3+ 2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
part, as they met them, repeating in derifion thejewifh hymn, or ejaculation, " BlefTed is the Lord that hath ordained cir- cumciiion !" fo that, I believe, their indifference in this ar- ticle is rather owing to not being contradicted ; juft as they are carelefs about every other parts of religion, unlefs fuch, as have been revived in their minds by difputes with the Jeiuits, and kept up fince in part among their clergy. But none of them pretend that circumcifion arifes from necef- fity of any kind, or from any obftruction or impediment to procreation, or that it becomes neceflary for cleanlinefs, or from the heat of climate.
None of thefe reafons, conftantly alledged in Europe, are ever to be heard of here, nor do I believe they have the fmalleit foundation any where ; and this, I think, mould weigh ftrongly in favour of the account fcripture gives of it. Examining the origin of this ceremony, independent of this revelation, I will never believe that man, or nations of men, rail Jy fubmitted to a difgraceful, fometimes danger- ous, and always painful operation, unlefs there had been propofed, as a confequence, fome reward for fubmitting to, or fome punifhment for refufing it, which balanced in their minds the pam and danger, as well as difgrace, of that ope- ration.
All the inhabitants of the globe agree in confidering it fhameful to expofe that pa-, t of their body, even to men ; and in the eaft, where, from climate, you are allowed, and from »efpec~t to your fuperiors, the generality of men are forced to go naked, all agree in covering their waift, which is called their nakednefs, though it is really the only part of their body that is covered. We fee even that there was a
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