The custom is essentially
Oriental in origin, and was particularly used in polygamous
countries, where the mission of eunuchs was to guard the females
of the harem. They were generally large, stout men, and were
noted for their vigorous health. The history of eunuchism is lost
in antiquity. The ancient Book of Job speaks of eunuchs, and they
were in vogue before the time of Semiramis; the King of Lydia,
Andramytis, is said to have sanctioned castration of both male
and female for social reasons. Negro eunuchs were common among
the Romans. All the great emperors and conquerors had their
eunuchs. Alexander the Great had his celebrated eunuch, Bagoas,
and Nero, his Sporus, etc. Chevers says that the manufacture of
eunuchs still takes place in the cities of Delhi, Lucknow, and
Rajpootana. So skilful are the traveling eunuch-makers that their
mortality is a small fraction of one per cent. Their method of
operation is to encircle the external genital organs with a tight
ligature, and then sweep them off at one stroke. He also remarks
that those who retain their penises are of but little value or
trusted. He divided the Indian eunuchs into three classes: those
born so, those with a penis but no testicles, and those minus
both testicles and penis.
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