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

Even in the kt decatk of the nbwtemth century, there was law & rniymtion of Mtdir~ls to lkrnn,
Strait Sel+kments. Ceylon. France and Ache, h m Nagapttanam, Kamikkal. Pamban. KiWarai and
Ktkeham. h ~ c o ~ t a n d ~ ~ ~ a ~ ~ t e d & & X X V o f 1 8 5 9 h w n
t h e p ~ o f ~ , ~ , ~ ~ t o ~ , h o m P a m b a n t o ~ d a r d S b a i t
Nagapamvlam to RMgoon shattr and kngn189.
At the dose of nineteenth cenhuy the maritime hading actidties of the Mush wre not appreciable
Materials and &ces
at our disd
for t h e . We hear only a few
m of shipa~lers and haden engaged in mlseas ard 4 t d at Ngapatm. PottoNm. KikWuuai.
Kayalpattanam and Kubsekarapttanam. The ders with lesser capital shifted over to other occupations and
rigrated to inkrd. Many mted
other amhies in search of fa-&
pcdithx.
In the Rarnanathapuram coast, Kasim Mohamed Marakkayar of Mandapam was a
wealthy maritime trader and shipowner during this periiod. For many generations h ~s farnrly
was engaged in commercial enterprises of many kinds. He was the owner of seven villages
around Mandaparn. The Raja of Ramanathapuram had given him the Hare Island in the Gulf
of Manaar. The loading and unloading of cargoes at Mandapam and Parnban ports was
under his control. A fleet of thirty boats of his own were engaged in this service and about 1000
persons were employed by him in his maritime activities, throughout the year. The British Indian
Stearn Navigation Company was represented by his family at Parnban port He helped the Engl~sh
in all their enterprises and chank and pearl fishery. He was later honoured with title " Khan Bahadur
" and was also extended other honours and concessions by the British government. He had vast
trade connections in Ceylon. He was a philonthropist and was respected by people of all sections
and affectionately called as " Mandapam Marakkayar ". He contributed the entire amount for
laying a road of 8.k.m. for the benefit of the pilgrims from Ramanathapurarn to Devipattanam
templeg0. The Hare Island which was in the possession of the descendants of Moharned Kasim
Marakkayar was acquired by the Government of Tamil Nadu recently for the creation of the Marine
National park9'