Karaka, Dosabhai Framji: History of the Parsis: including their manners, customs, religion and present position ; in two volumes (Band 1) (London, 1884)

96

HISTORY OF THE PARSIS.

[CHAP. III.

daring in entering on new fields of occupation than
any other race in Bombay with the exception of
Europeans, and therefore a considerable number seek
adventurous fortunes in many distant countries.
Were this not the case the increase of the population
would be seen to have been far greater than is shown
by the census returns of Bombay alone.

The low average mortality for some years of the
Parsi population indicates the material prosperity of
their condition, and the attention paid to the comfort
and cleanliness of their homes. So much is this the
case that it would almost appear as if the excellent
sanitary precautions of the Zoroastrian prophet were
being indirectly and unwittingly followed. The
highest proportion of children in any class in Bombay
under one year of age is found in the Parsi population.
Among them children under one year of age have
increased from 1,177 in 1872 to 1,989 in 1881.

A large proportion of children and a small death-
rate are by universal admission the surest evidences
of the vitality of any race. From an examination of
the mortuary returns of Bombay we also find that
the Parsi population is distinguished by the lowest
mortality.1

1 The average death-rate of two years (1881 and 1882) per thou-
sand of the population among the several races was as follows :_Jains,

54-47; Brahmans, 20'4; Lingaets, 35-98 ; Bhattias, 29-94 ; Hindus of
other castes, 26'11 ; Hindu low castes, 33-6; Mussulmans, 30-4G ;
Europeans, 20-18 ; Parsis, 19'26.