TO RADACK. 51 



number of observations made 



on different days - - 190° & 50'' W. 



Variation of the magnetic needle 11 00 E. 



Dip of the magnetic needle - IJ 55 



On the 6th of January, the day we reached 

 our anchoring-place, our chronometers gave the 

 following longitude, corrected by the latest lunar 

 distance. 



Barraud*s chronometer - 190° 13' 30" W. 

 Hardy's chronometer - - 190 6 48 



According to Barraud*s chronometer, the longi- 

 tude of Christmas Island has been determined, 

 which differed only seven miles from the true. I 

 made this correction afterwards in laying down 

 the chart. 



The 18th of January the wind blew moderately 

 from N.N. E. ; we weighed anchor, and were already 

 under sail at six o'clock in the morning. As the 

 wind allowed us to-day to take a course parallel 

 with the island, we fortunately avoided the coral 

 banks, which had caused us so much terror in our 

 first attempt. In about three hours, when we were 

 near the eleventh island, the wind veered from 

 N.E., and obliged us to tack j the dangerous navi- 

 gation began at the thirteenth island; we were 

 again surrounded by coral banks, but we had fair 

 weather, and as we were now more accustomed to 

 the sight of these dangerous cliffs, and had besides 

 always timely warning from the mast-head, the 

 constant tacking of the ship was, it is true, very 



E 2 



