survival skills.
survival skills. Yet, hardened adventurers as they were, they were also threatened and oppressed by stronger predators coming from inland fortresses or from deep-water fleets. Arab and Lubbai (Tamil) Muslims constantly threatened, raided, pillaged or enslaved them. What brought matters to a head was the long and savage maritime war with the Zamorin of Calicut (1527-39). Fearing extermination, Paravas approached a converted Chettiar merchant (John da Cruz) to ask for protection from the Portuguese. Fifteen Paravas accompanied him to Cochin to plead their case, sealing their appeal by becoming baptized. When a formal delegation of seventy followed, led by Vikrama Aditha Pandya, their jāti thalavan (caste headman), the Portuguese recognized their strategic importance and the prospect of also gaining complete control of lucrative pearl revenues. A year later, when Peter Gonsalves (Vicar of Cochin) and three kattanars sailed to the Gulf of Mannar on behalf of the Padroado, the entire ...