BABYLON AND PERSIA

94MEDIA, BABYLON, AND PERSIA.it and take possession of the clay tenement, which,from the moment that life leaves it, becomes theproperty of Angra-Mainyu, in order thence to workcontamination and harm on all who approach it. Asit maybe supposed that some difficulty was found inprocuring the animal in question, the law makes thefollowing qualifying concession : " A yellow dogwith four eyes, or a white dog with yellow ears'."The latter variety being more generally on hand,there is nothing to prevent conscientious Parsis fromperforming this time-honored ceremony, which theycall the Sagdid, and of the mythical origin andimport of which they are, of course, profoundlyignorant.** For the quotations from the Vendidad and the Lesser Avestathe translation of Mr, James Darijiesteter has been and will be usedthroughout.