256
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 9TH APRIL, 1881. GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 129.
The following Hydrographic Notices are published for general information.
By His Excellency's Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 9th April, 1881.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
The information contained in this Notice is to be carefully considered, to be noted in the Sailing Directions, and compared with the Chart when the ship is navigating the parts to which it refers.
HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICE.
(No. 39.)
EASTERN ARCHIPELAGO.
NOTICE NO. 19.
The following information relating to the Sulu or Mindoro sea has been received from Robert Loney, Esq., R.N., Lloyd's agent at Ilo Ilo, 1880.
[All Bearings are Magnetic.
Variation 1° 5' Easterly in 1880.]
SULU OR MINDORO SEA.1
ZEBÚ ISLAND-Argao point (on the east coast of Zebú island).-Anchorage may be found in from 4 to 7 fathoms, sand, sheltered from north and north-east winds under Argao point. Small vessels load here in both monsoons, choosing their anchorage north or south of the point as convenient. The church at Argao is a most conspicuous building.
Supplies may be obtained at Argao by applying to the local authorities.
SIBONGA, 8 miles northward of Argao, has fair anchorage from north and north-east winds, and may be known by a church in the course of erection, close to the present one, which is thatched with the Hipa palm (1880).
Directions.-Anchor midway between the Tribunal (Court house) and New Church in 4 fathoms, sand; northward of this position, the bottom becomes rocky, as also does the coast as far as Carcat bight.
Carcat bight, situated four miles northward of Sibonga, affords anchorage, with a muddy bottom, and may be run for as a last resource should a vessel be overtaken by a typhoon; a good look out must, however, be kept for shoals when approaching it, as there are no bushes or marks to guide the navigator, and no pilots. Once inside the bight, however, a vessel is said to be safe. The church at Carcat is conspicuously situated on a hill, and the town is densely populated.
SAN FERNANDO is a town situated some distance inland from the coast and about 6 miles northward of Carcat bight. In passing along this part of the coast of Zebú, it is advisable not to keep too near the land.
Tuiaan village, about three miles north-east of San Fernando, is small, has no church, and is difficult to distinguish from seaward.
26
When navigating in this vicinity, care should be exercised to avoid the rocks, situated off the coast of Zebú, abreast Tuiaan village.
NAGA is a large town with a handsome church situated about 1 miles north-east of Tuiaan. Steam vessels and coasting craft using the south entrance to, or from the port of Zebú, make Naga the point of entrance and departure.
Anchorage, but of small extent, may be obtained off Naga in from 4 to 7 fathoms, sand and mud, but care must be taken to avoid a small sunken rock having over it about 23 fathoms, with 9 fathoms within a boat's length.
TALISAY.—A town on the south-east coast of Zebú island, about 8 miles north-eastward of Tuiaan village, and 4 miles southward of San Nicolas church (of the town of Zebú) has rocks and shoals extending seaward from the coast off it, which, as a rule, are kept buoyed; these buoys, however, cannot always be depended upon.
Leading mark.—To clear the shoals off Talisay point, keep San Nicolas church open of Talisay point.
PORT ZEBU.2—There are three shoals in port Zebú not marked upon the Admiralty chart; failing information of the position of these shoals, the chart should be used with caution.
Pilotage in port Zebú is compulsory.
COMPESTELLA is a large and flourishing town on the east coast of the island of Zebú, situated between Dap Dap point and Liloan, to the northward of the northern entrance to port Zebú.
DANAO is a large town situated about 5 miles northward of Compestella; the anchorage off it cannot be recommended. Carmen, about 4 miles to the north of Danao, is a town, situated on the south side of a bight which is reported to have good anchorage, the channel leading to which is marked by bushes. Two Spanish gunboats rode out the typhoon of 12th December, 1879, off Carmen.
BOGO (Bago).—-A town of this name is situated inland and south of the head of a bay in the north-east part of Zebú island, about 47 miles northward of port Zebú. In this bay, the reefs are reported to show clearly, and to be marked by bushes.
Anchorage may be obtained in the bay just alluded to in bad weather, but it is recommended not to come into less than 4 fathoms, as the water shoals rapidly, and the bottom consists of sand and rock.
1 See Admiralty charts of St. Bernardino Strait, No. 2577, and Eastern part of Sulu or Mindoro Sea, No. 2578.
2 See plan of port Zebú upon Admiralty plans of ports in the Philippine islands, No. 2391.