of great extent, and was the ancient capital, until its capture by the Burmese in the year 1767. YOOSOOFZYES, a clan of the Berdooranees, or eastern Afghans.

Z.

ZAL, a famous hero, celebrated in the Shah Nameh of Ferdousee. ZANZIBAR, a country on the eastern coast of Africa, lying between Lat. 3 deg. N., and 18 deg. S. The inhabitants are chiefly Mahomedans and idolaters. The principal territories are Mombaza, Lamo, Melinda, Quiola, Mosambique, and Sofala. The trade consists of slaves, ivory, gold, ostrich-feathers, wax, drugs. The productions are much the same as in other parts of Africa between the tropics. ZEMINDAR,

and

Hindostanee. Landholder, land-keeper. An officer who under the Mahomedan government of India was charged with the superintendence of the lands of a district, financially considered, the production of the cultivators, and the realisation of the government's share of its produce, either in money or kind, out of which he was allowed a commission, amounting to about ten per cent., and, occasionally, a special grant of the government's share of the produce of the land of a certain number of villages for his subsistence, called Nauncar. The pointment was occasionally renewed, and, as it was generally continued in the same person, so long as he conducted himself to the satisfaction of the ruling power, and even continued to his heirs; so in process of time, and through the decay of that power, and the confusion which ensued, hereditary right (at best prescriptive) was claimed and tacitly acknowledged; till, at length, the zemindars of Bengal in particular, from being the mere superintendents of the land, have been declared the hereditary proprietors of the soil, and

ap

the before fluctuating dues of government have, under a permanent settlement, been unalterably fixed in perpetuity.

ZEMINDARREE, the office or jurisdiction of a zemindar, the land of a zemindar.

ZEM ZEM, the miraculous well at Mecca, so called from the murmuring of its waters. It is a popular fancy that in the interval between death and resurrection the souls of believers remain in that holy fountain.

ZENANA, the apartments of the ladies of a Mahomedan family; the word is also synonymous with "Seraglio," the secluded abode of the concubines of a Mahomedan. ZENDAVESTA, or ZEND, a book ascribed to Zoroaster, containing his pretended revelations; which the ancient Magi and modern Parsees, called also Gaurs, observe and reverence in the same degree as the Christians do the Bible, and the Mahomedans the Koran, making it the sole guide of their faith and customs. The word signifies any instrument for kindling fire, and is applied to this book to denote its aptitude for kindling the flame of religion in the hearts of those who read it. The Zendavesta is written in the pure old Persian language, and in the character called Peplavi. Four hundred years ago, when the old Persian language had become little understood, one of the destours or high priests among the Parsees composed the Sadda, which is a compendium in the modern Persic tongue of those passages in the Zend which relate to religion, or a kind of code of canons and precepts drawn from the theological writings of Zoroaster, serving as an authorised rule of faith and practice for his followers. The Sadda is written in a low kind of Persic verse. The tenets of the Zend maintain the existence of a Supreme Being, eternal, self-existent, who created both light and darkness, out of which he made

all other things; that there shall be a general resurrection and judgment, and a just retribution to all men, according to their works, with everlasting punishment for evil deeds, and a state of everlasting light and happiness for the good. The Zend also enjoins the constant maintenance of sacred fires, and fire-temples for religious worship; the distinction of clean and unclean beasts; payment of tithes to priests, who are to be of one family or tribe; a multitude of washings and purifications, and a variety of rules and exhortations for the exercise of benevolence and charity. See Zoroas

TER.

ZILLAH, Hindostanee. Side, part, district, division. A local division of a country, having reference to personal jurisdiction.

ZOBEIRS, a tribe of Arabs, inhabiting a town eight miles from Bussorah, on the Euphrates.

ZOHEIR-U-DOWLUT, Persian. A supporter of the state; a title of honour bestowed by the Shah on a distinguished public officer. ZOROASTER, or ZERDUSHT, a celebrated ancient philosopher, said to have been the reformer or the founder of the religion of the Magi. It is uncertain to how many eminent men the name of Zoroaster belonged. Some persons have asserted that there was but one Zoroaster, and that he was a Persian; others have said that there were six eminent founders of philosophy of this name. Many different opinions have also been advanced concerning the time in which he flourished. If, in the midst of so much uncertainty, any thing can be advanced with the appearance of probability, it seems to be this: that there was a Zoroaster, a Perso-Median, who lived in the

time of Darius Hystaspes; and that besides him there was another Zoroaster, who lived in a much more remote period among the Babylonians, and taught them astronomy. The ancient writers ascribe to a philosopher, whom they call Zoroaster, the origin of the Chaldean astronomy, which is of a much earlier date than the time of Darius Hystaspes; it would therefore imply that there was a Chaldean Zoroaster distinct from the Persian. Concerning this Zoroaster, however, nothing more is known than that he flourished towards the beginning of the Babylonian empire, and was the father of the Chaldean astrology and magic. All the writings that have been ascribed to Zoroaster are unquestionably spurious. ZUBBERDUST, Zubberdustee, force, vi et armis. The difficulties of obtaining justice, or rather of procuring the due enforcement of its decrees, in the agricultural districts of India, often drives suitors to take the law in their own hands, and get possession of their property zubberdustee. ZULF, the love-lock. A lock of hair pendant behind the ear of Persians and Rajpoots. ZUMBOORUK, from "Zumboor," a wasp; a small cannon supported by a swivelled rest on the back of a camel, from whence it is fired. There were many such in the Sikh army before its annihilation at Sobraon.

ZUMEEN, security, pledges, deposits. ZUNDEROOD, the river which flows past Ispahan.

ZYE, the termination of the names of several of the Afghan tribes, or Ooloos, signifying son, corresponding with the Mac prefixed to many Scotch names. See AFGHANISTAN.