Odisha Review April - 2013 Some Ports and Trading Activities of Northern Odisha (17th to 19th Century A.D.) Dr. Saroj Kumar Panda Odisha has a long and glorious tradition and other ports in the Bay of Bengal. In the of maritime history because of its close second half of 17th Century the trade association with sea, stretching to length of flourished along the coast of the Bay of more than 500 kms. on its eastern front. Bengal, especially between Balasore and 1 3 Balasore alone has a coast line of 58 miles. Hoogly and between Balasore and Dacca. The 17th Century witnessed the establishment Some ports of Northern Odisha and of English trade in Odisha. Although the their trading activities are presented as follows : factories at Masulipatam (1611) and Surat (1612) preceded those constructed at Pipli : Hariharpur (May 1633) and at Balasore (June The Portuguese established their first 1633), those little factories in Odisha served trade centre at Pipli on the bank of river as the springboard from which the English Subernarekha in 1514. Their monopoly in leaped into Bengal. Even before, the Muslim trade continued at Pipli for more than hundred Governers in Bengal were naturally more years. Subsequently the Dutch, French and interested in northern parts to serve the interest English entered Pipli for maritime trade. The of their own administration. Balasore, Pipli and English set up their first trade centre at Pipli 4 Harishpur came to much more prominence which continued upto 1634. Hamilton than before. Being situated on the mouth of describes Pipli as the great centre of European rivers, these ports were connected with inland trade in the 17th century, from where the trading centres. Balasore on the river Dutch shipped 2000 tones of salt annually. Budhabalanga, Pipli on the Subarnarekha and Balasore : Harishpur on the Patua were also the outlets for the interier tracts, particularly during rainy This port was situated 16 miles away season. Commodities were collected from from the coast. The Portuguese founded their these centres for export to the distance place trade settlement at Balasore around 1625. The 2 maritime trade of Odisha was carried out through these ports. The ports such as 5 Balasore, Pipli and Hariharpur which carried mainly through this port. Consequently, the on trade with different parts of the world were Danes established their factory in 1636 also centres of coastal trade. There was the followed by the Dutch and French during movement of ships between Northern Odisha 1673-1694. The importance of Balasore as a 86 April - 2013 Odisha Review great trading centre is evidenced by the between 1670-1673, when goods imported existing of five European factories on it. at Balasore remained unsold. The situation was According to Hunter, “in the era of armed aggravated by near-famine state of affairs. In industrialism the English trade at Balasore was 1675, Walter Clavell, the chief of Balasore practically confined to the limited area held factory was very much concerned at the by their factory.” Balasore was frequented by “deadness of sails”. Hence, the chief and the the traders belonging to the islands of Council at Balasore asked the Company not Laccadive and Maldive who brought cowries, to send any more broad-cloth (which probably cocoanuts, coral and dried fish and took rice used to come from Surat) for next two or and earthern pots, for which Balasore was three years. The Company’s ware-house at 6 famous. Merchants exported rice, iron, Balasore and other parts of Odisha were stoneware and cloth from Balasore to Calcutta stocked with unsold cloth from Europe in the and imported tobacco and other things to year 1674 due to their hostility with the Dutch Balasore from Calcutta. Balasore stone dishes and the harassment caused by the Mughal and cups were greatly prized in the market of Officials. Balasore clothes and broad cloth Calcutta where duties on these articles were from Europe did not fetch enough purchases 7 in Bengal due to ‘the parsimonious nature’ of levied. 10 the Mughal Officials. The fear of the Dutch From early British records of Balasore capturing English ships in the high seas, brought factory, it is known that Raja Tribikram the transport of goods between Hoogli and Bhanja’s (Raja of Mayurbhanja - 1660-1668) Balasore almost to standstill. Still this port was territory was famous for very good tassar the most prosperous one for trade in the 17th fabrics, which the East India Company greatly century. valued. The most important exports of Balasore consisted in the beautiful and costly Fifty six vessels visited Balasore port in ‘sains’ (sannoes), ‘casses’ (wrappers or 1851 and 167 vessels in 1853, but 40 ships robes), ‘dimities’, ‘mulmuls’, ‘silk romals’, were lost in a cyclone in 1851. Fakir Mohan ‘cotton-romals’, ‘gurrahs’, lungies and silk Senapati in his autobiography has mentioned 8 bed-sheets. Goods were sold at sixty percent Balasore as ‘Bandara Balasore’ and the cheaper at Cuttack market than at Balasore. tributary of river Budhabalanga as ‘Olanda Nala’ because the Olandaz (Dutch) ships were It is also known from early English record 11 anchored in the tributary. There was ship- that the ships which touched Balasore port repairing yards and dock yards on the banks carried merchandise consisting mostly of of the Olanda Nala, but now no traces are Saltpetre, taffetas, raw silk, cotton yarn, 9 left of their existence. Balasore began to turmeric and coarse sail cloth. decline as a port due to formation of sandbars 12 From the ports of Balasore and Pipli across the mouth of the river. as many as twenty six foreign sailing ships Dhamra and Chandbali : were recorded in the season, 1643-44. Trading operation in Balasore became increasingly Dhamra port was located on the difficult owing to bad climate and vexatious estuaries of the river Baitarani and Brahmani. interference of the Mughal officers. The Being a naturtal port, it afforded complete company’s trade at Balasore greatly dwindled protection to ships throughout the year. 87 Odisha Review April - 2013 Because of its safe location, the British were False Point : attracted and set up their trade centre here. It was an important port of Cuttack They exported rice and salt to Bengal from district situated at the mouth of river Mahanadi the Dhamra Port. nearly 70 miles from the town of Cuttack. Chandbali Port, located on the banks After decline of Chandbali Port due to of river Baitarani was also known as devastating cyclone and shallow depth, False ‘Revenshaw Port’. The credit of the foundation Point served as an important port of Odisha of Chandbali Port goes to Captain Mat Nail, in the later part of 19th Century (1860). who first discovered its adaptability for the Earlier in 1828 a light house was built at passenger traffic. The port was established in Palmyras Point to direct ships to the coast. 1872 and continued as a flourishing port till But ships running northward frequently mistook 1885. Almost 60% of the total trade and False Point for Point Palmyras. Later the commerce between Odisha and Calcutta was whole coast area was surveyed and False carried out through Chandbali. Vessels also Point was found to be suitable for setting up plied from Chandbali Port to Madras, Burma a port. Its anchorage was safe and completely and Ceylon. Cotton and cunsumer goods were landlocked. Large vessels were anchored at sent to Calcutta from Dhamra and Chandbali some distance from its mouth in an exposed Port. Forest product, oilseeds and rice were roadstead. It was sheltered from sea winds brought to Odisha. Dhamra and Chandbali and vessels could enter in all seasons at any served as minor ports of Odisha till 1903 hour of tide. This port brought a great change because marked buoys and beacons were in maritime trade and had trade contacts with provided in the mid channel of the rivers for Madras, Bombay, Ceylon, Burma, Maldives, 13 navigation. Mauritius and England. The services of False Churamani and Laichanpur : Point were highly appreciated during the Odisha famine of 1866, when it was the only These two ports were on the banks of means of transportation. False Point was the the river Gammai and Kamsabamsa. Of these best harbour on the whole of the Indian Coast two ports, the greater volume of trade was 15 14 between Calcutta and Bombay. carried out through the Churamani port. According to local traditions, Churamani and Trade after 1866 : Laichandapur were formerly the principal ports With the inauguration of steamer service of Odisha. The sailors knew that in case of in the year 1869, between Calcutta and storms and cyclones, their roads offered the Cuttack, the inter provincial trade improved best protection to ships in distress. Hence in Northern Odisha. In the year 1870 goods these ports were considered the most safe from Cuttack were exported to Calcutta and and convenient along the Odisha Coast. In Madras regularly. The imported goods were the late 19th Century the rivers became mainly foreign cloths, betelnuts, spices and unsuitable even during high tide; Crafts copper. The exported goods from Odisha exceeding 45 tones could not move in these were timber, hide, horn, rice and mustard. The ports. The port Laichanpur was closed in rice of Odisha was very much appreciated in 1888 due to non-availability of Government Southern India, Ceylon and the islands of the 16 aid. Indian Ocean. 88 April - 2013 Odisha Review The maritime trade of Odisha constantly 2. B.C. Ray, “Shipping and Maritime Activities increased from 1869 to 1877. During this of Orissa during the Muslim Rule.” period False Point became an important centre Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 14th Session, Jaipur, PP.