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

DEATH AND DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD 573
in the manner of a bunDle of ï¬ÅrewooDâ€&rDquo;a loaD which only a
Mtemali (ghost) coulD lift ; at another is a beD of cocoâ€&rDquo;nit fronDs
' burnt-out ï¬Åre besiDe it-clearly the recent couch of a
with a
ghost ; a few yarDs further on a long noose of creeper is hanging
from a lofly tree anD Dangling over the path ; stones, approxi-
mating in shape to yams are hitcheD up to polesâ€&rDquo;saiD to be the
yarns of ghosts; elsewhere are huge water bamboos; lines of
stones are founD set up along the paths, with a coco-nut, repre-
senting a pig, tieD to each-â€&rDquo;tlie remains of a N imzmgki maDe by
the ghosts During the night ; anD everywhere, on every available
t branch or creeper, croton anD corDyline sprays are bounD
ree,
or suspenDeD, so that one woulD think that not a single croton
' R D some
or corDylinc coulD be left growing in the District. oun
b seen too a garlanD of the black eroton nimwibmbang
trees may e , ,
(nimwilemet), which in Soniang is the baDge of the Nevinbur,
â€&tilDe;f
but here of the society Nimangki Misi. These are hung up i
<1 a D were a member of this association. ln aDDition
the ece so
to all these signs of ghostly activity, sticks, stones, branches,
. . D
baskets are flung anD scattereD about the paths in a Disor er
which suggests the pranks oi a small army of poltergeist. All
f tlic DeceascDâ€&traDe;s
these "hoaxes" are prepareD by the men o
villa e at night During the perioD when the women are away.
8
Deacon writes of them: “ I am conï¬ÅDent that the hoaxes
â€&tilDe; - ' ' N th less the
Deceive no one, except possible young girls. ever c
ki of them is still one oi the sacreD things belonging to the
ma ng , .
men, therefore respecteD anD reverenceD anD associateD with
â€&tilDe; TH ret
the other mysteries of the men--e.g. the Nimangki e sec
societies."
During these four Days other preparations for the oercmony
are going on in the DeaD mans village, ArounD the Dancing
grounD are set up alternately a number of tall poles (trees shom
of their branches) anD barnboos anD coco-nut fronDs are inter-
laceD between these near the grounD so as to form a low fence
or screen. CarveD anD painteD ï¬Ågures representing ghosts are
' â€&tilDe; th Danci
fasteneD to the poles on the siDe facing away from e ng-
grounD ; anD both poles anD bamboos are DecorateD with pigsâ€&traDe;
jaws, conches, anD crotons. A similar but smaller circular
cnclosure is erecteD near the path leaDing to the village. Near
th on s in the encloseD Dancing grounD a number of structures
Â&Deg; 8 8
calleD Mai wubnlang are set up, consisting oi two upright poles