Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/178

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
172
ISLAM, TURKEY AND ARMENIA.

as dust may be turned to gold;" "may Allah give you a dark-eyed sweetheart;" "may you enjoy the benefit of your child;" "may your enemies be blinded," etc.

4. Some Turkish Riddles, Proverbs and Love Songs. "When I go it goes galloping behind me." (Shadow.)

"A well and water in it, and a snake in the water with a pearl in its mouth." (A lamp.)

"It can jump down the mountain without hurt, still it cannot step in a stream." (Paper.)

"If you tie, it goes; if you let it loose, it stops." (Shoes.)

"It is woman that builds or ruins a house."

"The girl makes a woman like her mother."

"He begs at the door of St. Sophia, and gives alms at Sultan Ahmed." -(Two mosques that are very near each other in Constantinople.)

"When you ask a lazy man to work he will preach you a long sermon."

"Two captains sink the ship."

"Little bread, peaceful head." (Content and peace.)

"Death is a black camel that kneels before every door."

"He tries (in vain) to dig a well with a needle."

"A stone rolled into the well by a fool, cannot be taken out by forty wise men."

"Know the man by his friends."

"He who eats without desire digs his grave with his teeth."

"He thinks he has created the small mountains." (Shows vanity.)