6 Mijbil the Otter 10

 

 Mijbil the Otter

 by Gavin Maxwell

 

Summary – Mijbil the Otter

Introduction:
The chapter "Mijbil the Otter" is an extract from Gavin Maxwell's book The Ring of Bright Water. It tells the real-life story of the author and his pet otter named Mijbil, whom he brought from Iraq to his home in Camusfearna, Scotland.

 

 Bringing Mijbil Home:

After Maxwell’s dog died, he wanted another pet but something more unusual than a dog. He thought his home in Camusfearna, surrounded by nature, would be a perfect place to keep an otter. When he was in Iraq, he mentioned this idea to a friend. Two days later, his friend brought him an otter from the Tigris marshes. It was a small, brown otter that soon became very dear to Maxwell. He named it Mijbil.

 

 Mijbil’s Early Behaviour:

In the beginning, Mijbil was a bit shy and quiet. But when taken to the bathroom, where there was water, he suddenly became playful and full of joy, splashing water all over the place. Two days later, he even learned to turn on the tap by himself, showing how clever and curious he was.

 

 Mijbil’s Playful Nature:

Mij was very active and intelligent. He invented his own games, like pushing a ball down a sloped suitcase and catching it again. He also had some habits, such as running through the same part of the street wall every day while returning from walks. These habits reminded the author of “compulsive behaviour” seen in children.

 

Travelling with Mijbil:

Maxwell had to go back to England and decided to take Mij with him. He faced many difficulties during the journey. First, he had to put Mij in a box for a flight from Basra to Paris. Mij didn’t like being locked up. He damaged the box, hurt himself, and Maxwell felt extremely guilty and sad.

On the flight, the air hostess was very kind and let Mij sit on Maxwell’s lap. Mij later escaped and ran through the plane, scaring a woman who thought he was a rat.

 

 Life in London:

In London, people had never seen an otter before, so they made funny guesses about what Mij was—calling him a seal, baby leopard, squirrel, beaver, or even a brontosaurus! Mij quickly adapted to the city, and Maxwell continued to enjoy Mij’s company and playful behaviour.

 

 Conclusion:

The story beautifully shows the bond between humans and animals. Mijbil was not just a pet but a friend, playmate, and companion to Maxwell. The story highlights the intelligence, curiosity, and affectionate nature of otters, and how even a wild animal can live happily with humans when treated with love and care.

 

 Themes Covered:

• Man-animal friendship
• Adventure and travel
• Love for wildlife
• Pet care and responsibility
• Uniqueness of every living creature

 

 

Mijbil the Otter –

 

 Paragraph 1

Text:
Early in the new year of 1956, I travelled to Southern Iraq. By then, it had crossed my mind that I should keep an otter instead of a dog…

Explanation:
The author went to Southern Iraq in 1956. After the death of his pet dog, he thought of keeping an otter as a pet. He believed his home in Camusfearna, surrounded by nature, would be perfect for such an experiment.

Word Meanings:

·         Crossed my mind – Came into my thoughts

·         Camusfearna – The author’s home in Scotland

·         Otter – A small, playful water animal

 

 Paragraph 2

Text:
When I casually mentioned it to a friend, he supported the idea and said he would try to get one…

Explanation:
The author told his friend about his plan of having an otter. His friend agreed and promised to find one for him. Two days later, a sack (bag) arrived containing the otter.

Word Meanings:

·         Casually – Without planning or seriousness

·         Sack – A large bag

·         Soaked – Fully wet

 

 Paragraph 3

Text:
Inside the sack was a small creature with a pointed snout and rubbery body... it was an otter, soon named Mijbil.

Explanation:
When he opened the sack, he found a strange-looking animal with a long tail and wet body. It was an otter, and he named it Mijbil or Mij for short. Mijbil was from a new species of otters, later named Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli in the author's honour.

Word Meanings:

·         Snout – Nose and mouth of an animal

·         Obsession – Deep desire or love

·         Thraldom – Being under control of something (here, love for otters)

·         Fixation – Strong attachment

·         Species – A type or group of animals

 

 Paragraph 4

Text:
Mij was very quiet in the beginning. He took some time to adjust but was soon curious and playful...

Explanation:
At first, Mijbil was silent and shy. But after a few days, he became lively and curious about his new surroundings. The author noticed how clever he was and how fast he learned things.

Word Meanings:

·         Aloof – Distant, not friendly

·         Indifferent – Not showing interest

·         Domestic surroundings – Home environment

 

 Paragraph 5

Text:
I made a body-belt for him... he loved water and played happily in the bathroom...

Explanation:
The author made a belt for Mij so he could take him outside safely. Mij loved being in the bathroom, where he splashed water all around. Two days later, he even learned to turn on the tap by himself.

Word Meanings:

·         Whirled – Moved around quickly

·         Jug – A container for water

·         Splashed – Threw water playfully

·         A gallop through water – Running fast through water

 

 Paragraph 6–8

Text:
The journey to England was difficult. Mij had to be carried in a box on a plane...

Explanation:
Maxwell had to return to England with Mij. He booked a flight from Basra to Paris, then to London. Mij was kept in a small box. He didn’t like it, damaged the box, and hurt himself. The author felt very guilty.

Word Meanings:

·         Consular offices – Government offices abroad

·         Box-scratching – Trying to escape

·         Miserable – Very sad

·         Sympathetic – Kind and understanding

 

 Paragraph 9–10

Text:
The air hostess was kind. She allowed me to keep Mij on my lap...

Explanation:
A kind air hostess let Maxwell hold Mij on his lap. But after some time, Mij escaped, ran around the plane, and frightened a passenger who mistook him for a rat. Everyone laughed after that.

Word Meanings:

·         Air hostess – A flight attendant

·         Rat – A rodent (the lady was scared unnecessarily)

·         Scramble – Move quickly in confusion

 

Paragraph 11–13

Text:
In London, Mij quickly adjusted. He invented his own games…

Explanation:
Mij loved playing games. He would push a ping-pong ball down a slope and chase it. He also had some compulsive habits, like running on the same wall each day. This showed he was very clever and playful.

Word Meanings:

·         Slope – A slanted surface

·         Compulsive habits – Repeated actions done without thinking

·         Ping-pong – Table tennis

 

Final Paragraph

Text:
People in London had never seen an otter before. They made funny guesses...

Explanation:
Londoners were curious about Mij. Since they had never seen an otter, they guessed he was a seal, squirrel, hippo, or even a baby leopard. This amused the author a lot.

Word Meanings:

·         Brontosaurus – A type of dinosaur

·         Amused – Found something funny

·         Guess – Try to identify without knowing

 

🌟 Moral of the Story

The story teaches us that animals are intelligent and emotional beings. With love and care, even wild animals like otters can form deep bonds with humans.

 

Oral Comprehension Check

 

Part I

1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Maxwell thought Camusfearna, surrounded by nature and water, would be the perfect place to keep an otter instead of a dog. He wanted to observe if an otter could become a domestic pet in such an environment.

 

2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
He went to Basra to receive his mail. Unfortunately, due to some delays and red tape, he had to wait for five days. During this time, he also received the otter as a gift from his friend.

 

3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it?
The otter was a surprise gift from his friend, brought in a sack by two Arabs. Maxwell instantly felt a strong attachment. He adored the otter, calling his feelings “fixation” and “thraldom,” showing his deep affection and excitement.

 

4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
The otter belonged to a species previously unknown to scientists. It was identified as a new type and was later named Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, in honour of Gavin Maxwell, as he first brought attention to this particular otter.

 

5. In the beginning, the otter was:
Aloof and indifferent.

 

6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
Mij went wild with joy, splashing in the tub and playing. Two days later, he cleverly learned to turn on the tap by himself. This showed his love for water and his surprising intelligence and curiosity for how things worked.

 

Part III

1. How was Mij to be transported to England?
Mij was to travel by air in a small box. Maxwell planned to fly from Basra to Paris and then to London. The arrangement was difficult, and he had to ensure Mij was kept safe and unnoticed during the journey.

 

2. What did Mij do to the box?
Uncomfortable and scared, Mij tried to escape. He clawed at the box, tore the inner lining, and hurt himself in the process. Maxwell later found the box damaged and the otter bleeding, which made him feel sad and guilty.

 

3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How did he feel?
Maxwell had no other option, as the flight was about to leave. He felt miserable and guilty for causing Mij pain. He knew Mij was frightened but had to secure him for travel, which troubled him deeply.

 

4. Why does Maxwell say the air hostess was “the very queen of her kind”?
She was exceptionally kind and understanding. Instead of scolding him, she allowed Maxwell to keep Mij on his lap. Her compassion helped ease the situation, and Maxwell felt grateful for her generosity and support during the flight.

 

5. What happened when the box was opened?
Mij escaped and ran around the aircraft. A woman screamed, thinking he was a rat. Passengers were alarmed, but the situation soon turned humorous. Eventually, Mij was caught and brought back, causing both chaos and laughter onboard.

 

Part IV

1. What game had Mij invented?
Mij created a game where he would roll a ping-pong ball down the tilted top of a suitcase and run to catch it. This self-made game showed his playful, intelligent, and curious nature, which fascinated and amused Maxwell greatly.

 

 

2. What are ‘compulsive habits’?
Compulsive habits are repeated behaviors done without conscious thought. Schoolchildren may avoid cracks in the pavement. Similarly, Mij had a habit of running the full length of a wall during his daily walk, displaying instinctive and repetitive behavior patterns.

 

3. What group of animals do otters belong to?
Otters belong to the Mustelline group, which also includes animals like badgers and weasels. These animals are usually small, intelligent, and known for their playful and curious behavior, especially in water-related environments.

 

4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
People in London had never seen an otter, so they guessed randomly. Some thought he was a baby seal, squirrel, beaver, hippo, leopard, or even a dinosaur (brontosaurus). This amused Maxwell, as it showed people’s unfamiliarity with otters.