Page:Hausa Proverbs.djvu/44

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Hausa Proverbs

140 Da resshi'n kirra karre'n baibai ya batche. It is for lack of calling that the dumb man's dog gets lost. 141 Hang-ye (harara) ba shi kawo wonda ke da nesa. Gazing at a man who is a long way oiff will not bring him to you. 142 Ayi taffia ya li zamma. " Move about " is better than *' sit still." An active (and therefore a willing) man is better than an unwilling. 143 Dan kuka shi kan ja ma uwanshi jifa. It is the fruit of the kuka tree that causes its mother to be thrown at. Any one who wants to get the fruit of the kuka tree throws stones till he knocks one down. The tree is difficult to climb, and the fruit, which hangs by a long stalk, is easily knocked down. 144 Dan usuli ya fi shiggegi. The original inhabitant is better than a stranger. 145 Mutum ba slii soka'n chikkinshi, saanan shi komo shi yi kirari. A man does not stick a knife into his stomach and then go and boast about it. A man does not do an injury to, or make an accusa- tion against a relation and then go and boast about it. 146 Jinni ya fi rua guibi. Blood is thicker than water. 147 Mu dei bera'n rami daia, en ba agamma ashigga ba, agamma a fita. We are mice of one hole, if we don't meet going in we meet going out. If you refuse to lend a man something that he asks for, he might reply as above, meaning, "Any day you may want to borrow from me."