412 SIRONG.V PKOVEIIBS. 



68. Aku Iclcla ku banga buyeni. 



To bid farewell causes people to be strangers." 

 Lit. : " makes strangeness." 

 If one is parting from someone who lives .quite near to him, 

 and whom he will see again the same day, one does not 

 give" the usual good-bye, " Hambani] " but this proverb 

 takes its place. 



69. AbuJiosi i nkila iva buti. 



Power (or Wealth) is the tail of a water-rat." 



If you try to catch a water-rat by the tail, the skin of 

 the tail is detached by the rat's struggles, and remains 

 in your hand, while the rat itself escapes. The proverb 

 is said of a chief who is removed from power, or a rich 

 man who loses his wealth. 



70. Anipfula ii nkhensa i.ku neUki. 



You praise the rain which has rained upon you." 

 Used in explanation of one's constantly praising someone 

 who has helped one. 



11. U nyiketela ankoro u psha fimbale. 



" You offer me (because you despise me) to something 

 dangerous, and will burn me with spots." 



Nkoro is a bird like a toucan, feeble of flight, and so 

 despised. Here it stands for something despised. Ti- 

 mbale 'are painful spots on the flesh caused by continual 

 exposure to the heat of 'a fire. The proverb is used, for 

 instance, by a man who has been purposely given bad 

 advice, or led into trouble by another. 



72. U pfukeli ampjungwi. 



" You got up, facing the back of the hut." One 

 usually gets up facing the door. 

 The proverb is used in speaking to someone who is dis- 

 agreeable. It is the exact equivalent of our " You got out 

 of bed on the wrong side." 



73. U ni nkhilo wa snnga, u tika iiu-ann, u hakara nunn. 



" You have the trick of the " sangn " crab; you leave 

 your child, and carry your husband on your 

 back." 

 The female of the " sanga " crab is sometimes seen carry- 

 ing the male on its back. Used by a husband to his wife 

 if she insists on doing what he does not want her to do. 



74. U hlehelela sanga n<}i ku rwaleli nyama ? • 



" Are you smiling at me as if I had brought you 

 meat? " 

 Said by a man who has something against another, and. 

 going to him, is received with smiles, as if nothing Irad 

 happened. 



