The Guinea Fowl

“Those resemblances are ingenious,” said Louis.

“but they do not take the place of real knowledge of the guinea-fowl’s origin. Not even in those old days could every one have believed in the singular tale you have just told us.”

Many were satisfied with it and sought no further information.

But if you're among those who wish to make it clearer to themselves, here's another explanation.

A fowl on the tree spoke thus to his fellows below:

'Dear friends the place where God is is not like those of God to-day which are so common. The one of which I now speak is very different. The God there does not eat meat ;' he will kill the men who take it. He gives to eat no bones; nor does he wish to take in those who would not eat meat with the bones in it.

'This place,' continued the fowl, 'has not at all the manner of to-day's countries

the fowl said to the capon, "I have nothing to do with you." In the days of the Temple they used to teach, "If a fowl says to a fowl, 'I have nothing to do with you', he is called a capon.

the capon said to the fowl

"I would be happier at death

If that should be at sea " ²

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2: This poem was taken from a work called "The Dialect of Yorkshire and the North Riding," and it was published in 1724. A capon is a castrated rooster, which was served to the upper class, but it was a great expense.