The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

142 SINGAPORE STRAIT.—EASTERN PART. [ouap. n.
Approaching the eastern entrance of Singapore strait from the south-
ward, when from 5 to 10 miles eastward of Pulo Ruig or Pulo Panjang,
the depths will be generally 22 or 24 fathoms. Between Pulo Panjang
and Tanjong Brakit, the south-eastern extreme of the strait, the depths are
20 and 21 fathoms at the distance of 20 miles from the Bentan coast,
decreasing to 17 or 18 fathoms at 10 miles from it. Ten miles north-
eastward of Tanjong Brakit are 20 to 19 fathoms, decreasing towards
Brakit rock to 14 and 13 fathoms, which depflis will be found close outside
that danger. A narrow bank of coral and sand, with 7 to 10 fathoms, lies
4 or 5 miles off Tanj ong Brakit, between the bearings of N.E. and N.W.by N.
outside this bank are 14 and 13 fathoms, and 11 and 14 fathoms inside, with
several patches of 9 and 10 fathoms. Towards Tanjong Brakit and the
Postillion reef the depths decrease with tolerable regularity, but vessels
should not come under 10 fathoms.
Approaching the strait from the eastward from 22 to 20 fathoms will be
found 20 miles from Horsburgh lighthouse, decreasing to 14 or 13 fathoms
at 15 or 13 miles. At 10 miles eastward of the lighthouse the soundings
become irregular, 9 to 14 fathoms, and continue to be so to within 4 miles
of the lighthouse, when they deepen to 16 or 17 and soon to 18 or
19 fathoms ; close to the dangers near the lighthouse they are irregular,
9 to 14 fathoms.
Approaching the strait from the north-eastward, about 25 fathoms will
be obtained at a distance of 30 miles, decreasing to 15 fathoms, at 16 or
17 miles, and then again deepening, regularly 29 or 30 fathoms towards
Horsburgh lighthouse, close to which are irregular soundings of 18 to
35 fathoms. A mile or two eastward of Eastern bank the depths are 14 or
15 fathoms, and 16 to 18 fathoms from one to 4 miles eastward of North
patch. At one or two miles from Ramunia shoals the depths are 18 or
20 fathoms, shoaling to 16 or 14 fathoms, near them.
Th.e TIDES * uear Pedra Branca, and contiguous toRamunia reefs,
are frequently very irregular in time, velocity, and direction. In the
strength of the north-east monsoon, when the current runs to the S.S.E,
from Pulo A or across the equator, the flood sometimes runs into the entrance
of the strait to the south-west 10 or 12 hours at a time ; but the ebb generally
runs with the greatest velocity, and of longest duration, in both seasons,
particularly in the south-west monsoon. About full and change, the ebb
often sets out strong during the night, for 10 or 12 hours together, but not
very rapidly in the first and latter part ; at other times it is changeable, and
not strong. Between Pedra Branca and the edge of Ramunia reef the
strength .
of the ebb runs generally about N.E. by N., when regular, and
* Horsburgh.
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