17. THE SPARROW AND THE MOUNTAIN. “A sparrow who tried to kick the mountain himself toppled over.” _Shunútur-se_ _tshíshe—sáti_ _pájja dem thé_ _náre_ _gó_. The sparrow with the mountain kicked fall went. 18. THE BAT SUPPORTING THE FIRMAMENT. The bat is in the habit of sleeping on its back. It is believed to be very proud. It is supposed to say as it lies down and stretches its legs towards heaven, “This I do so that when the heavens fall down I may be able to support them.” _Tilteò_ _ráte_ _súto—to_ _pey_ _húnte_ _angái—warì_ _theun_; A bat at night sleeping its legs upwards heaven—ward does; _angái_ _wáti—to_ _pêy—gì_ _sanarem theun_. the heavens when falling with my feet uphold I will. 19. “NEVER WALK BEHIND A HORSE OR BEFORE A KING” as you will get kicked in either case. _ashpe_ _pataní_ _nè bó_; _rajó_ _mutshanì_ _nè bó_. horse behind not walk; raja in front not walk. 20. UNION IS STRENGTH. “A kettle cannot balance itself on one stone; on three, however, it does.” _Ey pûtsh! èk gutur-yá dêh nè quriyein; tré[18] gútúrey á dek quréyn._ Oh son! one stone on a kettle not stops; three stones on a kettle stop. The Gilgitis instead of “ya” = “upon” say “dja.” “Gutur” is, I believe, used for a stone [ordinarily “bàtt”] only in the above proverb. 21. THE FROG IN A DILEMMA. “If I speak, the water will rush against my mouth, and if I keep silent I will die bursting with rage.” This was said by a frog who was in the water and angry at something that occurred. If he croaked, he would be drowned by the water rushing down his throat, and if he did not croak he would burst with suppressed rage. This saying is often referred to by women when they are angry with their husbands, who may, perhaps, beat them if they say anything. A frog is called “manok.” _Tós_ _thèm—to_ _áze—jya_[19] _wéy_ _bojé_; _né them_ Voice I do—if mouth in water will come; not do, _to py_ _muos_. then bursting I will die. 22. THE FOX AND THE UNIVERSE. When a man threatens a lot of people with impossible menaces, the reply often is “Don’t act like the fox ‘Lóyn’ who was carried away by the water.” A fox one day fell into a river: as he swept past the shore he cried out, “The water is carrying off the universe.” The people on the banks of the river said, “We can only see a fox whom the river is drifting down.” 23. THE FOX AND THE POMEGRANATE. _Lóyn_ _danù_ _né utshàtte_ _somm_ _tshàmm_ The fox the pomegranate not reached on account sour, _thù_: _tshùrko_ _hanú_. spitting, sour it is.