CHAPTER X.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE GULF AND SHORES OF THE GREATER SYRTIS.
The Dimensions ofthe Gulf, according to Ancient Writers, considered; and compared with those
resulting from the Observations of the j Expedition—Difference in the Statements of the
several Writers quoted—Reasons why a Difference may be expected ' in their Accounts—
Observations of Major Rennell on the Measurements of the Ancients—Ptolemy’s Outline of
the Gulf more correct than any hitherto given—Number of Square Miles of Error in modern
Charts of the .Greater Syrtis—The Ideas of Ancient Writers (Herodotus excepted) with
respeet to the Nature and Resources of the Syria's (the Territon/i not the Gulf of the'Greater
Syrtis is here meant) more erroneous than the Dimensions which have heeii assigned to the
Gulf itself—The General Character of the Syrtis not that of a' Sandy Plain—Incorrectness
ofthe Arab Accounts of what is termed by them.the Desert of Barka—Account of Herodotus
considered—‘Apparent Accuracy of his Statements—Inferences drawn from them—Ancient
Accounts of the Gulf of the Greater Syrtis, dimensions excepted, very correct—-Accumulation
of Soil on the Shores of the Gulf accounted for—Apparent Elevation of the General Level of
the Syrtis—Advance ofthe Sea on the Northern Coast of Africa—Appearance ofthe Coast
at Alexandria and Carthage consistent with that of the Shores of the Greater - Syrtis and
Cyrenaica—Observations of Major. Rennell and Dr. Shaw on the Elevation of the Coast of
Tunis, and the Advance of the Sea in that quarter—Observations of Lucan on the Level of
the Greater Syrtis—Dangers of the Navigation ofthe Gulf of Syrtis considered—Insist into
the Gulf still existing to a great extent—Flux and Reflux ofthe Sea mentioned by Strabo
and Mela considered—Remarks on the Derivation, of the term Syrtis.
I n considering the dimensions which have come down to us of the
Greater Syrtis, those allotted to it by Strabo (in the seventeenth
book) are so singularly inconsistent with each other, that there appears
to be no possible mode of reconciling’the measurements he has
given of its diameter, with those which he has in the same place
ascribed to its circumference, without material alterations in the text.
“ The circumference of the Greater Syrtis” (observes the geographer)