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

44 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. I.

Bhikhaji Bharda, the great-grandfather of the present head of the family, Mr. Manakji Kavasji Damanvala, was the head priest of the Zoroastrian community at Tarapur in the years 1745-46. The family had from early times been settled at this place, and enjoyed some influence with the darbar of the Peshwa at Poona. Bhikhaji Bharda enjoyed also the reputation of being a wealthy man. He could not hope, however, to escape from the marauding expeditions of the Pindaris, who were the pest of the country, until Lord Hastings curbed their pride and put an end to their exactions. On one occasion, when the Pindaris had carried away the whole of his possessions, even to the ornaments of his daughters, he is said to have stopped them, offering them more gold, which he had secreted in the hollow of the legs of his bedstead, if they would only return his daughters’ ornaments, because, as they belonged to their husbands, he only held them in trust. The Pindaris, while they marvelled at the extreme simplicity of the old man, feigned acquiescence with his request, but

and to render as tolerable as possible to them a country, where there are scarcely six good months in the year. The suffering these gentlemen underwent at first was owing to the ignorance, not unkindness of this nation. I am sorry, Sir, to inform you that I can give you no sort of hope of your ever obtaining the assistance of the troops you require. It is best at once to speak plainly, when it is not in our power to act. Hanumant Rao is a faithful and an able servant of yours, and Maniar Parsi used every exertion to second him. If your affairs have not succeeded to your wishes, it is no fault of theirs.”