94 MALAY PROVERBS. 



kind called brok.) The judge decided that the fruit must be di- 

 vided, but no sooner was this done than one of the suitors com- 

 plained that the other's share was too large. To satisfy him the 

 monkey reduced the share of the other by the requisite amount 

 which he ate himself. Then the second suitor cried out that the 

 share of the first was now too large. It had to be reduced to 

 satisfy him, the subtracted portion going to the monkey as be- 

 fore. Thus they went on wrangling until the whole of the fruit 

 was gone and there was nothing left to wrangle about. Malay 

 judges, if they are not calumniated, have been known to pro- 

 tract proceedings until both sides have exhausted their means 

 in bribes. In such cases the unfortunate suitors are said to 

 berhakim kajjada brok. 



34. Tan a nt tebu cli bibir mulut. 



" To plant sugar cane on the lips/ ' To cultivate a plausible 

 manner concealing under it a false heart. 



35. Tidda akan pisang berbuali dua kali. 



" The plantain does not bear fruit twice." A hint to importu- 

 nate people, who, not satisfied with what has been given to 

 them, ask for more. 



36. Tiddaka/t gajah yang begita besar diam didalam hutan 

 rimba itu dapat ka-taugan manusia ? 



" Does not the elephant, whose size is so great and which in- 

 habits the recesses of the forest, fall into the hands of mankind ?" 

 A sententious reflection on the superiority of mind to matter, 

 intellect to brute force. 



37. Tan ant lalang ta'kan t umbo ft pad*. 



"If you plant lalang grass you will not get a crop of rice." A 

 man must expect to reap as he sows. 



38. Tangan menetak balm memikul. 



" The hand is chopping (wood) while the shoulder is bearing 

 a load." Said of a man who makes money in several ways or 

 who has various employments. 



39. Ta-kau harimau makan anak-nya. 

 " The tiger will not eat its own cubs." 



The Raja will not order the death of one of his own children. 



I do not know how to reconcile this proverb with a state- 

 ment in Major McNair's book, " Sarong and Kris," (p. 124) 

 that " the male tiger devours his own offspring whenever he 



