Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
that Manra (Sydney) had already been know by whaling vessels that frequented the Phoenix
Islands in the early years of the 19 th century.
In 1823, the French explorer Tromelin also found Manra (Sydney) (Sharp 1960).
Manra (Sydney) was discovered in 1840 by the U.S. Exploring Expedition (Baarslag 1940).
When the U.S.S. Vincennes of the U.S. Exploring Expedition discovered Orona (Hull), there
was a sick Frenchman and 11 Tahitians on the island (Bryan 1941 and 1942; Dickson 1939;
Douglas and Douglas 1994). They provided directions to Manra (Sydney) some 97 km (60
miles) to the south (Sharp 1960; east according to Bryan 1941 and 1942; Wilkes 1845a).
The Vincennes did not visit Manra (Sydney) due to poor weather (Bryan 1941 and 1942;
Wilkes 1845a).
MCKEAN
In 1794, McKean was discovered by Captain Barber of the Arthur (Douglas and Douglas
1994; Maude 1968; Throsell and Specht 1989). Captain Barber named the island
Drummond’s Island. Sharp (1960) reported that the island was named Arthur Island and the
location was 1 3/4 0 west of the actual position of McKean.
The location of McKean (Dummond’s Island) was on Arrowsmith’s 1798 chart as Arthur
Island after Captain Barber’s ship (Maude 1968).
In 1828, the position of an unnamed island with location matching McKean was tabulated by
J.N. Reynolds (Bryan 1941 and 1942).
In 1830, McKean was visited by the whaler Japan (Maude 1968). In 1832, it was visited by
Captain Worth. In 1834, it was visited by an unknown whaling captain who called it
Wigram’s Island.
McKean was probably visited by several whalers prior to 1840 (Bryan 1941 and 1942).
McKean was discovered by Lieutenant Wilkes, of the U.S. Exploring Expedition in 1840
(Hydrographic Office 1940; Tudor 1968; Pompey 1972c). The Vincennes and Peacock, part
of Wilkes’ fleet, discovered and described McKean (Wilkes 1845a; Te Rangi Hiroa 1953).
The name McKean was after a prominent officer in the U.S. Navy (Te Rangi Hiroa 1953).
The island was named for the person who first sighted it (Wilkes 1845a; see also Cooley
1940; Douglas and Douglas 1994; Nicholas 1946). The only crew whose name resembles
McKean was M’Keen, the ship’s cook (Bryan 1941 and 1942). The surf was too heavy to
permit a landing (Wilkes 1845a).
According to Findlay (1851), the Wilkes 1838-1842 expedition was responsible for providing
the first reliable fixing of the positions of McKean.
In 1859, C.A. Williams on the E.L. Frost discovered Rawaki (Phoenix), McKean, and
Enderbury (Anon. 1860h). Williams tried to take credit for the discovery according to
Pompey (1972c).
27