"Dividing the house," however, is generally considered an important birth-taboo in Selangor, the threatened penalty for its non-observance being averted by compelling the guilty party to submit to the unpleasant ceremony called sembor ayer, a member of the family being required to eject (sembor) a mouthful of water upon the small of the culprit's back. In Selangor, again, a guest must stay three nights (not two) in the house, his departure on the first or second night being called "Insulting the Night" (menjolok malam). To avert the evil consequences of such an act, fumigation (rabun-rabun) is resorted to, the "recipe" for it running as follows:--"Take assafoetida, sulphur, kunyit t'rus (an evil-smelling root), onion skins, dried areca-nut husk, lemon-grass leaves, and an old mat or cloth, burn them, and leave the ashes for about an hour at sunset on the floor of the passage in front of the door." That a sensible and self-respecting "demon" should avoid a house where such an unconscionable odour is raised is not in the least surprising! In the event of an eclipse the customs of the two sister States appear to be nearly identical; the only difference being that in Selangor the woman is placed in the doorway (in the moonlight as far as possible), and is furnished with the basket-work stand of a cooking pot, as well as a wooden rice-spoon, the former as a trap to catch any unwary demon who may be so foolish as to put his head "into the noose," and the latter as a weapon of offence, it being supposed that "the rattan binding of the spoon (which must, of course, be of the orthodox Malay pattern) will unwind itself and entangle the assailant" in the case of any real danger. Finally, the Bidan must be present to "massage" the woman, and repeat the necessary charms. From the following passage it would appear that the corresponding Pahang custom does not materially differ from that of Perak and Selangor:-- "But during the period that the Moon's fate hung in the balance, Selema has suffered many things. She has been seated motionless in the fireplace under the tray-like shelf, which hangs from the low rafters, trembling with terror of--she knows not what. The little basket-work stand, on which the hot rice-pot is wont to rest, is worn on her head as a cap, and in her girdle the long wooden rice-spoon is stuck dagger-wise. Neither she nor Umat know why these things are done, but they never dream of questioning their necessity. It is the custom. The men of olden days have decreed that women with child should do these things when the Moon is in trouble, and the consequences of neglect are too terrible to be risked; so Selema and Umat act according to their simple faith." [571] 3. ADOLESCENCE