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

36 HAISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. I.

attracted to the settlement by a variety of considerations (A.D. 942-997). Here they seem to have thriven well through their commercial enterprise and industry. The settlement of Variav is supposed to be as old as that of Cambay. An inscription® im Pehlevi on the well-known Kennery caves in Western India shows that on the second of December 4.pD. 999 a number of Parsis visited the caves. From another

1 Some of the Parsis, who, since their arrival in India about 636, had remained in the south of Gujarat, were attracted to the settlement (942-997) near the temple of the Kumarika Kshetra at the mouth of the Mahi. The first-comers succeeding in trade, others followed, and in time the Parsi element became so strong that, by their overbearing conduct, they forced the Hindus to leave the city. Among those who fled was a man of the Dasa Lar caste of Wanias, Kalianrai by name. He took refuge in Surat, where, in a short time, by trading in pearls, he acquired a large fortune. His wealth gave him consequence, and he had the address to bring together a numerous band of Rajputs and Kolis, who in the night attacked the Parsis, putting many to the sword, and setting fire to their houses. The rest took to flight, and not a Parsi was to be seen in Kumarika Kshetra. Kalianrai then formed the design of building a city on the ruins of the Parsi town.”—Account of Cambay from the Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency.

2 The following translation of the inscription is from Mr. K. R. Kama’s essay on the study of the Zoroastrian religion :-—

“Tn the name of God, Amen. In the year 368 of Yazdezard month Avan and day Meher, we have come to this place, namely Ehan Panak of Matan Aidbar ; Mah Aidbar ; Panjbokhat and Patarbokhat of Mah Aidbar ; Mardansha of Khairad Beram and Khairad Beram of Mardansha ; Matan Aidbar of Beram Pana and Beram Pana of Matan Aidbar; Farkhujad and Jat Afram of Atun Mah ; Noma and Din Beram and Bujarg Atun and Khairad Mard and Bejat of Mahbajdi; Beram Pana of Matan Bandat and the engraver of the inscription Anhoma of Avan Bandat Mandun.”

Most of these appear to be related to one another.