ATLANTIS. 227 



legendary Atlantis of the Greeks ? It may have happened that 

 man inhabited the Atlantis as well as France and England; 

 and in that case the remarkable statement of Plato in the 

 'Timseus' and 'Critias' acquires a new interest. History 

 related, according to the tradition of the Egyptian priests, 

 that in ancient times there existed, beyond the Pillars of 

 Heracles (the Straits of Gibraltar), an island larger than Asia 

 and Libya united, clothed with a rich vegetation, and inhabited 

 by a very powerful people ; but, subsequently, earthquakes and 

 enormous waves swallowed up the island. Plato has poetically 

 embellished this obscure and ancient legend, for which probably 

 there was a foundation in great geological events* terminating 

 at the close of the drift epoch. 



The present boundaries of the Mediterranean sea were only 

 settled during the drift-epoch. All the borders of the northern 

 coast of Africa have a Southern-European character, which in- 

 dicates that the separation of Europe from Africa did not take 

 place until the same types of organic nature had been established 

 in the borders of both countries. 



During the Miocene epoch Greece was united on the east 

 with Asia Minor (vol. i. p. 297). Then occurred a considerable 

 depression which separated Europe from Asia : the numerous 

 Greek islands are only the remains of this vast intermediate 

 country. Probably this depression took place at a period when 

 Man was in existence, and afterwards gave rise among ancient 

 nations to legends respecting the deluge. 



The preceding statements lead us to regard the drift-period 

 as stormy and changeful. During its course many modifica- 

 tions of climate occurred, and exercised a great influence on 

 the constitution of the flora and fauna. Although the prin- 

 cipal mountain-heights of Switzerland were fixed, and the sea 



* [The poet Beattie adopts the Platonic tradition in the following line : 

 <l Where the Atlantic rolls, wide continents have bloomed." 



Plato described the island of Atlantis as " the way to other islands, and 

 from the islands you might pass to the whole of the opposite continent " 

 (see Dr. Jowett's translation of Plato's Dialogues, vol. iii. p. 609). EDITOR.] 



Q2 



