<w lemma="ri%2Fas">ρίας</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="a%29kribeste%2Fran">ἀκριβεστέραν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion:">ῥᾴδιον·</w> <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthmen">ἐπέστημεν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29fete%2Fon">ἀφετέον</w> <w lemma="a%29rgo%5Cn">ἀργὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fsei">φάσει</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fmenon">κείμενον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29w%2Fqasi">εἰώθασι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w>, <w lemma="a%29podeiktikh%3D%7C">ἀποδεικτικῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsei">διηγήσει</w> <w lemma="xrhste%2Fon">χρηστέον</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fporon">ἄπορον</w> <w lemma="a%29polei%2Fpwmen">ἀπολείπωμεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="zhtoume%2Fnwn">ζητουμένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="filhko%2Fois">φιληκόοις</w>.
<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdio%2Fn">ἴδιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="plwtw%3Dn">πλωτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poreutw%3Dn">πορευτῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpon">πρέπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="poihtai%3Ds">ποιηταῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="muqogra%2Ffois">μυθογράφοις</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Frtusi">μάρτυσι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnwn">ἀγνοουμένων</w>,
<w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="pepoih%2Fkasi">πεποιήκασι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w>, <w lemma="a%29pi%2Fstous">ἀπίστους</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhtoume%2Fnwn">ἀμφισβητουμένων</w> <w lemma="parexo%2Fmenoi">παρεχόμενοι</w> <w lemma="bebaiwta%5Cs">βεβαιωτὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hra%2Fkleiton">Ἡράκλειτον</w>, <w lemma="peirate%2Fon">πειρατέον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="parista%2Fnai">παριστάναι</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fousi">ἀκούουσι</w>.
<w lemma="fame%5Cn">φαμὲν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fnnusqai">χώννυσθαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w>, <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwsqh%2Fsesqai">ἐγχωσθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Amaiw%3Dtin">Μαιῶτιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="menou%2Fshs">μενούσης</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcews">τάξεως</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fwn">αἰτίων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29gxw%2Fsews">ἐγχώσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29nergou%2Fntwn">ἐνεργούντων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fs">συνεχές</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnos">χρόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiros">ἄπειρος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="koilw%2Fmata">κοιλώματα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnth">πάντη</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntws">πάντως</w> <w lemma="w%28risme%2Fna">ὡρισμένα</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tuxo%5Cn">τυχὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sfe%2Frhtai">εἰσφέρηται</w>, <w lemma="plhrwqh%2Fsontai">πληρωθήσονται</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w>.
<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peperasme%2Fnon">πεπερασμένον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%2Frw%7C">ἀπείρῳ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="fqeiro%2Fmenon">φθειρόμενον</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fxiston">ἐλάχιστον</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnhtai">γίνηται</w> — <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="noei%2Fsqw">νοείσθω</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> — <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="teleiwqh%3Dnai">τελειωθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fn">τυχόν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="polu%2Fs">πολύς</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29sfe%2Frhtai">εἰσφέρηται</w> <w lemma="xou%3Ds">χοῦς</w>, <w lemma="fanero%5Cn">φανερὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pote%2F">ποτέ</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnetai">φαίνεται</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>. <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Amaiw%3Dtin">Μαιῶτιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kexw%3Dsqai">κεχῶσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei:">συμβαίνει·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="toi">τοι</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="o%29rguiai%3Ds">ὀργυιαῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti:">ἐστι·</w> <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="nausi%5C">ναυσὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flais">μεγάλαις</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="kaqhgemo%2Fnos">καθηγεμόνος</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29%3Dsa%2F">οὖσά</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flatta">θάλαττα</w> <w lemma="su%2Frrous">σύρρους</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntw%7C">Πόντῳ</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="palaioi%5C">παλαιοὶ</w> <w lemma="sumfwnou%3Dsi">συμφωνοῦσι</w>, <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="li%2Fmnh">λίμνη</w> <w lemma="glukei%3Da">γλυκεῖα</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="e%29kpepiesme%2Fnhs">ἐκπεπιεσμένης</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwma%2Ftwn">ἐγχωμάτων</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%3Ds">εἰσβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratou%2Fshs">ἐπικρατούσης</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn:">νῦν·</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="katafane%5Cs">καταφανὲς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="koilw%2Fmatos">κοιλώματος</w>. <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="sunepisth%2Fsasi">συνεπιστήσασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>
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<head>The Black Sea Being Silted Up</head>As I have started this topic I must not, as most historians do, leave any point undiscussed, or only barely stated. My object is rather to give information, and to clear up doubtful points for my readers. This is the peculiarity of the present day, in which every sea and land has been thrown open to travellers; and in which, therefore, one can no longer employ the evidence of poets and fabulists, as my predecessors have done on very many points, "offering," as Heraclitus says, "tainted witnesses to disputed facts,"—but I must try to make my narrative in itself carry conviction to my readers.I say then the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> has long been in process of being filled up with mud, and that this process is actually going on<pb n="316" />now: and further, that in process of time both it and the Propontis, assuming the same local conditions to be maintained, and the causes of the alluvial deposit to continue active, will be entirely filled up. For time being infinite, and the depressions most undoubtedly finite, it is plain that, even though the amount of deposit be small, they must in course of time be filled. For a finite process, whether of accretion or decrease, must, if we presuppose infinite time, be eventually completed, however infinitesimal its progressive stages may be. In the present instance the amount of soil deposited being not small, but exceedingly large, it is plain that the result I mentioned will not be remote but rapid. And, in fact, it is evident that it is already taking place. The Maeotic lake is already so much choked up, that the greater part of it is only from seven to five fathoms deep, and accordingly cannot any longer be passed by large ships without a pilot. And having moreover been originally a sea precisely on a level with the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>, it is now a freshwater lake: the sea-water has been expelled by the silting up of the bottom, and the discharge of the rivers has entirely overpowered it. The same will happen to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>, and indeed is taking place at this moment; and though it is not evident to ordinary observers, owing to the vastness of its basin, yet a moderately attentive study will discover even now what is going on.
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Walbank Commentary