Goats, donkeys and antelopes

Goats, sheep, cows and donkeys roam freely around our house and on our field where the maize has began to sprout. It is a very disencouraging sight and very frustrating considering that cattle owners are obliged to attach or supervise their animals during the farming season.

One day, Mousa and I returned from the village to find three goats in our small garden next to the house, standing in the middle of the onions. Without a word, we began the chase around houses, through courtyards and open terrain. After 10 minutes, we caught a small goat and attached it with a rope to a post next to our house. In the evening, one of our neighbours came and asked in apologetic tone if we wouldn't give him the goat back. He promised to attach it in the future. As it was the first time, we gave it back to him.

The following morning, most goats and sheep in our neighbourhood were secured with ropes. Obviously, our action the previous day had not gone unnoticed. It wasn't long however until the next goat started nibbling our maize. Again, we chased it. When we had it, we did not waste time attaching it next to our house but carried it - under the protests of the goat and its owner - to the village chief's compound. As we didn't find the chief at home, we left the goat with some other persons there. When we returned in the evening, the chief had already handed over the goat to its owner after a few reproachful words. I was disappointed as I had hoped for a fine for the owner, to be shared between the chief and the person bringing in the culprit animal. That way we had spent a lot of time and energy without any kind of compensation or reward.

The same afternoon I discussed this topic with a friend. He told me with a broad smile about his way to deal with the problem. The antelope we had eaten at his place a few days before (I had since had a bad conscience about eating the meat of such a rare animal) had not really been an antelope - but a goat he had killed on his peanut field. I was surprised and relieved (because of the "antelope") and readily agreed to join him on his next antelope hunt the same evining. Unfortunately (or fortunately), no further "antelopes" showed up this time. Had the goat owners learnt their lesson?