Madras Harbour & Masulah Boats, 2 Postcards 1900

Madras Harbour & Masulah Boats, 2 Postcards 1900

Two old photo postcards of Madras harbour and Masulah boats. The postcards date to 1900 and 1905. The Madras (now Chennai) harbour was sort of basic in design. With a T-shaped Iron Screw Pile Pier. That is not shown here. Prior to this ships would anchor in the deeper seas. The passengers and goods were then ferried to the beach by the masulah boats shown here.

This was the case from the days when Fort St George was first built in 1639. Ferrying by the masulah boats had its limitations and headaches. One was that sometimes the passengers invariably got wet. The other was the exorbitantly high fees charged by the boatmen. Despite the price fixed by the port authorities in consultation with the boatmen.

Further problems faced were the pilferages and haphazard dumping of the cargo on the beach. All this led to a loud outcry by the merchants and agents in Madras. Thus a T-shaped iron screw pier materialized in 1861. The masulah boats and cargo probably sacks of grain are seen stacked on the beach. In the background is a row of commercial buildings. All are located on the First Line Beach, now Rajaji Road. Some of the buildings distinguishable are the GPO, High Court with its old lighthouse, the Bentinck building, etc.

Did you know – the Chennai Port is massive and modern, it is a high-security enclosed area today. It is one of the busiest ports in India.

From the collection – c1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper Two Women (#4)., Steamer Ships In Kolkata Harbour, Photochrom 1890., Aerial View of British Bombay In 1936, Old Print., San Thome Fort Madras – Antique Map 1757.