The Cow Tail Switch

 

Near the edge of the Liberian rain forest on a hill above the Cavally River, there was a village called Kundi. Kundi, with its vast rice and cassava fields, was a very busy place. Women were busy pounding grain, men and boys fished, and cattle grazed in the fields nearby.

A hunter named Ogaloussa lived in Kundi with his family. One morning Ogaloussa gathered his weapons and went to the forest to hunt. Meanwhile, his wife and children went about their daily routine tending to their chores. The day had gone by as normal. As they ate their dinner, they noticed something different. Ogaloussa had not returned.

Another day had gone by and there was still no sign of Ogaloussa. His family began to wonder what could be keeping him. His sons spoke of him often at first. Then, as the days turned into months, their father's disappearance was mentioned less and less.

Ogaloussa's wife gave birth to another child and named him Puli. When Puli was able to talk, his first words were, "Where is my father?" Puli's older brothers suddenly remembered their father's disappearance and decided that they should go look for him.

Ogaloussa's sons gathered their weapons and started out to find their father. Deep in the forest, they lost their way several times. Each time this happened, one of Ogaloussa's sons would find the right path again. Finally, they came to an open space in the forest and there they saw Ogaloussa's bones and weapons. They knew then that the he had not returned because he had been attacked and killed while he hunted.

They boys were glad that they found their father, but they were sad because of the condition that he was in. The boys knew that they had to do something. One son spoke out and said, "Even though he is dead, I know how to put his bones back together." He then gathered Ogaloussa's bones and correctly put them back together.

Another son said, "I can put flesh over those bones." Soon, Ogaloussa's bones were covered with flesh.

Each son wanted to help bring their father back to life, so they began to say what they could do to help. Before long, Ogaloussa's sons had given him blood in his veins, breath in his body, movement of his body, and the ability to speak. Ogaloussa was once again alive and he got up from the ground. The sons collected their father's weapons and together they headed back to their village.

When Ogaloussa got home, his wife cooked for him and he ate. He stayed in the house for four days. One the fifth day, he came out. Because he had returned from the dead, he had to shave his head. He also killed a cow, and decorated the cow's tail. This cow tail was very beautiful and Ogaloussa took it with him everywhere. At first people just stared and wondered about his beautiful cow tail, but soon people began to beg to have it.

One day, Ogaloussa decided to share with the other villagers the meaning behind the cow tail switch. "One day a long time ago I went to the forest to hunt and I was killed by a leopard. My sons came to look for me and they brought me back from the land of the dead. Each one of my sons did something to bring me back, but I can only give this cow tail to one son."

The sons began to argue over who should get the cow tail. Each son felt that what he had done was the most important. Ogaloussa spoke out saying, "I will give this cow tail to Puli." Everyone remembered that the child's first words were "Where is my father?" All the villagers agreed with Ogaloussa's decision. If Puli had not asked about his father's whereabouts, he never would have been searched for and found. It is now said that a man is not dead until he is forgotten.

What do you think this saying means? Do you believe it to be true? Can you give an example from history or from your own family life?