# Usanga — Tarzan the Untamed character guide

> Usanga in Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the cunning Usanga, Numabo, the brutal Usanga, the ignorant Numabo, XIII Usanga, the black Usanga

**First appearance:** 0000-i-murder-and-pillage

## Snapshot

A black sergeant who seizes an aeroplane and a white girl, proving that the 'ignorant savage' Tarzan dismisses can pilot, scheme, and betray.

## Who they are

Usanga is a deserter from the German command who takes Smith-Oldwick's plane and Bertha Kircher with it, leaving the bound Englishman in the meadow. Tarzan watches him fly and cannot guess how a man he counts a savage learned the controls, which is exactly the assumption Usanga exploits. His treachery turns the rescue into a midair gamble and makes him the human threat that jungle cunning alone cannot solve.

## Relationships

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

_rivalry_

Usanga is a treacherous native chief who betrays and opposes Tarzan throughout the story.

### [Naratu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/characters/naratu)

_professional_

Naratu is a subordinate or ally of Usanga, serving his schemes.

### [Sheeta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/characters/sheeta)

_rivalry_

Sheeta the leopard is a threat to Usanga as well, representing wild danger.

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

_rivalry_

Usanga is a treacherous native chief who betrays and opposes Tarzan throughout the story.

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

_rivalry_

Usanga is a treacherous native chief who betrays and opposes Tarzan throughout the story.

## In the story

### [VIII: Tarzan and the Great Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/viii-tarzan-and-the-great-apes)

Usanga is the burly sergeant leading the band of deserters. He refuses to turn back despite the terror caused by Tarzan's actions, arguing that returning to their German masters would mean torture and death.

### [X: In the Hands of Savages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/x-in-the-hands-of-savages)

Chief of the Wamabo; orders Tarzan bound for the feast; leads warriors against the apes but is routed by boiling water.

### [Usanga's Reward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/xiii-usanga-s-reward)

Attempts to fly away with Bertha but is thwarted by Tarzan's intervention.

## Links

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