only with the intention of taking away the secreted gold as well as what they had already plundered. This they did without compunction of conscience. After this affair the family removed to Udvada, and some time later made Daman their principal place of residence. Bhikhaji's son Beramji applied himself from an early age to trade, ingratiated himself into the favour of the native rajas of Mandvi and Dharampor, farmed the revenue of several of their villages, and in course of time amassed a large fortune. In those days the route of all the opium traffic from Malwa passed through Daman. Beramji, and after him his sons Bhikhaji and Kavasji, possessed a large interest in this trade, being the agents of most of the principal opium merchants of Bombay, and they also possessed many ships of their own plying between Daman, Bombay, Mozambique, and China. In consequence of the change in the route of the opium trade to Bombay, Daman lost all its commercial importance, and sank into insignificance. The opium trade of the family ceased, and the present Mr. Manakji Kavasji has confined himself to the administration of the villages and lands granted to his family in perpetuity by the Rajas of Dharampor and Mandvi, and by the Portuguese Government. With the power to exercise the revenue and judicial control in the villages granted by the Dharampor State and held under the guarantee of the British Government, with "thanas"1 and a police force of his own, and with armed Arab and Makrani sepoys for watch and ward, Mr. Manakji almost possesses the state of a little chief. This picture of individual importance, unique of its kind, is as gratifying to the feelings of Parsis as the more numerous examples of prosperity exhibited by the merchant princes of Bombay. 1 Revenue and police stations. CHAPTER II. DISTINGUISHED PARSIS OF BOMBAY, First Parsis in Bombay-The Portuguese rule-Cession to England-Kharshedji Pochaji Panday-The old fortifications-Dorabji NanabhaiThe early revenue of Bombay-Rastamji Dorabji-His heroic character— Great service to the English-The title of Patel-A romantic episodeKavasji Rastamji-Parsi passes-Hirjibhai Rastamji—Banaji Limji— The first Parsi traders with the far East-The first Parsi merchant in Burmah-In Calcutta-The Modi family-Contractors to the Company -Importers-Agents and bankers-"The honest shopkeeper "— The Readymoney family-Trading with China-Its profitable character — Sorabji Readymoney-Grants of land to Parsis-The Kama family-The Wadia family-Parsi shipbuilders-The first dockyard at Bombay-The master-builders of the East India Company-A family of skilful shipwrights-Sir Thomas Trowbridge on Parsi-built men-of-war-Sir Edward Pellew's opinion-The Salsette-The Minden-The master-builder of the present day-The benevolence of the Wadia family-The first Parsi High Sheriff of Bombay-The memorial fountains of the city-Parsi agents to France-Letters from French Government-The Dadiseth family-Their good work-Jamshedji Jijibhai-His birth-His first journey to China -His later journeys-Captured by a French vessel-His letter describing his adventures--His return to Bombay-His success and charity-The monuments of his generosity-The first Parsi knight-Addresses on the auspicious occasion-Further honours-Freedom of London-His cosmopolitan charity-Baron Hausmann's letter-His statue-Lord Elphinstone's speech-Lady Jamshedji-The Mahim causeway-The opening ceremony-Created a baronet-His descendants-Framji Kavasji Banaji -His good service-His agricultural taste-Official report on the subject -First present of mangoes to the Queen-The Bombay Times-Now the Times of India-The Calcutta Parsis-The Vikaji family-Their extensive operations-Their connection with the Nizam-Relations with Chandu Lal-Their bankruptcy-Salar Jung indemnifies them-Kharshedji Manakji Shroff - Family jars-Jijibhai Dadabhai - Manakji Nasarvanji Petit-Dinsha Manakji Petit-Dinsha's benevolence-Nasarvanji Manakji Petit-Mervanji Framji Panday-The Kolaba sanitarium -Kavasji Jehangir Readymoney-Mr. Woolner's statue of him-Edalji THE Parsis came and settled in Bombay, where they are mostly congregated at the present day, a little before the island was ceded to the British by the King of Portugal as the dowry of Catherine, Princess of Braganza, when she married Charles II. of England in the year 1668. There is no doubt on the point that they arrived in Bombay before the British had taken possession of it, because we find that in 1665 one Kharshedji Pochaji Panday' contracted with the Portuguese authorities for the supply of men and materials for the building of the fortifications. The extensive nature of the contract can only be judged by those who have seen these fortifications and the fort walls. After the lapse of two centuries they were considered by the British Government to be useless for offensive or defensive purposes. The walls round the fort were pulled down only twenty years ago to afford increased accommodation to the city. The stately public buildings which now stand on the esplanade and add to the grand and beautiful appearance of Bombay occupy the site of the old rampart walls. Following the plan adopted in the last chapter in This gentleman was the great-great-grandfather of Mr. Mervanji Framji Panday, of whom a notice will be found hereafter in this chapter. describing the Parsis of Gujarat, we now proceed to give a sketch of some of the earlier Parsis who distinguished themselves in Bombay by their commercial spirit, enterprise, and benevolence, after they had settled in that city. Dorabji Nanabhai, the head of the Patel family, was one of the earliest residents, if not the very first Parsi settler in Bombay. It is uncertain whether there were any Parsis in that city before his arrival, but he was certainly a resident of Bombay before the cession of the island to the English, and was employed by the Portuguese Government in transacting miscellaneous business with the natives. of the place. He continued to perform this duty after the transfer of Bombay, and as the new rulers were ignorant of the manners, language, and customs of the people, he was frequently consulted by the English about their affairs. In the year 1668 the population consisted chiefly of fishermen, and it having been found necessary to raise the revenue1 of the place, the new authorities levied a body tax upon them, and entrusted its collection to Dorabji Nanabhai, who is said to have carried out his orders smoothly and without any friction, whereby he became exceedingly popular among the people. On 1 It may interest our readers to know that the total amount of the revenue of Bombay in the first year of the English Government was about six thousand five hundred pounds sterling, and was, as given by VOL. II. E |