The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

400 OTITEB, ROUTE. BANKA STRAIT TO SINGAPORE, [chap. ix.
the highest of which is 526 feet above the level of the sea. It is sur-
rounded by a reef, on which are some rocks above water, especially off its
south-east end. About 2f miles W.N.W. from its north-west extreme,
is Pulo Tukonkembang, a small islet, 120 feet high, surrounded by a reef.
About one mile W.N.W. from Pulo Tukonkembang, is North-west rock,
above water, with a small fringing reef.
DOCAN ISLAND (Menalee), 300 feet high, lies about 24
miles N.E. by E. of the Tuju group ; it is about three-quarters of a mile
in extent, surrounded by a reef, and a small islet with some rocks project
nearly one mile from its north-eastern extreme. The summit of this island
makes like a peak when seen from the northward, but appears round from
the eastward.
Mary rock.—Three reefs extend in a S. by E. direction from
the south point of Docan. Mary rock, the outer one, has a depth of 6 feet
and is distant 1^ miles; the middle rock has 10 feet, and the inner one
5 feet, distant about three-quarters of a mile from the point. The depths
around them are 12 to 18 fathoms.
The channel between Tuju islands and Pulo Docan has regular depths of
12 to 16 fathoms.
TOTY ISLAND or Pulo Laut, 250 feet high, lies 8 miles
N.E. by E. ^ E. from Docan island. It is small, and surrounded by a reef,
which on the north-west side projects half a mile. The summit of this
island when seen from the northward appears round, but sharp from the
eastward.
The passage between Toty and Docan appears to be free from danger,
and the depths in it are from 12 to 18 fathoms.
Directions.—When passing between Banka and the Tuju islands,
the latter should not be approached to less than 13 fathoms water, nor
Banka nearer than 5 miles, for its dangers are all about 3 miles in the
offing, and nearly awash. Near the l\Ialan Hyu and Malan Doyang rocks
the bottom is rocky, and the depths irregular.
Vessels keeping to the southward of Toty and Docan islands, in order to
cross over to Borneo, must take care to avoid Mary rock lying S.S.E.
2 miles from Docan island, and also Vega and other shoals, described
at page 363.
Between the north coast of Banka and Tuju, Docan, and Toty islands
Ihe general depths are from 14 to 16 fathoms, but more to the eastward
they increase to 18 or 20 fathoms.
Currents.—From October to March, during the north-west monsoon,
the currents run with force to the south-east, and during the other months
to the north-west. It has, however, occurred that vessels going to Banka
in June and July have experienced strong southerly currents.