The Fatma and Geography of the 



This work comprises the results of the first scientific expedition 

 that has visited the Maldives and Laccadives. These groups, over 

 looo miles long by 70 broad and comprising about 1500 islands, were 

 surveyed by Capt. Moresby in 1834, at a time when the natives were 

 still unfriendly. Beyond the published charts there is no detailed infor- 

 mation respecting them. 



The expedition, consisting of Mr J. Stanley Gardiner, Mr L. A. 

 Borradaile, Selwyn College, and Mr C. Forster Cooper, Trinity College, 

 passed eleven months in the two groups, during which an attempt was 

 made to survey the area as thoroughly as possible. The chief object of 

 the expedition was to investigate the interdependence of the physical and 

 biological factors in the formation of atolls and reefs. To this end 

 upwards of 300 dredgings were taken, a large number of soundings were 

 run, and every group of organisms was carefully collected. 



As a type atoll Minikoi was chosen on account of its isolation, 

 almost midway between the main reefs of the two groups. The three 

 months, June to September, of the south-west monsoon were spent here. 

 Every part of the land and reef was visited, and numerous observations 

 were made on the currents, depths, tides, sand-trituration, etc. in the 

 lagoon and surrounding sea. 



In the Maldives the land and reef fauna of Hulule atollon was 

 collected for comparison with Minikoi. For the rest 11 out of 17 atolls 

 were visited, including about 200 islands, in a cruise of five months duration 

 on a schooner and boats, lent by the Sultan. Later a steamer was chartered 

 from Ceylon, and four other atolls, including Suvadiva and Addu, were 

 dredged and surveyed. Lines of soundings were run across the central 

 basin and between the atolls of the group. 



