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[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]
.5‘. .. ,~ =.1 gt.‘ A“. . .; £35.
Eh . It 1. z J !‘> THE NIMANGKI SOCIETY 309 the grade, the less sacred is the ground on which the structures connected with it are erected. The malandr bush which is planted for Nimu/ail is oi a kind which has along thin leaf ; that for Nevelvel has a short, broad one, but the distinctive names of these varieties were not recorded. The next step is, as before, the cutting and carving of the temes. For Nimweil only one of these is made, and the face of it is painted with the designs which belong to this grade. Round its foot is set a second stone circle, and over it, in the place of the amel nitemes of Neuelvel, a little rectangular shelter is erected, the roof of which is thatched with cycas leaves. This shelter is the amel nimweil. When it is ï¬Ånished the gangs are sounded with the rhythm aisumpmiew (Mai lmdlemi is not beaten), and the next morning the guests arrive to dance mu. In the after- noon there takes place in the manner already described the presentation by the introducer to the candidate of the promissory coco-nut and the Pig, and then the investing oi the candidate with the pig's tusk bracelet. This is done and payment for it is made with the same ritual as for Nevelvel, the bracelet and stone (nevi/ltiln newt) being, however, on this occasion, wrapped in a cycas leaf. At entrance to this grade too, the candidate does not receive a turtle-shell armlet (mzmba), this decoration being reserved for members of Newh/al and higher ranks. There then follows a special CEREMONY called " the bringing of the cycas â€ù. The introducer, his two rnates, and the candidate go into the bush and uproot a cyoas tree. A procession is formed ; in the centre walks a member of Nrualuel carrying the tree and before and behind him walks one of his peers, each carrying a conch. All the other men present, including the candidate, line up to form the van and rearguard. The conches are then blovsm in a particular way which is associated with " the bringing of the cycas ", and the procession advances on to the dancing ground. Here it walks once round tho gongs, and then up to one of the stone circles, inside which the cycas is now planted.‘ This CEREMONY being over, and night having come, the torch dance is executed, ï¬Årst by one of the seniors and then by the candidate. The litamate rite is not performed at entrance to .Ni'mwn‘l, and the torch dance is, therefore, immediately followed C ;Iw<;'ue not told inside which of the two stone circles the cycns is planted.-
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