The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

182 WEST COAST OF SUMATRA. [chap. iii.
which is 8| miles off shore. The shore is skirted by a shallow bank, on
which a depth of 3 fathoms is found at 1^ miles off shore.*
Gunong Karakara, a hill 1,053 feet high, is situated near the
northern extreme of Natal road, and with Natal hill is a useful mark for
clearing the shoals when entering the roadstead.
Gtmong Natal, 374 feet high, situated on the north side of the
river, appears like a wedge when bearing S.E. by E., and may be known
by its barren aspect, and having low land on each side.
Natal is in about lat. 0° 33' N., and long. 99° 6' E. It stands on the
open coast, and was founded by the English in 1762, but with the rest
of this portion of Sumatra was relinquished to the Dutch. It is an
open port ; camphor, benzoin, and gold-dust are the principal articles of
export ; the imports are, opium, iron in flat bars, salt, piece goods of
various kinds, stick-lac, and gunpowder.
Karang Bayam is a small shoal with 2 fathoms least water,
and 10 fathoms close-to i it lies about 7 miles due West of the centre of
the bay, with Gunong Kara-kara bearing N.E. \ E., distant 6 miles. It
seldom breaks.
Karang Eapal, with from one to 2 fathoms, coral, lies 2^ miles
south-eastward of Karang Bayam, with Gunong Kara-kara bearing N.N.E.,
distant 6^ miles. It seldom breaks.
Karang Laut, having a least depth of 6 feet, lies S.W. by W, J W.,
4 miles from Karang Kapal. It seldom breaks. Karang Ponjong, a rocky
patch of 8 fathoms lies N. by "W. distant 2 miles from Karang Laut.
Kara-kara shoal, having a depth of 3 feet coral, lies half a mile ofi'
the shallow bank fringing the shore, and about one mile S.W. by S. from
Puio Kara-kara, the small island at the north-west corner of the bay. Two
other patches lie between the shoal and the island.
Karang Pemuda, with a depth of 3| fathoms, lies with Pulo Karakara
bearing E. ^ S. distant 2 miles.
Shaftesbury shoal, is an extensive patch of foul ground lying to
the westward of Ujong Eakit, the south point of Natal bay. The shoal
has patches of 2 to 4 fathoms, and is 1| miles long, by nearly a mile
broad. Karang Brambang, having a depth of 2 fathoms, is the south-west
extreme of Shaftesbury shoal, and lies with Tanjong Eakit bearing East
distant about 2 miles. Karang Tete, a shoal having a depth of 1 6 feet,
lies three-quarters of a mile N.W. by W. ^ W. of Karang Brambang.
Anchorage.—Natal roadstead is one of the worst on the coast, being
much exposed to north-west and westerly winds.
The usual anchorage is in from 5 to 6 fathoms, with the flagstaff bearing
about Easi and distant 2^ miles.
" tiee plan of Natal road on Admiralty chart, No. 3,760 ; scale, m •= 0'6 inch.