THE COASTS OF SAINTONGE. 303 



distance was only six kilometres, nor was it farther 

 between this bay and the northern branch of the 

 basin of the Charente. We see that the ancient 

 barony of Chatelaillon, comprising the territories of La 

 Kochelle and Esnandes, formed a true peninsula, pre- 

 senting to the sea a straight line of coast measuring 

 about thirty kilometres, and connected with the con- 

 tinent by a very narrow isthmus. 



The changes that I have indicated may be seen at 

 a glance on the magnificent atlas of MM. Dufrenoy 

 and Elie de Beaumont, for we can here trace the 

 ancient coast lines by observing how far the alluvial 

 deposits have penetrated inland. It must not, how- 

 ever, be supposed that these changes have been 

 effected by one of the great revolutions of which 

 our globe still bears those traces which science 

 alone can interpret. These results were brought 

 about at a period which, comparatively speaking, is 

 quite recent, and here geology has done no more 

 than confirm the indications of history. 



Ptolemy, who knew and named the Charente, does 

 not speak of the Sevre, and we may easily comprehend 

 the reason of his silence, for at the period at which 

 the celebrated geographer wrote, the Sevre was a 

 very inconsiderable stream which entered the sea at 

 Niort. In proportion as the gulf has been filled 

 up the stream has been lengthened and widened, 

 and acquired new affluents, until it now merits the 

 name of a river. Its embouchure has successively 

 advanced behind many islands which had previously 

 been placed far in front of it, and which, being en- 

 closed by the surrounding land, form in the present 



