284 On the Volcanic Ifland throx wn up 
founil various pieces of the fame fhip, which could be eafily 
known by fome diftinguithing marks. Thefe parts, of difs 
ferent forms and fizes, would not have been thrown on fhore 
fo near each other if the misfortune had happened at 4 
greater diftance; the billows, currents, &e. would certainly 
have driven them on fhore at places more remote from eacli 
other. Befides, thefe fragments were driven on fhore by 2 
wind which blew i a direction from’ thefe rocks, -and no- 
thing elfe of this misfortune had been perceived on the coatt. 
From all thefe circumftances I conclude that this veffel 
had experienced a very bad voyage home from the Cape of 
Good Hope, for that year cafterly winds were. exceedingly 
prevalent in the northern feas. A great many thips, and 
particularly men of war, preferred goiug round Great Bri- | 
tain to the paflage through the Channel. It is probable that 
the fhip in queftion may have been in want of fome neceflary, 
fuch perhaps as frefh water. The captain, befides, was well 
acquainted in Icefand, where I myfelf was with him, fome 
years ago, as lieutenant om board a fhip which he then com- 
manded, andon this account he probably intended to run into 
fome of its harbours, but unfortunately ftruck on the funker: 
rocks, the remains of the volcanic ifland. In this diftreffed 
fituation the crew,: no doubt, had recourfe to the only pro-+ 
bable means left for faving their lives by hoifting out their 
long-boat, and while employed im this labour the fhip, it is 
likely, went+to pieces, and the people were loft, as none of 
them were ever feen or heard of. 
During my expedition to Iceland im the year 1786, I 
made it my bufinefs to make fome refearches in regard to 
this volcanic ffland, though at that time no fufpicion was 
entertained that the above fhip had been wrecked in this 
place; for this conjecture was only a confequence drawn 
from my refearches. 
"When I arrived in Iceland, where, on account of the bu- 
finefs entrufted to my charge, as well as on account of the 
obfervations which I was obliged to make for the improve- 
ment of charts, I found it neceffary to remain fome time 
with my fhip in Holmens-hafen, amd had at my difpofal a 
fmall veffel which was lying there, F ordered Lieutenant, 
now 
