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

THE GONGS 5 I I
his body quiver and shake as though with ague. This swinging
to and fro of “ the penis â€ù is apparentlyan indispensable part
of the rite ; as it is swung, so the gong moves forward; if it
were not done the gong would stick fast somewhere.
On die dancing ground of Epmunbangg the holes for the three
new gongs had already been prepared, the circumference of each
gong having previously been measured with a piece of creeper,
and the size of each hole made in accordance with this measure-
ment. The gong which was being dragged was brought on to the
dancing ground and up to the hole destined for it, its base lying
at the very edge thereof. On the side opposite that on which
the gong was lying a number of stakes were driven upright into
the hole, their purpose being to protect that part of the hole's
edge and to prevent the gong from breaking it down as it strikes
against it while falling into position. By means of the transverse
pole which had been thrust under the rope the gong was now
rolled a little over to one side, and posts were thrust under it at
right angles, close to the head, to serve as levers. It was then
rolled back on to these posts, and small hand-gongs were inserted
in like manner under the other side. This process was repeated
several times until the head had been raised some little distance
from the ground. Meanwhile two strong poles had been cut
and joined together by means of a rope of strong lianas, the ends
of which were bound one to the end of each pole, its length
hanging in a loop between the two. This loop was slipped under
the raised head of the gong; four or ï¬Åve men took hold of each
pole and pressed it upwards while other men helped by pushing
directly against the gong, so that the head was gradually lifted
higher and higher. The rope which had been used for hauling
the gong into position was lying across the hole. Men on the far
side of the hole from the gong pu.I.led at this rope to prevent the
gong from falling back should any accident occur and the poles
by means of which the head was being raised give way. Thus
little by little the gong was brought erect and made to slip into
the cavity prepared for it. This was then ï¬Ålled in with earth and
“ the penis â€ù planted at the foot of the gong.
When all three of the gongs of Epmunbangg had been thus
set up, a man from Veniou 1 stood forth beside that which had
‘ We do not know who this man oi Veniou may have been, but it seems
probable that he was the individual who was “ purchasing " the gong, either
for himself or for the boy—his eldest son—who was STANDING beside him.-~
C. I-I. W.