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Thus, for instance, the Wolufs of Senegal ask each other, 'What flies for ever, and rests never? Answer, 'The Wind. 'Who are the comrades that always fight, and never hurt each other? 'The Teeth. In France, as we read in the 'Recueil de Calembours, the people ask, 'What runs faster than a horse, crosses water, and is not wet? Answer, 'The Sun. The Samoans put the riddle, 'A man who stands between two ravenous fishes? Answer, 'The tongue between the teeth. Again, 'There are twenty brothers, each with a hat on his head? Answer, 'Fingers and toes, with nails for hats. This is like the French 'un pere a douze fils? 'l'an. A comparison of M. Rolland's 'Devinettes' with the Woluf conundrums of Boilat, the Samoan examples in Turner's' Samoa, and the Scotch enigmas collected by Chambers, will show the identity of peasant and savage humour.
Proverbs, again, and riddles are as universally scattered, and the Wolufs puzzle over the same devinettes as the Scotch schoolboy or the Breton peasant.
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