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

74 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. II.

also of six smaller fountains in other districts of the city.

These public monuments have all been made oyer to the municipality, and Mr. E. C. K. Ollivant, the present Municipal Commissioner, in acknowledging the munificent gift to the Corporation, added the following graceful tribute to the memory of the deceased gentleman :—

“The monument is an acquisition to the city and worthily commemorates the esteem in which Mr. Bamanji Hormasji Wadia was deservedly held by all sections of the community. In erecting to his memory this and other fountains, and thereby conferring a great boon on the poorer classes, the committee have, if I may be allowed to say so, chosen a form of monument that will be most appreciated and be a fitting record of the name of one who was in his lifetime, like others of his family, always ready to further every charitable object.”

His younger brother, Ardeshir Hormasji, is well known to the present generation of Parsis, as well as to the other races inhabiting Bombay, by his wnostentatious benevolence and generosity. After the crash which followed “the share mania” Ardeshir supported many worthy Parsis who had suddenly been reduced from a state of opulence to poverty.

Another of Layji Wadia’s grandsons was Nasarvanji

Manakji Wadia. Besides extensive commercial opera-