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

CHAP. V.| MERITORIOUS SERVICES. 279

also to explaining the grounds upon which the Legislature has been induced to accede to their wishes. In this connection he desires to acknowledge that he is chiefly indebted to the valuable report of Sir Joseph Arnould’s Commission, and that he has, in great part, adopted the very language of that admirable document. Before we conclude this chapter it is but right to record here what the author believes is the general feeling of the entire Parsi community, that the successful result of the efforts of the Parsis in obtaining their laws from the Government was chiefly owing to the zealous and disinterested exertions of the late Mr. Manakji Nasarvanji Petit, the first president of the Parsi Law Association ; and afterwards of his successor in that office, the venerable Mr. Framji Nasarvanji Patel; of Mr. Hirjibhai Hormasji Sethna, the vicepresident ; and, more particularly, of the two able and zealous honorary secretaries Messrs. Naorozji Fardunji and Sorabji Shapurji Bengali, both well known and respected in the community for their unceasing efforts in everything affecting its welfare. Both these latter gentlemen, it is gratifying to observe, have recently been honoured in recognition of their public worth by Her Majesty the Empress of India by being enrolled as Companions of the order of the Indian Empire.