Page:Hausa Proverbs.djvu/29

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Hausa Proverbs
17

42 Babba juji ne, kowa ya zo da shaara sai ya zubar.

The chief (or head of the family) is like a dust-heap, every one comes with his sweepings and deposits them.
The master is the recipient of all complaints and troubles.

43 Dauda'n gora achikki akan sha shi.

The dirt inside a gora is drunk inside.
Swallow your wrath.
Gora, a water-bottle; note that it is pronounced differently from gora, a male bamboo.

44 Sai kwarri ya chikka, saanan akan yi zagia.

Only when the quiver is full do you make a zagia.
Don't give anything away until your own wants are satisfied.
Zagia, when a quiver is full it is usual to pull two or three arrows out a little so that they may be easily got at if suddenly wanted; this projection of arrows is called the zagia.

45 Kunkurru ya so dambé, ba shi da yasa.

The tortoise wishes to fight with his fists, but he has no fingers.
Impotent wrath.

46 Gero ya saba da ganni'n rua tun ba na sürfeshi ba.

Gero (millet) has seen (has been familiar with) water before it was put into the turmi to have its skin taken off.
If a man asks one for anything and is refused, he may make this reply, as much as to say, "Ail right, I can get plenty more."
Sürfee, the operation of taking off the "dusa."
Apropos of this, there is a saying describing the disadvantages of being without a wife. "Sissikka, sürfee, bākachi, tankaddi, nikka, dakka, dauka'n rua aiki'n gobro (or goro).
Clearing the chaff, taking off the dusa, sifting the gari, winnowing, rubbing on stones, pounding in a turmi, are all work which a bachelor has to do.