andaslateasthethirdcenturyoftheHegira，thecityofHeratwillaffordalivelycontrastofprivatezealandpublictoleration。^202Underthepaymentofanannualtribute，theMahometanlawsecuredtotheGhebersofHerattheircivilandreligiousliberties:buttherecentandhumblemoschwasovershadowedbytheantiquesplendoroftheadjoiningtempleoffire。AfanaticImandeplored，inhissermons，thescandalousneighborhood，andaccusedtheweaknessorindifferenceofthefaithful。Excitedbyhisvoice，thepeopleassembledintumult；
thetwohousesofprayerwereconsumedbytheflames，butthevacantgroundwasimmediatelyoccupiedbythefoundationsofanewmosch。TheinjuredMagiappealedtothesovereignofChorasan；hepromisedjusticeandrelief；when，behold!fourthousandcitizensofHerat，ofagravecharacterandmatureage，unanimouslysworethattheidolatrousfanehadneverexisted；theinquisitionwassilencedandtheirconsciencewassatisfiedsaysthehistorianMirchond^203withthisholyandmeritoriousperjury。^204ButthegreatestpartofthetemplesofPersiawereruinedbytheinsensibleandgeneraldesertionoftheirvotaries。
Itwasinsensible，sinceitisnotaccompaniedwithanymemorialoftimeorplace，ofpersecutionorresistance。Itwasgeneral，sincethewholerealm，fromShiraztoSamarcand，imbibedthefaithoftheKoran；andthepreservationofthenativetonguerevealsthedescentoftheMahometansofPersia。^205Inthemountainsanddeserts，anobstinateraceofunbelieversadheredtothesuperstitionoftheirfathers；andafainttraditionoftheMagiantheologyiskeptaliveintheprovinceofKirman，alongthebanksoftheIndus，amongtheexilesofSurat，andinthecolonywhich，inthelastcentury，wasplantedbyShawAbbasatthegatesofIspahan。ThechiefpontiffhasretiredtoMountElbourz，eighteenleaguesfromthecityofYezd:theperpetualfireifitcontinuestoburnisinaccessibletotheprofane；
buthisresidenceistheschool，theoracle，andthepilgrimageoftheGhebers，whosehardanduniformfeaturesattesttheunmingledpurityoftheirblood。Underthejurisdictionoftheirelders，eightythousandfamiliesmaintainaninnocentandindustriouslife:theirsubsistenceisderivedfromsomecuriousmanufacturesandmechanictrades；andtheycultivatetheearthwiththefervorofareligiousduty。TheirignorancewithstoodthedespotismofShawAbbas，whodemandedwiththreatsandtorturesthepropheticbooksofZoroaster；andthisobscureremnantoftheMagiansissparedbythemoderationorcontemptoftheirpresentsovereigns。^206
[Footnote198:TheZendorPazend，thebibleoftheGhebers，isreckonedbythemselves，oratleastbytheMahometans，amongthetenbookswhichAbrahamreceivedfromheaven；andtheirreligionishonorablystyledthereligionofAbraham，D\'Herblot，Bibliot。