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CHAP. II.] BAMUNIA ISLANDS AND SHOALS. 139
Caution.—^As no advantage is to be gained by venturing amongst
the Eamunia islets, it is best to consider the whole of the space occupied
by them as impracticable for ordinary navigation, and avoid the locality.
HAMUNIA SHOALS are a number of detached patches of sand
and coral, stretching in a north-easterly direction from the Bamunia islands,
towards the North patch. Between these patches are channels with depths
of 8 to 10 fathoms water.
Within a depth of 5 fathoms these shoals extend 2| miles in a north and
south direction, and nearly half a mile wide. The north extreme lies with
Horsburgh lighthouse bearing S. by E. ^ E. distant 6 miles, and the south-
west extreme lies with the lighthouse bearing S.E. ^ S. 4| miles. The
shoalest spot, 2| fathoms, rock, is about half a mile in extent, steep-to on
its south-east and north-west .sides, and lies with the lighthouse bearing
S.S.E. easterly, 4^ miles.
A few cables to the southward of this dangerous patch the depths
increase to 16 and 17 fathoms.
Patches of 5 fathoms lie one mile eastward of the northern edge of the
shoal, with Horsburgh lighthouse S. -^ E, distant 6;| miles; and an isolated
patch of 5 fathoms lies N.E. by E. 3 J miles from the other patches of that
depth. Also a bank of 4^ fathoms, half a mile in extent, lies off the south-
west end, with the lighthouse S.E, i E. SJ miles. Nearly midway between
this bank and Jones reef, is a patch of 5 fathoms.
Clearing marks.—South island, the southernmost of the Eamunia
islands, just open of South point, bearing W. by S. ^ S. leads southward
of Ramunia shoals; and Horsburgh lighthouse kept in line with the west
apex of Bentan Great hill, S. by E. ^ E. leads eastward of Eamunia
shoals, in from 6 to 10 fathoms water, and between them and the 5 fathoms
patches which lie one mile to the eastward.
North Patch, lying N.E. by N. 7i miles irom the shoalest part
of the Eamunia shoals, is generally considered the outermost of the
Eamunia shoals, for the reason that the Eastern bank, which lies 4 miles
E. by N. from North patch, not having less than 7 or 8 fathoms water, is
not only not dangerous to the mariner, but is, in fact, useful to him, serving
to determine his position ;
whereas the North patch, having depths only of
3| and 4 fathoms, is not safe for a large vessel to cross in a swell or heavy
sea. The patch is nearly one mile long, north and south, one-third of a
mile broad, and composed of mud and sand. From the north end of the
North patch, False Barbukit hill bears W. | S. 12^ miles; and Horsburgh
lighthouse S. by W. 11| miles.
North patch lies near the north end of a narrow strip of bank which
extends from Eamunia shoals; the general depths over it ai-e from 6 to