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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