The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAPTER IX.
OUTER EOTTE FROM BANEA STRALT TO SINGAPORE.
Variation, 2° 30' East in 1886.
Vessels bound from Eanka strait to Singapore seldom adopt the Outer
route to the eastward of the islands of Linga and Bentan, most vessels
preferring to proceed by Rhio strait ; it however forms part of the main
route into the China sea, and is, therefore, of great importance.*
The COAST of SUMATRA from Batakarang point (page SOO)
trends about N.N.W. for about 67 miles to Tanjorig Bon or Jabung.
The entire coast is very low, covered with wood, little known, and
fronted by a mud-bank that, within a depth of 5 fathoms, extends about 10
miles ofE shore. It may be approached to 6 or 5 fathoms water, except off
Tanjong Bon, close to which there are in some places from 7 to 8 fathoms.
Vessels bound to Varella strait should keep about 8 miles off shore until
Tanjong Bon bears West.
TUJU or Seven Islands, lie in the north-east approach to
Banka strait, and about 20 miles from the north coast of Banka island.
They are high and woody, uninhabited, visible about 25 miles, and with
several off-lying reefs. Coasters occasionally visit the islands for the
purpose of obtaining wood and water ;
the water, which is bad and scarce,
is procured on the west side of Katjangan, where there are a few wells.
Pulo Ju, or Joe, the southernmost of the islands, is very small, but
rises to a height of 270 feet. Pulo Sato, the most western of the islands, is
also small, 105 feet high, and lies about 4 miles north-west from Pulo Ju.
Between these, are Meranti island, 112 feet high, and Lalang ; and
midway between Sato and Meranti there is a reef, with a depth of 20 feet,
and 11 to 14 fathoms around it. The three southern islets have fringing
reefs. Pulo Jebia, the largest island of the southern group, is about
one mile in extent, 373 feet high, and surrounded by a reef which projects
a little more than a mile from its east extreme.
Pulo Katjangan or Tuju, the north-easternmost and largest of the Seven
islands, is 3| miles long by half a mile broad, and rises to several peaks,
* See Admiralty charts :—Banka strait to Singapore, No. 2,757 ; scale, m = 0"15 of
an inch ; and Linga and Sinkep channels, No. 1,789 ; m = 0'20 of an inch.