1883.] 
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CORRESPONDENCE. 
%* The Editor does not hold himself responsible for statements of fadts or 
opinions expressed in Correspondence, or in Articles bearing the signature 
of their respective authors. 
ATLANTIS. 
To the Editor of the Journal of Science. 
Sir, — After all that has been said about this lost country during 
the last three thousand years, — or perhaps I should say after all 
that has come to light concerning that which has been said of 
it, — thoughtful people ought to admit that it is more likely such 
a country existed than that it did not, and careful search should 
be made for more evidence than has as yet been produced of its 
existence. There is the tradition handed down from the 
Egyptian priests, and other traditions independent perhaps of 
that particular one. Is it not possible that the Egyptians them- 
selves were colonists from Atlantis, seeing that their remains 
are so similar to those of the old Americans, themselves perhaps 
colonists from the same country ? And there is the Sargoza 
Sea, through which indeed I have sailed, and cannot wonder 
that it may have been formerly — and in parts really now— so 
dense as to prevent the passage of ships, so that those in them 
may have perished miserably. 
During the great number of years that I have been in Borneo 
and the neighbouring islands, it may be supposed that I have 
not had many opportunities of reading ; therefore I may perhaps 
be pardoned for saying that I do not remember that much is 
known, or at least related, concerning the people who inhabited 
the northern coasts of Africa during the time of the early 
Egyptian kings, nor of the western coast, nor of that of Portu- 
gal, the inhabitants of which countries must have been in 
constant intercourse with those of Atlantis. Have the round 
towers on the coast of Portugal been as yet accounted for ? 
And have the libraries of Lisbon, and especially Mafra, been yet 
examined ? Have any steps been taken on the west coast of 
Africa to obtain evidence, or relics ? I think not ; except that 
some one made verbal enquiries once at the Cape de Verde 
Islands. In fadt I may say, in conclusion, that no special 
