A TALE BY THE WAYSIDE. 227 



you will see that the meaning that the speaker has 

 intended to convey by the unquoted third and 

 fourth lines has been perfectly appreciated by his 

 audience. 



There may be silence for a short space, and then 

 perhaps another man will open his mouth to speak. 

 You will notice that he has carefully considered his 

 words, but 



" White, pure white, are the river sands," 



is all that he will say. However, every one at once 

 understands that his meaning is 



" You may say too little or say too much, 

 You can remedy one, but never the other." 



Overtures, insults, challenges, may in like manner be 

 conveyed in such lines as 



" The reed stems sway in the rippling stream." 

 " The green pigeons feed on the fig-tree's fruit." 

 " The cataract leaps through clouds of spray." 



An argument by quotations from pantuns partakes, 

 however, more of the nature of a contest of wit than 

 of a genuine discussion. Similes and metaphors 

 borrowed from the proverbs, of which the language 

 has a rich and varied store, are more common and 

 more easily understood. But the fact that arguments 

 can be carried on in such a manner shows how apt 

 the Malay is to speak allusively, and how quick to 

 recognise the allusion. When, therefore, this is the 

 point to which my digression led, a Malay is discuss- 



