SOME ASSAMESE PROVERBS. If the man who treads out the paddy has soft feet, the sharp beard of the ear pierces his foot and he jumps with pain. The paddy is generally trodden out by oxen, but sometimes by men and women as well. If a person has soft feet, a.e, if a man is not accustomed to such work, the sharp beard of the paddy runs into his foot. 250. Paddy seedlings. কঠীয়া হে চুটি জেঠতে পৰা। Kathiya he chuti Jethate para. The paddy seedlings are small, but they were sown in Jeth. | The seedlings referred to are those which are required for transplanting to the “ata ” or paddy-field. The month Jeth corresponds to 15th May to 18th June, which is about the time when the “ kathaga-tala” (seedling beds) are prepared and the seed sown. 51. Ploughs. গধুলি হলে সাত হাল বাই, পুৱা হলে এ হলো নাই। Gadhuli hale sat hal bai, Pua hale e halo nai. In the evening he arranges for seven ploughs, But in the morning he has not one even. The meaning is that one who talks much performs little. It is applied to a lazy fellow who contemplates doing everything in the morning, but actually does nothing when the time comes. The Assamese never ploughs in the evening, at least not unless he can possibly help it. A. ploughman's day is generally from dawn till about i1 or 12 o'clock. After that he lets his bullocks loose, and does no more that day. Univ Calif - Digitized by Microsoft ®
