The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

14 MALACCA STBAIT.-^SUMATBA COAST. [ohap. i.
Middle island, or Pulo Nassie Keobil, lies off the south side of
Pnlo Brasse, between the latter and PuloNanci; off the south side: of
Middle, isla,ndj one mile distant, is a group of small islets, with from 9 to
12 fathoms water between them and Pulo Nanci.
Pulo Gomez (Klappa) is about 2 miles in length, and lies between
Cedar and Surat passages. Its western point is low, and breakers extend
about half-a-mile to the westward of it. The south side of Pulo Gomez
is safe to approach.
CEDAR PASSAGE (Sawang Harus Besar) is formed
between Pulo Nanci island on the north, and Pulo Gomez and Stony
island on the south. The channel which lies to the southward of the rocks
off Pulo Nanci is about one mile wide at its narrowest part, and has from
15 to 20 fathoms water.
Cedar passage is much wider than Surat passage, more free from eddies,
and safer for a vessel proceeding to the westward with a foul wind, as
she can drift with the tide under sail, taking care to avoid the rocks off
Pulo Nanci. Stony island may be approached on its north-west side to
within a quarter of a cable.
-A- patch, of 4| fathoms lie midway between Stony island and Pulo
Gomez.*
SURAT PASSAGE (Sawang Harus Kechil)
is formed
by Pulo Gomez ("Klappa), Stony island, and Pulo Angkasa on the north-west,
and the promontory of Achi on the south-east. Between Pulo Angkasa and
Achi head at the eastern end, the passage is only 150 yards wide, but has
from 12 to 14 fathoms water. Between Pulo Gomez and the mainland the
passage is 1^ miles, wide with 12 to 16 fathoms water. Near the east side
of Pulo Gomez there is a rock one cable distant from the shore.f
Directions.—In approaching Surat passage from the south-west no
opening is perceived, the adjacent islands Gomez, Nanci, and Brasse
appearing to join the mainland when seen from that direction. South-
eastward of King point, at the distance of 5 miles, and on the south side of
a low green point there is a sandy bay, named Elrang Baba, which at a
considerable distance may be mistaken for Surat passage, the adjacent land
being low near the sea, and covered with trees.
* The rocky patch of 4 fathoms formerly shown on the charts, W. by S. distant 8
miles from the west end of Pulo Gomez island, and the naiTow ridge of soundings of
7 to io fathoms (and possibly less), reported to extend 40 miles in a S. by E. f E. direc-
tion from it, are said not to exist.
t See also plan of Surat passage on Admiralty chart, No. 2,760 (^similar to that on
chart No. 219).