If opportunity offers I should always consider it safest to go between Carls-klippe and the Flour-bag, whether in coming from the eastward to the western harbors in Iceland, or in going from Iceland to the southward; both because the course is shorter and there are more certain sea marks. When clear of the Fugle-Skiærs, you must be on your guard, more especially if you turn to windward, against a dangerous sunken rock, called the Blinde Fugle-Skiær, of which I shall immediately have occasion to make mention.

I have laid down the Fugle-Skiærene, with regard to their situation between themselves and from Reikanes, according to Minor's description, with a few inconsiderable corrections from M. de Verdun's observations, and from a great number of bearings which I had the opportunity of taking, both when going to Iceland and on my return.

The outermost of the Fugle-Skiærs, which is called in the Icelandic language, Gier Fugla-Skiærdrange, and by Minor, Grenadeer-Huen (the Grenadier's-cap), lies,

as nearly as can be ascertained by bearings taken from the sea, five and three-quarters Danish miles s. w. by w. by the true compass from the point of Reikanes, and consequently in 63° 44′ 40′′ latitude and in the longitude of 25° 35′ 40".

Lieutenant Grove has, near this place, had an observation in the latitude of 63° 44′ 20′′ and on my homeward voyage, in sailing past it, I likewise had an observation of latitude and longitude, which answered very correctly to it. It is true that by my observation it lay a couple of minutes more to the southward in latitude, and the difference in longitude was likewise a couple of minutes, as it appeared to have been laid down too far to the eastward: but I have nevertheless left it unaltered with regard to the distance it is found to be from Reikanes, which must otherwise be corrected accordingly. It cannot be expected that observations taken at sea should correspond to so great a nicety, especially as the weather was not very favorable; but nevertheless I would not omit making this remark.

During the time that I remained at Holmens-Havn, Lieutenant Grove went out with a vessel under his command, for the purpose of navigating about that spot where the volcano island had made its appearance, in the year 1783, in order to discover if it still existed, or if any vestiges of it remained: but he found nothing but that which is called the Blinde FugleSkiær.

According to several very probable and well-founded suppositions, we have concluded that this is precisely the same rock which, in the year before mentioned, threw out fire, and cast up so much pumice-stone, that the navigators who passed the place found the sea covered with it. So long as it continued burning, it appeared above the water like a small island, which, as we learn from the statements given by mariners, who saw it that year, frequently altered its appearance; a circumstance undoubtedly occasioned by the lava and pumice-stone issuing from it; though it is probable that these substances have not been able to fix themselves firmly, but

were washed away again by the sea breaking heavily against them; so that by these means the island that had started up, disappeared and was not to be found the next year, when orders were given to the outward bound ships to look out for it. The existence of the Blinde Fugle-Skiær, indeed, has been for some time known, but its situation has been so uncertain, that many people have gone so far as to doubt whether it actually existed, because they might often sail past, and even cruise about, without happening to see it. It is nevertheless extremely dangerous; and it is a most important matter to ascertain correctly where it lies, in order that we may be enabled to use the needful precaution in avoiding it. At the flow of the tide it is not visible, unless there is a sea running sufficiently high to break over it, and even then it is necessary to be very near to perceive it; but in the dark or in hazy weather it would probably not be possible to avoid it, should one be so unfortunate as to fall in with it. At low water, and when the sea is running off, about a cable's length off it may be seen dry. The sea breaks for the

length of two cables. Round about it, the depth of water increases rapidly, and at the distance of from two to eight cables' length from it, the lead has shewn from twentysix to forty fathoms, with small burnt stones resembling lava.

Lieutenant Grove observed the course and distance from thence to the Grenadier's Cap, or the outermost Fugle-Skiær; and when, on my return homeward, an oppor tunity offered for me to sail through the channel, I took numerous bearings to the Grenadier's Cap, and thereby ascertained my distance from it as correctly as it can be done at sea. I then shaped my course directly for the Blinde Fugle-Skiær; kept the log going; steered with the utmost diligence; and found the course from the outermost Fugle-Skiær to it, to be exactly the same as is laid down by Lieutenant Grove, 47° from the south to the west by the true compass, and the distance just four Danish miles; consequently, according to the situation of the Grenadier's Cap, it lies in 63° 32′ 45′′ and 26° 2′ 50′′. With clear weather, and especially if on