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

RITES OF BIRTH AND INITIATION 257
made by a. pig when it wants to ï¬Åght. At some period during the
seclusion the guardians perform a ceremony which is identical
with an initiation dance performed among the Big Nambas who
use it, to some extent at least, as a means of keeping the novices
in a state of wakefulness and fear. They form into a ring,
carrying heavy bamboos, and dance round the inside of the amel.
At every other step they bring their bamboos down on to the
ground with a thud till the whole building shakes, and as they
move round they sing a song called nambwen ndendm, which
runs : " Bwelenggou, bwelenggou, mbwes mbwes szirea bwelenggou.â€ù
These words have not been translated. Another rite, equally
obscure in meaning, is that in which a yarn is decorated with a
langalong flower at one end, brought into the amel and given to
the novices to eat.
The Incision Rites of South Lambumlm
The account of the incision rites of South Lambumbu is much
less complete than that of nï¬Åwei nambbg. When it is decided
that a number of boys are of the right age to be INCISED, the
father of each one sends for his wife’s brother and a. day is
appointed for the ceremony. Then a fence is set in front of the
men's club-house, and when everything is ready the gongs are
beaten with the rhythm naavm/at o’or to announce the forth-
coming celebrations. That sarne evening bamboos (noai mbal-
mbal) are planted between the women’s part of the village and
the dancing ground, and all through the night the men stand
beside these, singing and beating on them. On the following
morning the candidates are taken down to the sea or river, and
are operated on by any man who is skilled in the art, the technique
being the same as that used in the other districts. As soon as
the cut has been made the novice stands up and stamps on a
yam which has been placed beside him, so as to break it. No
interpretation could be given for this action. The penis is then
washed thoroughly until the bleeding stops and is wrapped in
the leaf (nerzwr), which is usually Worn by grown men. When
this is done everyone returns to the village. Here a presentation
of pigs takes place. First the novice’s maternal uncle gives one
pig to the boy's father. Then the father brings up ï¬Åve of his
pigs. The novice steps forward, carrying a spear in one hand,
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