Chapter 8: Mijbil the Otter

Introduction

"Mijbil the Otter" is a charming and humorous account by **Gavin Maxwell** about his experience of owning an otter. After losing his dog, Maxwell decides he wants a unique pet. He chooses an otter and chronicles its journey from Basra to London, their developing bond, and the otter's playful antics and intelligent nature.

Story Summary

The narrator, Gavin Maxwell, recounts a period in his life after his dog died, when he felt lonely in his London flat. He decided to get an otter as a pet, a somewhat unusual choice. His friend suggested the idea, and they arranged to get one from the Tigris marshes in Iraq, specifically Basra.

The otter arrived in a jute bag, accompanied by two Arabs. It was a small, mud-covered creature, which Maxwell named **Mijbil** (or Mij). Mijbil took some time to get accustomed to its new surroundings. In the beginning, it was aloof and showed no interest in its new environment. However, it gradually adapted and started exploring the room. The first thing it did was to turn the tap on and discover water, which otters love.

Mijbil soon developed a strong bond with Maxwell. It became incredibly playful and intelligent. It invented its own games, like rolling on its back and juggling small items between its paws, and developed a peculiar habit of playing with a rubber ball like a ping-pong ball, balancing it on its flat stomach. Mijbil also learned to open the water tap in the bathroom, and it spent hours splashing and playing in the water, demonstrating its natural affinity for water.

The most challenging part of their journey was getting Mijbil from Basra to London via air. British Airways did not allow animals, so Maxwell had to book a different airline, which permitted pets but required them to be packed in a box. Maxwell put Mijbil into a box, and on the way to the airport, Mijbil created a commotion by tearing through the lining of the box. Maxwell managed to repair the box just in time.

During the flight, the box was placed on the floor near Maxwell's feet. Mijbil escaped the box mid-flight, causing chaos. It disappeared under the seats, startling passengers. A kind air hostess helped Maxwell find Mijbil, and he managed to catch it. He calmed the otter by allowing it to sit on his knee, and it quickly fell asleep until the end of the journey.

In London, Maxwell observed that most people couldn't identify Mijbil. They mistook it for various other animals like a baby seal, squirrel, walrus, beaver, bear cub, or even a hippo. Only a few recognized it as an otter. This amused Maxwell and highlighted the rarity of seeing an otter in London.

The story beautifully portrays the unique personality of an otter and the deep affection that can develop between a human and an unconventional pet, emphasizing Mijbil's playful nature, intelligence, and the joy it brought into Maxwell's life.

Mijbil the Otter playing with a ball in water.

Main Characters

Key Themes

Textbook Questions and Answers

I. Oral Comprehension Check (Page 108)

  1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think of?

    Maxwell thought of the 'experiment' of getting an otter as a pet instead of a dog, as he felt lonely after his dog's death.

  2. Why does he get an otter?

    He gets an otter because he felt lonely living alone in London after the death of his pet dog. He decided that an otter would be a suitable pet, as suggested by a friend.

  3. Why was the otter named ‘Mijbil’?

    The otter was named 'Mijbil' because it was of a species previously unknown to science, and later, it was christened *Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli* or Maxwell's otter by zoologists.

  4. How was Mij to be transported to England?

    Mij was to be transported to England by air. Maxwell initially tried to book a British Airways flight, but they did not permit animals. He then booked a different airline that allowed pets, provided they were packed in a box, not exceeding specific dimensions, to be placed on the floor near his feet.

II. Oral Comprehension Check (Page 110)

  1. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom?

    When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, Mijbil went wild with joy in the water. He plunged and splashed in it for half an hour, as if it was his native element, and very soon, he learned how to turn on the tap by himself.

  2. Why was Mijbil a ‘frustrated and humiliated’ otter?

    Mijbil was a 'frustrated and humiliated' otter when he was put into the box for the journey to London. Otters are playful, active creatures, and being confined in a small, dark box, unable to move or play, caused him distress and indignity.

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

    Maxwell put the otter back into the box because it was a requirement for air travel. He must have felt conflicted and reluctant, as he was putting his beloved pet, who was clearly distressed, back into confinement. He likely felt a mix of sympathy, frustration with the circumstances, and the necessity to comply with airline rules.

III. Oral Comprehension Check (Page 112)

  1. What happened when the box was opened?

    When the box was opened on the aircraft, Mijbil immediately escaped. It disappeared under the seats, causing panic among the passengers, and created chaos in the flight by darting here and there.

  2. What is Mij’s favourite toy/game?

    Mij's favourite game was playing with a rubber ball, like a ping-pong ball. He would place it on his flat stomach while lying on his back and juggle it with his paws.

  3. What are the guesses that the Londoners made about what Mij was?

    The Londoners made many guesses about what Mij was, as they rarely saw an otter. They guessed it was a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a beaver, a bear-cub, a leopard, a 'brontosaur,' and a 'hippo'.

IV. Thinking about the Text (Page 113)

  1. What were the two chief characteristics of Mijbil?

    The two chief characteristics of Mijbil were his **love for water and playful nature**, and his **intelligence and quick learning ability**. He instantly bonded with water, showing great joy in it, and quickly learned to open the tap. His playfulness was evident in his unique games, like juggling the ball, and his curiosity led him to explore his surroundings thoroughly.

  2. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom?

    When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter immediately took to the water. He spent about half an hour playing wildly, plunging, rolling, and splashing in the bath. Within a short time, he discovered how to open the cold water tap and would quickly get into the tub to play in the running water.

  3. What did Mij do to the box?

    Mij, being a confined and frustrated animal, tore the lining of the box on his way to the airport. He ripped the air-holes and the entire inner lining of the box, creating a chaotic mess inside.

  4. What happened on the plane?

    On the plane, after the box was opened, Mijbil escaped from it and disappeared. This caused panic among the passengers. A kind air hostess helped Maxwell find Mijbil, who was then allowed to sit on Maxwell's knee, where he remained calm and slept for the rest of the journey.

  5. Why is Mijbil called 'Mijbil the Otter'? What does the author say about it?

    Mijbil is called 'Mijbil the Otter' because that is the name Gavin Maxwell gave him. The author further states that Mijbil belonged to a species of otter that was previously unknown to science. Later, zoologists identified and named it *Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli*, or Maxwell's Otter, recognizing its unique characteristics and its discoverer.

  6. How does the author describe Mijbil's unique behaviour when playing with a ball?

    The author describes Mijbil's unique behavior when playing with a ball by noting how Mijbil would lie on his back and juggle a rubber ball (like a ping-pong ball) on his broad, flat stomach with his paws. He could balance it, throw it, and roll it around, showing remarkable dexterity and playfulness.



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