Madras fisheries bulletin

i8
" "
sometimes cry shark as others
wolf" when there was no wolf.
have cried
"
wolf,
Until a few years ago whenever large sharks did
appc:ir the men were accustomed to have recourse to
wizardry for help against the intruder. The members of
a certain Parawa family called Kadalkatti (" Tiers of the
sea") accredited with power over sharks, were appealed
to and propitiated with gifts that they might exercise
their powers. Mantrams were said, and paid for, and
the divers were told that the danger was averted. If
the shark declined however to depart the usual excuse
of an adverse influence was alleo-ed and means were
taken to combat this. As a man-eating shark finds little
food on the fishing grounds it seldom stays long and the
wizard thereby becomes justified in the eyes
of his
clients. Both wizard and divers were Parawas and
Roman Catholics but it goes without saying that the
parish priest was kept in ignorance of the proceedings.
The Kadalkattis were also credited, as the name im-
plies with power over the winds and currents and, until
the male members of the family died out a few years ago,
they were employed to procure a change of weather if
head winds seriously interfered with fishing operations.
Unseasonable cloudiness of the sea, preventing the
divers from distinguishing objects on the bottom, was
also believed to be within the power of the Kadalkattis
to disperse. These wizards were in consequence people
of some importance and Mere salaried by the chank
fishery renters prior to the time of direct Government
management in 1876. To-day the is family extinct in
the male line and the profession of shark-charming has
become lost. Not so the control of the winds. Various
men in Tuticorin both Roman Catholics, Hindus and
Muhammadans still claim this power and several instances
have come under my personal observation. I'he
most is noteworthy one concerning the crews of several
caroes who had been employed in collecting coral stone
for tire bridge works at Pamban. HavinsJ been summarily
dismissed for misconduct, they were anxious to
return home as quickly as possible. But the wind was
dead ahead and after lying wind bound for many da\ s
they sent word of their predicament to Tuticorin. The
best wind -wizards were sought out and hve left for