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

300 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP, VI.

Presidency town of Bombay, an office of great responsibility, is at present held by a Parsi gentleman, Mr. Mancherji Kavasji Marzban.2

Nor have the Parsis been backward in taking advantage of the openings thus created for them in several professions. There are Parsi barristers-atlaw, attorneys and solicitors, pleaders, and “ vakils.” Indeed in every profession Parsis are prominent throughout Western India.

Recently Parsis have availed themselves of the Agricultural School established in Madras, and about a dozen students have successfully passed the final examination in that imstitution. They have been employed either as tutors or as superintendents of agriculture in different parts of India, including Native States. We are also able to state that one or two Parsis have for the first time qualified themselves as veterinary surgeons.

When the educational movement first commenced among the Parsis under the auspices of the Bombay Native Education Society the majority of those who took advantage of it belonged to the middle and the poorer classes. The rich did not show any great disposition to send their sons to the only institution

1 This gentleman was publicly thanked by His Excellency Sir James Fergusson, Governor of Bombay, for his admirable management during the reception of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and

Duchess of Connaught, who also expressed their satisfaction with the git, FE arrangements.