[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