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XLI. - Notes on Meteoric Iron used by the Esquimaux of the Arctic Highlands.
By Captain (now General Sir) Edward Sabine, R.A., F.R.S., &c., &c. 1819.
I. " Quarterly Journal of Literature, Science, etc.," 1819, vol. vi., p. 369,
and " Geological Magazine," vol. ix., p. 74, 1872.
" The northern Esquimaux, lately visited by Captain Ross (in August, 1818),
were observed to employ a variety of implements of iron and upon inquiry
being made concerning its source by Captain Sabine, he ascertained that it was
procured from the mountains about 30 miles from the coast. The natives de-
scribed the existence of two large masses containing it. The one was represented
as being nearly pure iron, and they had been unable to do more than detach
small fragments of it. The other, they say, was a stone, of which they could
break fragments, which contain small globules of iron, and which they hammered
out between two stones, and thus formed them into flat pieces about the size of
half a sixpence, and which, let into a bone handle, side by side, form the edges of
their knives. It immediately occurred to Captain Sabine that this might be
meteoric iron ; but the subject was not further attended to till specimens of the
knives reached Sir Joseph Banks, by whose desire Mr. Brande examined the iron,
and he found in it more than 3 per cent. of nickel. This, with uncommon appear-
ance of the metal, which was perfectly free from rust, and had the peculiar sil-
very whiteness of meteoric iron, puts the source of the specimens alluded to out
of all doubt. The one mass is probably entirely iron, and too hard and intract-
able for further management ; the other appears to be a meteoric stone containing
pieces of iron, which they had succeeded in removing and extending upon a stone
anvil."
2. Extract from " An Account of the Esquimaux who inhabit the West Coast
of Greenland above the Lat. 76." By Capt. Edward Sabine, R.A., F.R.S., F.L.S.
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"ocrText": "XLI. - Notes on Meteoric Iron used by the Esquimaux of the Arctic Highlands.\nBy Captain (now General Sir) Edward Sabine, R.A., F.R.S., &c., &c. 1819.\nI. \" Quarterly Journal of Literature, Science, etc.,\" 1819, vol. vi., p. 369,\nand \" Geological Magazine,\" vol. ix., p. 74, 1872.\n\" The northern Esquimaux, lately visited by Captain Ross (in August, 1818),\nwere observed to employ a variety of implements of iron and upon inquiry\nbeing made concerning its source by Captain Sabine, he ascertained that it was\nprocured from the mountains about 30 miles from the coast. The natives de-\nscribed the existence of two large masses containing it. The one was represented\nas being nearly pure iron, and they had been unable to do more than detach\nsmall fragments of it. The other, they say, was a stone, of which they could\nbreak fragments, which contain small globules of iron, and which they hammered\nout between two stones, and thus formed them into flat pieces about the size of\nhalf a sixpence, and which, let into a bone handle, side by side, form the edges of\ntheir knives. It immediately occurred to Captain Sabine that this might be\nmeteoric iron ; but the subject was not further attended to till specimens of the\nknives reached Sir Joseph Banks, by whose desire Mr. Brande examined the iron,\nand he found in it more than 3 per cent. of nickel. This, with uncommon appear-\nance of the metal, which was perfectly free from rust, and had the peculiar sil-\nvery whiteness of meteoric iron, puts the source of the specimens alluded to out\nof all doubt. The one mass is probably entirely iron, and too hard and intract-\nable for further management ; the other appears to be a meteoric stone containing\npieces of iron, which they had succeeded in removing and extending upon a stone\nanvil.\"\n2. Extract from \" An Account of the Esquimaux who inhabit the West Coast\nof Greenland above the Lat. 76.\" By Capt. Edward Sabine, R.A., F.R.S., F.L.S."
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