"Controversial British Surveys: Moresby Maps Maldives and Chagos Without Sultan’s Consent" between 1834 and 1836

Coconut Crabs , Chagos Archipelago

After the Red Sea Survey, aimed at improving navigational charts and maritime geography understanding, Robert Moresby was sent to map several coral island groups in the Indian Ocean, Maldives Archipelago.  Robert

Moresby, a British hydrographer, conducted a significant hydrographic survey of the Maldives and Chagos Archipelago in the 1830s. when it was a part of Maldivian territory

 His work was pivotal in charting these complex and hazardous waters for the British Admiralty, facilitating safer navigation for steam-powered vessels along key trade routes. However, his actions, particularly in the Maldives, were met with resistance from local authorities, and his surveys extended to the Chagos Archipelago, including Peros Banhos Atoll, where Moresby Island is named after him.

Maldives Hydrographic Survey and Lack of Sultan’s Consent

Moresby conducted his survey of the Maldives between 1834 and 1836, producing the first accurate maritime charts of the region’s atolls. These charts were critical for British navigation, as the Maldives’ reefs and shoals posed significant dangers to ships. However, Sultan Muhammad Mueenuddeen I ( Muskulhi Bandaara ) and his son  Sultan Muhammad Imaaduddeen IV, who ruled during this period, opposed the surveys. The Maldives’ complex network of atolls and reefs was a natural defense, historically protecting the islands from external threats. The Sultan viewed Moresby’s mapping efforts with suspicion, as detailed charting could undermine this strategic advantage by making the waters accessible to foreign powers, particularly the British.

Moresby arrived with a letter from the British government claiming the survey would benefit Maldivian trade by improving navigation to Malé. Despite this, the Sultan’s lack of consent reflected concerns about sovereignty and the potential for increased foreign influence. The reefs and shallows were a closely guarded secret of the Maldivian militia, and the Sultan likely saw the survey as a threat to the Maldives’ autonomy, especially given its strategic position on Indian Ocean trade routes.

Survey of Foalhavahi (Peros Banhos) and Moresby Island

Moresby’s survey extended to the Chagos Archipelago, approximately 500 kilometers south of the Maldives, including Peros Banhos Atoll, known to Maldivians as Foalhavahi. In 1837–1838, he conducted a detailed survey of the Chagos, charting its atolls and reefs with precision. Peros Banhos, a medium-sized coralline atoll with 32 islets and a large lagoon, was one of the key areas mapped. The accuracy of Moresby’s charts led to the naming of Moresby Island, located at the northern end of Peros Banhos Atoll, in his honor.

President Nasheed

During his survey of the Chagos, Moresby also visited Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, where he planted 30 breadfruit trees to support potential provisioning for ships. His observations noted the presence of cats and chickens on Diego Garcia, indicating some level of human activity or prior settlement. These observations were later used by Charles Darwin in his 1842 book, The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs, highlighting the scientific significance of Moresby’s work.

Historical Context of Foalhavahi (Peros Banhos) and Maldivian Claims

The Maldives has historically claimed Peros Banhos (Foalhavahi) as part of its territory. Maldivian oral tradition refers to the Chagos Archipelago as Feyhandheeb, and a letter from Sultan Hassan IX in 1560 explicitly claims Foalhavahi as part of the Maldives. Maldivians used Peros Banhos for fishing expeditions, camping on its islands to process fish before returning home. In the late 1930s, the Maldives sent expeditions to count and mark coconut palms on the Chagos islands, reinforcing their claim. Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has argued that Foalhavahi was a prosperous atoll historically linked to the Maldives, with no basis for its separation from Maldivian territory.

Despite these claims, the Chagos Archipelago, including Peros Banhos, was administered by the British from Mauritius after 1815, following Napoleon’s defeat. The British later detached the Chagos to form the British Indian Ocean Territory, a move contested by both Mauritius and the Maldives. The Maldives’ proximity to Peros Banhos (with Île Yeye being 523 kilometers from Gan Island in Addu Atoll) and historical ties contrast with British colonial actions, which included the expulsion of the Ilois population from Peros Banhos in 1970 for strategic purposes.

Breadfruit Trees and Environmental Impact

Moresby’s planting of breadfruit trees on Diego Garcia was a practical measure to provide food resources for mariners, reflecting the British interest in establishing sustainable provisioning points. However, his surveys also noted the natural state of the islands, with Peros Banhos later becoming significant for its ecological value. The atoll is part of the Peros Banhos Atoll Strict Nature Reserve, recognized as an Important Bird Area for breeding sooty terns. The introduction of non-native species like breadfruit trees and the later dominance of coconut plantations (not directly attributed to Moresby) have impacted the native ecosystems, with coconut palms encroaching on rare mangrove forests, such as the one discovered on Moresby Island in 2010.

Conclusion

Robert Moresby’s hydrographic surveys of the Maldives and Chagos Archipelago, including Peros Banhos (Foalhavahi), were landmark achievements in maritime cartography, enabling safer navigation and supporting British colonial interests. However, his work in the Maldives proceeded without the Sultan’s consent, raising concerns about sovereignty and strategic control. In Peros Banhos, his legacy is preserved in the naming of Moresby Island, and his planting of breadfruit trees on Diego Garcia reflects efforts to support maritime activities. The Maldives’ historical claim to Foalhavahi underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions, rooted in centuries of cultural and economic ties to the Chagos Archipelago.