 The most distinct items were the necklaces of tiny blue beads which no other Maldivian wore.It is said that the Giraavaru people were always headed by a woman and that throughout Maldivian history, a woman ("foolhuma-dhaitha"), represented the Sultan's civil authority in Giravaru Island.The Sultans of the Maldives used to recognise the autonomy of the Giraavaru people and did not apply quite the same laws on them as they did on the rest of their realm.