20 



On these flats the sand-hills have been gradually formed, and 

 since the Eoman occupation they have extended ITorth from near 

 the Deal rifle butts, which then formed the Southern boundary of 

 its mouth. Between Deal and Sandwich these sand-hills have had 

 their greatest development, while more N'orth the muddy marshes 

 have predominated. So the map the author published in 1895 

 would fairly represent the state of matters at the early date.* In 

 addition to the Northward growth of the sand-hills, there has been 

 a Northward moving of the shore deposits, causing the waters of 

 the I'iver to be driven Northward. The same action is going on at 

 present, and Shellness point keeps growing in the same direction. 



These observations may be shortly summarized as follows : — 



(1). At the commencement of the first century, an arm of 

 the sea flowed in between the spot occupied by the town of 

 Sandwich and Stonar, which spread out all over the present 

 marshes called the Minster, Ash, and Chislet Levels, there having 

 been a continuous ancient beach that extended from Peg well to 

 Stonar. Into this estuary the greater and lesser Stour emptied 

 their waters at or near Stourmouth. 



(2). Within this estuary the noted Eutupian harbour existed, 

 probably chiefly connected with Richborough, Kutupiae is a plural 

 name supposed to refer to Riehborough and Reculver. The 

 Northern opening of the estuary presumably was early silted up, 

 as we have found so few historical recoids relating to it. The 

 Cinque Port town of Sandwich soon usurped the place of Eich- 

 borougb, and continued the chief Port to the Continent till the 

 recession of the sea had deprived it of its importance. 



(3). The maps prove the river to have become more tortuous, 

 and its mouth further removed from its former position near Stonar 

 to near Eamsgate. 



* Since this was written the author has communicated a Paper to the 

 Kent Archaeological Society, on the Landing Place of St. Augustine, 

 accompanied with a map that may be consulted ; and since this was 

 published, Professor McKenny Hughes has contributed to the " Essay on the 

 Mission of St. Augustine to England," by Professor Mason, his views on the 

 Landing Place of .St. Augustine, in which Essay he has adopted nearly all the 

 author's observations and his map also relative to this event. 



