OF THE POLAR SEA. 



69 



ably fine, and the setting sun threw the 

 richest tints over the scene that I remember 

 ever to have witnessed. 



About half a mile from the bend or knee 

 of the lake, there is a small rocky islet, 

 composed of magnetic iron ore, which 

 affects the magnetic needle at a consider- 

 able distance. Having received previous 

 information respecting this circumstance, we 

 watched our compasses carefully, and per- 

 ceived that they were affected at the dis- 

 tance of three hundred yards, both on the 

 approach to and departure from the rock : 

 on decreasing the distance, they became 

 gradually more and more unsteady, and on 

 landing they were rendered quite useless ; 

 and it was evident that the general mag- 

 netic influence was totally overpowered by 

 the local attraction of the ore. When 

 Kater's compass was held near to the 

 ground on the N.W. side of the island, 

 the needle dipped so much that the card 

 could not be made to traverse by any 

 adjustment of the hand ; but on moving the 

 same compass about thirty yards to the 



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