Ukulhas (Alif Alif Atoll) - History

History

Like all other islands of Maldives, Ukulhas also had a series of historical changes throughout the centuries. The people, way of life, social, economic and political changes had been stepping forward in a periodic manner. Bracing back into the history of Ukulhas Island, the island itself had been encircled by a sandy beach, where no bridges, no sea walls ever had been built before. Due to lack of breaking water or sea wall facilities the island had experienced several endangered incidents had been occurred by the huge waves breaking against innocent white sandy beaches. Large vessels were not used for fishing or any means of transport. Stepping ashore from a Dhoni (traditional fishing vessel) could be practiced by the hand of someone, who had been holding and controlling a canoe by his hand while working in the lagoon and the passage through the surf in these boats is at times a matter of danger. They are built by a wooden plank quite a length of a proportion to their breath size, which results them really seaworthy, could made discomforts because the passenger is obliged to stand up in the stern, as no seats are available for his accommodation, so tha if he was careless to a sharp-out, he runs considerable risk of being shot overboard when the stern is lifted by a wave, in which case he might not possible to survive unless he was a good swimmer. Boatmen were expert of passage controlling, as they spent most of their daily lives in the water rather than stay back in their home.

People in the island appeared have regular features that tranquil expression usually found in Orientals. People were with different colors, such as quite fair, darker, complexions which approached a mahogany tint. The streets were straight, broad, and shaded with trees, and are kept very clean. Houses in the island were built of plaited coconut leaves plastered over with a stiff mud, and roofed with coconut leaves thatch; they were usually divided into two apartments, communicating by a doorway closed by a curtain, where front apartment is the general and sleeping room in, and is furnished with benches around the wall and a few stools beside a bed, which always the most conspicuous article of furniture in Maldivian house. This is suspended from the roof by chains or rope, the material of which depends upon the caste to which the proprietor belongs. High castes using brass chains, middle casts iron chains, and low casts coiled rope. The legs are also provided in order that the bed may be lowered down in case of illness, when the swinging motion to which it is liable would be social danger or annoyance to the patient. The furniture of the bed is a matter of great importance; high castes use a mattress and pillows of red silk; middle castes are content with cotton stuff; while low casts sleep on straw. The mattress on straw is covered with a mat, the pattern and quality of which are regulated by the caste of the owner. . Ukulhas people were very quiet and reserved in their intercourse with foreigners until their confidence has been gained, when they had showed themselves hospitable to a degree. They had few wants and in, and as they possess the means of easily satisfying them, were inclined to be indolent; sober, honest, and cheerful, they had been comparing favourably with the inhabitants of many other Eastern countries. They were very ingenious and expert in their manufactures, and display great aptitude in the imitation of any European articles they may come across, such as knife handles, scales, and other small articles of daily use amongst us.

The trade of the Máldives must all pass through in Malé and is mostly carried on indolent on the principle of barter. The bazaar in Malé is the only one which exists in the group, and it is here that all the foreign trade is carried on. The shops are the personal property of the Sultan, who lets them out to a number of Bombay merchants, at rents varying from 15 rupees to 50 rupees per month. These Bombay merchants mostly sell rice and cotton goods to the natives, taking in exchange tortoise-shell, coconuts, cowries, and dried fish.

As like all the Maldivians, Ukulhas people had been following Islamic law that generally supposed that their conversation to the faith of prophet took place some 1400yrs back. They had been following their religious procedures in particular. Their mosques were small and well built and kept in clean. Separate mosques were built for male and female worship. However the largest and most spacious mosque called Hukuru Miskiyu was set and used for the males as though their ceremonial prayers such as Friday prayers, Eid prayers, Eclipse prayer etc. were specialised for the males only and which the ceremony was so essential to the public. They were religious even though they had a strong belief of Devils. People were afraid of devils as though their superstitions exercise a great influence on their daily life. They had a belief that a Devil could make them responsible for all mishaps which befall which made them to expose themselves at nights unwillingly, for fair of meeting him.

Ukulhas had a trend of getting married at the early ages. As soon as they matured, they were hurry to get married with someone. According to Islam polygamy was allowed, but the number of wives was limited up to four, well accordance with Islamic shari’ah. Marriage ceremony was extremely simple; man having satisfied the parents of his intended bride their mutual wish to be joined in matrimony. The magistrate thereupon declares them to be man and wife, calling upon those resemble to be witnesses. That would readily be understood that a bond so lightly tied can be as easily severed; should a couple did not agree, they would attend again before the magistrate, who after satisfying himself that both parties desire the separation, declares the marriage annulled.

Like all other Eastern countries, all house hold duties were left to women, whose main job was to prepare the meals for their husbands and family. They were not allowed to have their meals with their husbands; they kept on wait until their husbands had fished their meal, when they retired to their own apartment for their repast. The rule was so awesome and many of them had been with complexity nearly fair as the women of Southern Europe. They rarely allowed to go out during night time as of devils might disturb to induce them to remain at home.

Crimes were really rare in the island; death penalty was never inflicted, the severest penalty being banishment to another inhabited island for a period commensurate with the offence committed. The commonest punishment is castigation, the blows being dealt on the back and thighs with a sheet of leather inserted into a handle; but when the punishment is intended to be very severe iron nails are inserted in the leather, which cruelly lacerate the flesh; this must be of very rare occurrence.