7. The Forest of Gugu


In the central western part of the Gillikin Country is a great
tangle of trees called Gugu Forest. It is the biggest forest in all
Oz and stretches miles and miles in every direction--north, south,
east and west. Adjoining it on the east side is a range of rugged
mountains covered with underbrush and small twisted trees. You can
find this place by looking at the Map of the Land of Oz.

Gugu Forest is the home of most of the wild beasts that inhabit Oz.
These are seldom disturbed in their leafy haunts because there is no
reason why Oz people should go there, except on rare occasions, and
most parts of the forest have never been seen by any eyes but the eyes
of the beasts who make their home there. The biggest beasts inhabit
the great forest, while the smaller ones live mostly in the mountain
underbrush at the east.

Now, you must know that there are laws in the forests, as well as in
every other place, and these laws are made by the beasts themselves,
and are necessary to keep them from fighting and tearing one another
to pieces. In Gugu Forest there is a King--an enormous yellow leopard
called "Gugu"--after whom the forest is named. And this King has
three other beasts to advise him in keeping the laws and maintaining
order--Bru the Bear, Loo the Unicorn and Rango the Gray Ape--who are
known as the King's Counselors. All these are fierce and ferocious
beasts, and hold their high offices because they are more intelligent
and more feared then their fellows.