Sunday, December 16, 2007

Why Mang?

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A few people ask me about my cub leader name. Why Mang they ask?

When I joined the 433rd, we had our Akela and our
Bagheera. And since Baloo was taking some time off and might return, I had to find something that else that fit from the list of characters. In other packs, a common fourth was Kaa, Chil, Hathi, or even Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.

Mang doesn't get much mention in the Jungle Book. All of the names above get more play in the book, but they didn't feel right. Mang
was a great choice given my interests and the fact that both astronomers and bats are nocturnal. There was also the wonderful rhyme :
Now Chil the Kite brings home the night
That Mang the Bat sets free.
And, I always liked a good party!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It's my favourite of the Jungle Book poems -- Night Song of the Jungle.
and Bats are some of my favourite mammals!

Erich Viedge (unreachable link)