496 
MERGE TO GYRENE. 
excavation, the sides of which rise perpendicularly to a considera- 
ble height, and which appears to have formed an approach to the 
gate here alluded to. Close to this is a remarkably strong fort, built 
with sloping sides, like those at Ptolemeta, and others already 
described in the Syrtis. Here also pass the remains of the aque- 
duct which formerly supphed the town from a spring of most delight- 
ful water, situated at the extremity of the ravine which we have 
mentioned above, and distant nearly four miles from the town. 
The sea has encroached very considerably at Apollonia ; and it is 
difficult to say, in what the shelter of the harbour consisted : the line 
of coast is too strait to afford any protection ; and it seems probable, 
that the small island to the northward of the town, and a reef of 
rocks a little to the south-westward of this, constituted the only 
shelter which it afforded. We had imagined, that a communication 
might formerly have existed between the island and the reef of 
rocks here alluded to ; but it soon appeared that the water was 
much too deep between these, to allow of any such idea being rea- 
sonably entertained. The same cause would also have operated very 
effectually in preventing the construction of an artificial communi- 
cation betw'een the points which we have just mentioned ; for the 
heavy sea which rolls into the port in windy weather would soon 
have swept away anything less than the Breakwater at Plymouth. 
Had such a communication ever existed, the harbour would have been 
a most excellent one ; but as we cannot suppose that it ever did, 
from the reasons which we have stated above, we may conclude, 
perhaps, that vessels usually laid under the lee of the island, and that 
