The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

28 MALACCA STBAIT.—SUMATRA COAST. [chap. i.
direction, half a mile broad, lie" nearly abreast of each "other, and are
separated by a channel which is 2 miles "wide, with depths of from 6 to 9
fethoms.
The least water on the western ridge is 6 feet, from which spot the
high tree of the grove south-east of Ujong Sabunja Bunja bears S.E. by S.
13 miles, and the grove on Sabunja Bunja S.W., 6^ miles.
On the shoalest part of the eastern ridge there is a depth of 9 feet, from
which the high tree of the grove south-east of'Sabunja Bunja, S.S.E. ^ E.
14^ miles; and the grove on Sabunja Bunja, S.W. ^ S. 9 miles.
Pulo Varela peak bearing E. ^ S. leads to the northward of Bunja shoals,
and the same object bearing E. by N. ^ N. leads to the southward of them.
The high tree* on the north extreme of a long straggling grove of trees to
the south-east of Ujong Sabunja Bunja, bearing S. by E. | E., leads (o the
eastward, but this tree can only be seen in clear weather. The centre of
the grove on Sabunja Bunja bearing S. by W. will lead in 5 fathoms north-
"westward of Bunja shoals, and clear of all dangers on Dehli banks. It is
not advisable to shoal to less than 18 fathoms in passing these banks at
night.
There is a clear channel, 3^ miles wide and having depths of from 5^ to
10 fathoms between Bunja shoals and the coast, but the shore to the south-
ward of Ujong Sabunja Bunja should not be approached nearer than 3
miles, as there is a bank having from 9 to 12 feet water extending parallel
to the shore for 5| miles ; tliere is deep water between this bank and the
shore.
From Ujong Sabunja Bunja the coast extends east-south-eastward 35
miles to Mattie point, and may in most places be approached to 2 or 3 miles
in from 4^ to 7 fathoms water, but the soundings outside are very irregular,
with overfalls. There are several rivers in this part of the coast, the
entrances to vphich are passable only by boats.
Sirdang ri"V"er
lies to the -westward of Ujong Sabunja Bunja, in
one of the Dehli tobacco growing districts, already described.
THE COAST.— Mattie Point.—The northeast extreme of this
point, forms the northern extreme of Batu Barra bay, and may easily
be known by its high grove of trees. Five miles northward of Mattie
point the depths are from 12 to 14 fathoms, with occasional patches of 10
fathoms ; thence to the southward it shoals suddenly to 5 and 2 fathoms to
the sandy spit dry at low water, which extends one mile north and
north-eastward from Mattie point.
* The high tree is among a small cluster, and is very little higher than the adjacent
trees. The foreshore is low and deceptive in appearance, being backed by a range of
mountains which have many peculiarly-shaped peaks.—H.M.S. Midge, 1873.