252 Report on the Laccadive Islands. [No. 10, nrw series 



I am inclined to think this overlying rock never existed, for there 

 are no mounds whatever, yet water is within a foot of the top ; 

 there is no rock to be found on digging and in one part 200 or 

 300 yards square of land is so damp and marshy with a pool in 

 the middle of it that it is with difficulty traversable. 



28. The cocoanut trees in this part are weak and not very- 

 productive. 



29. The overlying rock where found is usually only about 6 

 inches thick and is a kind of concrete composed of sand with 

 bits of coral and shells. 



30. I sunk a pit in a part of the island of more recent forma- 

 tion and found loose sand for 10 feet, then a stratum of rather 

 coarser sand and under this at about 12 feet from the surface a 

 layer of detached bits of flat sandstone apparently in course of 

 formation into a flat sandstone rock : there was moisture here 

 and water 2 feet below. 



31. There is no part of the island destitute of trees ; in the 

 south portion it is thickly covered with jungle and cocoanut 

 trees ; in the north more sparingly. 



32. There are no dogs on the island, rats abound to the des- 

 truction of cocoanut plantations ; also cats, 3 or 4 cows and as 

 many goats, no snakes or scorpions, curlew, sand snipes of various 

 kinds, a large grey crane and a water hen stay there, and golden 

 plovers and teal sometimes come there in flocks. 



33. Mosquitoes abound to such an extent as to make sleep 

 quite impossible to either Europeans or Natives except unier cur- 

 tains or in a thorough draft, and even then so unusually poisonous 

 and pertinacious are ihey, that nothing but ihe greatest care can 

 procure one any peace, the moment the sun is down they are out 

 in such numbers that no sedentary occupation can be pursued 

 unless every limb is covered with 2 or 3 folds of cloth or muslin, 

 thick trowsers and socks are no defence ; they are bred in the 

 pits in which the husk of the cocoanut soaks for 6 months pre- 

 paratory to being made into coir. 



34. Though no changes have been noticed in the depth of the 

 lagoon very considerable ones have taken place and are still doing 

 so on the west shore of the island. 



