152

CONSOLIDATION OF THE ROCK.

existed here, I have no doubt but that much has been added to it by the labour of man, as in many places it has, decidedly, the appearance of Cyclopean workmanship. Whether those parts of the rocks which appear squared, are the natural ones cut into this form, or blocks carried out and placed there, is also difficult to determine. There is, however, a peculiar consolidating power in the water all along this coast, that has filled up the interstices, and makes the whole appear as one solid stone, in the same manner as the beach at Rhodes, and Asia Minor have been converted for miles into a petrified conglomerate. The cothon at Joppa, which we know is artificial, bears now a very similar appearance. Mr. Lyell attributes the consolidation of the beach in Asia Minor, to the streams which run into the sea, holding carbonate of lime in abundance, and precipitating travertine, or binding sand, gravel, &c., into a conglomerate, as at Rhodes. But here there is no stream of fresh water, so that it must have been produced either by the action of the sea water, or the atmosphere. The shell conglomerate found in the dyeing pots presents a similar formation. Where this reef joins the peninsula at the north-west corner, are the remains of an ancient Pharos; and beyond it is a gap or passage which was probably the western entrance to the northern harbour, and which corresponds with the point where Alexander, when besieging the city, made one of his principal attacks.

SUBMERGED RUINS.

153

We are told that there were anciently two harbours; the one open, the other shut. The southern was called the Egyptian port; and the Shereef Edrisi says that one had an arch over it, and was fortified by a chain drawn across its entrance. Where the reef joins the south-western corner are the remains of enormous Cyclopean work, evidently created to form a breakwater and connecting it with the land are the ruins of what appear to have been buildings of a great size, but which are now sunk some feet under the water, leaving only two or three large arches visible above its surface.

There is one more subject connected with this very remarkable place, that naturally arises out of the inquiry as to its present and former state; and that is whether the small peninsula marked on the map can be that on which the whole of the ancient city stood; and whether the present relative positions of land and water are the same as that existing at the time of Alexander's conquest. In some travels published many years ago, it was hinted that it was probable that much of the peninsula of Tyre had been submerged, and this is further verified, both by the observations of the Count de Bertou, and the examination which I made of the place. I cannot however agree with this traveller in supposing that a large tract of land, and much of the ruins of the city are beneath the surface. Our opinions correspond as to the northern reef being the remains of the ancient harbour on that side; but

154

ALTERATION OF THE WATER LEVEL.

the Count states that he was informed by some sponge-divers, that a sub-marine bank extends from the point which I have marked as "submerged ruins" on the map, in a S. S. W. direction, towards Cape Blanco, a distance of two miles. This he says "we partly examined, and found it covered by water to a depth of from one to three fathoms, and measuring in breadth from twelve to fourteen yards." This bank he supposes to have been the breakwater to the southern port; but whether it is natural or artificial he was unable to determine.*

The smallness of the peninsula compared with the probable extent of the ancient city—the submerged reef, or ancient pier, running north and south on both sides of it-the ruins which I have pointed out at the southern extremity, and the ancient town wall now standing in the water at the landing-place, all afford conclusive proof of the sea having risen at this point many feet above its ancient level. But has the Mediterranean generally risen? To decide this point geologists have principally confined their observations and reasonings to the celebrated temple of Serapis, in the bay of Baiæ, on which much has been already written; but the prevalence

* M. de Bertou seems to have taken up this subject with great energy, and has petitioned the president of the Geographical Society at Paris, to prevail on the government to send out a diving bell, to explore these submarine ruins. Although I am not so sanguine as the Swiss traveller, yet the most interesting results may be anticipated.

of earthquakes, and the continued volcanic action going forward there, prevents a fair analogy being established with it and other parts of the Mediter

ranean.

Commencing at the gulf of Glaucus, I have pointed out tombs, and the walls of the city of Telmessus, now surrounded by water, of which no doubt can exist, that they originally stood on dry land. Following the coast eastward, we come to the island of Kakara, of which Captain Beauford states; that it is remarkable that in some places three or four of the lower steps, (of houses,) and even the foundations of walls are now beneath the surface of the water. At Joppa I have every reason to believe that the ancient cothon has been partly submerged; and in this state are also part of the ruins of Cesarea. At Caipha I found the remains of a very antique building, which had been probably a temple, partly covered with water at its base. At Beyrout we see a tower standing in the water; and at Tyre there can be no doubt upon the subject, for there the ruins are seen below the surface. Here I must refer to one of the most remarkable prophecies not only with regard to Tyre, but mentioned in the whole of Scripture, showing not merely the literal fulfilment of every sentence spoken against it, but accounting for why Tyre is now submerged. Among the many awful predictions of the doom of this city, it is thus stated by Ezekiel

156

PROPHECY OF TYRE'S SUBMERSION.

66

in the 26th chap. 19th and 20th verses, "For thus saith the Lord God, when I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee; when I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit. And again, 'They shall bring thee down to the pit.” The former has been fulfilled; and the latter expression Archbishop Newcome translates "the lower parts of the earth." Upwards of fifty years ago this eminent scholar and divine remarked upon this 19th verse, that "part of the city towards the port may have stood on ground recovered from the sea;" observation now proves the actual state of the case. The prophecy is so striking in itself, and shows how wondrously the Great Ruler of the universe works out his own designs, that I shall not offer one word more of comment upon it, except to remark that had the land sunk, as many suppose, and not that the deep has come up upon it, the ancient arches of the aqueduct would not in all probability have existed to this day. Various modern travellers have discovered submerged ruins at Aboukir, and at the Pharos of Alexandria; and by a curious coincidence, in nearly the same longitude as Kakara on the opposite shore. Thus we have evidence of the whole upper border of the coast of the Mediterranean being submerged, more or -less; and from its great extent I am inclined to