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GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL.
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gate 60 feet wide, The lock is 310 feet long on blocks, and 335 feet at top, 42 feet wide at bottom, and 78 feet at top, and depth on sill is 18 to 18 feet at springs, and 15 to 16 feet at neaps. From October to January inclusive the average is 18} feet at springs, and about 17 feet for the remainder of the year.
A new granite dock called the "Hope Dock," in honour of Admiral Sir James Hope, was opened on the 15th of June, 1867, by H. E. the Governor, Sir Richard Graves MacDon. The length is 425 feet, breadth 90 feet, caisson gate 70 feet wide, depth over sill 21 to 24 feet.
The patent slip laid down in 1847 at east or Matheson point, on the northern shore of Hongkong, was at that time capable of taking vessels of 600 tous, but now only those of 400 tons.
Tides. It is high water, full and change in Hongkong road at 10h. 15m., and springs rise about 4 feet. The tides around the island are irregular, flowing and ebbing without any apparent change of direction at the surface, and sometimes there appears to be only one tide in 24 hours.
Directions.-Hongkong road is generally approached by sailing vessels from the west- ward, on which sides it is protected by Green Island and Kellett Bank, which extends nearly 1 miles northward from the latter island, and carries a depth of 3 fathoms. It is sometimes approached from the eastward through the Ly-ee-moon Pass during the N.E. monsoon, but the winds are generally baffling under the high land.
When abreast Green Island, if the vessel be of heavy draught, keep the peak of Lamma Island (Mount Senhouse, 1,140 feet high) open westward of Green Island S. E. until Devil's Peak (on the mainland near Ly-ee-moon Pass) is in the line with the White rock on the south point of Won-chu-chau or Stone-cutters' Island, when a S. E. by E. course will lead northward of Kellett Bank, and direct for the anchorage.
Vessels of proper draught can proceed over Kellett Bank, or through the 4 fathoms channel between Green Island and the south part of the bank, by passing about 1 cables northward of the Island, and then steering for the road.
*
The narrow channel between Green Island and Hongkong, may be taken if a fresh fair wind blows right through. Many sailing vessels have used it, amongst which were H.M.'s ships Modeste, Wellesley, and Vernon. It has depths of 10 to 12 fathoms in the middle, shoaling to 8, 6, and 4 fathoms after passing the small islets eastward of Green Island.
Tytam Bay and Harbour.-There are several small bays on the southern shore of Hongkong, all of which are safe for small vessels; but at the south-east part of the island is a deep inlet, named Tytam bay, 2 miles deep, 14 miles wide at entrance, free from danger, and carries a depth of 10 to 16 fathoms. Tytain head, the western point of entrance, is a high bluff, with 13 and 14 fathoms near it; from thence the western shore of the bay trends about N. by E. three-quarters of a mile to a small sandy bay, with a rocky islet fronting the beach. About balf a mile northward of the islet the land forms a round projecting point, and northward of this point is a large bay, with a sandy beach, in which is Tytan village.
Tylong head, or Cape D'Aguilar, off which are two green islets, forms the eastern point of entrance to Tytam bay, and from thence the eastern shore of the bay bends round to the northward for 2 miles, and terminates in a small inlet, called Tytam harbour, carrying 4 to 6 fathoms, but its head, to the northwest, is shoal and rocky. This bay, would be useful to a vessel, in the event of her being near Wag-lan at the close of the day, with the probability of a dark and tempestous night, for by ruuning in she will at any rate be snug, even if there should be a typhoon during the night.
Water-At the head of Tytam harbour there is a rivulet of fresh water, which, however, cannot be procured without inconvenience when the tide is low. Water may be obtained at Tytam village, on the western shore of the bay.
Tides.-There is very little tide in Tytam bay, and, like all the places hereabouts, it is difficult to fix the time of high water, owing to the variety of channels, and the wind greatly influencing the tidal streams; but the rise and fall is about 7 or 8 feet at springs, and about 3 or 4 feet at neaps. The ebb sets to the eastward between Lo-chau and Hongkong.
* J. W. King, Master of H.M.S. Wellesley, 1842.
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