Who is Akela?

The Jungle Book and Cub Scouting

Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, based Cub Scouting on one of the stories in Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. It was called "Mowgli's Brothers." We know it as "The Story of Akela and Mowgli." A copy of part of the story is in the Wolf Cub Scout Book. The story is continued in the Bear Cub Scout Book. A part of the story is also in the Cub Scout Leader Book.

BSA Cub Scouting has drawn upon the adventure and lore of the Native American, just as Seton's Native American lore influenced Boy Scouting; but a strong influence from Kipling's Jungle Book still remains. The words "Law of the Pack," "Akela," "Wolf Cub," " Grand Howl,""den," and "pack" all come from the Jungle Book. The gold and silver arrows, Webelos, and Arrow of Light are taken from our Native American heritage.

Jungle Book Names

The following may be of interest to Scouters not familiar with the Jungle Book nomenclature. It is a table of accepted pronunciations obtained from All the Mowgli Stories; Doubleday, 1936 and from Dee LaRock. These names are used in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other countries.

Names Used in Cub Scout Packs.

The following (also from the same source) is a list of "Jungle Names for the Cub Pack".

Names held "Ex Officio"

Akela : (Ah-ky-la*h*) The Father Wolf, leader of the Pack     Cubmaster

Baloo : (Baa-loo) the Bear                                                  Assistant Cubmaster

Bagheera :  ( Ba*r*-gheer-a*h*)  in history (the Panther)        Assistant Cubmaster

Raksha                                                                              Assistant Cubmaster

  

Names Awarded for Prowess in Cub Activities

  

 Chil : ( Cheel )   the Kite - Singing                                                              

 Kaa : ( Kar, with a sort of gasp in it.)  the Python - Tree-climbing.

 Nag : ( Na*r*g ) the Cobra - First Aid.

 Ahdeek : the Reindeer - Team Games

 Apukwa (the Bulrush) - Weaving

Blue Smoke	Signalling
Crimson Arrow	Throwing and catching
Dahinda (the Bull-frog)	Leapfrog, cartwheels, etc.
Ferao (the Scarlet Woodpecker)	Woodwork.
Golden Quill	Artist.
Hawkeye	Observation.
Hiawatha	All-round athletics.
Iagoo (the Story-teller)	Telling stories.
Jacala (the Crocodile)	Acting.
Karela (the Bitter Vine)	Knotting.
Keego (the Fish)	Swimming.
Keneu (the Great War Eagle)	Running.
Kotick (the Seal)	Wrestling.
Kwasin (the Strong Man)	Boxing.
Limmerskin (the Wren)	Message-carrying.
Little Beaver	Lair-building.
Mysa (the Wild Buffalo)	Good hearing.
Nushka ("Look!")	Guide.
Oonai (the Wolf)	Reciting.
Pukeena (the Grasshopper)	High Jump.
Scarlet Feather	Fire-lighting.
Sea Catch (the Seal)	Diving.
Shaw-shaw (the Swallow)	Skipping.
Singum (the Lion)	Book-carrying.
Rann (the Eagle)	Good eyesight.
Tilji-pho (the Lark)	Musician.
Toomai	Folk-dancing.
Wabeeno (the Magician)	Walking the Plank.
Wawbeck (the Rock)	Modelling.
White Elk	Long Jump.
Won-tolla	Hopping.

Names Awarded by Akela at his Discretion

Rikki-tikki-tavi : ( Rikky-tikky-tay-vy ) the Mongoose           Cheeriness, or Courage.

Hathi : ( Huttee or H*r*-ty ) the Elephant                              Punctual and regular attendance.

 Mowgli : ( Mow(as in "cow")-gly ) the Boy                            Friend to animals

Jeebi (the Ghost)	Fattest Cub.
Kim (Little friend of all the world)	Helpfulness.
Ko (the Crow)	Noisiest Cub.
Mang (the Bat)	Obedience.
Mor (the Peacock)	Tidiness and cleanliness.
Onaway ("Awake!")	Alertness.
Shada (the Pelican)	Perseverance.
Sona (the Himalayan Bear)	Good manners.
Suggeema (the Mosquito)	Smallest Cub.
Tall Pine	Tallest Cub

Other names

Shere Khan : ( Share-karn )  Tiger

Tabaqui : ( Tar-bár-kee) the Jackal

Tha :  Creator of the jungle

Bandarlog : ( Búnder-logue) the Monkey People

Hathi : ( Huttee or H*r*-ty )