To illustrate the way in which this proverb is used I may mention that I once heard it quoted, in a country police court in Province Wellesley, by an old Malay who was asked for his defence to a certain charge. He declared it to be a second attempt on the part of his adversary to injure him, a former one having failed; and he wound up his speech with "telinga la' dapat pulas dia handak pulas tandok", (if he can't wring me by the ear he is determined to have me by the horn).
- 50. Ter-lepas deri-pada mulut buâya masok mulut harîmau.
"Freed from the mouth of the crocodile only to fall into the jaws of the tiger."
This proverb and the next suggest at once the familiar English one "Out of the frying pan into the fire."
- 51. Takut-kan hantu pelok-kan bangkei.
"From fear of the ghost, to clasp the corpse."
- 52. Jangan sangat pilih-nya takut tuan kena buku bulu.
"Do not pick and choose too nicely or you may chance to get a bamboo knot." The knot or joint of the bamboo, or of the sugarcane, is a symbol among the Malays of anything that is quite worthless and can be turned to no good account. The proverb means that a man who is very hard to please may have to put up with an inferior article in the end.
- 53. Jâras katania râga jârang.
"The creel says that the basket is coarsely plaited." "Yet," as I have heard a Malay say, "halnia jaras pun jarang juga," "the creel, too, has wide interstices," a commentary which fully explains the proverb. It corresponds closely with the familiar English proverb about the pot which called the kettle black.
- 54. Jangan kamu sangkakan kapal api besi itu pun masok guri juga.
"Do not imagine otherwise, even an iron steamer has to go into dock." A warning not to suppose that anything is so strong and solid as to be beyond the reach of injury or decay.
- 55. Janganlah tuan-tuan pikir kalau tebu itu bengkok manisan itu pun bengkok juga.
"Do not suppose, my masters, that because a sugar cane is crooked its sweet juice is equally crooked!" A good thing is none the worse for having come from a bad person; or, a repulsive exterior does not prove that there is nothing good within.
