The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-04-03
B0MBAY'S PARSIS.
THE DOMINATING ELEMENT IN
ASIA'S FINEST CITY.
Their Ability and Magnificent Gen
erosity -. Queer Death and
Burial Rites--Thc Tow
ers of Silence.
~ OMBAY is without doubt tho

crS u SlCuCCs
~ OMBAT is without doubt the
| X most modern city on the Ash
attic continent, barring the
native quarter, which is the
usual picturesque conglomeration Of
buildings huddled in narrow streets
and dark alleys. The street is COM
posed Of fine water fronts, quays, and
docks, we'll paved streets, avenues, aud
esplanades. The main streets are
lined with structures that would do
credit to any of the European capitals
or best American cities. The e. I.
P. Railway terminus, for instance, is
accounted the handsomest in the
world. This italian Gothic pile cost
the company 81, 800, 900. and is deco.
rated throughout by the students Of
the al school. The Secretariat, the
University Senate Hall, the Library
and Clock Tower, the High Court, and
Post and Telegraph Offices aro really
fine specimens of architecture, but the
good examples are too numerous to
monitor in this limited space.
Bombayites are justly proud of their
fine city, and acknowledge that not 6
little of the credit is due to the broad
minded, philanthropic Parsis, who, by
their shrewdness, energy and progress
sive attitude, have become the domi~
mating element in the Bombay presi-
dency.
The Parsis are OF Persian descent,
having tied before the Mohammeaan
conqaerors over 1000 years ago, and
e. in this locality, which is now
eughold. OF the $4,000 in.
LOT Bombay there are about
Europeans, 1900 Eurasians,
gHindus, $4,000 jams, ITS, 900
MI Rnedaus, 10000 Parsis, 5000
Hebrews and q few hundred Chinese,
etc. Although the Parsis are out.
numbered by the Hindus and Moham.
medans, .thcir influence is paramount,
and 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 triloyy of virtues
is symboIized by the girdle of three
cords always worn about thcic bodies.
10 exemp!ify the faith which is with
in him, the Parsi is given to charity
and philanthropic endownents to
degree unparalleled in o community
whero they represent only one.six-
teenth part Of the population and the
fact that their beneicence is not lin.
lied to nation, sect, or creed makes
their altruism standing reproach to
our so-called humanltarianism. The
Parsis are the leading merchants and
bankers OF Bombay. aud many Of them
have acquired vast wealth.
The male Parsi costume is phe.
nomenally ugly. A long high.cut
single.breested frock coat is buttoned
snugly over their sometimes portly
persons, and their bright, intelligent
faces are surmounted by queer
pointed mitre OF black or purple en-
amelIed cloth. There is absolutely no
brim to it, possibly in order not to
cut off the rays Of the sun, which they
revere. But they 80 about seemingly
comfortable and unframed in the
blazing noon time, when thick cork
helmets and double umbrellas are not
sufficient protection for Europeans.
Parsi ladies walk and drive in the
streets in very effective costumes,
which are composed of IN eight or
ten.yard length of soft silk which they
call serai. This is draped into
full skirt and carried over the head
and shoulders in graceful folds. The
common serais are printed, but the
Weather women wear the finest silk
with borders embroidered in gold and
silver.
One Of the sights Of the city is the
Dakhmas, or Towers of Silence. A
permit is obtained from }the Parsi au.
thorities, and having driven along the
fine Queens Road bordering the bay
to Malabar Hill, the visitor leaves his
carriage at the entrance, and, accom-
panied by an attendant, walks through
the beautiful gardens to the house of
prayer, whers the everlasting fire is
kept burning. The followers of 20.
rooster are THESIS, and the fire which
they are said to worship is to them
symbolicsl of purity, glory and reful.
gence. They do not worship fire, but
regard it as emblematic of divinity
hence the popular error of terming
them fre'worshipers. TO the Parsis, !
ever impending death is state Of cor.
ruption, and the act of shulAing off
this mortal coil is attended by prao.
tices that seem to US nothing short of |
heartless and CHASTITY. The approach
of that transition We call death is
signal for the relatives to leave the
presence Of the dying one, tho priest