390 S O O L O O. 



numbers prior to its announcement. Necker Island is apparently a 

 mass of volcanic rocks, about three hundred feet high, and is destitute 

 of any kind of vegetation, but covered with guano. It is surrounded 

 by a reef, three miles from which soundings were obtained, in twenty 

 fathoms water. The furious surf that was beating on all sides of the 

 island, precluded all possibility of a landing being made. By the 

 connected observations of the vessels it lies in longitude 164° 37' 00" 

 W., and latitude 23° 44' N. 



The French-Frigate Shoal was seen on the 3d ; the weather proved 

 bad, and they were unable to execute the work of examining this 

 reef. The sea was breaking furiously upon it. 



On the 7th, the Maro Reef was made in latitude 25° 24' 29" N., 

 longitude 170° 43' 24" W. Bottom w T as found at a distance of four 

 miles from the reef, with forty-five fathoms of line. On the 8th, they 

 passed over the site of Neva Isle, as laid down by Arrowsmith, but 

 no indications of land were seen. 



On the 11th, Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold determined, on 

 account of the condition of the brigs, and the continuance of bad 

 weather, it was impossible to keep their course to the northward and 

 westward towards the coast of Japan : he therefore hauled to the 

 southward, which was much to be regretted, and followed so very 

 nearly in the same track as that pursued by the Vincennes, towards 

 the China seas, that nothing new was elicited by them. 



After a passage of fifty-six days from the Sandwich Islands, they 

 dropped their anchors in Singapore on the 19th of January, 1842, all 

 well. Here they found the United States ship Constellation, Com- 

 mander Kearney, and the sloop of war Boston, Captain Long, forming 

 the East India squadron. 



SOOLOO Alt.MS. 



