410 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [28] 



nected with marriages and deaths. In the Bombay and M adras Presiden- 

 cies, headmen to the fishing castes likewise exist; in some localities they 

 are hereditary, in others elective ; or should there be no headmen, mat- 

 ters are laid before certain wealthy individuals of their own caste, whose 

 decision is final. In places where the fishermen are native Christians, 

 the priest appears to be appealed to in order to settle disputes. 



In olden times the fishing castes held a much more important s'tand- 

 ing than they at present possess. Commanded by their own chiefs, they 

 were ready to engage in military expeditions. The Samorin, in 1513, 

 sent a deputation to Portugal, and his ambassador, who turned Chris- 

 tian, was knighted under the name of "John of the Cross," by John III. 

 On his return to India he was banished from the Samorin's court, as a 

 renegade from the faith of his fathers. In 1532 he joined the fishermen, 

 and appears to have been installed as their chief, as he headed a depu- 

 tation of eighty-five of them to Cochin, soliciting the assistance of the 

 Portuguese against the Mohammedans. The whole of the. embassy are 

 said to have become converts to the truths of Christianity, so a Portu- 

 guese fleet was sent to their relief, and 20,000 are reputed to have im- 

 mediately consented to be baptized. Ten years subsequently, Xavier 

 instituted a church for these people. 



It appears probable that the present organization of the fishing classses 

 is the remains of some ancient system, for on no other supposition can 

 the existence of individuals holding an extensive sway be accounted for. 

 The village or patriarchal system of an elective headman to such of his 

 caste as inhabit each street and hamlet, is what is seen elsewhere among 

 laborers; so likewise is the hereditary headman over several villages. 

 But among the fishermen there exist priestly chiefs, two of whom are 

 to be found on the eastern coast, one being at Madras and the other at 

 Cuddalore, the territory of the former stretching up the Coromandel 

 coast, while that of the latter reaches towards Cape Comorin. A third 

 is found in South Canara, where he exercises spiritual control over a 

 large district, and it is by no means improbable that others may exist. 

 These chiefs, whose oflBces are hereditary, claim and receive fees and fines 

 from those of their caste living within their jurisdiction, and they are the 

 final referees in all cases of caste or family disputes. 



The next grade is also hereditary. These mere petty chiefs or head- 

 men hold sway each over only a few villages ; their duties are the same, 

 and some of their fees seem to have to be transmitted to their superior. 

 On one of these headmen dying without heirs, a new one is elected by 

 the people of the caste. Lastly, the fishermen have the elective head- 

 man, who is chosen by the residents of a single hamlet;, his duties are 

 to decide disputes, to be present at marriages and religious ceremonies, 

 often to fix the work, and assist in certain Government duties ; his 

 emoluments appear to be very trifling. 



Financial methods and poverty of Jishermen. — Passing on to the condi- 

 tion of the fishermen (as it was a few years since) in Sind, they have to 



