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

658 MALEKULA '
during their seclusion. As the yarn harvest approaches a house
is constructed in the sacred place as a residence for the per-
formers. When the yams are ready to be gathered the people
wait for a day when the moon is in the west in the early evening.
Then the tubers are taken out of the ground with special incanta-
tions and put in the wut moul. When this same moon reaches
the west and rises full, the performers eat the ï¬Årst yams in the
sacred place, a piece of each being ï¬Årst offered to the
gods or ancestors. This ceremony ended, the period of
seclusion begins. p
Very little could be leamed of what takes place in the next
four months during which the seclusion lasts. On one day an
expedition is made by the secluded men to a stream near Lam-
bumbu to obtain a certain kind of stone necessary tor the rites.
The day chosen for this is announced throughout the district,
and early in the morning all paths along which the initiated will
pass are swept clean. Everyone then retires into the houses,
for it is tabu to approach near to the procession. The initiates
now pass on their way, walking quickly in a crouching
position like that of a stage conspirator in a melodrama.
A few hours later they return once more to their seclusion in
the mu! maul.
The most important rites performed in the sacred place are
said to centre round two life-sized eï¬Åigies of a man and a woman.
The male effigy represents the original Hambat ; the female one
was not identiï¬Åed as any particular woman. Two men, the two
principal initiates, construct two fenced enclosures, something
like houses without roofs. These are set up at a distance from
the house where the performers are secluded. Then each of the
two principal initiates enters one of these enclosures, and sitting
in such a way that they have their BACKS to each other, each
constructs one of these life-sized efï¬Ågies. It is said that, during
the period of construction, neither may see the effigy made by
the other. When they have completed their task the mzgharo
ends with an exhibition of the efï¬Ågies to the whole populace.
A low fence is built in the sacred place, and here they are placed
sitting facing each other. From all over the district people
gather and climb the hill which overlooks the wut maul. Here
they sit down with bowed heads. They may not speak, laugh,
or smile, nor may any person touch another. Were this to
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