There was a time when planters would allow the free immigrants to have one cow and to live in one of their logies. In return they must be available to work for the estate during crop time. For as long asI can remember we had cows, sheep, and other poultry. Our clay-floored logie was located on one of those embankments near a huge tamarind tree at Plantation Vryheids Lust. Larceny was common, therefore it was necessary that when you own cattle they should be branded with the owners mark. My brother Sonny, being the oldest of us brothers, would watch how its done, as my dad and friends carried out this activity...and then it started. Sonny was full of mischief! The three brothers, Sonny, Hameed and myself and a couple of neighbourhood boys (all of us under 10 yrs old) were playing owners and cows. I wasnt playing anything because I was too little! Lets say I was an observer 😊. It turned out Hameed preferred to be a cow and because he could make the loudest moo moo noise. He was happy because it was all agreed. At least Sonny was happy for sure😂. It was time for the branding. Hameed willingly agreed to be tied up. No rope was available except for the tear-off suckers of the plantain or banana tree. As some of you would know, these are very strong when dried and soaked in water. This was the case on this particular day as we gathered under the shade of the tamarind tree. Sonny lit a fire and placed a weeding cutlass to heat up. Poor Hameed watching and probably thinking this was going to be fun, after all I am a cow he must have thought! We didnt wear pants either. So he would have been a bull (bull-cow) 😄 The cutlass was getting red and hot, Hameed was tied up with sucker rope and a black neighbour named Kucha, had some cow down ready to rub on the brand. Hameed wanted the brand on his left buttock. As it happened, Sonny was left handed and the desire to have the brand on his left buttock was quite convenient. Hameed had to say moo moo during this process and so he was busy moo moo-ing. The hot cutlass was applied and all hell was let loose. Hameed, somehow found super strength, busted the plantain rope and started screaming....moo moo became maa maa, paa paa, maa maa as he ran to the logie , rubbing his backside as he did so. Everyone else scattered and I was left standing there crying. Up to the year in which my brother Hameed died, we still talk about that day he was permanently branded by Sonny, the mark of a brother. Notice the S brand....Sonny 😂😂😂
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:48:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015