The Bullock that Gave Birth to a Calf

In folktales, we often find birds and animals talking and behaving like human beings. Sometimes they prove to be more than a match for their human counterparts, as is the case in the following folktale from the Santal tribes.

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There was a poor cowherd called Sona who had bought a newborn calf. When he was returning with it to his village, night fell. He stopped at the next village on his way. He requested an oilman to let him stay for the night. The greedy oilman saw the lovely calf and agreed. He gave Sona dinner and let him sleep in the verandah. In the middle of the night, the oilman got up and took out some oilcake that he used to feed his bullock. He moistened the oilcake and plastered it on the calf. Then he untied his bullock and took it where the calf was. The bullock started licking the calf. The oilman ran out into the village and started shouting t