408 siiioxdA i'U()\i;i!}is. 



39. U llidntist'lii iililoho rui it mje ua nfjicko. 



" You are waiting at the spring, but have no cup." 

 A common proverb used to rebuke unpreparedness. 



40. A^nlntnu o (a hu) hlntsa au-n hire ntUiubana. 



" A man polishes his own spear." 

 In other words, A man looks after his own family. Cp. 

 No. 15, " Charity begins at home "; or " Take care of 

 Xumbi^r One." 



41. Lo/,0 fa )iga di ngc tlharj DilioJrkifa inlia ndi ]iuU timhangu. 



" If it had not been a Ijorrowcd spear, I would have 

 made danger (injured somebody)." 



This is used of empty threats. " If it had not been for so- 

 and-so, I would have given you a hiding." 



42. A'iviuyi uui uko^<i a hijebula ku^iri. 



■ " He who presides at the mournitig shaves twice." 

 Cutting the hair is a sign of mourning. All who are in 

 mourning cut off, or shave, their hair, but the chief 

 mourner does this twice. The proverb is used when giving 

 someone a second cup of beer when there is not enough to 

 go all round again. 



43. Allbnngu Jo sira iiirinyi. 



" This spit takes the heat of the fire from its owner." 

 When men sit together roasting meat, each must put his 

 spit on his side of the fire. It is used to emphazise the 

 necessity of bearing one's own troubles 



44. Ayisengc i (Udicn Jii nicana. 



" A banana-tree is killed by its own fruit." 

 A child's transgressions hurt its parents. 



45. U dhiya ntlntfi (or: f- nga die nthiiti) ii ironga Iii dolobcii. 



" You are destroying shade (or, Do not destroy shade), 



you are betrayed by the dull weather." 



It is folly to cut down a shady tree because the sky 



happens to be overcast to-day. The time will come when 



you will long for the shade you have needlessly destroyed. 



40. Amhiinu a ulcJirufiiira Ud{0 a pJr. 



" A man is praised when he is .dead." 

 You must not Draise a man in his lifetime, or you will 

 make him proud. 



47. U juka )it('lie n-i u )iga si boiui iiinmo 



" You prepare a skin in which to carry your child 

 before you see the child." 

 •This is taboo. 'J his proverb is the Eonga version of^:^ 

 " You aie counting your chic-kens before they are hatched." 



