The subjugation of the whole of Persia was soon after achieved with amazing rapidity and the Arab conquerors imposed upon the whole of the nation the religion of Islam. Those who were unwilling to bend their knees and accept the doctrine of the Koran were put to the sword if they were captured, and the rest escaped and and took refuge in the mountains of Khorasan. The fron hand of the Arab dictators, mentary days, called the "Gatha: fare added, making in reality the year consist of 365 days only. In ancient Iran, it was customary to, add one month at the end of every 120 years in order to make up for the loss of the quarter of a day, or to be exact, five hours and 54 seconds, and thus bring their calendar in a line and in strict accordance with the calculation of the Solar year This process of int eolation of one month at the end of, every 120 years was known in an-client Persia under the name of "Kabisa," or "Kabisseh." It is said that, those Persian Zoroastrian, who still remained hiding in Persia after the loss of their Emy ither forgot, or through their ignorance neglect: ed to intercalate one month at the proper time of the "Kabisa," whilst those Zoroustrians who fled'to India from the mountains of Khar had continued this intercalary month at the proper time due for 'The result of this unfortunate' muddle is that the Persian Zoroasins in Persia even now are one month ahead in their calculation of the Parsees in India, and whilst the Parsees will celebrate their 1,294th year of Yezdezard on the September their brother coreligionists in Persia have already entered upon their new year of their era on August 10. This mistake found out late In a.b. 1720, when a learned Persian Zoroastrian priest escaped from Persia, and landed at Surat.
"Ancient nevertheless, soon reached them id drove them out of their fastness, and they were compelled to set sail for where they expected to receive th help and protection of the Hinduy, with whom the ancient Persians hal cultivated a close and cordial political, commercial, and even religious intercourse, Dr. Hang says in his famous "Essays on the Parsees." that not Jater than B, G, 1000' the Great Brahmin divine, Tehengreghatchah, who had scone to Persia to study the religion of Zoroaster under the guidance of the ancient Magis, went back to India to propagate the doctrines of Zoroaster amongst the Hindus, So, when after "vor stormy' passage through the Gulf of Ormuz, where thousands of Sugitives perished owing to the destructive storms that were raging at that time, a small band of about 500 souls," men women and children, reached the hospitable shores of India, and landed at a place called Sanjan, situated about 440 miles from the' modern city of Bombay.
The discovery of however, Mscrepancy, arp divi sions among: as some of them adopted the Zoroastrian Calendar, even now are divided parties or schisms, one selves "Kadimis" or ancients, fror the Persian derivative "Kadi" meaning ancient or old. The other sect is styled the "Shahanshais," which means "Imperials," or those following the ancient usage of the: Persian Empire. It goes without saying, that both the parties are in the wrong, for evident from the Avesta, or Zoroastrian Seriptures. that the ancient Iranians rejgulated and adjusted their calendar by observing the custom of "Kabisa"" or intercalation, but the Parsees of India have on account of the precarious conditions under which they had to live for centuries in Indi and in constant fear of reli persecution, failed to observe "Kabisa," or intercalation for nearly 12 centuries, and virtually the present calendar does not admit of more than 365 days of their Solar Year, and is therefore out of reckon-
An Asylum in India The Hindu Prince Jaday Rana, who was at that time ruling the surrounding territory, extended to them his protection and granted them full permission to follow the faith of their forefathers, He, moreover, allotted to them a large tract of land in his territory, where they established a colony of their own. With his sanction and ap-Prova they built a shrine to Ahuramazada, the Infinite Creator of this finite world. The fire on that altar has been kept alive and burning for these last 12 centuries, and is now enshrined in a beautiful marble temple built by a wealthy see family of Bombay, in the lage of Udwada, near Bombay, and it is a place of pilgrimage to all the Parsees, In grateful memory of the magnanimity of the broad-minded Hindu ruler, Prince Jadav_Rana's name is invoked and adored in all Zoroastrian rituals, and as the modern Parsees are the descendants of this tiny band, whom he sheltered and protected, the name and hallowed memory of Jadav Rana will remain enshrined in their hearts as long as the race continues to exist.
According to the figures of the: latest census of 1911 there were 100,448 Parsees all over the earth, of whom 51,375 were males, and 49,078 females. and Dr. Hope Moulton in his "Early Zoroastrianism" express a belief that Zoroastrian Calendar was reformed and brought up to date by Darius Hystaspes in the year 500 B. Again, according to the Zoroa: Calendar the day of 24 hours ion is divided into five "Gahs" or sections. From early dawn to noon, it is "Howan Gab," from 12 three o'clock it is "Rapith from three o'clock to sunset it is "Oujiran Gab," from sunset am. it is "Aivisruthrem Gab' and from 12 a.m. to sunrise it "Hooshen Gab."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.