Only the most liberal Parsees will permit those of other creeds to eat under the same roof with themselves, and even these never eat at the table with their guests.  The table is first covered for the visitors, and they are waited on with the utmost assiduity, often by the members of the family in addition to the servants.  When the guests leave the board not only is the cloth changed, but the table itself is washed before being recovered:  salts, castors and other similar articles are all emptied and washed, and the table newly laid in every particular.  Small flat cakes are distributed round the board to do service as plates, and the various dishes arranged in the centre within reach of all.  The family then wash hands and faces and the father says a short prayer, after which all take their seats and the meal begins.  Neither knives nor forks are used, but the meat is torn from the bones with the fingers only, and with the left hand each one dips, from time to time, bread, meat or vegetables into the broth or gravy as he wishes, and then tosses it into his mouth, without allowing his fingers to touch his lips.  This requires some dexterity, and children are not permitted at the family board till they have learned thus to acquit themselves.  If, however, the fingers of any one, child or adult, should chance to come in contact with the lips, though ever so slightly, he is required to leave the table instantly and perform his ablutions over again, or else to take the dish from which he was eating to himself, and touch no other during the meal.  In drinking they exercise the same caution, adroitly throwing the liquid into the mouth or throat without touching the lips with the cup or glass.  The left hand is the one with which food is always taken; and the reason assigned is, that the right, having of necessity to perform most labor, is more frequently brought in contact with things unclean.

I once made a voyage with an American lady and gentleman in a Bombay ship that was owned and commanded by a wealthy Parsee merchant, though the real sailing-master and mate were Englishmen.  Our party ate at one table, and the Parsee nabob had his own in solitary state.  I was then quite a youthful wife, and, as my husband was not of the party, the Parsee supposed me unmarried, and overwhelmed me with the most gallant attentions, among which were frequent invitations to our party to dine in his cabin.  But, though he would stand at my side all the time I was eating, fill my cup or glass with his own hands, and urge me to partake of certain dishes that were favorites of his own, nothing could induce him to eat or drink in our presence, even after we had left the table.  And I learned afterward that the costly service of rare china, silver and glass from which we had eaten and drunk at his table, though carefully laid aside, was never again used by the owner.  One evening, as we sat on the upper deck inhaling the balmy air, he invited me to smoke.  Of course I declined,