The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

4-12 BHIO STRAIT. [chap. x.
northwai'd of Garras island, is Pankel island, surrounded by a reef extend-
ing in some places half a mile off shore, to the westward of which is the
principal channel, about 3 miles wide, bounded on the west by the islets
and banks off the north-east end of Pulo Galang. The passage eastward
of Pankel has several reefs and islets, whicK render its navigation more
difficult; the principal dangers are buoyed or beaconed, but they are liable
to break adrift.
At Pulo Loban, about 10 miles northward of Pankel, the strait is
reduced to about 2| miles in width, and is further reduced to 2 miles
abreast West point, 5 miles north of Pulo Loban ; this is the narrowest
part of Ehio strait.
Northward of West point, the western extreme of Bentan, the strait
rapidly widens to its northern entrance, where it is about 10 miles in
breadth.
WEST SIDE OF EHIO STRAIT,
ISLETS AND REEFS.—Missana Island, at the southern
entrance of the strait, is peculiar in shape, consisting of two narrow ranges
of moderately elevated hills, which lying in different directions from an
elbow on the north-west part of the island ;
the longer range extends from
the south point of the island 4 miles in a northerly direction, whence the
shorter trends 2 miles eastward.
The shore reef extends in places to the distance of half a mile from the
north shore of Missana, and an isolated patch of 2 fathoms, lies 6 cables
off, making it dangerous tor approach that shore nearer than one mile.
A cluster of rocks above \vater lies 2 or 3 cables westward of Observa-
tion point, the north-west point of the island, westward and south-west-
ward of which other dangers extend more than half a mile. On the east
side of Missana, the shore reef extends off nearly three-quarters of a mile,
and embraces the small wooded islet off the east point.
Niamok, a small square shaped island, with a reef projecting one
mile in a north-easterly direction from it, lies one mile south-eastward of
Missana, and between them are several rocky islets, and reefs which block
the channel.
Ancliorage.—The bay on the east side of Missana appears to afford
good anchorage in from 5^ to 8 fathoms, by not bringing the eastern part
of the small islet off Missana to the eastward of N.E. | E., and the eastern
side of Niamok to the eastward of S. by E. | E. ; the south point of
Missana bearing W. by S. leads clear of Niamok reef.
Rodong peak, on the south-east end of Eodong island is ^97 feet
high, and lies 4 miles westward of Missana. This peak seen from the