MALAY PROVERBS. 115 



Kechek anak Malaka. 



Bual anak Menangkabau, 



Tipu anak Rembau. 



Bida'dh anak Trengganu, 



Sombong anak Pahang. 



The men of Malacca wheedle ; the men of Menangkabau 

 draw the long bow; the men of Rembau cheat; the men 

 of Trengganu lie ; and arrogant are the men of Pahang! 



The above proverbial saying hits off the most prominent 

 characteristic of each nation of Malays mentioned. 



93 ***** *J&J (5^ £;/ 



Kurang krat rengkoh yang lebeh. 



The less we sever by cutting the more we break by pulling 

 and twisting. 



We cannot shirk our responsibilities, and if we put them 

 aside in one form they will start up afresh in another. 



Rengkoh &j£s>j=to break by pulling, twisting or bending. 

 It has much the same meaning as that more common word 

 Lent or jy~d. 



Gajah handak berak besar, kanchil handak berak besar 

 esok ka-bebang. 



The elephant passes huge excrement ; the mouse-deer de- 

 sires to do the same : in the end the latter will have a stop- 

 page of the anus. 



The frog and the bull. 



Bebang «-o = a stoppage of the anus, or of the womb in 

 child-birth, 



