The Ely miner., 1928-11-02
prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington. d. C.)

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington d. C)
THROUGH comparatively small in
point of numbers, the Parsees
i occupy one of the foremost places
among Indian nationalities.
Their social position, peculiar Gus
toms and manners are impresSively
striking 70 stranger on his first visit
10 Bombay. Their story is romantic
tale of people whose ancestry ap-
peared at the very dawn of history,
and who occupied Persia when Abra-
ham was nomadic wanderer, tending
his floCks on the sandy plains beyond
the Euphrates. They claim that their
ancestral race was the foremost ASH
attic nation of their time, whose gram
deur, magnificence and glory were un-
surpassed; that their Kings were the
most powerful and wisest of mon
achS, whose armies were renowned
for courage and military prowesS; !;
that they were yalorous and energetic,
bringing up their youth o ride, draw
The bow and speak the truth that
their heroes were as humane as they
were courageous; that their women
were as brave as they. were fair, AMI
as celebrated for the freedom allowed
them as for their modesty
The Parsees are of Persian origin,
of the Iranic race, and are supposed
10 have had common ancestry
somewhere in west-central Asia, where
man, as we now know him, is said
10 have had his birth. More than
5000 years ago their forefathers left
the uplands of that mysterious Aryan
home from which our own ancestors
had already gone forth, and were in
all probability the first of the Indo-
European family to embrace a purely
monotheistic faith.
In religion they are followers of
Zoroaster, who was a religious reform
er and founder of this ancient Persian
religion at period probably prior 10
the Assyrian conquest of Bactria, his
native country, which is said to have
taken place 200 years before the
Christian era. At all events, the re-
ligion of Zoroaster can certainly claim
a hoary antiquity which unquestion-
ably challenges our deep respect
The scripture of this faith, the Par
see Bible. is called the "Zend-Avesta," :"
or more properly. simply "Avesta."
They Are Not Fire-Worshipers.
The Avesta proper is one of the
most interesting documents coming TO
us from the early history and religion
of the Indo-European family. 1t is
made up of several distinct parts,
many of which are fragnentary and
of different ages, some of which must
be many centuries older than our ERA.
This religious system is monotheism
1t recognizes the dual principle of
good or light, and evil or darkness
Fire is it. principal emblem, as be-
in. The pGrest of all elements; hence
the miscOnception that it's adherents
are fire-worshipers. The common
charge of worshiping fire, the sun,
water and air, brought against the
Parsees, is not well founded The
Parsees emphatically deny the charge,
and history gives several accounts of
acts of hatred shown by the Parsees
toward idolatry.
God, according to the Parsee faith,
Is the creator, preServer and ruler of
the universe. He is the emblem of
glory and light In view of this Il
Parsee while engaged in prayer is di-
rected to stand before fire or turn his
face toward the sun, because they ap-
pear to he the most proper symbols If
the Almighty. Such is still the pres
ent practice among their descendants
In India.
ZOrOaster, the Parsee Moses, ap-
pears as being of supernatural en-
dOwments and as receiving from the
views, by questions and answers, the
truths which he is to communicate 10
men, The idea of future life and
the Immortality of the soul pervades
the hole of Avesta literature.
Went From Persia to India.
When the Per iaI empire of SassA
hides was destroyed by the Saracens
in 65l A. d.. the great mass of the ma
fion was forced to adopt the faith of
Islamism. the religion of their Moham.
medan cOnquerOrs; but small num-
her clung to the old ZorOastrian faith
q tOc'; refuge in the wilderness of
the Persian province of Khorasan.
After much wandering and enduring