Mijbil The Otter

What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

Answer explanation

Maxwell had travelled to Southern Iraq in 1956 and he fancied the idea of keeping an otter as a pet instead of a dog. He thought Camusfearna was surrounded by water that was a stone’s throw from its door. So, it would be an eminently suitable spot for this ‘experiment’.

Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?

Answer explanation

Maxwell went to Basra to the Consulate-General to collect and answer his mail from Europe. However, though his friend’s mail had arrived, his had not. So he cabled to England and three days later, he even made a phone call which had to be booked 24 hours in advance. On the first day, the line was out of order; on the second day, the exchange was closed for a religious holiday. On the third day, there was another breakdown. His friend had left, and the writer arranged to meet him in a week’s time. Finally, after five days, his mail arrived. Hence, Maxwell had to wait for five days for his mail.

How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.

Answer explanation

When the writer’s mail arrived, he took it to his bedroom to read. He saw two Arabs squatting on the floor with a sack that squirmed from time to time. They handed him a note which was from his friend, which mentioned that he had sent him an otter.

Yes, Maxwell liked it. We know this from his words “An otter fixation” used to describe his feelings towards the otter. He felt the term was used to express his strong attachment towards otters like any other otter owner would feel.

Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?

Answer explanation

An otter was typically called by zoologists as “Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli”, so it was called Maxwell’s otter in short.

What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?

Answer explanation

When Maxwell first took Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter first went wild with joy in the water for the first half an hour. He plunged and rolled in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub and making enough slosh and splash for a hippo.

After two days, the otter suddenly disappeared from Maxwell’s bedroom and went to the bathroom to play in the water he was up on the end of the bathtub and fumbling at the chromium taps with his paws. The author watched in amazement how the little creature had turned the tap to produce a trickle of water slowly and, after a moment, achieved the full flow.

How was Mij to be transported to England?

Answer explanation

Maxwell booked a flight to Paris, and from there, he would fly to England. As British airlines do not allow pets on board, the airline authorities insisted that Mijbil should be packed into an eighteen-inch square box to be carried on the floor near Maxwell’s feet. Hence, he got a box made an hour before they started, and he put Mij into the box so that he would become accustomed to it. He then quickly rushed to get a meal.

What did Mij do to the box?

Answer explanation

The box was lined with a metal sheet, but Mij wasn’t feeling comfortable inside the box and tried to escape from it. In his attempt to escape, Mijbil tore into the metal lining of the box, hurt himself and started bleeding.

Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?

Answer explanation

Maxwell knew that there was no other way he could carry Mij to London, so he put the otter back into the box. He was anxious and felt sorry by looking at the otter’s condition as he hurt himself while trying to escape from the box.

Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?

Answer explanation

The air hostess was very friendly and showed sympathy to Maxwell after listening to his story. She respected his feelings and concern about the incident with the box and gave him permission to take the otter out of the box and keep his pet on his knee. Hearing this, the author developed a profound admiration for the kind lady and referred to her as “the very queen of her kind”.

What happened when the box was opened?

Answer explanation

As soon as the box was opened, Mij jumped out of it. He disappeared in no time and ran all over the place, scaring other passengers on the flight. The otter created a lot of chaos in the airplane and the co-passengers got scared looking at the little creature. Out of fear, a woman stood up on her seat as he went beneath the legs of a portly white-turbaned Indian. Maxwell tried to get hold of Mij, but failed. The air hostess assured Maxwell that she would find the otter for him. Soon enough, Mijbil returned to the author, clung to his knee, and began to nuzzle his face and neck.