The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. IV.] GLENDINNING- SHOAL.—CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 227
"'Tfie' average hfeight of tlie barometer is 29*90, varying about' ohe'tenth
on either side of it. In the cyclone months it sometimes falls an inch.
,The temperature in the daytime ranges from 84° to 88°, the maximum
being about February ; the lowest night temperature ranges from 77° -to
72°, the minimum being about August and September.
North. Eeeling, situated 15 miles northward of -the Soath Keeling
group, is one low island lying on a reef about one mile in diameter. The
island is a strip of low coral surrounding a lagoon, and thickly covered
with cocoa-nut trees. There is a small break in the island on the eastern
side, but the passage is not available for entering the lagoon. The only
landing is on the west or lee side of the island, and is not always practicable
on account of the surf. North Keeling is looked upon as the sanatorium of
the place. Cases of beri-beri are sent there and put under a course of
mineral waters found on the island, and in which thay have great faith.
' A spit is said to extend about one mile northward of the island, and
heavy rollers at times rise suddenly off the south point, making it dangerous
to approach. Soundings extend for a distance of 5 miles S.S.W. of the
island, and also it is said for 3 miles to the eastward.
GLENDINNING SHOAL. — Captain Glendinning of the
English barque Queen Mab, 1860, reports having passed a dangerous
shoal situated about 130 miles N.N.E. (true-) from the Keeling or Cocos
islands, in lat. 9° 54' S., long, 97°. 50' E. (approximate), and lying directly
in the track of vessels from Sunda strait to the Cape of G-ood Hope during
the south-east monsoon. Discd:Oured water was observed for a dist.ince
of 10 miles, but 7'fathoms was the least water, obtained on passing the shoal.
In- 1865 H.M.S. Serpent, Commander. C. Bi;illock, passed over this
reported position. No indication of the existence of such, a shoal was
found, and no bottom was obtained with-from 140 to 470 fathoms of line,
over a space of 30 miles.
CHRISTMAS ISLAND,' about 9' miles in length, and nearly
square, is situated about 220 miles south of Java head, and nearly on the
track of vessels proceeding to Sunda strait from the Cape of Good Hope in
.the months of April •
to September, and from Sunda strait in the opposite
period.. It is covered with trees, principally limes and cocoa-nuts, the tops
of which may be seen from a distance of 30 miles in clear weather. (Cap-
tain G. Richardson of the Pigot, searched for the anchorage in 14 or 15
fathoms, reported to lie off the noi'th end of the island, but found none ;
..twoj)f-his^hoatfi,wer.e employed sounding around theisland for a period of
2 days.) The island was found to be steep-to all round, with a depth of
about 100 fathoms, at the distance of one cable from the shore.
. The only practicable landing place is on a coral beach on the north-west
side of the island. Wild hogs were seen by the. party who landed, but no
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