WHY GOATS WERE BARRED FOR LIFE FROM VISITING THE FARM.
Goats are domesticated animals in Africa, and as such too close to humans. They are reared for their meat, milk, skin, bones et cetera. Like other domestic animals such as fowls, dogs, sheeps for example, goats can be a source of income to the owners.
However, each time the farmers want to go to the farm to carry out their farming activities of any kind, they are usually accompanied by the dogs simply because the dogs are used for protection, they don't feed on farmer's crops besides its usefulness in hunting other animals for meat to the farmers. But one day, the goats revolted and what was their grouse, " why would other domestic animals visit farmland and we would not".
So, a town cryer was summoned to make an announcement that there would be a town hall meeting to deliberate on the demand made by the goats. At the town hall meeting, the goats were asked to reiterate their grouse, which they did. So the farmers formed a quorum and asked them to discuss on the feasibility of assenting to the goats' demand.
When, of course the members of the quorum came back to the crowd to meet with the other farmers first to make known their finalised retort to the goats' demand, it was obvious from their smiling faces that their response is on the affirmative. Then the announcer, with a wave of hands to quieten the tumultuous and raucous crowd, cleared his throat and started, " permission for goats to visit our farmlands just like dogs do, is granted but on one condition", "which condition", a goat interrupted. An uproar ensued and a particular goat shouting out his question, asked, " were dogs given such a condition."
The town cryer was asked to use his gong to silence the deafening noise and when the noise abated, the farmer continued, " the condition is that you goats should eat enough at home or carry your foods to the farm because you are not going to feed on our crops in the farmland", even before the farmer could conclude his statements, an overzealous goat yelled out his contented response, " is that all", and the farmer replied,"yes".
One day, a farmer who was going to the farm with his dogs as usual, decided to invite one of his goats to accompany them. While at the farm, the farmer was busy with the yams at the barn, the dogs were hunting and playing, then the goat was busy familiarizing himself with the farm with some rhetorical soliloquy
such as, "look at these fresh leaves and soft edible shrubs, even fresh crops the farmers kept for themselves and would not bring some home for us to eat, wicked farmers,i must taste them today not tomorrow", he concluded.
But unknown to the goat, the farmer had whispered to the dogs to keep an eye on him. When the goat thought he is out of sight he began to make himself comfortable with the fresh, leafy crops and the dogs quickly sneaked to the farmer to relate their findings. Then the farmer tiptoed to the scene accompanied by the dogs and caught the goat red-handed. When they got home, the farmer reported the issue and the town cryer was asked to announce a general meeting. At the town hall meeting, the dogs stood as witnesses and when the verdict was finally pronounced, the goats saw themselves being barred for life from going to the farmland.
So, that was how the goats were barred for life from visiting the farmland till date.