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Hausa Proverbs
47
244 Komi lalachewa'n giwa, ta fi kwando goma.
However small an elephant may be, it will fill more than ten hampers, when cut up.
Lalachewa, literally spoilt.
245 Komi mugu'n taya'n mahauchi, ba ya taya giwa cleri bokkoi ba.
However bad at pricing a butcher may be, he won't price an elephant at 700 cowries.
246 Samu'n kai ya fi samu'n fula.
To have your life is better than to have your cap.
If the chief of a town has seized part of your property and you escape you will not be such a fool as to go back to try and recover it; for he will probably have you killed.
247 Asshe gwano ba shi ji'n wari'n jikkinsa.
Truly the gwano does not perceive its own smell.
A man does not see his own defects.
Gwano, a strong smelling ant.
248 Laifi tuddu ne, sai ka taka naka, saanan ka gani na woni.
Faults are like a hill, you mount on your own and then see other people's.
249 Muni tuddu ne, kowa nasa ya ke hawa, ya fadi na woni.
Evil is a hill, every one gets on his own and speaks about some one else's.
250 Kwanchia'n liankali da arne, shi ya kawo chi'n yankainslii.
Familiarity, or living with, the pagans makes you eat what they have killed, and so be defiled, as they have not "hallal'd" it.
Hankalina ya kwanta da kai, I like you.
