MALAY FROTERBS. 39 



Ttih di-ajar be-renang. 

 "The duck is taught to swim." Kl. 77, 

 " To teach one's grandmother," &c. 

 Cf. Javanese, Bebehdi-wuruhngelangi. 



39 U**^* \J>\ ^^ JP^^J 

 Ayer di-tetalc tiada ajean putus. 



" Water cut will not split." Kl. 49. 

 Quarrels between married people, or between relations and friends, are not 

 of long duration. 



Another version of the proverb is : — 



TcCltan ayer di-parang pvtits. 

 There is a Hindnstani proverb nearly identical with it : — 

 Lathi-sepcmijuda naMn hota. "Water is not to be divided with a stick." 

 (See Journal, Straits Branch, R. A. S., No. 3, p. 48.) 



40 dj». ^jS ojI aa*-> yL» ^5^^^ \J$J>} J^—jA 



Ayer sama ayer kelak men-jadi satu sampah itu ha-tepi juga. 

 " Water will mingle with water and become one, but the scum 

 " goes to the side all the same." Kl. 57. 



The great mix with the great and as a consequence the humble are put on 

 one side. 



41 >L-j pjy &iji +)\ 

 Ayam puteli terbang slang. 



" A white fowl which flies by day." 

 See M. 16 and 17. 



42 u ^iJ ajU S&j *J* 

 Barancj ter-genggam jatoh ter-lepas. 



;i That which was within the grasp falls released." Kl. 93. 

 What we thought we held safely eludes the grasp. 



An idiomatic phrase quoted when some misfortune occurs in an unexpect- 

 ed quarter, e. g., the death of a child, or the faithlessness of a lover. 



43 dj&. ^^L ^ji .iLatalJ «♦!«. J>\j) cJLm*£Aj 



Barang siapa berani mangmang tctdapat tiada berani me-lawanjuga. 

 " He who ventures to threaten should also be bold enough to 

 " fight." Kl. 88. 



