The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP, v.] THE THOUSAND ISLANDS. 263
ISLANDS AND DANGEES.*
The islands and dangers bordering the channel between Sunda and
Banka straits will now be deseribed.f
THOUSAND ISLANDS.—These islands about 60 in number,
with their outljing dangers occupy a space extending one 25 miles in a
north-north-west and south-south-east direction, and verying in breadth
from 1 2 miles at the northern end, between North island and Jason rock,
to about 5 miles near their south extreme.
Karang Bras may be considered as the southern of the group ; it lies
2 miles northward of the Hoorn islands, and 14 miles from Kail point,
western approach to Batavia.
As many reefs exist amongst the islands it is advisable not to attempt
the passages between them.
West island, or PulO Peblekan, the most north-western of
the Thousand islands, is a quarter of a mile in length, and low, but the
trees on it may be seen about 13 miles. It is steep-to on all sides at half
a cable distant, except round its north-east sandy point, off which a coral
reef extends a quarter of a mile.
CoventlTr reef, of coral, is circular, 2 cables in extent, dry at low
water near the north end, with 5 fathoms on its south end. The reef is
marked by discoloured water, and breaks with a light swell, and at half a
cable from the reef there are depths of lo to 17 fathoms all around. West
island bears N. by E. distant one mile from it.
Dua island kept open westward of West island leads westward ; and"
Kangat island in line with North island (East Dua) leads eastward of
Coventry reef.
Cbxistiau rock, on which the British ship Christian MeCausland
was wrecked in 1877, is said to lie S.W. by W., about If miles from
Dyogon island, and E. by S. ^ S., 5J miles from West island; there is a
depth of 16 feet on the rock which is steep-to, having 10 fathoms within
half a cable.
Rangat island, situated about 3 miles E.N.E. from West island, is
a small island surrounded by a sandy beach, having .1 reef on which the sea
breaks heavily, extending about 2 cables from its north and north-east sides.
* The dangera heretofore supposed to exist between Thousand islands and the
Sumatra shore, known as Dolphin, Antelope, Bauterer, and Paulo wna, were searched
for in vain hy Commander C. Bullock in H.M.S. Serpent (1865), and have heen
expunged from the charts ; the positions of several other dangers in this route were-
also rectified. Similar work is being done by His STetherland Majesty's surveying
vessels. Helen rock, reported in 1876, as lying with North Watcher bearing
N. by E. f E. ; and Bangat island S.E. ^ S., has been removed irom the charts, on the
latter authority, 1886.
See Admiralty chart : —Sunda strait and its approaches. No. 2,056 ; scale, m => 0-3
f
of an inch.