The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
PROVERBS IN JAMICA
How. Negroes Express Well
Known Sentiments.
IN PROVINCIAL MANNER
Their Ideas of Life Good Deal
Like Ours.

The Jamaica negroes have a lingo Of
their own They laconicany express
express thoughts Of wisdom which would
do credit to King Solomon 1t is posi-
BILE that their aptitude for making max
inns has been inherited from the Span
iards who occupied the island until the
middle of the seventeenth century. Their
sayings cannot be compared in literary
merit with the beautiful proverbs of the
Spaniards. but they are filed with as
deep philosophy, and, added TO this. there
appears therein keen sense of humor,
something quite absent in the lingo OF
our American darkies.
Out of this mixture of philosophy and
humor have come many quaint sayings
which are as familiar in Jamaica as our
OWN Some of them are differently word
ed versions of familiar proverbs: still
others express most aptly that which We
have often thought in many words. but
which have been condensed. Have you
not heard some one say, oh, 1 don't
mind her paying me visit. but i would
not have her live with me for the
world?" The Jamaica negro sums this
UP thus: Come see me is one ting
0Eing), come live with me is quite an
other"
When you have put yourself out to do a
kindness and that kindness has been en-
tirely unappreeiated, how well does this
apply: DE good you do, de tankey
thanks )you get" When you hear a
man call another all sorts of names be-
hind his back, but in his presence change
Ir,Ia h1@ inv
polite and civil. the proverb applied by
the negro is. Behind dog, it is dog: be-
fore dog, It is Mr.. Dog
When they desire very much to be
something and seek a reason, however,
trivial, therefore, they say, when Toto
want to go TO Rio Manus, little wind come
blow him there" "Everey John Crow
tink (thinlO him pickaniny white needs
no explanation. To-day for you, tomor-
row for me- takes the place of our
Every dog has his day" How trite IS
the saying, "Ceitful (deceitfuD like the
star apple leaf" the said leaf being dou-
BILE faced, silver on one side. dull green
on the other mo call alligator long
mout (mouth) till you pass him by
would teach US to be beware of calling
others harsh names until out OF their
power.
other proverbs that need no explanation
are as follows:
When cockroach give dance him no in
vite FOWL" Naturally, for the fowl would
eat him
"Maugre poor plantain better than
none at all is very like our half loaf
is better than none
"ouattie (three cents buy trouble hun
dred pounds can't pay for"
shoes alone know If stocking got hole"
Before dog go wiGout him supper him
eat cockroach.'
"Parson christen him own pickaninny
first"
'Ebry day is fishing day, but ebry day
no fer catch fish"
Hog run for him life; dog run for him
character"
Hungry belly an belly full no travel
same pass"
'Ebery victuaI fer eat. but cherry story
no fer talk
IF snake bite you. you see lizard. you
run
Good friend better dan money wide
pocket"
Safely safely catch monkey"
"Nannygoat neber scratch him back till
him see wall
"One tief no Ike see noder tief carry
long bag
When belly full, man break pot"
"Cusscuss (curses) neber break hole in
your head
Greedy. greedy choke puppy"
'Buckra (white nam work neber done.
Little crab hole spoil big race horse.
New York Herald