Page:Neuroomia.djvu/227

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I ENJOY A PROLONGED HOLIDAY.
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said, "and on this account, judging from the chart in the library, should be difficult to navigate."

"Not at all," was the answer. "All the rocks along the route used for ordinary navigation have been removed. There are, of course, many still remaining, but they are to be found in localities not frequently visited."

"Do they ever cause accidents?" I inquired.

"Very few in recent times," was the ready response, "for the positions are well known. However," he continued, "they have been the cause of the death of many in the past, and perhaps the saddest case on record in connection with them is the wreck of the floating village Yannawanya, which took place only during the last generation."

I begged him to proceed.

"No one was blamed for this dire catastrophe," he said, "for the rock which caused the calamity had been thrown up during an earthquake, where none had previously existed. The Yannawanya was even larger than the Dorondoro, and had been fitted up and provisioned for a long cruise among the bays and islands in the southern basin of Nocalattan Sea, a part at that time noted for its wild and rugged beauty, but seldom visited. She struck when nearly every one was asleep, and