Manuscripts: Endowments (legal property)

MAHS-MDV-COL-001-O-0024

The Isdhoo Loamaafaanu consists of 21 copper plates threaded on a ring, each plate measuring 33.1cm x 7cm. The plates are inscribed in Dhivehi using the old Eveyla script. The text is incised on both sides, except for the first and last plate which support text only on the front face. The plates are numbered on the front and back using ancient Dhivehi numerals. The text tells of the reallocation of lands previously held by Buddhist religious institutions on the island of Isdhoo (Laamu Atoll) to support the foundation of a mosque and the establishment of a new Islamic order. This set of inscribed copper plates is currently held in the collections of the National Museum in Malé (M 003 / RN 1893). H.C.P. identified this text as 'Hadhumathee Loamafaanuu I (H.C.P. Bell, The Maldive Islands: Monograph on the History, Archaeology, and Epigraphy. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press, 1940, pp. 180-181.) A facsimile with modern Dhivehi transcription and annotated English translation has been published as: Hassan A. Maniku & G.D. Wijayawardhana, Isdhoo Loamaafaanu (Colombo: Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, 1986).