OF PUBERTY. 421 



no great diftance ? That abfurd delicacy of a 

 neighbouring nation, with regard to the chaftity 

 of their wives, is the o{rsnrin<i of a brutal and 

 criminal jealoufy. 



How oppofite are the taftes, the difpofition?, 

 the opinions, and the manners of different na- 

 tions ? After what has been related concerning 

 the high eflimation of virginity among the bulk 

 of mankind, and the numberlefs precautions and 

 ignominious methods employed to fecure it, is 

 it pofTible to believe that there are other people 

 who defpife virginity, and confider the trouble 

 of removinc: it to be a mean and fervile office? 



Superftition has induced the inhabitants of 

 certain countries to refign the firft fruits of vir- 

 ginity to their idolatrous priefts, and fomctimes 

 to the idols themfelves. This pri\'ilege is enjoy- 

 ed by the priefts of Cochin and of Calicut; and, 

 in Goa, the virgins are proftituted by their pa- 

 rents, cither voluntarily or from choice, to an 

 idol of iron. Grofs fuperftition induces thefe 

 people to commit fuch abominable outrages from 

 relierious motives. But views more fervile and 

 interefted have induced men of other countries to 

 .devote their daughters to their chiefs. The in- 

 habitants of the Canary iflcs, and of the king- 

 dom of Congo, proflitute, in this manner, their 

 daughters, without any injury to their reputa- 

 tion. Nearly the fame culloni takes place in 

 Turkey, Perfia, and fcvcral other countries both 

 of Afia and Afiica. 'i'heir moll eminent nohh-s 



D d "^ tiiink 



