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iii
312 MALEKULA
run into and out of the stone circle, pursuing as they do so a
rude ï¬Ågure-of~eight course. What follows after this we do not
know, but it may be presumed that the ceremonies are completed
in the usual sequence.
It is, as we have said, on the strength of the stone circle and
the mwan mbntia with the coco-nut frond at its foot that Natm
Mu/elf!) has been classed here with Navelvel and Nimu/ail. It
must be observed, however, that in one respect its ï¬Åliations
would seem to he with the group of Nimangki next to be
considered, namely Neliwis, Mbat Ru, etc., for it has been
mentioned that the design of the body~p-ainting for Neien Mwelip
is the same as that for Mbat Ru and Nahmmdal, and further, in
minor dctails of ritual, such as the leaves in which the new pig's
tusk is wrapped, and perham the killing of two small pigs for
the temes and the stone circle, the ceremonies of Nzten Mwelip
resemble those of Neliwis and Nahmmdal. In other respects,
however, the entrance rites of these grades are so very different
from those of Netm M11/elip that it seems better to class the
latter, as we have done here, with the other grades for which a
nzmggub is built.
From these accounts we can see that, although thdposition
of Neten Mwzlijz is still rather dubious, the rites of Nimn/ail and
Navel:/el resemble each other very nearly, and they arc very
deï¬Ånitely associated in that a circle of stones is erected for both,
in the centre of which a malamir bush is planted, and that a
shelter is put up over the tames. These features appear to link
them with higher grades such as Naamel Ewan, Muhm/an
Sumburan, and Numbou Timbamp. In the ï¬Årst of these a
nanggob and malandr bush are planted just as they are in N21/elvel,
while the temes is built into the house called amel em/on, from
which the grade takes its name. ,In the rites of the last two,
as we shall see, the stone circle and malamir do not appear, but
the shelter, modiï¬Åed in form, is still present.
In contrast to these are the entrance rites to the grades
below Nimweil. Some of these grades have features which
seem to be unique, as for instance the large hasketry cone used
in Nimew, but the general outline of the proceedings is that
with which we are familiar. Unfortunately our information
about them is very unequal, and since the best account is that
concerning the ceremonies of Nzliwis, it will be well to begin
7!
.

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