142. Gens qui ka ba ous conseî gagnen chouval gouous-boudin nans lhouvênaïe, nans carême pas ka rider ous nouri li. (Les gens qui nous donnent conseil d’acheter un cheval à gros-ventre pendant l’hivernage, ne veulent point vous aider à le nourrir pendant le carême.)
“Folks who advise you to buy a big-bellied horse in a rainy season (when grass is plenty), won’t help you to feed him in the dry season when grass is scarce.”[55]—[Trinidad.]
[55] This is J. J. Thomas’ translation, as given in his “Theory and Practice of Creole Grammar.” Lhouvênaïe is a word which does not exist in our Louisiana patois. Does it come from the Spanish llover—“to rain”? or is it only a Creole form of the French hivernage? Carême, of course means Lent; whether the dry season in Trinidad is concomitant with the Lenten epoch, or whether the Creoles of the Island use the word to signify any season of scarcity, I am unable to decide.
143. Gouïe passé difil sivré. (Où l’aiguille passe, le fil suivra.)
“Where the needle passes thread will follow.”[56]—[Mauritius.]
[56] When a strong man has opened the way, feebler folks may safely follow.
144. Graisse pas tini sentiment. (La graisse n’a pas de sentiment.)
“Fat has no feeling.”[57]—[Trinidad.]
[57] There may be some physiological truth in this proverb as applied to the inhabitants of the Antilles, where stoutness is the exception. Generally speaking phlegmatic persons are inclined to fleshiness.
145. Haillons mié passé tout nu. (Les haillons sont mieux que de rester tout nu.)