Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819, 20, 21, and 22 . wasadjusted as nearly as possible on the magnetic meridian by the sunsbearings, and found to vibrate freely, when the face of the instru-ment was directed to the east or west. The mean dip it gave was80° 37 50. When the instrument was removed from the tothe point, about twenty yards distant, and placed on the meri-dian, the needle ceased to traverse, but remained steady at an angleof 60°. On changing the face of the instrument, so as to give a direction to the needle, it hung vert
Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819, 20, 21, and 22 . wasadjusted as nearly as possible on the magnetic meridian by the sunsbearings, and found to vibrate freely, when the face of the instru-ment was directed to the east or west. The mean dip it gave was80° 37 50. When the instrument was removed from the tothe point, about twenty yards distant, and placed on the meri-dian, the needle ceased to traverse, but remained steady at an angleof 60°. On changing the face of the instrument, so as to give a direction to the needle, it hung vertically. The positionof the slaty strata of the magnetic ore is also vertical. Their direc-tion is extremely irregular, being much contorted. Knee Lake towards its upper end becomes narrower, and its rockyshores are broken into conical and rounded eminences, destitute ofsoil, and of course devoid of trees. We slept at the western extre-mity of the lake, having come during the day nineteen miles and ahalf on a course. We began the ascent of Trout River early in the morning of the. OF THE POLAR SEA. 37 27th, and in the course of the day passed three portages and several? rapids. At the first of. these portages the river falls between tworocks about sixteen feet, and it is necessary to launch the boat overa precipitous rocky bank. This cascade is named the Trout-Fall,and the beauty of the scenery afforded a subject for Mr. Hoods pen-cil. The rocks which form the bed of this river are slaty, and pre-sent sharp fragments, by which the feet of the boatmen are muchlacerated. The Second Portage, in particular, obtains the expressivename of Knife Portage. The length of our voyage to-day was threemiles. On the 28th we j)assed through the remainder of Trout River;and, at noon, arrived at Oxford House, on Holey Lake. This wasformerly a post of some consequence to the Hudsons Bay Com-pany, but at present it exliibits unequivocal signs of decay. TheIndians have of late years been gradu
Size: 1132px × 2208px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectscientificexpeditions, bookyear1823
