236 
of Hercules, he marks it situation more particularly, in 
sa) ing that it was opposite the entrance which the Greeks 
call Hercules } s pillars. But this entrance has never 
been any thing else than the straits of Gibraltar, and 
the situation of the little Atlas, which is an arm of the 
chain extending to TVza and to Tetuan, corresponds 
exactly with the second circumstance. 
This island was larger than Lybia and Asia together.* 
This is very nearly the extent of the chain of the great 
and little Atlas. 
The priest of Sais added, that from this Atlantidis 
travellers could pass over to other islands, from which 
it was easy to reach the continent. It is evident that 
the great number of the Mediterranean islands could 
facilitate the communications of the Atlantidis with the 
different points of the European and Asiatic continents, 
which were bathed by the sea; and the more so, be- 
cause in the supposed power of the Atlantic kings, 
they would extend their dominions over the small 
neighbouring islands, to make them serve as stepping 
stones, according to the saying of the priest of Sais. 
The dominion of the Atlantic kings established on 
one side in Lybia, as far as Egypt, and on the other 
side to Tyrrhenia, and their threats against the Greeks, 
agree perfectly with the position of this island, situated 
on the central line of this country and its great popula- 
tion. 
There is but one objection to be started against this 
system, which is the disappearing of this island, and 
which the priest of Sais attributes to shocking earth- 
quakes and inundations. The island, in fact, has ceas» 
* That is to say, Asia as it was then known by the ancients- 
(Note of the editor.) 
