In no part of the east are Christians better received than in Persia,•but their religion has, at no time, made any progress in this kingdom. There is a colony of Nestorians in the mountains of Kurdistan, who are sup posed to have resided there for more than thirteen cen turies. The Armenians enjoy the free exercise of their religion; but the Jews are every where treated with con. tempt and scorn by the Mahomedan inhabitants. The Guebres, or worshippers of fire," are also treated with great rigour. They have been compelled either to emi grate, or to abjure the religion of their ancestors; and a few families in the towns of Kerman and Yezd are all that now remain of the disciples of Zoroaster.
Besides the festivals common to all Mahomedans, the Persians still retain the Eed-e-Nouroze, or the " feast of the vernal equinox." This festival was one of the first kept sacred by the worshippers of fire, and is to this day observed with as much joy and festivity as by the ancient Guebres. According to Richardson, the ancient Nouroze " commenced with the year in March, and lasted six days ; during which all ranks seemed to participate in the gene ral joy. The rich sent presents to the poor ; all were dressed in their holiday clothes, and kept open house; and religious processions, music, dancing, a species of theatrical exhibition, rustic sports, and other pastimes, presented a continued round of varied amusement. Even the dead and the ideal things were not forgotten, rich viands being placed on the tops of houses and high towers, on the flavour of which the Peris and spirits of their de parted friends and heroes were supposed to feast." This festival, however, since the rise of Mahomedanism, dif fers from that of the Guebres, both in the diminution of its duration, and in the absence of all religious obser vances. It commences when the sun enters Aries, and
continues in general only three days. On the morning the king marches out of his capital with his ministers, nobles, and as many of his army as can be assembled. The ceremonies of the clay commence with a review, and then the tribute and presents of all the rulers and gover nors of the different provinces are laid at the foot of the throne ; which is placed in a magnificent tent. The offer ings of the principal governors are introduced to his ma jesty by the master of the ceremonies; who proclaims the name and titles of the donor, and then reads a list of the articles presented. On this occasion, the king sends to the chief men and officers of his court a kalaat, or dress of honour ; and sometimes a horse and its caparisons. The number of kalaats is reckoned at about nine hundred, and the value of each three hundred piastres. He also distributes, at his public Dewan, handfuls of money, from a vase full of gold and silver coins, to those who are lucky enough to attract his notice. The amusements, during the feast, consist of horse-racing, wrestling, rope.danc ing, fire-works, and other sports. The first day, how ever, is considered the most important, and is observed with equal demonstrations of joy over every part of the kingdom. All ranks appear dressed in their newest apparel ; they send presents of sweetmeats to each other ; and every man embraces his friend on the aus picious morning of the Nouroze, and wishes him a hap py festival.