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38c MALEKULA
is referred to by the name of this grade, thus: neghagh /ion
langap, ncghegh hon bamng (" the croton sacred to Tangop â€ù,
“ the croton sacred to Barang “). Apart from this the cordyline
(hari) and the ginger (longgalongg) " belongs to â€ù the Nimangki
in general, while the hibiscus (sanggour) is a badge of the grade
Miliun, whose members are regarded as " chiefs ". At entrance
to every rank an image (temigh) is set up and over it is erected
a platform of bamboos supported by four posts of Erythrina wood
(never). No other timber may be used for these. This structure,
which is decorated with cycas leaves} is called helom. The
candidate ascends on to it, and here, standing above the image,
he kills the principal sacriï¬Åcial pig. For some of the grades, or
perhaps for all, stones are set up round the dancing ground
(bwite nambwz) and a pig is killed for the erection of each. The
entrance to a Nimang/21' grade is sometimes connected with the
secondary disposal of the dead. Thus should a man of, say,
Banmg degree have died, then on the next occasion when anyone
pays for entrance to this grade the skull of the deceased is
exhumed and some man, perhaps the candidate, dances round
the gongs, holding it in one hand. After this the skull and
bones are placed in the charnel house of the dead man's clan.
Of the Nimangki at Vanbaut (Port Sandwich) some further
facts were recorded. Each grade has it own grade-ï¬Ån: (nnhamp
tamlm), and no man may cook or eat at the grade-ï¬Åre of any
rank of which he is not a member. The outstanding feature in
the ritual of rise in rank is the killing of pigs. For the lower
degrees, Mweliw, Tangap, and Bzmlng, we are only told that an
animal is dispatched on the ground. At entrance to Khemng
a small circular house is built into which the candidate and ten
other men go. When all are inside they destroy the house,
breaking it to pieces from inside. Aiter this pigs are killed,
probably on the ground. For Naim, Ngulngul and Mweleun,
the three next grades, which it seems are regarded as being all
of equal importance, an image called iemsj is erected. This is
covered by a platform of bamboos, to which steps lead up from
the back. The supporting posts are decorated with cycas fronds
(namwil). The candidate ascends the platform; the pigs which
he is to kill are handed up to him, and he clubs them to death.
I The cycas, nnmwnr, is also the symbol of peace am the cessation of
hostilities»-A. B. D.
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