Bi2 The Philippine Journal of Science 1915 
to be a very active evil spirit, troublesome alike to men and 
women, especially to women who are pregnant or in labor, and 
also, to new-born children. The asuang resembles the vampire 
of Europe, and is believed to suck the blood of human beings 
while they are sleeping. This belief causes pregnant women to 
be careful, for fear they become its prey. 
The asuang is believed to be more troublesome at night than 
in the daytime, and for this reason pregnant women endeavor 
to remain in the house at night. Should occasion require them 
to leave the protection of the house, it is customary for them 
to let down the hair, as in so doing the asuang is frightened 
and dares not approach the woman for the purpose of transform- 
ing the prospective child into another asuang. It is, also, cus- 
tomary to keep a light or fire burning at night beneath the 
house, as these evil spirits are believed to be frightened away 
by this means. 
The asuang is supposed to be a very clever spirit, but it is 
unable to see any person who is covered by a cloth, and pregnant 
women are always advised to sleep under a black blanket during 
the last months of pregnancy. 
In the presence of a pregnant woman it is considered unlucky 
to cross a halter, or rope, attached to a horse or any other animal, 
as a difficult labor will be caused. 
Pregnant women are not allowed to eat tutong, or rice crust, 
because by so doing the expulsion of the placenta will be delayed. 
When a pregnant woman voids urine on the ground, it is 
necessary for her to pour water over the place where she urinated, 
otherwise the asuang might smell the urine, and the woman 
will have hemorrhage at the time of labor. 
Pregnant women should not carry coins under the folded 
waistband of their skirts, because if they do so the child will have 
tumors. 
When engaged in cooking, they must be careful to place the 
wood in the stove large end first, otherwise the baby will be 
born in the opposite direction—that is, a breech presentation 
will result. 
During the last three months of pregnancy what is termed 
pagbubungkal is performed, which consists in turning the baby 
in order to place it along the median line of the mother. This 
is a very dangerous practice. 
DURING LABOR 
On arrival the midwife rubs the body of the parturient with 
her hands. 
ee 
