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DÂDISTÂN-Î DÎNÍK.
2. The reply is this, that as it is necessary, so that the ceremonial of the sacred beings may be more advanced, and such wealth may more come on to the good work, for the proper stipends of the undertakers and solemnizers—that they may become less lukewarm as regards the accompanying proprieties, and thereby diligent in performing themand there is not in ith an express connection manifested with different work, and with that which has proceeded from so many previous good people, I deem the introduction of it? more expressly better.
CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 1. As to the eighty-seventh question and reply, that which you ask is thus : As family householders we of the good religion of Irân, before each celebration of all the religious rites with holy-water which they have provided in the land of Pârs, have then always given for it a gift of 400 dirhams, or 350 dirhanis5 at least. 2. And now if we should be needy, when we deduct something from the 400 dirhams, or from the 350 dirhams, of the gift for them, they would then not accept it from us, and speak thus : 'Less than 400, or than 350, dirhams we do not accept.' 3. But there are needy men
1 The ceremonial. The gift. . See Chap. LXVI, 17.
• Reading bûm, as in M14, instead of the barmano, son,' of K 35.
About 140 or 122} rūpis (see Chap. LII, I note). As in Chap. LXVI, the actual value of these sums of money depended upon the price of the necessaries of life in the ninth century.
• K35 repeats the negative, but whether this is a blunder, or intended to intensify the negation, is uncertain.
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