Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/86

66 was not long before he quitted us, expressing much gratitude, and pointing to the cock, which he took upon one of his shoulders.

The rest, before they went away, gave us to understand, that the next day their families would be at the place where we were; but they appeared to apprehend our meaning, when we acquainted them that we should sail the same day, and seemed to be much grieved at it.

Our observatory, erected to the south south-east of the place where we lay at anchor, and a little more than half a mile distant from it, was in latitude 43° 34′ 37″ south, and longitude 144° 37′ east.

A great number of observations made on board gave us for the variation of the needle 7° 34′ east, while at the observatory we found only 2° 55′ east variation. A difference so great must unquestionably have arisen from some magnetic point; besides, we had already found indications of ferruginous substances at a very little distance from the place. It is remarkable that, at the observatory of the Esperance, which was about six hundred yards only from that of the Recherche, the variation of the needle was 8° east. We satisfied ourselves that this difference was not owing to the compasses used, for we found it the same when we made an exchange be- tween