88 



RELICS OF POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. 



by the council of his sect to answer for his offences, and surprised 

 them by making no defence. As Chief Dustoor of the Parsees, 

 no heavy penance was required of him, except a fine of six thou- 

 sand rupees, especially as he consented to reestablish justice in 

 his household. Proper messengers accompanied him home to en- 

 force it ;^ and his wife, notwithstanding her shrieks and resistance, 

 was compelled to assume the garments of a Pariah. It was in 

 vain she reproached him with his infidelities and treasons ; the 

 good Parsees assured her the whole truth of her real station was 

 now confessed by Ibrahim himself ; and Chandela's meek amaze- 

 ment when desired to put on her rival's rich attire, was ascribed to 

 the stupifying effects of some malignant drug. The poisoned be- 

 tel nut which had been prepared for her, and which was found, 

 by Ibrahim's contrivance, in his jealous lady's chamber, seemed to 

 confirm this supposition ; and the influence of magic is still so 

 firmly believed by modern Parsees, that no one would have 

 doubted even the transfer of shapes and features. At least, none 

 presumed to contradict the High Dustoor; and he had the plea- 

 sure of elevating the Pariah to his side, while his angry and re- 

 vengeful wife suffered due punishment in the drudgery and degra- 

 dation of an outcast. But she suffered them only a few days ; 

 her kinsmen lived in the island of Ceylon, and she fled in the 

 night, as it was supposed, to seek their protection. 



This lady's flight, as Ibrahim had sufficient sense to seek no 

 second addition to his harem, placed him in perfect peace with his 

 new wife. She was, indeed, one of those gentle creatures to 

 whom the Hindoo scripture has assigned the first place in Heaven ; 

 and her husband's affections remained constant to her without 

 aid from the emerald, the ruby, or any of the amulets to which 

 the poetic superstition of India have given power. Their adopt- 

 ed boy grey/ in loveliness ; and at his eighth year was betrothed, 

 according to the custom of the Parsees, to a little bride some 

 months younger. This festival, always sumptuous in Bombay, 

 was celebrated witli the pomp proportioned to Ibrahim's wealth 

 and rank. The palanquin of these young sacrifices to the deity of 

 marriage, shone with gold brocade and wreaths of jewels, as it 

 passed through streets carpeted and canopied with embroidered 



The Guebres make no scruple at admitting men into the apartments of 

 their women, who enjoy more liberty than other sectSj though very little 

 more education. 



