178 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN [ VOL. XVI, 



especially in the year 1695, according to the custom of all black people, to 

 institute a claim to enjoy the same tribute from all dhonies, but this has 

 always been boldly refused to him, except with regard to his own subjects 

 from whom he takes this tribute, as the Theuver does from his own 

 subjects, but no further, as the Commissioners will find fully explained in 

 the reports of 1694 and 1695, where the Company's absolute and undivided 

 authority, if not along the coasts of Madura, at least in the Bay of 

 Condatchy as being sovereigns there, in the same way as this is given to 

 Princes on the coast of Madura, etc., etc., etc. 



" The Maniagaars of the Armane and Theuver, as envoys sent to take 

 care of their masters' interests in the Fishery of Aripo, must be treated 

 with politeness and cordiality. The olas which they usually bring with 

 them must be received and forwarded to me, and nothing must be granted 

 to them except what is authorized by old custom, viz , to the Naick 96^, 

 and to the Theuver 60, free Moorish stones, as appears by the lists which 

 I mentioned to you, although the latter Prince, being limited to three boats, 

 was accustomed to have an unequal number of stones in them, which gave 

 rise to frequent disputes ; until at last in the year 1694 it was stipulated 

 that whether the boats were large or small no more than 60 stones were to 

 be employed in them, which you will unreservedly take notice of; and if 

 any claim be made, you will refer to this rule laid down in 1694 and 

 followed till 1699. And as to his request of 21 free stones for the Pagoda of 

 Ramanacoil, His Excellency may give as much as he pleases from those 60 

 stones which are granted to him from the Valy which he receives from his 

 own subjects, but the pretensions of Peria Tamby, or whoever now fills his 

 place as the Theuver's Marcair, seem better founded. This claim is not 

 a rule, but an act of liberality on the part of the Company, and granted or 

 not, in proportion to the care and favour which he gives to the Company's 

 trade at Kilikerry," etc., etc. 



