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

138 AIISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. II.

fire, flood, and storm have always been characterised by the greatest liberality. He has been one of the chief supporters of the funds for the relief of the poor Zoroastrians of Persia and the Persians in Bombay. He has given nearly a lakh of rupees to the funds of the Parsi Panchayet for the benefit of the poor of the community. We have not gone into details ; it is enough for us to indicate the various purposes to which Mr. Dinsha’s charities have been directed.

But his private charities, which are extensive, cannot be known. He maintains many poor and struggling families by giving them pensions. He has extricated many deserving persons from anxieties and troubles by discharging thew debts. He has relieved the minds of many parents by defraying the marriage expenses of their daughters, and has spared the feelings of many poor families by defraying the funeral expenses of their deceased members. The one great merit of Mr. Dinsha’s charities is their unostentatiousness, and this quality, as well as the charming simplicity of his character, has secured for him the golden opinions of his countrymen.

Mr. Nasarvanji Manakji Petit has also given large sums in charity. He has, to say nothing of his other gifts, given Rs.50,000 to the Parsi Panchayet for the benefit and maintenance of the poor of his community. He has built a fire-temple in Bombay at a cost of Rs.26,500, given Rs.55,700 towards the maintenance