The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. I.] BUTONG GROUP.—PULO LANKAWI. 53
Gunong Chinchai.'.g, or serrated mountains, rise abruptly from the
western coast, the summit being precipitous and rocky. The highest
pealc of the ridge is 2,443 feet in height, and another conspicuous round-
topped mountain, 2,348 feet high, rises immediately over Dolphin Nose.
Pulo Lankawi and tlie adjacent islands are subject (o the Kajah of Queda.
The valleys aud plains are well cultivated with rice, sugar, &c. The
natives are peaceable and friendly, and there are numerous villages, the
principal of Avhich is situated about half a mile from the mouth of a small
stream which empties at the north-east corner of Kwala Malacca, and is
said to contain 4,000 inhabitants, many of whom are Chinese ; it is also
the residence of the Chief or Datu.
Trade is carried on with Penang and the adjacent coasts by junks.
Siamese gunboats occasionally visit the island.
Supplies.—Fowls, eggs, and other small supplies can be obtained for
silver dollars. Wild pigs are numerous, and the Argus pheasant is occa-
sionally seen.
Kwala Malacca. — From the north-west point of Lankawi, the
coast trends South 5 miles to Dolphin Nose ; it is rocky with a few sandy
beaches, backed by precipitous mountains covered with jungle. Between
Dolphin Nose and Pulo Obah, is Kwala Malacca, protected from S.S.E.
round by east to North, and affords good anchorage for small craft. The
north coast of the bay is rocky. At one mile eastward from Dolphin
Nose is a small island, connected v/ilh the shore by a reef.
At the head of the bay is a long sandy beach, fronted by a bank of soft
mud, rendering landing impracticable at low water except off the mouths
of the two streams. The beach is backed by a fringe of jungle, behind
which are several villages surrounded by cultivated land.
Pulo Obah. is a flat-topped island 551 feet high, haAing a conspicuous
red landslip on its north-west side. A rock which uncovers at low water
lies about half a cable from the north-west point of the island, and a reef
extends the same distance south of the south-west point of the island.
A small island, 233 feet high, lies off the east side of Pulp Obah, having
a reef extending 2^ cables from its western point. A rock, 57 feet high,
lies between this island and Pulo Obah.
From abreast of Pulo Obah, a sandy beach trends to the southward
2^ miles to Tanjong Sawa, in the centre of which is a conspicuous bluff
fronted by a low spur of the hills behind. An island with two rocks off
its north-west point lies close to this coast.
Bass harbour, between the south coast of Pulo Lankawi and the
north coast of Pulo Tiibah, affords anchorage with complete protection. It
is 7 miles long, with an average width of 1^ miles, and a general depth of
3 to 4 f3,thoins, mud bottom.