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| It was the wet season. The streams overflowed and the fish abounded
in great numbers. Observing this change, two Guamanian fishermen
decided to go fishing near the dangerous coast near Agat Village. Having
loaded their canoe with palaye, a poisonous fruit and bark used to poison
the fish, they threw their other fishing apparatus into the canoe and started
paddling out to sea. Soon, one of the fishermen noticed a storm
advancing rapidly. The canoe developed a hole in it's bottom.
Throwing the poisoned fruit and bark overboard, the men paddled back
toward shore. Before reaching shore, the canoe capsized and turned
into a rock with a hole through it.
Since that day, Palaye Rock has told the people of Guam when the big waves are approaching. The actions of the rain and the wind tell the fishermen whether or not it is safe to go fishing. The remains of the poisonous fruit and bark prevent the growth of any kind or form of vegetation in the water around Palaye Rock. |