THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



While, therefore, it appears that the one place of all 

 others at which it would be exceedingly easy to deter- 

 mine one's position from the observation of the sun is 

 the region of the pole, it must be borne in mind that 

 the low elevation of the sun, and the extreme cold may 

 make accurate instrumental observations difficult; and 

 it is conceivable that the explorer who had the mis- 

 fortune to encounter cloudy weather, and who there- 

 fore gained only a brief view of the sun, might be left 

 in doubt as to whether he had really reached the goal 

 of his ambition. Fortunately, however, the explorers 

 who thus far claim to have reached the pole record un- 

 interruptedly fair weather, enabling observations to be 

 taken hour after hour. Under these circumstances, 

 there could be no possibility of mistake as to the gen- 

 eral location, although perhaps no observation, under 

 the existing conditions, could make sure of locating 

 the precise position of the pole within a few miles. 



A curious anomaly incident to the unique geograph- 

 ical location of the pole is that to the observer stationed 

 there all directions are directly south. Yet of course 

 all directions are not one, and the query may arise as 

 to how an explorer who has reached the pole may know 

 in what direction to start on his return voyage. The 

 answer is supplied by the compass, which — perforce 

 pointing straight south — indicates the position of the 

 magnetic pole and so makes clear in which direction 

 lies the coast of Labrador. Moreover if the explorer is 

 provided with reliable chronometers, which of course 

 record the time at a given meridian — say that of Green- 

 wich — these will enable him to determine by the sim- 



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