114 
time the ancient magi retained the exclusive privilege of having 
their bodies left as a prey to carnivorous animals; and that after- 
wards the Persians exposed all the dead bodies of their friends 
indiscriminately, to be devoured by birds and beasts of prey; a 
custom, which is still in some measure adhered to by their poste- 
rity in India, and by the Guebres in Persia, although so very 
repugnant to the feelings of almost every other civilized nation. 
From my own knowledge and observation, I can assert nothing 
more respecting the Parsees, who are certainly an industrious and 
increasing people, and a valuable class of subjects in the Com- 
pany’s settlements: but, in addition to this chapter, which was 
originally written in 17^9, the following extract from Butler’s 
Horae Biblicse, will prove extremely satisfactory to those who may 
not have met with that interesting and entertaining work. 
44 To the exertions of Mons. Anquitel du Perron, we are in- 
debted for our first knowledge of the Zend-Avesta, containing the 
doctrines of Zoroaster and the ancient magi; his translation of that 
interesting work are deposited with his other manuscripts, in the 
national library at Paris. From them we learn, that under the 
name of Zerouane, or time, without bounds or beginning, the fol- 
lowers of Zoroaster recognized a first and original Being: that by 
him, and in him, they believed the universe to exist, appears suf- 
ficiently clear: but they seem to have considered him rather as a 
principle, giving motion to a machine, or an impulse of fate, than 
a real object, possessed of wisdom, independence, and energy. 
From him Ormuzd and Ahriman proceeded; each independent of 
each other; each possessed of the power of creation. Ormuzd is 
the being absorbed in excellence, living in primeval light, good 
