150 WESTERN H I x\" D O O S T A N. 



The two Mahoimtart travellers of the ninth century, make 

 them amount to nineteen hundred ; and the fea which fur- 

 rounds them, and lies to the north-weft of them, they called the 

 Harchend fea. The natives make the number of their ifles 

 amount to twelve thoufand. They were difcovered in 1508, by 

 the younger Ahneyda-, and conquered by the Portugueje from 

 the Moors, who had ufurped the fovereignty of them from the 

 natives, who probably came originally from the adjacent Ma- 

 labar. The Europeans did not long maintain polTeflion. The 

 Portugueje had obtained leave to erect a fort on one of the 

 ifles ; bat they were foon cut off by the MaJdivianSj and their 

 fort demolifhed. 



They are divided into thirteen Attollons, or provinces, and 

 are governed by one king; but each AttoUon has its particular 

 governor, who rules with great oppreffion. The fubjeifts are 

 miferably poor, and none dare wear any cloathing above the 

 waift, except a turband, without a particular licenfe. The king 

 affumes the magnificent title oi Sultan of \.h& Maldives, king 

 of thirteen provinces, and twelve thonfand ifles. From Mr* 

 Dalrymple's chart of the Maldwes, they feem divided into thir- 

 teen groups, each pretty nearly equidiftant, and each with their 

 proper name: their form is mofl: Angular; they are reprefented 

 as reefs of fmall and very low iflands, regular in their form, 

 and furrounding a clear fpace of fea, with a very fliallow por- 

 tion of water between them.. The chief is called Atoll Mal^ 

 divas : they have only four ports, in which their few articles of 

 commerce are collected. 



One 



