20 



Description of the 



[No. 3S, 



a strip of waste land about 200 yards in breadth between the plan- 

 tation and the shore — and round to the south-west and south end of 

 the island many acres are still waste : the exposure is too much for 

 young trees, and the dry sand is deeper than elsewhere. This space 

 was at one time walled ofl" for the cattle, which are very destructive 

 to the young trees, and were not allowed to graze among the trees. 

 The wall has fallen, but may yet be traced, and till within 20 years 

 no plantation existed within this enclosure, but all the ehgible spots 

 such as the beds of old tanks and holes have now been planted and 

 are claimed by the owners of the trees. 



I examined the principal and disinterested inhabitants, who de- 

 clared this an encroachment, and that all land unoccupied when the 

 islands came under the British rule, was liable to be recovered as 

 circar waste, and to be given on hossagamy^ terms, but that such 

 had not been the usage of the islands. These trees may either now 

 be assessed or the encroachment be overlooked, and better care of 

 this land be taken in future. I do not think it probable, that this 

 land will ever be much in demand, for it is of the poorest description, 

 and would not remunerate the cultivation unless given in the lowest 

 terms, and years must probably elapse before the increase of popula- 

 tion will force it into cultivation. 



The Monigar has been ordered to mark off all these spots with 

 stones and carefully to prevent encroachment in future. The whole 

 may amount to 50 acres. 



There are so called Circar gardens in this island, which will be in- 

 troduced afterwards. 



Island of K.a- Kadamat lies due north from, and within sight of 

 damat. Ameendevy at a distance of 6 or 8 miles. 



The coral formation on which this island stands is the most ex- 

 tensive of those I visited, and the lagoon enclosed by the reefs is 

 very large, well stocked with fish, and much frequented by the peo- 

 ple of Ameendevy on that account. 



The island is long and narrow probably 3 to 31 miles 

 long by three-fifths of a mile broad. The bod)"- of the 

 island appears generally lower than that of any of the others, and 

 has an excellent natural protection against the weather in a ridge of 

 low sand drift which runs down the west side. The superficial area 

 of this island must be considerably greater than that of any of the 



* Hossagamy , a natiye term for land newly recovered from rivers, &c 



