The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

PROVERBS IN PIDGIN ENGLISH. 391
" As we have learned the principles of this new language," Frank re-
marked, "we ought to be able to understand some proverbs in it. For
instance, here are four that contain whole heaps of good advice, besides
showing lis how to read pidgin English :
' Wlio man swim best, t'hiit mun most gettee diowii
Wluj lidee best ]ie most ciitcli tumble down.'
' One piei'ee blind man healee best, maskee ;
One i)iecee deaf man makee best look-see.'
' One man who never leedee,
Like one dly inkstand be
You turn he top-side downev,
No ink lun outside he.'
* Suppose one man mucli bad—how bad he be,
One not her bad man may be flaid of he.'"
" Tliose will do," Fred answered, "and liere is Longfellow's fanions
poem ' Excelsior,' whieli every sehoolbo}^ knows, or onght to know. It
was done into pidgin English by somebod}' who lived in the country and
evidentl}' know what he was about
'TOP-SIDE GALAII!
' T'hat nightee teem he come chop-chop
One young man walkee, no can stop ;
Maskee snow, maskee ice
He cally flag with chop so nice
Top-side Galah!
' lie muchee solly ; one ]iiecee eye
Lookee sharp— so fashion—my :
He talkee large, he talkee stlong,
Too mncliee culio ; allee same gong—
Top-side Galah !
' Insidee house iie can see light.
And ev]y loom got fire all light
He lookee plenty ice more high,
Insidee mout'h he plenty cly
Top-side Galah !
'Olo man talkee, "No can walk,
Bimeby lain come, velly dark ;
Have got water, velly wide!"
Maskee, my mirst go top-side
Top-side Galah !