The Cow (Paul Bowles)

The most satisfying exposition I have seen of the averageHindu’s feeling about this exalted beast is a little essay composed by acandidate for a post in one of the public services, entitled simply “The Cow.”  The fact that it was submitted in order toshow the aspirant’s mastery of the English language, while touching, is ofsecondary importance.

THE COW

        The cow is onewonderful animal, also he is quadruped and because he is female he gives milk –but he will do so only when he has got child. He is same like God, sacred to Hindu and useful to man.  But he has got four legs together.  Two are foreward and two are afterward.

       His whole bodycan be utilized for use.  More so themilk.  What it cannot do?  Various ghee, butter, cream, curds, whey,cova  and the condensed milk and soforth.  Also, he is useful to cobbler,watermans and mankind generally.

        His motion isslow only.  That is because he is ofamplitudinous species, and also his other motion is much useful to trees,plants as well as making fires.  This isdone by making flat cakes in hand and drying in the sun.

        He is the onlyanimal that extricates his feedings after eating.  Then afterwards he eats by his teeth whichare situated in the inside of his mouth. He is incessantly grazing in the meadows.

        His only attackingand defending weapons are his horns, especially when he has got child.  This is done by bowing his head whereby hecauses the weapons to be parallel to the ground of earth and instantly proceedswith great velocity forwards.

       He has gottail also, but not like other similar animals. It has hairs on the end of the other side.  This is done to frighten away the flies whichalight on his whole body and chastises him unceasingly, whereupon he gives hitwith it.

         The palms ofhis feet are so soft unto the touch so that the grasses he eats would not getcrushed.  At night he reposes by goingdown on the ground and then he shuts his eyes like his relative the horse whichhe does not do so.  This is the cow.  

Excerpt from "Notes Mailed At Nagercoil" in Their Heads Are Green And Their Hands Are Blue.  New York, Random House, 1963. 

Paul Gauguin Paintings --  Top:  The Red Cow (1889); Center:  Seated Breton Girl (1889); Lower:  Horse and Cow in Field (1885)    

See also:  Here for Parrots
                Here for Cobras