The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP, in.] KRoi ROAO).—PTJLO NIAS. 207
cape Felix. It is about 55 miles long, 11 miles broad, moderately high,
hilly, and covered with trees, and may be seen from 30 to 40 miles distant
in clear weather. The north point is just southward of the parallel of
3°N".*
It is thinly inhabited by emigrants from Achi (Acheen), who carry on a
trade in cocoa nut oU and nuts.
Pulo ASSU or Dog island lies about 5 miles oS the east side of Pulo
Simalu, and N.W. by N. distant 13 miles from the east point. Jansen reef
with a depth of 2 fathoms and steep-to, lies with the north point of Pulo
Assu bearing W-S.W. distant 1 J miles. There are other islets along the
shores of Fulo Simalu but so close in that it is difficult to distinguish
them.
. On both sides of Pulo Simalu there are sudden overfalls on coral patches
that lie from 4 to 6 miles off shore. One of these lie about 5 miles west-
ward of the north point of the island, and two mUes from the islets off that
point, with a depth of 4 or 5 fathoms, or perhaps less water.
As there is no inducement for a vessel to stop at this island, nor any
safe anchorage about it known to navigators, it has been rarely visited
and is little known.
COCOS islands, lying about 25 miles westward from the north point
of Pulo Simalu, are two small low islands 1 J miles apart, covered with
trees, and visible from 12 to 15 miles. A shoal is said to extend about 12
miles in a S.S.E. direction from the islands, some parts of which are
dangerous. In passing eastward of the Cocos islands, the southern islet
should not be brought northward of N.W. until distant at least 12 mOes,
and caution must be exercised.
Ptllo Tapak or Plat islands, jie 14 miles south-eastward of
Pulo Simalu ; between them and the south end of Pulo Simalu, there is
a good passage, in which no danger has yet been found.
These, islands are bold to approach, the north side being clear beyond
the distance of a cable. At about 2 miles eastward of the northern island
is a coral reef of 4 or 5 fathoms seen by the ship Suffolk, with apparently
shoaler water towards the island. The passage between the Banjak islands
and Suffolk reef is considered clear.
The BANJAK ISLANDS are described at page 173.
PULO NIAS, the largest of the islands off the west coast of Sumatra
is 73 miles in length in a north-west '
and
> south-east direction, and from 18
to 25 miles in breadth, sepajrated from the Banjak islands by Pulo Nias
north channel, 30 miles in breadth. It consists of ranges of hills reaching
See Admiralty chart:—Sumatra west coast, sheet 1, No. 2,760.