Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 037.djvu/60

 "were as hard twisted, as so many Penny Cords; that one might easily have taken his for a Medusa's Head (and who knows, but that in ancient Times some such Locks as these might have given Rise to the Poetical Fiction of Snakes growing on the Head instead of Hair? Be that as it will, this is certain, it is a most odious Sight to look on."

N the second of September, 1724, a little after Noon, being in Latitude 41° 10' N. and Difference of Longitude from Cape Henry in Virginia about 28° 00' E. the Weather fair, a moderate Gale, and smooth Sea, my Mate, who was on the Deck, came and told me, that the Compass traversed so much that he could not possibly steer by it: Whereupon I went up, and after trying it in several Parts of the Ship, found what he said to be true. I then had all my Compasses brought up, and placed in different Parts of the Ship, and in Places most remote from Iron, and, to my great Surprize, found them all in the same Condition; so that we could not steer by any of them. I then new touched some of them with a Loadstone, Rh