Pearl Fishery Coast

[3] The Portuguese conquered the Pearl Fishery Coast from the Muslims of Kayalpattanam in 1525.

[3] They restored the rights of the Paravas to exploit their fisheries in exchange for a considerable annual tribute.

[3] The missionary Francis Xavier, coming from Goa, reached the Pearl Fishery Coast in 1542, where he was able to evangelize successfully the Paravars, converting an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 souls,[1] although he is said to have accomplished this extraordinary achievement "largely due to his judicious mixture of threats and blandishments, 'and now with the favours that he promised them, and at times adding some threats of the harm that might come to them if the [Portuguese] captain deprived them of their fishing and seaborne trade'".

[4] In 1553, a fleet of the Ottoman Empire made a raid on the Pearl Fishery Coast around Tuticorin.

They were assisted by the Marakkar Muslims of Malabar, and had the tacit agreement of Vittula Nayak of Madurai.