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

154 MALEKULA
or less permanent occupation, especially among the young men,
and a man is proud of the number of women he has “ stolen ",
for, in sexual affairs at least, they add to his prestige. It is
a common sight to see a man wearing a small circular shell near
his left temple. The shell is called mbrm ndilmiel, and indicates
that he has " stolen " a “ small woman " ; that is one who has
been only recently married and has not yet born a child. A bunch
of nisivung leaves tied to the upper arm shows that the wearer
has “ stolen " a “ big woman â€ù, or one who is a mother. Two
bunches of these leaves, one worn on the upper arm, one on the
lower arm, are a sign that the man has “ stolen " many women,
perhaps ten or twelve.
It is interesting that the initial step towards an intrigue is
taken by the woman and not the man. Whether this is invariably
the case is not known, but probably it is unusual for a man
to solicit a woman owing to the grave risk he would run should
she refuse his advances and tell her husband about them. Some-
times, in spite of the prestige which is to be gained by " stealing "
Women, the man to whom a woman offers herself is not willing
to accept the gift, partly doubtless from the fear of the -anger
of the husband and his friends, An instance of this, and of the
instability which is probably not an uncommon feature of married
life in Seniang, is given by the history of Luus Tavu of Uraau.
Her ï¬Årst husband was Aiwus of Leisal; him she shot with a
musket. Next she was married to Aindu of Maur, from whom
she ran away to go with her lover Aili Menggi of Batnetamp.
Later she tired of him too, and married a fourth time, her new
husband being Malenbiis of Lenbiis. He apparently died a natural
death, and his widow married Aili Mbuas of Loorvaal. But when
she was an old woman she formed a passion for a young boy,
Arnbong Tamis of Iumloor. Ambong Tamis became aware of
this and, not wishing to have anything to do with her, he fled.
Nevertheless she left her ï¬Åfth husband, followed him, and
forced him to live with her.
Sexual Life
Sexual intercourse between husband and wife takes place
for the ï¬Årst time in the bush during their journey, after the
marriage ceremonies, from the bride's village to that of her
husband, or else during the ï¬Årst night after the wedding. After
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