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

284 V MALEKULA
designs belonging to tHe otHer “HigH â€ù Nimangki degrees are '
not recorded. -
THe more important paints, wHicH are employed for executing
tHese designs on tHe temes, and also probably on tHe Human
beings, are a blue-black called liengk, made from a blue stone V
found in tHe HusH; a‘ green, es, also made from some stone; i
yellow from tHe seed of a certain grass called nizmg, wHose fruit .
wHen ripe bursts and gives fortH tHe colouring material. WHite .
is procured by grinding down tHe soft sHell of a species of molusc
and mixing it witH water into a paste. THe common. name V
for tHis paint is m'ma1/ut, but because it is ritually important it
Has also a secret name, nimbullal. THere appear to be tHree ‘
varieties of red used: one called simply matm memal (neten =
tHe eartH) ; anotHer, wHicH is made in tHe Maskelyne Islands, _
called ulwongk ; and a tHird of a brigHter Hue, known as nemei,
wHicH is made from a kind of eartH. THis last is very sacred,
and its preparation may not be observed by women. ‘
It is interesting tHat, in addition to tHese distinctive decora-
tions wHicH tHe men assume on ritual occasions, a man's N imangki
rank is also sHown by tHe patterns on tHe mat-skirt worn by
His wife} No analysis of tHese patterns Has been pI‘6SB1'V6d,l
but tHe fact of tHeir existence is signiï¬Åcant, for it strengtHens
tHe HypotHesis tHat tHe Nimangki and tHe use of tHe mat-skirt
are two traits belonging to tHe same culture complex (cf.
CHapter XXV).
THere are otHer ornaments besides tHe body designs wHicH
are acquired on entering a new grade. Some of tHese are purcHased
at every rise in rank, as, for instance, tHe penis sHeatH (aiuiap)
and tHe Hawk’s featHer (nimew nominal). At wHat point in tHe U
ceremonies tHe former is given we do not know, but tHe Hawk’s ‘
featHer is always bestowed just before tHe candidate retires‘ to _.
don all His new insignia for tHe ï¬Ånal rites of killing tHe pig and
receiving His new title. AnotHer object wHicH is purcHased
is an armband called nimbinben. According to Layard tHere 1
are two main varieties of nimbinben. “One is a string band
made by women witH a zigzag pattern representing tHe cHin of
a flying—fox (m"en minggere). THis is worn by any cHild on tHe W
arm. ~. . . THe otHer object called by tHis name is tHe arm
1 Deacon was inforruecl tHat in tHe island of Omba. also a woman were on Her
matekirt a design corresponding to Her Husband’s rank in tHe Hague. _
1