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between it and the Mel-rir. And, lastly, that the Chott Mel-rir 
was about one hundred and fifty feet delow the level of the 
Mediterranean. That if the various isthmuses were pierced— 
beginning with the Isthmus of Kriz—though the Chott Djerid 
would be diminished in area, the great Chotts Rharsa and 
Mel-rir, and the numerous smaller Chotts would be vastly increased; 
and an izland sea, of the dimensions represented, would result 
therefrom. 
The success of the Suez Canal has of late drawn the attention 
of Frenchmen to this subject. Though to my mind sufficient 
observations to settle the practicability of the scheme, and specially 
soundings in the Chott Djerid have not yet been made, and its 
feasibility as yet by no means demonstrated, I shall hope to make 
it appear probable that the Chotts are the remains of such an inland 
sea which did once exist. 
In a byegone age, either by some sudden convulsion of nature 
(and it has been remarked that the Isthmus of Melah lies along the 
volcanic axis, passing through the mountains. of Corsica and Sar- 
dinia), or, as is more probable, by a gradual upheaval, the isthmus 
of Melah was raised, and the communication with the Mediterranean, 
and so with the main ocean, closed. Then followed the usual process. 
Rapid evaporation under a sun but 34° from the Equator, annually 
removed more water than was supplied by the inflowing rivers. 
The salts of the sea were left behind, and the remaining water, 
being supersaturated, the excess of mineral matter has been 
confusedly deposited, and a condition of things produced, such as 
we now see. 
If, however, we study attentively the notices which ancient 
authors have left us of the history and geography of this part of 
Africa, we shall acquire the conviction that this basin not only did 
once, but did within historic times, communicate with the Mediter- 
ranean, and form an inner gulf, which, in conjunction with that 
which is now called Gulf of Gabes, or the Lesser Syrtis, was known 
under the name of the Great Lake, Lagoon, or Bay of Triton, and 
that the separation between the two finally took place about the 
commencement of the Christian Era. 
re i 
