The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. I.] . AROA
ISLANDS.—NORTH SANDS. 85
BatU Balia, a group of six rocks surrounded by a circular reef, is
half a mile in diameter ; they lie 3^ miles eastward from Long Aroa.
A rock which covers at half tide lies If miles East of Batu Balia, and has
17 fathoms close-to.
East Rock, or Batu Mandi, lying 6| miles eastward of Long i^roa,
is low and flat, with depths of 16 or 18 fathoms within one cable.
Round Aroa or Tekong Simbang, is the highest of the Aroa
group ; its summit is covered with trees and may be seen from a distance
of 15 miles. There are several rocky islets near. Round Aroa with its
outlying islets occupy a space of If miles north and south, and three-
quarters of a mile east and west; the southern islet is named Pul»
Tekong.
Tides.—The tides at Aroa islands are very irregular, especially during
neaps, when there appears to be a constant stream setting to the north-
west, slacking only towards the time of high water ; although the direction
and duration of the tides are so irregular, there is still a regular rise and
fall of 14 feet at springs and 9 feet at neaps.
Caution.—Much care is requisite in approaching Aroa islands during
the night as many of them are low, and difficult to see after dark.
NORTH SANDS comprise various sand-banks and spits extending
from the Malay coast between Selangor river and Parcelar hill towards
Aroa islands. The sand-banks have a general north-west and south-east
direction, and depths of 6 to 20 fathoms water between them. The north-
west extremity of the sands is on the parallel and 25 miles west of Bukit
Jerom, situated 6 miles southward from Selangor; a narrow strip of
sand-bank, having depths varying from 7 fathoms to nearly dry, extends
thence in a south-easterly direction a distance of 12 miles ; the southern-
half of this shoal is named Batu Kinching, and has a dry spot about
one mile from its southern end. These banks and patches are usually,
discernible during daylight.*
Bleinheim Shoal, having 4 feet least water, is about 2 miles in
length, and lies 5 miles south-west of Batu Kinching, and about 1 1 miles
northward of One-fathom bank lighthouse. Coming from the northward it
should be carefully avoided, passing well to the westward.
Banks.—A bank with 2^ fathoms lies between the Blenheim and Batu
Kinching. ,
At
8 miles eastward of Blenheim shoal is a bank 3 miles long,
and 7 feet least water. Five miles southward of Blenheim shoal, in the
direction of One-fathom bank, is a patch of 3^ fathoms, and 3 miles south-
east of this, is a patch of the same depth. Between Blenheim shoal and the
" See Admiralty chart :—Malacca Strait, North and South Sands, Nob. 794a and