22 MALAY PROVERBS. ; 



A phrase to express readiness to fight, when two Malay 

 chiefs, each of whom " lain buat " (is capable of taking the 

 offensive ), cannot settle their disputes amicably. 



209. Alah bisa buat biasa. 



u Venom loses the day when met by experience.' 5 Hatred 

 and prejudice are powerless in proportion as familiarity 

 with the position gives the person against whom they 

 are directed the means of counteracting them. 



Quoting this proverb (not without political significance), 

 an old Perak Malay once called my attention to the eagle 

 on the Mexican dollar, which is represented as holding a 

 snake in its talons. The skilful way in which bird, guided 

 by instinct, holds its adversary in a position in which it can- 

 not use its venomed fangs seemed to the Malay to illustrate 

 his text admirably. 



210. Orang kayajangan digan. 

 Orang miskinjangan diltina. 



**Do not worship the rich or contemn the poor." 



Be contented with thy lot. 



Chin, to admire, pay court to, fawn upon. 



211. Orang berclendang cli pentasnia, 

 Orang beraja cli hatinia. 



A man sings on his own sleeping-place and is sovereign 

 in his own heart." 



"A man of a contented mind will make himself happy 

 in his own way. 



Pentas, a sleeping platform, is a less elaborate bedstead 

 than the geta and Jcatil used by well-to-do Malays. 



212. Usahlah teman cli mandi pagi. 



" You need not wait on me at the morning ablutions. 



Said in deprecation of open flattery. It is a mark of res- 

 pect and solicitude among Malays, as among other Eastern 

 nations, to attend another to the bath, to wash his feet or 

 clothes, to rub or shampoo him etc. Often these attentions 

 are not altogether disinterested, but are paid to a guest or 

 stranger from whom the operator hopes to get some ad van- 



