Maldive Isles

Maldive Isles, a chain of coral islands and clumps, S.W. of Ceylon, most singularly arranged, and consisting of several hundred islands in 17 groups, of which not 200 are inhabited. The chain has a length of 540 miles - as far as from the Orkneys to Dover - and a breadth of about 40 miles. The people are Mohammedans, but resemble the Cinghalese in language, etc. They are under the protection of England, and their head chief resides on the island of Male. Coir, copra, cowries, cocoanut, tortoiseshell, and dried bonito are the chief productions and articles of export.