The Persian, it is said, will endure suffocation before he will blow the
fire with his breath; the Indian places supreme perfection in besmearing
himself with cow-dung; the Mussulman believes himself purified from all
his sins by the ablution of his head and arms: the only question with
him is, "whether the ceremony ought to begin at the elbow or at the
points of his fingers;" but so great is the difference of opinion on
this head, that if two Mahometans meet on a journey, and accost each
other with brotherly affection, by the one beginning his ablution
at his fingers' ends, and the other at his elbow, they instantly
separate and become mortal enemies.