"KEWI-APA" 297 



yard, in honour of deceased ancestors, whose spirits sometimes 

 reveal themselves to the tamiluanas. These occasions are called 

 Ma-la-hal. 



A series of festivals indulged in begins with a day called Kewi- 

 apa. On this day, the people of Mus clear a portion of the jungle 

 in the interior, and decorate the spot with palm leaves, bringing 

 from it Siya — the devil — to Elpanarn. All the houses at Elpanam, 

 and the space there, are decorated. The people of Arong (a 

 neighbouring village) and Mus then go there and take part in 

 a performance lasting all night, for which they have practised 

 during the past month Other villages come as spectators and 

 guests. The next morning there is a feast, at which special 

 materials are pigs and jungle crabs. When it is over, a wrestling 

 match closes the ceremony. 



On the third and following days, all the people, and those of 

 the neighbouring villages, are engaged in preparing for the feast 

 of Kial^ to which many villages come as guests. 



The day preceding the feast of Kial is called Mu-nung-ren, or 

 "day of preparation." Poles are brought from the jungle, tied 

 round the houses at Elpanarn, and covered with tender palm 

 leaves, while new cooking places are prepared below each house. 

 The interior of the houses and the compounds are decorated. 

 From sunrise till dark the women are busy preparing kusnJm, 

 a confection of yams, green and ripe plantains, coconut, and oil ; 

 and meanwhile, the men sing songs in honour of the large 

 canoes, which, kept for the past month in the interior, are brought 

 to Elpanavi, immersed in the sea, and decorated. 



Next day is the day oi Kial, or "taking food." From morning 

 till night the people are engaged in feasting their guests, in 

 dining together in groups, and in sending to their friends and 

 neighbours kusiihu, pork and fowls. 



At midday a cry of supplication is heard from each building — 

 " Let our house be always supplied with abundance of food ; let 

 us have many edible gifts from other villages; let there come 

 new women to our village ; let us be happy." 



