|}8 MA1AT PEOTBRBS, 



Tiap-i\ap baiu gang ada ber-golilc sa-Jalu dalam sungei itu 



tiada-lah di-lnnggap uleli himut adeem dia. 

 " Moss does not attach itself to stones which are continually 

 ' rolling in a river." Kl. 96. 



This is suspiciously like a translation of the common English proverb : " A 

 "rolling- stone gathers no moss." 



A genuine Malay maxim, which nearly approaches it in meaning, is: Men- 

 ehahari jangan lincha. " When seeking your livelihood don't jump from one 

 "thing to another." 



Tiap-tiap bvstilc itu meruap juga. 

 " Every kind of filth gives out a smell." Kl. 46. 

 Everything bad is discovered by means of itself. 



A more proverbial phrase is: Bcungliei tiada lia-liliat-an busok-ma bcr-bav. 

 "The carcase is unseen, bnt its putridity is smelt."' 



88 jjX-Jita o&lfc jj-li \Ju o,ju> S<ii± i^W 

 Jangan di-genggam sa-perti bara rasa liangat di-lepas-lan. 



" Don't take it up as one does a hot coal, only to drop it when 

 "it begins to hurt." Kl. 45. 



Do not undertake a thing because it seems easy, to abandon it later when 

 difficulties appear. 



The proverb as quoted above is an admonitory form. In its simple form 

 it is only descriptive: Genggam, genggam bara, rasa liangat di-lepas-Ttan. 



89 ^bli'jlj i^S) l£jj jb 8jU. 

 Jault bau bung a dekat bau talii. 



" Prom afar the smell is that of flowers, when close it is that 

 " of filth." 



Distance lends enchantment. Friends separated are most affectionate in 

 their letters, but when they are within reach they are liable to quarrel. 



Jika InrLait di-pegang orang tali-^a jika manusia di-pegang 



viirittt-uia . 

 '•■ Men hold a buffalo by a cord, a man by his word." 

 Different people are treated in different ways, 



