|
Kadmat
Kadmat is situated at 11o13' north latitude and 72 o48'
east longitude. Kadmat island which is 10 km north of Amini is 8 km long and 550 metres wide
at the broadest point. There is very large lagoon on the western side abounding
in coral growths. Kadmat has also a narrow lagoon on the eastern side which
almost dries up at low tide. There is a growth of a narrow ridge of sand at the
southern tip of the island which has been planted up. Systematic habitation of
the island started in the 19th century. The inhabitants had to put up a struggle
to free themselves from certain social and economic disabilities. Amine
landlords claimed the entire land as their property. Kadmat people were not
allowed to built their own sailing vessels and had to ship their own sailing
vessels and had to ship their own sailing vessels and had to ship their produce
in the Amini vessels. In the religious sphere, they were not allowed to have a
Kazi to perform all religious and social functions. These disabilities were
overcome gradually and by the turn of the century the inhabitants had asserted
their rights. The main occupation of the people of Kadmat is coir twisting. The
island is known for its lime stones used for building purposes.
Kiltan
Kiltan is situated at 11o29' north latitude and 73o 00'east
longitude. Kiltan lies about 50kms north-east of Amini on the international trade route
between the Persian Gulf countries and Sri-Lanka. The island is only about 3kms
long and 594 metres wide at broadest point. There is a high storm beach on the
northern and southern ends of the island. The fierce storm which hit the island
in 1965 has left a line of coral boulders on the eastern shore. The lagoon on
the west is shallow and is in the process of filling up. The shallow lagoon does
not allow larger boats to enter it through the passage during the low tide.
Along the middle of the island is a solid like substratum and lime stones are
cut for building purposes.
The island is fertile and thickly planted. The heat of the summer is unbearable
and the people prefer to sleep outside on the beaches in cubicles made of cadjan
leaves. Several such cubicles can be seen lined up along the western beach
during summer months.
Kalpeni
Kalpeni is situated at 10o05' north latitude and 73o39' east longitude.
Kalpeni lies 76kms south of Andrott. It is 183kms from Minicoy. The island
along with the satellite islets of Cheriyam, Tilakkam and Pitti lie in an
extensive and shallow lagoon. The action of the sea has split the islets of
Tilakkam and Pitti into several islets. From the main island of Kalpeni, storm
of 1847 separated Cheriyam. A sea bank of coral stones are formed along the east
and south-east shore of about 3.6 metres high and more than 17.5 metres wide at
the base. It provides a natural barrier against such a disaster. A reef is
formed between Cheriyam and Kalpeni in low water.
A peculiar feature of Kalpeni is the huge storm bank of coral debris along
the eastern and south-eastern shore. Kalpeni was one of the islands colonised
in early times as it was on the direct route of the sailing vessels for Arabia.
The Arab writers called this island "Koefaini".
Minicoy
Minicoy is situated at 8o17' north latitude and 73o04
east longitude.Minicoy or Malik is the southern most island in the Union Territory of
Lakshadweep. Macro Polo referred to it as the female island.
Minicoy is crescent-shaped and more than 10kms in length. The lagoon is
large and deep enough for small ships to enter. There is a small island at the
northern tip of the main island known as Viringili which was used by the people
for isolating small-pox patients in the past. Within the lagoon, the reef dries
at low tide at the north-western entrance depositing marine collections. The islanders
are known as children of the sea. In the past their ships went for into Arabia,
the Maldives, Andaman's, Bengal and Burma. This has given them the tradition of
a sea faring life. More than half of the inhabitants of working age are employed
as seamen in ocean-going vessels all over the world. The islanders have their
own seamen's Associations at Calcutta and Bombay which provide employment
opportunities. The profession of the seamen which made the ordinary Minicoy a
globe trotter has also helped him to enrich his household with articles of
luxury from abroad.
The main feature of the island is its carefully planned villages known as
Athiris. Each Athiri has its own internal organisation headed by a Moopan around
whom the life of the community rests. They have their own village house, their
own street, bathing tanks, places of worship and burial. The public clubs for
men and women which were the centres of a gay night life in olden days are
extinct but the buildings are maintained intact. Another curious remnant of old
life in the island is the sheds where vicious persons were exposed to
punishment. The inhabitants love a profusion of colours, be it on the beautifully
engraved table-tops to decorate their drawing rooms or on fishing boats or
racing dhonis. The people are also adapt in boat modeling which is a piece of
art painted in different colours. The houses situated in their own private
enclosures are arranged in streets. They are kept neat and clean and reflect the
people's urge for order and colour. All the houses have a swing cot made of wood
which is beautifully furnished and painted in different colours.
Minicoy is an important tuna fishing centre and there is a tuna canning
factory with an ice plant and cold storage . It has a number of scientific research
stations like Radio Zone Ravine observatory and Tidal observatory. There is also
a light house since 1885 in view of its strategic location.
Among the many foreign influences which the islanders have adopted may be
listed the duodecimal system of numerical notation.
|
