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

The decline of opportunities in shipping along the coast of Coromandel forced the maritime
pzople,the Marakkayars to shift their activities to inland trade. Many migrated to the Southeast Asian
countres in search of better jobs and business. Large scale migration from Coromandel hegan from the
foundation of Penang in 1786. Earlier immigrants were prominant traders and financiers and got firm
footing there. Later immigrations were by arranged movement, induced by governmental action and
Iwrstation of prospective cmployen and their agents. This wa.; Ircin~sc of thc political and cronon1lc
changes in the homeland and abroad. Immigrations became easier because by the middle of the nineteenth
century, India and most of the Southeast Asian countries became politically and economically the
vassal State of Britain.
Right from 1790 the vessels from Coromandel took annually about 2000 men to
Penang. Many of them went as shop keepers and coolies When they returned home they
were succeeded by others".
English acquislt~on of Malacca in 1824, and loundation ol
Singapore in 1819 demanded more labourers There was a constant copious flow of labour
from South India. The ship fare from Nagapattanam to Malaya was reduced from Rupees
15 to 8 in 1887. The South Indian Muslim emigrants were treated well. Malaya withdrew all
restrictions in 1897 and the free flow emigration was allowedp2 All the main ports of Coromandel had
facilities for handling passenger traffic to Straits. Vessels from Cuddalore, PortoNovo, Nagore,
Pondicheny, Nagapattanam, Madras. Karaikkal, Kayalpattanarn. Kulasekarapattanam. Kilakkarai and
Tutrorin, took migrants in great number. Many of these people were prewously engaged in maritme
enterprises. Vast majority of the commercial ~mmigrants, the Cholia Marakkayars, became salesmen,
pedlers, petty enterpreneurs, shop keepers, street side vendors, md~cine men ,stall holders. merchants,
financiers and contractors of substanc~al meanss3.
The shipowners of Coromandel utilised the opportunity in immigration. They w~dertook more
trips to Southeast Asian countries. Virtually many of the cargo ships became passenger ships and the
merchandise became secondaly. At times the ships were found overloaded and engaged in passenger
service without a proper pass or licence. Such ships were taken to task by the English authorities in
India. When Brig. Mohideen Bwc was found with overload of passengers and also without a valid pass
on its way to Tennaserim, she was subjected to legal actlon Allson another vessel with captain AMul
Kadar Malumi from Nagapattanam to Malay roast which had capacib for on& 35 passengers was fowd ~L~LII