The Detachment of Britain 7 



THE DETACHMENT OF BRITAIN. 



The fall of a huge mass of the chalk cliff at Dover, which 

 was recorded in the Times of last January, may serve to 

 remind us of what, not improbably, took place when Britain 

 was finally disconnected from the Continent. Originally lofty 

 chalk downs extended between the two, and men pastured 

 their flocks and herds upon them without much note as to 

 which territory they were upon. A strong set of the sea, north 

 and south alternately, gradually undermined the cliff on both 

 sides, and falls, just such as the recent one, were of frequent 

 occurrence. The broad downs were thus reduced to a mere 

 strip. We do not know what the primaeval name for such a 

 connecting bar of land might be, but in later times it would 

 have been known as the Franco-British isthmus. Becom- 

 ing increasingly narrow it might in time be little more than a 

 ridge on the top of a broadish white wall with precipitous 

 sides, but encumbered at its base with masses of chalk and 

 accumulations of flint. Probably it was narrowest somewhere 

 near its middle, and finally in some night of storm it fell. 

 No doubt the encroachments of the sea had been observed 

 and the fall was expected. It may have been the case that 

 for some time only the more courageous had ventured to 

 cross, and that valuable cattle had been carefully kept to 

 their respective sides. For some little time longer, no doubt 

 at low tide, men and dogs would be able to scramble across 

 on the broken boulders, but chalk is soft and is soon washed 

 away. The current would run strongly through the newly 

 made strait, and other falls of cliff on either side would soon 

 follow. Quickly it would become evident that henceforth the 

 coracle must be the only possible source of communication, 

 and that all transference of flocks was at an end. The very 

 name must be changed. 



