S O M E A S S AM E S E P ROV E RB S .

( S E C O ND E DI TI ON .
)

C O M P I LE D A ND A NNO T T D A E

M A JO R P . R . T G U R DO N,
. I A
. .
,

Y CO M M IS S IO NE R
DE P U T ,
A ND S U P E R INTE NDE NT O F E T H NO G R A P H Y

I N AB B A “ .

S H ILLO NG

P R INT E D A T T H E A S S A M S E C R E TA R I A T P R INTING O FF ICE .

1 90 3 .
A ge n t s f o r t h e S ale o f B e ak s p ub l i s h e d b y t h e A ss a m A dm in i s tr a ti on .

A g e n t s In In d ia .

( a) M e ss rs . T hac ker , S pin k Cc .

, (2 ) M e ssrs. W . Ne w m an & Cc ..

C a lcut ta . C a lc utta .

(3) M e ssrs . S . K Lahiri 81 CO

. . .
, C a lc utta .

A g e n ts i n E n g la n d.

0) W
h o 5 A . A 70 0 “. 3 7: B ed f o r d (5) M e ss rs . K e ga n P a ul, T re n c h, T rfi b n e r
S tree t, S tra n d , W . C .
, Lo n d on.
i
t ( m,
o n 1o n 5 .
C ha rin g C ross R oa , W C , d . .

l
af ff fi
( 2) co
l z filf d lly W
s
é ha ll e s, (6 ) 8 °
Q ua ritc h. x 5 . P ic c a i .
0 40 0 .

( 3) M Sa mp Lo w , a rsto n 8: M ( 7) M P S: K in & S o n , 9 , B ri ge d
%
essrs so n e ssrs. .

West m i nster W , Lo n o n d
.

Co , S t . . D u n s ta n s H o use, Fe tte r
’
S t reet, , . .

La " E C , Lo n do n
e . .

( 8) M essrs. l lxa m s No rgates O x f o r d .

( 4) M e ssrs . Lu z a c Cd 4 6,; G rea t (9 ) M essr s. Deighto n B ell Co .

, C a rn
R ussell S tree t, W . C , Lo n o n
. d b idge .

A g e n ts o n the C o n t in e n t of E u rO pe .

( 1) MM F rie dla n e r
. d 8: S o hn , u , ( 3) M . K a rl H ie rse m a n n, Leipz ig .

C a rlstra sse, B erlin .

( 4) M E . r ne st Lero ux , 2 8, R ue B o na pa rte ,

(2) M . O tto H a rra sso w it z , Le ipz ig . P a ris .

M a rtin us H a gue .

S H IL LO NG

P R INT E D l fl
'
E . H l LL , P R E S S S U P E R INT E ND E NT . “ SS A M .
 P R E FA CE T O S E C O ND E D IT IO N .

I lH A NK S to th e lib er ality of the A ssa m A dm in istr a tio n

it has b e en po ssib le to pu blish a S ec o n d E di tio n of
”
Som e A ssa m e se P r o v erb s . T he fir st e ditio n , a lth ou
g h
it m e t w ith a f avo ur able rec e
ptio n at th e tim e, c o n ta in ed

m a n y in ac c u ra c ies w hi c h a deeper stu d y of th e A ssa m es e

la n gu a ge on th e pa rt o f th e c o m piler a n d th e kin dn e ss o f

var io u s f rien dl y c r itic s, have helpe d to br in g to light C er .

tain f a u lts in tr a n sliter a tio n a lso w hi c h a ppea r e d in th e fir st

e ditio n ha v e b e e n r e c tifie d, th e m e th o d of tr an sliter atio n
la id do w n b y th e R o y al A s iatic S o c ie ty b e in g f o ll o w e d a s
f ar a s pra c tic ab le A la r ge n u m b er o f the pr o verb s w hic h
.

a ppea r in thi s c o lle c tio n a r e sa id to b e th e u tt er an c e s of

Dak , w h o ac c o r di n g to so m e w a s a m a n of hum ble ex tra c

tio n , b ein g a m em b e r of th e K u m a r c a ste , w ho w a s b orn in
th e villa ge o f L e hi Da n g ar a situ a t e d
-
n ear the n o w ru in e d
v ill a ge o f M an di a in th e B ar
pe ta m a uz a . F o r thi s f a c t
th e r e is th e au th o rit y of th e Dak Char itra , ”
in w hi c h

o c c urs th e lin e (3 13 G WE flTé . O n the o th er h an d, a

w r iter in the
“
A ssa m B an ti c la im s tha t Dak w a s a B ra hm in
by c a ste w ho w as b o rn in a vil la e
g n ear K aliabar in the
No w go n g di stri c t , an d tha t Dak an d his f a m ily m igra ted
t o J o rha t du rin g th e g
r el n of R aj a R u dr a S in gh, This
w r iter a dds tha t th e desc en da n ts of Dak ar e to b e f oun d to

thi s day a t R an gda i in J o rha t , w h er e the f a m ily is kn o w n

-

un d e r th e n a m e o f WW? fi lilf l? 213 I f th e sa y in s o f

g D a k .

a r e e x a m in e d by an y o n e w ho is a c qu a in te d w ith the B ar e t
p a
p i
a to s, I thi n k h e w ill be of th e sa m e o pin io n a s m yself tha t

Dak ’
s lan gua ge h a s a di stin c t B a rpeta r in
g a b o ut it . It is,
h o w ever , n ot of
‘

m uch m o m en t Dak b ir th pla c e , bu t it is a

’
s

m an y o f Dak s sa yin gs
’
m a tter f or c o n gr atul a tio n that so

48 123 9
w hi c h a re br im f ul of w o r ldly w isdo m as w ell a s r a c tic a l
, p
kn ow le dge of r ic ul tur e , h a v e b e en u n earth e d Dak s
’
a
g .

agr ic ul tu r al sa i
y g
n s
p an d
h ib itio n s Co n c ern i n
th e
g n ot
ro

b u ildi n g a n d n o t even c u ttin g b am b o o s o n c erta in days o f

th e mo n th , a r e well kn o w n to the A s sam e s e c ul tivato rs

thr o u gho u t th e pro vin c e , a n d it is b e lieve d that the f o rn mr

ar e mu c h r e spe c t e d a n d th e latter o f ten str ic tly o b serv e d by

A ssam e se H in du s It w ill p r o b ab l
y sur ls e th e n on
pr
.

A ssam ese r ea der t o h ear tha t m us ta r d c an n o t be so w

n
’

on

th e f o u r lun a r da y s of th e m o n th e n din
g 1n th e su ffix ll,
i or

that pul se c ann ot b e se w n o n the five lunar day s en d1 ng

w ith th e suf fix SE , a n d tha t c an e o r b a m b o o s c a n n o t be c u t

dur in g th e six days o f the S ha w n . T he n , a

ga ln ,
ther e is
the pr o hi b itio n g re
g p l o u h n
a r din
i g o n th e da
y o f th g
e f u ll

mo o n , o r du rin g the A m bu ba c hz , w hen the e arth is c o n si

’

der e d to b e m a sta te o f im pu r ity T he pr o verb s to w hich .

I h av e r ef err e d a b o v e , a s a lso th e re at er n um b er of th e
g .

o ther a gric ul t ur a l sa yin s

g , a r e a sc r i b e d to Dak .

It is to be h o pe d tha t th e in a c c ur ac ies iii the ren derin g

of so m e o f th e pr o verb s tha t a ppe ar e d in th e fir st edi tio n
an d m th e tran sla tio n ha v e n o w b e e n r e c tified, bu t it sh o u ld

be sta t e d tha t in th e w o r k of r ev sio n

i p I am s e c iall
y
in debte d t o R a i M a dh av Chan dr a B ar dala i B ahadur , M essr s .

P R am K hau n d, Il e m Chan dr a G o esa in , R aj an i K ain ta

a r su

B ar da
lai , J a ga t Cha n dr a G ossain , a n d U pen dr a Na th B arua .

T he n a m e s, h o w ever , of M r . A b dul M aj id, w ho h elped me

d o f G ur u P ra sa d K akati ,
'

so m u c h w ith th e first e ditio n ,

an

w ho a ssiste d in c o ll e c tin i the di str ic t o f S ibsagar ,

’

m e
g n
'

m ust on n o ac c oun t be om itted .

In c o n c lu sio n ,
it is to b e ho p ed that th e pr esen t a ttem pt

to r en der in to E n glish so m e of the sa yin gs o f th e peo ple o f

the B ra hm apu tr a V a lley m ay help to sa ve the f orm er f ro m
o blivio n , an d the a gr ic u ltur a l sa in s , w hic h it is b elieve d
y g
 b lishe d n o w f o r the fir st tim e in E li h m b f
ar e pu g s ,
n a y e o

so m e pr ac tic a l valu e to a ric ul tur a li sts

g It .is i n t en d e d ,

h er e af ter , w ith the appr o val of the

’
B ou ble th e Chi ef
C o m m i ssio n e r , an d if tim e an d O ppo rtu ni ty perm it , to pu b
lish so m e o f the pr o verbs o f the S ur m a V alley .

SH ILLO NG , P . R . T . G U R DO N .

The 25th S ep tem ber 1 9 0 3 .

 S O M E AS S AM E S E P RO VE RB S .

C la s s I .

P R O V E R B S R E LA TING T O H UM A N F A ILING S , F O IB LE S , A ND V I C E S
’ '
.

A nger, a fi ec ta t o n,i boa sti ng, c o n c ei t, etc

fir cm w ta $ 81 as m?!
‘

a s e ns, e ta an 9

K i no bha m akar t ali, bhal kh an th a i pht té kha n pé li .

Wha t a r epetition o f a n ger, you h a ve put do w n the go o d one

a n d pic ked up th a to rn or e .

This is a ddr essed to a pers on w ho is in a gr eat ra ge , a n d w ho

is so angr y that he pu ts do w n the goo d c lo th he has in his han d,

and takes u
p a to rn on e i n stead .

w as ( bha m a k) sign ifi es the su dde n r isin of a n ger . It is also

g
a pplied to a fire w hic h sudde n l y b laz es up.

B o a sti n g .

as "W 3 156 1 a
6 1 31 3 113 7 m511
P ho p dan g dhé n né ikiya suda chang .

You boa ster— yo u h ave n o paddy an d yo ur c /ia ng is empty .

T he term t W ? is applied to a m a n
cs l w ho bo a sts
’
abou t
n othin g. atfif fl l (m iilc z yd) liter ally is n o t
‘

.
( c hdn
g) is the
platf o r m in side th e 8 1 131
(bha r dl ) or gra n a r y .

F o rge tf u ln ess .

fllfifil Wlf m l We n o,

lls « ts
a i s it e a m! w e r

P ahari ac hliilo pa ril m an at,

P an ch h ara niy a pats achhe R aw ana r gha rat .

I ha d f o rgo tte n it, a nd t h en I rem em be red,

It c
w as a five - o o ured sto n e
l
in the house o f R aw a n .
2 SOM E A S SA M E S E P a o v z a ns i .

The w or d fiBl sign i fies a flat sto n e u pon w h ic h spic e s, etc , . are

pou n de d W h en L ak shm a n , th e y o u n ger b r othe r o f

. R am , w as

with R ava n a th e m o u n ta in G an dham adan w a s

“

w o un de d in b a ttle ,

b ro u ght b y H atte n da n c e sele c t e d

”

u n u m an The ph ysic ia n in
.

c er ta in r e q u isite m edic in al herb s th eref r o m , a n d, w h en a skin g f or

a flat sto n e an d pe stle f or gr in din g th e herb s in qu estio n , ga ve
ven t to th e p r overb .

A fi btio
eyz .

s ets « i ts f o ams
, s its W e i
,ss E l i!
s ? 3 3. 5
fi re fi ner airfa re mu ?I
‘

fish e s f e fs s a ,
mare as ,
at

h a s R ahdai T ipam a r B h ad a i, S a la gu r ir A gh a n i b ai,

T inio r din git dhar i tin iye kan dic hhe, sam a ndar b al ga chh n ai .

R ahda i f rom R a h a, B h adai f ro m T ipam , siste r A gha n i f ro m S a la guri,

-

thr e e w eepin g o n ea ch o th e r 8 n ec k s a nd em b ra cin g,

’
A re all

a lth ou g h t h e re is n o t th e lea st rela t io n sh ip a m on g st t hem .

B ah a i s in th e No w go n g distric t . Tipzim , or Na m ti is c lo se to
,

S ibsaga r . S a la gu m 1 s a lso i n S ib saga r .

B o a sting .

as ? w arez : 3 6 3 1 a s ]
Na ga i G arga (u) or ba ta ra kay .

H e te lls the n ew s o f G a r ga o n w ith ou t h iv n i g gon e th ere .

A m an tel ls the n ew s o f the c o u rt w ith o u t e ve r ha vin g b een

to it . G a r gao n w as f o r m erl y th e c a pital of th e A ho m k in gs, or

r ather wa s on e o f their ca
pitals .

B oa s ti n g .

mass s
res are
u an “
tar,

cas fial niece was se n e m W t r

S aga rat ec hhil pan c haj an ya sh a nkh a ,

Nega ria sham uke kale m ayo t are han gs ha .

In the c
o ea n t h ere w as the c ouc h sh ell w ith five openin gs,

B ut the sham uk w it h a ta il sa id
“
I a m r ela e t d to it
 ‘

Bo s m B LA M ING o rn nns 3
‘

s
a r a -
.

Th e sh am u k is a s e l fish , w h ic h is f o u nd in
h l é alm ost ever y
r an c e very like
m arsh or bil . I ts sh el l i s in a ppea a sn ail

sh ell . It is u seless as a n a r tic le o f f oo d, ex c ept to th e atl as e m (3 M .

m ule bha ngai), w h ic h is a spec ies o f h e ron th a t c rac ks the sh ells

w ith its stron g Li m e is, h o w ever , m a de f r o m the shell s in

b eak .

c onsiderable q u a n titie s, a n d is sold a n d b o u gh t b y the poo r to

eat w ith ta m n l (b e t el n u t) T h e e
n
s W I r
im w a s th e
. m y thi
‘

c al c on c h w hic h Was blown by S ri K rishn a during the b attle of .

th e M ah abh arat .

B oa sti ng,

t
sis er a am t a ter was,

t
$13 1 s i esa s ca n in card

Jaha lai na m a re m s h alai m are ,

P h a ta ath uw a kh an tingali kai taro .

I do n otc are f o r the h eat b ut I die f ro m the m osquitoes

, ,

S inc e I ha ve hung m y torn m osquito c urtain too h igh

‘

P rob ably the m ean in g of th is pro verb is “

pen n y w ise and
pou n d f o olish .
”
A n oth er rea din g We a w t in
"

w hic h c ase a:

( S an skrit W) m ean s f a m e .

B la ming other s f o r f
’
one s ow n a ul t .

sw a m« mm {531 as ,

w e a im s a e s can u
f

Na kaleo
l
pha t a m ukh,
n o w aro

K aleo lage bhaka ta r dosh .

There is an opening in the m ou th, an d I can t help spea king

’

If I do S peak, the blam e w ill f all on the M ane t.

H ere the m an is b etw e en the horn s of a dilem m a ; he c an t ’

h elp spea k in g, but if he do es h e w ill get a bha ka t in to trouble .

3 7W
(bh k t) m di i l f i i t
‘
‘

a a ea ns a c o a go sa n o r pr es
s p e .
4: SO M E A SS A M E S E P B OV E R B S .

Conc ei t .

an i a wif i cn W t
F
{ ,

a? airs fi fwm win a

Juj iba lai ahile m al,
Dui hate c hingile W .

A wre stler c am e to fight, but he o nly broke a ha ir .

Qiflfi si a vulgar ex p essio n

r signif yin g in ability

This proverb applies to the m an w ho is o ver con ceited ab out -

h is c apabilities The w ord at?! (m al) m ore pr operly m ean s a b ox er

.

or w restler .

C o un ting o no a c hi c kens bef or e they Disc onten t

’
10 . a re ha tc hed and

ex agger a ti on .

new 3 313! e tc ca n,

all filters ? ca mm ,
I
G aohhat kathé l o that tel .

N6 khao tei sol be] .

R ubbing the lips w ith o il,

While the j ack f ruit is still on the tree .

o f“ ( W (o tha t tel) m ean s on the lips o il T he j a c k f r uit, if

.

eat n e w ith ou t pu ttin g o il on the lips, c ause s so res T he re is a .

H in di proverb ex ac tly sim ilar to the A ssam e se I t is (goo/1 h pa r .

Ic a thdl hon th m en tel ) Clea rly this is a n in stan c e of c ou ntin g

'
.

o n e s c hic kens b ef ore they are hatc hed

’
.

Di sc an tout .

we stash star,

fi rs t?! W “is
3 5( hi s
( v ita l, ( 51
caster! e mI

S é toté eukhar eteo

Nepale, dhelri to o
 nx n e e s m n om 5

I take 0 3 the c o vering, I did n ot o bta in even o n e o f the seven ha ppi~

n esses, an d I did n o t fin d even the dheki nic e .

A c om pla in t of a w o m an w ho is disc o n t en te d w ith her lo t .

S he did n ot fin d eventhe dhobi a n y c om f or t . To w o rk the

dheki is on e of the hardest ho usehold duties .

? m w a s fi rm stfi z s
'

on t n t
( WW fi lm ,

a t! sh f v fi afi «1 31 atti re: e lm.

« m cw : We l

E ke hathi kare sato ta singhok marilo bi ),

Lo kak nakalo n ( ) laj e,
C hhamé h k hap di nigani eta marile ti ts,
Dha n jay dhol baj e .

With o ne arrow I killed seven lions,

I w a s too shy to tell a ny on e

B b e, af ter lyin g in w ait f or six mo hths, killed a mouse,

ut

A t that I see the drum o f vic tory beat en .

The w as ( d/z a n
j )
ay w as a lar ge dr u m w hic h w as b eat e n by

the A h om s w hen they gain ed a vic to r y The dha n ia y w as .

of ti c u lar sha pe an d of la rge izes A n illustratio n of it

a par .

18 g n
i ve by M ontgom ery M ar tin in .
his b ook .

a nw e ? fif sm mara
,

m fi tsrsm rti r mfisin

‘ ’
.

ce a s fls vtfim m n
‘

K ath akalei lagil pak ,

B are ja ni gaichhil pani finibslai,

Tera j an r i katile nak .

If I say, a f ault is f oun d w ith my story,

T w elve girls w ent to f et ch w ater,
6 SO M E A SSAM ESE P R OVE R B S .

W (M 9 5
—

e f f9 M 91 1 p utt ) literall y a tur n , or tw ist h as o cc u rr e d.

i le WW ( d has) th e y th e
’

H er e f
m ea n s o ff en c e . k tz le c ut

n o ses . It w a s a c o m m on pu n i sh m en t to slit the n o se in th e

da y s of the R aj as . The prove rb poi n ts to the gro w th of a sto r y ,

or pr ob ab l y , in this c a se, sc an dal, b y b ein g re peate d .

E x agger a tion .

«
eh m cvi f sm mafim We ]
a
‘

Weis s? fli fifietet sfl
a mWe «see n516 1 ef wt
efi w i ts? as
s sn caste
‘

u pm arl deic hhilo Dhapalika parba t .

Tilikit m aric hhilo b a g .

K hedé m ari dhar ic hhilo m e ta h a rina .

E t iya n epao m a te ha( n ) ha r la g . .

I used to be able to j um p o ver the Dhapalika h ill .

1 killed the pa ddy bir d in an in sta nt -

.

I cha sed a stag a n d c aught him .

No w
I c a n t even ca tch u p a drake ’

b i lfsls i ”215
’ 6 is hillo c k Wars e l al so is u sed to ex press a? sc reen
'

usua lly m a de o f tha tc hin g gr a ss Th is sc r ee n w h ic h is so m e

“
-
.
,

tim es c alle d 11215 1 is u sed f or w atc hin g c rops an d f or

9

g uar din g the m f ro m w ild a n im als W i s sh or t f o r with .

th e c om m o n paddy b ird fifi fiaifi diter ally a t a sn ap of the

-
.
,

fin gers, an d so it c om es to m ean in stan tly .

r e m?! 5m 75
«
mm
Tilake karile .

palm tree out of a sesaxhu m seed

H e m ade a .

The A ssam ese version o f to inak e a m oun tain out of a

m olehill 1 f e e is the sesamum
’
. W is the f anp alm or palmyra .
"

tree.
 nx a e e n a x r x o n
'
. f 7

E
’

x a gge r a tz o n .

was ar m3 T“ ,

$ 15 { ni ce states at?“
Dban arn ariyé tan,
B h at khai c hhe udhi n a r m an .

Dha n illness is
’
s ve r y se rio us,

B ut he eats a pile of c
ri e as b ig a s a n u dhdn .

D ba n is a te rm of en dea rm e n t so m e t im es applied by
”
w ive s to th eir hu sb a n d it m ay b e t ra n sla ted dar lin g .

35
111? is a la rge c lo d o f ear th . Three su c h c lo ds are u sed to
su
ppo r t t he c o o k in g
p ot .

E x agger a l i o n .

as? eats etafif zn ma r ,

f e sa f e mI
”

sa an
“

Nu c hhui du rn uni tuli dile b oj a,

Na pa ri n n shun i ha l oj a .

H e lif ted the lo ad on t o t he h ea d of . t he e

fish w if e w ith o u t be in
-

g
po l uted by her .

Wi tho ut st udy he be c a m e a m a gi ia n c .

T his pr o ve rb is m e a n t 1 r o n i c a lly A c c o r din g to A ssa m ese .

idea s, it w o u ld b e im possib le f o r a m an to pla c e a lo e d on the h ea d

'

,
'

a Du m n i w itho u t be in g; poll u te d b y
i

of ,
he r T he “
Do m ”
”
. .

c a st e in A ssa m a ppe ar s to be c on side r e d o f e q u a ll y lo w sta t u s a s

in B e n gal .
e sfl o
(j d) m e a n s a tea c h e r o f a r ts, ma gic ia n , i
e z o r é ist .

It is i n its la st sen se tha t e e l is m o st f re qu en tly u se d, p a r tic u la r ly

,

a m o n gst the se m i c i vilised a n d m o r e ign o r a n t

pe ople B ria n
"
-

H o dgso ng iv e s a n i n ter e stin g a c c oun t of

j
o é s on
p ge
a 13 8 of

his C o llec tio n of E ssa y s .

E x a gge r ati on .

s as h was a r
t

N kaati kh et ar na sha .

Of un ut c r
g a ss th ere a re n ine hun dred bundles .
8 so me a ssa n s sn r novnn s s .

This is they
’
a c ase of c o u n tin g o n e s c hic ken s are

hatc hed, as w ell a s o f ex aggera tio n .

E x agger a tion .

sh Fra nce a mam .

3 cm
11 m e was a im
tr

B al c hhingo te m o h a m a ril ,

M ai bolo m oh a ra n at he pe ril .

M y un cle died in sc rat ch ing h imself (lite ra lly in breaking a ha ir) ,

B u t I t h oug h t he f ell in an en ga gem en t.

a m 18 m other
’
s yo u n ger sister s
’
husba nd .

an was aw awfis
“

a ffi r m ih 9
.

fi m tfii e n an 3 13

S aj ar la g a t Bi j sa n gati

M adhuk ka r ilo pan,

B ikra m aditya r m u rat uthi

G a n gat ka rilo sn an .

By a sso ciating w ith the go od I dran k h oney ,

A nd by m ountin g o n t he hea d o f B ikra m a ditya I bathed

in t he G a nges .

as is pur e, go o d, ex c ellen t .
i is ho n ey
“i B ikr am adi tya w a s .

th e na m e o f a H in du kin g . The m ean in g of the third lin e o f the

v b is ob sc u re
pr o er '
.

F a lse ex c uses .

( is si i fim
'

first,
as fi e f e w! I
r ”

Ha n é ikiya j ,
ib é
K ay kib a kibé .

The to ngue because it has no bone,

 rA L sr; r a m s —e sann m nss 9
‘

. .

A po o r ex cuse made b y a m an w hen he say s m ore than he

‘

H e do es n ot adm it the b lam e, b u t thr o w s it o n his

'

o u ght .

to n gue, w hic h, he y
sa s, is easily pliab le, bec au se it is u n su o r ted
pp
by b o n e .

f
o . The m o dern G reek pr overb (tr ansla tion)
—
The ton gue .

has n o bo n es, ye t it b r ea ksb o n es, an d a lso th e Tu rkish pro verb

”

( tr a nsla ti o n
) Th e to n gu e h a s n o b o n e, yet it c rushes .

F a lse p r i de an d o ver sensi ti uen ess

-
.

se a w as e n ( si c?! “tr
e ats,

eta wh o a m 0 1 .
2m W ater
K i r agat
e ks m kc ne pi tii ha ,
Jar agat ka m se iyc lat hlyaba .

Bef o re w ho m h s a ll I S peak, w ho w ill b elie ve

To w hoever 1 say it he w ill kic k m e .

i ster,
fi rst as a re si n

it ca W e
fixw as s u 1

K hakué g a l pat k é tib ala i,

Nikhaku ai m at lte kh ale .

T he greedy w en t to c ut a plant a in l ea f , -

H e w ho w a s no t gree dy eat on t he gro und .

iro n ic ally m ean t .

G r eediness .

W ! i n h Wis Stile,
i s

filtr ate ai m e ta s taf f?! sli m

K hé bala i da m e da m ba n
ala i ga riy a,

P in dhiba ai lage tak ac hué li c huri a

y .

H e is reat b an d a t eat in
g g, b ut he is like la z y b ulloc k as r e a rds
a
a
g
A nd he re
quires an e m b ro idered dhuti to w ear .
10 some A ssame se r a ovn as s.

ai m m ean s lazy .
$1
t ( deha w ali ) m ea n s a c lo th em b r oi

dered w ith li
Gil
( c hu )
a or r ed th r ea d . Th e c o lo u r is
f ro m the ro ot o f a tree c alled “l i s ts ( dob u ka r i ) .

G reediness .

re fs mist artis te E li ,

NW T? chi e a ts: a m am ? I

Tin i m olla thakile ch ai ,

Kho dai to 0 151 hi bhorokai .

Whilst the th ree m ollas w ere w at ching ,

T heir god sudde nly appea re d .

I am told th a t this m ean s that the thre e m ollas w ere w a tc h

in th f t b i re a r ed, w h en th eir d d b u t this
g e e as e ng
p p g o a pp e ar e ;
ro verb m i ht m ean a n y th i n g T h A m M u ham m a dan
p g e ss a ese .

ha s a f ea st o n ever y possible o c c a sion , th e f e ast b ein g pr epare d

in a hou se ad o in in g
j th e ho u se of
pr a y e r ca n is, o f c ou rse,
.

n ot an A ssa m e se w ord, b ut the A r ab ic K huda f o r G od .

W e sa w m ean G i ft
s is atfi
; Ett a! a f e a ll?
car

B hatar bhatua m ekhela b h ari ,

B h at b ari thaic hho khoahi ahi .

G reedy r ic e -
eater an d m ekhela b ea rer,
-

I h ave prepared a n d served up the rice c o m e a nd eat it ,

.

This is a ddre ssed by so m e o n e to a gr ee d y depen den t .

wean

an d WW E lf ! ar e b o th term s of r e pro ac h . The fi r st m ea n s on e

w ho is f on d o f s is
( ric e ) , a nd the sec on d m ea n s o n e w h o c a rr ies a

m ea n( m ekhelci ) , a
ga rm en t w orn b y w o m en an d is there f or e e qui

valen t to callin g a m an a w o m an .
12 some A S S A M E S E r n ovnnss .

I mp a ti en ce,

re
iter
ates 3 2 1s
5
his
'

assets a

A raitkai ukhu w é r
K hach klxa r han i tan .

U khuw a is m o re im po rtunat e th an arai .

U kh u w a is equ iva len t to the B en ga li 3 5 101, m m , w hic h is r ic e

o b tain e d b y b o i li n g paddy b e f o re h u sk i n g ; th is r ic e is c o a r ser th an

t hat o b ta in ed by su n dryin g pa ddy a n d th e n h u sk in g it

-
The .

m ean in g of th e pr o verb is that in f e rio r pe rson s ar e m or e im po r

tu n ate than t heir supe riors .

S elfishnees .

m l a i ce (salts ar e CWT“ ;
”

sh f irst? fi etcs s ir ! a re

Alah ye bic hhare S haka

’
Ion,
Dh an kinai bi ehhare dang ar do n
‘
.

The guest lo oks out f o r salt in his vegetables

”
The pa ddy buyer search es f o r a large don
-
.

In the old day s salt w as a l ux u ry, a n d w a s th eref o re m uc h

apprec iated . The don is a m easur e of c apa c it y , an d varies

i n siz e ac c ordin g to loc ality . It is su pposed to c on tain five se ers

w eight .

The impa tien t husband .

fi rst he ge l? ( 51?
a ns af ssi

f it“ ?I; at
as

Ki no pai hutai tai

Lo n kha ric ha
Diba r tat nai .

Wh at an im patient husband l
H e cannot even w ait to be served with salt and
 IN A TT E N I N
T O — I G NO B A NCE . 13

63 1? Ki t? is i m pa tien t WW . is de rived f ro m the S a n sk rit N M ”,

fire ; th e w o rd i i i is a dded f o r the sa k e of rh ym e . This is the

com
pla in t of a tr ou b led ho use w if e . steel is a pic k le m ade f rom

the y o un g sho ots of the b am boo , an d is eaten w ith b oil ed r ic e '

It is m uc h e steem e d .

I n a tten ti on .

fi st s ? W 1, mee ts em

Ko ( ) n t wi ka l i , jat ar r t e shale .

If I tell him he is de af , t he S pi adle is in t he spinn in g w h eel .

”
hear
’
There are n on e so dea f as th ose w ho w o nt .

In a tten tion .

we a te s a me are ”
,

fit n
a a n c arte l “affirm saw I

M a i ko r aj bhi ga na r kath a,
S i ka i kal tho ka baduliye khé le .

I talk about ,
a r evolution

H e in terrupts m e, sa yi ng, a bat has eaten the

bunch of
plantainl .

flaw s lite
rally m ean s the b reaking up of a kin gdom .

Ignora nc e .

are at? e q
’

ga,
in Fe a rm view ca m I

Jar nai tarj u tul,

S i ki j é n e ban ij ar moi .

He w ho has n ot a pair of sc a eB, l

Wh at does he kno w of the w orth of trade ?

is value, w orth .
 14 S OM E AS SAM E S E P aovnn fis .

An f
u m ki / ul w o r km a n
q ua r r els wi tfc his to ols .

saf es steme cas te

-

as cam Si e
r n
Né c hiba n aj ane cho (n) tal
Kh a n h e rem ga riy a .

He w ho does n ot k n ow how to da n c e ,
(F in ds) the floo r of the c o ur tya rd sle pin g .

cam flfi iflis u suall y applied o n ly to la n d w hic h is n ot level .

It is in terestin g to c o m pare C hristia n s B ihar pr overb, w hic h is

’

alm ost iden tic a l (n dc he n a j dm n dnga nw en ter k

’

The m ean
in g is the sam e .

Ign or a/nc e .

C W ate s m all ? ! I
e

B j
e ar nakat kh are kh ale .

The do ctor has ringw orm o n hi s nose .

B ris
” the c om m o n w ord f o r rin w orm
g T h e m e ani n g . of the
p ro verb is that do c tor s suff er f rom the sa m e ills as their patients.
o f .
phy sic ia n ,
h eal thy self .

I mp r o viden oe .

? Wtfiz wr cw cw
n icer ,

§ ¢W sets? { a can can u

A gai ac hhile j en ten ,

B hakatak bbunj é bar para hal pen pen .

You used to live bef ore a f t er a f a shion ,

B ut since yo u h ave taken to enterta in ing bhakats,
”

y u
o h a ve be com e ve ry poof ,

M C M gen erally ref ers to th e f ac t o f a m an bein g in volved

C9 ’

in debt a n d diffic u lty, the u sual phra se b ein g Wins 69 h! M ai n

“

( dh ar er e p e n pen iya h a l ) , b e c a m e i n vo l ve d i n d e b t P e rh aps the .

p ro ve r b e x
p lo de s the i d ea o f th e
g o o d eff e c ts o f e n tert ai n in g
”
M arke ts . The latter h ave very c o n sider ab le a ppetites, as the
sa yin g 55
7 9
? ETC? at? W e Wit? ( loa m pdr e Iz dhe
11C“ 2 Ichdi bha lca t
dcihe ) sho w s The ab ove m ean s that, a s soon
. as the duc k s
‘
lay eggs, the f bhakats eat them up .
 m r aovm nn c n . 15

Impr ovidem e .

ate at? E ta si es ta
8 m at? re st ct z e f a I ,

G i t né i c hé l baka li,
M ed khai tin tekeli .

H e has hin g to c o ver h im self w ith

not
,

B ut he drin ks th ree pots of rice beer -

.

6M literally skin , W is me Wif e ( 1310 pan i ) or the B en gali

w hic h is a liqu o r f er m en ted f ro m b oiled r ic e 31? is .

la rgely dr un k b y t he r i
ab o gi n al p p
eo le o f A ssa m — K a c h aris,

M ir is, a n d Deor is a r e pa r tic u lar ly f o n d o f it I t is n o t an .

u n plea sa n t drin k w hen f r e sh, its ta st e b e in a b itte r i h u b a id

g s s c -
.

H o dgso n give s the f o llo w in g desc r iptio n of h ow the B o do

( K ac hiri ) b rew s Th e grain is b oile d ; the r o o t o f a plan t

it
‘
c alled, s trait st dgec hi ici, is m ix ed w ith it ; it is lef t to f er m en t f or
- ’

tw o da y s in a n ea rly dry sta te w ate r is then a dde d qua n tum

fiic it ; th e f o u r da y s, an d th e li qu o r is
’
su w ho le sta n ds f o r three or

re a d In G oalpara the b or a m a d, w h ic h is th e m a d o f the

’
y .

‘ ’
R abhas, i s a f erm en ted liqu o r m ade f ro m b o ra dhan . T he f o llow
ing in
gr edie n ts a lso ar e a dde d — l ea ves o f the j ac k tree,
lea ve s of
‘ ‘ ’
a plan t c alle d bba ta i ti ta , a n d lo n g pepper Th e A ssam ese m a d
’
.

is in taste to the Naga ‘ ’

ver y sim ilar z u, altho u gh the f or m er is
”
rhaps pr e f erab le
pe .

The pro verb applies to a n e x trava gan t dru n kard C hristian .

iv s a B ihar sa y i n , w h ic h it i s in tere stin t u te , b ec au se it

g e g g o q o

ex pr esse s the sa m e idea , al e .

( m aur na
j ur e tdr i c a n n ot
”
af f ord ric e gru e l et he drin ks to ddy l
, y

Imp r ovi den ce .

are ms w e af firm em W at?

ae
r e

M an e m u k be ach he m h a r gakhire ka(n) ba r b atiye n ai

a .

H e has the m ind and m outh but ha s not the vessel or the buf f allo
, milk,
16 soun A ssame se r n ovna n s .

af t ease cats cas t as,

fi sh state cam as: n

S a ch i griha shta r Ion tel bay;

M ich ar bé kali n e j ai kh ai .

A lth ough the ho st spends m uch o il an d salt,

He c anno t pr e
pa re a
go od pra w n cur ry .

B ut the skin o r t he
pra w n is n ot r ubbe d off .

lls l ite rally is tr u ly

Fi
. f a st is the f r esh -
w ate r p ra w n o r c hin g

an , in K a m r u p fi es “n i akha /a . as m ea n s dec a y , w a ste, lo ss, or

de str u c tion , b u t w h e n u se d i n A ssam ese, as here , w ith the verb

14 361, it m ea n s to w ea r
11
o ff .

Imp r o vi denc e .

li e s a t
t
? fire
f fae
"
was 45C? at ,
r
,
I

H é tat n ei bit,
M a ne ka re pit pit .

H e ha s no m o ney in ha nd,

B ut his c ra vin gs a re g rea t .

f na literally gall, bile . fits litera lly w ea lth, sub stan ce .

I ngr a ti tude .

th e
nce ate « ha
T an pale R i m bole .

When in distress, a m an c alls on R am a .

T his prove rb i s n o t c on fin ed to A ssam . There is a si mil ar

on e in B en ga li, a n d pr ob a b ly in H in di T he pro ve rb m e a n s tha t

.

i n ti m e s of pr os er it
p y ,
ther e is a w a n t o f gr a tit u de t o R am a it
iS on ly in tim es o f distress th at
t
a m an c alls o n his g od p
 LA Y I NG P IT F A L L S r o a O T H E R S — J J O V E or FA L S E D I S P LA Y . 17

l a yi ng pi tf a lls f o r o ther s .

mi tts ass wit ,

( mai n { in as W ,

Ware are f e ? d

K otar gharar kuti,

L o kala i b uli h ul pati,
A pu n i m a re ph uti .

He w ho la y s t h or ns f o r ot h e rs ,

Dies a m on gst th em him se lf .

The fir st lin e m ean s n o thin g, a n d is m er ely in ser ted f o r pu r

o i ryhm e
fi ( literally m ean s pierc ed, o r r ather
‘

)
‘

po ses . e p ha ta

bu r st asun der .

L o ve o f f a lse diap lay .

alf as em s Wrists earthe n? I

P aiiba n o a ura r udrakb

y ar j ot a ot. j
T here a re m a ny rosa ries, the b ea ds o f w h ich a re n ot told in devotion .

Th e pr overb m ea ns tha t ro sar ies a re a s o f ten a s n ot w or n f or

sho w a s f or devo tio n al pu r po so s .
res
ts is th e seed of the
elceo c a r p a s d of w h ic h
gaa i lr a s (G a m b le ) , th e h a r d tub e r c le n u t s

p olished and m a de in to r osa r ie s an d b r a c elets

‘

ar e .

literally gr ea t m a n y f r o m ca tcfih t to j oin to gether .

L o ve f f aolse dis la
p y .

cr
imes i n? ass are ,

f a as cras s a mI
P oke r s t n ai m ura t pag,
S i hai deb ater i
r g.

Wit h head
'

a
pa yn on his ,

A n d w ith no t hing on the lo w e r pa rt o f his body,

he h
w is e s to t ak e the lea d

The A ssa m ese th in ks if h e pu ts o n a tu r b a n , this is a m a rk

o f re spe c t ability , a n d h e w ill b e th o u ht a 6 T
g
?! ? (671 41 m aa u h) W
o r respec tab le per so n .
s
tari s sh ort f or ”Te ars I
18 SOM E A S SA M E SE r n o vnn n s .

L ove o f f a lse disp la y .

wif e Ifif t
"
cstsi ‘ s asis tits .

ass exist at? E asts can

'

B é t a t ch ow a j a Ji b a r c hu riy ar ph er,
G h a rat j o w a j a di dh a ku ar her .

If you m eet him on the ro a d see the f olds o f his dhuti .

,

If y O u go to his h o use, see the w a lls a r e m ade o f the bark o f

( )
the t am ul t ree .

A n oth er pro verb w ith a m ea n in very sim ila r to th e last

g
The m an pu ts o n fi n e c lo the s to o ou t w alk in , b u t hi s ho u se
g g
is topplin g do w n w o r n b y th e W IR ? (6d
”
T he dhu ti
. e 5

m da uh h a s as m a n y ar ds o f stu fi in it a s i t is
) y po ssibl e to w alk

in E ast is th e sh eath or
.
b ar k of th e a r ec a n ut tre e .

L ove o ff a l se di sp lay .

s at
t e We as ca s t

ante ater sit e ar

mre st
M ch ale ba r deka
u kb a la i ,

P oka r alai ch ale ka n dakat a .

The f ront vie w sh o w s a fine youn g m a n ,

B ut the ba c k is a sight f or t e rs a .

A n oth er
p overb c on ve
r yin g the sa m e m ea n in g as 4 41
4 an d 45 .

A lso f
o .the pro ver b — « F eta a: s: f e ar s (fi
rst G i lf fi, o u tside it is f a ir
'

to see , bu t in side it is ko was bhatur i T h e la tter is the f r u it o f a

’
.

(m em o r dz c a
'

c reeper m o a o delp lz a ) , of w hic h t he ou tside is a b ril

lian t sc a rle t, b u t th e in side i s e m pt y .

L o ve f f
o a lse di spla y .

are ne w at? 911 i

sa es f t 2a firstata i n? I
sat pur u sha t n ai gai,
K a riya lai khirab alai j ai .

H is f a m ily had n o c ow f or seven generation s,

B ut he ta ke s a [ca r iyd a nd
go es a m ilkin g .
 rm : Wise r es; a n r oom s — r ea m 21

but t hre e t im es th e m o un t (c i ne mg e o s in making n lad.

The ordin ar y A w m ese m eal c onsists oi

u .
( )
a fish or u n it ( an ) c oo ked, or

o f salad is m ade ; thi s is oa lled i hy th e A ssam ese

“
p tib a .

m ts f a r less to c e m m on sait in c ooki ng t ha n m ake

‘
use to

P e nn y 0d
w ise poet- f ool is h .

am m ui m m i

S eea go b h fi es af t er the
awa
y ut
, e c qm rteb sea s.

PM
fi a m m m
eith firfi s m l
Nai he n ekhi e flo ghoneo nej i o ,

Gi m ni iio dukh .

l i th er e is
’
l w on t th e m m e tim e l w on t f as t
'
nething eo eat el h al .

re va h she nld b a l thin k the m o tto

‘
of the A ssam ese, f or h e
p
22 so me a ssx m asn r n ovnn n s .

P r es rl mp ti o n .

f a w as e , cate rer
s eli te as 1
“

Ki na h a ba r ha l, po klagi h at l i gal
a a .

Wh a t a c e n tr e te mp s ha s o cc u r re d ,

t he w o m a n c o ve re d w it h so res has gon e t o m a rket .

cats Vi
l la litera lly , f u ll of m a ggo ts .

P r esump ti o n .

as as N e ta e st,

g fi can s tats f e el cef el I

Kh a ch kha ch ka i k até gu é .
,

T u m i j en a am ar kiba h o w a .

(l sz e ) you a re c utting the bet e ln u t q uickly . A r

e y ou in so m e w a y

Il l ed t o m e ?
'

A ss a m e se w o m en ar e su pp s se d to gi ve b ete l n u t o n ly to th eir
h u sb a n ds The ro ve rb ill u st ra t e s a ph a se o f a r ustic
.
p
da -
c aea r .
”
e at is the sam e a s E lw in ( l dm o l) , b etelnu t .

T he p o t c a lling the kettle blac k .

fir st caters ca sca d es ,

tal e s Cele ste ash t hat I r

Nij ar po ke r t ektekiya,
L o ka r po k a r a lai pan i h a tiya
( .

T h ro w in g w a ter a t the butto cks o f ot ers, h

Wh en ’
one s o w n a re w et .

P r i de o f f a m il
y .

cats Ca s s E f fie .

are a are as ca tst fi ,

QTC W ate a id s
No m n egu r b arut,
M aka r am b a r po h ari,
n

B apekar asm R anjit .

 nn srn n ssn n ss—
snnr rsnn s ss . 23

A lth ough it has no ha ir o n its body an d n o ta il,

its m oth er
’
It sa s
y s na m e is B a rpohari,

A n d its f a t h er B j it
'
s an .

Th e first lin e desc rib es m an gy No tw ith stan din g its

‘

a c ur .

m iserab le c o n dition , the ani m a l is pro u d o f i ts lin ea ge, a ta

as e rr .

sell odds a n d e n ds, a r e c a lled

”
A ssam e se w o m e n w ho p o h dr i
“
.

W is h ere u sed iro n ic al l y .

a est is a hi gh so un din g n a m e, o nly
-

m et w ith in go od f am ili es .

R estlessn ess .

E mr a te { are ar
i e.

9
3 11 at ?! at e Ci ia are
l
B hé ngi an m ucha ri kh ao ,
P ua h a le nao m eli j iz o .

B rea k a nd brin g e veryt hin g (t ha t we h ave) an d let eat it tod ay .

Let us sta rt in t he boa t to m o rrow m o rnin g .

w as w e first { it an a t? ! it s “

A na r h int s h uri bri m u ir dukh an kan a r ch inta

an ( ,
n .

O thers h ave o th er t h o u gh t s b ut the old B ra h m in ,

w o m a n t h in ks o n ly of her t w o ea rs her ea rrin gs ) .

Ch r istian , in h is B ihar pr o ve rb , gives a H in di pro ver b , w hic h

ver y sim il ar in m ean in g

ia o ke ( in c hi n td, rda i Ire j t e M i n t/i

’
f r a a we .

O th ers h ave ot her tho ughts bu t t he R a i ,

'

h s th ou h ts o f t l e R aj a
a g i
o nly .

C hristian ys th e pro verb is applied to

sa -
o n e w ho is in te nt
ow n tho u ghts o n ly r egardless o f o ther s
, .
24. so m e A ssa me se r n o vna n s .

'

H yp rocr isy .

WT? z slltfifi fi lly”? W )

as taf ez at new,

s it e w i ll str
a ta i ii .
"
s it e start wa s l

A i gaic hhil g o sa in gharala i,

M i goic hhilo laga t,

a

A kh ai kala khabala i pai,

T ate halo b h a ka t .

M y m oth er w en t t o the ho use of the go sain ,

I accom pa nied her .

When I got cit /l a i “

an d plan tain s to eat,
”
I be c a m e a b/z a lra t
. .

P erh aps this i s a. hit at th e bka ka ts . A pparen tly , the

u alific a ti n f or adm ission to the sa ttr a as a bha ka t
q o

l an d l n tain s
‘
is to b e able to apprec iate f r ied paddy ( d c ha i ) p a .

E go tism .

s k aters as cars ,

i mt Ce ca
s ta t cs: a ,

a r m as s ta ti cs a re

Apon ar m a n j ene ,

A taike dekhe ten e ,

J {1 11 0 m an a taire ek e.

H e h
t inks t h at every b ody l
e se s
’
m ind is like his o w n,

A s if the m inds o f a ll a re a like .

The pro ve rb i s i n terestin g as illu stra tin g the u se of a ll ?”

This lite ra lly m e an s, I k n o w c on ve r sa tio n , ho w ever , wa s

"

. In
of ten m ea n s, I do u b t, b elieve yo u
’
alm o st I do nt .

i
att cs a ttend calm «ts fi ne c ash 1

K haic hhe akha iy a go m e dban dic c he edo n .

H is b itte n b y
e a po i so n o u s sn ake ( acha i d e m
l y g ) an d he gives
do n o f I n dia n that is to to th e
j lz a o r q u ac k
‘

on e co rn, sa
y , o

do c to r .
 S E L F I S H NE S S —
S TINGINE SS . 25

S elfiskn ess .

i { s on
tcs c as G m calm i f s
u
m CW . W mco m a a s I
sfir ca

M udhe m a dh e eke gh a r sodho sodho buli

H a l der ba chh a r sakh i h eno tom ar j ar .

We live alon gside one an other

F or the la st year a n d a h al l?I h ave been inten ding
to as k you , dea r f rien d, how is your f ever .

is the r idgepole o f the h ou se

{ if
Th e ex pression am WI is .

u sed w hen tw o h ou se s ar e so c lo se that their ro of s tou c h m e

a n other . cam m ean s I th in k .

S p o ngi ng o n o ther s.

9
m gas lim sti l ts 8 M I
are, s
P a rar m urat khé o (n ) b h atiya panit
,

I live h
upon ot ers, an d go w it h the tide .

The proverb prob ab ly m ea n s that he w h o lives on others, has

to go a lo n g w ith th e tide an d sin k all in di vi du ality of c h arac ter .

s fiz n literally
'
is dow n stream -
as opposed to 3 9il? ( j a
un )
u
p
-
stream .

P
’

ec uli a m tz es.
’

f ix ( st a f f ! stat fix cats?“ fix cm I
Ji deshar j i dhar é , j i pokarar j i n eré
. .

E very c ountry has its o w n c usto m s,

se

S ti ngin ess;
fi sts fim sis was E r?”
e m flie rs? 5111
s
$5 ,
i n? l

Dio (n ) te diye dhé n k hera r ch ai,

T ake diotei m u ch ka ch j ai .

When he gi ves (at all) ,

he gives the h
a s es of p ddy a

A nd even in givin g th is he f eels f ain t .

26 SOM E A S S A M E SE r n o vn n e s .

S ti ngin ess .

caf e s vi s its 2I W .

s m fo m ( slim
u r
m I
L o kar shab hala i j é ba .

A m er diya n tho a n ch aba .

G o to a
ga the ring a t so m e o n e

( A n d th en ) se e m y lib era lity .

T o a dyin g .

m
ai cater «i ts W e?
mm caf e: se ts we I

K ako dekhi rd dhe b are n

,

K ako dekh i du w a han dhe r .

Wh en sees so m e
peo pl e, he c ooks a n d ser ves
them (a m e al},
A nd w h en he sees ot her s ,
he ba i s the doo r .

T r ic ker y .

cs first? s a
w cw CW3 ,

V ie w ? 6 1W m t c a s t?

Teliy ai k il n de tel peliz i,

’

K a pa h u w é i k fin de let pet ti i .

T he o il -
seller w e eps f o r th e o il hat
t is S
pilt .

The c otton -
dea ler w e eps an d so a k s (his c otton in the tea rs) .

The c o tto n -
deale r is n ot a m an lik e th e o ilm a n , w ho c r ies

over split fin ds a w ay o u t o f the di ffic u lty . T he la tter

part o f th e pr o verb , perh a ps, r e f er s t o a pr a c tic e w hic h c a m e

u n de r m y perso n a l ob ser va ti o n w h e n in th e G olagh at su b division .

T h e c o tto n i s b r o u gh t do w n f r o m th e h ills b y Naga s o r oth e r

hillm en , w ho alm o st in va riab ly so ak it in w a ter, or e ven som etim es
28 S O M E ASSAM ESE P B OV E R B S .

C la s s I]
‘

P R O VE R B S R E LA TI NG T O WO R LDL Y WI S D O M A ND M A XI M S , E XP E DI
C U NNI N G A ND WA R NI N G S A ND
"

E NC Y A ND , A D VI CE .

A sm a ll in c om e a nd m uc hf ea sti ng .

wa ! G dé a fi n s em
s
s,

( a? W e visas w e

Al ap arj an bistar bhoj an

S ei pu rushar daridrar lakhyan .

A sm all in c om e an d m uch f ea sting,

A re the signs of a m an b e c o m ing poor .

gai n, inc om e ; W :
a m ark or tok en .

O n tr ying to tea ch f ools .

W
wa if - m fir SW ate na t
a
-

s f m ts w e w e? aim e fi mi we

A j n an ik j n an di m an at palo kashta,

K an ibor bh an gi pelai b ah o karilo n as h ta .

In teaching ign or a nt person I bec am e t roubled in m in d, f o r he brok e

an

the nest an d dest roye d our eggs .

Thi s pr overb r ef ers to a f olk ta le

in the H itop a desh related

Ther e w a s a large sz m ul tree f re qu en ted by a

’

w hic h is a s f ollow s
c olo n y o f par r o ts w h o laid their e ggs in the h oll ow of the tr ee .

A n old parro t u sed to keep gu ar d o ver th e e ggs of th e o th er

a r r o ts in their ab sen c e O n e da y a w ild c at tr ied to c lim b the

p .

tree, b ut the o l d parrot ob ec j te d . T he f orm er, how ever, b y din t

of fl atter y a n d f a ir speec h es c au sed the parro t to b e o ff his guard

a n d su c c eeded in c li m b in g the tree an d eatin g the eggs. The o ld

parr ot , w hen he saw w hat had happen ed, spok e the y ing
sa

ab o ve .
H A V E NO THING T O no WI T H TH R E E T H ING S — A NTI CIP A TI NG . 29

H a ve no thi ng to do w ith thr ee things.

a
w e rs ansets
,
91? caf es and a h ,

F
a ils mis
fi t.
‘

f s f se t ai $13 6 as ! are
“ “

A satir sad j n an ,

G a ru chorar G an ga sn an ,
B e shva tirir ekadasi,

T inioro m urat m u ta b ahi .

H a ve hin g to do Wi th these three t hings

n ot

H on esty in a n un c h aste w om a n ,

A c at tle t h ief bat hin g in the G an ges

-

A ha rlot f a stin g on an ehddasf da y .

T he impor tuna te s
’
a nswer .

Wi’ifil 15
3
5
5 1
11 fli f ’b

ca re its a s a
m etfir I
A pun i an ic hho m agi,
T o k dim kar para h agi .

I m y self ha ve got by b eggin g,

A n tic ip a ting.

e m ? ne: arcs.
s o

K ei dina r n om ad.

He c uts the wings o f the unfledged nestling bef o rehan d .

l iterally the y oun gest of all .

30 SOM E A SSA M E SE P ROVE RB S .

T im es f fi
o a ic ti on .

s tars se e an east?
A pa dat é eo gal khaj uw ai .

In tim es of af flic tion e ven th e o w tenga t ic kles the thr oa t .

The o w tenga D i llen i a i n di c a ( Wa tt ) i s a n a c id f r u it su rr ou n de d

by fl esh y ac c r e sc en t c al y c es , w hic h, w hen th e f r u it is
f ull grow n (in M ar c h ) , have an agree ab ly a c id t a ste, a n d a re
ea ten b y th e A ssam ese , e i th er r a w o r c oo k ed, c hie fly in c u rrie s .

The a c id j u ic e sw ee ten e d w ith su gar f or m s a c oo lin

g dr in k . Th e
B en gal i n a m e o f th e f r u it is c ha lta .
A por tio n of th e f r uit i s
a lso u sed po u n de d w ith kha r a n i b y A ssam ese w o m en a n d u sed b y

them a s h air w a sh .

o ff—J aimi e 51W ca m? W { 5

3 (cipa da t gf ir n om oi sha tr a ha i .
)
’
In tim es o f af flic tion , e ve n th e ha1 r o f on e s bo dy is an e n e m y .

G i ve a p o li te a n s w er .

w eW at? afi sfi

A chh e c an n ai sa m idhan.

G ive if y ou c an a t a n y ra t e, sa
y so m e t h in g po lit e .

fi f w tfi literally givin g an a n sw er .

When a ll scr up les m ust be thr o wn to the w in ds .

es
tat e w a s s iesta sat? l

A pa dat aj ug ut ka rib ala i j uyai .

I n t im es of a dver sit
y, c
a ll s ru ples m u st be
t hr o w n t o the w inds .

wag
i n = B en gali WN W! (u nb efittin g ) .

On a im ing to o high .

W fllfi m a ll?)

s heila ca n ? sie s ta fi r s t

e ster atf sm s
lit
? 1

U thu w ai m é rile kathi,

J alow a do m a r satj a ni tiruta
S hubalai natile pati .
 TH E P E TT Y S H OP -K E E P B R — L E A R NI NG . 31

This pro verb c o n tains a double en ten dr e, b u t it m ay b e trans

lated as f ollow s
He r ose u p a n d th rew the n et,

T he Ja l
ow a Dom ha s seven w ives,

B ut his bed is n ot lar ge en o ug h to conta in them .

f? is a thin piec e o f b am b o o u se d in m a kin g ba m b oo o r

sel

w ic k er w o r k a ll? a re is a k in d o f fi shin n et si l
t i s liter ally
.
g .

m at . The J a lo w a Do m is th e Do m w ho fi sh es in c o n tra distin c

t io n to the B e lo w a Do m , th e Do m w ho pl o u ghs .

T he pe tty shop keep er -

c m strai ns stri e f few I

E da b epari k j ahaj ar
b at a ri kiya .

Why doe s ah pet ty s o

p
-
keeper w a n t w ith n ew s o f t he s tea m e r

c m( “Til litera lly a sh op k eeper w h o sells m

-
i
g gn er ( )l .

Do o ne thing at a tim e .

e csta tic canals ,

( e m w ill? 177211
rrat
u
fi em
r n
a 6 1l 1 15
7 °

O ro ka te po ro k ,
Kerela t o sum u ai diyé
B en gen a to por o k .

Do on e t hin g at a t im e,
P ut the her ela in to the bo ilin g rir e ,

A nd t he n ro a st t he hengen a
’
.

mi cs? “ is the B en gali TH E N H in di ho r a i la

, .

The k e rela is the m om or di c a c ha r a n ti a , a ve r y b itter

o f vege table o f the go urd f am ily I t is a c r eepin g l a t
.
p n .

87 Lea rning .

e m 519“Fawn ,

af fix a s”ash 1

O j a la gf t bidya,
’

P akh i laga
i ké r .
82 so me ASSAM E SE P R O V E RB S .

L ea rn in g un der a teac her,

An a rro w h f eath ers

w it ,

( A re bo t h ef f ec tive) .

e m is a m agic ia n , or m o re f r e q uen tly an ex orcist . Vi da note

to P roverb No . 17 .

C i r c u msta n ti a l evi den c e .

i ts ( 8 12m { as nf s,
v

a i m ask s set?
H é (n) h c horar m ura t pakh i,

chora r ethai sakhi

K athzxl
’
.

The f eath ers stic k to the h ead o f the duc k stealer -

,

A n d the gum is eviden c e a ga in st the j a olr f ruit stealer -

.

W is th e j ac k tree an d its f ru it . S an skr it (ka n ta k)

b oth the bark of the tr ee an d the f r u it a re c o vered w ith a
stic k y j uic e or gum .

A p erson w i th a gr ea t i dea o f his o wn i mp o r ta nc e .

as : an ew f irm w e.
“

«n as

(5
13 i?! snar l? an a n\ ass s f? 1

K a r pa ra ahilé kat dila bh a ri,

C hotal kh an phé ti gal chet chet kari .

Whence do you c ome

Wherever you trod on the c ourtyard ,
it split in pisem
‘

Literally , w h enc e c om est th ou This is said ironic ally to ‘

somebody w ho iv him self ai s CW cw is o n e of the m any

g es r .

A ssam ese ex pr essions f or c on veyin gthe sen se o f sou n d A . no ther

suc h o n om a topoeic ex p ressio n i s W : 3 m

, a lso I
”? (gr i my) . ( 56

( 522 a m c onvey the idea of n oise in splittin g or tearing asunder.

 33
‘
O N A P P E A R ING O N T H E CH A T A I H IL L .

O n app ea r in g on the Chatai H ill .

fires e ase am

st i r sass s a nti
-

casnfif WM ?!
9
1m m Ki m 1

Ki ba r j aga rat m a ro
C hat
é i pa rba t a t gate
-

Dekhadi adhali
P ac hota b haro .

Wh at f ault h ave I c om m itted

I h ave a ppea red on the C h a tai h ill ,

A n d ha ve to pay five eigh t an n a piec es

-
.

? ass is
The W T a m ythic al hill, w hic h w a s supposed to b e
situ ate d so m ew here i n the S ib sagar distric t .Th e proverb applie s
to the c a se o f a per so n w h o has to pay
‘
a fin e f or som e im agin ary

Ca r elessness .

K akzi lat kach i

’

B ur i
ph u r e n ach i
‘
.

T he sickle is on the w a ist o f the o ld w om an ,

Who im patien tly lo oks f or it else w h ere .

Q ua r relling f o r n o r ea son .

as? “£ 1 use ( ri fs
f :w e

K ath a ha kat b hekuri talat .

Where is your rea son (f or q u a rre llin

g) , it is u n dernea th
t he bil e/curt hu sh .

M fi is a kin d o f sc r u b j un gle .

This proverb applies to c ases of quar rels abo ut n o th in g

F
3 4; so me a ssa ms sn r n ovs s s s .

S el fishness .

m W e ca ter a s a m
m s traw am am as

K ar ja rat k on e piye pani,

K é r b h agi na m are ké r ha i bani

’
. .

Who drinks w ater w hen an other is thirsty .

Whose n eph ew dies it is his loss .

The pro verb y illu stra tes the

aptl w ay o f the w orld
6 15
ml or s rfim is a sister s so n ’
c ases. .

T he r ew a r d o f m er it .

me ca n w as we: W re n cw : f sf t
'
’
v
W .

6 1 61 ca rs meri ts at? I
Ken e tor ken e j an i phapariya tor t ini j an i ,

B h al tor ej a nio n ai .

What a w if e f or su ch a m an ,

The w or t hless ha s th ree w ives ,

the w ort h y n one

Asa r ule, A ssa m ese ha ve b u t on e w if e, or tw o at the m ost,

but o c ca sion all
y , a m on gst w ell to do people o f the
- -
old -
f a shion ed
c lass, the lux ur y of three w ives is in du lged in M . fist literall y

Don t be to o disc r im ina ting

’
.

w 1m
9
as
21153 1
w as We set as n

K ako n ubuliba sake,

'

ch uli paka
E t é ire dari .

boh t c al l a nyo n e (of them ) gran df ather ;

’ “

T hey h a ve all o f t h e m got w hite h ai r an d beards .

The prove rb m ea n s th at all are equ a lly c u n n in g,

m ust not sin gle ou t an y partic ular person an d c all

36 SOM E A S SA M E S E P n o vn n n s .

A lso th e f ollow in g U r du sayin g o n th e sa m e su b e c t, j w here

a f o rc ed pu n is m a de on th e A ra b ic w o rd [ca n is
K ane ki ba dz atiyaoi ) h ain m ere dil ya q in ,
”
A y a hai Q oran m e (n ) kan m e (n ) a lkaf r in .

O f the wi ckedness o f the o ne- eyed I am h oro ughly co nvin c ed

t ,

B c
e a use e ven in the G o ran it is sa id th at the on e eyed is a m on g -
the
”
u nbelievers.

U seless c r a vi ngs .

t i
h s] at ? see m ,

as { star w as i

K habaloi n ai kan t o ,
B ar b ab ala i m an to .

He w ho has n ot a g rain (o f r ic e ) to eat,

H as a m in d t o be com e g re at .

W is the m of a see d, that w hic h germ in ates o r

“

eye or ger

r epro du c es an a to m .
( B r o nso n
) . So it c o m es to m e an a n y thin g
sm all . Yo g c hild e
u n r n a f
re o te n c al e d M
l 2 or w e st, $ 3 ca mifi n

E x a gger a ti o n .

ar e as ea ,

m a da m ar ts f ai r!
G a c hha t ga ru uth a,
H olon gar e kan bin dhé .

A s w o nder f ul a s a b ullo ck clim bin g a tree,

bein g pier ced h holonga
’
O r t he lob e o f th e ea r w it a .

M en a s w ell as w om en b ore th eir ears in A ssam . Wh en an

ear rin g is n o t w or n , a p ie c e o f w o od i s i n ser t ed to k ee

p the ho le
f rom c lo sin g
p u . S o m e tim es pa per o r c o tto n is u sed, but
en e r ally a c y lin dric a lly sh a e d piec e o f w o o d A 093 m m i s a
g p
-
.

b a m b oo, u se d f o r c arryin g b u n dles o f pa ddy , w h en rea pin g an d

c ar ry in g i s go in g o n T h e b u n dles o f dhan (pa ddy) a re sl un g o n
.

to eac h e nd of the holo ngd in equal pr o

p rtions,
o so that the
L A U G H ING A T o r n nn s, M I S F O R T U NE
—
H O W T H ING S A R E r nsr n n . 37 ,

ko longei b a lan c es on th e sh o u lde r I n this w ay all bur den s are

.

c a r rie d in A ssa m , b u t the

, w or d ( We ir d, I b elie ve in U pper A ssa m

is onl y a pplie d to th e pole u se d f or c arryin g dhdn fi flflifi to the

'

w or d f o r th e b am b oo th a t i s u sed f o r c arr y in g o th er b urden s .

L a ughing a t o ther s, m isf o r tunes .

care i ? cats , aim

“

n We ca re .

l
aise ak a cats n

G ho k bai gh ok, sape khé le to k,

M ac hhti pale m o k .

Th r ust yo ur h an d ,
sister, h rust yo ur ha nd into the hole
t ,

If there be a sn ake it w ill bite yo u, but if th er e be a fish let m e h ave it .

T his is sa id in c haf f by one gir l fi shin g to an other likew ise

e n ga ged .

Useless c r a vings .

W e a s w as, ts! w ith

an sta r

G h a rat nai kan to, ba r sa bhalai m an to .

H e ha s not a gra in of ri ec in his h ouse , but he w ish es to h old a big

f ea st .

This is alm o st sim ilar to No . 9 7, ex c ept th at 5

f
it-
1 is sub
stitut ed f or the ve r b
"
9 3 25 A lso
par e th e K am rup proverb
c om
“
sates3 at? w ri t as W if e
-
and“
( a r al a t n di ka n to, ba r sa bhdla i
m a n go ) The heist or is a w o o de n m or ta r u sed f or
p u di
o n n g
.

ric e in .

H ow thi ngs a re tested .

estate fisfi w as ,

fir m as t h e ,

13 4 f its th e l
5
-
1 ”

G ho rak ch ini kanat ,

ch in i tan at
Tir ik ,

Khura k chin i shé n at .

38 so me assa ms sn P n ovs n n s .

A ho rse is kno w n by his ea r s ,

A w o m an in tim es of a dvers ity,

A nd a r a z o r on a Wh et sto ne .

Th e idea h er e is th at a go od h o rse k eeps his ear s erec t ; a

virtu o u s w if e w ill b e f a ith f u l in a dversity a n d a go o d ra z o r do e s

n ot b reak o n th e Whetston e A s to the f a ithf u ln ess o f w o m en ,

.

the P ersian rb
horses, etc .
, f
o .
pr o ve
A sp o z an o sha m sher i tez w a f a
-
dar he did
-
.

W hat m an e ver s aw a h orse ,

a w om an, o r a sw or d f a ithf ul l
k h yu r) is the u su a l w or d f or z lid is a
”
33 (k h ur ) (
or ra or .

Dak
’

grin dston e or Wh etsto n e . This is on e o f s sa yin gs .

The irony f f
o a te.

csm fi rst a re a s,
inflate are sets an r
"

C h o re n iye laph a dai,

G irihat m are kh arali kh ai .

Wh en the thief steals the laphd ,

T he h ouseh older c on soles h im self w ith kha ra li .

A n am u si n g c o m m e n t o n th e iro n y of f ate, perhaps .

A ssam ese vege tab le ssf h= leaves an d

« at IN is a c om m o n
” .

of ve g e tab l es c o ok e d dry . Wis literally r eaps.

fi rst at? m ean s su f f er s in c on ven ien c e .

S udden m isf o r tun es .

cstw au
ra r
first,
stat e aim
C horak m ore pé le,
T a(n ) t ik barale kh ale .

The thief w as seiz e d w it h c olic ,

A nd a w a sp stu ng the w ea ver .

B oth of these are in tended to b e in stanc es sudden

un ex pec ted m ishap .

I NE V ITA B LE -
O N B E I NG TA K E N TO TA S K P o n A T R I F LING F A U LT . 39

I ne vi ta ble .

sinister cars ne w ca ?
C hapa rile m egh eraba n e.

C an a ra in c loud be a voided by ben din g doWn

Never w a ste a m omen t .

sis a m si tes as .

m ite s “limit s as
J ar kh aba r j ibar m an ,

B ahoteo {Lj ore ba n .

He w ho ha s a m in d to t h rive ,

S c ra tch es u
p g ra fes
,
e ven w h en sittin
g d o wn .

a h a sites as liter a lly, the m in d f o r e a tin an d livin g

g . The
pr o verb m ean s tha t peo ple w ho w ish to su c c e ed, sh o u ld n ever
w a ste a m om en t, w hic h m ay b e devoted to w ork The .
grass

r ef erred to is that gr ow in g in
’
a m an s gar den o r field .

War /ri ng in a mi ty .

ca cti? 22 min a n ,

f e es at? ! a at?!

Jether i bain ai ha],

K iba r pal e pal .

What turns a re th ere in the plough ings of b rothers in Ia w

- -
.

W = a w if e s
’
elder b ro ther . NWT? a y o un ger sister s
’

hu sb an d .

at?! is the w ord u su all y applied to a t urn of an y kin d of du ty .

( M. literally, plough .

i
(

tr ifl
'

O n being ta ken to task f or ‘

a ing f a ult .

em 41 c ements ,

aim i ts e fi fi
'

f 1
Je gar hé lngi lo ki ,

M ato ha(u) h kani di

'

.
 SOM E A S SAM E SE P R OVE R B E .

What f ault have I c om m itte d

I b eg pa rdo n and presen t you w ith a duck s egg ’

1551 is
34 an idi om atic ter m f o r I b eg y our par don .

to th e c ase o f a w ho thin ks he is
r overb r ef ers per so n
The p
t t k f r a triflin g f au lt
tak en s o .
o a

The light of a la mp a mi d the gla r e o f a to r c h

.

cent s w as site s ca
‘

ms
Jo ra r agat b atir po har .

h la m p am id the gla re of a to rch

T e g t of
h li a .

b th
m ean s
at t he f eebl e lig h t o f a lam p w o uld
Th e pr o ver
d i th t ligh t g iven b y a t or c h
be n oti e s ron g
.

c e n

S leep is p lea sa n t .

( mafi a f ee s I
ti t ties th eem I

Top ch ika n
i
an r pu t
t .

K atar ir chik an g ua.

To sleep in the ea rly m o rn in g is plea sa

nt .

A goo d kn if e is requ ired to c ut b eteln u t .

o verb is c h a ra c teristic o f th e A ssam ese .

pr

T ep
h un i shm en t o f si n , tho ugh ta r dy, p er hap s i s sur e.

v
i mfi ts aka ct sn,

s ei t nstunt? ca r t

Tah a n iye kh ale tenga,

E tiya palchi j en ga .

H e a te th e tengd a lon g tim e a go ,

A nd he is bla m ed n o w i

r ef er s to the c a se of a m an w h o se sin has f o u n d

The pr overb
t l t h d e a t it l o n g a g o a n d h e ge ts
him ou t .He s o e e o ra n ge a n ,

in to h ot w a te r ab o u t it n o w 1
f y thi t w hi h e x c ep t ion is ta ke n
CW m ea s
” n a n o f en c e a n n g a c
,
 A ND T U U M 431
'

M E UM - “
T H E U S E O F TH E T H U M B .

M e um a n d tuum .

« i ts a t ?! cats, cats i t s W r
ites ca dis ca ts I
To r h ale m or ,
m or h ale b apereo c c pai to r .

W hat is yo urs is m ine , but w h a t is m in e c a n no t b e go t even

b y y o u r f a t he r .

I ngr a ti tude .

i t? ( We a s , f
a s, s a e a s

T hai diba r gun , t ap ta pan i sh un .

The re sult o f givin g a per son a pla c e, is t o h ea r him g ru m ble

r
.

T he pr o verb m ea n s tha t, if yo u give a per son a plac e a t

a f ea st, in a ll probab ility he w ill n o t tha n k yo u f or y o u r c our te sy,
b ut w ill o n ly gr u m b le .

F a lse p r i de .

mats aim s fi f e stce 11W ,

sti fl es ato m n m a
d
ui ts? a

D lar n am ere shikiyate j aba

o ,

G Akhi a r n am c r e pan ike kh ab a

r .

I n th e n am e o f a do oly y ou a re c a rr ied slung o n a po le .

In the na m e o f m ilk you dri nk w a ter .

Oi l?“ is th e B en ga li gin . a litter f o r c a r r yin

gp p l
eoe i n fi f e u .

c o n trivan c e o f ro pe s f or slin gin g b ur de n s o n t o a ba m b o o .

T he use of the thum b .

acet Waf ers m3 ,

s ? ci
et
ste r n s at?
Da ho an guli e kh a r r ,

B u rai he (n ) c huk ilehe j é i .

A ll the ten fingers a re u sed in eati ng ,

i i
B ut t s the t h u m b t h a t h a s t o pu sh th e e a t a ble s in to t he m o
u th

Th e A ssa m e se ta k e s up the r ic e in the h o llo w of h is h a n d

a n d th e n c ram s it in to h is m o u th, u sin g the th um b to pu sh i t i n
2 61 W
n ot a ver y ele gan t w ay o f e a tin g .
1 e? ! ( the c hi ef fi n ger ) .

o
 42 some A ssa mn sn r n ovnn ns .

M a ny ha nds m a ke light w or k .

W W a nd? ca sts calm

Da hotar lakh uti st ar b oj é .

T he staves o f ten m en a re a load to one m an .

of t
— The B ihar pro verb given b y C hristian
( Da s h a l athi elc I
r a baih) T h e idea c o n vey ed . sa m e
”
as in o ur pro verb M an y han ds m ak e light w ork .

E vils n ever c o m e singly .

as W ithinattai n 2113 ,
in first am : a n? n
Dur kapaliya h abilai j ai, as ch ige ba rale kh ai .

The unf ortunate on e go es t o t he w ood,

a nd his dé breaks, and a w a sp stin gs him
. .

Th is is a c ase o f
“
E vil s n ever c om e sin gl y . w : is the
B en gal i (
« f irs t a w asp) . T he ii
u se o f QI is n otew or th y; it m ean s
(l it lly ) ea ts The A ssa m ese h as r e gu lar w o rd f or stin g

~
er a . no .

f —’l khale) hit him

C . l C l slice
°
(
sh ape a sn ak e lite rally eat him .

H o w the p oo r a re despised .

sfi mi ts cart s w as 6 mm f ay
“

3
211 6 a s at? filfii fi G u m s fa?! a ka ar
e ( 11
25
1 firs t

D ukhiy a h ale leter a bhzi rj yzi i

'
ne dekh e h it,
B ait at lag pai m itire n o so dh e diba lage buli kiba bit .

W h en letera (the slo ve n ) b ec o m es poo r ,

his w if e do es n ot e st ee m him
W h en his f rien ds m eet h im by the w a y, th ey t a ke n o no t ice
o f him , f ea rin g t h ey w il l ha ve to h elp him w it h m o n e
y .

The first pr overb is a n ill u stration of ou r o w n sayin g that

When pove rty c om es in at e th d o or , lo ve fl ies o u t o f the w in do w
”
.

d h th f t h ld i h at h“
The sec on part s o w s e w a y o e w o r n su c c a se s c c .
,

th e m a n
’
in this pr o veb , lite ra lly m ea n s a slo ven
s n am e E N”is .

a S an sk r it w o r d f o r w if e The c o m m on A ssem ese w o rd is fi fi

.

gh ain i) . T3 S li terally m ea n s a dva n ta geo u s,

pro fita b le . ca l ms
l ly ) d n o t a sk a f t er h im fi f e is a syn o n m f o r W (dha n )
”

( lit e ra o .
y .
4A. SOM E A SSA M E SE P R OV E R B S .

H yp erga my .

S aifi csi fl
‘
s as s s at e s t

Na rak ar k a n yzi h chi

u ddhar ilei s u
’
.

A girl (b ride ) f rom h ell is pu rified w hen t ken i up

.

E ve n girls of a lo w er sta tu s in so c ie t y a re a llow e d to b e

”
m arr ie d b y m en o f a h igh er sta tu s, in th e sa m e c a ste , q .

fi ssa ass e ts
‘

M an u “
I WW is on e of th e m an y in f er n al r egio n s

e n u m e ra te d in the H in du b o o k s . M an u spea k s of tw e n ty -
on e

hells an d gi v e s th e ir n a m es O th er a u th o r i tie s va r y grea tly a s

.

to the n u m b er s a n d n a m e s o f the b el ls ( S e e V i sh n u P u ra n , I I , .

2 1 4, an d Do w so n C la ssica l Dic tion ar y o f H in du M y th o logy )

’
s .

Cu tti ng
’
of the t iger s ta il .

wa s 215
Wsis ( stats mim e
Negu r kati b agh c hon galai m elile .

T h ey c ut o f f the t iger
’
s ta il, an d t h en let him lo o se in his

This r e f er s to the in advisab ility '

of lettin g ed a

r a c ter w ith a light p u n ishm en t .

A na me tha t bodes ill luc k -

.

e
m d iscs vita asters sh its ms 1

Nam a r par ic hhe san g du arat h

m ara i dang .

The a im (sin gin g o f rel igio us so n gs ) is o ve r, s h ut the doo r .

31k fin ished, o ver .

It is u su al to shu t the do or of the h a mgha r w h en pra er s y

a re o ve r .

P eop le w ho live in gl a ss houses sho u ld n ot thro w stones .

s taf f sfi o e , first “ Cw l fl
n ‘l

a hahibi m o k, khuc har iba tok .

Don t lau gh a t m e, you w ill c a tch the c onta gio n (if do )

’
y ou .

th u s a dvised.
’
P eo pl e w ho lau gh a t o th er s m isf o rtu n es, are

m isf ortun e
’
The pr o verb m ean s, do n ot lau gh at an ot h er s

l est it bef a lls yo u .

 I LL G O T T E N
-
G A INS —
WA NT or r iser . 45

Ill gotten ga ins

-
.

5
1 9
11! as a rt i t e s at?
9 s

P ape r dh an praysh c b itt a t j ai .

M o n ey got by un f a ir m ean s, go es in ex piation s .

”
The 11s
67 i s im po sed b y th e gosa i n , or spir itu al u ide
g
'

I t c o n sists o f ( a ) m o n ey pa y m en t to th e gosa i n , ( )
b p en a n c e , c )
c e r tain du ties to b e per f o rm ed .

Do n t lose ti m e i n p a r ta king of
’
a m ea l w hen i t is r ea dy.

P
itta est? Ve ntr al ans, Ca si s te w a « us e:
P ale c ha rai bhé n giba pakh i, h o w a b hata k na t haba rakhi .

When y ou ha ve c au gh t a bird, b re a k its w in gs .

D o n t dela y in
’
e a tin g r i e w c h ich is rea dy.

T hr ee peop l e sho uld a lw a

ys be in ten t o n thei r w o r k .

are, ne w m m ar
,
e
,

3 (
‘
«4 s tars fi f sz s e ns

P a rh e, parhai, r oye pan,

E i t in iye n ic hin t e an .

He w ho r ea ds, he w ho t ea ch es ,
he w ho sow s p ai n ,

T hese th r ee s h o uld n ot thin k of an yt hin g else .

The c u ltiva tio n o f the pan vin e req uires som e at ten tion . This
Dak yin gs
’
i s on e of s sa .

Wa n t of w o r dl
y w i sdom .

”fl ? er a si t« ca f ai n i 261 as
an (a nl
-

, (t cs
P arh i sh un i ka r ile hiy a, ch ore lai ga l bhuya diya .

A m an m a rried af er a c quiring kno w ledge ,

B ut he w a s dec eived an d his w if e w as stolen aw a yby a thief .

Wa n t of ta c t .

si t e as nicer W is , R1 afi: first wists I

B ata t lag pale kam ar, as ga ri diy a am ar .

They m et the bla c ksm ith on the r o a d an d said M a ke a

k nif e f or us .

W e they ex pec ted th e b lac k sm ith to b e able to m a k e a dd

f o r them w h en he w a s aw a y f ro m his f or ge .

Th e ab o ve sa yin g is q uoted in the c a se o f an un tim el y request

or in vitation .
 so n s a ssa mnsn r n o vna ns .

O ne w ho is a lw a ys i n ho t w a ter .

a nti sins cs sti eras, nei? ac re «at ! was I

B a a s m ah a r tera ta j agar, sa dai n ugu c hhe eta la ar
g .

In t w elve m on th s thirteen c
s rape s,

I ca nnot ex ist w ithout gettin

g in to hot w a t er .

This is the , c om plain t o f som eb o d y w ho is alw ay s in tr o u ble .

O pposites .

wins s a s s Fm st ri fe .
m
5
/
fil m fi a
t fi s!
r t
1

B aliye nirbaliye kib ar ha tahat i,

Dha niye n irdha niye kiba r m itraw ati .

What passage- of a rm s c an
-
th ere be bet w een the

W h at f rien dsh ip c an th ere b e betw een the rich an d the poor.

as? m ean s a st rong m an .

i f?! also m ean s a sac rific e . { s tain m ean s han d to han d - -

c on flic t ;
also tw o people w o rk in g to geth er a t the sam e task . fir mer is the
sam e as f ‘
lfi liffi; w hic h m ean s f rien dship
i ‘ .

1 33 . S o terrible tha t even B hagba nta a nd B a sudeo a r e a r a id f .

c an ease fla n ? f e a ts slams sati n

B hayat B hagaba nta palai kilala i B asudeo da rai .

B hagabanta even flies f rom f ea r, an d B d

asu ev is a f raid t h at
he w ill be beat en .

w as is 1m m (P arm eswar) , « RUN is

9
an o ther n am e

f or W (K rishn a) .

B itter w or ds a re ha rd to hear .

e m re s ants e ta, sas s m i stats an I

B hatar tita khabalai bh al m atar tita khabalai tan
,
'

It is po ssible to eat bitter ric e but it is ha rd to h ea r bitter words

,
.

WW f w t rice that is fla voured w ith ac id to m ake

palatab le.
 m om c oo n oo mns a c o n é — c ur rm e w oo n . 47

F rom good c om es goo d.

e ras e ra a sa W I
halar bhal sarbati kal
B .

G ood c om es f rom goo d f or all time .

mfifis 3 M (litera lly ) , f o r e ver an d ever .

Whic h is the sweeter— sw ee t w o r ds or sweet f ood

( rats?! as ca 3 631 fi ti
B hoj an m ith a na ba chan m ith a
W hich is sw eeten - sw eet f ood or sw eet w o rds

at? also m ea ns a passage f rom a sac red b ook .

O nly go w hen you a r e in vited .

r t , cs sir
st a ta s s s z s i s e n e na ca ra s 3 mm t
-

M atile ran alaiko j abs, n e m atile bho alai n aj aba

j .

G o to a bat tle even if you a re sum m o ne d,

’
but do n t go to a f east un invited .

Th e pro verb m ea n s that w hen you are in vited even go to

b attle at the risk o f y o ur lif e, bu t don t go un in vited to a f east
’
a .

A n ti cip a ti n
g evi l.

can c m ca ms? u , care r

i fe es «a sit e
-

as 1

M or por bo w ari ha ba , m ok c hulit dh a ri hatat t haba .

M y son w ill h ave a daught er in la w - -

.

W ho w ill c atch m e by the hair a nd th row m e on the pa th .

misfit so n s o r y o u n ger b rother s w if e

’
The f orm er is
’
. c alled

( 11
9
cam e: an d the latter is c alled a s came 1

C u tti ng w ood by n o m ean s a n easy ta sk .

( stati cs s it Tri ce , sit s fi l?

e
) can cm i

M kath kate, m ayo pani hen dekhe

on aiye .

The m atern al un cle c uts w oo d

hi s w if e t hin ks it an ea sy j ob .

9
115
1) can. literally as easy as w ater .
48 SOM E A ssa mn sn p n ovn n n s .

Wher e ther e i s a w i ll ther e is a w ay .

an af fi ne es s ins air
"

s 1

M an ka r ile ch an k ariba paii .

If I put m y m in d to it, I c an find a w a y t o m a ke i t diffi cu lt f o r him .

T he shor ter i t i s, the m or e i t tea r s .

( ste e rs ant , c ars a ne and;

-

J eteka te nate, tet ekate ph ate .

The h
s ort er it is, the m o re it t ea rs .

T h e pr overb r ef e r s to an A ssam e se f ol k tale re

g din
a r
g an .

w om an w h o , a s f a st a s she sew e d h e r m ekhela

o ld (pe tt ic o a t),
th e la tte r k ept on tea r in g .

Non e but the w ea r er kn o w s w her e the shoe p i n c hes .

i e rs was sti f e ats i n ma I

l
s
c

Lu itehe j an e b a th a kim an a la i ba h e .

T he Luhit k no w s ho w deep the o ar dips .

Th e L uhit i s the o ld n a m e f o r the B ra h m a

pu tra . No w -
a

day s b y the L u hit is u n der sto o d tha t portion o f the B rah m apu tra
b etw een th e m o u th o f th e S ub a nsir i r i ve r a n d L u h it m u k h .

T he sa y in g h as the sam e m ea n i n g as our own

p ro ver b Non e
”
b u t the w e a re r k n o w s w here the sho e pin c hes .

A m an f n o c o n seq uen ce
o .

a f fix viscera firt h m ar ? { f ace s fi cti

L athi m arileo j ito, bopzi i b ulileo sit o
’
.

It is all t he sa m e w h eth e r yo u kic k him or c all him f a th er .

Th e sa y in g m ean s th at it i s n o t w or th w h ile p l e asin

g a

c ert ain p e r so n, f or N WT? is a f rien dly a ddre ss . a re m ea n s

a k ic k given bac k w a r ds at an y ‘

on e
‘

f ollo w in g u
p b eh i n d . t
fir h
m ean s a stic k o r a c lub .
 T H E B O O N O F H A V IN G A T R A V E LLING CO M P A NIO N . 49

T he bo on o f ha ving a tr a velling c omp a ni o n .

a s i ts a s i acvl sis t are u

La g hale j
Lan ké la iko aba pari
,
.

In c om pa ny on e c an go e ven as f ar as L an ka .

L an k a is the na m e given b y H in dus to C eylon .

T he m or e ha ste the less sp ee d .

a m at?! ( sis a l ca vern s s its certain? I

L ara la ri b elikaj o lon gat j dpi n o so m ai .

When you a re in a hu rry ,

you c a n t
’
fit in even a j dpi in to the kna psac k .

This sa yin g is m ean t to illu str ate the ide a ex pre ssed in
”
ow n pr overb The m ore haste the less speed .

Wha t m a kes up the ho use .

a sti q fica as am,

’

« twist? asfi cs «rats are n

L a rai luriye gha r kh an,

Dokhorai dukhariye j uhé l kh an .

C hildre n m ake u
p thho use
e ,

S u ndries a lso m ake u p the h ea rth

email“as ? m ean s o dds an d e n ds o f fire wood

b u rn t . ti§= h earth .

Do as yo u w o uld be don e by .

m ics 5mm w fiz fla re ,

sifi m taf f e ta at? fins 1

S a m an e sa m ane ka ribé ké j ,
H arile j ikile nai laj .

Deal equally w ith yo ur equals,

‘

A nd then w h ether ou su cc eed in lif e or n o t, n eed

y yo u
n ot be h
as am ed .

In f a c t, “
Do as yo u w ou ld b e do n e b y
50 SOM E A SSA M E SE P R OV E R B S .

E ven li ttle thi ngs a re o f p rofit .

cairn W e fi r
st a s
,

f re
i ue s f e e s
s I

S ola m ukh at m akhi pa re,

S io labb a r b h it ar .

E ven if a fly f a lls in to a to o thless m outh ,

It is a ga in .

m ean s the sa m e a s a n
d? ( ldp n ng i . e .
, too th less .

T he kiss of lo ve .

05
c m gar? fi rs t? fists
C h eh eb a r c hu m ai n akat i chin ge .

The kiss o f love w oun ds the tip o f the n o se .

fll¢i3 =litera lly the c a r tilage of th e n o se . ft cw=literally

b reaks a su n der .

This is ir o n ic a l io n f o r f alse lo ve o r a ff e c tio n

an ex pr ess .

H a lf a lo a f i s bette r tha n no br ea d .

m
l
casl ca i t s csra semis i
s n I

H era po w a dhan a r ch o dha an o é b h al .

I f yo u find even f ou rt een a n n as o f lo st m on ey, it is w ell.

When the bo n e o f c o n ten ti on is r emo ved .

i ts: caraf e ( are cam,

“

i
s ts cats a m cart s I

h
( ) p o w dli
H n ile
a n sen e ,

T um i j ene m a yo tene .

T he h aw k ha s c a rried O ff the duc kling ,

No w we a r e eq u al .

Literall y , I am th e sam e a s yo u a re . T he ha w k has c arr ied

t lo r d it lo n ger
’

e lf y ou r du c k lin g , so yo u c an o ver me an y .
62 so me ASSAMESE P n o vnn n s .

S ilen ce is golden .

asst! su ms sins s an 1
Kath ar duyeshar b andha r du m er .

T wo w o rds in speaking, t w o rou n ds in a f a sten in g .

Th is m e an s th at you sh o u ld n o t say m or e th a n is a b so lu tely

n ec essa r y on an o c c a sio n T w o r ou n ds in a f a sten in g r ef er s to th e
.

splic in g together of b am b o os w hen tw o rou n ds or m o re a re m a de

w ith th e r o pe o r c an e b ef or e the k n ot is tied .

A p er son n o t w o r th c o n c ili a ti ng .

t s stfi z s e W
ti e, rm shi ms w as
af fi I
Dh are m ar ileo
j en e gé dire m arileo te ne
, .

It is the sam e w h eth er you s trike With t he sha rp edge

or the blun t ide
s ( of t he as) .

This sa yin g r ef ers to a per so n w ho is so w eak an d in sign i

fi c an t, tha t it is all the sa m e w h e th er he is yo ur en em y o r yo u r

f rien d, as he c an n o t in j u re yo u o r b en e fi t yo u an: dhdr ) a n d .

silt (gddi ) are al w ays u sed, r espec tively , to deno te the sha r
p edge
”
and blun t side o f old
“
a .

C r ying o ver sp il t m i lk .

v lfi m sis e s cs st?

K an dile dhé r shuj ne

j ai
.

By w eepin g a debt is n ot
pa id .

It is od c r y in g o ver s ilt m ilk

no go p .

es m ean s to li q u idate, to r epa y a deb t .

A c hip o f . the o ld blo c k .

stress mm film s? ca n
‘

B apek j ene pitek tene .

L ike f ther like so n

a
, .

son s a c hip o f the o ld blo c k .

 A
‘

CA N A
LE O P R D C H A NG E H I S sr o r s—
R U LE S or so c rn r v .

Ca n a leop a r d c ha nge his sp o ts .

«s aw { ca n nan was I
dhuleo bagci n ahay
’
E n gar .

E ven w it h w ash ing , ch arc o al c a n no t b eco m e w hite .

This pro ve rb is der ive d f r o m the S an skrit say in g WWW

"
“
is

mi te s first“ : a safe ”
.

A lso c o m pa re the H in di pr o verb s ank?” m t W a t?! a n

“

a c
a ,
an ! l
“

Wo r ldly w isdom .

fi ns awe site s v13

'

.
,

e ta cacafv af firm s ?

Din ar pa rbat r atir j ui,

T ak nekhedi thakiba shui .

A m ou nta in by da y a n d a fire by n ig ht ,

Do n o t f ollo w them , but rem a in resti n g.

ar e b oth f a r aw a y th ou gh th ey seem n ear .

R esp onsi bi li ties o f p ower .

’ ’
‘I E sis o s fists l
J a ta raj t ata ké j .

Wh erever th ere are kingdo m s, there are duties to be perf ormed

R a les o f S oc iety .

astne
v h as i n? 1
P rab asat niyam n ai .

In a tem pora ry residen c e t here is no rule .

The proverb m ean s that, w hen you ar e aw ay f rom home,

there is n o n ec essity f or thin kin g ab out les c onvenances of soc iety ,

A n other readin g is
a w ake (was as
P radesat n iya m n ai.

In a f oreign c ountry you n e ed not regard rules of society .

With
'

r ef er en c e to this pr overb , o f . No . 82 a lso the

b iv b C h ristian (page70 o f h is b o ok
pr over g en y
”
Jaisan des, taisan bhes .

S uit y our beh a viour to th e c oun tr y .

5 SO M E A S SA M E S E p n ovn n n s .

H a lf a lo af i s better tha n no br ea d .

«fir s t calc m te i s an d
“

misfi t ; s in n

E ko n o ho w atka i ka n a m o m aio bh é l .

A b lin d uncle is b ette r t h a n n o un cle .

H er e is u sed to sign if y a blin d perso n , i ts m ean in g

b ein g on e e -
y ed.

A so un d p iec e o f a d vi c e .

i tvz s ai B l? i ts“ sli t,

s it s wh arf ! s tcs s s i
P ha( n ) kdem a ch ai la r iba kh ari ,

T are kan m ari tare j ar i .

W h en you g h er firew oo d look o ut f o r the

at
ph a n /
c dem a .

So th at yo u c a n find yo ur stick f o r c ar ryin g th e b un dle o f f a ggots o n,

as w ell a s the f a s ten in g o ut o f it

The pha n kde m a i s a tree the b a rk o f w hic h is u sef ul f or

f a sten in gs an d w h ic h is highly c o m b u stibl e, a s it c o n ta in s m u c h
O il; hen c e th e pro ver b Th e b ran c h e s a
.l so are str a igh t an d l igh t ,

a n d ther ef o re h an dy f or m s a s h an m dr i s ( pole s f o r c ar ryin g

b u r den s) .

C la s s il l .

P R O V E R B S R E L A TI NG T O P E C U LI A R I TI E S O F CE R TA I N CA S TE S A ND
'

C LA S S E S .

A hom s .

s im
w fins
s! W ar:

ca rats sta si s af scsl as ?« 1 ca? n

A ho m ar c hakla n g H in dur b ei,

T o m ar patalit paric hho j ei kara sei
‘

F or the A hom s the

“
c ha klan g an d f o r the H indus the bei,
Deal w it h me as you like, n ow that I am in you r gr ip .

T h ese lin es are mea nt to ex pr ess the f eelin gs of a b ride

m arriage .
 B H A K A TS ~M A R R IA G E . 55

61 5
612
( g)
c ha hla n is th e n am e Of th e A ho m m ar riage c ere

cs?
m on y .
( bei is a w o o de n sq u ar e f ra m e set u p on f ou r po sts
an d dec ora ted, u n de r w hic h the b ride an d th e b r idegro o m ar e

ive c erem o n ial b a th

g n a .

H ere is? i s pu t f o r f em. a part f o r the w h ole, b y sy n ec do c he .

No w -
a -
da y s, n earl y a ll m ar riage s, e ve n am o n gst th e A h o m s an d

O hu tié s, are p er f o rm ed ac c or din g to the H in du c u sto m , ther e

b ein g ver y f ew “
c ha htung c ere m o n ie s . T he A h o m s an d G hu ti
as are b ec om in g r apidly H in du ised .

B ha ka ts .

sfi li ts t ics an? w a s tics

"
s

K a ni pare ha(n )he kh ai bhaka t da(n )he .

Du cks la y eggs an d the B ha kats ea t t h em .

W '
s bha ka t This is the n am e given to the disc iples
-

the go sain s .

B ha ka ts .

we e ts? cv f c ca n ant hi s ca n
’ ‘
s

B ha kata tkai dhe (n ) ki thor a t o dan ga r ne '

?
I s the pe stle of the dheki of m o re va lue t h an a b ha kat
The cam ( thora) is th e heavy pestle fi x ed on the lever

the dholri .

M a rri a
ge

caf e
—
mmiss csts s slaw,

re treat s at ass ssh ! 1

J stiya m ariba dhola t C hapar ,

T etiya la ba m urat kapa r .

W h en the dr um is beate n,
T h en c o ver your h ead w ith a c loth .

It m eans that, w h en a m a rria ge is fi na lly settled an d is go in g to be

c elebrated by the beating o f drum s, then the girl sh ould co ver her
h ead w ith a c loth .

I n A ssam , gir ls b ef o re m a r r iage do n ot veil the

"

m selves It .

is onl y o n th e da f m i d f terwards that the veil is

,
y o arr a g e an a .

don n e d, w h en the n ew lif e is said to b egin .

56 SOM E A S SA M E SE P n ovnn ns .

sw i tc ws sacs?

B hukutot kal ne pe ke.

B y m eans O f a blo w the plantain does n o t ri en .

p
w i ts = w ith on e b low .

B ha ka ts .

s li ts E li fit at 9
M ?

‘
as W e s ss s tr
t ata
.

cm s
afe s «star a

Naka t lagil pak

M ah a bhaka ta r chidra lagil ,

M edh i patim kak .

An cted thing ha s happened

un ex pe

T he head bh akat has been f o und f ault w ith ,

Whom shall I m ake a m edhi l ’

The sa yin g is iron ic ally m ean t . The h ead bha ha t is n ex t

to the gosain , the m ost po w erf ul person a t th e S a stra H e is a .

w h i n lly u d t b b v u i i A c af e: is
pe r so n o s ge era s ppo se o e a o e s sp c o n . .

a person O f m u c h less im por tan c e, b ein g o n ly the gosai n s agen t at

’

a village . The m edhis a r e en titled to r e c eive, I believe, a sm all

’ ”
por tion of the c h erin gs or of the go sain s Ica r , or tax , as c o m m is

sion f or c ollec tin g the sam e . Th e se O f fic ers ex ist all o ver A ssa m ,

an d thr ough th em th e gosa in an d the b ha kats at the S a ttr a keep

t ou c h w ith the peo ple M e dhis a re som etim es kn ow n by the
.

title Of sa j tola . There are a lso ran k s O f m edh is, e .

g .
, b or
m edhi (h e ad m e dhi ) an d ra j m edhi ( the c hief O ffic er of th e
osain o utside th e sa ttr a M edhi s at f ea sts gen erally
village
g
rec eive w ha t is c alled W ( m an) , w hic h lite ra lly m ean s h on ou r
”
or O b edie n c e. T he m an , h ow e ver , O f te n takes a m ore ta n gible
‘3
f orm in th e w ay O f a gif t Of an eart hen w a re c h ar u ( ve ssel )
an d a p dtidhar a , tee , a seat c overed w ith a m at, by
’

p ti
a or

the m an w ho gives the f east .

 B H A K Ar '
s— B H U I YA S . 57

B ha lca ts ( f o K a m ldbdri ) .

w as “ s wi m? a? at? sits,
«ste als “ w hi lst? csl cs

A ga r K am labariyai dhul kh ai kh ari,

E tiar K am laba ryai
v
no dho w s bhari .

The K amlabé ri bhaha ts Of f orm er days used to w a sh

firew ood bef ore th ey c goked w ith it,

the present da y don t even w ash their f eet

’
The K amlabari bha ha ts of .

T his sayin g m ean s th at the bha /ca ts of this sa ttr a u sed

to b e so pun c tilio u s, that th ey w a she d fi r ew oo d be f ore c oo king

w ith it, f o r f ear tha t it m ight h ave b een defiled b y the tou c h
of s o m e person NO w a day s the bha ha ts
.
- -
do n o t e ven ta ke
the tro uble to w ash th eir f e e t bef o re eatin g, w a shi n g O f n ot on l y
the f eet, b u t the w hole b ody, bef or e eating being the stric t c ustom

o f all H indus .

B ho t:
se ts as ( 6 13 f am e I

B a j ar dh an bho (n) t giri ha (n )t .

The rent colle

-
c tor is the ow ner of the king s wealth
’
.

ge ts is the O ld n am e f or ren t c ollec tor I n the days of the -

.

”
R aj as, the reven ue w as f arm ed o u t to bh ote, w ho pa id the R aj a
a c ertain sum ann ually; and m ade as muc h out of the ryots as
they c ould .

B ha igas .

t t
fi rs fis 1 w i
- sl t s
, W
vanass f i at a? r si n came?“
e
-

P inata hak chita hak patar tangali,

B in ga hak c higé hak B huiya(n ) r pow é li .

Let it be torn, let it be b roken, it is still c

a s a rf of fine silk,
c

Let him be young, let him be old, he is still the son of

,
a B huiya(n .
)
3m
“
:
(p )
et is a fine kin d Of A ssam ese silk, O b tain e d f rom the
c ocoons of a that f eeds on the mulberry tree The best
p orn; .
68 SOM E A S SA M E S E P n o vn n n s .

desc riptio ns of this k in d Of sil k a r e to b e o b ta in ed in the Jorh at

sub di visio n O f the S ib sa ga r distr ic t .

Bmfh is either
‘ '

a sca rf or w a istc lo th . T hese a re O f ten m ade

”
Of p dl or m ee a n ha r i silk a n d a r e e m br oidere d w ith r ed, o r

even ver y o c c a sio n a ll y w ith go ld thr ea d .

$ 3191 l— B hu iya (n ) s w er e , a s th ei1 n a m e 1 m pl1 e s, la n dholders, th e

? 5
”

w o rd {
i s et b ein
l g de rive d f r om a o r $ (1 la n d ) B r o n son sa y s .

”
th ey w ere r a ba nj g shi, or o f the ro ya l f a m i ly . Th ey w ere, in
a ddition to b ein g lan dho lde rs, e n title d to c e rta in rivil eges ran ted
p g
th em in c o n side r a tion f or the ir pe r f o r m in g c er tain j u dic ial f un c

tio n s appar en tl y, the y w e r e a tt a c h e d to the c hief c o u r ts of

j u stic e in th e tim es o f the R aj as, and th ey a c te d as um

pir es or
”
arb itra tor s in c ivil suits . R o b in son m en tio n s i n h is A ssa m
g

the B ar o B hu iya ,
”
or 1 2 B h u iya s . With r e f e re n c e to thi s pro
verb it w ill be in terestin g o c o m par e
t Chr i stia n s B ihar verb — ’

pro n

B ap k e pu t sipahi k e gh ora ,
Na u to thor a thora .

Whic h Chr istian tran slates

A chip of the old b lo ck,
like the steed o f the t ro oper,
If he is net up to very m uch, still he is a bove the average .

B a r ds .

W e a s, swamsite s as ? stf s i
‘

« is w e

B a rar gh a rat tarar ga(n ) thi, bar an o thakiba kei rati .

”
In the B ara sho use the w alls a re f a stened w ith
’
lard,
H o w m a ny nig h ts w ill the B a rd live in it
”
,

A O ffi c er appo in ted by
« 1 ( ba r d) .
— ba r d w a s an in f e rio r
the A ssam k in gs 2 0 peo n s T h e ha rd a pa i en tly l o o ke d a f t e r
o ver
p
.

r oa d m a kin g a n d o ther p ub lic w o r k s, an d u se d to m ove f r o m

p la c e t o pla c e ; he n c e th e sayin g tha hi ba Ice i i a ti ( h o w m an y

n ights will h e r em ain ) .

test
( l ard
) o r wetare is the wild c ardam o m w hich ele phan ts are ,

ver y f on d of . The w a lls an d ro Of s of tem porary h uts are f r o

q ue n tly m a de of M 1 ( l a r d) .
 SOM E A ssA M E sE p n ovs nns .

M a ha n
ge .

its sar is as , cats s is w att ,

si t? 6 1s wist s as siesta as
‘
Dhan M
h angalai gal lon bhar pe ai
a ,

M ati bh ar a nile gh a i in ac hibalai hal '

.

M y belo ved husband has gon e t o M a h an g retu rn in g w h en c e he th ro w in g,

a si le the lo a d o f salt ha s b rough t in a l a d o f ear th w hi h w ill serve the

,
o c

u rpo se of plaster in g the h o use

p .

itslo ver ; New ( M ah an g) is a pla c e o n the Na ga H ills b o u n d

m y c lo se to B ar uasali in th e distr ic t o f S ib sa gar H e re th ere w a s .

a salt m in e, an d it w as f ro m th at pla c e U ppe r A ssa m u sed t o

rec eive its su ppl y O f salt . Th e pro ve rb m ean s tha t th e m an is

su c h an idiot that, i n stead of b r in gin g ho m e sa lt, he b r o u ght
earth w hic h, ho w ever, his w if e u tilised in pla sterin g th e ho u se .

M i r is .

f arm! (was f ates: fi na, l

Tirik kile, M ir ik m ile .

A w if e is to b e m ana ged by blo w s, an d M iris by goo l t rea tm en t .

With ref eren c e to this A ssa m ese rec ipe f o r m a n a gin g a w if e ,

c o m pare NO 9 6 , a lso the O ld E n glish

. sa yin g
“
a w o m an , a do g
,
”
and a w aln ut tree, the m ore yo u b ea t them th e b etter th ey b e .

The M a ha n ta .

sas s f ss statire , fiss films

—

1151 ar e

M ahantar ch in m ebas it ,
bura ga rut chin gha(n) hanit .

T heM a h anta is know n in a field of mdh an l a n o ld bullo c k in a

g ra ss plot
-
.

’
A m an s w ort h c an be tested by on ly in the field o f w ork f or w hich he

The stor y thu s If you w an t to test a m an w he ther he is

‘

run s .

real ly m a h an ta n o t, ta k e him to a m oiha n z

(o r field of pulse) ,
'

a or

an d if h e c an resist the tem pta tion of ea tin g the pulse, h e is a

l

real m a ha n ta , c o n ver sel

y i f a n o ld bullo c k c a n n o t gr a z e in a

r a ss lo t i t is de em ed w o r thle ss
g p , .
 M AR I Y A S— NA G A S . 61

“i f?! (m aha n i) is a fie ld of
“
m db, w hic h is a blac k ddl
or u l
p se . The latter part of th e pro ve rb m ean s that an old bul

loc k, w hen it is past w o r k , is tu rn ed out to graz e .

M a r i ycis.

fi ate tits ( W e i , stash ? 1 m (3 5

min
‘

M ariyak dhan kele i, G a riyak kan kele i .

What w ill the M ariy a do w ith dfidn a nd w ha t wi l the G ar iya do

w it h his ea rs

The m eaning is that the M ar iyas l ive by w orking in bra ss a n d h ave

th er ef o re ver y little to do w ith c u lt ivat io n The m ale G a r iyas ( M uham m adan s)
.

do not pi r e c their e a rs f or ea rr in gs, a nd t h er ef o re there is no n eed to t hem

fo r c ar s.

afi s1 (M a r iya ) .
—
The M ar i y as ar e bra z ier s . They ar e, as a

r u l e, m u c h loo k e d do w n u po n . T h ey ar e p rof esse dl y M uha m

m ada n s, b u t q i
are
g n o r a n t u ite
o f th e t en ets o f Isl am r ea ll y .

P o ssibly , th ey a r e c o n ve r ts f ro m H in du ism , w hic h m ay ac c ou n t

f o r the c on te m pt w i th w hic h they are held b y H in dus arm .

( G aria) —
This term , as stated b ef o re, is m ean t to b e on e o f o
.
ppre
b riu m , b ut in y it is n ot hin g o f the so rt afsst m ean s a m an
r ealit .

”
f rom G a ur (an an c ien t c ity in B en gal) The A ssam ese M u
“
.

ham m a da n s sa y th ey a re a r elic t o f the M u ham m ada n in vasion .

In the tim es of the R aj as they w er e m uc h oppressed b ut , ,

their sta tu s has m u c h i m proved of late y ear s .

Nagé
’

s .

ma re, am? am a t l
attains r

Nagrn e lara pai nagai ]5 1 kh ai , .

T he Naga s w if e gives birth to a child

’
,

the Na gs drinks the m edic in e .

HM (jal) is the H in du st an i j hdl, a p p ration

r e a of hot spic es

t a ken b y w om en af ter delivery .

11 ( Naga) or “if “ (s aga) is

715 a gen eric term , w hic h in cludes a
n u m b er o f l arge an d po w er f u l h ill trib es .

The Né ga drin kin g th e m e dic in e — H er e a . ref eren c e 1 8 m ade

to th e c u sto m of c ouvade w hic h prevails a m gt on s som e of the
Naga tribes .
62 so me a ssa mnsn P no vn n ns .

T hieves .

51! can
(1 as si li ca 1

C ho r por m ukh khanihe .

The o nly th in g t ha t m y son, w ho is a th ief , has is his voi e,c he is

o nly o o d at m ak in g f a ir S peech es
g .

T here are tw o k in ds of thie ves is A ssam — the thi ef in the

o r din a ry sen se o f th e w o r d, an d th e GEN ( c hho w a l i c har )
or th e steal er of y o u n g w om en . M a r n age by c a pt ure still ex ists
in A ssa m i n deed, am on t th e l ow er c la sses ; th is is by no m ea n s
, gs
”
y ou n g sin gle s ou t i l t th “
u n c o m m on . A m an a g r a e bi lm
f estiva l, w ho is perh aps n ot in sen sib le to his a tte n tion s, a n d,

w h en o ppo r tu n ity o ff er s, s lo pe s w ith her This is c a lled ( Qisr’ h

’
.

fi ali h u r i) , t he ste a lin g o f y ou n g w o m en I n this

Q ( c h h o w c or .

th e ay m en t o f m o n e y o r t t
w ay the b r idegr oo m e sc a pe s p pre sen s o

the girl s pare n ts

’
.

T hi eves .

s res
u c m . cs? « We ca n 1
B opai ac hhil ch o r, sei pa rkiti m o r .

M y f ath er w as a th ief , I am o f the sa m e n at ure .

of t— No . 158 _
m a¢ cam 6 m m ( 6 C?!
(d ek iene p i tek

T hieves .

ca mel cal! tsetse cm ,

n
u i?! w h i m nail (E N1

J oraro j or bipa rit j o r,

E ti kan ka ta eti chor .

A p a ir, a w o n der f ul pair

O ne h a s c ropped ear s a n d the oth er is a th ief .

fi fi is h er e i r o n i c al s ie s ta ( k an k ata) li terally
Th e u se o f n ifi .

h t h b ee n c u t of f It w a s th e c u sto m i n the
w ith e a rs t a ave .

of thieves and o ther o ff en d

tim es of th e raj as to c ut off th e ears
 N
B E TE L U T —
B IH U .
63

C la s s [V .

P R O VE R B S R E LA TI N G TO S O CI A L A ND M O RA L 50 3 9 13
0 7 5, R E LI GI O US
C US T O M N A ND P O P U LA R S UP E R S TI TI O NS .

B eteln ut .

sa t e m isc , m an
,

0 1? s ta te s fi sts 151211 1
S ara ka i kat ib a, gha n kai kh al: a,
S ei t am o la r b ilah ch aba .

C ut it sm all an d chew it o f t en,

Th en you w ill j
en oy the pleasure of b etel nut (ch ew in
g) .

Dea d S ea F r ui t .

atti cs ass: f ia n ce m ats tgfi 1

B i hire r an gc ha n g bbita re ko w abhat uri .

it is bea utif ul, but in side is kowé b/z é tum

’

O utside .

T he N W T
(M o m or dic a M o n o delph a ) is a c reeper

w hic h b ears a b eautif ul f r uit to lo ok at b u t w hic h c o n ta i n s

n othin g.

T he tex t of
th e pro verb su pplied th e title of a f ar c ic al play
b y S rij u t H e m Ch a n dr a B ar ua , e x po sin g the f oibles o f S oc iety
in A ssam som e tim e ago .

B ihu .

sic fir 1 1 a fi 1
s $11

S at b ih ur say a ka n i .

A n egg th at ha s su rvi ved seven B ihus .

Th ere are three B ihu s, the C hait, K artik , -

M agh B ihu s an d .

The y ar e held on the la st da ys o f the m o n ths j u st e n um erated .

The C ha it B ih u is a ver y pre tty f esti val, th e A ssa m ese w om en

c om in g o u t in their b est c loth e s a n d j ew ellery , an d w ith spray s of

orc hid in their hair They dan c e and s ng un der

'

.
i the trees o f
64 so me A S S A M E S E r n o vs n ns .

the f orest in imitation of th e G opis o f the B rin dab an N0 m an .

is su pposed to go n ear to th em , b ut this f estival n everth eless

results in m an y r un aw a y m atc h es . C ow s are b athed in th e
ri vers, a n d som etim es a in ted a t this f estival The K artik B ihu
p .

is a m uc h sm aller f estival, an d ha s no pe c u liar c u sto m s that I

c an The M agh B ihu is an im port an t f east, a s it is the
r ec all.

har ve st hom e B y the en d of (P u b th e m iddle o f J a n u ary ) all

-
.

the ric e has b een ga th ere d in , a n d if the season has b een a goo d
on e, there is m u c h re j o ic in g L ar ge piles of w oo d are m ade, an d
.

a t n ight a light is put to them , w hen th ey blaz e u p an d m ake

gr an d b on fires .

T he A ssam ese play a gam e w ith egg t

s a these f estivals . Tw o
m en eac h ta k e th em poin t to poin t at o n e
e gg a n d u sh
pan

an o th er The egg th a t b r ea k s is b ea ten , an d the u n b ro k en o ne

.

w in s This c u sto m is ref err ed to in th e proverb ab ove, an d is

.

c alled wh en [ka nij uj é ] In the old days there u sed to be bu f f alo

.
-

fights, and even elephan t fights, at the B ihu .

1 90 . G ood advice .

atti c f ar mi ts .

an g rav i ty m ics aw .

f i
r st 611
53 166 3 13 1

R ahit nidibahat,

L ara c hho w alik la ghone nathaba,

Diba gadhul ite bh at .

Don t ch th
’
e st
tou
o ck ( don t layy our hand on
’
your s av in g)
s ;

Don t keep the children f asting

’

B ut give them c ooked ric e in the evening .

fi f e (r dki) savi g,
n s to c k W M ( g )
la h on
. f ast ing ” if ?! (g ad hali ) .

B usy- bodies .

flfi l fli m a? m m
35211 Ti cs 7its ai m
33 1 1
-

Lagani nahale j ui n aj ale,

Totakiyahale gé o(n ) nabahe .
 c n rnn L nss WO M N
A —
CU T T ING o n T H E no ss . 65

W ith ou t kin dlin g w oo d the fir e w on

’
t light,
A nd w ith out a b a c kb it m no villa ge c an be est ab lis h ed .

33 21171111
_
a b a c kbiter .

C hildless Wom a n .

a mat? 6 15s?”{ Git s agsi 1

2 e

M r nai kec hu w a bu rake na c hh u w a.

S he w ho ha s no t a ba by to dan lle, h
s o uld m ake her old m a n da n ce

O utting of the n ose .

Fe e s 31 1215wtifi sta i rs z 11211 W 21sm

‘
1
Nij a r ik
na kat i sa tin ir j a tr a b h an ga kare .

S he c ut ofi her to preven t he r h u sb a n d s sec on d w if e

’
o w n n o se, so a s

f ro m startin g on a j o urney .

O ne w if e , o ut of j ealou sy b ec au se her h u sb an d s w if e i s
’

, se c o n d

g in
o
g out f or the day, slits h er ow n n ose, so a s to pr e ven t her
st artin g . Th e A ssa m e se h a ve a su per stitio n tha t, i f an y thin g
m u tila te d o r def or m ed is se en w h en settin g o u t o n a j o ur n ey , th e
j o u rn e y w ill be u n lu c k y . flf c ffi ( sa ti n i ) or fir
s t?! (
sa tiya i )
on e o f the se ve ra l w i ves o f o n e hu sba n d . P olyga m y b rin gs m a n y
e vils ; n ot the lea st of these e vils i s th e j ea lo u sy tha t n ea rl v
a lw a y s ex ists b etw een the w ives w hic h resu lts in c o n tin u al sq u ab

b les. of — the f o llo w in

g tr an sla tio n s o f E aste rn sa yin gs
‘
M a la
y
—J
T w o w ives u n der o n e r oo f : tw o tiger s in o n e c a ge .

T elegu Tw o sw o r ds c a n n ot be c o n tain ed in o n e S c abb a rd .

A f gha n Wh o like s sq u ab ble s at h o m e, c o n tra c ts tw o

”
m a rria ge s .

T a mn l . Why fir e the h ou se of a m an w ho has tw o

w i ves P the fire of a n ger a n d j ealou sy is en ou gh .

C utting of the n ose .

are t it he g if ts 111m 9 11m ,

rte ar
t i
s ts 6 1113 21 c m was
a

Nak kat ile ahiba dale pale,

C hu i katile ahiba ko n kale
'
—

I f the n o se is c ut o f f , it w ill rega in its o ld siz e by t rea tm e nt,

B ut if t he hai r is c ut fi w h en w ill it com e ag i
o , a n
 66 SO ME a ssa u nsn r n o vn n n s .

Da ughte rs .

758 73 Nam} attrac W

at s 3 5
“

1
M , ts ,

w a s sac wi sts 3 1115

,
9
1am am; «is 1

K athat ka th a b are, kha rikat b ar e kan,

j
M aka r gh a r a t i w a ri b ar e, pa t hara t b are dh an .

A sto ry gr o w s by t ellin g, a bit of str a w m a kes th e h ole in the ea r large r

her m oth e r h
’
A girl g rows up best at s ho u se, pa ddy gro w s best on the pa t ar .

t h a t m ea n s g a ra ss t oo th pic k, a r o a stin g spit, o r a

-
spire of

dry gra ss to w hic h the e ggs o f m ugci si lkw o r m s a r e a tt ac h ed

H er e it is u sed in its fi r st se n se , th e to o th pic k b ein g u se d to

-

m ake the hole , b or e d th ro u gh th e lo b e o f t he e a r , b igge r B oth .

m en an d w o m en w e a r e a r r in gs, c a lle d tr
im s (Q fi sl) , w hic h a re

n ea rly a lw ay s c ylin dr ic a lly sh a pe d b its o f a m b e r , w ith a go ld

-

k n ob a t th e e n d, w hic h sh ow s in f r o n t A s th e se thu m a
‘

are .

o f t en o f c o n side r a b le dia m e ter , a la r ge h o l e is re q u ir ed in th e ea r .

T he b est w a y to w ide n the h o le is to pu t i n a n a ddi tio n a l b it o f

str a w (stu n ) e ac h tim e this i s possib le T he pro ve rb i s an an sw e r .

t o the q u e stion —
Where do thin gs thr i ve b e st P

Da ughter s an d the va l ue o f [a n d n ea r the ho use .

its} m W
212-1111 c
e c u f
eat? a
« ro m? s
t 1 ,

Tik b ala dhzi olai m at i m ak b h ale j iy c k j ati ,

.

T hat bullo ck is go o d w h ich j um ps u p v1 he 1 its b u tto c k is to u ch ed t ha t .

p ie c e o f la n d is go od w h ich is in f ro n t o f a m a n s ho us e a n d if a
’

m othe r is go od the da u ght r is t he sa m e e .

i3 25m ean s b u tto c k i325213 1211 (tile ba la dhd) a bu llo c k that j u m ps

,

u p o r ru n s w h en i ts bu tto c k i s t o u c h e d W m all? lan d in f r o n t o f .

the h o u se, i . e .
, th e la n d w hic h r e c e ives the dr a in age of the h o u se
w hic h , a c tin g a s m a n u re , r en de r s it m o re f ertile than o th er lan d .

Dak is the a u th or o f this pr over b .

D a ug hter s .

11 1W 2215fi rs t 3 3 . ( Gail ( his : to vice

15 s
ti f e
l

M akat kai j iyek kaj i, dheki th ora lai b aa pa(n )31.

 A ssa irssn P n o vn niis
'

6 so me f .

F i S her nz a n
'

53 1 as
ca n 15 w as mis ts sis .
sas s m i?171 m 511 g eneti cs sin 1

Dom ch a h a k i hal ch uka t pat ilo duli ,

U liyai pelai dile ga sh ungshu n gaiec hhe buli .

A Dom bec a m e r ich, an d he pla c ed in the c orn er ofhis h ou se

a basket f o r storing pa ddy,

H e th en pulls the ba sket sayin g th at he f eels h is body itchin g

‘

o ut, .

A dom w o u ld n o t lly posse ss du li f or sto r in g

’

. u su a a

padd y , as he ea rn s his b read b y fishin g; $11 i

ss ue r? ( gd sha n g

g )
s hn ndi , li ter a lly to f eel a n itc hin g in th e b o dy . T he w o r d

i s derived f r o m bristle, a hea r d o f a gra in o f

pa dd y .

G ui ta r .

tss ci at ta in 211m 1
-
si

M an a th e to kari b aj e .

T he tokari is pla yed w hen respe ct is pa 1d .

( kd ) i in str um ent of m u sic l y d

’

t m
‘

o s an p a e

the gu itar .

H usba n d .

r
c ea mM 913 9 16 1 21 0
,

tw ists s f fice casei n 26 1 1

u
E t iyhhe
'

palehi gh a rpa t a pa i,

K ilabalai ahic hhe khef dal lai .

Now has com e t he w orthy husba n d ,

H e ha s c om e to b eat m e w ith a st ra w .

an iron ic a l iprover b .

H usban d .

( 1s si s $315
“
fir a s is W 9
?
'

e 1

K i kam ki na kam
pa ir nam ba tali .

Wh at to sa y an d w ha t n ot to sa ,
y my husb an d s n a m e is chisel
’
.
 K now m nen 69
“

B a ssi st .

A w om an w ho has a lwa ys to b e c orr e c ted f o r m ak in g

m ista k e s, gives ven t to her w r ath b y say in g that her hu sba n d s
’

”
n a m e is c hisel, i e , h e has a ton gu e a s sh arp a s a c hisel
. . .

H usba n d .

We a rm s fir , e a ts fir ,

’
29 1 cm 9 11m fi cc i first? a 1

K ihat kari lo ki, dh an edon di,

B a i to palo nith si.

W h at have I done to h ave bought a h usban d

f or a don of pa ddy,
Who a lw ays beats m e .

In A ssa m the bridegro o m , as a ru le, has to m ake presen ts to

the b irde b ef ore m arri age, that in this pro verb the
’
s pa r e n t s so

o rder o f things is rever sed .

P ra c tic a l kno wledge .

si s attain were? f sai,

{firs s trata f
a s st? menu a t 1

Khaba j an ile c haulei chir a ,

B ahiba j anile m atiyei pira,

B uliba j an ile m oj iy ai der parar bat .

If eaten kno w in gly (contentedly) comm on rice

, is ch ira
(par ch ed ric e) ,

To one w ho knows how to sit the ground is the stool,

T o her w ho kn o w s how to w alk the din ing ro om is -

on e a n d a half praha r s
’
j ourney .

”
If you kn o w how to eat, ric e is as go o d a s c hi n i . If
k n ow h ow to sit, the gro un d is a s go o d a s a c h air A nd
if you
”

you .

onl y kn ow how to w alk, it takesas lo ng as a praha r a n d a half

S
"
to c over the floor in
y r h ou l w s of gait in w om an is
‘

ou se o n es . a

d
c on si ered lady li ke, flf s n= sia twislfa ( j
'

- as w ell as gr ac ef ul . m a
som e) , the middle rocm o f the house, where the mealsare served
‘
“
70 so me A S S A M E SE r a c vnn ns .

G ir iy eke hole bhok hh o k ,

G ha in iy eke bo le pu a ga dh ul i,

Dui sé j eke lag s huh .

The hu sba n d cries out I am h ungry ,

”
I am h ungry ,

The w if e re plies, Ifi t the m o rnin g m ea l and even i ng m ea l

be t ak en toge t her .

T his is a c ase w her e th e w if e is too thr ’ m and hal f -

sta rves

he r h u sb an d . Th e A ssa m ese ha s, a s ru l e , th re e m a i ls a day, i . e .

,

in the ea r l y m o rn in g, m i dda y, an d e ve ni n g . I n th e ea r l y m ornin g

he ea ts c o o k ed r ic e, eith er hot o r c o ld, a c c o rdin g to his f an c y or

h is m ea n s . I n th e m iddle of th e day he ta k es w ha t is c a lled

W H Y? (j a lpan ) or lu n c h, w hi c h o f te n c o nsists o f f at hs fi ( pithaigur i )
o r c a ke s m ade f r o m r ic e f lo ur . I n the e ven in g is the la m m ea l
of the da y ; it c o n sists o f c oo ked r ic e, fish, or vegetables .

No .

H us ba n d .

b ase s stem was? 1

J alake b a lile j akai ,

A ndhare m u dbare c hin iba n o w ari,

P aiyekak bo lile ka kai .

The net w as m i sta ken f or a j a haf i,

A nd she ca lled her hu s ban d ka hzf i (e lder b rothe r )
in the dar k .

ET?!
(i )
d! is a fishin g n et, of w hic h there are several kin ds .

The nets are made f rom the rtha fibre, w hi ch is y ry

e
72 SO ME A SSAM E S E r novna n s .

M a ter n a l u nc le .

carats w as en s nice at: I

M o m ai m a ra k, b h uta h pac hhe pam .

L et the un cle die ,

I W i ll find the devil (C
.

26 ) af terw ards .

T his is r ather an am u sin g in sta nc e of S hu ttin g the stable

”
do o r a f ter the steed h as b een stolen . T he u su a l e x o rc ism of th e

e vil spirit is her e dispensed w ith u ntil af ter the m an death

’
s .

M a r r ia
ge .

is? cats ch a in s has,

‘
h

fi t
s s ( sha m ne w I

E /
tcx i bor khoro c hat ka i,

B iyar kho ro c ha sakat .

slip kn ot of
- m arriage is the stronge st slip kont o f -
a ll .

M othe in
r - -
la w .

fi fifi f acedfififi fi fe

C h al pai biyan i n it o t in i beli .

If the son s o r da ug
’
.
h ter s
'
m ot h e r- in - law gets a ch an ce ,

she c o m es to t he house t h r ee tim e s a day .

m o ther in l aw , the f at h er
‘ ’
The? ( y ) da u gh ter
'

b i a m so n s or s - -

in law i s
-
c a lle d fi ts

M o ther ia la w - -
.

r
ue misfi ts as,
ca m i n? sufsm i n 7
S h ahu bo w é rir ghar,
Ko n e kh ai gakhirar ea r ?
v
v and th e d a ughter in dent
T he m other in la v - - « -

are t he o nly m em bers o f .

the
Who e l e i g oi s s n
g t o drink the c ream

=6Wfi (c ham ani) J c ream .

 om P O H A RI . 73

O il .

flf s 25a m
‘

si ts e
’

ca n qfifissts s ati n w e
R a n a t pa r i kaliya h alo ,

T el né ikiyat phapa r iya h a lo .

I have becom e blac k thro ugh ha vin g f alle n (w o un de l) in battle,

A n d I ha ve beco m e sc u rf y th rough h a vin g no oil .

A c o o lie w hose sk in h as been tan n ed throu gh ex posur e to

t he su n , sa y s he has b ec om e b lac k o w in g to bein g w ou n ded on th e
fi e ld of b attle . H avin g n o o il to r u b o n th e b o dy is given as an
e x c u se f or h is sk in b ein g sc u rf y . T he A ssam ese r ub their hair
and body w ith m u stard o il .

Old ma n .

( stat ics 1 51 a n
: an n

Dekhic hhahe bura ag ni ha rd .

H e looks a n o ld m a n , bu t in rea lit

y he is a fla m e o f fire .

T
ho ug h he loo ks o ld, he ha s n o t lo st his s irit an d en er
p gy .

WEI in
g (j u i ku ra) , a t or c h Wis
.
(a gn i
)
ign i s (D aw so n ) To .
q u o te f u rth er f rom the sam e a u th or it y
F ire is on e o f th e m o st a n c ien t a n d m o st j
sa c r ed o b e c ts o f H in du
w or sh ip . A gn i is o n e o f the c h ief deitie s o f the V eda s . H e is
o f th e thr e e gr ea t de itie s— A gn i, V ayu (I n dr a , a n d
o ne
)
w h o, r espec tively , pr e side o ve r e ar th, a ir , a n d sk
y .
”

P oha r i .

c a
ni nes tr im ? shit I s

P o harir paieka i sakh i .

P o hfir i s w itne ss is her h usban d

'
T he .

The on ly w itn ess a p ohdr i c a n c ite is h er ow n husband to

c orrob ora te h er f a lse statem en t r egardin
g the va lu e of her sto c k
in trade . Nob ody else w ill su
ppor t her in her f alse statem en t

ex c ept h er hu sba n d .

culi lf s ( po h ar i ) a re et
p yt tra de rs .
 74: so me ASSAM ESE r n ovn n n s .

P o r ter s .

E lf i n can! s ue , 1 4 21 13 5 c a t s
1 nevus ai rs n

B hé rik n ere b hare, j ub a

y k
a n ere
pa c halar kh are .

T he bu rden does lea ve the po rt er s ba c k,

’
not

A nd p a c lz a lci M u ir c urry doe s not lea ve the slo ven l m an

y .

The ab i ve m ea n s th a t a por ter c a n n o t earn his livelihoo d

w itho u t c ar r y in g lo ads a n d a slo ve n c an on l y ’

, get p a c ha la kha r
(a b ad kin d of c u rr y ) to eat .

nsai the spr o ut of the pla n ta in tree f ro m w hic h c urr y is

pre
pared .

R eligi o n .

W : a v G rants v s
e a

Dha rm a r j a i a dha rm a r kh a y .

The c tory of
vi r eligio n is t he declin e of w i c kedn ess .

W (dh a r m a ) is m oral a n d re ligio u s duty . Dhar m a w a s an

an c ie n t sa ge , so m etim es c la ssed a m o n g the pra j ap a tis, th e f a ther s

of th e h u m a n r a c e, w ho w er e pr o du c e d b y M a n n D h a r m a .

m arr ie d th irteen ( or te n ) of th e da u gh ters of Da k h sa, an d had a

n u m er o u s p g
ro e n y , bu t a ll h is c h ildr en a re m an if estly a llego ri

c a l,b ein g per so n ifi c a tio n s o f in tel ligen c es a n d vir tu e s an d r eligi

o u s r ites, an d b ein g, th eref or e, appr opria tely w edded to th e pr o b a

b le a u th o r s of the H in du C o de of r eligio n a n d m o ral s, or th e

e q u all y a llego ric a l r epr ese n ta tio n of th a t c o de , Dhar m a .

( Wi lso n ) o
f .
“
VCG T W m e te r: l

S tep m o ther
-
.

Fe 2m at?! M i a e n ,

cams s tsd task s m in

K i kom m ah i air gun ,
E hat e kh ara n i ehdt e lo n l
W h at sh all I sa y o f my st ep -
m oth er s kindness
’
,

In one h an d she ha s solutio n o f pot ash a n d in t he

76 so me A S S A M E S E P B OV E RB S .

U r ba shi .

a re ? ta l i
ask s n: t
a

E ke i U r ba sh i du w é re pa th .

S he is an U rbash i a nd a t the sa m e t im e t h e re is a
p at h( straigh t)
u t o her doo r
p .

U r b a shi, or U rva si, w as one of th e A psar a s, the n y m ph s

of I n dra m o vin g in the
’
s hea ven . Th e n am e w h ic h sign ifies
”
w a ter , h a s so m e a n a lo g y to th a t of A ph r odite . Th e
R am ay an a an d the P ur an a s a ttr ib u te the o r igin o f th ese n ym ph s

to the c h ur n in g o f the o c ea n .

Ther e is a lo ve sto r y to ld in the M a hab harata , w h ic h n eed

n ot be r epro du c ed h er e , c on c e rn in g U rb ash i a nd P u r u r a va s, a
-

m ythic al person , m e n tio n ed in th e V e da s, c o n n e c t ed w ith th e su n

an d the da w n , an d e x istin i t h m iddl e r e gio n o f th e u n i verse

g n e .

T h is stor y M ax m hl ler c o n siders on e of the m yths of th e V eda s

w hic h e x pr esse s the c o r r ela tion of th e da w n an d th e su n . T he
lo ve b et w ee n th e m o r ta l an d th e i mm ort al , an d the iden tity of

the m or n in g da wn an d th e even in g tw iligh t, i s the sto r y of

”
U rva si an d P u ru r e va s
-
. T he w o r d U r va si, M ax m ul ler sa ys ,

w a s o r igin a lly an ap
pell atio n a n d m e an t da w n . Do w so n w rite s

Dr G o ldstuc k er n a ti on diff ers, b u t se e m s m o r e a pposit e

’
.
p l
s exa .

A c c or din g to th is P ur u r a va s is the su n
-
an d U r va si is th e
m o r nin g m ist ; w h en P u r u ra va s
-
is visib le , U r vasi van is h es, as

”
t he m ist is a b so rb ed w h en the su n shi n e s f o rth .

V il lage c o n ve r sa ti on .

clai m as ? 9
m ,

We we re h at
fif t

The an W1
Dhekiyalatzi pat a, .

B h at
khiz o te pzi n i kh al ,
S ic eti kath a .
 .
WA TE R sr m r s — w m o w nn . 77

B its c reepers a n d leaves

of f ern , , ,

H e dr in ks w a ter w hilst eating rice ,

A re these the subj ec ts of c on versation

This is a desc riptio n of village talk W1 m ,

9
odds an d

Wa ter S p r ite .

star « F
o
rfi s
h ma 1

K h al khani j as n i i chapai lale .

B y digging a drain (n ea r yo urho use)

y ou have b rought ti 6 evil s irit
p c lo ser .

ash in i is of t h e da
T he j on e m i n o r es of the A ssa m ese .

is su ppo sed
i a sz n i to be
’

A lth ou gh the e vill y dispo sed,

a ppar en tl y it do es n ot r e qu ire to b e pr o pitiated b
y ff er in gs
o .

T he a sin i resides o ver tan k s a n d dra in s S to ries a re to ld

j p .

by the vil la gers o f m en w ho ha d b een pu lled do w n in to the depths

”
ia sim s, a n d so dr o w n ed w hilst b a thin g
’

o f deep po ols b y .

Wa ter S p r ite .

m W1 c u
QM mt ? W
e l atrial! a r

Thalat thal R aj a po ta pukhur ir Ra jé .

A king reign s o n land in h alf filled up ta n ks reign s the w a ter prite

- -
, s .

an tha l = S an skr it 3 a
( ) ( ) l d l sth a l
“

, a n , p a c e ca re t fi
“
rst
(po tci .

lite rally b u r ied ta n k What is m ean t gen erally b th e

.

y
sio n , how ever , i s a tan k in pr o c e ss o f b ein
ex pr e s
g fille d u p if? .

is a n e vil spirit sa id to h a u n t sw a m ps a n d m ar she

s
Will
.

T he ba ht ) k, like the
’
-
o -
the w isp,
-
leads people astray at
n ight.

Widow er .

( sits at? asuta i ts arts f ix I

J o (n ) r puri ba ra lar hat ale hi
p .

The to rch burnt dow n to the han d of the w idower tha t held it .
78 so me A ssa mn sn P a o vnn ns .

M A b dul M ay d n otes o n this

r . Wh en a m an lo ses his
w if e an d b ec om e s a w ido w er (b ara la) , h e is so im m ersed in grie f

th at, w h en h e lights a torc h, he lets it b urn his han d in his

ab sen c e of m in d .

Widower .

ta ta mm minis ,
31 sash was cri
« 25 m e
s 1

T h an th an M ada m G O pal, ekst a ba ra lar n ak han c hotfil .

He i s alon e by him self a M ala n G opa l

'

( a w ido w e r) ,
he po ssesses n in e c ourtya rds (a n d h o uses t o c o rrespo n d) .

sum mi ! (M
di? ada n G opal ) is either a b ac h elor or a w ido w er .

m m (M adan ) is o n e of the n am es of si ts ( m a) , the In dian

K a
C upid .

c ow keeper, a n a m e o f the y ou thf u l K rishn a

( p ),
G o al w hilst

livin g am on gst the c ow herds in B rin dab an .

Wedow er
'

as?se s lw fi M itre 3M ,

« are W ists w in a n n

P a rba t a t k ac hhaka ni bhayam at ban,

B a ra lat bic h aric hhe h
s u kan dh an .

To look f or turtle
’
9 eggs in t he h ills ,
t o pu t up a w eir

(a c ross a )
st rea m in the l
p ins,
a

A re a s diff ic ult t hin gs to do as to obt ain dry

pa d dy a t a
’
w ido w er s hou se .

In th e proverb j u st ab ove, w e h ave som e o f the a dvan ta ges

o f w ido w erh o od In th is pr o verb w e have o n e o f the disa dva n
.

tages . sis (b an ) is a w eir th r o w n a c r oss a str ea m t o pr even t t h e

fish fin din g th eir w a y o u t to th e B rahm apu tra S u c h w eir s a r e .

di ffic u lt t o pu t u p, an d still m ore diffic ul t to k e ep in plac e, a s th e

su dden l an d w a sh
’
stream s are liab le to rise y th e m aw a y . T u rtle s

e ggs are f o un d on the san dh ills alo n

gside r ivers. Th ey ar e

diffic u l t to fin d u n l ess the tu r tle is se en m a ki n g its w ay of f f ro m

th e plac e where the eggs have b een deposited .
 w rvns T H E CO NT R A R Y WIF E . 79

Wives T he c on tr a ry i
wf e .

mm s afu fi
n rm cut“.

«i ts se tters snfiw casts r

Khoj o kh ara n i diy e lon ,

E ne ubha tit t hakib a kon .

I ask f or a solutio n o f pota sh a n d she give s m e

Who c a n stan d a w if e w ho is so con tra ry

The w if e w ho is a he aly 0 0 0 10 .

as state as h as?» s cales at ?

cm sia fi s wi '
2m m f ats fllrfi i f ? I
Kh a r ran dhan i kh ar b aran i peick la ghon e j ai ,

O da r an dha n i odd bara n i pa ieke tin i scij i khcii .

S h e is a sm a rt cook a n d a sm ar t distribu to r, yet her

h u sb a n d go es f asting,
The o t her is a slo w c o ok a nd a slo w dis trib u to r, yet her
hu sban d ge ts thr ee m ea ls a day .

A hasty c ook o f ten spo ils w hat sh e is c o o k in g. A . c o ok w ho

t ak es tim e an d tro ub le, prepa r e s a sa tisf a c tor y m ea l .

W is
h =i on e w ho serve s the f ood, a distrib utor .

211 : ic k G‘
fl = slow
q u , .

T he wif e supre m e i n her own house .

lfs ? un lf s 111315
his
—
st 1 e
-

f it s e

G h a re pati gh a i mi kh ale pati j asin i .

In the hom e the w if e is s uprem e, in the ditch reign s the w a ter sprit e.

A wi e f w ho, though w ell m ea ning, is w ithout ta c t

-
.

fiat7! 6131316 ti tans c its

—
,

3 sim isms! New s ids

'

Tini G o dhulit taric he t at,

U jutit chhlg ile pa iekar da(n) t .
80 so me ASS A MESE r n ovn n ns .

S he sprea d her loo m at dusk,

’

A nd in her h urry she broke her h usban d s too th by

’

t ripping up a gainst him .

f e rn a1fi = du sk .

(i ts a
( )
t t is the w o o den han d lo o m-
u se d by A ssam e se w om e n

f o r w eavin g c o tton or silk .

H elplessn ess .

m M 1 3 st stm tsltscs
“
9

P ai r ka r j uba
y a g ay n at haw a re .

C ross m e o ver (the st rea m ) , yo un

g m a n, it is o ut o f m y dept h .

T he spoilt wi e f .

( stirs mists 3
$ 11, sui te 11m l? aw
2 9
,

ts, sun are]? i ifi I

twi ns e f f ort s sl u
B etiye bhan gile kata ra G argao n palehi bat a ra, ,

G hainiye bhan gile ka (n ) hi, th a le m uc hu kai h a(n )h i .

T he m aid se rvan t brok e th e sta n d o f the dheki, a nd the n ew s

s rea
p d to G argaon .

T he w if e broke a b ra ss plate, a nd the res ult w as o nly a sm ile

(f ro m her hu sb an d) .

a ra) a sta n d w h ic h th e dhek i w o rk s desire

(k at on .

(G a rgaon ) n ear Na z ira w as a t on e tim e the c a pital o f the A h om

k in gs
.

I nequa li ties .

ass i t? f eels th,

21

wa s fit? sti fled? I

B a ra r dai pic hhali j ai,
S a ru r dai khu c hhari kh ai .

The m istake o f the great on e pa ss es w ith o ut n o t ic e .

W herea s th at o f the sm all on e is never overlooked .

 T H E S T ING Y WI F E —
WO M EN . 81

T he stingy w if e .

fi ssi le firm s twe e t? fi f m

B idha tiz y dileo tirut ai h idiyo .

A lthough B idhat a gave, the w if e do es not I

(B idhata) is B rah m a, the c reator .

The f
w i e a l w ays bea utif ul .

are? a re at ? are, w e re nice s r)a

i f o
r

M aj m urat nai chuli , pa iyek m ate r upa h i buli .

S he has no hair on the m iddle of her head, b ut her h usband

c alls her rup ahi (the beautif ul one) .

A p a r agon f
o a w if e .

312? Qu ) e t
asi
i ,
9
115
166 1 B e ze l all ?
S arb a s ula kh t ai
an i atito m ut e ch arut o kh a i
y , p
.

A paragon of a w if e, she s o ils th e be d an d ea t s f ro m th e c o okin

p g pot .

Th e proverb is o f c ou r se ir o n ic al .

Wo m en .

f ro 33 s gt? wri ts { is
- "

T irir ch uti b aranir b uti .

Wom en th at a re short in stature a n d broo m s th at a r e w orn o ut

a re to a voided.

The A ssam ese think a g at

re de al of a tall w o m an .

Wom en .

fin s) , fi f s, wit h) , canal,

to ? fe fi
’
B tfi s sat n 6 i 0 one I
Tiri, M ir i, kow a
i,
E i tini charir asa i no pow a .

O f w om en, M iri s, the par ro t, a n d the cro w ,

The m inds of these f our you c a nn ot kn o w .
 82 so me a ssa mnsn P n ovnn ns .

f Dea th A go ny o .

s 2 1 We $ 125
o
m i t 9
, at? what ,

6 1? f e ta t its was i dea l

Thupa rir pa i m aj e ph u ta cha i kati kh ai katan a

, , ,

E i t in i ch ari j am ar j ata u a .

the husba n d o f a w ort hless w om an a b oa t c overin g ,

w ith a h ole in the m iddle o f it an d to live by spin n in g a nd ,

w eavin g f o r w a ges,
Th ese th ree a re th e a o
g yn o f dea th .

of . the H in di pr over b
J ha r j har j ari uru kha gh ar,
Nari c han c hal chor n a ka r ,

B ap sa tr a eat m an pé i,
E hi pa n ch a b é p sah a n n aj ai .

A water po t w ith a h o le in i t, a lea ky h o u se, an u n stead y

w if e, a thief servan t, a f ath er an en e m y , th e se fi ve ar e u n en

dur ab le .

In A ssam , the b ullo c k c ar ts an d b oats ar e c overed w ith h o o ds

m ade of m a ttin g, w ith b a m b o o h o ops to su ppo r t it . A n
y one

w ho has tra velled in a b u llo c k c ar t or in a bo a t w ith a h o le i n

its ho o d on a w e t n ight in th e ra in s, w il l e n do r se the tr u th o f

this say in g .
253m caste carat s
“
aw l 31
T15
all w e a im
(B eeha l oi l o ha r shu ta ha ta ha kap a r bow ci
” “
ls?!
il l ;

O n e w h o spin s or w eaves f or o ther s f or h ir e i ts .

(j am ) is the In dian P l uto .

C la s s V .

P R O V E R B S R E LA TI N G T O A GR I C U LT U R E A ND S E A S O NS .

T he br i nj a l -
o ut o f sea so n .

Niss an cute st ? cares ca ts cats « i ts am I

Abata riya ben gen ai m ok tol m ok t ol ka re .

The lan t t h a t is o ut of sea son c ries o ut

gP
'
O
ec

pl i
u c k m e,
”
pluc k m e .

Thi y i i s ex pr e ssi ve o f c on tem pt to w ar ds m en

s sa n g
to o pu shin g .
 84 S O ME A S SA M E S E r a o vnn n s .

I f the m an w ho t reads o ut the pa ddy has sof t f e et, t he sha rp hea rd o f the
ea r
p erc es his f o o t a n d he j um ps w ith pa in
i .

The pa ddy is gen er ally t ro dden o u t b y o x e n , b u t som etim es

b y m en an d w o m e n a s w ell If a per son ha s sof t f e et, i e , if a
. . .

m an is n o t a c c u sto m e d to su c h w ork , th e sharp b ear d o f the

padd y r un s in to his f o o t .

P a ddy seedli ngs.

W a fi
‘
cwt cw nsfl

Kathiya he chuti J ethate pa ra .

T he paddy seedlin gs a re sm all bu t th ey w er e so w n in

,
J eth .

The seedlin gs ref erre d to are tho se w hic h are r e q u ired f or

tr an splan tin g to the mm or pa dd y -
fiel d . Th e m on th J eth
c orr espo n ds to 1 5th M ay to 1 5th J un e , w hic h i s a bo u t the tim e
w h en the (seedlin g b e ds) e a red a n d th e
“
ka thiya tal i
-
a re r
p p
se ed so w n .

P lo ughs .

atria are si s { in El li

uni i t s a aunt a t?

G a dhuli hale sat hal bai ,

P u a h ale e h alo n ai .

I n the evening he a r ra n ges f or seven

plo u h
g s,
B ut in the m orn in g he ha s n o t o ne even .

The m ean in g is that o ne w ho talks m u c h perf orm s little , .

I t i s a pplied to a la zy f ello w w h o c on te m la te s doin

p g e ver y thin
g
i n the m orn in g, b u t ac tu a ll y do e s n o thin g w he n th e tim e c om e s .

The A ssa m e se n ever

plo u h
g s in the e ven in g, at lea st n ot u nl e ss

he can p i
o ssb ly h el i
p t A plo u ghm a n s day is gen erally f rom
. .
’

da w n till a b o u t 1 1 or 1 2 o c lo c k
’
A f te r that he lets his b ul loc ks
.

lo o se, a n d do es n o m or e th at da
y .
 E am sn — c n a rr . 85

R a di sh .

fit s e nsi lt s s tters it s
e

J i m ula b ar iba dupata te ch in .

radis h th at w ill gro w large, you w ill kno w w hen it has

spr ead bu t leaves
.

Ja c k f r ui t .

at ?! d fi sl wists ite s we re ne w I
r

Dh an puriya ka th al patar t ala ie lukal .

T he b iggest j a ck f ruit of a ll, i . e., t h at on e w ort h p a ra of dh an ,

a
lay hidden un dern ea th the lea ves .

T his proverb is applied to th o se w ho hide th eir light u n der a

b u shel .

Naha r .

a reas h e a nd?!
Nahara t kaio sukathi

I s t h er e a ny better w o o d th a n Naha r ?

at?! ( Nahar ) the iron w o od of In dia (M esua f er r ea ) .

Cha i t .

nit? ! f a s e efls e u we
’ ’

Fi le hi C h a t dhan ba m kat .

T he m onth of C hait ha s a rr i ved, w here sha ll I so w the paddy

H ere ( Ch aitr a) . T he m on th of Ch a t or C ha itra is

f rom ab ou t the 1 5th M to the 1 5
ar c h th A pril, or
“

ab ou t a f u ll
m o n th b ef o re the c o m m en c em en t o f th e l
p o u ghin g season . Th e
so w in g o f aha dha n
'

c o m m en c es f rom M dgh a
. The m an w ho ha s
spe n t his tim e in doing nothin g w hen .
it is to o late thus
c om la in s.
p
 so me
‘

86 A S SA M E SE r a oa B s.

a
m am « as fires g el m m
P aka am a r b elika kiba r kuj a moh a .

A t the time of eatin g ripe m a ngo es w ho c ares f or the infirm

I
un c e.

The tim e f or m an goes to ripen is abou t June ; but as

m an goes are alw ay s f ull of w or m s in A ssam , it is dif fic ult to
u n derstan d the en thu siastic ton e of the pro verb .

M db .

r te e ntire ? airs m as
P h al katotei m ah a r b atar gal .

Wh ilst he w as cutting the plough sh are -

,

th so w in g pa ssed a w ay
the t im e f or m a -
.

M ah is pu lse m u c h eaten by the A ssa m ese . M ala is sow n

at t h e e n d o f t h e r ai n s a n d is reaped in the c old w eath er .

Th e i ts!
(p )
hdl i s th e p lo u gh sha-
re .

B ure pa t i sheluk no 7
Do you find a selulc ea ch tim e you dive

The seluk is the edible ro o t of 66 3 ( t) ,

bhe a kin d of lo tu s,
G ?
h
w hic g r ow s in b i le .T h e C ( bhe t) i s so m ethin g similar to

the si g
n hdr a ,
”
th e A ssam ese fi rst? ( sh in g )ar i .

T he B ar tree.

W e firsts wit 1

case s ( first ? Ca esar? We “

f e a rs fi rm c a nu
 TH E K E R E L A —
ON B U Y ING LA ND . 87

B ar ga chh katile ghitingai karile,

C hitiki pa r ile eth a .

L o kak dekhuw ai keterai m atiba,

B hitari n eriba beth a .

W h en the bor t ree w a s c ut dow n, it f ell w it h a c ra sh ,

A n d its j uice poured out like rain .

B ef o re pe ople spea k to him sh a rply,

In private yo u sh ould m a ke m u ch o f him .

Th e first pa rt of the pr over b i s irrelevan t t o the sec o n d,

w hic h, a s bein g .
a pie c e of a dvi c e t o som e o n e, sh o u l d m or e

l y have b een detailed in C la ss I I filfivfl? (ghi tingcii) = an

‘

p p
r o er .

o n o m a to poeic w ord, sign if yin g an y su dden sou n d, a s a c la p o f

(fi fti )
”
th u n der fiSf s? es “
c hi ti hi, literal ly, drivin g
in like heavy throu gh w in do w ( hh
"’

r a in a n open . 4 s i f? B ar ga c )
<3, the In dian fig )
( F i c us i n di c a . T h e se trees gro w to a n
e n or m ou s si e
z in A ssa m , n o tab l y th e P esen g B o r ga c hh n ear
Difii u in G olaghat .

T he her eld .

arcs ate m m
a Ge ts i ts e ti :

B are hat ker olar tere hat gu ti .

The herela is 1 2 c ubits long, but the seeds thi rtee n

’
a re

”
The her eld is th e M om o r dic a c a r a n ti a , a w ell kn ow n
-

vege tab le .
( B en gali W e i ka r ala )
, . Th e sa y in g is a
pplied to

a m an w ho draw s the lon g bow .

O n buying la n d .

a s a r e are an .
Calais? W ei f its? G T
?!

M atti kin ib a m aj kh al,

Chhow ali aniba m ak bh al .

B uy land w hi ch slope s to w ards the c ent re,

A n m arry a girl w h ose m oth er is good
d .

c f . Take a vin e of a
go o d so il an da daughter
This is borro wed f rom Dak .
88 son s A S S A M E S E r n ovnn s s .

P a ddy c u l ti va tio n .

as a n stafs: a m am an,
f

e t? nie ce carats? m i cars a m am

‘

as

’
G a ru c habzz g a dhuli ro w s c hé
bé puw a,
J akai haote c hho w ali ch aba dekhi ken e ku w é .

L ook f or your b ullo ck s in t he even ing,

look a t yo ur pa ddy field in the m ornin g, -

H ave a p p
ee a t the girl w ho is fish in g w ith the “
f a irdi,

a nd se e w h at she is like .

The A ssa m ese lets his b u llo c k s r o am a b o u t a f t er m i dday,

W h en h e h a s fi n ish ed plo u hin g

g I n t h e e ve n in g he tie s th.em

u p so a s to b e r eady to c om m en c e plo u gh in g a s soon a s it is light .

The sec o n d pa rt o f the pr o verb is irrel eva n t, although am u sin g

.

Dak is the au thor of this proverb .

‘
f et is h ? ca?“canfi flhi s I

S ic hé tka i c hhera b ota la t an .

It is ea sy to catch fish by ladlin g up w ater t han to c ollec t fish that

have been lef t behind .

A f enc e .

fie ste m s tfis I

Nita ch ao ue tati .

A f enc e alw ays requires loo king a f ter .

”
The A s sam ese f en c e in th eir r o w d, th e paddy fields, af ter -

th e
“
loa thiyci ( see dlin gs ) ha s b een tra n splan ted th e f e n c es are
m ade o f split b am b oo, a n d ar e c o n sta n tl y eith er b ei n g stolen an d

u sed bro ken down b y

f or fir ew o o d, or stra y c a ttle. The a uthor

o f thi s proverb is Dak .

P epp er , p ain , a nd
pl a n ta i ns .

s tav 6 11 13
e 5 2 W e art:
an d i ts? 43 1 W WI s it
77 ?
J alukat gobar pan at m ati,
K ala puli rubé tin ibé r kati
 O N CU LT I V A T I NG S A L I D H A N— M A R I ND A ND o w r E NG A
'

TA '
.

P la c e m a n u re r ou n d the b la c k pepper b ush

an d ea r t h roun d the pain tree,

A n d c u t t he pla n tain t hr e e t im es b ef o re yo u pla nt it .

The a b o ve pr o ve rb g ive s u se f u l h in ts a s t o t h e c u ltiva tio n

b lac k c hillie s,
’
of
pan, a n d plan tain s This is a n o th er o f d
. e

O n c ul ti va ti n g scili di dn .

as as ts? fi si w if e,

new fi sce l a n ”
lif e-1

f
te e ti f? a s s lif e,
“

cm arrw wa s af fix c
-

G h an gh a n ka i diba an,

P a rba ta r tin ga to r ub a sal i

Teo j adi n a ha i sal i,

T eh e pariba Daka k gali .

If yO u m ake the cilia a s nea r to on e an o t h er as prs sible,

Yo u c an plan t sa li
’

on t he t 0 ps of hills .

If t h en the sdli do es n ot gro w w ell,

Yo u c a n a bu se Dak .

A lis (Wife) a re the divisio n s in th e field bu ilt f o r the

of da m m in g i n th e w ater . Dak w as th e or igin ator

sa y i ng .

Ta m a r i n d? a n d O w tenga .

s n vi a ca
u e are vice 6. s

( a? We alas M i nt s 6 h

A g ph ale teteli pach ph ale a u ,

S ei gha ra r m an uh u thilan e n o .

A li euse w it h a tam arin d tr ee in f ron t an d an ow i engd beh ind,

H as n ot the o w n er o f t h at hou se gone a w ay f rom here yet ?
Cal ( )
a d = ai ? C5M nai ho w s ,
”
n ot e t
y .

A n o ther o f Dak
’
s sa y in gs .
90 S O ME A SSA M E SE P ROV E RB S .

S esa m um .

We 3113 cars flats a t car

a ts:

M ah ar m ar dekh i tile bet m elila .

Seein g t he mdh b eaten o u t, the se sa m u m ha s split it self (f o r f ea r

o f b ein g b ea ten ) .

f e e (til) sesa m u m o r ien ta le . The pr o verb is m ea n t as a h it

‘
at eo
p p le w h o a re to o fl
o ic l o u s .

T he be st c r op s .

Ts: fissa a n ll hi
‘

a
“ ?! ass
, s
hab chikun para r po chikun gh
b , ra r .

T he best c rops a re th ose grow n g o n t he fields o f

i . ot h ers
t he be s t so n s a re t hose a t h om e .

Th e a b o ve m ean s tha t pe ople a re n e ver sa tisfie d w ith

o w n c ro ps, b u t ar e en vio us o f those o f o th er s .

C la s s V i .

P R O VE RB S R E LA TI N G TO CA T TLE , A NIM A LS , F I S H , A N D I NS E C TS .

T he p a d dy bi r d -
a nd the fi
sh.

s i
trs w as sa e <F n l f
‘
=
A dhik m a chhat baga li kana .

When fis h a re too ple ntif ul, the paddy bird is b lind -

.

i . e .
, th e fi sh a re so thic k, that he do e s n ot kn ow w h ic h to
c a tc h fir st, a n d so ,
perhaps, a ll esc ape him , h en c e the sa y in g that
he is blin d .

c
fi — Wfiw vise ( viii wlw seam

A dhik m aehat j ogi ad bé ol .

When fish are t oo plen tif ul, a m en dic ant (li t h e r m it ) .

be com es h a lf m ad -
92 so me A S SA M E SE P n o vn n n s .

T he m osq ui to .

We a r was s eti ,
' “
s e e sea a ?

s is was W ll? s ire mi

“

e r
,

w as? nice , at? f irs

‘

“ e I

S hu (n ) r achh e
h ati n ahay m an uh ga ru kh ai ,

B agh n h ay j ake pai take kh ai

a ,

B a ra lak gh ate pan ir j a nm it ,

.

It has a tru n k b u t it is n ot a n eleph ant

, ,

It ea t s m en a nd c attle but it is n ot a tiger ,

Wha t
ever it eat s, it ea ts o n the s
p ot .

It h
va nis es w it h a b la st of m usi c ,
it is b or n f rom w a ter .

n ot dif fic ult to gu ess the a n sw e r to this sim ple A ssam ese

T he do ve a nd the h a w k .

ea an v i d m na n?
v i e
fi es ca n,

e mf
s if t 2mm are h i s w him
is wa s! eta co m I
U ri ga l katiya ka ph khedi n ile sen e,
E ke kat hi kare re sat thait b hedi le,
Iyo ka t h a haic hhe ton e .

T he little dove ha s flo w n a w ay b ein g ch ased by a h aw k ,

H ha s pierc ed it (the la tter) in seve n la c es w i th o n e a rro w on ly

e p
T h is sto ry a lso is lik e th at .

Th e ab o ve is m e an t t o illu st ra te th e c a se o f a pe rso n w h o tells

a stor y w h ic h p r im a f a c i e a ppears to b e f alse .

T he m o use .

et i fi afiis ni
—
xo sis an I

E ta n iga nir sat kh an pam .

”
O n e m o u se ha s se V e n pé m s .

The w o rd as: (p an ) m e a n s a f ar m , o r m o r e c o m m o n ly a piec e

o f ou tl in c ltiv ti w h i h i f t n itu a t e d in th e f o r est o r
y g u a o n ,
c s o e s

in the m idst of thic k gr a ss j un gle The se pam s a re l ia bl e to .

 TH E S NA K E — TH E DU C K . 93

t he r a va ges o f a ll so r ts o f a n i m a ls, an d h ave to be c a re f ully

w a tc he d . T h e pr o ve rb m ea n s th at, a ltho u gh he is a sm a ll m a n,
h e ha s m a n y thin gs t o do .

T he sn a ke .

e ats nicer siz e 0 -7

c es I

B har sape khale lej uto hh ay .

"
A m an w ho ha s on c e been bitten by a sna ke ,
i s a ra i d o f e ve ry
piec e of ro pe .

O n ce b itten tw ic e shy .

A lso c f . a B iha r proverb gi ven b y C h r istian

D u dhhe deha l m a t/1a phu h p ihi ( ) n .

O n e sc alded b y (h o t) m ilk, drin k s ( c o ld) b u tter m ilk

eve n a f ter b lo w i n g in to it .

”
278 .
T he P u thi , K /l a l iho n a, R b, and B a r ali fis hes .

6 ) w ith I
‘

n ew 1 $
sf n i,
sl fi nals cs
.

O c ha ra r puth i khalihan a n ila ga r ro

, , , , b arali .

Near us w e ha ve the pu t hi an d khaliha n a

The i
r), a n d ba rall a re f ar awa
y .

Th e m ea n in g is tha t it is b etter to c at c h th e puthi an d kha li

ha n a w h ic h ar e sm a ll fish n ear a t h an d than to thin k a bo u t the

r e an d th e bo r é li ( g
l ar e an d w ell fl a vo u r ed fish) w h ic h a re f ar

aw a y .

The pro ve rb is m ea n t to illu strate the sa y in g — “

A b ird in the
”
han d is w o r th tw o in the b u sh .

T he duc k .

fe e l eras ci n
‘

e msw e a I

Kin d ha(n ) ha r tho (n ) tla ike m an gah .

T he duc k t hat has been bo ugh t, ha s flesh on it right up to the beak .

94 so me a ssa mnsn r n ovn n ns .

’
Th is m ean s th at in th e b u y e r s esti m a tion , su c h a duc k ha s .

A s a m a tter of f a c t, th e du c k tha t i s b ou ght in the m a r ket, is

of ten l ean a n d skin n y .

T he tiger a nd the deer

vie w a re (auras vie;

W? 0 5mm fires are I

515
K ala ro kal bipar it ké l,
K a rinai ch eleke bagha r gal .

Wh at a tim e l Wha t a tim e f o r the o ppo site to h appen

T he deer is lickin g the tiger ch eek
’
s .

T he tiger a nd the tom ca t .

are at?! a r ms misf its cslsl I

s i s alas s lvs ffice

u i te ca
e lfe s u m I

B agh ch aba n elage bo n dake ch o w a,

B h al m an u h ch aba lagile ali hata lai j o w a .

Yo u n eed n o t see a tige r, se e a to m c a t,

I f yo u w ant to see gent lem en go t o the r oa d

.

This is pe rh aps a c y n ic al pr o verb I t m e a n s t h a t a t om c a t i s

.

u i te e n o u gh to f r igh ten yo u , w h o a r e talk in g a b o u t e x pe ri e n c e s

q
w ith tiger s . T h e a llu sio n t o E l ?!
alas: (bhal m an a h) b e in g see n o n

th e r o ad, is iro n ic al .

T he tige r .

lifiw alg al ,
i
la Qi
'

r
te fli fi e h?! firsi i s ti f f s -

B hé l khatilo b agh a k,

P a hu m ar i an i dilo (n) aga t .

I have ser ved the t iger w ell ,

B y killin g a deer and pla c ing it in f ron t

96 so M n A SS A M E SE P n o vn nn s .

T he ant .

f
e s se als s ari “ i t s ? star ,

cr u
el use e are? a re I

G i pa r uw ar a la p b a ra shu n ei ban ,
ur

S o la m uk h a r e c har e i tan .

T o the an t a f ew ra in dro ps IS a flo o d,
To the to ot hless m ou th o n e sla p even is h a r d to bear .

saf e aw ( gur i pa ruw é

) is a S
pec i es of tin y an t . I n the
o r igin a l A ssam ese, f or WWI “ i ts? ( a lap ba r ashun ei ) r ea d

T he w ea ve r bi r d .

531? C? as fire a s « dealt 6156 are I

Charai he sar u kintu la y bo lo ng gac hhat b ah .

The bird in deed is a sm a ll . o n e, but i t bu ilds it s n est in t he lo f ty hol e ng .

The b ir d r ef er r ed to is th e little w ea ver b ird, w hic h b u ilds

its ha n gin g n e st on th e h igh e st b r a n c h es of tal l tr ee s . The
ho lo ng D
( p i l
. o su s) is a fin e tr ee, a n d gro w s w ith a lo n g
c o n sider ab le height Th e “
str aigh t ste m to a . ho long su ppl ies

m an y of th e tea b ox e s of A ssam .

T he c hi ta l .

a mas s fist s f at ten set I

Dekho tei ch ita l pithit e ka (n) it .

O bvio
usly, a
f
‘ c hita l fish it ha s tho rn s on its bac k .

T he c hita l fish is ver y b on y . O n ly the lo w er

wh chi is ca lled ca rats is fit to eat . The b ac k or u p er
p
w hic h is f ull o f bon es is c alled an I

The monkey .

w as aw
nc u ss I
B aya se t b andaro sonda r .

The m onkey even look s beautif ul w h en it is f ull gro w n s

.

c orrupted f orm of
“
33 W (beautif ul) .
 TH E S QU IR R E L— H O RS E S . 97

T he squir r el .

akn! e tcatn
i m3 ,

WN W f i ner a im w ? e : in

I arir té m ol ker ketu w ai kh ai

é ,

A m ak dile j ano a thale j ai

‘

T he squirrel iseatin g t he betelnu t in the ga r den,

W ill it b e th ro w n a w ay if given to us ?

I f the b eteln u t w a s given to us it w o uld n o t h ave b een

n o w it is ea ten b y a sq u irr el .

T he c hengeli .

{15 3
1 firs t; user s? I

B urar h atat c hen geli .

In the h an d of t he old m an is the c hengeli .

T he c hen ga li is a kin d of sm a l l fish f o u n d in bile .

sk in o f th e c henga li fish is ve r y slipper y . It is ver y diffic ul t

to c a tc h it, and if o n c e c au ht it slips o u t o f th e h an d, b ut w hen
g
it is c au gh t by an o ld m an it c a n n o t e sc ape, b ec au se the h an ds o f
an old m an a r e r o u gh .

H or ses .

G in e ta ca m? 3 1 at? f i t?
Teenca m? Task s arr I
t i l bh al gh or ai n a pai gha(n h
) ,
B a tu w a g h o r ai bic hb are m ah .

Wh ilst good h or ses a re n ot gettin g gr ass,

Th e in f erior o n es a re lo o kin g f o r m ah
(pulse ) .

Wm (ba ta w d) is a term w hic h is a pplied to h or ses u su a lly .

An in f er ior
i

”
c ou n tr is
“
y ta t o f ten called ba i uw ai gho r ci
a .
”
M ala, th e pu lse of t he c ou n tr y w h ic h is o f ten u sed
, f or f e edi n g
c a ttle .
93 so m e A SSA M E S E en ovn n ns .

T /te (Ca mel .

am . h as fi rm as
M a har sin gat k a (n ) kila da(n ) r

O n the horn of the buff alo is the sno u t o f the kakila fish

The “
Ica lcila ( eso x c au c i
fi
la) is a lon g thin fi sh w ith a

sn out, w hic h m a kes it lo ok very pec ul ia r .

T he ga me c oo/c .

ass 35
$ 3 1 so m
e WI I

R an ar kuku ra r a nate m are.

A game -
c ock: dies in . bat tle .

T he pra c tic e o f c oc k fightin glpr eva ils a ll o ver A s sam a m o n gst

-

th ose w ho k e ep f o w ls The tea ga rden c o olies are very f o n d o f

.
-
‘

it, an d o f te n b ring c o c k s with

.
them f rom lon g di stan c es f or the
.

u
p p
r ese .

E lep ha n ts and ho r ses .

We isf fii l We 6
‘

e
fle ts fiS fi al n ew .

Cr ista : f s fi mt h e I

R a j é k c hinibadan at,
‘

B at ik c hin iba thanat ,

G ho rak c hin ibé kanat ’

.

Yo u b e able to re c ogn ise a kin g by hi s hberalif y,

A n elep h a nt w b :n it is in the M ain,
A nd a horse by its ears .

aln =
m
i st he place w here ele han ts
p ,
x
a re kept at n ight
al so c alled 3 1 b A sam ese
1 y s .
1 00 so me A SSAMESE P R OVE R B S .

B oth sdl an d si ngi fish a re u n c lean to H in dus . This pr o verb

”
is an in stanc e of th e po t c alli n g the ke ttle blac k , a lso , c f , .

proverb No 60 . .

T iger s a n d sn a kes .

aim at? ai m a ? air are are ,

n

at! is as a rcs fie s ets a re I

“

S é pe khzi i b aghe kh ai j adi m are j ale ,

J ar 31 h aba lage n ij ka rm a r ph ale .

Whatever h a ppens to an y m a n, w het her he is bitten

by a sn a ke
or devo ured by a t iger o r dro w n ed, i s t he r esult o f his o w n a c tio n

Dogs .

s
as fi fi si h e, fie
s at ceIs n i fi fi mat? I

K a hurak n idib a th ai la r d é hho w alik n idiba lai

, .

t give a do
.

Don g a plac e a n d do n ot give i dulgen c e to ch ildren

’
n .

The dog b ein g an u n c lean a n im a l , m u st n ot b e a llo w ed a n y

w h ere w h ere th er e i s a possib ility o f its defilin g a n y o f th e c o o k
in g or eatin g o r drin king vesse ls .

D ogs .

5
2515
2 ms is e ta em?! 1?
“ e

K ukure j an e ki tam tulsi

What does a dog kn o w o f the value o f c o ppe r v ssels o r o f e the l ulai

When a H in du w o r ships his g o d, h e dedica tes to him leaves o f
”
in lsi in a co
p per ve ssel . Th e tu lsi is th e c mum sa n c
”
tum , or holy b a sil .

f
c . B—
i ha r pr o ve r b Ca n a m o n ke y ap pre c ia te gin ger P
al so T ele gu pro verb “
Wha t c a n a pig do w ith a rose b ottle
‘ ”
 m vnn srr r o r O P INIO NS . 1 01
.

C la s s V “ .

A D DI TI O N A L P RO VE RBS .

a s s ins e s as ,

Q w'as er a ar e I

Ja i kala t b h ai n ai ,

r it
M yu kalat osa dh n ai .

Durin g a tim e of pr o sperity th er e is n o f ear, but a t the

t im e of dea t h t here is no m edic in e .

W G— J a i kdla t, liter a lly at the tim e o f vic to r y .

s mi t e stats n e rv
e
f ew,

ants m W e di s I
are

A b o (u ) te n ang ta j ac te shuin
a ,

L agat j aba pap a r u pu in .

We arrive ( in this w o rld n aked an d w e leave it em pty ,

O ur vic e o r virt ue a cc om pany u s .

13 is a c orr u ptio n of z er o is a c o r ruptio n

” 3!
.

vir tu e .

crisis as , s ee{ an

Do sat dan da , gun at

puj ai .

P un ish ment f o r a no f f en c e, r ew a rd f o r m erit .

Diversity of op ini ons .

a t?“ sfifi m 1 as I

Nan a R ish ir h a s m a t .

Difieren t rishis have diff er en t opinions .

M i t dic t d b P a r asa r a n d P arasar

e
g, . ann . s c o n r a e y
valka, a n d so o n Q u o l h o
.m in es to t s en te nt i a .
102 so u s A ssa mese m m .

A dva n tage o f se lf -
help .

s
ha f ts w e re a aste rs I
S é (n ) ta r sa(n )tar bausir bale,
Sé (n ) t a riba ne j an j a rasatale
a .

S w im , sw im w it h the help o f yo ur ( own ) a rm s,

c an t sm m go to
If you
’
R a sé tal .

sfi fitli terally the u pper t i f the ar m . sale s is, ac co rd

po r o n o

in g to the P adm a P u ri n a , the six th h ell w here the Daityas an d

Danavas dw ell .

D isa bili ty of w ea kn ess .

m m( We ife m ats
(2 r

K horar kh oj e pa ti a pa radh .

A la m e m an c o m m it s an off en c e a t every ste p.

”
View Fe a n?! af fixe s cater 7
S hé m uke ki j an e m an ikar m ol

Wh a t do es a sn ai l kno w of the va lue of pea rls

M ight is r ig ht .

at : nth e ta an? I
J ar lath i tar m i ti .

H e w ho c an w ield the lathip the la nd belongs to him .

WK t?
? e i ~
W WW I
A ti ibhakti c horar t laks han
'

O bsequiousness is th e sign o f th ief ;

i
a
‘

This proverb m ay be a ptly applied w hen c ourti0 rs3 are

' “

o ver
'
‘
u

servile .
1 04 so m e AS S AME S E r n ovn n n s.

A t h ief c a n n eve rgi ve u p the h abit o f stea li n g,

A h a re does not lea ve it s f o rm ,

A Dom ho w ever w ell to do he m ay be

,
- -
,

Neverth eless ha s his ho use on the river bank .

B a llo c hs .

it
v ae 5
1? as ? are ,

catt le 23 currents W t

A chh e ga r u n abai ha,

H o w at kai n o ho w ai bh al .

Th ere is a b ullo ck bu t it does not plough ,

No bu llo ck a t all is better t han such a b ulloc k .

Ditk
’
s pro ve rb s .

K i n dn ess .

s tars me , a m .a s n

A padar m e , t ha n bh at .

A kin dly w ord in adve rsity, c ooked ric e in a tim e of

f a m in e a re a cc eptable) .

D esti ny .

I
s rael e ar
l was this.
3 13 6 W e 757“ f afif I
A la c hha ka th a n ah ai siddhi,
B atat achh e ka n a biddhi .

Noth ing c an be a ccom plish ed by m ere proposal ,

B ec ause ) blind f at e ( sta nds in ) the w ay.

Wa n t of mea ns .

at : at? the s t! at? W: I

M r nai dhé n té r nai m an :
H e w ho has not pa ddy is not respec ted.
 WA NT or M E A NS — TH E c a sr on ort r nh n r .

Wa n t of mea ns .

“ii at? fl m is ts mi
'

I
"9 “
M r né i ga ru si sab atka i earth t

He w ho has no t c attle is the sm allest o f a ll .

f
’
B li n d to o n e s ow n a u l ts
“

w l flah 13: ( W t,
r 3
c

sta rlets stfi 61 t I

A pon é r m ukh b eké ,

Dapon ak ché ri lathi .

H is ow n f ace i s ugly,

B ut he k ic ks the m irror f ou r tim es .

m afi a
—
S a n skrit Wit l ookin g glass
r -
.

vessels so un d the lo udest .

fi n ali fi mat m
‘
s o

cfitflti fi m? at! l
‘

B is néikiya sapa r
P ho (n ) pé uriei si r .

The sn ake is n ot
po i so nous,

It o n ly hisse s .

This applies c as eo f a m an Who ta lks m u c h

does little .

T he c a sto r oi l p la n t the ba ng
/a n w here ther e ar e tr ees
“

no .

fif w l ( We m l? « as l
a

Naikiya de sa t erai b ar ga c hh .

In a treeless c ountry the c a sto r oil pla n t is a banyan .

M l tie. the c astor oil pla n t P al m a c hr isti Th e proverb

is der ived f rom the S an skrit sloka ai m dam " «fi rs t?!

assist s
-

I
1 06 SOM E As sa mn sn P n ovn n n s .

Un dutif ulness to pa r en ts .

s
a
me R e fi t? ! W ,

ar m ar
se: awl e m
J iyan te n aka r le i daya,
M a rile ki ka riba G an gs G aya

H e w as kin d to his pa ren ts in th eir lif e t im e,

n ot

Will he perf orm their sraddha s at the G auges and at G aye .

af ter th eir death

P erf ec ti on an i mpo ssibili ty ;

6 16 t T 5W t ti ts at?
i t? ! fits al
,

B h at h ale put n é i put hale b h at n ai

,
.

O n e has f oo d e n ough b ut n o ch ildren an oth er ha s ,

children but no f o od
.

A dvi c e r ega r di ng p a ddy c ul ti va tio n .

s m 7 t a saW e e cu ant
,

3 35
as 1 } at i s fi rst cam i t? I
S n krisi n a sta hai m aj e la le b at ,

S u tiri n a st a ha i nit a n b ehé i hat .

G ood c ultiva tion is destroye d if th e re is p a at h t h ro ugh t he m idst,

A goo d w o m an is dest royed if she c o n tinually trades at t he hdl .

A n other of Dak yin gs

’
s sa .

Two c r i ti c a l p er i o ds .

{ th i s at, Rn
ei s fi l
fl‘

M un i na r ran , t irir biya n .

What war is to m an, child birth is to w om a n .

B o th w a r a n d c hild b ir th are da n ge ro us . No kn o w s

Whether one o r the oth er w ill n ot

p r o ve f ata l .
1 08 so mn A ssa me se i n o vnnn s .

On a g od
o pat h w al k f a r,
Do no t le i ve it,
M a rry a y o un
g girl,
Do n ot m a rry a w ido w .

M a n go es a n d
j ac k f r ui t .

su m ate fi lm «i s 1

Am b an k athale dh an .

W hen th ere are m ango es th ere are floo ds ,

Wh en there a re j ac k f r uit there is paddy .

This is Dak
’
o n e of h i A n o ther b elief
'

s ro
p p ec es .

ther e is mu c h m an go blo ssom there w ill b e c h oler a .

D i sapp oi n tm en t .

e re l mac ii uit -

« s

e nm
ae l t h i n at?

Tat o n ahilo kh ai,

E kheto paba lai n ai .

I c am e w ithout t a king a n yt h in g to eat th ere ,

b ut h ere th er e is n o th in g to

S i li kha .

(are all ? 66 fisfi fi fiifl t

fie s f s ( slat Ra f a e l
ae

B h at k h ai u thi tin i sh ilikh a ,

K i ka rih a r og t iliké .

If you t ak e th ree shili /rh d f ru its a f ter a m eal, no disea se c an a tta c k you .

flf fi fil t he tr ee an d its f r u it, T er m in a lia c i tr en a

( G a m ble
) . The A ssa m e se e at the f ru it of this tr ee, b ec au se of its
l ax ative pr o per tie s . T he re is a S a n sk rit pro ve rb
"
{ fie i t “ Ci l i l‘
b w hic h h a s the sam e m ean in g as the
sayin g a b o ve .
 F A T A LI T Y—i WA NT
-
or T H R I F T . 1 09

We
‘

csf e sice as ,

fir e rst cam cam

Jetiyahe paba kale,

K i kariha be j ar m ele .

When the tim e o f death arr ives ,

The a dvic e o f physic ia n s is useless .

literally m ea n s an a ssem b l y .

Un c ha sti ty .

arcs s e ats an a im,

a i m2 mm ( w h
9
: 1
o

B are bhata rar n am j ane ,

B eité pair n am n e j an e .

S he know s the n am es o f her t w elve param o urs,

B ut does no t kn ow the nam e of her m a rried h usb and .

s e al, S an skrit G6 1, h u sb an d Th e w or d 3 3 211 in A ssam ese

;
applied to the bu ll also, he n c e the slan g term u se d h e re f o r
a ra m o ur.
p

M isery heaped up on m isery .

cunt! cB m first
G elat tenga diya .

T o po ur a cid on rot t en fish .

Wa nt of thr if t .

alte rs as: fish sl

ime fi sh I

H atiye kh ai j im an ladeo sim an .

T he eleph ant voids as m uch as it eats.

a m an s in c ome inc reases the more he spen ds

’
T he mor e .
1 10 SOM E A S S A M E S E r a c vn n n s .

A bir d i n the ha n d i s w o r th tw o i n the

m int! ctl nflfi cat ech is m? ”an d n

K o lar to eri pet ar to a l i ash a kar zi .

H O pin g f o r hing; still: in

som et
“

the w o m b,

While ab a n do nin g th a t w h ich is in the la p .

C la s s V l l l .

D A K S A G R I CU L T U R A L S A YI N G S
’
.

w it s a n Fies i ts
r

01 ? fi sh! fi sh are l

A ge ka l pic hhe been),

S ei giri r k im an sé h .

P la n ta in s in f ron t an d b am boo s beh ind,

H o w indepe ndent t hat ho use h older
-
is .

lite rally m ean s c o ur age .

were meta wa s cute ,

Ce ce c m was a n? I
”

E hé t em uthan kala r pot,

Teh e ‘
ch aba ha ar go t .

If you plan t the pla ntain o ne c ubit a n d o ne m a t/z a n deep ,

Th en yo u w ill see ho w large the lan tain w ill becom e

p .

3
1 a is a m ea sur e of length f rom the elbow to the m iddle
j oint cf the little finger .
1 12 so m e a ssa mn sn P R O V E R B S .

ai fi m ( i f ? se t “ ,

t
han e fi ai fi ai am

K rishi r é khib é ber i j atane ,

S é phal krishi m an iba m a ne .

Take c a re t o f e n c e your c ultiva tio n ,

Th en you m ay he su re o f it s succ ess .

f?
s ! vii ? ”c ss term,

cs: ca me cuts an ai ml
K rishi ka riba o char bh age,

Dake bo le m o r m ane lage .

The n earer c ultiva tion is to the house

T he better, a cc o rding to Da k .

as a eal r 9
mm ar
e,

w h en fir $211 m il: I
G ha n sar iya h pata l m ah,
A ha ra n di Tub a ka pa h .

S o w m u sta rd th ic k an d plu se th in ,

P la c e a co vering o ve r the c otto n plant .

WW“ is a S an skrit w or d m ean in g c o ver in g

.

n ar y A ssa m ese w o rd f or a c o ve rin g o f a pla n t is Glass

writ s r
s i e s sl f sm nif fl ,

a cai z r am? a m at?!

Alain K a n ré khiba peni,

j
J sh ekai R a ai rakhe R ani .
 am ass
’
DA K S A G R I CU LT UR A L .

Keep w ater (in the field) in Ana . an d K en n,

J ust as the king ta kes car e of the queen
'

A ha -
K en c orr espo n ds to f rom the middle of S eptem b er
to the m iddle o f Novem ber .

are as t ri m was ids ,

Gi lli es caf e fi r st wt?!

S haona r kathiyan ahay dh an,

A hin ar go chh b iphal j an .

F rom seedlin gs so w n in S hr dba n paddy does no t thrive,

T ransplanting in Ash w in is f ruitless .

The m on th S r dwa n or S r dba n c orresponds to July A ugust

-
.

f ishwin c orrespo n ds to S eptemb er O c tober -

.

nice we ri ms as .

at! w aist era awn -

I

S i te tanu pa(n ) ch e gha n ,

O bh aye tam ul n adan- badan .

S even is to o f a r, five too c lose,

S ix gives good arec a nut .

In eac h c ase the distan c e is supposed to be in c ubits . arm

is W NW , th e grove o f In dra, w h ere all f ruits
a c orr uptio n o f

thought to grow abun dan tly. in c luding the f am ous p dr iidt .

fi n Cw gm:
"
"

mi he! w e win
P ubs renu pasc him e obbaya,
‘

S ci sesyar a mar ké ya .

O pen to the east and to the west shady,

That c ultivation never dies .

atfl=m i boay o
1 1 4. so me A ssame se P R O V E R B S .

cm in t 2517 1 is? ”3115763 1 ,

fit w
sfi m arms are
a

J ebe Jeisth gaila bin a nangale ,

K rishi kariba kaber bale .

I f J eth has passe d w ith out ploughing,

With w hose help w ill you cultivate

( scar -
sf?! Este r - 5
161 I F ro m the u se o f th ese
w ould appear that Dak w as a B arpeta m a n .

e m stfi , writ es sits,

N W a z u fil
’
m ”if ?
B h ada r chari Ah ina r ch an ,

M ah bab aj im é n pari .

I n the la st f o ur days o f B hadr a an d the first

S ow pulse a s m uch a s yo u c a n .

This is a w ell kn ow n proverb .

m l ( M TG i ts em
”

as Wif e a re I
A m é purn im é t b ay hal,

Tar dukh sarb at i kal.

H e w ho ploughs
’

the day of the f ull m oo n , or o fA mdba sya ,

’
on ,

is al w ays in distress
.

“M 3 91 is th e da y o f the c o n j u n c tio n o f t he su n an d m o on ,
art ic u la rly also the fif teen th day in the sec o n d halves o f the
p
m on th s S r dva n an d B hadr a h
T e“is the day o f the f ull m oon
. .

B esides W 3 9 1 an d area , there are the f ollow in g days on

whic h A ssam ese H in dus c ann o t plo ughe e e twfi (the eleven th day
‘

o f the lu n ar half of the m o n th) manic (the last day of the

W
m on th) ; W ?! (th e f ou r day s in A sar h w hen the earth is .

supposed to be u n c lean .
up some a ssame sn P n ovn n n s.

am newa rm 9 5
2 ,

was ! a?
""
s tar castes

G ao ( u ) r balad,oc ha ra r bhui (n ) ,
T ak , hé r e j an an ta
ne c h hu i .

A w ise m an purch a ses bullo ck f ro m his o w n neighbour “

a ,

ho > d and la nd w h ich lies n ear .

C la s s IX .

M IS CE LLA NE O US .

cs m m wi fe?! ff
fif ism s m ,

( mm w «is af fi r
m z eta ,

( s cam as
? sfi s iffi fi rst t u , t
cs t m f awn sfir « a as? 9 113 I

T ebese m anik j a di endhar at j ale ,

Teb ese ta r u j a di hé lip a re

ph a e
’
,

T eb ese sat i j a di Sw am i san

ge j ai,
T ebese bidya j a di dha n ( lha rm a
p ai .

T h at pea rl is a real pea rl w h ic h spa rkles by n igh t,

T ha t t ree is a real tree w h ich ben ds do w n w ith the w e ight
‘

of its f ruit,

T h at S a tei s a r ea l S a tz} w ho a c o m pa n ies c her lord,

-

That lc a rnin g is
.
l
. r ea l learnin g w h ich b ri ngs r ic hes a nd

(m armist he arc h a icf o rm o f ( c l a i m o r ca s t I

The r ef ere n c e
to th e S c h} ac c om pan yi n g h er l ord is sign ific an t o f the pra c tic e .

of im m ola tin g w ido w s th at ex isted th r o u gh o u t In dia b ef ore its

ab i
o l it
on yb L o rd Willi a m B en tin c k in D e c e m b er 1 829 A D .

35
8 .

( c c? fi t sfir 1 M 2IN F ! WWI,

« mm ass stir a ll? aim
T eb e j a sbi j adi j a sh b akha me é ne ,
’

Tebese g rih asth a j adi ziti kh ei dhdn e .

 M I S CE LIJA NE O U S
'

. 11 7

He is a f a m ous m an if his pra ises are sun g by o th ers,

H e is a real h ouse h o lder w ho ha s su fii c it nt pa ddy t o eat
- fl .

m f
e awn n i e fi m i 5 110
t- 3
523 ,

fe as t fiss t 9
"
s a t? 1
25
,

‘
ie s
car f a st ?! se was tna,
se n

calm fi wa aim w as a n n

L i ra r n ishpha l j a di agat achh e n ai,

n zi i
’
Tirir n is hph a l patit p ;
a i
K h et ir n shi p h a l pa th ara t n a ha
y dh an ,

G oc hharar n ishphal b akim e n a ka re ké n .

R un n in g is use e ss
l
if ther e is a river in f ro nt,
A w o m a n is u sele ss w ho ha s no hu sba nd in '
her b ed,
C ult iva t io n is u seless if pa ddy does n ot gro w in t he field,
A la w suit is useless if the J udge does no t listen .

i ts s »
? f w e site ,

new fi s r t r
ite s ans l
-

P ita pu tr e j adi kan da l bé j e ,

P e t rak da n di ba pan dit r aj e .

If there b e a qu a rrel betw een f a th e r

T he pa n di ta h o uld pun ish the so n
s .

are: b sra e m ,

W : fists 51511 ,

was wa s nf hs r
‘
W5 ,

am a rts { 115l
as 5

M are u ruli -

p nga,
u

M ar e paduli sun ga,

-

M a re a la
p pé n ir m é c hh,
M a re na dir kular
g a chh .

The vagr ant, the m an w ho visits o th ers c onstantl in

y, a little
water, the t ree o n the river ban k a r e likel to die
, y .
1 18 SO M E a ssm nsn P n ovna n s .

m e i ll! vet
—
usesf,
'

crfilsl am { a

S a m dan ta j ar pat o th
al,

Té ik dekhib ai da ndar m ul .

A w om an w it h th in lips an d sm all teet h ,

Is the ro o t o f a q u arr el .

fir af fix eti? w e a m mi nimu m
, wlis e n
s,

s tar i
f ? “ ms v i a m ks fi rsts a:

J i j a ni n ari n ubu e nya

jy, sw é m ir ne j an e a b hipré
y,
B h al bulile ka r e khan g tair l ,
a
ga t nim ile ran g.

S he w ho do es n o t a pprec iate j u stic e ,

she u ho
does n o t kn o w
the m in d o f he r h u sb a nd,

S he w ho gets a ngry if yo u spea k to her gently, is n ot plea san t

c o m pan y .
U NIV E R S IT Y O F C A L IF O RNIA LIB R A R Y ,

B E R K E LE Y
T H I S B O O K I S DU E O N TH E LA S T DA TE
S TA M P E D B E L O W
B o o k s n o t r etu r n e d o n ti m e a r e su b ec t
j fin e o f
to a
m
50 c p er vo lu e a f te r th e thir d d a y o ver du e, in c r ea sin g
m
to $1 0 0 p er vo lu e a f te r th e S ix th da y B o o ks n o t in
m m
.

de a n d m a y b e r en e w e d i f a pp li c a ti o n is a de b ef o re
ex p i r a ti o n o f l o a n p e r i o d
.

DEC 1 3 1927

5o ur 7 f 2 7