History of the Parsis

APPENDICES.

A. THE PARSI CHATTELS REAL ACT (Act IX. of 1837)

B. THE PARSI MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE ACT 1865 (Act

XV. of 1865).

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298

C. THE PARSI SUCCESSION ACT (Act XXI. of 1865)

D. THE JAMSHEDJI JIJIBHAI BARONETCY PATENT .

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320

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

✓ A PARSI MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN

V ZOROASTER

Frontispiece
To face page 146

CHAPTER I.

DISTINGUISHED PARSIS OF GUJARAT.

Early opinion of Parsis-Their settlement of Navsari-Merji Rana-The Desais-Changa Asa-Removal of the sacred fire - Du Perron's travels-The Ravayets-Manaksha Desai-Translations of Persian poems -Temulji Desai-Divisions of the priesthood-Mancherji Kharshedji -First British connection with Baroda-Parsi services-Expulsion of Arab mercenaries-Parsis at Surat-Their good qualities-European factories at Surat-Parsi brokers—Rastam Manak-His visit to Aurangzeb-Rastam's services-A Turkish merchant in distress-Rastam and Sir Nicholas Waite-The claims of Rastam's family-Persecution-Naorozji Rastamji sails for Europe-Obtains justice in England-The first native of India to visit London-A despatch of the East India Company - The suburb of Rastampura-Manakji Seth-The first Parsi entailed estateMancherji Seth-Nanabhai Punjiabhai-Ancestor of the Modis-Bhimji Kuvarji-Imperial firman-Sorabji Kavasji-His mechanical knowledgeConsequences of repairing a clock-The Sorabji family-A Mahdi-Death of a Parsi-Phirozsha Dhanjisha-His popularity-His public funeral— Ardeshir Dhanjisha-His great services—Famine and flood- A piratical confederacy-Ardeshir receives a gold medal-Public darbars - False charge against Ardeshir-His exoneration-Grand darbar-Dadabhai Nasarvanji Modi-Ratanji Manakji Enti-Pilgrimage to Mecca-The Bhavnagris-Nasarvanji Kohiyar - Kharshedji Kohiyar-Lieutenant Birdwood-Kharshedji Modi-Intrigues at Poona-Maniar Parsi-His visit to England-The guest of Edmund Burke-Burke's letter to Ragunath Rao-Bhikhaji Bharda-Manakji Damanvala.

AFTER their exodus from Persia the Parsis lived, as we have seen, at Sanjan for about six hundred years in tranquillity and in the full enjoyment of their religious rites under the government of the Hindu rajas at that place. They chiefly occupied themselves

VOL. II.

in agricultural and industrial pursuits. Not only did they change the face of the territory they occupied from a dreary jungle into a fruitful, refreshing, and life-giving garden, but they enjoyed considerable prosperity more especially if taken in comparison with their neighbours. Unfortunately there is no record of any interesting or important event during this long period of six centuries, but a traveller of the twelfth century speaks of them "as rich, warlike, wandering, and clever,"-qualities seldom associated before or since.

The dispersion of the Parsis of Sanjan after the overthrow of the Hindu Government in or about the year 1315 was, as might naturally be expected, followed by a century of national depression. They had again to leave the houses they had built and the lands they had rendered fertile, and, destitute of resources, once more to seek a new life and fresh lands in another part of Gujarat. There they settled, despite their indigent circumstances, with a high character for valour, fidelity, and loyalty to the kings who had given them and their ancestors a kindly welcome when driven from their own home. The Parsis even to this day retain a grateful remembrance of the kind reception they met with at the hands of the Hindu king and his subjects. Though the result of the campaign against the invaders of the Rana of Sanjan's country was disastrous to the Parsis who took so prominent a part in it, the reputation they acquired by their gal

lantry tended to greatly improve their condition and status, and promoted the interests of their small colonies with the ruling powers wherever they happened to establish themselves.

In this chapter we propose, therefore, to notice some of the distinguished Parsis of Gujarat, as well as the interesting events with which they were connected.

As the Parsis grew in importance at Navsari, and as, unfortunately, the members of the priesthood began to be continually at difference among themselves, it was considered advisable to elect a suitable man as chief" dastur" or high priest, who would not only be the head of the sacerdotal caste but also the chief adviser and controller of the religious affairs of the entire community. The choice for this office, made on the 12th of March 1579, fell unanimously upon a pious and learned priest named Merji Rana. By his piety, learning, and irreproachable character he not only gained the esteem of his fellow-countrymen but his fame spread far and wide, even to the ears of the Emperor Akbar the Great, and he was summoned by that wise ruler to Delhi, that he might explain to him the tenets of the Parsi religion. It is said that the emperor was favourably impressed with the religion of Zoroaster, and bestowed upon the "dastur" a free grant of two hundred acres of land at Navsari, as a mark of his royal favour. In the year 1595 Akbar

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History of the Parsis: Including Their Manners, Customs, Religion ..., Band 2