Women believe that full-belly is a spirit that causes their stomachs to turn lump-nuts into babies.
The women of the river villages believe lump-nuts to be the cause of pregnancy--an erroneous view that is not entirely without reason.
Every village has its moon talisman, a round white stone representing the moon's blessing on a new village.
A solemn ceremony initiates new grandmothers into a secret society dedicated to preserving their civilization.
Girls who recount the legend of how the moon made the world don't know that this tale was once a eulogy for a gifted storyteller.
As girls and women reach new stages in life, they learn more about their culture and the part they must play in its survival.