Sonnini de Manoncourt, Charles Nicolas Sigisbert: Travels in upper and lower Egypt (Band 2) (London, 1807)

and lower egypt. 2,0,

CHAP. XXIII.

Circumcision of females—Sect of Saadi, or Serpent-
eaters.

Every one knows in what the circumcision of
males consists: every one knows that the Jews
and Mahometans are circumcised. Among the
ancient Egyptians it was considered as an in-
dispensable operation. Whether their climate
necessarily required it, is a question which I shall
not attempt to resolve here; though to me it
appears almost incontestable, that circumcision,
if not absolutely necessary, is at least of great
utility in this country, among a rude and negligent
people. It is practised likewise by the Copts,
who, not thinking themselves sufficiently secure
of an entrance into paradise in consequence of
the baptism they receive as Christians, reckon
circumcision among the precepts of their religion,
as well as the Mahometans with whom they live.
How strange is a religious practice, which nature
disavows, and which cannot be mentioned without
offence to modesty ! The particulars of an opera-
tion, which is the same among all who follow the
religion of Mahomet, will find their proper place
in my Travels in Turkey: but in Egypt it is not

confined