Page:Hausa Proverbs.djvu/27

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Hausa Proverbs
15

31 Ganni'n ido ba shi hanna chi'n kai.

Seeing the eye does not prevent one from eating the head.
If a chief's follower was brought before a judge and his master came to ask that he might be let off, this might be said to him, meaning, "Though I see you I shall still do justice, I shall not let him off."

32 Zakarra a-rataye ya yi koatuh?

Can a cock slung by both legs peck at corn?
Kotu or koatuh, the pecking action of hens eating grain.
Can I do it in my present position?

33 Iya rua fidda kai.

He, who can swim, can save himself.
Fidda, a contraction of "fita da."

34 Da kura tana da magani'n zawo, da ta yi ma kanta.

Had the kura the means of curing itself of zawo it would have done so.
Physician heal thyself.

35 Daki ya tasshi, ragaya ya zona?

Will the ragaya remain when the hut has started on a journey?
Will the child remain when his father goes away.
Is it likely that I shall remain here when you, my master, are going?
Ragaya, the net or basket of string which will be found hanging from the roof of any hut; all kinds of odds and ends are put into it. Vide 188.

36 Asa zuchia ta chi, shi ya kawo ji'n yungwa.

To make the heart eat is to bring a feeling of hunger.
Wishing for a thing makes one feel the want of it.