The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. XI.]- VARELLA CHANNELS. 437
i TANJONG-' BON or Jabling. — The coa&t of Sumatta from
Batataratig Ji'diiit to Tanjotig Bon, has been d^cribed at page 399. Tan'-
jong Bon, iS the Sbtiih-^astetn limit Of the Inner route; Like' miJst 'Other
parts of -the east'coa^t of Stimatra, it is low land, and has a mud bank
extending many mileii north-west and south-east of it.*
ISLETS and DANGERS—VABELLA or Brahella is a
small 'island 460 feel high, having a hill on its western part which may be
seen 20 miles. It lies in the middle of Varella strait, with Tatijong Bon,
bearing S. by W. distant 10 miles.
Some islets and'focks lie near Varella, the largest of which, Ariak
Varella, is about one' mile north-eastward of it, with from 7 to 9 fathoms
water between ; at one mile northward from Anak Varella lies a rock,
with 17 fathoms close to, having a channel 2 'miles wide, with 10' to 16
fathoms, betweeii it and Middle rocks.
W^ater.—There is anchorage on the south-west and north sides of
Varella, in about 6 fathoms, at 2 cables oflF shore. A path leads from
about the middle of the north side to the centre of the island, where water
may be procured.t
Slloal.—Ca,ptain G. Kunst, of the Dutch barque Louisa Kroon Printes
of Sweden, reports having seen a shoal, with but 12 feet water, from which
Varella island bore W.N.W. distant 3 miles.f
Middle rocks, partly dry at low water, lie 5 miles N.E. | N. from
Varella, or nearly midway between the latter and the islets which front the
south end of Sinkep island.
Pollux rock with 4 feet water Kes nearly 2 miles north-east of
Middle rOcks, with the nearest of the islets southward of Sinkep bearing
N. by W. distant 3^ miles.
"Varella channels.—The channel southward of Varella island is
wider and more free from danger than that northward of it, and is con-
sequently' more frequented. '
'
The shoal bank projecting about 8 or 9 miles
north-westward from Tanjohg Bon forms an elbotr, which will be avoided
by keej$ing Tanjong Bon southward' of S.E. ^ S., until Varella island
'
bears eastward of B.N.E.
The channel to the northward, between Varella and Sinkep Laut
islands is encumbered with the dangers just mentioned. Between Pollux
* See Admiralty charts i^i—Banka strait to Singapore, No. ^.W? ; scale m= 0'15 p(
an inch ;
and Linga and Sinkep channels, No. 1,789, scale »i=0'2 of an inch.
t It is still necessary for merchant vessels which have occasion to fill up water in out
of the way places to be on their guard against surprise. Natives, not ordinarily pirates,
frequently become such if a good opportunity presentitself,—.J. W. Beed, Master, I},N.
1864. See also footnote, page 152.
X Singapore Straits Times, lOthSeptember 1864..