262 POPULAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



and the 30 error of the compass, over so great a 

 length of course as half a mile, is so startling that 

 I wrote to Captain Creak, asking further parti- 

 culars regarding it, and received from him the 

 following in a reply of date March 29, 1890. 



" The circumstances were these 



" Approaching Cossack, North Australia, on 

 "July 30, 1885, the commanding officer of the 

 " Meda being sceptical of the reported * attraction 

 " of the Island of Bezout, near the port of Cossack, 

 " was on the look out to prove the non-existence 

 " of the disturbance, when, four miles from Bezout, 

 " in eleven fathoms, his compass was deflected two 

 " points for a short time and then returned to its 

 " proper direction. It being night the commander 

 " was not convinced, but determined to look into 

 " the matter under favourable circumstances. 



"September 17, 1885. The Meda steering 

 " N.N.W. in very smooth water. Position by 

 " angles made the ship to be N. 58 E. from Bezout, 

 " distance three miles. Ship steered by a transit 

 " of objects on shore in eight fathoms. The first 

 " disturbance occurred when the bearing of Bezout 



