240 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 1 33 



old custom of dipping the baby into cold water immediately after 

 birth is adhered to, one of the attending women doing so. 



A mother bathes her child frequently during infancy and childhood ; 

 some do so daily. Generally it is bathed in the family bathing place 

 or in cold water in the ruka. An occasional mother bathes it in luke- 

 warm water or in a decoction. 



Postnatal interests. — Formerly a child's ears were pierced immedi- 

 ately after birth; more recently, only those of a girl are pierced — 

 often not until she is 2 or 3 months old. Only one piercing was, and 

 is, made in each ear. Anyone may do the piercing. Formerly, and 

 occasionally today, relatives are invited to a plentiful meal on the day 

 of the piercing, or very soon thereafter. No part of the child's body 

 was ever painted or decorated with design. Nose and lips were not 

 pierced. 



Chafing was prevented by frequent bathing. Pieces of chamall 

 (homewoven cloth) served as diapers; today, occasionally, pieces of 

 cotton cloth are used. A child that walks wears its diaper in skirtlike 

 fashion. The method of training in toilet habits was not ascertained. 



Traditionally the cradle is made by the man before the birth of his 

 first child and is used by all subsequent children. When no more 

 children are expected, it is given away. A cradle is never borrowed 

 or lent. 



Two types of cradles are probably traditional : one with a band of 

 wood attached to a backrest, and the other, a bandless one with back- 

 rest attached to two poles or boards. The bandless type is not known 

 in Alepue area. The cradle is made unceremonially ; no part is orna- 

 mented and no toys are attached to it. Hammocks are not used. 



A child is tied to its cradle until it is able to walk. Until then it is 

 generally transported in its cradle. A child able to walk is transported 

 short distances in its mother's arms or astride, in front of her, on 

 horseback. 



Both nonsense-syllabled and burden-syllabled lullabies are sung 

 to babies. 



The appearance of the first tooth is recognized as proper physical 

 development ; an occasional family today makes an event of its ap- 

 pearance, but it is not traditional to do so. To soothe teething jaws 

 they are washed with a decoction ; no hard substance is given upon 

 which to bite to hurry teething. If the deciduous teeth are slow in 

 falling out, an herbal preparation is applied to the child's gums. When 

 the deciduous teeth come out, they are buried in the floor of the ruka 

 (Cofiaripe area) or thrown into a bush of chupon (Alepue area), 

 places where dogs cannot get at them. 



