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CHAP.T.] PTJKET HARBOUR. 39
the day tides are higher than the night tides. In the north-east monsoon
the night tides and the day tides are equal. Very little tidal stream is felt
in the harbour.
Directions.—Lem Phan-Va, the south-east point of Junkseylon, is
steep-to ; a shoal on which stands a group of rocks awash at high water
extends from the point nearly one mile to the south-west. Vessels proceeding
to Puket, when off this point, should steer north-eastward until Tonkah hill
is seen bearing N.N.W. between Tapau-noi and Tapau-jai islands, when it
should be steered for, passing between these islands in a depth of 4 fathoms.
After passing between them, steer N. by W. if intending to anchor in the
outer harbour. If bound to the inner harbour steer to pass close to the
westward of the black buoy, and to the eastward of the red buoy.
Vessels from the eastward may enter the harbour by passing northward
of Pulo Kapal !Kechil, and north of a red buoy which marks a coral reef
extending one cable from the north end of the island. Between Pulo Kapal
Kechil and Lem Atpha (the north-east point of the harbour), there is a
sand-bank having only 6 or 7 feet at low-water spring tides. From the
south side of Pulo Eapal Besar a rocky reef, with a small islet and sand-
banks, extends to a distance of one mile southward.
The bottom, at both inner and outer anchorages, is mud. The harbour
is open to east, and south-east winds, during the prevalence of which there
is a little swell.
Winds and Weather.—January.—Steady north-east monsoon ;
wind generally more to the E.N.E. and sometimes East. The wind is
generally stronger in the evening and night than in the daytime. Tem-
perature between 60° and 80°. No rain.
February.—Steady north-east monsoon the first half of the month with
no rain, and generally blowing fresh. In the latter part of the month the
north-east monsoon becomes weaker and is squally every three or four
days, generally in the evening and from the northward. In this month
fresh, water is very scarce, there is also much fever and other sickness
amongst the natives.
March.—North-east monsoon very weak, generally from North, and
sometimes N.W. with occasional squalls from the N.E. Temperature
between 75° and 90° Gtreat scarcity of water and much sickness on shore.
April.—Change of monsoon, winds from West to North ; heavy squalls
from the north-eastward generally occur with high water in the afternoon
or evening. The night tides are very low. There is much sickness.
May.—The burst of tlie south-west monsoon occurs in the first week of
May, after which the wind seldom blows from the east quarter. The ileavy
rains now commence, and squalls are frequent. On the west shore of
Junkseylon the swell is heavy, hut Puket harbour is well sheltered^