414 SIKONGA i'KOVKKKS. 



82. Aiihhi nipfi hi ya manhingmo. 



The fish (that you c-atch) is (as you hope) the first 

 ot many." 



Oftin Used when a first child lias died and is being mourned, 

 U hlupekile, NivaManyana, anhlampfi hi ya manhin- 

 ge>'o." " You are sad, b)0-and-so, the fish is the first of 

 many." .\s natives tliink that if a first child dies, other 

 children born to the same parents will either die, or be 

 siclvly, the phrase implies, " .\s the first child is dead, we 

 do not think that you will have others, and if you do, they 

 will probably die too." Rather cold comfort! ^ 



83. K a p%alana mahlu. 



Eye's fellowship." 

 Used of false friends, who are friends in appearance only. 

 rJivaMduyana i kii p.-^alana mahlu." " So-and-so is a 

 talse friend. " , 



84. V fiihd rnati, ii InjcUl nhika. 



You fear water; and go to the mud." 



Water here r<^presents the chief, who has power to clear 

 up difficult questions. Mud represents people who may be 

 mofe approachable, but who c;iniiot help in the matter. 



85. Nsola hosi a sola a sukile. 



" He who insults a chief does it when he has gone 

 away (from the chief's kraal). 

 Comment is needless. 



80. Tunya ritnihri. 



" Pierce the abscess," 

 Used of irrelevant talk. " U(jme to the point " 



87. Timlia libya. 



Tie the girdle. " 

 Used of restraining one's desires, in order to attain some 

 object that is specially desired. " Take up a hole in your 

 belt so as to hold out till you can be satisfied." 



88. D<ina II fihiiiht Or- Aku (in il bn ii phhda. 



Eat antl break your fast." 



Used it) such connections as this: " A nga iiri hi hu nga 

 pirmsi ; a da a fihhila. " He does not act without thought. 

 He looks before he' leaps." 



89. A/iihisi I tJdkiiJi fsiiri. 



" The hy*na lias taken away the mortar." 

 Said when there is severe famine. The hyaena is perliaps 

 the most loathed of all the animals, and stands for 

 famine. The mortar is that in which corn is pounded. It 

 is useless in time of famine. 



