🧚 Proverbs and Figurative Expressions.

The language of a Kaffir is adorned with figurative expressions, some of which are readily understood by an Englishman, but others, when literally interpreted, are to us meaningless.1 Such expressions, however, are found upon inquiry to refer to some circumstance in their mode of living, or some event in their traditional history, which makes the meaning very clear.2 A few of their commonest proverbs and figurative expressions are here given:—3

Isikuni sinyuka nomkwezeli.4

A brand burns him who stirs it up.5

This proverb is an exact equivalent to our English one, Let sleeping dogs lie.6

Njengo mdudo ka Mapassa.7

Like the marriage feast of Mapassa.8

This saying is used to denote anything unusually grand.9 The marriage festivities of one of the ancients, Mapassa by name, are said to have been carried on for a whole year.10

Ishwa lomhluzi wamanqina.11

Misfortune of soup made of shanks and feet.12

Applied to any person who never does well, but is always getting into scrapes.13 The kind of soup spoken of is very lightly esteemed by the Kaffirs.14

Akuko mpukane inqakulela enye.15

One fly does not provide for another.16

A saying of the industrious to the idle, meaning that each should work for himself as the flies do.17

Kude e-Bakuba, akuyiwanga mntu.18

Bakuba is far away, no person ever reached it.19

Bakuba is an ideal country.20 This proverb is used as a warning against undue ambition, or as advice to be content with that which is within reach.21 It is equivalent to our English saying, It is no use building castles in the air.22

Kuxeliwe e-Xukwane apo kumaqasho makulu.23

They have slaughtered at Kukwane where much meat is obtainable.24

According to tradition, there was once a very rich chief who lived at Kukwane (near King William’s Town), and who was in the habit of entertaining strangers in a more liberal manner than any who went before or who came after him.25 This proverb is used to such as ask too much from others, as if to say, It was only at Kukwane that such expectations were realized.26

Qabu Unoqolomba efile.27

I rejoice that Kolomba’s mother is dead.28

The mother of Kolomba was, according to tradition, a very disagreeable person.29 This saying is used when anything that one dreads or dislikes has passed away.30

Izinto azimntaka Ngqika zonke.31

It is not every one who is a son of Gaika.32

Gaika was at the beginning of this century the most powerful chief west of the Kei.33 This proverb signifies that all are not equally fortunate.34

Uyakulila ngasonye uxele inkawu.35

You will shed tears with one eye like a monkey.36

A warning used to deter any one from being led into a snare of any kind.37 It is said that when a monkey is caught in a trap he cries, but that tears come out of one eye only.38

Lukozo lomya.39

It is the seed of the umya (a species of wild hemp).40

This saying is applied to any thing or person considered very beautiful.41 The seed referred to is like a small jet black bead.42

Udhle incholo.43

He has drunk the juice of the flower of the wild aloe.44

Said of a dull, sleepy person.45 This juice when drunk has a stupefying effect, and benumbs the limbs so as to make them powerless for a time.46

Indonga ziwelene.47

The walls have come into collision.48

Said of any dispute between persons of consequence.49

Uvutelwe pakati nje nge vatala.50

He is ripe inside, like a water-melon.51

Said of any one who has come to a resolution without yet expressing it.52 From its appearance it cannot be said with certainty whether a water-melon is ripe or not.53

Isala kutyelwa siva ngolopu.54

A person who will not take advice gets knowledge when trouble overtakes him.55

Uyakuva into embi eyaviwa ngu Hili wase Mambalwini.56

You will find out what Hili of the Amambalu experienced.57

Hili, or Tikoloshe, is, according to the belief of the Kaffirs, a mischievous being who usually lives in the water, but who goes about as a human dwarf playing tricks upon people.58 He milks the cows when no one is watching them.59 He causes women to fall in love with him, for he is of a very amorous disposition towards the female sex.60 The uncivilized Kaffirs, even at the present day, do not doubt the existence of such a being.61 It is said that a long time ago there was a man of the Amambalu who had good reason to suspect that his wife had fallen in love with Hili.62 He accordingly pretended to go upon a journey, but returned in the middle of the night and fastened his dogs at the door of his hut.63 He then went inside and kindled a fire, when, as he anticipated, he found Hili there.64 The man called his neighbours, who came with sticks and beat Hili till he was unable to move.65 They then tied him up in a bundle, fastened him to the back of the woman, and sent her away to wander wherever she liked.66

This saying is applied as a warning to people to avoid doing wrong, lest the punishment of Hili overtake them.67

Ulahla imbo yako ngopoyiyana.68

You have cast away your own for that which you are not sure of.69

This proverb is equivalent to the English one, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.70

Yimbabala yolwantunge.71

He is a buck of an endless forest.72

A saying applied to a shiftless person, one who never continues long in any occupation.73

Uzipembela emoyeni.74

You are lighting a fire in the wind.75

Said to any one who favours strangers in preference to relatives, or to their disadvantage.76

Yintlolela yombini.77

A spy for both.78

Said of a talebearer.79

Akuko ramncwa lingagqimiyo kowalo umxuma.80

There is no beast that does not roar in its den.81

This proverb means that a man recognises no superior in his own establishment.82 It is the Kaffir equivalent for, Every cock crows on his own dunghill.83

Inja yomoya.84

A dog of the wind.85

A saying applied to any one who has no settled plan of living.86

Ukaka kampetu.87

The shield turned the wrong way.88

This saying is applied to any one who goes over from one party to another.89 It is a common expression for one who turns evidence against accomplices in crime.90

Ngumpa wezala.91

It is a cob stripped of maize in an ashpit.92

Said of a worthless character.93

Isinama ndokunamatela.94

I, the adhesive grass, will stick fast to you.95

The isinama is a kind of grass that sticks to one’s clothing when it is touched, and can hardly be brushed off afterwards.96 This proverb is used as a warning to any one to avoid a bad habit or an unworthy companion that cannot easily be got rid of.97

Alitshonanga lingenandaba.98

The sun never sets without fresh news.99

Amaqotyazana angalaliyo emzini.100

They are people of experience who do not sleep at a strange place.101

This proverb is used in praise of one who is smart in going a message, or who performs any duty at a distance quickly.102

Wokolwa yeyokosa.103

You will prefer roasted meat.104

This saying is applied to any one who is boasting immoderately, as a warning that if he does not take care he will get into trouble, when he will be glad to take whatever comes to hand.105 He will prefer roast meat because it is easily cooked, and he will have neither time nor means to boil it.106 This saying is also used as a threat, as if one said, I will punish you thoroughly.107

Kuhla ngamqalamnye.108

Throats are all alike in swallowing.109

This proverb is used when one asks another for anything, and implies, If you do not give to me now, I will not give to you when I have anything that you would like a share of.110

Omasiza mbulala.111

The people who rescue and kill.112

This saying is applied to Europeans.113 It first arose from the heavy demands made by Lord Charles Somerset upon the Gaikas in return for English protection, but the Kaffirs maintain that we have acted up to the description ever since.114 It is sometimes put in this form, The people who protect with one hand and kill with the other.115