Useful notes on the Tellicherry Agreement

At last the articles of agreement were drawn up and executed on 9th March 1728 at Tellicherry. It was executed for the common benefit of the Companies of England and France and for the tranquility of their settlements. Kurangot Nayar, according to the spirit of the agreement, became a common friend for both companies.

The Nayar could not wage war without the consent of either of the companies. In case of disagreement with either party, both companies were to suppress him by force, provided all attempts at parleys failed. Neither the French nor the English should wage war with the Nayar separately, nor assist the Nayar with war material or even with counsel against the other. Thus, due to the geographical importance of his tiny principality the Nayar was considerably affected by the provisions of the Anglo French agreement.

Both Companies were apprehensive of hostile designs of local powers. Therefore provision was also made for the mutual conveyance of news of such moves of the natives, if any, for the common good. The price of pepper, assessed and fixed from time to time, was not to be raised without mutual advice. This was not all.

The French and the English further agreed on 17th April 1728, at Moylan, that the aforesaid conditions should be meticulously observed without the least violence or insult to the forts and factories on the shore and to vessels within sight of the colours of Tellicherry and Mahe, even when there should be war between the Crowns in Europe, unless otherwise ordered by the respective Companies with due notice served.

Later on the French razed their fort on Kariakunnu to the ground. The Nayar was very much offended at the agreement and he developed hostility towards the English. He intrigued with Kottayam Raja and fell apart with the Iravazhinad Nambiars.

The French, at least, secured a firm footing in one of the pepper regions of Malabar. The English recognized their rights to fortifications and trade at Kadathanad.

As Vazhunnavar was only a subordinate of the Kolattiris, he could not bestow a legal authority and sanction on the French settlement in his dominion. The French instigated the Vazhunnavar to become independent of the Kolattiris the motive being to advance their own prospect and convenience.

The demand for pepper inevitably moved the English and French companies to compete with each other. The French offered a higher price for pepper plus a duty of Rs. 2 for each candy brought down the Mahe River, to the Iravazhinad Nambiars, provided they could monopolise the whole of the article in their country. The competition among the companies was exploited by the merchants who raised the price of pepper to an exorbitant level.

So the French suggested the fixing of the maximum price for pepper at which each Company could buy-a clever device to avoid mutual jealousies and unhealthy competi­tion. As the English were in a better position to bargain and secure more, they were unenthusiastic to respond to the suggestion of the French immediately.

The French, in alliance with the Vazhunnavar and the Kurangot Nayar waged a war with the Nambiars in August 1739. A person in the pay of the French owed the Nambiars some years’ rent, and therefore, they prevented him from enjoyed the benefit of the grounds, by tying, as was the customary practice, a small bough to the body of another tree.

This trivial incident was given undue importance leading the above contenders to the battle­field. The defeat of the Nambiars would have considerably weakened the English position, and as such they entered into an agreement with the Nambiars on 7th September 1739. They and the Company became mutually obliged not to help any power attacking either power.

The French tried to invoke the agreement of 1728 and wanted English interference in the dispute. Actually the English were not bound to interfere, for the French had blatantly violated the spirit of the agreement by involving Kurangot Nayar in the affairs of the Nambiars. However, in September 1739 a cessation of hostilities was affected.

The Nambiars were to raze their new fortifications, offer apologies to the French, and allow their two allies to remain in possession of all lands they held at the time of hostilities. In October the Nambiars had to desert Chambra for want of provisions, and the same was occupied by the Nayar and the French immediately.

The French became unprecedentedly active; they occupied Mannakunnu and hoisted their colours there in November 173Q The Bombay Government became apprehensive of the French moves. They asked the English Factors to adopt such measures as could best preserve their privileges.