1847.] 



LaccacUve Islands. 



others, and the natural fertility of its soil exceeds all, except that of 

 Kiltan which it quite equals. It is however in a wretchedly back- 

 ward state, with hardly an eighth part of the soil which might be most 



advantageously taken in, cultivated. 

 The return of population for 1844 

 shows an increase nearly 75 per cent, 

 on that of 1831. The inhabitants 

 are very poor, shy and spiritless, and 

 are somewhat domineered over by 

 their neighbours of Ameendevy, who 





Population. 







a; 







|Male.^ 



Feraal 



1 



[Total] 



(For 1831.. 



38 



38 



76 



Kadamat.^ „ 1839.. 



60 



54 



114 



( „ 1844.. 



71 



62 



133 



Condition of Inhabitants. exact certain services from them and 

 plunder their trees when on fishing expeditions about the neigh- 

 bouring shoal. Many of them are affected with blindness, and the worst 

 description of leprosy and other gangrenous diseases prevalent 

 throughout this group, — to be attributed possibly to the limited 

 scope for seeking change of blood in their marriages, as well as to 

 the unwholesomeness of their provisions, principally saltfish. Pro- 

 bably the island was once in a more flourishing state than it now is, 

 and it is said that 70 or 80 years ago, it was visited by an epi- 

 demic which thinned their numbers, and entirely extirpated several 

 families. The sites of several ruined houses are still pointed out 

 in testimony. They certainly had then two shore-going boats, and 

 exported their own coir ; for the transport of which they are now 

 entirely dependent on Ameendevy, as they possess only small fishing 

 boats themselves. 



State of the The cocoanut cultivation is limited to a strip 

 Plantation. across the middle of the island, leaving by far the 

 greater portion of the island, divided in about equal portions on both 

 sides, unoccupied. The southern portion of the island is covered 

 with a thick jungle of underwood, which might be removed with the 

 greatest ease. The western portion is open plain, covered with 

 weeds and low bushes. The soil is light and sandy but naturally 

 damper and firmer than that of Ameendevy, and the productive- 

 ness of trees where the island has been planted, proves that were the 

 whole under cultivation, it might support a population at least equal 

 to that of Ameendevy. 



The average produce of trees in this island may safely be set 

 at 80 nuts per annum, and coming rapidly into bearing, they require 

 no attention while growing. The statement in the margin shows 



