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ii. 354 MALEKULA
which seems to be a constant feature of Nimangki pig payments
in this district, and which probably corresponds to the " circling "
for pigs in Seniang, is performed on the part oi the “ buyer â€ù by
the father, with his son dancing behind him. The name with
which the boy is usually invested on this occasion is selected
by his maternal uncle, who often bestows his own name on his
sister's son.
A short time after a boy has purchased his ï¬Årst ï¬Åre, his
iather will hold another mlemew for him, and so procure another
sacred object. On this occasion, instead of wild canes, posts of
mar Wood are used as stakes to which to tether the pigs. A little
later again a third nelemew will be held, for which posts of nenmr
(Erythrina) wood are planted. After this a boy enters on his
own Nimangki career, erecting his own posts and seeing to the
collection and distribution of his own pigs. The posts are ï¬Årst
of cyeas (nimwil) then of hard natar wood, after which he will
have attained suflieiently high status to have the right to erect
a line of monoliths (newt).
If a boy is not incised at the time when the ï¬Årst two or three
nelemew are made for him, then only one of the decorated girdles
(mum) can be bought; a penis sheath may only be acquired
after incision.
The notes describing the general proceedings at a Nimangki
celebration are unfortunately not very easy to interpret owing
to the frequentuse of native terms which have not been translated;
the main outlines are, however, probably as follows.
When a chief begins to meditate upon making a Nimangki,
or some similar feast, he says to all the men of his village “ ambwit
vi nnmg mien ". This is a sign for them to go into the bush every
day and to shoot as many flying-foxes and pigeons as they can,
and also to devote much of their time to playing with tops
(rombosisi ne warm nu). This is recognized by everyone as an
indication that a Nimangki is to take place in the not too distant
future, but throughout the time that the men are engaged in
making their tops of cycas wood, the chief keeps his plans to
himself. There is in the village a general atmosphere of expecta-
tion of some great feast. At last the day arrives when the chief
summons his friends to help in making the yam garden which
is to provide the necessary provender, and then all know that the
time for the celebration is ï¬Åxed. After this garden is planted
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