Page 130 - English Expedition Class 6

Of all the produce they fi rst have to pay
the king, as his royalty , the tenth part. And • Pearl fi shing was done for
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they must also pay those men who charm the approximately how many days?
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great fi shes , to prevent them from injuring the
• What share did the king and the
divers whilst engaged in seeking pearls under
enchanters have of the ‘booty’?
water, one-twentieth part of all that they take.
• What other privilege did the king
Th ese fi sh-charmers are termed Abraiaman;
enjoy?
and their charm holds good for that day only.
At night they dissolve the charm so that the
fi shes can work mischief at their will. Th e presence of these fi sh discourages dishonest persons
who might think of diving at night for fi shing some extra oysters. Th ese enchanters know also how
to charm beasts and birds and every living thing. Th is skill, or art, they use for the safety of the
people around.
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In this manner pearls are fi shed in great quantities, from thence in fact come the pearls which
are spread all over the world. And I can tell you the king of that state hath a very great receipt and
treasure from his dues upon those pearls, for he also has the privilege to choose the ones that are
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large and well-shaped.

[Another Italian merchant and traveller, Cesare Federici, spent eighteen years in India between 1563
and 1581. His visit to the scene of pearl fi shery is generally taken to be 1563 – the period of Portuguese
domination in the eastern coast. Here is an extract from Federici’s report, which greatly enriches Marco
Polo’s account of pearl fi shing in the Gulf of Mannar.]

When the fi shing season approaches, some good divers are sent to discover where the greatest quantity
of oysters are to be found under water. Directly facing that place which is chosen for the fi shery, a
village with a number of houses, and a bazaar, all of stone, is built, which stands as long as the fi shery
lasts, and is amply supplied with all necessaries. Sometimes it happens near places already inhabited,
and at other times at a distance from any habitations.
Th e fi shers or divers are all Christian converts from the Paravar caste who are permitted to engage
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in this fi shery on payment of certain duties to the king of Portugal and to the churches of the Friars
of St Paul on that coast.
Happening to be there one year, I saw the order used in fi shing which is as follows:
During the continuance of the fi shery, there are always three or four armed vessels stationed to defend
the fi shermen from pirates. Usually the fi shing boats unite in companies of three or four together. Th e
smaller boats carry seven or eight men in each. I have seen of a morning, a great number of these
boats go out to fi sh, anchoring in fi ft een or eighteen fathoms water, which is the ordinary depth along
the coast.

7 royalty: (here) the payment made by a producer of 9 thence: from a previously mentioned place
minerals or oil to the owner of the site, in this case the 10 dues: (here) fees
king 11 duty: (here) tax
8 great fi shes: a possible reference to sharks or dolphins
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