410 SIUONGA PROVERBS. 



56. Fanihcuii, hi sa hi yimbula ngwenya. 



" Go away: we will stop and dig up the crocodile." 

 This is generally used when dismissing a number of people 

 who have been with you, in order to be able to discuss 

 something privately. 



57. U nga hene mpfundla u mila timhondo. 



Yoii must not allow the hare to grow horns." 



Do not give people what is not fit for them. Said to 

 people who are about to do this-. For instance, if a child 

 asks for a knife, and someone is about to give it, you stop 

 the intending giver with this proverb. If you once give it, 

 it may become a habit. (Hence use of hena, which also 

 means " to be accustomed to "). Cp. No. 1'. 



58. AlikayJ ba jula ni le matini. 



" They look for a razor (even) in water." 



Cp- . . 



Ambuti ba jula ni le henhla. 



" They look for a goat (even) above (ground)." 



Used, for instance, when a thing is lost. You look for it 

 even in unlikely places. Or of one who uses means in 

 which he has not much faith, hoping to succeed. 



59. U holobela nsati iva milebe na u nge 7ia bukosi. 



You are quarrelling with a beautiful wife, while 

 you have not got anything to pay her lobolo 

 with." 



I have had to paraphrase this. There is an allusion to a 

 custom that cannot be explained here. The proverb is 

 used in reproving someone who quarrels with a benefactor 

 in whose debt he is. 



CO. Asilwa buTcna sa hluli nisikcni. 



" That which fights with courage has conquered in the 

 beginning." (Sc. and ever since.) 

 That which fights with courage is Death. Ktsikeni I 

 translate " in the beginning." It is a noun formed from 

 the verb tsika, to be the first to do something, invent. 

 The proverb is used in comforting a man who fears death. 

 " Do not fear. Death conquered even tlie first men. All 

 men must die." (N.13. — The Ronga Eve and Adam are Nsi- 

 lambowa (she who grinds herbs) and Lidahumba (lie who 

 eats snails); in the north, they are Gwambe and Dzabana.) 



61. U tekisa wa ku nfo-b-o, sanga ii yimha nanga ya Rongc. 



" You keep on saying nfo-o-o, as if you were blowing 

 a trumpet of Ronge." 

 Kuku nfo-o-() is a dt-scriptive coiupleincnt,' describing the 

 sound made by ait- passiiiL,' ttii>ougli a liole. Range (the 



