The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

296 BANKA STRAIT. (
[chap. vi.
quarters of a mile, then decreasing on its north-east side to the distance of
a quarter of a mile from the shore.
From about 10 miles southward of Lucipara point, to within 2 miles of
Green point, the soundings decrease regularly towards the mud-bank, but
just southward of, and fronting Green point, the' water shoals suddenly
from 6 to 3 fathoms, and therefore this part of the flat should never be
approached into less water than 7 fathoms. Near First point the bank is
also steep-to, especially on the north-east side, and should not be approached
under 12 fathoms, or within one mile of the point.
The mud-bank projects two-thirds of a mile from False First point, and
more than 3 miles from the shore in the depth of First bight between
False First point and Second point. The bank is steep close-to, and should
not be approached under a depth of 12 fathoms near the points, nor under
10 fathoms in the bight.
False First Point.—The trees upon this point are more elevated
than those on First point, being 105 feet high. Lalarie point on the
Banka side is distant 7^ miles.
SECOND POINT (Tanjong Tapa), the trees on which are
about 80 feet high, bears N.W. 24^ miles from First point. Between it
and Third point, distant 20 miles, the coast recedes and forms Second bight,
which is about 5 miles deep.
The mud-bank between Second and Third points lies nearly straight from
point to point, filling the^ bight. The depths here do not, as a general rule^
shoal so suddenly as they have been described to do between the other
points, but at 2 or 3 miles south of Third point the bank curves out
considerably, and is dangerous to strangers, particularly when coming from
the northward, as they are likely to infer that the bank recedes in the
direction of the land. The depths, too, here again begin to shoal suddenly,
adding to the danger, so that it is necessary to exercise caution and give a
good berth to this part of the bank.
A Spit extends IJ miles from the mud-flat in Second bight, and
thence in a south-easterly direction for 2 mUes, with depths of 2J to
3 fathoms, mud, and 4 to 5 fathoms between it and the flat ; in passing
this spit Second point should not be brought eastward of S.S.E. until
Parmassang peak bears southward of E. f S.
THIRD POINT (TaniongKesugian), bearing N.N.W. I W.
20^ miles from Second point, is 78 feet high. From this point the coast
trends about W.S.W. for 2 miles to the entrance of a small river, named
Sungi Kesugiati,- which, from native informationj is said to connect
with a branch of Palembang river ; the coast then curves in a W. by N.
direction to Fourth point.
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