in matters of religion, a ceremony which consists in cleansing anything from a supposed pol- lution or defilement.

The Pagans, before they sacrificed, usually bathed or washed themselves in water; and they were particularly careful to wash their hands, because with these they were to touch the victims consecrated to the gods. It was al- so customary to wash the vessel with which they made their libations. The Mahometans use purifications as previous to the duty of prayer: these also are of two kinds; either bathing; or only washing the face, hands and feet. The first is requested only in extraordinary cases, as after having lain with a woman, touched a dead &c. But lest so necessary a preparation for their devo- tion should be omitted, either where water cannot be had, or when it may be of prejudice to a person's health, they are allowed in such cases to make use of fine sand or dust instead of it; and then they perform this duty by clap- ping their open hands on the sand, and passing them over the parts, in the same manner as if they were dipped in water.

There were also many legal purifications among the Hebrews. When a woman was brought to bed of a male-child, she was deemed impure for forty days; and when of a female, for sixty; at the end of which time she carried a lamb to the door of the temple, to be of- fered for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon or turtle for a sin-offering, and by this ceremony she was cleansed or purified.