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

72 LIISTORYV OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. II.

and several cities of Asia, and owned the following ships:—the Behemeniar, Milford, Anne, Hero, and the Tajbakhas.

During the Gujarat famine of 1790 Pestanji caused thousands of poor families to be fed for ten months. He built ‘“dharmshalas” for travellers in many places in Gujarat, as well as a “dokhma” or tower of silence for the Parsis at Anklesvar. It is said that he was the most public-spirited native citizen of his day. He always espoused the cause of the weak against the strong, and was ever ready to withstand the authorities on behalf of any poor man who he thought had been unjustly harassed or oppressed.

Hormasji Bamanji Wadia, the other brother, was one of the most popular Parsis of his time. He was connected in business with the old house of Forbes and Company, of which Sir Charles Forbes, a great friend and well-wisher of the natives of India, was the head. Hormasji’s noble character had gained him the intimate friendship of Sir Charles Forbes and the respect and esteem of all the Europeans with whom he came into contact. The chief Parsi fire-temple of the Shehenshai sect was built by his sons Bamanji, Ardeshir, and Rastamji, in accordance with the expressed wish of their father. Hormasji’s two sons Bamanji and Ardeshir were both worthy of their father.

As a citizen, Bamanji was highly respected for