[135] Thomas translates cajou, by “cedar.” Acajou in French, signifies mahogany, as it does also in Louisiana Creole. There is an old song, of which the refrain is:
Chèr bijou
Dacajou,
Mo laimin vous
(“My darling mahogany jewel, I love you!”)
317. * Tout ça c’est commerce Man Lison. (Tout ça c’est affaire de Maman Lison.)
“All that’s like Mammy Lison’s doings.”[136]—[Louisiana.]
[136] Whenever a thing is badly done, this saying is used;—commerce in the Creole signifying almost the reverse of what it does in French. Who that traditional Man Lison was, I have never been able to find out.
318. Tout ça qui poté zépron pas maquignon. (Tout homme qui porte éperons n’est pas maquignon.)
“Everybody who wears spurs isn’t a jockey.” All is not gold that glitters.—[Martinique.]
319. Toutt cabinett tini maringouin. (Tout cabinet contient des maringouins.)
“Every bed-chamber has its mosquitoes in it.”—Equivalent to our own proverb: A skeleton in every closet.—[Martinique.]