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Chusan Archipelago.
MAY,
50° W., 1.7 mile. The channel is now 1 mile broad, between a small island with two hummocks (nearly divided at the centre,) and an island to the westward with a building, something similar to a Druidical temple, on its summit; between this island and Chookeä tseën, the mud dries nearly all the way, leaving only a small passage for boats. In standing over to the Chookeätseën shore, vessels should not bring a small flat islet (with two rocks off its southeast extreme) to bear to the southward of S. 15° W., as the depth of water decreas- es very suddenly. Off the eastern end of the island, with the Druidi- cal temple on it, the small flat island (above mentioned), which is at the west extreme of the Sarah Galley passage, bears S. 21° W., 2.6 miles. Before reaching the flat island the southeast extreme of Chụ- san will be seen. There is a bulding constructed of slabs of stone (similar to the one already mentioned on the island,) on the hills over the point, and a small tower or a fort near the water's edge. From the flat island to Round-about island the distance is 7.7 miles, W. 7° S.
Between Chookeä tseen and Oswamong there is another navigable passage, two cables wide, which may be used with a fair wind, by which means the reefs in the entrance of the Sarah Galley passage will be avoided. Off the north end of Oswamong is a small island. The passage between Tangfow and Taouhwa shan is very narrow in one part.
Chookeä tseen (朱家尖, or Choo's Peak,) is 6 miles from east
to west. The west line has many deep indentations, some of which are inclosed from the sea by stone walls. On the eastern extreme are 4 remarkably high peaks; and near the centre of the island is a smooth cone-topped one, which is 1164 feet above the level of the sea, and forms one of the most remarkable features in this part of the archi- pelago. On the west face of the island are several sandy bays, and the hills in this neighborhood are covered with large isolated masses of granite. Off its northeast extreme is a group, consisting of five islands; and to the eastern are three small islets, the outermost of which is 83 miles distant. A half-tide rock bears N. 14° E., 7 miles From the summit of Pooto it bears S,
from the cone-topped hill. 78° E., and from the south-easternmost island of the northeast group, S. 49° W.
Tinghae,
The harbor of Tinghae is difficult of ingress
and egress, owing to the strong tides and narrow passages. The best entrance is that round Tower hill, and between Bell and Tea is- lands, in which no hidden danger has been found.
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