The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

212 ISLANDS OFF THE "WEST COAST OF SUMATRA, [chap. m.
Northern shore.—The south coast of TanahBalah forms the north
shore of Siberut strait. Its western extreme, Hatik point is rocky, and
has a remarkable clump of trees resembling a hillock. With the exception
of a rocky point to the eastward the coast is sandy, and no dangers are
known to exist other than those above water. Tn the bay, north-westward
of Pulo Bojo there is a rock above water from which a spit extends off one
cable to the eastward. As this portion of the strait has not been properly
surveyed, and the water is generally deep with a heavy swell breaking all
along this coast during the N.W. monsoon period, it is better to keep the
Siberut island shore.
Pulo Bojo, lying about 2 miles southward of Tanah Balah, is a small
sloping island, fringed by a reef to the distance of about 3 cables ; there are
depths of 30 fathoms between it and the reef extending 5 cables southward
from Tanah Balah. See light, page 211.
Beefs.—Heavy breakers were reported in 1876, by the steam-vessel
Marion, on the east side of Tanah Balah, about 5 miles N.E. of Pulo
Bojo, but the Dutch surveyors found 117 fathoms near this position, and
make no mention of it.
Graaf reef, about one mile in extent, lies E. by N. ^ N. distant 10 miles
from the south point of Pulo Bojo.
Southern shore—Anchorages.—The northern end of Siberut
island, 15 miles in length in an east and west direction, forms the south
side of Siberut strait. Ujong Siopah, the north-western extreme, is a
rocky point, from which the coast trends E.N.E. to Boompjes point, a
distance of 3 niUes. Boompjes is a double point with a conspicuous
"white rock on the western head visible from the northward at the distance
of 7 miles ; there is also a remarkable tree on it which is only seen from
the eastward. With the exception of Boompjes point the whole shore
is sandy.
At about 4 miles eastward of Boompjes point there are several patches
with a least depth of 4 fathoms, at about one mile off shore ; with this
exception which only affects heavy draught vessels, the nortl^ shore may
be safely approached for anchorage in from 10 to 20 fathoms, over a sandy
bottom.
Close eastward of Ujong Sigab there is anchorage in a bay in which
the water is mostly very deep. By keeping close to the western shore
anchorage may be taken in 20 fe^thoms at about 1^ or 2 cables off shore,
when Pulo Sigir comes in line with the east point of the bay. Rocky
patches lie in the middle of this bay about one cable eastward of this
position. Also, there is anchorage under Pulo Sigir, which may be ap-
proached by keeping close to the reef extending about half a mile south-
east of that islet, to avoid shoal patches of 3 and 4 fathoms lying less than