156 



MALAY PEOVF.KBr 



Lauk, is anything substantial eaten with rice, such as meat, 

 fish, vegetables, whether curried or not. 



161. Lenggok-lenggang ha gel chupah hanyut. 



" Rocking to and fro, like a floating cocoanut shell." 



A simile used of a woman of openly wanton conduct. 



Lengqang is the Malay equivalent for "swao'^er." See 

 No. 139. 



162. Lag i trang lagi bersuloh. 



u Though it is. already light be carries a torch. 1 ' 



Said of an upright judge, or other virtuous person, whose 

 conduct will bear the closest scrutiny. 



163. Langit runtoli bumi chayer. 



" If the sky falls the earth melts." 



The downfall of an important personage involves the 

 destruction of those immediately beneath and dependent on 

 him. 



164. Lang punggok lang ber-ikan 

 Tidor siang berjaga ma J am. 



4 * The tail-less kite that preys on fish sleeps all day and is 

 astir at night." 



Said of a noted thief or other bad character. 



Lang punggok is probably some kind of owl, but I have not 

 identified the species. 



165. Muka berpandang budi kadapatan. 



"To look on the face after having found out the cha- 

 racter." 



Good manners do not permit Malays to betray open dis- 

 trust of one another and, while the rules of courtesy are 

 observed, it is difficult to discover from a man's demeanour 

 what his £>rofessions maybe worth. But " fore- warned is 

 fore-armed " and a Malay, who meets in a bargain or in 

 any domestic negotiation some-one regarding whose un- 

 friendly disposition he has received private information, goes 

 to the interview prepared " to loo]: on the face with a know- 

 ledge of the character." 



