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

This naturally led the Muslim traders to smuggling and clandestine trade activities. The
Muslim community is often found named as leading participants in smuggling activities in
17th-18th centuries. Periathambi Marakkayar was the chief among them and he was the
architect to foll the Dutch monopoly. The Dutch had termed Periathambi Marakkayar as the
cwntty captain and the 4 genius behind the anti-Dutch policy of the Sethupathi.lw
The anemosity of the Dutch towards Periathambi Marakkayar and other Muslim traders
is well reflected in the treaties of 1674 and 1685, which compelled the Sethupathi to remove
Periathambi Marakkayar, his brothers, sons and as well as other Muslims from administrative
positions along the coast from Point Calimere to Cape Comerine. This shows the intention
of the Dutch to drive away the Muslim traders of the Coromandel from trading activities.
The Dutch monopoly in pearl and chank fisheries was also against the traders
and labour class among the Muslims who were engaged in these activities. Paravas
were preferred to the Muslim divers. The Muslim traders who were engaged in pearl
trade had to be at the mercy of the Dutch. The Muslims in chank trade were driven
to smuggling and illicit export to other regions. But the Muslims adjusted themselves
to the situation and tried to cooperate with the Dutch. The Muslim traders helped the
Marava forces during Dutch campaign against the Portuguese in 1657-58 '07. During
the Portuguese-Dutch war in 1652, a Muslim contigent from Thirunelveli helped the
Dutch.loa
But the initial hostility of the Dutch to Islam and the economic rivalry towards
Muslims was quite well worn from the close of seventeenth century. In the pearl
fishery, the Marakkayars of Kayalpattanam were allowed to have free boats. In Tuticorin
pearl flshery, free stones were allowed to the Muslim headman.lo9 The Dutch after
realirlng the importance of Periathambi Marakkayar in the Coromandel coast, in 1696,
requested his aulrtance to run the trade. The Marakkayar permitted the Dutch to bnUd
a factory at Khkhrai. "0 KUakkarai and Kayalpattanam became the hub of trading activity
of the Dutch on the Coromandel. The Dutch permitted the free flow of Muslims between
Ceylon and Cotomandel. They also showed tolerance to the religious activities of the Muslims.