Metaphor - "Ruffling the tawny pelt"

Question

Explain the metaphor in "Ruffling the tawny pelt" in the poem "A far cry from Africa"

Answer 1

as in the expression 'ruffling the feathers',

ruffling means....in this context....to erect (the feathers), as a bird in anger.  

tawny is a color, like a yellowish-brown.

a pelt is an animal skin, like a fur.

so, it would mean something along the lines of rubbing someone the wrong way, as in a furry animal being petted in the wrong direction.  

making someone angry, burring them up, making the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  

i guess the metaphor would be rubbing africa or africans the wrong way.