File:An authentic narrative of the loss of the American brig Commerce - wrecked on the western cost of Africa, in the month of August, 1815. (1817) (14798821143).jpg

Identifier: authenticnarrati00rile (find matches)
Title: An authentic narrative of the loss of the American brig Commerce : wrecked on the western cost of Africa, in the month of August, 1815.
Year: 1817 (1810s)
Authors: Riley, James, 1777-1840 Bleecker, Anthony, 1770-1827
Subjects: Commerce (Brig) Slavery
Publisher: New-York : Printed and published for the author, by T. & W. Mercein, no. 93 Gold-street
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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abs at the age of eight years:the Arabs cut the foreskin and flesh off square, aswell as the Jews : but with the Arabs, as I have be-fore observed, it is a preventive of disease, and nota religious rite. For a view of the Jewish costumeand manner of performing this ceremony in WestBarbary, see plate No. 8. During my journey towards Tangier, when weput up at Saffy, during the Jews Sabbath, havingtwo Jews in company, who had friends or relationsin that place that entertained them, and furnished asupper; before eating, they brought forward a cupin the form of a tankard, and some white bread, inwhich some green herbs had been chopped up, andmixed with it before baking: they all arose at once,formed a circle round the supper dish, consisting ofboiled fowls, which was set on the floor, and whenstanding, all began to chant over their prayers inHebrew, as fast as they could speak: there wereabout twenty in all, relations and visitors. As I wass;norant of the Hebrew language, which they spoke.
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OBSERVATIONS ON AFRICA, 417 and which I am told, differs materially from thattaught in the schools and colleges of our country.I could not join with them. This chant, discordantenough to be sure, took up at least a quarter of anhour. When they were about to finish, they passedround the bread, of which each one took a piece,and not to be singular, I took one also, and ate it.After saying over a few more words, they handedround the cup to all, and each took a drink, keepingup their chant all the time—when it came round tome, I took it and drank a little: it was wine, madeby steeping dry raisins in water, and to me not verypalatable, being somewhat sour and bitter. Afterthe cup had gone round, all turned their faces to theeast, bowed thrice, bending their bodies more thanhalf way to the ground, still going on with theirchant. As soon as they had done worshipping,they resumed their places round the dish, seizedeach other by the hand, giving it a convulsive grasp,and stamping at the same

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