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

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278 MALEKULA
who has excelled himself in the acquisition of power and wealth.
N umbou Timbamp is the name given to a pole of tree-fern, carved
with eight faces, which is set up at entrance to this grade. N ousun
Nevet means “ The Penis of the Stone â€ù, and Nimbmtfln Nevet
" The Navel‘ of the Stone "; the meaning of Ndmzdu lamp
Nevetis not given. Nevet Nambar signiï¬Åes “ The Blind Stone " ;
again, the reason for this name is not explained.
The list given above is probably complete, but the order in
which the grades are taken is not constant. All informants were
agreed that Naamb Tileo is the‘ lowest, but of Nar/ml M bangle
nothing was mentioned save the name, and it seems that it is
not of equal importance to the others. Naamb Loh and Nim~
binben follow in this order, and together these ï¬Årst four grades
form what may perhaps be called the children's group. Another
group is formed by Nevet, iNaai Mbimbamp, and Mbalmlml.
These are not taken successively, indeed Mbalmbal is fourteenth
on the list, but they have certain ritual characters in common
which mark them off from other grades. They resemble those
of the chi1dren’s group in that the body-painting, with which
members adoni themselves, is black ; that the -rhythm
aismnpndew (used for inviting guests from neighbouring villages)
and the song-dance tam are omitted from their ceremonies, the
latter being replaced by one called'em'ab; and ï¬Ånally in that
none of them possesses a distinctive gong rhythm. Sometimes
all these grades are referred to collectively as Nimmgki M etmet
or " Black Nimangki â€ù. In general it seems that Newt is the
grade entered after N imbinbm, but as Layard has shown (1928,
p. I92) it is sometimes postponed until later, though it always
precedes M balmball It isrsaid that the grades numbered 7 to I4
can be taken i.n any order, but that no man‘ can become a member
of N eliwis unless at some previous rites, such as those of N oulas
or M bat Ru, he has paid for the decorated yam which is one of
the ceremonial objects alike of these grades and of Naliwis.
After this it is customary, if not necessary, for Nimew, N imweil,
and N evelvel to follow in ‘this order. N evelvel is said to be the
last of the grades which-are native to Seniang. All those classed
above it, from Tevsï¬Ån Amel to Neru Wemnmg, in which the
upright monolith is prominent, have been introduced from
1 It seems that Layard was not told of the ‘intermediate grade, Naai
Mbimbamp.-—C. H. W.