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During the day the island of Ceylon disappeared from view, and the Nautilus steamed at about twenty miles an hour into the labyrinth of canals that separate the Maldive from the Lacadive Isles. We skirted the island of Kitlan, of madreporic formation, which was discovered by Vasca de Gama in 1499, and is one of the nineteen large islands of the Lacadive group, situated between 10° and 14° 30′ N. lat. and 69° and 50° 72′ E. long. We had now made 16,220 miles, or 7,500 leagues, since our departure from Japan.

Next day, 30th January, when the Nautilus rose to the surface, no land was in sight. We steered N.N.W. towards the Sea of Oman, between Arabia and Hindostan, and which is the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

There was evidently no egress. Whither was Captain Nemo leading us? I could not say. This did not satisfy Ned, who asked me where we were going.

“We are going,” said I, “whither the captain’s fancy leads us.”