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

At KikWcarai a certain wnMbution of the catch was also generally allowed to be set aside by the
divers for the benefit of their rn~sque'~'. The English recruited Muslim divers of Kilakkarai and
peliapattanm for chank and pearl fishing in Ceylon coast'8z. Similarly the Mudim divers of Thirunehrell
codst also were of prown ability. The English authorities sent the Muslim divers from Thimnhli coast
to Tennaserim for fishing ln view of the attractive income in chank trade many of the Muslim
shipomen and divers resorted to smuggling.
The Marakkayars of Kilakkarai were continuing to flourish in pearl and chank trade during
eighteenth, nineteenth centuries. Syed Abdul Kadar Marakkayar figures vey often as the rentor and
merchant In pearl and chank since 1789 in Ramanathapuram and Thlrunslvell coasb. He was havlng
factories at Kllakkarai and Bengal. He enjoyed the patronage of the Sethupathi Vijaya Raghunatha
Muthuramalingam ( 1762-1795). English records speak about the trade standing of AMul Kadar
Marakkayar who could transport chank shells along with other mercandise to Bengal, in hls own shlpa,
could afford a higher rent for fishing than any other person and his security was unquestionable. The
English East India Company authorities preferred him over other competitors and had conferred renting
tghts to him in pearl and chank fishey, in Thimeiveli and Ramanathapwarn coasts on many ~ 0115'~~.
He was canying on a vast trade fmm the ptts of Kayalpattanam, Kulasekmpattanam, Vembar, KiMed
and Tondi. The Sethupathi had given him the priLilege to trade in his ports on payment of a reduced duty
i.e., instead of the usual duty. When the concession was curtailed later by the English authorities, (the
Collector of Madurai) in 1802, the Board of Revenue, intetvened and afforded adequate remedy to him.
The company sold the grains collected from the people in the region to AMul Kadar Marakkayar. The
Nawab of Arcot also had granted hi
some concessions. Many of the European private merchants were
iedous of reputation and concessions enjoyed by this Marakkayar among the English authorities. His
son-in-law Haneefa Lavai Marakkayar was also a prominant trader and =porter in chank and pearl'85
Syed Mohamed Marakkayar of Kilakkarai was the rentor of chank fishey in 18251ffi. Varisai
lbrahii Marakkayar was the rentor of pearl fishey in Madumi coast in 183334'" W i r Meera Phi
Marakkayar was another trader and rentor in chank fishey in kilakkarai'88.
Lewy Mohamed Marakkayar was the chank and pearl fishey rentor in Thirunelveli coast in
1810-1 lIsg~ Ka!ed Mohamed Marakkayar was a prominent rentor of fiheriesduting the second quarter