in western Europe. Like them they have lived for centuries as exiles and aliens in a foreign land, keeping themselves distinct from the people among whom they dwelt, in their religion, their dress, and their social customs, and seldom intermarrying with them. Like them they have distinguished themselves by their aptitude for business, their enterprise, and their commercial prosperity, as well as by their loyalty to the Government of the country, although, like the Jews, the Parsis are seldom if ever to be found in the ranks of the army.
As their name signifies, the Parsis came originally from Persia, and belong to the Iranian branch of the Aryan family. The inhabitants of Persia, in course of time, had corrupted the primeval faith of their forefathers, and had sunk into gross idolatry, when, according to tradition, about the year B.C. 1200, Zoroaster began to preach and to lead them back to a purer and true form of religion. His doctrines spread widely, and from that time the Persians remained monotheists, worshipping the Creator of the Universe under the outward symbols of fire and light. During the seventh century of our era the country was conquered by the Saracens, who, being Mahomedans, forced the adoption of their religion on all those they overcame, and spread it with fire and sword. Although the Persians had as a nation sunk into a condition of great effeminacy,
