Long ago, in the villages of Madagascar, when animals still shared their voices with humans and the forest echoed with their laughter and quarrels, there lived two proud companions: the guinea fowl and the takatra. Each bird believed that beauty was a crown upon the head, a sign of dignity before all creation. One day, in the shade of a tall nato tree whose bark was famed for its dye, they struck upon an idea that would forever alter their feathers and their friendship.
The guinea fowl and the takatra resolved to dye each other’s plumage with the rich, reddish hues of the nato bark. This bark, when carefully ground and steeped, could deepen the colors of feathers and bring out a sheen like polished stone. Each bird longed to outshine the other, for in those times the creatures of the wild took great pride in adornment. Yet pride soon led to dispute, for neither wished to wait his turn.
The quarrel between them rang through the air, loud and unyielding. “I must go first,” cried the guinea fowl, flapping his wings with impatience. “No, it is I who should go first,” insisted the takatra, stretching his long neck and stamping the earth in protest. Their voices tangled like the roots of the tree beneath which they argued.
After much bickering, the two birds reached an uneasy truce. They would begin with the guinea fowl. The takatra, patient and precise, set to work. He plucked the finest strands of nato bark, grinding them into a smooth paste, and began to anoint the feathers of his friend. With gentle care he parted each plume, brushing the dye deep into the down. He smoothed every patch until the guinea fowl’s coat glistened with a deep, even red, bright as embers at dusk.
Not content with mere color, the takatra arranged the feathers in graceful layers, each stroke guided by an eye for harmony. The guinea fowl, who had once looked plain, now shimmered with beauty. The light of the setting sun danced upon his coat, making him the envy of the skies.
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At last, it was the guinea fowl’s turn. The takatra stood before him eagerly, full of expectation. He thought of how splendid he might look if given the same devotion he had shown. But the guinea fowl, rather than labor with care, worked with haste and negligence. He daubed the dye here and there without patience, blotching the feathers with uneven streaks. Instead of arranging them with grace, he clumped the tufts into two rough crests, one on either side of the takatra’s head.
When the work was done, the takatra hurried to a pool of water to admire himself. But what he saw filled him with sorrow. His feathers, far from gleaming, looked ragged and unfinished. The two tufts stood awkwardly upon his head, as though mocking him. His reflection showed not dignity, but shame.
Tears welled in his eyes, and his voice broke with grief.
“Ungrateful guinea fowl!” he cried. “Look at me, still blotched and stained, while you gleam like fire! Is this the thanks I receive for my patience and my care? I gave you beauty, but you gave me disgrace.”
The forest grew still as his lament echoed among the trees. The guinea fowl, proud of his smooth, shining feathers, offered no apology. His heart was hardened by vanity, and he cared little for his companion’s sorrow.
And so, the people of Madagascar say, the feathers of the takatra remain crested and uneven to this day, while the guinea fowl struts with a coat smooth and glossy. What was born of friendship ended in bitterness, and the birds carried the mark of their choices upon their bodies forever.
Moral Lesson
This tale teaches us that gratitude and reciprocity are the foundation of true friendship. The takatra gave his time and skill to honor the guinea fowl, but in return received only neglect. His crested feathers stand as a reminder that selfishness leaves scars not only on others but also on bonds of trust.
True beauty is not in what we receive, but in what we give. When we fail to return kindness, we dim the light of harmony and sow discord where there might have been lasting companionship.
Knowledge Check
What material did the birds use to dye their feathers?
They used the bark of the nato tree.
Which bird was dyed first, and why?
The guinea fowl was dyed first, after the two argued and finally agreed.
How did the takatra dye the guinea fowl’s feathers?
With care and artistry, making his feathers smooth, deep red, and splendid.
How did the guinea fowl dye the takatra’s feathers?
Negligently, leaving blotches and forming only two tufts on his head.
What lasting mark did this event leave on both birds?
The takatra still has crests of feathers, while the guinea fowl bears smooth plumage.
From which cultural tradition does this story come?
It is a Malagasy folktale from Madagascar.
Source: Madagascan folktale, Madagascar.
