Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 18.djvu/347

 P A R P A R 325 ing the rank of rear-admiral, and in 1853 he was appointed governor of Greenwich Hospital, which post he retained till his death, 8th July 1855. Besides the journals of his different voyages, Parry was the author of a Lecture to Seamen, and Thoughts on the Parental Character of God. See Memoirs of Rear-Admiral Sir W. E. Parry, by his son Rev. Edward Parry, M.A., 3d ed., 1857. PARStS, or PARSEES. The resident in Bombay who wanders to the Back Bay beach at sunset to inhale the fresh sea-breezes from Malabar Hill will there observe a congregation of the most interesting people of Asia. They are the Parsis, the followers of Zarathustra, and the descendants of the ancient Persians who emigrated to India on the conquest of their country by the Arabs, about the year 720 A.D. The men are well-formed, active, handsome, and intelligent. They have light olive complexions, a fine aquiline nose, bright black eyes, a well-turned chin, heavy arched eyebrows, thick sensual lips, and usually wear a light curling moustache. The women are delicate in frame, with small hands and feet, fair complexions, beautiful black eyes, finely arched eyebrows, and a luxurious profusion of long black hair, which they dress to perfection, and ornament with pearls and gems. The Parsis are much more noble in their treatment of females than any other Asiatic race ; they allow them to appear freely in public, and leave them the entire manage ment of household affairs. They are proverbial for their benevolence, hospitality, and sociability. They are good scholars, and usually learn several languages Gujarati, Hindustani, and English. The Parsis are notoriously fond of good living, and do not hesitate to spend their money freely for the best the market affords. They indulge in wines, but do not reach the vice of intoxication. On getting out of bed in the morning, an orthodox Parsi first says his prayers. He then rubs a little nirang (cow-urine) upon his face, hands, and feet, reciting during the ceremony a prayer or incantation against the influence of devas, or evil spirits, for which the &quot; nirang &quot; is considered a specific. He next takes his bath, cleans his teeth, and repeats his prayers. He then takes his morning meal, a light breakfast, say, tea or chocolate, bread, and fruits. The dinner is more abundant, and is composed of the dishes of the country meats, stews, vegetables, rice, fruits, &c. These dishes are seasoned with pungent sauces, curries, chutneys, pickles, &c., one of which, famous in Bombay, is marked with the mild initials H. F. (hell-fire). The evening meal is taken after sunset, when the labours and ceremonies of the day are over, and is the signal for licence in eating, drinking, and conversation. A tat, or parting drink for the night, is a time-honoured custom among the Parsis. The costume of the Parsi is loose and flowing, very picturesque in appearance, and admirably adapted to the climate in which he lives. The sadara, or shirt, which is considered the most sacred garment, because it is worn next the skin, is a plain loose vest, usually made of muslin, or with the opulent of fine white linen. A long coat or gown is worn over the sadara, extending to the knees, and fastened round the waist with the kusti, or sacred cord, which is carried round three times, and fastened in front with a double knot. The jyyjamis, or loose trousers, are fastened round the waist by a silken cord with tassels at the ends, which are run through a hem. The material of these pyjamis among the common classes is c tton, but the rich indulge in fancy-coloured silks and satins. The head is covered with a turban, or a cap of a fashion peculiar to the Parsis ; it is made of stiff material, some thing like the European hat, without any rim, and has an angle from the top of the forehead backwards. It would not be respectful to uncover in presence of an equal, much less of a superior. The colour is chocolate or maroon, except with the priests, who wear a white turban. The shoes are of red or yellow morocco, turned up at the toes. The dress of Parsi ladies is something gorgeous. They are enveloped in a maze of mysteriously wound silk. They appear as houris floating about the earth in silk balloons, with a ballasting of anklets, necklaces, earrings, and jewellery. The dressmakers bills, fortunately for the head of the family, are not exorbitant, as the costumes have not been through the hands of the modiste, but are composed of many yards of fancy-coloured silks wound round the nether limbs and gradually enfolding the body, covering part of the bosom, and then thrown over the shoulders and head, drooping on the left arm, as a shield against the inquisitive gaze of a stranger. The pyjamis, or drawers, are common to both sexes, but the ladies of course excel in the fine texture and fanciful colours of these garments. A Parsi must be born upon the ground floor of the house, as the teachings of their religion require life to be commenced in humility, and by &quot; good thoughts, words, and actions &quot; alone can an elevated position be attained either in this world or the next. The mother is not seen by any member of the family for forty days. Upon the seventh day after the birth of the child, an astrologer is invited, who is either a Brahmana or a Parsi priest, to cast the nativity of the child. He has first to enumerate the names which the child may bear, and the parents have the right to make choice of one of them. Then he draws on a wooden board a set of hieroglyphics in chalk, and his dexterity in counting or recounting the stars under whose region or influence the child is declared to be born is marvelled at by the superstitious creatures thronging around him. All the relatives press forward to hear the astrologer predict the future life and prospects of the babe. This document is preserved in the family archives as a guidance and encouragement to the child through life, and may exert some influence in shaping its destiny. At the age of seven years or thereabouts, according to the judg ment of the priest, the first religious ceremony of the Parsis is performed upon the young Zarathustrian. He is first subjected to the process of purification, which consists of an ablution with &quot; nirang.&quot; The ceremony consists in investing the young Parsi with the cincture, or girdle of his faith. This cincture is a cord woven by women of the priestly class only. It is composed of seventy-two threads, representing the seventy-two chapter.-, of the Yatna, a portion of the Zand-Avesta, in the sacredness of which the young neophyte is figuratively bound. The priest ties the cord around the waist as he pronounces the benediction upon the child, throwing upon its head at each sentence slices of fruits, seeds, perfumes, and spices. He is thus received into the religion of Zarathustra. After the performance of this ceremony, the c Id is considered morally accountable for its acts. If ; child die before the performance of this ceremony, it i: considered to have gone back to Ahura-Mazda, who gave it, as pure as it entered into this world, having not reached the age of accountability. The ceremony of the l-usti, 01 encircling with the girdle, is closed by the distribution of refreshments to the friends and relatives of the family win &amp;gt; have attended the investiture of the younger follower of Zarathustra with the sacred girdle of his faith. The marriages of children engage the earliest attention of the parents. Though the majority of Parsi marriages are still celebrated while the children are very young, instances frequently occur of marriages of grown-up boys and girl*. The wedding day is fixed by an astrologer, who consult: the stars for a happy season. The wedding day being