DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0211
THE FOLK-LITERATURE OF THE GALLA
195
51. Kan cdlun fidd! geden mana mitt harkd kae. “He said, ‘I will bring the best there
is! ’ and he put his hand into the hole of the white ant.”
The awkward, with the best of intentions, cause the worst calamities.
52. Ullen qoda kopd cabsd. “ The stick only breaks earthenware utensils.”
On the other hand, the stick is useful to correct those who should be corrected. The
Galla Spelling Book gives the proverb thus: Ullen qoda qofd cabsd; Loransiyos, however,
says kopd instead of gofd.
53. Akka gard ofi harki martd^nmuru. “The hand does not cut the pantaloon ac-
cording to one’s own belly.”
It is better to work for oneself and not rely upon strangers.
54. Kora maccald^ndira | kori waq^arkd gird. “ The saddle and the cover of the saddle
are sewed; pride is in the hands of God.”
All articles are made and the rich may buy them; but God alone may be proud.
55. Kan sodatdn du ’a kdn enole du ’a. “ What they fear is death; that which never
fails is death.”
It is, therefore, useless to fear it.
56. Akka madd qubd yanni gard gubbd. “ As the wound the finger, so thought inflames
the mind.”
57. Kdn dibbi dibbu qotte gindo qarqdtti bata. “ The one who is oppressed with misery,
after having ploughed, carries the plough on his back up the slope.”
The poor man endures all misfortunes.
58. Kdn haddn qitte qdya haddfitte. “ That (daughter) who has grown to equal stature
with her mother, has put an end to the mother’s decorating herself.”
59. Afan toldn afd told cald (Galla Spelling Book: tala). “A good conversation is
better than a good bed.”
60. Dubbi barbadda saren gabd daqti. “ He looks for quarrels; the dog goes to the
market.”
Because of the repugnance which the Mussulman Galla have for the dog, if a dog goes
to a place where many people are assembled, he will surely receive some kicks. So it is
with one who looks for quarrels.
61. Bor unbzeknen qodan buko lama. “ Since one does not know the morrow, (let there
be prepared) a vessel with two raised cakes.”
62. Kdn har ’ad hatte fitte kdn bdri mdl kzesserre? “ If thou eatest everything today,
what hast thou kept for tomorrow? ”
63. Kdn sobuAnsokoksu. “ A lie cannot be overtaken.”
It is difficult without witnesses to prove that a liar is such. It is the opposite of the
Italian proverb: La bugia ha le garnbe corte, “ A lie has short legs
64. Kdn qufe ddmmd tufa. “ He who is sated, spits out honey.”
195
51. Kan cdlun fidd! geden mana mitt harkd kae. “He said, ‘I will bring the best there
is! ’ and he put his hand into the hole of the white ant.”
The awkward, with the best of intentions, cause the worst calamities.
52. Ullen qoda kopd cabsd. “ The stick only breaks earthenware utensils.”
On the other hand, the stick is useful to correct those who should be corrected. The
Galla Spelling Book gives the proverb thus: Ullen qoda qofd cabsd; Loransiyos, however,
says kopd instead of gofd.
53. Akka gard ofi harki martd^nmuru. “The hand does not cut the pantaloon ac-
cording to one’s own belly.”
It is better to work for oneself and not rely upon strangers.
54. Kora maccald^ndira | kori waq^arkd gird. “ The saddle and the cover of the saddle
are sewed; pride is in the hands of God.”
All articles are made and the rich may buy them; but God alone may be proud.
55. Kan sodatdn du ’a kdn enole du ’a. “ What they fear is death; that which never
fails is death.”
It is, therefore, useless to fear it.
56. Akka madd qubd yanni gard gubbd. “ As the wound the finger, so thought inflames
the mind.”
57. Kdn dibbi dibbu qotte gindo qarqdtti bata. “ The one who is oppressed with misery,
after having ploughed, carries the plough on his back up the slope.”
The poor man endures all misfortunes.
58. Kdn haddn qitte qdya haddfitte. “ That (daughter) who has grown to equal stature
with her mother, has put an end to the mother’s decorating herself.”
59. Afan toldn afd told cald (Galla Spelling Book: tala). “A good conversation is
better than a good bed.”
60. Dubbi barbadda saren gabd daqti. “ He looks for quarrels; the dog goes to the
market.”
Because of the repugnance which the Mussulman Galla have for the dog, if a dog goes
to a place where many people are assembled, he will surely receive some kicks. So it is
with one who looks for quarrels.
61. Bor unbzeknen qodan buko lama. “ Since one does not know the morrow, (let there
be prepared) a vessel with two raised cakes.”
62. Kdn har ’ad hatte fitte kdn bdri mdl kzesserre? “ If thou eatest everything today,
what hast thou kept for tomorrow? ”
63. Kdn sobuAnsokoksu. “ A lie cannot be overtaken.”
It is difficult without witnesses to prove that a liar is such. It is the opposite of the
Italian proverb: La bugia ha le garnbe corte, “ A lie has short legs
64. Kdn qufe ddmmd tufa. “ He who is sated, spits out honey.”