The Mahometans believe, “That what defiles the body is capable also of defiling the soul: and that which purifies the one, will in like manner purify the other.” For this reason, they lay great stress upon keeping their bodies clean and unpolluted, and accordingly observe their washings or oblations with the greatest exactness. They scarce perform any act of devotion without washing: their prayers are vain and criminal that are offered up with unwashed hands; and it is the highest profanation to touch the Alcoran in such a state of uncleanness.
When the Mahometans go to ease nature, they always furnish themselves with two cloths which they hang at their girdle, or carry across their arm, as a butler does his napkin; and they also take a pot of water in their hand, or else it is constantly provided in the privy, into which they dip their fingers, and therewith cleanse all those parts through which nature discharges herself; for they are not allowed to use paper for this purpose, or any thing that may be written upon; but more especially written paper, lest their should be any ⟨t⟩hing sacred, as the name of God or some scrap of the Alcoran upon it: neither are they to use ⟨t⟩he right hand in these offices. After the business ⟨i⟩s over, they are obliged to wash and scour their hands, for which we may suppose there is suffi⟨c⟩ient occasion; and so scrupulous are they about this ceremony, that if they happen to break wind, they think the oblation is annulled, and they are ⟨f⟩orced to begin anew. It may be presumed, that ⟨it⟩ is a terrible misfortune for a Mahometan to have ⟨a⟩ looseness, for in that case, this purification which must be perpetually repeated, becomes an excess⟨i⟩ve burden.
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