AND GUEBRE RELIGION. 
53 
Of the Zendavesta, and Boundehesh, two of these books, we have 
translations by Mons. Aquitel du Perron; and, besides, are in 
possession of two, also deemed ancient, the Dabistan and De- 
satir, lately discovered in India; and both of which that great 
orientalist, Sir William Jones, considers to be genuine works, 
and unexceptionable authority. From these, we find a decided 
belief in an all-powerful and supreme God, whom they considered 
the first object of adoration; then follows the host of heaven, 
commonly known under the names of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the 
Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. These seven intelligences 
of the ancient magi, together with their attendant spirits, 
agree with the seven divine agents and their satellites of the 
modern Parsse and Guebre. In the Dabistan, the peculiar 
symbol under which each planet was to be worshipped, is de¬ 
scribed ; the whole bearing a striking similarity to many of the 
idols of the Hindoos, the hieroglyphics of Egypt, and to the 
cylinders of Nineveh and Babylon. A coincidence that bears 
out the idea of idolatry having originated in the East, and that 
ancient Assyria was indeed the parent of pagan worship. 
The modern Guebres of Persia are far outnumbered by a 
continually increasing sect, deemed as old as the times of the 
Mithratic establishment, and which existed through all the 
various innovations of augmented polytheism. The Dabistan 
mentions these opinionists by the name of Suffi; and they bear 
the same appellation at this day. The word is spelt by different 
writers in a variety of ways; for instance, Suffi, Sooffee, Sefi, 
Suphi. The Arabic term, which bears all these spellings, means 
wise, holy, and is supposed to be derived from be pure, 
clean ; and the sect who assume that title, arrogate a peculiar 
degree of wisdom and purity beyond all other believers. Some 
* h 3 
VOL. II. 
