THE SOURCE OF THE NTLE. 341 



nev to Jerufalem. The Falalu again declare, that their cir- 

 cnmcifiori was that commonly practafed at jerufalem in the 

 time or' Solomon, and in uie among them when they left 

 Paleftine, and came into Abyflmia. 



The circumcifion of the Abyffinians is performed with a 

 ftiarp knife, or razor. There is no laceration with the nails, 

 no formula or repetition of words, nor any religious ceremony 

 at the time of the operation, nor is it done at any particular 

 age, and generally it is a woman that is the lurgeon. The 

 Faiaflia fay, they perform it fometimes with the edge of a 

 ftiarp ftone ; fometimes with a knife or razor, and at other 

 times with the nails of their lingers ; and for this purpofe 

 they have the nails of their little fingers of an immoderate 

 length: at the time of the operation the prieft chants a hymn, 

 or verfe, importing, " Bleffed art thou, O Lord, who haft or- 

 dained circumcifion !" This is performed on the eighth day, 

 and is a religious rite, according to the firft inftitution by 

 God to Abraham. 



The Abyffinians pretend theirs is not fo ; and, being prefi- 

 ed for the reafon, they tell you it is becaufe Chrift and the 

 apo tics were circumcifed, though they do not hold it ne- 

 ceflary to falvation. But it is the objection they conflantly 

 make againft eating out of the fame plate, or drinking out 

 of the fame cup with ftrangers, that they are uncircumci- 

 fed, while, with the Egyptians or the Cophts, though equal- 

 ly ftrangers, they make no fuch difficulty. In the time of 

 the fefuits, when the Roman Catholic religion was aboli h- 

 ed, and liberty given them to return to their old worihip, 

 then priefts proclaimed a general circumcifion ; and the 

 populace, in the firft days of their fury, or triumph, mur- 

 dered many Catholics, by ftabbing them with a lance in that 



3 F 



