The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-05-22
B0MBAY'S PARSIS.
THE DOMINATING ELEMENT IN
ASIA'S FINEST CITY.
Their Ability and Magnificent Gen
crosby - Queer Death and
Burial Rites-The Tow
ers of Silence.

attic continent, barring the
G native quarter, which is the
usual picturesque eonglomeration of
buildings huddled in narrow streets
and dark alleys. The street is COM
posed of fine water fronts, quays, and
docks, well paved streets, avenues, and
esplanades. The main streets are
lined with structures that would do
credit to any of the European capitals
or best American cities. The G. /.
P. 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 art school. The Secretariat, the
University Senate Hall, the Library
and Clock Tower, the High Court, and
Post and Telegraph offices are really
fine specimens of architecture, but the
good examples are too numerous to
mention in this limited space.
Bombayites are justly proud of their
fine city, and acknowledge that not
little of the credit is due to the broad
minded, philanthropic Parsis, who. by
their shrewdness, energy and progres-
sive. attitude, have become the domi-
mating element in the Bombay presi
dency.
The Parsis are OF Persian descent,
having fed before the Mohammedan
conquerors over 1000 years ago, and
settled in this locality, which is now
their stronghold. OF the $4,000 in
habitants of Bombay there are about
$4,000 Europeans, 1900 Eurasians,
$40, coo Hindus, $4,000 Jains, 175, 900
Mohammedans, 10000 Parsis, 5000
Hebrews and few hundred Chinese,
etc. Although tho Parsis are out
numbered by the Hindus and Moham-
medans, their 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 trilogy of virtues
is symbolized by the girdle of three
cords always worn about their bodies.
To exemplify the faith which is with
in him, the Parsi is given to charity
and philanthropic endowments to a
degree unparalleled in community
where they represent only one-six-
teenth part of the population ; and the
fact that their benefcence is not linn.
lied to nation, sect, or creed makes
their altruism standing reproach to
our so-called humanitarianism. The
Parsis are the leading merchants and
bankers OF Bombay, and many of them
have acquired vast wealth.
The male Parsi costume is phe-
nomenally ugly. A long high-cut
single breasted frock coat is buttoned
snugly over their sometimes portly
persons, and their bright, intelligent
faces are surrounded by queer
pointed mitre of black or purple en-
amelled 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 go 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 an eight or
ten-yard length of soft silk which they
call serai. This is draped into q
full skirt and. carried over the head
and shoulders in graceful folds. The
common serais are printed, but the
wealthier 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 fromfthe 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, where the everlasting fire is
kept burning. The followers of 70
rooster are Theists, and the fire which
they are said to worship is to them
symbolical of purity, glory and reful-
gence. They do not worship fire. but
regard it as emblematic of divinity
hence the popular error OF termina
them fre-worshipers. To the Pprsis,
ever impending death is state OF cor.
ruption, and the act of shutting of
this mortal coil is attended by prac.
tees that seem to us nothing short Of
heartless and CHASTITY. Tho approach
of that transition we call death is 8
signal for the relatives to. leave the
presence of the dying one, the priest
alone remaining to whisper the Zend
| Avesta precepts into his ear. He. in
turn, passes out of the room and admits
| a dog, who is trained to gaze steadily
into the face OF the dying enc. A dos
is accounted the only living creaturs
that can terrorize the evil spirits, sc
the ''sas.did' or "dog stare" is the las
sight the Parsi has on earth. M
| human shadow must intervene, other
| wise the guardian virtue of the dog
gaze is annulled.
The body is removed in an iron
| casket, which is used for rich and poo
alike, and conveyed to the dakhma b,
! the nassesalars. The life OF thes,
nassesalare, or bearers of the dead, i
a peculiarly horrible one. They ar,
worse Oft than the Pariahs, for the,
live apart like lepers and are deemei
loathsome aud polluted for all time
They are born, marry and die strang
ers to all except those OF their owl
/ oalt,rsx fThav arr not allowed IT, th