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Hausa Proverbs
61

339 Da sabo'n ginna gouma yaabi. Better plaster np an old wall tlian build a new one. Make the best of what you have. 340 A yerda kaiira rana'n tiio, shinkafFa abin marmarri ne. Be content with what you have, you can't have everything. Kaiira, a very red variety of guinea corn, some- times called ibirni. Marmarri, a luxury, a thing one wants but cannot always afford. 341 Fadda'n bata kai, goiima ka yi shiru da bakinka. Bather be silent than enter into a controversy in which you will be worsted. 342 Idan gulbi ya hanna ketarre, ba ya hanna davrowa ba. The stream may prevent you from crossing, but it cannot prevent you from retracing your steps. There is a limit to every one's powers. 343 Idan magani ya ki shaowa, ba ya ki zubar rua ba. Medicine may be so nasty that it prevents your drinking it, but it can't stop your throwing it away (or it can't prevent your mixing it with water so as to be able to drink it). I can't do so and so, but I can and will do so and so. 344 ^Ivlainema'nrangaminaba shi hanna cliiniki. Because a man only wants to barter there is no reason why you should not do business with him.