The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

256 STJNDA STRAIT,—NORTH SHORE. [chap. iv.
Off its north-west side are two coral islets, steep-to on their western sides.
Near these islets on the north-west side of Kandang there is a small bay
that affords a safe anchorage to coasters in 1 1 or 12 fathoms water, close
inshore, and even large vessels would find safety there ; it formerly was
frequented by pirates.
High and Hout Islands, lying to the eastward of Kandang, and
respectively 312 and 367 feet high, are rocky and covered with trees.
They are about half the size of Kandang, the three islands being separated
by narrow channels. Between Kandang and High island is a small islet,
with some cocoa-nut trees upon it.
A reef of rocks lies 2 cables from the north-east, east, and south-east
sides of Hout island, with depths of 10 or 12 fathoms in the narrow
passage between it and the island. There are depths of 40 to 50 fathoms
a short distance to the eastward and south-eastward ofKandang, High, and
Hout islands.
CoCOanTlt Island, lying north-westwsrd of Kandang, and close to
Sumatra island, is small, low, and surrounded by a reef, which is steep-to.
The Brothers, lying to the northward of High and Hout islands, are
two small, low, sandy islets, covered with small wood, and surrounded bv a
narrow but steep reef, with 15 and 18 fathoms water close-to.
With a leading wind, a vessel coming from the eastward may pass
between Brothers islands and Hout island, as this channel has 18 and 20
fathoms water ; but its narrowness and the strong currents, sometimes at
the rate of 2 and 3 miles an hour, render it dangerous, and the more so as
the depths increase speedily to 30 and 40 fathoms. Care should also be
taken to avoid the reef projecting from the north-east point of Hout.
Himau (Remoa) Island, the northernmost and largest of Zutphen
islands is also the highest, being elevated 800 feet above the sea, the
south end being slightly the higher. The north-west end of the island is
low for 400 yards from the extremity, a portion of which is a sandy beach,
affording a good landing place. The island is partly fringed by a reef to
the distance of half a cable, with live fathoms close-to.
Boompjes reef, 3J cables long, situated on the south side of
Kimau, is partly above high water, with a narrow channel between it and
the island; two islets with brushwood growing stand on the reef.
Fatal Islet.—Close to the north-east point of B.imau is a high rocky
islet, named Fatal, or Little Eimau, 210 feet high, from which Geni reef
projects to the north and north-west, about half a mile, having a sand bank
above water, and a coral rock dry at low water, with depths of 11 and 12
fathoms close-to. From the northern point of this reef the north point
of Fatal islet is in line with Button island ; and from its western edge the
west point of Eimau is in line with the west point of Kandang island.
Tumpal Island, lying westward of Rimau, is a small, low, wooded
island, suiTounded by a narrow i-eef, which is steep-to.