DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0341
THE WAYAO OF NYASALAND
325
Meaning “ Though you are prosperous at the moment, do not make a show; all these
things may pass away quickly,” or Kusichila ukasiujangalila pasa! “ One should not
rejoice openly.”
28. Walile masuku pa mtwe!
They have eaten masuku fruit on the head!
The intimate of a household who betrays the friendship of the husband by culpable
intimacy with his wife is said “ to eat masuku fruit with the wife over the head of the
husband.” (Cf. French, faire cocu.)
29. Mpamba wa kuulolela wangakawa kuichila m’meso!
The arrow he is watching, it does not take long to reach the eye!
A man who looks on and does not take steps to stop an ill at the beginning will suffer
heavily in the end.
30. Mwangamwisye liganga!
You kept me holding a stone! •*
You are late in your appointment; you have kept me waiting.
31. Likule pilikumila mbinji (or mbindimbr) likulitika!
The jackal when he swallows mbinji fruit is confident; (i.e. a jackal knows he can void the
seeds of this fruit).
Likulitika has the sense of when jumping over a stream, the jumper is sure of landing
on the opposite bank. The expression used of a man means that he feels pretty sure to get
through with what he is doing. (Note: lions in contradistinction to jackals are said to
eat masuku but always to expel the seeds from the mouth, as the seeds are sharp-pointed
and very irritating. I have myself seen a man die from perforation of the bowel by these
seeds.)
32. (Akinete) mpache mpache walichinji!
(He has) smearing smearing of the bat!
Reference is made here to the habits of the bat which often makes a meal of figs and
then flying to other trees, leaves its droppings under them also so that one might take
them to be fig trees, too. The saying refers to a man who manages to involve a lot of
others in his own trouble.
33. Mapwisa akulapa sajo!
The marsh-mongoose they (people) admire (its) footprints!
The mapwisa is a small rodent whose footprints may be seen all over the gardens in the
morning, but seldom the animal itself. The meaning of the saying is, “If you are going to
steal, it does not matter if you leave your footprints, but do not hang about and get caught!”
34. Ndende chenene wamkoleche matumbo!
Mr I-Must-Do-Well they on him hanged the entrails!
325
Meaning “ Though you are prosperous at the moment, do not make a show; all these
things may pass away quickly,” or Kusichila ukasiujangalila pasa! “ One should not
rejoice openly.”
28. Walile masuku pa mtwe!
They have eaten masuku fruit on the head!
The intimate of a household who betrays the friendship of the husband by culpable
intimacy with his wife is said “ to eat masuku fruit with the wife over the head of the
husband.” (Cf. French, faire cocu.)
29. Mpamba wa kuulolela wangakawa kuichila m’meso!
The arrow he is watching, it does not take long to reach the eye!
A man who looks on and does not take steps to stop an ill at the beginning will suffer
heavily in the end.
30. Mwangamwisye liganga!
You kept me holding a stone! •*
You are late in your appointment; you have kept me waiting.
31. Likule pilikumila mbinji (or mbindimbr) likulitika!
The jackal when he swallows mbinji fruit is confident; (i.e. a jackal knows he can void the
seeds of this fruit).
Likulitika has the sense of when jumping over a stream, the jumper is sure of landing
on the opposite bank. The expression used of a man means that he feels pretty sure to get
through with what he is doing. (Note: lions in contradistinction to jackals are said to
eat masuku but always to expel the seeds from the mouth, as the seeds are sharp-pointed
and very irritating. I have myself seen a man die from perforation of the bowel by these
seeds.)
32. (Akinete) mpache mpache walichinji!
(He has) smearing smearing of the bat!
Reference is made here to the habits of the bat which often makes a meal of figs and
then flying to other trees, leaves its droppings under them also so that one might take
them to be fig trees, too. The saying refers to a man who manages to involve a lot of
others in his own trouble.
33. Mapwisa akulapa sajo!
The marsh-mongoose they (people) admire (its) footprints!
The mapwisa is a small rodent whose footprints may be seen all over the gardens in the
morning, but seldom the animal itself. The meaning of the saying is, “If you are going to
steal, it does not matter if you leave your footprints, but do not hang about and get caught!”
34. Ndende chenene wamkoleche matumbo!
Mr I-Must-Do-Well they on him hanged the entrails!