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Barakat in 1153. There are some<br />
fine ancient mosques and carved<br />
tombstones on inhabited islands you<br />
may visit.<br />
History: The islands were<br />
populated relatively early, around<br />
500 BCE, by voyagers from India<br />
and Sri Lanka. Others arrived, often<br />
shipwrecked, from southeast Asia<br />
and the Arabian peninsular. Isolation<br />
ensured a mostly independent<br />
existence, even under the suserainty<br />
on colonial powers. The last sultan<br />
was replaced by a presidency in 1968.<br />
Culture: Remote island life has<br />
cradled a strong, self-reliant culture.<br />
Tuna fishing has always been the<br />
mainstay of life on the islands. A<br />
remarkably skillful people, <strong>Maldivian</strong>s<br />
excelled in coral carving, gold and<br />
silver smithing and weaving cloth and<br />
mats. The Thundu Kunaa is still made<br />
today and is recognised as the finest<br />
grass mat in the world.<br />
Language: The language of<br />
all <strong>Maldivian</strong>s is Dhivehi, although<br />
dialects are spoken in the south of the<br />
country. It is an Indo-Aryan language<br />
closely related to Singhalese. The<br />
word ‘atoll’ comes from the dhivehi<br />
word ‘atolu’. The unique script is<br />
called Thaana and is written from right<br />
to left. English is the primary language<br />
of education and it is widely spoken<br />
throughout the country.<br />
Capital Island: Male’, the<br />
capital, with around 150,000 people<br />
on 2 square kilometres is one of the<br />
MALDIVIAN AIR TAXI<br />
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