The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP, v.] OUTER CHANNEL.
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277
whicli may usually be seen at the distance of 2 miles. The edge of the
reef is steep-to, with depths of 20 to 25 fathoms around it.
A patch of 3 fathoms, one cable in extent, lies E.N.E. distance one cable
from Jong reef, with depths of 20 fathoms around.
Buoy.—A black beacon buoy marks the south side of this 3 fathom
patch.
THE HOORN ISLANDS, three in number, are named Payung,
and G-reat and Little Tidung islands.
Payung island, probably so named on account of the umbrella
shaped Irees growing on it, lies about 2^ miles north-Trestward of
Agenieten islands reef. It is about 6 cables in length thickly covered
with vegetation and uninhabited. A shallow reef which is steep-to,
encircles the island, extending 4 cables eastward, 3 cables westward, and
about 1^ cables northward and southward of it ; bushes are growing on
the dry spots. At the distance of 3 cables northward of Payung island, and
at 1^ cables from the edge of Payung island reef, is a narrow reef nearly
one mile in length. Brushwood is growing on the dry portion.
Great and Little Tidung islands.—These islands stand on
a narrow coral reef, 4 miles in length in an east and west direction, aiid
steep-to ; Great Tidung is about 2 miles in length, and Little Tidung nearly
one mile ; neither are more than one cable in breadth. The tops of the
kelapa trees are visible from a distance of 10 miles. The point of the reef
extending eastward of the islands has a dry patch near its extreme, and
bushes are growing on the northern portion of the reef ; westward of the
island reef are isolated patches. A few fishermen live on the islands, and
on the larger is a well of water.
Earbau reef.—Westward of Tidung island the bottom is foul in
places for a distance of 2^ miles. Karbou reef on which probably the
American barque Bessie struck, appears to be the western of the shoal
patches; it is about 2 cables in extent, with a depth of 2 fathoms,
9 to 12 fathoms close-to, and rapidly increasing to 20 fathoms. Prom the
reef the west point of Great Tidung bears E.S.E., distant 2^ miles.
Sepilah. reef, with a depth of one fathom, lies E. by S. ^ S. distant
5^ cables from Karbou reef.
Selatan reef, with a depth of 2^ fathoms, lies S.E. \ E. distant 7
cables from Sepilah reef, and with the west point of Great Tidung bearing
E. by S. \ S. distant 1^ miles. Other shoal heads lie between Selatan and'
Great Tidung.
All these reefs are steep to, and should be given a wide berth. From-
the centre of Selatan, the southermost reef, Payung island is just touching
the south side of Great Tidung island ; these islands therefore should b&
kept well open.