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250, to Yondozi, who always readily came to my assistance. His answers were of considerable help to me, for he had made an almost lifelong study of every branch of the history of his own country.

Replying to my last communication, he pointed out that it would be useless to search further among the books, for the two manuscripts already in my possession were the only original ones that dealt with or related in any way to the great unknown continent. At the same time, however, he neither suggested nor supplied an opinion, but left me to think the matter out for myself.

My experience as a navigator had already taught me the wisdom of not proceeding too hurriedly with questions that demanded subtle investigation, and also made me somewhat cautious in accepting deductions or hastily arriving at conclusions. So I made up my mind to drop the whole affair for the present, and devote my time to growing crops and raising herds.

Bashipolo had some ground prepared, so I planted a number of different kinds of seeds. Having finished this, I set to work and cleared the garden of all weeds, and had many improvements effected. Flanillas, olgommeras, and aleras gazed lazily in the grassy meadows, and appeared to be thriving well. Notwithstanding, however,