DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49708#0148
THE
MALDIVES.
Appendix B.
S.S. “Sea-Gull,”
1879.
“ Europa,”
1812.
1817.
“ Hayston,”
1819.
“ Adonis,”
“ Vicissitude,”
1835, 1836.
“ Mac Imroy,”
1839, 1842.
1842.
Prazer e Allegria,”
1844.
“ Paramatta,”
1855.
130 .SESSIONAL PAPERS, 1881.
After all, the asserted “ misconduct” was rather an omission on the sole part of the authorities
at Male, for the Captain had no fault to find with the Islanders generally.
3. It is not necessary to do more than just refer to the recent charge of alleged assault and
petty larceny by the inhabitants of Gafaru Island (North Male Atol) in connection with oper-
ations for the recovery of the cargo from the wreck of the S.S. “ Sea-Gull” (1879), as the complaint,
though referred to the Sultan at the time, was considered too trivial to be pressed.*
The first two cases have been dwelt on in some detail designedly, in order not to hide in any
degree the full extent of the alleged misdoings of the Maldivians.
Turning now to the evidence in favour of the Islanders, it is satisfactory to find that there is
‘enough and to spare’ to convince every impartial inquirer that their professed humanity is “not
a myth, but a sober and pleasing reality.”
Several cases of substantial aid rendered to vessels wrecked on the Atols in the 17th and 18th
centuries have been briefly noted in glancing at Maidive history ( V. s. pp. 31, 35, 37.)f It will
suffice to confine investigation to the present century.
Referring to the wreck of the “ Europa” ( F. s. pp. 35, 36, 47, 48) Sir R. Brownrigg wrote
in January, 1815 :—“ The wreck of a vessel off the coast of this Island in the month of October last,
belonging to some subjects of Your Highness, gave me an opportunity of again testifying my sense
of the kindness afforded by Your Highness to the crew of the British ship ‘Europa,’ wrecked on
the Maidive Islands in the year 1812.Again in 1817 the Sultan was presented with nine-
teen bales of'cinnamon, the cargo of a Galle dhoney which had been wrecked on the Islands, in
acknowledgment of his “humanity aud care”.§ In 1819 the Governor writes, with reference to the
wreck of the “ Hayston”:—“ I have had with great satisfaction the letter which Your Highness’s
messenger, who lately arrived at Galle, brought to the Collector of that District, containing the
particulars of the loss of an English ship off the Maidive Islands, and of the humane treatment the
officer, passengers, and crew who were so fortunate as to survive the wreck, received from Your
Highness during the period of their detention within Your dominions. The vessel in which they
were despatched to Ceylon arrived in safety I am most happy to learn that the conduct of the
unfortunate sufferers gave Your Highness so much satisfaction while they remained under Your
protection, and thereby rendered themselves worthy of the kind and benevolent care Your Highness
was pleased to take of them.®
For “ the humane and liberal conduct” of the Maldivians towards the Commander, officers and
crew of the “Adonis” (1835) and “Vicissitude” (1836), the Sultan received the thanks of the
Government of India. -Presents were accepted as a mark of friendship, but all payment was declined,
though liberally offered.
Returning to Ceylon. The Right Honourable J. A. Stewart Mackenzie writes, in 1839:—“I
cannot lose this opportunity of expressing to Your Highness my thanks for the kind treatment You
have afforded to the Captain and the crew of the British ship ‘Mac Imroy,’ lately wrecked on
one of the isles of Your dominions, and for the aid You have bestowed for their safe conveyance to
Ceylon by lending one of Your Highness’s vessels for that purpose.^!
Three years later (1842) a native vessel belonging to a “Pakeer Tamby” struck on one of the
Maidive reefs and “was completely wrecked.” The Sultan “ caused every needful assistance to be
rendered to the crew,” and finally sent them back to Colombo in a hired vessel, “ paying their pas-
sage money.” This good service was duly acknowledged by Governor Campbell.**
The Sultan’s kindly treatment, in 1844, of the passengers and crew of the Portuguese transport,
“Prazer e Allegria,” has already been referred to (F. s. 37J
In 1855 the Sultan sent over to Ceylon the shipwrecked crew of the “Paramatta,” which was
“wrecked and foundered opposite the shores of Attumatty Island” [?Haddumati Atol.J “They
* V. s., p. 38. t See, too, Stephen's Earia-y-Sousa, Vol. III., Pt. IV., chap. XI., p. 397, of the
shipwreck of D. George de Alineyda on the Maldives in A.D. 1631:—■“ The King of the Islands wrote to D. George
condoling his misfortune and sending him a parcel of rice.”
7 In the Asiatic Annual Register, 1801, is reported the wreck on the Maldives of a thirty-five ton vessel, with
between 20 and 30 Europeans on board, when bound to Colombo:—“ Capt. Meik expresses himself in the highest
terms of the attention shown to him, his officers and crew by the inhabitants during their stay.”
§ Governor’s letter, dated November 8th, 1817.
|| Sultan’s letter (translation dated August 26th, 1819);—“ So good a man as this Captain did never come to Oui
country.” Governor’s reply, dated September 6th, 1819. *jl Governor’s letter, dated December 19th, 1839.
** Sultan’s letter, datad Muharram, A.II. 1259. Governor’s reply, dated December 7th, 1842.
MALDIVES.
Appendix B.
S.S. “Sea-Gull,”
1879.
“ Europa,”
1812.
1817.
“ Hayston,”
1819.
“ Adonis,”
“ Vicissitude,”
1835, 1836.
“ Mac Imroy,”
1839, 1842.
1842.
Prazer e Allegria,”
1844.
“ Paramatta,”
1855.
130 .SESSIONAL PAPERS, 1881.
After all, the asserted “ misconduct” was rather an omission on the sole part of the authorities
at Male, for the Captain had no fault to find with the Islanders generally.
3. It is not necessary to do more than just refer to the recent charge of alleged assault and
petty larceny by the inhabitants of Gafaru Island (North Male Atol) in connection with oper-
ations for the recovery of the cargo from the wreck of the S.S. “ Sea-Gull” (1879), as the complaint,
though referred to the Sultan at the time, was considered too trivial to be pressed.*
The first two cases have been dwelt on in some detail designedly, in order not to hide in any
degree the full extent of the alleged misdoings of the Maldivians.
Turning now to the evidence in favour of the Islanders, it is satisfactory to find that there is
‘enough and to spare’ to convince every impartial inquirer that their professed humanity is “not
a myth, but a sober and pleasing reality.”
Several cases of substantial aid rendered to vessels wrecked on the Atols in the 17th and 18th
centuries have been briefly noted in glancing at Maidive history ( V. s. pp. 31, 35, 37.)f It will
suffice to confine investigation to the present century.
Referring to the wreck of the “ Europa” ( F. s. pp. 35, 36, 47, 48) Sir R. Brownrigg wrote
in January, 1815 :—“ The wreck of a vessel off the coast of this Island in the month of October last,
belonging to some subjects of Your Highness, gave me an opportunity of again testifying my sense
of the kindness afforded by Your Highness to the crew of the British ship ‘Europa,’ wrecked on
the Maidive Islands in the year 1812.Again in 1817 the Sultan was presented with nine-
teen bales of'cinnamon, the cargo of a Galle dhoney which had been wrecked on the Islands, in
acknowledgment of his “humanity aud care”.§ In 1819 the Governor writes, with reference to the
wreck of the “ Hayston”:—“ I have had with great satisfaction the letter which Your Highness’s
messenger, who lately arrived at Galle, brought to the Collector of that District, containing the
particulars of the loss of an English ship off the Maidive Islands, and of the humane treatment the
officer, passengers, and crew who were so fortunate as to survive the wreck, received from Your
Highness during the period of their detention within Your dominions. The vessel in which they
were despatched to Ceylon arrived in safety I am most happy to learn that the conduct of the
unfortunate sufferers gave Your Highness so much satisfaction while they remained under Your
protection, and thereby rendered themselves worthy of the kind and benevolent care Your Highness
was pleased to take of them.®
For “ the humane and liberal conduct” of the Maldivians towards the Commander, officers and
crew of the “Adonis” (1835) and “Vicissitude” (1836), the Sultan received the thanks of the
Government of India. -Presents were accepted as a mark of friendship, but all payment was declined,
though liberally offered.
Returning to Ceylon. The Right Honourable J. A. Stewart Mackenzie writes, in 1839:—“I
cannot lose this opportunity of expressing to Your Highness my thanks for the kind treatment You
have afforded to the Captain and the crew of the British ship ‘Mac Imroy,’ lately wrecked on
one of the isles of Your dominions, and for the aid You have bestowed for their safe conveyance to
Ceylon by lending one of Your Highness’s vessels for that purpose.^!
Three years later (1842) a native vessel belonging to a “Pakeer Tamby” struck on one of the
Maidive reefs and “was completely wrecked.” The Sultan “ caused every needful assistance to be
rendered to the crew,” and finally sent them back to Colombo in a hired vessel, “ paying their pas-
sage money.” This good service was duly acknowledged by Governor Campbell.**
The Sultan’s kindly treatment, in 1844, of the passengers and crew of the Portuguese transport,
“Prazer e Allegria,” has already been referred to (F. s. 37J
In 1855 the Sultan sent over to Ceylon the shipwrecked crew of the “Paramatta,” which was
“wrecked and foundered opposite the shores of Attumatty Island” [?Haddumati Atol.J “They
* V. s., p. 38. t See, too, Stephen's Earia-y-Sousa, Vol. III., Pt. IV., chap. XI., p. 397, of the
shipwreck of D. George de Alineyda on the Maldives in A.D. 1631:—■“ The King of the Islands wrote to D. George
condoling his misfortune and sending him a parcel of rice.”
7 In the Asiatic Annual Register, 1801, is reported the wreck on the Maldives of a thirty-five ton vessel, with
between 20 and 30 Europeans on board, when bound to Colombo:—“ Capt. Meik expresses himself in the highest
terms of the attention shown to him, his officers and crew by the inhabitants during their stay.”
§ Governor’s letter, dated November 8th, 1817.
|| Sultan’s letter (translation dated August 26th, 1819);—“ So good a man as this Captain did never come to Oui
country.” Governor’s reply, dated September 6th, 1819. *jl Governor’s letter, dated December 19th, 1839.
** Sultan’s letter, datad Muharram, A.II. 1259. Governor’s reply, dated December 7th, 1842.