[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

Jï¬Åg-=_k4-i;-d;-'1:-i-Ti.-*
H
‘ l
368 MALEKULA
two women who in their youth had also been through this ritual.
This, however, formed no integral part of the Nimzmgki, and was
indeed entirely unconnected with it, but it is interesting in this
context since it shows that a chief would go to expense to gain
honours for his daughters as well as for his sons.
" Next morning Filin Mal was up and about earl , inspecting
the hundred odd pigs which were tethered in a kind, of paddock
beside the dancing ground. One of the most valued tuskers had
died in the night (the tusk penetrating its jaw) and a boy was sent
to inform the donor of the mishap. It is etiquette that when such
a thing happens the man who gave the animal should at once
make good the loss by providing a pig of equal value} Tile
morning passed in this inspection of pigs, Filin Mal deciding how
he was going to divide and distribute them. To help him in this
he used a cycas irond as a tally, and ordered the men who were
with him to tie the animals up in lots, corresponding in number
to the prospective recipients.
“ Before mid—day the visitors had again b to arrive, and
many helped to set up the swncs around the wing ground (to
which the pigs were to be fastened) where these had fzdlen dovlm.
Then, to carry on from the point at which the proceedings had
been Ieit off on the night before, the gongs were sounded with the
rhythm mbal mew. This being completed, the ' mother ' ~gOng
began alone with slow and rather solemn beats. In time with
this rhythm the pig~magician came forth from the crowd on to
the dancing ground, He it was who, before the Nimangki began,
had practised his arts to cause plenty ol pigs to llow to Filin Mal.
When he arrived here he waited for the latter, who led up two pigs
oi medium size and gave them to the magician in return for his
services. The magician then went up to certain stones near the
men's house and removed from under them special leaves (among
which were those of the croton) which had rendered the magic
efficacious. These charms he wrapped up in yet other leaves,
which he had also impregnated with magic, and carried them
away. With his departure the big ‘mother’ gong became silent
once more.
“ All the men now repaired irom the dancing ground to Filin
Ma.l's house, inside and behind which, as also under the adjacent
yam houses, his principal tusker pigs were tethered. Nine conch-
blowers squatted on the ound, with the crowd gathered about
them, and began to blow lï¬Åhsts on their instruments, the chords
I In Ligalag €ilStl'iC£ this " making good" of a pig that has and is called
I/Aglll mï¬Åur "to quicken " Cb! pig. -This is the only sense in which the verb,
remarkable for its causative preï¬Åx, is used. The causative preï¬Åx is characteristic
of the Eastern coastal culture and absent from the mountainous interior among
the “hush -> people.— A. B. 1).