"He went to school a kid, and came back a sheep."[67]--[_Martinique._]

[67] The allusion to the overgrown and shy schoolboy, who has lost the mischievous playfulness of his childhood, is easily recognizable. Creole planters of the Antilles generally sent their sons to Europe to be educated.

176. Li fine vendé so coçon. (Il a vendu son cochon.)

"He has sold his pig."[68]--[_Mauritius._]

[68] Said of one who unexpectedly disburses a considerable sum, or who spends more money than his visible resources admit of.

177. Li laçasse zozos pariaca. (Il chasse aux oiseaux à paliaca.)

"He's hunting paliaca-birds."[69]--[_Mauritius._]

[69] _Paliaca_ is the Mauritian term for the brightly-colored kerchief there worn by all young negresses in lieu of hats or bonnets, like the old time Louisiana _tiyon_. "He is hunting for paliaca-birds" therefore means, "He is running after the colored girls."

178. Li manque lagale pour gratté. (Il [ne] manque [que] de gale pour se gratter. [Lit. In good French: Il ne lui manque que la gale, etc.])

"He only wants the itch so that he may scratch himself." Said of a man who has all that his heart can wish for.[70]--[_Mauritius._]

[70] We have a singular expression in Louisiana: "_Li metté mantec dans so faillots._ (He puts lard in his beans.") That is to say, "He is well off." _Mantec_ is a Creolised form of the Spanish _manteca_, used in Spanish-America to signify lard.

179. Li pour marié; més qulquefois bague mariaze glisse dans lédoight. (Il doit se marier; mais quelquefois la bague de mariage glisse du doigt.)

"He is to be married, they say; but sometimes the marriage-ring slips from one's finger."[71]--[_Mauritius._]

[71] "There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip."

180. Li soule bontemps. (Il se soûle de bon temps.)

"He is drunk with doing nothing."--[_Mauritius._]

181. Liane yame ka marré yame. (La liane du yam lie [lit. amarre] le yam.)

"The yam-vine ties the yam."[72]--[_Trinidad._]

[72] In Martinique Creole the proverb is: _Còde gnâme marré gnâme._ "Code" (_corde_) signifying the same as _liane_, the long cord-like stalk of the creeper. Folks are sometimes caught fast in the snares they set for others, just as the yam is tied with its own stalk.

182. Lilit pour dé napas lilet pour trois. (Un lit pour deux n'est pas un lit pour trois.)