184 Remarks on the Site of Troy 
taining that it traversed the whole space be- 
tween thé two promotitories, during the thou- 
sand years between the age of Strabo and 
that of the Trojan war. 
It is generally inferred that the Scaman- 
der has traversed the whole distance from 
Rheeteum to Sigeum, because the bay be- 
tween the two promontories has been con- 
verted into a marsh since the time of the Tro- 
jan war. To this we reply, that as the plain 
and shore which open on the bay are ex- 
tremely flat, the bay itself would be shallow 
in the same proportion, and whatever addi- 
tion of soil might be necessary for converting 
it into solid ground, little would be sufficient 
to convert it into a marsh; and to effect this 
we conceive the occasional overflowing of the 
Mender, and the constant addition of alluvial 
matter from the Thymbrec, to be amply suf- 
ficient. The Hellespont itself may have as- 
sisted. 
There are two openings in the marsh, (see 
map) which, because they resemble the em- 
bouchure of a river, are frequently pointed 
out as the ancient mouths of the Scamander, 
and as proofs that it must have traversed the 
bay. But we believe tliat these openings, 
which appear to be nothing more than the 
remains of the ancient bay, have never given 
vent to the waters of the Scamander. 
