Page:Hausa Proverbs.djvu/62

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
50
Hausa Proverbs

263 Gidda'n Zahanna maiwuya'n zua, sai a nuna da karra.

Zahanna's village is hard to get at, people will only point it out with a cornstalk.

Zahanna, the village of Tanimo, a Kanuri famous for his warlike qualities; no one would conduct you to it, only point it out with a cornstalk.


264 Aboki'n kiyayi zamma'n zauri, ka san gussuri, ka ba hauri, gidda ba samu komi ba.

Sitting in a zauri is a thing to be avoided, there you get gussuri, you give it to your teeth, the gidda gets nothing.

Aboki'n kiyayi, a thing to be avoided.

Gussuri, the section of kola-nut given to every one sitting round: usually means supplies generally.

San, samu.

Husbands should not waste their time loafing in zauris, but look after their family affairs.


265 Idan gora tana rawwah, ba chikka ne ba.

If the bottle is shaking it will not be filled.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.


266 Ennua'n giginia na nesa ka sha sainyi.

The shade of the palm tree (deleb) only from a distance do you enjoy its coolness.

Said of a man who entertains strangers well, but neglects his own family.


267 Dan banza rairai ne, ko andunkullayshi, sai shi wache.

The "waster" is like sand, though he is kneaded together he falls to pieces.


268 Gaadu'n gidda, wohalla ga raggo.

To inherit a gidda is a trouble to a "waster."

Gidda, the compound containing several huts; it would include farms and establishment generally and would entail a good deal of labour.