Page:Hausa Proverbs.djvu/60

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48
Hausa Proverbs

251 Cliiniki'n azni noma. The only trade that the pagans know is farming. 252 Kilishi'n jaba dsomi bori'n gyedda, komi kawa'n azni ya bershi. The meat of the jdba steeped in bad gyedda, however much the pagan wants (food) he will leave it. Such a combination is too much even for his stomach. Gyedda, the seeds of a plant used for seasoning; also used by itself as a food, not considered very sustaining. Jaba, vide 157. 2532Jvua da kua ba ta clii'n kaia'n Buzu. Calling out and calling out won't get the property of a Buzu. A peculiarity of the Buzawe is that, when looking after their flocks and working in the fields, they call out to each other a great deal. The Hausas, not understanding their language, also speak of their ordinary conversation as "kua." You won't get the better of a man in that way, he knows too much about it. 254 Na Ma'azu kasslii'n slianu. The Nupes are like cow's dung — they are so deceitful. Cow's dung which has been exposed to the air has a hard outside and a soft inside : so the manner of a Nupe is sincere while his heart is false. Ma'azu, a king of Nupe. 255 Wanzami'n Bohnu, ka slia' v^^oni, ba a slia' ka ba. barber of the Bohnu, you circumcize but no one circumcizes you. Bohnu, a district west of Nigeria. 256 Bohnu kasua da gado. The stupid Bohnu bring their beds to market with them.