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pilgrimage near Ramnad. They derived much of their ascendency 

 over other neighbouring communities from their knowledge of navi- 

 gation as well as the profits derived from the pearl fisheries of the 

 Tinnevelly and Madura coast which were practically in their hands. 

 Later on they were much oppressed by the Muhammadan invaders 

 and other rulers of the south, and when the Portuguese arrived " they 

 were found groaning under the Muhammadan yoke and were 

 assisted by the Portuguese on condition of their becoming Christ- 

 ians." The whole community of Paravars along the coast were 

 thus Christianised to the Roman Catholic faith. At present there 

 are some very wealthy individuals of this community who carry on 

 trade and various other business in important towns in India and 

 Ceylon but the majority are poor being engaged in fishing and as 

 sailors in the native crafts of the coast or as boatmen and divers. 

 The fishermen themselves carry on curing at Mukkur and are not 

 financed by capitalists. The labourer fishermen who are engaged 

 in operating the Madi net are paid Rs. 20 to 25 per annum with 

 food. Hired labcu;- is not employed for curing. 



VEMBAR. 



The fishermen are Paravars but the ticket-holders include 

 Paravars and Shanars. They are generally poor and are not 

 financed by capitalists. Fish is sold by auction to the highest 

 bidder for cash payment. No hired labour is employed except in 

 days of very heavy catches. 



SIPPIKULAM. 



The fishermen and ticket-holders are all Paravars. They are 

 mostly poor. Some of them who are of moderate means advance 

 money to others and get an eighth of their catches but no interest 

 is charged. There are no capitalists or middlemen. Labourers 

 who are engaged for fishing are given % to ^ of the catches. 

 Hired labour on daily wages is not generally employed for curing, 

 but permanent coolies from 7 to 35 per annum with rations are 

 employed by some, 



PINNAKKAYAL, ALANDALAI AND OVARI. 



All or most of the ticket-holders are well-to-do Paravars some 

 of whom are capitalists and others middlemen. They do not 

 themselves go out for fishing but purchase fish from the fishermen 

 when the catches are landed and auctioned on the beach. The 

 fishermen do not enter into contracts with ticket-holders to supply 

 fish and being uncontrolled can sell their fish to the highest bidder 

 with the result that they get good prices for their catches owing to 

 competition among ticket-holders themselves. Fishermen with no 

 boats and nets of their own give half their catches to the owners of 

 the gear. Hired labour is paid at the rate of 3 to 4 annas per 

 basket of fish cured and permanent coolies are rarely employed. 



IDINTHAKARAI AND KUTTAPULI. 



Fishermen and ticket-holders are mostly poor Paravars. The 

 ticket-holders purchase fish on credit from the fishermen and pay 



