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

This rope Ir called " Vizhuthu Coir ". Further from tho typs and smell of the rand they can determine
the availability of the particular species fish in the area, so as to regulate their catch programmes.
The water current direction is ascertained by throwing some wet ash ball in the water. They believe
traditionally that on certain days of the lunar cycle there will be low tide. For example on 3rd, 14th
to 17th, 28th to 30th days of the lunar cycle there will be low tide and they call it as " Kuru neer ".
Change in weather condition is ascertained by the change in the brightness of the stars, with this they can
i o d the nature of the wid and dde during Vadai Kachan ( North West) which often b-s hqh tih and
cydone. on the Caorornandel Coast. The hdtional, knowledge followed by the Mst mjotity of the Muslim
communities for centuks, can now be seen only among the scattered fisthg population of the community
in the coastal dlage~'~~.
End of the Enterprises
The marltime enterprise of the Muslims of Coromandel Coast declined to near total by the end of
nineteenth century. Only a handful of influential merchants withstood the storm, others went in search
of better opportunities. Many were reduced to poverty. The labour class was the worst affected. No
more sails to far off countries. The pearl banks were left unexploited. Many of the busy minor ports
decayed and were reduced to fishing outlets. Various caws contributed to the decline of their maritime
enterprises.
It is a fact that the Muslims of Coromandel stumbled by the ruthless attack of the Portuguese.
Their maritime enterprises met with a sudden economic misfortunes. Many withdrew from the scene.
But in the course of time the Muslim traders began to accommodate and cooperate with the exploiters.
There developed a symbiotic relationship between the two even with mutual freight space on board on
one others ship but it was too late for the Muslims to tide up the situations. With regard to the Southeast
Asian markets the Muslims avoided the Portuguese and shifted to alternate trade centres. However the
superior naval power and higher capital resources of the Portuguese continued to be the real challenge to
the Muslims219. With their half shattered economic condition they had to face the new competitors, the
Dutch.