Hausa Proverbs
15
31 Ganni'n ido ba shi hanna chi'n kai.
- Seeing the eye does not prevent one from eating the head.
- If a chief's follower was brought before a judge and his master came to ask that he might be let off, this might be said to him, meaning, "Though I see you I shall still do justice, I shall not let him off."
32 Zakarra a-rataye ya yi koatuh?
- Can a cock slung by both legs peck at corn?
- Kotu or koatuh, the pecking action of hens eating grain.
- Can I do it in my present position?
33 Iya rua fidda kai.
- He, who can swim, can save himself.
- Fidda, a contraction of "fita da."
34 Da kura tana da magani'n zawo, da ta yi ma kanta.
- Had the kura the means of curing itself of zawo it would have done so.
- Physician heal thyself.
35 Daki ya tasshi, ragaya ya zona?
- Will the ragaya remain when the hut has started on a journey?
- Will the child remain when his father goes away.
- Is it likely that I shall remain here when you, my master, are going?
- Ragaya, the net or basket of string which will be found hanging from the roof of any hut; all kinds of odds and ends are put into it. Vide 188.
36 Asa zuchia ta chi, shi ya kawo ji'n yungwa.
- To make the heart eat is to bring a feeling of hunger.
- Wishing for a thing makes one feel the want of it.
