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Reading Notes: Nigerian Folk Stories, Part B

 Why the Bush Cow and the Elephant are Bad Friends

I was drawn to this story because of how it mentions elephants. Since I have decided to do my storybook website on elephants, I am always excited to read and take notes on stories that involve elephants. In this story, an elephant and a bush cow never got along. The elephant always boasted about his size and strength. With the elephant talking on and on about his greatness, it made the bushcow ashamed because he too believed he was strong and to be feared by animals and man. The situation was then taken to the chief, and the chief recommended that the two animals fight it out to determine who the toughest, strongest one would be. As the fight neared, the bush cow went towards the market and started tearing up the ground and making a scene. He asked animals that passed by if they knew where the elephant was. After some time, the elephant was heard trumpeting down the streets and soon came into the sightline of the bushcow. Once they saw each other, they charged and started fighting in full force right next to the market (which was not where the chief had advised them to fight). This resulted in damaging many farms and scarring the animals and people away from the scene. A monkey in the trees saw their fighting and decided to tell the chief about it. As he was on his way, he frequently became distracted and forgetful of his reason of going to the chief. However, after prompting by the chief he remembered his message and told of the elephant's and bush cow's fight. Immediately the chief took his bow and arrow and went to the fight scene. Because of the damage they caused and danger they had put everyone in, the chief shot both the elephant and cow. The animals died before the winner of the fight could be won- resulting in a forever battle between elephants and bush cows. 

[Bush Cow. Image Information]


Bibliography:

Dayrell, E. The Bush Cow and the Elephant. Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria. Link.



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