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

CHAP. 11.] THE VICTORIA GARDENS. 143

which he had, as we have just said, given a lakh of rupees. The statue is from the sympathetic hand of Mr. Woolner, and cost Rs.20,000. When His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was in Bombay he honoured Sir Kavasji by presenting him with a silver medal, a book, and a portrait of himself and of his amiable Princess.

The name of the late benevolent Edalji Framji Albless, who died in 1865, will ever be remembered among the Parsis in connection with the Albless Bag, a building erected and endowed out of funds left by him. As already explained, this building is set apart for Parsi marriages. dalji was the architect of his own fortunes, and a very pious man.

Among the distinguished Parsis still living is the venerable Framji Nasarvanji Patel, of whose valuable services in connection with the Parsi Law Association, the Persian Zoroastrian Amelioration Society, and the Parsi Girls’ School Association, we have made mention in previous pages. He is further well known to the native and European community of Bombay for his great liberality. He was one of those who were chiefly instrumental in giving the city of Bombay its only garden worthy of the name —viz. the “ Victoria Gardens,” towards the formation of which he gave a most handsome donation. He has always evinced a deep interest in the education and general

enlightenment of his countrymen, and any measure