The Queen of Calabar used to give big feasts to all the domestic animals but never invited the wild beasts. At one feast, there were three large tables and she told the cow to sit at the head of the table and share out the food. The first course was passed, which the cow shared out amongst the people. But the cow forgot the tiny fly who himself called out to the cow to give him his share, but the cow said, “Be quiet; you must have patience.” When the second course arrived, the fly again called out to the cow, but the cow told the fly that he would get food later.
At last all the dishes were finished and the fly was given no supper by the cow. Next day, the fly complained to the queen, who decided that, as the cow had presided at the feast and had not given the fly his share, in the future the fly could always get his food from the cow’s eyes wherever she went. So, even at the present time, wherever cows are, flies can always be seen feeding off their eyes in accordance with the queen’s orders.
