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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH NOVEMBER, 1881. 1021
SAND CAY—About 4 miles S.S.W. of Tigabu island, is a sand cay, visible for 3 or 4 miles. Between this sand cay and Long island a broken chain of reefs and small detached shoals extends. Discoloured water stretches also in an E. by S. direction from the cay terminating at its eastern end, in a sand patch which dries.
Between Sipindung island and the sand patch which dries at the eastern end of the discoloured water alluded to, are several isolated patches of discoloured water, having passages between, of which the safest appeared to be that nearest Sipindung island. There is also a shoal patch (position doubtful) between Sipindung and Sandy islands.
A 4 fathom shoal in latitude 6° 44′ N., longitude 117° 41′ E., appeared to extend for some distance in a north- west and south-east direction.
A 5 fathom shoal was found with Sandy islet bearing N.W. by W. W., and Tagypil island S. 5° W., and about 1 miles eastward of it, a sunken reef having over it very little water was observed extending N.E. and S.W., with two small detached patches on its south-west side. The Egeria passed between this reef and the north-east of the two patches, obtaining no bottom at 13 fathoms.
MALLAWALLÉ CHANNEL to SANDAKAN.-Directions.-Having passed the Egeria rocks in Mallawallé channel, keep about 4 cables distant from Mallawallé island until Banguey peak is in line with the west extreme of West island then steer between the patches until Kukuban island is on with the north point of Tigabu island, or until the north-eastern of the dangers is passed; then steer so as to pass about 4 cables south of Kukuban island and a cable south of the 3 fathom patch. When, by bearings, it has been ascertained that this 3 fathom patch has been passed, steer to pass 2 cables south of Tigabu island, from thence to pass 6 cables south of Sipindung, one mile south of Sandy islet, and 2 miles north of the Billebillean rocks.
Pass 3 miles eastward of Lankayan island, and giving the Frolic rock a good berth, steer in for Bahala island on a S.S.W.
bearing.
SANDAKAN HARBOUR.-Tusan Duyon, the eastern entrance points of Sandakan harbour is low and bare, except the north part, which is thickly wooded with casuarina trees. Two miles eastward there is a separate clump of casuarina trees, between which and the north point is the mouth of a creek.
The bank extending northward of Tusan Duyon shoals gradually, and has over it, at a distance of 4 miles from the shore in that direction, a depth of 4 fathoms.
The coast between Sandakan harbour and the mouth of the Kinabatangan river has numerous mouths of small rivers or creeks called Tusans, and clumps of casuarina trees, which latter, standing out much higher than the surrounding low woods, bear, at a distance, considerable resemblance to islands.
MAMUYON RIVER.-Five miles eastward of the north point of Tusan Duyon, is another clump of casuarina trees, situated upon the western entrance point to the Mamuyon river.
Soundings of 5 fathoms were obtained 31⁄2 miles N. by W. W. of the Mamuyon river mouth, with Taganae bearing N. 2° W., and Bahala island bluff S. 85° W.
A bar dry at low water bears S. by E., distant two miles from the above 5 fathoms, from which position, also, on the same bearing, distant 1 and 3 cables, soundings were obtained in 23 and 14 fathoms.
Directions. In entering the Mamuyon river it will be found that the entrance between the spit on the east side and the casuarina clump on the western entrance point is about 800 yards across. The gap of Double hill should be kept just shut in by the western entrance point. Midway between the entrance points, a depth of 4 fathoms was obtained. The river continues to the southward narrowing to 300 yards; whilst two tributaries 600 yards in width, branch off in an E. by S. and W. by S. direction.
The coast from the clump of casuarina trees one mile eastward of Mamuyon, trends for 34 miles in a S.E. by E. direction, and has, south-eastward of it, another clump, and a small creek.
Tusan Abai River. 2-The entrance to this river is narrow and intricate, but it probably has a depth of 10 feet at high water. Inside, the river deepens to 5 and 8 fathoms, which it carries up for a distance of 4 miles. The flood tide sets up the river at the rate of 2 knots an hour.
ANCHORAGE.-The Egeria anchored in 18 fathoms, stiff mud, off the mouth of the Kinabatangan river, with the following bearings,—
Tusan Abai clump,..
East entrance point of Kinabatangan river,..
West
do.
do.
do.........
..Ń. 81° W.
.S. 28° W.
..S. 39° W.
A shoal, having upon it several heads of 2 fathoms, with a general depth of from 3 to 4 fathoms, the northern end of which bore N. 75 W., distant 33 cables from the position of the Egeria's anchorage just given, was found to be of circular shape and 300 yards across. With a 2 knot tide running, this shoal only showed a slight ripple.
The bar of the Kinabatangan river appeared to extend about 3 miles north-eastward from its mouth, a sounding of 14 fathoms was obtained upon this bar.
To pass south of Nymphe Shoal in coming from the westward, it was found that the best way was to strike soundings in 6 or 7 fathoms off Tusan Abai, and keep in soundings of between 7 and 10 fathoms until the mouth of the Kinabatangan river bears S. 40o W.
In approaching from the eastward, endeavour to strike from 7 to 10 fathoms with the mouth of the Kinabatangan river bearing S. 40° W., and Tusan Abai clump N. 78° W.
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 25th June 1881.
See Admiralty plan of the harbour of Sandakan, No. 950.
* Neither the entrance to the Tusan Abai, nor the Tusan Mamuyon, were sufficiently examined to enable Nav. Lient. Moody to state that a gunboat could safely enter.