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

CHAP. 1.] SORAB/I NEK SANT KHAN. 23

in the Parchol, Chaurasi, and Daboli “ parganas ” (administrative subdivisions) of the Surat Zilla. Being thus established in high estimation at Delhi, he naturally became still more respected by all classes of his own community, and there is no doubt that by means of his exceptional influence some valuable privileges were obtained for the English at Surat. On his return from Delhi in 1760 to his native place Sorabji was appointed Comptroller of the Surat Revenue, and entrusted with the important charge of the presentation of Khilats (dresses of honour) to the Honourable Charles Crommelin and Mr. John Spencer, the heads of the English factory at | Surat. On the 2d of May Sorabji Nek Sant Khan was presented, in full darbar, with a dress of honour by the representative at Surat of the Honourable East India Company. He died in 1772 at the ripe age of seventyfive. He was aman of charitable disposition, and gave free sites of land for religious institutions. After his death his two sons, Bejanji Sorabji Beheremandkhan and Pestanji Sorabji Talyarkhan, im addition to the administration of their father’s “jaghirs,” as well as the farming of the custom duties, engaged themselves extensively in trade in cotton, piece-goods, and silk. Sorabji Nek Sant Khan had a grandson, Dhanjisha, who was not less distinguished for good sense and public spirit than his ancestors had been. After the death of his father, in the year 1791, Dhanjisha