22
Hausa Proverbs
69 Ni ba ni so na shigga shegulla, giandumma tana rawwah takkai.
I don't want to join in that business, it would be like a giandumma playing with takkai.
Takkai, when any kind of feast or rejoicing is in progress, among other means of adding to the noise, men often beat short sticks together, these sticks are called takkai.
Giandumma, the hollowed out gourd used to carry water on a journey. It is very fragile. Vide 4.
70 Wonda ya yi tuo achikkin tulu ya san yenda za ya yi kwāshashi.
Whoever makes tuo inside a tulu knows how he is going to get it out.
Tulu, an earthenware jar with a narrow mouth.
Tuo is eaten from a calabash. Each of the party in turn puts in his hand. The mouth of the tulu will not admit the hand, and it could only be extracted with great difficulty.
You seem to be doing a foolish thing, but I suppose you know what you are about. Vide 3.
71 Tunku ya san suri da za ya yi mashi kāsshi.
- The tunku knows the hillock which is his own wuri'n kasshi.
- The tunku, a kind of wild cat. It is said to be very strong smelling.
- Suri, an ant hill.
- Foxes smell their own holes.
72 Madaki shi ya san enda rua ke zubar mashi.
- The owner of the house knows from where the water drips on him.
- Every one knows his own business best.
73 Yi nema'n katanga enda ka fi karifi'n tulu.
- Seek for katanga where you are stronger than a tulu.
- Katanga, a fragment of pottery.
- Only ask for a thing when you are likely to get it.
- Ne ultra sutor crepidam.
