The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

26 MALACCA STRAIT.—SUMATRA COAST. [chap. i.
PulO Lankat-tuall, is a small islet covered with trees ofif the
mouth of Lankat-tuah river, and 3 miles eastward of Lankat ri^'er.
The coast from Pulo Lankat-tuah to Ujong Beitia Chama forms a slight
bay and is fronf(3d by extensive banks ; it may be safely approached to
depths of 10 fathoms. Tapakuda river lies at the head of the bay.
XTjOngBeitin Cliania, forms the northern extreme of the bay in
which Delhi river is situated and bears from Lankat-tuah island S.E. by E.
distant 11 j^ miles. The point should not be approached nearer than
the depth of 10 fathoms.
DCHLI RIVER lies about 5 miles southward of Ujong Beitin
Chama, and has two entrances. The northern mouth is named the Balawan,
and the southern mouth the Dehli ; the latter is not navigable, there being
only 4 feet at high water on the bar in some places. The entrances are
separated by Balawan, or Ragan island (a flat island covered with trees),
and an extensive sand bank nearly dry at low water. This bank within a
depth of 3 fathoms extends about 4 miles off shore, thence deepening
gradually.
Outer anchorage.—Vessels should anchor in 9 fathoms, with the
entrance of Dehli river in line with a gap in the mountains, bearing
S.W. ^ W., about 6 miles from the entrance.
Sala'V^rau entrance has a depth of 15 feet on the bar at high water
springs, over soft mud, with deeper water inside.* A Herbert beacon buoy
lies N.N.E. of the entrance, in about 4J fathoms water, and about 4 miles
south-eastward of Ujong Beitin Chama. The channel is marked by fishing
stakes and beacons (in a dilapidated state), on either side; by keeping
the white beacons about a cable distant on the starboard hand the
passage is easy, and there are no dangers in the river up to the anchorage
except one shoal on the port hand, on the outer edge of which there is a
beacon. The best anchorage is in the fork of the river, on the west side
of Balawan island, in about 21 feet water, and where two store ships lie
moored for trade purposes. Here the Balawan river turns to the westwai-d.
Above this anchorage the Dehli river is narrow, and only navigable by
small craft ; a wooden bridge spans it.
Towns-—The town of Dehli is about 2 miles above the store ships ;
Meidan, the principal town, is beyond it.
Above Dehli the river deepens and is said to be navigable for large boats
for many miles,*
* See plan of Dehli (Balawan) river on Admiralty chart. No. 1,353 ; scale, m =0-75
of an inch.—Remarks On Dehli from Consular Reports, 1885 ; and from Austrian Gun-
boat Nautilus, 1886.