Reference to Barmaki. (p. 170.)
Sahal Ibn-Harun. (p. 185.)
Dictum of Buzurja Meher. (p. 217.)
Madaini quoted. (p. 233.)
Persia referred to. (p. 234.)
PART III., PAGE 5.
[Sidenote: Value of Zoroastrian literature.]
And we note that the persons most superior with, regard to preaching our sermons are the Persians. And among the Persians the most clever in this respect are the people of Fars, and they are the sweetest in words, and their pronunciation is the most correct. And the most difficult in this respect are the people of Merv. The most eloquent dialect of Persia is the Dari. As regards the Pahlavi idiom, of the people of the country of Ahwaz are the best. And as regards the chantings of the HERBEDS and the songs of the MOBEDS the superiority in this respect lies with the annotators of the Zemzema. And it is said that he who desires to acquire proficiency in the art of eloquence, and to be acquainted with rare expressions, and to be profoundly versed in vocabulary should read the book of Karwand. Moreover, if it is necessary to acquire sagacity and good manners and knowledge of the various interpretations of terms, a knowledge of pleasing expression and agreeable interpretation, one should study the LIVES OF KINGS, since for the Persians this book contains essays and sermons and fine expressions.
HAMZA ISPAHANI.
[Sidenote: Why no authentic history of Iran has survived.]