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

328 MALEKULA
it is not now possible to determine which of them has approached
nearer to the truth. A Second account obtained by Deacon
of the ceremonies as they were actually performed when his
informant, Tota, himself purchased this rank, throws little
light on the matter, for it appears to bear no relation to the
proceedings as they have been just described. Nevertheless, it
contains some signiï¬Åcant details and is therefore included here
for what it is worth.
When he had decided that he wished to become a member
of Nimew, Tota went to the village of Nemep to visit his father's
sister's son, Ates Vinbamp, who had already entered this
Nimangki, and arranged with him that he should act as Tota's
introducer. Tota then returned home to Ndawu, and a few
days later Ates Vinbarnp went into the bush to select an mmm
tree of some eighteen to twenty feet high, and appointed a day
for cutting it down and carrying it to Ndawu. Meanwhile, a
man of high Nimangki status in Tota’s home village gathered
round him all those who wished to enter Nimew, and asked
one of them to provide a pig which was to be given in payment
for the bringing of the mnou tree. One of the candidates, who
was possessed of more pigs than the others, volunteered to give
the necessary animal. This was brought to the dancing ground
and killed, and yams, bananas, and taro were cut up and heaped
upon it. Ates Vinbamp, accompanied by his friends, now arrived
bearing the felled 14/mou tree. A man of high rank in Ndawu
(in this instance it was Tota’s ovim father, but anyone of suflicient
standing would have been equally suitable) stepped forward and
presented Ates Vinbamp with one small yam. No words were
spoken, for it was known that this act was an invitation to the
men of Nemep to take the pig and heaped-up vegetables which
were lying on the ground. This they did and returned home.
Ates Vinbamp then commissioned a man skilled in such work
to carve on the umou faces of the rambarampl A rambaramp
is the clligy which is set up to a man on his death, and it is by
paying for such faces to be carved at entrance to some Nimangki
that a man secures the privilege of having a rambaramp made for
* There seems to be some question at to where these lace: are Cal'VBd. One
am runs: “Candidates now get B miniature mmsmmp made for them by
man skilled ‘ ' 0 10 ll
a. in carving. . . . lie Hg 8116 is taken and face and body cut
on it for each mmbmamp paid mi-. The yamlmmmp is cut in eiis flmim/’—
c. H. w.