MALAY PROVERBS. 149 



126. Kachang Iwpakan kulit. 

 "The bean forgets its pod." 



Ingratitude. The successful adventurer declines to re- 

 member his humble origin. 



127. Kechil-kechil-lah anak, kalau sudah besar menjadi 



unak. ■ 



"While small, children; grown big, thorns." 



Youth is the time for education ; it is too late to com- 

 mence tuition when the pupil is capable of resistance. 



( It is impossible to reproduce in a translation the play on 

 the words anak and unak.) 



128. Kalau tiada kulit berchereilah tulang. 



" If it were not for the skin the bones would separate." 



If there were not some important functionary to keep a 

 Government or Society together it would fall to pieces ; if 

 the father or mother dies the family is likely to be broken 

 up. 



129. Kamana handak pergi layang-layany itu tali ada di 

 tang an kita. 



"How can the kite get away while the cord is in our 

 hands ? " 



The sense is, there is no fear of a debtor absconding when 

 his debt is secured hj some substantial pledge or deposit in 

 the hands of the creditor. The kite without a string is a 

 very common figure among Malays when describing an un- 

 certain condition. See Crawfurd, History Indian Archipelago 

 Vol. II. p. 14. 



130. Kechil tangan nyira sahya tadaltkan. 



" If my hands are too small I will hold out a tray." 



Expression of the willingness of a poor man to take all 

 that he can get from the rich or great. 



131. Kec/ul-kechil anak harimau. 



" Though small, a tiger- cub all the same." 



