Malabar Coast of South India 

‘I ascertained that there are upwards of 200,000 Christians in the South of India, besides the Syrians, who speak the Malabar Language. In Goa, a Bishop agreed that a union with the English Church would be a happy event, and favourable to the advancement of religion in India.’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024).

More about Malabar

The Malabar Coast stretches approximately 550 miles along the Arabian Sea, from the southern tip of the Indian peninsula to the state of Goa in the north. It is characterised by lush tropical vegetation, sandy beaches, and backwaters formed by interconnected rivers, canals, and lagoons. The Malabar Coast was a hub for spice trade, attracting merchants from across the world, including Arab traders, European colonisers, and Chinese voyagers. 

For Europeans, the Malabar Coast of South India carries significant historical and cultural connotations. It has been depicted in European literature and art as an exotic and lush landscape, symbolizing the allure of the Orient and the mysteries of distant lands. It was a crucial part of the global spice trade from the 16th to the 19th centuries. European powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, were heavily involved in trading spices such as black pepper, cardamom, and cloves from this region. They  were highly sought after in Europe, leading to significant economic and colonial interests in the region.  Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India in 1498 marked the beginning of Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean and their establishment of trading posts along the Malabar Coast. European missionaries, including those from the British East India Company, were active in spreading Christianity in the region. Claudius Buchanan's interest was in this aspect of the region's history.