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

cHAaP.1] AN ENTERPRISING MERCHANT. 37

no heir, and his family became extinct; but the Atash-Behram is a lasting monument to his memory as well as of his wife’s tender love and regard. The man who builds an Atash-Behram or chief fire-temple is sure to live long in the memory of the Parsis, for it is the principal of their sacred places. The more religiously inclined pay daily visits to them to offer up their prayers to God.

Besides those whom we have mentioned in this chapter there were many old Parsi families whose names are still held in high esteem at Surat, but it is impossible to notice them all at any length. One Ratanji Manakji Enti, who was born in the year 1733, deserves however to be mentioned for his commercial enterprise in distant parts of the globe. He was the first Parsi who went to Arabia in pursuit of commerce, and visited Mecca and Jedda. He travelled through different parts of Arabia, and on his return to Surat opened an extensive trade with that country. Ratanji was also a man of an exceedingly charitable disposition. He built a “dokhma” at Somari, near Surat, and a large “dharmshala” for the use of the Parsis in that city. He also greatly distinguished himself during the dreadful famine which scourged Gujarat in 1790 by his indefatigable exertions in superintending the feeding of the poor, and in making arrangements for the cheap supply of food to the

famished population, At that time a new coin