The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-04-20
B0MBAY'S PARSIS.
THE DOMINATING ELEMENT y
ASIA'S FINEST CITY.
Their Ability and Magnificent Gen.
erosfty - Queer Death and
Burial Rites-The Tow
ers OF Silence.


buildings huddled in narrow street
and dark alleys. The street is com
| posed OF fine water fronts, auays. apf
docks, we'll paved streets, avenues. and
| esplanades. The main streets ar.
hned with structures that would dc
credit to any of the European capitals
or best American cities. The G. 1.
Z. Railway terminus, for instance. is
accounted the handsomest in the
world. This Italian Gothic pile cost
the company 81, 500, 900. and is deco.
rated throughout by the students of
the ait school. The Secretariat, the
University Senate Hall, the Library
and Clock Tower, the High Court. and
Post and Telegraph Offices are really
hne specimens of architecture, but the
good examples are too numerous 10
mention in this limited space.
Bombayites are justly proud of their
lime city, and acknowledge that not
little of the credit is due to the broad
minded, philanthropic Parsis, who. bv
their shrewdness, energy and progress.
slve attitude, have become the domi.
mating element in the Bombay presi.
dency.
The Parsis are OF Persian descent.
having fled before the Mohammedan
conquerors over 1000 years ago, and
settled in this locality, which is now
their stronghold. OF the $50, 900 in.
habitants of Bombay there are about
10, OOO Europeans, 1900 Eurasians
o2O, 600 Hindus, 1870 jams, IT'S. 600
Mohammedans, 1000 Parsis. 5000
Hebrews and a few hundred Chinese.
etc. Although the Parsis are ont.
numbered by the Hindus and Moham. |
medans, their influence is paramount.
ana seems TO stand for all that we |
claim for most of the Christian virtues.
Their creed is epitomized In the
familiar good words, good thoughts.
good deeds" which trilogy of virtues
is symbolized by the girdle of three
cords always worn about their bodies.
lo exemplify the faith which is with
In him, the Parsi is given to charity
ana phlianthropic endowments to
degree unparalleled in community
where they represent only one-six
Ieenth part of the population and the
fact that their beneHcence is not lin.
ted TO nation, sect, OF. creed makes
'heir altruism standing reproach to ,
our so-called humanitar ianism. The
9arsls are the leading merchants and
bankers OF Bombay, and many of them :
lave acquired vast wealth. =.
The male Parsi costume is nbe.
.omenally ugly. A long hioh. cnt /.
le-breasted frock coat is buttoned
nugly over their sometimes portIv =
ersons, and their bright, intelligent =
aces are surmounted by oneer =
olnted mitre of black or purple en- Il
meiled cloth. There is absolutelv M :
rim to it, possibly in order not 10 :,
ut OIL the rays of the sun, which thew y
'vere. But they go about seemingly :,
omtortable and unframed in The ~
Iazing noon time, when thick oork :,
elmets and double umbrellas are NOT =
Efficient protection for Europeans v,
Farsi ladies walk and drive in the .,
reefs In very effective costumes o.
hlch are composed of an eight or 81
n-yard length of soft silk which thew
II serai. This is draped into n 20
IL skirt and carried over the head
ID shoulders in graceful folds. The -
mmon serais are printed, but the 81,
,althier women wear the finest silk o.
Ia borders embroidered in gold and de
yer. "Nu de
One OF the sights of the CITY is the fir,
knmas' or Towers of Silence. a in
rmlt is obtained fromythe Parsi an. tb
'rltles, and having driven along the ON
e queens Road bordering the bav ru
halaoar Hill, the visitor leaves bis an
rage at the entrance. and. accom- ho
lled by an attendant, walks tbronob tri
beautiful gardens to the house ~ sib
yer Wnere the everlasting fire is set
~ burning. The followers of 10. fro
ster are Theists, and the FIRE which SO
), are said to worship is to them Ger
ioolical OF purity, glory and reful. I'M
ce. Ihey do not worship fire, but bel
ara III as emblematic of divinity bar
ce the popular error Of termino boo
N re'worshipers. To the Parsis sat
impending death is a state Of cor. Gag
uoD, and the act OF shutting off Juc
mortal coil is attended by prae. tai,
that seem 10 us nothing short of bi0
,tless and CHASTITY. The approach mo,
nat transition wo call death is a '1
al for the relatives to leave fine add
ence OF the dying one, the priest seer
Q remaining to whisper the Zend. escs
Ita precepts into his ear, He. in sibI
, passes out of the room and admits
g, who is trained TO gaze steadily
the face Of the dying one. A dor A
counted the only living creature lone
can terrorize the evil spirits. go mort
'sas-did" or dog stare" is the losf tho
the Parsi has on earth. No iuat
an shadow must intervene. other. wes
the guardian virtue Of the dogs tome
is annulied. ~,
o body is removed in an iron snr,
VI which is used for rich aud poor left
, and conveyed TO the dakhma bv and
nassesalars, The life of these sesn,
salars, or bearers OF the dead. is hoe
uiiarly horrible one. They arc Tho
OIL than the Pariahs, for thew and
part like lopers and are deemed and ]
some and polluted for all time. in sic
are born, marry and die strapp. In
o all except those of their own Of n
g. They are not allowed in the and i
sts' and pass through the streets in tb
On their errands to and from the that ,
mas and the houses of the dead. TO sb,
'thsOno ~ the contamination OF nlaate
10 the ParA that formerly. honse
! seemingly dead person recover escap