504
zero of his soundings. The balance point of this range probably
approximates to mean sea level. Accepting it as such, Captain Eelcher's zero-is 2' 44" below mean sea level. "Rambler" Žero
Gust, according to the latest statement ((8)) be about 5 feet
below rean sea level (it may have been even lower during the
earlier part of the surveys. See Appendix 1.). On this estimate,
therefore, the difference between the two is 2' 74". If it were
necessary to guess at mean sea level from Chart 1459, a foot cr
so would have to be added to the rise of 9 feet mentioned, so as
to balance the exceptionally Low Water with an exceptionally
High one. But these are nere guesses. The facts are stated in
different way on the various charts.
12.
A copy of what appears to be the criginal
edition of Captain Eelcher's survey was discovered by Mr. Drayson
in January, this year. It has been shown to be of no value in
connection with the matter under consideration ((12)), and ought
to be discarded; but it is of some historical interest. According
to Bitel, Sir Henry Pottinger first came from home in the Steam
Frigate "Sesostris", arriving at Macao on 10th. August, 1841;
and be left for home on 12th. June, 1844. The chart was published
on 1st. May, 1848, and, from a note on the back,which seems to have been written by Sir Henry, was evidently received by him on
the 80th. January of the following year. My conjectural Chart
'G' shows a number of soundings which were taken later than the
first survey; but very few of these are in the central part of
the harbour.
18.
A noteworthy point on the original chart is
the letter "r" (indicating rock) on the site of what is now called Belcher's Ridge. The "r" does not appear on later editions. Perhaps at the time of the original survey there was a bare patch
of rock which afterwards got covered over with sediment.
14.
"Ranbler" Zero is now described as being
19' 2"
I