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-Skiaer, 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 twenty-
six 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-Skiaer; and
when, on my return homeward, an opportunity
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-Skiaer; kept
the log going; steered with the utmost
diligence; and found the course from the
outermost Fugle-Skiaer to it, to be exactly
the same as is laid down by Lieutenant
Grove, 470 from the south to the west Ify
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