Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-09
THE pARsEEs OF BOMBAY.

For the ordinary globe-trotter to tarry
long enough in India to familiarize himself
with all the Eastern forms of religion
would be to relinquish his proud boast that
he has travelled more miles, seen more
sights, and crossed more waters than any
other scenery sharp in the. same length
of time who has been on the round this
year :" but for even rounder to visit
Bombay without observing the Parsee and
his customs would be as impossible as to go
to Venice without seeing the gondolas
Bombay, with its SOC, 900 inhabitants,
owes to this not inconsiderable people
something of debt for their making them
selves so well observed, and, when thor
oughly known, so well esteemed. Within
the limits of their faith there is no beg
gary. If they have poor they feed and
clothe them, and if they have sick they
nurse them. Throughout the East
the various and elaborate turbans
worn are marvellous to look at, but the
most gorgeous turban ever folded "hides
its diminished head when placed in con-
trast to the mirth- provoking though SOM
Der head-gear which marks the Parsee.
Seeing for the first time hosts of men
going through the streets wearing what
looks like section of stove-pipe glazed
and then dotted all over with infinitesimal
gilt specks, said stove-pipes minus rim
and the back bent down toward the front
as if intended to be used as a whistle in an
emergency, the natural impulse is to shout
with laughter and it is only when this
shocking bad hat" is understood to be
the badge of their persecution, their cross,
4 how
carried gladly and proudly, despising the
shame for faiths sake, and so elevated to
the dignity of crown, we bend before it
in respectful reverence. The Parsees are
immensely rich and powerful, no matter
whether that wealth was acquired by in
hertance, by frugality or commerce.
| Splendid and luxurious carriages drawn by
two and not infrequently four full blooded
Arabian horses, with a syce or footman
running on at the head of each, roll
through the streets and throng the =" bun
der" or quay where the band plays at
sunset, and usually from among the cush-
ions rise the gloomy spire OF the Parsee's
improbable hat greatly to the disappoint-
ment of the ''rounder who has gaZed
earnestly expecting that no one short OF a
Viceroy or Governor General would turn
up out of such splendid surroundings.
But the penance of peculiar dress is car
RED to such an extreme by the male sex, that
the females have nothing to do but array
themselves like the lilies OF the field,
clothed in silks and satins whose silken
and golden embroidery emit sheen which
fairly dazzles western eyes; loaded with
Jewels festooned with strings of pearls,
arms weighed down with bangles and legs
covered with silver anklets nearly to the
knee; yelled in gold or silver gauze, shod
in sandals of satin which disdain the soil
OF the streets, they walk or sit beside
their husbands the realization of all ones
early dreams Of oriental splendor. Even
the children are clothed in embroidered
silks and laden with bangles, till one is
forced to conclude that it is only upon
reaching mans estate one is permitted to
wear the dress which gives him his pecu-
liar place among the religious people OF
the Eastern world.