The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

32 MALACCA STRAIT.—SUMATEA COAST. [chap. i.
in the direction of South Sands, are the extensive banks already referred
to ; and south-eastward, inside a line joining Pulo Medang and the east
point of Pulo Benkalis, are also extensive mud banks. A patch of 3^
fathoms lies on the outer edge of this bank, E. by S. | S. distant 8 miles
from the eastern entrance to Salat Morong, and about 10 miles westward
of Rob Roy bank. The north-east shore of Pulo Medang is bold to approach,
there being from 15 to 20 fathoms at the distance of one mile; Raleigh
shoal of 3^ fathoms lies nearly 10 miles off this shore.
Salat Hupat, separating Pulo Rupat from the main, is about 35 miles
in length, and 2 miles broad in its narrowest part. Several islands lie near
the centre of the strait, the largest of which is named Pulo Pajung. There
appears to be not less than 3 fathoms water through this strait by keeping
near the Sumatra shore until southward of the islands, thence the water
deepens towards Brewer strait.
SALAT PANJANG or Brewer Strait.—The west approach
to this strait is between Pulo Rupat and Pulo Benkalis. The strait
is formed by the coast of Sumatra and the large islands Pulo Benkalis,
Padang, and Rantau, and is about 90 miles in length, 5 miles broad abreast
of Pulo Benkalis, and 1^ miles in breadth in its narrowest parts. The
eastern approach is westward of Great Carimon and Pulo Papan, and
eastward of Pulo Rangsang. Neither of the approaches have been sur-
veyed, but soundings have been taken in the western portion of the strait
as far as Siak river ; the water is deep as far east as Pulo Panjang, beyond
which there appears to be not more than 2 fathoms in places.
Mud banks occupy a large portion of the approach to the western
entrance of Brewer strait, but there appears to be a channel of deep water
leading from about one mile eastward of Pulo Medang in a S. by E.
direction, to the centre of the strait. A long bank of 2 fatlioms lies near
the entrance, about 7 miles westward of Tanjong Jati the east point, and
nearly 3 miles off the shore abreast Sungi Menambang.
Also, Siak sandbank of 1^ fathoms lies about 3^ miles off the south-east
coast of Palo Rupat, with Tanjong Jering bearing N. J E. ; Tanjong Tego
W. by S. ^ S. ; and the river abreast, N.W. by W. | W.
From the west extreme of Pulo Padang a shoal of 1^ fathoms extends
half way across the strait, abreast which, the Sumatra shore should be
kept. Shoal water extends some distance also off Siak river. From Pulo
Panjang, towards the eastern end of the strait, shoal water extends about
2 miles east and west, and about half a mile south of it, and from the
island lying 4 miles east of Pulo Panjang a shoal extends one mile south-
ward. The Sumatra shore should be kept when passing these islands.
Bnkit BatU is a village built on piles, situated on the Sumatra shoi'e
of Brewer strait, at the mouth of a small river of the same name, at about