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

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288 i MALEKULA
the latter with a sprouting coco-nut, the length of the sprout
indicating the value of the pig which he intends to give him-
that is, the degree of its tusk curvature. This is immediately
followed by the presentation of the pig itself. The investiture of
the candidate with the pig's tusk bracelet and the payment for
this are then carried out, after which the dancing and singing
are begun again and continued throughout the night. After
breakfast the next morning the candidate buys the hawk’s
feather and retires to be decorated with the designs and ornaments
of his new grade. When he is ready another dance is performed
by certain of the participants, the candidate amongst them,
which culminates in the breaking of a conch against the fore-
head of a pig, which is then killed. This animal is the principal
sacriï¬Åcial pig which is said to be killed “ for Nimangki ", that
is, for membership of the grade, and it is apparently the very
one which the candidate had previously received from his
introducer. After it has been dismembered and shared out,
the candidate stands up beside the temes, which has been erected
for him during the PERIOD of preparation, and receives his new
name. This ends the ceremonies. It will be noticed that in
this summary of the proceedings nothing has been said of lthe
ritual lighting of a new ï¬Åre. This is a rite which is a very
prominent feature of the Sukwa ceremonies in the Banks Islands,
but in Malekula it is much less important, and it seems even
that a new ï¬Åre is not kindled at every risc in rank. Indeed.
according to one note, this is done only on four occasions ; at
entrance to the ï¬Årst grade Naamb Tilea, at entrance to Nimew,
at entrance to Nevelvel, and ï¬Ånally when becoming a member
of New Wenmmg. One man stated that a new ï¬Åre was also
made on buying the rank of Tambap.
In the accounts given by the informants some of these incidents
are not always mentioned. The men were interested in the
variations between the rites of the different grades, and gave
details of these, while they took the constant ceremonies for
granted and so omitted them from their descriptions of the
proceedings. It seems probable that for entrance to the lowest
ranks, Naamb Tileo to Nimbinbm, some of the rites mentioned
above are'not performed, but the ritual oi grades other than
these certainly includes them all. There is too, as will be seen.
a general tendency for the ceremonies to become increasingly
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