INTKODUCTION. xi 



showing the sources from which it has been derived and the manner in 

 which it has reached the islands. Messrs. Willis and Gardiner consider 

 the flora of the islands to be recent, and that if tbe Maldives " were now 

 to be submerged and to rise again above the waves, they would probably 

 acquire in time a flora almost identical with that which they now possess."^ 

 They look upon the effect of oceanic currents as the most important of all 

 the agencies in stocking oceanic islands. 



To the considerable direct trade which exists between the Malabar Coast, 

 Calcutta, and Male is probably due the introduction of many Indian weeds ^ 

 and a large number of cultivated plants and trees. At Huludu (Addu) there 

 are also "' traditions of an Arabian trade in times past." ^ The natives of 

 Tiladummati and Ihavandiffulu are most enterprising, and they have 

 undoubtedly introduced a number of plants and trees in the northern 

 groups of the Archipelago. For an archipelago with such active traders, 

 the agency of man has undoubtedly been an effective factor in modifying 

 the flora of the group and in introducing many plants and trees both from 

 India and Arabia. It was interesting to watch the native ships taking 

 advantage of the shelter of the islands to beat northward against the 

 northeast monsoon in comparatively smooth water, imtil they reached 

 Ihavandiffulu and could fetch the southern coast of India and Ceylon. 



In discussing the origin of the flora of other oceanic islands of the In- 

 dian Ocean, Messrs. Willis and Gardiner come to the conclusion that " there 

 is probably no need to assume complete land connections across the Indian 

 Ocean to explain the flora of its islands, or perhaps even the affinities of 

 the African and Indian floras." We might even go a step further and say 

 that there is no need of assuming the former existence of larger islands 

 like those sketched by Mr. Gardiner as occupying areas indicated by the 

 two tliousand fathom line.* 



We made a fair ethnological collection, the better part of which we owe 

 to the kindness of His Highness Muhammadu Imadudin, the Sultan of the 

 Maldives. I have also to thank the Agents of the British India Steam 

 Navigation Company at Colombo, Messrs. Bois Brothers and Company, 



1 Loc. cit., Willis and Gardiner, p. 162. ' Loc. cit., p. 123. 



" Loc. cit., p. 140. ■* Loc. cit., Willis and Gardiner, PI. IT. fig. 1. 



