THE WIT AND WISDDM OK THE i:ANTU. 343 



Lunyawo hvcmfcnc, it is the baboon's (foot (He shows the 

 cloven hoof). Ukaka kampctu, he is a shield reversed (a turn- 

 coat and traitor). Ungumsonto onyikiny\ki, he is a wet thread, 

 which rucks and will not go into the holes pierced for it (he is 

 thoroughly unreliable), liitsica-nibulala. one who helps and 

 kills, or: Uyikot' eyixatida, he licks the wound while tearing it 

 open (He is a false friend, a wolk in sheep's clothing. Umvundla 

 ozikundla aihili, a hare with two holes to its lair ; intlolela yom- 

 biiii, a spy for both sides ; a needle pointed at both ends ( One who 

 runs with the hare and hunts with ihe hounds). 



On Sorrow and Consolation. 



Sihlcsi'emansiiii. we are sitting in the water (in discomfort 

 and anxiety). Uhlesiwe ilahle cmhlana, he has a live coal sitting 

 on his back (He is in great concern). Ukiifa kiventUziyo ngum- 

 szvangedzva, the dying of the heart is a thing unshared (The 

 heart knoweth its own bitterness). The water has dried up 

 first in the pot and then in the ladle, is a saying that indicates 

 utter failure. That you should come to see an old vulture with 

 his neck plucked like me, expresses utter misery. I am a stump, 

 a pollarded tree, is said of one bereft of wife and children. 



But there is consolation : Leave the spilt ])orridge and keep 

 what you have (There is no use in crying over spilt milk). The 

 good t^uinea-fowl cries v.diile it shuffles along ( Don't sit down and 

 give way to grief, kee]) moving' and put things right). Sorrow 

 will roll away like the morning mists before thhe sun. Umhlaba 

 kawunoni, the earth does not get fat, however many are buried 

 in it ('* O grave! where is thy victory?"). We have come to 

 console you; we have come to bring you out of the forest; akii- 

 hlanga luugehlanga, there has not happened (now) what has 

 not happened (before). (Death is the common lot.) And there 

 is the courage of despair. Ake silahle amatunga, let us throw 

 away our milkpails — though milk is the staff of life to the Bantu 

 (Let us burn our boats; let us make a last desperate effort). 



On Life and Death. 



Life is full of vicissitudes, it has many ups and downs: 

 Ukuhatuba kiizaV iiiduiia, kiiaaV intsikasi, the course of nature 

 brings forth now a tine male, now a poor female ( Do not expect 

 a lot of unmixed blessedness). Ukzvenza kiiya euiuva. kuye 

 pambili, action goes riow back, now forward (Time and chance 

 happen to all). Iiidlala itata osemnyango impose emsano, oscm- 

 sano impose emnyango, misfortune takes the one at the door and 

 throws him on the dais, and flings the one on the dais to the 

 door. The game ivill appear on the side of the inexperienced 

 hunter. I know him, the lucky fellow, he's as lucky as a wolf 

 (Throw him into the Nile, and he"ll come up with a tish in his 

 mouth ) . 



And life and its joys are transitory: Akuko ukonga indubid' 

 ingeti, there is no ragwort that blooms and does not wither. 



