CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 155 



upper part of her abdomen. During the pains two 

 of them press down with great force upon the 

 uterus, one from each side. The wise woman pro- 

 fesses to accomplish version by external manipula- 

 tion, if she judges that the feet are about to present. 

 But we do not know whether her claim to so much 

 skill is well founded. If the after-birth does not 

 follow immediately upon the child, the attendants 

 become very anxious ; two of them lift up the patient, 

 and, if it does not soon appear, an axe-head is 

 tied to the cord in order to prevent its return 

 within the body, and possibly that the weight may 

 hasten its extrusion. We have no reason to suppose 

 that any internal manipulation is attempted at this 

 or any other stage of labour or of pregnancy. Im- 

 mediately after delivery the cord is tied and cut 

 across with a bamboo knife. If the child does not 

 cry at once, its nostrils are tickled with a feather. 



The after-birth is usually buried or merely thrown 

 away. But if the child is born enclosed in the mem- 

 branes (with a caul), they are dried and preserved 

 by the mother. It is said that, when dried, it is 

 pounded to a powder and mixed with medicines 

 administered to the child in later years. 



If labour is unusually difficult or prolonged, or if 

 accidents happen, the news spreads quickly through 

 the house ; and, if the attendants begin to fear a 

 fatal issue, the whole household is thrown into con- 

 sternation, for death in childbirth is regarded with 

 peculiar horror. All the men of the house, includ- 

 ing the chief and boys, will flee from the house, or, 

 if it is night, they will clamber up among the beams 

 of the roof and there hide in terror ; and, if the worst 

 happens, they remain there until the woman's corpse 

 has been taken out of the house for burial. In such 

 a case the burial is effected with the utmost despatch. 

 Old men and women, who are indifferent to death, 

 will undertake the work, and they expect a large fee. 



