496 MERGE TO GYRENE.

excavation, the sides of which rise perpendicularly to a considerable 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 aqueduct which formerly supphed the town from a spring of most delightful 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 reasonably entertained. The same cause would also have operated very effectually in preventing the construction of an artificial communication 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