THE JUNGLE BOOK
By Rudyard Kipling
All that is told here happened some time before Mowgli was turned out of the
Seeonee Wolf Pack, or revenged himself on Shere Khan the tiger. It was in the
days when Baloo was teaching him the Law of the Jungle. The big, serious, old
brown bear was delighted to have so quick a pupil, for the young wolves will only
learn as much of the Law of the Jungle as applies to their own pack and tribe, and
run away as soon as they can repeat the Hunting Verse—"Feet that make no
noise; eyes that can see in the dark; ears that can hear the winds in their lairs, and
sharp white teeth, all these things are the marks of our brothers except Tabaqui
the Jackal and the Hyaena whom we hate." But Mowgli, as a man-cub, had to
learn a great deal more than this. Sometimes Bagheera the Black Panther would
come lounging through the jungle to see how his pet was getting on, and would
purr with his head against a tree while Mowgli recited the day's lesson to Baloo.
The boy could climb almost as well as he could swim, and swim almost as well as
he could run. So Baloo, the Teacher of the Law, taught him the Wood and Water
Laws: how to tell a rotten branch from a sound one; how to speak politely to the
wild bees when he came upon a hive of them fifty feet above ground; what to say
to Mang the Bat when he disturbed him in the branches at midday; and how to
warn the water-snakes in the pools before he splashed down among them. None of
the Jungle People like being disturbed, and all are very ready to fly at an
intruder. Then, too, Mowgli was taught the Strangers' Hunting Call, which must
be repeated aloud till it is answered, whenever one of the Jungle-People hunts
outside his own grounds. It means, translated, "Give me leave to hunt here
because I am hungry." And the answer is, "Hunt then for food, but not for
pleasure."
All this will show you how much Mowgli had to learn by heart, and he grew
very tired of saying the same thing over a hundred times. But, as Baloo said to
Bagheera, one day when Mowgli had been cuffed and run off in a temper, "A
man's cub is a man's cub, and he must learn all the Law of the Jungle."
"But think how small he is," said the Black Panther, who would have spoiled
Mowgli if he had had his own way. "How can his little head carry all thy long
talk?"
"Is there anything in the jungle too little to be killed? No. That is why I teach him
these things, and that is why I hit him, very softly, when he forgets."
"Softly! What dost thou know of softness, old Iron-feet?" Bagheera grunted. "His
face is all bruised today by thy—softness. Ugh."
"Better he should be bruised from head to foot by me who love him than that he
should come to harm through ignorance," Baloo answered very earnestly. "I am
now teaching him the Master Words of the Jungle that shall protect him with the
birds and the Snake People, and all that hunt on four feet, except his own pack.
He can now claim protection, if he will only remember the words, from all in the
jungle. Is not that worth a little beating?"
"Well, look to it then that thou dost not kill the man-cub. He is no tree trunk to
sharpen thy blunt claws upon. But what are those Master Words? I am more
likely to give help than to ask it"—Bagheera stretched out one paw and admired
the steel-blue, ripping-chisel talons at the end of it—"still I should like to know."
"I will call Mowgli and he shall say them—if he will. Come, Little Brother!"
"My head is ringing like a bee tree," said a sullen little voice over their heads, and
Mowgli slid down a tree trunk very angry and indignant, adding as he reached the
ground: "I come for Bagheera and not for thee, fat old Baloo!"
"That is all one to me," said Baloo, though he was hurt and grieved. "Tell
Bagheera, then, the Master Words of the Jungle that I have taught thee this day."
Exercise 1. Explain the meaning of words in bold from the context providing a synonym
or a definition.
1. tribe –
2. man-cub –
3. to purr –
4. hive
5. intruder –
6. to learn by heart –
7. bruised –
8. blunt –
9. admired –
10. grieved –
Exercise 2. Circle the right answer:
I. Who taught Mowgli the Hunting Verse?
a. the jackal b. the hyena c. the bear d. the wolves
II. Mowgli learnt the stranger’s Hunting Call
a. to hunt only for fun and games
b. to fun for food
c. to tell other animals that he was coming
d. to find his way through the jungle
III. The Master Words of the Jungle will protect Mowgli from:
a. all the jungle animals
b. his own pack of wolves
c. all the dangerous snakes
d. some birds and snakes
IV. Why was Baloo happy with his student:
a. he learnt quickly
b. he had already known some laws
c. he was kind to Baloo
d. he was his favourite student
V. Where was Mowgli hiding?
a. on a tree
b. behind a tree
c. in bushes
d. behind a bush
Discussion:
Why is it important to obey rules?
