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

RITUAL LIFE or WOMEN 497
This account of the Langambas ceremonies, sadly fragmentary
as it is, is striking for the evidence it gives of the part played by
men in the, ritual life of the women of Lagalag, In Seniang,
although men were allowed to observe what was going on from
afar, they never seem to have been more than passive spectators.
In Lagalag, on the contrary, we ï¬Ånd them playing a prominent
r6le in the dancing and even sometimes bestowing the new
Langambas title on the candidate. This close participation is
indeed remarkable for a New Hebridean people, and it is to be
deeply regretted that more was not recorded of the relations of
the sexes in this district, both i.n their daily and ritual life.
The practice common to the Northern New Hebrides of men
of each grade eating together at a. ï¬Åre which is said to “ belong
to " that grade is reflected in Lagalag by the custom observed
by members of the Langambas of eating at a ï¬Åre which is par-
ticularly associated with their society, and which is called naghamb
langambas. Within the society members of the two grades share
a single ï¬Åre, but women who are not members must eat apart
at the naghamb gas, the ordinary women's ï¬Åre. This holds true
for strangers and guests as well as for women of Lagalag. Those
coming from other districts, such as Lambumbu, where the
Lzmgambas is not recognized, are not allowed to eat at this
naghamb langambas, but must make their own ï¬Åre and eat by
themselves. It is interesting to notice that although there is no
institution in Lambumbu corresponding to the Langambas, yet
owing to the intermarriage of Lagalag women with Lamburnbu
men, and the practice of a wife living in her husband’s village,
the ï¬Åre called naghamb lzmgambas is present in this district under
the name naamb lamgambah and is recognized as distinct from the
ordinary naamb taghah of the local women.
In the district of Banggor to the south of Lambumbu, the
women’s society does exist, being called here Langambah, and the
members have their ï¬Åre, natzmb langambah, but nothing further
is known about it.
tsing ran nawangh.“ Uniortunately there is no interpretation of these words,
but we are told that mbdriria miliamba means " be prepared to go " and nawamglz
= " canoe". Momma is an interesting expression, mi it is a Lagalag
derivation from the English words “be ready "1 the true Lagalag word for
this is mmmn 471., which is used with the COflStl'lCï¬Å0D " milidmbe mzienwl an
Wldltlfit . . .".~c. H. w.
Kk