CHAPTEE XIX 
ANCIENT CUSTOMS. 
They observe many ancient customs. 
For example : They take the finest flour, 
best rice, purest oil, and the best of what- 
ever they use as food themselves, pre- 
pare them in the best style, and offer them 
in sacrifice to their Deities. Those familiar 
with the Old Testament know that the Jews 
were required to take the best of their flocks 
and sacrifice to the Lord. They also wear 
sandals as the people did anciently. 
They wash the feet of strangers coming 
to them, which is also an ancient custom. 
If the traveler be a common person, the 
headman's slaves or wives wash his feet ; 
but if he be a man of note, the headman 
washes them himself, to show the respect in 
which he holds him. Washing feet is a 
custom founded upon a physical necessity in 
warm countries, as much as wearing clothes 
is in cold countries ; and when spoken of in 
the Scriptures as a religious act, it means 
