ON THE COROMANDEL COAST
CHAPTER I
THE FISHER-FOLK
Only the sea knows the depths of the sea; only the firmament knows the expanse of the firmament; the gods alone know the power of the gods.
The Coromandel Coast is a term applied to the east coast of the Peninsula of India. The word means ‘The realm of Chora.’ It was in use among the Portuguese, who were a century ahead of the English in establishing their trade centres in India. The East India Company adopted it in their official documents. Their consultation books and diaries were thus inscribed: ‘The Diary and Consultation Booke of the Agent Governour and Councell; their Proceedings and Transactions for the Affaires of the Honbie. English East India Company in the Agency of ye Coast of Chormandell and the Bay of Bengale.’
The first English ship to arrive on the coast was the Globe (1611) belonging to the Company. It came by way of Cape Comorin and carried a contingent of merchants, among whom were two Dutchmen who had entered the Company’s service. The object of the Globe was to search the Coromandel Coast for a safe and convenient port where no Europeans had previously settled. The
