254 Report on the Laccadive Islands. [No. 10, new series. 



and — r — ^ — irom north and north east. In - 



March April May 



Methoon om d Karked Bg om monsoon and stQrms frQm ^ ^ 

 June July 



north west, water spouts frequently in Edavom and Midoonom. 



38. Current. — In Edavom, Methoonom and Karkedagom goes 

 south east passing south of Ceylon and going to Pulo Penang and 

 beyond Kannee, Tholam and Vrishigom current less violent, and 

 direction uncertain ; close to shore changes will be rapid several 

 within the day ; but not so rapid at sea. 



39. In coming from Maldives to Menakoy in KaTm * e ' steer 



' September 



four points west of Menakoy to hit it. 



40. Population. — The inhabitants of Menakoy (about 2500 in 

 number) bear the different class appellations of Malikans, Malum- 

 my Yaekura , Kalo, Maylacherry, no great distinctions however at- 

 tached to all these names. 



41. The real divisions are Malikans, Malummies, Klasies, May- 

 lacherries. 



42. The Malikans (about 116 in number) form the aristocracy 

 of the island ; 3 of them have considerable landed property there, 

 and own all the trading vessels which go to Bengal, &c. 



43. Though now consisting of several families they are all con- 

 nected, being sprung from Kambakoth Kombaramy who lived 

 200 years ago. 



44. They have by no means the overweening influence exercised 

 over their countrymen as by the aristocracy of the Laccadive Islands, 

 this is consequent on the different relative position of the parties. 



45. The Beebee of Cannanore has endeavoured more or less 

 to identify their interests with her own by supporting their wishes 

 occasionally with reference to the conduct of their sailors, and by 

 usually employing one of them as her agent or Konnakar on the 

 Island. 



43 This Konnakar collects all the revenues of the Beebee, 

 levies fines for trespass, keeps down in a measure theft, &c , and 

 superintends the Beebee' s traffic, i e. on the arrival of her ves- 

 sels from Cannanore he gives orders necessary for their careful 

 preservation and arranges for the embarking of the cargo, crews, 

 $cc., for the voyage to Bengal at the commencement of the season. 



