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DISCOVERY OF KECKER ADD FRENCH FRIGATES SHOAL 
(Extract from J.F.G.de la Perousc, 
years 1785,1780,1787, and 1788, 
English Ed. London, 1799, vol.l. 
A voyage round the world performed in the 
by the Boussole and Astrolabe... 
pp.473-477.) 
On the 3d of November, m 24° 4' north latitude, and 165° west longitude, 
we we re surrounded with boobies, man of war birds, and tern, which generally 
keep near the land. We accordingly stood on with more caution, shortening sail 
during the night; and on the 4th, in the evening, we came in sight of an island, 
at the distance oi four or live leagues to the westward. It appeared of no 
considerable magnitude, but we flattered ourselves that it might not be single. 
X made signal;to haul the wind, and stand off and on all night, waiting the 
dawn of day with the utmost impatience, to complete our discovery. At five in 
the morning of the 5th we were only three leagues from the coast, and I stood 
before the wind to reconnoitre it. I hailed the Astrolabe to make sail ahead, 
and prepare to anchor, if the coast should afford an anchorage, or a creek in 
which it might be possible to land. 
This very small island is little more than a rock of about five hundred 
toises in length,, and sixty in elevation at the most. It does not exhibit a 
single tree, but there is a great deal of grass near the summit. The naked 
rock is covered with the dung of birds, and its white appearance affords a 
contrast to various red spots, upon which the grass has not sprung up. I 
approached within the distance of a third of a league. The banks were 
perpendicular, like a wall, and the sea broke so violently against them, that 
it was impossible to land. As we sailed almost entirely around it, the plan 
of this island, as well as the different views, are perfectly accurate. Its 
.latitude and longitude, as determined by Mr. Dagelet, are 23° 34* north, and 
166° 52’ west of P a ris. I called it Isle Necker . Though its sterility may 
render it of little value, its precise position must be an object of considerable 
importance to navigators, to whom it might otherwise be fatal. (Charts ana Plates 
No.39.) 1 had passed very near the southern part of the.island without sounding, 
as I was unwilling to stop the ship's way. Breakers appeared on every part of 
the coast, except at the southeast point, where there was a small ledge of rocks, 
extending about two cables length toward the sea. I was desirous, before I 
continued my course, to ascertain whether ground was to be had. I accordingly 
sounded, as did also the Astrolabe, which was nearly a league to leeward, and we 
both found only twenty-five fathoms, with a bottom of broken shells, a aepth much 
more shallow than we had expected. It appeared evident to me that Keeker island 
is nearly the summit, or in some respect the nucleus of a much more considerable 
island, which the sea has undermined by degrees, probably from its being composed 
of a tender or soluble substance; the rock, however, which is at present visible, 
is extremely hard, and will for many ages resist the action of time, and the 
efforts of the sea. As it was of much importance to sscertain the extent of this 
bank, we continued to sound on board the two frigates, directing our course *to 
the west. The depth gradually increased with our distance from the shore; and 
at about ten miles in the offing we had no ground with a line of a hundred and 
fifty fathoms. Through the whole space o# these ten miles the bottom consisted 
of coral and broken shells. 
During the whole of this day we had men continually on the watch from the 
mast-head. The weather was squally, with rain; but it cleared up occasionally 
for short intervals, and we could then see the horizon for ten or twelve leagues 
round. At sunset, in particular, the weather was oeautifully fine, and the sea 
clear in every direction; but we saw nothing but birds, whose number did not 
diminish, and which were in flights of several hundreds, moving in cross 
directions, which rendered it impracticable to draw any satisfactory conclusions 
relative to the point of the horizon, to which they might be directing their course 
The sky was so clear at the close of day, and the rpoon, which was* near the 
full, so brilliant, that I thought we might venture to continue our voyage. I 
had, in fact, perceived by it's light in the evening Keeker island, at four or* 
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