Chapter 2
Bringing up Kari
1.How old was Kari when he first came under the care of the narrator, and how tall was he at that time?
Answer: Kari was five months old, and the narrator, who was nine, could only reach his back by standing on tiptoe. Kari remained about that height for nearly two years.
2.Describe the pavilion in which Kari lived and explain why it was constructed that way.
Answer: Kari lived in a pavilion with a thatched roof supported by thick tree stumps. This construction prevented the pavilion from falling when Kari bumped against the poles while moving around.
3.How much food did Kari require daily, and what challenges did the narrator face in providing it?
Answer: Kari needed about forty pounds of twigs each day. The narrator had to climb trees, find delicate twigs, and carefully sharpen a hatchet so the twigs were not mutilated, because elephants refuse to eat damaged twigs.
4.Describe Kari’s morning bathing routine in the river.
Answer: Kari lay on the sand bank while the narrator rubbed him with clean sand for an hour, then he lay in the water for a long time. Afterward, the narrator poured water down his back, making Kari squeal with pleasure.
5.How did Kari save a boy from drowning?
Answer: The narrator sank with the boy in the river, kicked off the riverbed to rise, and felt a lasso around his neck. Kari’s trunk had wrapped around the narrator’s neck and pulled both him and the boy safely ashore.
6.How did the narrator initially mistake Kari’s trunk for a snake?
Answer: The narrator saw a long, black object resembling a snake taking bananas from the dining-room window. Later, he realized it was Kari’s trunk reaching for the fruit.
7.How did Kari respond after being scolded for stealing bananas?
Answer: Kari understood the scolding, realized everyone was angry, and never stole again. When given fruit afterward, he squealed as if to thank the giver.
8.What lesson does Kari’s behavior teach about elephants and punishment?
Answer: Elephants accept punishment for wrongdoing, but if punished without reason, they remember and may retaliate later.
9.How quickly did Kari learn the command “Mali,” and what does it signify?
Answer: Kari learned “Mali” in three lessons. It is the signal for him to walk, taught by gently pulling his trunk forward.
10.Why did it take Kari much longer to learn the command “Dhat”?
Answer: “Dhat” signals an elephant to sit down, which is physically more difficult. It took three weeks for Kari to learn because sitting properly is challenging for a growing elephant.
11.Why is it important to teach an elephant to sit down?
Answer: As elephants grow taller, the caretaker cannot reach their backs. Teaching them to sit allows the caretaker to climb onto their back without a ladder.
12.What is the master call, and why is it considered the most difficult command to teach?
Answer: The master call is a strange hissing, howling sound like a snake and tiger fighting. It is used in emergencies, and it takes about five years for an elephant to learn it properly.
13.How does Kari respond to the master call in dangerous situations?
Answer: When the master call is given, Kari can pull down trees to clear a path and scare away other animals, ensuring safety for the caretaker.
14.How did Kari react to his morning river bath?
Answer: Kari enjoyed it immensely, squealing with pleasure when rubbed with water and sand.
15.Why did collecting twigs and saplings for Kari take so much effort?
Answer: The narrator had to climb different trees and select the most delicate twigs. If a twig was mutilated, Kari would refuse to eat it, making the task painstaking.
16.What did Kari do when he developed a taste for ripe bananas?
Answer: He secretly took all the bananas from the dining-room table and carried them to his pavilion without anyone noticing, leaving smashed bananas behind.
17.How did the narrator discover that Kari was the one taking the bananas?
Answer: He followed a long, black snake-like object and saw Kari in the pavilion with the stolen bananas, realizing it was his trunk.
18.How did Kari show his intelligence after being scolded?
Answer: Kari never stole again and expressed gratitude when given fruit, showing he understood instructions and consequences.
19.How does Kari demonstrate loyalty to his caretaker?
Answer:He responds immediately to commands, helps during emergencies, and obeys instructions even when alone or tempted.
20.Describe how Kari is trained to respond to the command “Mali.”
Answer: The narrator pulls Kari’s trunk forward while saying “Mali,” teaching him that it is the signal to start walking.
21.Describe how Kari is trained to respond to the command “Dhat.”
Answer: The narrator pulls Kari by the ear while saying “Dhat,” teaching him that it is the signal to sit down.
22.Why is patience important when training an elephant like Kari?
Answer: Commands like sitting down and the master call take weeks or years to master, requiring consistent practice and understanding of the elephant’s learning pace.
23.How does Kari behave when given fruit after being taught lessons?
Answer: He squeals happily, expressing gratitude and showing he remembers proper behavior.
24.What role does pride play in Kari’s behavior?
Answer: His injured pride after scolding prevents him from repeating misbehavior, showing that elephants understand social cues and consequences.
25.How did Kari help in scaring away wild animals in the jungle?
Answer: By pulling down trees when given the master call, he frightened monkeys, tigers, and other animals, creating a safe path.
26.What similarities are drawn between Kari and a human baby?
Answer: Kari needed training, guidance, and supervision, behaved mischievously, and showed emotions like pride and gratitude, much like a child.
27.How long does it take for an elephant to learn the master call?
Answer: It generally takes about five years to learn the master call properly.
28.Why did the narrator need to sharpen the hatchet for twigs carefully?
Answer: A sharp hatchet ensures twigs are not mutilated, as elephants refuse damaged twigs.
29.How did Kari display sensitivity and playfulness in his daily life?
Answer: He squealed with pleasure during bathing, stole bananas mischievously, and responded attentively to commands and affection.
30.Why did the narrator describe Kari as a “tiny teacher”?
Answer: Kari teaches lessons about intelligence, discipline, loyalty, and learning from experience through his behavior and interactions.
31.How does Kari show that elephants can understand human words and tones?
Answer: He responded appropriately to scolding, learned commands, and expressed gratitude, showing comprehension of words and context.
32.How do elephants like Kari demonstrate self-help and independence?
Answer: Kari fetched his own twigs and even solved problems like rescuing someone from the river, demonstrating initiative.
33.What is the significance of teaching Kari to sit down before he grows too tall?
Answer: It allows the caretaker to mount him without a ladder and ensures safety during training and rides.
34.Describe the relationship between Kari and the narrator.
Answer: They grew up together, shared daily routines, and had a strong bond of trust, affection, and understanding.
35.How does Kari’s behavior in the jungle reflect intelligence and bravery?
Answer: He obeys complex commands like the master call, pulls down trees strategically, and frightens wild animals, showing problem-solving and courage.
36.How long did it take for Kari to learn to sit down properly?
Answer: It took him three weeks to understand and respond consistently to the command “Dhat.”
37.How does Kari help his caretaker feel safe in the jungle at night?
Answer: By obeying the master call, he clears paths and scares away dangerous animals, providing protection and guidance.
38.How do the anecdotes about Kari show that elephants have memory and learning capabilities?
Answer: Kari remembered commands, learned from past mistakes, and applied lessons even after weeks or months, showing strong memory and learning ability.
39.Why did Kari enjoy rubbing in sand during his bath?
Answer: It cleaned his skin, made him feel comfortable, and was pleasurable, as shown by his squealing.
40.What lessons can humans learn from observing Kari?
Answer: Humans can learn about patience, discipline, intelligence, loyalty, self-help, and the importance of teaching and guiding others consistently.
Answer by Mrinmoee
