Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/148

 a manner as to form a kind of lake, very similar in appearance,to two neighbouring lakes, the Sebkha-el-Melah and the Babiret-el-Bibân. According to Wood, this marine lake is the river Triton, so long sought for on the neighbouring coasts. The western branch of the strait, some 8,330 feet broad, and commanded by lofty hills and cliffs, is the only one which is navigable for shipping, the passage excavated by the action of the tides being from 10 to 50 feet deep. The eastern branch, although broader, is partly obstructed by islets, reefs, sandbanks, and at

ebb there remains scarcely 2 feet of water in the deepest parts. The ford followed by the caravans, which bears the name of Trik-esh-Jemel, or "Road of the Camels," winds to the west of a Roman bridge spoken of by ancient travellers, and of which some remains are still to be seen. Two castles, the Borj-el-Kantara, or "Castle of the Bridge," on the shore of the island, and the Borj-el-Bab, or "Castle of the Gate," in the very centre of the strait, recall the ancient viaduct, worthy of being compared to the works of modern engineers, if not for boldness of design, at least