New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-13
NOTES or 4 VISIT TO HAYTI. TX.
Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune.
JACMEL, Hayti, March Q, 1859.
A HUNT FOR HAITIAN PROVERBS.

JACMEL, Hayti, March Q, lc59.
HUNT FOR HAYTIAS PROVERBS.
The first thing that did here as coon as ! had
dined az bsthed was 10 call on the Rev. Mr.. Web
ley, the Epgih Baptist Missionary, in order to pro-
cure his list of Haytian prOyerbs, aud assistance 10
completing ibe collection
For three days have been bu.ily engaged IN do
ing so-ransackine, personally or BY friends the
memories of the old people snd the more recent
recOllections of the rising generation. My success
is regarded as equally ishug with my exer.
tiops-Mr Msdieu, the standard historian OF
Hayti, pIoDouncing my collection the most com
plete and satisfactory ever made have over
heard It quietly hnied that ." Monsieur petH btaRc
est an homne tres tLoentrique " for no man, they
SET m to think, of common mold and sound mind,
would ever undertake journey of 100 miles IN the
tropics for purpose outSoi-the-way and with no
money in il.
Well here they are--these Negro proverbs,
20 zeslously sought, 90 dearly paid for IN money,
time and sweat:
ONE HUNDRED HAYTIAN PROVERBS.
l. "When the accoma falls, every one says 1t IS
rotten wood | quoted this prOyere in my first
letter from Cape Ilaytien. The accOma is 0ne OF
the grapdest trees Of the Antilles. The proyerb is
used 20 express contempt for parasites who taw,
to great men in their day of prosperity, and speak
with contempt of them in the hour OF trial, or
when they fall.
IL. All kinds Of food good to eat, but every
word is not good TO be spoken
III " Before you cross tho rivor, don curse
the alligstors mother" The popularity Of Hay
tan oaths is that they curse not the person sworn
at but his mother Ola list of ten Oaths furnish ID
me by gentleman, seven were different forms OF
cursng somebody's mother. VIII speak Oi thls
peculiarly a2sln.
". "A snake that wishes 70 live should not
walk on the highway
V. IF you don't want feas, don't play with
dogs"
VI. "CIest wind and little rain, TIE equivalent
for our "much cry aud little WOOL
VII. "Psy with a monkey as much as you
please, but don't touch his tail -" That is said
a Hay isn. " beware of trinmg with your friends
where they are most sensitive
VIII. "He il throwing away trip TO pick up
straws." That is the Creole phrase for our pen
'ny wise aud pound foolish
N. What il not good for the sack is not good
for the bag" (Sauce for the goose, sauce for the
gandor)
y. The cat knows and the rat knows, and the
barrel of -four remains untouched II you wish
to succeed in dangerous or secret enterprise, 40
not let every one know Your plans.
NJ. "loumust play with the dog to know # he is
Lousy The more polite aud common prOyerbnl
form ofexpres.oR TINS truth is:
XII - Ii Is only The knife that knows what's
in the heart Of the yam"
XII. ITS the master Of the house who knows
how many musActpes there are IN the cabinet.
XIV. tine good God frst, and the devil after
ward
AV. The crab boasts that be is naked"
XVI. The crab has got shirt, but It has no
trowsers." That is, there is no use in possessing
superfuous things Most of the Hayt boys are
Ike unto crabs IN respect of clothing.
This pToyeIb reminds HE OF good Joke, IA
doubtedly perpetfated by Faustn the First which,
lest iorgct It, IA spite OF all rules of rhetoric
aud order, ! will here sandwich between these
popular sayings Faustin is'ued proclamation
describing aud defining the costumes 70 be worn at
Court or in the ARMY forget which-by the Va
rous orders of nobility ard grades of rank; but he
forgot to mention tToiese,s The emoarrass
mtut crested IN consequence al this oversight was
very great; for it became question whether they
were expected TO appear in their shirts; but the
important problem finally solved by every one
wearing such style Of pants alone IS pleased him
best
XVII. Don't put the cat 10 watch the lard"
XVIII. " Flies are caught with s,rup; not with
vinegar"
KIN. " Good soup may be made in az old sauce
psn."
XX. "a little hstcLct will fell great wood "
XXI. - Tie thief does not hko hs companion
to carry big purse Another proyerb says tue
same thing about the Papaloi, or native priests.
Mi. "Quckly is good; but slowly is good,
too This proveIb is Father too popular in Hsyu
for the good of the couD,ry. | was several times
confdeDlially informed that Rome VA. not built Ia
a day; .n old.ioey truth which amended by sdd-
ing" but Chicago was And | srsued-taking
TIE price OF corner lots in the two cities the key
stone Of ny srgumen.-.hat Chicago was more 10
be desired IN country, especially such country
IS Hsyti. than Rome. The Hzytians should be-
heye their friends when they tell theG that their
cid excuse for the numerous faults in their society
Government aud for the undeyel0ped condition OF
their country" Nous som ne jeune'-We are q
young peope-will no longer avail them; that
decent regard for the welfare of their race here in
America, aud wherever they are held in Slavery,
or under a social ban-as well as pstrio.ic IN.
tOnal pride, demands that they shall endeayor-
earnestly ard industrlously, 10 show, not By eX-
cuses or words, but by country highly civilized,
and BY a gigantic Commerce, that they are the
equals in every respect to the whites, whom in war
they defeated, di.graced, and drove cut Of their
island.
XXIII. "Be in lurry-but you won't make
tie daylight come"
XXlV. "Yes does not 60 up mountain" Tia.
IL, saying that You viii do 1t does not accomplish
your promise.