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Heroic Warriors and Lazy Kings, 1759-1827
National
Centre of Linguistics and Historical Research, Male', Maldives
First
printing 1981, second printing 1993
translated by Fareesha Abdulla
with assistance from Majid Abdul-Wahhab and Michael O'Shea
Notes and section titles
by Maldives Culture
2005-2012
King Gazi
Hassan Izzudeen 1759-1767
Slavery in Tellicherry, Malabar
A large number of slaves and kidnapped children were sold in Tellicherry (Thalassery on Keralan coast). Slavery was an established institution in Malabar during this period and Tellicherry was also a centre for the slave trade.
When kidnapped children and slaves were brought to this settlement, the factors rescued such persons and sent them to their native rajas for proper restoration to their families.
The factors issued an order for the registration of slaves already living in their settlement. They further prescribed that when slaves were brought and sold in Tellicherry, within 24 hours of their arrival, they should be registered in the secretary's office showing the name of the purchaser or owner of the slave with the details like the place, purchase price etc.
For such a registration, a fee of one silver piece was to be paid to the factory. If the slave once registered was sold again, a fresh registration should be obtained by the new purchaser or owner. For failure to register, a penalty of Rs50 was imposed on the owner.
In 1789, the Bombay governor issued an order that no individual from Tellicherry should send children under the description of slaves to Bombay unless they be registered as such in the presence of the chief.
The Tellicherry Board neither condemned or abolished the institution of slavery in their settlement. They desired only to prevent the kidnapping of children or the theft of slaves, and did not interfere in native customs.
History of the Tellicherry Factory 1683-1794
K.K.N. Kurup 1985
Aliraja and the Bibi of Cannanore and Laccadives
In 1765, the Aliraja, who already claimed all ambegris, tortise shell, and cowries from the Laccadives, asserted right of monopoly purchase over all coir. Prior to this, coir had been taxed by export duties of 6-10%, and rice imports by a similar amount.
Coir was selling at Rs60-70 for 300 kg. Aliraja wanted to pay only Rs30 per 300 kg plus receive 10% tax, and also charge 10% tax on rice imports used to pay for the coir.
Amini island rebelled along with the islands of Kiltan, Kadamat and Chetlat. They gave their alleigance to the Tipu Sultan, who was in technical alliance with Aliraja. The Aliraja and Bibi of Cannanore suppressed the revolts in those islands and Kavaratti as well.
In 1793, coir from the Laccadives was exempt from duty at Cannanore but the islanders were still paying tithes to the Bibi of Cannanore.
In 1827, the price of coir fell suddenly from Rs65 to Rs20 per 300kg. It continued to fall until recovering slightly to below Rs30 from 1835-1847. The Bibi and her agents in Laccadives ensured the losses were borne mainly by the islanders.
In Minicoy, only the cowrie monolpoly was enforced by Cannanore. Trees were taxed, and tapping rights, but coir was subject to a simple annual poll tax of 20 pounds per male and five pounds per female.
In 1826 the set Minicoy trading standard of 1:2 (cowries:rice) was threatened by the Bibi who wanted the cowrie value lowered by 50%. Following fighting, a compromise saw cowrie values lowered by 25%.
After the accidental visit of a French vessel to Laccadives in 1836 carrying Malay seamen, the Aliraja monopolised the sea slug trade. He also had control of markets in limes, salt, tobacco and dye.
Aliraja taxed pilots on their earnings with a charge per voyage based on the length of their trip.
In 1850, the Bibi of Cannanore possessed five barques and seven odi, in addition to several vessels exclusively engaged in trade with Maldives and the west coast of India, but by 1858 her ships were reduced to one barque and three odi, and many years have passed since the last survivor of her fleet, the Hydros, was broken up.
Stress of competition with vessels of superior build and rig has decreased profits for Minicoy boat owners. They no longer go to Mauritius, the Persian Gulf, Moulmein and Singapore. They are confined to Maldives, Galle, the Nicobars, Balasore and Calcutta.
During the nineteenth century, Agatti islanders complained in a petition that they were taxed two and half percent to pay for the Aliraja's domestic chaplain, and a further two and half percent for the Cannanore palace cat.
Crime and punishment
'In Laccadives ordeals were frequently resorted to for the discovery of offenders and there are traditions of executions for witchcraft and of punishment by mutilation inflicted a hundred years ago
Wholesale confiscation of property, or gang robbery was the common punishment for more heinous crimes. In some cases the whole family was exterminated.
Malabar
C.A. Innes, edited by F.B. Evans, 1908, 1951
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The new king's name was King Gazi
Hassan Izzudeen. He moved into Veyodoshu palace and directed a swift rebuilding
of the inner palace. [The name Gazi means 'mighty holy
warrior'.]
People from the wards removed the overgrown milkweed
and bricks from the burnt-out walls and former dwellings, levelled the ground and
built new houses.
For the first time, the Hitan gate was constructed and a floor laid out. Then
the administration benches were set up, a clerics' bench was built, and
then the security guards' gate. The Bodukiba house was erected in the palace
grounds, followed by the inner and outer sections of the Kudakiba house.
When reconstruction was completed, they moved into the inner palace in 1760
(date given in words) or 1762 (date given in numerals). Hassan had become
king on 6 December 1759.
Gazi Hassan
Izzudeen was an intelligent and very fair person, who fulfilled the demands
of the kingship with finesse. He treated the children of king Ibrahim
properly, and Aminath Rani Kilegefan received great respect too. Due to
his fairness and planning skills, the people fully supported him.
Earthquake
1759
On the ninth day after he became king, 14 December
1759, an earthquake shook Male'. Other islands also shook. On Sunday 23
December 1759, a huge fire broke out in Henveiru and king Dana Mohamed's
mosque, king Ibrahim's mosque and many shops were burnt. Aminath Kabafan's
palace was to the north of this latter mosque.
The king assigned
various positions to people, and there were some changes. The king's brother
Hussein Manikfan was made the supreme defence minister. The king's paternal
brother, Ali Manikfan, was made the Ranabandeyri Kilege. Gazi Mohamed Muhibudeen
retained his position as chief judge. He was the son of Hussein Afeefudeen
the paternal brother of Hassan Tajudeen. Ali Hakura Takurufan the son of
Fasmandoo Hassan Hakura Takurufan became a commander. The public works
portfolio was given to Ali Mafaiy Takurufan the son of Hussein Velana Takurufan.
Muraidoo Hussein Dahara Takurufan became foreign minister. The new health
minister was Mohamed Kaleygefan the son of Negro Yagooth Doshimeyna Kaleygefan,
the slave freed by the Devadoo king. Umar Gada Hamadi Kaleygefan was
given the position of government secretary. At the time of the trouble with
the Malabars, he was one of those who had escaped and found refuge in various
places. Many people like him returned during this king's reign.
Ma-eboodoo Hassan Damadi Kaleygefan was placed in charge of the armed forces. Umar Manik, who had helped the new king take the throne,
became chief treasurer. He was officially named Umar Saifudeen Handeygirin
Takurufan. Hassan Kudabandeyri Kaleygefan had been the javelin instructor
but he lost that position.
Hussein Gadahamadi
Manikfan, the son of Mohamed Gadahamada Manikfan and grandson of Nolivaranfaru
Hussein Bodubandeyri Kaleygefan, was also dismissed.
Maldivians experienced
a lot of improvements as a result of these new arrangements.
Aliraja attacks Male' 1761
In early 1761, Cannanore
Aliraja ordered a sailing ship, two warships and five odi loaded with
weapons and prepared for battle. They arrived at Tiladunmati (Haa Alifu)
atoll. Aliraja had installed a Turk called Hassan, son of Mohamed Garutali,
as commander leading a force of sixty Turks and two hundred Malabaris.
They moored near Male' at Vihamanafushi island (now Kurumba resort) on 3 April 1761.
Next day, they were just outside Doonidoo and the vessels moored there
while men landed at Funadoo and Hulule' islands. The men on Funadoo built
sand walls and prepared for war. As the sun rose on Thursday 7 April 1761,
they began to fire guns at Male'. Holy God spared the island's people from
their bombardment and only one person was hit - a woman. She died.
When the Malabars arrived, there was a trading ship from Bengal in the harbour.
The navigator was from Balasor in the Bay of Bengal, and his name was Miya
Khan the Muguli. The Malabars captured his ship, and he was arrested and
taken away. People from Male' sneaked into Hulule' where the enemy had
landed, and put poison in the drinking-water well. All who drank the water
became sick and left the island.
On Saturday 11 April, the Maldivians
loaded their guns onto the Roanujehi Kafu odi and it sailed
around Funadoo island, firing at the enemy. With their situation intolerable,
the Aliraja's men abandoned the island on Monday 13 April 1761. They retreated
to Donakuli island on northern Tiladunmati atoll and stayed there.
Male' people prepared an odi fleet, loaded their weapons of
war and quickly embarked.
The king appointed Hussein Shah Bandar
Velana Takurufan and Mulee Ali Famuladeyri Takurufan as commanders. The
Maldivians sailed towards Hanimadoo on southern Tiladunmati atoll where
ten Turks had been harassing and attacking the islanders. The Malabaris sailed
off in their ships when they saw the Male' vessels approaching, leaving
the Turks to be arrested on Hanimadoo. All the Malabar odi and
other sailing ships had been chased away, so the Maldivians returned to
Male' in August 1761. They were received with great honour and the king
himself went to the beach to greet them. The Malabaris went back to their
country and killed Miya Khan who was in the ship they captured, and Ahmed
Takurufan as well.
Later, the chief judge left for the haj, and his position was given to Ibrahim
Manikfan the son of Shamsudeen Fandiyaru Kaleygefan. His official name became
Gazi Ibrahim Baha-udeen.
In early 1763, during the third year
of the reign of king Sultan Gazi Hassan Izzudeen Siri Kularanmeeba Danalaveera,
king Ibrahim's son Mohamed Giyasudeen Manikfan escaped from the Malabaris
and was staying at Ganjam in the Bay of Bengal. There he met Deenu Mohamed
the navigator and returned to Maldives in his odi. They arrived
at Mulaku atoll and from the island of Diggaru, Mohamed Manikfan
travelled north in a fishing odi and anchored outside Funadoo.
When
he landed in Male', he had an audience with the king. After listening to
his story, the king ordered the beating of the drums for the militia. They
assembled with the aristocracy and heard the news. Not everyone approved
of allowing king Ibrahim's son into Male' island, but the king went straight
to the beach with the military and greeted Mohamed Giyasudeen Manikfan with
the full protocol required for a king returning to Male'. Another parasol
was raised, suggesting there were now two kings in the procession, and Mohamed
Giyasudeen was led to the inner palace.
Deenu Mohamed Nevikaleyge
was king Ibrahim's slave. Because of the great service done by both this navigator
and the captain of the ship, they were rewarded with admission to the majlis.
The prince was looked after in the inner palace as if he was the son of
Gazi Hassan. All these events occurred on Wednesday 16 February 1763.
Afterwards, the North royal house and the South royal house were built in
the palace grounds. Through God's mercy, palace construction continued.
Royal houses were built, and the burnt and damaged walls were repaired.
New walls and bathing tanks were installed.
People were sent
to the atolls to take a census of the poverty-stricken people of Maldives.
The census documents were given to the islands, and conditions improved
for many of the poor.
In the sixth year of the king's reign,
his brother Hussein Bodu Doshimeyna Kilegefan passed away. He was survived
by his son Mohamed whose mother was Aminath Manikfan.
On the
night of Sunday 1 February 1767, after the hour-glass had been turned for
the fifth time, Gazi Hassan Izzudeen went to his final rest.
He had reigned for 7 years, four months and sixteen days.
When
he died, he had a number of sons. The name of the eldest was Mohamed, aged
14. The next was called Ibrahim, eight years old. The youngest was Ali,
aged four. The mother of these boys was Aminath Kabafan the daughter of Fenfushi
Kaka Takurufan.
King Mohamed Giyasudeen Iskandar
1767
In accordance with the will of king Gazi Hassan, Mohamed
Giyasudeen, king Ibrahim's son who had been prisoner of the Malabars, was
made king. His royal name was King Mohamed Giyasudeen Iskandar.
He treated king Gazi Hassan's children in the same proper way he had been
treated by the deceased king. But after a short while, it was rumoured the
new king was to be killed and the deceased king's son Mohamed was to take
his place. The people involved were rumoured to be the dead king's relatives,
Ali Ranabandeyri Kilegefan, Vazir Ibrahim Famuladeyri Takurufan and his
brother Mohamed Mureed Takurufan and his brother Hussein Kaka Takurufan.
Also mentioned were Ali Hakura Takurufan and Umar Handeygirin Takurufan.
King Giyasudeen ordered exile for all the alleged plotters. Chief treasurer
Umar Saifudeen Handeygirin Takurufan was sent to Kadoodoo island in Kolumadulu
(Thaa) atoll. The three sons of king Gazi Hassan and their mother, who
had all been staying in Kudakiba palace, were transferred to Veyoge house.
Diffushi Ibrahim was made chief treasurer. Then the dead king Gazi Hassan's
wife and her three sons were exiled to Addu (Seenu) atoll. Gazi Hassan's
paternal brother Ali Ranabandeyri Kilegefan was exiled to Malos island
in Ari (Alifu) atoll.
Hura Ibrahim Famuladeyri Takurufan was
exiled to Mamakunudoo atoll. Hurai Mureed Mohamed Takurufan was exiled
to Veymandu (on Thaa atoll). Hurai Hussein Kaka Takurufan was exiled to Huvadu
atoll. Hussein Gadahamaidi Manikfan became health minister.
A big odi was sent with orders that Hussein Kaka Takurufan and
Mohamed Mureed Takurufan were to be tortured and killed. When Hussein Kaka
Takurufan heard about this, he got on board a loaded odi, overpowered
the two guards and sailed to Veymandu island where he picked up Mohamed
Mureed Takurufan and sailed away again. They stopped at Mamakunudoo and
took aboard their elder brother Ibrahim Famuladeyri Takurufan.
As they left Maldives, they wrote, 'We are not fleeing the country to betray
the king. We dare not stay here for fear of death.' This was in a letter
they composed and sent to the king.
After they had left Kolumadulu
(Thaa) atoll on their journey north to Mamakunudoo, news of the escape
reached Male'. Quickly, two odi were prepared, loaded with weapons
and sent to find them. The odi sailed all over the country but
they returned to Male' without success.
The fleeing men went
to Ceylon and then on to Chandernagore (a French settlement 30 km above
Calcutta). They met and talked to Monsieur Le Termellier and asked for protection
from the governor, who gave his consent. Ibrahim Famuladeyri Takurufan and Mohamed
Mureed Takurufan died there. King Giyasudeen sent a small number of gifts
and a letter to the governor of Ceylon and asked him to arrest the men
and return them to Maldives. The governor ignored this request.
The king sent a group of military personnel to Malos island and put Ali
Ranabandeyri in chains for a month. Some time later, slanderous words were
found written on a piece of paper in a Male' street. Umar Mafaiy Kileygefan
and his sons were accused, and Hussein Fadiaiy Takurufan, the eldest son
of Umar Mafahaiy Takurufan was flogged and exiled to Veymandu island. Umar
Mafahaiy Takurufan and his remaining children were exiled to Gan. Umar died
there. Mohamed Takurufan, the son of Bodu Galu Mafahaiy Takurufan became
the government secretary.
Ibrahim Baha-udeen passed away in
the second year of the king's reign. He was married to a daughter of king
Ibrahim, and died in his maternal grandmother's island of Kuredivaru (on
Noonu atoll) around September 1768.
After the judge died, the
position was given to Mohamed Muhibudeen Fandiyaru Takurufan who had been
dismissed previously by king Gazi Hassan Izzudeen.
Aliraja attacks Male' 1769
In the second year of the king's reign,
the Cannanore Aliraja prepared six sailing ships and nine odi
for battle. They arrived on 5 April 1769 and anchored between Doonidoo
and Vihamanafushi islands above Male'.
Again, men were landed
on Hulule' and Funadoo islands. Guns were positioned on Funadoo and the firing
began. Male' responded with its own guns. From the island's new fort, a
cannon hit and killed one of the enemy and he was buried on Hulule'. The
grave is still there.
In that battle, the Malabaris fired 597
shots at Male', but only two women were hit. One of these women was carrying
a baby who also died. 245 shots were fired from Male' at the Malabaris. Almighty
God protected the Maldivians. Apart from the death previously mentioned,
it is not known if any more of the enemy died. After the battle, the Malabaris
sailed back to Cannanore.
In the fifth year of the king's reign,
it was rumoured that a group of supporters of Mohamed Manikfan, the son
of Hussein Doshimeyna Kilegefan who was the brother of dead king Gazi Hassan
Izzudeen, were planning to install this prince in the palace and capture
the throne. They had agreed to set fire to a house near the palace and when
the king came out, to use that moment to get inside the royal enclosure.
A gunpowder house close to the palace was set on fire. Seeing the flames,
the king was about to leave the palace walls for a closer look. blaze. At that moment a person from among
the plotters spoke to the king. 'Your highness, this is my good advice.
Do not go out there.' The king heeded his words and did not emerge, and
the fire was extinguished by others.
The group's plan to seize
the throne now became common knowledge throughout the island. The king ordered
the plotters to be found, beaten and exiled. They were hunted down, flogged,
and sent to different islands.
Mohamed Manikfan the son of Hussein
Doshimeyna Kilegefan, and Ahmed Kilegefan the son of Guraidoo Mohamed Manikfan,
were not flogged. Ahmed Manikfan was sent to Madifushi island. Mohamed Manikfan
the son of Hussein Doshimeyna Kilegefan was sent to Kalaidoo island on
Laam atoll. On his way to exile in the odi, Mohamed fought with
his guard and tied him up. He tried to leave Maldives in the odi
but found he could not manage the vessel alone, so he made peace with the guard and untied
him, and the odi sailed on to Kalaidoo.
The guard
returned to Male' and reported the incident. Three strong men
from the militia were despatched to Kalaidoo island where they viciously
beat Mohamed Manikfan. About a year later, Mohamed was brought back to Male'
and during the lifetime of his uncle he was allowed to stay in the palace.
The king would not have allowed this to happen without satisfactory assurances.
In the sixth year of the king's reign, all the buildings and houses except
one, were burnt in Himiti island (on Faafu atoll).
King
Giyasudeen leaves for haj 1773
After seven years
in power, the king prepared to make the haj. Aminath
Kabafan the daughter of king Ibrahim, and her husband Ali Velana Manikfan
the son of Mohamed Doshimeyna Takurufan and grandson of the martyr Addu
Mohamed Kudabandeyri Takurufan, were left to administer the affairs of the
crown.
The caravel belonging to Mohamed the son of Muscat Kalifan
was hired, and on Friday 17 December 1773 they left for the haj.
The king took along his wife and two ministers. One was Ali Hakura Manikfan,
the son of Hussein Velana Takurufan and grandson of Fasmandoo Hassan Hakura
Manikfan. Ali Hakura had been dismissed as a minister by king Gazi Hassan.
The other minister was Ali Doshimeyna Manikfan the son of Hassan Hakura
Manikfan and grandson of Fasmandoo Hassan Hakura Takurufan. These two ministers
were the sons of the two uncles of king Giyasudeen's mother.
The king left for haj after reigning 7 years and thirty-five days.
On the fourth day after he left - the Monday night - a faction around
Ali Velana Manikfan went into the palace and sat him on the royal throne
and cunningly made him king.
Mohamed Manikfan rallies
support in Male' and defeats Velana Manikfan 1773
When he
discovered this, Mohamed Manikfan the son of Hussein Doshimeyna Kilegefan
who was the brother of king Gazi Hassan, went to the Big Fort watch-tower with some supporters and readied the guns. At the time, Velana
Manikfan and his supporters were in the palace. When he heard what Mohamed
was doing, Velana Manikfan sent a group of people to the top of the New
Fort and prepared many guns for battle.
The judge Mohamed
Muhibudeen found out what was happening and went to each of the forts and
prohibited any gunfire. The people in the Big Fort shouted, 'Ali Velana
Manikfan has taken over the kingship. Anyone who supports the
king who has gone abroad, come to this fort.' When a crowd of people gathered,
Mohamed Manikfan addressed them:
'Acting against the instructions
of king Giyasudeen, the couple supporting Ali Velana Manikfan have let him
take over the throne. This would not have happened during the time when
my noble brother rescued us, after the Malabars captured this country and
it was broken, disintegrating and sinking. The monarchy of Maldives could
not be given to anyone else - it belonged rightfully to the king himself.
Gazi Hassan was prepared to fight and sacrifice his life in support of
the monarchy. Wouldn't you follow a man like that?'
When they
heard this question, the men answered:
'Yes! All of us, even the slaves,
as long as we live we will never turn our backs on such a person. We all
share your fate and will even give our lives for you.'
Hearing
this, Mohamed Manikfan swore allegiance with these supporters against Velana
Manikfan. He ordered them to remove the rebel couple from the palace and
exile them from Male'. They were sent to Huliyandoo island on Laam atoll
and died there.
The six surviving children of king Ibrahim were
Aminath Kabafan, Fatmath Ranikilegefan, Mariyam Kabafan, king Giyasudeen,
Sanfa Randi Kabafan and Aishath Kabafan. Ali Velana Manikfan's older brother,
Hassan Famuladeyri Manikfan was put aboard an odi for exile in
Madifushi island on Kolumadulu (Thaa) atoll. At the same time, Ahmed Manikfan
the son of Guraidoo Mohamed Manikfan, who had been exiled previously to
Madifushi island, was to be brought back to Male'. Later, Hassan Famuladeyri
Manikfan was sent from Madifushi to Huvadu atoll where he died.
King Mohamed Shamsudeen Iskandar 1773-1774
After these
people had been exiled, Mohamed Manikfan the son of Hussein Doshimeyna Kilegefan
who was the brother of king Gazi Hassan, went with his followers into the
inner palace. He was placed on the throne and named King Mohamed Shamsudeen
Iskandar.
After the coronation, king Giyasudeen's residential
palace to the south of the court was dismantled and everything removed.
King Ibrahim's land holdings and waqf entitlements were also confiscated.
Everything was taken from the children of king Ibrahim except the Diyamigili
palace of their grandfather, king Mohamed Imadudeen.
European demand for Indian Ocean slaves
English, Dutch and French East India Companies needed slaves in their trading factories in the East Indies. They preferred to buy them independently from Arab traders from Arabia and east Africa.
The slaves were supplied from east Africa and Madagascar. The Dutch needed slaves for their Sumatran gold mines. The English needed them for plantations on St Helena, pepper plantations at Benkulen in Sumatra, and as domestic servants. The French used slaves on platations at Mauritius and Bourbon.
Pirates driven out of the Caribbean in the early 18th century went to Madagascar and sought to meet the slave needs of the Europeans.
Private Fortunes and Company Profits in the India trade in the 18th century
H. Furber, edited by R. Rocher
in Bombay Presidency in the Mid-Eighteenth Century
H. Furber 1965
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Bodu Galu Mohamed Mafaiy Takurufan was exiled to Mativeri island (on Alifu atoll).
Moosa Takurufan the son of Kalaidoo Hassan Naib Takurufan became the government
secretary. Then Bodu Galu Mafaiy Takurufan was sent from Mativeri to Variyafushi
island.
Mohamed the son of Kihadoo Ibrahim, was given the
position of foreign minister. Umar Saifudeen Bodubandeyri Handeygirin Takurufan,
who had been sent to Kadoodoo (on Thaa atoll) by king Giyasudeen, was brought
back and given the position of chief treasurer. Ali Kaleygefan the son of
Mohamed Famuladeyri Kaleygefan and grandson of Yagooth Doshimeyna Kaleygefan,
was made health minister.
Education banned 1774
The belongings and books of the children of Kuradi Palace Fandiyaru Manikfan,
and all the things belonging to their mother Mariyam Kabafan the daughter
of king Ibrahim, were confiscated and they were exiled to Diyamigili island
(on Thaa atoll). These people were also banned from reading or any form of
education.
Ibrahim Manikfan, the son of Kateeb Ahmed Muhiyudeen
and grandson of Hassan Tajudeen, was robbed of all his property and his
mother Fatmath Ranikilegefan was robbed of everything she had too. Ibrahim
Manikfan was sent to Daraboodoo island (on Faafu atoll).
For
the first time in Maldives, this king ordered houses smashed and books taken
from the hands of their owners. All were banned from learning, except those
the king liked.
The person who had been chief treasurer, Diffushi
Bodu Bandeyri Handeygirin Takurufan, was sent to his island. After about
a year, when Umar Saifudeen Handeygirin Takurufan passed away, Diffushi
Ibrahim Handeygirin Takurufan was brought back and given both the chief
treasurer and handeygirin positions. When Diffushi Ibrahim passed
away, Rasgeteemu Hassan Takuru became chief treasurer. He had helped the
king take over the throne.
Many people were involved in this
plot, including king Giyasudeen's time-keepers, who were also stripped of
their property and exiled to the islands.
Meanwhile, those exiled
by the former king were brought back from various islands and given positions.
The son of king Gazi Hassan, king Mohamed Shamsudeen's uncle, was recalled
along with the king's uncle Ali Ranabandeyri Kilegefan.
King Mohamed Muizzudeen Iskandar 1774-1778
Then Mohamed,
the son of king Gazi Hassan was given the throne and named king Mohamed
Muizzudeen Iskandar.
King Mohamed Shamsudeen abdicated, telling
himself he was now only Mohamed Fashana Kilegefan and controlling his ambitions.
Murder of king Giyasudeen 1774
After some time, king
Giyasudeen returned from haj and entered Maldives through Tiladunmati
atoll. He heard what had happened in his absence and left Tiladunmati.
The ship missed the best entry point and eventually sailed into Male' atoll
near Guraidoo Viligilivaru on the southeastern side of south Male' atoll.
He anchored there, and the captain Kurendoo Mohamed Kaleygefan and the
chief mate Kudabandeyri Takurufan were given a letter for the king in Male'.
Kudabandeyri's mother was Javanese, and he was also the father of Toddoo
Handeygirin Takurufan.
These two men went to Male', requesting
peace and a willingness to accept the verdict of holy God from the reigning
king and Fashana Kilegefan. When the letter was read aloud, the king and
Fashana did not like its contents and they sent soldiers to the ship in
Male' harbour. The Muscat people and Maldivians on board were brought
into the island.
Of the people who had made the haj, two ministers had died in Arabia and many others were also dead.
Two wives of the king had contracted fatal smallpox. One was Aminath Kabafan
the daughter of Sikka Manik, and the other was Mariyam Kabafan the daughter
of Kudabandeyri Takurufan. Ibrahim, the eldest son of the king.
The crewmen of king Giyasudeen's ship were freed, and three of them who
knew the king well were sent back to his ship. Giyasudeen
accompanied them in their doani as it sailed out to sea
where no one could see them. Then they tied weights onto Giyasudeen
and threw him into the sea. He drowned. May Almighty God bless him. This
happened at the beginning of the month of Shauban.
The men
returned and told the people that the nobleman was now in Ranjehi palace.
Later their lies were exposed. The people were shocked and when they began
to talk about what had happened, they heard that Mohamed Fashana Kilegefan
had asked the judge what to do with king Giyasudeen, and the judge had said
to kill him. Afterwards, the judge swore he knew nothing about the matter.
Almighty God knows how things happened.
The son of the martyred
king was exiled to Fua Mulaku even though he was only a small child. He
was held there until the reign of king Hassan Nooradeen, when he was allowed
back and made health minister.
Hussein Kaka Takurufan
and king Muizzudeen attempt to capture the Aliraja's ship 1778
After this, Hussein Kaka Takurufan, who had earlier gone to Chandernagore
in India, received help from the Aliraja and arrived in a sailing ship off
Male'. He anchored outside the range of the guns, then landed in Male' and
met the king, who was thinking about ways to capture Hussein's ship.
The king sent a message to Aliraja's men on the ship: 'Pull up anchor
and move your ship nearer the Big Fort.'
But they replied, 'Unless
Kaka Takurufan is on board, we will not take the ship there.'
Then Kaka Takurufan sent a message to them and half the officers on board
came to Male'. They were treated respectfully, kindly and with sincerity,
and taken to a hall where tables and food were arranged to feed them. As
they started eating, another group of men came into the hall and tied up their hands and feet. The men were separated, put on odi and
sent to different islands.
Their leader was sent to Bileiydoo
island (on Faafu atoll) and later sent to Huvadu atoll. He met two people
from Minicoy who were living there and they talked together and became friends.
In secret, they discussed a plan to go to India. One night they went into
the island mosque and stole a sword. They found a man sleeping on a boat
and hit him with the sword, cutting him open. Then they stole the vessel
and sailed to India.
Let us return to the officers tied up at
the dining tables...
The Male' guns were primed and firing towards
the ship. The men on board knew that serious trouble had occurred. They
slipped away and sailed to Tiladunmati atoll, burning property and kidnapping
450 people before returning to Cannanore. Some of these hostages returned
after Aliraja's death, coming first to Male' and then on to their islands.
Hussein Kaka Takurufan, the one who had been to Chandernagore, was made
defence minister. He married Aishath Manikfan, the widow of the assassinated
king.
During this year, an assortment of goods were salvaged
from a French ship wrecked in Himiti island (on Faafu atoll). The people
from the ship were brought to Male' and sent off to India.
In
the same year, a small ship came to Diffushi island. Hedu Ismail Dandahelu
Takurufan was sent to the ship and received goods worth 210 rupees. This
was in the year 1778.
Mohamed Fashana Kilegefan died in the
same year as King Muizzudeen who died on 24 September 1778. The reign of
these two men had lasted about five years.
King
Hassan Noordeen 1778-1799
Ali, the son of king Gazi Hassan
Izzudeen, became the new king. His royal name was King Hassan Noordeen.
After he came to the throne, his brother Ibrahim died. Some time later,
the chief treasurer Rasgeteemu Hassan was removed from office and robbed
of everything. He was exiled to Boli Mula island (on Meemu atoll). Ahmed
Manikfan the son of Guraidoo Mohamed Manikfan became the new chief treasurer.
Then Hussein Doshimeyna Takurufan was robbed of everything and exiled to
Meedoo island. The new defence minister was Moosa Hakura Takurufan, the
son of Kalaidoo Hassan Naib Takurufan. Five days later, he too was robbed
of everything and sent to Fonadoo island on Hadunmati (Laam) atoll. After
two years he received permission to go to his father's island of Kalaidoo.
Now the defence minister was Ahmed Bandeyri Takurufan, the son of Addu Mohamed.
Shipwrecks, 1783 and 1806
In 1783 the H.M.S. Cato had been lost with all hands on the Maldive Islands. She was a new ship of 50 guns, and on board was Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker on his way to take up his appointment as commander-in-chief of the East Indies station. Reports of this disaster ha\d been filtering back for three years but there was, as yet, no firm news; however a wrecked vessel had been found near Male', and in a dispatch dated 13 July 1786 the Court of Directors ordered the authorities at Bombay to send a vessel to inspect this wreck.
Many years later in 1805, Bombay received a report from Capt. A.J. Dickson of the Fancy, Country Ship, giving gruesome accounts of the reported massacre of the ship's company, who had been saved from the wreck only to meet their deaths, it was stated, by being tied together, two by two, and cast into a hole which was then filled up by the natives with stone and earth. This was stated to have been in retaliation for the rape of a 'Moor girl'.
In 1806, a French vessel was wrecked in Maldives, whose captain was obliged to redeem his liberty and that of his family and crew by the sacrifice of his wife's chastity to the sultan, one of whose privileges is the property of all shipwrecked mariners.
'Early British Interest in the Chagos archipelago and the Maldive Islands'
H.T. Fry 1967
in Mariner's Mirror Vol.53 1967
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Afterwards Hussein Doshimeyna Takurufan was brought back to Male' and made the
defence minister again. He was treated as a member of the court. When
Guraidoo Ahmed Bodubandeyri Manikfan died, the previously exiled Rasgeteemu
Hassan was brought back to Male' and given the position of chief treasurer
and officially titled as chief minister.
On Wednesday 10 August
1785, the royal judge Gazi Mohamed Muhibudeen passed away. Ibrahim Manikfan
was brought back to Male' and made the new judge. He was the son of Kateeb
Ahmed Muhiyudeen and had been exiled to Gan island. The aristocrats and
ministers did not agree with this, and the judge position was then given
to Moosa Naib Takurufan the son of Landoo Ali. Moosa was a student of Mohamed
Muhibudeen Fandiyaru Takurufan. When he died, Moosa was married to his daughter. He now became known as Moosa Najmudeen.
Inheritance
law judgment 1785
When Mohamed Muhibudeen Fandiyaru Takurufan
died, chief judge Moosa Najmudeen administered the estate.
He gave nothing to the family members with rightful inheritance claims over
the property and goods, such as the sons of Ibrahim Baha-udeen, the grandsons of
Mohamed Shamsudeen Fandiyaru Kaleygefan and great-grandsons of Hassan Tajudeen. The judge gave the inheritance to others.
After this incident, others also ignored inheritance claims and gave their
property away as they saw fit, or donated their property to mosques as waqf.
Later, Hakura Takurufan, the son of Dandahelu Bandeyri Takurufan, was made
the chief treasurer. Moosa Najmudeen remained as judge.
He held office until a trial involving two people where the
verdict gave the property to the plaintiff. The defendant complained to
the aristocrats and the judge was removed and exiled to Landoo island.
Ibrahim,
the 37 year old son of Ahmed Muhiyudeen Kateeb Manikfan, became the new
chief judge on Thursday 26 July 1787. He was selected because of his youth and
lack of experience, and was given the name Gazi Ibrahim Sirajudeen.
King Noordeen leaves for haj 1789
The
king decided to go to haj and made preparations for the journey.
His official duties and the care of his child were put in the hands of Ahmed
Doshimeyna Takurufan, and a sailing ship and caravel were prepared for travel.
It was decided that Hussein Doshimeyna Kilegefan and Ibrahim Sirajudeen
would accompany the king. Mohamed Kateeb Bodu Naib Takurufan was put in
charge of trials and other court matters and on Saturday 27 December 1788,
the king left Male'. He went to Rasdoo island and stayed there for six
days, and then sailed to the town of Mocha in Yemen.
While they
were there, an odi belonging to Ma-eboodoo Gada Hamadi Kaleygefan
also sailed to Arabia with Maldivian pilgrims. The ruler of Mocha was a man named
Mohamed Surooru, and the chief judge was Gazi Ismail. These two gentlemen
visited the king's ship and wanted the king to visit their town. They were
told that the king had sworn an oath not to visit anywhere else in Arabia
before seeing Mecca. After the men left, the ship embarked for the port
of Hudayda. In this port, the king hired a man called Suleiman and then
sailed to the port of Jidda where there was a Maldive trade representative
called Sarhan.
Sarhan informed Shareef Galib the chief of Mecca
about the arrival of the Maldivians, and rented a house in Mecca for them.
Shareef Galib was the son of Shareef Musa-id and the grandson of Shareef
Masood. After Mecca, the Maldivians visited Medina and stayed there for
five days before returning to Jidda.
The king sent a letter
to Shareef Galib saying that his Maldivian ministers had been asking him whether
they needed to wait for the haj season. 'Please do as you wish,'
Shareef Galib replied.
The Maldivians tried to get written permission
to embark but could not obtain it in Jidda. On 31 May 1789, they boarded
the ship and departed without a permit, just as the Shareef of Mecca arrived
in Jidda. The Maldivian king would not get off the ship to meet him and
the king's vessel and the caravel left Jidda for the port of Mocha. Meanwhile,
the Maldivians in Ma-eboodoo Gadahamadi Kaleygefan's odi decided
to stay at Jidda until the haj season.
The king's two
vessels sailed to Mocha and then on to Maldives. The caravel captained by
Vilufushi Ahmed now carried the king, and it entered the country through
Malosmadulu atoll on 26 August. The king arrived back in Male' on 5 September
1789. The other ship ended up in Galle (Sri Lanka).
After king returned, some people were sent into exile. Among them was Mohamed
Dahara Takurufan, who was in king Giyasudeen's entourage and had been made
government secretary. Other men and women were also exiled to the islands.
They were people who had conspired to put king Giyasudeen's son on the throne.
He had been exiled to Fua Mulaku.
Meedoo Kateeb Takurufan was
made a commander of the militia. He was named Ibrahim Dahara Takurufan
and became chief of Mafannu ward in Male'. Moosa Najmudeen, who had been exiled to Landoo island, was brought back to Male'
and treated well, but he was not made chief judge at that time.
Judge Ibrahim Sirajudeen tortured and exiled 1792
Things
went smoothly for some time and then a person who had accompanied the king
to Arabia, Ibrahim Sirajudeen Fandiyaru Manikfan, was rumoured to be conspiring
with others to capture the throne. The king believed it and Ibrahim Sirajudeen
was beaten and tortured and exiled to Kadu Huludoo in Huvadu atoll. His
mother Fatmath Rani Kilegefan was sent away with him. The brutal beating
left Ibrahim with 470 cuts on his body. These included bleeding injuries
and cuts to the muscle, and to the tissue between muscles and bones, and
other cuts deep to the bone.
Also exiled with this mother and
son, was Ahmed Manikfan the son of Mecca Seedi, grandson of Kuda Fandiyaru
Kaleygefan and great-grandson of Hassan Tajudeen. Ahmed's two sons were
also exiled, along with others.
Moosa Najmudeen was made the
chief judge on 28 June 1792, and the people of Huvadu were ordered not to give
any gifts to the exiled judge, Ibrahim Sirajudeen. They were forbidden to
give him even a betel leaf, and he was not allowed a house or any other
assistance. The people were told not to ask him for any religious instruction,
nor even learn a maulood from him.
The legal secretary
position was taken away from Ismail Naib Takurufan, and given to Ali the
son of Maradoo Ibrahim. Then the children of Ibrahim Baha-udeen Fandiyaru
Manikfan, and their mother Mariyam Kabafan were sent away to Diyamigili
island (on Thaa atoll). These children were the grandsons of Mohamed Shamsudeen
Fandiyaru Kaleygefan, and great-grandsons of Hassan Tajudeen. After nine
months, Fatmath Rani Kilegefan (who was mentioned before) and her son,
the Fandiyaru Manikfan, were allowed to go to Gan island in Hadunmati (Laam)
atoll. While staying there, Fatmath Rani Kilegefan died. She was buried
on the eastern side of the Gan Friday mosque. The exiled judge's grandfather
had come from that island. Later Mariyam Kabafan died in Diyamigili.
In Male', a huge ship was built at Henveiru ward.
Then the chief
judge Moosa Najmudeen died on Thursday night 15 January 1795. Ismail Naib
Takurufan the son of Bandara Naib Tuladoo Ibrahim was made legal secretary,
and Mohamed the son of Salim was made chief treasurer. Prior to that, he
had been legal secretary.
Bodubandeyri Mohamed Handeygirin Takurufan
and Mohamed Bodu Naib Takurufan, the son of Salim, were both put in charge
of courts and verdicts.
Some time later, Muguree Moosa Kateeb
was dismissed from his kateeb post. To hide his humiliation, the
ex-kateeb distributed his own weight in sweet sticky rice at Medu
Ziyaraiy (the central tomb) in Male'.
Ali Naib Takurufan the
son of Maradoo Ibrahim retained his legal secretary position.
The ship at Henveiru was completed and made ready to sail. It brought Ibrahim
Sirajudeen Fandiyaru Manikfan and his relatives back from exile, along with
others including Moosa Doshimeyna Takurufan the son of Kalaidoo Naib Hassan
Takurufan. Their houses were returned to them.
Surat
treasure ship wrecked on Huvadu atoll
Zanzibar and the sultans of Oman
In 1791 the Sultanate of Muscat on the Arab peninsula in the Persian Gulf experienced turmoil when Sultan Ahmed seized control from his brother Imam Said. Said's clan relocated to Zanzibar and maintained close shipping links with Muscat.
Trade and clove plantations were their main source of income, along with cowrie shells collected from Kilaw, Zanzibar and Lammu and exported to Calcutta and the Persian Gulf.
By the 1840s, the ivory trade had grown, and the sultan of Zanzibar signed commercial treaties and received 5% of all customs duties trading with the Americans, British and French. Customs revenues rose from around $40,000 in 1807-8 to $200,000 in 1862.
The Busaidi sultans were never all-powerful. Other clans had strong groupings in the major towns and Oman. The Mazrui, Mandhry, Harthi and Barwani had ties predating Busaidi rule. Most owned plantations and numerous slaves. Slave armies could threaten the sultan's rule.
Ostentation and any sign of conspicuous consumption had to be eschewed out of deference to the sultan's Omani subjects' Ibadi puritanism. The sultan was accessible to all and was often addressed as an equal.
The entire government of Zanzibar and the coast under the Busaidi rested on the personal reputation of each sultan for evenhandedness in dealing with his subjects and in bringing them wealth.
It was principally the judicious application of his personal wealth in the form of largess, which kept the sultan's subjects loyal to him; e.g. with individual stipends, bribes, presents, gifts and entertainments, or sometimes whole tribes were paid for their loyalty. Governors enriched themselves with powers of intervention in quarrels, imprisonment and seizure of property.
Horn and Crescent – Cultural change and traditional Islam on the East African coast, 1800-1900
R.L. Pouwels 1987
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Later, a ship belonging
to men from Surat was travelling to its destination when they were captured by Frenchmen
from Mauritius on the high seas. Under French command, the vessel was wrecked on Huvadu
atoll. There were a few people from Surat in the ship and it was heavily
laden with huge amounts of gold, silver coins and jewellery. After Maldivians
realised the immense value of the ship's cargo, it was confiscated from
the Frenchmen. The treasure was considered the rightful property of the
people of Maldives. They even distributed some of it to foreigners, including
the Surat people who were then sent to India.
All the fittings and utensils
from the wrecked ship were brought to Male' and put aboard the ship that
the king was building. Another ship was captured, and preparations were
made for these two ships to take people to the haj.
King Mohamed Mueenudeen appointed by king Hassan Noordeen as he
leaves for haj 1799
The king's son Mohamed was put
in charge of royal affairs and given the name of Sultan Mohamed Mueenudeen.
The king embarked on Thursday 24 January 1799. As he was leaving, he appointed the previously dismissed
Moosa Kateeb Takurufan as the new judge. He became Gazi Moosa Muhiyudeen on 7 February 1799.
Then Moosa Dahara Manikfan, the elder brother of Mohamed Fashana Kilegefan,
who had been made chief treasurer, was given the title of Handeygirin
title and gonged in a koli ritual.
Mohamed Takurufan,
the son of Bodu Galu Ali, was made commander of the armed forces.
The dispute with Shareef Galib of Mecca 1799
The king
on his way to haj passed through the Bab el Mandeb (entrance to
the Red Sea from the Arabian Sea) on 19 February, and next day arrived at
Hudayda. The Maldivians traded for a while, and prepared to leave for Jidda
on 9 March. The people of Hudayda said it was not advisable for the Maldive
king to sail there with so much wealth. 'Shareef Galib might rob you of your
possessions,' they warned. But the king ignored this advice and sailed north from Hudayda.
He landed at Jidda on 6 April, and on Friday
12 April he set off for Mecca. Meanwhile, Shareef Galib had taken another
road to Jidda and because of this, the two men did not meet.
At Mecca, the Maldive king met the vazir of the district and the
keeper of the Kaba and other aaghaawathun men. They all gathered
and sat down on the king's carpet and he asked them to open the Kaba. The
vazir and the Kaba's chief caretaker replied that without Shareef
Galib's permission they could not open the Kaba, and he had gone
to Jidda.
While they were discussing the matter, the vazir's
older brother came in and sat on the carpet and said he would open the Kaba
if he was given a thousand riyal. The Maldive king became furious
and ordered the men beside him to take the older brother outside and beat
him. 'Nothing will be given to anyone except the Kaba's chief caretaker,
and the khoajaa nobleman,' he said. The man was removed and beaten.
Then the king said, 'Even if you open the Kaba, Shareef Galib would not
care. The Kaba is the holy house of Allah and does not belong to anybody.
All moslems are equal before the holy house.'
The Maldive king
ordered them to open it and the caretaker obeyed. The king and the people
accompanying him went into the holy house. This all occurred on Sunday night
14 April 1799. A hundred riyal was given to the chief caretaker,
and the other khoajaa men received the same amount. Afterwards,
some Maldivians stayed with the king, and others returned to Jidda.
In Jidda, Shareef Galib wrote a letter to the Maldive king and sent it to
Mecca. His letter explained that due to the immense number of infidels at
the port of Jidda, he would not be able to return to Mecca even for the
haj season. 'There are many infidels in Jidda, and for this reason
I request that your highness give us five guns from your ship to put on
the tower of Jidda. After the haj, we will return the guns.'
The king read the letter, and then said to Mohamed Handeygirin
Takurufan, 'Write a letter to Ali, the ship's master, and tell him to give
Shareef Galib five cannon from my ship.'
When the king said
this, one of his companions Hussein, the son of Gan Ibrahim, interrupted. 'All your highness' property, the whole lot, will be taken. This is how
they rob you! Those guns will not be returned. When they are gone, other
things will be stolen in the same way.'
The king tended to agree
with him and told the Meccan vazir who brought the letter that
he would not hand over the guns. 'You are trying to trick me and take all
our goods,' he said. 'All the Arabs say that Shareef Galib will keep stealing
their property until the sun is extinguished. In what book is it written
that people's goods can be taken away? You go and tell that to Shareef Galib.'
The vazir passed on the message to the ruler of Mecca, and Shareef
Galib said, 'Go and tell this to that king: 'His Highness is saying bad
things about me even though I am so concerned about the immense number of
infidels here that I cannot even come to Mecca for the haj. I
have requested five guns to mount on the Jidda fort because of the shortage
of cannon, and because your highness is a moslem king. The two holy places
of Mecca and Medina are in my care, but it seems your highness' rank is
loftier than mine. After your arrival here, it seems this country has become
yours. Nothing will happen in any way contrary to your wishes. Since this
is the situation, it is inappropriate for you to say unpleasant things to
me. If I wanted to rob someone, I would rob my own people. All kings take
things from their own people. If I spoke like you, then I would be superior
to your highness.'
It was reported that Shareef Galib went aboard
the king's ship and checked what was there. Then he went away and sent armed
soldiers back to the ship. Shareef Galib's men grabbed Kazin Ali, and told
him to reveal all the hiding places on the ship, but he refused. He was taken
into a room and a sharp sword was placed against his neck. Thinking he was about to be
beheaded, Ali started screaming and revealed all the king's hiding places
where he had stored precious stones and silver ornaments. Taking everything
including the five guns, Shareef Galib's men did not leave a single rupee
behind.
They also took three men - Kazin Ali, Mohamed Meerubahuru, and the ship's navigator. Both Ali and Meerubahuru were
kept in jail for three days and then released.
Some time later,
Shareef Galib sent his vazir to king Hassan Noordeen.
'The Arabs
in Mecca and Jidda are saying a Surat ship called Saihu Alam was
wrecked in Maldives. In that ship were 400,000 of our riyal,' said
the Meccan vazir. 'All that treasure was under your control. Therefore
all the goods you brought are ours, and you should pay again for what you
have bought.'
'Everything has been taken away by you,' replied
king Hassan. 'There is nothing left.'
'That cannot be so,' said
the vazir. 'You have more here. Do you think you can talk your
way out of this? In the same way we took things from the ship, we can
take more from you. What can you do about it?'
The king became
angry and said, 'Are you suggesting I'm lying? Whatever I still have, I
would not hand it over as long as I have a sword in my hand. You people
can come back today and fight, now get out of here!'
The vazir
would not leave, so the king ordered his men to drag him outside. He went away.
The king and Maldivians performed
the haj and visited Medina. Then they prepared to travel from Mecca
to Jidda but after some Maldivians had gone, Shareef Galib ordered the king to be
prevented from travelling. The people who had already left were forced to
return to Mecca with their camels.
King Hassan
Noordeen dies at Jidda 1799
Later, the king was taken ill
with small-pox and after a payment of 10,000 riyal, permission
was given to leave Mecca and he went quickly to Jidda. King Hassan
got into the ship's small boat and was heading to his vessel when he was
stopped by Jidda officials because of his illness. The Maldive king died on
Saturday night, 1 June 1799.
Shareef Galib seized the king's
two ships and everything they contained, including all the belongings of
other people travelling with the Maldivians, and all the books that had
been brought from Maldives.
Then Bodubandeyri Mohamed Handeygirin
Takurufan died, along with many of the other pilgrims. Among the dead were
the king's mother Aminath Manikfan, Mohamed Mabandeyri Takurufan, and the
navigator Hussein Kaleyfan.
Shareef Galib gave the Maldivians
a dhow, which he had stolen from somebody
else. The Maldivians sailed off in this vessel and went to a port called
Qunfudah in Arabia, southeast of Jidda. Ali, the king's son, died there.
The king's daughter and Kazin Ali died in Kamaran (a Yemeni island north
of Hudaydah).
When the Maldivians reached Hudaydah, they abandoned
the dhow. A person in Hudaydah, called Haizar, took them in another
dhow to Sayhuth (a port in eastern Yemen) where the boat was wrecked.
From there, they travelled in the same type of dhow to Muscat.
A person in another dhow took them from Sahura Mukalla (a port
in Yemen) and they arrived back in Male' on 13 December 1799.
Of the 300 people who left, only 70 returned. Those who survived
included the king's son Abdul Majeed, the king's daughter Fatmath, Mohamed
Manik the son of Ahmed Doshimeyna Takurufan, and Shirazi Mohamed Fadiyaiy
Takurufan. Two hundred and thirty men and women died on that journey.
During the reign of king Hassan Noordeen the following Maldive islands
were abandoned:
From Huvadu atoll - Kashi Huludoo, Feydoo, and
Futte-u islands
Nilande atoll - Velavaru island
Male' atoll
- Baros island
Malosmadulu atoll - Finolhos island
Tiladunmati
atoll - Vagaru island.
King Hassan also erected a hall for Friday
prayer in Giravaru island.
When news of the king's death reached
Male', disputes increased and there were fights between some individuals.
The chief treasurer, Moosa Handeygirin Manikfan was exiled to Hanghaameedoo
island (on Alifu atoll). Ahmed Kudabandeyri Manikfan was exiled to Fonadoo
island in Hadunmati atoll. Moosa Doshimeyna Takurufan was dimissed and exiled to Kalaidoo island. He died there. Ahmed Shah Bandar Velana
Takurufan was sent to Boli Mulah island on Mulaku (Meemu) atoll.
The chief treasurer position was given to Moosa Hakura Takurufan, the maternal
brother of the mother of king Mohamed Mueenudeen. He was named Moosa Handeygirin
Takurufan. Then Ahmed Doshimeyna Takurufan died and the defence minister
position went to his son Mohamed Manik, now called Mohamed Doshimeyna Takurufan.
About two years later, Haji Moosa Handeygirin Takurufan was dismissed and
Haji Mohamed Fadivaiy Takurufan became the new chief treasurer. He was named
Mohamed Handeygirin Takurufan. After a further two years, the previously
exiled Moosa Handeygirin Manikfan was recalled and made the home minister.
Some time later, Moosa Muhiyudeen Fandiyaru Manikfan passed away. Ibrahim
Sirajudeen Fandiyaru Manikfan, who was exiled during the reign of king Hassan
Noordeen, returned on Sunday 13 April 1806 and was given the position of
chief judge. Moosa Handeygirin Manikfan was dismissed as home minister and made
minister of public works. He was named Hakura Manikfan. The previously mentioned
Haji Moosa was made home minister and named Moosa Handeygirin Takurufan.
Earthquakes 1815
At midday on Thursday 31 August
1815, a loud noise was heard in Tiladunmati (Haa Alif and Haa Daal)
atoll and as far south as Feevah island in Shaviyani atoll. All the islands
shook vigorously, but after a short while, the shaking subsided. Three days
later, between the magrib and isha prayer-times (6 p.m.
- 7.30 p.m.), there was an even louder noise was heard and another strong earthquake. The noise lasted for about an hour. In the islands, lamps
in the houses nearly fell over and people were very frightened. They cried,
screamed and shouted, and recited thasbah thahuleel. Slowly, everything
calmed down.
Moosa Handeygirin Takurufan passed away around
December 1816. Shirazi Mohamed Takurufan became both chief treasurer and
home minister. At the time, he was government secretary. About
a year before, the rundown Eid mosque had been rebuilt. The king also built
a Friday mosque in Eydafushi island (on Baa atoll).
The following
islands were abandoned during king Mohamed Mueenudeen's reign:
Huvadu
atoll – Mavarula, Migoodoo, Diyanigili, Futta, and Kuramati islands.
Addu atoll – Hankede island.
Hadunmati atoll – Fushi island.
Malosmadulu atoll – Ugoofaru and Kandoo islands.
Male' atoll –
Viligilivaru island.
During his reign, Maldivians inhabited
two hundred and two islands:
Male' atoll - 9 islands.
Fadipolu
atoll - 4 islands.
Miladunmadulu atoll - 31 islands.
Malosmadulu
atoll - 35 islands.
Tiladunmati atoll - 30 islands.
Felide
atoll - 3 islands.
Ari atoll - 13 islands.
Mulaku atoll - 8
islands.
Nilande atoll - 14 islands.
Kolumadulu atoll - 13
islands.
Hadunmati atoll - 12 islands.
Huvadu atoll - 23
islands.
Fua Mulah atoll (a single island).
Addu atoll - 6 islands.
Bottles from English shipwreck 1819
On 24
July 1819, an English ship was wrecked on Mamakunudoo atoll. The islanders
from there brought people from the ship to Male' on 4 August. They were
sent to the India. Many things were retrieved from the ship, including
15,000 kg. of cloves and 12,000 empty bottles. These things were distributed
to the military and aristocrats. Each member of the military received four
cups of cloves and one empty bottle. Each minister and the judge received
28 cups of cloves and eight bottles.
On Monday 11 October 1819,
a strong wind blew from the west, and in Male' many trees and plants were destroyed.
In the palace grounds, ten houses were blown apart. This was on the 16th
day of meezaan.
Afterwards, everything became scarce
and expensive in the islands. There was famine and people ate leaves and
plants.
At that time, prices were as follows:
16 kg. of
rice - 16 cups of cowrie shells
10 kg. of sugar - 16 cups of cowrie
shells
1 coconut - 1 lari.
These prices continued until 1826. In that year, they rose even further:
9 kg. of rice - 16 cups of cowrie shells
6 kg. of sugar - 16 cups of
cowrie shells
60 coconuts - 16 cups of cowrie shells. Previously,
only coconuts for funeral/wake ceremonies had been bought in this way.
On Wednesday 16 August 1820, Abdul Majeed, the son of king Hassan Noordeen,
died.
Cyclone 1821
On the night
of Saturday 8 December 1821, an extremely strong storm hit the islands from
Tiladunmati to Miladunmadulu atolls. The waves were very high. More
than 30 odi were lost or damaged, and many people aboard them were
killed.
The islands damaged in the storm were:
Hirubadoo,
Migoodoo, Makadoodoo, Milandoo, Narudoo, Ribudoo, Kurendoo, Nalandoo,
Madidoo, Feydoo, Feevah, Foakaidoo, Neyo, Noomara, Mavaidoo, Goidoo,
Kaditeemu, Kakai Ariyadoo, Vaikaradoo, Neykurendoo, Katalafushi, Nelaidoo,
Navaidoo, Hirinaidoo, Muiri, Kuribi, Keylakunu, Ma Kumundoo, Kuluduffushi,
Kuburudoo, Nolivaramu, and Hirimaradoo.
On Sunday 15 December
1822, Haji Mohamed, the son of Addu Ahmed Doshimeyna Takurufan, passed away
and his position was given to Moosa Hakura Manikfan, the son of Ali.
Moosa's former position was given to Hussein Famuladeyri Takurufan the
son of Mohamed Hakura Takurufan. These things took place on Sunday 29 December.
The elder son of king Mohamed Mueenudeen went to Friday prayer for the first
time on Friday 23 April 1824. To celebrate the event, the people of Henveiru
ward donated 50 rupees as a gift.
On Friday 21 May, the royal
prince went to Lonu Ziyaraiy Kolu, to the tomb of the Ethiopian holyman.
To mark this occasion, the people of Henveiru gifted 1600 cups of cowrie
shells and 50 rupees. The Galolu people gave 800 cups of cowries and 50
rupees.
Two days later, the prince went to Mafannu ward to
the tomb of king Ali, and the people of Mafannu donated 1600 cups of cowrie
shells and 50 rupees. The people of Machangoli ward gave 800 cups of
cowrie and 50 rupees.
[Beginning of
a crossed-off section, allegedly marked for removal by Mohamed Ameen, Maldive
chief minister and first president.]
Then things became
difficult for the judge. The problem began in the form of an odi
seeking permission to go to Bengal. The usual gift of four rupees, for the yearly odi
launching permit, went to the finance office, but the document was refused,
and the four rupees were sent to the justice office.
Now considered
to be under the control of the justice office, the odi was sent off
with 600 kg. of rice to settle a conflict in Mamakunudoo atoll over fish
sold to Tiladunmati atoll.
The chief treasurer complained
to the king, 'The chief judge has more rice in his house than we do. The
judge is selling it too cheaply, and this year he has made a lot of profit.'
The king listened and agreed with him. The two sons of the judge,
who had been given the kateeb positions in Male' and Turakunu
island, had their island taken away. For a long time, they received no replacement.
Prior to this, a kateeb postion meant control of two islands, and
Turakunu was one of those islands. The judge and his two sons were compensated
for the loss of the island by the caretaker there. He cut down seven logs
of sea trumpet timber and sent them to Male'. The island was taken away
from the kateeb around July 1825. Some time later, the two brothers
were given Mafilafushi island on Laviyani atoll.
[Here, the crossed-off lines are themselves crossed-off. This is also
the end of the originally crossed-off section.]
Then
an odi was built in Male'. Galolu and Henveiru wards were ordered
to provide 5,680 cups of cowrie shells, sixty-five rupees and sixty-three
pots with capacity for twelve kilos of rice. In each of these pots, four
pounds of sugar was to be placed.
At that time, prices were
as follows:
10 kg. of rice – 16 cups of cowrie shells
6 lb. of
jaggery sugar – 16 cups of cowrie shells
Then the wards of
Mafannu and Machangoli were required to supply 6000 cups of cowrie shells
and twenty-four of the twelve kilo sized pots, filled with sugar.
Famine in Maldives 1825
The government banned all
trading by private people in the islands and set its own prices:
3 cups of rice – 16 fish
6 kg. of rice – 16 cups of cowrie shells
This was how the government traded, while making it illegal for anyone else.
There was serious starvation on the islands. If anyone sold anything cheaper,
they were punished and they did not sell a second time. Many people starved
to death this year (1825). The situation was so bad that people chopped
down the coconut palms, ate the tops and destroyed the islands.
There was no relief from famine until 1826. Odi came from India
that year. Two ships from Bombay arrived and sold one kilo of rice for five
large fish, or eight or ten small fish.
The rice prices for
the people of Maldives were:
12 kg. of light-coloured rice – 16 cups
of cowrie shells
15 kg. of dark rice – 16 cups of cowrie shells
36 coconuts – 16 cups of cowrie shells
10 kg. of rice – 1 kg. of coconut
oil
2 areca nuts – 1 lari
200-300 nuts – 16 cups
of cowrie shells
Three to four yards of white cloth – 16 cups of
cowrie shells.
Male' people protest against mass
exile for sexual relationship offences
Later, some
men in Male' became friendly with the wife of judge Ibrahim Sirajudeen.
They talked and presented raivaru to her. His wife accepted the
written raivaru and socialised with these people. They were allowed
into her sleeping quarters. She continued this behaviour until a man was
arrested. He confessed and received a sentence of 30 lashes with the cane,
and exile. A minister tried to help him when he was aboard the odi.
This was unacceptable. The man was still exiled, although the atoll chief
received instructions to feed him.
Later, another group of people were caught for similar offences.
The aristocrats of the island, and the minister
who had tried to intervene before, made a plea for more tolerance.
'If we
exile so many people,' they said, 'it will be difficult to launch and ground
the odi! And regarding the flogging of the people who have now
been caught; it should be the prerogative of the husband.'
So
nothing was done about sexual behaviour, and the judge lost all influence because
of people's lack of support for religion.
New
laws regarding clothing and jewellery 1827
On Saturday 27
February 1827, the government sent six men and others to the house of the
judge, where they announced:
'Every man or woman who has a king for
a grandfather may wear a sash and a falakat
handkerchief; the woman may wear precious stone bangles and a gold and silver
embroidered head-scarf. The children may wear havadukula bangles.
This is now to be permitted.'
Four members of the military were
each given a letter and sent around the island. There was a separate letter for each
of the four classes – the aristocracy, ministers, armed forces and commoners:
Women were banned from wearing twelve kinds of silk cloth, and any mix of
silk and cotton was also banned;
For some people, all kinds of silk clothing
were prohibited;
People with pierced ears were forbidden from wearing earrings. Since washing and bathing without jewellery, especially for women, left
bathers vulnerable to jinni, many people had difficulty washing
so they were given permission to wear them again;
and ivory, fish tooth and
deer horn were prohibited from use as weaving bobbins.
Earlier,
on 2 February 1827, the second son of king Mohamed Mueeundeen went to Friday
prayer. The people of Henveiru ward donated 1600 cups of cowrie shells,
plus 50 rupees and 2,000 lari.
On 19 April, the same
son went to the Lonu Ziyaraiy Kolu and visited the tomb of the Ethiopian
holyman. In keeping with tradition, the people of Galolu and Henveiru wards
made donations.
On 2 October 1827, three saintly noblemen were
exiled to Huvadu atoll. Their three slaves were exiled to Nilande (Faafu
and Daalu) atoll. Here is the story of how these people came to be exiled:
They had a fight with the son of a minister. When people gathered and asked
what they were trying to do, they said they were trying to cut the young
boy's head off! On that particular day, the fight calmed down but later
they picked a fight with a negro from the military and threatened to do
exactly the same thing. They also had trouble with Male's aristocracy. When
the king learnt what was happening, he ordered them exiled.
Harbour dredging with mass labour 1827
On Thursday
1 November 1827, the digging of the harbour began and work continued for
thirty-four days. It was done by military personnel and non-Male' workers
- a total of 782 people. Food and drink for the workforce was provided by the people who controlled uninhabited islands and atolls.
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Presidency of Mohamed Nasheed 
