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

CHAP, II.] A PERSECUTED RACE. 59

sion. Moreover, about a hundred years ago, when Aga Mahomed Khan Kujur conquered Kerman in a war with Lutf Ali Khan Zand, many of the Zoroastrian race were put to the sword by that merciless ruler. When these various circumstances are taken into consideration it ceases to be a matter of wonder that a population very recently numbering many thousands of people should have been nearly exterminated by the cruelties of successive tyrants. The numerous ruins of fire-temples in the city of Kerman, at this day, prove that it must have been, at no very remote period, the abode of a considerable population of the Zoroastrian persuasion.

We could not expect, after the revolutions, persecutions, and oppressions to which the small body who may claim to be the descendants of the ancient Persians have been subjected, that they should today possess any of their religious books or be well informed respecting the tenets of their religion. Among all the vicissitudes of their race they have, however, adhered most devotedly to the form of faith which descended to them from their ancestors, and they could give no stronger proof of their staunchness. At one time the Parsis in India believed that copies of their ancient books, which they did not possess, could be furnished to them by their co-religionists in Persia; but this was soon shown to bea

delusion. The accounts of their condition given by