The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

420 B,HIO STRAIT. [chap. x.
reefs lie at the eastern end of the channel, which render the passage through
it somewhat intricate.
The northern channel, between Siolon and the coast of Bentan, has
several islands and reefs lying along and extending in places 2^ miles from
the Siolon shore. The western of these reefs and islands are named
Alligator and Blading reefs, and vessels should not pass eastward of a line
drawn from them to Alligator island. Two reefs lie on the northern side
of the channel, the outermost of which, Prins reef, is one mile distant from
Tanjong Batu Babia. The entrance to the, channel is between the eastern
reef and Blading island, and is If miles wide, with depths of 4 to a
fathoms. Eastward of the two reefs and Tanjong Batu Litjing, the shore
of Bentan is free from danger, and vessels may anchor at any convenient
distance from it, in 12 to 18 fathoms. At the eastern end of the channel
are several islands and reefs, which render it, like the channel southward of
Siolon, somewhat intricate.
The tides in Siolon channels run with great strength, and there are
numerous overfalls.
ALLIGATOR ISLAND, lOO feet high, three-quarters of a mile
long, and a quarter of a mile broad, lies 2 miles W.N.W. from S.W. hill.
A rocky patch, nearly awash, lies 2 cables north-east of Alligator island
and another patch, having 1^ fathoms, lies one-third of a mile eastward of
the south point.
Alligator Reef,
lies one mile N. by W. of Alligator island, and is a
quarter of a mile in extent, with depths of 4 and 5 fathoms close-to.
Blading Island, lying H miles northward of Alligator reef, is small
and surrounded by a reef which extends in a southerly direction more than
a quarter of a mile.
Eastward of Alligator reef and Blading island are several other reefs and
islands, lying off the northern shore of Siolon.
Prins Reef, lying 2 miles N. by W. J W. from Blading, is about a
- third of a mile in extent, and forms with that island the western entrance
of the channel between Siolon and the coast of Bentan. It lies on the
outer edge of the shoal bank which fronts Tanjong Batu Babia, and the
shore of Pulo Dompa, and is the outer of the two reefs before mentioned
as lying off the Bentan shore ; the other, which is about the same size,
bears E.S.E. from it, distant one mile; from the latter a shoal bank
with 1-^ to 3 fathoms water, extends one mile in an easterly direction.
The TopieS are a cluster of small round Islets and rocks, on coral
ledges, lying from 2 to 3 miles westward of Alligator reef. When ap-
proached from the southward these islets as they rise above the horizon
present very much the appearance of the topics, or hats, in use among the
Malays, hence their name. The northern and eastern islands are the
;