The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

140 SINGAPOBE STBAIT.—EASTERN PART. [chap. ii.
10 fathoms, but about three-quarters of a mile S. by E. ^ E. of North patch
there is a depth of 3| fathoms, and at 1^ miles farther south a depth of
5 fathoms, previously' referred to.
Bentan Little hill, open to the westward of Bent£[n Great hill, leads half
a mile eastward of North patch, and clear of all dangers.
iEasteril Bank, the outermost of the shoal patches off Eamunia
point, is nearly 1| miles in extent, with depths of 7 to 10 fathoms, and 11 lo
14 fathoms close around. It lies about a mile inside the range of
Horsburgh light, and from its northern edge the light bears S.S.W. |^ W.
distant 14 miles.
Navigators striking soundings of 8 to 10 fathoms on this bank, during
hazy weather, sometimes think they are on the strip of bank extending
northward and southward from North patch, and then haul more to the
eastward, which renders them liable to fall to leeward of the strait.
PEDRA BRANCA, or White Rock, lying in the middle of
the eastern entrance of Singapore strait, is 150 feet long, 100 feet broad,
and 24 feet high. It will be readily known by the lighthouse, which was
erected on it in 18ol, and named after the celebrated hydrographer, Hors-
burgh, whose labours have in a high degree benefited the interests of
navio'ation and commerce in every part of the eastei-n seas. The light-
house is a pillar of granite, and the lantern is covered by a spherical
dome, painted white. The largest island off Eamunia point bears from it
W. by N. J N. 7 miles ; and it is 8 miles distant from the shore of
Bentan.
HORSBURGH LIGHT. — The lighthouse on Pedra Branca
exhibits, at an elevation of 95 feet above high water, a revolving while
lio-ht, which attains its brightest period once every mimite ; its greatest
brilliancy is of fifteen seconds duration, when it gradually declines until it
totally disappears to a distant observer ;
but within a short distance of the
lighthouse it is never entirely invisible. The light should be seen in clear
weather from a distance of about 15 miles. Position, lat. 1° 20' N. ; long.
104° 24' 27" E.
Patclies.—With the exception of a patch of 4 fathoms, the north and
north-west sides of Pedra Branca are steep-to, there being 17 fathoms close
to the rock.
This 4-fathoms patch lies about a quarter of a mile northward of the
rock, and is the only shoal spot between it and Ramunia shoals, in which
space the depths vary in mid-channel, from 17 to 33 fathoms, but become
more regular, 17 to 14 fathoms, towards Eamunia shoals.
The east, south, and. south-east sides of Pedra Branca should not be
approached nearer than one mile, for there are dangerous rocky patches to
the distance of half a mile from the east side ; and the south and south-
east sides are foul to three-quarters of a mile.