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

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336 MALEKULA
For this Nimangki an upright monolith some ï¬Åve feet high is
erected to the right of the village amel and a little in front of it.
The stone is carved with a complete human ï¬Ågure; the hands,
with each ï¬Ånger distinctly represented, come together near the
genitals, which are also clearly portrayed. It is called navel
mmbur (“ the stone which -cannot see â€ù) and serves as the front
centre post (numbou morot) of a small model amel which is built.
This is the amel namu, Unlike an ordinary amel it has a door
at either end. Stretching away in a line in front of the amel
mun/u are planted some six or seven small monoliths of two or
three feet high which are spoken of as nousun newt (" the penis
of the stone â€ù) and to each of which a cycas frond is tied. The
designation nousam newt is apparently humorous, the shape
of the upright stone suggesting an erect penis. According to
Layard (pp. I53, 154), the temes images are carved with testicles
but no penis, and the nausun nevet supplies this deï¬Åciency. But
this does not agree with the view of the natives themselves.
Deacon writes :—
“ I have repeatedly been assured that the nzvet nqgnbar has a
when they trouble to carve it ; that when the penisxis absent
it 1S on account of the difficulty of carving a projection and that
mmsmt is merely a jocular way of referring to these monoliths
which has become current through frequent use. Moreover, each
stone in the row of monoliths is called a mmsun, so that it Layard’s
suggestion be true, the ï¬Ågure must lack quite a number of penises,
while having one carved on it."
To each of these nousun nevet there is fastened one of the
pigs which are to be killed during the ceremonial. This is in
accordance with the Nimangki ritual of Lambumbu, whence it
is said the people of Seniang originally obtained this grade
(see below).
According to one note a second stone, carved in like manner,
is set up in the bush, seemingly in the thick undergrowth which
lies just behind the club~house, the most sacred place in any
village ; and it may be that this too has a line of mmsum newt.
It is possible, however, that in attributing two carved stone
images to Namu, the informant was confusing the stone erected
for this grade with that of New Wmmmg which is set up in the
“ holy of holies â€ù behind the amel. '
On the occasion on which Deacon's intorrnant witnessed the
Namu ceremonies, the introducer, his assistant, mates, and peers