The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. I.] WINDS AND WEATHER.—THABUA HARBOUR. 41
fathoms. This island is surrounded by rocks, which do not, however,
extend far out.
Gob. Sob {Sisters') are two small, high perpendicular rocks, about
3-^ miles N. by E. from Goh Lipe (a conical rock moi-e than 100 feet high),
and about one mile off the coast of Goh Jao Jai (Pulo Panjang) ; there is
deep water all around them.
Tbarua harbour is in the next large bay to the north of Pukel.
The town of Tharua, which is situated 1^ miles up a small river of the
same name, was formerly the residence of the Bajah of Puket, who in
1859 removed to Puket; previous to 1796 (when Tharua was demolished
by the Burmese) it was a town of considerable importance. At that time
there was a large Portuguese settlement here, and the harbour was fre-
quented by numbers of European vessels ; there is however, no trade at
TharQa. The ruins of a fine market street, composed of large brick
buildings, and the spacious houses belonging to the Europeans who once
resided here are still to be seen ;
an evidence of its former importance.
There are two entrances to the harbour, the better one being to the
northward of Alang Noi ; the other to the southward of Alang Jai and
passing to the northward of Goh Mali and Goh Gap.
Directions.—Entering the bay steer W. by S. to pass about half a
mile northward of Alang Noi in 8 fathoms, after passing which the water
will shoal gradually towards the anchorage, where there is a depth of
3 fathoms, mud bottom, with Alang Noi bearing E. by N., and the middle of
Goh Maprau about South. There appears to be a shoal about half a mile
to westward of Alang-jai ; and vessels should not attempt to pass between
Maprau and that island, as the channel is foul. Farther northward are
three other islands, Goh Peh, Goh Naka Noi, and Goh Naka Jai ; patches
of rocks extend for 1^ miles north-westward of Naka Noi. Between these
last three islands and Junkseylon there is a good channel with 4 and 5
fathoms of water.
Klang Bangkrong, westward of Goh Naka Noi, is a river leading
to the old residence of the Kajah of Thalang, who lives now at Bandon,
up a river of the same name, on the west coast of JunkseyloQ.
GOH JAO JAI (PULO PANJANG) is a large island,
7 mUes eastward of Junkseylon, belonging to the Bajah of Panga.*
The west coast of this island, which trends in a N. by W. direction, is
of moderate height, and has in the middle a large bay named Au Lubo,
in which there are depths of 2 and 3 fathoms, In this bay are two large
villages, and in the entrance lies a Email island with a group of rocks
northward of it, some of which are above water. The north part of the
* See Admiralty chart :—Sayer island' and adjacent coast^ No. 842.