ill THE OLD KUKI CLANS 161

from the fire or remove any article from the house. In every
case at the conclusion of this period there is a sacrifice. The
custom of the Aimol is for the "thempu" to pour out a
libation of zu and herbs in front of the house and invoke the
child's spirit to take up its residence within the new-born
infant. The name is given at the same time, the father's
family choosing the name of a son and the mother's of a
daughter. On the day of the birth of an Anal child, the
" khulpu" is called, and after he has muttered certain
incantations, zu and fish are distributed to the whole village.
All sacrificing is prohibited for three days, and cohabitation for
three months. When distributing the zu and fish, the house-
hold gods—i.e., the Sakhua—are invoked and the soul of
the child is summoned. Among the Chawte the thempu
attends on the day of the birth, and sacrifices a fowl and sips
zu. He then mutters incantations over a piece of turmeric which
is then thrown out of the house. On the fifth day a fowl is
killed, and as the name selected is pronounced three grains of
rice are dropped into a cup of water, and if they sink the name
is approved, but if they float another one must be selected and
tested in the same manner.

The Chiru ceremonies are more elaborate. After ten days the
thempu comes to the house, a rakeng tree is planted in front
of it, and then the thempu sacrifices a hen on behalf of the
mother, and a cock or a hen, according to the sex of the child,
on its behalf. The parents eat the flesh of the birds, and the
sherh and bones are buried in the house. Two or three pots of
zu are consumed by married .persons. The thempu, taking some
zu in his mouth, goes round inside the house, blowing it out on
the walls and muttering charms. The mother can now leave
the house, but for three or four days must not leave the village.
The " keng-puna " or " ming-puna"—i.e., " name-giving "—
takes place almost immediately. Two cocks or hens, according
to the sex of the infant, are killed by the thempu, and their
blood smeared on the infant's forehead and navel, some of the
feathers being tied in its hair. The Kolhen pierce the child's
ears and give the name on the tenth day, the ceremony being
the same as among the Chiru on that day. The maternal
grandfather is expected to give the child a pair of brass earrings,

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