| 
[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]
J t v ~11 THE NIMANGKI AND NELEMEW 371 moved round them counter-clockwise, and out to the line of stones. Here Ronglili again took the lead. The gong-beat changed to that called naai min ngorei (‘the flying fox’) and the line oi men repeated a third tune the dance round the gongs and along the line of stones. The position of the dancers then changed for the last time, with Filin Mal as leader, followed by his son, Ronglili and Siul coming alter. In this order they all moved counter- clockwise round the stones to which the pigs were tied, Filin Mal and his son touching each stone as they danced past, and the two sellers doing likewise, this being in the nature of giving a receipt for the pigs. Finally the buyer and his son and the two sellers circled round the gongs in the usual way when ' circling ’ for pigs. Now the boy smacked the pig of highest value which he was paying to Siul, and the latter slapping him on the back called out, loud and clear, the new name, Metenmal, which he was bestowing upon the lad. Aim‘ this Ronglili went up to Filin Mal to invest him also with the new name which he had purchased. But here an unusual incident arose. Filin Mal protested that he would rather not have a new name, preferring to keep his own. At this Ronglili took offence, regarding the elimination of his role in the ceremony as an affront. Filin Mal, evidently tired physically, after trying to smooth the matter over good-humouredly, lost patience at the refusal of Ronglili to allow hi.rn to keep his old name, and became testy. A sharp altercation followed, which was terminated by Ronglili unceremoniously dubbing the still unwilling l-‘ilin Mal with his own namc—Rong1i1i. “ It would appear paradoxical that a man, having paid for a new name, should decline to have it when the moment came for receiving it, but this attitude is connected with certain {cars and beliefs as to the power oi another person's name. “ This was the end of the Nimlmgki. The assembly broke up with much noise and chattering. The men departed with their pigs, the sellers apparently satisï¬Åed with what they had received ; Filin Mal tired and a little out of temper with the two days’ strain." Tun Bio Namans That the Nimangki exists among the Big Narnbas is certain, but very little has been discovered about it. In general it seems to have a good deal in common with this institution in Lambumbu and Lagalag. There appear to be four distinct grades called Draw, Bwil, Vilvil, and Miliun, which are entered in this order. The pigs which are paid for entrance to Draw and Bu/fl are fastened to stakes which at the rites of the latter grade are made of cycas wood. At entrance to Vilvil and Militm, on the other hand, a long line of stones is erected. These rnonoliths vary in height from about three to about ï¬Åve ieet. Near each is planted a cycas, and to the stone itself nam leaves are tied. The pigs K ‘ f > l
|