BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 
o 
no account of the islands had been published, though in 1873 
they were visited by Dr. Shortt.* * * § Mr. Hume in 1875 paid a visit to 
the Archipelago, his object being mainly an ornithological survey, 
but with characteristic energy he made a botanical collection in some 
of the islands visited by him, and refers to the species that he col¬ 
lected or observed in his account of this visit.t A series of scientific 
visits have recently been paid to this group by H. M. I. M. Inves¬ 
tigator. In October, 1887, Chitlac was visited, but no botanical col¬ 
lecting was done. J Again in May, 1889, Anderut and Kiltan were 
visited, and collections of botanical specimens were made by Dr. 
Alcock, Surgeon-Naturalist to the Marine Survey ;§ these collections 
were described in a preliminary notice of the Flora of the group by 
the writer.II In November, 1889, the Investigator visited Kal- 
peni^ and Dr. Alcock again made a collection of the plants. Finally, 
in November and December, 1891, the vessel re-visited Kiltan, 
and visited Kadaraum and Bitrapar, whence Mr. Hume had already 
sent specimens, as well as Akati and Minikoi, two islands from which 
specimens had not previously been obtained.** During these 1891 
visits. Dr. Alcock and his assistant, Mr. Fleming, Apothecary on the 
Investigator, collected most assiduously the plants that were met 
with, Mr. Fleming at the same time preparing a list of the species 
under cultivation in the four inhabited islands visited. 
All the islands of the group are typical coral-islands, situated on 
atoll-rings, of which each forms but a small portion, generally on 
the eastern or leeward aspect of their respective reefs; Anderut, 
however, is situated on the windward side, the reef being to 
* Shortt; Monograph of the Cocoanut Palm; or, Cocos nucifera, p. 16 (Madras, 
1888). 
t Hume, “ The Laccadives and the West Coast”; “ Stray Feathers,” vol. iv., pp. 413, 
460 (1876). 
J Carpenter, ‘‘.Administration Report of the Marine Survey of India,” year 
1887-88, p. 7. 
§ Alcock in Hoskyn, “Administration Report of the Marine Survey of India,” year 
1889-90, p. 13. 
II Prain, “ A List of Laccadive Plants”; “ Scientific Mem. by Medical Officers of the 
Army of India,” pt. v., pp. 47-70 (1889). 
^ Hoskyn, “ Administration Report of the Marine Survey of India,” 1889-90, p. 5, 
Gunn, ‘‘ Administration Report of the Marine Survey of India,” 1891-92, p. 3. 
* 305 
