[236] Paulus, “Sammlung morgenländ. Reisebeschreibg.,” (Collection of Descriptions of Eastern Travel), Vol. III. p. 83.—Olivier’s “Reise in Aegypten, Syrien, etc.,” (Travels in Egypt, Syria, etc.), p. 413.—Seezen, loco citato p. 65. Perhaps even the ancient Egyptians circumcised maids in their time. Ambrosius, Abraham Bk. II. ch. 11., in Works Vol. I. p. 347., Paris edition of 1686. Galen, De usu partium Bk. XV.
[237] Ludolf, History of the Ethiopians Bk. III. ch. 1.
[238] Chardin, Voyages en Perse, (Travels in Persia), Vol. X. p. 76., Amsterdam edition.
[239] Mungo Park, Travels p. 180.—Voyage au pays de Bambouc, (Journey to the Land of Bambuk), p. 48.
[240] Veigl’s “Gründliche Nachrichten von der Landschaft Maynas in Südamerika,” (Trustworthy Account of the Province of Maynas in South America), in Murr’s “Sammlung der Reisen einiger Missionarien von der Gesellschaft Jesu,” (Collection of the Travels of various Missionaries of the Society of Jesus), Nüremberg 1785., p. 67.
[241] Plutarch, On Isis and Osiris ch. 94. Hence we commonly find among the Ancients the custom, merely after the evacuation of urine and fæces, of cleansing the parts concerned. Accordingly Josephus, De Bello Judaic. Bk. II. ch. 8., says: καίπερ δὲ φυσικῆς οὔσης τῆς τῶν σωματικῶν λυμάτων ἐκκρίσεως ἀπολούεσθαι μετ’αὐτὴν, καθάπερ μεμιασμένοις, ἔθιζον. (And even though the evacuation of the bodily defilements was in the course of nature, they were accustomed to wash themselves after it, as in the case of men polluted). The Romans used for the purpose a sponge fastened to the end of a stick, as we see from Seneca, Letter 70, where he says: Lignum, quod ad emendanda obscoena adhaerente spongia positum est, totum in gulam sparsit, (The stick that is placed with a sponge fixed to it for cleansing filth, this he shook right in his mouth). Slaves took stones, bulbs, etc. for the purpose. Aristophanes, Plut. IV. 1. After making water it was usual to wash the hands. Petronius, Satyr. 27. Exonerata ille vesica, aquam poposcit ad manus. (After relieving his bladder, he asked for water for his hands). This care for cleanliness roused, as mentioned before, the utmost anger on the part of Saint Athanasius; but it is to this day the custom among the Turks, for it is enjoined by the Koran (Sure IV. 42.), even adding that only one hand ought to be used (Niebuhr, Description of Arabia, p. 78.), namely the left. The same hand was used also by the Romans, as well as perhaps by all ancient Peoples. Hence Martial says, bk. XI. 59., sed lota mentula laeva.... (but my member, when my left hand has been washed....). With the left hand, amica manus (the mistress hand), masturbation was performed, Martial, IX. 42. XI. 74.; it served to cover the genitals, Lucian, Amor. 13., hence according to Ovid, Ars amandi, Bk. II. 613.
Ipsa Venus pubem quoties velamina ponit,
Protegitur laeva semireducta manu
(Venus herself, as oft as she lays aside her garments, half withdrawn covers herself with her left hand), and Priapus is represented in Art holding the penis with the left hand, Priapeia 24. 34. If we are not mistaken, this was also the case with Horus among the Egyptians. What has just been said explains at the same time the reason why the left hand has from of old been held in disrepute, an idea still preserved in the expression, to marry, to be married, with the left hand.
[242] Friedr. Hoffmann, Diss. med. 3., asserit luem Veneream Constantinopolidos non grassari, quod feminae munditiei apprime studiosae post opus aquam sumant et locos diligenter colluant (asserts that Venereal disease is not prevalent at Constantinople, because the women being extremely careful of cleanliness take water after their work and scrupulously wash the parts), says Astruc, I. p. 108. This is further confirmed by Oppenheim, “Ueber den Zustand der Heilkunde etc. in der Türkei,” (On the Condition of Medical Science etc. in Turkey), Hamburg 1838., p. 81., who writes: “Without the great cleanliness of the Turks, who after any single occasion of coition not only practise washing, but wherever at all possible, go to the bath as well, the disease (Venereal) would undoubtedly be still more widely spread.”