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

A considerable population of Muslims in coastal areas were fishermen, from a very
long time. Like pearling and chank diving, fishing was also regarded as a low occupation. But
the fishermen who were poor among the Muslims had to depend on those who were in the
upper strata. Rich Marakkayars owning vessels controlled groups of such people under them.
The inhabitations of these fishermen were seperated from others. They were groupd along with Muslim
weavers. It is apparent that a large part of Tamil maritime population who were specialised in pearl;ing.
chank diving and fishing embraced Islam. AU of them could not have come out of their earlier occupation
and continued themIg5
A large number of Muslims I Labbai, Sonakars, Marakkayars) were engaged in sea fishing in
places like Kovalam, PortoNovo, Thimmullaivasal, Nagore, Tranquebar, Velamkanni, Karaihl.
Topputurai, Point Calimer, Muthupet, Adirampattanam, Ammapattanam, Tondi, Kilakkarai,
Kayalpattanam, Kulasekarapattanam and in many other small villages along the stretch of the east
coast. Many of the Muslims were selling fish and dly fish. Dry fish was one of the important commodities
in coastal trade. The Muslim fishermen used champan or sampan, catamarans, dhoneys and boats for
fishing. About fortyfive types of fishiig nets were in use in Coromandel. In Nagore and Karaikkal the
Muslim fishermen were numerous and were experts in deep sea fishing. Since pearl fishey was -nd,
during the rest of the season fishing might have been their main occupation. When the pearl fishery
became Irregular, the Muslims engaged in this activity had to resort to sea fishing which was an easy job
for them1%. From the third quarter of nineteenth century, many of the minor ports decayed, and trading
activities were abandoned. The Muslim labourers who were in sea faring activities were thrown out of
employment and many such minor ports naturally turned into fishing villages. When fishing was leased
out by the English, the Marakkayar and Labbai traders became the rentors and a large contingent of
Muslim labour class worked under them'g'.
The fishermen among the Muslims were the people in the lower strata of the society. This is the
condition even to this day, though they are called Labbais, Sonakar, or MarAyars they are segregated
from other Mamkkayars Labbaii in mial and economic status. The long association of the Muslims
with fishing is evident from the names of some fish like Sonakan Thintkkai. Sonakan Valai, Sonakan
Kezhuthi198.