LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT MALDIVES.

"It is more powerful than hemp," wrote Ibn Battuta, "and is particularly used to sew together the planks of Sindhi and Yemeni dhows, for this sea abounds in reefs, and If your planks ended up fixed with iron nails, they'd break into pieces when the vessel strike a rock. The coir provides the boat bigger elasticity, in order that it will not break u