Character guide

Taffy

major

Also known as Yah, Ya

A Neolithic girl who helps invent writing with her father Tegumai.

Painted Jaguar

supporting

Also known as Jaguar, the Jaguar

A curious jaguar who learns about armadillos from his mother.

Pau Amma the Crab

major

Also known as Pau Amma, old Pau Amma

A giant crab who plays with the sea and is tamed by the Eldest Magician.

The Elephant's Child

major

Also known as The Elephant ’s Child

A curious young elephant who gets his trunk stretched by the Crocodile.

Suleiman-bin-Daoud

major

Also known as Daoud, Suleiman, the Most Wise Suleiman-bin-Daoud

The wise king who controls the elements and marries Balkis.

Old Man Kangaroo

supporting

Also known as Man, Kangaroo, Man Kangaroo, the Kangaroo, Old Man, the Man

A proud kangaroo who is chased by Dingo and given his hopping legs.

Tegumai Bopsulai

major

Also known as Tegumai, O Babe of Tegumai

A Neolithic chief and Taffy's father who invents the alphabet.

The Stranger-man

supporting

Also known as the Stranger-man, the Stranger

A Tewara tribesman who misunderstands Taffy's letter and brings a spear.

Stickly-Prickly Hedgehog

supporting

Also known as Stickly-Prickly, Hedgehog, the Hedgehog

A hedgehog who teaches the Painted Jaguar a lesson about armadillos.

Daddy

minor

The narrator's father who tells the stories to Best Beloved.

The Parsee

supporting

Also known as Pestonjee Bomonjee, the Parsee Pestonjee Bomonjee

A Parsee who bakes a cake and gets revenge on the Rhinoceros.

The Butterfly

supporting

Also known as Butterfly, the bad little Butterfly, the little Butterfly

A small butterfly who stamps and causes Suleiman's wives to quarrel.

The Cat

major

Also known as Cat, O Cat

A wild cat who bargains to become a house pet while staying independent.

The Dog

supporting

Also known as Wild Dog, Dog, Presently the Dog

The first animal to become domesticated by Man.

The Whale

supporting

Also known as Whale

A whale who swallows a mariner and gets a grating in his throat.

The Leopard

supporting

Also known as Leopard

A spotted leopard who adapts to the forest with the Ethiopian.

The Camel

supporting

Also known as Camel, O Camel

A lazy camel who refuses to work and gets a hump from the Djinn.

Wild Horse

minor

Also known as Horse

A wild horse who is tamed by Man in the Cave.

The Rhinoceros

supporting

Also known as Strorks, the Rhinoceros Strorks

A rude rhinoceros who loses his skin after stealing a Parsee's cake.

Baviaan

minor

Also known as the Most Wise Baviaan, Wise Baviaan

A wise baboon who gives advice to the animals.

Balkis

supporting

Also known as Balkis the Most Beautiful, the Wise Balkis of Sheba, the Queen Balkis

The beautiful queen of Sheba and wife of Suleiman-bin-Daoud.

Best Beloved

minor

Also known as O Best Beloved

The child to whom the stories are addressed.

The Djinn

supporting

Also known as Djinn

A magical being who punishes the Camel with a hump.

Slow-and-Solid

supporting

Also known as Slow-Solid, Slow - and - Solid

A tortoise who helps the hedgehog trick the Painted Jaguar.

The Eldest Magician

major

Also known as O Eldest Magician

The creator who sets the world in order and tames Pau Amma.

Mummy

minor

The narrator's mother who appears in the frame story.

The Zebra

minor

Also known as Zebra

A zebra who gets stripes in the forest.

Teshumai Tewindrow

supporting

Also known as Teshumai

Taffy's mother who misunderstands the letter and raises the tribe.

Tortoise

minor

Also known as Slow-and-Solid Tortoise, a Tortoise, the Tortoise

A slow tortoise who becomes an armadillo with the hedgehog.

Nqong

minor

Also known as big God Nqong, Big God Nqong

A god who sets the kangaroo chase in motion.

The Crocodile

supporting

The crocodile who pulls the Elephant's Child's nose into a trunk.

Taffimai Metallumai

minor

Also known as Taffimai

Taffy's full name used in the alphabet story.

Speckly Jaguar

minor

Also known as Jaguar, The Jaguar

The Painted Jaguar's mother who gives him advice.

Ethiopian

supporting

Also known as the Ethiopian

A hunter who changes color and helps the Leopard get spots.

Kolokolo Bird

minor

A bird who directs the Elephant's Child to the Crocodile.

Dingo

minor

Also known as Yellow-Dog Dingo, The Dog

A yellow dog who chases Old Man Kangaroo across Australia.

Pussy

minor

A female cat who negotiates with the Woman in the Cave.

Mother Jaguar

minor

Also known as Even Painted Jaguar, Mother

The Painted Jaguar's mother who gives him hunting advice.

The Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake

minor

Also known as the Snake

A python who helps the Elephant's Child on his journey.

Child

minor

A generic child mentioned in the stories.

Wild Cow

minor

A wild cow who is tamed by Man in the Cave.

Binkie

minor

The family dog mentioned in the frame story.

Nqa

minor

Also known as Up jumped Nqa, Little God Nqa

A small god who assists the Eldest Magician.

The Giraffe

minor

Also known as Giraffe

A giraffe who gets spots in the forest.

Strorks the Rhinoceros

minor

The rhinoceros's full name after losing his skin.

Kun

minor

A god who appears in the kangaroo story.

The Baby

minor

A human baby in the Cave who plays with the Cat.

Raja Moyang Kaban

minor

A king mentioned in the crab story.

Small Porgies

minor

Fish that the Whale eats before swallowing the mariner.