The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. II.] PULO "BBNTAN.— TELOK SUMPAT. 129
depths of 5 and 6 fathoms, and 10 to 12 fathoms at a shoi-t distance ; a bank
with 2 to 5 fathoms extends nearly one mile tfl the south-westward.
These shoals will be avoided by keeping Pulo Kera or Skerrie, which lies
on the east side of Rhio strait, open of I'anjong Subong, bearing S.W. until
the small hill over Tanjong Batu Sau bears S.E. by S,
Tanjong Batu Sail, a prominent point on the north coast of Bentan,
having a small hill over it, lies SJ miles E. by N. from Tanjong Perjam.
The coast to the eastward as far as Peak islet, is fronted by reef to the
distance of one-third of a mile, with several rocks above water.
Between Tanjong Batu Sau and a bluff 2 miles westward, is a small bay
about a mile in depth, the shores of which are fronted by coral, extending
about half a mile off. Clusters of large rocks, lie just inside the edge of the
shore reef westward of Tanjong Batu Sau.
Small vessels may anchor in 4 or 4J fathoms in the middle of the bay, by
keeping nearer the rocks off the bluff than to those off Tanjong Batu Sau,
the edge of the shore reef being close to the former ; avoiding Langui shoal
which lies in the approach.
Diana Shoal, lying E.N.E. 4 miles from Langui shoal, and
S. by E. ^ E. 5f miles from Pedra Branca lighthouse, is about half a
mile in extent, with a depth of 2| fathoms, and 6 to 8 fathoms a short
distance north and south from it.
East and west of the shallow part, the bank, with a less depth than
5 fathoms, extends about half a mile. Isolated patches of 5 fathoms or less
lie between it and Langui shoal. To avoid Diana shoal, the north extreme
of Tanjong Brakit should not be brought eastward of E. ^ S.
TELOK SUMPAT, or Sumpat Bay, is the extensive bight
between the point 2 miles eastward of Tanjong Batu Sau, with two small
hills over it, and the western extreme of Tanjong Brakit; the points of the
bay lying about E. by N. and W. by S. 8 miles apart. The head, and
eastern part of the bay is blocked with coral reefs extending from one to
1^ miles from the shore.
Pulo Sumpat, a small island 178 feet high, lying in the eastern part
of Sumpat bay, may be readily known by its saddle shape. It lies just out-
side the edge of the extensive reefs fronting that part of the shore, and
filling up the depth of Sumpat bay.
Vessels should not anchor in less than 6 fathoms water, or come inside
a line connecting Batu Eumput point with the north-west extreme of
Tanjong Brakit.*
* A doubtful shoal, apparently about half a mile in extent, having Ij fathoms water
over it, is marked on the chart N. 5 E., distant 2 miles from Sumpat island, and 1^
miles off shore. This shoal could not be found by the officers of the Rifleman, and
tolerably even soundings, 6 to 8 fathoms, were obtained in the neighbourhood ; owing to
the setting in of the north-east monsoon the search had to be discontinued without the
existence of the shoal being completely disproved.
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