Should the woman not observe the custom the child will suffer in health. Three days after the birth of a child a small chicken and seven small packets of rice and vegetables are suspended under the edge of the front verandah. This is called "arte-hring-ban" or "khaw-hring-tir." The object is to satisfy the "khawhring" (see Chapter V, para 5) and prevent it entering the child. If a woman has difficulty in bringing forth, a fowl is killed and divided equally. The portion with the head is put at the upper end of the village with seven pieces of cane rolled into bundles, the other half at the lower end of the village with five rolls of cane, and the woman is given a little water to drink. This is called "arte-pum-phelna"--i.e., "to open the stomach with a fowl." For seven days after a child's birth its spirit is supposed not to be quite at home in the little body and to spend some of its time perched like a bird on the parents' bodies and clothes, and therefore, for fear of injuring it, the parents keep as quiet as possible for these seven days. If either of the parents works during these seven days and a red rash appears on the child, the illness is called "borh," and the cure, which is called "borh keo," is as follows:--A certain creeper called "vomhrui" is brought and coiled round and round, forming a sort of cylinder, and into this the child is dipped three times. This is done at night after the fire is out, and no fire can be lit again till morning. Two days after the birth of a child its parents give a big drink to their friends and relatives--this is called "nau"--and seven days later another big feast is given. Some families give the name at the first feast, some at the second. The proper custom is for the "pu" to name the child, but nowadays parents generally do this. Should several children have died young, the parents will carry the next baby and deposit it in a friend's house, and then come and ask, "Have you a slave to sell," and purchase it for a small sum. This is supposed to deceive the Huais. Such children's names always begin with Suak, [5] and, judging from the frequency with which such names are met, the custom must be a very common one. It is thought good to appoint a "pu." The pu kills a pig and a fowl and eats it with his friends. Some of the "fep" of the fowl are tied round the child's neck. The pu is a general protector, and he only can get the "pushum" of a girl. He also receives the "lukawng" (see Part 8). Should a woman die in childbirth, it was considered unlucky for another woman to rear the child, which was buried alive with its mother. There are no ceremonies connected with attaining the age of puberty. A boy simply joins the young men in the zawlbuk. After this it is considered unlucky to cut the hair.