The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

226 KEELING OR COCOS ISLANDS. [cfeip. rtr.
Port Refuge, i" the northern portioii of the lagoon, affords good
shelter from the sea for vessels of about 20 feet draught, in depths of from
4 to 5 fathoms, with the northern extreme of Direction island bearing
E.N.E. With good daylight and a look-Out aloft to point out the shoals,
vessels may go farther in nearer the settlement. H.M.S. Espoir in
August 1885 found good anchorage in about 6\ fathoms, coral and
sandy bottom, good holding ground, with the extremes of Direction island
bearing E. | N. and N. by E. f E., and rode out some heaVy squalls whilst
there. The entrance is from the northward, between Direction and Hors-
burgh island; no bottom will be found with the hand lead until on the' line
joining these islands. Southward of the anchorage already mentioned, on
either side of Dymoke shoal, are passages leading to what are known as
East and West harbours, but they could riot be taken unless first examined,
or with local assistance.
The channel into the lagoon between Horsburgh and Eoss or West
island is too dangerous for a vessel to attempt.
Tides.—It is high water, full and change, at 5 h; 30 m., rise of tide
about 5 feet, the flood letting into th'e harbour at the rate of \\ miles an
hour. The current running past the islands to the north-westward, about
18 riiiles per day, is increased by' the flood stream ; with the ebb tide the
current is counteracted, arid there is little or no stream.
Winds.—Weather.^The' S.E. trade blows with more or less force
all the year round, varying between South and E.N.E., and being strongest
about August. The months of June, July, and August are the coolest and
healthiest, the fresh breezes being accompanied by frequent rains. Sep-
tember, October, and November are very dry months, the wind is variable,
and beri-beri and diarrhcea are feared. December, January, and February,
the cyclone period, are stormy, especially December, fine days being
followed by ugly weather and vice versd ; thunder and lightning, with
violent gusts of wind and heavy shbwers, causing much anxiety about the
schooners and boats, and the cocoa-nut trees suffer to an appreciable extent.
The weather experienced in March, April, and May, is riiuch the same as
that of September to November, but not so dry, and sickness is not so much
dreaded. The Keelings are not entii-ely free from cyclones ; in March 1861
one was experienced, a second, in 1863, devastated the islands, and another
in January 1876, accompanied by a tidal wave, destroyed the Store houses,
engine house and mills, and most of the dwellings, the corrugated roofs of
some of them beirig carried away by the wind for several miles ; a slight
earthquake accompanied it, causing a black fluid to arise in the southern
portion of the lagoon, and which ovferspreadirig it, destroyed nearly all the
fish and corals.
The aneroid barometers fell as low as was possible, the merciirial was
dashed against the wall and broken.