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

cHAP. .] S/R KAVAS/T READVMONEY. I4I

characterised by an honesty and uprightness which won him the esteem and confidence of all who were brought into business relations with him. He was, indeed, qualified by nature to be a successful man of business, for there was no undertaking in which his rare business talents did not enable him to distance his competitors and achieve renown.”

But it was more on account of his anxious desire to alleviate the sufferings of the poor, and of the munificent sums bestowed by him in the cause of charity, that his name was most favourably known. For nearly a quarter of a century the stream of his benevolence was constantly flowing. He built a hospital at Surat at a cost of Rs.72,000, and an eye hospital in Bombay at a cost of Rs.112,000. He contributed Rs.50,000 towards the construction and establishment of a lunatic asylum at Hydrabad, Sind, and gave largely to dispensaries in several towns in the Presidency, some of which were established and maintained at his own expense.

He ever did his utmost to promote the spread of education amongst his countrymen, and his efforts in this respect will always be remembered with gratitude, and will form an imperishable monument to his name. For a permanent building for the Elphinstone College he gave two lakhs of rupees; for erecting the University Hall one lakh; and for the Poona Engineerlng College Rs.50,000. His generous donations