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408 MALEKULA
just as they are level with each other in the middle of one of
these runs, they stop, face each other, and look steadily into
one another’s eyes. The candidate then slashes once more at
the yarn, cutting off another piece of it. Finally the two men
return to the gangs, where the candidate takes his third and
last slash in exactly the same manner as he took his ï¬Årst. This
closes the ritual. It is unfortunate that we know nothing of
the place it holds in the general ceremonies of the Nalawzm.
N alawrm Amel Sesmamiw
For the grade Amel Sesmamlur the candidate, having found
someone to act as his introducer, builds a structure called
sesmamiur, which is hung over the door of the amel. It resembles
the sesmandur which are set up at entrance to the Nimangki
grade Naamel. On the upper border are placed, one at each
side, the skulls of two men who had entered this grade during
their life-time. The bottom cross-pole is decorated with the
carving of a face at each end. The sesmamiur is suspended in
such a way that it hangs down and covers approximately] the
upper third of the door. At the top of the front centre post of
the amel a large face is carved. This is called niselev and represents
the eel known as selev.1 Through the mouth of this face there
passes a horizontal pole at each end of which also a face is carved.
These are supposed to be another eel which the ï¬Årst is holding
in its jaws. The ï¬Årst eel, selev, has a long projecting tongue,
which is painted red and reaches from the carved face to the
bottom of the sesmamiur. On either side of the sesmandur
a vertical line of mbwingmbwingamb leaves is fastened to the
amel, and beyond these again is a post of nitortor wood. The
roof is decorated with lines of croton and vinu leaves, one on
each side of the ridge pole (see Fig. 25). For the sesmandur and
its decorations the candidate pays his introducer as usual.
Throughout the building of this structure and the decoration
of the amel the village is tabu to women; they retire to huts
built for them in the bush, and here they remain during the day.“
‘ According to one brief note this is 11/isalev Niwei Rombou, Niwei Rombou
being the name of a river in the district of Wilemp.-—C. H. W.
' It is said that they eat there, but no mention is made 01 their sleeping
in the bush. It is possible that, as during the pgeparations for the Nevinlmv
(q.v.), they spend the night in the village.—C. . W.
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