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

WARFARE 223
The ï¬Åghting which used to take place between Seniang and
Mewun on the no—man’s land lying between the two districts,
was doubtless entirely different from the intermittent vendettas
of which the trouble between Loorlangalat and Ndawu is an
exarnplef In many parts of Melanesia two types of warfare are
distinguishable: the one consisting primarily of raids and
ambushes in which frequently very few people are engaged;
the other consisting of pitched battles, carried out on a specially
prepared battleï¬Åeld and in accordance with clearly deï¬Åned rules.
The latter type did not generally continue for very long at a
time, and was either terminated by a peace~making ceremony
or else gave place to an interminable vendetta. It seems very
probable that in Malekula too, this distinction was made and
that the combats on the battleï¬Åeld between Mewun and Seniang,
for which in Seniang the word rumba! appears to have been
used, were examples oi the regulated variety of warfare (cf.
Wedgwood, I930, i).
There are no details recorded concerning the ways in which
ï¬Åghting is prosecuted from any other district than Seniang—
whether it be as the outcome of a quarrel between two normally
friendly communities, or the endemic expression of traditional
hostility. One point of some interest is noted, however. It is
said that in North-West Malekula, especially among the Big
Nambas, women are not attacked at the opening of hostilities,
This neutral position of women is recognized in a few other
parts of Melanesia, as for instance, in the Admiralties and
Loyalty Islands (Wedgwood, I930, pp, 15, 19), and it is possible
that in this island it is not restricted to those parts whence it
has been recorded.
PEACE—MAKING m SENIANG
When two parties are weary of constant ï¬Åghting against
each other, peace can be established by means of ceremonies.
But here it is necessary to distinguish between what is intended
as a permanent peace, implying the ending of all hostilities
between those who were formerly enemies, and a temporary
peace which, though it puts an end for the time being to the
ï¬Åghting, does not wipe out the hatred of the opponents for each
other, which may at any moment break forth into expression
union —
1,‘.