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           Onmyrighthandtherewerelinesoffishingstakesresemblingamysterioussystemofhalf-submergedbamboofences,incomprehensibleinitsdivisionofthedomainoftropicalfishes,andcrazyofaspectasifabandonedforeverbysomenomadtribeoffishermennowgonetotheotherendoftheocean;fortherewasnosignofhumanhabitationasfarastheeyecouldreach.Totheleftagroupofbarrenislets,suggestingruinsofstonewalls,towers,andblockhouses,haditsfoundationssetinablueseathatitselflookedsolid,sostillandstablediditliebelowmyfeet;eventhetrackoflightfromthewesteringsunshonesmoothly,withoutthatanimatedglitterwhichtellsofanimperceptibleripple.AndwhenIturnedmyheadtotakeapartingglanceatthetugwhichhadjustleftusanchoredoutsidethebar,Isawthestraightlineoftheflatshorejoinedtothestablesea,edgetoedge,withaperfectandunmarkedcloseness,inoneleveledfloorhalfbrown,halfblueundertheenormousdomeofthesky.Correspondingintheirinsignificancetotheisletsofthesea,twosmallclumpsoftrees,oneoneachsideoftheonlyfaultintheimpeccablejoint,markedthemouthoftheriverMeinamwehadjustleftonthefirstpreparatorystageofourhomewardjourney;and,farbackontheinlandlevel,alargerandloftiermass,thegrovesurroundingthegreatPaknampagoda,wastheonlythingonwhichtheeyecouldrestfromthevaintaskofexploringthemonotonoussweepofthehorizon.