348 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
Strabo is apparently the firft who mentions this cuftom, which 
is neverthelefs undoubtedly very antient. Lib. xvii. 
By the terms very well marking the diftin£tion between this 
operation and the circumciiion of males. 
The Mohammedans of Egypt conceive it to have no con- 
ncdlion with their religious creed. Similar are faid to be the 
fentiments of the Chriftians of Habbefh. In Dar-Fur many 
women, particularly among the Arabs, never undergo excifion: 
yet it has not been my fate to fee or hear of any of thofe 
KXeiTopi^eg fji,eyoiXai which are fuppofed to have brought it into 
vogue. 
Thirteen or fourteen young females underwent jjiii-L In an 
houfe where I was. It was performed by a woman, and fome 
of them complained much of the pain, both at and after it. 
They were prevented from locomotion, but permitted to eat 
meat. The parts were wafhed every twelve hours with warm 
water, which profufe fuppuration rendered neceflary. At the 
end of eight days the greater part were in a condition to walk, 
and liberated from their confinement. Three or four of them 
remained under reftraint till the thirteenth day. 
culfij de modo excifionis toto cselo errare folent, nymphas exfecarl perhibentes : 
prorfus inepte quidem, fed fepta pudicltia vitam agentibus, riunquam illis niidam 
vele longinquo vidifle, multo minus muliebrla attredtavifle, uti manifeftum, con- 
tigerat. 
