Why Goats Can Climb Trees, But Not Very Well

written Friday, 20 July 2007

 

 

Recently one of the goats in my village died by hanging itself - it was tied up so that it wouldn't wander off, but the rope came loose.   The goat jumped up into the low branches of a small tree to eat the leaves, and when it tried to jump down again, the rope, which was still tied around its neck, got caught on a branch, and so the goat strangled to death.

 

(I asked if the goat would be eaten, since it was a healthy goat, but I was told no, because to eat it, it would have had to have been killed according to the rules of Islam - with its throat cut while it was facing east and a prayer was being said).

 

Anyway, so while the goat's hanging itself was being discussed, my host father decided to tell me a traditional fable: Why Goats Can Climb Trees, But Not Very Well.

 

Goat and Money were friends, and one day Goat asked Monkey to teeach him how to climb trees, so that he could eat the tasty leaves in the higher branches.   Monkey agreed and the next day began to give Goat lessons.

 

After a few lessons, Monkey told Goat that once he had learned to climb trees well it would be Goat's turn to teach someone how to climb trees.   Monkey asked Goat who he would teach.  Goat replied that he would teach his friend Dog.

 

"Oh no!" Monkey said.  "I do not like Dog!  He chases me, and the only way I can escape is to climb up into a tree.  If you teach Dog how to climb trees, then I will no longer be able to escape from him."

 

Goat said all right, he would not teach Dog how to climb trees.  But Monkey was not satisfied.   He was afraid Dog would talk Goat into teaching him, even though Goat promised Monkey he would not.  So Monkey decided not to give Goat any more lessons in tree climbing.

 

And that is why goats can climb trees, but not very well.