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

134 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. II.

the poor upon his purse. His subscriptions to the several public and private institutions were large. To the needy and distressed he always extended a helping hand in a private and unostentatious manner. He built an “agiary” or fire-temple in Bombay at a cost of Rs.50,000, and on his death bequeathed in trust the handsome sum of two lakhs of rupees for the maintenance of educational and charitable institutions. He left four sons, Mervanji, Bamanji, Sorabji, and Beramji, who for some years carried on the extensive commercial business of their father. The youngest, Mr. Beramji, was for four years a member of the Legislative Council of the Government of Bombay, and was made a Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India in the year 1876. In the year 1880 he gave Government a sum of Rs.30,000 for a medical school for natives at Poona. He has established a charitable dispensary at Meh- . mudabad in memory of his deceased wife. THis son, Mr. Nanabhai Beramji Jijibhai, has been a member of the Municipal Corporation and the Town Couneil of Bombay for many years, and is well known for the active interest which he has displayed in public matters.

Manakji Nasarvanji Petit, the father of the wellknown brothers Messrs. Dinsha and Nasarvanji Petit, was a highly-respected member of the Parsi community. He died on 21st May 1859 at the age of