54 SOME ASSAMESE PROVERBS. 164. Kalf a loaf is better them no bread, Eko nohow^tkai kana momaio bhal. A blind uncle is better than no uncle. Here '^^' is used to signify a blind person, its real meaning' being one-eyed. 165. A sound piece of advice. Pha(n)kdema chdi lurlba khari, Tare kdnmari tare jari. When you gather firewood look out for the phanMema. So that you can find your stick for carrying th3 bundle of faggots on, as well as the fastening out of it The phanMema is a tree the bark of which is useful for fastenings and which is highly combustible, as it contains much oil; hence the proverb. The branches also are straight and light* and therefore handy for use as kdnrndris ( poles for carrying burdens). Class IIL PROVERBS RELATING TO PECULIARITIES OF CERTAIN CASTES AND CLASSES. 166. Ahoms. c^t^t^ ^t^fH^ ^f^c^l c^^ '^1 c>i^ » Ahomar chaklang llindur bei, Tomar pdtalit parichho jei kard sei. For the Ahoms the "chaklang" and for the Hindus the " bei, Deal with me as you like, now that I am in your grip. These lines are meant to express the feelings of a bride after marriage.
