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. . 295 MALEKULA '
Nimbinbm is tHe last of wHat may, perHaps, be called " tHe
cHildren's grades â€ù, at entrance to wHicH tHe fatHer supplies tHe
necessary pigs. THe next two grades, Never and Nani M bimbamjz,
and also Mbalmbal, wHicH stands fourteentH on Deacon’s list,
form a class to tHemselves. TogetHer witH tHe degrees wHicH
we Have just been considering, tHey are classed as Black Nimangki
and sHare witH tHem tHe gong»rHytHm mielmieHrlas (WHicH is
not a true Nimanglzi rHytHm, but is used on otHer ceremonial
occasions to announce tHat a pig is going to be killed) and tHe
dance era’ab, wHicH takes tHe place of tHe tear of HigHer ranks.
NevertHeless, tHey Have certain ritual cHaracters wHicH mark
tHem oï¬Å as a group apart.
Unfortunately tHe record of tHe rites performed at entrance
to Nimangki Newt is botH brief and difï¬Åcult to interpret, part of
it being written in tHe native language and part of it being little
more tHan a list of ceremonial objects. It seems desirable, tHere-
fore, to ignore tHe order in wHicH tHese ranks are taken and to
describe ï¬Årst tHe rites of Naai M bimbarap, tHen tHose of M balmbal,
and witH tHe aid of tHese to gain a conception of tHe proceedings
followed for Navel.
N am‘ M bimbump L
At entrance to tHis grade two structures are set up ; a carved
wooden image (tzmes) and a bundle of some plant called m:vumu'
wHicH is erected in tHe dancing ground. To make tHis last, tHe
men go into tHe busH and cut a number of mvun/in‘ sticks, wHicH
tHey fasten togetHer by a lasHing of naai lislis. THe bundle tHus
made is planted in a Hole prepared for it in tHe dancing ground.
For tHe tomes, a long, Hard, straigHt sHaft of tHe wood naai
mbimbarap is taken and carved witH a number of faces and
bodies wHicH are painted red, wHite, and black. To tHe top oi
tHe pole some vegetable ï¬Åbre is aï¬Åï¬Åxcd to represent Hair. THis
is prepared by taking a plant called nembruninin and placing
it on tHe lire until tHe Hard outer surface is burnt. THen tHe
inside portion is removed and cHewed vigorously by tHe men.
After a wHile tHey draw it irom tHeir moutHs in a condition not
and wHo will subsequently eat tHe animal. THen tHe candidate Himself kill:
wHo pig—ii it be a big one, witH a spear; it small, witH a pig-killing Hammer.
In tHis tHe grade differs iroin otHer grades, lor usually it is tHe intr0duceI'e niato
wHo kills tHis sacriï¬Åcial pig. AnotHer nniisnol feature is tHat at entrance to
Nimbinbm tHe candidate ï¬Årst dances witH tHe spear and later joins in tHe eating
oi tHe pig. (1928. PP- lse-7.)-cl l-i. w.

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