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

CHAP. Y.| BEATING WITH SHOES. 219

to inflict this punishment.’ The prayer was granted, and the Panchayet, for the first time we believe, exercised this power with the sanction of the Government.*

About eight years after this circumstance a violent dispute arose between the “mobeds” or priests, and the “behdins” or laity, which again rendered Government interference necessary. The altercation sprang out of a regulation or ordinance made by the Panchayet of Bombay, with the consent of its community, im the year 1777, which prohibited the “behdins” from giving their daughters in marriage to the “mobeds.” The Panchayet took this step in order to counteract the

1 The Honourable Wrtt1amM Horney, Esq., President and Governor _ of His Majesty’s Castle and Island of Bombay, ete.

The humble Petition of the Managers of the Panchayet of Parsis

Most humbly sheweth, eg ues

That your honour’s petitioners, with greatest respect and submission, take the liberty to represent to your honour that some low Parsis, who are ignorant of the rules of our religion, are going to infringe the same, which your petitioners must prevent, but are unwilling to trouble the Justice every time about these people ; therefore, we most humbly pray that your honour will permit of your petitioners of shaming them in the Panchayet by beating them with a few shoes, agreeable to their crime, which will certainly amend them.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, etc.

(Signed) JaMsHED Boca MopI AND OTHERS.

2 To the Parsis not of the Priest Caste.

You are hereby empowered to meet and inquire into all matters that are committed by your caste, contrary to what has been agreed to by the majority of the caste, and to punish the offender agreeably to the rules of your caste, so far as not permitting them to come to your feasts, or beat them with shoes, but no other corporal punishment.

(Signed) Witiiam Horney. Bombay, 5th July 1778.