[464] Waterpassen—levels, such as are used by builders. [↑]
[465] We have here a remarkable instance of what might be called “cooking”, were it not that everything is done in perfect good faith, and that [[158]]the means are afforded us of rectifying the error into which the observer fell through the desire to establish his preconceived idea, founded on the supposed results of his observations of December 14th and January 12th (See pages 131 and 140), that the latitude of the place of observation was to the north of 76°.
It is quite true that, as the sun’s lower edge was observed, its semi-diameter has to be added. But the effect of this is to increase, not the height of the Pole, but its complement; which, adopting the observer’s own figures, would be 14° 16′ + 16′ = 14° 32′, so that the height of the Pole would be only 75° 28′. There is, however, another correction to be made, namely, for refraction, of which at that early period no account was taken; and this being as much as 15′,1, the discrepancy is thereby so much reduced. The correct calculation of the observation will therefore be as follows:—
| Sun’s lower edge | 3° | 0′ | |
| Sun’s,, semi-diameter | 16 | ||
| ——— | |||
| 3 | 16 | ||
| Refraction | 15,1 | ||
| ——— | |||
| True altitude of sun’s centre | 3 | 0,9 | |
| Sun’s declination | — | 11 | 15 |
| ———— | |||
| Complement of height of Pole | 14 | 15,9 | |
| ———— | |||
| Latitude | 75° | 44,1 | |
Which differs only 1′5 from the mean of the two observations of the 14th December and 12th January. [↑]
[468] Uytet wout—out of the wood. The French say, “la faim chasse le loup hors du bois”; and in several other languages it is the same. In English the corresponding expression is, “hunger will break through stone walls.” See National Proverbs, etc., by Caroline Ward, p. 62. [↑]
[470] Ons de cracht begheven soude—we should lose our strength. [↑]