The Graphic: An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper from London, Greater London, England • 22

THE GRAPHIC 416 in Galle, an office now filled by his sen. It is to him that I owe the success of my first visit. I always found him ready to give me every assistance and information in his power. Hassan Deedee, CT- '6, ,886 island for a period commensurate with the offence commute i commonest punishment is castigation, the blows being dealt i back and thighs with a sheet of leather inserted into a hdl During my stay a man and woman who had killed their newb child the commonest crime in the Maldives were sentenced to ca to four. The ceremony is extremely simple the man having satisfied the parents of his intended bride of his ability to support her, the pair attend before the magistrate of their island, and s.gni their mutual wish to be joined in matrimony.

The magistrate thereupon declares them to be man and wife, calling upon those assembled to be witnesses. It will reaciny oe unuerstouu a bond so lightly tied can be as easily severed should a couple not agree, they attend again before the magistrate, who, after satisfying himself that both parties desire the separation, declares the marriage annulled. The amusements are very few, indeed the islanders are of too indolent and taciturn a disposition to enter with spirit into any pastime. Fishing is their favourite exercise, and is indulged in to nearly the same degree as are hunting and shooting in England. They are fond of kite-flying but this pastime is only permitted at certain periods of the year, or indoor games they have chess and a species of fox anc geese," played with nine cowrie shellson a board marked out into regular spaces.

On special occasions organised spoils are held, which are generally witnessed by the Sultan and his wives. At these sports the young men generally ege, kind nf fencing exercise with sticks which WEAVING A WOMAN'S WATSTCLOTH is, however, entirely without interest. The two principal games or dances are the Malikntara and the Todu. The first came originally from Minicoy (hence its name), and is performed by about twenty tom-tom beaters, who go through a series of slow movements, accompanying their gestures by a The second game is of pure regular thumping of their instruments, nun DEEDEE HASSAN Maldive origin it originated in An Atoi, ana is p.ui.. six couples of fencers, armed with wands some six icei gation and banishment for life.

The woman was the first to receive punishment, and I had an opportunity of witnessing the infliction. She was conducted through the principal streets of the town securely bound with strong cords, which were firmly held by two men on either side. Her face was smeared with black and white paint, and a. cocoa-nut leaf fixed to her back stood up about six feet above her head. Tom-tom beaters marched some twenty paces ahead of the procession, and called upon the people to come out and witness the punishment.

At about every two hundred yards a halt was made, and a strongly-built Maldivian administered between thirty and forty blows with the leather instrument described above. This was repeated until the whole town had been traversed. Next day came the man's turn, and then both were banished to separate islands for the rest of their days. The punishment here described was inflicted with the plain leather, which I should say was not capable of inflicting much pain but I was informed that when the punishment is intended to be very -severe iron nails are inserted in the leather, which cruelly lacerate the flesh this must be of very rare occurrence, however. I was unable to go further than the Island of Male on this visit, as the Sultan (who suspected I had some ulterior political design in visiting his country) refused to allow me to proceed further.

When he ultimately gave his consent it was too late, as the Ceylon was title Fanu Dairi Kilage-fanu Hassan Deedee is a cousin of E. A. Abrahim Deedee, and has the command of the army his principal duty being to superintend the fencing and dancing games which are held periodically by order of the Sultan. One interesting fact in connection with him is that he is the only Maldivian who is allowed to wear the old Maldive costume, in which he was dressed when I took his photograph. This costume nearly resembles that worn by the women of the present day.

A. Mohamedu Deedee, title liana Baddri Kilage-fanu. Next in rank to the Ministers are the Viziers, or Mouscouly, who have charge of the divisions, or wards, into which Male is divided (called Avari), of which there are four. There are other titles bestowed by the Sultan which are merely social distinctions, and many of which can be obtained by payment of a few rupees. The trade of the Maldives must all pass through Male, and is mostly carried on on the principle of barter.

The bazaar in Male is the only one which exists in the group, and it is here that all the foreign trade is carried on. The shops are the personal property of the Sultan, who lets them out to a number of Bombay merchants, at rents varying from fifteen rupees to fifty rupees per month. These liombay merchants mostly sell rice and cotton goods to the natives, taking in exchange tortoise-shell, cocoa-nuts, cowries, and dried fish. A man's caste is dependent on that of his mother, whose station is not affected by marriage. I was not able to find out how many castes are in existence but believe that the number is about seven or eight.

The high castes include the first three, and have the sole right of furnishing the soldiers and dancers of the Sultan the lowest castes are the toddy-drawers (M. Ra-veri). When two people of different castes meet, the lower caste makes way for the higher caste in company the lower caste remains standing until BOYS SMOKING Showing the mode of construction of the pipe ends of which are fixed metal boxes filled with cowries, resembling the children's rattles in Europe. With these they go through a series of movements, timed to the regular beat of tom-toms, and, by striking the wands against one another, make a continuous rattling noise. The private band of the Sultan is not without interest.

It plays before the Sultan on special occasions, and sometimes in public. The instruments date from the time of the Portuguese or Dutch. I heard a performance, but cannot say I was able to make much of the music it reminded me at times of some airs which I have heard in Arabia. The leader had a large open book before him, which I asked to be allowed to see, thinking that it would afford me some information on the subject but it only contained a few Arabic characters, not bearing in any way upon the subject of music. The Maldive women are very fond of ornaments and all wear quantities of rings, brooches, earrings, necklaces, and bangles, which are made either of gold, silver, or brass according to the casle of the wearer.

In former times all the jewellers were inhabitants of Nilandu Atol, and travelled from island to THE MALDIVJ AMBASSADOR SAILING FROM MALE ON HIS NNUAL VISIT TO CEYLON BAZAAR IN MALE, THE ONLY ONE ON THE GKOUP The Indian merchants, who carry on the foreign trade of the Maldives, rent the shops from the Sultan then due to take me back to Colombo, and as I exhibit my collection at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, in delay was impossible. I intend, however, to revisit the before the close of the year, to complete the explorations teBu Male. N.B-In this connection the Laccadive Islands may mentioned. They lie to the north of the Maldive and may be regarded as a conunuauuu ue regaraea as w. between lat.

ine jaccauives eventv- and long. 7adeg. and 74Ieg. about seu system, I2deg. mi inolPPn island throughout the group, remaining on each as long as employment offered they are now, however, permanently established on most of the principal islands.

The laws regulating what ornaments the women should use rere much more strict formerly than now at the present day a woman may wear what she can afford to buy, whatever her caste may be. The embroidery work produced by the women is remarkable for neat workmanship and tasteful arrangement of the colours used. As in all Eastern countries, all household ditties are left to the women, who also have to prepare and cook their husbands' food. They are not allowed to eat with their husbands but must first wait upon him until his meal is finished, when they retire to their own apartment for their repast. As a rule they are decidedly handsome, and many1 of them have complexions nearly as fair as the women of Southern Europe.

They are better treated than inother Mohammedan countries, having a great deal of liberty. They never veil their faces, and the only restriction to which they are subjected is that they are not allowed out at night, which is not any great hardship for them, as the fear of meeting the Devil is already a sufficient inducement for them to remain at home. Crime is very rare on the islands, and the punishments inflicted would generally be considered mild in Europe. Death is never inflicted, the severest penalty being banishment to an uninhabited inviied to be seated by his superior, and waits till the laUcr has finished his meal before commencing to eat. The Maldivians are Mohammedans, and it is generally supposed that their conversion to the faith of the Prophet took place some seven hundred years back.

Although particular in observing the fasts and ceremonies of their religion, they are not so particular as to the manner in which this is done. Their mosques are well built and kept very clean there are several in Male, but one is mostly used for ordinary festivals and prayer, and is called the "Friday Mosque" M. Hukitru MisMtu). Superstitions exercise a great influence on the daily life of the Maldivians, much more than religion. They are principally afraid of the Devil, who is supposed to exercise great power, and whom they make responsible fur all mishaps which befall them; they go out at night very unwillingly, for fear of meeting him.

Should illness visit a house, it is suppesed that the inmates have offended his Satanic majesty in some way, and prayers are addressed to him, begging him to cease the supposed punishment in extreme cases these prayers are written on a piece of cotton stuff stretched on a small wooden frame, which is exposed before the house. The Maldivians do not marry very early I believe the usual age for men is between eighteen and twenty. Polygamy is allowed, according to the Mohammedan law, the number of wives being limited five miles from the Malabar Coast, mere arc islands, but the largest (Anderov) is not more than si i miles in extent. Most of them are surrounded by roc coral reefs the water near them, however, is deep, ana separated by several wide channels, frequented by snip from India to Persia and Arabia. They are inhabited race of Mohammedans called Moplays.

They do grain, but produce an infinite quantity of cocoa- the husks of which coir cables are made by tants. These islands are well supplied with nsn, port the small shells called cowries, which pass as over India. Jaghery, a little betel-nut, plantains, eggs and poultry, and coral for converf are their remaining exports, but they are ot luu de znre. The T.nrmdive Islands were discovered uy till Gama in 1498: they were dependent on Cannano .1 me into Bite" ceded by Tippoo in 1792, wnen mcy with the rest of that sovereign's dominions..