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pp.
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T.5,
95
£1
THE NIMANGKI SOCIETY 333
that Nimew does not belong to the same class of Nimangki as
does Newt; there is reason to suppose that it does belong to
the group which includes Neliu/is, Mbat Ru, Noulns, and
Nahmmdal. In the ï¬Årst place the designs painted on the bodies
of Nimew members are the same as those used for Neliwis grade,
and this makes probable a link between the two, Secondly, it
appears to have been Deacon's opinion that Nimew and Mbat
Ru were associated, for writing of the latter grade he eompares
the planting of the manifold temes and of the m/wan mbatiu in
the mnlzmhal with the similar rite in the Nimew ceremonies,
and he states that only at entrance to these two grades is this
done, In this Layard (p. 167) supports Deacon’s vicw. He
writes: " On a subsequent day we ï¬Ånd a repetition of the
ceremony called Mai mrewr, which we have already seen in the
degree of Mhaturu. A hole is dug in the bush close to the road,
and images proper to all the degrees already taken by the novices
are erected . . ." It must be confessed, however, that with
our scanty knowledge any deductions which we may draw
concerning the relation of N imaw to other N imangki grades can
be only very tentative, though the bulk of evidence does seem
to support the theory that Nimew is linked to the group of
Nimangki oi which Naliwis has been taken as the type rather
than with Nzvet and Mbabmbal as Layard supposed.
Summing up, then, it appears that the N imangki ranks which
the people of Seniang regard as native to their culture can be
roughly classiï¬Åed into four groups :-
(I) The " Childreifs Nimz1'ngki" which include N aamb Tiler),
Naan‘ Mbangk, Naamb loh, and Nimbinben.
(2) The group comprising Newt, Nam‘ Mbimbamp, and
Mbalmbal.
(3) The group comprising Nahavmial, Noulas, Mbat Ru,
Neliwis, and perhaps Nimzw.
(4) The group comprising Netm Mwalijz, Nimweil, and
Nweli/zl.
To which of these, if any, the grade Naamel belongs it is difï¬Åcult
to judge. The erection of a monolith might suggest association
I with Nevet, but its distinctive body-painting and gong-rhythm,
as well as the unique character oi its other ritual objects, makes
this very doubtful ; certainly it is not classed as a Black N imangki.