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

CHAP, VI.] THE PARSIS OF BROACH. 259

large number of their best China firms had_ to suspend business. There are still, however, a few Parsi commercial establishments in Hongkong and Shanghai, but the Jews now enjoy the monopoly of the trade between India and China which formerly belonged to the Parsis.

In the commerce of Bombay with Europe the Parsis, as has already been remarked, acted more ag middle-men between the Europeans and natives than as direct traders. The native merchants and dealers, who are chiefly Hindus of Katch and Kathiawar, have so far advanced, under British auspices, in education and knowledge that they can now deal directly with Europeans. The Parsi middle-man is consequently no longer a necessity as he was in days of yore.

We will now take a brief survey of the present position of the Parsi population in Gujarat and other places outside Bombay in the Western Presidency of India. In point of prosperity the Parsis of Broach rank next to those of Bombay. They trade largely in cotton, and are owners of several cotton gins. The other staple trades which are almost entirely in the hands of the Parsis are timber, fuel, and “mowra” flowers from which liquor is manufactured. In Broach as well as in Anklesvar and other towns in Gujarat the Parsis, owing to their industry and enterprise, are better off than other natives. The Parsis of Balsar, Gandevi, and Bilimora carry on a large trade in