Dear Community

I am using SaxonB 8.9 and I have the following xsl:perform-sort/sequence
problem.

<xsl:variable name="data">
	<item id="1">
		<departure date="2007-10-22">
			<returning date="2007-10-23"/>
			<returning date="2007-10-24"/>
		</departure>
	</item>
	<item id="2">
		<departure date="2007-10-22">
			<returning date="2007-10-22"/>
			<returning date="2007-10-24"/>
		</departure>
	</item>
</xsl:variable>

*** OK-Case: 
When I run the following statements I get an expected result of:

<xsl:variable name="result"
select="distinct-values($data/item/departure[@date eq
'2007-10-22']/returning/@date)"/> <xsl:value-of select="count($result)"/>
<xsl:value-of select="$result" separator=", "/>

=> 3
=> 2007-10-23,2007-10-24,2007-10-22


*** ??-Case: 
When I try to sort the same sequence the distinct-values become one single
string:

<xsl:variable name="result">
	<xsl:perform-sort select="distinct-values($data/item/departure[@date
eq '2007-10-22']/returning/@date)">
		<xsl:sort/>
	</xsl:perform-sort>
</xsl:variable>
<xsl:value-of select="count($result)"/>
<xsl:value-of select="$result" separator=", "/>

=> 1
=> 2007-10-22 2007-10-23 2007-10-24

Can any body please helping me to clarify my misunderstanding of the
xsl:perform-sort.

Many thanks in advance
Raffaele