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

272 HISTORY OF THE PARSITS. [CHAP. VI.

The Parsis have always taken care of their own poor. They have never invited the aid of the professors of other religions for the support of their charitable institutions. They have provided “ dharmshalas” for the poor, aged, decrepit, and blind of their community, and various funds, most of which are in charge of the trustees of the Parsi Panchayet, while others are in the hands of trustees appointed by the benevolent donors, exist for the relief and assistance of poor Parsis. The last census of Bombay gives a return of 6,618 male and 2,966 female mendicants, amongst whom there were only five male Parsis and one female. Even these few persons do not beg from others than their own race. The Committee of the District Benevolent Society, an institution maintained by contribution from Government and funds endowed by the late Sir Jamshedji Jijibhai, Baronet, and other charitable individuals, thus publicly acknowledged the fact in one of its reports:—“The public at large owe a debt of gratitude to the Parsis of Bombay, for not one beggar of that caste has ever applied to this Society for relief, nor is a Parsi pauper ever to be seen in our streets.”

There is one trait in the Parsi character which has greatly helped the community to keep itself foremost among the natives of India, and it is one of many reasons explaining why the Government itself attaches more importance to this community than to any other