342 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
part, as they met them, repeating in derifion the Jewifh hymn, 
or ejaculation, “ Bleffed is the Lord that hath ordained cir- 
ccumcifion !” fo that, I believe, their indifference in this ar- 
ticle is rather owing to not being contradicted; juft as they 
are carelefs about every other parts of religion, unlefs fuch 
as have been revived in their minds by difputes with the 
Jefuits, and kept up fince in part among their clergy. But 
none of them pretend that circumcifion arifes from necef- 
fity of any kind, or from any ob{tructicn or impediment to 
procreation, or that it becomes neceflary for cleanlinefs, or 
from the heat of climate. 
None of thefe reafons, conftantly alled¢ed in Europe, 
are ever to be heard of here, nor do I believe they have the 
{mallet foundation any where; and this, I think, fhould 
weigh flrongly in favour of the account fcripture gives of 
it, Examining the origin of this ceremony, independent of 
this revelation, I will never believe that man, or nations of 
men, rathly fubmitted to a difgraccful, fometimes danger- 
ous, and always painful operation, unlefs there had been 
propoied, as a confequence, fome reward for fubmitting to, 
‘or fome punifhment for refufing it, which balanced in their 
mninds the pain and danger, as well as difgrace, of that ope- 
‘ration. | 
Aut the inhabitants of the globe agree in confidering it 
fhameful to expofe that part of their body, even to men; 
and in the eaft, where, from climate, you are allowed, and 
from refpect to your fuperiors, the generality of men are 
forced to go naked, all agree in covering their waiit, which | 
is called their wakcdnefs, though it is really the only part of 
their body that is covered. We fee even that there was a 
3 curfe 
