656
Diary and Journal of Parsees.
DEC.
&c., all of which were in no way prejudicial to their religion; and consequently these changes they agreed to adopt. On landing they built an aguiary, or fire-temple, for their worship.
They had continued there five hundred years, without any moles tation, when Mohammed, surnamed Dagura, after having conquered the greater part of Guzerat, sent a force of 3000 men, under his gene ral Ulaf khan, to take possession of Sanjan. But two hundred years before this event, most of the Parsees had left Sanjan for Cambay, Broach, Surat, Uklasur, Vuriow, Nowsary, seeking for a livelihood. When the ruler of Sanjan, one of the descendants of Jadee Rana, heard of the approach of the army of Mohammed, he requested his Parsee subjects to fight against them, which they refused to do, as it would be acting contrary to the treaty, which they had made with his forefathers. However, after being much urged by the high offi. eers of the state, they consented once more to take arms. The Parsee fighting men amounted to 1400, and, headed by Ardaseer, marched against the Mohammedans and completely routed them. When Mo- hammed heard of the defeat of his troops, and knew that the rájá was aided by Parsee warriors, he sent reinforcements, which, joining the the defeated army, marched a second time and were victorious. Great losses were sustained on both sides. The few remaining Par- sees, being now again under the control of the opponents of their re- ligion, left Sanjan, and joined their friends in other parts of India.
After the British obtained possession of Bombay, many Parsees came to that place, and thence went to Calcutta, Madras, China, &c. There are in Persia at present, it is supposed, about 200,000 followers of Zoroaster, but they are much disturbed in their religious rites by the Mohammedans. The number now in India is probably about 50,000.
Almost all the Parsees are merchants, or servants of merchants. There are no tailors, barbers, &c,, among them. The Parsees are dependant upon others for the production of almost all the necessa- ries of life. If reduced to poverty, they either become servants, or are supported by their friends. As with the Greeks, so with the Par- sees, there is a great contrast between those of ancient and those of moderns times. Some of the Parsees are very wealthy and very libe- ral and charitable men.
The religion of the Parsees is called Muzdyesné, or Yezdaprust, meaning worshiper of God. Muzd and Yezd both signifying God; and yesné and prust, to worship. By foreigners it is-sontracted, and called Magi, and its followers Magians. Zoroaster, their lawgiver,
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