[74] Allusion to the old fable about the monkey, who after putting his hand easily into the orifice of a gourd, could not withdraw it without letting go what he sought to steal from within, and so got caught. In the figurative Creole speech one who allows his passions to ruin or disgrace him is a macaque dans calebasse.
186. * Macaque dit si so croupion plimé ças pas gàdé lezautt. (Le macaque dit que si son croupion est plumé, ça ne régarde pas les autres.)
“Monkey says if his rump is bare, it’s nobody’s business.”[75]—[Louisiana.]
[75] Allusion to the callosities of the monkey. Plimé literally means “plucked;” but the Creole negroes use it to signify “bare” from any cause. A negro in rags might use the above proverb as a hint to those who wish to joke him about his personal appearance.
187. * Macaque pas jamain ka dîe ìche li laide. (Le macaque ne dit jamais que son petit est laid.)
“Monkey never says its young is ugly.”[76]—[Trinidad.]
[76] A widely-spread proverb. In Louisiana we say piti li or so piti, instead of “yche” or “iche li.” In Martinique Creole: Macaque pas janmain trouve yche li laide.
188. Macaque save qui bois li monté; li pas monté zaurangé. (Le macaque sait sur quel arbre il doit monter; il ne monte pas sur l’oranger.)
“The monkey well knows what tree to climb; he doesn’t climb an orange tree.”[77]—[Martinique.]