maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

the two masted vessel, Kadar Bux, was owned by Peersa Magdoom Marakkayar but the ship had a
Danish pass in the name of Abusali Marican, who is the Nagudha of the ship. Another two masted
vessel, Mohideen Bux, was owned by Kadar Mohideen Kappalar, the pass was in the name of Saidoo
Pilki Madcan, the Nagudha. Since the pass for the voyage was in the name ot the Nagudhas, the owner
may or may not sail in the ship. We are able to note only rare instance of joint ownership of vessels
among the Muslim traders in coromande17'
The Muslim merchants of Cuddalore and PortoNovo traded w~th Penang. Kedah and Ache.
When their vessels on voyage were in trouble, they used to approach the East lndia Company authont~es
for protection. In a memorandum to the company authorities the merchants of Cuddalore such as
Kadar Mohamed Ali, Hussain Marakkayar, Adam Sahib, Kadir Mohideen Malumi, Esa Levai, John Sahib.
Sevatha Marakkayar and Madaka Sahib, the merchant s of PortoNovo such as Mian Mohamed. Bade
Mlan. Vavoo Maticcar, Meera Mariccar, Umar Naina Aulia Labbai, Mahaboob Sahlb, Magudum Sha. and
Kabeer Sahib, salute the English administration as benevalent and equitable and requested the continuance
of the patronage and protection in Indian waters Thus the Muslim merchants of Coromandel coast
were at the favour of the East lndia Company authoritiesdunny this
The Marakkayar traders of Nagapattanam region continued their trade with the rastern countries
even in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. Some of the merchants acquired new ships and
passes were issued to such vessels by the English. But the number of vessels in use were lesser than that
of the provlous quarter. Further the vessels were smaller and the tonnage capaclty was also less. A
reference lo the records of registry of ships in Nagapattanam reglon shows only a few names of Muslim
vessels sudl as ~arakath~~. Mohiin ~ u Meera x Mydeen, ~ ~ Meers Madar 75, Mohideen b ~x'~ Hydroos7'
Sydoo Hydroos7', Kadar BUX~' Mohamed ~ li".
Thus the Marakkayar, merchants cum shipowners
were declining in the region, and their economic condition show a downward trend from this penod
onwards.
The conquest of lndia and Malay by the English robbed the Coromandel Muslim Maritime
enterprise of any significance in the eastern seas. As a result, the influence of Coromandel Muslim
traders declined in Malay. Except for a few South Indians, who continued to feature in the Malay states
the export and import trade fell Into the hands of the English traders.