The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

294 . BANKA
STRAIT. [chap. vi.
at low water, they may carry a fair tide all the way through, and generally
have the advantage of a land wind at night.
Eddies in the Bights.—When working through the middle of
the strait during the strength of the monsoons, continuous and contrary
currents are certain, and the skilful seaman will therefore find great
advantage in availing himself of the eddies, as well as of the more regular
changes of tide, by standing into the bights and bays in those parts of the
strait where he can safely approach the land.
6i Inshore Tides. — In Toboali channel, also in the bay north of
Nangka islands, and in the passage between Karang Brom-Brom and
Banka, we meet, even in the north-west monsoon, a regular succession in
the roadstead tides. It has been often observed, when passing Muntok
road, that the vessels were lying with their heads in a contrary direction to
those at anchor upon the bank outside. In that road the flood comes from
the westward, and the ebb from the eastward ; but near the mouth of Sungi
Asing the contrary occurs ; the flood there runs west and the ebb east.
In the bays between First and Second points, and again between Third
and Fourth points, there are probably eddies of which vessels of light
draught may make use, and heavier vessels may no doubt, in many places,
run close enough to the shore to keep out of the influence of the tides.
Freshets. — Between Batakarang and Fourth points after heavy
rains, the ordinary stream is considerably accelerated and diverted by the
freshets from the many rivers in this vicinity, in the direction of Kalian
point, until it reaches mid-channel. Vessels sometimes take advantage of
this to complete water, as it is frequently quite fresh on the surface.
During the north-west monsoon, which is the rainy season, these freshets
set out of the rivers on the Sumatra coast with great force, and they require
Jo be carefully guarded against in the night.
WESTERN SHORE OF BANKA STRAIT.
LUCIPARA ISLAND, 164 feet high, at the southern entrance
of Banka strait, 9 miles East of Lucipara point, is half a mile long,
a quarter of a mile broad, and covered with trees ; the island is visible in
clear weather at the distance of 14 or 15 miles. It is surrounded by a reef,
which from its south-east end extends rather more than 1| miles ; and
around this reef is a bank, with 2^ and 3 fathoms, extending about IJ
miles to the north-westward from the island, and 2 miles south-eastward
of it.*
* See Admiralty chart : —Banka strait, No. 2,.597; scale, ni = 0*25 of an inch.