TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 277 stated) can scarcely have been the customary motion of the tides ; but it may reasonably be supposed that the reaction of such a body of water as must (under the influence of violent and continued winds) have been driven over the low lands of the Greater Syrtis, was occasionally very considerable. This may have been the reflux (we imagine) alluded to ; while the inset into the Gulf, caused by strong winds blowing into it, may have been the rise which is mentioned as the flux.

Of the indraught in question there can be no doubt ; indeed, we may remark that a rise of this nature is more or less observable in gulfs in general ; and when we consider that an unbroken sweep of level ground, very slightly raised above the surface of the sea, will be found extending itself on the western coast of the Greater Syrtis for the space of a hundred miles in length, and occasionally as much as fifteen in breadth, we may easily allow that the reflux of the water, driven over a tract of such dimensions, may well be considered as formidable.

It appears to be from the effect of the flux and reflux alluded to, * that the names by which the Gulfs of Syrtis are distinguished have been derived; that is, if we may suppose them to be of Greek origin, as Sallust and others have asserted This is said of the Lesser Syrtis, but the Greater Syrtis is stated, immediately afterwards, to be nomine atque ingenio par priori. Pliny also mentions both these peculiarities very briefly but decidedly ; he speaks of both Gulfs as being vacloso ac reciproco mari diros. (Lib. v. c. 4.)

* From (TypEiv, to draw, or drag along. Sallust’s words are “ Syrtes ab tractu nominatse.” Shaw has quoted Solinus, c. 6, and Dionysius Periegetes, 1. 198, as suggest-