# Long Arrow — The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle character guide > Long Arrow in The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** X Long Arrow, poor Long Arrow, the great Long Arrow, Arrow **First appearance:** 0027-part-ii-x-long-arrow-the-son-of-golden-arrow ## Snapshot A legendary naturalist whose pharmacopoeia of plant lore the Doctor ranks beside Linnaeus, and whose unexplained absence haunts the island expedition. ## Who they are Long Arrow is the naturalist the Doctor measures himself against — a man whose discoveries in the field rival any European scientist's, yet whose work may never reach the wider world. His vanishing becomes one of the voyage's driving mysteries, and the Doctor's grief over him sharpens the tension between adventure and the quiet work of real science. He matters because his absence gives the island journey its purpose and its ache. ## Relationships ### [Doctor Dolittle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/doctor_dolittle) _friendship_ Doctor Dolittle and Long Arrow share a deep bond of mutual respect and adventure as fellow naturalists and explorers. ### [Miranda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/miranda) _friendship_ Long Arrow and Miranda are fellow travelers and friends, sharing knowledge of distant places and birds. ### [Polynesia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/polynesia) _friendship_ Long Arrow and Polynesia share a mutual respect as intelligent creatures who communicate across species. ### [Bumpo Kahbooboo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/bumpo_kahbooboo) _friendship_ Bumpo and Long Arrow become fast friends during their shared adventures, united by curiosity and good humor. ### [Doctor Dolittle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/doctor_dolittle) _friendship_ Doctor Dolittle and Long Arrow share a deep bond of mutual respect and adventure as fellow naturalists and explorers. ### [Miranda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/miranda) _friendship_ Long Arrow and Miranda are fellow travelers and friends, sharing knowledge of distant places and birds. ### [Polynesia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/polynesia) _friendship_ Long Arrow and Polynesia share a mutual respect as intelligent creatures who communicate across species. ### [Bumpo Kahbooboo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/bumpo_kahbooboo) _friendship_ Bumpo and Long Arrow become fast friends during their shared adventures, united by curiosity and good humor. ### [Doctor Dolittle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/doctor_dolittle) _friendship_ Doctor Dolittle and Long Arrow share a deep bond of mutual respect and adventure as fellow naturalists and explorers. ## In the story ### [My Great Idea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-i-xii-my-great-idea) Introduced as a mysterious Red Indian naturalist who cannot read or write but has immense knowledge of botany and animals. ### [Blind Travel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-blind-travel) His disappearance is the cause of the Doctor's sadness; the Doctor had hoped to visit him. ### [The Jabizri](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-iv-vi-the-jabizri) The missing naturalist who sent the picture-letter via the Jabizri beetle, trapped in a cave and in dire need of rescue. ### [A Great Moment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-i-a-great-moment) Freed from the cave after two weeks; communicates with the Doctor in eagle language and expresses gratitude. ### [The Men of the Moving Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-ii-the-men-of-the-moving-land) Receives sad news about the chief's death; explains the village name and tribes; does not know the meaning of 'cooked' food. ### [Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-iii-fire) Explains that the Popsipetels have no fire and can see in the dark; he arranges for a squirrel's nest and woods to be brought for fire-making. ### [What Makes an Island Float](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-iv-what-makes-an-island-float) Accompanies the Doctor and Tommy on their exploration of the island. ### [War!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-v-war) Receives news of the Bag-jagderag attack and fights alongside the Doctor as one of the Terrible Three. ### [General Polynesia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-vi-general-polynesia) Falls with a spear in his chest and is the worst wounded, but recovers after the Doctor's care. ### [VII: The Peace of the Parrots](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-vii-the-peace-of-the-parrots) Mentioned as not accompanying the group because he is still weak from his wound. ### [The Hanging Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-viii-the-hanging-stone) Mentioned as recovering from his illness; the Doctor visits him upon returning to Popsipetel. ### [IX: The Election](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-ix-the-election) Lying on a grass bed recovering; advises the Doctor that he must accept the kingship for now, as the people are determined. ### [X: The Coronation of King Jong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-v-x-the-coronation-of-king-jong) Carried up on his sick bed to witness the coronation. ### [III: The Red Man’s Science](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-vi-iii-the-red-man-s-science) Returns from Brazil with his hidden collection of plants, explaining their properties to the Doctor and his friends. ### [VII: The Doctor's Decision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/part-vi-vii-the-doctor-s-decision) Supports the Doctor's decision, brings his plant collection, and bids a heartfelt farewell, predicting the Doctor will be mourned. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters/long_arrow - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_voyages_of_doctor_dolittle_se/characters