PREFACE. 



In March, 189'J, I left England, in pursuance of my appointment as Balfour 

 Student of the University of Cambridge, with a commission to explore and 

 investigate the Coral Reefs of the Laccadives, Maldives, and Ceylon. As the 

 south-west monsoon is unsuitable for work from small craft in the Indian Ocean, 

 it was proposed to devote the summer of 1899 to a thorough survey of the 

 atoll of Minikoi, the most southern reef of the Laccadives. In regard to 

 subsequent work the Managei-s of the Balfour Studentship gave me complete 

 latitude to do as might seem fit. 



Subsequent donations of £300 from the Government Grant, administered 

 by the Royal Society, and of £30 from the British Association, decided me 

 to proceed in October to the Maldive Archipelago for an extended winter cruise. 

 The latter was entirely successful in its main results, although the expedition 

 was considerably curtailed and seriously crippled owing to the general rise in 

 prices caused by the war in South Africa. 



I would like here to express the indebtedness of my party to His 

 Excellency Sir E. Noel Walker, K.C.M.G., late Acting-Governor of Ceylon; 

 to the Hon. Mr Taylor, C.M.G., late Acting-Colonial Secretary ; to His Highness 

 Mohammadu Iraaduddin, Sultan of the Maldives, and his Viziers ; to the Board 

 of Trade for passages to and fro between Ceylon and Minikoi ; to Capt. 

 Channer, R.N., formerly an officer of H.M.S. Challenger, now Superintendent 

 of Lighthouses in the Ceylon district, for many valuable hints and much local 

 information ; to Sheikh Jeevunjee Noorbhai for his generous help and assistance 

 during the time we were in the Maldives ; to Rear-Admiral Sir W. Wharton, 



