218 R, H. MATHEWS. 



camps there. When the time arrives, the woman who has 

 charge of the patient presses her hands along the back from 

 above downwards, and continues this treatment until the 

 child is born. The umbilical cord is cut quite six inches 

 away from the infant's belly, the severance being effected 

 with a sharp flint or other suitable stone. It is then bound 

 tightly round and round with string made from human hair 

 or the fur of animals. The umbilicus, being about six 

 inches in length as above stated, is doubled back into a 

 circular loop, the cut end being then tied to the point of 

 origin at the navel. This loop of the umbilicus is laid flat 

 on the child's belly, extending upwards towards the chest. 

 A string, made of animal fur, is then passed through the 

 loop, and is carried up around the nape of the child's neck 

 and back again, when it is knotted, thus forming a sort of 

 sling or suspender for the umbilicus, to keep it in position. 

 The excised portion of the umbilical cord which protrudes 

 from the mother is now placed in the mouth of the infant, 

 into which the nurse squeezes as much blood along the 

 tube of the cord, as the child can swallow without being 

 sick. An infant is never fed from the breast for about 

 three days after its birth — the dose of blood which it drinks 

 in the way described sufficing for that period. The natives 

 say that if a baby swallow plenty of blood from the umbilical 

 cord it will not require so much food in later times. To 

 get away the afterbirth, the patient sits on her heels, with 

 her knees bent and her hands behind her back, the Angers 

 touching the ground. The old women present then stroke 

 the belly and back, commencing above the abdomen and 

 stroking downwards. The patient assists these manoeuvres 

 by moving her body and straining. As soon as the after- 

 birth is discharged, it is burnt in a Are or buried in the 

 ground. The attendant places the newly born infant in 

 warm sand or ashes to get it dry and clean, this treatment 

 serving the purpose of a bath. The child is subsequently 



