LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT MALDIVES.

"It is more powerful than hemp," wrote Ibn Battuta, "which is utilized to sew together the planks of Sindhi and Yemeni dhows, for this sea abounds in reefs, and Should the planks were fastened with iron nails, they'd crack into parts once the vessel hit a rock. The coir offers the boat greater elasticity, to make sure that it would not split up."Ot