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

2 1 6 MALEKULA .
ceremonial occasions only—as, for instance, for the spearing of
the sacriï¬Åcial pig during the Nimangki or N alawan rites.
As regards the Malekulan clubs, here again only the types
uscd in Scniang have been recorded, and of these Deacon
distinguishes ï¬Åve distinct named varieties. The two most
common ones are perhaps nemmu at" and naai mbritambm, The
former has a straight shaft terminating in a bulbous head on
which are four knobs or bosses (see Pl. VIII13, Nos. I, 3), making
a very formidable business end. The length oi this type of club
varies from about two feet to two feet six inches. Naai mbrfla-
mbrii is shaped like an Indian club or truncheon, with a narrow
grip terminating inaknob, and a shaft which almost imperceptibly
widens intoasmooth head, more or less circular in section, the total
length of this weapon being about eighteen inches (see Pl. VIIIB.
No. 4). A third variety is mtambnr. This has a slender and
seemingly moderately long shaft, and a ï¬Åat, square-cndcd head,
with very sloping shoulders and parallel sides. Closely resembling
this is the nimbrï¬Åsfln nambal “ the tail of the hawk â€ù, which has,
however, more angular though still sloping shoulders, and is cut
at the business end in such a way as to suggest the forked tail
of the black nambal hawk (see Pl. VIIIB, No. 2, and ct. Speiser.
1913, pl. 60, ï¬Åg. 9). The fifth type of club, called nan/an avi alamp,
is larger than those hitherto described, being usually over three
feet in length, and has the form oi a paddle with a long handle
(sec Pl. Vlllli, No. 5, and cf. Speiser, I923, pl. 57. no. 14).
There is no detailed account of the manufacture of these
clubs, but Dewcon states with reference to mzui mbnilambrl/I and
mmam ai that they are made in the same Way as the spears, that
is by cutting and scraping with a shell and rubbing on wet lime-
stone and with wet weed. It is very possible that this applies
equally to the other three types.
Although the primary importance of these clubs is, or was,
for killing enemies, their use is not conï¬Åned to this, for they are
also commonly carried by rnen when dancing, and to-day they
arc probably more often seen as dancing sticks than as weapons.
The same may perliaps be true of the bows and arrows and of
the spears, and, as we shall see, there are certain dances tor
which the bow is an essential part of the performers paraphernalia,
The sling used by the Malekulans, called in Seniang mbirmbir
vet, is made from cord twisted from the bark of the bastard