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

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400 MALEKULA
the same as that of the sprouting coco~nut given in the Nimangki
ceremonies by the introducer to the candidate—na.mely to
indicate the value of the pig with which he is about to present
him. When the introducer has given his coco-nut he goes and
takes one of his pigs belonging to the grade thus promised,1
hauls it up to a spot near the gongs, and turning to some older
man of high Nalau/an rank, asks him to pronounce the necessary
formula. The latter then steps forward, takes the conch which
the introduccr is carrying, blows it, and says the correct words,
using the verb e'0m_1> (“ he throws ") to signify the handing over
of the pig.’ The candidate then in his turn takes the conch,
puts it down on the ground, and receives from the old man the
rope by which the pig is fastened. He leads the animal away
to his house, ties it up there, and returns to the dancing ground.
Meanwhile the introducer has taken a pigs tusk in one hand and
in the other hand a small stone called nevutim newt, similar to
the nevfltfln navel used in the rites of the Nimangki, both these
objects being wrapped up in croton leaves. The intreduoer’s
assistant now takes them and, while the gongs give out the rhythm
mun‘ ms, he and the candidate begin to "circle" round the
gongs. The candidate then goes up to the naainggol, and lays
the back of his wrist against the bamboo which was cut and
decorated for him. The introduccr takes the mum/1m newt,
strikes the candidate's wrist with it, lays it down on a croton
leaf near the naainggal, and then places the pig's tusk (tilevar)
on the candidate's arml
By this time it is evening, and the dance nimbumbal, which
was begun in the morning, is continued throughout the night.
Soon after nightfall the introducer constructs a torch (mlhul)
oi wild canes. The ones selected are dry and are bound together
in a bundle, with croton and mbil/ingmbwingamb leaves fastened
half-way clown their length. This bundle the introducer lights,
I The nmi n ear to be somewhat contradictory an to the value nt the
pig which is usllu-Ill? given by the introducer at entrance to Chis grade. We are
told on the one lrnml that for n pig of mhong MEI/11$ or lower Status n lrnnnna
stick in ‘handed over is n promissory gift, as is done in the entrance rites of
Nalilwafl NnamdlLimb14. on the other hand it is also stated that at entrance
to Nrllawem Nnuiflggvl the intmnlucer presents the candidate with 1 sprnnung
coconut and late: with n mbang M5110: pig, It is possible that the animal given
on this occasion ls not truly one of mbang me!/ds hire rather of mbcmg maul:
2'm%mz€’ stuns, which stands one higher in the series than mlwng mi/as.-
I The actual Word! employed H-re: Telmbwir iemp lmv flaainggol binggm
mmgk nlmngk.
Y
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