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

24 HIISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. I.

rulers by accepting the Koran, abandoned their homes and fled to the mountainous districts of Khorassan, where for a time they succeeded in evading the pursuit of their terrible foe. For about a hundred years they remained in Khorassan in the unmolested enjoyment and practice of their religion. But persecution at last reached them even in those remote districts, and they were once more compelled to flee before the enemies of their faith. A considerable number succeeded in reaching the little island of Ormus, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf.

Their stay in that place of retreat could, however, only be of short duration, for they were still within reach of their cruel persecutors. Rather than fall into the hands of the fanatical conquerors of their country, they at last determined to relinquish for ever the land of their forefathers, and to remove to some other country where they might hope to live in tranquillity and in the enjoyment of thei social and religious rights, Acting upon this determination, they sought an asylum in the country of the Hindus. They are said to, and indeed must, have procured at Ormus several vessels for their transport, and, placing their wives and children on board, they set sail towards the distant shores of India. That intercourse of some sort or other had previously existed for many centuries between the ancient Persians and Hindus has been pointed out by many travellers and historians of