The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. II.] SINGAPORE NEW HARBOUR. 117
8 feet one day, it may increase to 10 feet the next, and the contrary.
Again the night tide may be the lowest in one 24 hours,—and in the next
the morning tide. During the north-east monsoon the neap tides, although
the water rises and falls, yet the stream continues to run to the westward,
sometimes for two, three, or four days consecutively ; other times it may
be as many days quite still ; or a rush of water will flow into and out of the
harbour at the rate of 3 and 4 knots. All these fluctuations occur most
frequently during the north-east monsoon, and depend chiefly on the force
of the wind in the China Sea, yet they sometimes do happen in the south-
west monsoon, without any apparent cause.
DIRECTIONS.—Western entrance.—Vessels proceeding
into New harbour through the western entrance, which is little more than
one cable across, should keep in mid-channel, observing that the con-
spicuous red bluff forming Tereh point kept well open to the Peninsular
and Oriental Company's jetties, bearing E. ^ N., will lead clear of the
19 feet patch outside the harbour, also of Blayer rock, and the reef extending
from the south end of Hantu, on which there is a white beacon. Keppel
rock will be avoided if St. James mound be not shut in behind the east
extreme of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's jetties ; and after-
passing Maeander shoal, a vessel may anchor in 6 or 7 fathoms abreast the-
Torpedo stores.*
Approaching the western entrance of New harbour, from the eastward, the
channel between the Sisters and Middle island is recommended. Between^
the 3 fathom shoal half a mile westward of the Sisters, and the rock witbr
beacon, south-eastward of Middle island, the channel is nearly 1^ miles
broad. Pulo Jong kept open eastward of Middle island leads eastward of
the rock. Trumbu Silegar, with beacon, nearly one mile north-westward of
the Sisters should be given a wide berth, thence to the entrance to New
harbour there are no dangers beyond a quarter of a mile offshore. The
channel, eastward of the Sisters, between them and West St. John island,
is a good channel, and half a mile wide, for which the chart is sufiicient
guide. In the fair channel the general depths vary from 10 to 17 fathoms.
The tides are very irregular in the passages among these islands, running
.sometimes 4 miles an hour at springs.
Sastern entrance.— ^Vessels proceeding from Singapore road into-
New harbour, should steer to the south-westward, not approaching Malay
point nearer than one mile, nor hauling to the westward until mount
Faber flagstaff is in line with the left corner of a conspicuous red tiled
white house bearing W. by N. J N., which clears Malay spit. In
rounding this spit the fishing stakes furnish a ready guide to vessels, the
* For the directions for approacbing New harbour from the westward, tee page 102