the otter was aloof and indifferent.
Question 6.
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
Answer:
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. He made enough slosh and splash. After two
days, the otter suddenly disappeared and went to the bathroom to play in the water and opened the tap on his
own.
Page 108
Question 1.
How was Mijbil transported to England?
Answer:
Mijbil was packed in a box as the airlines had directed the author. 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.
Question 2.
What did Mij do to the box?
Answer:
The box 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 in the process hurt himself.
Question 3.
Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?
Answer:
As there was no other way to carry Mij to London, Maxwell put in the box again. He must have felt pity on the
way the otter hurt himself. Moreover, he must be worried as well.
Question 4.
Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?
Answer:
The airhostess 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”.
Question 5.
What happened when the box was opened?
Answer:
As soon as the box was opened, Mij ran out. Then it ran all over the place scaring all the passengers. It created a
chaos and most of the people in the plane got scared.
Page 110
Question 1.
What game had Mij invented?
Answer:
Mij invented a game of playing with the ball in a unique way. One of the author’s suitcase 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 lower end.
Question 2.
What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
1. school children
2. Mij?
Answer:
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 shoes first as he believes it would bring him good luck or a kid jumping over
a fence, instead of going through the passage way. Usually compulsive beahviour of children are full of
childhood mischief and those of adults are of incorrigible type.
1. 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.
2. Mijbil while on its way to home would jump over the boundary wall railing and run at full speed throughout
its length.
Question 3.
What group of animals do otters belong to?
Answer:
Otters belong to a comparatively small group of animals called Mustellines. The other animals of this group are
badger, mongoose, weasel, mink and others.
Question 4.
What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
Answer:
As otters are not found in England so Londoners made the wildest possible guesses about Mij. Their guesses
ranged from a baby seal, a squirrel, a hippo to a brontosaurus.
Thinking about the Text
(Page 110, 111)
Question 1.
What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?
Answer:
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 played with water.
He had gradually formed a special attachment with Maxwell. It gets desperate when Maxwell left it in a box and
wanted to come out as soon as possible.
Question 2.
What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?
Answer:
Otters belong to a comparatively small group of animals called Mustellines, shared by badger, mongoose,
weasel, stoat, 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 at length named by zoologists Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli.
Question 3.
Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?
Answer:
Maxwell’s otter was of a race previously unknown to science and was at length named by zoologists Lutrogale
Perspicillata Maxwelli, hence, it is known as Maxwell’s otter in short.

Long Answer Type

Question 1.
The narrator is a great lover of animals. He decided to have an otter, a unique animal, as a pet. Do you also have
or want to keep a pet? There are many responsibilities towards the pet to keep them happy. How do you take a
good care of your pet?
Answer:
For some people, life without a pet is lonely. The same happened with the narrator. When his pet dog died, he
became extremely sad. To overcome his grief, he decided to have an otter as a pet. This shows his great love for
all animals. I also have a pet dog, Bruno. I take great care of him and am aware of my responsibilities towards
him. A pet must be treated as a member of the family.
It should be regularly vaccinated by a trained vet. A pet, like dog and cat, needs proper toilet training and must
be taught to obey your instructions. A balanced diet is a must for a pet to keep it healthy. A pet should not be
chained all the time. It can make it more aggressive. Remember a daily dose of exercise, affection and playful
activities work wonders for a pet. And, more importantly, all the members of a family should be considerate
towards it.
Question 2.
The narrator developed a special bond with Mijbil, the otter, and both became good companions. What qualities
of the narrator, do you think, help him in taming an otter? How did compassion and empathy in him reveal?
Answer:
The narrator Maxwell and Mijbil share a unique relationship. Narrator’s considerate behaviour helped him in
winning the trust of the otter, an otherwise wild animal. He provides freedom to the otter to do what he likes the
most—playing and rolling about in water in the bathtub like a playful and naughty child. Mijbil was allowed to
spend most of his time in play without caring for the room being dirty. It shows the narrator’s concern and
empathy for the creature. He has compassion and empathy for him. He takes every care for his safety. He
understands his needs and fulfils them.
Question 3.
How did the narrator feel when he saw blood trickling down the box in which Mijbil had been kept to transport
to England? How would you feel if you were in such a situation? What traits of narrator’s character are
reflected here?
Answer:
When Mij was to be transported to England, and to Camusfearna the narrator got tensed at the prospect. Mij
was packed in a box with airholes in order to be taken by an airline. Just before leaving the home for airport, the
narrator was shocked to see traces of blood all around the box. Mijbil in an attempt to be freed had fumbled
with the box and had injured itself. The narrator removed the iron lining with its cutting edges and again put
Mijbil back in.
During fhe flight, though Mijbil, caused a ruckus, the narrator resumed his journey with Mijbil on his knees. I
would also feel in the same manner if I were in the narrator’s place. Seeing a pet in distress is the least wanted
thing. The incident revealed the narrator’s extremely caring and compassionate nature. He was indeed a man
with boundless kindness. We all must have the value of compassion and kindness for all the living creatures.
Question 4.
Throughout the story, Mij is shown having human qualities. How can you say that Mij is an intelligent, friendly
and fun-loving animal who needs and understands love? What does this tell you about the relationship of a
human being and an animal?
Answer:
There is an age-old relationship between man and animal. Both share a unique relationship. To bring out this
fact, Mijbil is shown having human qualities throughout the story. Mijbil’s intelligence is clear from his
attempts to turn on and off the tap in the bathtub. It can even dribble the ball and juggle the objects without even
dropping them. He understands the narrator’s love for him and follows him everywhere. This is an example of
man’s age-old relationship with animals. Early man tamed animals like cows, bulls, elephants and horses to
fulfil his daily needs. Animals obey the orders of their master. It means they are capable of understanding
human emotions.
Question 5.
What do you think is the purpose of the narrator to write in detail his relationship with his pet otter? What are
the ethics to be observed with animals—either wild or pet?
Answer:
The narrator has revealed some interesting facts regarding his pet, Mijbil the otter. The main purpose behind
this is to arouse feelings of empathy and concern for pets as well as wild animals. The text compels us to think
about many other situations where animals are kept in captivity just for amusement without thinking of the
animal’s welfare. For example, elephants, bears, lions and tigers are trained to work in a circus in the most
inhumane manner.
Jugglers keep monkeys and snakes captive to earn a living. All these practices are illegal according to law. Any
animal, either wild or pet, is useful to us in one way or the other. Pet animals protect our houses, carry loads for
us, provide us with milk and meat, entertain us, etc. Wild animals in a forest form a food chain that is essential
to maintain a balance in the ecosystem. So we all must adopt a positive approach while dealing with animals.
Question 6.
For smooth and effective working we have to follow certain rules and regulations. Sometimes basic human
values don’t go together with rules. It is painful. But there are some people like the air hostess in the story
‘Mijbil the Otter’, who tried to act against the rules in the name of humanity. What qualities do we find in the
air hostess? What would you have done if you were in her place?
Answer:
It is true that for smooth and effective working, we have to follow certain rules and regulations. Sometimes
basic human values don’t go together with rules. It is painful. But there are some people like the air hostess in
the story Mijbil the otter, who tried to act against the rules in the name of humanity. The air hostess was the
embodiment of good qualities. When Gavin Maxwell told her about the otter, she listened to his story very
peacefully. She was the queen of her kind.
Though it was against the rules to carry the animal in that way yet she decided to help him. She even suggested
that he could keep the pet on his knee. She was always kind hearted and considerate. She handled the whole
situation calmly. When Mij created trouble with squeaks and shrieks, she maintained her charming smile. She
displayed basic human qualities while on her duty. Yes, I would have done the same. If there is no risk to the
life or property of others, we may compromise with rules for the sake of humanity

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
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.
(a) The narrator and his friend were going to Basra to the Consulate-General to collect and
answer the ………. from Europe.
Answer:
mails
(b) At the Consulate-General he found that his friend’s mail had …………… but that his had not.
Answer:
arrived
(c) At the Consulate-General the narrator found that his mail had arrived. (True/False)
Answer:
False.
(d) Find the same meaning of the word ‘reached’ in the extract.
Answer:
arrived
Question 2.
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.
(a) When the narrator did not receive his mail, he had to contact the …………. in England.
Answer:
authorities
(b) The narrator tried to telephone because his ……………. to England was not answered.
Answer:
cable
(c) The narrator received his mail a few days later. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Find the same meaning of the word “collapse” in the extract.
Answer:
breakdown
Question 3.
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.
(a ) The narrator carried the to his bedroom to read.
Answer:
mail
(b) The narrator found two Arabs on the floor in his room.
Answer:
squatting
(c) The Arabs had a sack that contained on animal inside. (True-False)
Answer:
True
(d) Find the same meaning of the phrase “sitting on heels with knees bent up.”
Answer:
squatting
Question 4.
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.
(a) The opening of the sack began a ……….. of the narrator’s life.
Answer:
phase
(b) It is, in effect, a to otters, an otter fixation,
Answer:
thraldom
(c) The narrator decided to keep the other as a pet. (True, False)
Answer:
True
(d) Find the same meaning of the phrase “being under the control of’ in the extract.
Answer:
thraldom
Question 5.
The creature that emerged from this sack on to the spacious tiled floor of the Consulate bedroom resembled
most of all a very small, medievally-conceived, 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.
(a) The creature that emerged from the sack resembled a very small, medievally-conceived
Answer:
dragon
(b) From the head to the tip of the tail, the creature was coated with ……………. pointed scales of mud armour.
Answer:
symmetrical
(c) The creature looked like a chocolate brown mole. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the same meaning of the word ‘confined’.
Answer:
emerged
Question 6.
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.
(a) The narrator could see the otter in his true colours after ………….
Answer:
a month
(b) The narrator could not see the otter’s true colours for many days because it was ………….. mud.
Answer:
covered with
(c) The dust over the otter’s body revealed its true colour. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the same meaning of ‘quivered’ in the extract.
Answer:
‘Shook’.
Question 7.
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 twenty- four 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.
(a) Mijbil was in fact, of a race previously unknown to
Answer:
Science
(b) For the first twenty-four hours Mijbil was neither nor friendly.
Answer:
hostile
(c) Mijbil was very friendly for the first twenty-four hours. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the meaning of the phrase ‘at last’ from the extract.
Answer:
at length
Question 8.
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.
(a) The second night Mijbil came on to the narrator’s bed and remained asleep in the crook of his knees.
Answer:
In the small hours
(b) During the day Mijbil took much interest in his
Answer:
surroundings
(c) Mijbil seemed to be always hostile and mischievous. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the meaning of the phrase ‘very early in the morning’.
Answer:
in the small hours of night.
Question 9.
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.
(a) Two days later, Mijbil escaped from the narrator’s ……….. as he (the narrator) entered it.
Answer:
bedroom
(b) Mijbil opened the tap to have full
Answer:
flow of water
(c) Mijbil escaped from his bedroom to his bathroom. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the meaning the word ‘very surprised’ from the extract.
Answer:
amazed
Question 10.
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.
(a) Very soon Mij followed the narrator without a …………. and come to him when he called his name.
Answer:
lead
(b) Mijbil spent most of his time, playing with a ………….
Answer:
rubber ball
(c) Sometimes Mij threw the rubber ball to a surprising height. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Find the meaning of the phrase “a quick, light movement”.
Answer:
flick
Question 11.
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.
(a) The real play of an otter is when he lies on his back and ………. with small objects between his paws.
Answer:
juggles
(b) ……… were Mij’s favourite toys.
Answer:
marbles
(c) The real play of an otter is to play in the marsh. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the same meaning of the word, ‘hobby in the extract’.
Answer:
pastime
Question 12.
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.
(a) When the narrator returned, there was an ………. spectacle.
Answer:
appalling
(b) Mijbil exhausted himself by tearing the ………… to shreds.
Answer:
lining of the box
(c) Exhausted and blood-spattered, My whimpered and caught at his master’s leg. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Find the same meaning of the phrase ‘cried with pain’
Answer:
whimpered
Question 13.
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.
(a) The narrator put the miserable Mij back into the box, the did with his hand.
Answer:
holding down
(b) The airport was distant.
Answer:
five miles
(c) The narrator cut the lining of the box because Mijbil tried to run away. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the same meaning of the words “‘pitiable condition” in the extract.
Answer:
miserable
Question 14.
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.
(a) The narrator sat in the back of the car with the …………… beside him.
Answer:
box
(b) The officials were ……………. because the author had been late.
Answer:
infuriated
(c) The seat in the aircraft booked for the narrator was at the extreme behind. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the meaning of the words ‘extremely angry’.
Answer:
‘infuriated’
Question 15.
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.
(a) The narrator took the air hostess into his …………… because he wanted her to take care of Mijbil.
Answer:
confidence
(b) The air hostess suggested that he might to have his pet on his knees.
Answer:
prefer
(c) The narrator had kissed the air hostess’s hand in the depth of his gratitude. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the same meaning of the word, ‘great’ in the extract.
Answer:
profound
Question 16.
“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.”
(a) The air hostess called the author to his seat because she wanted to help him find the Otter.
Answer:
resume
(b) Understanding the plight of the narrator the air hostess was ………..
Answer:
amused
(c) The air hostess was angry to see the plight of the narrator. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Find the meaning of the phrase “went back to the seat”.
Answer:
resumed your seat
Question 17.
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.
(a) A suitcase that the narrator had taken to …………. had become damaged on the journey home.
Answer:
Iraq
(b) Mij discovered that if he placed the ball on the high end, it would the length of the suitcase.
Answer:
run down
(c) The otter was an intelligent pet because he had invented the method of playing with ball in a suitcase.
(True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Find the same meaning of the words ‘attack’ in the extract.
Answer:
ambush
Question 18.
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.
(a) Outside the house the narrator Mijbil on a lead.
Answer:
exercised
(b) Mijbil has been compared with children who develop certain habits.
Answer:
compulsive
(c) Mij developed a habit of walking in the London streets like a school child. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Find the meaning of the words ‘habitual’.
Answer:
rituals
Question 19.
“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 come abreast of him, he spat, glared, and then growled out, “Here Mister—
What is that supposed to be?”
(a) The narrator saw a expression of surprise and affront.
Answer:
labourer’s
(b) The labourers asked the narrator with surprise
Answer:
“What it was supposed to be?”
(c) The labourer began to glare at Mij the Otter. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Find the meaning of the phrase ‘make a harsh sound’.
Answer:
growl out