[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]
s .a 4 4 ! ll 1 1 ll ll :4 ll ll‘ -l ‘ll A 504 ' MALEKULA The listener having heard the message will return to thosewho sent him and inform them of what he has heard. The gong-signals themselves are varied by differences in rhythm, both as regards the relative time of the different beats and rests and as regards the accent placed on certain notes, and also by the use of differenbsized gongs. Unfortunately, in recording most of the rhythms Deacon did not note down which of the four kinds of gong was used for transmitting the signal. It is perhaps safe to suppose that where there is no information to the contrary the big “motherâ€ù gong was beaten. Some signals, however, are made up of simple motifs repeated successively on gongs of different sizes. Thus when sending out information concerning pigs, we are told that for an animal of ne tew terei grade the rhythm called mzmbal kavamvar is struck once on the himm nimbwilei ; for one of mbong mews standing, the same rhythm is given once on the big gong and then once on the nerumbwen gong; for a still larger animal, but below the rank of imap, nambal kavanwar is beaten on the hinen nimbwilei, the nerumbwen and the simbesimjh gongs in succession. In Larnbumbu and Lagalag the system of sending messages by means of gong-signals is said to be only slightly developed, but, as in Seniang, each clan or descent locality has its own rhythm and the beating of the gongs plays a very important part in the ceremonial life of the people. In these northern districts, too, there appear to be only three instead of four different classes of gong: the big "mother" gongs, an inter- mediate group, and the small hand-gangs. Further, unlike the practice of Seniang, it is common, if not usual, for all three types of gong to be beaten simultaneously. This demands greater skill and results in a far greater complexity of rhythm than is found in the south. Unfortunately, the recording of these rhythms is much less satisfactory—doubtless because much more difï¬Åcult—than that of the Seniang signals. The following examples are, however, probably reliable. (1) Naai Navel. Medium ' -1 _ songs ll / Y V '6 r,
