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. . 295 MALEKULA '
Nimbinbm is the last of what may, perhaps, be called " the
children's grades â€ù, at entrance to which the father supplies the
necessary pigs. The next two grades, Never and Nani M bimbamjz,
and also Mbalmbal, which stands fourteenth on Deacon’s list,
form a class to themselves. Together with the degrees which
we have just been considering, they are classed as Black Nimangki
and share with them the gong»rhythm mielmiehrlas (Which is
not a true Nimanglzi rhythm, but is used on other ceremonial
occasions to announce that a pig is going to be killed) and the
dance era’ab, which takes the place of the tear of higher ranks.
Nevertheless, they have certain ritual characters which mark
them oï¬Å as a group apart.
Unfortunately the record of the rites performed at entrance
to Nimangki Newt is both brief and difï¬Åcult to interpret, part of
it being written in the native language and part of it being little
more than a list of ceremonial objects. It seems desirable, there-
fore, to ignore the order in which these ranks are taken and to
describe ï¬Årst the rites of Naai M bimbarap, then those of M balmbal,
and with the aid of these to gain a conception of the proceedings
followed for Navel.
N am‘ M bimbump L
At entrance to this grade two structures are set up ; a carved
wooden image (tzmes) and a bundle of some plant called m:vumu'
which is erected in the dancing ground. To make this last, the
men go into the bush and cut a number of mvun/in‘ sticks, which
they fasten together by a lashing of naai lislis. The bundle thus
made is planted in a hole prepared for it in the dancing ground.
For the tomes, a long, hard, straight shaft of the wood naai
mbimbarap is taken and carved with a number of faces and
bodies which are painted red, white, and black. To the top oi
the pole some vegetable ï¬Åbre is aï¬Åï¬Åxcd to represent hair. This
is prepared by taking a plant called nembruninin and placing
it on the lire until the hard outer surface is burnt. Then the
inside portion is removed and chewed vigorously by the men.
After a while they draw it irom their mouths in a condition not
and who will subsequently eat the animal. Then the candidate himself kill:
who pig—ii it be a big one, with a spear; it small, with a pig-killing hammer.
In this the grade differs iroin other grades, lor usually it is the intr0duceI'e niato
who kills this sacriï¬Åcial pig. Another nniisnol feature is that at entrance to
Nimbinbm the candidate ï¬Årst dances with the spear and later joins in the eating
oi the pig. (1928. PP- lse-7.)-cl l-i. w.

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