Special Sub-Topic: The Jungle Books - Not the Movie Click Here To Play: The Jungle Books - Not the Movie

From the story "Mowgli's Brothers", which animal is the most apt to go mad?

Tabaqui the jackal. Tabaqui the Dish-licker is subject to dewanee (the madness) but we'd call it Hydrophobia or rabies.

What is wrong with Shere Khan, the tiger?

He is lame in one foot. Shere Khan's mother called him Lungri (the Lame One) - he has been lame in one foot since birth. Because of this he can only kill cattle, which annoys the villagers.

Baloo is a tougher teacher than Bagheera. True or false?

True. You wouldn't guess this from the movie! According to the book, Bagheera would have spoilt Mowgli if he'd had his way, but Baloo says Mowgli must learn all the law of the jungle.

Who are the jungle people with no laws?

The Monkeys. The Monkey-People (or Bandar-Log) have no Law. They are outcasts and Baloo warns Mowgli that the Monkey-People are forbidden to the Jungle-People.

Kaa is a poisonous snake. True or false?

False. Kaa rather despised the poison-snakes as cowards. He is actually a Rock Python, a sort of constrictor.

Who killed Shere Khan?

The buffaloes. Mowgli had been sent to herd the buffaloes, and, with the help of the wolves, stampeded them over Shere Khan. Buldeo came across Mowgli when he was skinning the carcass and tried to claim it for himself, but Akela the wolf knocked Buldeo down. For this, the villagers decided Mowgli was a wolf and cast him out.

What is the name of the White Seal?

Kotick. Kotick was the cub of Sea Catch and Matkah. Moby Dick was white, but not a seal!

Whose ghost do the Aluet people think that the white seal is?

Zaharrof. Zaharrof (an Aluet) had been lost the year before in a big gale. It was lucky for the white seal that the Aluet were superstitious, as he escaped the clubbing.

Rikki-tikki-tavi killed the cobras without help. True or false?

False. Darzee the Tailorbird and Chuchundra the muskrat helped him, although Rikki did the real fighting.

What is the name of the child of the houshold that Rikki-tikki-tavi is protecting?

Teddy. Rikki saved Teddy's life by killing a karait and Nagaina, the King Cobra's wife.

From the story "Toomai of the Elephants", what is the name of the old elephant?

Kala Nag. Kala Nag (which means Black Snake) was the calf of Radha Pyri and was a wise old elephant (nearly 70 at the beginning of the story). Dumbo and Babar are cartoon elephants.

From the story "Toomai of the Elephants", what is an ankus?

An elephant-goad. Toomai carries an old heavy iron one, but dreams of having one of silver when his elephant is bought by a rich rajah.

In the story "Servants of the Queen", how is Afghanistan described?

A very wild country. At the beginning of the story the Vicroy of India is receiving the Amir of Afghanistan 'a wild king of a very wild country'. His entourage are described as 'savage men and savage horses from somewhere at the back of Central Asia'. Not much change there, then. Incidentally, I believe Afghanistan is also a very beautiful country.

In the story "Servants of the Queen", Billy is a troop horse. True or false?

False. Billy is a mule.

Who, according to Hathi in the story "How Fear Came", was the First of the Elephants?

Tha. According to Hathi, Tha - the first Lord of the Jungle - made the jungle.

Mysa is the leader of the buffalo in the strory "When Fear Came".

True. It was the buffalo that found Fear (man).

What is the head and the hoof and the haunch and the hump of the Law of the Jungle?

Obey. From the poem "The Law of the Jungle" "Now these are the Laws of the Jungle, and many and mighty are they; But the head and the hoof of the Law and the haunch and the hump is -Obey!"

From "The Miracle of Purun Bagat", what State was Sir Purun Dass Prime Minister of?

Mohiniwala. As far as I can ascertain, Mohiniwala no longer exists, although the incorrect answers do.

What is Mowgli's Wolf pack name?

Little Brother. This is his name with his brothers from the Seeonee pack.

From "The Undertakers", what was the village of Mugger-Ghat named after?

A crocodile. A mugger is a name for the Indian crocodile and this one had a village named after him.

The great white cobra in "The King's Ankus" couldn't kill anyone. True or false?

True. His poison sacs had dried up because of his great age. I have not been able to find out if this could really happen, though there is evidence that the younger the snake, the more venomous the bite.

What are Kadlu, Amoraq and Kotuko in the story "Quiquern"?

Innuit. They all belonged to the Tununirmiut - 'the country lying at the back of something'.

What is the name of the Red Dogs of the Dekkan?

Dhole. Even the tiger will surrender a kill to the dholes. They fight in packs of over one hundred.

Did any of the Red Dogs make it back to the Dekkan after the fight with Mowgli and the wolves?

No. Out of two hundred fighting dogs, not one made it back with the news that Akela had been killed.

What is Mowgli's name in the village?

Nathoo. This is the name given to him by his 'mother', Messua. I cried in the film when Mowgli left the jungle. I wanted him to stay with the animals!