However external and formal these numerous prayers and rituals may appear, the Parsee forms of confession are nevertheless evidence of the depth of their religious feeling, and their retention in the family and social life proves that the ancient religion still possesses a powerful influence. FOOTNOTES: [437] Flügel, "Mani," s. 407; Mohl, "Livre des Rois," Intro. Mordtmann, "Z. D. M. G." 19, 485 ff; Nöldeke, "Tabari," s. xv. [438] Nohodares in Ammian, 1, 14, 3; 1, 25, 3. [439] Spiegel, "Eran," 1, 557. [440] "Zamyad Yasht," 56 ff. Above, p. 37. [441] Ritter, "Erdkunde," 8, 153, 183, 491, 561. [442] Chanikof, in Spiegel, "Eran," 1, 556. [443] "Farvardin Yasht," 147. BOOK VIII. THE EMPIRE OF THE MEDES AND PERSIANS. THE EMPIRE OF THE MEDES AND PERSIANS. CHAPTER I. THE FOUNDATION OF THE MEDIAN KINGDOM. On the northern edge of the table-land of Iran, where the mountains descend to the Caspian Sea, we found dwelling towards the east the Hyrcanians (_Vehrkana_ in the Avesta, _Varkana_ in the inscriptions of Darius).[444] Their territory may have corresponded to the modern district of Jorjan, which has preserved their name (p. 9). To the west of the Hyrcanians, between Elburz and the Caspian, lay the Tapurians, whose name has survived in the modern Taberistan, and further yet, on the sea-coast, and at the mouth of the Mardus (now Safidrud), were the Mardians. Adjacent to these, on the shores of the Caspian Sea as far as the mouth of the Cyrus, lay the nation whom the Greeks called Cadusians, but whose native name was Gaels[445]--a name still preserved in the name of the district of Ghilan.[446] To the south of these tribes--the Tapurians, Mardians, and Cadusians--the north-west of the table-land was entirely occupied by the Medes.