"The ox never finds his horns too heavy to carry."--[_Mauritius._]

347. Zamés disel dire li salé. (Le sel ne dit jamais qu'il est salé.)

"The salt never says that it is salty." True virtue never boasts.--[_Mauritius._]

348. Zaureille pas tini couv éti. (Les oreilles n'ont pas de couverture.)

"There is no covering for the ears."--[_Martinique._]

349. Zié beké brilé zié nèg. (Les yeux du blanc brûlent les yeux du nègre.)

"The white man's eyes burn the negro's eyes."[145]--[_Martinique._]

[145] _Béké_ is translated by _blanc_ in Turiault's work; but the witty author of _Les Bambous_ writes: _Nèg_ se dit pour _esclave_, et _béké_ pour maître. Therefore perhaps a more correct translation would be: "The master's eyes burn the slave's eyes." The phrase recalls a curious refrain which used to be sung by Louisiana field-hands:

_Tout, tout, pays blanc--Danié qui commandé, Danié qui commandé ça! Danié qui commandé._

["All, all the country white" (white-man's country); "Daniel has so commanded," etc.] I do not know whether the prophet Daniel is referred to.

350. Zié rouge pas boulé savann. (Les yeux rouges ne brûlent pas la savane.)

"Red eyes can't burn the savannah." A better translation might be: "Red eyes can't start a prairie-fire." The meaning is that mere anger avails nothing.[146]--[_Martinique._]

[146] In the Guyane patois, they say: "_Ça qui gadé gran boi yé kôlé pa brûlé yé_." (_Celui qui regarde les grands bois avec des yeux colères ne les brûle pas._)

351. Zouré napas ena lentérement. (Les jurons n'ont pas d'enterrement.)

"Curses don't make funerals."--[_Mauritius._]

352. Zozo paillenqui crié là-haut, coudevent vini. (Le paille-en-cul crie la-haut, le coup de vent vient.)

"When the tropic-bird screams overhead, a storm-wind is coming."--[_Mauritius._]

I.--PROVERBS IN THE CREOLE OF FRENCH GUYANA:--60, 223, 242, 244, 291, 322.

II.--IN THE CREOLE OF HAYTI:--11, 26, 47, 51, 61, 63, 77, 78, 87, 88, 96, 100, 115, 116, 117, 120, 139, 145, 153, 172, 190, 220, 225, 226, 239, 250, 277, 302.

III.--IN THE CREOLE OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA:--23, 34, 40, 57, 67, 86, 89, 90, 95, 97, 99, 107, 112, 123, 130, 134, 137, 147, 148, 157, 159, 162, 166, 171, 185, 186, 198, 203, 204, 208, 209, 228, 235, 241, 248, 251, 253, 264, 266, 268, 271, 282, 286, 295, 303, 305, 308, 310, 317, 321, 323, 343.