1907.] AND CONTRACTION OF THE EARTH. 279 



There remains the possibility that the ^gean is being under- 

 mined by the expulsion of lava from 'beneath it, and it might be 

 sinking so long as this process is at work ; but it is difficult to doubt 

 that the ultimate destiny of the ^gean is to be raised above the sea 

 and become dry land, thus completing the bridge between Europe 

 and Asia Minor. This general result is indicated by a study of the 

 map. The numerous islands in the ^gean contradict the theory of 

 permanent subsidence. The volcano which used to be active in the 

 island of Lemnos, the eruptions in Eubsea mentioned by Strabo, the 

 elevation of the Island of Delos, the repeated outbreaks near Thera, 

 the numerous small islands which have been reaised in the sea within 

 the historical period, — all these phenomena point to elevatory move- 

 ment affecting this whole region, because volcanic activity usually 

 shows itself in regions of elevation. It is hardly possible that these 

 several signs of elevation would have appeared if the Aegean were 

 in process of secular subsidence. The activity of Mt. Ararat within 

 historical time, especially in 1840, and of Mt. Demavend, south of 

 the Caspian, and the outbreaks from other volcanoes in Asia Minor, 

 all point in the same direction, and render it probable not only that 

 the region is geologically one of elevation, but also that the Pontus 

 and Caspian were thus cut off from the Mediterranean. The Dead 

 Sea and the valley of the Jordan were cut off in like manner, and 

 by this very earthquake process which has so often afflicted Syria 

 within the period covered by human history. 



The mountains in Syria parallel to the Mediterranean east coast, 

 like those in Epirus and Dalmatia so beautifully parallel to the north- 

 east shore of the Adriatic, were as clearly formed by the Mediter- 

 ranean as the Andes, Rocky Mountains and Sierras were by the 

 Pacific, which for millions of years has been uplifting a hemisphere 

 unknown to the ancients. 



As bearing on the subterranean processes at work under the 

 yEgean Sea, by which Olympus and all the surrounding mountains 



turned, cracks were opened in strong walls, roofs were shattered and the 

 rain poured in." In this case lava streams were evidently readjusting them- 

 selves under the earth's crust. The comparison of the shaking to that which 

 a mastiff gives his game is most appropriate. It was just such shaking that 

 proved so disastrous at San Francisco, Valparaiso, Kingston, and other places 

 where lava was adjusting itself under the crust. 



