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

CHAP. V.] THE LAW OF DIVORCE. 227

without the permission of the Panchayet obtained, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, he shall be put out of our community.

“Further, any person going out of Bombay to take unto himself a wife at Thana, Karanja, or at any town or village, while his first wife is alive, shall be turned out of caste by the Panchayet on his return to Bombay.

“Further, whoever shall marry a second wife by permission of the Panchayet, the marriage ceremony of such person, if he be a Shehenshai, shall be performed by Dastur Kharshedji J amshedji himself, or with his order by priests under him ; and if he be a Kadmi, by Mulla Firoz, or under his order by priests under him. If any other priests shall perform the ceremony the Panchayet will not acknowledge it, and shall not allow the offending party to enter any fire-temple; nor shall any persons give to priests officiating as above, without permission, donations in funeral and other ceremonies. Any one not acting according to what is above stated shall be further punished as the Panchayet shall think proper.

“Further, any person attending the nuptials of any individual who shall marry a second wife without permission from the Panchayet shall also be punished by the Panchayet as they think proper.

“Further, any person having no children, and his wife not past the age of delivery, shall not marry a second wife, even though he should promise to satisfy his first wife, and obtain her consent to do so. On the other hand, he shall not allow his wife to take unto herself another man for her husband ; and the Panchayet shall not acknowledge any writing or agreement for the mutual discharge of marriage vows, and shall not allow him to take unto himself another wife, nor the woman to take unto herself another husband; and all who do so without the permission of the Panchayet shall be turned out of caste, or shall receive such other punishment as the Panchayet shall deem proper.

“Further, any person obtaining permission from the Panchayet to take a second wife (his first wife being alive) shall be subject to the payment of such a sum of money for charity'as the Panchayet shall deem him able to afford ; and after the payment of such sum the Panchayet may give him permission to marry a second wife.”