DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0209
THE FOLK-LITERATURE OF THE GALLA
193
20. Kan diegdtti rorisse^nbadddu. “ He who has despised the poor man will not grow
rich.”
21. Wdqni arifattu lafd daqvAnolu. 11 What God has sent does not fail to reach the
earth.”
22. lyesnif ibiddi tuttuqd'ngaUdttu. “ The poor man and the fire do not like to be
poked.”
23. Didiga garada dufe ilkdn'ndzebzsu. “The vomit which comes from the stomach
cannot be sent back by the teeth.”
It is impossible to restrain the impulses of the soul.
24. ’Angon nanndn ’ango^nta’u. “ To eat a great deal is not strength.”
Doing many things does not mean doing them well.
25. Yd gdra qalbinko giru. Genndn manni tinndn owdte. “ When [the husband] says
[to one of his wives], ‘0 heart of mine/ the other looks sullen.
26. Kdn argatdnirrd kdn abdatdntu cald. “ What one hopes for is better than what one
finds.”
27. Ganamdn baani Waq dura'nbadnu. “ They went forth in the morning, but they did
not go forth before God.”
However much one tries to do evil in secret, divine punishment will not be lacking.
28. Mana tdkko lubbu koqd, mana tokko okkote kogd. 11 With one wife, the heart is
warmed; with the other wife the kettle is warmed.”
Two wives are necessary: one beautiful and one rich.
29. Am hdmma namd'ngau, namni gard nd'ngau. “ I do not reach the height of
others; the things of others do not reach my thought.”
He who is not powerful has neither cares nor worries.
30. Ilmon gdfd hdda'nsoddtu. “ The calves do not fear the horns of their mother.”
31. Budddend ndmd qubsu ellerratti bieku. “ One knows even when one neighbor’s
bread is in the oven.”
Neighbors’ affairs are well known.
32. Binzensd"rgatani ndma^nndttu. “ They have found the wild beast; they will no
longer eat the people.”
When an overbearing person finds some one to resist him.
33. Ofi gettun dirsako^ngettu. “ 11 myself,’ she said; 1 My husband,’ she did not say.”
One thinks first of all of oneself, then of others.
34. Akka^balu sirbd mormd gallisd. “ Move your neck according to the music.”
35. Diegin diegefis cora^nnddda! gette faqin. 111 However poor I may be, I will not eat
fleshings,’ said the dresser of skins.”
However, the Galla believe that the dressers of skins eat the fleshings of the skins they
have dressed. The proverb is used of one who, being famous for a vice, swears and swears
falsely that he does not possess it.
193
20. Kan diegdtti rorisse^nbadddu. “ He who has despised the poor man will not grow
rich.”
21. Wdqni arifattu lafd daqvAnolu. 11 What God has sent does not fail to reach the
earth.”
22. lyesnif ibiddi tuttuqd'ngaUdttu. “ The poor man and the fire do not like to be
poked.”
23. Didiga garada dufe ilkdn'ndzebzsu. “The vomit which comes from the stomach
cannot be sent back by the teeth.”
It is impossible to restrain the impulses of the soul.
24. ’Angon nanndn ’ango^nta’u. “ To eat a great deal is not strength.”
Doing many things does not mean doing them well.
25. Yd gdra qalbinko giru. Genndn manni tinndn owdte. “ When [the husband] says
[to one of his wives], ‘0 heart of mine/ the other looks sullen.
26. Kdn argatdnirrd kdn abdatdntu cald. “ What one hopes for is better than what one
finds.”
27. Ganamdn baani Waq dura'nbadnu. “ They went forth in the morning, but they did
not go forth before God.”
However much one tries to do evil in secret, divine punishment will not be lacking.
28. Mana tdkko lubbu koqd, mana tokko okkote kogd. 11 With one wife, the heart is
warmed; with the other wife the kettle is warmed.”
Two wives are necessary: one beautiful and one rich.
29. Am hdmma namd'ngau, namni gard nd'ngau. “ I do not reach the height of
others; the things of others do not reach my thought.”
He who is not powerful has neither cares nor worries.
30. Ilmon gdfd hdda'nsoddtu. “ The calves do not fear the horns of their mother.”
31. Budddend ndmd qubsu ellerratti bieku. “ One knows even when one neighbor’s
bread is in the oven.”
Neighbors’ affairs are well known.
32. Binzensd"rgatani ndma^nndttu. “ They have found the wild beast; they will no
longer eat the people.”
When an overbearing person finds some one to resist him.
33. Ofi gettun dirsako^ngettu. “ 11 myself,’ she said; 1 My husband,’ she did not say.”
One thinks first of all of oneself, then of others.
34. Akka^balu sirbd mormd gallisd. “ Move your neck according to the music.”
35. Diegin diegefis cora^nnddda! gette faqin. 111 However poor I may be, I will not eat
fleshings,’ said the dresser of skins.”
However, the Galla believe that the dressers of skins eat the fleshings of the skins they
have dressed. The proverb is used of one who, being famous for a vice, swears and swears
falsely that he does not possess it.