150 MALAY PRO VERBS. 



Even the young of a dangerous animal are not to be trifled 

 with. The Malay ryot must not imagine that he can take a 

 liberty with a raja's son because he happens to be a child. 



132. Kalau sudah untong so? chupah tiada bulih jadi sa 9 - 

 gantang. 



" If a chupah is gained, there is no chance of its becoming 

 a gantang" 



Said of one who is just able to support himself, whose 

 daily earnings enable him to live but not to save. The 

 chupah and the gantang are measures corresponding roughly 

 with the quart and gallon. 



133. Kena pukul di pantat gigi habis tanggal. 

 " Struck on the back all its teeth drop out." 



An expression used of a fruit-tree laden with fruit which 

 falls off when the stem is shaken ? 



134. Kikir pari bebulang kring 

 Rendam tujuh hari ta basah. 



"A skate-skin grater, a dry hide, 



Soaked for seven days is not moistened." 



A phrase used in speaking of any instance of excessive 

 avarice or parsimony; kikir means literally "a file" but also 

 signifies ^avarice." The proverb illustrates the grasping, 

 hoarding qualities of a miser and the difficulty of getting 

 anything out of him. 



135. Kilat didalam kilau, guruh mmigmidong hujan. 



" Lightning lurks within brightness, thunder is big with 

 rain," 



Some hidden purpose may be concealed under a man's 

 ordinary conduct or demeanour, just as a dangerous flash may 

 be unsuspected amid the general brilliancy of a summer's 

 da}% and the first growl of thunder gives notice of an ap- 

 proaching storm though no rain has fallen. 



130. Kundur tiada melata pergi, labu tiada melata mari. 

 " If the gourd-plant does not creep forward, the pumpkin- 

 v ine will not creep to meet it." 



