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You would not entrust an old cooking pot to the care of a friend or associate. Meaning: One tends to treasure items or people that have for so very long been of tremendous value to him or her. Ownership or association with particular things or people often begets genuine experience, attraction, cherishing and overall appreciation of such. The long-time owner becomes regarded as the one who is best able to understand, handle, associate with, look after or preserve such items or people he or she treasures. Items or people (such as close relatives and friends) are likened to �a cooking pot that it old�. This proverb carries the message of obligation for people to continuously look out for and take care of those they have been positively associated with for so long, particularly relatives and friends. The association over the long run builds up to an old and outstanding treasured relationship that would negatively impact those involved if it were discarded or ignored. The eyes of the trapper are as subject to reddening as those of the small animal Meaning: The proverb can be interpreted in a number of ways. The situation is of a small animal doing its best to run and escape from the hands of the bigger and stronger hunter who is pursing. But in the process both the eyes of the trapper and the small animal are becoming red as the adrenaline pumps from tiredness. In the chase the person�s eyes are reddening as a result of the possibility that he or she may not catch an animal for food that day. The animal�s eyes are also getting bloodshot as a result of fright at the prospect of getting caught and killed. It goes to show that people and indeed all creatures (in this case mammals), great and small, despite their apparent differences, all experience similar emotions, strengths and weaknesses. Another interpretation of the proverb is that when you get the chance to punish or hurt a person that gave you so much trouble, then you will likely make use of the opportunity to do so. This is synonymous with �An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.� Water that has been begged for does not quench the thirst. Meaning: Begging involves a lot of courage and perseverance, and it can take a while for the person who often begs or unduly asks for help to be given what he or she wants. In most cases the items received that were begged for turn out to be below the standard of what the begging person needs or desires. This proverb functions to discourage people from becoming over-dependent and exploitative of others. Working hard in a personal effort to gain and achieve is, at the end of the day, psychologically and materially satisfying. Unity is strength Meaning: The proverb is used in situations where people do not want to cooperate. It encourages them to work together.