Traditionally the Akha believe that humans and spirits originally lived together in an idealistic relationship. People tilled their fields during the daytime while the spirits tilled theirs during the night. Trouble broke out though when the spirits began to steal chicken eggs from the people, and people began to steal cucumbers from the spirits. As the conflict grew it was finally decided that they should separate – people living in villages and spirits living in the forest. In order to provide a clear demarcation between human and spirit worlds it was decided that ‘village gates’ (law kah) should be erected at upper and lower ends of Akha villages. Visitors should not touch these gates or anything related to them.