And ye have seen their abominations and their idols (detestable things), wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them.—(Lange’s Commentary on Deuteronomy, edited by Dr. Philip Schaff, New York, 1879. But in footnote one reads: “Margin—dungy gods from the shape of the ordure, literally thin clods or balls, or that which can be rolled about.—A. G.”)
[52] There is a reference in Martial to this use of the sponge and stick (see Epigram XLVIII., in English translation, edition of London, 1871). Martial also speaks of a Roman lady whose close-stool was of gold, but her drinking-cup of glass,—
“Ventris onus puro, nec te pudet excipis auro;
Sed bibis in vitreo, chareus, ergo cacas.”—
(Epigram XXXVI., quoted by Harington, “Ajax,” p. 37.)
High officials of Corea urinate in public into brass bowls, which are carried by attendants in a sort of net or fillet and presented when required.—(Mr. W. W. Rockhill.)
The monasteries and nunneries of Thibet were provided with latrines. Among the sins against which the nuns (Bhikshuni) were warned were, “Si une bhikshuni va seule aux lieux, et est,” etc.—(“Pratimoksha Sutra,” Thibetan version, translated by W. W. Rockhill, Paris, 1884, p. 44, “École des langues Orientales vivantes.”)
[53] This recalls the repugnance of the Mahometans to the spray of urine touching their persons or clothing, as already indicated.
[54] Bel-Peor. “Very little is really known of the nature of his worship, but it is an almost universal opinion, which appears to be sustained by Numbers xxv., that it was licentious in its character. Human sacrifice appears to have been offered to him; and it is conjectured, from Psalms cvi. 28, that the worshippers ate of the victims that had been offered to him.”—(“Dictionary of Religious Knowledge,” Abbott and Conant, New York, 1875, article “Baal and Baal-Peor.”)
“In a story of Armagnac, Joan lou Pec runs after a man whom he believes to be a sage, and asks him when he will die. The man answers: ‘Joan lou Pec mouriras au troisième pet de toun ase,’—The ass breaks wind twice, and the fool endeavors to prevent the third flatus. ‘Cop sec s’en angone cerca un pau (stake) bien pounchut et l’enfouncee das un martet dans lou cou de l’ase. Mes l’ase s’enflee tant, e hasconc tant gran effort que lou pau sourtisconc commo no balo e tuec lou praube Joan lou Pec.’”—(“Contes et Proverbes Populaires,” recueillis en Armagnac, par J. F. Bladé, Paris, quoted by Angelo de Gubernatis, “Zoöl. Mythol.,” vol. i. pp. 397, 398.)