Note 101 — Volume II. (continued 2)

Birth. 12. There is no pregnancy ceremony. The mother is attended by her husband’s sister (nanad), the Chamâr midwife not being employed. The woman lies on the ground during parturition. A fire is lit in the room in which she is secluded as soon as the labour pains commence. The umbilical cord is merely severed and allowed to dry, when it is taken out and buried in the jungle by the sister-in-law in attendance. The cord retains some mystic significance. Thus a common phrase in quarrels about land is kya tuhâr nâr e men gâral gayal—“was your cord buried here that you claim this land?” The cord usually falls off; and is buried on the third day after delivery. The day it falls off her sister-in-law bathes the mother and child, who are again bathed on the expiry of a month from the date of delivery. On that day the sister-in-law cleans and replasters the delivery room (saur), and receives from the child’s father a sheet (orhna), as her remuneration, as well as a piece of cheap jewelry. On that day the mother is pure, and cooks for the family and neighbours of the clan. The husband does not again cohabit with his wife for two or three months after her confinement.101