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

RITUAL LIFE OF WOMEN 485
ï¬Åle round the naium limbwelimp and then go inside it. Here they
continue to dance, shaking the roof-walls with their anns until
the whole structure sways and rocks, and sometimes even
collapses. The village gongs are not used for marking the rhythm
in this dance. In their stead each woman sings and accompanies
herself on a little bamboo gong which she beats with a stick, or
simply on two pieces of bamboo which are struck one against
the other. The gong is made from two intemodes of bamboo
closed at both ends, but with a rectangular slit cut in each
internode (v. Fig. 31). This is apparently the special instrument
of the Lap:/ls and is not used in any other connection. When
the women have continued dancing inside the hut for long enough,
the candidate stands up near the door, and a. woman who is a
member of the rank which she is entering slaps her on the back
and announces her new title, “ Likan â€ù.
For the next grade, Neium Langalr/mg, the rites appear to be
very similar to those already outlined, the chief difference being
l , , 4
1./I114 I11 Ir/I/rï¬Åil, MW/ll:/I///it ::;;21r1n||1|s|lrmmnmn lmmnn//1
the La¢as Ceremonies. (After a rough sketch by
the author.)
in the nature of the objects erected. On this occasion three
houses are set up in the clearing, one big one in the centre, and
a small one at either side of it. As before the two supporting
posts of the principal house are carved to represent a man and
a woman, the latter being dressed in a mat-skirt.‘ The girl pays
for these structures once more and also for a turtle-shell armlet
(mzmba) which she is allowed to assume. In addition she pays
a sow for isesewen, that is for “ the opening of the door of the
house ", in the same way that a man entering a. Nimomgki grade
pays for the " opening of the door â€ù of the amel. This rite and
payment do not take place when purchasing membership of
Neium Limbwelimp, but are a feature of the ceremonies of all
higher ranks. The dance performed on the last and principal day
1 Though not deï¬Ånitely stated, it seems to be implied that for this grade
also the object called mmbal nauwi is set up, presumably in front of the largest
of the three houses.—C. H. W.
_i._».-.m
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