bringing with it a mystery -- the fate of its occupants.

The raft, built from oil drums welded together in a frame, was discovered adrift seven miles east of the Island by fisherman Captain Joe Kelly yesterday morning.

Captain Kelly suspects the raft was built by Cuban or Haitian boat people escaping their countries. But he said it contained no clues as to what became of them.

The remnants of a life jacket, some planks and a rope is all that remains.

"It is typical of the type of craft they constructed. There is no doubt that is what it is,'' he said.

The raft was well-constructed to have survived intact the hundreds of miles it travelled to reach Bermuda, according to Captain Kelly.

He added there was no way of telling whether those on board arrived at their destination and set the raft adrift or perished on the journey.

"There used to be a rudder which must have come off and there are points where they could row,'' he said. "There may have been a canopy.'' But he said the raft, which attracted hungry hordes of fish, afforded him some good fishing before he towed it into St. George's Harbour.

Its journey over, the raft is now moored at Convicts Bay awaiting disposal.

Captain Kelly pointed out that, had the craft not been towed safely ashore, it could have proved dangerous.

"It would have been a navigational hazard. It could have done damage to a vessel,'' he said.

He said he was happy although not surprised by the find.

"I have found every kind of thing you could imagine over the years. But it has come a long way,'' he said.