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

The influential shipowner and maritime trader at Nagapattanam during the last quarter of the
nineteenth century, was A h 4 Thambi Marakkayar. Later he became the member of Madras Legislative
Council and was honoured with the title Khan Bahadur. He had trade contacts in Straits, Burma and
Ceylon. He had a ket of ships and also a large number of small boats for loading and unloading cargoes
at Nagapattanam port. He was the agent of British India Steam Navigation Company at Nagapattanam.
Mohamed Gouse Marakkayar and Gulam Mohideen Marakkayar were other shipowning merchants at
Nagapattanam during this period".
The shipowners and traders with lesser capital could not cap their activities against the growing
economic competitions. Asan Kuthoos Sahib Marakkayar, a ship owner of Nagore obtained a sum of
Rs. 10,000/- in 1890 to repair his ship from one Ramanathan Chettiar and the ship was hypothecated
to the Chettiar. The Marakkayar could not repay the loan and authorised the Chettiar to utilise the ship
to undertake voyages and return back the ship after the credit amount was realised. This shows the
financial resources of Marakkayars and Chettiar merchants100.
In Adirampattanam there were many Marakkayar shipowners and maritime traders. Eiavapillal
Marakkayar was the owner of many dhoneys. His wssels regularly plied to Masulipananam and ~a~ore'"
Mohamed Thambi Marakkayar was ship owner and maritlme trader, popularly known as Kapalkarar
(owner of ships) of the town. He owned two ships by name Mohideen Samdani and Sultan Hydroos
which plied to Ceylon and Kakinada. He was a close associate of Mandapam Marakkayar, referred to
above. Thangavappa Marakkayar, Mohamed Mohideen Marakkayar, Sheik Thambi Marakkayar and
Hussain Marakkayar were other important ship owners and maritlme traders In ~dlram~attanam'~~
Sultan Marakkayar of Thirumaullaivsal a ship owner, who was a gram trader with ceylon Io3.
Though Karaikkal was a centre of Marakkayars, there were only a few shipowners and maritime
traders at the close of nineteenth century Since the adjoining Nagore and Nagapatanam ports were
advantageous the Marakkayars of Karaikkal based their shipping activities in these ports. Export of grain
continued from Karaikkal to other ports of Coromandel and Ceylon. Many of the prosperous maritime
traders from here emigrated to Singapore, Penang and France and Indonesia The houses of the
descendants of the shipowning families are called " Kappa1 Kara Veedu " (how of ship owers) even to
this day. Kadar Sultan Marakkayar was a prominant maritime trader and shipowner