New-York tribune., 1901-06-02
TEA SHOPS OF BOMBAY.
WORK OF THE IRANEES.
From The London Globe.

From The London Globe.
Apropos of the Indian NicerOy's suggestion at
the famous meeting on the Assam Labor bill.
that the planters should relieve OF their
present difficulties by exploiting India, The
Indian Daily News describes a great industry
which has sprung Up in Bombay in recent years
and which appears TO have been quite overlooked
by those who promoting the Indian market
for Indian tea. In want Of a better term to dis
tinguish il, We shall cali il the Trance Indus
try, from the people who are chiefly engaged
in it, Some years ago the Parsees of Bombay
were much distressed by the trials and disa-
billtles of the followers of Zoroaster who stlll
remained in Persia, and started a fund. which.
We believe is still in existence TO relieve them.
The forms or relief were several, the chief being
the support OF agitation represent matters
at the court Of Persia. and this know met
with great success the lot Of the Persian who
is not a follower Of Mahomet being much better
to-day than il was some years ago. Among the
minor forms OF relief was assistance given TO
poor and needy ',guebers" tas they We're calledD.
10 emigrate to India These arrived in
small patches Bombay with their wives and
other goods, and then the problem arose as to
the manner in which they earn a liveli-
hood. They soon settled il themselves. They
hardy race OF men somewhat like Jews
Armenans in appearance. thrifty. and with the
instinct OF the small shopkeeper greatly devel-
oped. All they asked from their cOreligionsts
was TO give Them start. and they promised 10
90 the rest themselves and keep from beggary.
As gueber is term of reproach, these men
were popularity called frances TO distinguish
them from the Indian Parsees They distributed
themselves over the city, and opened small shops
for the sale of aerated waters. and coffee TO
be drunk on the premises, and cheap cheroOts to
go away with. The idea caught on the
Americans say. like hot cakes. These shops
Were in the proximity Of large labor yards and
the laborers, whether GOanese, Christian,
Parsee Mahometan Naharatta HindoO. got
i'm the way Of dropping in for cup Of Trance
tea, which sold for two pice. this including
milk and sugar. The staff who worked the shop
consisted OF The old man. his wife and a
youngster TWO; servants. II will be seen.
that the utmost economy observed. and
when added to this tireless industry il
ny1rr has r-f.riGa hon
thrive and gradually develop The Trance WAS
a faIsecing man Of business, and recognized
before long the directions in which he could
pand his shop. Tea his mainstay but tea
alone is no. sufficient To satisfy hungry man.
4 loaf OF bread OF really good quality was added
the cup of tea and the lot sold for three pice.
the purchaser having the option Of taking
biscuit instead Of bread. The customers in
creased in numbers. and TIE shop grew in size
until il assumed the proportions Of a decent
restaurant, where there plenty and clean.
If a little rough. The frances popularity grew
with his prosperity. Some OF the more aInDl-
fious established regular cook shops, into which
the poor but respectable European and Eura-
sian was rot ashamed TO go for a cheap and
, satisfying meal These men perfectly indis
pensable 10 the laborlng population, especially
such have 10 leaVe their homes before day
break and before il is possible to get any food
ready. As far We have been able 10 ascer-
tain adds the journal the used by the
Trance is what they sold in the Bombay mar
ket as dust tea, and presumably came from
China. He had to use il because il WAS the
cheapest he could get. and Indian tea was hardly
pushed "A all in Bombay We have no accurate
statistics guide US and cannot. Of course tell
how four years OF plague have affected the num-
ber OF the shops but do not think We
making an exaggerated estimate when put
the number OF these small tea shops down at
one thousand, and half Of them at least consume
several thousand pounds OF tea IN the month.
Here then our tea planters have a certain and
large field OF operations, and should lose no time
in starting.