History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes
70 HISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. IL.
of oppression have not destroyed the strong, hardy, and muscular appearance of the Zoroastrian. He is greatly superior in strength to the modern effeminate and luxurious Persian, and is ever willing to work when he can find employment. Contact with a weak and idle race has not exercised any perceptible influence on those habits of industry for which his early ancestors were remarkable. The Zoroastrian is taught by his religion to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, whereas the Moslem is brought up to believe that he will be the favoured of God by becoming a fakir and living on alms. It is a fact creditable to the blood which flows in Zoroastrian veins that the race has not degenerated by contact with those to whom fate has made them subject.
As much may be said of their moral conduct. Even the Mahomedans, their inveterate enemies, admit the fact. Their women, the majority of whom belong to poor families, are noted for their chastity ; while the men are known for their morality. In the garden adjoining the harem of the Shah none but Zoroastrians are employed as gardeners on account of their good moral character. They are also remarkable for their love of truth, a virtue which has been highly extolled in their ancestors by both ancient and modern historians.
We have now to describe the efforts which the Bombay Parsis have made for the mitigation of the