The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAT. 111.] PADANG UOAD. 191
The principal exports are coffee, gold dust, benzoin, nutmegs, and
cinnamon; and the. imports are opium, cloth, and other dry goods. Every
three months there is a coffee sale, most of which goes to New York.
FadaUg river is only navigable by boats or small vessels in fine
weather, the depths at low water being 8 and 9 feet at the entrance, and
from 9 to 14 feet a little way inside ; the rise of tide is about 4 feet at
springs. It is dangerous to enter the river when the wind blows strong from
West or N.W., for the sea then breaks entirely across the entrance and a
continuous breaker extends from Padang head to the south-west point of
the shoal that stretches nearly from it to within half a mile of the north
end of Pulo Pisang.
Padang or Apenberg head, the south point of entrance to
Padang river, is a high bluff headland, having a flagstaff on its summit.
Whale rock lies close westward of the head. In approaching from the
offing, Padang head will easily be known by its bluff aspect, and the coast
southward of it being bold high land ; whereas the land near the sea to
the northward of the river is low, and all the coast is low thence to Priaman,
but far in the country the land is generally high.*
A vessel arriving when the weather is favourable, and intending to
remain a short time, may anchor in 12 or 13 fathoms, soft ground, with
Apenberg flagstaff bearing E. ^ N". or East, distant from the bluff headland
1\ or 1^ miles. If the weather be threatening it will be prudent to proceed
to the proper road, eastward of Pulo Pisang.
Pulo Pisang Besar, about l^ miles S. by W. ^ W. from Padang
head, is a small island, about half a mile in diameter, with a short landing
pier on its eastern side. A coral bank extends about 40 yards from the
shore of this island, and is steep-to all round.*
There is a safe passage of 6 and 7 fethoms inside Pulo Pisang Besar, but
it is narrow in some places, particularly betwixt the north end of the
island and the extensive shoal bank that occupies most of the space between
Padang head and Pulo Pisang Ketchil, and which extends to within
2 cables of Pulo Pisang Besar, on the shoalest part of which the depth is
but 10 feet, hard sand ; this passage is seldom used by large vessels. The
deepest water is close to Pulo Pisang Besar.
Water may be obtained by digging wells four or five feet deep at
the foot of the hills on Pulo Pisang Besar ; the water, although soft and
pleasant to taste, is said to be impregnated with saltpetre, and not very
wholesome ; the firewood is also indifferent.
Padang road.—Anchorage.—The best and most sheltered
anchorage is about one cable eastward of Pulo Pisang Besar, known as
Padang road, in depths of from 4 to 6 fathoms, soft clay, mooring east and
* &e light, page 192.