LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT MALDIVES.

"It truly is more robust than hemp," wrote Ibn Battuta, "which is used to sew with each other the planks of Sindhi and Yemeni dhows, for this sea abounds in reefs, and In case the planks ended up fixed with iron nails, they'd break into pieces if the vessel hit a rock. The coir provides the boat increased elasticity, to ensure that it does not crac