S O O L O O. 
367 
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 con¬ 
nected observations of the vessels it lies in longitude 164° 37' 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 was 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 ac¬ 
count 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, Commo¬ 
dore Kearney, and the sloop of war Boston, Captain Long, forming 
the East India squadron. 
SOOLOO ARMS, 
