The Graphic: An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper from London, Greater London, England • 21

THE GRAPHIC 4'5 OCT. 16, i885 their grief- Six of the near relations of the deceased act as chief mourners, and bear the body wrapped in white linen on a bier of doings of the Germans in that part, and he consequently fancied that my visit had some ulterior political design which he could only days, such as Fridays, when they attend the mosque, the high-castes wear a shirt and jacket, over which is a kind of long dressing-gown, coming down nearly to the feet. The turban is only worn by priests and the Sultan, The women's costume is exceedingly becoming. Round the waist, and reaching down to the ankles, is worn a cloth (mostly of native manufacture), coarse in texture, of a dark chocolate colour, with a border of parallel black-and-white stripes. Over this they wear a kind of loose shirt, or gown, of silk, with short sleeves, reaching nearly to the knees, which is not made to fit to the neck and shoulders, but is gathered in round them the openings for the neck and arms are ornamented with embroidery in gold, silver, and silk thread.

The hair, which is black, and generally long and thick, is tied up behind, and a handkerchief of the same colour as the shirt is bound round it. All ranks wear a similar costume, the distinctions of caste being marked by the difference in the quality of the silk stuff of which the shirt is made, and of the embroidery. The Maldivians are very quiet and reserved in their intercourse with foreigners until their confidence has been gained, when they show themselves hospitable to a degree. They have few wants, and, as they possess the means of easily satisfying them, are inclined to be indolent sober, honest, and cheerful, they compare favourably with the inhabitants of many other Eastern countries. They are very ingenious and expert in their manufactures, and display great aptitude in the imitation of any European articles they may come across, such as knife-handles, scales, and other small articles of daily use amongst us.

The Sultan is a young man of some three and twenty years of age, strongly built, and with a well-proportioned figure. His complexion is fair, and his regular features are well set off by a jet black beard, worn short, as is the custom among Maldivian high castes. He is of a very full habit of body, and the life he leads is such as to preclude any possibility of his life being a long one. His rule is absolute and although he has Ministers whose advice he seeks on any occasion of importance, he seldom if ever profits by their wisdom, and often takes a course directly opposite to their E. A.

ABKAHIM DEEDEE, PRIME MINISTER OF THE MALDIVES HIGH PRIEST AND HIS SON frustrate by detaining me in Male until the Ceylon arrived to take me away again. Fortunately for me, his Ministers were not so prejudiced as their master, and gladly gave me all the assistance they dared in face of the restrictions put upon them by the Sultan. It is fortunate for this monarch that he has had to deal with the candou-wood (M. kaih'i) to the place of interment, where it is received by the priests, who chant a sort of monotonous dirge during the ceremony. On the way to the burial-place two or three of the relatives of the deceased sprinkle the processionists with perfumed water, and also distribute rice and cowries to the poor.

The grave is generally about four feet deep, and when the body has been laid in it, with the face turned towards Mohammed's tomb, it is filled up with clean white sand, and perfumed water sprinkled over it. A stone is erected over the grave, varying in shape and size according to the sex and caste of the deceased, and a wooden fence is also generally added to prevent any one from walking over the grave, which is considered a great sacrilege by the Maldivians. No period of mourning is observed, except that the near relatives come on the three following Fridays to pray at the grave. The priests receive as a fee the cotton cloth in which the body was wrapped, and pieces of money according to the rank and wealth of the deceased. Pyrard says GRAVE OF A HIGH-CASTE IN MALE PART OF THE RECEPTION-ROOM OF THE HIGH PRIEST, SHOWING THE BED AND SHIELDS USED BY THE FENCERS 1 These Shields are the only ones allowed on the Islands, and are always kept in this apartment views.

He is very adverse to any intercourse with foreigners, especially Europeans, whom he either refuses to see at all or keeps waiting, perhaps, for weeks before granting an interview. At the time of my visit this cautiousness had been very much increased by the recent arrival of news from Zanzibar, giving details of the that when a great lord dies the priests sing over the grave for one year in the case of. a Sultan dying, the ceremony is continued till the death of his successor. The ordinary dress of the men is very simple, consisting of drawers, a cloth bound round the loins, after the mode of the Cingalese, and a handkerchief twisted round the head. On special English for the last century, also that his dominions are a little out of the direct march of civilisation.

But the time cannot be far off when his only choice will lie between submission to the European; or practical effacement. Although not so strict as formerly, caste distinctions are rigidly adhered to. The Sultan naturally occupies the highest rank, after him come his near relations, who have the sole right of assuming the title of Mannipul or ManifuUoo the next in rank are the descendants of former Sultans, who have a right to assume the name and rank of Didi, or DecJee. When the Sultan appoints a Minister, or wishes to show any particular favour, he bestows a title, which has generally attached to it the ownership of certain islands, which become either the life property of the favoured person, or else are held by him during the Sultan's pleasure. The present Ministers, with their titles and in order of rank, are Manifulloo, title Fdtina Kilage-fdnu, Treasurer he is a near relative of the Sultan, to whom he is next in rank but he has very little influence over the monarch, hardly more than other high castes.

E. A. Abrahim Deedee, 7s VIEW IN MALE HARBOUR Showing the Main Bastion of the Fort constructed by the Portuguese in the seventeenth century title Dorimaina Prime Minister Abrahim Deedee is undoubtedly the most enlightened of all the Sultan's subjects. To him is entrusted the management of the trade of the Maldives, which already shows signs of development in spite of the restrictions with which the Sultan hampers it. He is a great friend of the English, and spent some years in Ceylon, acting as Turkish Consul KLCEPTION VERANDAH IN THE SULTAN'S PALACE.