116 



a very broad one and a great extent of rock must dry at low 

 tide. This should be a fine collecting ground for green snail 

 and trocas, indeed the Ameni people subsequently stated so 

 definitely. 



LI 9. Arriving off Ameni with some daylight to spare, we 

 dredged upon the large bank or submarine plateau from which 

 Ameni rises at the north-eastern extremity. The bottom in 

 8 to 10 fathoms was found to exhibit considerable diversity, 

 patches of sand alternating with dead coral boulders and masses 

 of live coral, Pontes, madrepores and astraeids chiefly. A 

 beautiful species of Spongodes is fairly common, dark red in 

 colour ornamented on the main axis with conspicuous snow- 

 white spicules ; both the coral and the spongodes were full of 

 commensals. Quantities of sedentary tunieates were also found, 

 together with several red algae and a great abundance of 

 crusting nullipore. In its main features this bank is very 

 similar in physical and faunistic features to the rocky banks 

 which the larger species of pearl oysters favour, and there is no 

 physical or other reason I kuow of why such may not be 

 found on this bank. A diving outfit and a trained diver will 

 however be necessary to test the question as the bottom is too 

 rough for dredging and the water too deep in most places for 

 naked divers. The nets of our dredges were repeatedly torn 

 and the frames bent, and what samples of the bottom we 

 obtained give but a superficial knowledge of the general fauna ; 

 molluscs such as oysters are well protected from the dredge 

 by the upstanding masses of live coral and the boulders of 

 that which is dead. Driven to give up dredging by the 

 roughness of the bottom, we proceeded to an anchorage on the 

 south side of Ameni. 



120. The next morning we landed at an early hour and 

 found Ameni a thickly-populated island, with evidence every- 

 where of comparative comfort and prosperity. The houses are 

 substantial, built of squared coral blocks ; working goldsmiths 

 from Malabar were seen making gold jewellery, and the greater 

 part of the south coast was occupied by closely-set boat-sheds 

 reared on stone columns. Boat-building was much in evidence, 

 an industry the islanders should be proud of. Nowhere have 

 I ever seen greater skill, patience, and ingenuity in such work ; 

 the lines of the boats are of the utmost beauty and the work- 

 manship rather that of the cabinet-maker than of the ship- 

 wright. I doubt if the equal of these boats is to be met any- 

 where else in the fishing world. And these islanders do not 

 stop at giving fine lines, beautiful and sound proportions, and 



