The Kine of Araw were the largest of Middle-earth's bovids, that was creatures with split, even-toed, hoofs. It was believed that these large, white cattle were the gift of the Vala Araw. This was quite possibly true. The beasts were found on the shores of the Sea of Rhûn and on the plain of Talath Harroch, east and south of Mirkwood.
As far as anyone could tell, the Easterling tribes were the only people to have domesticated these creatures and used them as draft beasts, since the Rhovanion Northmen revered the Kine and used them only for breeding other cattle. Easterlings, on the other hand, employed Kine to pull the Great Wains of their chiefs. During the brief existence of the Wainrider Kingdom in Wilderland (T.A. 1854-99), dozens of these magnificent beasts had been pressed into service, and many perished in the raiding and wars that accompanied the Wain-easterlings' occupation.
Many people of central Middle-earth valued the long gray horns of these cattle, both to use as trumpets and drinking horns and to cut into sections for superb compound bows. A few superstitious folk used the ground horn as an ingredient for healing potions, but no proof had ever been found that this substance was of any real value in healing.
References[]
- Retrieved from Realms of Arda; original reference: [ICE MERP 2012]