Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1859-02-05
Something about Magnetism.

At no great distance from Constantin0ple is the
ancient town of Magnesia, once a city, and the
residence of the great Ottoman rulers of the East
and the centre of Oriental splendor. A pleasant
ride from this old Magnesia brings US to the vicn-
ity of the most remarkable mines in the world;
remarkable not for the quantity of metal produced,
but for the peculiar properties of the ore. The
mineral here obtained has the specific name of
leadstone. or (as corrupted) lOadstOne. If
strip of this stone be balanced on point, it will
turn on that point till it takes direction which
is opposite to the motion of the earth and as the
globe revolves from west to east so therefore does
the nadstune stand in direction north and south.
According both to history and tradition, round
aud about Magnesa dwelt, at a very Remote pc
riod, civilized race. Men of thought and sci
ence naturally had their attention directed 10 the
astonishing and amus: life-like property of this
stone Nearly all Of US have read, or intend to
read the story of Sinbad the Sailor, in the Ara
bian Nights Entertainments" How long ago it
is since that tale was written it is difficult to say
but it is certain that it popular before the
Christian era as it is now. The luadstpne of the
tale is the Mountain of Adamant, which drew the
nails out Of the wonderful navigatnr's ship. We
read in the legend that =. about noon we had come
so near that we found what the pilot had ioretold
to be true for all the nails and iron in the
ship ly towards the mountain by the violence Of
attraction, with a horrible noise SO the ship split
and sank into the sea-"
Since the Crimean war navigation has been
much extended in the Black Sea, and here is con-
frmation of the Arabian fable bya recent traveller
Ships have lately ashore the coasts of the
Black Sea near SiDopG; and the captain Of one
that narrowly escaped wreck, suspected that the
compass had been detected by magnetic influence.
This suspicion led to an Investigation which has
issued in the discovery of valuable mine of iron
ore OF leadstOne those coasts, the danger of
near Magnesia, (and both are not far apart.) be
not the identical Moutain of Adamant referred to
by Sinbad, it is certainly very remarkable coin
cidence.
The power which we call magnetism, derives
its name from Magnesia, because of this OadstOne;
and as the subject is old one we ought perhaps
to know all about 1t ; but, nevertheless, it still
mystifics the most profound philosophers W hat
We do know has been discovered by men of our own
age.
As we have before said, if piece OF this ada
mant or oldstone, be balanced, it will turn till its
direction is north and south. and then remain sta
onary but this is not all, for the lOadstone has
the power to impart the same quality to a piece
of steel, which it does by mere friction, losing by
the operation not the slightest power itself, yet
giving to the steel no less amount of power than
itself possesses and steel thus treated is said to
be magnetised. But this power of placing itself at
right angles to the motion of the earth is not the
only quality that a magnet possesses. The at
tractiye influences it exercises over iron and steel
IS no less wonderful, and INDEED so much SO that
considerable force is necessary to remove the OBJ
ject attracted when once brought in contact with
it, A number Of mechancians now engaged
in solving the problem-how to make this power
useful for oconotion, and there is great probabil-
ty that they may eventually succeed. Although
we are not able to explain the cause of magnetism
vet we have aseertaned that IL is intimately con-
nected with electricity, for we IN produce the one
from the other The mariners compass consists
of piece of steel shaped like an arrow, that has
been rubbed with either loadstOne or magnet.
When thus treated, it is called a magnetic needle
it is then fixed to a card on which are marked all
the points of the horiznn; in this way it becomes
useful to the traveller By land and by sea, as he
can direct his course to any point he pleases,
knowing well that
Tke obedient steel with living instinct moves
And forever to the pole It loves
Hence the old name lead-stone is correct
Another remarkable property inherent IN the mag
net is that of having power, which we call the
repulsiye repelng power, this is no less active
than its attracting power. In this way the chem
lists have given to the mechanics two hOrses,-one
r.. ,,rsbes a,d one that mills and it Is for them