Dr.Dinesh
How Trading started in 1853: –
The first traders who came to Nicobar Islands for coconut were Portuguese, then English & French. There was a headman of Mus village nicknamed “friend of England” he encouraged the traders to come more often to the Island. ”You go tell all men, come here, come here, I friend of England, I good man, you bring much medicines, you give me, we will be great friends, I may return, I plenty of good man, I speak truth, I no lie”
He carried a number of chits from officers to ships who made call to the Island. Here are some of the letters of recommendation.
(A) The bearer of this friend of England is a very worthy young man. He supplied with a great quality of nuts, last voyage and can be trusted to any amount under 6000 pairs
10th March, 1853 Sd/-
R. Middlteon, Commander
off Lapathi village Barque Colonel, Brown
CarNicobar
A) This is to certify that I have traded with friend of England a native of this Island, in coconuts, fruits etc since I have found him to be trusty, honest to his agreement, therefore I feel pleasure in saying that you can trust him with the truth before heaven.
Northwest Bay Island of Car Nicobar Sd/-
March 3rd 1857 Barque Rochester of London
Master of ship.
B) On our visit to the north side of Car Nicobar. I found the bearer “friend of England” our honest in offensive man and very willing to afford all the assistance in his power to during our stay.
January 3rd, 1873 Sd/-
WLC Bareford, ommander
H.M Steamer
“Friend of England” was very old in 1901 and died in 1902. The Portuguese gave some names of villages like Malacca, Mus, Sawai, Lapathi. The English gave nicknames to headman, who could speak few Pidgin English like Sweet William, Distant Tom Toddy, Lady Clara, SM Weller, Jack Robinson, King Fisher, Young Edwin, and James Snookes & Lady Killer.
Traders introduced fruits trees to the islands like sweet lime, lemons, shaddocks, custard apples, jackfruits, pineapple villages were full of these trees upto 1900. Goats were introduced by traders.
From the beginning of the British rule the aboriginal were badly exploited by outside traders. A yard of cloth would cost 100 coconuts a bicycle cost 30,000 coconuts and people were in debt with their coconut plantations were mortgaged. Bishop with the help of first Indian Chief Commissioner of A & N Islands Mr. Majid formed a co-operative society, won the trade of the Island in the hand of Nicobarese. It is unique that bishop Richardson was the first educated person. First teacher & catechist, First priest, First Bishop, First Member Parliament for A & N Islands 1952-1957, First Padma Shree-1965, First Padma Bhusan-1974, First Honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity -1966 from Serampore College (West Bengal). He is the only Islander from Union Territory who was the recipient of both Padma Shree and Padma Bhushan awards.
Note:-Readers may ignore few grammatical mistakes this is done to keep the authenticity of the manuscripts.
• Ex- Dental Surgeon of Government Civil Hospital (now known as Bishop John Richardson Hospital), Car Nicobar under Directorate of Health Services A & N Administration. e-mail: dineshdentalclinic@gmail.com
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