"Portuguese, who however settled the rights and privileges of the Parruas so firmly, 

 " that the Bajas no longer dared interfere with them, or attempt to impede or abridge 

 " their prerogative ; on the contrary they were compelled to admit of separate laws 

 "for the Parruas from those which bound their own subjects. The Portuguese kept 

 " for themselves the command at sea, the pearl fisheries, the sovereignty over the 

 •' Parruas, their villages and harbours, whilst the Naick of Madura, who was a subject 

 " of the King of the Carnatic, made himself master at this time of the lands about 

 '• Madura, and in a short time afterwards of all the lower countries from Cape Comoryn 

 " to Tanjore, expelling and rooting out all the princes and land proprietors, who were 

 '• living and reigning there ; but on obtaining the sovereignty of all these countries, 

 " he wished to subject the Parruas to his authority, in which attempt he was opposed 

 " by the Portuguese, who often, not being powerful enough effectually to resist, left 

 " the land with the priests and Parruas and went to the islands of Mannar and Jaffna- 

 " patam, from whence they sent coasting vessels along the Madura shores, and caused 

 " so much disquiet, that the revenue was ruined, trade circumscribed and almost 

 " annihilated, for which reasons the Naick himself was obliged to solicit the Portu- 

 '• guese to come back again. 



"The Political Government of India, perceiving the great benefit of the pearl 

 "fishery, appointed in the name of the King of Portugal military chiefs and captains 

 <: to superintend it, leaving the churches and their administration to the priests. 

 " Those captains obtained from the fisheries each time a profit of 6,000 rixdollars for 

 " the King, leaving the remainder of the income from them for the Parruas ; but seeing 

 " they could not retain their superiority in that manner over the people, which was 

 " becoming rich, luxurious, drunken, with prosperity, and with the help of the priests, 

 ;- who protected them, threatening the captains, which often occasioned great dis- 

 ,: orders, the latter determined to build a fort for the King at Tutueoryn, which was 

 " the chief place of all the villages ; but the priests who feared by this to lose much 

 ' ; of their consequence as well as of their revenue insisted that if such a measure was 

 " proceeded with, they would all be ruined, on which account they urged on the 

 " people to commit irregularities ; and made the Parruas fear that the step was a preli- 

 " minary one to the making all of them slaves ; and they therefore raised such 

 " hindrances to the work that it never could be completed. 



" We have considered it worth while to prefix to our narrative this notice of old 

 " times, because it may throw some light on the present difficulties, and afford also a 

 " clear proof of the right which the Honourable Company at present claims over the 

 " Christian natives and all that relates to them. 



" The Netherlands East India Company began about the year 1644, when it 

 " had obtained possession of some places on Ceylon, to carry on trade and commerce 

 M with the countries of Madura, and made a treaty for that purpose with the above- 

 " mentioned Naick, stipulating, 



" ' That the Honourable Company might trade in his territories with security 

 " and freedom, to which end a dwelling or lodge at Cailpatnam was allowed them, as 

 ,! may be seen by the treaty or contract in possession of the Company'— and on this word 

 ''■ and faith of the Naick their trade began, and their goods, merchandize and servants 

 '■' were confidently left in protection of their ally — but where there is no firm ground 

 " of integrity, treachery and faithlessness find easy entry. 



" This the Company soon experienced, for it was not long ere this evil-minded 

 " and wicked people, deceived by appearances, and induced by hope of rapine and 

 " profit, forgot their faith and promises, suffering themselves to be seduced by a sum 

 " of money to demolish the Company's lodge, seize its goods, and murder its servants ; 

 •'■ in which last attempt however they failed by the unexpected appearance of a ship 

 " in which the men took refuge and thus wonderfully escaped. This dastard villanj-, 

 " detestable in any prince or chieftain, the Portuguese had contrived, and effected by 

 " means of the Parruas and the Naick's servants who thought the neighbourhood of 

 " the Company injurious to their interests. And although in the year 1649, a signal 

 " vengeance fell as well upon Tritchenadoor as Tutueoryn, yet the people, and their 

 " master, the Naick and his Government remained equally base, taking every oppor- 

 '•' tunitv to exercise oppression. Even the Portuguese whom they had assisted to do 

 " harm to the Company began soon to perceive that the renters and chiefs of the 



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