iv RELIGION . 81

can acquire these from a puithiam on payment of a fee of a few
rupees. His success in his calling appears largely to depend
on luck.

There is generally one puithiam appointed by the chief, but
there is no limit to the number there may be in a village. As
has been said, the important Sakhua sacrifice requires the
presence of a puithiam of the clan concerned, but other
sacrifices can be performed by a puithiam of any clan. The
services of a puithiam are not given gratis. For performing those
connected with cultivation he receives a basket of rice; for
other sacrifices he receives sums varying from a rupee up to ten
rupees, but for some it is not customary to take payment, and
the fees depend chiefly on the position of the person who has
to pay them, as the puithiam, on the principle that half a loaf
is better than no bread, will generally perform a sacrifice and
take what he can get rather than get nothing. For the more
important sacrifices, the fees, however, are always higher.

The particular sacrifices to be performed in connection with 6. Cere-
a child's birth vary considerably in different clans and families, connected
Within seven days of the birth, the sacrifice known as the with child

Vi" fK

" Arte-luilam," consisting of a cock and a hen killed just outside
the house, must be made; till this is done the woman cannot
go to the spring and is " sherh," and had better not leave the
house.

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 12) 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

a