1847.] 



Laccadive Islands. 



19 



pleted while the inhabitants were still Hindoos. The soil of this iot^ 

 or hat is light, sandy and poor, but, water lying within a foot or so 

 of the surface, it is fertile. The cocoanut trees planted in or about 

 its edges are exceedingly fine, but it has been hitherto reserved 

 chiefly for the cultivation of dry grains as loha,^ jowa^ hadag^ and 

 raghee,^ with some kind of vegetables, as the sweet potatoe and a 

 kind of yam — considerable numbers of plantain trees too are reared 

 within it. This land is strictly private property, and though none of 

 the gardens are enclosed, the boundaries are well defined by stone 

 land marks. It is by far the most profitable land in the island, and 

 produces probably a fifth of the food used there, but it contributes 

 nothing, and probably never did, to the revenue of Government, un- 

 der the monopoly system. While the profits of the monopoly of the 

 other produce were great, this land was left unburdened as a com- 

 pensation, but it might now be well to take its condition into consi- 

 deration. Round the edges of the tot the bread-fruit tree grows most 



In 1831—438 luxuriantly, and the number of trees is increasing-, as 

 „ 1839—834 , . , . ^ 



„ 1844—853 shown in the margin. 



Soopary Trees. I observed a considerable number of Soopary trees 

 In 1831—389 interspersed among the cocoanut trees round the edges 

 " Jo??~JS °f ^^^^ ^^^y seemed fine, and I think much more 

 numerous than shown in the native returns — but the 

 Islanders manifested great unwillingness to give any information 

 about them. I learnt however that the tree was introduced lately, 

 and thrives well. I think the whole tot might with great ease and 

 profitably be converted into areca-nut gardens. 



The undeF ^nd potang'^ bushes are cultivated, the 

 Other Trees, n \ ^ ^ 



one lor its oil, and the other for its dye, and several 



cwts. of the fruit are exported yearly to Malabar. The lime of 



Ameendevy is remarkably fine and the trees numerous. 



Unoccupied The tot corresponds with the oblong shape of the 

 island, and occupies the whole centre of the island. 

 On all sides it is surrounded by dense cocoanut plantations. Round 

 from the east to the north of this island (the least exposed sides) 

 this plantation runs down to the sea side, but along the west, lies 



* Tot, quere from tuta— a garden ? 



1 DoUchos si?ie7isis. * Cynosuriis corocanzfs. 



2 Holms sorgJnim. * Ricinus coniiminis f 

 ' Panicivn semi verticillatum. ^ Bixa orellana ? 



?^ 



