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

CHAP. IV.] THE ROMAN FLAMINES. 167

granate tree, hair of a purely white ox, and a bundle of metallic wires known as “barsom.” These metallic Wires are now used as substitutes for the twigs of a plant that were formerly employed. The Right Reverend Dr. Meurin, the able and learned Bishop (Vicar-Apostolic) of Bombay, in his very interesting pamphlet entitled “ Zoroaster and Christ,” says that a similar custom prevailed among the Flamines, the ancient fire-priests of the Romans. These Flamines, whenever they went before their sacred fire, held the twigs of a certain plant in their hands.

The Yasna is made up of seventy-two “has” or chapters. In it we come across both of the dialects of the Avesta language previously mentioned, viz. the Gatha and the ordinary Avesta dialect.

The Gatha portion of the Yasna is, in the words of Dr. Haug, a metrical composition containing short prayers, songs, and hymns, which generally express philosophical and abstract thoughts about metaphysical subjects. Dr. Spiegel, in the words of his translator, A. H. Bleek, says: “ Yasna, the principal part of the Mazdayasnan liturgy, signifies ‘ offering with prayer.’ The Yasna is divided into two parts, the former of which, comprising chaps. i. to xxvii. is more strictly of a liturgical character, while the latter (which is wriften in a different dialect) contains the Gathas, which are ancient religious hymns somewhat resembling those of the Vedas.”