DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49708#0060
ZTHE
MALDIVES.
Historical
Sketch.
Notes.
’AH Raja of Cana-
nore.
46
SESSIONAL PAPERS, 1881.
Translation.
“To the Governor of Colombo.
“Sir,—I have the honour to write to you to point out that the protection which Monsieur
Le Marquis Duplaix has granted to the Maldivois has obliged us to hoist our flag on these
Islands, and to station troops there. The scarcity of provisions here forces me to send you two
men [?] to purchase some kegs of arrack and other provisions. I hope, Sir, that you will be so
good as to give orders that they may not be molested, and that you will kindly assist them. In
this you will oblige him who has the honour to be with respect,
“ Sir,
“ Your very humble and very obedient servant,
“Male, August 20th, 1754.” “Le Termellier.
It is to be hoped that the Frenchmen were not in very urgent need of the required supplies, as
the reply of the Dutch Governor (J. G. Loten), acceding to the Corporal’s request, is dated
February 11th, 1755.
(7)
’Ali' RIjI of Cananore.—The chief male representative of the Cananore Mappilla family
always bore the honorific title ’Ali Raja or Adi Raja—i.e., “ Prince of the Sea.”*
Cananore (Kannanur), originally “included in the kingdom of the Kolastri or Cherakal
Rajas,” and partially feudatory “ till the invasion of Haidar ’Ali,”f had become, by the middle of
the 16th century, the chief seat of the Mappillas and a Muhammadan state of some importance
on the S.W. coast of India.
Pyrard, writing circa A.D. 1613 of “the Malabars of Cananore,” mentions that they had not
long before thrown off their allegiance to “the Nair King” and set up one of their own. “ This King
of Cananore is very wealthy, and very powerful, for his subjects are numerous, including, if need be,
the other Malabars who live along the whole coast. He is called Aly Ragea^ and is a Muhammadan
as are the other Malabars. Owning many vessels he is strong on the sea, and for the purposes of
trade in India has many agents and factories.”^
The Lakkadive Islands (“Les isles de Diuandurou”) belonged to him,§ as well as some
thirty of the Maldives,|| and the Suzerainty over the entire group. “ He is very courteous,
benevolent, and affable, and, above all, he is fond of strangers. The Portuguese are at peace with
him, and are allowed to occupy a small fort in Cananore where they have a church and College
of Jesuits.5i The other Kings of India, however, do not style the Ruler of Cananore ‘ King,’
asserting that his title has accrued by force alone.”**
A century later “Adda Rajah,” according to Captain Hamilton, could, “upon occasions,
bring near 20,000 men into the field.” His “dominions” then reached “ 10 miles southward of
Cananore to the Tellicherry river,” near which was his harbour, “ Dormepatam.”J|
The particular ’Ali Raja who captured the Maidive Sultan in 1753, supported the English
cause against the French in Southern India. A treaty of offensive and defensive alliance
between ’Ali Raja and Thomas Hodges, Chief of Tellicherri, on behalf of the English East India
Company, was concluded in 1759. The Mappilla Chief bound himself to assist the Company
“ readily with 300 men ("or more if necessary) armed with my firearms at all times” upon request
and upon similar payment as that received by other English troops. In consideration of the
immediate loan of 13,000 rupees (Bombay silver), pepper to that value was to be delivered, at the
price contracted for by the English with their own merchants, between January and March, 1760;
* Aitchison’s “Treaties, &c., relating to India,” Vol. V., p. 346. Calcutta, 18G4.
f Hunter’s “ Imperial Gazetteer of India,” Vol. II., Art. ‘ Cannanore.’ London, 1881.
4 Pyrard, p. 322. § See Note (10) “ Lakkadive Islands.”
|| Ceded about 50 years previously [circa A.D. 1560] by a Maidive Sultan in return for aid against his
revolted subjects.—Pyrard, p. 233.
The Portuguese landed at Cananore A.D. 1498, and erected a factory A.D. 1505. The Dutch followed in
A.D. 1656, but sold their fort about A.D. 1756 to ’All Raja, whose avarice Haidar ’Al! had to curb. (M. M. D. L. T.
History of Hyder Shah,” p. 101.)
** Pyrard, pp. 322-3.
fl “ A New Account of the East Indies,” Edinburgh, 1727.—Pinkerton, Vol. 8, pp. 368,370. At the present day
the territory of the Raja extends nowhere more than two miles from the glacis of the'fort.
MALDIVES.
Historical
Sketch.
Notes.
’AH Raja of Cana-
nore.
46
SESSIONAL PAPERS, 1881.
Translation.
“To the Governor of Colombo.
“Sir,—I have the honour to write to you to point out that the protection which Monsieur
Le Marquis Duplaix has granted to the Maldivois has obliged us to hoist our flag on these
Islands, and to station troops there. The scarcity of provisions here forces me to send you two
men [?] to purchase some kegs of arrack and other provisions. I hope, Sir, that you will be so
good as to give orders that they may not be molested, and that you will kindly assist them. In
this you will oblige him who has the honour to be with respect,
“ Sir,
“ Your very humble and very obedient servant,
“Male, August 20th, 1754.” “Le Termellier.
It is to be hoped that the Frenchmen were not in very urgent need of the required supplies, as
the reply of the Dutch Governor (J. G. Loten), acceding to the Corporal’s request, is dated
February 11th, 1755.
(7)
’Ali' RIjI of Cananore.—The chief male representative of the Cananore Mappilla family
always bore the honorific title ’Ali Raja or Adi Raja—i.e., “ Prince of the Sea.”*
Cananore (Kannanur), originally “included in the kingdom of the Kolastri or Cherakal
Rajas,” and partially feudatory “ till the invasion of Haidar ’Ali,”f had become, by the middle of
the 16th century, the chief seat of the Mappillas and a Muhammadan state of some importance
on the S.W. coast of India.
Pyrard, writing circa A.D. 1613 of “the Malabars of Cananore,” mentions that they had not
long before thrown off their allegiance to “the Nair King” and set up one of their own. “ This King
of Cananore is very wealthy, and very powerful, for his subjects are numerous, including, if need be,
the other Malabars who live along the whole coast. He is called Aly Ragea^ and is a Muhammadan
as are the other Malabars. Owning many vessels he is strong on the sea, and for the purposes of
trade in India has many agents and factories.”^
The Lakkadive Islands (“Les isles de Diuandurou”) belonged to him,§ as well as some
thirty of the Maldives,|| and the Suzerainty over the entire group. “ He is very courteous,
benevolent, and affable, and, above all, he is fond of strangers. The Portuguese are at peace with
him, and are allowed to occupy a small fort in Cananore where they have a church and College
of Jesuits.5i The other Kings of India, however, do not style the Ruler of Cananore ‘ King,’
asserting that his title has accrued by force alone.”**
A century later “Adda Rajah,” according to Captain Hamilton, could, “upon occasions,
bring near 20,000 men into the field.” His “dominions” then reached “ 10 miles southward of
Cananore to the Tellicherry river,” near which was his harbour, “ Dormepatam.”J|
The particular ’Ali Raja who captured the Maidive Sultan in 1753, supported the English
cause against the French in Southern India. A treaty of offensive and defensive alliance
between ’Ali Raja and Thomas Hodges, Chief of Tellicherri, on behalf of the English East India
Company, was concluded in 1759. The Mappilla Chief bound himself to assist the Company
“ readily with 300 men ("or more if necessary) armed with my firearms at all times” upon request
and upon similar payment as that received by other English troops. In consideration of the
immediate loan of 13,000 rupees (Bombay silver), pepper to that value was to be delivered, at the
price contracted for by the English with their own merchants, between January and March, 1760;
* Aitchison’s “Treaties, &c., relating to India,” Vol. V., p. 346. Calcutta, 18G4.
f Hunter’s “ Imperial Gazetteer of India,” Vol. II., Art. ‘ Cannanore.’ London, 1881.
4 Pyrard, p. 322. § See Note (10) “ Lakkadive Islands.”
|| Ceded about 50 years previously [circa A.D. 1560] by a Maidive Sultan in return for aid against his
revolted subjects.—Pyrard, p. 233.
The Portuguese landed at Cananore A.D. 1498, and erected a factory A.D. 1505. The Dutch followed in
A.D. 1656, but sold their fort about A.D. 1756 to ’All Raja, whose avarice Haidar ’Al! had to curb. (M. M. D. L. T.
History of Hyder Shah,” p. 101.)
** Pyrard, pp. 322-3.
fl “ A New Account of the East Indies,” Edinburgh, 1727.—Pinkerton, Vol. 8, pp. 368,370. At the present day
the territory of the Raja extends nowhere more than two miles from the glacis of the'fort.