The First Herdsman and the Jackal's Advice

The first Fulani man was given a single white cow by the creator spirit, Geno. The man loved the cow, but he did not know how to care for it properly. He let it wander, and it was often sick. One day, a Jackal came to him and said, "I see you have a gift from Geno, but you do not understand its ways. I will teach you." The Jackal taught the man how to find the best grazing land, how to know when the cow needed salt, and how to protect it from predators by building a strong enclosure at night. In return for this knowledge, the man promised that he and his descendants would never harm the Jackal and would always leave a small portion of milk for it. The man followed the Jackal's advice, and his herd grew and prospered. This is why the Fulani are the greatest cattle herders in the world—their knowledge was a gift from a wise wild animal. And it is why a Fulani herdsman, when he sees a Jackal, does not chase it away but gives it a nod of respect for the ancient pact that founded their way of life.