DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11637#0044
30 TRAVELS IN UPPER
confined to males, there is a species of it appro-
priated to females likewise.
This was equally used by the ancient Egyptians,
and has been transmitted by ihem to their descend-
ants, by whom alone it is practised; for those
foreigners who have come to settle in the country,
have not submitted to it, and do not find it ne-
cessary. I am aware of the difficulty of treating
subjects of such a nature, without exciting ideas
different from those that arise in the mind of the
naturalist intent on his researches ; but this point
of the natural history of man is too important
to be passed over in silence, and no person before
me has examined and determined it with accuracy.
In my description I shall confine myself to the
terms which the anatomist has consecrated to the
use of science; for if in any case it be allowable
to employ expressions not very intelligible to
mankind at large, it is unquestionably on such
delicate subjects.
It was well known that the Egyptian women
were accustomed to the practice of circumcision ;
but people were not agreed on the motives which
induced them to submit to the operation. Most
of those who have written on the subject have
considered it as a retrenchment of a portion of the
nymphae, which have been said to grow to an
enormous
confined to males, there is a species of it appro-
priated to females likewise.
This was equally used by the ancient Egyptians,
and has been transmitted by ihem to their descend-
ants, by whom alone it is practised; for those
foreigners who have come to settle in the country,
have not submitted to it, and do not find it ne-
cessary. I am aware of the difficulty of treating
subjects of such a nature, without exciting ideas
different from those that arise in the mind of the
naturalist intent on his researches ; but this point
of the natural history of man is too important
to be passed over in silence, and no person before
me has examined and determined it with accuracy.
In my description I shall confine myself to the
terms which the anatomist has consecrated to the
use of science; for if in any case it be allowable
to employ expressions not very intelligible to
mankind at large, it is unquestionably on such
delicate subjects.
It was well known that the Egyptian women
were accustomed to the practice of circumcision ;
but people were not agreed on the motives which
induced them to submit to the operation. Most
of those who have written on the subject have
considered it as a retrenchment of a portion of the
nymphae, which have been said to grow to an
enormous