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

42 HISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP I.

Peshwa. The intrigues were renewed in different forms, and he was at length removed from the Residency, but with a handsome provision for him in his native country. Before he could leave Poona, however, he died (1815) of poison, but whether administered to him by others or taken by himself was never ascertained, although a long and strict investigation was made.

A short notice of one Maniar, who, after Naorozji Seth, was the second Parsi to visit England (1781), will be both interesting and appropriate. His mission was of a political character. He and a Hindu gentleman were deputed to England by Ragunathrao Peshwa for the purpose of obtaining from the Hast India Company and the British Government the assistance of their troops. Both these gentlemen seem to have lived in England in the most orthodox style of their native land, and were they to rise from their graves and see how the Parsis and Hindus of the present day now live and board in England they would be struck with horror and dismay, and we are afraid they might consider that nothing short of eternal perdition would be their doom. On the return of Hanmantrao and Maniar, the Peshwa thanked the Right Honourable Edmund Burke for the kindness

and attention which he had shown to his agents.*

1 The following is from Burke’s Life, vol, iii. p. 46 :“Hanumant Rao, a Brahman of high caste, and Maniar Parsi, arrived in England as agents of Ragunath Rao, who had some business to