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

without paying customs duties. Baboo Mohamed Marakkayar's clandestine activities are referred to
inmany records of the ~n~lish"~. A letter to the board of trade from the Master Attendant of Rayapuram
(near Madras) about the clandestine activities of the Labbai boatmen says that ,"they concieve that no
punishment can reach them and becoming more and more daring in ~onse~uences"~. A supenntendent
of Police in Madras alerts the government on their clandestine activities'I5. The smuggling activities of
Muslims in Kannlyakumari district with the connivance of the local native officials is refenad to in another
recordH6. The Labbai and Marakkayar residents of Triplicane in Madras were found smuggling textiles
and the attempt of the authorities to stop it was not fruitful. The residential area of such merchants was
known among the British officials as " Thieving Bazaar'' I"
Manufacture and trade in salt was one of the activities of many Muslim families of
Coromandel Coast for a very long time. The introduction of monopoly on salt by the English
Government, deprived many Muslims of the Ramanathapuram and Thirunelveli coast from the
manufacturing activity of salt. Prior to this, the salt pans of Ramanathapuram coast were
rented by the Marakkayar of Kilakkarai. When salt monopoly was introduced a proclamation
was Issued directing the natlve manufacturers to hand over all the stocks of salt to the
Government. Accordmgly the Marakkayars of Kilakkarai stopped manufacture of salt and also handed
over the stocks to the authorities. But those who possessed some qunatity of salt clandestively were
penalised and the monopoly prize of salt was collected for the quantity in their possession. Alla Pitchai
Marakkayar. Meera Sahib Marakkayar, Sheik Sadakathullah Marakkayar and Abdulkatlar Marakkayar
were some salt manufacturers and rentiers in KIl&araiH8 . Habib Marakkayar of Kilakkarai collected
the earth salt in the nearby islands like Anaipar and exported it 'I9
The ships and dhoneys of Muslims were engaged in the transport of salt, m the region. Henry
Darner, a private English merchant in Tuticorin, rented the ship of Sura Madali Marakkayar to transport
salt to ~olombo'*~. The dhoneys and Vallams transported salt from one port to another and bigger
vessels carried the salt from the minor ports to the major ports like Tuticorin and Nagapattanam Hasan
Marakkayar of PortoNovo transported salt in his ship to ~arakanam"' . Mohamed Ali beg was engaged
in the shipment of salt in his ships to lam bar am". A statement of capitalitsts in salt trade in the coastal
region in 1887 shows tht it was dominated by Chett~ar and English private merchants.