OF

THE PARSI S

INCLUDING

THEIR MANNERS, CUSTOMS, RELIGION,

AND PRESENT POSITION

BY

DOSABHAI FRAMJI KARAKA, C.S.I.

PRESIDENCY MAGISTRATE AND CHAIRMAN OF HER MAJESTY'S BENCH OF JUSTICES, BOMBAY ; LATE MEMBER BOMBAY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL; LATE CHAIRMAN OF THE

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND LATE SHERIFF OF BOMBAY

Ind 205,50.3

اژه

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER L

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 Aurang-

zeb-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 estate-

Mancherji Seth-Nanabhai Punjiabhai-Ancestor of the Modis-Bhimji

Kuvarji-Imperial firman-Sorabji Kavasji-His mechanical knowledge-

Consequences of repairing a clock-The Sorabji family-A Mahdi-Death

of a Parsi-Phirozsha Dhanjisha-His popularity-His public funeral-

Ardeshír 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 . Pages 1-46

CHAPTER II.

DISTINGUISHED PARSIS OF BOMBAY.

First Parsis in Bombay-The Portuguese rule-Cession to England—Khar-

shedji Pochaji Panday-The old fortifications-Dorabji Nanabhai —

VOL. II.

b

The early revenue of Bombay-Rastamji Dorabji-His heroic character-

Great service to the English-The title of Patel-A romantic episode-

Kavasji 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 ship-

wrights-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 cosmo-

politan charity-Baron Hausmann's letter-His statue-Lord Elphin-

stone'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 exten-

sive operations-Their connection with the Nizam-Relations with

Chandu Lal-Their bankruptcy-Salar Jung indemnifies them-Khar-

shedji Manakji Shroff-Family jars-Jijibhai Dadabhai - Manakji

Nasarvanji Petit-Dinsha Manakji Petit-Dinsha's benevolence-Nasar-

vanji Manakji Petit-Mervanji Framji Panday-The Kolaba sanitarium

—Kavasji Jehangir Readymoney-Mr. Woolner's statue of him-Edalji

Framji Albless-Framji Nasarvanji Patel-Kharshedji Fardunji Parakh

-The Flora Fountain in Bombay
Pages 47-145

CHAPTER III.

ZOROASTER.

The Parsi faith-Its most flourishing period-The reformer Ardeshir-Date

of Zoroaster-Account of his life-The earliest possible date-The Avesta

and Cuneiform languages-Origin of name of Zoroaster-His miraculous

birth-Attempt to destroy him-Appears at Court-The sacred fire-A

mighty gathering-His first address-His first disciples-His sons and

daughters-The Avesta language-Two dialects-Sanscrit and Avesta-

The ancient books-The twenty-one volumes-Their meaning and

significance
146-164