On the 6th of November, I was in 49 degrees 4
minutes south latitude, and in the longitude of 114 degrees 56 minutes; the
variation was at this time 26 degrees westward; and, as the weather was foggy,
with hard gales, and a rolling sea from the south-west and from the south, I
concluded from thence that it was not at all probable there should be any land
between those two points. On November 15th I was in the latitude of 44 degrees
33 minutes south, and in the longitude of 140 degrees 32 minutes. The variation
was then 18 degrees 30 minutes west, which variation decreased every day, in
such a manner, that, on the 21st of the same month, being in the longitude of
158 degrees, I observed the variation to be no more than 4 degrees. On the 22nd
of that month, the needle was in continual agitation, without resting in any of
the eight points; which led me to conjecture that we were near some mine of
loadstone.
This may, at first sight, seem to contradict what has been before laid down, as
to the variation, and the causes of it: but, when strictly considered, they will
be found to agree very well; for when it is asserted that veins of loadstone
have nothing to do with the variation of the compass, it is to be understood of
the constant variation of a few degrees to the east, or to the west: but in
cases of this nature, where the variation is absolutely irregular, and the
needle plays quite round the compass, our author’s conjecture may very well find
place: yet it must be owned that it is a point far enough from being clear, that
mines of loadstone affect the compass at a distance; which, however, might be
very easily determined, since there are large mines of loadstone in the island
of Elba, on the coast of Tuscany.
Early Australian Voyages, 1886, John Pinkerton |
