THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 341 
ney to Jerufalem. The Falafha again declare, that their cir- 
cumcifion was that commonly practifed at Jerufalem in the 
time of Solomon, and in ufe among them when they left 
Paleftine, and came into Abyflinia. 
Tue circumcifion of the Abyffinians is performed with a 
fharp knife, or razor. There is no laceration with the nails, 
no formula or repetition of words, nor any religious ceremony 
at the time of the operation; nor is it done at any particular 
age, and generally it is a woman that is the furgeon. The 
Falafha fay, they perform it fometimes with the edge of a 
fharp ftone; fometimes with a knife or razor, and at other 
times with the nails of their fingers; and for this purpofe 
they have the nails of their little fingers of an immoderate 
length: at the time of the operation the prieft chants ahymn, 
or verfe, importing, “ Bleffed art thou, O Lord, who hatft or- 
dained circumcifion!” This is performed on the eighth day, 
and is a religious rite, according to the firft inftitution by 
God to Abraham. 
Tue Abyffinians pretend theirs is not fo; and, being prefi- 
ed for the reafon, they tell you it is becaufe Chrift and the 
apotiles were circumcifed, though they do not hold it ne- 
ceffary to falvation. But it is the objection they conftantly 
make againft eating out of the fame plate, or drinking out 
of the fame cup with ftrangers, that they are uncircumci- 
fed, while, with the Egyptians or the Cophts, though equal- 
ly ftrangers, they make no fuch difficulty. In the time of 
the Jefuits, when the Koman Catholic religion was abolith- ~ 
ed, and liberty given them to return to their old worthip, . 
their priefts proclaimed a general circumcifion; and the 
populace, in the firft days of their fury, or triumph, mur-. 
dered many Catholics, by flabbing them with a lance in that 
2 part,, 
