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

CHAP. VI.] MOVEMENT IN CALCUTTA. 397

cient talking, and that the time had arrived for action. Accordingly the work was inaugurated that very evening. But the first and essential question to be answered was, Could anything be done without pecuniary aid? This difficulty was also overcome. Several members of the society not only volunteered to act as teachers but offered apartments in their own houses as temporary schoolrooms. The hours of instruction were fixed from seven till ten A.M., so that the other avocations of the volunteer teachers might not be interfered with.

Under this arrangement four Parsi girls’ schools were opened on the 22d of October 1849, and on the first day forty-four pupils attended.

It must be mentioned that about this time, when the question of female education was attracting the oreatest attention in Bombay, a new stimulus came from an unexpected quarter. It happened that the cause of female education was being advocated in Calcutta, at the same time, with a spirit and eloquence almost unprecedented by the late Mr. Drinkwater Bethune, at that time law member of the Legislative Council of India. His large-hearted munificence and broad views seemed to promise for Eastern India the commencement of an era of increased happiness and knowledge. In Bombay his example and exertions roused to action the spirit of youthful patriots. In that city they had no high official to back them