Lesson XXXVII Building
When will your new house be finished?— Rumah tuan yang baharu itu bila akan sudah?
Not for a long time yet; I am just getting the materials together— Lama juga lagi, tengah kumpul ramu-ramu-an.
The floor and walls will be of plank— Lantei papan dinding pun papan.
There will be four windows on each side opening down to the floor— Sa-bĕlah ampat jandela panjang ter-buka sampei di bendul.
The front door has steps (in front of it)— Pintu di hadap-an ber-tangga.
The length of the house is thirty-five feet and the breadth forty feet, including the verandah— Panjang-nia rumah itu tiga-puloh lima kaki, buka-nia dengan sarambi ampat puloh kaki.
The servants’ houses have atap walls covered with samir or kajang matting— Rumah orang gaji itu dinding-nia ikat atap apit samir atau kajang.
This timber will not last long; it will rot very quickly— Kayu ini ta tahan lama, lakas nanti rĕput.
These wooden posts will be planed as smooth as possible— Tiang kayu ini nanti tukang tara buat lichin sakali.
Make out a list of all the different timber you will require, such as posts, beams, joists, rafters, &c.— Buat-lah kira-kira kayu-kayu yang handak itu deri-pada jerjak, rasuk, gĕlĕgar, kasau, dan lain-lain-nia.
Measure the height from the floor to the top of the wall-plate— Hukur-lah tinggi-nia deri lantei sampei ka-atas kapala-tiang.
Those door-posts are not straight— Ta’ betul jinang paha pintu itu.
I shall fix lattice-work here for climbing plants to grow over— Sahaya handak pukul papan jala-jala di-sini biar me-lata pokok bunga di-atas-nia.
In how many days will you thatch it?— Bĕr-apa hari lagi mahu bubok atap?
Three thousand ataps will not be enough— Ta’ chukup-lah tiga ribu atap.
Exercise
In former days the Raja of Kedah sent messengers to the Rajah of Perak with a letter. When the letter was opened and read in the assembly, in the presence of the Raja and the chiefs, its purport was found to be this single question only:— “Which is the higher, Gunong Jerei or Gunong Bubu?” Now Gunong Jerei is a mountain in Kedah, and Gunong Bubu is a mountain in Perak. When the letter had been read, there was much excitement among the Perak people, for many thought that the message betokened war. For three days the Raja and the chiefs consulted together as to the nature of the answer which should be given to the Raja of Kedah. On the third day a letter was written in reply to this effect:— “Gunong Jerei is the higher of the two, but Gunong Bubu is the greater.”