To the East of the Great Ocean, beyond the Sea of Serpents, lies the Jungle, stretching from Dwarf Bay in the North to the Bay of CASPIS in the South. In the midst of the Jungle lies the Mabula Basin: a dense, steamy rain forest. The Basin is ringed by jungle-covered uplands, beyond which huge and virtually impassable mountain ranges reach up into the clouds. The foothills of the mountains are covered with evergreen forest.
Through the Basin runs the great River Mabula. At the mouth of the river the mangrove swamps, which lie all along the coast of the Sea of Serpents, extend inland in a huge delta, and then line the river all through the Basin. In the very heart of the Jungle the Mabula splits in two, at the confluence of tributaries flowing in from North and South. Here lies Mabul’Adib, the great (and, indeed, only) city of the Jungle. As its name ("Built-on-Mabula") suggests, the city stands on stilts in the middle of the wide confluence of the rivers, and so is easy to defend.
To the South are three lesser rivers, which debouch into the Bay of CASPIS: the Daruo, Habawi and Kambo. All four rivers are navigable, but only by canoe, due to the many cataracts. At the mouths of the three southern rivers, three trading ports have been established by the Kuntacians: Ports Daruo, Habawi and Kambo respectively. The Sea of Serpents is generally avoided by traders, due to monsters, and the mangrove swamps and dense mists along the coast. The southern trading route is dangerous enough. Its length and isolation have made it particularly vulnerable to the Pirates, and the Secret Isle is said to be inhabited by powerful Beings Who do not wish to be disturbed. Only the most adventurous travel further inland than the ports.
The local inhabitants are known as the Black Men in Valdrean (due to their skin colour) or Mabuli in their own tongue. They live throughout the Jungle and the upland forests, in scattered villages or as nomadic tribes. Fixed settlements are usually located only at water supplies, such as the rivers; the most obvious example being Mabul’Adib. There are said to be many of them living in the Mabula Basin, but it is impossible to tell how many, due to the density of the jungle. Social structures are tribal, with no central authority. All the Gods of Anarea, and a few others beside, are worshipped by different tribes, each having its own special cult. For example, a Neutral / Lawful village tribe might worship "The Lawgiver", Who gave them the rules that first bound them together and allowed them to live together in one fixed place as a community. Other tribes have less benign religions, which can lead to hostilities or malpractices (such as cannibalism). Some tribes in the Basin are pygmies, only half the 5 ft height of normal Mabuli. There are many terrifying tale of the abilities of the pygmies, who are held in superstitious awe by other tribes.
Many trails are made through the jungle by man and beast, but without a local guide it is easy to become lost. Only the nomads or the foolhardy travel far. The former take a long time, the latter rarely return.
A wide variety of all forms of Natural life is to be found in the jungle, and all kinds of monsters. There are no clear-cut boundaries between the natural and the monstrous, the monstrous and the mythic. Giant tarantulas, flying carnivorous plants and underground dragons are all reputed to exist. The truth is often stranger than fiction, and it is virtually impossible to predict what may be encountered. The traveller must just stay alert. In the South, goblins are an additional menace.
Agriculture is very limited. Crop-growing and herd-keeping are small-scale activities compared to hunting and gathering. Such a lifestyle is dictated by the fecundity of the jungle, which defies clearance for agriculture and provides ample foodstuffs in the wild. Knowing what is edible and what is poisonous is an important skill amongst the Mabuli.
Industry is also limited, but Mabuli craftsmen are skilled at shaping wood, bone and other natural products. Some tribes make good use of the sap of the rubber tree. Others produce exotic spices, dyes, and poisons.
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