THE SOURCE' OF THE NILE. 34 j 



curfe * attended the mere feeing that part of the body of 

 a parent, and not inftantly throwing a covering over it. 



I do not propofe difcuiling at large the arguments for 

 or againil the time of the beginning to circumcife. The 

 fcripture has given fuch an account of it, that, when weigh- 

 ed with the promife fo exactly kept to the end, feems to me 

 to be a very rational one. But, confidering all revelation 

 out of the queilion, I think there is no room to inflitute 

 any free or fair inquiry. I give no pre-eminence to Mofes 

 nor his writings. I fuppofe him a profane author ; but, till 

 thofe that argue againil his account, and maintain circum- 

 cifion was earlier than Abraham, fhall fhew me another 

 profane writer as old as Mofes, as near the time they fay it 

 began as Mofes was to the time of Abraham, I will not 

 argue with them in fupport of Mofes againil Herodotus, 

 nor difcufs who Herodotus's Phenicians, and who his Egyp- 

 tians were that circumcifed. Herodotus knew not Abra- 

 ham nor Mofes, and, compared to their days, he is but as 

 yefterday. Thofe Phenicians and Egyptians might, for any 

 thing he knew at his time, have received circumcilion from 

 Abraham or Ifhmael, or fome of their poflerity, as the A- 

 byllinians or Ethiopians, whom he refers to, actually fay 

 they did, which Herodotus did not know, it is plain, though 

 he mentions they were circumcifed. This tradition of the 

 Abyffinians merits fome conlideration from what they fay 

 of it themfelves, that they were, in the earlieil time, circum- 

 cifed before they left their native country, and fettled in 

 Tigre. From this they derive no honour, nor do they pre- 

 tend 



* Gen. chap. ix. ver. 22;- 



