DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49708#0043
SESSIONAL PAPERS, 1881.
29
At length, wearied with the protracted struggle and mutually desirous of peace, a
treaty was concluded, by which independence was accorded the Maldivians under certain
restrictions:—viz., a fixed annual tribute, as his sole claim on the Islands, payable at Cochin
to the Christian ex-King, his heirs, and successors :* the Island Ruler to have in future an
inferior designation (<?. g.. Prince, Duke),—the title of “ Qidlague1'' [M. K'dage-fdnu~\ being
limited to two nobles bound to superintend the tribute payment jointly with the ex-King’s
own agent: and, lastly, trade to be conducted solely with the Portuguese unless by
express permission.
“ Notwithstanding this peace,” sententiously remarks Pyrard halt a century later,
“ the Maldivians bear the Portuguese deadly hatred.”
The brothers continued to reign together for 25 years, though not without internal
troubles fostered by fractious nobles of purer blood. Muhammad survived his younger
brother three years, and was succeeded by his son Ibrahl'm, the Sultan in whose reign
occurred the wreck of the “ Corbin.”
, THE
Maldives.
Historical.
Sketch.
S. Ibrahim.
A. I). 1591 circa.
“Francois Pyrard of Laval in Bas-Maine was one of a company of French adven-
turers, who, incited by the reports of great discoveries made and vast wealth gained by the
mariners of other countries in the 16th century, equipped two vessels which left St.
Malo in Normandy in the year 1601. Pyrard was on board the ‘ Corbin.’ Both vessels
rounded the Cape and left Madagascar in safety; but the ‘Corbin,’ piloted by an English-
man who had lost his bearings in the Indian Ocean, was wrecked on the Malosmadou
Atoll [Malosmadulu Atol] of the Maldives on the 2nd July, 1602. The crew [about
40 in all] were taken captive, and the goods recovered from the wreck became, by the
Maidive law [then in force], the property of the King.
“The subsequent history of the captives bears a strong resemblance to that of
Knox’s crew in Ceylon.t” So long as the Frenchmen were thought to have money they
were compelled to buy provisions at so high a rate as to reduce them at length to great
extremities. The Captain, with many others, died of sickness or starvation : two parties
(of twelve and four persons) escaped at different times : whilst four more of the crew wrere
executed for an abortive attempt. Laval and his three remaining companions were then
interned in separate islands, but, subsequently reunited, shared a joint deliverance after
five years’ captivity.
“ Pyrard, by learning the language and conducting himself discreetly, won, as Knox
did, the favour of his guardians, and finally of the King ; and in the same way was allowed
to go from island to island for purposes of trade.”! This indulgence, coupled with the
reliance of foreign traders at Male, rendered him “ somewhat rich according to the notions
of the country.”!
O’f the social economy and customs of the Islanders, Pyrard has drawn a picture in
detail exact and full—brightened throughout by touches striking and bizarre — which, in
spite of the lapse of 2| centuries, stands out still a fresh and faithful portrait of the
Maldivians at this day. Neither in moral characteristics, nor—until very recently, and
that but partially—in political administration, have they suffered change. Time has
but softened down the blemishes of a petty Oriental despotism and obtrusive licentious-
ness into the hues of purer and more civilised regime.
In the month of February, 1607, Male was startled by the sudden appearance in the
offing of a powerful fleet of 16 sail (u gal'totes”) manned by Mukwas (a Moucois"which
had been despatched with hostile intent by the “ King of Bengal.”
There was no thought of resistance. Everyone strove to hurry off with such property
as the emergency allowed and, thanks to their swift-sailing boats, most contrived to
escape. The King, less fortunate, embarked at the last moment with his three wives on
board his slower “ galeres” and, the wind falling, was easily overtaken by the eight vessels
the enemy detached in pursuit. The King and a few attendants were cut down, and the
galeres, and afterwards the palace, looted. ||
F. Pyrard.
Captive at the
Maldives.
A.D. 1CO2-7.
Pyrard’s narra-
tive.
A.D. 1GO7.
Expedition of the
“ King of Bengal."
* Note (3).
§ Note (4).
f Gray, J. IL A. S., Vol. X., n. s., 1878, p. 174.
|| Pyrard, pp. 222-30.
j Pyrard, p. 70.
29
At length, wearied with the protracted struggle and mutually desirous of peace, a
treaty was concluded, by which independence was accorded the Maldivians under certain
restrictions:—viz., a fixed annual tribute, as his sole claim on the Islands, payable at Cochin
to the Christian ex-King, his heirs, and successors :* the Island Ruler to have in future an
inferior designation (<?. g.. Prince, Duke),—the title of “ Qidlague1'' [M. K'dage-fdnu~\ being
limited to two nobles bound to superintend the tribute payment jointly with the ex-King’s
own agent: and, lastly, trade to be conducted solely with the Portuguese unless by
express permission.
“ Notwithstanding this peace,” sententiously remarks Pyrard halt a century later,
“ the Maldivians bear the Portuguese deadly hatred.”
The brothers continued to reign together for 25 years, though not without internal
troubles fostered by fractious nobles of purer blood. Muhammad survived his younger
brother three years, and was succeeded by his son Ibrahl'm, the Sultan in whose reign
occurred the wreck of the “ Corbin.”
, THE
Maldives.
Historical.
Sketch.
S. Ibrahim.
A. I). 1591 circa.
“Francois Pyrard of Laval in Bas-Maine was one of a company of French adven-
turers, who, incited by the reports of great discoveries made and vast wealth gained by the
mariners of other countries in the 16th century, equipped two vessels which left St.
Malo in Normandy in the year 1601. Pyrard was on board the ‘ Corbin.’ Both vessels
rounded the Cape and left Madagascar in safety; but the ‘Corbin,’ piloted by an English-
man who had lost his bearings in the Indian Ocean, was wrecked on the Malosmadou
Atoll [Malosmadulu Atol] of the Maldives on the 2nd July, 1602. The crew [about
40 in all] were taken captive, and the goods recovered from the wreck became, by the
Maidive law [then in force], the property of the King.
“The subsequent history of the captives bears a strong resemblance to that of
Knox’s crew in Ceylon.t” So long as the Frenchmen were thought to have money they
were compelled to buy provisions at so high a rate as to reduce them at length to great
extremities. The Captain, with many others, died of sickness or starvation : two parties
(of twelve and four persons) escaped at different times : whilst four more of the crew wrere
executed for an abortive attempt. Laval and his three remaining companions were then
interned in separate islands, but, subsequently reunited, shared a joint deliverance after
five years’ captivity.
“ Pyrard, by learning the language and conducting himself discreetly, won, as Knox
did, the favour of his guardians, and finally of the King ; and in the same way was allowed
to go from island to island for purposes of trade.”! This indulgence, coupled with the
reliance of foreign traders at Male, rendered him “ somewhat rich according to the notions
of the country.”!
O’f the social economy and customs of the Islanders, Pyrard has drawn a picture in
detail exact and full—brightened throughout by touches striking and bizarre — which, in
spite of the lapse of 2| centuries, stands out still a fresh and faithful portrait of the
Maldivians at this day. Neither in moral characteristics, nor—until very recently, and
that but partially—in political administration, have they suffered change. Time has
but softened down the blemishes of a petty Oriental despotism and obtrusive licentious-
ness into the hues of purer and more civilised regime.
In the month of February, 1607, Male was startled by the sudden appearance in the
offing of a powerful fleet of 16 sail (u gal'totes”) manned by Mukwas (a Moucois"which
had been despatched with hostile intent by the “ King of Bengal.”
There was no thought of resistance. Everyone strove to hurry off with such property
as the emergency allowed and, thanks to their swift-sailing boats, most contrived to
escape. The King, less fortunate, embarked at the last moment with his three wives on
board his slower “ galeres” and, the wind falling, was easily overtaken by the eight vessels
the enemy detached in pursuit. The King and a few attendants were cut down, and the
galeres, and afterwards the palace, looted. ||
F. Pyrard.
Captive at the
Maldives.
A.D. 1CO2-7.
Pyrard’s narra-
tive.
A.D. 1GO7.
Expedition of the
“ King of Bengal."
* Note (3).
§ Note (4).
f Gray, J. IL A. S., Vol. X., n. s., 1878, p. 174.
|| Pyrard, pp. 222-30.
j Pyrard, p. 70.