, 1857-09-04
Proverbs Of The Tartars Of the Crimea

"a NA"'NlNl1 VIM nus NlSllGN
Moscow, gives an interesting account of 1
collection Of manuscripts relating to til,
Crimca, which are preserved in that cit,
in the Library belonging to the Holy Sy
nod. One Of these manuscripts, in partic
ular, he deems especially worthy Of atten
ton. 1t is written by one Patriarch Pc
trowitsch Boldyrew, and is neither more
or less than an account Of q tour in the
Chersonese, with such descriptions of the
country, the people, their customs, and
appearance, as is perfectly common in oul
tourist literature; but this however it gives
which is not common-a long list of prov.
cribs and apothegms, collected by the au-
thor during his residence among the Tar.
tars Of the Crimea The name Tartar he
applies indiscrminatcly to all the dwellers
on the peninsula, although it appears that
a distinction ought to be made between the
im-Iartars and the Nogia-T -TartarS, who
are very different from each other, although
both dwelling together in the same par, Of
the country.
The short pithy sayings of a people, con-
tanning, as they always do, some practical
hint, mark more decidedly than aught be-
side the bent Of that peoples mind and the
degree Of moral as well as mental culture 10
which it has attained. Proverbs are more
significant in this respect than even songs;
for these are called forth on the spur of the
moment, and accord with the temporary
emotions inspired by some exciting event;
and may, therefore, bear an impress of no
bleness which the nation generally may
perhaps be very far from possessing. a
proverb, however, is conceived in no mo-
ment Of excitement or eXaltation, but in a
calm state of mind, when the understanding
only is appealed to. Being of the general
application, too, not intended merely for
this decennium or that popular cause, it is
that any save those which have
taken firm root in the minds Of the people
can exist at all. Like the simple medicin-
al remedies in use ameng the peasantry,
their efficiency, as well as facility Of appli-
cation, prevent them from ever being for
gotten.
The following have been CLEANED from
the larger collection:
But yesterday, and thou attest the water
meloH5 Do day, eating melons, thou hast
already forgotten the watormelon's taste.
He who will pass the ford, must not
mind wadng.
What cares the sick man for mares
milk? What cares he who is parched for
5osa (beer made Of millet,) when he is
drinking at the spring?
Allah allows the crop to fail of him who
leaves nothing for the birds to glcan.
Lamb, go not to the VOLTS dwelling;
cock, go not to the abode Of the kite.
The house of the sultan lives in the
mouth of him who has cast but glance at
Stamboul. Desirest thou the hurricane?
then praise the calm.
He who has suffered shipwreck, speaks
no longer of the beauty of the sea. 100
We first fell the plaintain, and then
praise its shade.
Bald though the hawk be, he yet puff
leth himself up.
The lass with the black locks lost the
comb; the old woman with bald head
found it. 49,.
When you have no pole to knock down
the peach from the tree, you say; ut is
sour" r
Every fir is not a cedar, but each thinks
itself one. ...,
When the poor man is made Judge it is
time for the rich to quit the community.
The neighborhood of the palm, near
which the mushroom grows, is relationship
in the eyes of the world.
One man bores into the turpentine tree
with his knife; the other draws the oil in a
stonejar.
For the first wish single camel suficeth; ;
for the second not the whole herd were
enough.
If the fish did not snap at the worm,
Allah would not let him bite the draw-net.
1t is not always lovely female face that
is covered with veil. ~
1t is dishonor TO be bent, not to bend.
Though the drone suck the jasmine, it
makes no honey.
Violets do not grow so high as nettles.
The satiated tiger worries sheep.
From the lovely maiden not even the
hurricane removes the veil; from the ugly
old crone, the genllest breeze takes the
turban of her head. 7L
We praise the turf, and do not know
how soon it will cover US. l....
Put not thy secret into the mouth Of the
Bosphorus, or it will betray it to the ears
of the Black Sea.
The block Of marble calls the sculptor
Brother
Fragrance rises from the chalice of the
trampled rose. a....-
Do not utter velvet words il thou intend
est to accomplish stony deeds.
After the Ramadan, comes the Beiram.
Burst not open the doors Of anothers
harem, if thou desirest thy own to be un-
broken.
The wave is not higher in the gulf than
in the ocean.
There is more fuss made about the
ihepta (bulrush matt of the rich man, than
about the kis (woollen carpet) Of tho poor.
When the poor man attains to the kis,
he does not know how to stretch himself
upon it.
The Grain of sand at the foot of the mole.