SUPPLEMENT. 
81 
ing the outline of the coast along 1 which we might pass. An 
azimuth compass, of Capt. Kater’s construction, was the only 
magnetic instrument that could be taken, and this was, soon 
after leaving the ship, destroyed by a fall over a precipice at 
Cape Isabella, soon after I had determined that its north point 
was directed to the north-west. Its action was uncertain to 
eight or ten degrees, owing to the extreme weakness of the 
directive force of the needle. 
Imperfect as this indication was, it seemed to cherish the 
hope of our being able to obtain some interesting magnetic 
observations ; when having been compelled to pass another 
winter near the same spot, I proposed to conduct a party, guided 
by some Esquimaux, across the country to the westward, and to 
endeavor to approach as near as possible to the source of magnet¬ 
ism. We accordingly commenced our journey in the middle of 
May 1831: but the unfavorable nature of the season prevented 
my obtaining any observations that could be of assistance to us, 
until we reached the shores of the Western Ocean on the 28.h 
of the month. Here good observations were made under the most 
favorable circumstances ; and the magnetic dip having now in¬ 
creased to 89°41 ,and the horizontal needle pointing to N.57°W., 
led us to expect that, at the distance of about thirty-five miles 
in that direction, we should attain the object of our wishes. 
That spot being now vrell within our reach, 1 did not hesitate 
to devote the larger part of the day to repeating those observa¬ 
tions, anticipating that, after leaving that spot, little assistance 
could be expected from the horizontal needle in directing our 
approach to the magnetic pole. Having gained the calculated 
position on the first of June, without having been able, from 
the unfavorable state of the weather, during that interval, to 
obtain any more observations, I availed myself of the snow huts 
of a recently deserted Esquimaux village as observatories, and 
encamped the party at a sufficient distance to ensure their 
being beyond the possibility of producing any influence on the 
needles, &c. 
My attention was first of all directed to ascertain, if possible, 
the direction of the magnetic meridian. For this purpose I sus* 
