condition of the Parawas prior to the arrival of the Portuguese, and the manner in 

 which the Portuguese obtained possession of the fisheries and subsequently carried 

 them on : — 



" Under the protection of those Rajas there lived a people, which had come to 

 " these parts from other countries * — they are called Parruas — they lived a sea- 

 " faring life, gaining their bread by fishing, and by diving for pearls ; they had 

 " purchased from the petty Rajas small streaks of the shore, along which they settled 

 " and built villages, and they divided themselves as their numbers progressively 

 " increased. 



" In these purchased lands they lived under the rule of their own headmen, 

 " paying to the Rajas only an annual present, free from all other taxes which bore 

 " upon the natives so heavily, looked upon as strangers, exempt from tribute or 

 " subjection to the Rajas, having a chief of their own election, whose descendants are 

 " still called Kings of the Parruas, and who drew a revenue from the whole people 

 " which in process of time has spread itself from Quilon to Bengal. Their importance 

 " and power have not been reduced by this dispersion, for they are seen at every 

 " pearl fishery (on which occasions the Parruas assemble together), surpassing in 

 " distinction, dignity and outward honours, all other persons there, and still bearing 

 " their own appellation. 



" The pearl fishery was the principal resource and expedient from which the 

 "Parruas obtained a livelihood, but as from their residence so near the sea, they had 

 " no manner of disposing of their pearls, they made an agreement with the Rajas that a 

 " market day should be proclaimed throughout their dominions, when merchants might 

 " securely come from all parts of India, and at which the divers and sutlers neces- 

 " sary to furnish provisions for the multitude might also meet, and as this assemblage 

 " would consist of two different races, namely, the Parruas and subjects o r the Rajas, 

 " as well as strangers and travellers, two kinds of guards and tribunals were to be 

 " established to prevent all disputes and quarrels arising during this open market, 

 " every man being subject to his own judge, and his case being decided by him ; all 

 " payments were then also divided among the headmen of the Parruas, who were the 

 " owners of that fishery, and who hence became rich and powerful ; they had weapons 

 " and soldiers of their own, with which they were able to defend themselves against 

 " the violence of the Rajas or their subjects. 



" The Moors who had spread themselves over India, and principally along the 

 " coasts of Madura, were strengthened by the natives professing Mahomedanism and 

 " by the Arabs, Saracens, and the privateers of the Sammoryn f, and they began also 

 " to take to pearl-diving as an occupation, but being led away by ill-feeling and hope 

 " of gain, they often attempted to outreach the Parruas, some of whom even they 

 " gained to their party and to their religion, by which means they obtained so much 

 "importance, that the Rajas joined themselves to the Moors, anticipating great 

 " advantages from the trade which they carried on and from their power at sea ; and 

 " thus the Parruas were oppressed, although they frequently rose against their adver- 

 u saries, but they always got the worst of it, until at last in a pearl fishery at 

 " Tutucoryn, having purposely raised a dispute, they fell upon the Moors, and killed 

 " some thousands of them, burnt their vesseLs, and remained masters of the country, 

 " though much in fear that the Moors, joined by the pirates of Calicut, would rise 

 " against them in revenge. 



" The Portuguese arrived about this time with one ship at Tutucoryn ; the 

 "Parruas requested them for assistance, and obtained a promise of it, on conditions 

 " that they should become Christians ; this they generally agreed to, and having sent 

 " Commissioners with some of the Portuguese to Goa, they were received under the 

 " protection of that nation, and their Commissioners returned with priests, and a 

 " naval force conveying troops, on which all the Parruas of the seven ports were 

 " baptized, accepted as subjects of the King of Portugal, and they dwindled thus from 

 "having their own chiefs and their own laws into subordination to priests aud 



* This is most improbable ; they are more probably the descendants of Naga fishermen settled in the district 

 prior to the immigration of Tamil invaders. 



t The Zamorin of Caliout, a powerful sea-chief of this period, hut himself belonging to the Hindu religion. 



