288
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH MARCH, 1880.
Twin rocks lie N.E. by N. and S.W. by S., from one another distant 14 cables; the northern oue dries 5 feet at lon water springs, and the southern one 6 feet at the same time of tide. From the northern of these rocks--
Hokeen summit bears, Miaow
*
39
Gt. Sanpwan summit (the Paps),
N. 16° D. S. 63° W. N. 87° E.
Wên-chau point may be recognised from the entrance of the river by an isolated range of hills 412 feet high, with three distinct summits. The eastern one has a ruined fort, and the centre one a mound on its top. There is a small waited town at the west extreme of the range, and just outside it are three small chimneys.
A ledge of rocks extends off Tent point, and dries 9 feet at low water.
The same terraced appearance exists here as at IIutau island.
Tides. The duration of the flood stream off Wên-chau point is 54 hours, and maximum rate 34 knots; that of ebb & hours, and the rato 44 knots.
Wên-chau island,* 2 miles long by 12 miles broad, is low, flat, and highly cultivated, and surrounded by a sea wall; there are numerous villages on it. Off the extreme west point is a small knob 108 feet high, and just to the eastward of it, but on the island, is a table-topped green lump 99 feet high. About half a mile to the eastward of this green lump is Wen- chau lump, 133 feet high, which is round topped, with several red sand spots showing through the grass. These lumps are very conspicuous from the entrance of the river.
At a distance of half a cable off the south side of the detached western lump is a rock which dries 2 feet.
It is high water, full and change, at Knob point, Wên-chau island, at 10h. Springs rise about 20, and neaps 17 feet. Tides. The ebb stream through the channel south of Wên-chau island attains a velocity of about 5 knots. Both food and ebb streams continue to run for about 25 minutes after high and low water by the shore.
A mud flat, consisting of soft mud, extends 74 miles in a south-caster direction from Wen-chau island. Off its south-cast end is a sand bank three-quarters of a mile long.
There is a small junk anchorage off Wên-chau lump.
Between Wên-chau island and the mainland to the southward there is a junk channel, and in it an extensive bank of sand and mud, which dries as much as 15 feet at low water.
Brown hills consist of a smooth, round topped, isolated range of hills, the summits of which are 593 and 510 feet high. To the west of Brown hills, and contiguous, is a range of reddish hills, of less elevation than Brown hills, the summits being 374 and 328 feet high.
White lump is 199 feet high, and nearly one mile from the bank of the river, with several trees growing on its
summit.
Inner lump, 274 feet high, and of greater extent than White lump, lies 13 miles from the bank of the river, has several trees on its summit, and a dark appearance.
House hill is a dark round mountain of sugar-loaf shape, 1,669 feet high, with a small house (apparently a joss- house) on its summit.
ROCKY POINT is a small rocky lump, steep-to, with a white joss-house surrounded by trees; and 2 cables west- ward is another small lump with several trees on it.
There are two batteries, one to the eastward of Rocky point, and the other to the westward of the west lump. Inside Rocky point is a large walled town, surrounded by a canal.
Between Wen-chau point and Rocky point the land is low, flat, highly cultivated, and fronted by a sea wall. There are numerous villages in this space.
To the westward of Rocky point west lump, the land presents the same appearance, untii arrested by a high range of mountains, at the extreme end of which is a fort with three chimneys close to.
Salamis point, which is sweep-to, may be easily recognised by its two white forts. To the eastward of Salamis point the land trends away to the south-east, and is low, flat, highly cultivated, and fronted by a sea wall. At three-quarters of a mile inside the sea wall is Elephant range, 957 feet high. There is a remarkable knob on this range, 716 feet high. Off Salamis point is a bank which narrows the channel to 14 cables. To the south-westward of Elephant range there are most extensive ranges of high mountains.
Cone peak (which is amongst these mountains) is, as its name implies, cone topped, and most remarkable; it is 1,547 feet high.
Between Salamis and Jar points the land is again low and flat. There are two forts in this space.
Jar point is bold and steep-to, 241 feet high. The three chimneys mentioned in previous sailing directions do not exist, and the Jar is so far inland that it cannot be seen from the river.
Snipe and Big islands are low, flat, and highly cultivated, surrounded by a sea wall, and interspersed with numerous trees and houses.
Lower or Snipe island anchorage.-The village stands on the right bank of the river above Jar point, and the land from Jar point to the extent of the Nassau's survey is low, flat, and highly cultivated, generally fronted by a sea wall, and containing numerous houses and villages. This highly cultivated land extends for some 1 to 3 miles to the southward, when it is terminated by high mountain ranges. There are two forts at the village.
The Customs flag-staff is in latitude 27° 58′ 20′′ N.; longitude 120° 45′ 39' E.. There is a canal connecting the village with Wên-chau-fu.
to moor.
Anchorage.-Vessels can anchor between the eastern pier and the point at the west end of the village: it is advisable
Tides. It is bigh water, full and change, at Snipe island at 10h. 15m. Springs risc 223 feet; neaps rise 17 feet. Wreck. The hulk Waterwitch, now a total wreck, lies about 2 cables off the south-west point of Big island. Directions. After passing Tungpwan or Tae-pih islands, if not intending to enter the Ou-kiang by the Sanpwan pass, steer for Bullock harbour, and pass between Pwan-peen and Tseigh islands; after which pass between the two islets which lie N. 29 W. from the west point of Flask island, distant from each other 7 cables; † steor then as necessary for Split rock, which may be passed on either side, and thence for Rock point, Hutau, taking care to clear the rocky spit off Hokeen
island.
NORTH CHANNEL.-To enter by this channel, pass White rock at one cable's distance, and when the highest part of Rock point is in line with the gap in White rock N. 82 E. steer with it on this bearing till a white joss-house on the south-west point of Hokeen comes in line with the left-hand gap in the hills north of "Paps" on Great Sanpwan island S. 68 E.; keep this bearing on till Small island is seen just clearing the north-east point of Hokeen island S. 76 E. (at this position the west point of IIutau island is in line with the shoulder of the most northern hill visible on Hutau N. 63 E.). Steer with Small island seen just clear of the north-east point of Hokeen, till House hill comes in line with the left extreme of the walled village on Wên-chau point N. 47 W., then sicer on this bearing.
* The shores of Wên-chan, Snipe, and Big islands are extending, the natives reclaiming the land wherever practicable and profitable. † 6 cables N.N.E, from the western islet is a rock with 4 feet over it at low water spring tides.