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

cHar.v.] ZHE FIRST PARSI PANCHAYET. 217

him two religious works on the Parsi religion, the Vishtasp Yasht and the Visparad. The information thus obtained from time to time by these emissaries to Persia must for a long period have guided the Parsis in the decision of many of their religious and social questions.

It is believed that a properly constituted Panchayet was first formed in Bombay after the island passed into British hands, when the number of Parsis had begun to greatly increase. The Panchayet exercised, however, considerable influence, not only in Bombay, but in the several towns of Gujarat where Parsis had settled. As Bombay grew in importance under the British rule, and the Parsi population increased, this city became the headquarters of the Parsis, and whenever any dissensions or differences of opinion arose among them the advice of the Panchayet was solicited and followed. In religious matters, however, the priests of Navsari have held their own as the supreme authority up to this very day.

The first Parsi Panchayet was a self-constituted body of the elders and influential members of the community ; and so long as the majority of the Parsis remained poor and ill-informed, that body received implicit obedience from its co-religionists, and the authorities of Bombay were never appealed to in consequence of any dissension among the

Parsis.