| caption: |
the role of Neang-ba, an official in village |
| text: |
(210) As Neang-ba of the Au-kheang morung Chinyak is not only the head in the council of five morung chiefs who together form the legal court of Wakching, but he also plays an important role in several ceremonies which concern other morungs. For example, he has to touch the carved hornbill heads when the Balang and Bala morungs are rebuilt and at the initiation ceremonies of every boy who enters a morung, Chinyak receives the head of the sacrificed animal. Chinyak takes a whole leg from every animal which is paid as a fine for misbehaviour while the others have to share the head. |
