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

37
0 MALEKULA
so that the tethers radiated from him li.ke the spokes of a wheel.
He then suddenly released these ropes, which were caught by his
men, and gave a bundle of torches to his younger son, which the
boy was to carry across to Ronglili, the principal seller. These
torches symbolized the valuable pigs which Filin Mal had been
holding and which were destined for Ronglili. The lad laid them
over his right shoulder and with e. light, swinging, running step
danced three times round the gongs with them. Then he went to
the amel side of the ground, where Ronglili was still sedately
moving to and fro, and handed him the torches. In the same
way torches were presented to Siul, and to Belni and Tesnrelr To
each rincipal seller six or seven torches were given, to each
subsidiary seller only one. In addition to these Ronglili and Siul
both received a couple of ï¬Åne head-mats. These two men now
hauled ucp and gsve to Filin Mal two pigs, which were in a sense
presente in compliment and as compensation. (Oi this transaction
it is said : rasomlm en mzsvll ‘they touch the torches ’.) Each oi
Filin Mal’s sons accepted one of these pigs, and then, siter hanging
the tethers to men oi the ‘home ' village standing by, the two
lads danced clockwise, the two sellers counter-clockwise, round
the gongs, in the usual way when ‘ circling’ for pigs. When this
was ova, another procession was formed, each one of the ï¬Åne,
red-painted, tusker pigs being borne aloft by two men. At the
head of the procession walked the rincipal sellers, accompanied
by Filin Mal’s two sons and immediately followed by Filin Mal
himseli. Thus arranged, the whole ï¬Åle danced counter-clockiavise
thrice round the gongs, while the rhythm of mbzlmbal was beaten
vigorously. This circling being over, the pigs were set down and
le cach one to a stone to which it was fastened, while the ‘ buyer ',
dancing to and iro, planted a torch in the ground beside each
animal. This was the signal for any women who were present
and who were in mourning to burst out wailing.
“ The younger son of Filin Mal now came cut into the middle
of the dancing ground in order that the two subsidiary sellers
might dub him with his new Nimangki names, one being receivcd
from each. He and these two sellers once more circled round the
gongs, the boy moving clockwise, the two men in the opposite
direction. He then went up to those particular naamgh pi s which
were to be paid for his new names and slapped them on the back.
Belni and Tesnrel now approached and in turn slapped the boy
on the back, while calling out in loud and clear tones the new
name which each was giving him.
â€ù It was now time to invest Filin Mal and his elder son with
their new names. The gongs struck up the beat called temah
glnasghas (‘the ghost bites ') and the men danced once counter-
clockwise round them, led by Ronglili, after whom came the
elder boy, followed by his father, with Siul at the rear. After
passing round the gongs they danced out along the line oi stones
to which the pigs were tethered. The rhythm changed to naai
mbul meh; Ronglili passed to the back oi the line, which, now
headed by the elder son, returned again to the gongs ; once more
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