A Glimpse of the Socio-Economic Conditions of the Port-Towns Of
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A Glimpse of The Socio-Economic Conditions of the Port-Towns of Coastal Karnataka in The Sixteenth and the Seventeenth Centuries as Described in Some Condemporary Portuguese Sources Dr. B. S. SHASTRY* The Portuguese were familiar with the fending the ports which, if they fall into ports and port-towns of coastal Karnataka the hands of the enemies, would be of (Kanara) during the 16th and the 17th great loss and danger to the Portuguese centuries. Many a Portuguese traveller, state of India, because many vessels are chronicler, administrator, captain, merch loaded at these ports every year for the ant and missionary came to the port-towns Red Sea and many other places as there and left behind them their accounts and was a large quantity of pepper, ginger, other records of these places. iron, choir, wood, saltpetre and many The Portuguese had a three-fold contact other things in the region of Kanara, above with coastal Karnataka-political, commer all an abundance of provisions (food gra cial and religious. As a result they could ins) of all sorts, of which all parts of India, and did influence to some extent the socio particularly Malabar, are supplied.” economic life of the port-towns, particula In 1630 the Portuguese captured Gango- rly during the 16th century. Their influe lli and built their fourth Kanarese fortress nce was wrought mainly through their there by 1633. However, all the four forts more or less effective control over the sea were conquered from them by Shivappa trade of the region and through their mis Nayaka of Keladi in 1652-4. sionary activities in the area. We may divide the Kanarese port-towns It may be mentioned here that the Portu discussed in Portuguese sources into two guese had a factory or trading centre at categories, namely, major and minor, dep Bhatkal in the 1540’s and 1550’s which was ending upon their commercial importance. probably given up with the acquisition of Accordingly* the major ones were Hona forts at Honavar, Basrur (Kundapur) and var, Bhatkal, Basrur (Kundapur) and Mangalore in 1568-9. These forts were the Mangalore. The minor ones were Sada- gjentres of political, commercial and missi shivagad, Anjediva, Mirjan, Ankola, Baind- onary activities of the Portuguese. Each ur, Barkur, Gangolli, Brahmawara, Malpe, fort was a naval and military base; and a Udupi, Kalyanpur, Kapu and Mulki. Kar- factory as well as a chapel were attached war does not figure in the Portuguese to it. Referring to these forts in 1582 or sources of the 16th century; but some thereabout a Portuguese record1 says that references to it do occur in the 17th century, they “are on the mouths of three grand particularly when the English began to rivers with very good ports capable of show interest in that port. accommodating many large ships. The First we shall discuss the socio-economic forts are important and necessary for de- life of the major port-towns, followed by * far. S. S. Shaatry. Head of Department of History, Goa University, Goa. that of the minor ones. Some general dispute was over the right of possession observations and concluding remarks will of some Arab steeds rescued from the be madeat the end. wreck of a ship from Ormuz. The ship wr ecked at the shores of Honavar and the local Honavar chief claimed the horses because the wreck The main export of Honavar was black was within his jurisdiction. The Portuguese or brown rice. It was purchased in huge claim was that the animals were actually quantities by the merchants of Malabar saved by them and had been handed over who came there by small and large vesseis. to some one in Honavar with the condition In exchange the Malabarese sold at Hona- that they would be taken later on, as there var coconuts, coeonnt oil, palm wine, and was a storm raging then. The Portuguese palm jaggery. There were two powerful attach resulted in the burning of local men at Honavar whom the Portuguese ships and surrender of the local chief who regarded pirates. They were Timmayya2 had to agree to pay an annual tribute to and Raoji. They looted all vessels sailing them.9 In 1538 the Portuguese attacked by, except these from Malabar. They enri because some enemy vessels were found ched themselves this way, though they bad trading at the port10. The attack of 1569 to give a share of their loot to the chief of ended in the establishment of a Portuguese Gersoppa within whose jurisdiction Hona fortress at the place. var lay and who permitted them to carry By the time the fort was established the on ‘piracy’3. trade at the port of Honavar seems to have In 1505 Timmayya developed friendly dwindled down to almost a zero point. relations with the Portuguese which he The Financial Statements and other Portu maintained, more or less, until his death guese documents of the times pertaining to in 1512. He used to supply them a number the fort of Honavar indicate that there was of commodities, particularly rice, from no income but only expenses in maintaining Honavar. On one occasion he offered to the military, civil and religious establish sell them cloves, camphor and black wood ments at the fort. Thus, the Financial also.4 Statement of 157411 specifically states that It seems that ships from Aden (Red Sea) there was no income at the fort but expen and Sofala (East Africa) used to come to ses to the tune of 2,984,980 reis (1 Re. was Honavar for rice supplies.® We also learn6 equal to about 70 reis then). This is confir that much cloth was sold at Honavar pro med by a report of 1582 or so12 which spe cured from the hinterland, including aks only of expenses. It is obvious that Vijayanagara. Other articles sold at the Honavar had lost much of its commercial port were copper, tin, vermilion and quick importance after the defeat of Vijayanagara silver in exchange for the silk from China in the battle of 1565. and Ormuz, and other articles from abroad By 1635 there was a settlement of some brought by the Portugese in the middle of Portuguese national at Honavar who had the 16th century. married native women at Goa and other The weight used at Honavar for weigh Portuguese possessions. These Portuguese ing rice, etc., was equal to 3 quintals, 1 were known as the casados (married ones). arroba and 24 arrateis7 (pounds, ratal). This The settlement was within the fort. At comes to a little over 205 kgs (1 quintal has this stage also the trade at the port was 4 arrobas; 1 arroba, about 15 kgs ; and 1 poor. The rice supplier there were mu2h arratel, about 459 grams). less than that of other Kanarese ports. Honavar was attacked by the Portuguese Some timber for masts, etc., were purcha in 1502, 1505, 1538 and 1569. In 1502 the sed by the Portuguese there. So also some attacker was Vasco da Gama who chased quantities of arecanuts, certain kinds of Timmayya up the river at Honavar because fruit and white cloth. However, much he was regarded a pirate. He escaped, but pepper could be procured at Honavar. It da Gama wrecked his vengeance on the was the best pepper in India and the Portu local ships and the town which were loo guese purchased it from the king of Keladi med ad set on fire.8 In the 1505 attack the by a contract. This king allowed them to 90 obtain from his lands whatever provisions 217.5 kgs. Coral was weighed in terms of they required for their fort, free of taxes. a weight of about 11 kgs, and sugar in terms There was no church in Honavar and of that of about 197 kgs.17 rarely any conversion of Hindus to Christi The currency of Bhatkal was varied. anity.18 The most common was the gold pardao (pratapa, varaha, pagoda) equivalent to 360 Bbatkal reis or about Rs. 5 of those days. Besides, Bhatkal was perhaps the most important the silver pardao 300 reis or about Rs. 4), among the Kanarese ports during the 16th the sultani /"the dinar or Egypt, 420 reis), century. Speaking of the port Duarte and xerafim (ashrafi of 360 or 300 reis) were Barbosa says14 that it was a good port of in use.18 grand commerce of many articles of trade. Duarte Barbosa’s account1® of the Every year many ships came from Ormuz currency and weights differs slightly. There for white rice and powdered sugar. The seems to have prevailed a uniform weight latter commodity cost only about 240 reis of about 240 kgs. and a common currency (about R s. 3.5) a pound. Iron was another of the pardao of 320 reis (about Rs. 4.5). major article supplied by Bhatkal, followed The Portuguese developed trade contacts by pepper and miramulattos. In addition with Bhatkal from 1501. That year they copper, saltpetre, vermilion, aluminium sold there quicksilver, copper, vermilion and ivory were sold at the port. The Ormuz and coral at a great profit. The following ships sold Arab steeds and pearls here. year Vasco da Gama was there. He deman However, the Ormuz ships were diverted ded from the local chief that the latter to Goa when the latter place fell into should not trade with the enemies of Por Portuguese hands in 1510. Some ships tugal such as the Samudri of Calicut and from Aden and many from Malabar also that the chief should not send out mer- came to Bhatkal for trade.