In Igboland, women do not climb palm trees for anything - neither to tap wine nor to cut palm leaves. The elders view the action as abomination. The parents of an offender are warned and a cleansing ritual ceremony must be performed to appease the gods. The ritual items include one he-goat, a cock, some kolanuts, yams and alligator pepper. The offender, if a spinster, may not not be married within the town even after the cleansing ritual ceremony. During the really bad old days of dealing in human beings such girls would be sold and the money used for anwuru (snuff made from tobacco).