190 



ed by the depositions from the Borysthenes and Te- 

 nais, which pass through a great extent of low alluvial 

 tracts. 



It was from this circumstance that Polybius was in- 

 duced to believe, that the entire filling up of the Maeo- 

 tis, was no very distant event, (lib. iv. c. 5.) Yet says 

 Mr. Rennell, *' The operation, however, is so slow, 

 that it may reasonably be deemed a very remote event, 

 at present, although nearly 2000 years have elapsed, 

 since the date of his prediction. Polybius, it seems, 

 was of the opinion, that in his time, this lake was not 

 more than 15 to SO feet deep, generally ; but," says 

 Mr. Rennell, " it is at present more than 30, and in 

 the deepest parts, 40 to 48."* 



In the lake of Geneva, which has been, perhaps, as 

 long known as that of almost any other, no material 

 change I believe is observable, although subject to the 

 operations of torrents, that rush into it with. inconcei- 

 vable rapidity from the sides of the Alps. 



In the lake of Bala, in Wales, which is 13 miles in 

 length and six in breadth, and through which runs the 

 river Dee, Mr. Mkins could find no indications of 

 alluvion, nor scarce any earthy particles. f 



The same is precisely the state of the Cumberland 

 and Westmoreland lakes ; of Lock Lomond, in Scot- 

 land ; of the Locarno, in Italy ; all well known for ages. 



Of the sea of Tiberias, or sea of Gallilee, or the lake 

 of Gennessereth, which has been as long, if not lon- 



* Rennell's Herodotus, page 69. 

 t Atkins's Tour, page 24. 



