The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. I.] DINBING CHANNEL.—PEEAK RIVER. 71
bank a wider berth, and bring tiie leading mark on again before the north
end of East banlc is approached.
There is also a channel eastward of North bank ; it may be approached
by steering in for Tanjong Hantu bearing E. by S. | S., until 3 cables from
it, thence S.S.E. J E to Binding river passage. This channel is siiitable
for vessels of 10 feet draught, but should not be taken without local
knowledge.
South, entrance.—From the southward, from between Eairway
rock and Pulo Katta, steer to bring Table rock nearly in line with Tanjong
Hantu bearing N. by W. ^ W. ; this mark will lead in mid-channel to the
anchorage off port Pangkor.
If wishing to enter Binding river steer from the anchorage to pass
Table rock 2 cables distant, and thence midway between East bank and
the island, until the north summit of Great Binding bears S.W. ^ S.
keep that mark astern until the summit of North-west islet is between
North point and Off-lying islet, and proceed with that astern into the river.
Fairway rock, 27 feet high, lies S. by W. ^ W. nearly 4 miles
from the south-east point of Great Binding ; a sunken rock, having less
than 6 feet water, lies half a cable from its north side, and a depth of
4 fathoms near the west side of the rock. There are depths of 9 to 16
fathoms between the rock and the mainland, and 10 to 20 fathoms between
the rock and Great Dinding.
PERAK (PERAH) RIVER.—From Tanjong Katta the coast
is low, covered with jungle, and forms a bight, in which are several villages,
to the entrance of Perak river, situated about 14 miles south-eastward of
Great Binding island. Between Tanjong Katta and Tanjong Kupa there
is a sandy beach fronted by mangroves. The bight is skirted by a bank
which extends 2 to 5 miles from the coast, and nearly blocks up the
entrance of Perak river. The best navigable channel to the river and
the one always used, is the Eastern channel, with 10 feet least, water,
near the north shore, at about IJ miles westward of Tanjong Kupa
and the same distance off the shore of the bight. Southward of this
channel the mouth is nearly all shoal, and dry in places, and on which
at times during the S.W. monsoon the sea breaks heavily. There are
many fishing stakes on these banks. There is a passage known as
Southern channel, southward of the middle banks in the entrance, with
a depth of 8 feet at low water, hard sandy bottom, but it is very narrow
and of no use unless buoyed.
As the banks may be liable to shift caution must be used when entering.
The river inside is' wide and deep, and navigable for vessels of 11 feet
draught as far as Burian Sabatang, about 36 miles from the entrance,