CHAPTER XIX 
THE ALDABRA ISLES 
Between the Seychelles and the Comoro Isles lies a 
small group of islands consisting of the Aldabra Isles 
(9° 22' S. lat. and 46° 14' E. long.) and the neigh¬ 
bouring islands of Assumption, Cosmoledo and Astow. 
These islands were doubtless known long ago to the 
Arab mariners, and were seen by the Portuguese on 
their voyages. The chief island, Aldabra, was mentioned 
as early as 15 ii under the name Ilhadara, and a little 
later it was designated as Adarno and then as Albadara. 
In the year 1742 Aldabra became better known by 
the voyage of Lacaze Picault and Jean Grossen to the 
Seychelles, and in 1878 Wharton prepared a map; more 
