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

206 HISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. IV.

solemn edifices is therefore freely taken advantage of by all races. In the year 1878 a new “ dokhma” was built at Navsari by Mr. Nasarvanji Ratanji Tata,’ a wealthy and generous Parsi gentleman of Bombay, who claims the former town as his birthplace. Sir Richard Temple, at that time Governor of Bombay, went by Mr. Nasarvanji’s invitation to see the “dokhma,” and the Parsi engineer, Mr. Nasarvanji Chandabhai, under whose supervision it had been constructed, described and explained to him on the spot its internal arrangements. Sir Richard Temple expressed himself as being much pleased with the sanitary precautions which were adopted by the Parsis in their method for the disposal of the dead. To any other persons than Parsis this mode of disposing of dead bodies, namely, by allowing vultures to devour them, seems revolting, but usage from time immemorial has not only reconciled the most sensitive Parsi to it, but has led him to think that it is the best that could be adopted under all

employ, or if free merchants, mariners, or others, be adjudged to have forfeited their licences, and will be sent to Europe. By order of the Acting President in Council, (Signed) Wrtram Pace, Secretary. BomBay Castle, 29th February 1792.”

1 This gentleman has recently built at a cost of Rs.65,000 an “agiary ” or fire-temple for the use of the Zoroastrians at Bandora, a town ten miles from Bombay.