The Zebu was one of the famous sacred animals of India. It was also found in parts of Southern Asia and even in Madagascar, though its true home was in India.
It is rather a pretty and intelligent animal, about the size of a Jersey cow. It has a hump on its shoulders and short horns. English people who lived in India long ago looked upon the zebu as a great nuisance, but owing to its sacred status, they dared not interfere with it. The zebu was allowed to run wild wherever it pleased. It was quite a common sight to see one of these animals going through the village streets with a comical air of dignity. It would pause to examine anything that would catch its eye or help itself to fruit from a Hindoo vendor's stand, and no one would raise a protest. If it wanted anything it demanded it with a grunt, and if not attended to quickly it was apt to use its horns. Sometimes the zebu fell asleep in a narrow roadway so as to completely block it up, and nothing could pass along until the beast awakes. Therefore the English people disliked the animal, but the Hindoos still held it in awe.
The zebu is not blessed with a good temper. If it sees any man or woman doing anything that it does not like, or wearing clothes of a red color, it will charge them without warning, and all the natives can do is to fly until they reach a tree or wall upon which they can climb. The Hindoos which crowd the streets will not attempt to turn the zebu from its victims, but simply draw away to one side and let it pass on.
It is rather a pretty and intelligent animal, about the size of a Jersey cow. It has a hump on its shoulders and short horns. English people who lived in India long ago looked upon the zebu as a great nuisance, but owing to its sacred status, they dared not interfere with it. The zebu was allowed to run wild wherever it pleased. It was quite a common sight to see one of these animals going through the village streets with a comical air of dignity. It would pause to examine anything that would catch its eye or help itself to fruit from a Hindoo vendor's stand, and no one would raise a protest. If it wanted anything it demanded it with a grunt, and if not attended to quickly it was apt to use its horns. Sometimes the zebu fell asleep in a narrow roadway so as to completely block it up, and nothing could pass along until the beast awakes. Therefore the English people disliked the animal, but the Hindoos still held it in awe.
The zebu is not blessed with a good temper. If it sees any man or woman doing anything that it does not like, or wearing clothes of a red color, it will charge them without warning, and all the natives can do is to fly until they reach a tree or wall upon which they can climb. The Hindoos which crowd the streets will not attempt to turn the zebu from its victims, but simply draw away to one side and let it pass on.
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| Mamma zebu and her calf. |
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