22 



Description of the 



[No. 3.S, 



Cocoa Plantation, 



He 



For 1827.. 

 „ 1831.. 

 „ 1839.. 

 ,, 18U.. 



2,936 

 4,729 

 2,401 

 3,319 



66 

 237 

 138 

 153 



1,126 

 2,731 

 915 

 804 



1,744 

 1,731 

 1,348 

 2,362 



N. B. The chouk 

 this statement. 



Dry Cultiva 

 tioii. 



ire excluded in 



a small advance in the plantation, 

 but a perfect trifle when compared 

 with the capabilities of this island. 

 The coir produced on it is of the 

 very best description, and is all 

 sea-soaked, but the yearly produce 

 cannot be ascertained as it comes to 

 the coast mixed indiscriminately 

 with that of Ameendevy, and is 

 entered in the accounts as Ameende- 

 vy coir. 



There is no tot or hat in this island where the 

 substratum of limestone has been broken up, but its 

 natural soil is the most favorable to dry cultivation to be found on the 

 group, and a considerable portion of the dry grain raised, is grown 

 in this island. The people from Ameendevy go there and cultivate 

 during the monsoon, raghee^ jowaree^ and loha.^ Under the pre- 

 sent system, this species of cultivation escapes the contribution of its 

 quota to the revenue, while it no doubt retards the advance of the 

 cocoanut plantation in this island, which does contribute. 



Condi tiou. The Island is still in a most backward state, and of 



all most claims attention with a view to raising the condition of its in- 

 habitants, as also securing the interests of Government. It is capa- 

 ble of becoming the most valuable of the group as well from the na- 

 ture of the soil, as the extent of land. At least by nature 20 per 

 cent, more productive than Ameendevy and fully equal to Kiltan, 

 scarcely one-eighth part of the island has been planted, it lies near 

 the former over-peopled island, whose inhabitants are already de- 

 pendent on it, for part of their dry grain, and is at no great distance 

 from the fully planted island of Kiltan whose inhabitants will perhaps 

 extend their enterprize here in course of time. With this view it 

 might be of great advantage to allow the islanders a small tuccavy] 

 to enable them to build a couple of shore-going boats, this would 

 make them at once independent of the people of Ameendevy, save to 

 them a large amount of freight which is exacted for taking their nuts 

 and coir to the coast, and much improve their spirits and stimulate 

 their energy ; such an advance would be most gratefully received 

 and easily and regularly recovered. Tiie bounds of the cultivation 



* See Notes p. 19. 



+ Advance of money. 



