So much one knew, dimly, before ex
ploration took us along the coast of
Tunisia to the fabled Isle of the Lotus
Eaters. Most of us had seen divers
going down, it* the docks in our sea
ports. or off the coast, divers well as
sured of persona! safety, so far as
human ingenuity could make them as
sured. and where the hazards of the
trade were moderately reduced.
Seeing the work off Africa, however.
Immediately put another const ruction
on the matter. There we-e possibil
ities undreamed of by the divers who
operate from more established centers.
tV© reached the port of S&x and
made our arrangements. We we e not
seeking sponges, we were seeking a
lost civilization, and many were the
stories we heard from the divers,
stories that perhaps ought to have
deterred the men from th®ir quest,
vbut they were hardened to the work,
and glad of variety. Just the same,
like children they opened their heart*
to us. and certainly did n<<t minimize
the risks they ran.
* sji * *
r |"V> hear them te'.l the tale, it seemed
*- that risk commenced with the last
turn of the screw that held th®ir hei
met in place. 1. for one. ultimately
came to agree with them, since it
was necessary for me to go down per
sonally. novice that I was at what
on® would call "inclosed diving."
Yet diving for the city was l°ss haz
ardous in on© particular than diving
for sponges: there would he no fore
man looking for the average haul and
ready to force a tired man back to
his search again if his crop did not.
