DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22900#0176
132
HISTOR Y OF THE PARSIS. [chap. hi.
were not unknown in the domestic circles of past
generations of Parsis. In this they copied the
other natives of the country, who considered such a
mode of treatment no more than a wholesome disci-
pline for the other sex. This has now become a thing
of the past, and such conduct is considered both
cowardly and unmanly.
As a race the Parsis are highly sociable, and they
embrace every opportunity of visiting or entertaining
their friends and relations. A religious festival or
holiday, a birthday or a marriage, are the great
occasions of their social enjoyment. As an indication
of increasing intellectual taste among the Parsis, it may
be noted that of late English music has formed one of
the amusements of their evening parties, instead of the
ugly and absurd " natches " of native dancing girls,
accompanied by musicians who were far from being
great masters of their profession, but who grinned,
nodded, and made horrible faces in their excitement,
with a view to delude the audience into the belief
that they were absorbed in the spirit of their art!
The natch, however, is not entirely superseded.
Each day of the Zoroastrian month of thirty days
has its name. In the fourth century of the Christian era
there flourished in Persia a "dastur" who was reputed
to be very wise. His name was Adarbad Marespand,
and he is said to have written a tract in Pehlevi as
an admonition to his son Zarthushtra. It describes
HISTOR Y OF THE PARSIS. [chap. hi.
were not unknown in the domestic circles of past
generations of Parsis. In this they copied the
other natives of the country, who considered such a
mode of treatment no more than a wholesome disci-
pline for the other sex. This has now become a thing
of the past, and such conduct is considered both
cowardly and unmanly.
As a race the Parsis are highly sociable, and they
embrace every opportunity of visiting or entertaining
their friends and relations. A religious festival or
holiday, a birthday or a marriage, are the great
occasions of their social enjoyment. As an indication
of increasing intellectual taste among the Parsis, it may
be noted that of late English music has formed one of
the amusements of their evening parties, instead of the
ugly and absurd " natches " of native dancing girls,
accompanied by musicians who were far from being
great masters of their profession, but who grinned,
nodded, and made horrible faces in their excitement,
with a view to delude the audience into the belief
that they were absorbed in the spirit of their art!
The natch, however, is not entirely superseded.
Each day of the Zoroastrian month of thirty days
has its name. In the fourth century of the Christian era
there flourished in Persia a "dastur" who was reputed
to be very wise. His name was Adarbad Marespand,
and he is said to have written a tract in Pehlevi as
an admonition to his son Zarthushtra. It describes