The list of the Parsis of Bombay by occupation shows that Parsis had a variety of occupations from accountants and bankers to hawkers, umbrella makers, cooks, servants, gardeners, prostitutes, palm wine dealers and many more.

 

Listing of Number of Parsis by Profession in Alphabetical order

 

TOTAL POPULATION   —   49201

MALES  —   28008

1-30 days–70

1-23 months–823

2-13 years–5873

14-44 years—16430

45 years and above–4840

FEMALES   —  21003

1-30 days—36

1-23 months—762

2-13 years—5749

14-44 years—10790

45 years and above–3700

 

OCCUPATION

 

ANNUITANT, INDEPENDENT, LIVING ON DIVIDEND OR RENTS   — 3117

AUCTIONER                                                                   —   107

BAKER                                                                             —     93

BEGGAR                                                                          —

BRACELET MAKER                                                          —  434

BULLOCK DRIVER, DAIRY MAN                                    —  325

CANE WORKER, PALM LEAF WEAVER                        —  649

CHARCOAL DEALER                                                        —    92

CLOTHIER, DRAPER                                                        —  590

COOK                                                                                — 1641

COPPERSMITH                                                                 —

CONFECTIONER OR SWEET MEAT MAKER                 —    38

CONTRACTOR                                                                  —  606

COTTONWORKER OR RETAILER                                   —   205

CROCKERY, GLASS DEALER                                            —   150

DOMESTIC SERVANT                                                       — 5325

PERFUMER                                                                        —   150

DYER                                                                                  —

ENGINEER                                                                          —

ENGINE DRIVER                                                                —    907

FISHERMAN                                                                      —       40

GARDENER, GREEN GROCER, AGRICULTURIST,

HAY AND STRAW DEALER                                                —     270

 

GOLD, SILVERSMITH, JEWELLER                                     —    128

GRAIN DEALER OR GRINDER                                           —         3

GRAIN PARCHER                                                                —         5

GROCER                                                                              —     316

GUNPOWDER, FIREWORKS MAKER DEALER                —       54

HAWKER                                                                             —      180

HEMP, AND COLI WORKER OR DEALER                         —        31

HORSE DRIVER                                                                  —–

IRON WORKER OR DEALER                                                      1200

LABOURER                                                                                   1079

LAWYER AND CIVIL SERVANT OF GOVERNMENT        —        36

LEATHER MAKER, WORKER OR DEALER                       —         31

LEECHMAN                                                                        —–

LIQUOR SELLER, DISTILLER, PALM WINE DRAWER    —      2421

MARITINE MAN, BOATMAN                                          —           29

MASON, QUARYMAN, LIMESTONE WORKER OR DEALER —  139

MEDICAL MAN                                                                  —        503

MARINE STORE DEALER                                                  —        186

MERCHANT BANKER, BROKER                                       —       6149

MILITARYMAN AND PENSIONER OF GOVERNMENT —          773

MONEY CHANGER                                                           —          639

MUSICIAN                                                                          —           12

OIL DRAWER OR DEALER, SOAP MAKER, CANDLE MAKER —  111

PAINTER                                                                             —          106

PHOTOGRAPHER                                                              —            50

PITCH, TAR, RESIN DEALER                                             —            46

PLUMBER AND PIPE LAYER                                            —             16

POLICEMAN, WATCHMAN, MESSENGER ,TAX GATHERER        71

POTTER, BRICK, TILE MAKER OR DEALER                     —               5

PAULTERER                                                                       —                3

PRIEST                                                                                —         3580

PRINTER, STATIONER, BOOK BINDER                           —           575

PROSTITUTE                                                                      —             41

PURVEYOR OR BUMBOAT MAN OR BOATMAN              —         58

SALT MAKER OR DEALER                                                     —            4

SCAVENGER, SWEEPER                                                        —-

SCHOOL MASTER, TEACHER                                               —        376

SILK WORKER, DEALER                                                        —          71

TAVERN, COFFEE, BOARDING HOUSE KEEPER                —        111

TIN, TINPLATE WORKER, GLAZIER                                     —          35

TOBACCO, BETEL, OPIUM, GUNJA DEALER                     —            3

TOY MAKER, DEALER                                                           —        210

UMBRELLA MAKER                                                              —          68

WASHERMAN                                                                       —-

WATCHMAKER                                                                     —       176

WATER CARRIER                                                                   —       337

WEAVER                                                                                 —

WOOD WORKER OR DEALER                                              —      5906

WRITER ACCOUNTANT                                                        —      7180

WOOL WORKER OR DEALER                                               —      1209

 

 

The above is extracted from the Census of Bombay, taken by the Local Government on a single day – 2 February 1864 (Enclosed)

Kind Courtesy : Ms. Prochy Mehta