Maldivé Islands

Maldivé Islands, a chain of characteristic Coral (q.v.) atolls in the Indian Ocean, lying SW. of Ceylon. They extend 550 miles in length (7° 7' N. lat. to 0° 42' S.) by 45 in average breadth (72° 30' to 73° 50' E. long.), and consist of seventeen groups, distributed politically into thirteen, and embracing a total of several hundred islands. All of these are very small in area, and less than 200 are inhabited. Malé, the residence of the native 'Sultan of the Twelve Thousand Isles,' is 1 mile long by $\backslash frac\{3\}\{4\}$ mile wide, and contains a pop. of 2000. The population of the whole chain is probably not more than 20,000. These people resemble the Sinhalese in their personal appearance, and speak a language closely akin to Sinhalese. They are Mohammedans by religion, and boast of an ancient civilisation. They are peaceful, affectionate, well behaved, and of cleanly habits. Rice (imported), fish (chiefly bonito), bread-fruit, cocoa-nut, and various other fruits and vegetables are their principal food. Coir, cowries, dried bonito fish, cocoa-nut and copra, and tortoiseshell are exported. The gathering and preparation of these articles are the principal occupations, apart from a little weaving. The Arab geographer Ibn Batuta lived more than a year on the islands (1343-44). The Portuguese maintained factories there at various times after 1518; but in 1645 the sultan put himself under the protection of the Dutch governor of Ceylon, and along with that island they exchanged Dutch for English supremacy. The sultan sends an embassy every year, bearing presents, to renew his homage to the governor of Ceylon.