[ 6o ] 
of tree, or even fhrub, is found on any 
of the illands of Spitzbergen ; a circum- 
flance of the molt alarming nature to our 
failors. Without fire it was impolTible 
to refill: the rigour of the climate ; and 
without wood, how was that fire to be 
produced, or fupportcd? Providence, how- 
ever, has fo ordered it, that in this par- 
ticular, the fea fnpplies the defects of the 
land. In wandering along the beach, 
they collected plenty of wood, which 
had been driven afhore by the waves ; 
and which at firft conlifted of the wrecks 
of fhips, and afterwards of whole trees 
with their roots, the produce of fome 
more hofpitable, but to them unknown 
climate, which the overflowing of rivers, 
or other accidents, had fent into the 
ocean. This will not appear incredible to 
thofe who have perufed the journals of 
the feveral navigators who have been 
forced to winter in Nova Zcmla {a\ or 
any 
(a) I mull ohferve here, that the true pronun- 
ciation of that word is not Nova Zsmbla (as men- 
tioned 
