TPITENGOWR CE OF THE’ NILE, 305 
tHere:are no rooms but one, in which they facrifice both to 
Bacchus and to Venus™. The two men neareft the vacuum 
a pair have made on. the bench by leaving their feats, hold 
their upper garment lke a {kreen before the two that have 
left the bench; and, if we may judge by found, they feem 
to think it as great a-fhame to make love in filence as to 
eat.—keplaced in their feats again, the company drink the- 
happy couple’s health; and their example is followed at dif- 
ferent ends of the table, as each couple is difpofed. All this - 
paffes without remark or fcandal, not a licentious word is. 
uttered, nor the moft diftant joke upon the tranfaction. 
Tuese ladies are, for the moft part, women of family and 
character, and they and their gailants are reciprocally diftin- 
guithed by the name Woodage, which anfwers to what in Italy 
they call Cicifbey ; and, indeed,I believe that thename itfelf, 
as well as the practice, is Hebrew; /chus chis beiim, fignifies at- 
gendants OY conzpanions of the bride, or brides man,as we call 1t-in 
England. The only differénce is, that in: Europe the inti- 
macy and attendance continues during the marriage, while, 
among the Jews, it was permitted only the few days of the 
marriage ceremony. The averfion.to Judaifm, in the ladies 
of Europe, has probably led them to. the frolongation of the 
term. : 
Ir was: a cuflom of the ancient Egyptians to purge them- 
felves monthly for three days ; and the fame ‘is ftill in prac- 
tice in Abyffinia... We {hall fpeak more of the reafon of this. 
Vou. UL Qq. : practice: 
* ¥n this particular they refemble the Cynics of old, of whom it was faid, “ Omnia que ad 
© Bacchum.ct Venerem pextiguerint in publicofacere.””. Diogenes Laertius in Vit, Diogen, 
x 
