[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

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322 MALEKULA
two or three or more candidates to Nahmmrlal at the same time,
and that when this is so only one numbul is made, but that each
candidate has his own big, carved, and decorated temes.
On the evening of the day on which this temes is planted in
the dancing ground, aisumpndew is sounded, and the next
morning the usual Nimangki rites are begun, the pig given by
the introduce!‘ being usually an animal of tisimbw or nitalm
status. For this investiture with the pig's tusk bracelet the
candidate stands beside his big lzmes. This ceremony is
apparently carried out by the introducer himself, not by his
assistant as irl Neliwis, and is accompanied by the investiture
with the nilal armlet, which seems to be characteristic oi this
group of grades. The pig's tusk, ml/{thin newt, and nilal are all
wrapped in torombon leaves. At night lam is danced as usual,
and the candidate performs the torch dance. At dawn all those
present partake of coco-nuts and a pig. There then follows the
decoration of one of the seniors and his performance of the
" hawk dance" 1 to the accompaniment of the gong rhythm
naai limbarap. For this he is painted red all over, but we do not
know what ornaments he wearsi After this everyone dances for
a short time to the rhythm naai nahaimdal, and then the candidate
is presented with and pays for the hawk's feather in the customary
way. The other rites follow in due order : the painting of
the candidate; the dancing of the trios round the gongs; the
breaking of the conch and slaying of the Pig, and lastly the
conferring of the new title, Andal.
From this account of the rites associated with entrance to
these four grades it is easy to see how much they have in common.
The ceremonies of Mbat Ru have, it is true, certain unique
features, but throughout, the order of the proceedings, the
important structure, the nu/mbul, with its accessories of hanging
coco-nut, nem' mevlls, and carved yam, and the rites performed
i.n connection with them, are either identical or remarkably alike.
It is these same characteristics, too, which distinguish Neliwis
I Apparently in this grade his " hawk dance " is not in eï¬Åeenlial part nl tho
rites, ini it is said nine when Afllfllllinhlï¬Å ontaered Niiliaimd-it for tliii ï¬Å1’Si2 timfl
his introducer only gave liiin n nilm/u pig. A!XlflD.l‘3)1tlS elimim did iini ask
a. H1311 to ]>fl'[Ol'.'I1 ilin " hawk dance " “ as this pig was not of iiiirieient vnliiii
ll the '1 phsséntalifln pig " of the Nimimgki ii regarded in zlie same way is that
‘veii iii H16 Nnlawzm, that is as; ual to lialr the total fl.lRll7Bl'_D‘f pigs supplied
5; the ciiiidii-Jim, then it is iiiiellighle that if n " pi-iientaiinii pig " of islativnly
low viiliin were given the candidate would Chi. clown his expenditure accordingly.
-c. r-r. W.
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