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

192 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. IV.

age, particularly if they are blessed with children and have sufficient means to provide for them, they as a rule retain their state of widowhood.

We now proceed to describe the ceremonies attending the death of a Parsi. When the case is seen to be hopeless, the body of the dying man is washed and dressed in clean clothes. The “dastur” or the “mobed,” with other priests, repeats sundry texts of the Zend Avesta, the substance of which tends to afford consolation to the dying man, and he breathes a prayer on his behalf for the forgiveness of his sins :—“ May the Almighty pardon you for anything that you may have done against His will, His commandments, and the dictates of the true religion of Zoroaster. May the merciful Lord give you a good and happy abode in the world to which you are about to enter, and may He have mercy on you.”

If the dying man be in possession of his senses he himself joins in these exercises ; if not, his son, or nearest relative, or the family priest, bends over him, repeating the words in his ears. When life becomes extinct the body is wrapped in clean clothes and placed on an oblong piece of polished stone, which is laid on the floor. The female members and relations

1 The hands are laid crosswise and joined upon the chest, and the feet are crossed and tied, or are kept straight. At one time there was a sharp contention among the priests whether the feet should be crossed

or kept straight, but the Parsi Panchayet of old decided that this may be done in any way the head of the family of the dead man may direct.