Description

Given by W.M. McNeill

1. Confidential despatch by B. H. Bourdillon, Acting Governor of Ceylon to the Colonial Secretary, Lord Passfield, of a visit to the Maldive Islands 5-9 March 1931. Mr. McNeill was A.D.C. to Mr. Bourdillon. Purpose; To meet the Sultan and other Government Officials with a view to discussing the succession to the Sultanship and the administration of the Maldive Islands. Synopsis of interviews with the Sultan, Crown. Prince and other officials and notables, and of discussions about the suitability and possibility of the Crown Prince succeeding his father. proclamation resulting from visit, and discussion of possible consequences. Opinion expressed on the best policy for the future of the Maldive Islands and the Islanders. 30pp
2. MS copy of the letter from Mr. Bourdillon to the Sultan of the Maldive Islands, referred to on page 16 of the Report (item 1) regarding a change in the administration of the Islands. 5pp.
3. Correspondence between W.M. McNeill, A.D.C. to the Acting Governor of Ceylon, Mr. Bourdillon, and the Sultan’s Private Secretary about the gifts sent by the Sultan to Mr. Bourdillon 8 March 1931. 4pp
4. Four letters about obtaining literature on the Maldives from the Royal Asiatic Society, Ceylon Branch, for Mr. Bourdillon, February 1931.
5. Printed Memorandum by Mr. E.B. Denham, C.C.S. 30 July 1905, on Political parties in Male with a list of the Sultans since 1881 and a genealogical table.
6. Report relating to a Visit to the Maldive Islands of the Commission appointed to convey to His Highness the Sultan the Royal Warrant of His Majesty conferring the Dignity of Honorary Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George Colombo 1920. 5pp
7. The Maldive Islands: Report on a visit to Malé. January 20 to February 21, 1920 by H.C.P. Bell, C.C.S., (Retired) Colombo 1921. The visit was to enable Mr. Bell. to revise the Report on the Maldive Islands of 1881, to examine The State Record known as the Tarikh and to investigate the alleged existence of the Buddhist cult on the Maldives, prior to a conversion to Islam in the 12^th century.
8. Papers relating to the Maldive Islands
   • Part I
   • Part II (Political 1904-1910)
   • Part III (Miscellaneous 1904-1910)
9. Pencil notes on procedure to be followed on arrival of H.M.S. Enterprise at the Maldive Islands. 2pp
10. Notebook kept by W.M. McNeill during the visit to the Maldive Islands when he was A.D.C. to the Acting Governor of Ceylon. The notes are of conversations between H.E. the Governor and H. H. The Sultan. A typed synopsis of these notes is found in item (1) but there are also notes of interest not incorporated in the reports, on the construction of fishing boats, description of the Sultan’s apparel, the flags, the Royal barge, the meeting-places at cross-roads etc.
11. Government Papers on Forestry in Ceylon:
    • Forestry in Ceylon: being the particulars regarding Ceylon prepared for the British Empire Forestry Conference, London 1920, by .J.R. Ainslie. Colombo 1920.
    • Report on the Ceylon Forests in the year 1921, and their general administration, by P.M. Lushington. XII – 1921. Colombo.
    • Report of the forest authority for Ceylon prepared for the British Empire Forestry Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 1923. Colombo, 1923.
    • Sessional Paper 1 – 1928. Report of the Forest Committee February 1928. Colombo 1928.
    • Sessional Paper XXIX – 1928. Report of the Forest Authority for Ceylon. Prepared for the British Empire Forestry Conference, Australia and New Zealand 1928. August 1928. Colombo 1928.
12. Box of 60 photographs taken of the Official Visit of the Acting Governor of Ceylon, Mr. Bernard Bourdillon, to the Maldive Islands, 5-9 March 1931.
13. MS diary of a Special Forest Survey of the Mahaweligange River Basin, Ceylon, carried out by W.M. McNeill, 20 February-5 March 1926. Foreword by the Rev. A.M. Walmsley, C.M.S., Hon. Chaplain, Ceylon Defence Force, 1926. Purpose of survey: to discover the possibilities for development and for reconstruction of the Mahaweliganga Forest areas with special reference to supplying large quantities of firewood annually to India; the exploitation of valuable timber, the possibility of growing large quantities of teak in the alluvial area near the river, and the navigability of the river for motor boat inspection. The diary is, however, purely descriptive of camping in the jungle, shooting, the birds and animals encountered and travelling. Some brief account of one or two villages, and Buddhist ruins discovered. Heat, mosquitoes, and beauty described. Mentions that from point of view of Forest Department, the jungle is practically worthless.
14. Three tinted lithographs by Day & Son, London. n.d.
    • Suspension bridge, Gambolle.
    • The Peradenia Bridge, from the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy. F. Jones, lith.
    • Katoogastotte Bridge over the Mahavilla Ganga, Delit. C. O’Brien. Lith. F. Jones.