MALAY PROVERBS. 41 



293. Yang tegah di sokong, yang rtibah ditindeh. 



" What is firm is propped up ; what has fallen is pressed 

 down." 



" Every one bastes the fat hog, while the lean one burn- 

 etii. Money begets money." 



294. Tang di sangka tidak menjadi 

 Yang diam bulih ka d[a. 



" What was expected has not come to pass 

 Bat the prize falls to him who stirred not." 



The object for which one man strives unsuccessfully may 

 drop into the lap of another who has done nothing to attain 



it. 



295. Bcrgalah hilir tertawa huaya 

 Bersv.loh bulan trang tertawa harvnviu. 



" To pole down-stream mates the Alligators laugh ; 

 To carry a lfcht when the moon shines makes the Tigers 

 lauffh." 



The Malays paddle a boat down stream and pole it up 

 stream. To pole down stream or to carry a lamp on a moon- 

 light night is the height of absurdity. 



296. Alang-alang menyelok perkasam bir sampei ka-pang- 

 kal l&agan. 



" When you are dipping your hand into the fish tub you 

 may as well thrust the arm in up to the elbow." Do a 

 thing thoroughly when you are about it. " You may as 

 well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb." 



Perkasam, an evil-smelling preparation of fish preserved 

 in a jar. The fish are put in raw with plenty of salt. The 

 mouth of the jar is then sealed with clay and the mixture 

 is allowed to ripen or ferment for several days, after which 

 the fish may be cooked and eaten. Meat is sometimes treat- 

 ed in the same wav. 



