Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/217

] very near the truth; and the variation at these two places also accorded very nearly. The observations on board the Terror were vitiated by her proximity to Shoe Island, so much so as to mask the local attraction of the iron of the ship, and to render useless their observations to determine its amount, when they swung the vessel for that purpose. Numerous specimens of the rocks from other parts of the island were brought to me by Mr. Cormick, proving how extensively this magnetic power was distributed over it. It is not at all improbable that considerable effects might be produced upon this magnetic island by the action of the sun upon a surface so constituted, and therefore even differential observations cannot be depended fully upon under a frequent change of clear or cloudy weather, or great differences of temperature of the land, whether occasioned by the absorption or radiation of heat.

Auckland Islands were discovered by Abraham Bristow, commander of the ship Ocean, a southern whaler belonging to Messrs. Enderby, on the 18th of August, 1806, during a third voyage round the world, and is recorded in the log-book, from which, by the kindness of C. Enderby, Esq., of Greenwich, I am permitted to make the following extract:—"Moderate and clear: at daylight saw land, bearing west by compass, extending round to the north as far as N.E. by N., distant from the nearest part about nine leagues. This island or islands, as being the first discoverer, I shall call Lord