1835.] Survey of the Maldive Islands. 319 



larly at Bulcit Kukusan, Svingi Bihi, Ulu Pondoi, and Sundf, near 

 Tabu. At the latter place, Mr. Westerhout has opened a mine, of 

 the first produce of which I possess a very favorable specimen. There 

 is in fact but little doubt that the mines in the vicinity of Malacca, 

 if scientifically worked by persons of some little capital and persever- 

 ance, would prove of much intrinsic value ; and otherwise benefit the 

 country, by attracting into it an enterprising and industrious popu- 

 lation. 



The want of capital, and consequent haste to convert the produce 

 into cash, is the great drawback, not only to mining speculations, but 

 to the cultivation of pepper, and other spices, requiring still more time 

 before yielding any return to the cultivator. 



Colonel Farquhar might perhaps have been a little too enthusi- 

 astic in affirming, that " nature has been profusely bountiful to the 

 Malay peninsula, in bestowing on it a climate the most agreeable and 

 salubrious, a soil luxuriantly fertilized by numerous rivers, and the 

 face of the country diversified with hills and valleys, mountains and 

 plains, forming the most beautiful and interesting scenery that is pos- 

 sible for the imagination to figure," &c. &c. But nothing could be 

 truer and better founded than his observation, viz. "We have only 

 to lament that a more enterprising and industrious race of inhabitants 

 than the Malays should not have possessed this delightful region." 



II. — Description of Heavandoo Pholo, the Northern Atoll of the 

 Maldive Islands. By Lieut. T. Powell, i". N. Assistant Surveyor. 

 Plate XVIII. 



Geographical site. The Atoll Heavandoo Pholo, or head of the Mal- 

 dives, situated upon the meridian of Bombay, and between the parallels 

 of 7° 7' and 6° 55', north latitude, consists of twenty-two islands, two 

 islets, and two sand-banks, besides several small shoals and two large 

 barrier reefs; the latter form the boundary of the Atoll to the S. W., W., 

 and N. W., and along the outer age are dry at low-water spring-tides : 

 outside they are steep, having 50 and 60 fathoms close to them, and no 

 ground at 150 fathoms, at the distance of 300 yards. 



The northern or principal barrier has 10 islands, and two small 

 islets on it : one of the latter, on its southern extremity, being close to 

 Heavandoo : these are all situated on the inner side of the reef, having 

 three or four, and in some places six fathoms water between them and 

 its outer edge, with small channels for boats between each, formed by 

 the natives having cleared away the coral rocks. Nearly in the centre 

 of the Atoll there are three small islands ; the eastern side is clear of 



