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

CHAP. VI] PROGRESS OF EDUCATION. 3ol

which at that time could impart a sound education. They preferred to send them to private schools which, although very inefficient, kept them from mixing with the boys of less favoured classes. But when they discovered that the Elphinstone Institution turned out scholars who were far better educated than their own sons they recognised their mistake, and at once hastened to avail themselves of its superior advantages. In the early years of this century wealthy Parsis, bemg themselves not well educated, thought their sons would, without any change, continue to be as rich and as happy as they had been. They were soon undeceived. They had to realise the fact that, if they did not leave their sons a better legacy than gold, they would be unable to keep their place im society, while the educated and enlightened members, although belonging to the middle and less wealthy classes, would take precedence of them in every way. About the middle of the present century, all their old prejudices, therefore, had been removed, and they freely sent their sons to public schools. At the present day the sons of the rich, as well as of the middle and poorer classes of Parsis, are all honourably vying with each other in imbibing the useful lessons to be derived from the science and literature of the West. That education has exercised, and will con-

tinue to exercise, a great influence for good on the