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

114 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. — [cHAP. ut.

prefer to do as they have hitherto done. This feeling is strengthened by there being an entire absence of discord between the Shehenshais and the Kadmis, and every probability that old passions will never be aroused again among them at least upon this subject.

It may be interesting, however, to recall some of the disputes which arose from the bad feeling between the Shehenshais and the Kadmis during the earlier and latter years of the “ Kabisa” controversy. In 1782-83 the Parsis of Broach grew furious on the subject. They had recourse to violence rather than to argument. One Homaji Jamshedji was accused of kicking a pregnant woman, thereby causing miscarriage. He was sent to Bombay for trial in the Mayor’s court, which at that time did some of the work of the High Court of the present day. Homaji was convicted of murder and sentenced to capital punishment. Several other persons who were engaged in the affair were also punished by imprisonment and fines. The latter amounted to Rs.8,900, and these were paid by the Kadmis.

The angry feelings engendered by the controversy continued to exist for some years. At Bombay the Shehenshais used to show their abhorrence of the Kadmis by applying many undeserved and opprobrious epithets to them. They called them churigars*

1 Churt=bangles, gar=maker or dealer; hence a term denoting effeminacy.