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to <strong>the</strong> English <strong>and</strong> Pondichery to French. In 1790 <strong>the</strong> French allied with Tippu Sultan<br />

against <strong>the</strong> English. In <strong>the</strong> fall <strong>of</strong> Tippu Sultan in 1799, <strong>the</strong> French lost a strong native<br />

support.<br />

Karaikkal surrendered to <strong>the</strong> English in 1793. When Thanjavur power was<br />

transferred to <strong>the</strong> English East lndia Company in 1800 it included Karaikkal also. It remained<br />

in English possession till 1816. Later it was transferred <strong>and</strong> remained in French possession<br />

till <strong>the</strong>y quit lndia in <strong>the</strong> second half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> present century. By 1817 Pondicheny, KamiWcal,<br />

Yanarn in Corom<strong>and</strong>el, Mahe in Malabar were <strong>the</strong> French territories.'27<br />

The commercial history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French territories for almost two centuries between 1675-<br />

1875 was closely linked to <strong>the</strong> <strong>activities</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French trading companies. Martin attracted<br />

<strong>the</strong> native traders to Pondlcheny. Pondlcheny traded with Dwenarnpatnam, PortoNovo,<br />

Tranquebar, Karalkkal, Nagapattanam, Marakkanam, Madras, <strong>and</strong> in oversear trade with<br />

France, Siam, Ceylon <strong>and</strong> Manila. The French imported European goods <strong>and</strong> marketed<br />

<strong>the</strong>m in Cororn<strong>and</strong>el. Steam ship was introduced between Pondicherry <strong>and</strong> France in<br />

1862.12'<br />

The French invested in textiles in Competition with <strong>the</strong> Dutch <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> English. This<br />

created a marked impact on Corom<strong>and</strong>el textile trade. A network <strong>of</strong> agencies were established<br />

to procure textiles. They gave advances to <strong>the</strong> weavers <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fered higher price than <strong>the</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>r companies. This competition war advantageous to <strong>the</strong> native weavers <strong>and</strong> traders.<br />

The French company suffered from inadequate funds. They had to rely on local merchants<br />

<strong>and</strong> intermediaries. Its poor financial condition <strong>and</strong> its inability to rnonopolise <strong>the</strong> inter<br />

Asian trade must have prompted <strong>the</strong> French to resort to joint ventures with <strong>the</strong> Cororn<strong>and</strong>el<br />

rner~hants.12~<br />

The French emerged as <strong>the</strong> protectors <strong>of</strong> regional shipping, particularly PortoNovo.<br />

They lent <strong>the</strong>ir colours <strong>and</strong> provided protection <strong>and</strong> navigational expertise to <strong>the</strong> native ship<br />

owners <strong>and</strong> this encouraged <strong>the</strong>m to trade with Thail<strong>and</strong>, Tennaserim, Ujang Salang, Bantam,<br />

Ache <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r Southat Asian countries. Even <strong>the</strong> ship <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> king <strong>of</strong> Ayuthya saki to<br />

Corom<strong>and</strong>d under French colour. When <strong>the</strong> merchants <strong>of</strong> PortoNovo were penallsed by <strong>the</strong><br />

Dutch.or Danes for not taking passes from <strong>the</strong>m or refused passes due to enemity

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