"Exploring the Enchanting History of the Maldives: The Cowry Route"

Trade in Cowries and Coir From ancient times, cowries have held symbolic significance. Their ability to be exchanged for essential goods fostered a longstanding trade between the Maldives and the Indian subcontinent. Different cultures attributed various values to these shells. From the Indian subcontinent, cowries were exported to East Africa, the Middle East, and through caravan trade to West Africa (Chaudhuri 1985). The precise time when the Maldives began exporting cowries is unknown.

. 7,000 year old skull, with cowrie shells as eyes, excavated from a grave in Jericho. At the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. UK. From: Vilgon. 1991-99. Maldive Odd History Vol. 1-9.

However, Maldivian cowries, specifically the money cowrie (cypraea moneta), have been discovered worldwide, with some dating back centuries. Cowries were found in Lothal, a port from the Indus Valley Civilization (Heyerdhal 1986), on a woman's skull in Jericho, estimated to be 7000 years old (Fig. 3), in a Yin Dynasty tomb in China (Vilgon 1991-99), and in 7th-century graves in Northern Norway (Mikkelsen 2000). In ancient times, the Maldives had a monopoly on cowries, raising questions about their origin. Persian merchant Sulaiman, from the 9th century, was the first Persian writer to describe the Maldives. He noted a female ruler and mentioned ambergris and cowries as exports. He described the islanders' industriousness, weaving skills, and shipbuilding:

The people's wealth is in cowries; their Queen stores large quantities in royal depots. The islanders are said to be the most industrious, weaving tunics with two sleeves, two facings, and a chest opening. They build ships, houses, and execute all work with great skill (Renandot 1718). Sulaiman also described cowrie collection and their use as currency in Burma and Bengal. His descriptions were echoed by Abu Zaid (890 A.D.) and Mas’udi (916 A.D.). Abu Zayd, an Iraqi from 850-934 A.D., was the first classical Arab geography author. He wrote of

Maldives as Dyvah, detailing coral island erosion and new island formation. He distinguished between the Maldives and Laccadives by their main products, calling the Maldives Diva-Kauzah (The Cowrie Islands) and the Laccadives Diva-Kanbar (The Coir Islands). The Maldives were known for cowries, while the Laccadives were known for coir rope from coconut husk. This distinction was also made by later writers, including Al Biruni in 1030. Al Mas’udi in 916 A.D. wrote about cowrie and coconut production and ambergris export from the Maldives (Sprenger 1841). Abul Hassan, writing in 1026, discussed Maldive ships transporting goods to Africa, referring to the Maldives as Diva-Kouzah and the Laccadives as Diva-Kambar (Du Laurier 1844): One group is called Diva-Kouzah, meaning the Cowrie Isles, due to cowrie shells caught with coconut branches on the sea-shores. The other group is Diva-Kambar, meaning the Coir Islands, for the fibre from coconut husk used for ship ropes. Maldive ships transported dried fish, tortoise shells, and white cowries to Africa, while large oyster shells were sent to Italy for cameos (Du Laurier 1844)

This information indicates that Maldivian ships regularly traveled to Africa, selling island products there. Meanwhile, oyster shells were "sent" to Italy, suggesting others transported them. Maldivians likely traded around the Indian Ocean but not regularly in Europe. In 1290, Marco Polo described cowries as currency in China and Bengal (Fig. 4), sometimes attributing their origin to Insulinde or India (Heimann 1980). Ibn Batuta, who visited the Maldives in 1343, wrote about exports including cowries, coir rope, and woven fabric for turbans. He detailed rope preparation and export to China, India, and Yemen, where it was used to "join" ship boards (Gray 1882). In 1349, Chinese writer Wang Ta-Yun, who visited many oriental countries, wrote about Maldivian cowrie trade with Eastern India: Every trader takes a shipload of cowries to Wu-tieh (Orissa) or Peng-ka-la (Bengal), exchanging it for a shipload of rice or more, as cowries are used as money and are an ancient currency (Rockhill 1915). During his 1413-1415 Indian Ocean expedition, Chinese Admiral Cheng Ho visited the Maldives (Fig. 5) in 1414 (Lo Mou-Teng, Chu Shao-Hua 1597). In 1425, Ma Huan, a Chinese Muslim on this expedition, provided a detailed description of the Maldives, its produce, people, and customs. He recorded names of some islands and atolls, including Mulaku Atoll, Kelaa, Fenfushi, and Minicoy, and some Laccadives islands like Kalpeni, Kavaratti, and Androth. Describing the Maldives, he noted the Muslim population and their occupations, such as fishing, weaving, rope-making, and cowrie and ambergris collection. He mentioned Maldivians exporting cowries to Kedah (Malaysia) and Bengal, where they were used as money. Ma Huan wrote about coir rope made from coconut husk, stored in large quantities and in high demand from foreign buyers. He also described dried fish production and sale to traders, who sold it in other countries (Phillips 1895). Dried fish was a valuable protein source for travelers on long voyages.

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Naseema Mohamed The National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research Male’ Republic of Maldives.

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