The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

208 ISLA.NDS OI'F THE WEST COAST OP SUMATRA.
[ciiAr, iii.
to 800 feet in height, with a fertile soil. It is subject to earthquakes, one
o£ which (1843) swallowed up a hill and a village.
It is thickly populated by an agricultural people who raise rice, cotton,
and other useful products, and by their civilization form a marked contrast
to the half-savage tribes who thickly inhabit the other islands. They are
estimated at 170,000.
The Malays, though small in number are the dominant race ; they live
on the shores, their chief place being Sitolie on the north-eastern side.
North shore.—^At about 5 miles eastward of Tanjong Letang the
north-west point of Pulo Nias, is a detached rock, at about one mile off
shore.
Lapau bay affords shelter from northerly winds, under Pulo Panjang.
Pulo Babi lies in the North channel, at about 11 miles north-north-east-
ward of Tanjong Lojong, the north point of Nias island. The channel
between is safe. A sunken rock is said to lie 5 miles north-eastward of
Pulo Babi.
West shore. — Bunga islands are situated about 13 miles
southward of the north-west point of Pulo Nias. A reef extends about
1^ miles north-west of the North islet, and a detached reef lies nearly
midway between the north island and the shore northward of it.
The channel between the Bunga islands and Pulo Nias is 5 miles wide,
and has from 10 to 36 fathoms water.
ITakO islands, a group fronting Serumbu bay, are situated about
25 miles south-eastward of the Bunga islands. The channels between most
of them have deep water, but that between Langu and Mangit is said to
be foul.
There is anchorage in the Nako islands, between Nako, Great Sendrongan
(Silorongang), and Mangit, with the village of Nako about N. by W.
distant 2 miles, and Sendrongan village South about one mile. This space
is sheltered from the sea by the surrounding islands and has a depth of
17 fathoms, mud and sand. It should not be approached from the westward,
as numerous sandbanks are said to lie to the westward of Nako
islands. The services of a native pilot could probably be obtained.*
"Water may be had from a small stream near Sendrongan village.
Aztec rock, on which the British barque Aztpc is said to have
struck in 1879, in 16 feet water, is reported to lie in lat. 0' 55' N.,
long. 96° 48' E., or about 27 miles westward of the north islet of the
Nako group. Breakers are reported to have been seen about 12 miles
south-westward of Simanang, the centre island of Nako group.
* The Rajah of the "Nako gi'oup appear to have taken Captaiu Murat's vessel to the
anchorage.— Vide account in Horsburgh.