An English monk, Alexander Neckham, writing in about 1180, seems to have made the first written reference to the use of the magnetic needle at sea.
Uhlangaza lwaselwandle oludala lwamaNgesi, uAlexander Neckham, wayibhala ngaphakathi ngonyaka we1180, lwabonakala lwenziwe kuqala lubhalwe lukhangelwa kusetyenziso lwenalithi enomtsalane elwandle.