The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

278 BATAYIA BAY. [chap, v.
JiroT^.-r-fhis completes th^ description of the inlands and dangers in the
western approaches to Batavia^ directions for wlbich will fpUow th?- de-
scription of Batavia bay and road, page 287.
BATAVIA BAY lies between Untung Java point on the Tif^st,- mi
Kerawang point on the east, a distance of about 20 miles, and is about
9 miles iu depth from north to south, between Edam island and Batavia*
In; thebay are several islets covered- with trees and encircled by reefB,-,and
many shoals, the most dangerous of which are marked by buoys. The depths
injthe bp,y decrease gradually from 14 or 15 fathoms .near Edam island, to
3, fathoms at about one from the shore ; the bottom is mud, mixed with
sand near the reefs, and also the shore.
The coast of the bay fronting Batavi^/.is; a muddy marsh from one to
i^ miles in width, extending many miles, and interspersed with shallow
streams, some of which have been converted into canals navigable for boats*
Southward of the, sea coast marshes, for 5 or 6 miles east and west of th&
town, are low-lying laaids, rice fields, native gardens &c., intersected by
canals.
BATAVIA.— ^The old town of Batavia (lower town) originally stood
on the sea shore, but the advance of the land has been such, that; it is
now one mile from ' it. The piers bordering the river or canal have been
advanced from time to time, and are nearly 1^ miles in length, a passage
for boats being left in the ea,stern pier, abreast the main light. The old
town is, an oblong of about three-quarters of a mile in length, and half a
milc'in width, covered width, stone buildings arranged in. squares and inter-
sected, by canals, traversed by numerous bridges. The principal channel
which runs through the middle of it is from 160 to 180 feet wide. The
place is unhealthy aad the merchants and oflBicials , retire to the southern
suburbs as soon at the day's business is over, thus partly avoiding the
miasma arising from the swamps, which is carried seaward by the land wind
prevailing at night. South of Old Batavia ;
is the closely packed Chinese
and native town, of about one square mile, also intersected by canals. Thence
for about one mile along the main road and Molenvliet scanal . the town
becomes a mere strip, and there is a considerable breadth of open ground
between the old town and the suburbs.
Between the fourth and sixth miles from the shore is the great suburb of
New Batavia, (upper town) also 2 miles in, breadth, a wide spreading
collection of villas, gardens^ native bazaars, barracks and drill ground/ It
is also intersected by canals, but they are less numerous. These suburbs
are named, commencing with the most northerly, Molenvliet, Nordwyk,
Eyswyk, Weltewreden, and Parapatan, southward of this the ground
begins to rise. The city, as seen from the sea, appears almost sunk in a
flat beach, the Weltewreden parade being only 16 or 17 feetabove the sea.