402 REPORT — 1900 



of Goifurfehendu (Horsburgh), S. Mahlos, N. Mahlos, N. Miladunmiadulu, 

 S. Miladummadulu, Fadiffolu, and Male were visited. Xumerous sound- 

 ings were made and dredgings everywhere taken. Horsburgh Atoll and 

 the two atolls of Mahlos Madulu in particular were thoroughly worked 

 over. 



Parts of January and February 1900 were spent at Hulule, a small 

 island at the south-east corner of Male Atoll, this being the month of 

 Ramazan. A thorough survey of this island and its reefs was made, the 

 whole fuiming an atoll of the second order, an atollon on the rim of an 

 atoll. Large collections were obtained of the fauna of this atollon from all 

 depths, together with observations on many special points. A set of 

 corals of known period of growth was collected from an artificial passage 

 through the reef to the landing-place of the island. 



In February Mr. Forster Cooper took the schooner off for a short 

 dredging cruise in Male Atoll, while I remained in Male making special 

 observations on the water temperature, currents, food, etc. 



In March I was unfortunately obliged, owing to illness, to return to 

 Ceylon, where I spent some time in hospital. Mr. Forster Cooper mean- 

 time continued the work, taking the schooner and dredging the atolls of 

 S. Male, Felidu, Mulaku, Kolumadulu, and Haddumati. 



In April I returned with the s.s. Ileafaee, a vessel of about 350 tons, 

 which I had chartered. Mr. Forster Cooper was relieved in Haddumati 

 Atoll and joined the steamer, the schooner ]>eing sent back to Male. We 

 then pi'oceeded to Huvadu (Suvadiva) Atoll, which we entered by a 

 northern passage. The lagoon to the east was dredged and sounded, the 

 positions of islands and reefs observed, and four islands visited. A move 

 was then made to Addu Atoll, the outer slopes of which and also the 

 lagoon were dredged and sounded. The islands were charted in with the 

 assistance of Captain Molony, and the majority were visited by some 

 member of the party. On returning to Suvadiva the south and west sides 

 of that atoll were dredged. On account of the heavy weather we were 

 prevented from seeing Mulaku, which we had especially desired to visit, 



Proceeding north to Male we skirted Haddumati Atoll and crossed 

 Kolumadulu, then visited and dredged S. and N. Nilandu Atolls, sub- 

 sequently anchoring in Felidu and Ari. The passages were sounded 

 between the following atolls : Kolumadulu and S. Nilandu, S. and N. 

 Nilandu, Mulaku and Wattaru, Wattaru and Felidu, N. Nilandu and 

 Ari, S. and N. Male. Three further lines of soundings were run across 

 the central basin between the east and west lines of atolls. 



More than three hundred dredgings were taken, and in addition large 

 and,_we believe, very complete collections were made of the reef-fauna at 

 Minikoi and Hulule, four natives at least always accompanying and 

 assisting us in this work. The collections of land-fauna we believe to 

 be equally complete from these islands. Collections of the plants of 

 five separate Maldivan islands are now in the hands of Mr. J. C. Willis, 

 Peradeniya Gardens, Ceylon. 



A large number of anthropological measurements and considerable 

 ethnological collections were procured, of which we hope to give the Asso- 

 ciation an account at some subsequent meeting. 



