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with persons of a different faith from his own. was thus practically acting up to one of the common opinions held among the Parsees; "for God," they say, "delights in the happiness of his creatures ;" and they hold it meritorious to enjoy the best of every thing they can obtain. The breaking through, on the part of Sir Jamsetjee's family, of long-established customs so common in India, was a subject of serious conversation among the fire-worshippers of Bombay, and constituted fully a nine-days' wonder among the Hindoo and Mohammedan community. Some thought the ultra-liberal Parsee must be a little out of his reason; others suspected, that he had lost his Kusti, or sacred girdle; and all were unanimous as to his having now only one soul, and that, of course, the evil one; and they pitied his family, who were led away by his bad spirit. Sir Jamsetjee, however, soon afterwards appeased their anger, and quieted their fears as to his sanity, by building a new Fire Temple on the island at his own expense. His good example in allowing the Parsee ladies their full enjoyment of sweet liberty, was not, I am sorry to say, followed out, as he hoped it might be, in other Parsee families. The Parsee ladies still continue to be shut up in their houses, though many of their husbands have acknowledged to me the folly of the custom; owning that it made them appear in the eyes of strangers little better than Hindoos.

Sir Jamsetjee has a handsome country, as well as a town residence. The latter is situated in Rampart

Row, Fort George. I had the pleasure of going over it one day in company with a few friends, who were particularly desirous to see, if possible, some female branches of the family, who were reported to be extremely fair and beautiful. It is a very large square building, enclosed in front, and separated from the street by a court-yard. After ascending a flight of steps we entered the hall, a good room, with the floor plastered with fine chunam. The walls were hung around with portraits of some celebrated Mandarins, well executed in water-colours, by Chinese artists. We were rather amused at the domestic arrangements of this apartment, and the good use made of it. Seated upon mats in the Oriental posture, were all the mechanics employed by the family, busily engaged in their different occupations. In one corner was a shoemaker, cutting out leather of various colours for slippers. In another was a dergie, embroidering pretty little sadars, or underdresses for children, by running lace-patterns into the muslin. A harness-maker was finishing off a saddle; and another man was giving to palanquins a fresh coat of varnish, in anticipation of the rainy season. Indeed, it was quite evident from what we saw here, that Sir Jamsetjee's large family afforded constant employment to numbers of these people. After inspecting every trifle worthy of notice, our conductor, who was a Parsee storekeeper, and, I think a connection of the family, conducted us to the foot of a long staircase, where there was a strong stone built

room, having a low door sunk deep in the massive masonry. As this door was bound with iron bands, and secured by three huge padlocks, (Brahmas, no doubt,) our curiosity was a little excited to learn what could possibly be kept inside requiring such precautions for its safe custody, when Merwanjee told us, that the room being fire-proof, all the plate and jewels were deposited here every night; and thief-proof, too, thought I, as we ascended the staircase that terminated in a series of long passages covered over with fine Manilla matting. These passages or promenades, for, in Eastern houses, they are used as such, were well lighted by open spaces like windows without panes, each commanding a view of a pretty garden tastefully constructed in a quadrangle formed by the buildings around it. Here were placed seats of porcelain, stone, and the stumps of trees curiously carved. The first room which we entered was one fitted up in the English style, all the furniture having been manufactured in London. The walls were richly coloured: for paper can never be used in India, as the white ants would eat it up in a few days. Here were portraits of some branches of Sir Jamsetjee's family, painted in oil by an artist who had come out to Bombay on speculation, and who had pocketed five hundred rupees for each picture. The second drawingroom, as we were informed, was furnished in the French style; and if lofty-pier-glasses, statuary, vases of artificial flowers, musical clocks, elegant chandeliers,

marble brackets, with groups of alabaster figures on them, Bohemian glass, gilt couches and chairs, are in favour with our continental friends, this room afforded no doubt a good specimen of their taste in domestic decoration. The next and most interesting apartment to us was the Chinese drawing-room. We were delighted with every thing we saw here, as it contained so many beautiful articles brought from China. The whole of the furniture appeared to be made out of papier mache, ivory, or mother-of-pearl. There were three superb folding screens with the most brilliant designs in gold, silver, and pearl-work. The tables were set out with bronze figures of birds, tortoises, Chinese idols, and magnificent Japan jars ; one table bore, in a glass-case, a noble silver epergne, representing a plantain tree, with peacocks spreading out their tails under it, that had been presented to Sir Jamsetjee by the merchants of Bombay as a mark of respect to the worthy Knight. Lounging-chairs, sofas, queer little couches, ottomans, and Persian and Turkey rugs, and prayer carpets were distributed about in great profusion, and made one fearful of almost walking upon such beautiful fabrics. We spent some time in this room, the last of the state apartments, if I may so term them. The Parsees, I may observe here, are a very sociable set of people, fond of pleasure and amusement, which after business hours they pursue eagerly, and are extremely liberal and hospitable one towards another. They resemble the Persians in this respect, and are prodigal in the

the expenditure of money for show, or, for the celebration of any particular family event. In celebrating their marriages they are ridiculously profuse in their liberality. Hundreds are invited to the feast; and presents of shawls and other costly things are made to friends in all directions. A bridegroom has been known to expend half his fortune in a public entertainment kept up on the most extravagant scale for three weeks or a month after the ceremony. I was once invited to one of these merry meetings held in a large marquee for want of proper house-accommodation. The amusements consisted of the dancing of nautch girls; rose-water sprinklings; making little presents to one another of favourite spices neatly folded up in green leaves; devouring all sorts of confections for which the city of Yezd is so celebrated; and invoking blessings upon the newly-married people in songs that were certainly not very musical. We were now anxious to get a peep if possible at that portion of this large house occupied by Sir Jamsetjee's family; and having obtained permission, we inspected some of the dormitories, which we found to be comfortable and well-ventilated rooms, containing the conveniences usually found in such apartments at home. Merwanjee took us into a long dining-hall, where a table was set out for some repast. Like the Hindoos the Parsees are very particular about eating and drinking out of any vessel that has been defiled by one of a different faith, and they object to share in the cup of one of their own people, fearing that by so