tr., intr. = transitive, intransitive. N.B.-(Sokoto), (Kano), (Zaria) refers to the dialect which uses the word. The circumflex accent on an o indicates that it is pronounced almost as order or as * awe influence will be found in the use of the abbreviated forms min and mas for mani, to me, masa, to him, and in the tendency to labialize many of the consonants, e. g. Icami for hafi, before ; izan and Jcazan for idan and kadan, if; sumanjia for sumangia, branch, dapji for dapgi. This practice is heard with constantly increasing frequency as the Lower Niger is approached and the 6 HAUSA SAYINGS AND FOLKLORE region of the Yoruba, Nupe, and other races in whose languages vowel-sounds predominate. Similarly the Sokoto dialect is more guttural than the Kano, and the Kano dialect than the Zaria. The more frequent use of the form he^to be, in the northern territories affords a typical example. Local pronunciation apart, it is hoped that the syntax and grammar used will be found to be as correct as the most enthusiastic purist could desire. The only exception to this, and an intentional one, is in the conjunction of a few words ending in a-and therefore presumably feminine-with masculine pronouns. Since, however, the list of known masculine words ending in a and of those which are double-gendered is a tentative one, and must grow with greater knowledge, it has been thought better to leave them as they were actually spoken than to attempt a rigid, and it may be mistaken conformity to a rule, the number of exceptions to which cannot yet be determined. Punctuation of the Hausa text has been sparingly used, and only when its absence might involve ambiguity or mistranslation. The Vocabulary at the end is intended to be read with, and where necessary to correct or supplement, the revised edition of Robinson's Hausa-English Dictionary, in which all references not supplied here should be sought. Following the example in that work, words pronounced but not written with the double consonant have been printed in the Vocabulary with the reduplicated letter in brackets, while in the examples following them they appear as spelt in Hausa script. Since, however, a correct pronunciation of the spoken language is of more practical use than a knowledge of the written character, such words where they occur in the rest of the text have been written with the double consonant unbracketed, and, generally, as close a rendering of the sound of the spoken word has been given as was possible. Students are reminded that nothing but attentive listening, coupled with a use of the imitative faculty, will enable them to * Men are a lot of groundnuts ; only when they are pounded can one see which have got kernels. Adversity or experience proves a man's value. HAUSA SAYINGS AND FOLKLORE 4. An elephant trap. Turiken kassa madauren giwa. Pen in the ground that catches the elephant. 5. A town. Jemaa ta adamu arahanki rua, dagga gareki marhaba ta kare sai kawon kai. Jemaa (town) of Adamu, thy cheapness (i.e. the only thing cheap in thee) is rain ; beyond thee w...

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