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on the north shore N. 32° E., ferry house S. 48° W., highest hill over Kin-pái point S. 30° E. Kin-pár point in one with the north end of Passage Island (the northern islet at the entrance) bearing N. 56° E. will place you south of it, which is the best side to pass, as the channel this side is 14 cable wide, while between the rock and the tail of the spit to the westward, the distance is only half a cable. Having passed the point keep the southern shore close on board to avoid the middle ground, the channel hereabouts being sometimes under twó cables; when abreast of the ferry house which is 11⁄2 mile above Kin- pái, and on the right or southern bank, edge over to the northern shore, passing Wedge Islet at the cable's length; there are two rocky points above it which are covered at high water, and extend a cable from the embankment. The rock and sudden turn in the Kin-pái pass, render the navigation exceedingly awkward; but if vessels wait for the last quarter flood they can run up on the northern shore.
Above the ferry house and the same side of the river is Tree Point, the shore on that side between them being shoal to; a half tide rock bears from the Tree Point N. 9° W. 41⁄2 cables, when on it the ferry house is in the line with Kin-pái point. This reach runs southwest by south and northeast by north; at the distance of six miles from Kin-pái, the river narrows again to 3 cables, the hills raising abruptly on either side.
The town of Min-gan is on the left bank of the river one mile within the strait; the river continues narrow for three miles and the depth of water being generally above twenty fathoms, vessels, unless with a leading wind, should keep a boat ahead as the tide is apt to set you on either shore. Rather more than half a mile above Min- gan and on the same side of the river, is an islet crowned with a fort at the upper end of the narrows, are two islets upon the right bank; in going up leave them upon your port hand, passing close to the northern point of the outside one, which is steep to, but there is a sunken rock on which the Spiteful struck three quarters of a cable from its northwestern shore; WNW. from the island two cables is a shoal patch of nine feet at low water.
Having passed the island, keep along the right bank, gradually hauling up for the Pagoda of Losingtah; S. 12° E. from it rather more than two cables is a sunken rock which shows at low water spring tides; to avoid which, round the Pagoda Point close, and come to opposite the sandy bay above the Pagoda. The river is only