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

454 MALEKULA
THis seems to be tHe end of tHe initiation rites into Nam’
MdrdH. In tHe oeremonies of tHe Nimangki Misi, it appears
tHat after tHe performance of tHe big dance tHe members and
candidates remain for anotHer tHree days in tHe luglwr. THen a
great feast is Held, and tHe members botH new and old disperse.
WHat Happens to tHe Mai Mb after tHe ceremonies are over
we are not told, but it is deï¬Ånitely stated tHat tHey are not
burnt.
At some time during tHe period of seclusion tHe novices are
introduced to tHe sacred sounds of tHe Nimangki T lel. One of
tHese is called nemin tagtag (“ tHe crying bird "). It is produced
by an instrument wHicH consists simply of a sHort piece oi bamboo
cut oft in sucH a way tHat one end is closed by an unpertorated
node and tHe otHer is open. Across tHis open end strands of
grass are stretcHed and bound. THe sound is made by blowing
into tHe bamboo tHrougH tHese strands of grass wHicH are tHus
made to vibrate. On tHe ï¬Årst occasion wHen tHe novices are
sHown How to use tHis instrument tHey are beaten witH nettle-
tree leaves, as tHey are wHenever tHey are introduced for tHe ï¬Årst
time to a sacred object of tHe Nfmangki Tlzl. THe otHer sacred
sound is made witH an instrument called mun‘ lmdlend. THis
is a reed Held in tHe moutH like a flute ; it is not blown, However,
but tapped witH a small rod at tHe far end, and tHe sound is
modulated by opening and closing tHe montH, tHe palate acting
as a resonator. THe mm‘ lmdlmd is played by novices to warn
women oi tHeir approacH, so tHat tHey may clear out of tHeir
way, it being of tHe greatest importance tHat no 1161/ali sHould be
seen by a woman. THe bull-roarer wHicH is known in tHis
district plays no part in tHe rites of tHe Nimanglzi Tlel, but
belongs exclusively to tHe incision ceremonies.
One of tHe songs of tHe Nimangki Tlel Has been preserved.
WHetHer it belongs to tHe Nam‘ Mï¬ÅrdH or to tHe Nimangki Misi
is not certain, but it is probably tHe property of tHe latter. It
runs as follows :~
NatemaH sale salo run nambugH gimizm 0 Humzsur natum a mm»
do do la so la la do la so me re do do do do la so la la do la
iualiwl 0.1
so me re do do.
um is tHe fourtH before tHe ï¬Ånal dance. THe tï¬Åmbflt appear On tHe village
dancing ground and dance round tHe gangs witH tHorn. THey seem to be a kind
bi decorated bambbb some seven {eat HigH.—C. H. W.
1 THere is, unfortunately, no translation of tHis song.—C. H. W.