The Beasts of Tarzan · Chapter
XI: Tambudza explained
Tarzan buries the Kincaid's cook, who died protecting his family, and resumes his pursuit of Rokoff.
What happens
Tarzan buries the Kincaid's cook, who died protecting his family, and resumes his pursuit of Rokoff. After losing the trail during a week of storms, he becomes lost in the jungle for the first time. He encounters a native village where the inhabitants flee in terror, having been warned by Rokoff that a 'white devil' and a pack of demons are pursuing them. Tarzan learns that Rokoff's safari is retreating toward the east coast, but the chief, M'ganwazam, denies that a white woman or child is with the party. Suspecting the chief is lying, Tarzan decides to stay overnight. M'ganwazam, hoping to earn a reward for killing Tarzan, assigns assassins to share his hut. Tarzan awakens to a stealthy presence in the darkness.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Resilience
Tarzan endures a week of storms, loses the trail, becomes lost for the first time, and continues his relentless pursuit despite overwhelming obstacles.
Good vs. Evil
Tarzan's quest to rescue his family from the villainous Rokoff embodies the struggle between good (Tarzan's chivalry and determination) and evil (Rokoff's cruelty and manipulation).
Savagery and Civilization
The cannibal village of M'ganwazam, with its deceit and murderous intent, contrasts with Tarzan's civilized sense of honor and duty, highlighting the thin line between savagery and civilization.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Buries the cook, pursues Rokoff, gets lost in the jungle for a week, encounters the village of M'ganwazam, and decides to stay overnight despite suspicion.
- Jane Clayton
Tarzan confirms she is ahead of him and has fallen into Rokoff's hands again; M'ganwazam denies her presence, but Tarzan believes he is lying.
- Nikolas Rokoff
Flees with Jane and the child, spreads stories of a 'white devil' to turn natives against Tarzan, and is retreating toward the east coast.
- M'ganwazam
Cannibal chief who denies the presence of a white woman and child, plots to kill Tarzan for a reward, and assigns assassins to share Tarzan's hut.
- Sven Anderssen
Mentioned as the man Rokoff pursued; his flight with Jane and the child suggests an attempt to cross the continent to Zanzibar.
Key passages
“Tarzan scooped a shallow grave for the Kincaid's cook, beneath whose repulsive exterior had beaten the heart of a chivalrous gentleman.”
Tarzan buried the cook from the Kincaid, a man who looked rough but acted nobly.
Tarzan honors the cook's sacrifice for his family.
“For the first time in his life, Tarzan of the Apes had been lost in the jungle.”
Tarzan experienced being lost in the jungle for the very first time.
Highlights Tarzan's unprecedented disorientation.
“The black had recognized Tarzan as the white devil from the descriptions given by the whites and their black servants.”
The native identified Tarzan as the white devil described by Rokoff's party.
Rokoff's propaganda turns natives against Tarzan.
“M'ganwazam denied that there had been any white woman or child with the party of whites; but even as he spoke Tarzan was convinced that he lied.”
The chief said no white woman or child was with the group, but Tarzan knew he was lying.
Tarzan suspects M'ganwazam is hiding Jane's presence.