The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP..ni.] MOEO MOEO-i—BENKTJLEN. 199
Ipu consists of reddish cliffs, and is fronted by a coral bank which stret.clve|<
out,4 or 5 miles, with depths of 6 to 10 fathoms on its, out^r edge;, it
extends from Ipu to Ketaan, a distance of 32 miles, and should not be
approached under 10 or 12 fathoms, as it is steep to. Near itsinorjihern
edge; is Sw^owfield rock, bearing S.W. | W. about 5. miles from Jpu, witl»-
a depth of 14 feet, and from 8 to 16 fethoms all round. Ipu bearings
E.N.E., leads clear to the northwardmf the bank and rock.
^^
Ketaau (Caytone),. in lat..3° 25' S., has a white cliff to the southward
like a eastle.
Nearly midway between Ipu and Ketaan there is the small, village of
Sablat,, appearing like an opening betwixt reddisL cliffs ; iKefcaan has »
similai" appearance.
Laye and Pali are two small villages situated at 14 and 20 miles south-
eastward of Ketaan, with red cliffs between them.
From Ketaan the distance is 33 miles to Benkulen, and the coast in this,
space is safe to approach occasionally to 11 or 12 fathoms, the soundings
being more regular than farther to the northward ; from 12 to 20 fathoms
are good depths to preserve when coasting.
BENKULEN an open port, was formerly the principal British settlement
on this coast, but with the advance of Singapore, trade declined so
much that it was finally given up. The settlement was first formed on the
banks of the river, but the locality being so unhealthy, it was removed to
Ujong Karang or Tapu Padrie, the south point of the bay, where fort
Marlborough was built on ground a little more elevated in the year 1685.*
It is now a Dutch possession.
The town is unhealthy. Eain is frequent dming the months of January
and February.
Supplies.— Coal.—Bullocks, poultiy, fruit, and vegetables of various
tinds may be obtained here, and water from a cistern near the landing
place. A few tons of native coal may probably be obtained, .but it is
of a poor quality.
There is a bi-monthly steamer from Batavia and Padangj belonging to the
Dutch Indies Steam Company.
BeuktlleiL river, falls into the bay about 1| miles north-eastward
of the town, has from 4 to 6 feet on the bar, and from 8 to 12 feet
inside. ,
North-eastward of the river the land is high and rugged, one, of
the hills, named the sugar loaf (Bunku) about 1,000 feet high, is a con-
spfcuous mark in some directions from seaward.
BENKULEN B,OAD* may be considered as that portion of the coast
lying between Ujong Pedattie 5 miles northward of Benkulen, and Ujong
* See plan of Benkulen road on Admiralty chart. No. 2,761 j scale, m = 0-7 of an inch.