Naorozji, by the creditable way in which he conducted the difficult negotiations in England, gained the esteem of all those who came in contact with him.1 Of his father Rastam Manak it should be re

But however the case be, we have at Nowrojee's request consented and agreed and do hereby direct and order that you do give leave to Bomanjee, if he do yet remain at Bombay, to go to Surat whenever he please without delay and that you do your endeavour by proper application to the Governor of Surat to get Framjee released from confinement, and the Guards taken off from his late Father's house, our desires being to end all differences amicably, for we would not have him opprest.

We have at Nowrojee's desire given him six letters all of the same tenor with this that as he intends to send them Overland, if any should miscarry the rest may come safe and Earlyer than by the shipping directly from hence for they will not sail till the proper season, by which you may expect an answer to your letters now before us. We are, your loving friends,

EDWD. HARRISON, Chairman.

ABRA. ADDAMS, Deputy. JOSIAS WORDSWORTH sen.

1 A gentleman, who had then lately retired from the factory at Surat, wrote to Naorozji's brothers thus::

"I have advised Mr. Nowrojee and so have several gentlemen here that you three Brothers should live amicable and peacefully in all your affairs, because in a very short time its to be hoped that the Hon'ble Company will employ you all jointly as their Broker, as is promised by my own, and Nowrojee's good friends here, but any dispute happens among you then you will ruin your business, since Nowrojee's coming to England he hath been very ill, but he hath taken great pains in this business, and every body here hath great value and esteem for him, because he hath managed this affair to the satisfaction of the

corded that he was a man of great probity and high character. He was as liberal in his expenditure and his assistance of the deserving as his wealth allowed him to be. Through his influence with the officers of the Mogul, he had saved his own countrymen from many an oppression. He built bridges and roads for the convenience of wayfarers, wells and tanks for the thirsty, and "dharmshalas" (free rest house) for weary travellers. In fact, he was unanimously regarded as the greatest benefactor of his city. On his death the whole community mourned for him and deplored his loss. The suburb of Surat now known as Rastampura, in which he lived, was named after him. It is perhaps not less noteworthy that he owned nearly the whole of the property within its limits. His son Naorozji, after his return from Europe, settled in Bombay, and the numerous Parsi families known as Seth Khandans are his descendants. The hill now called Naorozji Hill,' situated to the west of the Prince's Dock in Bombay, was purchased by and called after him. He was one of the first members of the Parsi Panchayet, with the foundation of which the beginning of his career was almost contemporaneous.

Naorozji had a son named Manakji, who was born

Hon'ble Company, and for the Good and Interest of his brothers and family; therefore you ought to make him a handsome present for his long and fatiguing voyage and good services."

1 From this hill is quarried the best blue basalt obtainable in Bombay.

at Surat in 1688, and whose name is memorable in the annals of Bombay. He came to that city in 1730, engaged in extensive mercantile operations, and opened a branch firm in Mysore. The small fire-temple in Bazar Gate Street, still known as Manakji Seth's "adaran," was built at his expense in 1733, and the "wadi" called Manakji Seth's "wadi," was also the creation of his generosity and charitable disposition. In 1747 he built a tower of silence at Surat. In Bombay the Parsis are also indebted to him for a tower of silence. He and his sons largely contributed towards the building of that place of burial. He was the first Parsi who entailed his estate in favour of his eldest son, and of the eldest heirs-male of his body lawfully begotten. On his death he settled a portion of his property in trust as a permanent endowment for the charitable institutions he had founded, and which he had supported during his lifetime. He was the head of the priestly caste in Bombay, and commanded great influence. Whenever schisms occurred among the priests his opinion was tantamount to law. At the present day, however, though his heirs are duly recognised, the headship of the family is little more than nominal. As we have given this short biographical account of Rastam Manak, the broker to

1 The present inheritor of the entailed estate is Mr. Jalbhai Ardeshir Seth, a young man of intelligence and considerable promise. Last year he travelled in Europe and America.

VOL. II.

C

the English factory at Surat, and his descendants, it is only right to also notice prominently the name of Mancherji Seth, who was broker to the Dutch factory at the same place.

Mancherji Seth was born at Surat in the year 1715. He was of humble origin, having been in the service of Manakji Naorozji Seth of Bombay. In his latter days he was largely engaged in commerce, and conducted an extensive business as broker to the Dutch factory at Surat. He possessed great influence with the nawab of the city, which he invariably employed for its good and for that of its inhabitants. His fame reached Delhi, which city he visited twice. He was more than once admitted to audience by the emperor. He built a large "dharmshala" at Surat for the benefit of his co-religionists, and handed it over to the trustees of his community. He contributed most towards the building of an exceptionally large tower of silence with four hundred and seventy-six "pavis" or receptacles, and built one at his own entire expense for the use of the Parsis of Nargol. He founded many charitable institutions, and built a number of wells in and around Surat, and was altogether a very liberal and charitable man. In fact, he bestowed blessings on all connected with the city by his liberality. His name is therefore still held in the highest respect in Surat. Mancherji Seth was the head of the Shehenshais in the "Kabisa" controversy

with the Kadmis. His contemporary Dhanjisha Manjisha, the head of the Kadmis, was an extensive "jaghirdar." He also traded largely with Bombay and China, and owned a great number of ships, besides many country craft called "batelas," which were used for the coasting trade.

In 1667 there died at Surat Nanabhai Punjiabhai, who was the head of the Parsi community of that city. The Modis of Surat are his descendants. Nanabhai was in the highest sense of the term a charitable man, while his building a "dokhma" at Surat testified to his religious feelings.

All

Since Nanabhai's time his descendants have been the heads of the Parsi community at Surat. representations from the Parsi community, formerly to the nawab and latterly to the English authorities, were made through their medium. When Bhimji Kuvarji was the Modi of Surat, he represented to the Nawab Hyder Ali Khan the grievances of the Parsis in being impressed by the Mahomedan officers of the nawab for various kinds of labour, among which the most disagreeable was the digging of graves for dead Mussulmans; and the nawab was pleased to issue a firman exempting the Parsis from such impressment. In former times as well as at the present day the Parsis levied small dues upon marriages among their co-religionists for the benefit of the funds for the amelioration of the poor belonging to the