APPENDIX. 355 



of the latest charts, it would be well that its non-existence should be 

 equally proved by the American Expedition. 



IV. The Solomon Islands. — These islands have partly been visited 

 by D'Urville and Shortland, partly by D'Entrecasteaux ; and several 

 English ships have at different times sailed through them ; but a 

 complete survey of all the islands composing this great archipelago is 

 still wanting. It is indeed very singular that, of all the navigators who 

 have lately visited the Pacific Ocean, none have ever attempted any 

 thing like a systematic survey of these islands, with the exception of 

 D'Entrecasteaux, who, at least, sailed along the southern islands, from 

 east to west, and thus greatly improved the hydrography of them. I 

 have published, in the year 1827, a chart of these islands, (Carte Sys- 

 tematique de l'Archipel des Isles Salomon.) Having collected all the 

 materials that were to be had at that time, many of them in apparent 

 contradiction to each other, I endeavoured to reconcile them, and to 

 delineate the islands belonging to this archipelago, to the best of my 

 judgment. (An account of my proceedings will be found in the 

 Memoir accompanying my chart.) By the first survey of these 

 islands, it will be seen whether some of my combinations have been 

 well founded or not. The Solomon Islands being the greatest archi- 

 pelago in the Pacific Ocean, and the least known, deserve, no doubt, 

 to be as completely surveyed as the Society, Friendly, or other groups. 

 Although ten years have elapsed since my chart was published, nothing 

 has been done since that time for the hydrography of these islands, to 

 enable me to improve the second edition of that chart, (1836,) except 

 in the situation of a group of islands, discovered lately, to the north- 

 ward of the Solomon Islands. 



V. New Caledonia. — A dangerous reef has lately been discovered by 

 the ship Petrie, to the northward of New Caledonia ; the precise posi- 

 tion of this danger ought to be determined. 



VI. Loyalty Islands. — Captain D'Urville has been the first to survey 

 the Loyalty Islands ; but having sailed only along the northern side of 

 them, it is to be wished that the southern shore might also be surveyed. 



VII.* The Feejee Islands. — Captain D'Urville has done a great deal 

 to give us a more correct chart of these islands, having surveyed a 

 great part of them; but still he has left unexplored many islands 

 belonging to this archipelago. In my supplementary memoir to the 

 chart of these islands, I have endeavoured to combine Captain D'Ur- 

 ville's survey with such surveys as had been made previous to his 

 voyage ; and have constructed, according to all the data that have 

 come to my knowledge, a new chart of the Feejee Islands, (named by 

 Captain D'Urville, Viti Islands.) Of course the chart cannot be very 



