518 



ENCKOACHMENTS OF THE SEA 



[Ch. XX. 



and at length transferred to a point no less than ten miles 

 distant to the sonth-west. In this case, ridges of sand and 

 shingle, like those of Lowestoff Ness, which will be described 

 by and bye, have been thrown up between the river and the 

 sea ; and an ancient sea-cliff is to be seen now inland. 



It may be asked why the rivers on our east coast are always 

 deflected southwards, although the tidal current flows alter- 

 nately from the south and north ? The cause is to be found 

 in the superior force of what is commonly called ' the flood 

 tide from the north/ a tidal wave derived from the Atlantic, 

 a small part of which passes eastward up the English Channel, 

 and through the Straits of Dover and then northwards, while 

 the principal body of water, moving much more rapidly in a 

 more open sea, on the western side of Britain, first passes the 

 Orkneys, and then turning, flows down between Norway and 



Fiff. 45. 



Map of Lowestoff Ness, Suffolk.* 



a, a. The dotted lines express a series of sand and shingle, forming the 



extremity of the triangular space called the Ness. 



b, b 9 b. The dark line represents the inland cliff on which the town of 



Lowestoff stands, between which and the sea is the Ness. 



Scotland, and sweeps with great velocity along onr eastern 

 coast. It is well known that the highest tides on this coast 

 are occasioned by a powerful north-west wind, which raises 

 the eastern part of the Atlantic, and causes it to pour a 



& 



volume 



This cir- 



#• 



i a 



rise of the waters, instead of a general retreat of the sea, 

 naturally excites the wonder of the inhabitants of our coast. 

 In many districts they look with confidence for a rich harvest 



* From Mr. E. C. Taylor's Mem., see Phil. Mag., Oct. 1827, p. 297. 





