The cows in the sacred herds have descended from sacred cows of the past. In each herd there is an especially sacred “bell-cow.” This means that she is the owner of an ancient cow-bell which the dairyman priest keeps in the dairy. It belonged to her mother before her and to her mother, and so on back. When a bell-cow dies, the bell has to be put upon her daughter. The priest brings it out from the dairy and waves it around and around the head of the cow morning and night for three days. As he does so he says:—
“What a fine cow your predecessor was.
How well she supported us with milk;
Won’t you supply us in like manner?
You are a god among us.
Do not let the Tirieri[[2]] go to ruin.
Let one become a thousand!
Let all be well!
Let us have plenty of calves!
Let us have plenty of milk!”