* Constructs an {@code ImmutableSortedSet} from the first {@code n} elements of {@code contents}.
   * If {@code k} is the size of the returned {@code ImmutableSortedSet}, then the sorted unique
   * elements are in the first {@code k} positions of {@code contents}, and {@code contents[i] ==
   * null} for {@code k <= i < n}.
   *
   * <p>This method takes ownership of {@code contents}; do not modify {@code contents} after this
   * returns.
   *

 *       with the same key. Some behaviors of {@link Multimap} are left unspecified and are provided
 *       only by the subtypes mentioned below.
 *   <dt>{@link ListMultimap}
 *   <dd>An extension of {@link Multimap} which permits duplicate entries, supports random access of
 *       values for a particular key, and has <i>partially order-dependent equality</i> as defined

  }

  /**
   * Returns a string containing the string representation of each of {@code parts}, using the
   * previously configured separator between each.
   */
  public final String join(Iterable<? extends @Nullable Object> parts) {
    return join(parts.iterator());
  }

  /**
   * Returns a string containing the string representation of each of {@code parts}, using the
   * previously configured separator between each.

 *
 * <p>The average time complexity of the computation is O(N) in the size of the dataset. There is a
 * worst case time complexity of O(N^2). You are extremely unlikely to hit this quadratic case on
 * randomly ordered data (the probability decreases faster than exponentially in N), but if you are
 * passing in unsanitized user data then a malicious user could force it. A light shuffle of the

  // TODO(kevinb): evaluate whether or not of().comparator() should return null
  public static <K, V> ImmutableSortedMap<K, V> of() {
    return (ImmutableSortedMap<K, V>) NATURAL_EMPTY_MAP;
  }

  /** Returns an immutable map containing a single entry. */
  public static <K extends Comparable<? super K>, V> ImmutableSortedMap<K, V> of(K k1, V v1) {
    return of(Ordering.natural(), k1, v1);
  }

 * override one or more methods to modify the behavior of the backing sorted set as desired per the
 * <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decorator_pattern">decorator pattern</a>.
 *
 * <p><b>Warning:</b> The methods of {@code ForwardingSortedSet} forward <i>indiscriminately</i> to
 * the methods of the delegate. For example, overriding {@link #add} alone <i>will not</i> change

 *
 * <h3>Relationship to {@code Ordering}</h3>
 *
 * <p>In light of the significant enhancements to {@code Comparator} in Java 8, the overwhelming
 * majority of usages of {@code Ordering} can be written using only built-in JDK APIs. This class is
 * intended to "fill the gap" and provide those features of {@code Ordering} not already provided by
 * the JDK.
 *
 * @since 21.0
 * @author Louis Wasserman
 */

   *
   * @since 11.0
   */
  void put(K key, V value);

  /**
   * Copies all of the mappings from the specified map to the cache. The effect of this call is
   * equivalent to that of calling {@code put(k, v)} on this map once for each mapping from key
   * {@code k} to value {@code v} in the specified map. The behavior of this operation is undefined
   * if the specified map is modified while the operation is in progress.
   *

   * ordering of the elements is used.
   */
  @Override
  Comparator<? super E> comparator();

  /**
   * Returns the entry of the first element in this multiset, or {@code null} if this multiset is
   * empty.
   */
  @CheckForNull
  Entry<E> firstEntry();

  /**
   * Returns the entry of the last element in this multiset, or {@code null} if this multiset is

 * </ul>
 *
 * Guava contains a number of other multimap implementations, such as {@link ArrayListMultimap}. In
 * new code, we recommend using {@link MultimapBuilder} instead: It provides better control of how
 * keys and values are stored.
 *
 * <h3>Other Notes</h3>
 *
 * <p>As with {@code Map}, the behavior of a {@code Multimap} is not specified if key objects