# Numa — Tarzan the Untamed character guide

> Numa in Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** XIV The Black Lion Numa

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-the-lion-s-cave

## Snapshot

A young, starving black lion whose failed hunts leave him savage enough to stalk man-flesh for the first time.

## Who they are

Numa has not eaten in two days, and hunger has stripped the roar from him, leaving only a silent, grim stalk through the game trails. Robbed of a deer by Sheeta the panther, he comes upon the scent of man and considers meat he has always disdained. His hunger drives him into the gorge where Tarzan's saber and Smith-Oldwick's pistol must answer him, making him the jungle's own verdict on the fugitives.

## Relationships

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/characters/tarzan)

_rivalry_

Numa the lion is a constant predator and enemy that Tarzan must overcome.

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/characters/tarzan)

_rivalry_

Numa the lion is a constant predator and enemy that Tarzan must overcome.

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/characters/tarzan)

_rivalry_

Numa the lion is a constant predator and enemy that Tarzan must overcome.

## In the story

### [I: Murder and Pillage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/i-murder-and-pillage)

The lion senses Tarzan's presence as he travels through the jungle.

### [II: The Lion's Cave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/ii-the-lion-s-cave)

A gaunt, hunger-mad lion whose cave serves as the setting for Tarzan's trap; he nearly catches Schneider but is temporarily thwarted.

### [In the German Lines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/iii-in-the-german-lines)

The lion Tarzan trapped; found gaunt and starving, fed by Tarzan with the carcasses of a deer and a hyena.

### [When the Lion Fed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/iv-when-the-lion-fed)

The lion that Tarzan captures, bags, and tames; later led through the jungle and used to intimidate other lions.

### [The Golden Locket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/v-the-golden-locket)

Numa is the lion that Tarzan previously muzzled and loosed in a German trench; he is driven away from Bertha by Tarzan.

### [XIV: The Black Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/xiv-the-black-lion)

A young, powerful black lion trapped by the Wamabos; hungry and savage, but accepts Tarzan's aid.

### [Mysterious Footprints](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/xv-mysterious-footprints)

The lion Tarzan freed; shows gratitude and befriends Tarzan, leading them toward water.

### [The Night Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/xvi-the-night-attack)

The black lion from the Wamabo pit defends Tarzan and helps him defeat the other lions.

### [XVII: The Walled City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/xvii-the-walled-city)

Numa the lion chases Tarzan across the clearing and is later seen under the control of a strange man.

### [The Flight from Xuja](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/xxiii-the-flight-from-xuja)

The black lion attacks the guards, saves Smith-Oldwick, and later responds to Tarzan's call to rejoin the group.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/characters/numa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/characters