SINGULAR SILTING. 
233 
Chap. XIV.—B. P.] 
way from the apex of the delta to the mouth of the 
river, there is a series of sand-bars, while in the har¬ 
bour itself, within my knowledge, the average depth 
of water has diminished one-half. The semicircular 
sand-spit has now effected a permanent junction with 
the mainland, and the only opening or entrance has a 
capricious existence, varying in depth in accordance 
with the moderation of the weather outside and the 
volume of water available for scour. 
In this place I cannot avoid quoting the words of 
my dear and lamented friend, the late Kobert Stephen¬ 
son, M.P., on the nature of harbours situated at the 
delta of large rivers, because certain American gentle¬ 
men, with characteristic energy, still continue to waste 
their money by trying to conquer nature in the case of 
Greytown. 
Mr. Stephenson, taking part in the discussion on my 
paper, “ Remarks on the Isthmus of Suez, with special 
reference to the proposed Canal,” read before the Royal 
Geographical Society, April 11th, 1859, said:—“I 
believe it to be nearly true, if not absolutely true, that 
there is no large harbour in the world maintained on 
the delta of a large river. I know the delta of the 
Rhone, the delta of the Po, and the delta of the Danube, 
and I know the delta of the Nile. They are all alike 
incapable of maintaining a harbour of refuge, or even 
a good harbour of entrance; the harbour would abso¬ 
lutely be filled up in a few years.” 
Mr. Stephenson’s remarks apply with equal force to 
the delta of the river San Juan and the harbour of 
Greytown. 
