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

CHAP, II] ZOROASTRIAN SCHOOLS. 83

had devoted their attention and energy. Theirs was a comprehensive scheme of philanthropy, tending to the general amelioration of the ill-used community in Persia, and in the practical realisation of which they were not one whit less zealous than in framing and forwarding memorials praying for the redress of a specific grievance. It must be added that they had found in Mr. Manakji Antaria an apt and willing agent for giving effect to their generous aims. Schools began to be established for the education of Zoroastrian children in 1857, from which date an annual contribution of Rs.600 was made for maintaining scholastic institutions at eleven towns in the districts of Yezd and Kerman. A donation of Rs.500 per annum from the trustees of the Nasarvanji Mancherji Kama fund, enhanced by further pecuniary aid from Mr. Palanji Nasarvanji Patel, a gentleman engaged in the China trade, induced the committee, later on, to concentrate their efforts and apply all their resources to placing the boarding school, opened in 1866, on a footing of greater efficiency. This boarding school originated in the munificent gift of Rs.25,000, given in 1864 by Mr. Nasarvanji Manakji Petit on the occasion of his son Jamshedji being invested with the “sudra-kusti.” This amount was devoted from the first to the instruction, board, and lodging of thirty-one boys. Unfortunately the outlay required for the maintenance of this institu-