“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.”