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

THE NIMANGKI SOCIETY 279
Lambumbu. This statement, made by the old men of South-
West Bay, is borne out by the fact that, for celebrating the rites
of H1856 higher grades, an expedition has to be made to Lambumbu
to obtain certain objects which are used in the ceremonial,
while membership of the grade Namu must actually be purchased
from a man of Lambumbu who is of this rank} If further
evidence were wanted that these grades are intrusive, it might
be pointed out that in N amu a line of monoliths is set up to
which cycas fronds are attached, and to which the pigs to be
killed are fastened, one to each monolith, in a manner exactly
similar to that of the higher grades of the Nimangki in Lam-
bumbu, but unknown in any oi the recognized indigenous grades
of South-West Bay. This dual origin of the Nimangki in Seniang
may account for the very large number of ranks, and also for the
not infrequent uncertainty as to their correct order. In days
gone by the large sea-going canoes called nimbembaw used to
visit South-West Bay from both Tomman Island and Lam-
bumbu,â€ùand the right to own one of these vessels had to be bought
1 So run Deacons notes ; but two matters are left: unexplained. In the ï¬Årst
place it seems very possible that the statement that Namu rank must be
purchased from a roan of Lamburnbu should not be taken too literally; it
may mean nothing more than that so few men oi Seniang ever attained to
this degree, that any one wishing to do so had to seek for an introdncer from
the northern district. Secondly, although it is said that these higher ranks were
introduced from Lamburnbu, we ï¬Ånd that in this district there are no Nimiwgki
grades bearing these names, and indeed that the system of grading and of
purchasing objects is rather diï¬Åerent from that which obtains in the south-west.
Thus, though it seems certain that some at least of the sacred objects which are
acquired at entrance to these higher grades are of Lambumbu origin, the names
of the grades are not.-—Ci H. w.
1 Ir’ we compare the list of Nimizngki grades given by Deacon with om
recorded by Layard (I928, pp. 151-3) we ï¬Ånd that as regards the earlier grades
there is a very general agreement, though the order in which they are given is
not always the same, and certain degrees—~Naari Mbanglz, Nani Mbimbarap,
Naamel, Tartov Nimaw, Tartar Mnamba, and Tel/r1211 Am.sl—rnent.ioned by
Deacon are not included by Layardr It is posible that they are to-day of
relatively little importance, for they are not recorded in all Deacon's lists of
Nimangki ranks, In the grades above Ame! Ewan the discrepancies between
Deacon’s and Lays.rd’s names are more numerous. In the ï¬Årst plaice the grade
Nousun Nwet is not mentioned by Layard, who passes from Numbm Timlmru?
to Nimbmliin Neuet. Aiter this grade, however, he records one called Nvusun
Amel, which may perhaps be another name for Nauszm Newt. This seems the
more probable since he also gives a grade Namal Nnmbar but omits that celled
N41/Bl Nambav with its ten sub-grades. Again, his grade Nouszm is probably
the same as Deacon‘s Nousun Nu/in II. A further diï¬Åerence between the two
lists lies in the titles taken by the members of these higher grades. Aocurding
to Deacon men of all grades from Naamol Ewan to Nuusin Nwst II are called
Mbulias, but Layard was told that members of Mulznmm Sumburam have the
title Muluwun Sumburan ; those of Tambap, Muluwun; while men of Namu,
whom Deacon entitles Narnal Mhnas, are, in La.ya.rd'S list, called Mbalais. The
most curious diï¬Åerence between the two records lies in the omission on Deacon's
part of the grade Mulmmm Lnngauml (The Great Muluwun). A possible explana~
tion of this is that at the time when he was working in Seniang, some ten years
i