Record 131 from 1803

This record provides information on the movement of manufacture of Pulicat and Madras handkerchiefs and the waning significance of Masulipatnam and increasing popularity of Madras in coastal southeastern India.

Palliacata, too near Madras, has seen its commerce swallowed up by the latter, even to its beautiful manufacture of handkerchiefs; Mazulipatarn contains some manufactories of handkerchiefs which were formerly of importance, till those of Palliacata were removed to Madras, and estabished within the walls of that metropolis. They are, however, still in request for the excellence of their colouring...; At Madras very handsome handkerchiefs of a large checked pattern, excellent in the colouring, and of a peculiar fineness, are fabricated. Manufactories for this article were originally established by the Dutch, at a small settlement which they posses four leagues further northward, called Palliacata. The beauty of these handkerchiefs soon bringing them into repute, and rendering thern objects of general request, the English erected similar manufactories at Madras, but the former retained their superiority, and were universally preferred. Impatient of a rival in any undertaking, the English spared neither pains nor expense in this competition, and by dint of their exertions were able at last to give to their handkerchiefs a degree of beauty and excellence scarcely inferior to those of Palliacata. Not satisfied with attaining this point, they resolved on the destruction of the original manufactories, and, in the means they employed for the accomplishment of their end, the pre-eminence of their commercial genius was manifested. With an unanimity, the result of a refined policy, and understanding the art of incurring a temporary loss, that would be attended with an indemnification in the sequel, they suddenly lowered the price of their handkerchiefs twenty per cent. This measure immediately turned the balance of trade in their favour. The Dutch, supposing their rivals to make this redution in consequence of improvements or economy in the mode of manufacturing the article, or by an establishlment on a greater scale, or perhaps by obtaining on better terms the raw materials, made every effort to do the same ; but they found a loss where they supposed their rivals to have a profit, and were obliged at last to abandon the attempt altogether, without so much as suspecting the artifice by which they had been duped. The workmen, who were thus thrown out of employ, were immediately engaged by the successful party at Madras, who no sooner found themselves the sole masters of this valuable branch of commerce, than they gradually raised the price of the handkerchiefs, so as liberally to repay them forthe momentary loss to which they had submitted. Since this reverse of fortune, Palliacata, which had acquired a degree of animation, has been reduced to a state of complete inactivity : a single vessel only goes there once a year for some bales of merchandize, which the Dutch company orders to be provided, and which constitutes the whole commerce of the district. Mazulipatam possède des manufactures de mouchoirs, qui furent jadis fameux, mais qui sont réduits au second rang depuis que Madras est parvenu à enlever les ateliers de Paliacate et à les fixers dans ses murs (p.213)

Source: Grandpré, Louis-Marie-Joseph Ohier (1761-1846), Voyage dans l'Inde et au Bengale, fait dans les années 1789 et 1790. (Volume 1), pp. 213 - 237