Page 271 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

THE ENGLISH SECURE A FOOTHOLD IN INDIA 271

whom they are practised. When he went to Bombay he
foimd there a population of a few thousands and an insignifi­
cant revenue, derived largely from taxes upon rice-land
and upon palm trees, from which the native drink known
as toddy was distilled. He then vowed “ by God’s help ”
to make the place a more worthy centre of English influ­
ence, and he was as good as his word. Before his term of
service closed in 1677, the population had grown to 50,000,
an important revenue had been created, the defences had
been strengthened, and the beginnings had been made of
a judicial system.
Not the least of Aungier’s achievements was that he
attracted by his measures a class of settlers of the very best
type. The Banians, who are the salt of the Hindu trading
community in Western India, were numerously represented,
and there was a considerable number of Armenians, also
excellent traders, and a distinctly law-abiding class. But
the most interesting element in the immigration was the
Parsee. Of all the varied races which go to make up the
Indian community there is none which possesses in a higher
degree the genius for commerce than this body of followers
of Zoroaster.
Driven out of Persia by persecution in the sixth century,
f the Parsees landed on the coast of Western India near
Surat, and were granted an asylum by the native authori­
ties. There they lived in comparative peace and content­
ment for centuries, but they did not greatly prosper owing
doubtless to the racial restrictions which prevented them
from taking part in the larger life of India. The period of
their real prosperity dates from their settlement in Bom­
bay. Entering into the life of the town without the reli­
gious and caste prejudices which hampered the Hindus,

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