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

and others they could not get interest for the credits they advanced. As strict followers of religious tenets
almost all of them were ready to forego such an income whereas the coreligionists enriched the~elws
by such profits. Thus the religion also played it's om role in their economic wellbeing of the Muslims of
Coromandel.
In the whole period of our study we do not come across among the Coromandel Muslims,
business men of magnitude of Francisco of Nagapattanam or Achuthappa chetty or Chinnana
Chetty, Malaya Chetty , the only exception being Periathambi Marakkayar in seventeenth centuly.
To overcome the destmctive circumstances of the wars, famines and financial crisis in South
India during the eighteenth century, the English merchants organised themselves into agency
houses'with definite partnership, since the individual capital resources were inadequate in the
changed situation. Many such agency houses emerged in Madras like, the Chase Sewell and
Chinnery, Tullah, Connell, Brodie. Reoibuck, Abbot and Maitland. These agency houses
transacted business of every kind. They advanced money, bought and sold commodities on
commission conducted business of their own and their shiping activities were widez30, The
maritime Muslim traders never realised the importance of the modern capitalism and it's
economic strength and also the viability of organisation like joint stock companies. They did
not rise up to the occasion to build up their economy. It is a great fault on their part that they
did not enter into such ventures. No doubt that such ventures would have rescued them from
such an economic misfortune and downfall. Further . there was no any motivating agencies
for their economic activities. The role of reforming agencies in that time were practically
very insignificant.
The Coromandel Tamil Muslims had no occasions to enjoy the political patronage of
the local ruling houses ( except that of the Sethupathii). We have been seen that political
support to a particular trade or communlty was essential for their development. For instance
the Paravas who were fishermen, pearl and chank divers under the Muslims and other affluents
emerged stronger with the support and encouragement of all the European colonial powers.
In course of time they became traders and shipowners and challenged the Muslim enterprises.
The Muslims were never offered such a support by the European powers and as well as the
local rulers. These Tamil Muslims also stood away from political activities of the period.