Chinese Fishing Nets At Fort Cochin Coast, 1922 Print
A 1922 print of Chinese Fishing Nets on the coast of Fort Cochin (Fort Kochi). Chinese maritime traders and seafarers are believed to have arrived in Cochin and Malabar before the 14th century. See my post- Antique Print Malabar Coast Chinese Boats. There are many telltale pieces of evidence and legacies left behind by them.
The word Cochin itself is from the Chinese for “Co-Chin” implying “like China.” The Malabar coast (Kerala) may have looked like China to them when they first arrived by the maritime route. The Malayalam words “Cheenavala”, “Cheenabharni”, “Cheenachatti”, and so on are still in use. “Cheena” means “China.” Even food habits were influenced by them in Kerala.
Like the string hoppers (idiyappam) made from rice paste that closely resembles noodles, Kanji (in Malayalam) is Konji in Chinese, unniappam and so on. But the biggest legacy left behind was the Fishing Nets. These nets were actually small in size when the Chinese first introduced them which could be operated by a single person. Read more in Ancient Kerala and Ancient China.
But it was the Portuguese who modified it to a larger size which can be seen in and around Kochi today. These are now operated by a team of people. See my post- Antique Map Plan Of Fort & City.
Did you know- Kochi is known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea” because of its maritime trade in spices.
From the collection- Kerala Backwaters & Cargo Boats 1922., Vintage Print Tellicherry On The Malabar Coast., Vintage Postcard Watson’s Hotel Bombay 1907