142 MALAY PROVERBS, 



94. Semut di pijak ta'mati, gajah harung berkalapangan. 



Without killing tlie ants on which he treads, the elephant 

 passes by making a wide passage through the jungle. 



Said of a'person who is particular in his conduct regarding 

 certain observances, ignoring the fact that his open breach 

 of others is patent to everyone. 



95. Seperti analc ay am kahilangan ibiinia. 



" Like a chicken which has lost its mother." 



Description of a state of mental confusion and anxiety. 



96. Sedap dahulu sakit kemdian. 



" Pleasant at first but followed by pain." 



Indulgence in vicious pleasure results in grief and sorrow 

 in the end, " a sugarcane is sweet," say the Malays, " as 

 long as the stem lasts, but when you get to the top (puchuk) 

 you will find it insipid! " 



97. Seperti rusa kena tambat. 

 Like a deer tethered to a post. 



Stupid and helpless. A domestic animal under the same 

 circumstances would be quite at home, but the deer tied up 

 is out of its element. 



98. Seperti anjing beruleh bangkei. 



Like a dos; which has found a dead animal. 



Applied to persons who want to keep for themselves some- 

 thing which has fallen in their way, and who grudge others a 

 share, (as dogs growl and snap at each other over a carcase.) 



99 Seperti gajah masok kampong. 



Like an elephant's incursion into a village. 



Refers to the damage done to the crops and gardens of 

 villagers by the arrival of a troop of persons, e. g. the fol- 

 lowers of some raja on his travels. Everything eatable is 

 carried off, and the peasant compares the raid to the havoc 

 caused by wild elephants. 



100. Seperti penyapu di ikat benang sutra. 

 Like a broom bound with silk thread. 



