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

The Dutch took over the pearl fishery from the Portuguese in 1658. During the first fishery
by the Dutch in 1663, they allowed the headman of Muslim cornrnumity of Kayalpattanam to
have the accustomed number of boats free of tax as under the ~ortu~uese'~~. But with regard to the
~ eon s inexempted boats, the Dutch levied more taxes from the Muslims than from the Param. These
are the few examples of patronage and considerations shown by the Tamil Hindu rulers to their Muslim
subjects without any religious bias. Thus the cordial relationship between the Hindu rulers and Muslim
trading community helped them in their economic activities.
The Muslim boat owners also had to give one day's collections of pearl oysters to the Dutch, the
day being left to the choice of the Dutch autho~ities'~'. Prominant operators in pearl fishery in
KiiAarai during this period include Adam Labbai. Chinna Marakkayar and Periathambi Marakkayar.
Periathambi Marakkayar owned the largest number of fleet with huenty one fishing boats. Hussain
Marakkayar dominated in the Thanjavur coast and he was the owner of six boats and an employer of
thirtynine divers. During the 1691 fishery, the Dutch allowed the headman of the Muslim community of
Kayalpattanam nine free stones. Earlier under the Portuguese, the Nay& of Madurai allowed only ten
free stones from the privileged stones granted to them. But the Dutch themselves directly allowed nine
freestones, to the Muslim Mudaliar. However this was very low when compared to the free stones
allowed to the Parava Pattamkattis.
From the year 1746 the Dutch abolished all typzs of free stones. Amnachakm says, ' By stone
a diver is meant " , but the Thirunelveli District Gazetteer mentions " By stone, one diving for each
diver1".
But the former seems to be correct, in ow view. By this time the Nawabs of Arcot became the
political masters in Camatic. The Dutch had confrontation with the Nawabs in &g
the profits of pearl
fishery. This made the Dutch to suspend the pearl fishey from 1749 to 1784, resulting in hardship to
the Muslim divers since they were thrown out of the expertised profession. The Muslim pearl merchants
had to resort to some other trade160.
The economic impact of non conduct of pearl and chank fisheries was felt by the Dutch colonial
authorides and the Nawab. By a treaty the Nawab ceded the chank fishey to Dutch, in 1758. By
another treaty in 1788, the produce of the pearl and Chank fishey was divided equaUy by the Nawab
and the Dutch. P@& there was no fishery in Tuticorin after 1796 and the Dutch lost their monopoly
and hold in pearl hhe y.