620 Journal of a Tom- through Georgia, 8>c. [Nov. 



spoken of their personal cleanliness, but on this point I certainly 

 cannot agree with them. In regard to cleanliness, none of the 

 Asiatics can be compared to ourselves. Their repeated ablutions 

 very imperfectly remove the evils attendant on the length of time 

 they wear their clothes. I speak from an intimate acquaintance with 

 the practices of Muhammedans in general. Circumcision is supposed 

 to contribute to cleanliness, and is not confined to our sex alone, as 

 the girls of many tribes undergo an operation somewhat similar just 

 before they reach the age of ten. I am ignorant of the manner in 

 which it is done, as the natives are not very communicative on such 

 subjects ; but there are women who live by the performance of it. 

 The barbers operate on the males, and are esteemed unclean from 

 the profession they exercise. 



The Kurds have a practice of removing all the hair from the parts 

 of the body, where we suffer it to remain ; and where we carefully 

 shave, they as carefully cherish its growth. The women also prac- 

 tise depilation in the following way : A thin cord is dipped into 

 some particular gum, and drawn slowly over the parts, when it 

 removes all that adheres to it. This process is extremely painful ; 

 but the remedy does not require a frequent recurrence, as it either 

 produces a complete eradication, or if a new growth appears, it is 

 merely a soft down, which may be removed with facility. 



Another remarkable contrast between European and Asiatic taste 

 is, that corpulence and bulkiness form the greatest trait of beauty. 

 It is natural enough, therefore, that the females are desirous of 

 acquiring a superiority in this particular. They accordingly eat a 

 great variety of sweetmeats, candied fruit, and particular vegetable 

 substances, grated down, and mixed with conserves. This latter 

 composition is thought to be adapted both for vigour, and that en 

 ion point, which is so delightful to their admirers. A Kurd of some 

 rank, in describing the charms of his intended bride, said to me with 

 much seriousness — " She is as large as an elephant !" — He con- 

 sidered this comparison the very acme of perfection. 



