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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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