The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. I.] THAIPENG.—PULO PANGKOK. 67
The island is mountainous and densely wooded; the highest part is
1,318 feet high, and situated about 2 miles from the north point. On the
north and south extremes are two hills, respectively 748 and 992 feet
high. Two other mountains rise near the centre of the island, and attain
a height of more than 1,000 feet.*
Great Binding island, and the adjacent coast, comm-6ncing at Pulo
Katta and extending 22 miles in a northerly direction, is British territory.
The population of the Bindings settlement number 2,322. The island
is unhealthy, said to be caused by the bad quality of the water. The
ruins of the fort, built by the Dutch in 1670, still exists in Telok Grodovvn.
Supplies-—Poultry, eggs, and pigs occasionally, may be procured at
most of the native villages at reasonable prices. Fish are plentiful, and
may be caught with the seine in the bays ; turtle may also be obtained in
the season. Firewood is procurable.
Animal and vegetable life abound, but the density of the jungle renders
the animals very difficalt of approach. Great Binding is known to contain
the following animals, namely, hogs, deer (moose and other kinds), monkeys,
civet cat, boa-constrictors, several kinds of cobra and other deadly snakes,
tigers, alligators, guanas, lizards, scorpions, centipedes.
Of birds, cranes and pigeons. Of fruits, durian, pineapple, mango, and
pomegranates, in small quantities.
CommunicatiOll.—Steamers to and from Penang, call at Pangkor
and the places along the coast about three times a week.
Telok Nipa (West Anchorage).—The west shore of Great
Binding is deeply indented, the bays however are comparatively shallow.
On this side of the island, in Telok Nipa, north of Pulo Bintaingan (Long
island), there is fair anchorage in 4 fathoms, sand, 2 cables from that
island. This anchorage is sheltered from all winds, except those from
W.S.W. to North.
Between Pulo Pangkor Laut (Little Binding island), which is 446 feet
high, and one mile in length, and Great Binding there is good holding
ground in 3^ fathoms, at 2^ cables from the main island, and with the north
peak of Little Binding bearing W.S.W.
On the south and west sides of Great Binding, without entering the bays,
deep water will be found within a cable of the shore.
The Mainland.— Tanjong Hantu, about 3 miles northward
of Great Binding, is a sloping point whose summit is 757 feet high. It
forms the north point of entrance to Binding channel.
The shore from Tanjong Hantu to Motts point, nortli entrance point
of Binding riyer, is skirted by a shoal bank, having a depth of 3 to 12 feet,
• See Admiralty plan of the Dinding islands and channel, No, 792 ; scale, m = 3
inches.
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