The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. X.] PTJLO TALANa—SIOLON CHANNELS. 419
8 cables from th& south-eastern point of Talang, with the summit of South-
west hill in line with the south-west extreme of Talang. A patch of
4 J fathoms lies about 3 cables W. by N. of it..
CaiUtion.—Several other sho^ patches were found in" the channel
between Talang and Gin; but they all, except the Hendrick Jan, lie out
of the ordinary track of vessels, and are dangerous only in the event
of this channel being mistaken in thick weather for the entrance of Rhio.
Vessels should give these islands a berth of- 2 miles in passing, and not
bring Pulo Terobi eastward of E. by N., until South-west hill comes well
open of Talang.
PULO SIOLON, or Mantang Island, about 8 iMes long, in an
east and west direction, and IJ miles broad, lies north-westward of Talang,
and is separated from it by a channel about 1^ miles wide. Ou its south-
west end is South-west hill, 267 feet high, which makes from the southward
as a double-peaked lull, and from the northward with a peaked top. The
west side of the island is foul to the distance of about 2 cables.
At 4^ miles eastward of South-west hill is Siolon hill, with a flat table
summit, the highest hill on Siolon. It rises abruptly from the northward
to an elevation of 507 feet, and terminates to the southward in a bluff point,
close to which is Segai islet, which is lower than the adjacent land. Pulo
Siolon has a narrow channel running through it, at 4j miles eastward of
South-west hiU.
At a distance of 12 miles to the southward, both Siolon and South-west
hills, owing to the land between them being low, appear as islands.*
Thomas shoal.—Between South-west and Siolon hills, is a bay
about one mile deep, fronted by a fringe of reef and a shoal bank extending
out in places nearly three-quarters of a mile ; upon this bank lie two or three
detached patches of reef. Thomas shoal, a patch 4 cables in extent, with a
depth of 2 fathoms, lies W.S.W. nearly one mile from Segai islet.
Anchorage.—There is good anchorage between Thomas shoal and
South-west hill, in 6 to 10 fathoms, with shelter, from northerly winds ;
large vessels should not stand into a less depth than 5 fathoms, as the
soundings become irregular and shallow.
Siolon Channels.—There are channels on either side of Siolon lead-
ing into the China sea, northward of Pulo Gin ; but as they are quite out of
the ordinary track of vessels they should not be attempted by any one not
locally acquainted. The southern channel, between Siolon and Talang, is
about 1^ miles wide, with depths varying from 14 to 24 fathoms in midchannel,
and from 5 to 9 fathoms near the shore on either side. Some
* Mr. W. Stanton Master, B.N.
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