"At the time of the conquest, the Spaniards found circumcised nations in Central America, and on the Amazon, the Tecuna and Manaos tribes still observe this practice. In the South Seas it has been met with among three different races, but it is performed in a somewhat different manner. On the Australian continent, not all, but the majority of tribes, practiced circumcision. Among the Papuans, the inhabitants of New Caledonia and the New Hebrides adhere to this custom. In his third voyage, Captain Cook found it among the inhabitants of the Friendly Islands, in particular at Tongataboo, and the younger Pritchard bears witness to its practice in the Samoa or Fiji groups." (Oscar Peschel: The Races of Man, p. 22.) [87:4] Luke, ii. 21. [87:5] Matthew, v. 18. [87:6] In using the words "the religion of Jesus," we mean simply _the religion of Israel_. We believe that Jesus of Nazareth was a _Jew_, in every sense of the word, and that he did not establish a new religion, or preach a new doctrine, in any way, shape, or form. "The preacher from the Mount, the prophet of the Beatitudes, does but repeat with persuasive lips what the law-givers of his race proclaimed in mighty tones of command." (See chap. xi.) CHAPTER XI. CONCLUSION OF PART FIRST. There are many other legends recorded in the Old Testament which might be treated at length, but, as we have considered the principal and most important, and as we have so much to examine in Part Second, which treats of the New Testament, we shall take but a passing glance at a few others. In Genesis xli. is to be found the story of PHARAOH'S TWO DREAMS, which is to the effect that Pharaoh dreamed that he stood by a river, and saw come up out of it _seven_ fat kine, and _seven_ lean kine, which devoured the fat ones. He then dreamed that he saw _seven_ good ears of corn, on one stalk, spring up out of the ground. This was followed by _seven_ poor ears, which sprang up after them, and devoured the good ears. Pharaoh, upon awaking from his sleep, and recalling the dreams which he dreamed, was greatly troubled, "and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof, and Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh." Finally, his chief butler tells him of one Joseph, who was skilled in interpreting dreams, and Pharaoh orders him to be brought before his presence. He then repeats his dreams to Joseph, who immediately interprets them to the great satisfaction of the king. A very similar story is related in the Buddhist _Fo-pen-hing_--one of their sacred books, which has been translated by Prof. Samuel Beal--which, in substance, is as follows: