a new Ifland, which was fome miles in circumference. The Portugueze from Tercera took poffeffion of it (as foon as they durft venture on fo hazardous an attempt) by setting up a Crofs thereon; but alas! it very fhortly after funk down again as gradually into the Sea, and so vanished. There is a Vulcano upon one of the Azores which is for that reafon called Fuego; and if I am not much mistaken, there iffued Smoak out of a confiderable hole in the small Island, that thus arofe out of, and funk into the Sea again. 15. I muft draw to a conclufion with this remarkable instance in behalf of fo indelible a truth, viz, That about feven or eight years ago, there was such a dreadful Earthquake in Chili or Peru (or in both,) as destroyed the fine City of St. Jago in Chili, upon the River of St. Jago, which waters a Province of that name (and fome others,) befides many Villages for fome hundreds of miles together: This horrid Ruin was doubtless occafioned by the Vulcanoes with which all parts of the Coafts in the South Sea abound, as well as the Cordillera, or Mountains of Andes, that part the rich Kingdom of Chili from the vast and still more fertile Plains of Cuio. Father Ovalle a Native of Chili and Procurator for it at Rome, fays, That in thefe Mountains there are fixteen Vulcanoes, which fometimes break out with dire effects, cleave the Rocks, and iffue great quanti

ties of Fire, with a noise resembling Thunder ; He accounts these Mountains the highest in the World. Woods Rogers owns much the fame in the following strong terms; viz, "Some parts " of them I believe are full as high, if not higher " than the Pico Teneriff, with Snow on the top;" He was then cruising in South Latitude 17. 03, but does not tell what distance he might be from them; and in another place he says, that he saw Pico Teneriff very plain when he was at least thirty-fix Leagues from it.

16. There is a noted Vulcano near the City of Mexico called Popacatepec, whofe mouth (at the top of an exceeding high Mountain) is pretty near a Mile in circumference. Vide Dr. Barclay's Univerfal Traveller.

I fuppofe you are by this time weary enough of reading this Epistle of

Yours W. S.

P. S. There are Vulcanoes in many parts of the East Indies, which frequently occasion Earthquakes and their fatal confequences, in much the fame manner with Ætna, Vefuvius, and Strombolo.

LET

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I

Good Sir,

Would not have any one infer from my preceeding Letters, and particularly from the last, that Vulcanoes are confined folely to extream hot Latitudes: no; let us remember, that in the wonderous cold Climate of Iceland we have an account of a Burning Mountain called Mount Hecla, which (if we may give credit to the teftimony of Mariners) rages most horribly as well as almost inceffantly, fending forth amazing quantities of Smoke, Flame, and combuftible matter. But our great misfortune is, that very few (if any) Perfons of Learning and Judgment competent enough have travelled thither, to bring us an accurate defcription of it: And as for the poor Natives of fuch a difmal Country, they are so unpolished (or rather wild and favage) that they want all forts of Literature, and confequently can relate nothing certain about its Effects beyond their own Times; nay it is with me a question, whether any other European underftands a single word of their Language, or whether the boldest of fuch ignorant Creatures durft venture to approach within a mile of its mouth. Bishop Nicholson in page 51. of his English

cr

English Hiftorical Library (I own) afferts their Literature in the following words; " Afamal or the ;" Afian Tongue was fuppofed to be brought out " of Afia by Woden or Odin, the first great Ge“neral that led a Colony into these Parts. The "best Remains of this are now amongst the In" habitants of Iceland; who have preserved their "ancient Language in the greatest purity; both by being least acquainted with Foreign Com

merce, and by taking care to register in it the publick Tranfactions of their own and the "neighbouring Nations." Read alfo the two following pages of his, where will find an ac

you

count of the Treatifes I never faw. His whole Book is very curious and entertaining to a found Scholar. However, we may in time hear further of it, because about twelve or thirteen years ago the King of Denmark who pretends to its Sovereignty, sent off thither fifty or fixty Families, in order to try if it was not practicable to settle a Colony, that might traffick with them for Deerfkins, Bear-skins, Ermins, Martins, Beavers, and other Furrs: But I doubt whether the Profit anfwered the Expence of the Project; for I cannot fay, that we ever after had so much as mention made of them. N.B. There is now at this juncture of time, a warm dispute between that Prince and the States General of the United Provinces of

Holland, in regard to the Right of Fishery upon its Coafts.

2. This Article of the Fishery upon the Coasts, of Iceland puts me in mind, that when I was at Kingston fupra Hull, in the year 1724, I vifited for curiofity (among other Places) Trinity House; in the Hall whereof, hung up a very fmall wooden Canoe, that was (both at top and bottom) exceeding well clofed, and tight. Out of a hole in the midst of the top, appeared a small man's Effigies as far almoft as its middle (or waift) with a fhort Paddle in one hand, which Paddle was broad and flat at each end, not unlike the broad end of a well fhaped Boat's Oar; only it was much sharper at each extremity and made round in the middle on purpofe for him to hold it by in the middle, and to paddle with it the commodiously. They ftiled the Effigies the bonny Boatman, and in wondrous grave terms told me the following Story about him, viz. A Greenland Veffel belonging to that Port, did on her return home, about four or five days after her departure from thence, and confequently far enough from it, efpy a fhort and little Man of that fize padling in great hafte away from them; but they purfued, and foon came up with him; however, he was fo expert at padling, and shifted about so very dexterously, that it was with great difficulty they catched him. He feemed very uneafy

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