18^7,] Laccadke Islands. St 



pursuing fish, as the Islanders use the harpoon almost exclusively 

 in taking fish. The boats are all light coir sewed craft, built on the 

 islands of wood brought from the coast. Cocoanut wood is never used 

 Cooly Hire, sometimes is asserted. The rate of cooly hire in 

 Freight, &c. ^he islands is one seer of rice per diem (50 seers to a 

 moodah) with the other Httle necessaries as betlenuts, tobacco, &c. 

 altogether probably within one anna. Freight to and from the coast, 

 is charged at ten per cent, on all bulky articles, as nuts, coir, ko. and 

 levied on the return cargo of rice. This is divided at certain rates 

 between boat owner and the kalassies. 



Illicit trafEc ^ inclined to believe that there is much clan- 



in Coir. destine traffic in coir from the islands. The imports 



to Mangaiore will always be found to fall short of any calculation 

 made of the probable produce of the " returned" number of bearing 

 trees, but 5 to percent, must be allowed for home consumption ; a 

 considerable number of trees are cut for meera and many nuts are 

 used for drinking before the husk is formed, besides which, no doubt 

 a large quantity of husks are wasted and not made up into yarn, 

 particularly in Kiltan. The Islanders probably make up some coir 

 into cables for their own use, which they may subsequently be in- 

 duced to dispose of elsewhere, but the strictest inquiries I could make, 

 lead me to believe that though I have heard some hints against the 

 inhabitants of Kiltan, there is no extensive and systematic smug- 

 ghng now. Since the value of coir has fallen it has been the inter- 

 est of the Islanders to keep up the monopoly system under which 

 their surplus produce has a ready and steady market. If the prices 

 paid are not quite equal to what they might obtain elsewhere, they 

 are paid with the greatest regularity and the Islanders are perfectly 

 sensible that this difference does not press so heavily on them as 

 would a regular assessment on the land or trees. I believe from these 

 considerations they are jealous of any irregularity among themselves, 

 which might endanger the continuance of the system. Pattamars ne- 

 ver visit the islands, and ships avoid them if possible, a few only, from 

 the southern harbours of India, going direct to Arabia, sight them but 

 probably not more than 5 or 6 a year ; and whenever a boat returns 

 from a trip, she is drawn out of the water, and before being launch- 

 ed again it is necessary to obtain the Monegar's permission and a 

 peon searches her before she starts. This may act as a slight check, 

 though it may be evaded with the greatest ease, were it not their in- 

 terest to avoid raising the least suspicion. 



