300 



THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, 



less and boundless sea farther to the west — a proof 

 that what he says about the Straits of Hercules may 

 ba regarded as trustworthy. 



Pliny, who visited the straits, speaks of a low-lying 

 island, covered with wild olives, situate in mid chan- 

 nel, upon which was built the Temple of Hercules. 

 Pomponius Mela, a Spaniard, to whom these parts 



— Iieaat ircadtk about Ci indes — 

 Greatest breadth about g miles 



Crealcsl hrccr:: ' 



Oct t /_; 7/i^/es- 



Fig. 58. — Straits of Gibraltar. 



1. View and Section in the time of Pliny. 



2. Section of the existing Chaits. 



were familiar, pictures the strait as a channel broken 

 by a number of small islands without names. In our 

 day the largest ships sail freely over these waters. 



In 1748, on the occasion of a very low tide, the 

 remains of the famous Temple of ETercules were dis- 

 covered in the oceanic part of the strait, and some 

 souvenirs of it were obtained for preservation. 



Jean Conduit, as related by Signor Ignacio Lopez de 



