344
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6TH JULY, 1878.
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. 11.)
CHINA SEA DIRECTORY, VOL. 2.
NOTICE NO. 17.
The following information relating to the gulfs of Siam and Tong-King, with directions for approaching Haïnan strait, has been derived chiefly from the account of the voyage of the German corvette Nautilus, published by the German Admiralty, 1877.*
· [All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation 2o Easterly in 1878.]
GULF OF SIAM.
Menam Chau-Phya or Bangkok River.†
Directions. Entering Bangkok river, West point should be brought to bear N. 1 E., and steered for on that bearing until the lighthouse bears N.N.E. E., when a N. by E. & E. course will lead between the sets of fishing stakes (3 sets on each side, pointing to the south-west) and about a third of a mile westward of the lighthouse; thence steer N.E. N. until the lighthouse bears S.S. W., when a N.N.E. course should be steered for about half a mile, or until West point bears N.W.; a vessel may then steer N. by W. W. for the centre of the mouth of the river, keeping a little towards the eastern shore to avoid the flats which extend from West point. A mid-channel course may then be steered to Bangkok city, being careful to avoid the shoals extending from East point.
The Pak-lat canal on the west bank of the river, at about 10 miles from the entrance, is frequently closed; it was so during the visit of the Juno in the month of March.
GULF OF TONG KING. ‡
On Pon is a port of some commercial importance, situated on a small river which, rising in Kwangsi, flows through Ko Tchow, and empties itself into the north-east part of Tong-King gulf.
Pak-Ho-A-long, the large sand bank on the north side of Pak-hoi anchorage, is nearly awash at low water. Northward of A-long bank, between Pak-hoi and the opposite shore, about 8 miles distant, there are several sand banks (some of which dry at low water), extending in a general east and west direction.
Ditions. Approaching Pak-hoi from the southward the soundings decrease gradually towards cape Quan-tow, within half a mile of which there are depths of 23 feet. Vessels bound to Pak-hoi anchorage should, after passing cape Quan-tow at a distance of half a mile, steer North until Nautilus hill, 340 feet high,--about three-quarters of a mile to the northward of cape Quan-tow-bears East, when a N.E. N. course should be steered until the sandy point on which stands Tykok village bears East, thence close around the outer extreme of the fishing stakes extending from Tykok for the anchorage abreast the custom house, in 4 fathoms, with Tykok point bearing S. W. by W.
Tides-The following particulars concerning the tides at Pak-hoi anchorage are taken from over a period of forty days by the Nautilus, during the months of February and March 1877.
The flood stream sets to the north-east and the ebb to the south-west. From one day befo 1.U 3, the average
I the Hou Stream 13 g-unies an four,
LA
or ong
day before full and change, both ebb and flood run at the rate of half a mile a
High and low water occur twice in the 24 hours during the period of the 8 after full and change when the rise is about 12 feet; with the lesser tides there is only one nigh water flood continuing 14 and the ebb 10 hours.
Hons extending
after full and ys after to one
here to five days the 24 hours, the
Climate, Winds.-- The rainy season at Pak-hoi is from January to June, but it does not rain uninterruptedly or heavily; from January to April heavy northerly gales blow frequently and rise suddenly, lasting sometimes three days. Warning, however, of these gales will be given by the barometer rising, and the opposite coast becoming visible, which, under other circumstances, cannot be distinctly seen from Pak-hoi.
Typhoons occur occasionally from June to October; their centres however, are said always to pass south of Quan-tow peninsula.
Water can be obtained from a well 400 yards from the shore; it is however, unwholesome, and can only be used for cleansing purposes.
Guie Chow Island (Wy-chow), 280 feet high, situated about 24 miles south from cape Quan-tow, is 4 miles long north-east and south-west, and 3 miles broad. The south and west sides of Guic Chow are composed of hills rising abruptly from the water and sloping gradually to the north-east shore, Mount Hümpel, the summit, is near the south-east extreme
of the island.
The north-east point of Guie Chow should not be approached nearer than 2 miles.
Nam-Wan (south harbour), situated on the south side of Guie Chow, is about a mile in extent, with depths of 6 to 4 fathoms, good holding ground, and sheltered from all winds except those between S.S.E. and E.S.E. The entrance of Nam-Wan is 14 miles wide; it is, however, contracted to 6 cables by a shoal of 13 feet, which extends nearly half a mile in a south-easterly direction from Petit Cochon, a small rocky islet 95 feet high, on the east side of the entrance. From the east entrance point a shoal of 13 feet extends 2 cables in a southerly direction; and from the west entrance point a shoal of 13 feet extends nearly half a mile in a south-easterly direction.
On the beach at the head of Nam-Wan harbour there is a small village, a short distance westward of which, and about half way up the cliff, stands a Chinese temple, conspicuous from its yellow colour against the dark back-ground.
Population. The population of Guie Chow island in 1877 amounted to about 4,500, their principal occupation being the cultivation of sugar-cane and bananas.
Winds and weather.-In Nam-Wan harbour southerly winds seldom blow home, and are never very strong. Typhoons may be expected in the month of June; they are considered, however, to occur most frequently in September, but seldom with sufficient strength to endanger vessels at anchor in the harbour.
During a typhoon, the water in the harbour is said to rise about 6 feet. Water-Good fresh water can be obtained in Nam-Wan harbour.
Annalen der Hydrographie, Heft X., 1877.
See Admiralty Charts:-Koh-ta-kut to ease Liant, No. 2,720; Menam Chair-Phya or Bangkok river, No. 999; Also, China Sea Directory, vol. II. 16.8, page 318; and Hydrographic Notices, No. 7 of 1869, and 14 of 1872. Navigating Lieutenant A. Fane, H.M.S. Juno, 1877.
Sre Admiralty Charts-China Sea, northern portion, No. 2,661 ; Tong-King gulf, No. 2.062: Also, China Sea Directory, vol. II., 1868, p. 369; and Hydrographic Notices, No. 20 of 1868, No. 1 of 1869, Nos. 30 and $8 of 1876, and No. 21 of 1877.