ATOLL, s. A group of coral islands forming a ring or chaplet, sometimes of many miles in diameter, inclosing a space of comparatively shallow water, each of the islands being on the same type as the _atoll_. We derive the expression from the Maldive islands, which are the typical examples of this structure, and where the form of the word is _atoḷu_. [P. de Laval (Hak. Soc. i. 93) states that the provinces in the Maldives were known as _Atollon_.] It is probably connected with the Singhalese _ätul_, 'inside'; [or _etula_, as Mr Gray (_P. de Laval_, Hak. Soc. i. 94) writes the word. The _Mad. Admin. Man._ in the Glossary gives Malayāl. _attālam_, 'a sinking reef']. The term was made a scientific one by Darwin in his publication on Coral Reefs (see below), but our second quotation shows that it had been generalised at an earlier date. c. 1610.—"Estant au milieu d'vn ATOLLON, vous voyez autour de vous ce grand banc de pierre que jay dit, qui environne et qui defend les isles contre l'impetuosité de la mer."—_Pyrard de Laval_, i. 71 (ed. 1679); [Hak. Soc. i. 94]. 1732.—"ATOLLON, a name applied to such a place in the sea as exhibits a heap of little islands lying close together, and almost hanging on to each other."—_Zeidler's_ (German) _Universal Lexicon_, s.v. 1842.—"I have invariably used in this volume the term ATOLL, which is the name given to these circular groups of coral islets by their inhabitants in the Indian Ocean, and is synonymous with 'lagoon-island.'"—_Darwin, The Structure, &c., of Coral Reefs_, 2. AUMIL, s. Ar. and thence H. _'āmil_ (noun of agency from _'amal_, 'he performed a task or office,' therefore 'an agent'). Under the native governments a collector of Revenue; also a farmer of the Revenue invested with chief authority in his District. Also AUMILDAR. Properly _'amaldār_, 'one holding office'; (Ar. _'amal_, 'work,' with P. term of agency). A factor or manager. Among the Mahrattas the _'Amaldār_ was a collector of revenue under varying conditions—(See details in _Wilson_). The term is now limited to Mysore and a few other parts of India, and does not belong to the standard system of any Presidency. The word in the following passage looks as if intended for _'amaldār_, though there is a term _Māldār_, 'the holder of property.' 1680.—"The MAULDAR or _Didwan_ [DEWAN] that came with the _Ruccas_ [ROOCKA] from Golcondah sent forward to Lingappa at Conjiveram."—_Ft. St. Geo. Cons._, 9th Novr. No. III., 38. c. 1780.—"... having detected various frauds in the management of the AMULDAR or renter ... (M. Lally) paid him 40,000 rupees."—_Orme_, iii. 496 (ed. 1803). 1793.—"The AUMILDARS, or managers of the districts."—_Dirom_, p. 56. 1799.—"I wish that you would desire one of your people to communicate with the AMILDAR of Soondah respecting this road."—_A. Wellesley_ to T. Munro, in _Munro's Life_, i. 335.