The mulefa (singular zalif) were a species of sentient beings. They were notable for their use of seed pods as wheels and their ability to see Dust with the naked eye. Mary Malone became part of a mulefa society when she travelled to their world.
History
The mulefa species gained consciousness around 33,000 years ago, at a similar time to humans, when they encountered Dust.[1] The Mulefa were enemies of the Tualapi, another species in the mulefa world.
Biology
Anatomy
Having evolved in a radically different way to humans, the mulefa had an anatomy based on a diamond-framed skeleton lacking a spine, with a limb at each of the corners. The front and back legs ended in spurs.
The most notable feature of the mulefa was their use of seed pods as wheels. Once a zalif reached puberty, they were able to fit their spurs into the disc-shaped pods, and propelled themselves along "roads" of solidified lava with their side legs. They had a symbiotic relationship with the wheel-trees. Their use of the pods on the "roads" allowed the extremely hard exterior to crack and the seeds to emerge. These were germinated by the mulefa, allowing the wheel-pod trees to survive.
The mulefa had prehensile trunks which were about as long as the arm of an adult female human. The trunk ended in two finger-like projections, and they were able to vary the tone of the skin in this area from soft to rough to accomplish different tasks.[2]
The eyes of the mulefa were able to perceive Dust.[1]
Diet
Mulefa were omnivorous, consuming both plants and meat. They farmed creatures known as "grazers" for their milk,[3] meat and skins.[2] They also catch fish with nets. They ground grains for flour and were able to cook bread.[1]
Culture
Language
The language of the Mulefa combined vocalisations with trunk-gestures to create meaning. Mary Malone likened these gestures to the tones of Chinese languages.[4]
Known words of the language include:
Mulefa vocalisation | Mulefa gesture | English |
---|---|---|
chuh | trunk swept left to right | water |
chuh | trunk curled up at tip | rain |
chuh | trunk curled under | sadness |
chuh | trunk flicked quickly to left | young shoots of grass |
unknown | unknown | literally "make-like"; metaphor |
unknown | unknown | literally "night-picture"; dream |
sraf | trunk flicked left | Dust |
zalif | unknown | singular form of mulefa |
Kinship
Mulefa recognise the kinship relations of consanguinity (parent-child relationship) and affinity (marriage). The mulefa had marriage ceremonies in which they symbolically exchanged bands of copper which were worn around the base of one of their horns.[1] They lived in these monogamous couples and raised offspring, who had a long childhood lasting around ten years.[2]
Society
The mulefa formed close-knit communities. Having but a single trunk each, they had to work together to accomplish tasks which a human with two hands could complete alone, such as tying knots to make nets.[2] Grooming each other was a social custom.[1]
Technology
Mulefa technology can be likened to that of stone-age humans. They crafted many things from wood, stone, shell and horn, but they made little use of metals, using it only for ornament.[1] They constructed villages of wattle-and-daub huts.[2] They knew how to use systems of ropes and pulleys to lift things, and used them to construct a platform for Mary Malone to observe the movements of Dust.[5]
Art
Story-telling formed part of the mulefa culture. They had a legend about how consciousness came to them, in which a snake persuades a young female to put her spur into a seed-pod, which opens her mind to Dust.[1] They told stories about their history, such as who first invented the fishing net and how he discovered the principle. They also had a great love story which could be likened to the Romeo and Juliet or Anthony and Cleopatra of Will's world.[4]
Notable mulefa
Behind the scenes
Pullman's inspiration for the Mulefa was revealed in the Independent in 2003: Phillip Pullman got the idea "from strolling round Lake Bled in Slovenia, where the constant rumble of overtaking skateboarders gave him the notion of 'Mulefa', elephant-like animals that use giant oiled seed pods as a means of locomotion"[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The Amber Spyglass, Chapter 17
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Amber Spyglass, Chapter 10
- ↑ The Amber Spyglass, Chapter 7
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Amber Spyglass, Appendix
- ↑ The Amber Spyglass, Chapter 20
- ↑ Nicolas Tucker, Philip Pullman: the Dæmon King, The Independent, 30 November 2003
Template:Races and species