Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c6.s2.t2.49

c6.s2.t2.49

The share of Indians in the oversea carrying trade was not very considerable. The trade and shipping on the Indian coast were mainly in the hands of the foreigners, chiefly Arabs. A small community of Indian traders composed of Gujarati Banias, the Chettis of the South, and some Moors, who are domiciled in India, had some share in foreign trade and mercantile marine. Now and then a few other Indians were attracted towards these profitable enterprises.⁴ But on the whole, the Indians never took to sea-farming and maritime activities on a big scale. Their manners and customs and the whole of their outlook discouraged any such venture on a national scale.