The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. X.] ALLIGATOR ISLAND.—SOB,^ ISLAND. 421
largest of the group, the former 'Topic island) is 134 feet, and the latter
118 feet high.
Reefs.—The small coral reef lying half a mile N.N.W. of Topie
island is marked by a beacon. A bank half a mile long, with 2| fathoms
water, lies with its outer edge bearing S.E. by S., distant three-quarters of
a mile from the eastern Topie.
A narrow bank with 4 to 5 fathoms water extends about 2^ mUes in a
southerly direction from Topie island, with from 5^ to 6 fathoms on either
side of it.
Rotterdam Reef is a rocky patch of 1^ fathoms, lying W. by S. j S.
7 cables from Topie island. A white buoy is moored on the north-west
side of the reef.
Dutcb. Shoal, a quarter of a mile iu extent with 3 fathoms least
water, and 6 or 7 fathoms close to its western side, lies on the east
side of the main channel between the Topies and Pulo Pankel, with Little
Garras lighthouse bearing S. J W., distant 3^ miles, and the south extreme
of Pulo Pankel N.W. | W. Ij miles. A black buoy marks the south-
extreme of the shoal,
Dutch shoal is situated on the western edge of a bank having from
3 to 5 fathoms water ; this bank is 4^ miles long in a north-west and
south-east direction, and about 1^ mUes broad.
Clearing mark.—^A good mark to keep clear of the entire western
edge of this bank, is the apex of Pulo Loban just open of the west extreme
of Pankel. Between the bank and Pankel the depths are 7 to 8 fathoms,
RupelS Reef is about 2 cables in extent, and marked by a beacon.
It lies off the north 'extreme of Dutch shoal bank, and about one mile
eastward of Pulo Pankel, with the north extreme of that island bearing-
N.W. i W. distant 1^ miles.
PULO PANKEL, about 2 miles long north and south, and hair
a mile broad, lies on the eastern side of the main channel of Ehio strait,
abreast of Great Garras and Mubut islands ;
at a distance it makes as two
round hills. It is surrounded by a reef which extends from a quarter to
half a mile from the shore. Beyond the reef at the north-west part of
the island, a bank with less than 3 fathoms water projects to a distance
of three-quarters of a mile. Eastward of this bank, and half a mile
northward of the island, lies Pankel reef, a patch of rocks about a quarter
of a mile in diameter. ;
Sore Island and Reefs. — Sore island lying E.N.E. distant
1^ miles from the north end of Pankel, is a small, round island, covered
with cocoa-nut trees, and surrounded by a reef, from which a bank with
2 to 5 fathoms water extends about 1^ miles in a S.S.E. direction. From
the island the shore reef extends half a mile northward, and at 1| miles