What the Tamils Said: A Letter from the Kelings of Melaka (1527)

A previously overlooked letter from Tamil-speaking Keling merchants in Melaka (1527) reveals the complex and often adversarial relationship between them and the Portuguese, despite their nominal alliance. The letter, written in Portuguese with Tamil annotations, highlights divergent interests driven by the rise of Portuguese private merchants (casados), whose influence would later lead to the decline of Tamil-speaking traders in Melaka. This study provides the first detailed analysis of the document, offering insights into early colonial dynamics and the economic shifts that reshaped the Straits of Malacca's commercial landscape.

Subrahmanyam, S. (2011). What the Tamils Said: A Letter from the Kelings of Melaka (1527). Archipel, 82(1), 137–158. https://doi.org/10.3406/arch.2011.4260