History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

170 HISTORY OF THE PARSTS:. [CHAP. Iv.

mean his marriage. With him it is an event of the ereatest rejoicing in which all the familes interested partake. The one hope of a Parsi father and mother is to see their sons and daughters suitably married and settled during their lifetime; and when that object 1s about to be attained rejoicings take place for days, and in some instances for weeks even, before the nuptials.

According to the law of Zoroaster, a boy or girl ought not to be married before the age of fifteen, and this rule must have been observed by the ancient Persians ; but among a number of customs which the Parsis in India adopted from the Hindus must unfortunately be included that of early marriages. Hindus are most strictly enjoimed by their shastras to have their girls married before they have attained the age of nine years, on failure whereof great shame attaches to their parents. This idea of shame appears to have been to some extent participated in by the Parsis, and hence the early marriage of their daughters until recent times. There were other causes also which greatly contributed to create an anxiety among them as to the early marriage of their children. As weddings are legitimate occasions for rejoicings and festivities, most of the wealthy were glad of the opportunities they afforded for the display of their wealth m giving dinners and natch-parties on an

extensive scale to their relatives, neighbours, friends,