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

THE NIMANGKI SOCIETY 291
During certain of the rites a man of the same rank as the
jntroducer, who is also a friend of his, acts for him, and to this
man the title of " introducer's assistant â€ù has been given. Two
or three other men of the introducer's rank and village also
play a special part, and these we shall refer to as the " intro—
dun-.er’s mates ". One of these, whom we may conveniently call
the “ chief mate â€ù, is chosen by the introducer to receive the
pig which the candidate pays for the carving of faces on the
temps, and also, perhaps the other pigs which the candidate
presents for other objects and privileges connected with the
entrance rites. Such a_chief mate is necessary, for it is a rule of
the Nimmcgki that these pigs may only be eaten by members
of that grade for entrance to which the candidate is paying them,‘
and that they may not be eaten by the introducer himself. The
chief mate therefore usually invites three or tour other friends
of the same rank as himself to help him consume the pig.
All other men of the introducer’s rank may be conveniently
termed his " peers ", and two of these from another village take
part in a special dance which precedes the slaying of the ï¬Ånal pig.
Thrcc other men must also be mentioned; These are old
men of very high Nimangko‘ rank—members of Newt Nambar
or a’more exalted grade—described in pidgin as " boss belong
-Nimangki ". One of these pronounces the formulae which
accompany the presentation of a pig; the crier in the ceremony
otiï¬Åtamate is another such man, and so is he who performs a
special--dance in which are imitated the movements of the mmbal
hawk';—the~bird SACRED to the society, All three of these men
danceritogether round the gongs and ï¬Ånally dispatch the last,
sacriï¬Åcial, pig. It is not easy to ï¬Ånd a term which can be applied
toisuch men, but perhaps in this context it will be permissible
to refer to them as the " seniors â€ù.
- It is not quite clear whether a man of one Nimimgki rank may
attend the rites of entrance to a grade higher than that of which
he is a member, but it seems almost certain that he may do so,
It is important to notice, however, that only those who have
other individual iiinie dlitrilï¬Å wiieii, uimioi-e, Deiieiii-i suites that A.l'fl8.YJX6!tlS'
iiitiodiiciii was not. related to liii-ii», he iiiiiii hive beiiii eliiiikiiig iii terms oi
ielalu or near‘ and iioc oi “cllssiï¬Åcatory" i-eliitioiishlp.—c. H. W.
_ This rule IS occasionally relaxed: e.g. a iiiiiii of Neliims might take
pm in the eating of ii pig paid mi» Nimnu; ii man of NJVIIVBI could not, how-
aver, as Nimiw is too {iii befltflfh liiiii."-A. B4 D4