In a small village in Russia just 200 kilometres from Minsk the village cow had dried up, so with no milk for the village the men went to seek the advice of the Wise Man of the Woods. On explaining their predicament to the wise man he told them they had to go and get a new cow for the village. The men returned to the village and discussed buying a new cow, every 3 rd Friday of the month a cattle market was held in Minsk so it was decided that one of the men would have to go and purchase a milking cow.
On the return with the cow the men held another meeting and decided to go and seek the advice of the Wise Man of the Woods to discuss with him the ways to prevent such a predicament happening again. The wise man advised that the men should borrow the fine bull which was owned by the next village and get the bull to service their cow, the men did as advised and try as they might the cow would not let the bull service her.
In desperation they again went to seek the advice of the Wise Man of the Woods, they explained that when they tried to approach the bull from the rear the cow would turn around and the same thin happened when approaching from the left or the right side of the cow the cow would turn and face the bull. The wise man gave it some thought and raised his head to look at the men and asked,'Did you buy the cow from Minsk'? The men were astounded and said to the wise man,' Yes but how could you possibly know that'. The wise man replied sadly, 'My wife comes from Minsk'.