DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49708#0061
SESSIONAL PAPERS, 1881. 47
in default, the Company to have free liberty to take the Raja’s vessels to the amount of the said
debt.*
In 1766 ’Ali Raja instigated Haidar ’All to his successful invasion of Malabar, and was
entrusted with the management of all the conquered states from Cherakal to Cochin, except Cochin,
Coringot, and Raude terra, f
On the capture of Cananore by the British in 1784 the Bibi became tributary to the East
India Company. It was taken again in 1791, and has since remained in British hands.f
In the Cananore family, as usual in Malabar, the succession goes in the female line. “ The
last [male ruler] was succeeded by his niece, whose husband died during the siege of Cananore in
1790. This lady was succeeded by her daughter and granddaughter. The last died in October,
1861, and the Madras Government, mistaking the rule of succession, which requires that every
heir must be descended immediately from a female, and imagining that females only could succeed,
recognised her distant female relative to the exclusion of her son. But on the appeal of the son,
Ali Rajah, and after further investigation of the case, his right to the succession was recognised
The Mappillas^ (vulgarly 3/qpZtzs) are all Muhammadans and descendants of Arabs who
traded to or settled in Malabar from the 9th century .51 The lax morality of the Indian women—
particularly Tiyatti—favoured such casual or permanent connection with foreigners. “ In the course
of time the settlers, their descendants, and converts, became a power in the land adding much by
the industry to the material wealth of the country, and not a little to its social and political
difficulties. To the arrogance of the strictly honest and austerely religious Nair, the Mopla—
ignorant, bigotted, priest-ridden—opposed fanatical hatred, and, when driven beyond bearing [by
agrarian grievances], open outrage and murder. Things are better now than they were. English
rule has done much : the Mopla knife perhaps something : special legislation more than all.”**
The Mappillas are all fine, sturdy, good-looking men, and, as a community, the most enterprising
and industrious race to be found anywhere in India. Though disinclined to seek public service,
they can prove themselves intelligent and hard-working.
The Labbays of the South-east Coast of India, the Moors of Ceylon, and a large proportion
of the Maidive Islandersfj" in the Atols as far south as Male, have sprung from an origin similar to
that of the Mappillas of Malabar.
(8) »
The supposition that Sultan Muhammad Ghiyas-ud-din met this violent death at the hands
of his subjects should be received with much caution. The tradition “ vaguely current” at this
day rather favours the belief that it was a younger brother of Sultan Muhammad ’Imad-ud-dfu
Mukkarram, named Sayyid Kalu Baddra, who thus perished. This Prince is said to have shared
the captivity of the Sultan in India, and to have obtained possession of the throne on returning to
Male after an absence of some years. The two sons of Sultan Ghazi Hasan ’Izz-ud-din were
thereupon banished to the Southern Atols. But during the Hajj of Kalu Badara, Faruna
Kilage-fanu, who had been banished with the ex-Sultan’s sons, re-visited Male and devised the
scheme for the restoration of the former line (by the murder of the pilgrim Sultan), details of which
Christopher relates. Faruna then merely held the reins of government until the Princes could be
recalled from their exile.
(9)
Wreck of the “ Europa.”^—The facts of this case present features in many respects
strikingly similar to those connected with the “ Ravestein,” a century earlier.
The British vessel “ Europa,” Captain J. Alwayn, apparently laden with arms, struck on a
reef among the Southern Atols, May 23rd, 1812. Upon news of the disaster reaching Sultan
* Aitchison’s “Treaties, &c.,” Vol- V., pp. 357-8.
t Hunter’s “Imp. Gaz. of India,” Vol. VI., Art. ‘Malabar’; Aitchison’s “ Treaties, &c.,” Vol. V., p. 344.
4 Hunter’s “ Imp. Gaz. of India,” Vol. II., Art. ‘Cannanore.’ § Aitchison’s “ Treaties, &c.,” Vol. V., p. 347.
|| Perhaps from md, ‘mother,’ andpillai, ‘child.’ (Wilson.)
51 II est bien certain qu’ils sont venus cl’ aillenrs, et on dit d’Arabie, mais il y a bien long temps.”—Pyrard, p. 321.
** Hunter’s “ Imp. Gaz. of India,” Vol. VI., Art. ‘ Malabar.’
ff Buchanan (‘‘A Journey through Mysore, Canara, and Malabar,” Jan. 12, 1801.—Pinkerton, Vol. 8, p. 745)
observes that the Maldivians and their Sultan are “ Moplays.”
ft Sultan’s letters. The originals are unfortunately not forthcoming, and the translations (undated) must have
been made by a native little acquainted with English.
THE
MALDIVES.
Historical
Sketch.
Notes.
Fate of S. Mu-
hammad Ghiyas-ud-
din.
Wreck of the
“ Europa.”
in default, the Company to have free liberty to take the Raja’s vessels to the amount of the said
debt.*
In 1766 ’Ali Raja instigated Haidar ’All to his successful invasion of Malabar, and was
entrusted with the management of all the conquered states from Cherakal to Cochin, except Cochin,
Coringot, and Raude terra, f
On the capture of Cananore by the British in 1784 the Bibi became tributary to the East
India Company. It was taken again in 1791, and has since remained in British hands.f
In the Cananore family, as usual in Malabar, the succession goes in the female line. “ The
last [male ruler] was succeeded by his niece, whose husband died during the siege of Cananore in
1790. This lady was succeeded by her daughter and granddaughter. The last died in October,
1861, and the Madras Government, mistaking the rule of succession, which requires that every
heir must be descended immediately from a female, and imagining that females only could succeed,
recognised her distant female relative to the exclusion of her son. But on the appeal of the son,
Ali Rajah, and after further investigation of the case, his right to the succession was recognised
The Mappillas^ (vulgarly 3/qpZtzs) are all Muhammadans and descendants of Arabs who
traded to or settled in Malabar from the 9th century .51 The lax morality of the Indian women—
particularly Tiyatti—favoured such casual or permanent connection with foreigners. “ In the course
of time the settlers, their descendants, and converts, became a power in the land adding much by
the industry to the material wealth of the country, and not a little to its social and political
difficulties. To the arrogance of the strictly honest and austerely religious Nair, the Mopla—
ignorant, bigotted, priest-ridden—opposed fanatical hatred, and, when driven beyond bearing [by
agrarian grievances], open outrage and murder. Things are better now than they were. English
rule has done much : the Mopla knife perhaps something : special legislation more than all.”**
The Mappillas are all fine, sturdy, good-looking men, and, as a community, the most enterprising
and industrious race to be found anywhere in India. Though disinclined to seek public service,
they can prove themselves intelligent and hard-working.
The Labbays of the South-east Coast of India, the Moors of Ceylon, and a large proportion
of the Maidive Islandersfj" in the Atols as far south as Male, have sprung from an origin similar to
that of the Mappillas of Malabar.
(8) »
The supposition that Sultan Muhammad Ghiyas-ud-din met this violent death at the hands
of his subjects should be received with much caution. The tradition “ vaguely current” at this
day rather favours the belief that it was a younger brother of Sultan Muhammad ’Imad-ud-dfu
Mukkarram, named Sayyid Kalu Baddra, who thus perished. This Prince is said to have shared
the captivity of the Sultan in India, and to have obtained possession of the throne on returning to
Male after an absence of some years. The two sons of Sultan Ghazi Hasan ’Izz-ud-din were
thereupon banished to the Southern Atols. But during the Hajj of Kalu Badara, Faruna
Kilage-fanu, who had been banished with the ex-Sultan’s sons, re-visited Male and devised the
scheme for the restoration of the former line (by the murder of the pilgrim Sultan), details of which
Christopher relates. Faruna then merely held the reins of government until the Princes could be
recalled from their exile.
(9)
Wreck of the “ Europa.”^—The facts of this case present features in many respects
strikingly similar to those connected with the “ Ravestein,” a century earlier.
The British vessel “ Europa,” Captain J. Alwayn, apparently laden with arms, struck on a
reef among the Southern Atols, May 23rd, 1812. Upon news of the disaster reaching Sultan
* Aitchison’s “Treaties, &c.,” Vol- V., pp. 357-8.
t Hunter’s “Imp. Gaz. of India,” Vol. VI., Art. ‘Malabar’; Aitchison’s “ Treaties, &c.,” Vol. V., p. 344.
4 Hunter’s “ Imp. Gaz. of India,” Vol. II., Art. ‘Cannanore.’ § Aitchison’s “ Treaties, &c.,” Vol. V., p. 347.
|| Perhaps from md, ‘mother,’ andpillai, ‘child.’ (Wilson.)
51 II est bien certain qu’ils sont venus cl’ aillenrs, et on dit d’Arabie, mais il y a bien long temps.”—Pyrard, p. 321.
** Hunter’s “ Imp. Gaz. of India,” Vol. VI., Art. ‘ Malabar.’
ff Buchanan (‘‘A Journey through Mysore, Canara, and Malabar,” Jan. 12, 1801.—Pinkerton, Vol. 8, p. 745)
observes that the Maldivians and their Sultan are “ Moplays.”
ft Sultan’s letters. The originals are unfortunately not forthcoming, and the translations (undated) must have
been made by a native little acquainted with English.
THE
MALDIVES.
Historical
Sketch.
Notes.
Fate of S. Mu-
hammad Ghiyas-ud-
din.
Wreck of the
“ Europa.”