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

182 ATSTORV OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. IV.

The twenty-third contains the praises of angels.

The twenty-fourth, twenty-sixth, and twentyseventh give accounts of the thirty days of the month, and for what works they are propitious; the special qualities possessed by the thirty angels, and of the sixth day of the first month of a Parsi year now known as Khordadsal or Naoroz-i-Khash, and why the latter was held so important and holy. The first of these three books is also known by the name of Madegan-i-Siroz.

The twenty-ninth and thirtieth contain descriptions of the ceremonies of Darun (7.e. consecrated bread) and of seven Ameshaspends (2.e. archangels).

The thirty-first contains advice by a wise man.

The thirty-second book, known also as Behman Yasht, professes, says its translator, Dr. West, “to be a prophetical work in which Ahura Mazda gives to Zaratush an account of what was to happen to the Iranian nation and religion in the future.”

The rest of the books require no special mention.

The writings in the Pazand and Persian languages are not of very great importance. Those in the former are very few. They are the Afrins and Ashirwads (i.e. blessing prayers).

Among the Persian compositions those of some importance are the Ravayets, which are not older than three hundred years. They contain answers to