The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

382 CABIMATA STRAIT. [chap. viii.
A pateh of 5 fathoms lies half a mile north of the reef -with irregular
bottom to the distance of a mile,' beyond which the depths are from 15 to
22 fathoms all around.
Soundings are no guide in approaching Ontario reef, and the sea does
not always break, it is therefore advisable to give the reef a wide berth.
Florence Adelaide reef, composed of coral and stones, with
1|^ fathoms at low water, extends 3 cables in a north-east and south-west
direction, with a breadth of 2 cables. At the distance of half a cable east-
ward there is a sand patch with 6 fathoms ; and farther eastward at the
distance of 2 miles, depths of 13 and 15 fathoms, over sand, were obtained,
with 20 fathoms, mud bottom, close-to ; on the north and south sides it is
steep-to, with 17 to 20 fathoms, sand and mud, at the distance of one mile.
No indication of the reef was observed at 2 cables distant. Position, lat.
2° 4' S., long. 108° 5' E.
THE CARIMATA ISLANDS lie on the eastern side of the
main fairway, and extend for a distance of about 50 miles south-westward
froth Maja island, Borneo coast.
Carimata, the largest island, is about 11 miles in extent east and
wfest, 7 miles north and south, and near its centre is a peak risHig'1;o an
elevation of 3,378 feet high, which in clear weather can be seenfrom> a dis-
tance of 55 or 60 miles, but as a general rule it is obscured by clouds. The
peak is in lat. 1° 36' 18" S., long. 108° 5-4' 29" E. On the south-west end
©f the island are some hot springs.
Reefs extend off the east and south coasts of Oarimata from 5 to 7
miles in places, but the north side is comparatively clear.
Besi island stands about 4| miles off shore, on the south side of the reef
extending eastward of Carimata island. It has a tower shaped rock on its
flat summit. Isolated and dangerous reefs extend a further distance of 4
miles eastward and north-eastward of Bssi island, the neighbourhood of
which should be avoided.
At 6J miles S.S.E. from the south point of Carimata island is a gravel
bank, having 4 fathoms water. About midway between the outer edge of
Gravel bank, and the west point of Carimata, are some rocks with less than
6 feet water. Two islets lie off the bay on the west side of the island, with
patches of reef between them ; the eastern islet is 280 feet in height.
AncllOrage.
During the south-east monsoon, there is good anchor-
age in 12 to 14 fathoms, mud, ofE the north side of the island, westward
of the north point. Vessels should not stand nearer to the shore than to
bring the south point of Pyramid or Buan island in line with the north
point of Carimata island.
During the westerly monsoon there is anchorage in 6 fathoms off the south
side, eastward of the Gravel bank, at about 2^ miles from the shore ; also at
about one mile southward of Besi island in 7 fathoms, mud.