218 
Notes relative to the Maldive Islands. [Oct. 1, 
as in other cases, by the observance of it. 
In the case of real crimes, in proportion 
as their mischievousness is apparent, 
what cannot but be manifest even to 
the criminal, is, that it is by the adhe¬ 
rence to his engagement that he would 
do an injury to society, and that by the 
breach of such engagement, instead of 
doing mischief he is doing good: in 
the case of usury this is what no man 
can know 7 , and what one can scarcely 
think it possible for any man, who, in 
the character of the borrower, has been 
concerned in such a transaction, to 
imagine. He knew 7 that even in his 
own judgment, the engagement was a 
beneficial one to himself, or he would 
not have entered into it: and no¬ 
body else but the lender is affected by 
it.” W. S. R. 
May 31^, 1821. 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
notes relative to the maldive is¬ 
lands, by capt. schultz, Comman¬ 
der of the Hey stein , shipwrecked on 
one of them July 20, 1819. 
T HE island of Mall is in 4 15 20’ of 
north latitude; though of small 
extent, the sultans of the Maldives, 
from its advantageous position and local 
conveniences, have chosen it for the seat 
of empire. It is very strong by nature, 
and is capable of being rendered much 
more so by art. 
This island is about 3 miles in cir¬ 
cumference, of a circular form, and is 
surrounded with a bulwark of rocks, 
except in the western part. Here the 
inhabitants have an artificial fortifica¬ 
tion, uniting the tw 7 o extremities of the 
natural rock. Two passages have been 
left for the entrance of boats, but these 
can be closed, should an attack be ap¬ 
prehended from the inhabitants of the 
Lackadives, whose hostility to the Mal- 
divese is inveterate and of Ions; stand¬ 
ing. 
The surf is very violent on the shore, 
which renders all approach dangerous 
to an enemy. The natural rock is not 
contiguous, but forms a girdle, at a little 
distance, between which and the island 
the sea is as tranquil as a pond. Here 
their trading vessels anchor, and it is 
also the station of the fishing boats that 
belong to the inhabitants. The former 
are to the number of seven ; they make 
voyages to Ceylon, to the coasts of the 
Indian continent, to Calcutta and to 
Tchittegang. The fishing vessels are 
from 50 to 60. The tides are irregular, 
from being much disturbed by the 
winds, but in general they rise to the 
height of seven feet. 
Every where on the eastern side na¬ 
ture has fortified this island, and art 
has done it every where else. Iu the 
bastions and curtains, of which there 
are ten, I have counted a hundred pieces 
of cannon, some of them brass; the 
largest are 12 pounders, mostly of 
Dutch fabrication. I cannot speak 
highly of these guns, as to their con¬ 
struction, and much less of their dispo¬ 
sition ; the fortifications, in fact, are 
crumbling to ruin. 
The whole island is covered with 
buildings remarkably neat and agree¬ 
able. A tow 7 n has been planned out, 
with broad streets intersected at right 
angles, which are carefully swept every 
morning. In the western part, on 
quitting the boats, you enter through a 
number of small gates; the sultan in¬ 
habits this quarter ; his palace forms a 
sort of citadel, with lofty walls mount¬ 
ed with artillery: the approach is in¬ 
tercepted by a fosse 14 feet broad. It 
is a stone building, two stories high; 
the appearance is not very magnificent, 
and its flat roof does not help to set it 
off. 
The numerous houses of the inhabi¬ 
tants are commodiously contrived, and 
the eye is every where greeted with 
rows of apartments well arranged. 
They are mostly constructed of wood, 
and many are so altogether. 
The buildings that most attract a 
stranger’s notice, are two vast mosques 
of an imposing architecture. The sul¬ 
tan repairs to one every Friday, to per¬ 
form his devotions, when his health 
permits. He was indisposed during the 
whole time we were at Mall, and but 
seldom w 7 ent out of his palace. For 
the same reason I was prevented from 
seeing the citadel, though I had a pro¬ 
mise of being presented to his highness, 
as soou as he should be in a condition 
to receive visits. 
To every house there is a well of ex¬ 
cellent water; a number of public 
fountains with basins supply the people 
w 7 ith w 7 ater sufficient for their ablutions. 
Here and there appear cemeteries ; the 
tombs which they contain have an up 
right stone loaded with inscriptions, 
in the language of the country, but in 
Arabic characters. 
The government appears to be des¬ 
potic ; the power is hereditary in the 
family of the sultan; all of the blood 
ro 3 7 al live w ith him in the citadel. His 
armed force of 150 men have also their 
quarters 
