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Last month I posted some information on David Thompson's navigational
technique. I had a recollection that George Huxtable had inquired as to whether
Thompson recorded any measurements of the variation of the compass in his notes
although upon browsing through the archives I couldn't find any such question.
But just in case anyone is interested in such matters, I came upon an entry in
one of Peter Fidler's notebooks last night and copied it out. Fidler was a
contemporary of Thompson who learned navigation from Philip Turnor, as did
Thompson. The following excerpt is from his journal describing a journey along
the Eastern face of the Rocky Mountains in 1792/93. He was the first European
to visit these lands and when he met some Kootenay Indians, it was the first
time these Indians had ever seen a European. All in all, it is a remarkable
journal, although very few people seem to comment on the navigational aspects.
<begin quote>
February 27th. 1793.
Wednesday - D M Alt sun LL 59°..38'..0"
+ 10 ..0
----------- Thermometer +39
lat^d. 51°..55'..53" 59 ..48 ..0
Set the Watch back 10' and also the regulator 1/6°
D Alt sun LL
at 3#1/2 AM 32°..53'..0" Sun bore S 33°1/2 W
26 ..0 - - - - - 34 1/2
Ther^m. +45 6 ..0 - - - - - 35
----------- ----------
32 ..28 ..20 S 34. 20 W - Variation 18°..2' Easterly
+ 10 .. 0
------------
32 ..38 ..20
<end quote>
Ken Muldrew.
