BOTTOM OF THE ATLANTIC. 29 



curves of the chart approach very near to each other 

 on the west, and are farthest from each other on the 

 east of the depression. Another noticeable feature is 

 the immense plateau ranging almost parallel with 

 the European and African coast, and dividing what may 

 be called the shelving side of the ocean-gulf into two 

 parts, for which reason it has been named by IMaur^' 

 the "Middle Ground." It commences at Iceland, 

 passes the Azores, and extends southward to the lati- 

 tude of the Canary Islands ; then trends towards the 

 Bermudas, and bulges southward to a point east of 

 the Antilles. The depth of the sea at the southern 

 termination of this plateau is marked in the chart by 

 a curve, which indicates less than 2000 fathoms, or 

 from 11,000 to 12,000 feet. This locality is identical 

 with a part of the Grassy Sea. Between this middle 

 ground and the coast of Europe a long valley extends 

 north and south, and, at the Cape de Verd Islands, 

 joins the depression which is bounded by Africa, 

 America, and the plateau or middle-ground just 

 described. 



The depth of this valley is almost everywhere a 

 little under 3000 fathoms, the exception being another 

 spot, previously alluded to, west of the Canary Islands. 

 In the northern end, westward from the British Isles, 

 and even across the Middle Ground to Newfoundland, 

 the depth is so uniform, that when soundings were 



