DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22901#0308
292
HISTOR Y OF THE PARSIS. [chap. vi.
converted. The Parsi community, which, had always
staked everything for its religion, became exceed-
ingly excited, and various rumours were circulated
in the English newspapers of the day of an intended
outbreak amongst its members. However excited
they may have been, such an idea never really
entered their minds. So anxious were they to pre-
serve their good name and character as law-abiding
subjects that the Parsi leaders made a communi-
cation to Government upon the subject, which we
insert below,1 showing how desirous the Parsis have
1 " It is with the deepest concern and with the most painful feelings
that we have perused the outrageous attacks, lately made in the
public prints of this place on the whole native population, but
especially against the Parsi community and the members of their
Panchayet, in consequence of the excited state of public feeling
relative to the conversion of two Parsi boys to the Christian faith.
In these papers we have been accused of inciting others to a breach
of the peace, and of the intention of forcibly getting possession of
the boys with the ulterior object of sending them to Navsari and
there terminating their existence. Nothing can be more scandalous
and false, and we beg that you will immediately bring to the notice
of the Honourable the Governor in Council that every measure of pre-
caution has been taken by, and especially by the most influential,
members of the Parsi community to preserve the public peace and to
soothe down the justly irritated feelings of the people. One of our
body and one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace personally
waited upon the Superintendent of Police yesterday evening, and
requested that every means might be taken to prevent any disturbance,
and the Panchayet are at the very time this letter is being written
giving public notice throughout the town calling upon all well-
disposed persons to aid in this much-desired object. We have
further to request that you will bring to the notice of the Honour-
able Board that we have every reason to believe that the missionaries
themselves are the authors of some of the disgraceful paragraphs
HISTOR Y OF THE PARSIS. [chap. vi.
converted. The Parsi community, which, had always
staked everything for its religion, became exceed-
ingly excited, and various rumours were circulated
in the English newspapers of the day of an intended
outbreak amongst its members. However excited
they may have been, such an idea never really
entered their minds. So anxious were they to pre-
serve their good name and character as law-abiding
subjects that the Parsi leaders made a communi-
cation to Government upon the subject, which we
insert below,1 showing how desirous the Parsis have
1 " It is with the deepest concern and with the most painful feelings
that we have perused the outrageous attacks, lately made in the
public prints of this place on the whole native population, but
especially against the Parsi community and the members of their
Panchayet, in consequence of the excited state of public feeling
relative to the conversion of two Parsi boys to the Christian faith.
In these papers we have been accused of inciting others to a breach
of the peace, and of the intention of forcibly getting possession of
the boys with the ulterior object of sending them to Navsari and
there terminating their existence. Nothing can be more scandalous
and false, and we beg that you will immediately bring to the notice
of the Honourable the Governor in Council that every measure of pre-
caution has been taken by, and especially by the most influential,
members of the Parsi community to preserve the public peace and to
soothe down the justly irritated feelings of the people. One of our
body and one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace personally
waited upon the Superintendent of Police yesterday evening, and
requested that every means might be taken to prevent any disturbance,
and the Panchayet are at the very time this letter is being written
giving public notice throughout the town calling upon all well-
disposed persons to aid in this much-desired object. We have
further to request that you will bring to the notice of the Honour-
able Board that we have every reason to believe that the missionaries
themselves are the authors of some of the disgraceful paragraphs