148 MALAY PROVERBS. 



There are two kinds of pipit, small birds which infest the 

 fcidi fields when the grain is ripening*. The pipit tuli will 

 not move when shouted at, though it will take to flight if 

 an arm is waved or other gesticulations made. The other 

 kind pipit uban, or cheah uban, so called from its white head, 

 is more easily frightened away. 



121. Pepat di luar rancliong didalam. 

 Flat outside and sharp within. 



Said of a person whose professions are fair hut whose feel- 

 ings are hostile. 



122. Pachat handak rnenjadi ulav. 

 The leech wants to become a snake. 



Said in ridicule of unreasonable aspirations. 



123. Pucliuk di chita ulam akan datang. 



To be wishing for young shoots just as the fruit arrives. 



To receive something much better than what one is wish- 

 ing for or expecting. Ulam is the word applied by Malays 

 to the various kinds of fruit which they eat with samhal ; 

 e. g. ulamputeh macliang, ulam petal* ulamjering, etc. When 

 no fruit is to be obtained, pucliuk, the young shoots of various 

 trees, are used instead, 



124. Padang prahu di lautan, 

 Pad an g hati difikiran. 



The field for a ship is the ocean, 

 The field of the heart is reflection, 



125. Kalau telan mall mati kalau ladali hapa mati, 



"Swallow it and your mother dies reject it and your 

 father dies." 



An awkward alternative quoted proverbially in any case 

 where choice has to be made between two courses each open 

 to objection. Another version is, 



Handak di telan termanglcalan, handak di ladali tiada kaluar. 



" Would you swallow it, it sticks in your throat ; would 

 you spit it out, it will not go forth/ ' 



