The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP.vm.] SCHAA.RVOGBL ISLANDS.—LAVENDER BANK. 377
OSTERLY REEFS, consist of five shoal coral patches, all of
which are steep-to.
North. Osterly is a small patch nearly dry at low water, and lies
with the high tree on Eotan island bearing W. | N. distant 15 miles, and
Burung Mandi east peak N.W. f N.
East Osterly, dries at low water, and lies S. by E. distant 3J miles
from North Osterly.
South Osterly reef, lies S.W. | W., distant 1| miles from the
east reef. It is 2 cables in extent, with a dead coral islet about 40 feet
long, and about 3 feet above high water.
A patch of 3J fathoms lies W. ^ S. distant 2^ miles, and a patch o£ one
fathom lies nearly West, distant 4^ miles from Osterly north reef.
Breakers may generally be seen over Osterly reefs.
Tides.—Near the Osterly reefs the flood runs north-westward, and
the ebb about south-south-eastward. In November and December, no
flood stream was observed. The rise of tide at springs is about 5 feet.
Bower shoal, discovered by the Nassau, 1876, is a coral patch
three-quarters of a cable in extent, having 8 feet water, and steep-to, lying
6^ miles southward of South Osterly reef, with the high tree on fiotan
island bearing N.W. \ W., distant 19J miles. It stands near the middle
of a narrow sandbank of 8^ to 9 J fathoms, extending 12 miles in a north
and south direction. South Osterly reef stands on the north extreme of
this bank.
DISCOVERY West bank (Ayer Masin), lying nearly 14 miles
south-eastward of Bower shoal, in lat. 3° 39' S., long. 108° 46' E. is com-
posed of coral, 7 cables long, and 2 cables broad, having a small portion
barely covered at high-water springs. There are depths of 5 to 17 fathoms
around the bank at a distance of one cable.
Discovery reef lies N.E. by E. distant 5| miles from Discovery
West bank, and is 2 cables in diameter, having several coral heads barely
covered at high water, and 14 to 22 fathoms at the distance of one cable.
Discovery East bank (Gusong Mampango), lying E. by N.
nearly 26 miles from West bank, is 4^ cables long, 1^ cables broad, and
having in its centre a decayed white coral ridge 5 feet above high water ;
there are depths of 16 to 17 fathoms, sand, around this bank, at a distance
of one cable.
Discovery East bank is visible from aloft on a clear day at a distance of
7 to 8 miles. Birds make their nests here, and may generally be seen
hovering about the bank.
LAVENDER BANK (Karang Juruk), lying N.W. | W., distant
1 5 miles from Discovery East bank, with Eotan island bearing W. by N. ^ N.,
is 9 cables long, 2 cables broad, and composed of coral, with several large