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

318 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. VI.

under a great disadvantage owing to the want of suitable and convenient accommodation for its schools, particularly for the largest school in the Fort. This want has recently been supplied by the liberality of Mr. Sorabji Shapurji Bengal, C.1.E., a member of the Managing Committee. In one of the populous localities in the Fort he is building at his own cost a fine, commodious, and airy two-storied schoolhouse, estimated to cost about Rs.90,000, including the Government grant of Rs.30,000, m perpetuation of the name of his beloved mother, Bai Bhikhaiji Shapurji Bengali. This edifice is to be made over in trust to the Association for the use of the Fort school. Mr. Sorabji Shapurji Bengali has always been a great promoter and staunch friend of female education. It was through his personal exertions and by his pecuniary assistance that the Committee of the Girls’ School Association was able to rear up a class of female teachers, by whom the schools are now greatly benefited.

When the Education Commission appointed by the Government of Lord Ripon was sitting in Bombay the Managing Committee collected the girls of all their schools in the Framji Kavasji Institute with the view of giving the members of the Commission an opportunity of seeing the schools and explaining to them the principles upon which they were conducted, and the state in which they were. The