298 THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, 



has regulated the working of its stupendous me- 

 chanism. Everything occurs at the regulated time. 

 Nothing is left to chance. The sea has once covered 

 the whole earth. Geology affords the data by which 

 we may determine its limits at successive epochs. 

 But it is not necessary even to revert to remote 

 geological periods in order to be convinced of the 

 fact that land and sea have frequently changed their 

 relative level. 



3. Progressive enlargement of the Straits of Gibraltar during the 

 Historic Period — Columns of the ancient Temple of Hercules 

 submerged — Descriptions left by Avienus, Pliny, and Pom- 

 ponius — Mellaria, Carteia, and Belon submerged — Other 

 examples of Cities and Islands covered by the Waters, and of 

 Mountains violently separated from Continents. 



The Straits of Gibraltar is a conquest of the ocean. 

 Dureau de la Malle quotes the measurements of old 

 geographers, and they tend to show that it has been 

 continually enlarged even down to our own times. 



Avienus quotes a measurement on the authority of 

 Daemon d'Amphipolis. It is nearly three miles, or 

 more accurately 4694 English yards. He cites a 

 subsequent measurement of nearly four miles, or 

 6000 yards, made by the Athenian Euctemon. 



Scyranus of Ohio, in the year 143 B.C., found it 

 measured nearly 24,000 yards, or about thirteen miles 



