CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 173 



Percival's " Tamil Proverbs." I give a few of 

 the most striking : — 



" Must the loaf be broken to prove it is bread." 



" If given without measuring it is a gift ; if 



measured it is a debt." 

 u Can a somersault be turned at the bottom of a 



chatty." ( " Chatty " — earthenware pot.) 

 "Although you take a leech and place it on a 



cushion, it will seek the rubbish." 

 " Though you cry, will the flood that has burst its 



bounds return." 

 "A sluggish foot is the goddess of poverty, an 



active foot is the goddess of fortune." 

 "There is neither salt nor acid in your talk." 

 " The fruit is numberless on the unclimbable tree." 

 " An eightieth part of laziness, a crore of loss." 

 " Say little and give full measure." 

 " No priest can change one's nature." 

 " The thief and the gardener are one." 

 " Time passes, but sayings remain." 

 " A master without anger, a master without wages." 

 " A moneyless man is a corpse." 

 " There are no mistakes in silence." 

 " The top of the skilful will spin even in sand." 

 " Even grass is a weapon to the powerful." 

 " The dam must be made before the flood comes." 

 " Will the barking dog catch game." 

 " A hero at home, a coward in the jungle." 

 " Even to a monkey, its young is as precious as 



gold." 

 " The young calf knows no fear." 

 " Is a reward given for eating sugar cane ? " 

 " The flower out of reach, I dedicated to the god." 

 " Where there is anger there is love." 



