THE PARSIS OF BOMBAY 329
which must, of course, invalidate its authenticity, as
that prophet, according to the Persian historians, lived
more than three thousand years ago; and indeed it is
an indisputable fact that what religious books were
in being at the time of the Grecian conquests of that
country were carefully collected and burnt, by the
express orders of Alexander, and were totally destroyed
at the subsequent conquests of that country by the
Saracens, at which period also happened the introduc-
tion of the Mohammedan religion. By these means
their religion and language underwent a total change,
the very traces of both which have long since disap-
peared, as is evident by the many fruitless efforts made
to decipher those inscriptions still discernible on the
walls of Persepolis, bearing not the least analogy to
any character now existing. Hence it may be inferred
that what is now given as the ancient character and
language of this celebrated people is no more than an
invention of a later date, and there remains not a prob-
ability that their real Zend will ever be known. 1
The island of Bombay is about eight miles in length,
and twenty in circumference: the most remarkable
natural curiosity the island produces is a small fish;
this fish, according to the description of a gentleman
who has seen it, and from whom I received my infor-
mation, is in form somewhat like a mussel, about four
inches long, and has upon the top of its back, and near
the head, a small valve, on the opening of which you
1 This statement is inaccurate, as the authenticity of the Avesta (wrongly
called Zend) has been fully proved since the time when Francklin wrote.
