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

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Grain was an important commodity in Corom<strong>and</strong>el coastal trade <strong>and</strong> lndo - Ceylon- Malabar trade.<br />

Increase <strong>of</strong> <strong>customs</strong> duty on grains was injurious to <strong>the</strong>se trading <strong>activities</strong> <strong>and</strong> it declined in course <strong>of</strong><br />

time. The value <strong>of</strong> coastal trade in Madras Presidency in 1805 was Rs. 2075339 / - but in 1845-46<br />

it was only Rs.362534 /-.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> nineteenth century, <strong>the</strong> minor ports along <strong>the</strong> stretch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Corom<strong>and</strong>el Coast<br />

were neglected. There were no dockyard for l<strong>and</strong>ing or repairing facilities. Bigger vessels could not call<br />

on <strong>the</strong>se ports. The District collectors suggested to enlarge <strong>the</strong> facilities in <strong>the</strong>se ports. The <strong>of</strong>ficials in<br />

Fort St.George were sleeping over <strong>the</strong> recommendations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficials in <strong>the</strong> district adrn!nistration.<br />

The Madhyar ports on <strong>the</strong> Corom<strong>and</strong>el had to starve in this score. Moreover, trading <strong>activities</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> company, were concentrated in Madras <strong>and</strong> it was not in <strong>the</strong> reach <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> small traderszz2.<br />

Heavy duty was imposed on <strong>the</strong> import <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> spices. Hence spices trade declinedZz3.~w<strong>the</strong>r,<br />

dnnamone, rbes <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r spices were introduced in <strong>the</strong> gadens <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Company in pbces like Courtalam<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Naris to cater to <strong>the</strong> local needs. This made <strong>the</strong> merchants to restrict <strong>the</strong> import <strong>of</strong> spices224.<br />

The English free merchants, <strong>the</strong> Nabobs, entered <strong>the</strong> fray in to <strong>the</strong> export <strong>and</strong> import trade, salt<br />

tmde, rentorship <strong>of</strong> fisheries <strong>and</strong> inl<strong>and</strong> de. They had bigger resources with <strong>the</strong>m <strong>and</strong> had <strong>the</strong> blessings<br />

<strong>and</strong> support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Company. The Muslim merchants could not withst<strong>and</strong> this compebtion <strong>and</strong> it brought<br />

adverse consequences on <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

The prospects <strong>of</strong> foreign trade <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Corom<strong>and</strong>el Muslims was linked to <strong>the</strong> political<br />

conditions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nations with which <strong>the</strong>y were trading. Even during <strong>the</strong> eighteenth cenntury<br />

<strong>the</strong> kingdoms <strong>of</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>ast Asia were In a political mess. The Madras based English private<br />

merchants <strong>of</strong>fered to help such kings in case <strong>of</strong> attack by enemy nations. They kept armed<br />

men on <strong>the</strong> shore <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se countries for this purpose. For example <strong>the</strong> king <strong>of</strong> Ache granted<br />

many concession to <strong>the</strong> English private merchant. Jourdan in 1768, in return for <strong>the</strong> military<br />

help arranged by him. He shipped about 75 Muslim men from Nagore for this purpose. Jourdan<br />

also enjoyed <strong>the</strong> favour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> kingdoms <strong>of</strong> Kedha for arranging similar help. The Danes in<br />

Tranquebar also supplied sepoys to <strong>the</strong> kingdom <strong>of</strong> Kedha. Thus trade was preferred by <strong>the</strong><br />

Sou<strong>the</strong>ast Asian Kingdom with traders who assisted <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong>ir defence. The English<br />

merchants well utilised such opportunities <strong>and</strong> readily accepted <strong>the</strong> invitation for alliance

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