Little Black Mingo is the hero of the tale based in India. She resides with a vicious older woman called Black Noggy who systematically assaults her. The old lady takes Mingo to the river to obtain some water one day. She encounters a crocodile - sized mugger while fishing at the river - who wants to consume her. A mongoose saves her and recommends a technique to thwart the mugger.
Mingo tricks the mugger into being captured by nearby fishermen after taking guidance out of the mongoose. The fishermen present Mingo with a gorgeous red dress as a thank you for helping them catch the dangerous mucker. Black Noggy is jealous of MinGo's brand new gown when she arrives home. Noggy heads to the river in enviously awaiting a gown of her own. She isn't as fortunate as Mingo and is afterwards taken adrift by another mugger.
The tiny Black Mingo, freed from the clutches of the evil old lady, resides happily with the mongoos in the jungle.
Just like other works by Bannerman, it tells the tale of dark skinned protagonist sucked into a distant land, causing discussions regarding its potential racial undertones. Therefore, several present day readers consider it critically within the context of postcolonial literature. However the primary plot centers around wit, courage and the victory of the weak.
