Malin is a French word meaning “clever” or “sly.” Mahesh uses it in a semi-derogatory way to describe and warn Salim of the cunning and unpredictability of Africans.
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The timeline below shows where the term Malin appears in A Bend in the River. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
...that Salim is doing just that. Shoba and Mahesh warn Ferdinand that Metty is becoming malin like Ferdinand, a trait they see as universal to Africans.
(full context)