CHAPTER
-
I1
PONDICRERRY AND ITS TRADE ECONOMY ON TEE EVE OF TEE EIGRTEENTA CENTURY Pondicherry was Poduke
in
the
Exacavations
first
conducted
known to the
century at
of
Roman
the
Arikamedu in
traders
Christian the
there
and
Roman
traders
Pallavas
of
existed
it had discontinued after the withdrawl of the 1 in the third century A.D. The rule of
witnessed the diversion of trade and
Pondicherry
to the northern port of
commerce
Mahabalipuram.
the Chola kings developed the southern port of and
era.
environs
Pondicherry show that flourishing maritime commerce
as
of
Later,
Nagapattinam
so commercial activities of Pondicherry region
on
the
east coast dwindled. A recent study of the Coromandel region during
the
Kunimedu
sixteenth century points out that the
to
the
north
of
2 international trading centre.
the
Pondicherry
emerged
port
of
as
an
The Portuguese who traded on
Coromandel coast settled at Devanampattinam,
south
of
Pondicherry in order to divert the commerce of Kunimedu; but they
could
Marakkayars trade it.
not
succeed
in
their
attempts
of Kunimedu who were rich and
since
powerful
the
having
contacts with South East Asia successfully prevented
Such a development made it possible for the
French
in
the
Seventeenth
century to settle down at
Pondicherry
to
participate in the commerce of the region. The medieval economy of Pondicherry was on
agriculture.
because
of
the
Ariyankuppam
Land
in this
Gingee
river
river
and
region and
its
Kilinjiyar
or
was
dependent
very
fertile
tributaries
like
Chunambar
which
provided sufficient quantity of water for irrigation. food crops and cash crops such as paddy, indigo, coconut,
Kambu,
chillies,
cholam, groundnut, tobaco,
gingili,
cotton
and
pulses
Both
sugarcane,
betel
leaves,
were
chiefly
3
cultivated. Some
vegetables and fruits
were
grown.
studies show that handicrafts were well developed
catered However, in
Besides,
to
the needs of both local and
overseas
we shall examine how the arrival of the
Europeans
general and the French in particular subsequent
establishment
and
markets.
to
of a factory by them at Pondicherrry in
the 1674
contributed to considerable changes in its trade economy. EARLY EUROPEAN CONTACTS WITH PONDICHERRY The Portuguese The
Portuguese who came to the Malabar
coast
the end of the fifteenth century conducted trade in As
time went on they diversified their trade by
by
pepper.
purchasing
cotton
textiles
establishments Coromandel
for
for
coast
West
Africa,
trade.
because
where
Thus the it
was
they
had
Portuguese
very
famous
firm
came for
to its 4
textiles, along
and established a trading lodge
with
other settlements at
Devanampattinam,
St.Thome
at
Pondicherry
Nagapattinam,
and
PortoNovo,
Masulipatanam.
conducted great trade and carried excellent cotton from
the
aforesaid ports to Pegu, Siam, Malacca
They textiles
and
West
5
Africa.
However, they could not continue their trade
long in Pondicherry and in
1614
had to abandon their lodge
Muthukrishnappa
nayak
of
Gingee
for
because
expelled
the
Portuguese from Pondicherry which was under his control. The Danes At
the beginning of the seventeenth century,
the
Danes appeared on the Coromandel coast and between 1616
and
1620, they established their factories at Tranquebar and 6 Pondicherry. In 1624, the lodge at Pondicherry was given
7
to
them by the Nayak of Gingee.
mansion
at
manufacturing
Pondicherry
They constructed a
and
developed
the
industries by providing necessary
large cotton
facilities
8
to the weavers and other artisans. continue
there
for
a
long
However, they could not
period.
When
they
left
Pondicherry, the weavers and other artisans entered into the
services
of
other
European
Companies
and
worked
as
intermediaries for their export trade. The Dutch In the early part of the seventeenth century, when the Dutch realised the significance of textile trade of Coromandel
coast
factories
at
with
Petapoli
Malacca, and
they
Masulipatanam
in
Tirupapuliyur in 1608 and at Pulicat in 1610. closed
their
the
established
factory at Petapoli due to
the
their
1606,
In 1616
at they
extortionate
9
demands
of local haveldar.
In 1618 they
abondoned
their
factory at Tirupapuliyur because of the civil war among
the
Nagaks of this region and so they shifted their commerce to 10 Pondicherry. Later in 1620 they left the Pondicherry lodge and settled at Tenganapatanam.
In the second half
of
the seventeenth century, they again appeared at
Pondicherry
for
there
procuring textiles and continued to remain 11
from
1664 to 1670. The English The English also wished to establish their factory at
Pondicherry, for which in 1624 they sent their ships to 12 this port. In 1639, Francis Day visited Pondicherry twice
and
stayed
in
the Danish lodge with a
view
to
starting
13
commerce
there.
permission French
tried their
level
best
the local ruler of Gingee even
from
settled
efforts
They
in Pondicherry.
to
after
But they failed
to obtain the requisite permission from
get the
in
their
the
local
ruler, as the French influence with the court of Gingee very
strong,
and
so the English could not
set
up
was
their
trading factory at Pondicherry. EARLY EFFORTS OF THE FRENCH TO TRADE WITH INDIA Indeed, like other Europeans, the French merchants had a strong desire to secure a share in the lucrative trade in orrental commodities.
During the reign of Louis XII,
in
1502, Paulmier de Gonneville, captain of Honfleur, sailed in
his
ship
ltEspoir from the port of
Havre
towards
Indian
Ocean,
round the cape of Good Hope, but a storm in the sea 14 carried his ship to the coast of Brazil. In 1526, some
merchants
of
Rouen
sent
their
ships
commanded
by
a
Portuguese
mariner named Estevao Dias Brigas from the
port
of
with some pieces of artillary towards
the
East
of
Good
Dieppe
reached Diu in 1527 after rounding the cape
which 15
Hope.
Jean Ango, a famous shipowner, fitted out two ships
Sacree
and Pensbe in 1529, in which two brothers Raoul
and
Jean
Paramentire undertook a commercial expedition
towards
East
Indies,
visited
leaving
the port of
Dieppe.
They
Sumatra,
Malacca,
returned
to France with a considerable cargo
Maldives
and
Madagascar
islands of
and 16 spices.
But these voyages did not leave any serious impact. Neverthless, ~ o u i s XII, voyages. as
the
encouraged
King Francois I,
his merchants
to
successor
undertake
But later from 1531 onwards he changed his
to long
policy
the Portuguese prevented the French sailors from entering 17 the Portuguese colonies. In addition, since there
into
was the civil war in France, no serious efforts were made in this
direction.
However, in 1600, Pierre Vamperue, a
ship
of Rouen, had a fleet of seventeen ships which 18 employed in the Indian commerce. A Company
were
owner
was
established on 18th May, 1601 at Saint Malo which fitted out two
vessels, Le Croissant of 400 tonnage and Le
Corbin
200 tonnage in which Francois Pyrard de Lava1 travelled reached
Madagascar
of and
on 18th February 1602. Not less than 19 After three months,
forty one persons died at Madagascar. on
July 3rd Le Corbin was wrecked at Maldives Islands,
ship
Le
Croissant however survived and
visited
the
Maldives,
Ceylon,
Nicobar and Sumatra islands and returned to 20 after a successful voyage. During the peaceful and prosperous reign of
IV, who cherished greatly the importance of overseas
France
Henry trade,
the French East India Company was established in 1604 the
letter
patent
of
the
king
with
exclusive
under
trading
21
privileges was
for fifteen years.
renewed
funds.
However,
regularly petition
in
towards to
privileges
In 1611, when the
project
under Louis XIII, trade declined for
the
1615, in order to
the East, two merchants king to transfer, in
granted
send
to
movement was opposed.
the
previous
want
their
of
their
of
ships
Rouen
gave
favour,
the
Company,
but
this
However, after hearing the arguements
from all the concerned, the king reorganised the Company 2nd
July
called
1615.
This Company assumed a new
name
and
on was
Compagnie des Maluques, it was conferred exclusive 22 for 12 years. This Company fitted out two
privileges ships
of
600 tonnage each, namely, Saint Louis
and
Saint
Michel under commanders Nicolas Frotter de la Bardeliere and Louis Hans de Decker respectively port Dutch
They set sails from
of St.Malo in 1616 towards Java. They included among
Pondicherry Achin
.
their crew.
The ship Saint Louis
in July 1617, from where she proceeded
carrying considerable cargo of textiles to
other ship ; but as the ship Saint Michael
a
arrived
the few at
towards
join
was captured
the by
the Dutch at Java, it returned to St.Malo after a successful 23 expedition. Subsequently, on 2nd October 1619, the Company sent another expedition of three ships
L'Eermitrge,
L'Esperance, Moutonorenci with an advice boat of 7 5 tonnage from
the
port
of
Hanfleur
towards
aforesaid ships reached Achin. L'Esperance with
East
Indies.
At Java one of these
The ships,
her cargo worth 5,00,000 ecus,(coins)
was
attacked and sunk in the sea by Schouten, the Dutch ship and 24 her cargo worth 5,00,000 ecus was set on fire at Batavia. The Beaulieu on
commander
of
this
expedition
started his return voyage alone with
the
Augusten
de
Y~IItonoren~i
1st of February 1622, leaving L'Aermitage
to
his
assistant Andre Jocet who made the coastal navigation
under
the
name of Petite Esperance between the islands
of
Sunda
and
Malacca.
Guillaume
Gauthier
de
He
was massacred
by
the
Dutch.
la Terrerie, successor of Andre Jocet
with a 25 cargo of one million, was also captured by the Dutch. But Augustin de Beaulieu reached the port of Havre in France
on
26
the 1st December, 1622. When Finance
cardinal
Minister
of
de Richelieu became
France, he realised
fully
importance of the French Commerce in the East. concerned against crafty
very
much
with the Dutch
and
powerful well
He was
their
the French interests in the Far East. Richelieu put to good use
the
And
the also
jealously so
his diplomacy and so
the in
1624, Richelieu lent the French support to the Dutch against
the house of Austria, in exchange he obtained from the Dutch favour of
non-interference in the French trade in the
and
Indies
West
harassment
East
and released the French merchants from 27 In 1626, he made a declaration
by the Dutch.
in the French Assembly that as in neighbouring countries he was
going to form big trading companies and thus to
compel
the
French merchants to participate in
trade.
the eastern
He decided to grant large privileges to the traders to
similar 28 those enjoyed by those of neighbouring countries. In
October
1626, he was proclaimed the Great Master Chief
Superintendent General
of the Navigation and
and
Commerce
of
29
France. In
1630, two financiers, Berruyer and
established
a
Company
under
the
title
Desmartins
of
Compagnie
particuliere de Nevigation pour exploiter les Isles'a 1' Est de Madagascar and made an expedition towards Madagascar with Rigault
as
surveyed
captain. He reached that island
it.
in
Between 1630 and 1632 Gilles de
1632, and
Regimont,
a 30
Dieppean,
travelled
Between
1633
towards
the
and
to
India
and
1637, several
the
Persian
voyages
East Indies and Madagascar, by
were
Gulf.
undertaken
one
Dieppoise
Society which drew the attention of Cardinal Richelieu. Cardinal
noting
the success of these
voyages
granted
The to
Rigault
and his assistants on 29th of January 1642 certain
concessions and privilages to reach the Madagascar and other 31 neighbouring islands and establish colonies and commerce. With
the
efforts
of Richelieu
,
King
Louis
signed
XI11
letters of patent rights on 15th of February 1642 which also changed
the Dieppoise Society into Compagnie
de
ItOrient.
By the letters patent signed later on 24th June of 1642, the 32 king also granted exclusive privilege for ten years. When l'Orient
the
first
French
ship of
Compagnie
commenced its expedition, Richelieu died.
expedition
was
intended to establish a
French
de This
colony
in
Madagascar, so that it might serve as a halting point on the sea route to reach India from France.
This expedition under
captain Rigault reached the island of Madagascar in 1643 on its south east coast. There
fort Dauphin was founded and a 33 small colony grew in and around fort Dauphin. But however the later expeditions did not achieve any success due to the mismanagement
of
expeditions by the leaders
and
also
account of unfavourable climate of the place, and above 34 on account of the hostility of the natives.
on all
Under these circumstances, Etienne de Flacourt was sent to fort Dauphin on 19th May, 1648 in the ship Le Laurent
with
nineteen
colonists. He
took
Saint
possession
of
Governorship sent
of the Fort Dauphin on 5th December, 1648
and
Le
called
Bourg to occupay the island of Mascarin which he 35 Bourbon island. Between 1650 and 1660 the French
sailors explored the sea route to India through the cape Good Hope and their vessels frequently sailed to the coasts.
At
completely
the the
same time, the
French
did
of
Indian
not
neglect
much shorter land routes to India,
through
Aleppo, Baghdad, Isfahan, Quandahar and Multan through which several
French travellers such as the
Capuchin
missionary
Father Raphael Du Mans, and others like La Boullaye Le Gouz, Jean
de
Thevenot,
Franpois
Bernier
and
Jean
Baptiste
36
Tavernier Finance
reached
Minister
commercial
expansion
neglected because serious
India. in
the of
When Cardinal long reign France
of
Mazarin Louis
abroad
was
became
XIV,
the
completely
of frequent wars with Spain
and
efforts were made in this connection until
so
no
Colbert
became the finance minister. COLBERTISM IN FRANCE Mercantilism Colbert
took
spread
all over
office as Finance Minister
Europe of
when
Jean
France.
The
principal object of Mercantalism was the economic of
interests
the nation as a whole, rather than the interests of
individuals
or
parts
of
the
nation
and
the
consequently
accumulation
of bullion, and establishment of importance of
exports
over
imports etc.
This
already
inspired France as well.
mercantile
policy
had
When Colbert
became
the
finance minister upon the death of cardinal Mazarin in 1661, he
found the weakness of the French financial position
noted
also the unanimous desire of the
were
and
mercantilists, who
mostly government officers and intellectuals, for
the
development of country's wealth. In
such
a
context,
Colbert
naturally
desired
France to be in the forefront of the prosperous countries of Europe
by securing for her a right place
trade.
Therefore,
policy.
Later
he followed strictly
in
international
the
this policy came to be known
mercantilist
in
France
as
In order to strengthen the economic might
of
37
Colbertism. the
French
commerce and
nation,
directed
agriculture,
industry,
and maritime trade to one common future of
expansion
entire
he
of
financial
overseas trade; administration,
he
also
for
which
growth
reformed he
the
did
not 38
neglect He
to get favourable opinion even from
cancelled
taxation, domestic from
and
the
claims of the nobles
imposed indirect taxes.
industry not only did he invite
outside
the
public.
for
freedom
from
To
safeguard
the
skilled
France, but also encouraged
the
artisans import
of
foreign
raw
materials;
and he
prohibited
the
entry
foreign products whenever it meant precious metals
of
leaving
39
French
kingdom.
In every area he laid down strict
rules
and exercised detailed supervision of the central power. also
established
hundred
a powerful French naval
Ae
force with
warships, sixty thousand soldiers, and
one
constructed
naval ports such as Brest, Toulon, Rochefort and bought port
of
Durkirk from the English to protect
the
the
merchant
40
marine. Colbert planned to form a group of powerful,
rich
and strong companies protected by the Royal Government
like
the
Dutch
Company to establish colonies and
to
carry
on
41
regular trade with India.
In all these efforts,he
echoed
the
unanimous desire of the merchants to his
XIV
and with his consent the La Royal Compagnie
master
aux
Indes Orientales was established with a capital of
de
Louis France one
42
thousand General
livres Chamber
and was placed under the management of of
twenty one
directors.
This
Chamber had rights to appoint Governors for its
a
General
possessions
and to renew one-third of the members every year and also to prepare
the
assembly
of
Company
was
accounts
every six months to
shareholders registered
yearly.
The
submit
charter
in the parliament on
the
to of
the this
1st
of
September
1664.
An exclusive privilege of fifty years
granted to this Company to trade in India and was to
promote christianity in Madagascar and its 43 islands.
was
permitted
neighbouring
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FRENCH FACTORY AT PONDICHERRY In
1664,
merchants land to
the
namely
Company
sent
a
group
of
Mariage and Dupont
Bebber,
three through
route to Isfahan with the letters from king Louis XIV 44 the king of Persia. They arrived at Isfahan in July
1665 and were cordially welcomed by the king of Persia, granted special concessions for trade. de for
Here, Bebber
joined
la Boullaya Le Gouz, who had come much earlier and Surat,
where
Thevenot
and
welcomed
by
Capuchin
Father
they arrived
Tavernier. the
in
March,
At Surat,
Mughal Governor of
they
1666 were
and
friendly
the situation
met
the
with
the for
trade, de la Boullye Le Gouz sent a detailed account of
the
country
the
After
to
Colbert
in which
he
relations
to
useful
Governor.
finding
left
cordially
Surat,thanks
Ambroise's
who
very
advocated
strongly
dispatch of French vessels to India and concluding alliances with Indian princes. the
two
merchants
In spite of opposition from the Dutch, went to Agra
and
obtained a favourable firman from him.
met
Aurangazeb
and
Aurangzeb on the 4th
of September 1666 ordered the Governor of Surat to earmark a site off Swally
to the French for trade there just like the 45
Dutch and the English. At sea
four
sailed
to
Franpois port
this juncture, the French Company put
ships
of three hundred tons
Madagascar.
It was in
each.
this
out
These
expedition,
Martin was employed as submerchant.
He
of Brest on 1st of March 1665, boarding on
to
ships that
left the
the ship,
Aigle, and arrived at fort Dauphin at Madagascar by the 46 of July 1665. Another expedition was fitted out by
end
Company
who
next year in 1666.
Meanwhile, Franpois
the
Caron
had gained wide experience in eastern undertakings while was
with the Dutch, left the Dutch Company and
he
joined
the
services of Colbert, who was only too eager to take him
and
appointed him Director General of French Commerce in The
expedition
France named
fitted
out by the Company
in
India.
1666
left
under the leadership of Francois Caron and a Persian Marcara,
customs
a
of India.
native of Isfahan, who
knew
the
local
They arrived at Madagascar in 1667.
The
Company resumed all activities necessary to establish direct commerce
with
India after trying to found
a
Company
at
Madagascar twice. On French
reaching Madagascar, Franpois Caron found
establishment in so deplorable a condition
that
the he
disliked
to waste his efforts.
Franpois Caron,
therefore,
decided to have direct commercial relations with India. left
fort Dauphin in October 1667, and arrived at Surat
the beginning of 1668, passing through Cochin. met
He in
At Surat
Bebber and established the first French factory on
he the 47
strength of the firman obtained by Bebber from Aurangazeb. He
sent
extend
the
ship back to Madagascar.
French
Having
decided
Commerce on to the Coromandel coast
to
in
the
same year, Franpois Caron directed Marcara to proceed to the court
of
Golconda
and
to
obtain
trade
establish a factory at Masulipatanam. proceeded to the court of Golconda. opposition
from
privileges
On the way he met
the English and the Dutch.
He,
to tide over all the difficulties created by
and
5th
December 1669, he obtained from
with
however,
managed on
to
Marcara, accordingly,
the
them
king
of
Golconda a firman which permitted the French to trade in his 48
kingdom,without In
the
paying any tax for imports and
same year the French secured
another
exports. firman
from
49
Aurangazeb to found a factory at Masulipatanam.
and
did
in fact establish a factory at that place, where Marcara was temporarily appointed buildings
in a 50
France Petta
.
as the Director in 1670 and
village which later came to
be
put
up
known as
Franpois
Martin
who
had stayed
four
years
at
Madagascar, moved to India and made his voyage from Surat to Red
Sea region between 10th of March and 21st
that
of
Later he came to India and met Caron at
1669.
time, Caron
sent G O U J O ~ and
Franpois
November
Surat.
At
Martin
to
Masulipatanam where they arrived on the 7th of August 1670. 51 Goujan became the chief of the French counter. In 1670 with
the efforts of Francois Caron, the French
their
established
at Rajapur, Tellicerry and Mirjan
factories
on
the
Malabar coast, but the last factory was abandoned by them in 52
1672 and it was later occupied by the Dutch
Caron suggested to Colbert to take of
Ceylon
advantages firm
and in
footing
Colbert.
Owing
impressed upon
.
Meanwhile,
possession of the island
him
the
great
commercial
spice trade of that island so as to in the country. to
have
His project was approved
a conflict, Marcara
was
arrested
a by at
Masulipatanam on the 21st of September 1670, and was sent to 53
Surat. was that
In the same month, Goujon died.
Francois
to become the chief of the Masulipatanam
Martin
factory.
time Sher Khan Lodi, Governor of Valikondapuram
At
under
the Sultan of Bijapur invited the French to trade in his own 54
territory This
for
prompted
Valikondapuram
the purpose of developing Francois to
Martin
explore the
to
textile
send
possibility
an
trade.
Armenian
of
to
developing
commerce.
The Armenian after visiting the country
reported
on the commercial potentiality to Francois Martin, who could not do anything on his own without the permission of
Caron.
He, therefore, wrote to Caron on French commercial prospects 55
in the country of Sher Khan Lodi.
On one
of
the three ships named St.Francoie
factory embarked time
the first of April 1671, Caron left to
Surat
establish
at Bantam. Marcara, being unable to work with with his supporters on the same vessel.
Francois
Baron, an ancient French consul
on
him,
At at
a
that
Allepo,
came to assist Caron for managing the affairs of the French 56 factory at Surat. After establishing a trading counter at Bantam, Caron left Bantam for Surat. there
long.
Marseilles
But he could not
He set sail in 1673, with all his
stay
wealth
as Colbert summoned him back to France, to
for hear
upon the petition given by the French Directors against him. His
ship
sailed
to Lisbon by way
of
Gibraltar,
but
entering the harbour it struck on a rock in which Caron 57 with his ill-fated death. Meanwhile, squadron
on
the 21st of March
1672 a
on met
French
under the command of admiral Bianquest de la
Aaye
came to anchor in the Bay of Trinkomali.
Having
with
to
the
king
of
Candy, he succeeded
negotiated
build
a
fort
58
there. the
But on finding some opposition from the natives of
island
and
resistance from the Dutch
who
had
their
settlements there, with exclusive trade right over the whole and
coastal Ceylon, he left the Bay on the 9th of July 1672 59
anchored
at
juncture,
St.Thome
the
on
the 20th
of
July.
At
French at Masulipatanam sought the
this
help
of
Bijapur Sultan and de la Haye attacked St.Thome and captured it on the 25th of July from the Sultan of Golconda. When Sher Khan Lodi came to know about the capture St.Thome by the French he wrote a letter to de
of and
offered
la
Aaye
his
own
In November 1672, de la Haye sent one of
his
a site for a French establishment in
60
territory. personal Sher
guards Bellanger de l'bspinay, to pay a
visit
to
Khan Lodi and to procure provisions for his troops
to
protect St.Thome. Bellanger de 1'Espinay left St.Thome an
able
Indian
Valikondapuram
interpreter, Antonio
on
18th
Catte1,and
of December where
he
with
came
was
to
warmly
61
welcomed by Sher Khan Lodi. from
Valikondapuram,
successful
he
negotiations.
After arriving at Porto reported to de He
came
la
down
Haye
to
Novo
on
his
settle
at
62
Pondicherry
on
the 4th of February 1673.
Ae
sent
also
provisions French
to St.Thome. This was the beginning of the 63 settlement at Pondicherry. On 30th of June 1673,
de
Haye
la
himself came to Pondicherry
and
returned
to
St.Thome
on the next day soon after inspecting the site and 64 with a view to future development. When and
out in Europe between
the
the French, the Dutch joined hands with the
Golconda the to
war broke
and blockaded the port of St.Thome by
Dutch
Sultan sea,
Sultan sent his forces and attacked the French by drive
them
Bellanger
away from the
port.
In
this
of
while land
situation,
de 1'Espinay wrote to de la Haye in January
1674
to send an assistant to him. In compliance, Fransois Martin 65 was selected and sent to Pondicherry. Martin worked with de 1'Espinay in good faith to overcome the difficulties to
manage the opponents.
la
Haye
had
and
In spite of the best efforts,
to surrender St.Thome to the
Dutch
on
de 23rd 66
September Leaving
1674 and he recalled Bellanger
the
Pondicherry
letter of Sher Khan Lodi and with
de
1'Espinay.
the
affairs
Fran~0iSmartin, Bellanger
de
of
1'Espinay
went to St.Thome where he joined de la Aaye and embarked for France. Only Franpois Martin remained at Pondicherry sixty
Frenchmen.
On the strength of the letter
with
issued
by
Sher Khan Lodi on April 1674, he built up the French factory strongly at
Pondicherry and became the first Governor 67 that factory on the Coromandel coast.
of
TRADE UNDER THE FRENCH INFLUENCE UPTO 1700 After began
to
grow
the
establishment of
rapidly
at
Pondicherry
administration of Franpois Martin. Company's and
the
the
factory,
under
In order to
the
Franpois Martin
brought
able
boost
trade in the midst of evil designs of English,
trade
the
with
the Dutch
him
an
eminent merchant, called Tanappa Mudaliar from Poonamalle to Pondicherry, where the latter made his permanent settlement. 68
He became the chief broker of the Company. forty were
Within a year,
houses were built for a small number of to develop and defend the factory.
weavers
Besides,
Martin received from Sher Khan Lodi three hundred men services
were
utilized not only as soldiers
who
Franpois whose
but
also
as
a piece of land to each of
them
to
69
colonists.
He gave
construct houses and also set up looms.
Thus he
encouraged
them to produce a large quantity of textiles for export.
No
sooner did he try to develop the economy of the region, than he
had
Shivaji
to
face the threat from
captured
Gingee
and
the
Marathas.
threatened
In to
1677
attack
Pondicherry. Franpois Martin managed to obtain a firmsn from
Shivaji by paying a large sum of money through one
of
the
Shivaji's
firman from 70 son Shambaji in 1689 to defend the factory. At
the
time, he was granted permission to
native
chieftains and
same
revenue as
later he got
another
collect
land
from the district of Pondicherry by Sher Khan Lodi 71 not able to repay the dues. Hence, Franqois
he was
Martin continued to construct houses and warehouses to store the
cloths for the shipment to France.
heavy from
expenses on account of transportation of interior parts, Franpois Martin invited
artisans and
In order
settle
at
Pondicherry. Thus
the
He
obtained
French
were
avoid
merchandise
the
and merchants of surrounding places to
Pakkumudayanpet.
to
weavers,
come
down
the
grant
of
able
to
get
72
manufactured there 5000 pieces of cloths per month. two
years after the establishment of the
Nearly
factory, Fran~ois
Martin
constructed houses, shops, markets and open bazzars 73 for the colony by spending 10,00,000 livres. He continued
to
encourage
the weavers and merchants
quantities of
cloths.
Thus
external, began to flourish
trade,
to both
produce
large
internal
and
gradually at Pondicherry.
In order to expand the Company's commerce, and bring
rice
Franfois
for
local
consumption,
on
Martin obtained the village of
16th
July
to
1686,
Kaveripumpattinam,
three leagues north of Tranquebar, and concession for
doing
74
business
in
Karaikal from the Nayak
textile
industries
bloomed
at
of
Tanjore.
Pondicherry
The
and
its
surrounding villages under the direct control of the French. Different were
kinds
of commodities such as textile
brought to Pondicherry from the interior
Company
merchants were also sent over to the
centres
in
the
interior parts
of
and
paddy
parts.
The
manufacturing
Gingee,
Golconda
and
To fulfil
the
75
Masulipatanam den~nnd of
to bring cloths for export.
the
growing population,
rice
by
several barges from
Porto
Pondicherry Nagapattinam
wns
brought
Novo,
to
Tanjore,
and Kaveripumpattinam and it was sold
to
the
76
poor people at the same price paid by the Company. Exports covered various goods.
Different kinds of
cloths such as painted cloths, handkerchiefs and food grains were
collected
exported
from various production centres and were 77 to France. The Company ships plied between the
port
of Pondicherry and the ports of Bantam,
and
Tenasserim
Siam,
Mergui 78
Merchandise other
carrying
Cargoes
of
various
such as silver, wine, broad cloths,
articles of commerce were imported
into
sorts. coral
and
Pondicherry
and these were sent to Cuddalore, Port0 Nova, Tranquebar and ~averipumpattinam
in
the
south
and
to
St.Thome,
Masulipatanam
and
Bengal in the north for sale 79
where
the
French had their own agents. In
the
beginning,
French
collected
made
quantities
of textiles from various centres But
in
trade
the
in
merchants.
textile
and
investment
1963,
when
the
regular
considerable through
Dutch
their
attacked
captured Pondicherry the brisk trade of the French
and
declined
fast in Pondlcherry and there was no active trade for nearly four
years when it was in the hands of the Dutch.
After
peace treaty was signed in 1697 in Europe between the
a
Dutch
and the French, the former returned the port of Pondicherry 80 the French. Their textile trade began to pick up
to
gradually import
in
of
reasonably
the Coromandel region.
spices good
by
trade.
them
was
In
not
this
enough
So, they started
that was not profitable.
period to
their
By the
end
the
conduct trade
in
of
the
coffee,
but
century
i.e. in 1699 their total trade in India recorded
a
peak of 30,00,000 pounds, of which 25,00,000 pounds worth of goods were accounted by exports and 4,00,000 pounds worth of 81 goods by imports. The hinterland of Pondicherry consisted of several fertile
paddy cultivating villages such
Ariyankuppam,
Olukarai,
Villianur,
as
Murungapakkam,
Tavalakuppam, Embalam,
Abishekapakkam, Nettapakkam and Bahur.
In the
seventeenth
century, Pondicherry and its surrounding villages were under the
control
of vnrious local rulers.
The arrival
of
the
French on the Coromandel coast witnessed the development pondicherry
and
province. Khan
its neighbouring villages
in
Lodi who gave the site to the French for
Gingee
the
It was brought under the direct control
of
of
Sher
establishing
trading settlements. Pondicherry began not only to
develop
into a big town, but also to extend its boundary. It the west
was during the period of FranFois Martin
boundary of the region began to spread and south.
towards
that north,
The seat of the Council of the French
was
shifted from Surat to Pondicherry and the latter became
the
headquarters of the French in India subsequent to the
issue 82
of The
a Royal Edict in 1701 setting up a Conseil Sovereign
French
Council
was set up at
Pondicherry
as a court to render justice to the French
in India or involved in the transactions the rule of Louis XIV. as
Souverain.
in
the
headed
There were also Provincial
other French trading centres in
Company.
by
the
Merchants
Director General
the
residing
of colonies during
of
Councils
India,
evident from the Royal Edict of February 1701. was
by
the
The
as
Council
East
were associated to the extent
is
of
India the
three in civil matters and five in criminal cases. rendered
in
Council.
other establishments was
In
Council
addition to rendering justice,
dealt
with
administration
all
matters
Justice
appealable
relating
and expenditure of various
to
the to
this
Superior commerce,
trading
centres
83
and
it controlled the French trade in the East.
When
Daud Khan, the Mughal General conquered the
1703-6,
province,
in
Gingee
Franpois Martin obtained the villages of Kalapet,
Olukarai,
Murungapakkam,
Olandai,
Pakkumudayanpet
and
84
Knruvadikuppam
from
him.
In 1708, Herbert who
was
the
Governor of Pondicherry at that time acquired the village of 85
Ariyankuppam from the Nawab of Carnatic. Under Dumas, Pondicherry's boundary was
In September
extended towards the south and the west. Safdar
Ali
villages
Khan the Nawab of Arcot granted of
Thirukanji
Theduvanatham
and
to
Abishekapakkam,
Kottakuppam
for
the
gradually 1740,
Dumas
the
Odiampattu
assistance
rendered
86
against further
the
Marathas.
extended
additions
were
towards Villianur
Under Dupleix, the the and
west Bahur
and
the
boundary
was
south.
The
including
eighty 87
adjoining villages granted to Dupleix by Chanda Sahib.
It
is in this way, that the area of Pondicherry region came
to
be under the French territory.
These regions started to assume a new shape the
French.
With a view to
extending
the
under
manufacturing
industry in and around Pondicherry, to acquire timber and to collect
food grains and textiles in abundance to
requirements
of
growing population, the
French
meet
the
Governors
intended to expand the area by supplying arms and amunitions including presents to the local rulers.
We shall see in the
next
chapter how production was carried on in
and
contributed
eighteenth century.
towards
development
of
this
trade
region in
the
NOTES AND REFERENCES
G.N.B. Huntingford (ed), The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Hakluyt society, London, 1980, p.119; A.L. Basham(ed), A Cultural History of India, Oxford, 1975, p.434. of S.J. Stephen, "Pre-Industrial Coromandel: A s!udy Ph.D. Politics, Economy and Society (A.D. 1500-1600) Dissertation submitted to the Pondicherry University 1992, pp.255-282. Lotika Varadarajan, (ed), India in the 17th Century (Social, Economic and Political) Ydmoires of Franpois Martin (1670-1690) ,New Delhi, 1983, vol.I.part.1, pp. 5, 31O(Henceforth m6moires). Reveue Historique de 1' Inde Franpaise, PondichBry, 1952, p.167, (Henceforth R.H.).
vo1.8,
W.H.Moreland, From Akbar to 1972, pp.55, 92, 94,132.
Delhi,
Aurangazeb,
S.P.Sen, French in India: First Struggle, Calcutta, 1947, p.336.
New
Establishment
and
Om Prakash, The Dutch Factories in India 1617-23, Delhi, 1984, p.7.
New
R.B., v o 1 . 8 , p.166. S.P. Sen,
op.cit, p.336.
Ibid, p.67
V. Vriddhagirisan, The Nayaks of Tanjore, University, Chidambaram, 1942, p.103.
Annamalai
Henry Davison Love , Vestiges of old Madras (4 vols) reprint, Delhi, 1988, vol.1, p.13.
1640-1800,
Henri Weber, La Compagnie Francaise des 1875, Paris, 1904, p.53.
Indes
1604-
J O ~ O de Barros, De A s i a de Joiio De Barros Decada, Primeria parts sequnda, Lisboa, 1700-77, p.583.
16.
Henri Weber, op.cit, p.54; H.C.Fosses, L'Inde Franpaise au XVIIIe si&cls, Paris, p.32. Henri Froidevaux & A.Martineau, Ristoire des colonies, Francaises et de 1'Expansion de la France dans Is Yonde; Tome V, Paris,1932, p.3. Henri Weber, op.cit, p.55. J.Barassin, Compagnies FranFaises dans 1' ocean Indian in STVDIA, vol.11, Lisboa, 1963, pp.321, 375. Henri Weber, op.cit, p.55; H.C. Fosses,op.cit,pp.33-34. Ibid, p.35, H.H. Dodwell, (ed), Cambridge History of India, vol.V, Cambrrdge, 1929, p.61; Charles Bellanger, Histoire et Geograpbie des colonies de la France, Paris, 1886, p.154. H.C. Fosses, op.cit, p.35; Henri Weber, op.cit, R.R. vol.111, p.7. Om Prakash, p.379.
Op.cit,
pp.31,57,58; STVDIA,
p.63;
~01.11,
Ibid, p.380. Ibid. Ibid. R.R. ~01.111,p.8. Ibid, p.7. STVDIA, vol.11, p.38 Ibid, p.382. Ibid, p.383. R.R. vol.111, p.8.
V.G. Hatalkar, The Relations between the French and the Marathas 1668-1815, Bombay, 1985, p.2; R.E., Vol.111, p.8. 34.
Ibid. 38
STVDIA, vol.11, p.383. Hatalkar, op.cit, p.3. Henri Weber, op.cit., pp.63,102. H.C. Fosses, op.cit, p.44. Henri Weber,op.cit., p.103.
G.B. Malleson, History of the French in India, Delhi, 1984, p.11. Henri Weber, op.cit. pp.14,15. H.de Closets DtErry, Precis Chronologique de 1'Histoire de l'lnde Franpaise (1664-1816), PondichBry, 1934, p.1. Ibid, Tibulle Ilnmont, Dupleix d'apres sa correspondance Inedite, Paris, 1881, p.8. H.C. Fosses, op.cit, p.41.
H.C. ~osses,op.cit. p.48, H.de Closets D'Erry, p. 1.
op.cit,
Ibid, p.58; Henri Froidevaux, Un Project d'acquisition de Tranquebar par la France en 1669, Paris, 1897, p.3. H. de Closets D'Erry, op.cit,
p.2
Edmond Gaudart, Catalogue des ManuScrits des Anciennes Archives de 1'Inde Francaise Pondichdry 1690-1789, Tome.1, Pondichery ,1924, pp.51,58.
H. de Closets DIErry,op.cit, p.2. Ibid, p.23. Ibid. Ibid.
Ibid, p.6. 11. de Closets D'Erry, op.cit, p.3. 11.H. Dodwell (ed), op.cit, p.69. H. de Closets D'Erry, op-cit, p.3. Ibid, p.4, H.H. Dodwell (ed), op.cit, p.69. Ibid; H. de closets D'Erry, op.cit, p.4. Ibid;
Zenobia Bamboat, Les
Voyageurs Frangais
dans
1'Inde aux XVIIe et XVIIIe Siecles (ed. A . Martineau), Paris, 1933, p.60. Henri Froidevaeu, Memoires de la Bellanger de L'Esplnay, sur son voyage aux Indes-orientales (16701675), Vendome, 1895. p.XV. Ibid, p.5, M.V. Labernadie, Le Vieux 1815. Pondichkry, 1936, p.10.
PondichCry
1673-
MCmoires, vol.1. part.1, p.231. S.P.Sen, op.cit, p.336.
H. de Closets D'Erry, op.cit,
p.6.
Ibid, p.6, H. de Closets D'Erry Histoire be 1'Inde Franpaise (1664-1814), Pondichbry, 1940, pp.28-59. (henceforth Histoire ) ; Sir George Forrest, The Life of Lord Clive, (2 vols.), vol.1, Delhi, 1986, p.26. Martin had lent money to the Governor of Gingee who could not repay. So in return Martin received a village near the coast and permission to fortify a strip of land by sea, W.H.Carey, The Good Old Days of Honourable John Company, Calcutta, 1907, vol.11, pp.256. Francois Martin purchased a tract of land near the river Gingee and obtained permission to form a settlement by lending a portion of money to Sher Khan Lodi.
...
Histoire
...,
p.59.
H.C.Fosses, op.cit, p.89. Ibid, p.90; G.B. Malleson, op.cit, p.27.
Ibid, p.88. Ibid, pP.88-91. H. de Closets D'Erry, op.cit,p.9.
Ibid, vol.11, part.1, pp.354,435,1018,1020,1061. Ibid, vol.11, part.1, pp.823,1010,1069.
Ibid, vol.11, part.11, pp.1575-7. H. de Closets D'Erry, op.cit, p.12. H.C.Fosses, L'Inde 1887, p.142.
Franpaise
Avant
Dupliex,
Paris,
Gnanou Diagou, Arrhte du conseil supdrieur de Pondichdry, Pondichdry, 1941, Tome. viii, supplements, pp.6,7,---,Le General de Lally, PondichBry,l944, p.179. Ibid; John Charpentier, Dupleix et 1'Empire des Indes, Tours maison, Mame, 1937, p.12.
M.V. Labernadie, op.cit, p.60; H. de Closets D'Erry, op.cit, pp.13,16, Procbs-Verbaux, vol.1, pp.78,81,146; Histoire p. 14.
...,
Ibid, p.15. Ibid, p.16, H.H. Dodwell (ed), Calendar of Madras Despatches, 1744-1755, Madras,1920,p.76; A.Martineax, Lettres at conventions de Gouverneurs de Pondichdry avec Differents Princes Hindous 1666-1793, Pondich&ry, 1914, p.147; Ananda Ranga Pillai, The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai, 1736-1761, New Delhi, 1985, (ed.H.Dodwel1) 12 vols., vol. VI, p.15. H.H.Dodwel1, op.cit, p.81; Maurice Aventuriers Frangais aux Indes (1775 1932, p.10.
-
Besson, Les Paris,
1820),