Page:Parsees by Dosabhoy Framjee.djvu/14

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PREFACE.

The vast empire known in Europe as the "East Indies" holds a population of one hundred and eighty millions of persons, the bulk of whom are either followers of Mahomed or professors of Hindooism. Scattered over the continent, but especially in Bombay, another race is, however, to be met with, differing essentially from both Mahomedans and Hindoos. The members composing this race are known as Parsees, and are the descendants of the ancient Persians who emigrated to India on the conquest of their country by the Arabs. Compared with the number of the other natives of India, the Parsees add so insignificant a quota to the population, that their existence to very many Europeans is not even known, while those who are aware that such a race exists very often confound them with the Hindoos and Mahomedans.

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