IS IT.] 



Laccadice Islands. 



SI 



Classification of iii^cle, and since 1837, the quantities to be received in 

 each class have been fixed at a certain rate per cent, 

 according to the general character of the coir supplied from each of 

 the islands. Of Ameendevy and Kadaniat coir — (for imported 

 together they are received indiscriminately, though the latter is 

 of the best quality,) 70 per cent, is paid for, as 1st class coir at 

 21 rupees 14 annas per Mangalore candy of 660 lbs. (equal to 

 25 rupees per Calicut candy of 640 lbs.) 20 per cent, is paid 

 for as 2nd class at the rate of 17 rupees 8 annas per Mangalore 

 candy, (or 20 rupees per Calicut candy) and 10 per cent, is entered 

 as 3rd class coir and paid for at the rate of 13 rupees 4 annas 6 pie 

 per Mangalore candy (equal to 15 rupees per Calicut candy) this 

 will give the average price paid for a Mangalore candy of Ameen- 

 devy coir 20 rupees and 2 annas (or 23 rupees per Calicut candy 

 of 640 lbs). Kiltan and Chetlat coir is finer and \vhiter and is re- 

 ceived on a somewhat better footing. Of this 80 per cent, is paid for 

 as 1st class, 15 per cent, as 2nd class, and 5 per cent, only is taken as 

 3rd class, at which rate the value of a Mangalore candy is 20 rupees 

 12 annas 7 pie, or 23 rupees 12 annas per Calicut candy and the 

 difference between the prices paid for Ameendevy coir and Kil- 

 tan and Chetlat coir amounts to about 2-3rds per cent. In some of 

 the Ameendevy reports I find the average price paid for coir stated 

 as 17 rupees 8 annas per candy, which, from the above, is shown to 

 be erroneous. Probably 2-3rds of the coir being entered as Ameen- 

 devy coir, is paid for at the lower average rate, but even then the 

 average rate would be 20 rupees 5 annas 6 pie per Mangalore 

 candy, or 23 rupees 4 annas per Calicut candy. 



Until the year 1820, all coir was paid for at the rate of 21 

 rupees 14 annas per Mangalore candy, or 25 rupees per Cali- 

 cut candy of 640 lbs. It appears from the records, that in 

 that year the Head English writer reduced the price of some 

 considered inferior to 17 rupees 8 annas per Mangalore candy, 

 an arrangement which was confirmed by Principal Collector Harris, 

 under date the 8th April, 1820. The native servants soon intro- 

 duced a 3rd class, and made still further reduction, and the classi- 

 fication of the coir became a cause of yearly complaint on the 

 part of the Islanders against the partiality and injustice of the pub- 

 lic servants, who, they alleged, were inexperienced and unfit to 

 judge the qualities of the coir. Mr. Lewin referred the matter in 

 1837 to a punchayet of experienced merchcints, who decided that 



