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

12 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. I.

Whether Rastam Manak was restored to his appointment or not is now unknown, but it appears from authentic papers in the possession of his descendants that after his death in 1721 a dispute arose between his sons and the officers of the English factory as to the amount due by the latter to Rastam’s estate. Great pressure was brought to bear upon Rastam’s heirs to forego their claim, and Mr. Hope, who was then head of the English factory at Surat, and after him his successors, Messrs. Cowan and Courtney, induced Momin Khan, the Nawab of Surat, through the influence of Governor William Phipps of Bombay, to imprison Framji Rastamji, the eldest son of Rastam, and to put Rastam’s house under attachment. Framji was also fined by the nawab Rs.50,000, and made to pay Rs.200 daily for the supply of food to the members and servants of his family. This unlooked-for oppression filled the family with dismay, for it seemed a hard return for the valuable services it had rendered to the English. Framji’s younger brother Bamanji went therefore to Bombay to seek redress from the governor, but, instead of getting the justice which he expected, he found himself placed under surveillance and unable to go anywhere beyond the limits of the island. Seeing no chance of obtaining redress from the

could be responsible for the Company’s property nor their own liberty.”—Bruce, Annals of the Hast India Company, vol, il, p. 595.