92 WILD LIFE IN NORTH CANARA. 



Here, says the Hindoo legend, a rak- 

 shasa flying from a more powerful 

 demon than himself, broke through the 

 solid rock and was followed by his 

 pursuer. Beyond suchlike childish 

 myths, local tradition has no explan- 

 ation to offer of the marvel. Hindoo 

 history records no volcanic disturbance, 

 no natural convulsion of overwhelming 

 violence. As the shattered rocks and 

 the blackened earth are now, so they 

 have been from a time beyond the ken 

 of man ; a strange, portentous sight, 

 evidencing the action of forces of vol- 

 canic violence, though not displayed in 

 the usual manner. 



When a tract of forest is felled and 

 burnt, a single monsoon covers the 

 ashes with vegetation, but at Yaana cen- 



