History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

242 HISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. V.

considerable sum of nearly twenty-two lakhs of rupees. This fact alone speaks highly for the charitable disposition of the Parsis, as well as for the judicious management of the trustees who, it may be said to their credit, have performed im a satisfactory manner the functions of the old Panchayet so far as the management of the religious and charitable property is concerned.

The present trustees are the Honourable Sir Jamshedji Jijibhai, Bart., C.S.1. (the recognised leader of the Parsi community), Messrs. Hirjibhai Hormasji Sethna, Dinsha Manakji Petit, Kharshedji Fardunji Parakh, and Framji Nasarvanji Patel. They are assisted by an able and energetic secretary, Mz. Nasarvanji Beramji. The funds under their management are devoted to religious, charitable, and benevolent purposes and objects, such as supporting poor and disabled Parsis in Bombay, Surat, Naysari, Broach, Udvada, and other towns and villages in the Bombay Presidency ; giving religious and moral education to the children of poor Parsis at the abovenamed places; maintaining a college or “ madressa” for teaching the Zend and Pehlevi languages to the sons of Parsi priests and laymen; carrying the remains of Parsis to the towers of silence in Bombay and other places; and such other various purposes and objects relating to the Parsi community generally in Bombay

and the Mofussil as may appear commendable.