1847.] 



Laccadive Islands. 



5 



that neither could expect any favor or forbearance from the other, and as 

 we thought the Rajah was entitled to use his discretion in regard to the 

 two resumptions in question, we tolerated them." 



The Islands though not formally ceded by the first treaty of Seringa- 

 patam were not restored to the Bibi, and her claim was finally extinguish- 

 ed when the whole of the Sultan's remaining possessions passed into the 

 hands of his conquerors, by the right of the sword, in 1799. 



The Bibi having thus in consequence of her close alliance with the Sul- 

 tan, lost both the Islands and the districts conferred in lieu of them, threw 

 herself on the liberality of the British Government. Her claim for the 

 restoration of the former was rejected by the Madras Government in 1804, 

 but met with more lenient consideration from the Court of Directors, who 

 in 1806 declared " that though from the former aversion of the inhabitants 

 to the Government of the Bibi it would not be advisable to restore the 

 Islands themselves, some consideration in money should be allov^ed on 

 account of them." Owing to various causes the final adjustment of this 

 indemnity was deferred from time to time and was only finally settled at 

 a remission of 1,500 Pagodas in the amount of the tribute paid by her for 

 her possessions on the mainland by the orders of Government, dated 23d 

 March, 1823. 



Since that time the Islands have remained in the condition in which 

 we find them described by Mr. Eobinson.] 



The following description of the islands of the Laccadive group 

 attached to the district of Oanara is the result of observations made 

 during two expeditions thither in 1844 and 1845. Though unable 

 to visit the islands under the Beeby of Cannanore, I made such 

 inquiries into their condition as appeared necessary to enable me to 

 compare the two divisions of this group. 



The Laccadive group occupies a space extending from 8° 30^ to 

 12^ North Latitude and from 71^ to 

 73®, 40 degrees East Longitude. It 

 consists of 8 or 10 more or less in- 

 habited and cultivated, and one or two 

 uninhabited islands, besides a few iso- 

 lated rocks. Beyond the group to the 

 north-west stretch the extensive reefs 

 of Cheryapany and Belyapany. The 

 group runs nearly parallel to the line 

 of the Coast at a distance of 170 to 200 



o a 



Names of the Islands. 

 ^ ce fChetlat. 

 ' Keltan. 

 Betra, (uninhabited island.) 

 ^ ^ Kadamat. 

 .2 "o ^1 AmeendeYy. 

 J Bellyapany, ^ 



I Cheryapany, > open reefs. 

 LPermalla, ) 



2 g § Konraty. 

 ^ h PP j Androt. 

 J ^ ^ g 1 Kalpiny. 

 5 a> ■^'o Suheli, (uninhabited.) 



-5 o o iMeenkat. 



