DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0214
198
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
and had to pay the Galla a great ransom. Thus, for the Galla of Shoa “ the affair of Masasa
Sayfu ” became proverbial, like the Italian pifferi di montagna (“ mountain fifers ”).
90. AmarrKndallagu buddz'en san tufdta. “The Amara who does not cultivate the
earth spits upon five loaves.”
This is said of one who, not having worked himself, despises the work of others. The
Amara are, as is well known, despisers of agricultural work, which, on the contrary, is
held in esteem among the Galla. The proverb belongs to the Harar.
91. Harre wdggin ole dkka harre dufd. “ He has stayed with the ass; he emits farts like
the ass.”
Cf. the corresponding Amharic and Tigritan proverbs.
92. Kan barand lakkisi | kotCarkdko harkisi! 11 Never mind about the matter of this
year; come and pull out my arm.”
It is related that a robber who had entered a woman’s house, having thrust his arm into
a vessel of grain, could not pull it out again. The woman who had been to the spring to
draw water, having come back, set down the large jug without noticing the thief and, being
tired, exclaimed, “ Yd barand!” “Oh, this (unlucky) year!” The thief then burst out with
the above-mentioned phrase which afterwards became proverbial.
93. "ndu/d/ gede busdn. “ ‘ Do not come to me; I will not come to
thee,’ said the malaria.”
Because whoever does not go to the malarial zone is not affected by the disease. This
is said of one who does not attack without being provoked by his adversary.
VI. Riddles
1. Guy a namd gadi halkdn namd oil. “ In the daytime below man, in the night above
man.”
Answer: The fowl.
In the daytime the fowls are in the yard in front of the house; at night, according to
the Abyssinian custom, they are above the ceiling of the hut, that is, in the space between
the ceiling of the room and the roof of the hut.
2. Kan du ’dni oli, kdn girdni gadi. “ Over those who are dead, beneath those who are
living.”
Answer: The earth.
3. Irri du ’a gali du ’d giddun gird. “ That which is over is dead; that which is under
is dead; that which is between is alive.”
Answer: A man in bed. The bed is usually made of an ox-hide, and the covering is an-
other skin.
4. Hundumd kiessa kae fude bisdn kiessa kde fudu daddabe. “ It went into everything
and it caught ; it went into water and it could not catch.”
Answer: Fire.
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
and had to pay the Galla a great ransom. Thus, for the Galla of Shoa “ the affair of Masasa
Sayfu ” became proverbial, like the Italian pifferi di montagna (“ mountain fifers ”).
90. AmarrKndallagu buddz'en san tufdta. “The Amara who does not cultivate the
earth spits upon five loaves.”
This is said of one who, not having worked himself, despises the work of others. The
Amara are, as is well known, despisers of agricultural work, which, on the contrary, is
held in esteem among the Galla. The proverb belongs to the Harar.
91. Harre wdggin ole dkka harre dufd. “ He has stayed with the ass; he emits farts like
the ass.”
Cf. the corresponding Amharic and Tigritan proverbs.
92. Kan barand lakkisi | kotCarkdko harkisi! 11 Never mind about the matter of this
year; come and pull out my arm.”
It is related that a robber who had entered a woman’s house, having thrust his arm into
a vessel of grain, could not pull it out again. The woman who had been to the spring to
draw water, having come back, set down the large jug without noticing the thief and, being
tired, exclaimed, “ Yd barand!” “Oh, this (unlucky) year!” The thief then burst out with
the above-mentioned phrase which afterwards became proverbial.
93. "ndu/d/ gede busdn. “ ‘ Do not come to me; I will not come to
thee,’ said the malaria.”
Because whoever does not go to the malarial zone is not affected by the disease. This
is said of one who does not attack without being provoked by his adversary.
VI. Riddles
1. Guy a namd gadi halkdn namd oil. “ In the daytime below man, in the night above
man.”
Answer: The fowl.
In the daytime the fowls are in the yard in front of the house; at night, according to
the Abyssinian custom, they are above the ceiling of the hut, that is, in the space between
the ceiling of the room and the roof of the hut.
2. Kan du ’dni oli, kdn girdni gadi. “ Over those who are dead, beneath those who are
living.”
Answer: The earth.
3. Irri du ’a gali du ’d giddun gird. “ That which is over is dead; that which is under
is dead; that which is between is alive.”
Answer: A man in bed. The bed is usually made of an ox-hide, and the covering is an-
other skin.
4. Hundumd kiessa kae fude bisdn kiessa kde fudu daddabe. “ It went into everything
and it caught ; it went into water and it could not catch.”
Answer: Fire.