298 A. Agassis — Expedition to the Maldives. 



Medusae, interesting mainly for the geographical distribution 

 of the genera represented. As might be expected, they were 

 principally Hydroids, exclusive of the Siphonophores, Disco- 

 phores and Ctenophores. The pelagic fauna was at times very 

 rich and some of our deeper hauls were most productive. The 

 surface hauls inside the lagoons were also frequently very rich, far 

 more than in the lagoons of any other coral reef region I have 

 visited. This may be accounted for from the open condition 

 of the lagoons of the composite atolls of the Maldives : to this 

 I shall call attention later on. No attempt was made to collect 

 any plants, the collections of Mr. Gardiner having supplied the 

 material for an exhaustive list of the flora of the Maldives.* 



We made a fair ethnological collection, the better part of 

 which we owe to the kindness of the Sultan of the Maldives. 

 His Highness took great interest in our work, gave us a circu- 

 lar letter to the chiefs of the various atolls, and in addition sent 

 a representative and an interpreter to accompany us on our trip. 

 Thanks to this, we were everywhere received with the greatest 

 cordiality. I have also to thank the agents of the British India 

 Steam Navigation Co. at Colombo, Messrs. Bois Bros. & Co.,. 

 for having carried out my instructions regarding the equipment 

 of the " Amra." We found the steamer ready for us on our 

 arrival at Colombo. To the Right Honorable Joseph Cham- 

 berlain I am indebted for his kindness in giving me letters to 

 the government officials at Ceylon, and for writing to His 

 Excellency Sir West Ridgeway in regard to our proposed visit. 

 The Governor kindly wrote to the Sultan of the Maldives 

 notifying him of the objects of our expedition, and also gave 

 me letters to the Sultan, which we delivered on our arrival at 

 Male. 



We started on our explorations from Male after having, on 

 making the atoll, obtained a glimpse of the east coast of North 

 Male as we skirted the atoll from Mirufenfurhi to Male Island 

 itself. This stretch of coast together with the islands near 

 Male and the adjoining farosf of the lagoon to the northwest of 

 Male contain all that is most characteristic of the atolls of the 

 Maldives. A glance at the chart gave us an approximate idea 

 of the problems to be solved in the study of the coral reefs of 

 the group. 



After examining North Male we passed to Ari, then to 

 North and South Nilandu, crossing to Mulaku, making our 

 way to Kolumadulu, to Haddummati, to Suvadiva, and to 

 Addu, the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. On account of 



* The Botany of the Maldive Islands, by J. C. Willis and J. Stanley Gar- 

 diner, Ann. Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, December, 1901. 



f Faro is a name given by the natives to the small atolls which rise in the 

 interior of the large lagoons or are found on their rims. 



