ABSTRACT
Every MuVenda woman desires to bear children, and if she does not become pregnant shortly after marriage her mother-in-law inquires the reason and advises her son to take his wife to consult a medicine-man. She continues her daily life in the ordinary way until about two months before the birth of the child, when, in the case of a first pregnancy, she goes to her mother's home until after the baby has been born. A pregnant woman, going to fetch wood or water, may not turn back until she has accomplished her mission, for should she do so it is believed that the child will also turn back on the day of its birth, causing her to have a dangerous and difficult delivery. Immediately after the birth of the child the place where it sleeps is surrounded by small twigs, covered with medicine, made from the root of the mutavhatsinde tree.
