The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

162 WEST COAST OF SUMATRA. [chaimii.
KEhnU, a considerable pepper port, is situated 1^ mites eastward
from Palo Tyikem. The best anchorage at this' port is in 10 fathoms,
sand, with Pulo Tyikem bearing N.W. by N,, the southern black' rock
N.E. i E., and Rahnu E. 5 N. one mile distant. Nearer to the town the
bottom is sand, interspersed with coral and shells.
'
About half a mile south-eastward of Rahnu is a small island named
Epu Rahnu, lying within a few yards of the shore, and joined to it by rocks.
Its appearance is entirely different from that of the cokst, the shore from
Telok Kalumpang point to Rigas being quite low, the trees growing close
to the sandy beach ; Pulo Epu Rahnu on the contrary is' a pile of rocks
about 50 feet high, of a kind similar to the other islands, with trees on its
summit ; there is also a rock above water on the north-west side iearly
joining the island.
GilliS reef.—Three-quarters of a mile W. by S. ^ S. from Pulo Epu
Rahnu is a dangerous reef which seldom breaks. The least water is
11 feet, but the shoalest part is not more than 40 or 60 yards in extent
and very uneven, with 11 fathoms close to its outer edge. From the
shoalest part the outer points of Pulo Epu Tyikem and Pulo Pejabah
Kechil are in line ; by keeping the Pejabahs in sight to the westward of
Pulo Epu Tyikem will lead outside the reef, and Pulo Epu Rahnu and
the peak of Rigas hill kept in line will lead about a quarter of a mile
south-east of the reef
.
There is also a cluster of rocks above water lying a third of a mile
S. f W. from Pulo Epu Rahnu ;
close to them on the outside are soundings
of 8 fathoms. Between Pulo Epu Rahnu and Rigas point there is a bay
encumbered with coral shoals ; in this bay is a small pepper port named Jabih.
RIGAS BAY.—Rigas Point, the north-west point of entrance
to Rigas bay, is low, rocky, and covered with trees ; the extremity is a
little more elevated than the adjoining land. A short distance inland
there are one or two hills partly cleared, and a number of scattered trees.
In the channel between Pulo Rangas and Rigas point there is a depth of
11 fathoms.*
From Rigas point the shore is fringed with a coral reef as far as
Rambung point a steep hill forming the inner north-west point of Rigas
bay ; neai'ly all the land in the bay is high with the exception of marshy
land at the north-east part of the bay. About half a mile east of Rigas
poiat the reef projects in one place 2 cables from the shore, this part is
dry in some places with a small detached rock which always^ breaks
the passage between Rambung point and Pulo Rusum is about a quarter
of a mile wide, with several rocks above water.
* See plan of Bigas bay, on Admiralty chart, No. 2,760 ; scale, m = 1 inch ; also foot-
note, page 152.
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