Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/190

182 however, of such importance to modern collectors of proverbs for purposes of intercomparison that I have thus described it at length for the Members of the Society.

Natives are very fond of making jokes and quips playing upon proper names. Here are some.

(1.) Persian.

Hoshnâkî râ cheh goyam? hosh ne'st. Kâr kardan go, magar ân josh ne'st. How shall I call the senseless sensible (Hoshnâkî)? You may tell him to work, but he has no spirit in him.

Play on the name Hoshnâkî, meaning sensible.

(2.). Hindî. North-west Provinces (Jânsî).

Ai mere Sartâjo, Karat nahîn kachu kâjo! Ah my grand-lady (Sartâjo) That does no work!

said of an idle consequential girl. Sartâjo (sar+tâj) means the crown of the head, grand lady.

(3.) Panjâbî. Kângrâ Hills.

Âî mere Nanhîn, Par hâkhîn te hai anhîn. My little girl (Nanhîn) has come, But her eyes are blind.

That is, very little children are not sharp: said of a stupid woman. Nanhî or Nanhîn means a very small girl, a little trot.

(4.) Panjâbî.

Saddî na bulâî, Bhâbo phulke belan âî. asked or not the girl came to roll the chupâtis.

Said of one who comes into a room on any pretext.

(5.) Urdu.

Khamdâr chîz fasâd kî jhar hai. Crooked things are the root of all evil.