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

234 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. Vv.

But the healthy influence of the Parsi Panchayet did not last for any lengthened period. So long as its members were elected by the voice of the whole com-

munity, and so long as it conscientiously and impar-

that parties preferred to incur debt rather than the displeasure of the priests by sending them away without any asodad. Under these circumstances the late Panchayet wisely ordained by the said regulations that no priest should go uninvited to the house of any Parsi, on any occasion, for the purpose of asking asodad; nor was any layman to give it to any priests other than those whom he may have invited (and he might invite unrestrictedly as many priests as his inclination prompted or rather his means would admit of his doing).

“On the 4th, the 10th, and the 30th day of every month in the first year, and afterwards on every anniversary of the death of any Parsi, either male or female, ‘ custom’ obliged them to circulate trays loaded with sweetmeats, fruits, cooked dinners, and even pots and pans, both copper and earthen, among their relations, friends, and acquaintances, in addition to giving extensive feasts and dinners to the whole caste, on such occasions. All these practices appeared to the late Panchayet to be both extravagant and unnecessary, and merely indulged in to ‘vie with each other’ and for the gratification of vanity ; and therefore it was ordained by the aforesaid regulations that neither cooked dinners, nor sweetmeats, nor fruits, neither pots nor pans, either copper or earthen, should be sent from one house to another amongst the Parsis; that they were not to give extensive feasts nor dinners to the whole caste on the performance of any ceremony for their dead ; that any Parsi who chose to invite a limited number of guests from amongst his relations, friends, and acquaintances might do so; but their number should not be so great as to consume more than 200 lbs. of meat, which was the maximum quantity allowed to be purchased for a single feast; nor should any poultry be used at such feasts; that any individual wishing to give a dinner to the whole caste might do so, but only during the days of the gahambars, and that such caste dinner should consist (as hitherto) of plain rice and curry, without any kind of meat or poultry.

“ Another, and a most abhorrent practice, sanctioned by custom (borrowed entirely from Hindus), which prevailed among the Parsis, was the going backwards and forwards, on the part of the women, to the houses of their relations and friends and acquaintances daily for